Yang Si jumped into the carriage and sat opposite Mu Wanyao. Though she frowned, she didn’t chase him away. Their relationship had always been like this.

However, when he brought up Yan Shang and started talking about wishing her happiness, she was taken aback. She turned her face away and gave him a strange look. She had known him for so many years, and this didn’t sound like something he would say.

Mu Wanyao asked, “…Why are you telling me this?”

She questioned further, “What does it matter if I like him or not?”

Yang Si smiled.

His smile was clean and bright, like the winter sun, carrying that fearless and carefree style of youth, quite different from the proud and restrained manner of other noble young men in Chang’an.

Yang Si looked at Mu Wanyao very seriously: “If you don’t like him, forget I said anything. But if you do like Second Young Master Yan, tell me, and I’ll observe him to see if he’s suitable for you. Don’t worry about status or position. Just listen to your heart, then tell me. Yao Yao, we’ve known each other for so many years. Even though I work for the Crown Prince, you should know I won’t harm you, right?”

Mu Wanyao gazed at him quietly, her eyes momentarily gleaming like sunlight reflecting off a lake.

She lowered her eyes and clasped her hands tightly.

“It’s not suitable,” she murmured.

Yang Si replied, “Why worry about what’s suitable? Just ask yourself if you like him or not. You can’t base every relationship on benefits, can you? You’re a princess after all. Does wanting to marry someone mean you must listen to others?”

Mu Wanyao felt somewhat lost.

This was the second time, after Yan Shang, that a man had encouraged her to like whoever she wanted to like.

Mu Wanyao laughed helplessly: “What are you saying? How can I not consider these things?”

Yang Si said softly: “Then why are you pursuing power now? Don’t you want power so you can make your own decisions? If you have power but still can’t like who you want to like, why work so hard now? In life, you don’t always have to follow the rules and don’t always have to convince yourself. Sometimes you should be willful and live for yourself.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him in amazement.

He lowered his eyes to look at her, and suddenly the cold light in his gaze softened. He leaned forward and gently rubbed her face with his slightly rough fingertip.

Mu Wanyao was startled and leaned back, not expecting him to pinch her cheek. She said irritably, “Just talk if you want to talk, why get physical!”

Yang Si teased: “What’s wrong? I can’t even touch you now? And you say you don’t like Second Young Master Yan?”

Mu Wanyao stubbornly insisted: “I don’t! What’s it to you!”

Yang Si clicked his tongue.

He smiled ambiguously: “Tch. You little copycat. You learn to talk like me, act like me… why don’t you learn my personality? If I were you, I wouldn’t be afraid to admit it like you are.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes widened, cat-like, both charming and wary. Her face flushed red, and she wanted to retort “Who’s copying you?” but when she met Yang Si’s all-knowing eyes, she swallowed her words.

She lowered her head with a self-mocking smile, her hands clenching tighter.

Indeed, how could Yang Si not see through her? She was copying him. He probably realized it when she returned to Chang’an.

Why did she want to copy him?

Because among all the people she knew, he was the most unrestrained and free-spirited. Since childhood, he has always done whatever he pleased. Yang Si’s father, His Highness the Crown Prince, had always been trailing behind this troublemaker, cleaning up his messes.

Mu Wanyao really envied Yang Si.

She had suffered so much in Wuman. When she wanted to change her gentle nature, she instinctively thought of Yang Si. She wanted to become like Third Young Master Yang, to get angry when she wanted, to ignore those she didn’t like…

So she learned to act like Yang Si, to talk like him. Without realizing it, Mu Wanyao had truly become very different from before.

But what good was changing her personality? Many things still required a cool head.

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes and, instead of continuing to discuss Yan Shang, asked: “Are you encouraging me like this because you don’t want to marry me?”

Yang Si replied: “Haven’t I said before? I don’t care. Even if I marry you, I can still take concubines.”

Mu Wanyao glared at him: “You!”

He burst out laughing.

Yang Si reached out to pat her head: “Alright, alright, I’ve said what I needed to say. I’ll pretend I didn’t see you secretly meeting Second Young Master Yan, but do you have any nice gifts here that I could give someone?”

