Nanyang Prefecture belonged to the Shannan Circuit. The highest official in Nanyang was the Governor, and the Governor’s administrative seat was in Rang County. When the Emperor said he was sending Yan Shang to be a County Magistrate in Nanyang, he meant sending him to be the Magistrate of Rang County, the administrative center of Nanyang Prefecture. This meant that both the Nanyang Governor and the Rang County Magistrate would reside in Rang County year-round, separated only by a street—the County Magistrate’s office on one side, the Governor’s office on the other.

As for the most powerful clan in Nanyang, the Jiang family, the Governor came from their ranks. The Emperor’s intention in sending Yan Shang as County Magistrate to contend with the Jiang-born Governor was crystal clear.

Yan Shang let out a soft sigh. He felt a hint of weariness and an inexplicable chill.

The Emperor wouldn’t let him stay in Chang’an because there, having fallen out with the Crown Prince, Yan Shang would likely choose to cooperate with Prince Qin for self-preservation. But the Emperor had no intention of making things easy for Prince Qin. As soon as Yan Shang was released from prison, the Emperor wasted no time in dispatching him away, cutting off Prince Qin’s power base.

Normally, a County Magistrate would not influence a Provincial Governor. However, this wasn’t just any new magistrate—this was Yan Shang, who had caused such a stir in Chang’an.

As for Yan Shang’s own life and death, in the Emperor’s eyes, it probably didn’t matter. If he lived, good—support him to rise higher; if he died, so be it—just find someone else to support.

Leaving the palace, Yan Shang walked in front with Liu Wenji following behind.

Liu Wenji observed Yan Shang, who wore a somewhat old snow-blue robe. His limbs were long and graceful, as thin as jade bamboo. Even from behind, one could see his fine features and bearing. Yet with each step, his spine would inevitably stiffen slightly.

Liu Wenji glimpsed the hand that fell from Yan Shang’s sleeve, noticing faintly visible scabbed scars on the back of his hand. Looking further, he saw how extremely gaunt his cheekbones were, with a hint of withering in his eyes.

Liu Wenji thought to himself that while he didn’t know if the prison had dealt any psychological blow to Yan Shang, it had certainly left indelible damage on his body.

Liu Wenji felt a sudden pang of guilt, feeling that Yan Shang’s imprisonment was partly due to his pushing. Although afterward, he had tried every way to speak up for Yan Shang before the Emperor… Liu Wenji heard Yan Shang say softly: “Thank you.”

Only the two of them had left the hall, with the nearest palace maids staying two zhang away from Yan Shang. With his back to Liu Wenji, these words could only have been meant for him.

Liu Wenji paused, lowering his head to hide his words: “Thank me for what?”

Yan Shang: “Your Majesty sending me to serve outside the capital—you must have helped with that too. As Chang’an is no longer safe for me, Nanyang would be better.”

Liu Wenji remained silent, but a faint smile appeared in his downcast eyes.

Of course, he had spoken up for Yan Shang. This feeling of helping behind the scenes and being seen through by the person involved—he had experienced it time and again only with Yan Shang.

Liu Wenji said softly: “I should thank you too.”

This time it was Yan Shang who remained silent.

Yan Shang’s gaze passed over the white jade steps before the palace, beyond the multiple eaves and bracket sets. He knew Liu Wenji’s thanks were about Zhang Shiyilang. Zhang Shiyilang had crippled Liu Wenji and this time Yan Shang had caused Zhang Shiyilang to be imprisoned by the Ministry of Justice. With multiple crimes combined, Zhang Shiyilang might be exiled.

Yan Shang had indeed helped Liu Wenji, and he accepted his thanks.

Liu Wenji glanced at Yan Shang’s profile and said softly: “Nanyang is a wealthy region, being a County Magistrate there isn’t bad at all. Besides, your previous position was Upper Seventh Rank, but the Nanyang County Magistrate is Upper Official Seventh Rank. This counts as a promotion—it’s a good thing.”

Yan Shang smiled slightly.

It seemed like a promotion but was a demotion. Just as Mu Wanyao had told him before, the difference between capital officials and local officials was as vast as heaven and earth.

Thinking of Mu Wanyao, Yan Shang’s thick black eyelashes trembled, and he lowered his eyes.

He asked: “Was Luo Xiu’s death your doing?”

Liu Wenji started.

Then, maintaining his composure: “No.”

