Yan Shang hadn’t left yet. He asked the maid remaining at the Princess’s residence where the Princess had gone and when she would return. This question was much easier to answer. The attending maid Qiu Si bowed respectfully to the young lord and replied, “His Majesty went to Fan Chuan to recuperate, and our Princess went to attend to his illness.”
Worried that it seemed unreasonable for Mu Wan Yao to go attend to someone while just recovering from a serious illness herself, Qiu Si, being young and inexperienced at lying, stammered to remedy her previous statement: “The- the Princess was gravely ill before, but- but recovered quickly. Be- because although the illness was severe, it wasn’t that severe…”
Yan Shang remained silent.
The other party was so bad at lying that he almost wanted to help make the story more convincing himself.
Mu Wan Yao probably hadn’t expected him to return so quickly. She likely thought he would return with the convoy transporting the criminal officials to the capital… so she hadn’t yet taught the servants how to fabricate stories.
Yan Shang helped the maid find an explanation: “Although the illness came on forcefully, it wasn’t life-threatening?”
Qiu Si let out a breath of relief: “Y-yes, that’s right!”
Yan Shang: “Then what kind of illness was it? Was it headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches like that?”
Qiu Si: “Yes… exactly like that.”
Yan Shang just quietly looked at her for a long while without speaking.
Yan Shang bid farewell to the maid, saying he needed to return home to rest. He didn’t give any special instructions, feeling utterly dejected and lost. Moreover, he still harbored some illusions about Mu Wan Yao, so when leaving the Princess’s residence, upon encountering a menial servant girl, Yan Shang again inquired about the Princess’s illness.
The menial servant girl wasn’t even privy to the lie about the Princess being ill, so she naturally appeared confused when Yan Shang asked.
If Mu Wan Yao were truly gravely ill, the entire Princess’s residence would have been in an uproar. How could it be as peaceful as it was now?
Yan Shang sighed, knowing his last illusion had been shattered—
That night in his residence, he contemplated how to write a memorial about the matters in Shu. Since he had already made arrangements with the officials in Shu, he should be careful with his wording in the memorial and not bring everyone down. After all, Shu still needed those officials to govern… removing all officials of an entire prefecture wasn’t so simple.
Yan Shang had already drafted this memorial in his mind.
But now, looking at this half-written memorial, ink congealed on his brush, the thick ink seeping from its tip, dropping onto the memorial, and spreading into a black pool.
This memorial was now ruined.
Yan Shang discarded the memorial and started a new page. However, he became stuck again, still not knowing how to begin writing.
Because he thought of Mu Wan Yao.
He couldn’t help but suspect that if he were still in Shu, he would surely be monitoring the Shu officials’ subsequent actions, only returning to Chang’an after the situation there was completely stabilized. But Mu Wan Yao had lured him back with the pretense of illness—was it possible… that this case involved her, and she didn’t want him to investigate further?
Yan Shang sat dazed, hardly daring to think it through.
He guessed this case involved Chang’an officials, involved the Ministry of Revenue. He was already hesitant about whether to continue, and Mu Wan Yao’s behavior truly intensified his doubts.
How deeply… was she involved, to fear this case being investigated further?
Was she also complicit in directing officials who oppressed the common people? Just like the initial handling of the powerful families… Mu Wan Yao could dismiss the powerful families because they were merely powerful families; but now that it involved court officials, was Mu Wan Yao protecting them?
Yan Shang thought again of how he had heard Mu Wan Yao’s eloquent words persuading Consort Zhao Ling. Those words that had moved him so deeply that day now seemed ironic to him.
That day she had been moved by his concern for the common people, she had been convinced by his integrity.
But in reality, being convinced was one thing, and taking action was another.
Yan Shang felt immense confusion, not knowing how to handle himself.
Should he continue investigating or not, and how deeply was she involved?
Did she know this was wrong?
Love of power and status was one thing, but had she already taken it too far… This wasn’t how she should be!
Was the Princess Mu Wan Yao who had recited “The Great Rat” with him in Lingnan never real, just his imagination, or had she wandered far away, abandoning who she was back then?
Yan Shang felt bitter and pained; he lowered his body, lying on the desk, the memorial under his brush impossible to continue writing—
Yan Shang’s internal struggle had little significance to the outside world.
