Yan Shisheng’s clothes were stained with mud and water after Mu Wanyao pelted him with chess pieces. To make matters worse, Mu Wanyao had decided to stay at their residence for two more days. For the Yan family, whose home was being occupied, this news struck like lightning from a clear sky.

Since his clothes were dirty, Yan Shisheng had no choice but to change. When he emerged from his room, he carried a bundle of soiled garments, clearly intending to wash them.

“Let me! Let me!” As soon as he stepped out, his youngest sister Yan Xiaozhou snatched the bundle from his arms.

She gave her brother an anxious, ingratiating smile. “Second Brother’s clothes are dirty, let me wash them. Second Brother needs to study, you shouldn’t be doing such menial tasks.”

Though his clothes had been taken, Yan Shisheng made no move to retrieve them. Looking down at his little sister clutching his old garments, he offered a gentle smile. “Then thank you, little sister.”

With that, he turned and went back inside.

Yan Xiaozhou froze for a moment, then bit her lip and pushed open the door. She saw Yan Shisheng’s tall, slender figure with his back to her, apparently searching for something.

Thinking her second brother was angry and ignoring her, she felt hurt and approached him quietly. “Second Brother, please don’t ignore me. It was my fault that Lady Mu hit you with chess pieces.”

Yan Shisheng replied, “It’s nothing.”

He sighed and continued, “In the future, even if you want to have private conversations with me, you shouldn’t sit beneath a guest’s window to do so. It’s not only impolite but easily discovered. Besides, I don’t know how Lady Mu has offended you, yet you followed me just to speak ill of her?”

He continued searching.

Yan Xiaozhou grew agitated. “Lady Mu has taken over our home, shouldn’t I speak against her?”

Yan Shisheng turned around, his clear, gentle eyes gazing at his young sister.

He spoke softly, “Do you know her noble status?”

Yan Xiaozhou: “I… I know.”

Yan Shisheng: “Then do you understand that there’s a divide between nobility and commoners, that those of noble birth naturally enjoy more privileges than ordinary people like us? Do you know that our lives rest in their hands? Do you realize that if Lady Mu truly became angry, she could demand our whole family’s lives as compensation, and we would have no way to resist?”

Yan Xiaozhou was struck speechless.

She stammered, “But… this isn’t right.”

Yan Shisheng replied gently, “This is how the world works. What does right or wrong matter to you? You cannot challenge authority. Rather than seeking justice now, wait until you can do so. When you can stand as an equal to Lady Mu, then you can raise grievances without needlessly risking your life or causing me worry.”

The young girl clutched her brother’s clothes and sank onto the couch, utterly dismayed. After a long moment, she lowered her head: “I understand my mistake, Second Brother.”

Only then did Yan Shisheng approach, reaching out to pat his sister’s head with a sigh. “Share these words with Father, Big Brother, Third Brother, and the others. Since we cannot avoid this situation, don’t provoke Lady Mu. She wants to stay at our home for two more days, so I’ll keep watch, and you must all avoid conflicts with her people.”

Yan Xiaozhou nodded shamefully.

Perhaps it was because Second Brother had read more books that he understood the ways of the world better than they did. The Yan family had always deferred to the Second Brother’s judgment in important matters.

Yan Xiaozhou resolved to share her brother’s words with the others, especially Third Brother. Third Brother had a quick temper—he absolutely must not cause trouble. If they could peacefully wait for Lady Mu to leave, they might even receive some benefits. Even if it was just some money…

As Yan Xiaozhou pondered this, she noticed Yan Shisheng retrieving a bottle of medicine powder hidden beneath layers of bedding. He took the medicine and headed for the door.

Yan Xiaozhou was startled: “Second Brother, what do you need medicine for? Were you injured by the chess pieces? Quickly remove your clothes and let me check!”

She anxiously grabbed her brother’s sleeve, urging him to undress.

Yan Shisheng’s face reddened slightly with embarrassment and helplessness as he said, “I’m not injured. Last night, one of Lady Mu’s guards received twenty strikes because of us. I’m going to bring him some medicine.”

Yan Xiaozhou: “Ah…”

…This was exactly the kind of thing her Second Brother would do—

Fang Tong was the head guard of Princess Danyang.

He followed the Princess north and south, sworn to protect her wherever they went. Last night, because he hadn’t properly handled the matter of the Yan family’s residence, the Princess had him struck twenty times with a rod. He harbored no resentment.

Twenty strikes wouldn’t kill him—it was just flesh wounds. However, he had to rest and recover today, unable to report for duty at the Princess’s side while nursing his injuries.

Fang Tong lay listlessly on the long couch in his room, staring into space, wondering how to pass the time while recovering. Two unhurried knocks sounded at the door.

Fang Tong responded irritably: “Come in.”

Expecting another guard, he didn’t bother to move, but when he looked up, he saw the young scholar in dark blue robes and a black headband.

Fang Tong started, sitting up bare-chested. Remembering this person was the reason he’d been beaten, his tone turned harsh: “What do you want?”

Yan Shisheng first gave a respectful bow, then placed the medicine bottle in his hand down, speaking gently: “This is a precious medicine my family has kept for years. When my elder brother was mauled by tigers while cutting firewood in the mountains, this medicine showed effects after just one night.”

Fang Tong sneered: “No need.”

Following the Princess, what fine medicines hadn’t he seen?

