No one would sleep tonight.

In the imperial palace, Qingning Palace was the Empress’s residence. Since the Empress’s passing, it had been sealed off with no one living there.

Yet tonight, after returning from outside the palace, the Emperor went to Qingning Palace.

The palace servants hurriedly made basic preparations as the Emperor sat in Qingning Palace’s main hall, a game of black and white Go pieces arranged on the table before him.

This game had been there since the palace was sealed. The Emperor had forbidden anyone from moving it, and now returning here to see it unchanged, he felt both joy and sorrow.

However, when he looked up, the woman who should have been sitting across from him playing Go was long gone.

The Emperor supported his forehead with his hand, bowing his head as he coughed.

The eunuch serving the Emperor heard the coughing and hurried in. Seeing His Majesty like this, he instantly understood – the sight of these objects made the Emperor miss the Empress.

But what was the point?

Wasn’t it the Emperor himself who had caused the Empress’s death?

The eunuch dared not mention the late Empress, only carefully suggesting, “Your Majesty, Qingning Palace is cold. Shall we light the charcoal? It’s also time for your medicine.”

The Emperor shook his head, saying, “We just want to sit here awhile. Our health has long been failing. Skip today’s medicine.”

The eunuch tried to persuade him further, but the Emperor fell silent, only staring intently at the unfinished game.

The eunuch sighed inwardly. The late Empress was a refined lady from the Li family of Jinling, graceful and noble, born to be Empress. Not only was she cultured and elegant, but she had an extraordinary grasp of political affairs. And behind her, the Li family wielded immense power.

This had violated the Emperor’s greatest taboo.

The Empress had to die.

For if the Empress didn’t die, perhaps… it would have been His Majesty instead.

Yet after the Empress’s departure, His Majesty’s health declined year by year, as if his spirit had followed the Empress.

Due to his poor health, the Emperor continuously delegated power. Now court affairs were largely managed by the Crown Prince and the Princes of Qin and Jin. The Emperor held court every third day but hadn’t reviewed memorials in ages.

It was precisely this extensive delegation of power that caused such fierce competition between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin.

But was this a good thing?

The Emperor spoke slowly: “What do you think about Danyang refusing marriage tonight?”

The eunuch looked up to see the Emperor’s eyes fixed on the opposite side of the Go board – he wasn’t speaking to him. The Emperor was asking the Empress who was no longer there.

Sure enough, the next moment, the Emperor muttered to himself: “Yes, from tonight onwards, Yaoyao will understand that relying on others is futile – she needs her power base. The Crown Prince excels in strategy, the Prince of Qin in martial prowess, and the Prince of Jin is gentle. Among these three, who do you think will claim this position?”

The Emperor seemed perplexed: “It’s strange, perhaps because We are too skilled in the arts of rulership, We always disapprove of others’ scheming. Every day seeing the children below fighting back and forth, We find it laughable and want to… discipline them all.”

The Emperor fell silent for a long while as if listening to the person opposite speak.

He smiled slightly, saying, “Rest assured, We only speak of discipline but haven’t done it, isn’t that right? As long as Yaoyao doesn’t go too far, We won’t harm her. We truly didn’t kill Er’lang – why do you never believe Us? Why do you always think We are so heartless that We would kill our son?”

After a pause, the Emperor’s expression turned slightly stern, as if provoked. He continued his monologue: “Indeed, within certain limits. Rest assured, We don’t have many years left. Let’s see how they develop. Before We die, We will eliminate all potential threats.”

“No matter how much you say We are heartless, We will still do this.”

The eunuch listening on the side broke out in a cold sweat, thinking the Emperor’s condition was worsening. Now he was having episodes, talking at length with someone long dead…

Fearing the Emperor would spend his days muttering to the late Empress and eventually lose his mind, the eunuch couldn’t help but interrupt, forcibly inserting himself into the Emperor’s conversation with a nonexistent person: “Your Majesty, having delegated so much power, aren’t you worried about being marginalized one day?”

The Emperor glanced at the eunuch.

He sneered: “We have ruled for thirty years, with the people’s hearts behind Us. Do you think the court officials taking sides now do so out of loyalty to those princes? It’s merely because We aren’t managing affairs. This chaos in court is just Us allowing them to muddy the waters.”

“If We truly wished to reclaim power, it would be as easy as turning over Our hand. The authority of an emperor, the direction of loyalty and trust, the faith of scholars – how could a mere eunuch like you understand?”

