Yan Shang said, “I don’t know how to answer that.”

Mu Wanyao shook her head: “But I specifically want to hear what you have to say.”

Sitting in the carriage, Yan Shang remained silent for a long time.

However, Mu Wanyao clearly wouldn’t let him off. She kept staring at him, determined to get an answer.

After quite a while, Yan Shang finally spoke slowly: “Does Your Highness want to hear my thoughts or my analysis?”

When Mu Wanyao heard him say “personal thoughts,” her heart skipped a beat. But she quickly realized she was probably overthinking it—how could someone like Yan Shang’s personal thoughts be anything like what she imagined?

She smiled indifferently, having long since given up any thoughts about marriage, holding no expectations. Asking Yan Shang now was merely to tease him.

Mu Wanyao said lazily: “Then just give me your analysis.”

Yan Shang looked at her and said softly: “If we put personal feelings aside, I believe either of them could be suitable.”

Mu Wanyao: “…Are you joking with me?”

Yan Shang replied helplessly: “However if I were to be more personal about it, I think that although Wei Juyuan is younger if Your Highness would wait just two more years for him, he would be very suitable for you.”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: “You say this because you’re close friends with Wei Shu, right?”

She asked suspiciously: “Is it because you don’t get along with Yang Si that you’re against me marrying Yang San?”

Yan Shang couldn’t help but furrow his brows slightly.

Even with his exceptionally good temperament, her assumption made him pause for a moment.

Fortunately, his temperament was so good that he only paused for a breath before adjusting his mood.

Yan Shang said: “I wouldn’t let personal feelings influence Your Highness’s decision. Besides, Young Master Yang and I merely have some misunderstandings that can be cleared up with discussion. How could I groundlessly discredit him?”

Mu Wanyao smiled sweetly: “Yes, you wouldn’t discredit anyone. I’m just waiting for the day when the Prince Consort moves into my Princess Manor, and you get along harmoniously with my husband, living in daily bliss.”

Yan Shang remained silent.

He brought the topic back to the previous discussion: “I recommend Wei Juyuan to Your Highness because compared to the Crown Prince, the Li family’s arrangements would be better for you. Although the Crown Prince will be the future heir… Your Highness is already a Princess, maintaining surface-level respect is enough, and what the Crown Prince can offer, the Wei and Li families can provide as well.

“Moreover, the Wei family follows the path of ‘long-term survival.’ Such a family rarely gets involved in inappropriate matters. If Your Highness chooses Wei Juyuan, with the Wei family and Li family cooperating, the alliance of two great families would put Your Highness in a better position between them.

“Better still, Wei Juyuan’s relationship with the Wei family isn’t too close. So even if Your Highness chooses Wei Juyuan, it only represents cooperation with the Wei family, and because they don’t manage Wei Juyuan’s affairs, they won’t easily interfere in the Princess’s matters. This way, even after marriage, the Princess can still maintain her independence. Your Highness and Juyuan would live in Chang’an, while the Wei family would stay in Luoyang and the Li family in Jinling… When the emperor is far away, things are always easier.”

Mu Wanyao was somewhat stunned.

She had only meant to tease Yan Shang, how could she have expected him to provide such a detailed analysis?

After hearing his analysis… Mu Wanyao adjusted the ornamental steps in her hair and looked at him strangely: “Were you sent by Juyuan to be his matchmaker? You keep talking about how good he is, how much did he pay you? Could it be that Juyuan has feelings for me?”

She covered her mouth, muttering: “Isn’t he a bit young to be interested in women? Isn’t it too early…”

Yan Shang looked at her patiently, turning his face aside and clutching the book in his hand, his lips tightly pressed together.

Mu Wanyao glanced over, seeing his straight nose bridge and his face cast in shadow, creating a layer of gloom… He didn’t speak, but for someone with such a good temperament, this expression meant he was somewhat displeased.

Mu Wanyao burst into laughter.

She said: “What’s wrong, Yan Shang? Are you angry?”

Yan Shang said softly: “I wouldn’t dare.”

