Mu Wanyao’s gaze passed over Wei Shu’s shoulder to see Yan Shang. But this princess remained remarkably composed – while Yan Shang’s pupils involuntarily contracted upon seeing her, Mu Wanyao simply continued casually flicking water droplets from her clothes.

She remained as elegant as ever, with cloud-like hair and flower-like beauty, her skirts trimmed with flowing gold, her beautiful eyes bright and spirited, just as she had appeared that day riding horses with other noble men and women in the street.

Wei Shu bowed to Yan Shang: “Brother Yan.”

Yan Shang suppressed the turbulence in his heart upon seeing Mu Wanyao, returning Wei Shu’s bow as courteously as he could manage: “What brings Juyuan here?”

When he had learned of Wei Shu’s relationship with Mu Wanyao, he had indeed considered the possibility of encountering her. But he had thought that rather than Wei Shu bringing Mu Wanyao to him, he should first visit the princess at her palace.

…Yan Shang thought to himself, that if he went to the princess’s palace, Mu Wanyao might not see him, might not care about him. But if he didn’t go to pay his respects, when Princess Danyang suddenly remembered him, it would again be his fault.

As Yan Shang spoke, his eyelashes trembled slightly, his posture bowing somewhat stiff. Those who knew him well would naturally see the stormy waves rolling in his heart.

However, neither of these visitors was familiar with Yan Erlang. From their perspective, Yan Erlang was exceptionally courteous.

Wei Shu stepped aside, revealing the beautiful young woman behind him who was carelessly wringing water from her sleeves, and introduced: “Brother Yan, this is Princess Danyang.”

Mu Wanyao’s beautiful eyes looked at Yan Shang with an ambiguous smile.

Yan Shang continued bowing: “So it is Your Highness, this humble scholar is overwhelmed.”

Silence fell, no one speaking.

Wei Shu softly asked, with slight doubt: “Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao’s voice, as precious as gold and jade, noble yet languid, finally sounded: “You should be overwhelmed.”

Yan Shang pressed his lips together. He knew what she meant.

Yet without raising his eyes, Yan Shang stood behind the books scattered half on the floor and half on his desk, sensing the strange weight in her gaze. A peculiar emotion unique to the two of them arose at this moment, completely unnoticed by Wei Shu.

Wei Shu continued introducing Yan Shang to the princess: “Your Highness, this is the senior brother I mentioned. He’s from Lingnan, second in his family, with the given name Shang, courtesy name Suchen…”

Before Wei Shu could finish, Mu Wanyao cut him off mercilessly: “You’re called Yan Shang?”

Yan Shang thought: Here it comes.

From this question, she probably hadn’t been reading his letters at all.

The last time they parted, he was still called Yan Shisheng; now his name had changed to Yan Shang. That the noble and proud Princess Danyang didn’t know this must be a crime against all living things.

Yan Shang explained softly: “My teacher helped me change my name.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him without speaking.

Even Wei Shu finally sensed something wasn’t quite right with the atmosphere. Thinking that Mu Wanyao looked down on his senior brother for not being from a noble family, the usually cold youth unusually tried to help ease the situation: “I was discussing some matters with the princess when we encountered heavy rain. I remembered that Brother Yan lived here, so I brought Her Highness to take shelter.”

What could Yan Shang say?: “Naturally, I should clear space to welcome you.”

Mu Wanyao let out a derisive laugh.

Wei Shu turned to look at her. Mu Wanyao had turned her face aside, raindrops still clinging to her cheeks, her eyelashes misty, her jade-like face brilliant white, her golden hairpin ornate. When Wei Shu looked at her, she didn’t respond. She remained as noble and elegant as always, though no one knew what she was sneering about.

Wei Shu fell silent for a moment, then had no choice but to turn the conversation back to Yan Shang: “When I knocked earlier, I heard a noise. What was Brother Yan doing?”

Yan Shang replied gently: “When you knocked, I was organizing literary compositions for my traveling scrolls. With too many books to find what I needed, the pile on my desk fell over, that’s the sound Juyuan heard. It was nothing serious.”

