Yan Shang not only guessed that Mu Wanyao was a princess but also deduced that she was the renowned Princess Danyang. Being naturally cautious, after arriving in Chang’an, he had thoroughly investigated all the important figures in the capital. This wasn’t just about currying favor or avoiding offense – it was simply prudent.

The first time he met Mu Wanyao, he had guessed she was of royal blood. Now, during their second encounter, watching her write with swift, confident strokes, he deduced she must be His Majesty’s most beloved youngest daughter, Princess Danyang. It wasn’t difficult to figure out.

Yan Shang hadn’t left yet because his companion had suddenly remembered an errand and he was waiting here. He never expected Mu Wanyao to emerge, let alone approach him directly.

When she stood before him, eagerly asking his name, Yan Shang was already on guard. When she gazed at him with eyes sparkling like starlight, he fell silent for a moment, perceiving her girlish sentiment toward him.

Since coming to Chang’an from Lingnan, this country bumpkin Yan Shang had discovered he was the type of young man who particularly attracted young ladies. This troubled him, though he didn’t know how to handle it. Now he had somehow caught the attention of a princess… Yan Shang felt overwhelmed and inwardly bitter about the situation.

Their social positions were as different as clouds and mud.

He had no interest in romance, and her status was far too high… So why entangle themselves with matters of the heart?

Better to distance himself from this princess, giving her no opportunity for flights of fancy.

As Yan Shang made this decision, Mu Wanyao’s cheeks were already burning red as she stood before him. Her heart beat faster, realizing she had never stood so close or spoken so much with any man besides Yang Sanlang. Despite her bashfulness, she boldly spoke with Yan Shang, unable to help herself.

Perhaps she truly was young and naive about love, immediately developing feelings upon meeting a somewhat appealing young man.

Mu Wanyao lowered her head, not daring to move closer. She said softly, “Brother Yan, would you like me to help with your examination submission? You helped me before, I should thank you.”

Yan Shang replied politely but distantly, “That won’t be necessary.”

He needed to draw clear boundaries.

Mu Wanyao looked up in surprise, her eyes shimmering, “Brother Yan, do you mean you’re not planning to submit an examination, or just that you don’t want my help?”

Yan Shang smiled, “I’m not planning to submit one.”

Mu Wanyao exclaimed admiringly, “Then Brother Yan must be incredibly talented, with exceptional poetic ability!”

Yan Shang modestly replied, “Not at all.”

But at just seventeen, he did have some youthful pride. Though he had failed the examinations three times back in Lingnan, after a year of his uncle’s tutoring, he had passed. Yan Shang thought perhaps it was because he had been too isolated and narrow-minded before, and passing the provincial examination at seventeen was already quite impressive.

Coming to Chang’an for the imperial examinations, though his uncle wasn’t optimistic, Yan Shang himself maintained a somewhat blind confidence.

After all, he was still a youth unfamiliar with the depths of Chang’an’s waters.

Just as Mu Wanyao wanted to speak more, Yan Shang’s friend arrived. Yan Shang bid farewell to Mu Wanyao with gentle but firm politeness, leaving with his companion. Mu Wanyao watched his departing figure with a sense of loss.

Yan Shang’s friend was called Liu Wenji.

As they walked, Liu Wenji kept glancing back at a beautiful maid standing below the tavern.

The maid kept her head down, pretending not to notice.

Mu Wanyao stood dejectedly in place for a while, then after some internal struggle, called out, “Rong Hua, Chun Hua!”

Both maids responded, and the one named Chun Hua raised her face – she was the one Liu Wenji had kept looking back at.

Mu Wanyao whispered, “…Find out more about Brother Yan.”

The two maids exchanged glances before agreeing.

Mu Wanyao knew that investigating Yan Shang would inevitably alert her father and mother, the Emperor and Empress, as well as her second brother. Though she didn’t want their scrutiny, her desire to learn about Yan Shang outweighed these concerns.

Sure enough, that evening, when information about Yan Shang reached Mu Wanyao, the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince also learned his name.

The Crown Prince pondered briefly before deciding to wait and see. Perhaps his sister was merely admiring someone’s talent?

