Mu Wanyao was being excessive.

Her way of apologizing to Yan Shang was to simply send him many gifts.

Born into the royal family, the only way of apologizing she had ever witnessed was the Emperor’s grand gesture of bestowing gifts. The Emperor never apologized verbally. Having grown up in such an environment, Mu Wanyao would never humble herself. She ended up acting just like her despised father, treating Yan Shang as if he were a favored consort, sending an endless stream of gifts to the neighboring residence.

When Yan Shang returned to find his courtyard filled with precious items sent from next door, he felt both angry and amused.

Angry that she only knew how to apologize by sending things rather than showing sincerity; amused that she had nearly filled his entire courtyard just to gain his forgiveness.

Couldn’t she come over personally, even just to give him a look, to let him know? Wasn’t she usually so skilled at playing pitiful? Why couldn’t she do it now? No, he needed to correct this bad habit of hers.

By now, Yan Shang had been an official for half a year, long since escaping his former poverty. The officials’ salaries in Great Wei were quite substantial. Even though Yan Shang was just an eighth-rank minor official, with various rewards and gifts from the court each month, he could almost buy this mansion outright instead of paying monthly rent to the neighbor.

Since Mu Wanyao insisted on sending gifts, Yan Shang simply had his steward bring the account books to calculate. After settling the household accounts, Yan Shang had the steward arrange funds, preparing to gather enough money to buy the mansion outright.

Mu Wanyao waited expectantly but saw no sign of Yan Shang accepting her apology, leaving her puzzled. She wondered if perhaps she hadn’t sent enough gifts.

So she became even more enthusiastic about bestowing gifts.

Now when Yan Shang saw her in the alley, he would only bow properly, refusing any intimacy with her. Besides being depressed, Mu Wanyao began to feel irritated.

But she wasn’t idle. Suddenly remembering something, she beckoned Fang Tong to enter and asked her to secretly inquire about Yan Shang’s relationship with someone called Chun Niang.

Fang Tong asked, “Who is Chun Niang?”

Mu Wanyao glared, “How would I know?”

She paused, then added more: “She’s probably not from a noble family, more likely a famous courtesan from Beili. Go to Beili and inquire, you must find out everything. For example, who she is, where her hometown is, when she came to Chang’an when she met Yan Shang. Make sure to clarify what’s going on between Yan Shang and her, and when Yan Shang stays overnight in Beili, whether he sleeps in her chambers.”

She ground her teeth menacingly: “Yan Shang is still angry with me! If he shares a room with this Chun Niang at night, I absolutely won’t forgive him!”

Fang Tong said, “That will take some time, a day or two probably won’t be enough.”

Mu Wanyao glanced at her: “Then why aren’t you hurrying off?! Are you waiting for me to invite you?!”

Seeing the Princess about to lose her temper, Fang Tong hastily excused herself and left, taking several guards and mounting horses to depart—

Yan Shang was working at the Department of State Affairs, having just submitted a memorial.

It still concerned the lingering issues from the envoys’ visits.

Yan Shang pointed out that Great Wei, being centrally located, relied on decades-old documents and materials for understanding surrounding small countries. As the old ministers gradually passed away, Great Wei’s relationships with neighboring small countries were no longer as solid as before. Among the envoys who came to Great Wei this time, there were several small countries Great Wei had never heard of; there were also several countries that should have been present but had been conquered instead.

Yet Great Wei was hospitable, treating all visitors the same whether they were known or not.

Take the Wuman King for example – his “borrowing passage to destroy Guo” would inevitably lead to another small country silently disappearing. While Great Wei knew about the Wuman King’s actions this time, there must be many more they didn’t know about.

Yan Shang believed Great Wei needed to send envoys to various countries to clarify the current situation and strengthen ties with the small countries.

Moreover, with the Ministry of Revenue’s silver and money being insufficient year after year, they could send Revenue officials along with the envoys, supplemented by Military forces, to establish trade routes between Great Wei and neighboring countries.

