Han Shuxing’s arrival made both of them uncomfortable, though he didn’t notice anything amiss. Not being from Great Wei, he couldn’t read the subtle undercurrents typical of Wei people.

Han Shuxing straightforwardly reported to Yan Shang about the surrounding terrain, described the nearby waterways, and finally mentioned that he had searched within a mile’s radius without finding any trace of enemies, telling them they could rest easy. Only after finishing his report did he sense the strange atmosphere.

In the small patch of moonlight, he saw Yan Shang sitting with bent knees, clutching his collar and keeping his head down without speaking. Mu Wanyao knelt beside Yan Shang, her hands resting on her own knees, also with her head lowered in silence.

Seeing their wordlessness, Han Shuxing could only force himself to continue. He said stiffly, “Your Highness, I… this slave just checked the wooden cabin. There’s a sectioned-off bed in the right inner room. Perhaps Your Highness could sleep there tonight, while I… this slave stands guard outside?”

Though Yan Shang had taught him to say “I,” when facing his former master—the high and mighty Princess Danyang—he still couldn’t help but become submissive, wanting to please her.

This slave mentality disgusted him deeply, yet he could do nothing about it.

Mu Wanyao raised her head to look at him. Only then did Han Shuxing notice Her Highness’s face was somewhat swollen and red, yet Mu Wanyao remained beautiful. Her clear, cold gaze was both aloof and imperious, causing Han Shuxing to instinctively straighten his back.

Mu Wanyao asked, “What about Yan Shang?”

Not understanding her meaning, Han Shuxing replied according to his interpretation: “Second Young Master’s wounds haven’t been bandaged yet, have they? I… this slave will help treat his injuries first. I just brought a pot of clean water.”

Mu Wanyao was speechless.

She pressed her hands against her knees, about to stand up and leave the space to the two men as Han Shuxing suggested. But as her clothes rustled with movement, Yan Shang’s fingers, resting on his knee, trembled slightly, and he grasped her hand.

Mu Wanyao, already standing, looked down to see him holding her hand, unwilling to let go. His black hair fell against his cheeks, and beneath the half-hidden strands, his ears had reddened with embarrassment.

Yan Shang said softly, “Han Shuxing, you go sleep in the inner room. You’re the only warrior among us three, needing your strength more than Her Highness and I do. We can manage for one night.”

Han Shuxing was stunned, thinking but that’s Her Highness. The best bed should surely go to Her Highness.

Yan Shang added, “Besides, Her Highness has already bandaged my wounds… she did quite well actually.”

Mu Wanyao remained silent. She hadn’t even started bandaging his wounds, but if he wanted to say that, she didn’t mind. Sure enough, Yan Shang understood Han Shuxing well—he easily convinced Han Shuxing to take the bed, keeping Mu Wanyao here.

After Han Shuxing left, Mu Wanyao knelt again and, using the clean water Han Shuxing had brought, properly bandaged Yan Shang’s wounds.

Fortunately, they were all external injuries, and there were hunter’s medicines left here. Although the wounds on Yan Shang’s back looked frightening, surface wounds would eventually heal. What worried Mu Wanyao more were Yan Shang’s eyes. She feared that without applying medicine on schedule, there might be delays in treatment. If such delays left him with lifelong regrets, would she have harmed him once again?

Yan Shang gently pulled her hand, somewhat uncomfortable: “What is Your Highness thinking about?”

Mu Wanyao came back to herself. She looked down at his hand gripping her wrist for a long while before saying, “I’m wondering what you’re doing. Why do you want me to stay by your side? Since this afternoon… you’ve been constantly holding onto me, not letting go.”

Yan Shang remained silent for a moment. His face was somewhat pale, now looking even more haggard and tired.

His downcast expression showed both sorrow and hatred—contradictory emotions rarely seen together on his face. Mu Wanyao observed him as he raised his face, speaking in a somewhat hoarse voice: “Of course I want Your Highness to stay by my side, not leaving me for a single step… I thought Pei Qing would… would protect you well. But you were captured by mountain bandits… I can’t trust others anymore.

“I only trust myself.”

He recalled the sound of the slap he had heard. At that moment, he felt as if he were standing in an endless abyss, his body turning cold inch by inch, all strength leaving him. The girl he cherished so much, wanted to protect so much… why would she be struck by someone else right in front of him?

He hated himself!

Mu Wanyao stared at him before saying, “So, you want me to stay within your sight tonight as well?”

