The guards and maids at the Princess’s mansion could sense the tense atmosphere between Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang after they left Ci’en Temple. Unlike before, when a single glance between them would create an atmosphere others couldn’t intrude upon, now Mu Wanyao had put her veil back on and walked ahead, while Yan Shang followed behind, staring at her back. His eyes were somewhat vacant, and when Mu Wanyao looked back, she caught his absent-minded gaze filled with sorrow.

His sorrowful look pierced her heart like a needle.

Mu Wanyao remained silent for a moment, suppressing her emotions.

She said, “Get in the carriage. We’ll return to the mansion together.”

Yan Shang: “There’s no need…”

Mu Wanyao snapped impatiently, “When I tell you to get in, just get in! Why so many useless words!”

The Princess’s sudden outburst startled everyone. The guards and maids looked around helplessly, not understanding why the Princess would suddenly lash out at Young Master Yan without reason.

However, Yan Shang understood.

He glanced at her, unable to see her expression through the veil, but he could imagine that she had once again closed the door to her heart. She had encased herself in ice again, using thorns to keep him at bay.

Yan Shang’s mind was in chaos, with too many confused thoughts he couldn’t sort out. He wanted to say something but felt that anything he might say now would seem hypocritical and perfunctory. Finally, he fell silent and got into the carriage with her.

This was the first time they shared a carriage, yet they rode in complete silence.

She didn’t try to tease or provoke him, and he sat quietly. A table between them served as a clear boundary, like the dividing line between Chu and Han.

The oppressive atmosphere was unbearable. When they finally reached the mansion gates, Mu Wanyao felt she could finally breathe, no longer having to face Yan Shang. She eagerly opened the carriage door, not waiting for Yan Shang to get out first and help her down. Instead, she reached for the hand of a maid outside.

The young lord behind her gently caught her sleeve.

Yan Shang said softly: “Yaoyao…”

Mu Wanyao’s back instantly stiffened.

Yan Shang: “I don’t mind…”

With her back still turned, Mu Wanyao cut him off with disgust: “Yan Shang, I beg you, can you stop being so hypocritical for once? You feel bad for me, you feel you must state your position, so you just have to express it? I don’t care how many thoughts you have when facing others, but with me, can you stop being so fake?

“Let go!”

The person behind her didn’t speak but also didn’t release her sleeve. Mu Wanyao couldn’t be bothered with him anymore and yanked her sleeve forcefully from his grasp. She left without looking back, leaving Yan Shang standing there alone, staring blankly at his palm—

What awaited Mu Wanyao wasn’t just this one problem.

Although she had promised Yan Shang to drink less, that night she still couldn’t help but drink through the night. She slept through the entire next day before recovering. A day later, in the evening, Mu Wanyao finally saw the letters from the Li family of Jinling.

There were letters both from the Li family head and one from her uncle, Li Zhi, the County Magistrate of Nanhai.

Both letters essentially contained the same content—arranging her betrothal to Wei Shu.

The letters stated that the timing was now perfect: Mu Wanyao held great power in Chang’an, and Wei Shu currently had no major issues, making it an ideal opportunity for their betrothal. Even if they waited until next year to marry after the engagement, that would be fine.

The Li and Wei families were simply afraid of complications arising with time, worried that Mu Wanyao’s power would become too great to control. Therefore, they were eager to establish the marriage agreement now, while Mu Wanyao’s influence hadn’t reached the point of absolute dominance. Once the engagement was set, the two families could interact more freely. The Li family could then use Mu Wanyao’s influence and the Wei family’s help to gradually return to Chang’an’s political center.

Forcing marriage, forcing marriage!

Again with forcing marriage!

Seeing these two letters, Mu Wanyao was furious, feeling that she was now surrounded by troubles.

All they knew was to force marriage on her, to use her marriage as a political tool! Even after she had reached her current position, in their eyes, her greatest use was still for political marriage!