While most of Yan Shang’s information didn’t trouble Mu Wanyao, discovering he was half a year younger than her made her recall how she had been calling him “Brother Yan,” making her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She felt awkward – how could Brother Yan be younger than her?

That would make him a younger brother.

Ah… but how could she have feelings for a younger brother?

He should still be considered an older brother.

No, since Yan Shang was the second son in his family, she shouldn’t call him Brother Yan anymore, but rather Second Brother Yan.

After much mental debate, Mu Wanyao decided to forget about the age difference, pretending she didn’t know she was half a year older. She consoled herself that it was only half a year – they were essentially the same age, no need to worry about who was older or younger.

Reading his other information, Mu Wanyao was relieved to learn that Yan Shang hadn’t grown close to any young ladies since arriving in Chang’an. Though she didn’t know why she cared about this, she felt relieved.

Lying in bed, Mu Wanyao thought happily and secretly that with Brother Yan’s brilliant talent, he would surely succeed in the examinations.

If Second Brother Yan could become this year’s top scholar… her imagination would run wild, making her feel extremely shy, hiding under her blanket to giggle and kick her feet—

But Yan Shang’s name did not appear on this year’s list of successful candidates.

When the results were posted in the third month and Mu Wanyao had someone check, she nearly cried. She worried about how upset he must be, while also internally accusing the old officials in the Ministry of Personnel of being jealous of Second Brother Yan’s good looks and deliberately denying him a position.

Mu Wanyao was strictly confined to the palace by the Emperor and Empress, unable to leave easily. She begged Yang Si to convey her words of comfort to Yan Shang, planning to find him herself when she had the chance to leave the palace.

Yang Si stared at her with an odd expression.

Mu Wanyao exclaimed, “What are you looking at!”

Yang Si asked, “…Do you like him that much? He only helped you once – what do you like about him?”

Though her feelings had been exposed, Mu Wanyao denied it out of embarrassment: “I don’t.”

She said softly, “I just consider Second Brother Yan a friend.”

Yang Si replied coolly, “He’s never once asked about you.”

Mu Wanyao retorted, “How do you know Second Brother Yan hasn’t asked about me? I’m a princess living in the palace – even if he wanted to ask, he couldn’t!”

Yang Si’s eyes suddenly turned cold as he said sharply, “Yet you claim you don’t like him! Why do you care so much whether he’s asked about you or not!”

Mu Wanyao was rendered speechless. Under Yang Si’s intense gaze, her eyes grew moist with a mix of anxiety and embarrassment. Though teary-eyed and uncertain of what to do, she pressed her lips together and looked back at him with some defiance.

Seeing her foolish expression, Yang Si softened his demeanor and ruffled her hair.

Yang Si said, “Yao Yao, you don’t understand men. In my view, someone of his background is just deliberately keeping you at arm’s length to toy with young ladies like you. Does he know you’re a princess? See, it’s all intentional! The way he treats you, he surely treats other young ladies the same way. I’ve seen his type many times!”

Mu Wanyao asked doubtfully, “Is that true?”

Yang Si assured her, “That’s exactly how it is. Look, I’ll help comfort him and find him an important position in Chang’an – that will repay your debt of gratitude to him. After that, you shouldn’t concern yourself with this matter anymore. Do you agree? If not, I won’t even help you check on him this time.”

Mu Wanyao was filled with dejection.

The thought that Yan Shang might be the kind of hypocrite Yang Si described, who toyed with young ladies’ feelings, made her uncomfortable. She wanted to argue but couldn’t find any evidence to support her defense. Yet Yang Si spoke with such confidence as if he truly understood Yan Shang. So Mu Wanyao reluctantly agreed, forcing herself to bury her tender feelings.

However, when Yang Si went to see Yan Shang, an entirely different story unfolded.

Somehow during their meeting, Yang Si and Yan Shang ended up becoming sworn brothers. Yang Si came to admire Yan Shang and wanted to recommend him as an advisor to the eldest prince.

Yan Shang was somewhat hesitant.