The two were separated by some distance in the carriage, and Mu Wanyao couldn’t reach him with her hand. Being lazy, she simply raised her leg, her skirt rippling like lotus petals. In the carriage, the lady’s shoe lifted, and her toe lightly tapped his knee.

Yan Shang stiffened, looking down at her jeweled shoe tip resting on his knee. The bright colors swayed gently, her jade foot wrapped within, as she hooked it once, then again…

His knee had become somewhat stiff from her tapping, so Yan Shang had to look at her, still trying to persuade her: “Your Highness shouldn’t do this.”

Mu Wanyao: “Continue speaking. I was just joking with you, I don’t believe you’re matchmaking for Juyuan.”

Yan Shang looked somewhat helpless as he turned to her and continued: “I truly am not speaking on Juyuan’s behalf. Because in my view, if Your Highness were to be with Young Master Yang… that could work as well.”

Mu Wanyao became curious: “How so?”

Yan Shang pressed his lips together, lowering his eyelashes. He seemed to analyze her marriage prospects with extreme seriousness: “Because although I think taking sides isn’t good if the Crown Prince is the future heir… if Your Highness wants to take a big gamble, it’s not impossible. Moreover, Your Highness and Young Master Yang grew up together, childhood sweethearts, with a relationship others can’t compare to.

“I can tell from Your Highness’s manner when speaking with Young Master Yang that… you two trust each other deeply, and he treats you very well. If… you were to marry, even with the Crown Prince overseeing things, Yang San would surely protect Your Highness. From a personal perspective, given Your Highness’s history with Yang San, marrying him would be secure as well.”

Mu Wanyao: “You might as well have said nothing.”

She continued: “You think Wei Shu is quite good, and Yang Si is quite good too. You don’t want to offend anyone, do you? No matter who becomes the Prince Consort, you think they’re all fine. Don’t you have any personal opinion? As my courtier, do you plan to keep being this wishy-washy?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes.

Mu Wanyao continued to lecture him, giving him a thorough talking-to. After she finished, he said: “I naturally have my personal opinion. Does Your Highness want to hear it?”

Mu Wanyao was used to his mild-mannered, non-confrontational way, and said impatiently: “Let’s hear it.”

Yan Shang said: “If speaking of my personal feelings, in truth, I privately don’t wish for Your Highness to choose either of them.”

Mu Wanyao was instantly stunned.

She looked over at him and saw him staring at her.

At this moment, the carriage had arrived outside the Eastern Palace, and the servants outside asked the Princess if she wanted to disembark. However, they heard the Princess’s urgent voice: “Wait!”

In the carriage, Mu Wanyao stared intently at Yan Shang, not taking her eyes off him: “Don’t leave your words half-finished. Why don’t you want me to choose either of them?”

Yan Shang leaned against the carriage wall, completely quiet. He looked at her with gentle eyes and said softly: “If possible, I hope Your Highness won’t be swayed by any interests and can marry someone you truly like, living as equals with someone you truly care for.

“Your Highness’s first marriage was for interest, was a sacrifice. Must the second one be the same?

“If possible, I hope Your Highness has your preferences, someone you truly want to marry. There must be someone in this world who genuinely cares for Your Highness, someone who makes you feel that no interest is better than choosing him. I hope Your Highness can meet such a person and find true happiness.

“So, speaking from my personal feelings, I don’t wish for Your Highness to choose either of them.”

Yan Shang said sincerely: “I hope Your Highness marries someone you like.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him blankly, gazing at him in a daze.

His words were gentle, his gaze was gentle, his demeanor was gentle… He spoke smoothly, yet it was like a sharp knife piercing into her heart, striking her long-closed inner feelings. She felt somewhat aggrieved, somewhat sad. No one had ever said such words to her before…

Yan Shang reached out to her with a smile: “The carriage has stopped, isn’t Your Highness getting off?”

Mu Wanyao blinked, hiding the momentary trance in her eyes. His palm faced upward in a supporting gesture. She placed her wrist upon it, and he gently supported her as she descended from the carriage—

When they reached the Eastern Palace to see the Crown Prince, Mu Wanyao had already composed all her emotions.

