On Princess Danyang’s wedding night, the newly renovated Princess Manor was opened to the public for celebrations that lasted through the night. The entire alley was adorned with lanterns on both sides, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Liu Wenji, who had come to Chang’an for the imperial examinations with Yan Shang, had failed to pass in their first year along with Yan Shang. However, with Yan Shang’s companionship, he wasn’t too discouraged. Later, Yan Shang caught the Princess’s eye and became her Prince Consort… For Liu Wenji, Yan Shang’s marriage to the Princess meant he could often see Chunhua, the maid who frequently delivered messages for the Princess.

That night at the Princess’s wedding banquet, Liu Wenji indeed saw the maid Chunhua. When their eyes met, she immediately turned away with a suppressed smile to attend to other guests.

Liu Wenji cleared his throat and followed behind her, speaking softly: “Miss, I am the Prince Consort’s friend from the same hometown. We’ve met many times before. In the future, I might often visit the manor to see Yan Er… the Prince Consort, but since it’s not appropriate to visit the Princess’s manor freely, I hope you could…”

Chunhua kept her back to him, her face burning red.

She somewhat understood what this handsome young man’s brightening eyes meant whenever he saw her.

Fearing others might notice, she whispered: “I understand. I will instruct the servants. Please go take your seat, sir. I still have duties to attend to…”

Liu Wenji followed her without taking his eyes off her for a moment. He rolled up his sleeves: “Let me help you.”

He then followed behind the maid for the entire evening, refusing to leave.

Yang Si and the Crown Prince were drinking together in one area. When he went to relieve himself and returned, he happened to run into a small girl carrying a large wine jar. The girl was carefully holding the oversized jar with her head lowered as she emerged from around the corner.

She was slight and weak, about to fall from the weight of the jar in her arms, when a gentleman’s hand reached out to steady her shoulder, helping her regain her balance.

She immediately said softly: “Thank you.”

She lifted her face.

The lantern light fell upon the face of this twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, illuminating her delicate and fair features, with pitch-black pupils. Her expression was innocent and timid, typical of a sheltered girl from some remote region who hadn’t seen much of the world.

Not yet grown up.

Not yet worldly-wise.

Yang Si, however, stared at her transfixed. For a moment, his hand resting on her shoulder trembled slightly, unconsciously experiencing an intensely painful sensation in his heart.

It was as if he had seen her before in a dream.

The servant who had caught up with Young Master Yang’s hurried steps saw his master holding onto a young lady and, fearing Yang San might cause trouble, quickly approached and whispered: “Third Young Master, this is Miss Yan, the Prince Consort’s younger sister.”

He gave Yan Xiaozhou an ingratiating smile.

Yan Xiaozhou blushed and returned a smile.

Yang Si stared at her face, trying to understand why she seemed so familiar. He carelessly refused to let her go: “What’s in this wine jar?”

Yan Xiaozhou’s voice was as clear as an oriole’s: “It’s a wine I brewed myself, from our hometown. It’s called Spirit Creek Wine. Since my second brother is getting married, I brought out the wine I made…”

Yang Si made a sound of acknowledgment and decisively reached out an arm, easily taking the wine from her embrace.

Yan Xiaozhou: “Ah…”

Yang Si took the wine and turned to leave: “I’m taking this wine.”

Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes widened, not expecting someone to be so domineering.

She bit her lip and chased after him, mustering her courage: “Who… who are you… You can’t do this! This wine is for my sister-in-law… not for you to drink!”

Yang Si sneered.

He turned back carelessly, giving her a crooked smile: “Once it’s in my hands, it’s mine.”

He walked away so gracefully that Yan Xiaozhou couldn’t catch up despite chasing after him. Soon they reached the nobles’ seating area, and Yan Xiaozhou stood helplessly outside the hall, even more unable to go inside and retrieve her wine. She saw the young man who had just taken her wine look back at her with a smile before opening the wine jar and pouring drinks for that group…

Tears welled up in Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes, her heart full of grievance.

The servants nearby were uneasy: “Young Miss…”

How could the Third Young Master make the Prince Consort’s sister cry?