Great Wei had no official commercial channels, relying entirely on various foreign merchants and traders secretly conducting business while climbing mountains and fording rivers. Yan Shang provided data showing that in recent years, seven out of ten merchants died during trade journeys, killed by bandits. The court should strengthen control and take these issues seriously.

Yan Shang’s memorial took three days to write, and three days after submission there was still no response. He felt dejected, thinking his low position meant the high officials in charge wouldn’t deign to listen to his grand theories. However, as a mere administrator in the Department of State Affairs, he was like an odd-jobs man, unable to handle any real official business.

This official position left him feeling confused and uninterested.

But on this day, while Yan Shang was polishing a memorial at the government office, another official of his rank came in and greeted him: “Su Chen, your teacher has returned.”

Yan Shang looked up, surprised. Had Minister Liu finished dealing with his daughter’s divorce matter and finally sent that quarreling young couple out of Chang’an?

The official who came to sit at his desk turned and smiled kindly at him: “Minister Liu wants you to go see him.”—

Minister Liu was having tea with three other ministers from the Department of State Affairs.

Great Wei had barely five ministers in total, with the Department of State Affairs having four and the Chancellery having one. The Ministry of Personnel could never produce a minister.

Now these four ministers of the Department of State Affairs sat together, with Minister Liu holding memorials passed to him by the other ministers. Seeing the signature “Yan Shang,” Minister Liu clicked his tongue.

Minister Zhang, who was close to Minister Liu, smiled and said: “This student of yours is just an odd-jobs man in the Department of State Affairs, yet he won’t settle for doing odd jobs. He’s constantly submitting memorials, annoying us terribly. We want to scold him, but seeing his dedication and considering your face, we can’t well accuse him of meddling. But if we don’t scold him, these daily memorials are truly bothersome.”

Minister Liu said: “Just reject his memorials then.”

Another minister who hadn’t spoken said: “You make it sound easy. Don’t you understand your student? If we could easily reject them, we would have done so long ago.”

The other minister was praising Yan Shang’s talent in a roundabout way, saying his memorials couldn’t be dismissed. Hearing this, Minister Liu stroked his beard, and a smile crept onto his serious face.

Minister Zhang said: “Old Liu, don’t smile. Look at how you’re being a teacher! You don’t manage your students, and your students don’t consult you. I bet you didn’t even know about all these memorials your student has been submitting. You’ve given him too free a hand.”

Minister Liu said: “If you had a student like mine, you’d also be unable to resist letting him handle things himself. A student who doesn’t rely on his teacher for anything, who handles everything on his own, and only informs the teacher afterward… Don’t you envy such talent?”

The other ministers then thought of the military exercise matter and Yan Shang’s role in it. The materials about various countries’ military strengths that Yan Shang later submitted to the Ministry of War were even more detailed than those of Yang Sanlang, who had fought with the Wuman King.

Then there was the Princess’s marriage alliance arising from the South Mountain incident, and the matter of the alliance between the two countries… Yan Shang handled everything extremely well.

All this was achieved without Minister Liu being present in the Department of State Affairs and with no one providing help.

One minister said: “I’m puzzled – he’s from the Department of State Affairs, yet the Ministry of War works so well with him? He was temporarily assigned to the Court of State Ceremonial before, right? Guess what the Director of State Ceremonial told me the other day? He asked if Yan Shang wasn’t being fully utilized in the Department of State Affairs, perhaps he could be transferred to the Court of State Ceremonial. They like him there and want him.”

Another minister: “Coincidentally, the Vice Minister of War said the same thing.”

Minister Liu smiled cryptically: “The Vice Minister of War says this because they think Yan Shang is the Crown Prince’s man and don’t want him staying here helping the Crown Prince. What would they do sending a civil official like Yan Shang to the Ministry of War? Have a scholar grind ink for a bunch of military men? Help them draft memorials?”

Minister Zhang deliberately said: “Why not? Isn’t Yan Er just doing odd jobs like that in the Department of State Affairs?”