Mu Wanyao cursed loudly, smashing another room full of vessels, cups, and precious porcelain, terrifying the mansion’s maids. Though the Princess usually had a bad temper, it had improved considerably since Young Master Yan’s arrival.

This was the first time in two years that Mu Wanyao had shown such great anger.

When Mu Wanyao’s sharp eyes caught Xia Rong retreating with a pale face, she slammed the table and shouted: “Don’t you dare call for Yan Shang! Anyone who lets Yan Shang know a single word about what’s happening in my mansion today, I’ll tear out her tongue!”

The Princess’s eyes were full of murderous rage and viciousness; she was no longer charming and alluring but had become cold and sharp. The mansion’s staff were terrified and naturally obeyed. Especially Xia Rong, her maid, who trembled in fear while serving the Princess. Just for shaking a few times, she was punished by the Princess to wash dishes in the kitchen.

Ah… how they missed when Sister Chunhua was here.

After venting her anger, Mu Wanyao’s mood improved slightly. She had no appetite for dinner and took the letters back to her chambers to study. When two personal maids hesitantly brought fruit plates to the Princess, they encountered Mu Wanyao coming out of her chambers.

Mu Wanyao said it was too stuffy and she needed some air. The maids hurriedly arranged for the Princess to take a walk in the mansion, considering whether to request the mansion’s musicians to play and sing to please her. However, before they could come up with a plan, Mu Wanyao had already made her way up to the highest three-story pavilion of the mansion.

Lanterns were lit upstairs, and with a thin blanket over her legs, Mu Wanyao sat in the pavilion, habitually hugging her arms, staring absent-mindedly at the lights of the mansion across from her.

She was thinking about the marriage alliance between the Li and Wei families.

She calmly thought about how to reject this marriage.

The Crown Prince had just lost Yang Si and needed people. She needed to place more of her people and win over more court officials. How could she let news of her engagement to the Wei family come out at this time? How would the Crown Prince view her? Would the foothold she had just established be compromised because of this?

And if she agreed to this marriage, what benefit would it bring her?

Not much benefit.

It would only benefit the Li and Wei families.

Once those two families were connected, she, a princess who couldn’t bear children, could easily be discarded. Perhaps they would directly arrange marriages with others, and Mu Wanyao’s role would be nothing more than a bridge for the Li family to return to court. They coveted the royal bloodline in her… but without offspring, her usefulness would be questionable.

Mu Wanyao coldly thought that she couldn’t let herself be pushed into such a desperate situation.

Today’s Mu Wanyao was different from when she first returned to Chang’an. After three years of political tempering, she understood far better what these people were thinking. She knew very clearly that only by standing between the Crown Prince and the Li family could she rise to power. Unless one side was destined to prevail, it wasn’t worth siding completely with either.

This marriage wouldn’t bring her enough benefits.

She would either refuse the marriage or bargain, demanding more benefits from both families before agreeing to this marriage. Only with enough benefits and greater power after marriage would she be beyond their control, and whether she had children or not, neither family could do anything to her.

But… what about Wei Shu?

And what about Yan Shang?

Should they all be sacrificed for her selfish desires?

Mu Wanyao hesitated slightly. Her unfocused gaze sharpened as she habitually located the study in the mansion across from her and looked in that direction. The sight made her pause—through the misty night, she saw an indistinct figure push open a window and stand there.

She didn’t know how long he had been standing there.

Mu Wanyao stared blankly, her heart in her throat.

She thought sadly: Is he looking at me? Can he see me?

Will he keep watching me? —

Yan Shang’s mind was in turmoil.

One word reveals the whole picture.

His heart had been in chaos since the moment Mu Wanyao said she couldn’t bear children. He couldn’t help but wonder why she said this—was she born unable to bear children, or did it happen later? How did she know she couldn’t bear children? Were there women who were born unable to bear children?

And if it happened later… what did she experience in Wuman that caused this?