Her moment of softness had only shown briefly earlier; as she stepped into the Eastern Palace, she put on her full facade again, once more becoming the proud Princess of Danyang.

Yan Shang followed her in but didn’t go in to see the Crown Prince. Because Yan Shang currently held no official position, he wasn’t qualified to meet the Crown Prince.

While Yan Shang waited for Mu Wanyao in the outer hall, he encountered Yang Si, Young Master Yang San, once again.

Yang Si sat cross-legged under a peach tree in the Eastern Palace courtyard, squinting his eyes as he looked at Yan Shang: “You’re Yan Suchen, right? His Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to receive you.”

As he spoke, Yang Si was fiddling with a nine-linked ring puzzle, creating a constant clanking noise.

A palace maid from the Eastern Palace, unable to bear it anymore, whispered to Yang Si: “Young Master San, could you please be quieter? His Highness punished you to reflect in the courtyard, and even if you want to play with the nine-linked rings, please don’t make such loud noise—it makes it difficult for us to explain to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Yang Si waved his hand dismissively: “I know, I know.”

He did indeed lower the volume.

But as he manipulated the nine-linked rings, Yang Si wore an expression of deep frustration, clearly unable to solve it.

Yang Si: “…”

He had originally planned to warn Yan Shang while solving the puzzle, appearing superior. However, he was stuck on the first step.

Yan Shang silently watched him for quite a while, having initially greeted Young Master Yang San with clasped hands. But Yang San, unable to maintain face, focused on solving his puzzle, ignoring Yan Shang.

Yan Shang stood there for a long time, and Yang Si’s face grew increasingly rigid.

More and more tense.

Anyone trying to show off in front of another person only to embarrass themselves like this… would feel uncomfortable.

Yang Si was irritated at himself for deciding to play with the nine-linked rings. After much thought, he could only blame himself for seeing Yan Shang enter and, noting his refined appearance, wanting to intimidate him… Ah, he was good at martial arts, why did he need to solve nine-linked rings?

Being unable to solve it was truly embarrassing.

Just as Yang Si was at the height of his embarrassment, he heard the annoying voice of Yan Er-lang: “If you turn the ring under your right thumb’s ring three times to the right, then turn toward the ring on your left middle finger…”

Yang Si glanced at him with unfriendly eyes: “This kind of children’s game, how could it stump me? Do you think I can’t solve it?”

Yan Shang had watched him try the same angle three times, like Yu the Great controlling the floods, passing his door without entering. Yan Shang only spoke up after seeing Yang Si’s increasingly difficult expression and sweat beginning to form on his forehead.

Now that Yang Si was glaring at him, Yan Shang smiled and said gently: “Of course, the young master can solve it, it just takes more time. However, for someone as martially accomplished as yourself, spending time on such trivial matters seems like using great talent for minor tasks. The young master should be doing more important things.”

Yang Si: “…”

He was speechless.

Not only could he not rebuke the other party, but it felt as if a spring breeze had entered his heart, soothing him completely… As someone who had been scolded by the Crown Prince since childhood, a troublemaker who rarely received praise, when Yan Shang spoke like this, Yang Si couldn’t help but feel pleased.

He couldn’t help but convince himself that what he said made sense.

Though he agreed internally, Yang Si showed nothing on his face. He put down the nine-linked rings, no longer embarrassing himself. The young man sat under the flowering tree, examining Yan Shang inquisitively. Even sitting and looking up, Yang Si maintained an imposing presence, like a sword or lightning, steadily dominating over Yan Shang.

Yang Si said: “Don’t think that just because you’re good with words, I’ll agree with you. This is the Eastern Palace, not elsewhere.”

Yan Shang sighed: “Young master seems to have some misunderstandings about me, please allow me to explain.”

Yang Si scoffed: “Don’t joke, what misunderstandings could I have about you?”

Yan Shang felt a subtle discomfort.

Comforting Yang Si was like comforting another Mu Wanyao. Because Yang Si’s tone… was too similar to Mu Wanyao’s.

So similar that someone as perceptive as Yan Shang felt waves of discomfort.