Yan Shang: “Yes… please don’t blame me.”

Mu Wanyao remained silent for a long time. She leaned against Yan Shang’s shoulder, mind blank, feeling quite exhausted. She wasn’t sure if it was from today’s events or from the weariness that had weighed on her heart these past three years. Human emotions were difficult to explain clearly at once. When her spirit felt defeated, it was only when she leaned against Yan Shang that she felt she could rest a while.

Unable to hear her speak, Yan Shang couldn’t judge her mood. He asked hesitantly in a low voice: “Why… why did you leave the city… Did you and Pei Qing get separated? Why did you go out? Why didn’t you listen to me and bring more guards?”

Mu Wanyao turned her face to look at him. Though he couldn’t see her, her lips curved in a mocking expression: “What do you think it means when a man takes a woman out of the city without bringing many guards?”

Yan Shang froze.

He said: “…I don’t know.”

Mu Wanyao said carelessly: “He wanted to sleep with me.”

Yan Shang: “…”

His grip on her hand suddenly tightened, and the shoulder she leaned against stiffened. Yan Shang held his breath, his entire body rigid. He hadn’t expected that with all his suspicions of conspiracies, this would be the conclusion. His expression went blank, unsure how to react for a moment.

It seemed both bewildered and sorrowful, and also somewhat… displeased.

Mu Wanyao was almost amused by him.

Supporting her forehead with her hand, she said: “Pei Qing has pursued me for three years, but I never showed him any favor. Isn’t there a ready opportunity now? What one person doesn’t want, another treasure. I thought he was the right person. Always following behind me, always calling me ‘Your Highness’ this and that. You hurt me so deeply, while he saw how I couldn’t let go of you, yet still cared for me… I grew tired.

“Yan Shang, I grew tired. I just thought, maybe accepting someone who loves me would be better than finding someone I love. I could see Pei Qing’s advances, so I thought I’d accept him.

“If he wanted to kiss me, let him kiss. If he wanted to spend the spring night with me, so be it. It’s just that I can’t bear children—I don’t know if he could accept that… It doesn’t matter if he can’t, he could take some concubines then. Between men and women, husband and wife, life passes by in such a muddle.”

She fell silent for a very long time.

Yan Shang gripped her hand tightly. After a long while, he said softly: “I’m sorry.”

Mu Wanyao said flatly: “Don’t always say ‘I’m sorry.’ You’re always like this, always just giving. You always maintain such a low posture toward me, which made me get used to men being this way. But now I realize… not everyone is like you.

“If you could speak pretty words like Pei Qing, I would have been deceived by you long ago. There are many people in this world like Mu Wanyao, but someone like Yan Shang—I’ve only ever met you.”

She thought of Pei Qing, thought of what happened during the day. Thought of when the bandits appeared, of Pei Qing’s initial protection and later frightened escape… At that time, she had just watched, her heart barely stirred, only finding it laughable.

The carefully chosen person turned out to be nothing special. Or perhaps, the person Pei Qing loved wasn’t Mu Wanyao, but ‘Princess Danyang.’

Mu Wanyao said softly: “I don’t want to settle anymore.”

Just as Yang Si had said. She was a princess, why should she have to settle?

Yan Shang turned his face toward her, saying earnestly: “Nonsense. Your Highness shouldn’t belittle yourself. I too have only met one ‘Mu Wanyao.’ Standing unmoved before bandits, showing no weakness, daring to fight back against bandits hundreds of times stronger even when captured… never bowing to fate. I only know one such ‘Mu Wanyao.'”

Mu Wanyao couldn’t help but smile slightly at the corners of her lips, leaning closer to his arm. Being praised always makes one happy. Especially when it came from Yan Shang, whom she both loved and hated, whose character was as pure as a saint. She hated saintly behavior, yet she longed for the safety a saint brought her.

It was too contradictory.

Mu Wanyao looked up at his smooth chin for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: “Are you going to break off your engagement with your fiancée or not?”

Yan Shang was stunned, not expecting her to suddenly bring this up.

After a long while, he said softly: “Do you care about this so much?”

Mu Wanyao was about to explain that she was just making conversation, that she didn’t want to discuss this with him because she didn’t want to slap him again… when she heard him say somewhat wearily: “I will break it off. I just need some time to avoid damaging the lady’s reputation. After all, I’m too well-known, and I don’t want the lady’s name to be tied to mine, forcing her to live in obscurity because of me.”

