Fang Tong rested his hand on the narrow blade at his waist as he gazed at the lady on the swing. Upon hearing her mention Yan Erlang, he finally spoke after a long pause: “…Why must you imprison him? If Erlang doesn’t like Your Highness, what use is there in keeping him captive?”

He was speaking on Yan Shang’s behalf.

Mu Wanyao turned her face to look at him. Her expression was somewhat cold, making Fang Tong uncomfortably avert his gaze. Only then did Mu Wanyao rest her cheek in her hand and smile, as if struck by a thought: “As my Chief Guard, you still care so much about Yan Shang? Worried he’ll be hurt, worried he’ll be uncomfortable? Don’t you care about me?”

Fearing the Princess would misunderstand, Fang Tong quickly replied: “This servant naturally serves only Your Highness, it’s just that when facing Your Highness, Yan Erlang is clearly at a disadvantage…”

Mu Wanyao responded icily: “What, you think he’s just a possession, think that since I don’t care about him that much, why bully him? Who told you I don’t care about him? Who told you!”

She suddenly stood up and took two steps forward. The swing frame behind her shook at her movement, swaying back and forth tremulously. Mu Wanyao’s imposing presence made even Fang Tong step back, let alone the other guards in the courtyard.

The owner of the borrowed residence and his wife peeked out from the courtyard gate, curious about the identity of their noble tenant. But Mu Wanyao’s forceful bearing frightened them away, not daring to inquire further.

Mu Wanyao fixed Fang Tong with a cold stare: “Must I be dying of heartache to prove I care about him? Must I cry every night to prove I care about him? Who told you that just because I act unbothered, it means I truly treat him as a mere plaything, that everything is over and done with?”

Despite having risen to the position of Chief Guard, Fang Tong was still being publicly scolded by the Princess. He lowered his head, and in his moment of embarrassment, quickly knelt to admit his fault. His prompt admission of error somewhat softened Mu Wanyao’s expression.

Mu Wanyao spoke softly: “You all think I should especially hate him… but the very things that make me hate him are precisely what I envy most about him. When people lack something, they always want to obtain it. Once they obtain one thing, they covet something even better.”

Fang Tong said painfully: “This servant was narrow-minded. Your Highness deserves better. But when Your Highness mentioned wanting Yan Erlang’s life earlier, what did you mean?”

Mu Wanyao fell into a momentary trance, thinking of the Yan Shang she had seen these past days – the Yan Shang who had looked at her so desolately in prison, and the Yan Shang who had conversed with her at night just days ago.

She spoke slowly: “I’ve been lost, so I’ve been watching others, learning from others. But what does it matter? People are meant to move forward step by step like this. I’ve reached my current position as a princess, with no possibility of advancing further.

“Wei Shu serves as envoy, Yang Si goes to war, and Yan Shang participates in governance. Even among the ladies, Zhao Wuniang fled her marriage, and Liu Ruozhu married a husband who shared her passion for preserving ancient manuscripts… They all have their own lives. Men like Wei Shu, Yang Si, and Yan Shang shine brilliantly enough to leave profound marks in history. But what am I?”

She muttered as if trying to convince herself.

She thought that if she let Yan Shang go, with his gentle nature, he would certainly drag his feet in dealing with his fiancée’s matter, taking forever to resolve it. And she could no longer bear… could no longer bear to be separated from Yan Shang again!

During their half-month of fleeing, they had temporarily set aside old feelings and grievances, getting along harmoniously. It was during this half-month that they cooperated under the guise of a married couple.

Standing beside him, she saw more facets of him. Each time she heard others address them as husband and wife, Mu Wanyao would think how wonderful it would be if Yan Shang were truly her husband. Once such an obsession took root, it was hard not to think more—

If he was a true gentleman of pristine character, would she be willing to be someone who willingly fell from grace?

If he was admired by others and beloved and respected by the common people, was her childhood dream to oppress the people and throw the court into chaos?

All her life she had sought to break free from the cage of being controlled by others, all her life she had been searching for a sense of security.

Her existence had been struck down and questioned by others, yet she rose up, reveled in it, became addicted to it. She vowed not to willingly fall from grace – even Heaven would have to praise her. When she had lost sight of what she sought and was scrambling like flies and dogs, Heaven had let her meet such a brilliantly shining person like the stars and moon… wasn’t this Heaven’s reward to her?