Yan Shang turned to look at him once, not probing further, perhaps because he had already reached his conclusion but now lacked the power to do anything about it. He only said: “Take care of yourself.”

Liu Wenji’s pupils contracted, his voice rising with the unique sharpness of a eunuch: “This servant bids farewell to Second Young Master Yan—”

In Liu Wenji’s view, as long as Yan Shang was sent away from Chang’an, Luo Xiu’s matter would remain an unsolved case and end there.

But Luo Xiu had been wary of Liu Wenji early on.

Regarding a eunuch who would kill two people to advance his position, Luo Xiu hadn’t expected him to show any mercy.

When Great Wei’s Chang’an was in turmoil due to the Ministry of Revenue case, in the southern barbarian lands, in the tent of the Wu Barbarian King Meng Zaishi, arrived a South barbarian who had fled from Great Wei’s Chang’an with great difficulty.

This fugitive South barbarian was Luo Xiu’s personal attendant, now kneeling covered in mud at Meng Zaishi’s feet, recounting with blood and tears of hatred how Liu Wenji, to cover up his past, had hunted them down, and how he had disguised himself and fled Chang’an like a startled bird…

Meng Zaishi pondered: “Is that so? Luo Xiu suffered greatly.”

Standing before Luo Xiu’s attendant, he thought to himself that Luo Xiu’s death was just as well, as it caused him no loss. He kindly showed concern for the attendant, bending down as if to help him up. The attendant lowered his head in gratitude, unaware that Meng Zaishi’s hand on his shoulder had flicked his fingers, unhurriedly moving to grip his Adam’s apple.

This was a move to kill by crushing the throat.

But Meng Zaishi halted halfway, helped the attendant up, and sighed with a heavy tone.

At the same moment, the felt curtain was lifted from outside, the ground trembling thud-thud-thud from far to near, and the hot-tempered Southern Barbarian King Ale’s voice thundered like lightning: “Luo Xiu is dead? Great Wei killed our envoy? Does Great Wei not take us Southern Barbarians seriously?!”

Meng Zaishi quietly stepped back, gestured helplessly, and allowed the imposing King Ale to grab the pale-faced attendant with one hand, lifting him with a gentle squeeze. King Ale began cursing Great Wei’s treachery and ulterior motives in the Southern Barbarian language.

Meng Zaishi watched this young King Ale with a smile playing on his lips. The other man was in his thirties, in his prime, thick-bodied and broad-waisted, walking like a small mountain, his hair oiled and braided like whips, wearing a sable fur coat. This was the typical appearance of a Southern Barbarian king.

When Meng Zaishi left Great Wei to join the Southern Barbarians, he developed Wu Barbarian culture on one hand, and on the other used the small countries he had borrowed from Great Wei to please King Ale, helping him campaign north and south to conquer the entire Southern Barbarian territory. Now the Wu Barbarian King Meng Zaishi had become King Ale’s most capable minister.

Some advised King Ale that the Wu Barbarian King had ambitious schemes and shouldn’t be fully trusted. King Ale was suspicious at first, but except for refusing to let the Wu Barbarians become involved in battles, Meng Zaishi and his subordinates fought with disregard for their lives, and once even saved an arrow-struck King Ale on the battlefield… From then on, King Ale became extremely convinced of Meng Zaishi’s loyalty.

Now as Meng Zaishi listened to King Ale curse for a long while, showing signs of wanting to immediately send a declaration of war to Great Wei and start fighting, Meng Zaishi touched the map in his chest. It was the one the attendant had just given him—after all, when Luo Xiu sent people to deliver maps to the Southern Barbarians and received no news, he naturally became suspicious and made other preparations.

This time when the attendant escaped, he carried the Chang’an terrain map that Luo Xiu had traded with Liu Wenji.

Unfortunately, because the Southern Barbarians had no written language, no one would ever know the Chang’an intelligence that Luo Xiu had obtained from Liu Wenji.

Meng Zaishi said to the enraged King Ale: “Great King, now is not the time for us to go to war with Great Wei.”

King Ale calmed down and said: “Right, we should unify the Southern Barbarians first… But letting Great Wei off like this is infuriating!”

Meng Zaishi casually suggested: “We can send some small troops to keep harassing Great Wei’s borders. Great King can also, as the Southern Barbarian King, send a state letter to Great Wei condemning their actions. Tell Great Wei that if they don’t hand over Luo Xiu’s killer, the Southern Barbarians will wage war.”