Yan Shang lightly embraced her shoulders. He lowered his head and seemed to smile at her, though the smile was bitter: “If you care so much, I won’t marry at all. After you… after you’ve been married for two or three years… after you’ve completely let go, then I’ll consider marriage. After all, if one wants to marry, when would it be impossible? “

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

She murmured: “…You’re willing to wait several more years for my sake? What about your family? What about your reputation?”

Yan Shang: “What else can I do? You’re so troubled by this, I can’t ignore your feelings.”

Mu Wanyao gripped his arm tightly, her heart growing damp. In that instant, she once again felt Yan Shang’s kindness toward her. He hadn’t made any promises to her, yet for the sake of her feelings, he would go this far. And if she were sensible, she should cherish him… Mu Wanyao looked up, almost blurting out that she wanted to tell him about her and Pei Qing, wanted to tell him she had never liked Pei Qing.

She wanted to tell him about what happened during the day… that he didn’t need to wait for her, that she wouldn’t marry Pei Qing anymore. But looking up and seeing Yan Shang’s downcast face, his utterly haggard appearance, she froze. He was forcing himself to chat with her, to comfort her emotions. But after everything that happened today, Yan Shang was already so tired…

These things could wait to be said another time.

So Mu Wanyao leaned against Yan Shang’s arm and slowly closed her eyes.

There were still pursuers, it was still unsafe. Yet her heart no longer felt like an empty dark hurricane, the cold stars no longer trembled, the wild fields no longer desolate. The hurricane had stopped, the nearly extinguished candle flame rekindled, and her safe harbor had returned.

Though he hadn’t fully returned yet.

But perhaps he had never really left.

Let her have sweet dreams for one night—

The next day, bird chirps became sparse after the ground dragon. When Mu Wanyao woke up, she found herself curled up sleeping on straw-covered ground. As she got up rubbing her sore arms, a man’s outer robe with traces of blood fell from her shoulders.

Mu Wanyao stared blankly for a moment, then hurriedly jumped up. Without a word, clutching the man’s outer robe, she circled the wooden cabin. She found neither Yan Shang nor Han Shuxing.

Mu Wanyao ran straight out of the cabin, fear crawling through her heart, her blood freezing in terror. She panicked, wondering if they had all left if she had been abandoned again. But how could Yan Shang abandon her? He shouldn’t be that kind of person—she couldn’t have misjudged even his character.

If even he wasn’t the person she thought he was, she would be too tragic.

Mu Wanyao searched around the wooden cabin, unable to call out a single word. She didn’t know how long she had been circling, just stubbornly refusing to return to the now-empty wooden cabin. She heard the sound of flowing water and followed the babbling stream upstream.

Mu Wanyao froze.

By the rushing stream, she saw the young man’s shoes and socks left on the bank, while standing barefoot in the icy stream with rolled-up sleeves was Yan Shang—the very person she couldn’t find and thought had left with Han Shuxing.

The white bandage over his eyes was slightly dampened by water. He stood bent over in the water, and because of his restricted movement, even with rolled-up sleeves, the stream had wet the edges of his clothes. He was feeling for something in the water when he heard the girl’s angry cry from the bank: “Yan Shang!”

Yan Shang turned his face, showing a slight smile: “Has Your Highness awakened?”

Mu Wanyao walked toward him in exasperation. Hearing her footsteps, he hurriedly called out to stop her: “Your Highness, don’t come over, don’t wet your clothes. The mountain water is quite cold, it’s better for a lady not to touch such cold water.”

Mu Wanyao was furious but stopped at the bank by his command. Holding his outer robe in her arms, she glared with reddened eyes: “If the water is cold, why are you standing in it?”

Yan Shang smiled helplessly: “Han Shuxing went to gather information for me. I wanted to try to catch a fish—I can’t let Your Highness go hungry. Of course, if I can’t catch any, that’s fine… there are dried rations in the cabin.”

Mu Wanyao frowned: “If there are dried rations, why are you busying yourself needlessly? You’re blind—was it easy for you to find your way here?”

She looked down and saw the red marks on the back of his hand when he stood up. Mu Wanyao’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly felt pain like needle pricks. She was already quite stubborn, but seeing him like this made her more prone to tears.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes misted over: “Do you… do you think I can’t eat those dried rations? Think I’m used to fine food and hard to feed? Yan Shang, stop looking down on people!”