His heart ached numbly at this thought. He hated both his lack of imagination and his fear of even trying to imagine. He thought of Mu Wanyao standing in the water at Nanshan, crying out to him “Must beautiful women always be taken by force?”…

Yan Shang bent over, clutching his heart, wondering why he hadn’t noticed then.

Her pain ran far deeper than he had thought!

If her suffering was caused by Wuman… how heartbroken and desperate she must have felt when he stopped her from killing Meng Zaishi at Nanshan. She was alone and helpless, and even he didn’t trust her, thinking she was being rash…

But in this world, who can always remain calm and rational?

Only sages maintain perfect composure—neither Mu Wanyao nor Yan Shang were sages.

Meng Zaishi… why hadn’t they killed him then?

Yet Yan Shang forced himself not to think about those things, knowing it was useless to dwell on the past. More important was the present problem—if Mu Wanyao couldn’t bear children, what would become of them?

Since ancient times, filial piety has governed the realm.

Having no offspring was considered unfilial, a grave error.

Why were eunuchs so despised by scholars? First for their damaged dignity, and second, wasn’t it because they were cut off from having descendants?

Yan Shang supported his head with his hand, thinking until it hurt. He slowly opened a letter from Lingnan that had arrived that morning. He had been busy at the Ministry of Revenue all day and only now had time to read it.

Because of the great distance, and knowing that his relationship with his father, elder brother, younger brother, and sister might only be maintained through letters for the rest of his life, Yan Shang valued every letter from home greatly. He often wrote to his family and sent gifts. After having sufficient silver and money, he frequently sent money home, hoping to ease his guilt about not being able to care for his father in person.

Every time he received letters from home, he would read them precious times over, easing his homesickness. However, this evening, just seeing the envelope made Yan Shang’s arm go numb with overwhelming pressure. He couldn’t breathe, remaining numb for a long while before finally opening the letter.

The letter contained recent news from home and their concerns for him. There was one piece of good news—his third brother had become engaged to a young lady and would marry this year. Knowing that Yan Shang was an imperial official who couldn’t easily leave Chang’an, they consoled him in the letter, saying that once his third brother passed the provincial examination, he might bring his wife to Chang’an, allowing him to meet his sister-in-law.

The letter was full of joy.

Yan Shang was also happy for his third brother.

However, in the end, his father urged him, asking why he still hadn’t married. Would he still be unmarried when his third brother had children and Yan Xiaozhou was married off?

Compared to the past two years when Father Yan merely advised in his heart, this year, with Third Young Master Yan’s engagement, Father Yan had become quite anxious and rather impatient. Because Yan Shang remained unmarried, Father Yan faced great pressure from neighbors. If Yan Shang could marry, perhaps the whole Yan family could take the opportunity to see him.

Yan Shang was just one year away from coming of age, and being unmarried at that age was enough to worry his usually good-tempered father who rarely interfered with his son’s affairs.

Father Yan asked if the ladies of Chang’an were too difficult to please, anxiously wondering if he needed someone to act as a matchmaker, urging him not to be too picky—that being reasonable would suffice, lest he become the family’s laughingstock. Father Yan believed his second son was gentle and agreeable, handsome and well-spoken—how could there be no lady in Chang’an who liked him?

He must be too picky, that’s why he had delayed this important matter of marriage.

Father Yan ended the letter by imagining a future full of grandchildren.

Yan Shang read the letter with his hand supporting his forehead, barely able to continue by the end. He felt extreme guilt, for not only could he not marry, but perhaps… perhaps… he would also have no children.

He loved Mu Wanyao, but he couldn’t have children with her.

His heart was bleeding, Yan Shang closed his eyes and slumped over his desk, feeling lost, both angry and powerless.

For the first time, he felt doubt about this relationship, felt fear, felt hesitation.

Of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest.