King Ale pondered: “No since we know who in Great Wei was in contact with Luo Xiu, we should be able to use this in the future. Killing them would be a waste.”

Meng Zaishi thought to himself that this fat man had some brains, what a pity.

So Meng Zaishi smiled: “Then let’s just send the state letter of condemnation.”

King Ale agreed, after all, that the Southern Barbarians really couldn’t spare too many forces to deal with Great Wei right now.

Meng Zaishi left the tent, leisurely pulling out the Chang’an map the attendant had just given him from his chest. He looked down at it for a while, finding it no different from the Chang’an terrain map in his memory. Meng Zaishi clicked his tongue twice and carefully put the map away.

It might be useful in the future.

His staying by the Southern Barbarian King’s side wasn’t to serve this person… but to seek an opportunity to take his place—

This year’s New Year’s Day in Great Wei’s Chang’an passed in a subdued atmosphere.

Because the Emperor was ill again and didn’t attend the grand feast. The Crown Prince was confined in the Eastern Palace and couldn’t preside over the banquet either. The one with a beaming face was Prince Qin, who presided over this year’s palace feast, but in his conversations with officials, everyone could see one or two traces of worry in Prince Qin’s manner.

Mu Wanyao, seeing the Emperor wouldn’t come, simply claimed illness himself and didn’t attend the palace feast.

Only Prince Jin remained, as usual, behaving properly.

This year’s palace feast attendance dropped by half, with officials scattered sparsely. Because the Ministry of Revenue had completely collapsed, huge official positions were vacant. The waiting officials who couldn’t pass the imperial examinations for many years had picked up a heaven-sent opportunity, and these few months they were desperately networking, trying every means to squeeze into the Ministry of Revenue, wanting to fill the vacancies.

A major reshuffling of officials was underway. To address so many vacant positions, the spring imperial examinations would double their recruitment. Moreover, this time those who passed wouldn’t need to wait as attendants but would directly become officials. This was naturally good news for scholars across the realm.

More perceptive people could see directly that doubling the examination quota might represent the rise of common-born scholars. Perhaps the real purpose behind the Ministry of Revenue’s upheaval was the Emperor taking advantage of the noble families’ wrongdoing to elevate those of humble origins.

This year’s Ministry of Revenue position adjustments provided many more opportunities for officials of common birth to shine. After Princess Danyang began supporting these officials, they formed a faction that subtly stood in opposition to those officials from noble families in court. Though still weak and not yet worthy of concern, their prospects were promising.

Mu Wanyao methodically helped these common-born officials gain prominence in court. The imperial examinations had only been implemented under her father the Emperor, and after just over twenty years, commoners were not yet able to compete with noble families. But after understanding the Emperor’s attitude and falling out with the Crown Prince, she chose to take this path.

Moreover, unlike when she had previously helped the Crown Prince, now as she helped her father the Emperor support common-born officials, she was no longer as urgent or flamboyant as when she had been by the Crown Prince’s side.

This was because back then, Mu Wanyao had feared being used as a sacrificial pawn in a marriage alliance with the Wu Barbarians, fearing becoming a discarded piece. Though now she had lost much of her power, that fear of being sent away in a political marriage had disappeared after repeatedly probing the Emperor’s intentions.

She also wasn’t so worried about becoming a discarded piece anymore. Simply because… her brothers all sided with the noble families, while only she helped the commoners. If only for this reason, her father the Emperor would protect and support her.

The rise of commoners… it was a long process that couldn’t be rushed. Better to take it slowly.

The new year’s imperial examinations could be well utilized.

During the New Year period, Mu Wanyao didn’t attend the palace feast, but there was no shortage of social interactions at her residence. From the first to the fifteenth day of the New Year, officials constantly came to visit her, seeking her recommendations.

Moreover, Mu Wanyao knew that in the neighboring residence, Yan Shang had returned.

He was recuperating at home.

But Mu Wanyao never once asked about him or went to see him. Her emotions were stable, her mood calm, and her maids carefully avoided mentioning Second Young Master Yan in the princess’s presence.

While handling these matters, Mu Wanyao thought of the Crown Prince and couldn’t help but ponder, feeling he would be difficult to deal with.

Because while she was busy, the Crown Prince was using the convenience of his position to show filial piety at the Emperor’s sickbed.

He had promptly cut off his own limbs, admitting his mistakes to the Emperor. He had adopted almost the same approach as Mu Wanyao, using family sentiment to move the Emperor. So although he had lost some ground, he still kept his position as Crown Prince. Now the Crown Prince stayed by the Emperor’s side daily, no longer acting as regent, with state affairs controlled by Prince Qin.