Minister Liu muttered: “To find work among odd jobs, to involve himself in matters that originally had nothing to do with him… Is this what ordinary odd jobs are like?”

All the ministers fell silent.

After a while, one minister sighed: “I have a premonition, Minister Liu, that among all your students, this young one’s future achievements will be limitless. And we are already old. We must accept that.”

Minister Liu raised an eyebrow: “You may be old, but I’m not! This old fellow can still serve the court for at least twenty years, don’t put me in the same category as you.”

Knowing Minister Liu never admitted defeat, the speaking minister shook his head and didn’t argue. This minister brought up another matter: “We’ve discussed with the Ministry of Personnel, that Yan Shang should be promoted this time. His Majesty has also inquired about this… We intend to have Yan Shang first go through the Six Ministries, and if he still performs well then, let him return to the Department of State Affairs.”

Minister Liu asked knowingly: “Return to do what?”

That minister smiled cryptically: “Return as a Drafter in the Department of State Affairs. A fifth-rank official position, not too shabby, right?”

Everyone paused.

All four ministers present had served as Drafters in the Department of State Affairs. The position was essential preparation for future Prime Ministers. Normally, even the Director of the Department of State Affairs would have to serve as a Drafter first. And being a Drafter almost guaranteed a future path to Prime Minister, barring accidents.

In short, all the ministers present saw Minister Liu’s arrangements for his young student and were secretly helping.

Minister Zhang said: “If nothing goes wrong, Yan Su Chen could become a Drafter by age thirty.”

Minister Liu sighed: “My student can’t be measured by normal standards. He’s bound to encounter some incidents… Shall we make a bet? My student might reach the position of Prime Minister by age thirty.”

The other ministers all laughed.

None believed it.

They said: “Old Liu, have you had too much to drink? Well, since you believe in your student so much, we’ll take that bet.”—

When Yan Shang came to pay respects to Minister Liu and heard the hearty laughter of the ministers inside, he entered calmly and paid his respects as usual, his expression unchanged.

The ministers all nodded at his composure.

Minister Liu took out Yan Shang’s recent memorial about diplomatic missions and trade routes: “I have some questions for you.”

Minister Liu casually asked Yan Shang about military forces on trade routes and paths to various countries for diplomatic missions. Yan Shang could answer some questions but not others. For those he couldn’t answer, Yan Shang expressed shame and said he would research them. However, seeing all the ministers sitting there, Yan Shang had a thought, knowing this was a good opportunity.

So he worked hard to explain the ideas in his memorial, hoping to gain support from these ministers.

Minister Zhang, the most good-natured of the four ministers, smiled and said: “Enough, we old men have been reading this memorial for several days now. If we weren’t interested, we wouldn’t have called you for questions. Congratulations are in order – you’re being promoted. Unfortunately, you won’t see what we old men in the Department of State Affairs decide after this.”

Yan Shang was stunned, showing slight disappointment.

Seeing his unhappiness rather than joy, the ministers looked at each other and smiled. One minister said: “Are you reluctant to part with this memorial? Afraid that after you leave, no one will be able to implement what you proposed?”

Yan Shang said softly: “To be honest with the ministers, I do feel that if the court intends to accept what this memorial proposes, it would be best for me to stay in the Department of State Affairs.”

Minister Liu frowned and sneered: “Stay in the Department of State Affairs for what? Waiting for this matter to succeed so you can add another great achievement? Do you think we’re blocking your promotion path by transferring you out now, stealing your merits?”

Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged as he said quietly: “Serving the country, how can it be measured only by achievements? I am not so narrow-minded. I just feel I understand this memorial best and would be most useful to stay in the Department of State Affairs. It’s not for the achievements – I can stay here and let others take credit for the accomplishments.”

One minister said: “Seems he likes the Department of State Affairs and doesn’t want to leave.”

Yan Shang lowered his head and expressed shame.

After maintaining their stern expressions for a while, Minister Zhang was the first to break into laughter: “Alright, we’ll stop teasing you. Old Liu, you tell him.”