He ultimately did as he had done last, placing the blame on the Governor of Yi Province. However, after returning to the Ministry of Revenue, Yan Shang didn’t need to hesitate about whether to continue investigating, as the Ministry directly assigned him to handle years of accumulated miscellaneous documents in the Granary Department, not allowing him to involve himself in important ministry arrangements.
And before the Governor of Yi Province entered Chang’an, the Ministry of Revenue paid no attention to Yan Shang, as if he had never handled this official business at all.
Those Ministry of Revenue officials who previously had good relationships with Yan Shang now began avoiding him.
Yan Shang knew well that the Ministry’s suppression had begun, this was just the beginning, and when the Governor of Yi Province entered the capital, the real conflict would erupt.
Yan Shang now had no access to important ministry arrangements, he couldn’t specifically investigate the Ministry of Revenue’s leadership regarding Yi Province matters, but these years of accumulated documents… Yan Shang smiled bitterly, thinking there seemed to be quite a lot here too. He already didn’t know what to do, could only investigate and see.
Try not to alarm those above—
The first snow of the tenth month, Chang’an was bitterly cold.
On this day, the Governor of Yi Province was escorted into the Ministry of Justice prison, entering Chang’an.
Since Yan Shang’s return, Mu Wan Yao, who had been constantly following His Majesty, never returned to the Princess’s residence, and they hadn’t met. But Yan Shang knew that with the Governor of Yi Province entering the capital, all the storms would begin stirring.
Sitting in an elegant chamber in the Southern Ward of the Northern District, Yan Shang was bent over his desk by the window. This elegant chamber was where famous courtesans of the Southern Ward would reside, prized for its tranquil dignity, where no miscellaneous people could easily enter to disturb.
Yan Shang had been bent over his desk here for a long while when outside the bamboo curtain made a “pa” sound of impact, and he heard the door creaking open, hurried footsteps coming this way.
Yan Shang turned his head to look and saw a young, charming woman with a beautiful countenance hurriedly lifting her skirts as she came.
It was Spring Lady.
Not seeing her for half a year, Spring Lady had completely followed the curriculum Yan Shang had left for her before leaving the capital; she was now a famous leading courtesan of the Southern Ward. Although she hadn’t yet become an official “House Manager,” she wasn’t far from it. Believe that after another year or half, becoming House Manager wouldn’t be difficult.
Spring Lady was so rushed that when she met Yan Shang’s inquiring gaze, she hurriedly contained her panic, trying to remain calm as she bowed to the young lord sitting writing at his desk: “Second Young Master, did I disturb you?”
She stared at Yan Shang’s features, feeling anxious while also harboring thoughts of longing and attachment. She felt that after just half a year apart, Second Young Master seemed to have become even more handsome.
In her heart, she again envied that lucky delicate wife in Second Young Master’s household. Such a self-disciplined husband, handsome and talented, that lady was so fortunate.
Yan Shang gently asked her: “Why such haste?”
Spring Lady then remembered why she had rushed in anxiously, and said in alarm: “Second Young Master, I just saw a familiar person downstairs… Zhang Eleventh Young Master has returned to Chang’an!”
She thought Yan Shang wouldn’t be familiar with this person and was about to explain who he was when she saw Yan Shang pause slightly and say: “That Ministry of Revenue Section Chief Zhang’s eleventh son who harmed Brother Liu and you, who previously fled Chang’an to avoid trouble, now that the storm has passed, he’s returned to Chang’an?”
Spring Lady was stunned, and could only nod stupidly, not expecting Second Young Master to be so clear about it, and with such a good memory.
Yan Shang pondered for a moment, pushed open the window beside him, and looked down. Opening the elegant chamber window revealed the true debauchery of the Southern Ward’s pavilions in the Northern District, with rouge and powder. The wanton light music drifted up from below, women with exposed chests and bellies were dancing and toasting drinks below… red lanterns and green wine, orioles singing and swallows dancing.
A young lord embracing beauty left and right was laughing heartily, tearing all the money pouches from his belt and throwing gold leaves everywhere. The women enthusiastically surrounded him as he boasted arrogantly: “Have all your leading courtesans come over! I’m in a good mood today, everyone will be heavily rewarded!”
Spring Lady gently stood behind Yan Shang, joining him in peering through the window crack at the scene below. She pointed to Yan Shang: “That is Zhang’s Eleventh Young Master…”
The other party seemed to sense something and looked up, Spring Lady’s face suddenly turned white with panic, but Yan Shang calmly closed the window.