There were subtle signs of Prince Qin’s growing dominance at court.

The Crown Prince acted as if he didn’t notice.

Such ruthless decisiveness when needed—how could Mu Wanyao not be wary?

The struggle lay buried beneath a surface of calm. After the New Year passed and February arrived, as the court prepared to begin the imperial examinations, Yan Shang received his official transfer papers from the Ministry of Personnel.

He was promoted to Upper Official Seventh Rank as Rang County Magistrate of Nanyang, with the concurrent position of Junior Supervisor. He was ordered to leave the capital immediately and take up his post in Nanyang.

Han Shuxing, having witnessed all that Yan Shang had done, was terrified. After his anger subsided, he began to regret, feeling he had ruined Second Young Master Yan.

Han Shuxing somehow heard rumors in the marketplace that Yan Shang’s journey would not be safe. So after Yan Shang was released from prison, Han Shuxing very firmly insisted on becoming Yan Shang’s personal guard, following him to take up his post in Nanyang.

After several failed attempts to refuse, Yan Shang let him have his way.

In early February, outside Chang’an City, some old acquaintances came to see Yan Shang off.

These included Lin Dao and Liu Ruzhu, along with some newly risen common-born officials at court, and some old friends who hadn’t completely fallen out with Yan Shang during the Ministry of Revenue affair.

They were seeing off not just Yan Shang, but also the former Minister of Revenue.

Indeed, the Minister of Revenue, who had been only two years from retirement, was also demoted by the central government after the Ministry’s complete collapse. The Minister, already over sixty, was assigned by the court to be Governor of Yizhou, to clean up the current mess there.

The white-haired Minister of Revenue appeared outside the city gate leading a horse, followed by his eldest son who had come to see him off.

When the Minister’s eldest son saw Yan Shang, his expression turned cold, quite impatient.

The Minister himself returned Yan Shang’s bow with a pleasant expression, smiling: “It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s just going to Yizhou after all. Serving the country, one should stay strong even in old age.”

His son nearly burst into tears: “Father is already of such age, to go to such a poor and harsh place…”

The Minister: “Nonsense. I’ve managed the Ministry of Revenue for many years, don’t I know? Yizhou is still quite wealthy, don’t worry about me.”

He patted Yan Shang’s shoulder, looking at this thin young man, joking: “The renowned minister Yan Suchen? Quite famous now.”

Yan Shang felt terrible inside, saying softly: “It was my rashness that implicated you.”

The Minister waved his hand, not letting them see him off further. He took the wine flask from his reluctant eldest son’s hand, took a big drink, and then stumblingly climbed onto horseback. With just two servants leading his horse, this old man sat small and thin on the horse, facing the setting sun, heading toward an unknown path.

Spring wind on the ancient road, willows swaying, fine rain falling like ox hair, rustling. A group of young people stood beneath the city tower, none holding umbrellas, just standing silently, listening to the old man’s melancholic song carried on the wind:

“Let no affairs disturb these graying temples,

A hundred years just needs good sleep and food.”

“This old man once commanded tens of thousands of troops,

Chang’an lies just northwest of heaven!”

“Parents I cannot care for now,

What words for wife and children!”

Though it was raining, the rainwater was fresh and pleasant, not bothersome.

Mu Wanyao and her attendants came from outside the city, riding on horseback, seeing from afar the group of young people beneath the city tower. With sharp eyes, she spotted Yan Shang at once.

Mu Wanyao’s face darkened.

She had specifically gone out of the city to avoid this person, thinking that by the time she returned, he should have already left Chang’an. Why hadn’t he left yet, still lingering beneath the city tower with others?

Seeing the princess’s displeasure, Fang Tong wracked her brain thinking of ways to take another route to avoid Second Young Master Yan; Xia Rong sat obediently on her horse, not daring to say a word.

Before they could think of a solution, Mu Wanyao suddenly pointed at someone: “Who is that?”

Fang Tong looked: “It’s… Han Shuxing! Ah, it’s him. Looking at the situation, he’s become Second Young Master Yan’s guard?”

Mu Wanyao: “Bring me a bow.”

Fang Tong: “…”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes fixed on Yan Shang’s back facing this way, her tone intensifying: “Bring me a bow and arrow!”

Fang Tong: …Is she going to shoot Second Young Master Yan?

Is- is that necessary?