Mu Wanyao said seriously: “Someone like him, once he marries me, he will be devoted to me with all his heart. He will love me more than anyone else, care about me, treat me well.”

Fang Tong: “But won’t Erlang be angry…”

Mu Wanyao dismissed this: “His anger won’t last more than a few days.”

Fang Tong: “But what if he acts like he did three years ago…”

Mu Wanyao said: “I chose this path myself, I’ll walk it myself. Whether good or bad, I’ll bear it all myself. I used to fear such choices, but now…”

She had never had the right to choose her own man before, always being forced to choose by others. Now she wanted to make her own choice once.

She turned back to look at Fang Tong, her eyes flowing with a captivating light like a tranquil galaxy. Under the dappled tree shadows, she stood in the May garden, the wind rustling her pleated skirt as she slightly lowered her elegant head to look at Fang Tong. They gazed at each other.

Looking into the distance, what Fang Tong saw was a magnificent and determined princess. What Mu Wanyao saw were countless rivers of past days, where the silhouettes of old acquaintances were cut away one by one in the light and shadows, leaving only one figure standing there gently. She said softly:

“Yan Shang is the only one who makes marriage seem not so hopeless to me. I want to try. I dare to try. What do you think?”

Fang Tong stared at her blankly, and after a while, he finally spoke hoarsely with tense cheeks: “This servant will naturally follow Your Highness.”

Only then did Mu Wanyao smile gracefully. She didn’t much care about others’ views, didn’t care how she and Yan Shang would be spoken of by others. But Fang Tong had experienced so much with her, understood her past, and supported her future – that was what mattered.

Mu Wanyao sat back on the swing, swaying gently a couple of times before saying: “Tell me about the current situation in Rang County, how is Pei Qing, and what of Chang’an? Yan Shang has gone to meet with the county magistrate… we should cast our net now.” —

Yan Shang discussed the Princess’s matter in detail with the local county magistrate.

With Fang Tong’s return, Rang County would certainly no longer be the Jiang family’s domain. The Jiang family was furious, but looking back, Mu Wanyao had collected countless pieces of evidence during these many days of flight proving that the Jiang family of Nanyang wanted to kill the Princess. If the Princess died, that would be fine, but if she was still alive, this evidence would become swords and daggers attacking the Prince of Qin when it reached Chang’an.

Plotting to harm a royal princess – even if it was the Jiang family of Nanyang, even if it was the Prince of Qin – as long as His Majesty was still alive, he would not stand by and watch one of his children try to kill another child.

This would surely be Chang’an’s biggest case this year.

The Jiang family of Nanyang would certainly have to enter Chang’an to apologize for their crime.

Yan Shang’s arrival made everyone at the county magistrate’s residence fear for themselves. The magistrate had initially put on airs, thinking Yan Shang had come to negotiate on behalf of the Princess. When Yan Shang laid out all these circumstances one by one, the magistrate could no longer hold his teacup steady and began wiping cold sweat from his brow over and over.

The magistrate muttered: “How did it come to this, how could this happen… our clan has established itself in Nanyang for a hundred years, even His Majesty couldn’t possibly uproot us completely! If our clan falls, all of Nanyang will fall into chaos. Besides, isn’t the Prince of Qin more important than Princess Danyang? Besides… where’s the evidence of plotting to kill the Princess?”

Yan Shang said gently: “Why does my lord think Master Pei stayed in Rang County? Naturally to collect evidence. The Jiang family has established themselves in Nanyang for a hundred years, they must have left behind many things. Moreover, I served as county magistrate in Rang County for three years, I certainly kept some things… These have already been handed over to Master Pei by my trusted subordinates. The Jiang family will certainly be found guilty… royal dignity cannot be offended. Does my lord still not understand?”

Even more cold sweat appeared on the magistrate’s forehead.

After a while, he suddenly knelt: “Master Yan, save me! Since Master Yan has come here, you must have a way to save me, please tell me directly—”

At this moment, in the courtyard where Mu Wanyao was, Fang Tong was also explaining these circumstances one by one. Mu Wanyao nodded, pondering: “A family established for hundreds of years, uprooting them completely would cause devastating damage, this region of Nanyang would be ruined. Nanyang is wealthy, an extremely important tax prefecture in the Central Plains region, this area cannot be allowed to fall.