This year’s examinations in Chang’an had dealt him a heavy blow – until he failed, he hadn’t realized how shallow his knowledge truly was. He felt lost, wondering if he was suited for this path.

Yang Si scrutinized him, but it didn’t matter – with Yan Shang’s interpersonal skills, he easily dispelled Yang Si’s prejudices. When Yang Si recommended him to work for the eldest prince, he only hesitated briefly, seeing it as an alternative path.

Being an advisor for a long time could also lead to an official position. It seemed better than focusing solely on the examinations.

But before Yan Shang could agree, he was summoned by the Crown Prince. To his surprise, Yan Shang vaguely guessed the reason, suspecting that these people were paying special attention to him because of Princess Danyang. Otherwise, Yang Si wouldn’t have just left before the Crown Prince summoned him.

Yan Shang felt quite wronged – he had never tried to bewitch the young princess.

But whether he had done anything wasn’t important; what mattered was making others believe he hadn’t.

With this audience, the Crown Prince appointed Yan Shang as his advisor, keeping him by his side. In the Crown Prince’s eyes, although Yan Shang was young, he showed a natural talent for strategy. With some guidance, given time, he would surely become one of his right-hand men.

Yan Shang’s uncle was overjoyed. After investing so much effort in his nephew, seeing him directly appointed to the Crown Prince’s side exceeded his expectations… Even becoming the top scholar might not have secured such a position.

Yan Shang’s official career was truly promising.

While the Crown Prince genuinely valued talent in keeping Yan Shang, he also watched to see if his little sister made any further inquiries about him.

Mu Wanyao didn’t.

Only then did the Crown Prince truly believe Yan Shang’s words – that he had no private relationship with the princess, nor any inappropriate thoughts about her-

Yan Shang hadn’t expected to see Mu Wanyao again so soon.

At the end of the third month, Mu Wanyao came to the Eastern Palace to pay respects to her Crown Prince brother and his wife. She moved through the Eastern Palace as freely as her palace, with no one stopping her. Hearing that her brother was handling state affairs in the hall, she pushed the door open directly.

The curtains rustled as she entered. The Crown Prince, sitting behind his desk with his handsome features set in a serious expression, raised his eyes slightly when he saw his sister enter, casting a meaningful glance in a particular direction.

But Mu Wanyao didn’t notice. She called out sweetly, “Second Brother!”

Like a little girl seeking attention, she knelt beside the desk and threw herself into her brother’s arms, hugging his neck. Seeing the hall empty when she entered, she had assumed the Crown Prince was alone. Without waiting for him to speak, she was already clinging to his arm and acting coquettish.

Mu Wanyao said, “Second Brother, is Rong Hua your spy in my palace? Please remove her, I don’t want this.”

The Crown Prince coughed, “Yao Yao, get down, stop fooling around.”

Mu Wanyao peeked at him with one eye; around her close family members and with no outsiders present, she was particularly skilled at acting cute and spoiled. She kept swaying the Crown Prince’s arm, speaking in a soft voice with misty eyes, continuously describing how pitiful she was, without any freedom…

Then Mu Wanyao heard a soft laugh.

She froze instantly and looked toward the corner where the laugh came from.

In the depths of the hall near the wall of bookshelves, she saw two people sitting behind desks. They had been helping the Crown Prince with administrative matters and had overseen the princess’s spoiled behavior.

The one who laughed was a middle-aged man Mu Wanyao knew well – her brother had mentioned this person would become some kind of Vice Minister of Revenue soon, though she didn’t really understand such things. But what made Mu Wanyao blush was seeing the other scholarly-looking young man.

Yan Shang sat properly behind his desk, his expression gentle and peaceful, showing no sign of mocking the princess. He kept his head down, continuing to read the document in his hands as if he hadn’t heard the princess’s childish behavior. Only when Mu Wanyao looked their way, implicated by his colleague’s laughter, did Yan Shang have to offer a polite smile and bow to the princess.

Yan Shang said gently, “Your Highness.”

Instantly, the blush on Mu Wanyao’s face spread down to her neck. Though it was the middle-aged man who had laughed at her, she only saw Yan Shang’s gentle demeanor. He hadn’t laughed at all, yet she felt embarrassed.