At the base of the city tower, Liu Ruzhu’s eyes were filled with tears, and others were also reluctant to part.

Yan Shang smiled, saying: “Alright, let’s say goodbye again…”

Before he could finish speaking, Han Shuxing, two steps behind him to the side, suddenly stiffened his spine and leaped forward, pouncing toward Yan Shang: “Second Young Master, look out—”

Along with this voice, Yan Shang heard an extremely light “twang” sound. He stumbled as Han Shuxing pulled him, while Lin Dao shouted harshly: “Who?!”

Yan Shang turned his head to see an arrow passing straight by his face, just grazing it.

Yan Shang looked up, standing stunned for a moment, watching as Mu Wanyao and her attendants rode up on horseback, Mu Wanyao’s bow not yet lowered.

Liu Ruzhu asked in shock and doubt: “Princess? How could you… shoot arrows like this? If someone had been killed…”

Mu Wanyao smiled brightly: “Just seeing Second Young Master Yan off. This means ‘once an arrow leaves the bow there’s no turning back,’ I’m wishing Second Young Master Yan a smooth journey, just having a bit of fun.”

She looked down at Yan Shang, seeing his slightly pale face, and still smiled leisurely: “Does Second Young Master Yan mind this way of seeing you off?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes, saying: “Your Highness is unique.”

Mu Wanyao said: “You’re not bad yourself.”

As they spoke this way, one still standing on the ground, one still sitting proudly on horseback, the atmosphere became strange, and increasingly more so. Liu Ruzhu gave a dry laugh: “It’s raining! It seems it always rains when seeing people off, they say it means wanting to keep them from leaving…”

Mu Wanyao: “Hmph.”

She rode away without looking back, passing by everyone. Yan Shang raised his eyes to stare at her bright retreating figure, watching for a long while. Until the city gate closed and the princess’s party could no longer be seen. And Yan Shang also didn’t say much more to everyone, got into his carriage, and left this place—

Mu Wanyao rode on horseback along Chang’an’s streets, looking ahead, suddenly asking: “Does the neighboring residence still belong to the Yan family?”

Xia Rong quickly urged her horse forward to answer the princess: “Yes. Second Young Master Yan has been trying to sell the residence, but who could afford to rent a mansion opposite our Princess’s residence? Second Young Master Yan had no choice but to keep this residence, though he has sold all his other houses and courtyards.”

Mu Wanyao said nothing.

Xia Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Wanyao: “Continue.”

Xia Rong was startled, not knowing what the princess wanted her to continue, so she could only guess wildly: “There’s also… also… Second Young Master Yan came to return the things Your Highness had given him before and wanted to give Your Highness some things. This servant, this servant followed Your Highness’s instructions and sent him away, saying Your Highness didn’t want any contact with him, asking him to stay away from our Princess’s residence.

“Second Young Master Yan stood outside the Princess’s residence for a while before leaving, looking… somewhat heartbroken.”

Mu Wanyao’s horse-riding motion suddenly stopped.

The horse beneath her was held by the reins, lowering its head and breathing out misty breath, its hooves lightly stepping twice on the rain-wet ground. Mu Wanyao’s long dress draped over the horse’s body as she gazed silently ahead.

She sat there blankly for a long while, those behind her accompanying her in the rain, no one daring to speak loudly. The scent of rain was continuous, moist, enveloping her, shrouding her.

Suddenly, a delicate shout burst from the princess’s lips: “Hya—”

She turned her horse around, galloping quickly toward the city gate—

The carriage moved slowly due to the rain.

Yun Shu rode outside on horseback, at first trying loudly to make conversation with the taciturn Han Shuxing. When the other party wouldn’t speak, Yun Shu also lost interest.

In the carriage, Yan Shang lowered his head, looking at the document full of writing that he held in his hands.

This was what he had wanted to give to Mu Wanyao, but since he had come out of prison, Mu Wanyao would not see him, wouldn’t even glance at him. He naturally knew this was for the best, not just her behaving this way—he too should calm his thoughts, should completely let go of old feelings.

Yet this document was the last gift he had wanted to give Mu Wanyao.

But she wouldn’t accept this either.

Yan Shang’s heart felt like it was constantly raining, terribly uncomfortable. His mood was low, and he closed his eyes to rest a while, telling himself not to think about these meaningless things anymore. He should reflect on his mistakes in the Ministry of Revenue case; he had been too impulsive.

Willingly going to prison to accept investigation was one thing, not leaving himself enough escape routes was another.