Yang Si also noticed the tears in Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes. He froze, feeling somewhat at a loss, never expecting a small joke to make a young girl cry. His table was about to start drinking, and Yang Si irritably shouted: “Don’t drink it! Pour the wine back!”

He strode toward the hall’s exterior, frowning as he walked toward Yan Xiaozhou, wanting to say something.

Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes shimmered with clear tears, a misty gleam in them. She felt wronged and angry, but she couldn’t argue with anyone at her brother’s wedding banquet. Moreover, these noble young masters were people she couldn’t afford to offend.

Yang Si awkwardly: “Hey, um…”

Yan Xiaozhou didn’t even look at him, turning away to find her father and brother.

Yang Si: “…”

He had only found her familiar and wanted to play with her, he hadn’t meant to make an enemy—

Setting aside the various guests, Mu Wanyao felt her marriage was very successful.

She had married the Prince Consort she liked most.

She had the grandest wedding.

Though Yan Er-ge had hurt her during the night, he had spoken to her several times, his tone as gentle as before the wedding. She felt she hadn’t married wrong.

Moreover, from tomorrow on, she would have her own manor and wouldn’t have to live in the palace anymore, wouldn’t have to be watched all day by Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, and her brothers.

The marriage was wonderful!

Just… it hurt so much.

Mu Wanyao was truly exhausted, and it was her first time sharing a bed with a man. She was nervous about sleeping with a stranger and afraid Yan Shang would find her troublesome, so despite her discomfort, she endured it and dozily fell asleep.

She suddenly woke up, feeling light falling on her eyelids. The light was flickering slightly, making it impossible for her to sleep.

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes to see the bed curtains drawn, and beyond them, Yan Shang wearing only his middle garments with his hair halfbound, some strands falling messily across his face.

The window curtains weren’t drawn open; the light Mu Wanyao felt came from the candlestick Yan Shang held aloft. He was frowning slightly, bending down to sit at the edge of the bed, lowering his head as if using the light to examine something carefully.

The youth, usually carrying himself with dignity like a distant mountain, now in private at this moment, perhaps due to his unbound hair, appeared simply as a beautiful young man, bringing to mind only the word “handsome.”

As bright as jade.

Mu Wanyao’s heart began to pound again.

Moreover, seeing him holding the candlestick and looking at something for so long, she became curious about what he was examining.

As Yan Shang kept his head lowered, he heard a soft, sweet voice from within the curtains: “Yan Er-ge, what are you looking at?”

Yan Shang was greatly startled, the light from the candlestick in his hand trembling slightly. He suddenly raised his face, and the embroidered curtain he had carefully concealed was opened.

A warm, fragrant breeze wafted over, and a pair of bright cat-like eyes first peeked out from the curtains. Mu Wanyao was kneeling on the bedding, her long hair spreading like spilled ink, framing a snow-white, beautiful face.

With disheveled hair, her snow-white arms emerged. She leaned forward, her face tender, raising her eyes with two rows of thick eyelashes like brushes, each one visible.

Yan Shang stiffened and blushed, instinctively leaning his upper body back. Only by relying on strong willpower did he keep himself from turning away, desperately reminding himself that this was his wife—he couldn’t keep being uncomfortable.

Before Yan Shang could speak, Mu Wanyao followed his gaze and suddenly understood what he had been examining with the candle so early in the morning.

He was looking at the spots of blood on the bedding.

Mu Wanyao suddenly remembered last night’s events, her face instantly turning red. Embarrassed by the sight of the blood, she retreated into the bedding. She sat on the bed wrapped in the covers, yet still raised her bright, watery eyes to look at him.

Yan Shang awkwardly coughed once.

He said softly: “This subject is accustomed to waking early, so I rose earlier… I didn’t want to disturb Your Highness, but vaguely seeing blood stains, I became concerned and took a closer look at the candle. Waking Your Highness was my fault.”

Mu Wanyao mumbled: “What… what’s there to look at?”

Yan Shang likewise hesitated for a long while before finally gritting his teeth to ask her: “Is Your Highness… is Your Highness injured somewhere?”

