Three years passed like flowing water. After New Year’s Day in the twenty-seventh year of Youhe, Chang’an was enveloped in a misty, enchanting beauty.

For three years, the Great Wei’s Longyou Border had been continuously harassed by small forces from the Southern Barbarians. That spring, a newly promoted young commander employed tunnel warfare to outflank the enemy. The Great Wei army engaged the Southern Barbarian raiders at Longyou, with battle lines stretching dozens of li, lasting over a month.

After three enemy leaders were killed in succession, these Southern Barbarian forces harassing the Great Wei border reluctantly withdrew and never invaded again. When the central government received the battle report, they were overjoyed and immediately summoned this young commander to Chang’an to bestow official titles and nobility.

Only then did the central government realize that this commander who had risen from the lowest ranks was no unknown figure, but rather Yang Si, the third young master of the Yang family of Chang’an, who hadn’t been heard from in quite some time.

Just as the central government was deliberating what level of general position to grant Yang Si, he gathered his troops and marched from Longyou toward Chang’an. Several dozen li from Chang’an, the army made camp. Naturally, under normal circumstances, these troops were merely for a show of force and would not enter Chang’an.

Only Yang Si himself would receive the imperial summons.

That night, the excited soldiers got Yang Si drunk in his tent. Despite his impressive tolerance, he couldn’t refuse so many toasts. The soldiers all became drunk, and Yang Si was intoxicated as well. Though his head was splitting, his spirits were particularly high.

How could he not be happy? After four years without entering Chang’an or seeing his parents, he was now returning home in glory.

In his drunken state, Yang Si untied his horse’s reins, ignoring the tent full of drunk soldiers. He mounted and, carried by this surge of excitement, galloped south toward Chang’an.

Near dawn, the horse’s pace slowed from exhaustion. Yang Si held his head, irritably wrestling with his mount in his frustration. Man and horse nearly brawled in the pre-dawn light, the farcical struggle ending with Yang Si being thrown off.

After Yang Si was thrown, the prized horse, freed of its master, gave an excited neigh, raised its iron hooves, and ran off excitedly, abandoning Yang Si in the wilderness. Yang Si cursed under his breath, clutching his head as he got up dustily and staggered along. He hadn’t gone far before he collapsed beside a small stream, his upper body soaking in the water, falling unconscious.

At daybreak, a pair of siblings riding horses approached from the other side of the road. With the stream burbling and spring scenery pleasant, they spotted the young man collapsed by the water.

The sister made a surprised sound and, ignoring her brother’s attempts to stop her, dismounted to crouch by the stream and check on the unconscious young man.

Yang Si’s entire face was handsome yet cold, though flushed from drinking. He was sleeping deeply, but when someone approached, years of habit made him immediately reach for his sword. Unfortunately, he had lost his blade in a drinking game the previous night. Unable to find his sword, Yang Si’s hand twisted and grabbed the wrist of the young woman who had touched him.

The young woman cried out in pain.

Yet her voice was gentle: “My lord, my lord? What’s wrong? Are you drunk? I’m not a bad person. My brother and I are heading to Chang’an. My brother is going to take the spring imperial examinations.”

Her brother had a very loud voice: “Xiaozhou! This person looks dangerous. Stop bothering with him, let’s hurry on our way!”

Yang Si blearily opened his eyes for a look, vaguely making out the silhouette of a young woman in yellow robes. Not a soldier, nor a battlefield enemy. The killing intent flowing in his blood retreated somewhat. Hazily, he saw the young woman give him a gentle smile and softly comfort him again.

In his drunken state, Yang Si thought her voice was so soft, like singing.

He released his grip on her wrist, tilted his head back, and fell asleep again—

Yan Third Young Master had no choice but to agree to his little sister’s pleading and help Yang Si onto their horse. That young lord lay draped over his horse while he held the reins, chatting with Yan Xiaozhou as they walked. On horseback, Yang Si, jostling along, half-asleep and half-awake, heard what they were discussing.

But he was too mentally exhausted to open his eyes.

On the mountain path, Yan Third Young Master was scolding his sister: “Really, you’re too nosy. Who knows if he’s good or bad? What if he’s a bandit or outlaw?”

Yan Xiaozhou smiled playfully: “That’s why I tied him up with rope, isn’t it?”