He must have been laughing secretly in his heart.

Mu Wanyao turned to look at her second brother, slightly angry: “Second Brother, why didn’t you tell me there were others here?”

The Crown Prince sighed, “I was about to tell you when you rushed over… Never mind, you two may withdraw. It’s alright Yao Yao, don’t be angry.”

Mu Wanyao kept pressuring the Crown Prince to remove Rong Hua, but he never agreed. Because Mu Wanyao was somewhat distracted, she didn’t persist much with her brother. She left the hall dejectedly, and when about to return, she encountered Yan Shang again.

More precisely, it wasn’t an encounter – she saw Yan Shang leaning against a corridor pillar in the Eastern Palace courtyard, with a blushing maid speaking to him softly, while he smiled with a lowered head.

His eyelashes were slightly raised, and his dark clear eyes were focused and gentle when looking at others.

Mu Wanyao watched as the maid’s voice grew even softer than when speaking to her, and she was stunned to see the maid boldly try to touch Yan Shang’s belt. Yan Shang happened to turn aside, avoiding the touch.

As he turned, he saw the young princess standing beneath the grand hall, staring at him in a daze.

Yan Shang started slightly, then bowed with cupped hands.

His long sleeves fluttered gracefully, his robes swaying, a polite smile touching his lips. In that instant when his eyes met hers, Mu Wanyao’s heart beat more fiercely than ever before.

At that moment, she had a bold thought – I want him.

I want this person.

I want him to be completely mine, to smile only at me, to speak only with me.

Perhaps as Yang Si said, it was because she hadn’t met many young men that her heart would flutter inappropriately whenever she saw Yan Shang. But Mu Wanyao was a princess – no matter how good-natured and gentle she was, she still had the pride of a Great Wei princess in her bones—

If she liked something, she would have it. If she wanted something, she would get it.

There wasn’t a man in the world a princess couldn’t obtain.

At seventeen years old, Mu Wanyao gathered her courage for the first time, deciding to use her privileges as a princess.

She wanted Yan Shang as her Prince Consort—

Indeed, there was no man a princess of Great Wei couldn’t obtain. As long as a princess didn’t intend to rebel, she could have anything she wanted. Especially for a particularly favored princess. And a favored princess’s only worry was that the other party’s status was too low for the royal family to approve.

Mu Wanyao first won over the Crown Prince. He was her dear brother, and now that Yan Shang worked for him, the Crown Prince was the easiest to persuade.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince wavered and spoke to the Emperor and Empress on her behalf.

The Emperor and Empress still hesitated.

Mu Wanyao nestled in her mother’s arms all evening, saying many sweet words, promising how obedient she would be in the future, but the Empress wouldn’t relent. Even when Mu Wanyao started crying and wailing about how much she wanted Yan Shang, the Empress only hesitated slightly.

The Crown Prince coughed and caught his sister’s eye, signaling her to leave first.

After Mu Wanyao left with tears in her eyes, the Crown Prince persuaded: “Since little sister likes him, he’s just a man, not from a base background, why not give him to her?”

The Empress frowned: “Nonsense! Just because he’s not from a base background doesn’t mean he can marry a princess! What status does Yao Yao have, and he… he’s just a commoner, without any official position, from an ordinary family…”

The Crown Prince smiled slightly: “That’s easy enough to fix. Let him take the imperial examinations, make him the third-ranked scholar, and I’ll give him an official position next year. Yan Shang’s abilities aren’t limited to being just my advisor. Mother, the more you forbid it, the more Yao Yao will want him. She’s at that rebellious age, you can’t just keep refusing her.”

He said softly: “Just give him to Yao Yao. If she stops liking him later, we can dismiss him. A princess has plenty of men to choose from.”

However, the world followed male superiority before that came to the supremacy of the monarch and imperial power.

Before being a woman, Mu Wanyao was first a ruler. A ruler could have as many men as they wanted.

The Empress’s attitude softened because of this.