He looked up at the sky and said: “I argued with the Crown Prince yesterday, so I want to bring some gifts to apologize.”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: “You’re not sincere. Wanting to pilfer gifts from me to apologize, wouldn’t the Crown Prince be hurt if he knew?”

Yang Si smiled: “How would he know? If you don’t tell on me, he won’t know. If you do tell on him, I’ll tell him you don’t want to marry me but want to marry Second Young Master Yan instead. Let’s see how the Crown Prince deals with you then.”

Mu Wanyao: “You’re talking nonsense! That’s not true at all!”

Yang Si: “So you’re crying and begging to marry me instead?”

Mu Wanyao was furious with him and raised her hand to hit him, but he easily blocked her attempt with his arm, preventing her from landing a blow.

Mu Wanyao fumed: “Just go away! Fang Tong, give Third Young Master Yang the wine I brought, and quickly get him to leave!”

Yang Si was chased off the carriage by Mu Wanyao, accompanied by the young princess’s anger-flushed face and the wine jar he held in his arms.

Yang Si casually waved goodbye to Mu Wanyao and was about to leave. Watching his back, she called out: “Third Brother Yang!”

Yang Si’s back stiffened slightly.

This was the first time she had called him that since returning from her marriage alliance. That one phrase seemed to take him back to their youth, as if that delicate little princess was still carefree, following behind him, gently tugging at his clothes, saying, “I can’t let you go. Big Brother told me to watch you, I won’t be able to face Big Brother if you leave.”

Back then, though frightened white by his cold expression, she still stubbornly followed him: “Third Brother Yang, where are you going? Can you take me with you? Third Brother Yang, don’t ignore me, don’t leave me behind.”

Third Brother Yang, Third Brother Yang.

It tormented him like a demon in his midnight dreams.

After she left for her marriage alliance with Wuman, Yang Si would always dream of her from those times. But he had still abandoned her, still ignored her… He couldn’t take her with him, couldn’t help her. He had left her in that nightmare, lost her, and could never get her back.

It was his fault. He didn’t deserve her calling him “Third Brother.” He wasn’t a good brother.

Yang Si stood frozen for a long while, silently watching the bustling crowd in front of the imperial city. His heart ached unbearably at that one “Third Brother Yang,” but he had to force it down.

Yang Si turned back to look at Mu Wanyao, who had lifted the carriage curtain to watch him and showed his usual smile.

He joked casually: “What is it, Sister Yao Yao?”

Mu Wanyao glared at him, then said softly: “I know you’re not marrying because you’re protecting me. Third Brother Yang, I know, thank you.”

Yang Si clicked his tongue: “Aren’t you overthinking? Who says it’s for you? I’m just too handsome and free-spirited to want to marry early. What does that have to do with you?”

Mu Wanyao gave him an exasperated look, both angry and amused.

She said: “Then what kind of lady do you like? Let me help you look, alright?”

Yang Si stared at her: “Are you admitting you want me to help you check out Second Young Master Yan? Are you trying to make a deal with me?”

Mu Wanyao was embarrassed and angry: “No! I’m just concerned about your marriage! I want to find a lady who can keep you in check, so you’ll stop bothering me all day!”

Yang Si tilted his head back to look at the sky, genuinely thinking about what kind of wife he would like.

He said: “I like gentle ones, virtuous ones, obedient ones, who speak softly and take care of every detail. But not just a simple household girl – she should be as beautiful as a celestial maiden, with an open personality who can accompany me in public, share my ambitions, understand my thoughts…”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She said sarcastically: “I was just asking casually, but you sure have a lot of requirements?”

Yang Si smiled at her: “Marriage is serious, of course, I have to think it through carefully. Didn’t you say you’d help me look? So help me find someone.”

Mu Wanyao was silent for a moment.

Seeing that there was some truth mixed in with his joking, she finally said quietly: “You and I have surprisingly similar tastes in the opposite sex.”

Yang Si was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly thought of Yan Shang.

He made a thoughtful sound and pondered, stroking his chin: “You mean Second Young Master Yan? If he were a woman, he would indeed meet my requirements… Does his family have any sisters?”

Mu Wanyao warned: “No, don’t you dare fantasize about other people’s sisters!”