“As rulers, we should balance all sides. The Jiang family of Nanyang cannot fall. But not falling doesn’t mean they can’t be replaced.”

Noble families could take turns holding power – though not falling, they could be pushed aside. Just like how her father the Emperor had once dealt with the Li family of Jinling, the Li family retreated to Jinling, and her uncle was demoted to Lingnan. Though wounded, their roots remained, the Li family remained. With the Li family still there, they could ensure the South remained stable.

A clear train of thought appeared before Mu Wanyao, allowing her to consider each point, to push each idea forward—

“Yan Shang has gone to negotiate with the county magistrate. That magistrate is also from the Jiang family – this time, I will use the crime of plotting to harm the Princess to bring down both the Prefecture Governor and the Military Commissioner, replacing them with this magistrate from a non-main branch of the Jiang family who has no choice but to side with us.

“Pei Qing must also stay in Rang County. Having just one magistrate on my side isn’t enough to put my mind at ease. Rang County is the prefectural capital, if I’m taking away a Yan Shang, I need to place someone else there. Pei Qing betrayed me, I must strip him of his position as Prince Consort, he’s no longer suitable to remain in Chang’an… better to leave him in Rang County to help me stabilize Nanyang.

“Nanyang still needs to suppress the bandits, it cannot be thrown into chaos at this time. And with Nanyang’s people replaced, my Third Brother will be kept in check. I can use this to create difficulties and force Third Brother to step back. When Father Emperor deals with the Jiang family, he won’t let Third Brother become troublesome… Father Emperor isn’t in a position to move against his son, so I might as well give a push.”

Mu Wanyao rose to enter the room, preparing to write letters. One would go to Rang County for Pei Qing. Several would go to Chang’an, for those court officials of humble origins who were dependent on her, telling them to use this matter to attack the Jiang family of Nanyang, to make the Prefecture Governor and Military Commissioner remove their official caps and enter Chang’an to receive punishment.

She also needed to write to the Prince of Qin, using their sibling blood ties to bargain with him, to obtain what she had always wanted from him.

Oh right, she also needed to write to Liu Wenji, to cooperate with Liu Wenji…

“Father!”

Just as Mu Wanyao was about to enter the room, she suddenly heard a clear boy’s voice. She turned back to see Fang Tong’s face ashen with embarrassment. Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow and followed Fang Tong’s line of sight to see a sturdy little boy in the corner by a tree next to the side room, quietly calling out in this direction.

The boy was immediately picked up by a guard who covered his mouth, the guard looking anxiously in this direction, afraid the Princess would punish them. Held in the guard’s arms, the boy also looked toward Mu Wanyao. Upon seeing the Princess Danyang whom his father would occasionally mention, the little boy froze.

Seeing such a beautiful and noble lady for the first time, the little boy’s face instantly turned bright red.

Fang Tong said with difficulty: “Your Highness, please forgive the offense, it’s my ignorant son, I don’t know how he got out here, disturbing Your Highness…”

Mu Wanyao was in a good mood and smiled dismissively. Though she might still have some issues regarding children, they weren’t as serious as before. Seeing the boy’s embarrassed expression as he tried not to look at her, she found it quite amusing and had the guard carry the little boy away without punishment—

In Rang County, late at night, Pei Qing sat at his desk, receiving the Princess’s urgent secret letter.

He struggled for a long time, thinking back to his terror when he saw the bandits that day. His fear had made him flee, his cowardice as a person had made him let go of the Princess’s hand. Although he had brought troops to rescue her afterward, the earthquake had happened, and the Princess had disappeared.

Afterward, he cooperated with Yan Shang’s remaining forces in Rang County, helping the Princess stabilize the situation here, all to atone for his crimes. Now, the Princess’s letter that could determine his life or death had arrived.

As a princess, she could easily decide the life or death of someone of his background. Even though he had done his utmost, he still feared the punishment to come.

Pei Qing couldn’t help but wonder if Yan Erlang had felt the same terror and anxiety as he did now when he betrayed the Princess back then. Royal power was so oppressive, yet as those who ate the emperor’s grain, what choice did they have?