Yes, why should she forbid it and create a rift with her daughter? Her daughter was at the age where she most treasured a man; when she no longer liked him, they could simply replace him. There was no need for mother and daughter to be at odds—

At the end of the fourth month, Yan Shang inexplicably received an imperial marriage decree.

His uncle was overjoyed, while he remained confused about how this had happened.

The Emperor had only briefly interviewed him before ordering the construction of the Princess’s mansion, planning for the Princess to marry in half a year. Meanwhile, the Emperor required Yan Shang to study diligently and participate in next year’s imperial examinations.

Even if it was just a formality, a Princess’s Consort still needed to take the examinations.

This was the Emperor’s new policy, which his children naturally had to support.

Yan Shang accepted the imperial decree in confusion and bewilderedly resumed his studies at the Imperial Academy. When his family came from Lingnan to Chang’an in the fifth month for his wedding, Yan Shang could only smile bitterly.

He still didn’t know how this had happened.

His father pondered, privately pulling his second son aside to talk: “Do you like the princess?”

Yan Shang sighed: “There’s no question of liking or not liking. I’ve only met Her Highness three times.”

His father understood his second son well, and seeing his gentle manner, knew he didn’t truly like her. After much internal struggle, his father said: “If you don’t wish to marry the princess, perhaps our family could escape overseas…”

“You dare!” Before his father could finish, his uncle, who had been eavesdropping outside, burst in and berated his father: “Back then you sneaked away with my cousin and lived in secrecy all your life, now you want my nephew to hide for his whole life too?

“Do you think offending the Emperor’s daughter is so simple? Do you think everyone is as easy to bully as our family? Go ahead and flee overseas as a family, but have you thought about others!”

His father protested: “But the second son doesn’t like her…”

His uncle bristled: “What’s there to like or not like? The princess is beautiful and delicate, he’s blessed but doesn’t know it! He’s just young and doesn’t understand now, but he’ll understand after marriage. A beautiful woman actively pursuing him, and you want to run? Where’s the sense in that…”

Yan Shang stopped his uncle from scolding his father.

He said helplessly: “I’m not refusing the marriage. This is an imperial decree, how could I refuse? Besides… I don’t mind.”

He truly didn’t mind.

Perhaps as his uncle said, he just didn’t understand yet.

But in his heart, Yan Shang really didn’t have strong feelings about marriage one way or the other. He would have to marry eventually anyway, and now he was marrying a princess – such great fortune had fallen from the sky, Yan Shang had no reason to avoid it.

Before the wedding, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao didn’t meet again.

The Emperor and Empress’s strict watch over their youngest daughter wasn’t just talk. They ultimately disapproved of Yan Shang, believing he had enticed their daughter, so they wouldn’t allow the two to meet before the wedding.

Yan Shang didn’t mind.

Mu Wanyao was simply delighted that after marriage she could move out of the palace and have her princess mansion. She would no longer have her father, mother, and brothers watching her every day… She sent Chun Hua out of the palace daily to check on the progress of her princess mansion’s construction.

Being truly talented, Mu Wanyao could make adjustments based on Chun Hua’s reports and the blueprints from the Ministry of Works, adding her ideas to make the princess mansion suit her preferences.

Remembering that the princess’s mansion wouldn’t be for her alone, she shyly sent Chun Hua to ask if Yan Shang had any requests.

Chun Hua reported back: Second Master Yan had no requests, saying whatever pleased Her Highness would be fine.

Mu Wanyao sighed: “Second Brother Yan truly has such a good temperament.”

Harboring a maiden’s concerns, she anxiously asked Chun Hua: “Could he be pretending? Will he still be like this after marriage? Chun Hua, I don’t want another person constantly controlling me.”

Chun Hua recalled Second Master Yan’s manner and smiled: “Your Highness need not worry. In this servant’s opinion, he’s a practical person, not the type to play games.”

As the mistress and maid were about to discuss more about Second Master Yan, a palace maid reported that the Empress had sent a matron to instruct the princess on pre-wedding matters.

Remembering what the matron had shown her last time, Mu Wanyao’s face instantly turned red. Embarrassed, she endured for a long while before saying with a slight tremor in her voice: “Let the matron enter.”—

A similar instruction was happening on Yan Shang’s side.

