The wind was clear and people were quiet. The Crown Prince leaned against the armrest, one leg curled up and one stretched out. He sat somewhat lazily, looking rather disinterested as he examined Yang Si who stood before him questioning him.

The recklessness of youth had been replaced by the steadiness of young adulthood, but Yang Si was still Yang Si – he could not sit idly by and watch others sacrifice themselves for him.

He was still the same spirited third young master of the Yang family. Returning to Chang’an against orders, he didn’t care whether he would get the results he wanted.

But he came anyway.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to speak, fireworks burst outside, blooming in five colors.

The Crown Prince turned his head to watch the sudden fireworks in the sky, watching their gorgeous displays, and then watching them fall from the sky like dust.

Beautiful at first, but ultimately fleeting.

Life was no more than this.

Yet one refuses to accept just this.

The Crown Prince said softly: “Since you’ve already guessed what I’m going to do, why come back? My affairs naturally can’t be separated from the Yang family. I just wanted you to go far away, to stay safe. If I succeed, you won’t lack for benefits. If I fail, you’ll be less implicated.”

“Only a fool would come back.”

Yang Si said: “Only a fool wouldn’t come back.”

He knelt, looking at the Crown Prince’s indifferent face. A heavy stone pressed against his chest, bitter and wanting desperately to burst forth with something. He clenched his fists, took several deep breaths, and reopened his sharp eyes.

Like a heavy sword without edge, he knelt perfectly straight and said hoarsely to the Crown Prince: “Brother Lang, I don’t need you to do this. We’ve been together since we were children, there’s no reason to cast me aside now. You might believe this reasoning, but will others?”

“We rise and fall together. I listen to everything you say – when you tell me to return to Chang’an I return, when you tell me to leave I leave. Whoever you tell me to marry I’ll marry, and if you say not to marry I won’t. And all these years, I’ve had your protection… I know I can act recklessly because you cover for me. I know I can be the free-spirited Third Young Master Yang because you clean up my messes.”

“People often say the imperial family is heartless, and you are heartless, but you’re different from me. I have nothing to say about how others blame you, but I alone cannot speak a word against you. You’ve shown me the utmost kindness, yet I would turn and leave? Brother Lang, where is the reason for that?”

Something changed in the Crown Prince’s eyes, his gaze no longer perfunctory.

The Crown Prince sneered: “What do you want to do?”

Persuade him to give up?

Yang Si: “I’ll do it with you.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze froze, and he stood up angrily: “Nonsense!”

Yang Si remained kneeling, looking up with a cold expression, his eyes very calm: “I won’t try to dissuade you, I know it’s not easy for you. You’ve endured for many years, yet that person refuses to die, and now even has the Imperial Physician extending his life, while he strips away all your leverage… He doesn’t treat you as a son, he’s always been suppressing you, oppressing you.”

“You have grievances, you can’t endure it… So let me do it with you. The Yang family is tied to you anyway, and I’ve always been on your side. Brother Lang, between us, there’s no ‘each flies away in the face of disaster’, only ‘sharing joys and sorrows’ and ‘brothers in life and death’.”

The Crown Prince stared at him blankly.

After a long while, he lifted his robes and knelt. His forehead touched Yang Si’s, trembling with anger and sorrow. Of all that could be said, he only spoke: “Good brother, your elder brother will not fail you.”

Yang Si: “Nor will I fail my elder brother.”

Fireworks burst in the sky, suddenly clamorous, flowing with light, life but a temporary stay—

Fireworks burst in the sky, suddenly clamorous, flowing with light, heaven and earth already quiet.

In Princess Danyang’s mansion, small tables were set up in the great hall with the screens removed. The servants withdrew, leaving the main figures to reminisce.

Wei Shu looked over and saw that Mu Wanyao was still in her formal clothes, sitting behind the same table as Yan Shang.

She leaned intimately against Second Brother Yan’s shoulder, and because the fireworks were too loud, she covered her mouth near his cheek, whispering in his ear.

Her cheeks carried a touch of wine’s flush, her eyes brimming with smiles.

Yan Shang listened to the Princess’s words, smiling as he peeled fruit for her to eat.