Yan Shisheng observed his reaction and said: “Naturally, it cannot compare to the fine medicines you use, sir, but it represents my sincerity. I am ashamed that mere words led to your injury, and I don’t know how else to apologize except by offering this medicine.”

Fang Tong: “…”

Yan Shisheng continued: “Sir must be quite bored staying alone in this room. Perhaps I could stay and chat with you?”

Fang Tong replied coldly: “I have nothing to say to you.”

Yan Shisheng looked at him with utterly understanding eyes and smiled slightly: “I’ve read some story books and can tell you tales of adventure to pass the time.”

Fang Tong was puzzled: “…Don’t you have anything else to do?”

Yan Shisheng said: “I simply wish to express my regret. You may not accept it, but I must do this.”

Fang Tong: “…”

He coughed dryly.

The young man’s dark expression twitched slightly under Yan Shisheng’s spring-like gaze.

He even felt somewhat embarrassed.

Feeling that the other party hadn’t meant harm, and considering they had occupied his family’s house, where he was bringing medicine and offering company… had he been too defensive?

The room maintained this strange atmosphere until Yan Shisheng began telling stories to Fang Tong—

With a mix of awkwardness and peculiarity, Fang Tong was persuaded by Yan Shisheng’s patient coaxing to use the medicine he had brought. By the time Yan Shisheng left, Fang Tong’s opinion of this scholar had completely changed, now viewing him as extremely kind-hearted.

He realized he had judged a gentleman by a petty person’s standards.

Especially the next morning, when Fang Tong awoke and was delighted to find his wounds had indeed healed, his admiration for Yan Shisheng grew even stronger.

Not to mention it hadn’t been a serious injury to begin with, but Head Guard Fang Tong, now thoroughly impressed with Yan Shisheng, had completely attributed his quick recovery to the excellent medicine Second Young Master Yan had brought.

Since his wounds had healed, Fang Tong naturally went to report to the Princess.

As Fang Tong paid his respects to the Princess, Mu Wanyao was reclining against an armrest, sitting before a wooden table, watching her maid Chunhua organize her books.

Chunhua glanced at the steady rain outside and asked the Princess worriedly: “My Lady, it has rained for days—heaven seems to be blocking our path. Do we still need to stay in Lingnan to visit Lord Li?”

Chunhua was referring to the purpose of Princess Danyang’s long journey to Lingnan—

To visit Mu Wanyao’s uncle, Li Zhi, who currently serves as the county magistrate of Nanhai.

The Empress’s death meant that her natal Li family had lost their power struggle with the Emperor. The entire great clan had relocated back to Jinling, while the most capable member of the Li family—the late Empress’s brother and Mu Wanyao’s uncle—had been directly banished by the Emperor to this remote corner of Lingnan.

The maids were uneasy, thinking that with the Empress deceased and the Li family having left Chang’an, wouldn’t the Princess’s high-profile visit to Li Zhi in Lingnan make the Emperor suspicious?

Mu Wanyao replied lazily: “Don’t worry. After returning to Chang’an following my late husband’s death, in the current situation, my father would be more suspicious if I showed no concern for my uncle at all. By visiting my uncle, Father might even think I’m filial and haven’t forgotten my roots.”

Hearing the Princess’s words, Chunhua appeared thoughtful and sorrowful.

She knew better than anyone how difficult it had been for the Princess to return to Chang’an, and now to dispel the Emperor’s suspicions, she had to travel thousands of li to Lingnan to visit Lord Li… The Princess was also of noble birth—why did the Emperor treat her this way?

It hadn’t always been like this.

She silently thought to herself that the Emperor and late Empress hadn’t always treated the Princess this way—

Princess Danyang, the Emperor’s youngest daughter, had been the most beloved child of the Emperor and Empress before she turned fifteen.

Back then, the Empress was still alive, and the Emperor’s gaze upon Mu Wanyao had been full of doting affection.

Every year on Mu Wanyao’s birthday, her Imperial Father personally crafted hairpins and carved books as gifts, while her Imperial Mother personally ground facial creams and rouge powders for her.

The hairpins her father gave her came in all varieties, from insects and birds to flowers, all lifelike; the cosmetics her mother gave her filled her chambers, those brilliant colors making countless others envious…

Suddenly, crying and shouting from outside startled Mu Wanyao from her memories.

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow.

Chunhua, standing beside her, grew anxious, knowing the Princess hated being disturbed.

Chunhua said: “This servant will go check.”

Mu Wanyao remained silent. After Chunhua left, she flipped through the books Chunhua had been organizing, wondering if any were rare editions her father had given her… Lost in thought, she heard Chunhua’s hurried, anxious footsteps return.

Mu Wanyao looked up.

She saw her beautiful maid’s face had turned pale, her expression distraught.

Chunhua fell to her knees before Mu Wanyao, her voice trembling: “My Lady, it’s this servant’s fault for not managing the people properly… The cosmetics in our trunk, the facial cream set that the late Empress gave you, somehow got caught in the rain and is ruined, completely unusable now…”

Mu Wanyao abruptly stood up.

She demanded harshly: “Who did this?”

Chunhua trembled: “The servants say it was the Yan family…”

Before the maid could finish speaking, Mu Wanyao let out a cold laugh. She rose and strode forward, passing the guard Fang Tong and swiftly drawing the sword from his waist.

Yan Shisheng, the Second Young Master Yan who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, stood in the rain holding an umbrella and suddenly looked up—

He saw the young woman stepping out of the residence with a sword in hand, her clothes billowing in the rain, murderous intent blazing!