She wheedled her brother again: “We can take him to the nearest relay station to rest. Wouldn’t that work? Brother, how can we ignore someone in trouble? What if this young lord has some urgent business or difficulty? If we don’t help, wouldn’t we be causing problems for him?”

Yan Third Young Master turned his head to look at his sister.

She was in the prime of youth at seventeen or eighteen, with snow-white skin and a willowy waist. She possessed spring-like beauty, with curved eyes when she smiled, pitch-black pupils that were both clear and pure. Whether her beauty or that clear, transparent quality about her, she was extremely attractive to men.

Having traveled north with his sister from the south, how could Yan Third Young Master not notice how men looked at his sister?

That’s why he was so nervous.

He secretly regretted bringing his sister out to travel.

He should have had his eldest brother come along too.

Yan Xiaozhou smiled brightly: “Third Brother, I feel like you’re secretly worrying about me again.”

Yan Third Young Master was startled.

Then he shouted: “No! You’re getting to be just like Second Brother now, making assumptions about people when they haven’t done anything. Stop that! It’s not endearing at all.”

Yan Xiaozhou pressed her lips together in a gentle smile, thinking there was nothing wrong with being like Second Brother. However—

She became somewhat melancholic, murmuring: “But it’s been over five years since I’ve seen Second Brother. Second Brother isn’t in Chang’an either.”

Yan Third Young Master’s mood also dropped, but being the elder brother, he quickly consoled his sister: “Didn’t Second Brother tell us? He said to stay well in Chang’an, and he would return to Chang’an this year.”

He kept something from his sister in his heart: This trip to Chang’an was partly for his imperial examinations, but also to wait for Second Brother’s return to Chang’an, to help find a good marriage for his sister here.

There weren’t many good families in Lingnan.

If Second Brother stays in Chang’an long-term, and little sister could marry into Chang’an with Second Brother looking after her, their whole family could rest a bit easier—

When Yang Si fully sobered up, it was already dusk that day.

Barefoot and stern-faced, he pondered for a moment in a room at the relay station, only vaguely remembering that the siblings who helped him had been muttering something about their eldest and second brothers along the way, nothing interesting.

He just remembered that the young lady’s voice was very gentle.

After thinking for a long time without recalling anything useful, he simply dropped the matter. Yang Si went downstairs to meet the station master, exchanged greetings, borrowed a horse, and this time rode straight into Chang’an City.

He estimated he would stay in Chang’an for half a year this time.

Partly because the old emperor was wary and wouldn’t let him return to the border immediately; partly because, well, Princess Danyang was about to be married—

The princess’s wedding clothes were to be woven by the Imperial Textile Service.

That spring, the Imperial Textile Service and Ministry of Rites began preparing for Princess Danyang’s marriage. Barring the unexpected, Princess Danyang would marry in September of that year. Half a year to prepare the princess’s wedding, renovate the princess’s manor—the time was barely sufficient.

Yang Si returned to Chang’an, spent a day at home, half a day at the Eastern Palace, then climbed up to Princess Danyang’s manor, curious about who Mu Wanyao had chosen as her prince consort.

Many things have changed over these years.

For example, the Crown Prince now studied the way of rulership on the emperor’s side. Though the Ministry of Revenue had returned to the Crown Prince’s control, he was much more cautious, no longer interfering in everything like before.

For instance, the most prominent figure in Chang’an now was Prince Qin.

Moreover, although Prince Qin held power, the suppression of the forces behind him these past years was much fiercer than when Yang Si left Chang’an. Those who contributed most to this were the ministers of humble birth who had united as one force at court.

Prince Qin was glorious yet hounded by problems daily, leaving him with complex emotions.

As for Mu Wangyao… she had become much more steady and quiet these years. The Crown Prince was no longer as arbitrary as before, and Mu Wangyao no longer stood out in everything. She supported the humble-born officials at court, but her methods were much more subtle and gentle.

Yet her power had grown even greater, with no one competing against her for the moment.

Princess Danyang had firmly established her power base in Chang’an. Once her power was secured, she would consider marriage.