Mu Wanyao still called out to Wei Shu, natural and frank: “Juyuan, treat this as your own home, no need for formalities. I haven’t seen you for several years, and you’ve already come of age. Today I should have a good look at you.”

Wei Shu felt a sense of déjà vu, thinking of a New Year’s Eve long ago that he spent with Second Brother Yan and the Princess.

But at that time, the Princess and Second Brother Yan weren’t openly together yet. Back then, Her Highness sat with him, seemingly keeping her distance from Second Brother Yan as if to avoid suspicion.

But this time was different.

This time, Mu Wanyao could openly lean against Yan Shang’s shoulder, rest her head on it, without worrying about rumors.

A refined smile appeared on Wei Shu’s face as he sighed softly: “How wonderful.”

Yan Shang looked over, his eyes black as night, watching him with concern.

Wei Shu sincerely said: “Second Brother and Your Highness’s marriage, I think it’s wonderful.”

Yan Shang’s face reddened slightly, and he cupped his hands, naturally unable to say anything. Mu Wanyao laughed openly, the corners of her eyes tinged with red: “I think it’s wonderful too.”

She sighed: “Before, I was young and didn’t understand. I thought marriage was a terrifying thing. Your Second Brother was always reminding me, urging me to settle the marriage, but I kept refusing. At that time, I always felt that whether we married or not made no difference to us. Would our feelings be affected without a marriage certificate?”

She said sincerely: “Now I know that status is very important. Second Brother Yan eliminated my fear of marriage, letting me know that not all men are the same. He eliminated many of my fears…”

She wanted to say she wasn’t afraid of a man’s kisses in the dark because she knew it was Yan Shang; she wasn’t afraid of being embraced from behind, because he was so gentle; she wasn’t afraid of a man’s dominant, because Yan Shang wouldn’t be that way with her.

A gentleman is like water, the highest good is like water. Yan Shang was just such a gentleman like water, daily examining his every word and deed, forcing himself to be as self-disciplined as a sage, and Mu Wanyao was enjoying the benefits of this.

Because these benefits were especially great, she could accept his other shortcomings—

Such as his universal love for all things, and his many friends.

Mu Wanyao said softly: “If we weren’t husband and wife, we would never truly be family, there would always be barriers between us. Only by becoming family could your Second Brother truly accept me, truly live well with me.”

“Do you know before we married, he would sleep facing away from me… mmph!”

Her mouth was suddenly stuffed with a piece of peeled fruit.

She glared over, and Yan Shang said: “Eat properly, don’t talk nonsense.”

Mu Wanyao knew he didn’t want her discussing his private matters. She swallowed the fruit in her mouth, glared at Yan Shang once more, and then complained like a little girl: “Your Second Brother is just so stubborn.”

Wei Shu smiled.

Like all married couples, Mu Wanyao, in her happiness and joy, felt marriage was a good thing and hoped those around her would find the same happiness.

Mu Wanyao eagerly leaned forward to look at Wei Shu: “Juyuan, now that you’re of age, do you have any young lady you fancy? Surely the Wei family isn’t ignoring your marriage? That can’t be possible?”

“If you have your eye on any young lady, I can go look on your behalf, help you propose!”

Yan Shang interrupted Mu Wanyao’s enthusiasm from the side: “Juyuan just returned to Chang’an, how could he know any young ladies? Don’t try to play matchmaker.”

Unexpectedly, Wei Shu was silent for a moment, then spoke: “I actually do have someone I like.”

Yan Shang raised his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting that someone as quiet and reserved as Wei Shu would already have someone he liked just after returning to Chang’an. He felt somewhat uneasy, but managed to suppress it, smiling as he asked: “Which young lady might it be?”

Wei Shu’s face showed slight discomfort.

He said: “It’s Zhao Fifth Miss.”

Mu Wanyao immediately: “Ah… It’s her.”

Yan Shang pressed: “The Fifth Miss from Censor Zhao’s family, the Fifth Miss who went on the diplomatic mission with you?”

Wei Shu nodded.

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang exchanged a glance, both inevitably thinking of some potential problems. By now, they no longer dwelled on the past when Zhao Lingfei had desperately pursued Yan Shang.

