Flowing firelight rippled like water around them as colorful umbrellas descended in all directions. People came and went, their shadows reflecting in the rain puddles alongside the glow of lanterns.

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang huddled beneath an umbrella as he cupped her face, drawing close to examine her carefully.

As he leaned in, his breath almost mingling with hers, Mu Wanyao’s round eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks growing even warmer.

Confused by his bold behavior, Mu Wanyao felt both joy and uncertainty. She whispered, “Are you no longer angry with me? Have you forgiven me?”

Yan Shang’s voice was soft and distracted yet tender as he mumbled, “Not angry today. I’ll be angry tomorrow.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

In her moment of frustration, his fingers still rested on her cheeks as his eyes drew so close they nearly touched her face, making even this usually willful princess feel somewhat uncomfortable. She felt his golden-lit eyes examining her inch by inch. She couldn’t help but feel insecure, filled with self-doubt—

Was her hair properly styled?

Was her powder evenly applied, had she accidentally bitten off her lip rouge?

Was she still beautiful? Did he like what he saw?

She felt shy and nervous: when he last saw her, she was still a young girl. After three years, she had grown and changed considerably. Though countless people praised her beauty, she worried whether her changes would be enough in Yan Shang’s eyes.

After three years apart, when she first saw him again in the rain of Nanyang, one glance was enough to capture her thoughts completely. Now in this night excursion through Jinling, did he feel the same rush of emotions she had felt that day?

Yan Shang’s eyes remained unblinking. Having just regained his sight, he still found his vision unclear, everything appearing with a double image. But he longed so desperately to see Mu Wanyao that, fighting through his shyness and timidity, he wanted nothing more than to press close to her face and count each eyelash.

His heart pounded hotly in his chest as he reluctantly caressed her delicate cheek with his fingertips, gazing at her intently, wanting to commit her to memory. In his heart, he marveled at her incomparable beauty:

The young woman illuminated by the flowing firelight had grown much from his memories.

In her youth, her cheeks had been somewhat plump while her chin was sharp. Back then, even when she projected an imposing air, there was occasionally a hint of fragile bravado that inspired tenderness.

Now, her bone structure had broadened slightly, her cheekbones wider, with flesh laying thinly over bone in clean, flowing lines. Her chin was no longer small and pointed but had developed a graceful curve.

She was blooming like the most magnificent peony, extending her branches and leaves, naturally and elegantly displaying her beauty. Her teenage years hadn’t been her most beautiful period—one’s bearing and beauty change with age. As her uncertainty and hesitation faded away, confidence and grace settled in her brow and eyes. Now when she smiled gently, her beauty was enough to captivate all of Chang’an.

He gazed up at her resplendent beauty with utter humility.

Seeing Yan Shang’s expression, Mu Wanyao’s cheeks grew hot again, her heart certain that his gaze revealed his fascination with her.

She could tell from his eyes that he liked who she had become. He was enchanted by who she was now. To have someone admiring her so deeply… what woman wouldn’t love seeing such a look in her lover’s eyes?

Mu Wanyao’s face and ears flushed red under Yan Shang’s intense stare. Unable to help herself, she coughed lightly, a smile escaping her lips as she tilted her face. She whispered to him: “Am I beautiful?”

Yan Shang’s long, elegant fingers trembled slightly as they cradled her cheeks.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she stared directly at him, making them appear even more alluring. Yan Shang’s heart raced and his face grew hot at her captivating gaze. He began to feel awkward, realizing it might be inappropriate to cup her face and look at her so closely in public.

As Yan Shang tried to withdraw his fingers, Mu Wanyao caught his hand. As he belatedly leaned his upper body back, it was now Mu Wanyao’s turn to hold onto his fingers, asking again with a smile: “Am I beautiful?”

Yan Shang lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at her once more. Though it was just an ordinary look, after that glance, his face flushed red. Mu Wanyao’s heart fluttered as she saw him try to press his lips into a straight line, yet fail to suppress the smile that escaped.