Though Yang Si regretted that Mu Wangyao and Yan Shangcheng hadn’t worked out, he was still sincerely happy that she was finally getting married. So just days after returning to Chang’an, Yang Si came to drink with Mu Wangyao—

In the main hall of the princess’s manor, Mu Wangyao smiled and invited Yang Si to sit, letting him taste her newly acquired fine wine.

The two chatted and joked, no longer roughhousing like when they were young. Even though Mu Wangyao and the Crown Prince still didn’t get along, her relationship with Yang Si hadn’t been much affected by the years apart.

Mu Wangyao observed Yang Si, seeing his face had grown much harder, his posture much straighter than before. His current imposing presence, having shed his youthful willfulness, truly befitted a general from the battlefield.

Yang Si suddenly turned his head toward her and said flatly: “Is that your future prince consort?”

Mu Wangyao followed Yang Si’s gaze to see spring petals falling in the courtyard as a young nobleman was led from afar by palace maids—

Pei Qing, introduced by the princess, respectfully took a seat behind the princess.

Knowing Yang’s Third Young Master’s status, he suppressed his nervousness and smiled as he chatted with this lord: “I hear Third Young Master and Her Highness grew up together, and you specifically returned for Her Highness’s wedding this time. I deeply envy such a close friendship between Third Young Master and Her Highness.”

Yang Si’s expression was cold as he glanced at Mu Wangyao.

Mu Wangyao swirled her wine cup, her lips holding a casual smile. Yang Third Young Master glanced at her, and only then did she turn back: “Pei Qing, pour wine for Yang Third. He won’t be happy without wine. If you want to get on his good side, just give him wine to drink.”

Pei Qing instinctively felt Yang Si disliked him. Suppressing that chill of being scrutinized, he smiled and agreed.

Afterward, Yang Si dined there.

Pei Qing’s gaze remained fixed on Mu Wanyao, anticipating her every need. Whether a wine cup or a dish, he placed everything within her easy reach.

Yang Si watched with cold eyes.

Pei Qing wanted to converse more with him, but Yang Si’s frigid aura intimidated this scholar-bred young man, making him visibly uncomfortable several times. He uneasily glanced at Mu Wanyao multiple times, and she smiled at Yang Si: “Don’t bully Pei Qing.”

Yang Si sneered.

But after the meal, Yang Si extended his arm outward and said flatly: “Get out.”

Pei Qing stiffened slightly and looked toward Mu Wanyao. Her lips still held that faint smile as she narrowed her eyes with casual indolence: “You may go.”—

Only Yang Si and Mu Wanyao remained in the hall.

Yang Si no longer stayed polite: “This is the prince consort you chose? What kind of taste is this?”

Mu Wanyao replied carelessly: “What’s wrong with him? He listens to me and is well-behaved and sensible. When told East he wouldn’t go west, put me first in everything, always kept his eyes on me, and even tried hard to get along with people around me. Even when someone like you gives him the cold shoulder, he endures it.

“Where else could you find such a good prince consort?”

Yang Si’s expression grew colder.

He said: “Are you seeking a prince consort, or a puppet, or perhaps keeping a male favorite?”

Mu Wanyao looked at him.

Yang Si stared at her, his sharp cold gaze meeting her bright, liquid eyes for a long moment before he finally softened his imposing manner somewhat. Yang Si asked: “What exactly are you doing?”

Mu Wanyao swirled her wine cup, saying nothing.

Yang Si found Pei Qing unsuitable, but she thought he was fine.

Pei Qing came from a humble background and had been under her control since the imperial examinations. Now she was working to gain influence in the Ministry of Personnel, planning to arrange for Pei Qing’s placement there. If Pei Qing could have a say in the annual examinations, she would have access to more useful people.

However, Pei Qing was young, and for him to enter the Ministry of Personnel as a Junior Officer, both he and Mu Wanyao would need to expend considerable effort.

But if Pei Qing could marry the princess… that position in the Ministry of Personnel would certainly be secured.

In the end, it was all about power.

Moreover, marrying into a humble family would help Mu Wanyao demonstrate her stance toward those of humble origins.

Mu Wanyao skillfully used her marriage as a political tool. Though Yang Si didn’t know her purpose, he could see her perfunctory, indifferent attitude toward marriage, which made him somewhat angry.

Yang Si lowered his voice: “When I left Chang’an back then, you weren’t like this. Have you gotten worse over these years? Marriage is a lifelong matter, yet you plan to treat it so casually?”