Yan Shang had already sensed these ministers weren’t the type to steal his achievements. Hearing them break character, his expression remained unchanged as he looked at his teacher.

Minister Liu said: “We’re transferring you to the Ministry of Revenue as an Administrative Officer.”

Yan Shang’s heart skipped a beat as he bowed, somewhat surprised.

Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Revenue was an upper seventh-rank position. His current role as Administrator in the Department of State Affairs was a lower eighth-rank position. This promotion crossed a major rank, jumping directly from eighth to seventh rank… quite a significant leap.

Seeing his confusion, Minister Zhang smiled and explained: “You’re in luck – one of the Administrative Officers in the Ministry of Revenue just lost his father and returned home for mourning. When the Crown Prince heard you were going to the Ministry of Revenue, he directly appointed you to that position, saying a lower position would waste your talents. We only intended to send you to the Ministry of Revenue, but the Crown Prince gave you a major promotion – you should thank him.”

However, Yan Shang still thanked the ministers: “If I can go to the Ministry of Revenue, it’s because the Department of State Affairs is preparing to send envoys, and the Ministry of Revenue is preparing to establish official trade routes… The ministers still want me involved in this matter, that’s why you’re sending me to the Ministry of Revenue. I must thank the ministers for this grace.”

Yan Shang thought to himself, the Crown Prince helping him jump a rank – was this what Mu Wanyao meant by helping? Was this the position she requested from the Emperor? But looking at the ministers’ expressions, this position seemed to have been decided by them, with His Majesty not involved.

The ministers, pleased by the flattery, smiled without speaking. It was good to promote someone, but it felt even better when that person immediately recognized it. It felt like their cultivation hadn’t been wasted.

Minister Liu paused, his tone serious: “Hmm, that’s not all. Your official position, strictly speaking, is Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Revenue, concurrent with Palace Censor.”

Yan Shang was stunned, then glanced at his teacher’s extremely serious expression, instantly understanding that the equally upper seventh-rank position of “Palace Censor” was what the Princess had requested. Yan Shang blushed, as these ministers knew this was requested by the Princess yet were pretending not to know… Yan Shang, red-faced, endured the embarrassment and bowed again.

The ministers all maintained their serious expressions, as if completely unaware of how this concurrent appointment came about.

The promotion matters needed to be handled today, with Yan Shang required to report to the Ministry of Revenue immediately. However, before leaving, he returned to report to the ministers about Luo Xiu’s matter:

“…I sent someone of Wuman origin to probe this Luo Xiu. He had people send messages and maps to the Southern Barbarians. All about our Great Wei… I suspect some Great Wei officials are colluding with this Luo Xiu…”

The ministers nodded, indicating they understood and were pleased that Yan Shang saw things through by telling them this. If Yan Shang had just left without mentioning this information, clearly no one could blame him. After all, he was no longer part of the Department of State Affairs.

Minister Zhang directly said: “Then continue to investigate this matter. Since you now have the position of Palace Censor, investigating officials is part of your duty. From now on, you don’t need to report to us about this – after investigation, it falls under the Censorate’s jurisdiction.”

Yan Shang agreed and bid them farewell. Afterward, he also said goodbye to his other colleagues in the Department of State Affairs. Everyone congratulated him on his promotion, hosting farewell banquets for him for two consecutive days, which need not be mentioned—

Luo Xiu had been given the position of Right Guard General by Great Wei, and forcibly kept in Chang’an with nowhere to go. Luo Xiu had hired Han Shuxing to deliver maps and messages to the Southern Barbarian King, not knowing he’d been intercepted by Yan Shang, as Han Shuxing was Yan Shang’s man.

Standing in the study of Yan Er’s mansion, Han Shuxing reported all this, waiting for Yan Shang’s next instructions.

After pondering for a moment, Yan Shang said kindly to Han Shuxing: “Since Luo Xiu hired you to leave Chang’an and deliver messages to the Southern Barbarians, why don’t you take this opportunity to leave Chang’an? You don’t need to handle Luo Xiu’s matters anymore.”

