Yan Shang glanced at Meng Zaishi.

Meng Zaishi smiled at him casually, the scar on his face twitching like a pulsing vein, making him look frighteningly fierce.

Yan Shang’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he walked toward Mu Wanyao’s carriage.

During this time, Mu Wanyao kept her eyes fixed on Meng Zaishi, and he stared back at her. Neither spoke a word.

The officials of the Court of State Ceremonials followed behind their Minister, not daring to raise their heads to look. Some junior officials, who might only have this one chance in their lifetime to see the high-ranking princess, envied Yan Er Lang for being the princess’s neighbor and couldn’t help but steal a glance at the imperial carriage.

From a distance, they could see the radiant, pearl-like princess sitting in the carriage.

The low-ranking officials secretly marveled at the princess’s beauty, but inappropriately, a strange feeling stirred in their hearts: somehow, vaguely, perhaps… she seemed familiar?

As if they had seen her somewhere before.

But how could they possibly have seen the noble princess before?

The officials kept their heads down, not daring to think further.

Only after the carriage door closed, after the carriage had driven toward the palace gates, and after the Court of State Ceremonials personnel and the Wuman people had bid farewell to each other, did they finally disperse—

Sitting in the carriage, Yan Shang watched Mu Wanyao opposite him.

Mu Wanyao’s expression was somewhat cold, somewhat distant. He had been staring at her for two breaths when the carriage passed through the palace gates, and she seemed to finally remember there was another person in the carriage, turning to look at Yan Shang.

Their eyes met.

Mu Wanyao forced herself to appear normal, showing a slight smile: “What is it?”

Yan Shang asked slowly: “Your Highness usually ignores me once we’re outside, so why did you come to the Court of State Ceremonials to pick me up today? Aren’t you afraid of causing misunderstandings?”

After a pause, Yan Shang’s eyelashes lowered to cover his eyes, his voice growing softer: “Or perhaps Your Highness didn’t come to pick me up, but for other matters, or other people?”

Mu Wanyao was startled.

Then she looked at the refined young gentleman opposite her, and for a moment was silent, not knowing what to say.

Of course, she couldn’t help wanting to see what was happening with the Wuman, of course, her heart had been disturbed when she heard the Wuman king had come personally.

She had used the excuse of coming to the Court of State Ceremonials naturally because of the Wuman envoys. But she hadn’t expected to see Meng Zaishi at the entrance.

The howling memories from three years ago returned, making her heart feel both frozen and burning.

But these things… she didn’t want Yan Shang to know, didn’t want to tell Yan Shang.

Meng Zaishi would certainly cause some trouble.

These were all things Mu Wanyao didn’t want Yan Shang involved in.

She was already dirty enough, even her heart wasn’t clean. But only her love was pure.

She had a pure and clean affection for a gentleman, and so didn’t want him to get hurt, didn’t want him to know about her shameful past. She hoped to maintain some dignity in Yan Shang’s heart.

However… Yan Shang was too clever.

Many things and words, even if she hadn’t noticed the loopholes, Yan Shang could likely detect from the traces in her speech. And this person typically wouldn’t say much about uncertain things, so dealing with such a person required being very vigilant, and was quite troublesome.

Mu Wanyao considered herself not stupid, but she didn’t have the wisdom to completely deceive Yan Shang.

So, after a long silence, Mu Wanyao said coldly: “If you’ve guessed something, just say it directly, don’t play guessing games with me.”

Yan Shang raised his eyes to look at her.

He said softly: “That Wuman gentleman just now, is he an old acquaintance of Your Highness? And… quite close to Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow and nodded.

Yan Shang frowned, seeming to have many unresolved questions, and many contradictions. For example, he couldn’t understand if the person Mu Wanyao had mentioned having some enmity with when they were in Lingnan was this person today. If it was, the two of them just looking at each other without speaking didn’t seem like enemies; but if they weren’t enemies, the other party couldn’t have asked “Who is Yan Shisheng?”

Yan Shang was very confused.

What connections were there between all this? Was the person Mu Wanyao had wanted to deal with originally this Wuman person today or not?

But seeing her somewhat vigilant gaze, he paused, suppressing his confusion, and only said: “I see. I’d like to ask Your Highness for help.”