Wei Shu said: “Let me help you look.”

Yan Shang showed gratitude: “Many thanks.”

Mu Wanyao spoke coolly from behind: “That Yan whatever.”

Yan Shang: “…”

He helplessly turned back to look at the princess who had finally stepped into his humble dwelling.

Wei Shu looked at Mu Wanyao in surprise. While Mu Wanyao wasn’t a docile young lady, she usually wasn’t so discourteous as to not remember someone’s name right after being introduced, or to not give face. What had Brother Yan… done to offend Her Highness?

Mu Wanyao raised her chin at Yan Shang: “Yan whatever, is this how you treat guests?”

Yan Shang paused, unable to help smiling at her deliberate difficulty. He hesitated: “I only have cold water, as I’ve been busy… I’m afraid I have no hot tea to serve Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao twirled a few slightly wet strands of hair that hung beside her ear, drawing: “I’ve been rained on for so long, my hair is wet, my clothes are wet. What if I fall ill tomorrow? Yan whatever, are you this poor at hosting guests?”

Yan Shang was extremely perceptive.

As soon as she started making trouble, he knew what she wanted.

He turned to Wei Shu, who was frowning slightly with disapproval at the princess and said: “Juyuan, please help me look through the manuscripts first. I’ll take Her Highness to the inner room to tidy up.”—

Yan Shang entered the inner room with Mu Wanyao following behind him.

After entering the inner chamber, he found a clean towel and went to fetch water, intending to let the princess wash her face. With his back to Mu Wanyao, as he busied himself, he said softly: “Please excuse the humble arrangements, Your Highness. This towel is new and unused. I have no lady’s clothes here for you to change into, you can only dry yourself with the towel. I’ll also brew some ginger soup for Your Highness…”

Mu Wanyao stared at him.

He had grown taller since they had parted.

Mu Wanyao was also tall for a young woman. Before she had reached his chin, but now following behind him, she found she only reached just above his shoulder.

His face and bearing had also changed slightly.

He appeared even more gentle and harmless, exceedingly refined.

Though he wore ordinary scholar’s robes with his hair tied back with a wooden pin, when he focused his gaze on someone, he could already make younger ladies blush. This was natural – he had always been good-looking, even in a place like Lingnan he had caught Mu Wanyao’s eye several times, let alone now in a flourishing metropolis like Chang’an.

While Yan Shang was still muttering, Mu Wanyao behind him said very impatiently: “Why put on this act?”

Yan Shang paused, putting down what he was doing and turning to face Mu Wanyao, who was almost brushing his shoulder. He stiffened somewhat, hearing the sound of bamboo scrolls being turned outside, knowing it was Wei Shu busy at work.

The more Wei Shu helped, the more inappropriate it was for him to have his back to Wei Shu while something happened with the princess in the inner room.

However, Mu Wanyao had sent Wei Shu away to question him.

She stepped forward.

Yan Shang stepped back.

Mu Wanyao walked toward him deliberately.

Yan Shang retreated helplessly.

He lowered his long eyelashes, keeping his voice low so Wei Shu outside couldn’t hear: “I wrote to the princess’s palace about changing my name to Yan Shang. Your Highness must have been too busy to know of this.”

Mu Wanyao almost stepped on his feet as she forced him back step by step, advancing toward him.

Yan Shang continued retreating, speaking faster: “I only arrived in Chang’an two days ago. I haven’t visited the princess’s palace because I wanted to prepare for the examinations first. After the examinations, I will pay my respects. I’m not being disrespectful to Your Highness, I truly had plans.”

Mu Wanyao looked at him with a smile, mocking and cold.

“Thud—”

Yan Shang hit the wall behind him, with nowhere left to retreat. As Mu Wanyao kept advancing, Yan Shang had no choice but to grab her wrist to stop her from coming closer.