When she shouted at him, her voice carried a hint of tears, though she tried to hide it. But how could it escape Yan Shang, who now relied solely on his carefully trained hearing? Yan Shang hesitated, somewhat flustered: “Are you crying? What did I do wrong again?”

He hesitated, about to walk toward the bank, but as soon as he stood up, he winced in pain, feeling something hit his leg that wasn’t submerged in the stream… Mu Wanyao saw clearly and reached out screaming: “Fish! Fish! Fish! There are so many fish by your leg—”

Two quarters later, a fire was lit in the wooden cabin. Sitting by the bonfire with clothes draped over him, Yan Shang handed the grilled fish to Mu Wanyao.

The steaming hot fish gave off heat, and even though its appearance was far from appealing since one of them was blind and the other knew nothing about cooking when Yan Shang handed over the grilled fish, Mu Wanyao, who had been hungry for too long, couldn’t help but feel joy despite her usual restraint.

But taking a bite, she made a sound of pain.

Yan Shang lowered his head in concern: “What’s wrong? Is it too hot?”

Mu Wanyao covered her cheek, not telling him it hurt to eat because her face was swollen. She feared if she told him, he would blame himself again. Sitting with him in the sunlit corner grilling fish, glancing up at Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao was grateful he couldn’t see.

He wouldn’t see her severely swollen face, wouldn’t see her at her worst.

Mu Wanyao smiled: “It is a bit hot, but it’s quite tasty. You should try some too.”

She eagerly held the fish skewered on a wooden stick to his mouth, happy to share with him. Yan Shang lowered his head with a smile and took a bite. Mu Wanyao watched his reaction, seeing him slightly furrow his brows before relaxing them, saying “Delicious.” This made Mu Wanyao even happier, and she turned to find another wooden stick, wanting to split their hard-earned grilled fish with him.

But after picking up a wooden stick, when she turned back to ask Yan Shang for help, she saw him furtively raising his sleeve, spitting something out to the side.

Mu Wanyao froze and called out: “Yan Shang.”

Yan Shang raised his head.

Mu Wanyao said with a stern face: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Yan Shang was slightly startled, then shook his head with a smile: “No.”

Mu Wanyao immediately became angry, shoving the fish on the wooden stick into his hands with a “pat.” She didn’t want to deal with him anymore and stood up to sit elsewhere, but this time Yan Shang reacted quickly, grabbing her hand and lifting his face, looking somewhat confused: “Have I upset you again?”

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “Now that we two are dependent on each other for survival, you won’t tell me when something’s wrong, always enduring alone. What am I supposed to think? I know you’re being considerate and taking care of me, but if you fall ill, won’t I be heartbroken? You’re always protecting me like this—until when? Forever preventing me from growing up?

“My terrible temper is all your fault! I can’t get married—it’s all your fault! You made me like this, and then you left, what am I supposed to do alone?”

Yan Shang was bewildered for a long time, not understanding how she had made things sound so serious. But being incredibly smart, under her endless complaints, he quickly guessed why she was so angry. Yan Shang couldn’t help but laugh, feeling warmth in his heart.

He pulled her back to sit down and said softly, embarrassed: “What are you saying? I haven’t done anything, and I’m not feeling unwell at all.”

Seeing he still wouldn’t admit it, Mu Wanyao widened her eyes: “I saw you spit something out! You were so sick you had to spit, yet you still say you’re not feeling unwell!”

She was so worried she wanted to stamp her feet: “Actually, I noticed early on that since we met again this time, you haven’t seemed well… you’ve become so thin, your waist is so thin too…”

Yan Shang blushed, saying softly: “Why are you talking about my waist again?”

Mu Wanyao wondered when she had ever mentioned his waist before, when she heard him explain gently: “I’m not feeling unwell. And just now I wasn’t being sick… I just got a fishbone stuck. You can’t expect me not to spit out fish bones, can you?”

Mu Wanyao froze.

Then her face burned red.

She felt utterly embarrassed, completely overthinking things, unable to speak for a long time. Yan Shang never teased her like this, only sighing dejectedly: “If only I could see… then I could help Your Highness remove the fish bones. Now, I can only trouble Your Highness to take care of yourself.”

Mu Wanyao said: “Nonsense! How could I possibly get a fish bone stuck? I’ve never gotten a fish bone stuck… ah.”

Yan Shang understood and said: “Got a fish bone stuck? May I take a look?”

