A maiden bears fragrance sweet,
Gracefully to the east wing her feet.
Moth-wing brows of azure sheen,
Bright eyes with radiance keen.
Her virtuous voice crowns white clouds high,
Her resonance flows through earth and sky.
Wondrous is her noble grace,
Fit for Marquis or Prince to embrace.
—From “Ballad of the Maiden”—
In the tenth month, heavy rain fell for three consecutive days.
The ancient Meiguan Road connecting north and south was submerged in rain, shrouded in mist, with wisps of fog hanging low.
Young Yan Shisheng, carrying a wooden box on his back and holding an oil-paper umbrella, trudged through the muddy rainwater of the ancient road, one foot after another.
The Lingnan region had always been treacherous and difficult to traverse. Travelers could only rely on the ancient Meiguan Road carved through the Dayuling Mountains. For Yan Shisheng’s academic pursuits, this was his only path.
Amid the lush greenery and pattering rain, the originally clear path ahead was blocked by several carriages. Under large umbrellas, shadows loomed. Yan Shisheng paused, drawing closer to look.
The foremost carriage had become stuck in a muddy hollow. Several servants in light, practical clothing surrounded it, trying to devise ways to push it out.
This wasn’t particularly remarkable.
What caught Yan Shisheng’s eye was beside the carriage:
A small horse had been brought out from somewhere and placed by the roadside.
A lady sat gracefully upon the small horse, with a beautiful maidservant holding an umbrella behind her.
The torrential rain seemed completely irrelevant to the lady seated on the small horse.
Her hair was styled in a simple spiral bun, adorned with golden hairpins and ornamental steps. The wind gently swayed her hair ornaments and the necklace at her throat, complementing her ground-sweeping crimson silk dress.
The long dress trailed the ground, dazzlingly beautiful.
Her eyes were lined with red at the corners, and a pearl adorned the center of her brow. This lady’s long eyes were half-closed as she fanned herself with a feather fan, seeming to leisurely appreciate the rain.
The stuck carriage, pouring rain, and wild mountain path did nothing to diminish her elegant and noble beauty.
Yan Shisheng felt his eyes could see nothing but her brilliant red radiance.
The beautiful maidservant struggling with the umbrella noticed the young traveler appearing here, staring at her lady, and couldn’t help but rebuke him: “Impudent fool, what are you staring at my mistress for?”
The lady who had been relaxedly closing her eyes raised her face in this direction, not shedding her languid air. When she opened her eyes, her captivating beauty struck instantly.
Through the misty rain curtain, she looked at the young man who had suddenly appeared on the road.
She stared at him:
This traveling scholar carrying a wooden box and holding an umbrella wore only a simple white round-collared robe, his hair bound with cloth, his attire crude and vulgar. Yet his brows were clear, his eyes bright, his bearing distinguished – in this rain-drenched day, he somehow appeared otherworldly.
Though this man was quite handsome, Mu Wanyao merely fanned her feather fan, thinking absently: just a country bumpkin from the wilds of Lingnan.
Yan Shisheng, chastised by the maidservant, flushed slightly and hurriedly bowed in apology: “This humble scholar was impudent, I have disturbed the lady.”
The lady seated on the small horse was, in fact, the current emperor’s youngest daughter, Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao. After her first husband’s death, she left the capital to recuperate.
These things were naturally unknown to that country bumpkin youth.
Mu Wanyao pressed her feather fan against her chin, raising her gaze. Her glance toward him was as alluring as a hooked barb, yet the look in her eyes was clear and cold.
She didn’t speak at all.
The maidservant holding the umbrella behind her softened her expression somewhat, saying: “Since you know you’ve disturbed my mistress, why haven’t you left yet?”
Yan Shisheng hesitated, not moving his feet.
He thought for a moment, then bowed again, speaking gently to the beautiful lady on the small horse: “May I ask if the lady is planning to cross Dayuling?”
Mu Wanyao still didn’t speak.
It was her maidservant who responded: “What business is it of yours?”
The other’s cold face and wariness didn’t bother Yan Shisheng. He continued speaking gently: “My home is not far ahead in Shashui Town. The lady can rest there after traveling a bit further.”
The maidservant was somewhat startled, not knowing how to respond, and looked toward her lady. Mu Wanyao gazed at this white-robed scholar, suddenly breaking into a smile that shattered her cold demeanor.
She spoke, her voice soft as sand: “On this desolate mountain road, with such a long journey ahead, could it be that you wish to invite me to accompany you to your home?”
Mu Wanyao sighed softly and weakly, still sitting steadily on the small horse, not changing her posture one bit: “Could it be that you see me alone, with my fine carriage and horses, appearing to be from a wealthy family? And so you’ve developed wolfish thoughts, wanting to… become friends with me?”
The feather fan covered her face below her jade-like nose, her eyes smiling, yet her gaze suddenly turned cold and sharp, emanating an intense aura: “Presumptuous scholar, are you worthy?!”
At such words, ordinary people would either become angry or ashamed when faced with such humiliation, turning to leave immediately.
Yet Yan Shisheng merely paused for a moment, his expression stiffening slightly, and still spoke gently: “The lady misunderstands me. I am no villain. Because the Dayuling Road is long, the ancient Meiguan Road takes from dawn until dusk to reach its end. My home is not far ahead in Shashui Town, perfectly suited for travelers to rest. Seeing the lady weary from travel and trapped by rain, I thought you might go there to rest.”
He lowered his eyes and said: “There are many households in Shashui Town, not just mine.”
At these words, it was Mu Wanyao’s turn to raise her eyebrows.
She scrutinized him searchingly: could she have misunderstood him?
Was he not an impetuous fool moved by beauty?