Yan Shang spoke even faster: “I did indeed meet Wei Shu recently and did learn of his relationship with Your Highness from him but I haven’t tried to take advantage of this or gain any benefits from it! I merely know about it… knowing isn’t a crime, is it?”

Wei Shu’s doubtful voice came from outside: “Brother Yan?”

Yan Shang called out loudly: “It’s nothing! Just knocked over a wooden bucket.”

Who knows if Wei Shu believed it, but at least he neither spoke again nor came over.

Yan Shang let out a long breath. In just this short time, sweat had appeared on his forehead, his heart beating extremely fast. He looked down at the princess whose wrist he was holding, who had stopped advancing – Mu Wanyao was looking at him with an ambiguous smile.

She laughed softly: “Feeling the thrill of a secret tryst behind your dear junior brother’s back?”

Yan Shang: “…”

His face darkened slightly.

He said softly: “Your Highness, mind your words.”

Mu Wanyao’s face suddenly turned cold as she stared at him: “How dare you make that face at me? I’ll say whatever I want.”

Yan Shang sighed inwardly.

Again speaking softly: “Your Highness’s reproach is justified.”

Then added: “Your Highness, please lower your voice.”

After saying this, he felt awkward himself, feeling that he was essentially confirming Mu Wanyao’s words – the strange sensation of a secret tryst behind his junior brother’s back.

Yan Shang quickly tried to stop himself from overthinking – a gentleman in the world should maintain proper conduct and bearing, how could he let Mu Wanyao entangle him and bind his own hands and feet?

Mu Wanyao smiled.

She asked Yan Shang: “Since coming to Chang’an, why haven’t you come to visit me?”

Yan Shang said: “Didn’t I already explain? I planned to visit after the examinations.”

Mu Wanyao’s beautiful eyes lifted slightly, like rippling spring water, waves washing over him one after another: “That’s not what I meant. I’m asking whose household you submitted your traveling scrolls to?”

Yan Shang answered honestly: “To Minister Zhang’s household.”

Great Wei hadn’t established a specific Chancellor position, instead using a system of multiple ministers. While there was no official title of Chancellor, there were several who exercised Chancellor-level authority. Minister Zhang whom Yan Shang mentioned was the one among these ministers most known for promoting new talent.

Yan Shang planned to try his luck.

Mu Wanyao pondered this for a moment, then made the connection. Her face darkened: “If you can submit scrolls to that old Zhang, why not submit them to me?”

Yan Shang slowly raised his eyes, his calm gaze quietly watching her.

Mu Wanyao lifted her chin, gesturing for him to explain clearly.

Yan Shang’s hand still held her wrist, feeling through her sleeve the delicate softness of her bones. She seemed so soft and weak, quite pitiable. But that was just an illusion.

Yan Shang said slowly: “If I submitted scrolls to you, would you help me?”

Mu Wanyao gave him a surprised look.

Then burst out laughing.

Her beautiful eyes danced with uncontrollable mirth: “…Indeed, I wouldn’t.”

She yanked her hand from his grasp, rubbing her wrist, biting her lower lip as she turned to look at him: “I would give you a proper torment.”

Yan Shang thought to himself, I knew it.

While he remained silent, Mu Wanyao furrowed her brows and said: “However, if you submit scrolls to Minister Zhang, you should know he had past conflicts with this year’s chief examiner. Though they maintain a superficial cordiality, their hearts are discordant. The chief examiner might take issue with scrolls submitted through Minister Zhang, which wouldn’t serve your purposes.”

Yan Shang inquired: “May I ask who the chief examiner is?”

Mu Wanyao said: “If even Wei Shu doesn’t know, why would I tell you first?”

Yan Shang: “…”

Mu Wanyao: “Aren’t you very capable? After I tell Wei Shu, you can slowly find out from your dear junior brother.”

Just then, Wei Shu called from outside: “Your Highness, your attendants have come looking for you.”

Mu Wanyao didn’t respond.

She and Yan Shang exchanged a glance.

They shared an unexpectedly tacit understanding to drop their previous confrontational attitudes.