Mu Wanyao remained cautious: “What help?”

Yan Shang: “He asked me who Yan Shisheng is.”

Mu Wanyao was stunned for a moment, then let out a soft “Ah,” understanding what Meng Zaishi had discovered but having even more questions.

Mu Wanyao looked at Yan Shang, and Yan Shang briefly told her what had happened at the Court of State Ceremonials. Yan Shang said: “He doesn’t know that I am Yan Shisheng… but, I’m from Lingnan, and if he has suspicions, it won’t be hidden for long.”

Sitting in the carriage, Mu Wanyao leaned forward, placing her hand on Yan Shang’s knee, looking into his eyes, and immediately promising: “Starting today I’ll assign the Princess Manor’s secret guards to protect you, I absolutely won’t let him harm you.”

Seeing her so concerned about his safety, the unease in Yan Shang’s heart lessened somewhat.

He shook his head slightly, then smiled a bit shyly. He said: “I’m in Chang’an, and I’m also a court official. I’ve already made the stakes very clear to the Wuman people today. Even if they suspect I am Yan Shisheng, they won’t make a move in Chang’an.

“And I’m a capital official, without unexpected circumstances I won’t be able to leave Chang’an. So my safety isn’t a problem, Your Highness doesn’t need to worry about me.

“What I’m worried about isn’t myself, but my family. I’m afraid that if the Wuman people can’t deal with me, they’ll harm my family, use my family to threaten me.”

Mu Wanyao nodded, thinking this possibility indeed existed.

She asked: “How do you want me to help you?”

Yan Shang: “I just need Your Highness’s assistance to connect me with Your Highness’s uncle… the Nanhai County Magistrate. Although Lord Li isn’t the highest official in Lingnan, it’s precisely officials like county magistrates who can fully grasp control over local areas.

“I hope that considering my previous strategy contribution, I can ask Lord Li to deploy troops to secretly protect my family. I’ll also write a letter home, telling my elder brother to be vigilant. If my family suffers harm because of me, I could never forgive myself even in death.”

Mu Wanyao’s fingers trembled where they rested on his knee, feeling somewhat apologetic in her heart.

She was only worried about what Meng Zaishi might do to her, while on Yan Shang’s side, his family would suffer. All because of her.

So she couldn’t let Yan Shang get more deeply entangled in the grievances between her and Meng Zaishi.

Mu Wanyao comforted Yan Shang: “Don’t worry, since you can think of this ahead of time, your family will certainly be safe. After all, the Wuman people are in our Great Wei territory, and they can’t freely send messages now. You should trust my uncle’s ability to handle matters.”

Yan Shang nodded.

Mu Wanyao said: “Speaking of which, you’ve been away from home for a year now. Do you miss your family?”

Yan Shang said: “Of course I miss them. But what can be done?”

He sighed, lowering his eyes, saying somewhat dejectedly: “Since the day I left Lingnan, I knew that in this life, I probably wouldn’t have many chances to see my father, elder brother, third brother, and youngest sister. My relationship with my family can probably only be maintained through letters.

“Because I’m not the eldest son, I can’t bypass my elder brother to bring my father to Chang’an. No matter how well I do in Chang’an, no matter how promising my career, I still can’t bypass my elder brother in showing filial piety. And if I can’t see my father, how can I often see my younger brother and sister?

“Mostly they compensate me, constantly sending me money and goods. What I can repay is also just sending money and goods. No matter how much I miss them in my heart, there’s no other way.”

As he spoke this way, Mu Wanyao also became somewhat dejected with him.

Mu Wanyao said: “We two are too pitiful.”

Yan Shang turned his head to look at her.

Mu Wanyao tilted her face up, smiling at him as she said: “I can see my family every day, but I don’t want to see them at all, and my feelings for them are wearing away day by day; you think of your family every day, but you can’t see them, and can only maintain your love for them through material things. We two are in the same boat.”

Yan Shang said softly: “Don’t say that. I’ll accompany Your Highness, Your Highness won’t be that pitiful.”

Mu Wanyao gave a short laugh.

She said softly: “Yes.”

Lowering her eyes to hide the coldness and gloom within them.

After she dealt with Meng Zaishi, everything would get better.