Mu Wanyao mumbled, covering her mouth: “No, no! You can’t even see, I won’t let you touch me.”—

Yan Shang regretted giving them grilled fish to eat, as Mu Wanyao really couldn’t take care of herself, making breakfast very difficult. Before they could finish the fish, Han Shuxing returned. Han Shuxing never understood the awkwardness between those two and directly began discussing the current situation in Rang County.

“After the earth dragon, many houses in the city collapsed, with civilians buried underneath. The place where those mountain bandits used to live probably half-collapsed too. Though the government troops and bandits are now trapped in the mountains, their attention is not just on each other anymore. This morning, Young Lord Pei led troops into the mountains to rescue everyone, constantly searching for the princess…”

Han Shuxing looked at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao sat beside Yan Shang, extremely indifferent.

Han Shuxing continued: “Word is that the princess was captured by bandits, and the Prefecture Lord was also captured by bandits while trying to save Your Highness. The Nanyang Inspector and Military Commissioner are both extremely worried, declaring they must rescue Your Highness from the bandits’ hands. They’ve captured some bandits, but these captured bandits are confused themselves, unclear whether Your Highness is in their custody. After all, there are eighty different bandit groups, not all belonging to the same faction.

“In short, while the government is settling the civilians, they’ve also started searching mountains and valleys for Your Highness and the Prefecture Lord. Young Lord Pei is most active, wanting to seek help from Chang’an, but the two Nanyang officials asked for two more days. They said they must see the person if alive, or the body if dead.”

Mu Wanyao appeared thoughtful.

Yan Shang also lowered his head in contemplation.

Han Shuxing looked left and right, not knowing what they were each thinking. Han Shuxing suggested: “Second Young Master, Rang County is now in chaos—it’s the perfect time for you to return and restore order. Taking advantage of this earth dragon, we can root out all the internal traitors previously planted in our prefecture. It can also make the civilians trust you more!”

Han Shuxing said optimistically: “The same goes for Your Highness. I see Young Lord Pei is almost crying with worry, and Guard Fang is also very anxious. They’re all waiting for Your Highness’s return. After Your Highness returns, you can arrest all those who betrayed you and deal with them properly.”

Mu Wanyao said: “I’m not going back.”

Yan Shang spoke simultaneously: “Your Highness shouldn’t go back.”

Han Shuxing was bewildered, seeing Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao exchange a glance, as Yan Shang explained: “Your Highness… also feels it’s not safe to return?”

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “Of course, it’s not safe. I’m not a fool. Nanyang’s top official set me up like this—if I go back now without catching them in the act, wouldn’t my capture by bandits be for nothing? What would be the point of this journey? Was it to help Second Young Master Yan suppress the bandits? Suppressing bandits is Second Young Master Yan’s business, not mine. Whether you have many or few bandits in Nanyang has nothing to do with me.

“Right now, with no one knowing if I’m alive or dead, I can make the Jiang family of Nanyang anxious. If they’re ruthless enough, they’ll send people to hunt and kill me, to finish me off here… after all, the bandit excuse is too convenient. If they don’t show themselves, I can’t find an excuse to suppress Third Brother. If they actively show themselves… I can make something of it, saying Third Brother wants to kill me, that I’ll make Chang’an restless.”

She lowered her eyes, already thinking about how to use this situation.

Yan Shang didn’t argue. Though his thoughts weren’t aligned with hers, and he wasn’t concerned about the Crown Prince’s situation in Chang’an, he indeed shared Mu Wanyao’s view. He also felt Nanyang wasn’t safe now, that the Jiang family of Nanyang would use this opportunity to kill Mu Wanyao to silence her.

Then there was Pei Qing… Yan Shang didn’t trust Pei Qing either, didn’t want to entrust Mu Wanyao’s safety to that person. He wanted to convince Mu Wanyao to break off this marriage but feared she hadn’t thought it through yet, that if he spoke up, she would argue with him… So after much consideration, Yan Shang said: “Your Highness should first leave Nanyang. Then keep those people on edge, let Guard Fang investigate from behind, and see which people mean harm to Your Highness.

“The Jiang family’s influence runs deep in Nanyang. We can’t bring down the Jiang family, but we can use this incident to replace their key people with ones favorable to us.”

Mu Wanyao nodded, and the two lowered their heads to discuss arrangements.

Han Shuxing listened in confusion and kept quiet. After seeing those two discuss for about half an hour and settle on a method, Han Shuxing perked up, finally having something to do. Yan Shang crouched down, drawing a map on the ground with a tree branch, telling Han Shuxing about the terrain, instructing him to secretly escort Mu Wanyao out of Nanyang.