Pei Qing finally opened the Princess’s letter and quickly read through it. After finishing, his feelings were difficult to describe—

The Princess told him to request punishment from Chang’an, and the matter of being Prince Consort was finished.

The wedding preparations in Chang’an would continue as planned, but Pei Qing would become a laughingstock.

Though becoming a laughingstock wasn’t too bad, as the Princess no longer intended to secure him the position of Bureau Director in the Ministry of Personnel. The Princess wanted him to stay in Nanyang, and after the Jiang family’s spokespersons were replaced, he would need to stabilize Nanyang, preventing it from helping the Prince of Qin too much later.

The new position the Princess arranged for him was Chief Administrator of Nanyang. This was an Upper Rank 6 position, much better than the Bureau Director position the Princess had initially promised.

However, it was still a local official position.

It still meant he couldn’t return to Chang’an.

From Chang’an to Nanyang – this was a nominal promotion but an actual demotion. Without the Princess’s support, if the common-born officials abandoned Pei Qing, this position as Nanyang’s Chief Administrator might be as far as he would go… He consoled himself that at least it was better than what had happened to Yan Erlang back then.

Though bitter at heart, Pei Qing still lifted his thousand-pound heavy arm to write back to the Princess, accepting her demands—

Over the next half month, Nanyang underwent great changes.

After news of the Princess’s safety arrived, the Prefecture Governor and Military Commissioner were called to answer for their crimes. The two men removed their official caps and robes and were escorted to Chang’an for punishment. With Nanyang losing both its military and civil leaders, the waters began to muddy, and the county magistrate of Jiang’s family background whom Mu Wanyao supported was appointed to serve as temporary Prefecture Governor of Rang County, first stabilizing Nanyang.

In Chang’an, using evidence of the assassination attempt on the Princess, the common-born officials called for the Prince of Qin to answer for his crimes. Since it involved pursuing and trying to kill the Princess, it must have been the fault of the Military Commissioner deploying troops. The Jiang family’s military power in Nanyang was too strong – the common-born officials supported by the Princess suggested weakening Nanyang’s military force, and that the Jiang family should avoid suspicion by having their clan members barred from holding office in the region.

Liu Wenji seized this opportunity to intervene. He also coveted the troops under the Military Commissioner of Shannan Circuit, wanting to incorporate them into the Northern Command. The principle that officials should avoid serving in their home regions was actively supported by Liu Wenji.

And Lord Zhao, who had always followed Liu Wenji’s lead in court, had now become Chief Censor and moved to the Censorate with real authority. This Lord Zhao was full of energy – after some private discussion with Liu Wenji, the very next day he began leading all the Censorate officials in impeaching every office-holding member of the Jiang family of Nanyang.

The principle of officials avoiding their home regions became the hottest administrative matter in court.

Meanwhile, the Princess’s losses had to be compensated. The common-born officials moved against the Ministry of War controlled by the Prince of Qin, demanding he give up military authority in Chang’an since the Princess was pursued by official troops. These were two entirely separate matters with no logical connection, but when those in power want to create difficulties, any excuse can be utilized.

When the Prince of Qin was at his wit’s end, after failing to plead his case before the Emperor, he finally had to humble himself and beg his sister, Princess Danyang. The Prince of Qin pleaded earnestly, distancing himself from the Jiang family, claiming those who tried to kill the Princess were all insignificant people, that Mu Wanyao could punish whoever she wanted, and the Prince would not intercede. But they were siblings – how could a sister pressure her brother so?

Princess Danyang was moved by several tear-stained letters from the Prince of Qin written with sincere and earnest words. She sighed and spoke with him about their deep sibling bond.

Finally, Princess Danyang took a step back – she no longer wanted military authority, she wanted the power to dismiss officials in the Ministry of Personnel. In simple terms, Mu Wanyao wanted to have a hand in the Ministry of Personnel; it could no longer be the Prince of Qin’s domain. Because Mu Wanyao worried about her safety on her journey to Jinling, she couldn’t rest easy thinking that after the policy of officials avoiding their home regions was implemented, she might still encounter officials from the Nanyang Jiang family seeking revenge.

Mu Wanyao wanted power over the appointment and dismissal of Personnel Ministry officials to ensure her safety when traveling south.

Such a demand was more acceptable to the Prince of Qin than dividing military power.