The eunuch expressed his shame.

But he asked in confusion: “Then why does Your Majesty allow the princes to hold power? Why watch them muddy the waters? What does Your Majesty intend to do?”

The Emperor replied coldly: “Nothing much, just eliminating all potential threats before We die.”

The eunuch didn’t understand, but seeing the Emperor’s episode had passed, he made light conversation while attending to the Emperor’s return to his sleeping palace. As for what followed—

That night in Princess Danyang’s residence, after Yan Er’lang entered, the maids all breathed sighs of relief, feeling that with him there, tonight would be fine.

As for Yan Shang himself, he couldn’t refuse a drunk princess.

He didn’t drink alcohol himself, so he was usually the one taking care of drunkards in the end.

Yan Shang thought tonight would be similar.

Based on his experience with drunk people, they were either especially unreasonable or especially obedient… Yan Shang thought that given Mu Wanyao’s normally fierce temperament, wouldn’t she be even more difficult when drunk?

But he was wrong.

Mu Wanyao was much more docile than he had imagined.

Apart from clinging to him and wanting to be held, she had no other excessive demands.

Eventually, Yan Shang couldn’t refuse. After silently apologizing, he was forced to enter the princess’s chambers and sit on her bed.

The curtains fell, and Mu Wanyao was held in his arms. Yan Shang’s heart kept racing, but he convinced himself to care for this young princess as he would his sister. He needn’t think too much – tonight was special, and tomorrow the princess would forget all this.

Continuously persuading himself this way, Yan Shang’s body finally became less rigid.

The change was obvious to Mu Wanyao, who was leaning against him.

But buried in his embrace, she could hear his wild heartbeat, pounding particularly distinct in the night.

Mu Wanyao secretly smiled, thinking this person appeared so composed, but wasn’t at all.

Yan Shang made a motion to rise.

Mu Wanyao immediately raised her head, glaring accusingly at him for wanting to leave.

She thought she was glaring, but with her misty eyes and flushed face, combined with disheveled hair making her face appear more delicate, far from fierce, she looked pitiful and vulnerable.

Yan Shang’s heart softened, and he said quietly: “I just want to find someone to bring a handkerchief to wipe Your Highness’s face – it will help you feel better tomorrow.”

Mu Wanyao suddenly understood.

Yan Shang thought she was drunk.

He thought he was comforting a drunk person, not knowing Mu Wanyao had excellent alcohol tolerance and didn’t get drunk easily. But seeing Yan Shang treat her so gently, Mu Wanyao didn’t want to reveal the truth. She was content to let him hold her like this, making her feel better.

Mu Wanyao said nothing, just clutched his sleeve and looked at him.

As she kept looking, she made Yan Shang’s heart soft.

He turned his head aside, coughing slightly. In the hazy moonlight, Mu Wanyao vaguely saw his ears turning red, making her suddenly feel flustered.

He helplessly sat back down, embracing her: “Alright, I won’t leave. Just wait until Your Highness falls asleep.”

Mu Wanyao: “You can’t leave all night.”

Yan Shang: “…That wouldn’t be proper.”

Mu Wanyao: “You can’t leave.”

After a moment of silence, she looked up at him again. Their eyes met, his looking down into her clear bright ones, and after a while, he nodded.

Only then did Mu Wanyao feel reassured.

She nestled back into his embrace. The faint agarwood incense from his body constantly surrounded her nose, and his embrace was warm but not scorching – exactly the temperature that suited her.

Mu Wanyao felt dazed, thinking so this is what it feels like to be held by someone.

Neither cold enough to frighten her, nor hot enough to suffocate her.

He was always different from other men she had met.

Yet Mu Wanyao didn’t believe it – how different could men be?

Mu Wanyao dreamily pondered these thoughts, closing her eyes and murmuring: “When my second brother was still alive, he would hold me all night like this when I was sick. But after he was gone, I stayed alone.”

Yan Shang fell silent.

He thought of Mu Wanyao’s second brother, the former Crown Prince. He had been the Empress’s legitimate son.

Brilliant and accomplished in both civil and military arts. But heaven envied talent – he died from falling off a horse at fifteen, passing away in his youth.

It was said the Emperor and Empress were devastated with grief.