There must have been Great Wei officials giving Luo Xiu information for him to obtain such detailed intelligence. Yan Shang was now just waiting to see when that person would show themselves and contact Luo Xiu again.

Luo Xiu’s presence in Great Wei was an unstable factor. The person who had cooperated with him would surely become uneasy and reveal themselves.

And for all this, Han Shuxing was no longer needed.

Han Shuxing stood stunned for a while before realizing Yan Shang’s meaning – he was giving him freedom, he could leave Chang’an and go wherever he wanted. Joy surged up first, followed by confusion.

Han Shuxing: “Young Master, I don’t know where to go.”

He lowered his head and after a long silence said: “All these years, I’ve never gone anywhere of my own accord. I’ve… become unsuited to the outside world. Young Master, I have good martial arts skills, let me stay as your guard. I don’t need wages, just food is enough.”

Yan Shang said gently: “I don’t have any guards with martial arts skills as good as yours, so naturally I’d be happy if you want to stay. However, I can’t let that hold you back.

“You’ve just been imprisoned for many years, lost your purpose, and don’t know where to go for now. This isn’t normal. I hope you can leave Chang’an, go anywhere, and walk around – perhaps you’ll find what you truly want to do, and find your meaning in life. Han Shuxing, you’re no longer a slave, don’t view yourself as one.

“Go explore this world. If after many years, you still have no purpose and don’t know life’s meaning, it’s not too late to come find me. No matter when, I’ll never abandon old friends.”

Han Shuxing stared at him for a long while before finally nodding. He didn’t understand many principles, just felt that Young Master Yan’s words were pleasant and always touched his heart. He didn’t understand this way of speaking, but Yan Shang’s sincerity still warmed his heart.

Han Shuxing knelt, formally performed a Great Wei bow to Yan Shang, then pushed open the door and left—

After resolving Han Shuxing’s matter, Yan Shang continued working on his study. He pondered his schedule but felt restless.

Because he hadn’t forgotten that this afternoon, Yang Si had invited Mu Wanyao to watch a play at Ci’en Temple.

That day when he was trapped in the carriage, he felt utterly humiliated, hating Mu Wanyao beyond measure, angry that she had forced him to hide in the carriage. Thinking back later, Yan Shang remembered Yang Si’s appointment with Mu Wanyao, and his heart alternated between hot and cold.

He wanted to ask about it, but he was still angry with Mu Wanyao and shouldn’t inquire.

However, Yan Shang’s concern about Yang Si far exceeded his concern about Meng Zaishi’s existence. Because Mu Wanyao didn’t like Meng Zaishi, but she got along so well with Yang Si. Young Master Yang was charming and elegant, with Chang’an’s ladies constantly chasing after him – surely Mu Wanyao liked him too?

Yan Shang felt that if he hadn’t interfered… perhaps Mu Wanyao and Yang Si would have ended up together.

His concern about Yang Si made his heart sour with anxiety.

Yan Shang wrote memorials for a while but still couldn’t calm his mind. He had no choice but to call in his servant Yun Shu, pretending to be casual as he asked Yun Shu to inquire: “Has Her Highness returned?”

After a while, Yun Shu returned saying Her Highness had left at noon and hadn’t returned yet.

Yun Shu looked at Yan Shang: “Does the young master need to find Her Highness?”

Yan Shang sat quietly with lowered eyes, saying: “No.”

But after a while, Yan Shang couldn’t help sending servants to ask again, and Mu Wanyao still hadn’t returned. After several back-and-forth trips, seeing the sky turning to dusk, that woman still hadn’t returned. Yan Shang grew agitated, randomly guessing why she hadn’t returned – what were those two doing?

He naturally trusted their character.

But still… but still…

As the young master sat working in his study, Yun Shu standing in the corridor sighed: “It’s almost dark, the ward gates will close soon. Could it be Her Highness won’t return tonight?”

As soon as the words fell, the study door opened.

Yan Shang’s expression was uncomfortable but serious as he said softly: “I’m going to Ci’en Temple for a while.”