Mu Wanyao countered: “What’s wrong with that? Pei Qing is very obedient and loves me deeply. You just don’t know him yet. Once you understand him, you’ll know I’ve made a fine choice for prince consort.”

Yang Si: “I can see his eyes are always on you, but I’ve never seen your eyes rest on him once. Do you realize your gaze just passes over him carelessly?”

Mu Wanyao said: “Nonsense. I have looked at him seriously. Why don’t you call Pei Qing over, and I’ll show you one serious look, let you see?”

Yang Si said quietly: “But when you look at him, who are you thinking of?”

Mu Wanyao turned her face away.

Her snow-white face held a somewhat cold expression, with traces of a smile in her eyes. She asked in return: “Who am I thinking of?”

Others wouldn’t dare to say it.

But Yang Si had never feared this girl.

Yang Si said: “You’re thinking of the person Pei Qing strongly resembles.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes froze. Xia Rong, standing in the corridor, heard Yang Third Young Master point this out so bluntly and immediately became anxious, fearing the princess would flip the table in anger. These past three years, none of them had dared mention that person before the princess… what was Yang Third doing?

However, Mu Wanyao didn’t get angry.

Mu Wanyao propped her chin on her hand, thoughtfully looking out at the spring scenery through the window.

She said casually, indifferently: “What does that matter? Perhaps my aesthetic taste is just like that, liking the same type of person. I simply prefer those who are docile and obedient.”

Yang Si mocked her: “You don’t have an ounce of passion, yet you claim to like him?”

Mu Wanyao hadn’t intended to get angry; she had rarely gotten angry these past three years. But with Yang Si provoking her again and again, she finally erupted, pointing toward the door: “Get out! What business is it of yours, what do you know!”

Yang Si had never indulged her.

He rose to his full height and strode out, but not before taunting her: “I don’t understand this life you’re settling for. You’re a princess after all, yet you can’t even get what you want—what kind of princess are you?”

Mu Wanyao was furious to the extreme, shouting for Fang Tong and other guards to throw Yang Third out of the princess’s manor, forbidding him from returning. She and Yang Third stood on opposite sides of the corridor trading insults, quarreling intensely. Mu Wanyao wished she could take up a staff and beat Yang Third out herself, but finally managed to drive him away—

After arguing with Yang Si, Mu Wanyao angrily shut herself in her room, forbidding anyone from disturbing her. Xia Rong gossiped with Fang Tong, who was leaning against a corridor pillar watching the show: “Her Highness seems to have some energy now.”

Fang Tong: “Mm.”

Xia Rong felt somewhat relieved: “It seems our princess is better suited to be around someone like Yang Third Young Master. We should let the Third Young Master visit more often to argue with Her Highness. Perhaps then she won’t spend so much time alone like usual.”

Fang Tong sighed.

Xia Rong muttered: “And they talk about choosing a prince consort. Her Highness won’t even let the prince consort stay overnight at the manor, it’s… it’s completely different from before.”—

Mu Wanyao ignored Yang Si.

Yang Si disapproved of her chosen prince consort, but this was her marriage, not Yang Si’s. If he disapproved, so be it.

But perhaps influenced by Yang Si, when looking at Pei Qing again, Mu Wanyao felt even less enthusiasm.

She could discuss official business with Pei Qing, but after talking about court matters, she wanted to send him away and be alone… She felt being alone was far more comfortable than having another man in the manor. Mu Wanyao suspected something might be wrong with her, but she wasn’t particularly unhappy either.

It was neither good nor bad.

This day, just as Mu Wanyao returned from outside, Pei Qing arrived at the princess’s manor. Mu Wanyao’s expression was cold as she descended from her carriage, not sparing Pei Qing a glance as she lifted her skirts to climb the steps.

From her expression, Pei Qing could tell she wasn’t in a good mood today, probably having argued with some minister. As Pei Qing hesitated, Mu Wanyao turned to look at him: “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m tired today and won’t keep you for dinner.”

Pei Qing pulled forward a young man in plain clothes from behind him and said gently: “It’s like this—I just met this young lord and found his scholarship excellent. He might place in this year’s spring examinations. I thought to bring him to meet Your Highness.”