Yan Shang said gently: “Then if the Princess considers me as an elder brother, that would be fine.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Even pretending to be drunk, she couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Have you forgotten I’m half a year older than you, little brother Yan?”

Yan Shang: “…”

He said: “Your Highness is truly difficult to comfort.”

Mu Wanyao: “You’re the one who said the wrong thing. Keep this up and I’ll have to call you little brother.”

Yan Shang: “Yes, it’s all my fault. I was wrong.”

Mu Wanyao burst out laughing, her lips curving up. She secretly stretched her arms, holding his waist tighter.

This wasn’t her fault.

Tonight she had planned to endure alone, but he had to come and say such things that made her feel wronged. It really was all his fault. She just wanted to be willful for once, temporarily forgetting everything outside, doing whatever she wanted.

And right now, she just wanted to lie in bed with him like this. Even if he wasn’t entirely willing.

But who told him to be so good-tempered?

Being good-tempered meant he should let her bully him—

Moonlight shone in, cold light moving across the tiles.

Yan Shang gradually became stiff from sitting, not knowing if the princess in his arms was asleep.

He leaned back slightly, his back touching the wall behind him, but stopped, discovering his waist was held too tightly by the princess to break free. He spread his arms, finding himself trapped below the waist, completely unable to move.

Yan Shang frowned, worried about how to move Mu Wanyao back to bed and free himself without disturbing her.

As he pondered, Mu Wanyao suddenly spoke – so she wasn’t asleep: “Actually, marrying you would be quite nice.”

Yan Shang started, looking down to see a bit of snow-white cheek exposed beneath her black hair.

He sighed: “How is Your Highness still awake?”

Mu Wanyao kept her eyes closed, speaking to herself: “Marrying you would be quite nice. Though you think too much, after a few more years of tempering, you’ll probably be completely inscrutable. But you’re upright, good to everyone. Whether you’re a true gentleman or a false one, from what I see, you plan to continue this way for life. Even if you’re a false gentleman, pretending for a lifetime, you’ll become a true one.”

“And with your moral standards, once you marry me, whether you like me or not, you’ll treat me very well, be especially tender with me, and always think of my interests first. I’ve never met someone who truly cared for me, but I feel if we married, you would be like that. Your moral constraints bind you, constraining you from betraying me or making me sad. You wouldn’t visit courtesans like other Chang’an young men, and wouldn’t learn bad habits with them. You don’t even drink, just to stay clear-headed at all times.”

“Although I think you live too tiringly. But if your exhaustion means being good to me, what do I have to be unsatisfied about? If we married, you would agree to my every request, and try to fulfill whatever I say. You would help me draw my eyebrows, mix my rouge, attend to me.”

“And you have such a good temper. I don’t know what could truly anger you. You wouldn’t scold me, wouldn’t get angry at me, wouldn’t turn away from me, wouldn’t make me cry. If I’m too willful, you would surely just sigh and give me a helpless look. With you looking at me so doting, what would I not like…”

As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, speaking until she became somewhat entranced. As if she could truly imagine their life after marriage.

She slowly raised her head from his embrace, looking at the silent Yan Shang who was looking down at her.

Yan Shang’s eyes held complex emotions as he quietly gazed at her, saying nothing.

An inexplicable, suppressed sentiment rippled gently between their exchanged glances.

Tender affection, confused hesitation. Wanting to draw closer but not daring, wanting to retreat but unwilling.

They simply gazed at each other quietly.

After a long while, Yan Shang finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse: “But you refused the marriage.”

Mu Wanyao smiled faintly.

She lowered her eyes again, her eyelashes concealing all expression within them.

She spoke softly with a hint of loneliness: “Because I just can’t accept it. My fate is controlled by others – back then when they wanted me to marry, I had to marry; now they casually assign me and expect me to nod in agreement. My life has always been at others’ mercy. I’ve barely been back in Chang’an, and Father Emperor already wants to send me away again.”

“I can’t accept it. I’d rather seek a balance between the Crown Prince and the Li family than be taken out of the game. I want to protect everyone around me, I want everyone by my side to never have to sacrifice again. I want power, so I can’t be removed from the game now, can’t marry.”

Yan Shang said nothing.

Mu Wanyao couldn’t help feeling irritated: “Why aren’t you answering?”

Yan Shang then said: “I originally thought Your Highness’s refusal had another meaning – that you were worried marrying me now would affect my career. Worried that if His Majesty suppressed you, he would suppress me as well. I didn’t expect I was being presumptuous – Your Highness hadn’t considered me at all.”