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes wide, staring at him blankly.

Yan Shang’s face was red as blood, and she watched as even the small visible part of his ear beneath his hair turned as red as a red bean.

Yet he endured his awkwardness and embarrassment, asking her in a low voice: “I… this subject was impetuous last night, and may have injured Your Highness somewhere… This subject wanted to check on Your Highness but thought… thought it might be inappropriate.

“It’s good that Your Highness is awake. Could you tell Shang where you were injured…”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She was too embarrassed to raise her head.

After a while, her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s: “Doesn’t Yan Er-ge know?”

Yan Shang didn’t make a sound.

He shared her embarrassment, even more awkward than her. But as a man, he felt he should take responsibility for this. He stammered: “This subject has a vague guess, but cannot… Your Highness, is it there?”

Mu Wanyao: “…mm.”

Both were too embarrassed to speak.

After a good while, Mu Wanyao heard Yan Shang’s slightly tense low voice: “Then… then what should we do? Should medicine be applied?”

Mu Wanyao said quietly that before the wedding, the palace maids had told her this was normal, and the maids had prepared medicine. Yan Shang sighed in relief, glad that she knew what was happening.

He just remained awkward: “Then should this subject call for maids to attend to Your Highness…”

Mu Wanyao immediately: “No!”

She raised her face: “How could I let anyone see me there!”

Yan Shang stuttered: “Then… then should… should this subject…”

Mu Wanyao: “I… I can do it myself.”

Yan Shang turned his back awkwardly: “Oh… oh.”

Following her instructions, he went to fetch the medicine for her and handed it over, keeping his back turned. Mu Wanyao nervously held the medicine but didn’t use it for a long while. She was so embarrassed she wanted to cry, tentatively moving her leg and letting out a hiss of pain.

Yan Shang’s back stiffened as he sat at the edge of the bed facing away from her, startled by her sound: “What… what’s wrong?”

He thought chaotically to himself, does the noble Princess not even know how to apply medicine?

Mu Wanyao: “I want to bathe first, then apply the medicine.”

Yan Shang: “That’s… that’s good.”

Mu Wanyao choked up: “But it hurts so much when I move, I can’t get up, Yan Er-ge.”

Yan Shang fell silent.

Slowly, he turned around to face Mu Wanyao, who sat with her legs drawn up on the bed. Her middle garments were disheveled, revealing a glimpse of jade-white shoulders and clear collarbones. Her cheeks were crimson, her eyes misty as she looked at him pitifully. Yan Shang met her gaze for a moment, and she let out a soft sob, a drop of water clinging to her eyelashes.

Yan Shang’s heart suddenly pounded as he remembered how she looked when they first met.

Yan Shang leaned forward and took her into his arms.

He said gently: “Don’t cry, it was this subject’s fault for hurting Your Highness. Shall this subject carry Your Highness to the washroom?”

Perhaps skin contact truly could quickly bring two people closer together. Mu Wanyao couldn’t let the maids see her in her current state, but she was willing to let her new husband see her. She let out a sob as he placed one hand on her shoulder and the other beneath her slender white knees, lifting her from the bed.

Mu Wanyao buried her face in his embrace, holding onto his neck.

Mu Wanyao asked softly: “Am I heavy, ge-ge?”

Yan Shang laughed: “Your Highness is like a little cat, what weight could there be?”

Mu Wanyao felt relieved because his gentle way of speaking dispelled her morning nervousness around him. He carried her through the gauze curtains towards the washroom. Finally setting her down inside, Yan Shang hesitated, looking down at her.

Mu Wanyao kept her head lowered.

Yan Shang bent down to meet her eyes: “Can Your Highness manage alone?”

Mu Wanyao’s face instantly turned red when his breath touched her. She said nervously: “I can!”

Yan Shang frowned, worried that as a princess, she wouldn’t know how to wash herself. But he was too embarrassed to go in with her, so he placed the medicine in her hand and said softly: “Then this subject will wait outside for Your Highness. If anything is wrong, call for this subject. Don’t be afraid, Your Highness.”