Though he put it so tactfully, Mu Wanyao knew his meaning was to seek her patronage for the other man.

Mu Wanyao’s lips curled slightly as she said perfunctorily: “You’re already a high official. Just use my name to speak with the Minister of Personnel. No need to consult me about such small matters.”

The young man behind Pei Qing looked somewhat ashamed and indignant.

He had caught the princess’s dismissiveness.

Pei Qing was equally embarrassed, as Mu Wanyao’s attitude made his earlier vouching seem ridiculous. He stepped forward, following behind Mu Wanyao, still trying once more: “Your Highness, he’s a famous scholar from Nanyang. Won’t Your Highness ask a few more questions…”

Mu Wanyao suddenly stopped on the steps.

She heard the words “Nanyang.”

As if possessed, perhaps influenced by Yang Si’s earlier words, or perhaps because the wine she’d drunk that afternoon was going to her head, Mu Wanyao turned to look at the displeased young man.

Her lips held a slight smile, as if deliberately teasing him, or perhaps out of curiosity: “A scholar from Nanyang? Then do you know someone called Yan Shang?”

Pei Qing’s eyes stiffened slightly. He looked at Mu Wanyao, but she seemed merely curious, her smile still maintaining that indifferent attitude.

The young man looked confused.

Mu Wanyao said casually: “The County Magistrate of Rangxian in your Nanyang…”

The young lord suddenly understood: “Does Your Highness mean Lord Yan, known as ‘Famous Minister Within the Seas’? Do you mean our Prefecture Lord Yan Suchen?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Her gaze froze, and she laughed: “Yes. Him. What’s this, is he quite famous?”

Pei Qing’s smile had become very forced as he lowered his sleeves, watching Mu Wanyao. However, Mu Wanyao’s pitch-black eyes were fixed on the young man behind him, completely ignoring Pei Qing.

The young man spoke admiringly: “Our Prefecture Lord is naturally very famous. Your Highness may not know, but the official and private schools in Nanyang now surpass even Chang’an in their excellence. Many famous scholars and masters teach at our schools, all invited by our Prefecture Lord.

“Not only does the Prefecture Lord hire famous teachers for us, but he also established elementary schools and personally compiled textbooks. For humble students like myself who couldn’t afford travel expenses to Chang’an, he would provide financial support…”

Mu Wanyao stared at the yearning expression in the young man’s eyes for a long moment.

She smiled: “Stay for dinner.”—

This young man Pei Qing had clearly sensed the princess’s interest in their Prefecture Lord. To gain the princess’s patronage and enter her circle, one naturally needed to please Her Highness.

So throughout dinner, even though Lord Pei gave him several subtle hints to stop, as long as the princess was willing to listen, the young man wracked his brain to think of more stories about their Prefecture Lord.

After the dining tables were cleared away, Mu Wanyao still didn’t want to end the conversation. She propped her chin on her hand, her eyes shining like stars, laughing at the young man’s words.

She smiled brightly: “Really? Have you seen him? Does he teach you all? That can’t be right. He shouldn’t have such abilities.”

The young man exclaimed excitedly: “How could we trouble the Prefecture Lord to teach us? Once when the Prefecture Lord came to the school, everyone ran to look, and I caught a glimpse of him in the crowd. Your Highness must be an old acquaintance of our Prefecture Lord. Then Your Highness would know that our Prefecture Lord’s bearing, his… his cultivation and demeanor are beyond words.”

Mu Wanyao’s cheeks reddened.

She lowered her long lashes somewhat shyly, gave a soft “mm,” and said with a blush: “He is very handsome.”

The young man said: “Does Your Highness know who our Nanyang Governor is? He’s from the famous Jiang family of Nanyang. The Governor wanted to marry his daughter to our Prefecture Lord, but after talking with our Prefecture Lord for one evening, the next day he shamefully said his daughter wasn’t worthy of the Prefecture Lord.”

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together in a smile, the light in her eyes growing brighter.

She said: “So you have seen him?”

Young man: “Yes, yes! I’ve not only seen him, I’ve even spoken with the Prefecture Lord.”

Mu Wanyao: “Isn’t his voice very pleasant? That kind of low and gentle voice, like—like he’s whispering to you or like a spring breeze passing by.”

The young man laughed and said: “I suppose so. I’ve never heard the Prefecture Lord speak loudly.”