When Wei Shu waited a moment and then lifted the curtain to enter the inner room, he saw Mu Wanyao sitting on a low stool drying her hair while Yan Shang boiled water. It was as if the whispering voices he had heard earlier were just his imagination.

Mu Wanyao suddenly raised her eyes, glancing at Wei Shu. Her beautiful eyes rippled as she gave him a radiant smile, brilliant as blooming flowers.

Wei Shu froze, then his face turned bright red, and without further thought, he turned and retreated.

Yan Shang let out a sigh.

Mu Wanyao immediately snapped: “What are you sighing about? Just boil your water! How is it any of your business?!”

Yan Shang turned back to give her an amused look, only to be glared at in return.

Wei Shu thought he heard arguing voices from inside and lifted the curtain again.

Inside remained peacefully serene.

Mu Wanyao sat gracefully drying her hair, while Yan Shang silently boiled water, looking up to give him a slight smile.

Wei Shu fell silent.

Still feeling… something wasn’t quite right—

After the princess’s attendants arrived, Mu Wanyao didn’t linger.

Before the attendants could enter and have their surprising reunion with Yan Erlang, Mu Wanyao left, with Chunhua holding an umbrella, the group of women departing grandly to meet the Jin Princess Consort in the temple’s front courtyard.

Wei Shu thought for a moment and decided to stay, planning to leave after the rain stopped.

Though Wei Shu rarely stayed in such humble quarters, he didn’t show the usual noble’s faults, remaining cool and detached, seeming to adapt quite well.

That night the two slept foot to foot, needing no further elaboration—

The rain continued all night.

The Jin Princess Consort left Yongshou Temple worried, concerned whether rain falling on her visit to pray for children was an auspicious or inauspicious sign. Mu Wanyao perfunctorily comforted the princess consort, saw her off, closed the palace gates, and then turned to interrogate her household servants.

Sitting in the main hall, with rain connecting the four directions of heaven and earth, only countless lamps burned, the ancient beauties painted on the four “Xuanli Screens” appearing ethereal and hazy in the firelight.

Mu Wanyao had them bring out all the letters Yan Erlang had sent.

She slapped the table, demanding of her household: “So you all knew he had come to Chang’an, all knew he had changed his name, yet not one of you thought to tell me?”

Among the women, Chunhua gathered her courage to retort: “Didn’t Your Highness… already forget about him, saying you never wanted to hear news of him again?”

Mu Wanyao froze.

She suddenly turned her face to watch the rain dripping from the eaves.

She had indeed forgotten about him.

If not for today’s reunion.

Yet seeing him today in the temple, watching him gradually stand up from behind his desk, revealing his face… countless indescribable feelings surged back into her heart.

Under the pattering rain in Lingnan, pulling him into her carriage, forcefully kissing him… it all came flooding back.

She thought of him again.

Chunhua observed the princess’s distant expression as she turned away, carefully judging her mood before saying: “Should we… invite Yan Erlang to visit, Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao paused, then said coolly: “No need. Since he is such a heartless person, there’s no need for him to visit my princess’s palace.

“You may all leave.”

Everyone was bewildered by the princess’s words, not understanding how Yan Erlang had become heartless… after all, the one who couldn’t be bothered to read Yan Erlang’s letters was Her Highness.

But no one dared say so—

Yan Shang was indeed skilled at managing relationships.

The next day after the weather cleared, he brought an apology letter and personally visited the princess’s palace.

Unfortunately, Mu Wanyao wasn’t there.

Yan Shang only left his letter of apology, and by the time Mu Wanyao returned, he had long since left.

Chunhua observed the princess’s expression and said: “Now that Yan Erlang has come to Chang’an, there will surely be many more opportunities for him to visit our palace.”

Mu Wanyao reclined on her beauty couch, hand supporting her chin, saying languidly: “Such a minor scholar, stop bothering me about him all the time.”

Chunhua: “…”

Thus, the princess’s household truly couldn’t figure out their princess’s attitude toward Yan Erlang.