He treated her completely like an innocent little sister who knew nothing, giving many instructions. Mu Wanyao felt both embarrassed and happy, nodding as he helped her inside.

As Yan Shang was about to leave, Mu Wanyao called out to stop him.

He thought she needed something, but unexpectedly, she held onto the wooden door and looked up innocently to ask: “Have I made Yan Er-ge dizzy with infatuation, falling head over heels for me?”

Yan Shang: “…”

Even though he had been nervous and keeping his distance from his new wife, when she looked up and asked such a silly question, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Mu Wanyao stared at him blankly, seeing for the first time genuine amusement in his eyes rather than polite courtesy, with a hint of teasing: “Doesn’t Your Highness already know?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Immersed in the warm water, Mu Wanyao submerged her face, holding her breath until her little face turned red before emerging and hugging herself. The little princess sat hugging her knees in the wooden tub, wondering absently—what did his laugh mean, what did he mean by asking if she knew?

Had she not captivated him?

Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, and her brothers all said she was beautiful!—

Mu Wanyao felt her life was particularly blessed.

She had been loved by her family since childhood, and after marriage, her Prince Consort was the most good-natured person she had ever met. The Prince Consort accompanied her at meals, cared about her health, and reminded her to apply medicine three times daily.

Because of applying medicine, it was as if she and the Prince Consort shared a secret between them, bringing them much closer.

Actually, it didn’t hurt that much anymore; after two days of rest, Mu Wanyao was fine. But she enjoyed Yan Shang’s attentive care, so she kept complaining about the pain, making him feel even more guilty.

Overall, Mu Wanyao was very satisfied with her married life. The only unsatisfactory part was that Yan Shang had to serve at the Crown Prince’s residence during the day, and after returning home, he needed to study. This was fine, but when it came to sleeping, Yan Shang didn’t share her chambers.

Mu Wanyao could count on her fingers the number of times she could see Yan Shang each day.

Because the palace governesses said that the Prince Consort couldn’t see the Princess without being summoned, couldn’t take the initiative to visit the Princess, let alone stay in the Princess’s chambers. The Prince Consort had his courtyard and sleeping quarters in the Princess’s manor, separated by distance from the Princess’s chambers, so as not to disturb the Princess.

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

When the Princess Manor was being renovated, she certainly knew there were separate quarters and courtyards for the Prince Consort, as every princess’s manor was like this, so Mu Wanyao hadn’t paid much attention. She just hadn’t realized that without her summons, Yan Shang wasn’t supposed to come see her.

And since their marriage, except for mealtimes, Mu Wanyao couldn’t see Yan Shang.

Sometimes Mu Wanyao would get anxious, hearing the Prince Consort had returned to the manor, she wanted to send maids to summon Yan Shang, but the palace governesses would scowl: How could Your Highness summon the Prince Consort to attend every night? A young lady must show restraint.

Mu Wanyao felt so wronged: When had she ever summoned him every night? She hadn’t summoned him even once!

Every time she wanted to summon him, that governess would start preaching about proper conduct and avoiding lustful behavior… frightening away Mu Wanyao’s courage.

She disliked these palace governesses—

Meanwhile, Yan Shang remained tranquil, spending his days either studying or serving as an advisor to learn from the Crown Prince.

He had never been one for desire, always suppressing it, and after their wedding night when Mu Wanyao was in such pain and then injured, what little interest he had was dampened, making it all seem rather pointless.

As for Mu Wanyao herself, not knowing how to interact with her, Yan Shang simply treated her like a sister. Fortunately, he was very practiced at taking care of his sister, so applying this to Mu Wanyao wasn’t much different.

His sister Yan Xiaozhou had returned to Lingnan with their family not long after his wedding. Yang Si had specifically asked about her, but facing Yan Shang’s thoughtful gaze, he didn’t dare mention that he had made his sister cry.

But Yan Shang would soon learn that a wife was not a sister.

At night, after Yan Shang finished practicing calligraphy and his usual self-reflection on whether his conduct that day had been proper, he extinguished the light and went to bed. He hadn’t been asleep long when he heard very light knocking at his door.