Yun Shu: “To pick up Her Highness?”

Yan Shang: “Of course not. It’s… it’s… I donated some incense money to Ci’en Temple, and the abbot has been trying to thank me, but I’ve been avoiding him. I just remembered this matter and need to handle it.”

Yun Shu went to prepare a horse, but looking back at his master returning to his room, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, feeling sorry for his young master.

Thinking that Second Young Master was too good-natured.

What kind of young master would answer his servant’s questions so politely?

And what kind of young master would go to pick someone up while clearly angry?

Yun Shu had never believed Yan Shang was going to see the Ci’en Temple abbot – someone like Yan Shang who did good deeds without expecting returns wouldn’t wait for thanks after donating. The second Young Master going to Ci’en Temple could only be for Princess Danyang… his master was so gentle, Princess Danyang must not disappoint him—

As Yan Shang was leaving, a messenger from the relay station entered Chang’an’s gates.

One letter was delivered to Wei Qilang’s residence, and another to Mu Wanyao’s residence.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had been monitoring this matter. As soon as the messenger entered Chang’an, the Eastern Palace knew.

Since the military exercise ended, one could say the Crown Prince had been waiting for the messenger to enter Chang’an. The Crown Prince was deeply calculating, knowing that once relations between the Li family and the royal family eased, the Li family would surely make their next move.

Now he had waited for it.

Although he couldn’t intercept letters from the Li family, the fact that letters were sent simultaneously to Wei Qilang and Mu Wanyao already conveyed a message.

The Crown Prince pondered.

If he were the head of the Li family in Jinling, when Mu Wanyao’s power in Chang’an gradually increased, when the Emperor and the Li family began reconciling, he would immediately arrange the marriage between Mu Wanyao and Wei Shu, allying the great southern and northern families.

After the two great families allied, the Wei family would help the Li family return to Chang’an.

The Crown Prince naturally didn’t want to see this result. When he recalled Yang Si, it was to win over the Li family. Unfortunately, the Li family’s attitude remained ambiguous, and Mu Wanyao and Yang Si’s attitudes kept changing, so this marriage alliance couldn’t move forward.

Moreover, Wei Shu was still young, so the Crown Prince thought there was no rush, to wait a while longer.

Now Wei Shu was only sixteen. But in the Li family’s view, the timing for the marriage alliance had probably arrived.

Yet the Crown Prince had to let Yang Si leave, unable to use him to win over Mu Wanyao.

The Crown Prince mused, muttering to himself: “Can’t let Sixth Sister ally with the Wei family – their good relationship getting better would bring me little benefit. After marriage, Sixth Sister would lean toward the Wei family’s neutral faction, weakening my forces… Better to keep Sixth Sister here and win the Li family to my side.”

He drummed his fingers on the desk, revealing a slight smile: “Fortunately, Mu Wanyao probably has no romantic feelings for Wei Qilang. The person she has romantic feelings for… is Yan Shang. Now that Yan Shang is in the Ministry of Revenue, he’s under my control.

“If I arrange for Sixth Sister to marry Yan Shang, wouldn’t that make me both the good guy and gain the Li family’s resources?”

Doesn’t the Li family just want to return to Chang’an’s political center? He could help with that.

Having made his decision, the Crown Prince stood up, preparing to see the Emperor—

Mu Wanyao knew nothing of this, still watching plays with Yang Si at Ci’en Temple.

Yan Shang rode his horse into the temple, entering the flowing crowds, searching everywhere for those two.

At Wei Qilang’s mansion, Zhao Lingfei lay weakly on her desk, troubled about being forced into marriage, while Wei Shu sat across from her, opening the letter to read his teacher – Mu Wanyao’s uncle Li Zhi’s letter—

Nothing else.

Just hoping he and Mu Wanyao would become engaged immediately.

Outside the window came a crack, as bean-sized raindrops struck the wooden eaves. The sky was dim, the rain came late in the evening, and clouds rolled like tides.