In this era, the consequences of having no offspring, of being criticized for a lifetime… were too terrible. He wasn’t like Mu Wanyao with her princess’s status—no one would criticize the princess, they would only criticize him. The entire ancestral hall would watch him, and under the weight of being labeled “unfilial,” he would be looked down upon by both society and clan members. Even if he could bear it, he still had to face his family’s disappointment, face their sighs.

This life-long price was too great.

So great that it jolted him awake, making his whole body go cold, leaving him bewildered at how things had come to this.

What wrong had he done, what wrong had his Yaoyao done, that they had to face such a difficult problem?

Yan Shang opened the window, wanting some fresh air. Unexpectedly, yet predictably, he saw the lantern light in the pavilion of the mansion across the way. Under the swaying lanterns, the vague dark silhouette of a lady sat in a rattan chair.

The lady sitting alone in the high tower made him think of her like mad.

Now, now… Yan Shang just stared at that spot, unable to look away.

Vaguely, he felt moisture gathering in his eyes. He stood there as if nailed to the spot, his heart incredibly sour and unbearably awkward.

He could only watch her from afar with sorrowful eyes—

For many days after, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao didn’t meet.

Living in the same alley, being neighbors, trying not to meet was much harder than trying to meet. But the two seemed to have an unspoken agreement—when Yan Shang went to the government office, Mu Wanyao never went out; when Mu Wanyao returned in the evening, Yan Shang was still handling official business at the office.

Only the lantern in the pavilion remained lit at night.

On a day in early April, Mu Wanyao was in the palace, keeping her father the Emperor company. Her mansion’s cook had brewed this spring’s “Peach Blossom Wine,” which she specifically brought to the palace for the Emperor to taste. Perhaps because spring had arrived and the weather was warm, the Emperor’s illness had eased, and his spirits were better, so he enjoyed having Mu Wanyao come to the palace daily to chat and laugh with him.

Sitting by the window near the begonia, her peach-colored skirts spreading across the floor tiles, Princess Danyang wore her cloud-like hair in a loose bun, with red at the corners of her eyes and vermillion on her lips. Her beauty far outshone the deep red of the begonia by the window.

She was holding a small cup, smilingly introducing the wine to the Emperor, when she heard the eunuch announce from outside: “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Revenue’s Officer seek an audience.”

The Emperor saw his young daughter’s hand holding the crystal cup tremble slightly, her thick, delicate eyelashes fluttering.

The Ministry of Revenue’s Officer was Yan Shang.

The Emperor watched as Mu Wanyao calmly set down her crystal cup, raised her snow-white face, and smiled coquettishly at him: “Then your daughter shall take her leave first.”

The Emperor smiled and stopped her: “No need to leave, we’re all family here.”

Who was family? Yan Shang?

Mu Wanyao responded quickly: “A princess cannot interfere with state affairs.”

The Emperor’s smile deepened.

She couldn’t interfere, yet she had interfered so much. After all, the Great Wei was very tolerant of princesses—as long as they didn’t commit treason, they generally turned a blind eye to princesses’ affairs, and few officials dared to criticize a princess for interfering in politics too much.

The Emperor simply said: “It’s fine, they probably only have a few words to say.”

With the Emperor saying this, Mu Wanyao couldn’t withdraw. Her heart was racing, hands properly placed on her knees but tightly gripping her sleeves. She hadn’t seen Yan Shang for many days… would she see him now?—

“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Her Highness the Princess.”

The familiar gentle voice flowed like spring water, rippling into one’s heart. Her withered heart seemed to bloom like spring returning to dead wood at that voice.

Mu Wanyao turned her face slightly to look at Yan Shang.

Their eyes met.

But he dared not look long, quickly averting his gaze. He stepped back, standing behind the Crown Prince. Both the Emperor and Crown Prince were observing Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang, and seeing them like this, they exchanged a glance. The Crown Prince revealed a relaxed smile, feeling his schemes were succeeding.

The Emperor remained indifferent, thinking it wasn’t necessarily so.