A young lady’s voice outside, barely above a whisper: “Yan Er-ge, Yan Er-ge…”

Yan Shang was startled, sitting up in bed as he recognized Mu Wanyao’s voice. He lit a lamp in surprise, hurriedly put on an outer robe, and went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, his little wife threw herself at him, crashing into his embrace and holding his waist. Mu Wanyao said nervously: “Quick, close the door, close the door!”

Yan Shang obliged.

For a moment he couldn’t understand, but after closing the door, he politely placed his hands on Mu Wanyao’s shoulders and gently pushed her away from his embrace. He led Mu Wanyao to sit down and poured tea for her to drink. Yan Shang observed her expression, seeing her face still show lingering fear, but her eyes were narrowed and sparkling as she looked at him.

Yan Shang couldn’t guess what was wrong with her.

Yan Shang: “Shouldn’t Your Highness be asleep at this hour?”

Hearing this, Mu Wanyao pouted.

She put down her teacup angrily and said: “Yes, I should be sleeping. That’s why I secretly snuck past those governesses’ eyes, having Chunhua distract them so I could come to see Yan Er-ge. They watch me all day, constantly teaching me ladies’ etiquette, I’m too embarrassed to summon Yan Er-ge…

“So annoying!”

Yan Shang understood and smiled gently.

He said softly: “The governesses are there to teach Your Highness proper conduct, it’s for Your Highness’s benefit.”

Mu Wanyao studied him for a moment, feeling even more wronged: “You never come to see me either. Never!”

Yan Shang froze, saying: “This subject… this subject shouldn’t…”

Mu Wanyao said: “You must also be blocked by those governesses, teaching you not to be lustful and such… So annoying, I only have one Prince Consort, how am I being lustful!”

Yan Shang smiled slightly.

He asked: “Does Your Highness wish to see this subject?”

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together.

He said understandingly: “Then this subject will go plead with the governesses, bribe them with some money to let this subject visit Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao was happy inside but worried aloud: “But they will lecture Yan Er-ge, saying you’re lustful…”

Yan Shang said gently: “It’s alright. This subject is a man, it doesn’t matter if people say such things.”

Mu Wanyao frowned: “But I don’t want your reputation to be damaged.”

Yan Shang thought for a moment, then said: “Then how about this: when Your Highness and this subject next visit Imperial Father and Imperial Mother at the palace, this subject will find a way to have them recall the governesses, so they won’t affect Your Highness at the manor anymore. Would that work?”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes suddenly widened, sparkling: “Can we?”

Yan Shang: “Of course.”

She immediately broke into a smile and leaned forward to hug his waist. Yan Shang stiffened as his arms were filled with warm fragrance and soft jade. He forced himself to adjust, thinking to himself that Your Highness liked physical contact, always leaning close at the slightest opportunity.

Buried in Yan Shang’s embrace, Mu Wanyao lightly inhaled his scent. She would occasionally look up at him, her eyes blinking.

Yan Shang was too good at understanding people’s hearts, too able to see what eyes were expressing. After hesitating, he couldn’t help but smile gently.

He said: “It’s so late, would Your Highness… like to stay the night, letting this subject take care of Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao said demurely: “But tomorrow morning when the governesses don’t find me in bed, they’ll scold me again…”

Yan Shang: “Tomorrow before dawn, when this subject rises to study, I’ll wake Your Highness to return together.”

Mu Wanyao was satisfied, mumbling in his embrace: “You’re so good.”

Yan Shang smiled bitterly.

He thought to himself that she might find him good, but when she lay down tonight, with such a beauty beside him, how would he endure…—

Yan Shang prepared the bed for Mu Wanyao, finding new bedding for her. As he busied himself making the bed, Mu Wanyao rested her chin in her hands watching him from behind, thoroughly enjoying the sight. Whenever he looked back, she would offer a brilliant smile tinged with shyness.

Yan Shang blushed at being watched, immediately averting his gaze.