This time if not for good luck, he might have…

Such mistakes couldn’t be made again in the future. In the future, no matter what he did, he should prepare several paths. This time, it was because he had prepared too little…

He was thinking about these things meticulously, eyes closed, his hand finding a cup of cold tea on the small table. He took a sip, lowered his head to cough twice, his brows furrowing slightly. The injuries from his imprisonment hadn’t fully healed; at least until now, his lungs would still hurt…

As Yan Shang coughed, he heard hazily a woman’s voice outside: “Stop the carriage—is Yan Shang here?”

His hand resting on the teacup, his cold fingertips trembled slightly. He wondered if it was his imagination because he thought this voice was Mu Wanyao’s.

Though thinking it impossible, Yan Shang suddenly lifted the carriage curtain, looking outside.

Just as the carriage was stopped by the pursuing rider, through the window, Yan Shang’s dark, gentle eyes saw the beautiful lady coming on horseback, rainwater on her body. She was impatiently making his carriage stop, scolding Yun Shu for being inconsiderate.

Mu Wanyao suddenly turned her head, her eyes meeting his.

Yan Shang’s heart thumped once.

He stiffened and retreated away from the window, then after a moment of stillness, he leaned forward again to open the carriage door. And just as he opened the door, the dazzlingly beautiful lady was already stepping on the footboard, lifting her skirts, climbing into the carriage.

As the door opened for an instant, Yan Shang watched Mu Wanyao boarding the carriage.

He looked at her somewhat puzzled, seeing her face lowered, raising her eyes to glance at him once. That glance was enchanting, soul-stirring. Yet Mu Wanyao’s face showed no expression as she bent to enter, forcing Yan Shang to step back to make way.

And once she entered, she closed the carriage door.

Yan Shang leaned against the carriage wall, confused: “You…”

In the closed carriage, narrow and quiet, Mu Wanyao looked down at him, cold and casual.

He wore white scholar’s robes, clean and pure, looking up at her.

He had grown much thinner, but his face was still graceful and handsome.

Sitting in the carriage, he was like misty moonlight, like warm spring sunshine, his clear pupils reflecting her image.

Even at this moment, looking at him, Mu Wanyao still found him very good—

Mu Wanyao smiled slightly at him: “Yan Shang, we should have a proper ending.”

Yan Shang stared at her in confusion.

He said hoarsely: “What do you mean…”

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “How it began is how it should end.”

Yan Shang still couldn’t understand what she meant by chasing after him to say such a thing. Hadn’t they already separated, hadn’t it already ended? How else should it end?

While he couldn’t figure it out, Mu Wanyao leaned toward him, embracing him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips.

Yan Shang instantly stiffened—

Spring rain fell thick and fine.

Fang Tong and the others arrived in the rain to find Yun Shu and the others standing bewildered below the carriage. Yun Shu shook his head helplessly, pointing at the carriage, indicating the princess had driven them all out.

In the carriage, Yan Shang leaned against the wall, face upturned, his eyelashes lightly, slowly brushing against her face. His breath mingled with hers in the narrow carriage, their breathing intertwined, hair falling across their faces.

Initially stiff, later he couldn’t help but raise his hands. The taut string in his mind snapped with a “twang,” and amid her indifferent attitude, his eyes reddened as he embraced her tightly.

Though it seemed she was pressing him down, he wrapped his arms around her back. Softness met softness, giving, and taking.

Hearts fell like fire, hearts filled like ice. Torment and pain, sorrow and hurt, yet feelings undiminished. Intimate closeness, love so damp, just like the drizzling rain falling outside.

In both their minds, they couldn’t help but think of the past, think of that day when Mu Wanyao left Lingnan, how she had pressed Yan Shang down in the carriage to kiss him.

Breath scalding hot, reluctant to part. No matter how the servants waited outside, who knew what was happening inside the carriage, what was being suppressed?

Suddenly, Yan Shang felt pain on his lips as Mu Wanyao pulled away.

Yan Shang touched his lip corner, finding blood from where she had bitten him. Her lips were red and moist, also bearing two drops of blood.

Mu Wanyao gave him one look, turned to push open the carriage door, and jumped down—

A proper beginning, a proper ending, thus concluded.

Yet in her sleeve was the document he had slipped to her.

Mu Wanyao turned her head to look at the carriage one last time, then without looking back, mounted her horse and this time truly left—

Still think him very good.

But… never to meet again.