Yan Xiaozhou was so young, even younger than Princess Zhao Ling. Yan Xiaozhou was usually protected and cherished so well by Yan Shang and cared for so meticulously by her brother… Although Mu Wanyao was very jealous of Yan Xiaozhou, if she dared to have designs on Yan Xiaozhou, wouldn’t Yan Shang be unhappy?

Yang Si saw her wary look and wondered what she was being defensive about. He rolled his eyes – he was just saying it casually anyway – and this time he left.

As for Yan Shang’s side, although he was surrounded by concerned people, he still kept one part of his attention fixed on that carriage at the diagonal corner of the imperial city, by the corner of the houses.

He saw Yang Si being chased off the carriage, yet still chatting and smiling with the person inside. When the curtain was lifted, he caught a fleeting glimpse of just a silhouette.

But Yan Shang couldn’t be mistaken.

He saw Mu Wanyao’s face turn red.

From that distance, he only saw her blushing, but couldn’t make out her other expressions, as the curtain quickly fell back down.

Yan Shang didn’t know that Mu Wanyao’s face was red from being angered by Yang Si. He thought of another possibility… His heart skipped a beat, thinking how could this be.

Just last night she had been with him… and today with Third Young Master Yang… Was she being too careless about boundaries between men and women? When he saw her, he- he should talk to her about this matter.

Since she was close to him, she should keep her distance from other men.

Lost in these thoughts, Yan Shang’s eyes kept drifting to that carriage. He saw Yang Si leaving, and because he had been staring in that direction, Yang Si happened to look up and notice him.

Yang Si was stunned for a moment.

Yan Shang nodded in acknowledgment and seeing him, Yang Si also smiled. Instead of coming over to greet him, Yang Si just raised the wine jar in his hand, suggesting he was going to drink and would meet with Yan Shang another day… Yan Shang nodded politely, but in his heart, he thought that the wine jar seemed to have come from Mu Wanyao’s carriage.

She had given wine to Third Young Master Yang.

Yan Shang’s heart grew more troubled.

He even felt annoyed at himself for not drinking. Mu Wanyao was like a wine enthusiast, while he never drank – could the gap between them be too wide… Yang Si and she were so close, could it be because they both loved drinking?

But drinking or not drinking… how could that be so important?!

Then, after Yang Si left, Yan Shang waited a while longer and saw that carriage leave too.

Yan Shang was stunned, the last trace of hope in his heart shattered. So she hadn’t come to see him after all… When he first saw that carriage, he had thought… he had overthought things—

Mu Wanyao had originally intended to see Yan Shang, but after Yang Si’s talk with her, though he meant to encourage her, she realized she had been too impulsive.

Knowing it was impossible, she still wanted to see Yan Shang.

When something is impossible, one should control oneself.

So after Yang Si left, Mu Wanyao sat dazedly in the carriage for a while, then had the driver leave, deciding not to see Yan Shang after all.

After being released from prison, Yan Shang suddenly became a famous figure among Chang’an’s scholars, and everyone wanted to meet him.

That was fine.

As for those who had helped rescue him, following his style, Yan Shang would certainly visit each household to express his gratitude. Going back and forth like this, Yan Shang set aside two days to handle these social obligations.

Yan Shang also went to visit Minister Liu.

Although Minister Liu hadn’t said much during the three-department trial that day, Yan Shang knew his quick release must have been related to Minister Liu’s attitude. Yan Shang specifically chose a day to visit, and even if Minister Liu wouldn’t see someone as insignificant as him, Yan Shang was determined to show proper courtesy.

When the gate servant received Yan Shang’s visiting card, instead of making him wait long, he eagerly invited him in.

Yan Shang’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that given the usual crowds at the Prime Minister’s gate, being received so quickly… Minister Liu must want to see him—

In the main hall of Minister Liu’s residence, there wasn’t just Minister Liu, but another Prime Minister, Minister Zhang.

Minister Zhang had once received Yan Shang’s examination papers but hadn’t helped him. This forced Yan Shang to turn to Mu Wanyao, seeking Princess Danyang’s help instead.