Just how close must their relationship be… to become so alike?

Yan Shang suppressed his slight discomfort, maintaining a gentle smile: “Then please tell me, young master, why your prejudice against me runs so deep. If it’s just because you saw me in Beili last time and felt my character was lacking, I can explain that.”

Yang Si: “Being close to the Princess while visiting courtesans, you think there’s nothing wrong with your character?”

Yan Shang said: “Wasn’t the young master also sitting in Beili meeting me while taking the Princess’s side?”

Yang Si’s eyebrows rose as he said coldly: “What do you mean?”

Yan Shang: “Young master has his reasons, and naturally, I am the same as the young master.”

Yang Si pondered thoughtfully.

He said: “Earlier at Yongshou Temple when I encountered you with Yaoyao, why did you two hide from me?”

Yan Shang naturally wouldn’t say that Mu Wanyao feared Yang Si would report to the Crown Prince. He said with surprise: “That must have been a coincidence. I didn’t know young master at that time.”

Yang Si gave a dismissive sound, clearly not believing it, but he couldn’t find evidence either.

Yang Si continued: “You’re also entangled with my cousin.”

Yan Shang was stunned, truly confused this time: “Who is your cousin?”

Yang Si jumped up angrily: “You’ve forgotten her so quickly? She’s Zhao Wu-niang, Noble Consort Zhao! My cousin mentions you to me daily, are you just stringing her along?”

Yan Shang understood.

He smiled bitterly and sighed in difficulty: “To be honest with Young Master San, I’ve been constantly rejecting Zhao Wu-Niang, I even moved houses to avoid her… I’ve gone to such lengths, what more can young master ask of me?”

Yang Si was stunned, his expression peculiar: “…You moved house to avoid her? Could you be a proper gentleman?”

Well, being called a proper gentleman is something others should say—it loses meaning if one claims it themselves.

So Yan Shang remained silent.

Yang Si circled him twice, throwing out his final question: “Then how did you stay so close to Yaoyao after your marriage arrangement fell through?”

Yan Shang said: “Because I’m grateful for Her Highness’s support, and since I have no foundation in Chang’an, I can only choose to rely on the Crown Prince.”

Yang Si: “…Rely on the Crown Prince?”

Yan Shang asked curiously: “Isn’t the Princess aligned with the Crown Prince? As the Princess’s courtier, isn’t it the same as relying on the Crown Prince?”

Yang Si frowned.

He wanted to say the Princess and Crown Prince were certainly different, but seeing Yan Shang’s candid expression… he held back his words. Perhaps this country bumpkin thought they were the same thing.

After clearing things up like this, Yang Si found he actually had no more misunderstandings about Yan Shang… When Yan Shang bowed and inquired again, he just gave a grunt.

Yang Si: “You should still explain why you appeared in Beili that day.”

Yan Shang’s eyelid twitched slightly.

He thought this Young Master Yang San probably didn’t use his head much. After so long, he still wanted an explanation for such a matter.

While Yan Shang gained a new understanding of Yang Si in his heart, his face showed nothing as he gently explained his reasons for being in Beili—

At this time in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, Mu Wanyao had just finished explaining her thoughts: “…That’s what I mean. Since Big Brother needs money, family members are the best entry point. Over these years, Aunt has amassed treasures and kept beautiful young men, relying on Father Emperor’s favor. The treasures accumulated at Aunt’s place must be considerable. My suggestion is for Big Brother to talk with Aunt.

“Have Aunt share some benefits. And with the Princess Imperial setting an example, once you get money from her, Big Brother, won’t it be normal to ask other great families in Chang’an for money?”

The Crown Prince pondered.

He said: “This is indeed the most difficult part. I’ve thought about it before—there are so many noble families in Chang’an, if the treasury needs money, we could ask them. But as you know, I’m not close to many noble houses… Starting with Aunt would naturally be most appropriate. But the trouble is, why would Aunt help me? Wouldn’t she just report this to Father Emperor?”