Mu Wanyao: “He never speaks loudly! Because his cultivation is excellent, he rarely gets angry. And even if you make him angry it’s fine, he rarely refuses to give face. If you do something wrong, he just looks at you and sighs very helplessly, like this—”

Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her whole demeanor had become extremely gentle. She looked at the two people at the table with soft eyes, letting out a light sigh, like a wisp of mist gently rising and softly dispersing.

The young man said: “I’ve never seen him sigh.”

Mu Wanyao was displeased, feeling his understanding was too limited.

But she was still very interested in talking with this young man, saying: “Then have you seen him when he’s lost in thought?”

The young man thought for a long while, then said: “Once! Once when I went to school, I saw the Prefecture Lord standing outside our schoolhouse. All the teachers had left, but he was still standing there motionless—he must have been lost in thought then.”

Mu Wanyao’s cheeks grew warm.

She smiled brightly: “Isn’t he very amusing when he’s lost in thought? His eyes looked at the sky, just standing there in a daze for ages. His whole person becomes muddled, and after being lost in thought for a long time, you can hear him let out a long sigh. This kind of sigh is different from when he’s helpless… I love watching him when he’s lost in thought.”

And so it went, on and on.

The entire evening, Mu Wanyao and the young man had a wonderful conversation about one person. Pei Qing took his leave midway, but it didn’t dampen Mu Wanyao’s spirits.

She was the princess, after all, she could do as she pleased.

But Pei Qing began to feel uneasy… began to feel as if something was about to happen—

After talking with the young man all evening, Mu Wanyao invited him to stay at the princess’s manor, and the next day she actively helped with his patronage matters. Unfortunately, this young man knew very little about Yan Shang’s affairs, and Mu Wanyao couldn’t learn more from him, so she quickly lost interest.

That night, as Mu Wanyao drank alone in her manor, Xia Rong came to report: “Lord Pei requests an audience with Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao frowned and said: “If it’s nothing urgent, there’s no need to see him.”

So Xia Rong went out and returned to find the princess still drinking alone. Xia Rong knelt beside the princess and, after hesitating for a moment, advised: “Your Highness is about to be married, why do you still treat Lord Pei so coldly?”

Without turning her head, Mu Wanyao said: “Did he give you money, bribe you to speak well of him before me?”

Xia Rong said shamefully: “…No. Lord Pei did try, but this servant didn’t dare accept his money. I just felt somewhat sorry for him, that’s why I spoke this way.”

Mu Wanyao muttered: “Yan Shang would never do something like that.”

Xia Rong froze, almost thinking she had heard wrong.

The moonlight filtered in through the window, cold and white, spreading over Mu Wanyao. After watching the princess for a while, Xia Rong said: “Your Highness has been mentioning Second Young Master Yan frequently lately.”

Mu Wanyao said nothing.

Xia Rong: “This servant doesn’t understand… after what happened that year, does Your Highness no longer hate Second Young Master Yan? How is it that now… when that young lord spoke of Second Young Master Yan the other day, this servant has never seen Your Highness so happy in these years. Lord Pei’s expression was difficult then, but this servant saw Your Highness almost lose herself in the moment.”

Mu Wanyao’s lips curled slightly.

She propped her head on her hand, looking down at the wine in her cup with some confusion: “I don’t know either… maybe it’s because Yang Third has returned, maybe it’s because I’m about to be married… I just keep thinking of him, thinking of him more and more.

“You know, now when I look at Pei Qing, I keep thinking about what Yang Third said. When I first supported this person, was it because Pei Qing resembled Yan Shang in some ways?

“But then I feel Pei Qing isn’t good. I often think he’s completely different from Yan Shang. He’s not as shy as Yan Shang, though he’s also reserved but not as awkward as Yan Shang always was. His eyes always follow me, but Yan Shang often wouldn’t look at me… I turn around and Pei Qing is there. But, I loved watching Yan Shang sit there lost in thought.

“Even though Pei Qing’s heart only has me in it, why do I not care? Even though Yan Shang’s heart didn’t only have me in it, why didn’t I feel indifferent when I was with him? I don’t like sitting with Pei Qing, don’t like talking with him, don’t like how he agrees with everything I say…

“He’s very obedient, but I… I don’t know. I just feel…”

Mu Wanyao lay down on the table, murmuring: “When Yan Shang was here, I felt very safe, my emotions would fluctuate. When Pei Qing is here, my heart is undisturbed, like dead ashes.”