Instead of answering her, Yan Shang leaned forward and embraced her. His arms wrapped around her back, his face brushing lightly against hers as his cool breath enveloped her completely. Just as Mu Wanyao began to feel dazed, he had already released her and stepped back. He remained silent, simply crouching in their small world, watching her with a slight smile.

Mu Wanyao’s heart raced from his embrace, leaving her slightly dizzy. When he suddenly released her, she looked at him in confusion, unsure of his meaning.

Then Yan Shang lowered his eyes to look at her, and unable to resist, leaned in to hug her once more. Embrace after embrace, he would withdraw, his eyes fixed on her, rippling with hints of laughter.

Mu Wanyao looked up and burst into giggles.

She glared at him playfully, having been spontaneously hugged again and again, understanding his feelings without him needing to speak. This was Yan Shang’s bold response despite his shyness. Mu Wanyao turned her face sideways, giving him a sidelong glance as she softly cursed: “Coward.”

“Timid one.”

She grabbed an umbrella from beside them, using it to shield the light source on their left while their other side pressed against the wall. She changed from crouching to kneeling, her left hand holding the umbrella while her right hand cupped his face. Without wasting words on this timid man, she leaned in directly and captured his lips.

He was sweating, uncomfortable, and resistant. But with the young woman’s hand on his face and her sweet breath so close, after failing to resist, he no longer wanted to. So he became both nervous and yearning. He deeply despised his contradictions, annoyed at why he was so inconsistent.

But who could resist desire?

The flickering lights danced near and far, their shadows rippling in the puddles. Hidden in their corner, they kissed again and again, embraced over and over. They held each other repeatedly, reluctant to part, filled with lingering attachment, then looked at each other, unable to suppress their shy smiles—

How foolish—

Beyond the Great Wall in the northern desert, Wei Shu and Zhao Lingfei escaped from the Guhu Kingdom, and using their status as Great Wei envoys, went to neighboring countries to seek military aid. He engaged in fierce verbal battles, maintaining a firm stance, demanding that these countries must assist Great Wei.

One small country, dependent on Great Wei and trembling in fear of the Southern Barbarians’ expansion, didn’t hesitate. When the Great Wei envoy came seeking troops, they immediately lent twenty thousand soldiers to Wei Shu. Wei Shu used this country’s decisiveness to persuade another small country, which, after much hesitation, provided ten thousand troops.

Wei Shu considered ten thousand troops too few, but the small country couldn’t provide more. So Wei Shu changed tactics: “Then let’s trade for silk fabric instead.”

Given Great Wei’s national strength, the small country couldn’t refuse. For the sake of neighborly relations, they had to provide the amount of silk Wei Shu requested. Wei Shu immediately demanded that all this silk be made into battle robes. He specified the style and color of the robes—

As Zhao Lingfei left the palace with him, walking together, she turned her head: “I don’t understand why we need battle robes. I thought Brother Juyuan wanted the silk to exchange for silver, then use the silver to hire barbarian mercenaries specialized in warfare to deal with the Guhu Kingdom.”

Wei Shu answered: “Lingfei, we are Great Wei envoys. We must let everyone know and see that it was Great Wei’s army that destroyed the Guhu Kingdom.”

Zhao Lingfei: “But Great Wei is eight thousand li away from us… ah.”

Wei Shu said: “That’s why I want them to make battle robes. I want them to work through the night to produce vermillion robes and crimson banners. Red battle robes, vermillion command flags… these are all symbols of Great Wei. The Guhu Kingdom was once a vassal state of Great Wei. They dare to defect to the Southern Barbarians now only because the barbarians are strong and they think Great Wei can’t reach here. But when these symbols of Great Wei appear before them…”

Zhao Lingfei murmured: “They will panic and scatter. You’re using their psychology…”

She suddenly grabbed Wei Shu’s sleeve, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she exclaimed: “Brother Juyuan, you’re so clever! You’re so calm and so smart… I believe in you now, we’ll definitely rescue our envoy team, we’ll definitely display our national might in the desert, we’ll definitely make all the neighboring countries submit to us!”