Minister Liu had invited Minister Zhang for tea at his home, and when the steward reported that Second Young Master Yan was requesting an audience, Minister Liu had him brought in, causing Minister Zhang to be startled.

Minister Zhang said: “Well well, I wondered why you suddenly invited me for tea. So it was for Second Young Master Yan?”

Minister Liu stroked his beard and smiled.

Minister Liu said: “During the three-department trial three days ago, this Yan Suchen left quite an impression on me, and I’m thinking of promoting him. I heard you once received his examination papers but didn’t help him, so I wanted to ask your opinion of him.”

Minister Zhang recalled the examination papers he had seen back then.

Minister Zhang shook his head: “I don’t remember. I’m afraid his talent was ordinary, making him quite forgettable.”

Minister Liu then said: “A person’s worth isn’t just about their scholarly achievements. I think it’s time to change the court’s official selection system. It makes no sense to keep talented people like Yan Suchen out while recruiting pedantic scholars who can only compose poems and prose but know nothing about governance.”

Minister Zhang remained silent. Of course, the official selection system needed to change gradually, but as they were all from great families, even if they understood matters that affected their interests, they wouldn’t speak too much about them.

Minister Zhang changed the subject: “It seems you think highly of this Second Young Master Yan. What’s this about – do you want to take him as a disciple, or are you thinking of marrying your precious granddaughter to him?”

As soon as Minister Zhang said this, a young lady’s coquettish voice came from behind the screen: “How can Grandfather Zhang say such things? How embarrassing!”

Minister Zhang: “…”

He looked at Minister Liu, who raised his head while stroking his beard, seriously contemplating the clouds above. Minister Zhang twisted his neck in shock, looking toward the plain screen on the south side.

He hadn’t noticed earlier, but now he saw that behind the screen stood the shadowy figure of a young lady.

The young lady quickly peeked her head out from behind the screen to greet Minister Zhang, but hearing footsteps, she quickly ducked back behind it.

This was Minister Liu’s most beloved granddaughter, Young Lady Liu Ruzhu.

The young lady had reached the age of thirteen, but Minister Liu doted on his granddaughter so much that he found fault with every young gentleman and was unwilling to marry her off.

But today… with this meeting arranged behind a screen, Minister Liu’s intentions were obvious.

Minister Zhang suddenly became interested in Yan Shang. If Minister Liu was willing to bring out his precious granddaughter, he wanted to carefully observe what kind of bearing this Second Young Master Yan had, to make Minister Liu think so highly of him—

When Yan Shang arrived, he paid his respects to Minister Liu and Minister Zhang.

Minister Zhang looked at him: “Didn’t you once submit your examination papers to me, and I ignored you? Do you resent me now for not paying attention to you back then?”

Yan Shang smiled and said: “The Minister handles thousands of affairs daily, how could you focus on small figures like us? Submitting examination papers is just one opportunity – having it is good, and not having it is fine too. How could one harbor resentment just because someone doesn’t appreciate them? Moreover, Minister Zhang has selected so many talented individuals for the court over the years, I can barely express my admiration in time, how could I blame the Minister just because I didn’t receive your recognition?

“The Minister asking this makes me feel ashamed.”

Minister Zhang’s expression became strange as he looked at Minister Liu.

Minister Liu raised an eyebrow, giving him a meaningful smile: See? This is how well-spoken this person is. Otherwise, during the three-department trial, he wouldn’t have been able to convince all three parties by himself.

Moreover, Yan Shang was neither servile nor arrogant, with a gentle attitude, not the type to eagerly curry favor, which made people like him even more.

Minister Zhang exchanged glances with Minister Liu: I see why you admire him. He’s just like you were in your youth, a humble gentleman, smooth in all situations.

Minister Liu’s smile deepened, but he said nothing. He let Minister Zhang take the lead, continuing to ask Yan Shang several questions from tricky angles—

Minister Liu’s granddaughter, Liu Ruzhu, hiding behind the screen, secretly observed Yan Shang.

A few days ago when her grandfather returned home, he had told her about a certain Second Young Master Yan whom he thought very highly of. If this Young Master Yan was sensible enough to come to pay his respects, he would let her take a look at him. If Young Master Yan wasn’t sensible enough to come visit, the matter would be dropped.