He mentioned there would be pursuers, and that they must proceed with caution.

Mu Wanyao crouched down to listen and didn’t object to Han Shuxing escorting her. Since he was someone Yan Shang had trained, even though he was of Wuman origin, she would trust Han Shuxing for Yan Shang’s sake. However, after Yan Shang finished explaining these things, he hesitated for a long time, clearly having more to say, but several times couldn’t continue.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him: “What’s wrong?”

Yan Shang pressed his lips together, saying softly: “Besides Han Shuxing escorting Your Highness from Nanyang, I also want to leave with Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao froze.

Then frowned: “No.”

This was exactly when Nanyang’s situation needed him to take charge, when those hunting her needed him to handle things from behind. Mu Wanyao only trusted Yan Shang—if someone other than Yan Shang was handling the rear, she still feared the situation wouldn’t be under her control.

Yan Shang said softly: “I… I’m not at ease letting you go alone. I’m familiar with all of Nanyang’s terrain, familiar with all official movements. Even if I’m not in Rang County, Yun Shu is there, all my close attendants are there, and they’ll stay in constant contact with me… I want to safely escort Your Highness out of Nanyang. Nanyang is so unsafe now, and Han Shuxing is just a warrior—I fear he can’t handle the traps set by officials.

“As for Rang County’s affairs… they don’t necessarily need me. Isn’t Young Lord Pei in Rang County? His rank is even higher than mine. If Your Highness thinks he’s trustworthy… why not let him handle the rear matters, why must I stay? I don’t want to stay.”

Mu Wanyao reasoned patiently: “But he’s not Nanyang’s parental official, how can he contend with Nanyang’s two big officials? He’s not like you… Yan Shang, don’t be so willful, can you consider the bigger picture?”

Yan Shang lowered his head.

After a while, he said: “I’ve always considered the bigger picture, always not been willful… but my results weren’t good. I had to listen helplessly as you were… were treated that way. I can’t be at ease. This time, I want to be willful once.”

Mu Wanyao was stunned: “It was just a slap… don’t make it sound like I was violated, alright?”

His face was tense, expression already somewhat pained. Han Shuxing standing nearby coughed once.

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Mu Wanyao softened her voice, saying: “But you’re blind—what use would you be following me?”

Yan Shang countered: “Who caught the fish for you, who grilled the fish for you?”

Mu Wanyao turned her face away: “Don’t know!”

Though her expression remained blank, her fingers gripped his sleeve tightly, her heart already unable to contain some happiness. But she held back, not showing it. She just covered her somewhat swollen face, feeling the pain wasn’t quite so severe anymore—

The three discussed how to escape while being pursued by officials.

Yan Shang said: “Let’s pretend to be siblings.”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: “What siblings? Are you older than me? You should call me ‘Sister Yao’ instead. It’s better to pretend to be sister and brother.”

Yan Shang was startled, his face slightly red, uncomfortable: “…Don’t you usually call me ‘Second Brother Yan’?”

Mu Wanyao widened her eyes: “When? Han Shuxing, have you ever heard me call him that?”

Of course, Han Shuxing had never heard it. Han Shuxing had only had more contact with Mu Wanyao since this reunion with them. And this time, Mu Wanyao had consistently called him “Second Yan” or “Yan Shang”—when had she ever called him brother? Second Young Master was imagining things.

Yan Shang was speechless.

Mu Wanyao was triumphant. Though he couldn’t see, she still threw him a proud look. But Han Shuxing immediately asked: “But whether siblings or sister and brother, can they stay in the same guest room at night?”

Mu Wanyao was slightly startled.

Yan Shang stammered: “W-why would we stay in the same room?”

Han Shuxing asked strangely: “Isn’t Second Young Master going to escort Your Highness out of Nanyang? Shouldn’t close protection mean staying in the same room? If staying next door, what if Your Highness is kidnapped at night—wouldn’t we not know? I don’t know if according to your Great Wei people’s customs, siblings or sister and brother staying in the same room would be strange?”

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao both fell silent.

After a long while, Yan Shang said softly: “…Husband and wife then.”

Mu Wanyao’s voice was as small as a mosquito’s: “…Mm.”

Han Shuxing didn’t understand: “You mean to pretend to be husband and wife?”

Mu Wanyao: …This person is so unnecessary!