Yan Shang appeared lost in thought.
Spring Lady was about to act delicate to seek Second Young Master’s protection, but she only lowered her head and saw the contents on the paper on Yan Shang’s desk, she was stunned for a moment, and that bit of attraction she felt for Yan Shang was instantly somewhat awakened.
Yan Shang looked at Spring Lady: “Would you dare to interact with him?”
Spring Lady was stunned for a moment, feeling afraid in her heart, but thinking of Yan Shang’s purpose in saving her, she still nodded.
Yan Shang said: “Good, you don’t need to deliberately interact with him. If you encounter him in the building, if he still has some thoughts about you, just string him along. Men always yearn for women they haven’t obtained, especially since he fled Chang’an last year because of you… Returning in glory today, he will surely have complex feelings about you.”
“But don’t worry. I will have guards follow you, to ensure your safety.”
Spring Lady felt uneasy, but she understood this was probably what Yan Shang had kept her around for so long to do. Becoming House Manager was just incidental. This Zhang Eleventh Young Master was the Second Young Master’s real target.
Spring Lady: “What does Young Master want me to do?”
Yan Shang frowned, hesitating again.
Thinking of last year’s Ministry Section Chief, this year’s Governor of Yi Province, the Vice Minister of Revenue, and the uninvolved Minister of Revenue… everyone was connected by the thread of the Ministry of Revenue. Yan Shang didn’t necessarily need to do anything, but when he wanted to do something, he hoped this thread could be useful.
Yan Shang said softly: “For now, just play along with this Eleventh Young Master, no need for extra actions. When I need you to do something, I’ll instruct you then.”
He was silent for a long while.
Spring Lady stood before him, not daring to speak much.
Yan Shang raised his eyes to look at her, gazed for a moment, then said: “I’ll try my best to protect you. If I cannot…”
Spring Lady bowed with tears, kneeling before him: “Young Master, my life was saved by you. I know Young Master is a person destined for great things, Young Master is my life-saving benefactor, I will certainly not fail Young Master’s trust.”
Yan Shang remained silent, telling her to rise and leave him to think quietly.
As Spring Lady was about to leave, she turned back, looking at the paper on Yan Shang’s desk, and said: “Young Master, is that drawing of your wife?”
Yan Shang paused, looking at the paper on his desk.
On the paper stood a young woman, with the beauty of Shun Hua, the vitality of youth, dignified and graceful, with a hint of cleverness hidden in her features, adding much charm and vivacity.
Yan Shang smiled bitterly.
Looking at the paper, he said softly: “She told me to study drawing well, said later it would… would be useful. I naturally had to learn drawing, but I’m not good at it, probably still far from meeting her requirements.”
As he spoke, he crumpled the paper, about to throw away this portrait. Spring Lady thought it was such a waste and hurriedly requested to keep the drawing for herself. Spring Lady said: “The lady is so beautiful, what a shame for Young Master to throw it away! Let me keep it, even as a memento.”
Spring Lady thought only a lady of such beauty would be worthy of Second Young Master.
Yan Shang felt the drawing was very crude, but since Spring Lady wanted to keep it, he didn’t say much more and let her have it—
Since the Governor of Yi Province had entered the capital, the contents of Yan Shang’s memorial couldn’t be easily glossed over. The Emperor, still recuperating in Fan Chuan, summoned Yan Shang.
Because the Emperor was recuperating in Fan Chuan, Fan Chuan had become very lively recently, with many important figures coming to stay in their gardens in Fan Chuan, finding excuses to await the Emperor’s summons.
Like the Prince of Jin.
When Yan Shang arrived at the imperial garden in Fan Chuan and was led by palace servants to see the Emperor, he saw the Prince of Jin with his family, holding his eldest son, just entering the garden. Yan Shang’s gaze passed over the heavily pregnant Princess Consort of Jin beside the Prince, landing on Chun Hua following behind them.
He bowed to His Highness the Prince of Jin, then nodded in greeting to his old acquaintance.
Chun Hua only dared to bow along with everyone else, secretly taking an extra glance at Second Young Master, feeling happy for him in her heart—although she didn’t know what level of official Second Young Master was now, an official who could be summoned by the Emperor must be very remarkable.
Because Chun Hua had heard the Prince of Jin say that only officials of the fifth rank and above could attend court daily and frequently see the Emperor. For officials below the fifth rank to see the Emperor was as difficult as ascending to heaven—
Yan Shang was led to a warm pavilion, and when he paid his respects to the Emperor, his gaze paused for a moment, seeing Mu Wan Yao sitting beside the Emperor.