Yan Shisheng also knew that for strange women traveling this ancient road, safety was a concern, and it was understandable for her to misunderstand him. So he patiently advised further: “Last month, a family traveling this road was attacked by wolves. The lady should not tarry here too long.”
Yan Shisheng added: “This humble scholar must go to the academy, so I’ll not disturb the lady further.”
He cupped his hands in farewell. Apart from that first glance at Mu Wanyao, he had kept his eyes respectfully lowered since then, not looking at her again.
While Mu Wanyao watched his departure with a cold expression.
She saw mud spots on his sleeves.
The mud spots were filthy, soiling his white robe. Like a slight flaw on white jade, they were somewhat jarring to look at.
Such a beautiful young man with mud on his clothes made one want to wipe away the dirt and give him new clothes to change into.
And there were many items stored in the carriage, including clothing that would fit a youth of his size.
Mu Wanyao watched this scholar bow and walk away with an indifferent expression, her eyes fixed on the mud spots on his sleeves.
They were so unsightly.
Yet she didn’t speak again, just watching as he gradually disappeared along the misty ancient road—
The rain pattered softly.
The servants were still pushing the carriage.
The maids stood properly, still holding umbrellas for the princess.
Mu Wanyao suddenly asked: “Is Shashui Town ahead?”
The maid replied shamefacedly: “The Lingnan region is remote, and the geographical maps are unclear. This servant doesn’t know what town lies ahead.”
Mu Wanyao said languidly: “Then let’s continue on our way. We’ll follow that country bumpkin’s suggestion and stay at Shashui Town.”
The maid worried: “What if that scholar was deceiving us?”
Mu Wanyao’s golden hairpins swayed gently as she fanned herself and smiled: “I want to see if he truly had lecherous intentions, hoping to develop something like in those absurd ancient books, or if he was genuinely kind-hearted, a rare fool.”—
It took Yan Shisheng an hour to reach the academy and another hour to return.
The rain didn’t stop, and darkness fell early. By nighttime, he was carrying a horse lantern back to the village, heading toward his home.
Usually a routine journey, today when he reached the bamboo fence outside his home’s courtyard, he saw from a distance groups of people waiting outside the yard, arguing with someone.
Yan Shisheng’s face changed, thinking something had happened at home, and he hurriedly quickened his pace.
When he reached his courtyard gate, he saw bright lights, the yard was guarded by maids, servants, and guards who were moving in and out, carrying gold and silver items into the house. Meanwhile, his father and siblings had been driven out of the yard, with villagers gathered around pointing and discussing, and anyone who tried to enter was thrown out by the guards.
“How can you do this?! This is our house, how can you just take it as you please?” Before Yan Shisheng could get close, he heard his third brother shouting.
The Yan family’s third son, Yan Musheng, had no other talents except for his powerful voice. When he opened his mouth, everyone within ten li had their ears ringing.
The eldest brother tried to persuade: “Third brother, let it go…”
The third brother Yan Musheng was about to argue more when he turned and saw Yan Shisheng approaching quickly with his umbrella and lantern.
The third brother’s loud voice thundered: “Second brother!”
Yan Shisheng’s ears rang from the shout.
The other Yan family members, seeing Yan Shisheng’s return, all rushed over at once.
Father Yan’s face was bitter: “We don’t know what’s happening, they went around the village, chose our house, said they wanted to stay here, and drove us all out.”
The eldest brother said shamefully and hesitantly: “Those guards were burly, I couldn’t fight them.”
The third brother shouted: “I tried to reason with them, but they wouldn’t even listen!”
The youngest sister said anxiously: “Second brother, can we get our house back? Where will we live?”
The village head squeezed out from the crowd and advised quietly: “Second son, you’re back! Let me tell you, these people look very powerful, either rich or noble. You’d better swallow this bitter pill and not cause trouble…”
The third brother roared: “This is our house!”
The village head’s ears buzzed: “Second son, please persuade your third brother not to shout at me. At my age…”
“Second son…”
“Second son…”
Everyone was talking at once, all grabbing at Yan Shisheng to speak.
Yet Yan Shisheng showed no impatience, comforting each one:
“I understand. Thank you for your advice, Elder.”
“Everything will be fine, Father, Elder Brother, Third Brother, Little Sister, don’t worry. I’ll go in and see what’s happening.”
“Don’t panic. If we truly cannot stay here, I’ll think of something. You won’t be sleeping on the streets tonight, be at ease.”
He answered them one by one, unhurried, and the chaotic crowd’s emotions finally settled.
They watched as Yan Shisheng stepped out from the crowd and walked toward the guards at the courtyard gate, bowing in greeting—
Inside the house, maids were hanging curtains to arrange the inner chambers, while in the outer hall, luxurious floor coverings had been temporarily laid down.
The floor coverings were anchored at the four corners with golden qilin incense burners, and in the center, the beautiful Princess Danyang sat on a couch, taking a sip of clear tea.
A maid came in to report that this family’s second son had returned, and unlike the others who had been shouting and causing a commotion, he asked to see the princess.
Mu Wanyao was somewhat impatient, giving a slight snort, but didn’t refuse.
A moment later, Yan Shisheng stepped in from outside, and their eyes met.
He was stunned, blurting out: “It’s you?!”
Mu Wanyao held her teacup in one hand, propping her chin with the other.
Seeing him, she was also quite surprised.
But the next moment, she curved her eyes in a smile.
Mu Wanyao spoke softly: “Are you now regretting your lecherous intentions, or regretting your misplaced kindness?”
“Leading a wolf into your home, and now the wolf has occupied your house and refuses to leave. May I ask if you regret your actions from earlier today?”
Fragrant incense curled through the room, its aroma lingering in the rafters. Princess Danyang was in high spirits, openly bullying him, just waiting to see him regret his actions.