The Crown Prince had come to see the Emperor about matters concerning envoys to various countries and Wei’s trade routes. Eventually, the discussion turned to a lack of funds, and he came to ask the Emperor.

The Emperor clicked his tongue and looked at the Crown Prince: “The Ministry of Revenue just released funds for last year’s matter with the powerful families—how could it be used up so quickly? Surely not.”

The Crown Prince tensed.

The Emperor’s hint stopped there: “Figure it out yourself.”

The Crown Prince felt as if the Emperor was pointing out his corruption, but nothing more was said. Unable to tell how much the Emperor knew about the Ministry of Revenue’s affairs, he could only force a smile: “Your son was hasty, I will find ways to fill the gap.”

The Emperor replied coldly: “Mm.”

The Crown Prince rushed to change the subject: “Yan Suchen is in charge of Great Wei’s trade routes with various countries. I brought him along to explain the details to Father Emperor.”

The Emperor nodded—

Mu Wanyao had been listening to them discuss politics from the side, sometimes letting her mind wander, thinking how Yan Shang had only just joined the Ministry of Revenue, yet the Crown Prince was so quick to put him to use.

By noon, the Emperor invited the Crown Prince and Yan Shang to stay for a meal.

Mu Wanyao was surprised.

The Emperor had always been indifferent toward the Crown Prince, neither showing approval nor disapproval. But after all, he was the Crown Prince, and the Emperor usually gave him face. Though rare, it wasn’t strange for the Emperor to invite the Crown Prince to dine. What was strange was, why to invite Yan Shang?

What reason was there to invite Yan Shang?

Yan Shang was only a seventh-rank official, barely above the lowest ranks. By reason, someone of his rank didn’t even qualify to attend court audiences or have imperial audiences… why would the Emperor show him special consideration?

Mu Wanyao looked inquiringly at Yan Shang.

She saw surprise in his eyes as well.

So he didn’t know either.

Mu Wanyao steadied herself, reminding herself to be vigilant—

The meal proceeded properly, but when the Emperor and Crown Prince were drinking, they discovered Yan Shang couldn’t drink alcohol and found it interesting, asking a few more questions. Yan Shang drank some rice wine with them, though not much. Once the drinking began, the tense atmosphere relaxed considerably.

Mu Wanyao listened to them chat about trivial matters from the side, and finally relaxed, focusing on her meal.

She lowered her gaze, using her chopsticks with supreme elegance to pick up food, never letting them touch the cups or small plates, and making not a sound. Such dining manners were pleasing to the eye, truly befitting a princess.

The Crown Prince, several cups of wine in, was somewhat tipsy. He looked at Mu Wanyao, then at Yan Shang sitting properly on the other side. Yan Shang hadn’t looked at Mu Wanyao even once from start to finish, making the Crown Prince admire his ability. Other young men would have long since couldn’t resist stealing glances at such a beautiful princess.

Moreover, the Crown Prince knew that Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao’s relationship was unusual. Yet in front of the Emperor and Crown Prince, they acted as if they barely knew each other.

Truly deceptive.

The Crown Prince smirked and suddenly leaned forward, looking at Yan Shang: “Suchen.”

Yan Shang raised his eyes.

The Crown Prince smiled at the Emperor: “Father Emperor, don’t you think Suchen and Yaoyao look particularly well-matched?”

Mu Wanyao stiffened and raised her face.

The Emperor’s gaze swept over them as he smiled, playing along with the Crown Prince: “They do match well. Didn’t We arrange their marriage before? But unfortunately, Yaoyao was foolish and refused. We remember Minister Yan also said he wasn’t worthy of the Princess?”

Just as Yan Shang was about to speak, the Crown Prince forcefully interrupted: “Oh? So Yan Suchen refused as well?”

Half-jokingly, he pointed at Mu Wanyao and said to Yan Shang with an ambiguous smile: “Suchen, look carefully today—what about our Yaoyao doesn’t match with you, and how are you unworthy? You’re of similar age, both young and beautiful, aren’t you perfectly matched? You helped her at Nanshan, surely you must have had some feelings? I don’t believe otherwise.”