Yan Shang leaned against the carriage wall, silent for a long while, then suddenly said fancifully: “If one day, I could leave Chang’an and serve as an official in Lingnan, that would be good. In Lingnan, I could see my family, take care of them…”

Before he finished speaking, his knee was heavily slapped by Mu Wanyao with a “pa!”

Mu Wanyao scolded harshly: “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Her brows and eyes turned cold, her words severe: “Capital officials and local officials are different, especially in a place like Lingnan. Unless you commit a serious error, since you’re already a capital official, you won’t easily be sent to local prefectures and counties. Not to mention such a remote place as Lingnan.

“Only capital officials are true officials. How many noble family sons, once they’re not capital officials, won’t even go take up posts in local prefectures and counties at all? Among Great Wei officials, though official positions transfer quickly, those at lower levels forever remain sunken at lower levels, not easily promoted to higher levels. Great Wei official ranks distinguish between pure and impure, once you go down it’s not easy to come back up! Don’t speak such nonsense!

“I understand you want to take care of your family. But only by staying in Chang’an, even if you can’t see them, can you better take care of them. Forget about anything else.”

Yan Shang somewhat disagreed with Mu Wanyao’s view. If everyone only wanted to be capital officials, what about the local prefectures and counties? If everyone is dissatisfied, who will govern?

But what Mu Wanyao said was what everyone naturally believed. Moreover, Mu Wanyao was so anxious because she was afraid something would happen to him, afraid his words would jinx him and truly affect his official career… so Yan Shang didn’t argue with her words, softly reassuring him: “Alright, I understand, I won’t talk nonsense. I’ll be good at my official duties and won’t cause trouble. Don’t worry.”

Mu Wanyao narrowed her eyes, looking at him half-believing half-doubting.

She thought about how with her there, what could happen to Yan Shang? Thinking this way, she relaxed, showing a smile in her eyes.

The carriage was still moving, and Mu Wanyao lightly lifted the curtain to see how far they were from the manor. Seeing there was still some distance, she contentedly lowered the curtain again.

Mu Wanyao raised one eyebrow slightly at Yan Shang, her lips holding a hint of a smile. She lifted her eyelids slightly, the arc very small, but because her gaze was focused intently on Yan Shang, such hesitant eyes appeared extremely vivid.

Seeing such a look from her, Yan Shang’s back stiffened and his scalp tingled.

Sure enough, the next moment, she moved over, kneeling on his legs, holding his face, lowering her head to kiss the corner of his mouth. She said in a soft voice: “Did you miss me?”

Yan Shang’s face burning hot, he lowered his eyelids avoiding her teasing: “…Your Highness, we’re still in the carriage.”

Mu Wanyao smiled: “So what? A kiss won’t kill you.”

She delicately bit his lip, her fingers lightly brushing his face like feathers. He retreated backward, with nowhere to retreat to, finally leaning against the carriage wall, reaching out to embrace her.

Yan Shang said quietly: “…You’re teasing me again.”

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow: “What do you mean? Don’t you feel good, don’t you want to be intimate with me? Brother Yan, open your mouth.”

Anyway, it was always Yan Shang accommodating her, going along with her teasing. But the carriage space was so small, and they weren’t far from the manor, they would have to get off soon… she teased him but wouldn’t help put out the fire, he would still be the one suffering.

However, helplessly, under Mu Wanyao’s pressure, Yan Shang half-pushing half-yielding, gave in.

Mu Wanyao lowered her head to kiss him, hearing his intense heartbeat, his fingers gripping her waist also burning hot… she lowered her eyes to secretly look at him, seeing his temples somewhat damp with sweat, the corners of his half-closed eyes a bright red. His robes were rumpled by her, one hand resting on her waist, one hand supporting himself on the nearby table.

Mu Wanyao saw his fingers gripping the table had turned white from force, carrying a slight tremor.

Mu Wanyao loved him in her heart and kissed the corner of his eye again. She said softly, her tone desolate: “Brother, I know you’re trying to help distract me from my bad mood, that’s why you’re talking about your family with me, that’s why you’re being so obedient underneath me, not moving and letting me bully you.”

Yan Shang was stunned.

The word “brother” made his ears burn.

He opened his eyes, raising them to look at her.

His eyelashes trembled once, and her kiss fell on his eyes, forcing him to close them again.