Mu Wanyao smiled: “Don’t worry about that, Big Brother. I’ll help you talk to Aunt. I’ll handle this matter for you, make Aunt willingly give money. Aunt isn’t in an easy position either—doesn’t she fear having no one to rely on after Father Emperor passes? She’s just been suppressed by Father Emperor for so long that she doesn’t dare approach you.

“If I help you negotiate, Aunt will agree.”

The Crown Prince appeared thoughtful.

He looked at Mu Wanyao with an ambiguous smile: “Just because of that earlier matter with the Top Scholar candidate, you had some conflict with Aunt. I thought you’d forgotten about it, but you were waiting for this chance to get revenge on Aunt. Yaoyao, you’ve become quite vindictive.”

Mu Wanyao retorted: “Big Brother, that’s nonsense. I’m helping you here. What’s wrong with mixing public duty with private revenge?”

The Crown Prince laughed.

He truly didn’t mind the mixing of public duty and private revenge—in fact, he was rather pleased that Mu Wanyao had a grudge against the Princess Imperial.

The struggle for succession was fundamentally a struggle of allegiances. Those who didn’t take sides appeared almost like enemies in the Crown Prince’s eyes. And the Princess Imperial’s usual conduct was already somewhat problematic… The Crown Prince needed prestige, and making an example of the Princess Imperial was necessary.

He just couldn’t move against her because of the Emperor.

But if Mu Wanyao could help him pacify the Princess Imperial, making her willingly submit to being plundered, the Crown Prince was naturally pleased.

The Crown Prince stood up, patted Mu Wanyao’s shoulder, and said with satisfaction: “Sixth Sister, you’re finally able to help your Big Brother do something.”

Mu Wanyao’s lips held a trace of a smile as her gaze carelessly swept toward the window.

When she had no other use, the Crown Prince thought her quickly marrying Yang Si was her purpose; now that she had other uses, the Crown Prince wouldn’t pressure her about marriage so intensely.

This idea that Yan Shang gave her… was indeed quite good.

Mu Wanyao made up her mind, thinking that she would keep Yan Shang as her advisor.

However, when Mu Wanyao casually glanced outside the window, she suddenly froze. She saw Yan Shang and Yang Si standing together in the courtyard, arms around each other’s shoulders, heads bent as they fiddled with something…

As Mu Wanyao wondered about this, the Crown Prince also saw it.

Crown Prince: “…Yang San hasn’t caused me more trouble, has he?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She looked at the Crown Prince’s startled-bird reaction and couldn’t help but press her lips together to suppress a smile. She thought about how many times must Yang Si have tricked the Crown Prince for him to make such bad premonitions about anything Yang Si did.

However, Mu Wanyao had to marvel at Yan Shang’s interpersonal skills.

Just earlier on the road, Yan Shang had mentioned having misunderstandings with Yang Si, but now looking at them… those misunderstandings must have been resolved—

After Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang left the Eastern Palace, Yang Si went in to tell the Crown Prince what Yan Shang had said to him.

The Crown Prince said casually: “That’s fine. Him helping Sixth Sister is, at least for now, the same as helping me.”

Yang Si then told the Crown Prince: “But there’s something you surely don’t know. This Yan Suchen is quite extraordinary. He told me that his appearance in Beili that night was because he already knew about Princess Imperial switching the Top Scholar candidate position. He went to Beili specifically to find someone to resolve this matter.”

The Crown Prince gave him a wordless look.

Yang Si, feeling he had discovered a great secret, froze and asked: “What’s wrong?”

The Crown Prince said: “…So you only just learned that Yan Suchen had interfered with that matter from his mouth?”

Yang Si: “…”

He said: “So you knew about this all along? You investigated it deliberately?”

The Crown Prince said carelessly: “Not deliberately. I just asked about several people’s whereabouts that night and pretty much figured out how things happened. Otherwise, why do you think I wanted to recruit Yan Suchen later at the Qujiang night banquet? Just because he was the Third Scholar? There are Third Scholars every year, and quite many of them.”

Yang Si’s face fell as he sat cross-legged.

After a while, he couldn’t help but slam the table in anger.

The Crown Prince glanced at him.