So for the past three days, Liu Ruzhu had been daydreaming, wondering what kind of young man could make her grandfather like him so much.

Her parents had no say in her marriage; it was all up to her grandfather. The entire Liu family trusted Minister Liu’s judgment, and Liu Ruzhu had spent three days imagining what this young man might be like, and now she was secretly watching from behind the screen—

She saw that his bearing was dignified and graceful, with an ancient elegance.

His voice was gentle, and he had his rhythm when speaking, neither hurried nor slow. Even when Grandfather Zhang’s questions became sharp, his tone remained steady, showing he was someone who followed his principles.

Sometimes he turned his face to the side, sometimes he smiled.

So his eyebrows were that gracefully long, and even when silent, his eyes carried a hint of a smile. His nose was handsome, and when he pressed his lips together, he looked so refined… Standing in the dappled light of the great hall, Liu Ruzhu’s heart was deeply moved.

“The evening wind is cold by the clear bank, the jade-bones of green mountains grow thin.”

He was exactly like those “jade-bones of green mountains.”

Liu Ruzhu blushed, covering her pounding heart, very satisfied with the marriage her grandfather was arranging for her. She was just waiting for her grandfather to bring it up with Young Master Yan… Although Young Master Yan’s background wasn’t very good at present, her grandfather’s judgment wouldn’t be wrong, so Liu Ruzhu wasn’t worried about this at all.

She only worried whether this young gentleman would like her.

She hoped he would like her, and not just nod in agreement for her grandfather’s sake—

Minister Zhang asked some questions, and Yan Shang answered them smoothly.

Minister Zhang and Minister Liu quickly realized that Yan Shang’s scholarship was acceptable, though, in poetry and prose, he was truly ordinary, showing no particular talent; but when asked about views on governance, Yan Shang’s answers were no longer as unremarkable as his poetry.

Minister Zhang nodded.

Minister Liu was even more satisfied.

Minister Liu smiled and said: “Having gone through the three-department trial, you are already a rare talent for the court. If I were to directly appoint you to a position in the Department of State Affairs, what would you think?”

From Minister Liu’s persistent questions about the relationships between various court departments, Yan Shang had guessed that the other party intended to appoint him to office. However, Yan Shang had his thoughts.

He said gently: “I wouldn’t dare refuse the Minister. However, I have been studying for several months and am about to take the imperial examination in October. Though I am unworthy, I still wish to test my abilities. It’s rare to have so much time to study at the Hongwen Academy, truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I don’t want to waste it, and I also have many questions I’d like to ask Minister Liu about, I just feared troubling the Minister.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned slightly cold.

Minister Zhang raised an eyebrow, smirking. Someone like him who had been immersed in officialdom for many years could immediately hear Yan Shang’s intention to refuse, no matter how tactfully it was expressed.

Wow.

Old Liu had been rejected.

This was getting interesting—

Minister Liu’s expression remained unchanged as he stared at Yan Shang for a while, then nodded: “You want to study more, you have a lifetime for that. It’s not that you need to study now at the Hongwen Academy for the imperial examination, and once you become an official, you can rest easy and never need to study again. You should keep books in hand your whole life to make up for the gap between you and others.”

He was implicitly criticizing Yan Shang’s humble origins and the vast gap between him and those from prominent families.

Yan Shang cupped his hands: “Thank you for the Minister’s guidance.”

Minister Liu: “Mm.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yan Shang took his leave.

After he left, Minister Liu’s face darkened.

His granddaughter ran out from behind the screen, stamping her foot in complaint: “Grandfather! How could you! You didn’t even mention my marriage!”

Minister Zhang deliberately said: “Old Liu, why didn’t you take him as a disciple, why didn’t you offer your granddaughter to him? Is it because after just one sentence, you’ve lost interest in him?”

Minister Liu glanced at his troublemaking colleague.

Minister Liu said: “I didn’t expect Yan Suchen to have such a proud side to his character. Hmph, since he has this backbone, I’ll have to wear him down a bit more.”

Minister Zhang clicked his tongue: “You haven’t even become his teacher yet, and you’re already planning to wear him down. Poor Suchen indeed.”