“We can complete our diplomatic mission! We’ll return safely to Great Wei!”

Wei Shu stumbled as she tugged at his sleeve with her strong grip. Zhao Lingfei spoke quickly, her voice lively, like ten thousand small birds chirping by his ear, making his head spin. Even someone naturally quiet like him couldn’t quite understand what she was saying.

His face reddened slightly as he lowered his head: “Let go of my sleeve.”

Zhao Lingfei froze, released him, and quickly smoothed out the wrinkles. She looked up at him with an embarrassed smile, but Wei Shu turned his face away, refusing to look at her as he walked away quickly. Zhao Lingfei bit her lip, standing uncertainly in place.

Wei Shu had reached the palace gates when he slightly turned his head back, saying softly: “Aren’t you coming?”

Zhao Lingfei instantly broke into a smile, even jumping once before rushing to catch up with him.

Their battle with the Guhu Kingdom wasn’t difficult to fight, as the Southern Barbarians truly couldn’t spare forces to attend to this situation, and when the Guhu Kingdom’s soldiers on the tower recognized the Great Wei symbol of “vermillion robes and crimson banners,” their leader lost his nerve.

Wei Shu rode on horseback, leading thirty thousand troops to directly attack the city. The Guhu Kingdom fell into chaos, barely managing to organize a ragtag army to fight, but having shown weakness from the start, they could only desperately plea to the Southern Barbarians for help, hoping they would send troops to save them. Zhao Lingfei followed Wei Shu throughout, watching him ride, command the battle, and remain calm in the face of danger.

His figure was magnificent, his robes flying in the wind. In this vast desert of yellow sand, what an eye-catching gentleman he was.

Zhao Lingfei thought that Great Wei had truly underestimated Wei Seventh Lord. Years ago during the military display in Chang’an, they had only put him in charge of provisions, managing the rear… but how could Wei Shu’s talents be limited to just that?

He could also fight in battle, command warfare, ride horses and shoot arrows, engage in verbal debates… Wei Seventh Lord simply didn’t like to talk, preferred to stand outside the crowd, and didn’t enjoy socializing with everyone. But if you got to know him, if you thick-skinnedly approached him every day to talk, you would see the real him.

The Guhu Kingdom was conquered within seven days, and the Great Wei envoy team was rescued. When the chief envoy emerged from prison, he saw the dust-covered, blood-stained Wei Shu and Zhao Lingfei. The chief envoy felt moved but didn’t say much, only patting Wei Shu’s shoulder.

Wei Shu spoke softly to the chief envoy: “Sir, the Guhu King has fled the country, and troops have been sent in pursuit. We need to support a new royal family to take the throne in the Guhu Kingdom, and at the same time, we might be able to learn about the Southern Barbarians’ situation through the Guhu Kingdom… I have some unease, feeling that the Southern Barbarians’ expansion is excessive, their power growing increasingly strong. If Great Wei doesn’t take the initiative to understand the situation, I fear we may be caught unprepared.”

The chief envoy sighed: “Do as you see fit. Juyuan, what wouldn’t I trust you with now, what wouldn’t I feel confident letting you handle?”

That night, the Great Wei envoy team celebrated their survival. Everyone gathered around the bonfire to toast their lifesaver Wei Shu one by one. Wei Shu usually spoke little and didn’t say much now either, simply drinking when others came to offer wine. Zhao Lingfei watched from beside him until she couldn’t stand it anymore, kneeling and leaning forward.

She shielded Wei Shu behind her, patting her chest as she declared: “I’ll drink with you! You’re just taking advantage of Brother Juyuan being quiet!”

She turned back to Wei Shu, whose pitch-black eyes were staring at her somewhat dazedly, and gave him a playful smile, mouthing “Leave it to me.” Wei Shu seemed somewhat confused from the wine, his mind not working properly as he stared at her blankly. His body swayed, and as Zhao Lingfei’s eyes widened, he tilted over, his head falling against Zhao Lingfei’s back.