Yang Si said with suppressed anger: “So you knew about this all along and watched me act foolish for so long? You, you all…”

He suddenly froze, then realized: “Yan Suchen must have known that you knew about that matter, that’s why he casually told me about it today. Because he knew you already knew… so actually you all knew that each other knew, and I was the only one who didn’t know? I’ve been thinking he just went there for pleasure?”

The Crown Prince paused for a moment, then finally threw back his head and couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

He said: “I didn’t expect you to remain foolish for so long! If I had to tell you everything… what use would I have for you?”

Seeing him laugh loudly, Yang Si grew even more furious, his eyes reddening and neck swelling. He flipped over the table in front of him and lunged forward angrily: “You clever people are too much! Bastards!”

In the courtyard, peach blossoms fell scattered, servants remained silent, crouching under the eaves to feed cats—

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang sat in the carriage returning home. Midway, Yan Shang said gently: “Your Highness has just recovered from illness, please go rest. As for the Princess Imperial matter, since I initiated it, naturally I should go to the Princess Imperial’s manor to facilitate connections between her and the Crown Prince.”

Mu Wanyao said quietly: “The Princess Imperial wanted to sleep with you but failed, so this is your suggestion for her to ally with the Crown Prince? Let her sacrifice some treasures to have her face ruined by the Crown Prince in Chang’an?”

Yan Shang smiled.

He said: “This is the only way for Her Highness the Princess Imperial, who doesn’t participate in any politics, to curry favor with the Crown Prince.”

Mu Wanyao: “But I see you’re mixing public duty with private revenge. I don’t believe you could think of a better way—you dislike the Princess Imperial and want to see my aunt suffer.”

Yan Shang said: “How could you say that?”

Yet he didn’t deny it.

Mu Wanyao glanced at him and found his features gentle, his smile more genuine than before. He was now on her side, no longer as cautious about boundaries as before, willing to speak about many things he wouldn’t have said, and telling her about things he would have simply done without informing her.

The distance between them had grown closer.

Seeing him smile, Mu Wanyao’s heart unconsciously filled with joy. Even when he was being mischievous, he was so open about it, making her truly… admire him.

She said teasingly: “But is this just one instance of making aunt suffer? You don’t have any follow-up measures, you’re just letting aunt off? I don’t think that’s like you.”

Yan Shang looked over and asked in return: “Why does Your Highness think I wouldn’t let it end here?”

Mu Wanyao looked up at the sky and said softly: “Because you resisted so violently that day.”

Yan Shang: “…”

Mu Wanyao’s face was expressionless, as if talking about someone else: “You weren’t even clear-headed, you dropped all pretense when you saw me, your state at that time… made me think you were completely at your limit. Being tormented by an aunt to that extent, if you only took such small revenge, I don’t think it matches your style.”

She looked at the sky thoughtfully: “Your face was so red then, your body so hot, you wouldn’t let go of my hand, you were so tense, you…”

A trace of embarrassment colored Yan Shang’s face, and he quickly said: “Please, Your Highness, say no more!”

Mu Wanyao looked at him teasingly.

She watched him turn his face aside, his ears slightly red. He coughed once, his attempt to return to the previous topic forced: “Actually, once the Crown Prince starts managing the Princess Imperial’s affairs, things won’t go well for her afterward. Because once things start, they can’t be easily stopped. And your aunt has too many weaknesses…

“In the future, whenever His Highness the Crown Prince needs money or thinks of it, he will make use of the Princess Imperial. And letting this continue bit by bit, eventually, the Crown Prince won’t be able to resist taking action against Princess Imperial, and her current power will be completely taken back by the Crown Prince.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes widened as she said: “You’re frightening. Someone just wanted to sleep with you once, and you want revenge until they lose everything… Aren’t you too harsh on the ladies who want to sleep with you!”

Yan Shang stared at her.

Seeing the teasing and playfulness in her eyes.

After being bullied by her all day, being pushed around by her words for so long, he finally couldn’t help but respond: “Am I too harsh on ladies who want to sleep with me? Is it the same for everyone?”

Mu Wanyao froze, and then her face suddenly flushed red.