Finally finishing his preparations, Yan Shang dawdled over folding her removed outer garments before reluctantly getting into bed. He lay flat for a moment before feeling a warm body move close, as she hugged his arm. Seeing he didn’t pull away, Mu Wanyao felt reassured and contentedly rested her face against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

She whispered: “Why are you so stiff, are you nervous?”

In the darkness, Yan Shang responded after a long moment: “Is Your Highness… not nervous?”

Mu Wanyao: “Not at all.”

She showed a somewhat innocent smile, her eyelashes brushing against him as she yawned: “Yan Er-ge is so good to me, why would I be nervous?”

Yan Shang remained quiet.

He didn’t know what to say or what he wanted to do, feeling too embarrassed. He slowly turned to face her, and in the darkness, his fingers wanted to reach for her but only trembled slightly, his lips pressed together before he finally managed: “Are you… healed?”

Mu Wanyao was happy he still cared about her injury, and though she had already healed, she wanted to enjoy his concern longer, so she answered: “Not yet.”

Yan Shang fell silent.

Mu Wanyao suddenly felt like she had missed something, and asked drowsily: “Why is Yan Er-ge asking about this?”

Yan Shang smiled gently: “It’s nothing, Your Highness should sleep.”—

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang returned to the imperial palace to visit her Imperial Father and Mother.

The Emperor and Empress saw their youngest daughter was still as innocent as before after marriage, shaking their heads with fond smiles, feeling relieved. And after hearing from the governesses, they knew Yan Shang treated their little daughter very well. Though most princess marriages were political alliances, the couple had let their youngest daughter’s marriage be maintained by affection, hoping they hadn’t made a mistake.

Mu Wanyao cuddled up to the Empress, acting coquettish and talking much with her mother. When they left, the Empress’s brows relaxed as she saw Yan Shang standing outside the palace with a woman’s cape draped over his arm.

Seeing Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao ran over with pattering steps: “Yan Er-ge!”

The Empress observed coldly from the side, watching as Yan Shang gently draped the cape over her daughter and placed a hand warmer in her arms. The Empress watched to see if he was putting on a show, but seeing her daughter’s natural manner, she knew this was their daily routine.

The Empress felt relieved.

She had always felt Yan Shang was consistently gentle with everyone, treating them all the same way, and worried this man might be hypocritical.

If he was truly a gentleman, then that would be good.

As Mu Wanyao followed Yan Shang out of the palace, she discovered that Yan Shang had already arranged for the governesses to return to the palace. When she got this explanation from her mother’s palace maids, she was surprised and caught up with Yan Shang.

Mu Wanyao walked beside Yan Shang, stealing glances at him, and when no one was paying attention, she tugged at his sleeve. Yan Shang lowered his head to look at her.

Mu Wanyao suddenly grabbed his hand.

Yan Shang was startled, looking at their clasped hands.

Mu Wanyao fought back her shyness, winking at him with a smile. Yan Shang coughed once, looking away but allowing her to hold his hand. Seeing he didn’t pull away, Mu Wanyao was delighted and moved closer to ask: “Yan Er-ge, did you send the governesses back?”

Yan Shang said gently: “Yes. Didn’t this subject promise Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao asked curiously: “You’re amazing! But what did you say to Imperial Father? They sent the governesses to monitor me at the Princess Manor and wouldn’t easily withdraw them. It was so hard for me to just try to get rid of Rong Hua… What did Yan Er-ge say to them?”

Yan Shang fell silent.

Mu Wanyao whispered: “Can’t you tell me?”

Yan Shang sighed: “It’s not that…”

He turned to look at her: “Does Your Highness want to know?”

Mu Wanyao nodded: “Mm!”

Yan Shang bent down to whisper in her ear: “This subject told Imperial Father that those governesses always kept Your Highness and this subject apart, preventing us from sharing chambers. Without sharing chambers, Your Highness and I would have no children, and Your Highness and I would face criticism. Compared to this, how important was having governesses monitor Your Highness?”

Mu Wanyao’s face instantly turned red.

She stammered: “For… for having children?”