The palace sent eunuchs to teach Yan Shang about marital matters, as was traditional.

Yan Shang felt quite awkward.

It wasn’t that he was shy, he just felt uncomfortable… thinking about having to be intimate with a stranger on his wedding night made him feel embarrassed and speechless.

Why did people have to be this way? Couldn’t they just live purely and mind their own business? Wouldn’t it be… wouldn’t such behavior expose humanity’s bestial nature, making it truly unseemly?

Second Master Yan’s peculiar thoughts naturally remained unknown to others.

He never shared these inner thoughts with anyone, only awkwardly listening to the eunuch’s teachings, enduring and learning. Since he felt awkward, he learned awkwardly. The eunuch also felt awkward about the matter, and with both parties sharing the same mindset, the instruction was cursory and rushed, vague and unclear.

For Yan Shang, more importantly, after marriage, he would need to take on a husband’s responsibilities. Responsibility, more than love, moved Yan Shang’s heart—

After half a year of wedding preparations, in the tenth month of the latter half-year, eighteen-year-old Princess Danyang had a magnificent wedding.

The ten-li procession of her dowry and Chang’an’s grand spectacle need not be described.

After all the elaborate ceremonies were complete and Mu Wanyao had changed clothes, she waited in the chamber for her new husband. As she anxiously thought about her Prince Consort, she heard the creaking of the door opening, and raising her beautiful eyes, met Yan Shang’s gaze as he entered.

Both froze.

Both fell silent.

Yan Shang lowered his eyes, momentarily stunned by her magnificent attire. Crimson formal robes, a nine-phoenix hairpin.

In his heart, during their few brief meetings, she had always appeared as a spoiled young girl. Tonight her makeup was strikingly beautiful, resplendent, and magnificent, making his heart skip a beat, leaving him suddenly unable to look directly at her.

Mu Wanyao kept her head down, also thinking about his handsome appearance.

She nervously listened as Yan Shang softly instructed the maids to withdraw, then heard his footsteps approach and felt him sit beside her. After a while, Yan Shang smiled and asked: “You must be tired after such a long day, Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao softly replied “Not tired,” then gathered her courage to say: “You returned so quickly.”

Her jade-white delicate fingers traced the phoenix pattern on the mattress below her, adding an obvious explanation: “Third Brother Yang told me that on the wedding night, I would have to wait a long time for my husband to return. But you came back so quickly.”

Yan Shang replied gently: “Because I cannot drink alcohol, the guests didn’t detain me.”

Mu Wanyao was surprised, then said: “Then I won’t drink alcohol either from now on.”

Yan Shang smiled and said: “There’s no need. Your Highness needn’t change your habits for my sake.”

Mu Wanyao said very seriously: “But I should. We will live together for a lifetime, so naturally we should adapt to each other, and take care of each other. I want to… want to follow Second Brother Yan’s dietary habits.”

Yan Shang was stunned.

He turned his head, lowering his eyes to study her.

He asked softly: “What did you call me?”

Under his gaze, Mu Wanyao lowered her delicate head. Her eyelashes trembled, her face flushed, hating how timid she was as her face burned – just one look from him made her uncontrollably nervous.

Mu Wanyao said in a soft, sweet voice: “Second Brother Yan… do you not like me calling you that?”

Yan Shang looked at her for a long while, feeling ripples in his heart from just this form of address. But he quickly suppressed these ripples, saying: “Let’s wash up.”

Mu Wanyao continued nodding, almost crying from embarrassment at her awkwardness—

Mu Wanyao kept thinking about what the palace matron had taught her, feeling somewhat uncomfortable yet also vaguely curious and expectant. Thinking about being that way with a man… she ordered her maids to hurry with the washing, still feeling somewhat shy.

When she hurriedly returned from the bathroom, she found the bridal chamber empty, Yan Shang hadn’t returned and immediately felt relieved. She unhesitatingly dove under the covers, ordering the maids to extinguish the candles, wrapping herself up tightly and burrowing into the bed curtains.