Mu Wan Yao sat sideways beside the Emperor, with slender shoulders and a slim waist, red lips, and snow-white skin, her chest half-hidden half-revealed under the gauze silk, inviting imagination.
She turned her face to look at him, elegant and graceful, yet radiating brilliance. Her beauty like gold and jade splendor, her tender gaze full of emotion, made Yan Shang’s cheeks immediately flush hot, and he moved his gaze away.
He had resented her for half a month because of her, but upon seeing her in person, he still showed such an unseemly reaction.
Yan Shang then lowered his eyes and also paid his respects to Her Highness the Princess.
Mu Wan Yao’s gaze was tender and graceful, her eyes flicking upward slightly, charming yet not losing innocence: “You may rise!”
The Emperor pretended not to notice this scene of Mu Wan Yao teasing Yan Shang, lowering his head to look at the memorial Yan Shang had submitted, saying languidly: “Yan Su Chen, in your memorial, you say the faults in Shu all lie with the Governor alone. Is this truly so?”
Yan Shang paused, then said: “Your Majesty, your subject has not spoken the complete truth.”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. Originally feeling disappointed, he finally found some interest in Yan Shang’s response.
Yan Shang said softly: “Your Majesty, your subject could not report the full truth in the memorial. If your subject had stated the actual situation, this memorial probably wouldn’t have reached Your Majesty at all, it would have been intercepted. The situation in Shu is complex, impossible to write completely in a memorial.”
Mu Wan Yao’s expression froze, she leaned forward, becoming somewhat tense.
The Emperor looked at Yan Shang, speaking slowly: “What is the situation in Shu, there are no outsiders here, you can speak the truth now.”
Mu Wan Yao’s palms had become sweaty, hearing the Emperor’s words, her face stiffened slightly, afraid Yan Shang would escalate matters to implicate the Ministry of Revenue. Her mind was in chaos, thinking of how the Vice Minister had told her that after Yan Shang returned to the capital, he had been assigned to remote duties, not involving important matters… but how could Yan Shang’s abilities be underestimated?
If he were to expose everyone… no, he couldn’t possibly have evidence.
Yan Shang’s gaze met Mu Wan Yao’s for a moment.
The tension and stiffness in her eyes made him pause slightly.
Making him confirm her position once again.
Yan Shang was silent for a while, and the Emperor didn’t hurry him. Just like a multiple-choice question, the Emperor handed it to them, never interfering. After a while, Yan Shang began to answer the Emperor. He reported truthfully what he had seen in Shu, saying exactly what he had witnessed…
Yan Shang said: “The officials in Shu protected merchant officials, they should have been punished, but when your subject was in Shu, I had already reported to the court and adjusted their positions, thus minimizing the impact. If we were to remove all their positions, I fear it would cause too much upheaval, and the court couldn’t arrange so many officials at once. With positions temporarily vacant, Shu having just experienced a disaster, it could easily fall into chaos. Better to proceed gradually…”
As Yan Shang expressed his views, Mu Wan Yao gradually relaxed from her initial discomfort.
He didn’t elaborate, didn’t deliberately implicate the officials in Chang’an.
This was good, letting the matter end in Shu was the best outcome.
The death of one Governor of Yi Province to end this matter was the best possible result—
Night had fallen, and the Emperor had Yan Shang stay in Fan Chuan.
After Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao took their leave in turn, the Emperor sat in the quiet chamber, sighing after a long while.
Cheng An brought the medicine bowl for the Emperor, who looked at the black medicinal liquid but had no desire to drink it.
The Emperor murmured: “Yan Su Chen still didn’t dare to offend the Ministry of Revenue. What a pity.”
Cheng An bowed: “Second Young Master Yan perhaps wanted to protect the Princess, unwilling to move against the Ministry of Revenue. Second Young Master Yan has feelings for the Princess, shouldn’t Your Majesty be reassured? If Second Young Master were to completely abandon the Princess for the sake of justice, even if Your Majesty were pleased, you wouldn’t dare entrust the Princess to him, would you?”
The Emperor said flatly: “His current attitude isn’t good either. Yao Yao was already wrong, to abandon one’s principles to protect Yao Yao, how can We trust such a person?”