Zhao Lingfei’s back stiffened, suddenly unsure whether to move away, while sitting still was quite tiring.

Seeing this, the men burst into laughter.

Having spent time with Zhao Lingfei and understanding this young lady’s liveliness, they dared to joke with her: “You’re drinking in place of Juyuan, but what right do you have to substitute for Juyuan?”

“Lingfei, look here, our Juyuan has both looks and brains and no messy romantic entanglements. He goes everywhere clean and unattached… when are you going to marry our Juyuan?”

Even the chief envoy, watching the young people’s playful banter, couldn’t help but joke: “I can be your matchmaker.”

Zhao Lingfei’s face turned red. She wanted to jump up and chase after them, but couldn’t rise because of the drunken Wei Shu leaning against her back. She shouted: “You bastards! Making fun of Brother Juyuan again! Just you wait, I’ll beat you all up tomorrow—!”

The bonfire burned low as the young men and women laughed. When the laughter subsided, they fell silent, gazing at the moon overhead. Someone began to sigh: “Four years… when will we be able to return to Great Wei? I miss my wife.”

“Don’t mention it. When I go back, my daughter probably won’t even recognize me.”

“The letter my mother wrote me was lost when we encountered those bandits. The old lady can’t see well, I miss her so much.”

As they spoke, voices grew lower, with more choked sounds. As everyone’s mood turned melancholic, Zhao Lingfei carefully adjusted her sitting position, hugging her knees and also gazing up at the moon—

She too missed her mother, missed her father.

Missed her brothers and sisters at home.

Although she had fled from an arranged marriage, and her father had told her to get out and never come back before she left, she often thought of how good her father had been to her. Though he never watched when she practiced with weapons, he hadn’t torn down her small training ground either.

When she was little, he would carry her out to buy candy, and even when she shouted and yelled at him, he never disowned her as his daughter…

Zhao Lingfei let out a soft sigh, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed silently at the moon.

Wei Shu’s voice came from behind: “Do you miss home too?”

Zhao Lingfei’s back instantly stiffened, her hair standing on end: Wei Shu wasn’t drunk?

Wei Shu spoke softly: “I didn’t want to drink anymore, so I just pretended to be dizzy. Don’t call out. Once we finish handling the Guhu Kingdom’s affairs, we should be able to return to Great Wei, and you can go home.”

Zhao Lingfei also lowered her voice, sitting straight up, afraid to let those around them notice anything unusual: “Why?”

Wei Shu: “We need to report the intelligence about the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions situation to Great Wei. Once the Guhu Kingdom matter is settled, a complete trade route can be opened… we can return to Chang’an.”

Zhao Lingfei’s eyes curved in joy as she responded firmly, completely trusting his judgment. Under the cold moon, her heart felt warm with happiness at his unique way of offering comfort—

Chang’an, Chang’an.

Chang’an that haunted their souls and dreams, Chang’an that appeared in their midnight reveries. That magnificent capital they couldn’t see, the unforgettable wine houses and tea pavilions… could they finally return?—

In Jinling City, after Master Li’s funeral was concluded, Mu Wanyao and her group packed their belongings, preparing to return to Chang’an.

At this time, the imperial edict from Chang’an, having rushed day and night with several palace eunuchs, finally arrived in Jinling and was delivered into the princess’s hands.

Mu Wanyao received the envoys from Chang’an in the inner chambers of the Li residence. When she saw the imperial edict for herself, her heart stirred, realizing the prince consort candidate had been changed. Mu Wanyao took the edict, and as she expected, couldn’t help but smile. However, when she saw the seal area, her smile froze—

“Why isn’t there a seal from the Department of State Affairs? What, does the Department oppose my marriage?”

The small eunuch delivering the edict hurried to dispel the princess’s misunderstanding: “The Department of State Affairs hasn’t expressed a position, Your Highness need not worry. Your Highness’s marriage arrangements are proceeding as planned. The Department merely has some hesitations for certain reasons, but has no intention of preventing Your Highness’s marriage.”