The Prince of Qin gritted his teeth, thinking that even with the loss of the Personnel Ministry, his uncle was still Minister of Justice, and except for the half of military power that went to Liu Wenji, he could still control the Ministry of War, which wasn’t bad… The Prince of Qin agreed to Mu Wanyao’s demands—

In Nanyang, as June arrived, the climate grew increasingly dry, the June heat making people’s hearts fluctuate unstably.

But the debate between Chang’an and Nanyang was beginning to conclude after Mu Wanyao and the Prince of Qin reconciled.

Mu Wanyao’s lips curved in a smile as she looked at the list of names she had submitted, beginning to involve herself in the Ministry of Personnel – how satisfying it felt. Thinking about how next year, she could use the civil service examinations to select her people to enter court – this was truly the best opportunity for the rise of the common-born officials.

She had achieved her ambitions, setting up her pieces one by one, planning each step… calculating from the bandit suppression onwards, she had finally forced the Prince of Qin down to having only the Ministry of War at his disposal.

What did Mu Wanyao want the Ministry of War for? As a princess who neither practiced martial arts nor understood military affairs, having military power would be useless to her. It would only benefit others. But having control over the Ministry of Personnel was different. Mu Wanyao had wanted the Prince of Qin’s Personnel Ministry for a long time… and now she had truly obtained it.

As Mu Wanyao read the letters, admiring the fruits of her victory, there was a knock at the door, and Yan Shang, his eyes covered with gauze, entered from outside.

Seeing him, Mu Wanyao’s mood improved greatly, and she smiled brightly: “Thank you for helping me. The matters in Chang’an have been settled, and Nanyang’s officials will also be replaced. I’ll remember how you saved me, and Chang’an will remember too. There will be benefits when you’re promoted in the future.”

Yan Shang smiled slightly, not caring about that.

But his tone was slightly strange: “Your Highness, I’ve learned some news.”

Mu Wanyao rose to help him by the hand, letting him sit. She looked down at his handsome, thin face, feeling fondness in her heart, but only reproached: “Between us, why use terms like ‘this servant’? Just speak as we used to, saying ‘you’ and ‘I’.”

Yan Shang paused, then spoke as she wished: “I just learned some news – all those bandits who kidnapped Your Highness are dead.”

Mu Wanyao went still.

Then she smiled slightly: “That’s quite good, isn’t it? Aren’t you happy about this?”

Yan Shang tilted his face up; even though he couldn’t see her, he looked in her direction. He said softly: “They died too cleanly, which is unusual… Thinking back on what happened then, I find many suspicious points. Pei Qing leaving the city with the Princess must have been a spontaneous decision triggered by my actions. I had made sufficient arrangements to protect Your Highness in Rang County, so why were you captured by mountain bandits as soon as you left the city? Did Pei Qing leak the information?

“I previously thought my protection of Your Highness wasn’t adequate, but in these past few days, news has come back from all the people I had arranged that day. By my calculations, nothing should have gone wrong, yet it did. Was it Pei Qing who leaked the information? But if Pei Qing leaked the information, why did Your Highness still promote him?

“Could Your Highness be more lenient with him than with me?”

Mu Wanyao’s lips held a faint smile.

She leaned against him carelessly, saying: “What are you trying to say?”

Yan Shang lowered his face, speaking softly: “I want to say, did you use everyone?”

Mu Wanyao’s fingers resting on the back of his hand tapped lightly, but she didn’t speak.

Yan Shang said in a low voice: “After our argument, you were truly angry with me and started to deal with your affairs. You still wanted to take revenge on me then, to cause me great trouble, so you secretly gave the mountain bandits an opportunity, wanting yourself to encounter trouble in Rang County. What you thought then was that as the County Magistrate of Rang, if something happened to you, I would be punished, and the Prefecture Governor and Military Commissioner from the Jiang family would sit by and watch you come to harm.

“Your entire encounter with danger was within your plans. You had arrangements all along the way, which is why we could flee the whole way, yet by coincidence always avoid being caught by the officials. Fang Tong hadn’t just arrived either – Fang Tong’s guards had been following us along with the local guards from the beginning.