Cheng An: “Your Majesty’s requirements for people’s hearts are too strict.”
The Emperor fell silent.
Slowly he said: “We’ll see.”
After a long while, the Emperor’s voice was weary: “Cheng An, My requirements for people’s hearts were originally the least strict. But Yao Yao… although We pity her, wanting A Nuan and Our bloodline to be glorious after We’re gone, We also don’t want her to become a willful princess, controlling court affairs, making the Emperor a figurehead… if no one can restrain her, We cannot be at ease about Yao Yao.”
Cheng An said softly: “Your Majesty cannot arrange everything, cannot calculate every one’s hearts.”
The Emperor murmured: “We have sacrificed so much for this realm. If history repeats itself afterward, where is the meaning of Our sacrifice? We have failed all hearts except this realm alone, always hoping this realm will not fail Us in return.”
Tears welled up in Cheng An’s eyes, thinking of how the Emperor was still exerting himself for Great Wei in his current condition. So alone and friendless, what did His Majesty have left besides the rivers and mountains of Great Wei?
The Emperor closed his eyes, then suddenly remembered: “Has Liu Wen Ji not returned yet?”
Cheng An said: “He’s leading the Northern and Southern Commands on a hunt today, should return soon. Liu Wen Ji… Your Majesty, this old servant still feels that using palace servants to control court officials… is somewhat…”
The Emperor said flatly: “Who told them not to support those from humble backgrounds? With humble families now powerless, we can only elevate palace servants. These noble family sons… must have someone to lock them down, and chain them up. Cheng An, never underestimate these noble families… if we relax even slightly, their power will resurge. Then We will have to keep them chained forever.”
Cheng An: “But the Crown Prince and Princess Dan Yang… both favor the noble families.”
The Emperor sighed and spoke no more—
Liu Wen Ji leading troops on a hunt was merely using hunting as a pretext to have the Northern and Southern Commands test their military strength, hoping to suppress the Southern Command.
And the reason for his delayed return was that besides this obvious task, he had a personal agenda.
The Right Guard General, Luo Xiu, finally couldn’t resist contacting Liu Wen Ji privately.
Relying on his previous help in dealing with two palace servants and supporting Liu Wen Ji’s rise to power, Luo Xiu came to threaten Liu Wen Ji, demanding he continue providing intelligence about Great Wei. Liu Wen Ji thought this person was indeed a hidden danger—if His Majesty learned of what he had done, his current glory would surely vanish.
Liu Wen Ji developed murderous intentions toward Luo Xiu and took advantage of this hunt.
During the hunt, Liu Wen Ji’s side deliberately included the Right Guard General, telling Luo Xiu they would find a private place to discuss personal matters. Luo Xiu then brought some guards and followed the team led by Liu Wen Ji, the palace servant.
The hunting party went deeper and deeper into the Southern Mountain forest.
The sky grew darker, with sunset’s red clouds spreading across the horizon.
When Luo Xiu became alert and refused to continue following Liu Wen Ji’s team, he discovered these palace servants on horseback beginning to surround him with ill intent. Luo Xiu trembled, raising his head to meet Liu Wen Ji’s ice-cold gaze.
Like seeing a venomous snake, staring at him with deadly poison.
Luo Xiu was terrified.
He immediately turned his horse around, fleeing recklessly toward the forest’s edge: “Stop him! He wants to kill me! Help—”
While from Liu Wen Ji’s side, everyone immediately gave chase: “After him! Don’t let him escape!”
This murderous hunt on Southern Mountain saw all of Luo Xiu’s protective guards killed. These palace servants leading troops and wielding swords were excited and cruel, the bloodshed releasing the twisted violence in their bones caused by their castration.
These men now completely followed Liu Wen Ji, obeying his orders. Liu Wen Ji’s first major action with them was saying this Luo Xiu was very insignificant in court, it didn’t matter if he was killed, Liu Wen Ji would find reasons to handle the corpse and consequences.
Just a southern barbarian.
Killed is killed.
The Wu Man couldn’t possibly go to war with Great Wei over one person, and on Liu Wen Ji’s side, there were too many possible explanations for an accidental death.
Only it was a pity… Luo Xiu’s guards were unexpectedly loyal to the death. When Liu Wen Ji raised his sword to chase and hack at Luo Xiu rolling on the ground, the last guard used all his strength to lunge forward and grab Liu Wen Ji’s legs, then jumped up to fight these palace servants and soldiers.