Mu Wanyao paused, sensing there was more to this story, and made a mental note. She handed the edict to Qiusi, letting her maid keep it safe, planning to show off to Yan Shang later. She then looked at another eunuch: “You’re also here to deliver an imperial edict?”

This eunuch craned his neck to look toward the back hall, very embarrassed: “Your Highness, this servant has two edicts for County Magistrate Yan. Why hasn’t County Magistrate Yan come out to receive them?”

Mu Wanyao, accustomed to being domineering, said casually: “His eyes are injured, and the imperial physician is applying medicine. He can’t come out for a while. Just read his edicts, I’ll listen.”

The eunuch hesitated.

Mu Wanyao’s beautiful eyes gazed at him, half-smiling: “What’s wrong? He’s going to be my prince consort anyway. As a princess, am I not worthy of hearing you read the edicts? Or do you want me to kneel and receive them, kowtowing in gratitude for imperial grace?”

How could the eunuch dare make the princess kneel?

He didn’t even dare read the edicts in front of the princess, hurriedly handing both edicts for Young Master Yan to the princess’s maid. Qiusi opened the edicts, casually scanning them, a puzzled expression appearing on her face as she leaned close to whisper in the princess’s ear.

Mu Wanyao’s expression changed slightly as she snatched the edicts—

The first one praised Yan Shang’s three years as County Magistrate of Rang County, promoting it from a middle-ranked county to an upper-ranked county. Great Wei’s counties were classified as upper, middle, or lower based on population and economy, with different ranks of official positions for magistrates of different levels. So, Young Master Yan’s original seventh-rank position was now directly promoted to sixth rank due to Rang County’s elevation to upper status.

This greatly surprised Mu Wanyao.

She realized why Yan Shang hadn’t let her ruin his position as county magistrate—he had been waiting for this news.

The second edict stated that since Yan Shang was now a sixth-rank magistrate of an upper county with clear achievements, the central government summoned him back to the capital for evaluation and promotion. Due to personnel shortages in the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Shang was promoted to Personnel Evaluation Director, fifth rank. The central government ordered Yan Shang to return to Chang’an immediately to take office, and because of his promotion to fifth rank, he would be required to attend daily court sessions without excuse for absence.

The two edicts were issued in succession by the Department of State Affairs, drafted by the Department, reviewed by the Chancellery, approved by the Emperor… the two edicts had just left the capital, crossing mountains and waters to reach Jinling, to be personally delivered to Yan Shang’s hands.

When Mu Wanyao saw these two edicts, noticed the Department of State Affairs’ seal, and thought about the missing seal on her own edict, she instantly understood that the Department was subtly giving the choice of becoming prince consort to Yan Shang, not forcing him to marry the princess.

The Department might even be willing to protect Yan Shang, this fresh fifth-rank official, in opposition to Princess Danyang.

Mu Wanyao’s face darkened as she silently gripped these edicts and headed straight for the inner chambers.

In the bedchamber, Yan Shang was leaning against an armrest while the imperial physician examined his eyes and applied new medicine. Though Yan Shang could now see, his vision hadn’t fully recovered, occasionally saw double images when looking at people, so the physician naturally wanted to help him recover completely.

The old imperial physician was rambling on about precautions to Yan Shang, such as avoiding spicy foods, trying not to cry, preventing foreign objects from touching his eyes… as they talked, they heard hurried footsteps.

Yan Shang looked toward the window, seeing maids lifting their skirts and running hurriedly this way. The next moment, the door curtain was lifted as Mu Wanyao, with an icy face and several yellow scrolls in hand, stormed toward him.

The old physician had no time to withdraw, and Mu Wanyao didn’t care about outsiders’ presence as she directly hurled the edicts at Yan Shang.

The attack was fierce and sudden.