Xia Rong was silent for a moment, then said: “Why does Your Highness feel safe with Second Young Master Yan? He treated Your Highness that way.”

Mu Wanyao immediately raised her head, perhaps because she was drunk, and quickly retorted: “That’s different! It’s not like he left me for other reasons, it was just that our positions were different back then, we simply couldn’t continue. He never did me wrong, after he left he even left me memorials advising how I should act…

“Xia Rong, you don’t understand Yan Shang. You don’t know what kind of person he is. But I know. I’ve known from the beginning.”

She turned her head, giving her maid a somewhat secretive smile. She said softly:

“Let me tell you a secret—if I went blind or lame, if I weren’t a princess anymore, all of you would change your attitude toward me because of this. But Yan Shang wouldn’t. Even if he’s not by my side, I know that if something happened to me, he would help me, help me without reservation.”

Her eyes sparkled with waves of light as she looked up at the bright moon. The moonlight shone in her eyes, falling into her pitch-black world.

She wasn’t lost, or helpless.

She wasn’t sad, or grief-stricken.

She was just lonely. Just found the nights too quiet. Just didn’t know who to look for when holding up a lamp.

Mu Wanyao gazed at the moonlight, murmuring as if in a trance: “He’s the best person I’ve ever met in this world. No one is as good as him.”

Mu Wanyao lay on the table, her shoulders trembling slightly. Xia Rong thought she was sobbing and gently pushed the princess, trying to see her face. But she didn’t see the princess crying; the princess was just like a little cat, whimpering and mewing plaintively, scratching with her paws—

She wanted someone.

Wanted them desperately.

Just couldn’t show it normally—

Mu Wanyao’s emotional display that night after drinking was as fleeting as a night-blooming flower. When Xia Rong tried to discuss it with the princess the next day, Mu Wanyao brushed it off lightly, giving her no chance to speak.

Until this day, when Mu Wanyao and her group returned from outside and stood in the alley where the princess’s manor was located, suddenly freezing in place.

Because a carriage was stopped in the alley, this ordinary carriage clearly wouldn’t be one Mu Wanyao used. Moreover, servants were moving things in and out of the neighboring house… Mu Wanyao felt her heart suddenly beat irregularly.

Before Xia Rong and the others could react, Mu Wanyao had already walked into the neighboring manor. The neighboring manor hadn’t been maintained for three years and was quite desolate, but Mu Wanyao’s eyes weren’t searching for the scenery but for a person… She hadn’t found the person she thought of, and before she could identify the feeling, she heard a gentle and surprised female voice behind her: “Is… is that Your Highness? Princess Danyang?”

Mu Wanyao turned around to see a young woman holding a stack of books, giving her a gentle smile. A young man hurrying by, shouting something loudly, but when he saw Mu Wanyao, he became like a duck with its throat grabbed, suddenly losing his voice.

Mu Wanyao didn’t recognize that the young man was Yan’s Third Young Master, but she stared at this graceful young woman for a long moment before calling out: “You are… Yan Xiaozhou!”—

Yan Xiaozhou and Yan Third Young Master were somewhat embarrassed.

They had originally planned to organize the manor while the princess wasn’t around. They hadn’t expected to run into the princess anyway.

Yan Xiaozhou spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “It’s like this—I accompanied Third Brother to the capital for the examinations. Second Brother doesn’t want us to live here, saying he wants to sell this residence. Third Brother volunteered, and we’re just tidying up the courtyard a bit to help Second Brother sell the house. Since Second Brother is also getting married, he needs the money…”

Mu Wanyao froze.

She frowned: “Getting married?”

Yan Xiaozhou’s pure black eyes looked at her. She gazed at the princess, keenly perceiving the princess’s thoughts, so after hesitating, Yan Xiaozhou didn’t speak.

But Yan Third Young Master said dumbly: “Your Highness, what are you doing? Can’t my Second Brother get married? My eldest brother already has three children, and my second child is about to be born… Second Brother finally let us convince him to marry, it’s already very late! He can’t delay any longer!”