When Yan Shang opened his eyes again to look at her, she smiled at him with a red face, full of joy.

Yan Shang turned his face away, saying softly: “Your Highness shouldn’t call me that, it’s not good if people hear.”

Mu Wanyao smiled without speaking, massaging his neck, saying carelessly: “I know you have something you want to ask me, I’ll only answer once, ask whatever you want to ask. I’ve seen you holding back since getting in the carriage until now, though you’re always like this, but I feel for you, and want to answer you once. Go ahead and ask.”

Yan Shang stared at her.

Countless doubts had been lingering in his heart, but in the end, when it came to his lips, what he wanted to ask was only one thing—

After a while, he asked: “That Wuman person who was exchanging looks with you at the Court of State Ceremonials entrance just now, that person with the scar on his face, was he your lover?”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes turned slightly, lowering to look at him.

The two gazed at each other silently for a long time.

Mu Wanyao lowered her head, kissed his lips again, and answered him: “No.”

Yan Shang let out a breath, the taut string that had been wound tight finally relaxing.

He looked at her and said: “If you say no, I’ll believe you. Don’t deceive me.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him, her eyes suddenly feeling somewhat hot, but she blinked them away. She smiled playfully, leaning down, wanting to kiss him again. He had no choice but, to give in to her, following her wish to kiss her. But just as their lips and teeth were entwined, Fang Tong outside coughed once and said: “Your Highness, Er Lang, we’ve arrived at the manor.”

Yan Shang’s face instantly turned red, pushing Mu Wanyao away.

Mu Wanyao glanced at his flustered appearance, letting out two “Puchi” laughs, even taking a sip of tea, not feeling anything at all, naturally getting off the carriage. While Yan Shang took a long time before getting off the carriage, hurriedly returning to his residence, avoiding Fang Tong’s attention—

After returning to the manor, Mu Wanyao called Fang Tong over.

Mu Wanyao asked Fang Tong: “It was Meng Zaishi, he didn’t die in that disaster and became the new Wuman king, I didn’t see wrong today, right?”

Fang Tong nodded: “Yes, Your Highness didn’t see wrong.”

Mu Wanyao: “But he has a scar on his face.”

Fang Tong nodded again.

After a while, Mu Wanyao sneered: “What does it matter if he has a scar on his face, I would recognize him even if he turned to ashes.”

Fang Tong asked somewhat anxiously: “Your Highness, what should we do? If he tries to threaten Your Highness with your past relationship…”

Mu Wanyao: “I can’t let him affect me.”

She had Fang Tong lean in close, quietly telling Fang Tong to go to the Hu Market to find people with similar build and appearance to Meng Zaishi. Like this and that, giving a series of instructions. She also ordered the Princess Manor’s guards to intensify their martial arts training and strengthen the manor’s defenses.

Fang Tong was startled.

Guessing Mu Wanyao’s intention.

He wanted to say this was somewhat risky, the princess might be implicated.

But Fang Tong looked up, seeing Mu Wanyao’s snow-like profile, as if seeing again that night when they walked out of the Wuman inferno—

Flames blazed wildly among the tents and stone peaks behind them.

As night turned to dawn, Mu Wanyao holding a dagger, escaped from there with just these few people, most people buried in the chaos behind them.

Mu Wanyao led them, stumbling into the Great Wei border army camp, crying for help: “I want to see my Imperial Mother! I heard my Imperial Mother passed away from illness, is that true? I want to pay my last respects to Imperial Mother, I don’t want to stay in Wuman anymore—

“General! Please! Let me see my Imperial Mother one last time! Let me see my Royal Father! Wuman is already in chaos, they will kill me… let me go back—let me go back—let me go back!”

Each cry more hoarse and shrill than the last, Wuman had plunged into fire and war overnight, the succession of the new king uncertain, the old Wuman king dead as dead could be; while the young princess’s hoarse cries echoed through the Great Wei border army camp, the noble Great Wei princess kneeling at the border army general’s feet, raising a dirty and pitiful face.

Her long hair was disheveled, her clothes burned and messy too. The scattered servants following her were all at a loss for what to do.

The noble princess having endured such humiliation, begging with her misty, touching eyes, her delicate jade hands tightly gripping a fold of some general’s battle robe.