Mu Wanyao was stunned, looking up at him.

There was a trace of a smile in his eyes.

She immediately realized he was just joking, trying to cheer her up.

Mu Wanyao let out a soft “ah” and couldn’t help but reach out, cupping his face.

He stiffened, but she knelt upright, not letting him retreat, speaking gently: “You’re making excuses for me again… you’re so kind. I hadn’t thought of you, but since you say this, I’ll allow you to think in the future that I did it for your sake.”

Mu Wanyao declared solemnly: “You should think of me as a good person who considered your interests. Forget all that I said about not accepting things, just remember that I did it for your sake.”

Yan Shang held back his laughter, saying: “This humble servant obeys.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyebrows curved up along with his – he was amazing, able to make her feel better with just a few words. But she was still worried, and couldn’t help asking again: “Do you not blame me for refusing the marriage? Not blame me for saying those things about you?”

Yan Shang shook his head patiently.

He said: “If you hadn’t refused so harshly, His Majesty might have continued to force you. The more unworthy you made me sound, the more His Majesty would believe in your determination.”

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, several loose strands of hair scattered across her cheeks.

She rarely felt guilty toward him.

She bit her lip, saying uneasily: “But speaking about you that way, when word spreads tomorrow, those Chang’an families who wanted to arrange marriages with you might all reconsider. No one would eagerly marry someone who was just ruthlessly rejected by a princess and spoken of so poorly.”

Yan Shang said: “It doesn’t matter. I already told you, I have no plans to marry shortly. My sister-in-law is already pregnant, and I’m second in the family. My third brother below me hasn’t even started studying properly yet, and my little sister is even younger. They’re far from marriage age.”

“Even if I don’t marry for a year or two, it won’t much affect my third brother and little sister.”

Hearing this, Mu Wanyao felt somewhat happy.

She looked up at him again, hugging his waist eagerly, snuggling closer, showing obvious affection.

She said softly: “Why have you always been unwilling to marry?”

Yan Shang hesitated.

Mu Wanyao said unhappily: “I’m drunk, I won’t remember anything tomorrow. Can’t you even tell me the truth?”

Yan Shang said: “It’s not that I won’t tell Your Highness, it’s that I haven’t figured it out myself.”

He frowned slightly, somewhat self-doubtingly said: “I’m truly not very interested in romance between men and women. Marriage to me is just a responsibility. Since it’s a responsibility, it’s simply fulfilling an obligation. So before I must fulfill this responsibility, I’m not interested in romance, naturally making me reluctant to marry.”

His face reddened slightly.

Somewhat embarrassed.

He said quietly: “Am I somewhat strange?”

Mu Wanyao nodded.

Yan Shang: “…”

He couldn’t help glaring at her.

Mu Wanyao laughed.

She said coquettishly: “Your thinking is very strange, what’s wrong with me nodding? What eighteen-year-old man isn’t at the age of admiring young beauties? Who doesn’t get starry-eyed and tongue-tied at the sight of a pretty girl? Besides, liking someone is such a wonderful thing – kissing, hugging, rolling around with someone you like, these are such joyful things.”

“Yet you’re not interested. If you’re not strange, who is?”

Yan Shang smiled politely.

Very perfunctory.

He respected others’ thoughts, but couldn’t help his lack of interest.

A mischievous look appeared in Mu Wanyao’s eyes.

She carried a natural hint of coyness even when not smiling: “You’re not interested in women because you haven’t experienced it. Never mind, I’ll teach you.”

Before Yan Shang could react, she pounced forward. Yan Shang had only been leaning against the wall, and her forceful sideways pounce immediately pressed him down onto the bed.

Yan Shang’s heart stopped for a moment.

He grabbed her hand, his voice tense: “Your Highness!”

But it was too late.

Mu Wanyao’s lips held a smile, her eyes half-lidded, their corners flushed with the red of wine. Pressing him down, she began pulling at his waist sash.

Yan Shang was shocked, struggling against her, but his collar was pulled open, revealing his long neck, pure as jade.

Her other hand pulled out his hair tie, and his black hair spread across the pillow like ink dispersing in water.

The young man’s long neck arched slightly, beneath the snow-white skin, his tendons were taut as bowstrings.

Mu Wanyao felt dizzy, her lips lightly bitten, brows slightly furrowed, seeming both pained and delighted.