She suddenly remembered the pain of her wedding night and became conflicted. Seeing this, Yan Shang reassured her: “Your Highness needn’t worry, it was just an excuse. It’s not really, really…”—

After the governesses left the Princess Manor, Mu Wanyao finally gained her freedom. Without palace eyes in the manor, no one constantly reporting her affairs to her parents and brothers in the palace, she contentedly began arranging the manor.

She had the servants move the Prince Consort’s belongings into her chambers, refusing to sleep separately from Yan Shang any longer. After touring Yan Shang’s study, she also took charge of moving his books and official documents into her study. She organized her things to one side, making room for Yan Shang.

After a busy day of joyful activity, Mu Wanyao felt herself supremely capable as a wife.

When Yan Shang returned in the evening, he found his quarters locked. As he stood contemplating the lock, a sweet feminine voice came from behind: “Yan Er-ge, Yan Er-ge…”

Yan Shang turned around, habitually steadying Mu Wanyao’s shoulders to prevent her from crashing into his embrace.

Mu Wanyao eagerly asked: “Yan Er-ge, are you hungry? Do you want to wash up? Would you like some water? Yan Er-ge, I learned a new piece of music today, will you listen and give me your opinion? I also tried making lotus cakes, they’re sweet and especially delicious, I saved many especially for ge-ge, and also…”

Yan Shang focused intently on her.

She chattered on endlessly. No matter what she said, it was all because she liked him. How could he hurt the heart of a girl who liked him so?

Yan Shang patiently listened until she finished, answered each of her questions, and then pointed at the lock behind him to ask what was going on.

Mu Wanyao said happily: “Yan Er-ge will sleep with me from now on! I moved Yan Er-ge’s books too, so from now on, whatever Yan Er-ge does, we can do together.”

After she finished speaking, she suddenly felt she might have been too presumptuous and looked up anxiously: “Are… are you angry that I did this without telling you?”

Yan Shang said gently: “Not angry. But could Your Highness perhaps ask this subject’s opinion before doing such things in the future? This subject knows Your Highness is a princess, used to putting yourself first in everything. But between husband and wife, we shouldn’t only think of ourselves, right?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned, hearing such an opinion for the first time and finding it quite novel. But what he said made sense, so she nodded in agreement. Yan Shang couldn’t help himself and patted her head.

At this, he froze for a moment.

Mu Wanyao suddenly looked up at him.

The corner of her eyes curved slightly, showing a hint of playfulness.

She said: “That’s the first time you’ve touched me on your own.”

Yan Shang was dumbfounded, looking at her, then at his palm.

But Mu Wanyao didn’t dwell on it.

That evening, Mu Wanyao pulled Yan Shang into her study, insisting he sit down to read while she leaned against him, vowing to be his literary companion.

Yan Shang held his forehead, laughing.

Mu Wanyao: “What are you laughing at? You think I can’t do it?”

Yan Shang politely: “I wouldn’t dare think so.”

Mu Wanyao was determined to prove herself as a graceful companion. But she quickly discovered she couldn’t do it; she didn’t have much skill at reading people’s needs, unable to anticipate what Yan Shang wanted. As she watched him focusing on official documents, she found it boring and soon became distracted.

When she came back to herself, Mu Wanyao had already slumped down. She drooped her head, leaning against Yan Shang’s shoulder, starting to doze off.

Yan Shang was drawing out the time, not wanting to share the bed while she was awake. He feared he couldn’t control himself, feared hurting her, and felt that would make him no different from beasts… The parts of him she leaned against, from shoulder to arm, remained stiff throughout.

Yan Shang said softly: “Your Highness should go to sleep. Reading these documents is very boring, Your Highness needn’t keep this subject company.”

Mu Wanyao kept her head down without responding, then suddenly tugged at his sleeve, as if remembering something she wanted to do. Yan Shang had always been gentle with her, so when she tugged, he lowered his head to hear what she wanted to say. But with this lowering and raising of heads, his lips accidentally brushed against her moist, slightly parted little mouth.

A moment of contact, soft and warm.

Both froze, their hearts suddenly racing.