She cried and cried, kneeling in the dawn, finally being helped up by the softened Great Wei general, finally crying her way to a future.

Those cries were fake.

The princess had long stopped crying.

But the heart-rending hatred in those cries was real.

Never wanting to stay in Wuman again—

Never wanting to return to Wuman again—

On Meng Zaishi’s side, after Yan Shang left, Meng Zaishi returned to the residence arranged by Great Wei for himself and his people.

Meng Zaishi ordered his subordinates: “These days, investigate that Yan Shang well for me. I suspect he and Yan Shisheng are the same person… if it’s true, this would be very interesting.”

Kelilu, who had been beaten twice with the rod at the Court of State Ceremonials, was helped over barely alive to beg forgiveness from the king.

Meng Zaishi grabbed Kelilu’s shoulder in one motion, not letting him kneel.

Meng Zaishi smiled faintly: “You tried to probe the Great Wei officials for me, what crime is there in that?”

Kelilu: “I- I tested the wrong person…”

Meng Zaishi said coldly: “Not necessarily wrong. That Yan Er Lang, while talking with me, suddenly switched to a different register… The first register had problems, either he was planning to trap us from the start, or he had a sudden idea to test us.

“Either way, this person can’t be underestimated, not an opponent you can handle. In the future with this person, be more careful, don’t expose our bottom line.”

Everyone nodded.

Meng Zaishi then looked at the “fake king” who had been impersonating him, saying lazily: “Their Great Wei emphasizes the ‘crime of deceiving the emperor,’ now that we’re here, we naturally have to follow their rules. For now, let’s switch our identities back when I need it, I’ll let you be the ‘king’ again.”

The “fake king” agreed.

But hesitated: “But that Luo Xiu sent by King Ale has seen your appearance, Great King. If you suddenly disappear, or if he sees the Great King’s true appearance after recovering your identity, won’t he be suspicious?”

Meng Zaishi said slowly: “Don’t worry. Now that we’re in Great Wei’s Chang’an, just send that Luo Xiu away, he’s eager to be able to act freely away from us. Did King Ale send him to monitor me? What do I have that’s worth King Ale monitoring?

“That Luo Xiu, his schemes and ambitions… are probably in Great Wei, in Chang’an.

“Let’s see what he wants to do exactly. As long as he doesn’t cause big trouble, we won’t interfere.”

The subordinates nodded.

Everyone then said: “Then should we, like other small countries that submit to Great Wei, take advantage of this grand ceremony to renegotiate various treaties with Great Wei? After all, the marriage alliance happened long ago, the treatment… should be improved somewhat, right?”

Meng Zaishi nodded.

Everyone discussed what they needed to do during this visit to Great Wei.

Finally, after thinking and thinking, the topic returned to Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao.

Meng Zaishi suddenly asked: “If I want the marriage alliance princess to return, what do you think, would the Great Wei Emperor be eager?”

Everyone looked at each other: “Let the marriage alliance princess return… what do you mean?”

Meng Zaishi looked at them, almost smiling: “How about as Queen?”

Everyone looked at each other again, seeing Meng Zaishi was serious, they were shocked, thinking that the princess had once schemed against the Great King, and almost got the Great King killed… however, Meng Zaishi’s intimidation had pressed on everyone for years, everyone still submitted: “We all listen to the Great King.”—

A Wuman envoy called Luo Xiu turned out to be originally from Great Wei and could speak the Great Wei language. Seeing such a person, the Great Wei officials were naturally very pleased.

Luo Xiu took the opportunity to request touring various government offices, and Great Wei, always magnanimous and tolerant toward the four directions’ small countries, naturally welcomed him warmly.

Luo Xiu heard they were writing something for the grand ceremony, so he curiously went to the Hanlin Academy. At the Hanlin Academy for several days, Luo Xiu could see a palace eunuch called Liu Wenji every day. That eunuch quietly copied books in the corner every day, and over the days, the Hanlin Academy officials’ attitude toward him was quite good.

Luo Xiu was surprised, because his father was from Great Wei, and he had heard from his father’s mouth how much Great Wei looked down on being a eunuch.

This Liu Wenji made him feel interesting—

This day Liu Wenji left the Hanlin Academy to return to the palace. At the palace gate, he met an anxious servant.