The Crown Prince drawled: “Tell me, if Father Emperor were to arrange your marriage again, Yan Suchen, would you still refuse?”

Yan Shang’s eyes froze.

He looked at the Crown Prince, then at the Emperor on his throne, understanding their intention—they were trying to match him with Mu Wanyao. The previous arranged marriage had ended unhappily, and now they had set their minds to it again.

Yan Shang remained silent.

For a moment, he thought: why not just go along with it?

He couldn’t resist an imperial order, nor could he oppose it with death, saying again that he wasn’t worthy of the Princess. The Emperor and Crown Prince had given him a push, when he had been lost, not knowing how to handle his relationship with Mu Wanyao… this way, he wouldn’t have to think about it.

Someone had arranged the marriage for him, and regardless of the future, he couldn’t resist anyway. He only needed to think about how to deal with future problems, not make choices anymore.

Yan Shang’s silence made the Crown Prince’s heart leap with joy, knowing that for someone as reserved as Yan Shang, this practically indicated his agreement… but Mu Wanyao coldly said: “Father Emperor, Big Brother, have you forgotten about me again?”

The Crown Prince was stunned and looked at her: “What? You still don’t agree?”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes reddened with anger at his surprised tone. She laughed coldly and threw down her chopsticks: “Do I never have any say in my marriage? Can you always just discuss and arrange it in front of me?”

She stood up.

Not at a formal banquet, with only these few people present, Mu Wanyao didn’t hide her temper.

Her cold eyes looked at Yan Shang as she said word by word: “I do not agree! I still do not agree!”

With that, Mu Wanyao turned and left the palace immediately.

The atmosphere in the palace instantly grew cold.

Yan Shang stood up and bowed to the Emperor and Crown Prince. He was about to say more when the Emperor said mildly: “Alright, go after her and see. Yaoyao has a fierce temper, she’s probably angry.”

Yan Shang’s eyes contracted slightly, feeling that the Emperor’s tolerance for the Princess seemed much higher now than during the first arranged marriage—

Yan Shang hurriedly left the hall, but Mu Wanyao had already disappeared.

Just as he was about to chase after her, he heard the Crown Prince’s voice from behind: “Suchen, wait.”

Though anxious, Yan Shang still stopped and turned to bow to the Crown Prince who had come out.

The Crown Prince said: “You must appease Yaoyao, understand?”

Yan Shang naturally agreed.

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before saying: “Don’t take this lightly. I’ve learned that the Li family of Jinling and the Wei family of Luoyang intend to arrange Yaoyao’s marriage with Young Master Wei. If you don’t seize this opportunity and can’t make Yaoyao change her mind, she might marry Young Master Wei.”

Yan Shang was stunned.

He looked at the Crown Prince, his eyes still for a moment before saying: “So this is Your Highness’s true reason for wanting to arrange the marriage.”

So it wasn’t out of consideration for Mu Wanyao at all.

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, sensitively feeling that Yan Shang seemed cold, but Yan Shang quickly adjusted his attitude, respectfully saying he would do his best, then bowed to the Crown Prince again before hurrying away—

Mu Wanyao had already driven back to her mansion, and Yan Shang chased into the Princess’s residence.

He knocked politely at her chamber door, begging her to let him in. When there was no response from inside, Yan Shang gritted his teeth and said softly: “Your Highness, we must resolve this issue today! We can’t delay any longer! How can Your Highness keep avoiding it?”

A cold laugh came from the lady inside, and she said: “Come in.”

Yan Shang pushed open the door to find Mu Wanyao sitting formally, her cold gaze piercing him—she had been waiting for him.

Yan Shang closed the door and stood in place for a long while before saying: “Why did Your Highness refuse the marriage again just now?”