She closed her eyes pretending to sleep, but couldn’t help pricking up her ears to listen to the movements outside. She heard Yan Shang speaking softly with the maids, his voice clear and pleasant, instantly making her heart nearly leap out of her chest.

After a while, she saw Yan Shang enter holding a candle. Through the curtains in the dim light, Mu Wanyao saw that his clothes were still neat and proper, his jade crown and silk sash without the slightest disarray. As he walked toward the bed curtains, Mu Wanyao quickly closed her eyes.

Yan Shang asked gently: “Is Your Highness asleep?”

Mu Wanyao pretended to sleep, not responding.

Yan Shang looked through the curtains for a while, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. Being highly intelligent, he didn’t believe she had fallen asleep so quickly. His awkwardness was one thing, but seeing his new bride being just as awkward as himself made him want to laugh.

Yan Shang placed the candle on the small table beside the bed, gently blew out the flame, and only then slowly began to remove his clothes and sash.

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes again, secretly watching him.

As his robes fell away, his silhouette was lean yet graceful like a landscape painting. He removed his jade hairpin, his long hair falling to his waist, black hair against snow-white skin, a dazzling sight.

When Yan Shang turned his face to look back, Mu Wanyao frantically closed her eyes again.

Yan Shang slowly got into bed, lying flat on the outside. He felt quite conflicted, wondering if it would be better to just sleep like this. He didn’t mind, but would she? Why should strangers sleep in the same bed…

As he was struggling with these thoughts and about to turn his back to Mu Wanyao to sleep, he suddenly felt a small warm body roll into his arms. His body instantly tensed, but caught off guard, she had already lifted his blanket and burrowed in.

She mumbled, her voice like someone just waking up: “Second Brother Yan, you smell so nice.”

Yan Shang: “…”

He remained rigid, allowing her to hug him, not knowing where to put his hands, and could only say awkwardly: “Perhaps it’s because I just bathed.”

Mu Wanyao raised her nose, sniffing at his neck. Instantly, Yan Shang’s entire body tensed, a tingling sensation running up his spine, inexplicable panic and heat coursing through his blood. He couldn’t help but try to move away, but Mu Wanyao remained oblivious, continuing innocently: “No, it’s your natural scent… I smelled it the first time we met. I’ve been trying to recreate it but without success.”

Yan Shang’s mind went blank.

After a long while, she looked up at him, and he finally replied in a hoarse voice: “Perhaps it’s a fragrance from our Lingnan region… I’ll teach Your Highness another day.”

She curved her eyes in a smile, happily agreeing.

Yan Shang fell silent.

She remained buried in his embrace, holding his narrow waist.

They remained stubborn like this for a long while, neither yielding.

He didn’t push her away, and she didn’t return to her blanket. After a moment of rigidity, Mu Wanyao heard Yan Shang sigh softly, and his hand, which had been properly avoiding touching her, came over and gently embraced her shoulder. He finally hugged her, actively drawing her into his arms.

He held her as he turned over, covering her in his embrace. He said softly: “It might hurt a little.”

Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling as she wrapped her arms around his neck, saying sweetly: “I’m not afraid.”—

In the room, an incense burner burned out its fragrance, while red candles burned high outside the curtains. When she cried out in his arms, he froze and stopped. He remained silent, and in the darkness, only their intermingled breaths could be heard.

He patted her back gently as if comforting a child, soothing her until she stopped crying. He finished hastily, then took her to bathe, being patient and attentive. Mu Wanyao waited dazedly on the bed for a long time, only feeling at ease enough to close her eyes and sleep after he returned.

Before falling into dreams, Mu Wanyao thought happily: She and Second Brother Yan were finally husband and wife.

While Yan Shang also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was finally over.

He calculated in his mind how to maintain the proper balance in the future, both respecting Princess and not neglecting her.

Mu Wanyao didn’t understand these things, and Yan Shang didn’t pay attention to them either. Throughout, he neither kissed her nor touched her anywhere else, and Mu Wanyao only felt pain, great pain, extreme pain, but thinking this was how it was for everyone, she simply endured it, naively believing what the matron had said about it getting better later.

Thus began the married life of this young couple, sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.