The old physician standing beside Yan Shang trembled in fear. Yan Shang quickly tilted his upper body, dodging the flying disaster, but his shoulder was still struck by the thrown edicts. He winced in pain as he picked up the edicts that had fallen on the couch, asking: “What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao stood before the screen with her hands on her hips, her face red with anger as she glared coldly—

“What’s wrong with me? I should ask what’s wrong with you! So you had everything planned out. Even when I kept you under house arrest all along, not letting you know news from outside, you weren’t anxious at all… because you knew the imperial edicts would come. Once they arrived, with your new official appointment and summons to return to the capital, I wouldn’t be able to keep you under house arrest anymore.”

“This is what you were hiding from me. You could even use the county-level change to turn your seventh-rank position into the sixth rank before your four-year term was up. Your abilities, Yan Suchen, I’m utterly impressed.”

“Why did you hide it from me? Were you planning to keep hiding it until we returned to Chang’an, then go to the Department of State Affairs to accuse me of forcing you to marry the princess? As a fifth-rank court official, the Department would surely protect you.”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes to read the three edicts, scanning his own two very quickly since he had already anticipated them, though the direct promotion to fifth rank still made him raise an eyebrow in surprise. As he pondered the court’s reasons for such arrangements, his gaze fell on the edict changing Mu Wanyao’s prince consort.

The new prince consort was written as: Yan Second Young Master of Lingnan, Yan Shang.

Yan Shang’s fingertip gently brushed over those characters; they didn’t disappear or change.

Seeing him lower his head to read the edicts so calmly, Mu Wanyao grew even more furious, feeling she had been fooled. She began to feel wronged, tears almost welling up in her eyes—

“You hid such things from me, and when it comes down to it, you’re just planning to tell my father emperor that you don’t want to be my prince consort.”

“You petty person, you schemer! You’ve been calculating the time and everyone all along… I wondered why your third brother and younger sister were in Chang’an when you should have stayed in Nanyang for four years… So you knew early on that you’d return to Chang’an this year, that’s why you let your siblings wait for you in Chang’an!”

“Are you taking revenge on me? Revenge for my keeping you under house arrest, so you deliberately didn’t tell me about your promotion, to not give me time to prepare? Do you not want to marry me that much? Because I didn’t respect you? Because I didn’t apologize to you? So you had to get back at me? You bastard, scoundrel, disgusting…”

Her eyes reddened, her voice slightly trembling as she let her imagination run wild with suspicions, becoming increasingly convinced of Yan Shang’s vengeful intentions. He had remained calm even under her house arrest, not anxious at all, always waiting for this moment…

Yan Shang raised his eyes, quietly looking at her. He caught glimpses of her insecurity and fear.

He interrupted her tirade, saying: “We’ll return to Chang’an to marry.”

Mu Wanyao froze, staring at him blankly.

She was confused, and hesitant: “You… don’t want to refuse the marriage?”

Yan Shang said softly: “I just wanted to get back at you a little… I had no other intention.”

He turned his face away, his fingers tightening on the marriage edict, once again tracing his name with his fingertip. He said: “After things have come this far, why would I refuse the marriage?”

Mu Wanyao looked at him, all her angry words disappearing at the tip of her tongue. The room grew quiet as she gazed at him, her expression changing. Her eyes sparkled with tender feelings like rippling spring water.

The old imperial physician coughed.

The old physician said: “This old servant has something to remind you. Second Young Master’s eye condition hasn’t fully healed yet. In the short term, it would be better to abstain from bedroom activities.”

Yan Shang froze, then his face instantly turned red, unable to speak.

Mu Wanyao gave a small laugh.

She was only surprised for a moment, but remained quite at ease, not even blinking as she seriously told the imperial physician: “What are you saying? The prince consort and I are very proper, how could we do such things before marriage?”

Yan Shang felt deeply embarrassed, unable to speak, not knowing where Mu Wanyao got such thick skin.

The old imperial physician smiled calmly: “I know. Just reminding you that excessive indulgence isn’t good, of course not referring to Your Highness and Second Young Master.”

Young Master Yan didn’t dare raise his head, his face burning hot.