Mu Wanyao: “Heh, you didn’t want to refuse. You wanted to rely on others to push you, to directly solve your problem. In the future, since it would be an imperial order, you would have no choice, you couldn’t resist. You wouldn’t need to solve the problem I gave you, you would only need to deal with the aftermath.”

Yan Shang looked at her and said: “What’s wrong with that? I would only need to think about how to face my parents, my clan members, and society’s judgment… what’s wrong with that?”

His tone couldn’t help but carry a trace of resentment.

Mu Wanyao slammed the table: “Because it’s not your true intention! You’re being forced into this! In your heart you’re hesitant, you haven’t thought it through! You’re just a coward, afraid to think deeply!”

Yan Shang’s eyes reddened, and he couldn’t help saying: “Then what do you want from me? What do you want me to do? When I swore to you in person that it didn’t matter, you said I was hypocritical. Now when I agree, you say it’s not from my heart. What is true intention? Don’t I need time? Don’t I need to consider it? Such a big matter… you want me to unhesitatingly commit to you, support you… you only care about immediate satisfaction, don’t you think about the consequences, think about my difficulties?”

Mu Wanyao was furious.

She suddenly stood up and grabbed her cup to throw at him.

She said: “Then go ahead and think about it! But let me tell you, whether you think about it or not doesn’t matter, because…”

Yan Shang: “Because regardless of whether I can think it through or not, you won’t marry me!”

They both fell silent, Mu Wanyao staring at him blankly.

She watched as his eyes reddened—this usually gentle young lord had been angered to such a state by her. He struggled to control his emotions, but his voice was still tense: “You’re considering marriage with the Wei family, considering a political alliance… how I think doesn’t matter at all, does it?”

Mu Wanyao lifted her chin, her face paling slightly.

She said coldly: “I had the Princess’s mansion seal the news, who told you?”

Yan Shang said softly: “So you were planning to keep hiding it from me? The problem between us isn’t just about how I think, but also about how you think… you still won’t give me proper status? Does your marriage only link to benefits? You’ll just marry into the Wei family without considering me?”

Mu Wanyao: “I won’t marry.”

Just as joy flashed in Yan Shang’s eyes, he heard her say coldly: “But my refusal is only because the benefits aren’t enough to move me. I will handle this marriage matter, but it has nothing to do with you, it’s not because of you.”

Yan Shang: “Why… after we’ve come this far, you still think benefits are more important, that I’m not important? I’m willing to live a childless life for you, but you won’t give up your…”

Mu Wanyao: “Ridiculous! Are you willing? You’re being forced!”

Yan Shang stared at her.

Mu Wanyao saw his shattered gaze and her heart suddenly softened, feeling somewhat regretful. She regretted telling him she couldn’t bear children.

Mu Wanyao tried to speak gently: “Yan Shang, why don’t we both take a step back? You don’t need to consider whether I can have children, and I won’t marry anyone else. Let’s return to our previous relationship… being lovers, isn’t that good?”

Yan Shang said softly: “You think being lovers is good? A relationship without responsibility is good?”

Mu Wanyao: “What are you unsatisfied with? You can have everything without worrying about getting me pregnant, without having to be responsible for me. Don’t all men dislike being responsible for women? I’ve directly solved this problem for you, isn’t this good? You’re not at a loss! You haven’t lost anything, you haven’t suffered any loss!”

Yan Shang’s vision darkened.

He felt both angry and disappointed.

He felt waves of cold, and the entire room seemed to start spinning before him from the aftereffects of the wine.

He tried hard to control himself, but his voice still rose: “I haven’t suffered any loss? I’m not at a loss. Does all the emotion I’ve invested in you count for nothing? My feelings, my love, these aren’t investments? Do only material investments count as investments?

“You were the one who came to attract me first! Yet this is how you treat me in the end! What am I supposed to do? You didn’t tell me many things at first, only saying them now. The feelings I’ve invested can’t be taken back, what am I supposed to do?!”