“You calculated everything. Letting Nanyang fall into trouble, letting Nanyang descend into chaos. Putting yourself in danger, letting the Jiang family be unable to resist trying to kill you. Because you wanted to use this to change the Jiang family’s fortune in Nanyang, to use this to pressure the Prince of Qin. You didn’t even want military power – from the beginning, what you plotted for was the Ministry of Personnel.

“Your Highness, am I right?”

Mu Wanyao’s lips curved in a deep smile. She extended her slender jade finger, gently pressing it against his rosy lips. She bent down, intimately embracing his neck, whispering in his ear: “Shh, speak softly, don’t let others find out.

“I knew my methods couldn’t fool Brother Yan Er.”

She had started sweetly calling him “Brother Yan Er” again.

Yan Shang was silent for a long while, his feelings complex. She didn’t hide anything from him, and it was only these past two days, after continuously receiving letters from Chang’an and Nanyang, that he felt things didn’t add up…

After a good while, Yan Shang smiled bitterly: “Your Highness has become much more formidable. Such decisive methods – I underestimated Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao gazed at his smooth chin, asking: “But you were the exception. I didn’t expect you would risk death to save me… I hadn’t considered you at the time. Brother Yan Er, I thought after our big argument, you truly wouldn’t care about me anymore. I was very angry that you didn’t care about me, I wanted to take revenge a little… You wanted to marry, so I wanted to prevent you from marrying… But I didn’t expect you would save me like that.

“That time on the mountain, after you shot the arrow and came to hold me, asking if the bandit had hit me. Your tone then… I felt you were about to cry.

“I was dazed then, only realizing that you had always cared about me so much. I was thoughtless, making you so sad. Brother Yan Er cared for me so much, even accompanied me fleeing south… You didn’t even want your eyes, you knew that following me then might mean becoming permanently blind… But you still chose me.”

Mu Wanyao bent down, pressing her face close to his.

She said softly: “You’re so good.”

She repeated what she had said many times before: “You’re the best person I’ve ever met.”

Yan Shang’s face gradually reddened, becoming uncomfortable as she pressed him to sit.

He had meant to reproach her somewhat, but her continuous confessions made him too embarrassed to speak. He couldn’t see her, and that intense desire to see her face arose in his heart again. But he felt melancholy, knowing that now that she had achieved all her goals, she would leave… Yan Shang felt both melancholy and happy for her: “This is good too. You’ve become so capable, I can feel much more at ease about you.

“After I return to Rang County, at least I won’t spend every day worried about you being deceived.”

Mu Wanyao tilted her head: “You’re returning to Rang County?”

Yan Shang: “Yes. Now that everything is settled, I should go back to stabilize Rang County, shouldn’t I?”

Mu Wanyao: “Oh.”

Her perfunctory attitude made him pause in confusion, but he didn’t think too deeply about it, because her flirtatious behavior quickly made him blush and his mind become muddled like paste, almost forgetting how she had manipulated everyone in Nanyang—

The next day, at the carriage, Mu Wanyao’s group was preparing to leave by carriage, and Yan Shang came to see them off. After the Princess left, he would also return to Rang County.

He stood before the carriage in his loose robes, tall and graceful, bowing in salute, and very sincerely wishing Mu Wanyao a safe journey.

He stepped closer to the Princess, shyly telling her to wait for him for a year, that he would come to find her.

Mu Wanyao gazed deeply at this jade-like handsome gentleman, taking two cups of wine from Fang Tong, and offering one to Yan Shang: “Since this is a farewell, please drink this cup of wine. You’re not still unable to drink, are you?”

Yan Shang’s face warmed slightly, but he smiled and said: “Though my alcohol tolerance isn’t as good as others now, I won’t fall after just one cup, Your Highness need not worry.”

Mu Wanyao nodded.

Fang Tong looked sympathetically at Yan Erlang, who showed no wariness toward the Princess and simply drank the wine she offered. And despite saying he wouldn’t fall after one cup, after drinking that wine, Yan Erlang immediately staggered two steps, caught concernedly by Mu Wanyao who asked after him.

Then Yan Shang fainted—

Three days later, Yan Shang woke up in a carriage heading to Jinling.

By now they were a hundred li from Nanyang, with no hope of return. He had lost all means of contact with his people, trapped in the Princess’s carriage train.

As the horses trotted along, the young gentleman lay wrapped in quilts in the carriage, bewildered and silent for a long time.