Having seen them often, Liu Wenji recognized this person as a servant of the adopted son that Palace Manager Cheng had recognized outside the palace. Cheng Gongong’s adopted son outside often sent people to the palace to seek favors from Cheng Gongong, and every time many palace eunuchs rushed to curry favor.

This was Liu Wenji’s first time encountering this person on the way into the palace.

His heart beat faster for a moment, carefully bowing in greeting to the other party, asking: “Are you looking for Cheng Gongong? These days Cheng Gongong is on duty, constantly attending His Majesty, afraid he won’t have free time. If there’s anything, perhaps this humble servant could help?”

That servant was very anxious, but seeing it was a palace eunuch, was quite reassured. Felt eunuchs were all their people.

The servant said: “Please trouble this Gongong to pass on a message! My young master and a steward from Scholar Guo’s household were fighting over a farmhouse and accidentally beat that steward. My young master begs Cheng Gongong to save him…”

Liu Wenji raised an eyebrow.

Asked: “Scholar Guo, could it be Scholar Guo of the Hanlin Academy?”

The servant saw the other knew and got very excited: “That’s right!”

Liu Wenji then smiled, saying methodically: “As I said before, Cheng Gongong has no free time these days, we little servants can’t even see his face.”

Seeing the other’s face show despair, Liu Wenji guessed the other had been waiting here a long time, most other eunuchs probably gave the same answer. So this good opportunity could fall to his head.

Liu Wenji said: “However, I happen to know this Scholar Guo, if there’s time, why don’t I help connect your two households, have some food and drinks, and talk this matter through? It’s just one farmhouse, who can’t afford to buy one? Consider it a small misunderstanding.”

The servant was overjoyed: “That’s exactly right! Thank you Gongong! What should we call Gongong, how can we contact you in the future?”

Liu Wenji then said this and that, sending the person away.

After the person left, Liu Wenji silently continued returning to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to report today’s matters.

The weather was too cold.

He curled up, hunching his body, lowering his head, and slowly walking on the palace path.

Thinking it would probably snow soon.

Need to prepare more charcoal.

Yesterday heard people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs say a young eunuch didn’t make it through, died here, and was dragged out on a straw mat.

Liu Wenji didn’t want to die like that.

It was just putting on a smiling face to flatter the important people, just seeking favors everywhere and trying to please people… he was getting more and more used to this.

But… it was cold.

Shivering, Liu Wenji walked faster—

On New Year’s Eve, Mu Wanyao entered the palace early to prepare for tonight’s grand ceremony.

Various countries’ envoys entered the palace, led by officials of fifth rank and above from the Court of State Ceremonials. All officials of the fifth rank and above had to enter the court to participate in the grand ceremony, while officials below the fifth rank began their long holiday.

Yan Shang first visited the teacher arranged by his father, then went to Scholar Liu’s manor to pay respects to his true teacher in meaning.

Scholar Liu pitied him for being alone in Chang’an, and having no family on New Year’s Eve, before entering the palace to participate in the grand ceremony, instructed Yan Shang to stay at the Liu manor today, to spend the new year with the Liu family.

In the evening, Yan Shang stood alone in the Liu manor’s courtyard, watching the dim twilight.

Liu Ruozhu quietly came up from behind, seeing Yan Shang standing under the corridor, not moving for a long time. She lightly coughed once, Yan Shang came to his senses, smiling at her once.

Liu Ruozhu with red cheeks, asked: “Why is Er Lang standing here alone? Are you uncomfortable?”

Yan Shang said: “No, Teacher’s wife has already done very well. But Miss came at the right time, I suddenly remembered something, wanted to bid farewell to Teacher’s wife, but felt embarrassed, trouble Miss to help me say a word.”

Liu Ruozhu was stunned.

She said anxiously: “You’re leaving? Why? Did we do something wrong, make you feel lonely?”

Yan Shang naturally said no, said: “Just suddenly thought of someone, I… want to spend the new year with someone else.”

He had just seen the dim evening sky, standing under the corridor, suddenly thought of one person.

Thought of her saying “Twilight evening after evening, small boat late rocking.”

All thoughts are of evening late, evening late all is you.

…then couldn’t wait to see her, and wanted to stay up with her for the new year.