She knelt before him like a demon, spring rippling in her eyes. The bed tassels swayed, layers of curtains billowing like moonlight. Amid heavy breathing, he gripped her hands to stop her mischief, but after her assault, his shoulders were exposed, and his robes disheveled.

Yan Shang’s voice was no longer so calm: “Your Highness… Mu Wanyao!”

Her cheeks flushed, and her lips brushed his cheek, he turned away immediately, but she paid no mind, her breath caressing his neck, trailing down like moonlight. Yan Shang’s breathing became chaotic, loose hair brushing his face, he began breathing rapidly, starting to lose control.

Sensing his tension and heat, Mu Wanyao revealed a knowing and playful smile, burying herself under the covers. Only in teasing him like this did she realize his frame was graceful – blame those loose robes he usually wore, completely hiding it.

Yan Shang saw this wasn’t good and quickly embraced her, holding her tight against his chest to stop her from continuing.

Mu Wanyao’s face was forced against his chest, but she didn’t mind, lightly extending her pink tongue, just a touch. Yan Shang’s eyes grew unfocused, he let out a sharp “mm,” his body curling slightly, trembling, sweat beading on his forehead.

Mu Wanyao was about to tease him further when, after calling “Your Highness” helplessly twice, he finally spoke—

“Was Your Highness like this with your former husband as well?”

Instantly, the atmosphere turned cold.

Mu Wanyao raised her head, looking at his handsome face flushed and beaded with sweat, and his eyes black as ink jade.

Her face became completely expressionless.

She said: “You’re really capable.”

“As expected of Yan Shang.”

“You know exactly where my weakness is, hitting it perfectly. You not only know how to comfort me with words but also how to anger me with them. Yan Shang, you really… know how to speak.”

Yan Shang fell silent.

She no longer teased him, so he could slowly sit up. He bent his legs to hide his body’s changes, but she had already noticed, sneering disdainfully at his hypocritical posturing.

Yan Shang ignored her mocking gaze. After sitting up, he gathered his clothes. With long hair scattered across his face and shoulders, even with disheveled clothes, he appeared elegant and inviolable at that moment.

Yan Shang said slowly: “Your Highness is drunk.”

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “You’re so clever, you know whether I’m drunk or not.”

Yan Shang fell silent again, then said: “Your Highness simply doesn’t want to maintain propriety, wants to act unrestrained, wants to play with me. Your Highness doesn’t want any future with me and doesn’t want to discuss any possibilities. Your Highness is just too unhappy tonight and wants to use me for entertainment.”

Mu Wanyao didn’t deny it.

She said: “Is that not allowed?”

Yan Shang said: “No, it’s not.”

Mu Wanyao raged: “You!”

He looked at her, his eyes like clear snow, making her suddenly fall silent. He said: “I’m not that kind of person. If Your Highness wants someone to play with, Chang’an has plenty of male entertainers and plenty of people willing to offer themselves to Your Highness. I am not among them. I don’t serve with my body, I thought Your Highness knew this.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him, rage about to burst forth, her face completely red, somewhat humiliated.

She had been rejected… She had vaguely guessed his character before, but she thought she was different from him, thought he wouldn’t refuse…

As if her most filthy and disgusting side had been seen by him, been tortured by his gaze.

She couldn’t accept it at all.

Lowering her head to bury her face against her knees, she said angrily: “Get out!”

Yan Shang said gently: “Your Highness should sleep. I’ll guard outside and won’t disturb you further.”

Mu Wanyao kept her face buried against her knees, not wanting to look at all. Hearing the sound of him leaving the bed, hearing his footsteps, her heart felt utterly empty.

Then she heard his footsteps stop, and he said softly: “Your Highness is just confused, you’ll feel better tomorrow. Please rest well.”

Mu Wanyao: “I’m fine.”

She pretended to suppress the shame in her heart, smiling languidly: “I rejected you once tonight, you rejected me once tonight. We’re even.”

Yan Shang: “Mm.”

He left the inner chamber.

Mu Wanyao raised her head, seeing the inner chamber was empty, she wailed inwardly, burying her completely red face in the pillow, utterly mortified—

She had been rejected!

She, a bewitching beauty, had been rejected!

Her previous men had all been quite enthralled by her body, just where had things gone wrong… Yan Shang rejected her?

She began to doubt her allure.