This guard shouted: “My lord, run!”
Luo Xiu was extremely terrified, rolling down the hillside. The dense forest was lush, and though the pursuers followed for some distance, they only found rapid-flowing water at the bottom of the slope and a few bloody footprints, but no trace of Luo Xiu.
Liu Wen Ji, full of murderous intent, ordered these men: “You must find him and kill him! If he dares speak out, we’ll all be dead!”
The subordinates knew this matter was critically important and knew Liu Wen Ji had to return to report to the Emperor, so the task of silencing through murder fell to them. They immediately agreed, going to capture Luo Xiu through the night, vowing he would die—
And so Liu Wen Ji returned to Fan Chuan covered in blood.
Returning from the hunt, even if he had some blood on him, no one would question it. Liu Wen Ji, emanating a sinister air, entered the imperial garden and asked where His Majesty was. Liu Wen Ji planned to change out of his blood-stained robes before seeing the Emperor to report on the conflict between the Southern and Northern Commands.
A young palace servant ran to keep up with Liu Wen Ji’s pace: “His Majesty is preparing to hold an evening banquet, summoning the Prince of Jin. His Majesty is in an excellent mood…”
Liu Wen Ji frowned: “The Prince of Jin is here? What’s he come for again?”
He needed to understand all the details to avoid making mistakes before the Emperor.
However, Liu Wen Ji suddenly stopped in his tracks, falling silent. He suddenly didn’t need to ask anything, understanding in an instant why the Prince of Jin had come…
The sunset sank into the deep lake waters, the evening mist gloomy, the entire garden quiet, lanterns just beginning to light.
A young woman crouched by the lakeside, holding an infant, softly cooing to the baby as they played. The night wind stirred her clothes, brushed past her cheeks.
She was like clear water.
She was like dewdrops.
She smiled gracefully by the lakeside, making Liu Wen Ji’s heart skip a beat, the world becoming blank and silent because of her.
When she heard movement from this direction, thinking she had offended someone important, she hurriedly held her swaddled infant tighter, rising to look this way. Her first reaction was to bow and beg forgiveness, but when she saw who had come, she froze in shock—
Chun Hua stared blankly at Liu Wen Ji.
Liu Wen Ji’s sudden, unexpected appearance.
Across the palace servants, across the court people, across the pavilions and pond vegetation, she held her child, the maternal radiance on her face draining like blood.
She looked at Liu Wen Ji in his palace servant’s robes, forgetting even her infant’s sudden crying—
“Your Grace?” the young palace servant questioned Liu Wen Ji uncertainly.
Everyone was startled awake.
Night birds resting on the lake took flight in alarm, Chun Hua hurriedly lowered her head to comfort her crying child, while Liu Wen Ji suddenly turned away, striding quickly in another direction.
Liu Wen Ji walked extremely fast, the night becoming especially cold, so he walked faster and faster.
Dense clouds pressed heavily overhead, thunder rumbling at the horizon. Liu Wen Ji walked quickly in the suffocating silence, looking down at his palace servant’s robes, and the bloodstains on his clothes.
Then thinking of Chun Hua just now, holding her child, playing by the lake. Happy, carefree.
She was still so beautiful and perfect, while he had fallen into the abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.
Walking in the darkness, Liu Wen Ji’s tears fell from his eyes.
Silent and endless, the tears grew more numerous, blurring his vision—
Thunder rolled ominously at the horizon.
Yan Shang had been asked to stay overnight in Fan Chuan by the Emperor. He didn’t attend the Emperor’s evening banquet, but instead bathed in his room, preparing to retire early.
While he was dressing behind the screen, he didn’t hear the door “creak” open from outside. Lost in his thoughts, he let out a soft sigh.
Then a pair of arms embraced his waist from behind, Mu Wan Yao pressing against him from behind, her body fitting perfectly against his, wearing only his middle garment.
Yan Shang stiffened slightly.
Mu Wan Yao hummed, pressing against his neck: “You’re sighing to yourself again… where do you get so many sighs from?”
Her breath made his face and ears flush red. Though his heart was truly troubled, every time she took the initiative to find him, it made his heart rejoice.
After secretly enjoying it for a moment, Yan Shang forced out: “Your Highness… shouldn’t do this.”
Mu Wan Yao pouted: “I’m right here in Fan Chuan, but you won’t come see me. Have you changed your mind, don’t want to be with me anymore?”