But Wei Shu had just returned to Chang’an and probably didn’t understand the current situation in Chang’an. So the couple suppressed their concerns and smiled at Wei Shu.

Yan Shang didn’t mention anything else, only spoke of Zhao Lingfei herself: “Fifth Miss is charming and lively, bold and spirited, quite complementary to Juyuan, extremely suitable.”

Yan Shang’s words were so pleasant to hear that Wei Shu was naturally happy.

Mu Wanyao smiled beside them, watching her husband choose his words carefully, seeming about to add some less pleasant words, when at that moment, the maids announced from outside: “Your Highness, Miss Yan has arrived.”

Both Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao were surprised, as it was so late, why would Yan Xiazhou come over?

The two had people invite Yan Xiazhou in, while Wei Shu, as a guest, stood up, watching as a young lady with a slender waist and lotus-like face, wrapped in a thick cloak, approached gracefully.

After Yan Xiazhou and Wei Shu exchanged greetings, she smiled at her brother and sister-in-law: “It’s like this, we knew brother and sister-in-law went to the palace banquet tonight, so we didn’t come to disturb you. But just now we heard movement at the Princess’s mansion and guessed you had returned.”

“Father said it’s late, so he won’t ask you to come over to stay up for the New Year. Father asked me to bring you New Year’s money.”

She took out two red envelopes containing gold leaves, smiling as she handed them to the Princess’s maid. She smiled apologetically at Wei Shu, indicating she didn’t know this gentleman would be here, otherwise, she would have prepared an extra New Year’s gift.

Mu Wanyao received the New Year’s money from Father Yan with surprise and delight.

She had always felt distant from the Yan family, unable to integrate. But receiving this tonight made her feel that Father Yan was treating her as a daughter-in-law.

Mu Wanyao preciously examined the red envelope, feeling the gold leaves inside again and again, happily asking repeatedly: “It’s for me? Really for me? I’ve never received New Year’s money before.”

Yan Shang had initially felt embarrassed, thinking he was married and shouldn’t still be receiving New Year’s money from his father.

But seeing how happy Mu Wanyao was beside him, he sighed inwardly, pitying her hardships, and kept his words of refusal to himself, simply cupping his hands to his sister in thanks.

And his sister was smiling as she answered the Princess: “When a new bride enters the family, doesn’t she receive New Year’s money in her first year? That’s how we do things here. After all, my brother did marry sister-in-law.”

“Although sister-in-law hasn’t received such gifts before, you must have received many precious gifts from His Majesty, worth countless times more than this. Father was even worried Your Highness wouldn’t think much of it.”

Mu Wanyao smiled and said: “It’s different.”

She often received rewards from her father emperor, but his rewards didn’t shake any foundations. When he rewarded her, it didn’t affect him one way or another – her father emperor probably never even knew what he had given her. Only knew it was precious.

But the most precious thing should be people’s hearts.

The Yan family was willing to give her their heart, while her father emperor wouldn’t.

Mu Wanyao smiled at Yan Xiazhou: “Tomorrow I’ll go with Second Brother Yan to pay our New Year respects and thank Father for the New Year’s money. Oh right, we should prepare New Year’s money for you too – Xiazhou isn’t married yet, still a child.”

Yan Xiazhou instantly thought of Yang Si’s appearance that day on the street.

She blushed and said: “Everything’s fine, why is Your Highness bringing this up?”

And so, they happily saw Yan Xiazhou out of the Princess’s mansion. By now it was very late, and seeing Wei Shu was somewhat tired, Yan Shang had maids escort him to rest.

Wei Shu liked the married couple and felt especially at ease in the Princess’s mansion, so he didn’t refuse.

After Wei Shu left, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao returned to sit at the table in the great hall to watch the fireworks in the sky.

Mu Wanyao gazed at the waves of fireworks in the sky, fingering the New Year’s money from Father Yan.

Watching Wei Shu walk away, Mu Wanyao sighed: “Zhao Gong is now seen as a lapdog of the inner court servants, looked down upon by scholars. Juyuan likes Zhao Fifth Miss, but the Wei family won’t want to form marriage ties with an inner court servant’s lapdog.”

Yan Shang said softly: “Yes. I will explain this matter to Juyuan another day. He doesn’t understand the current conflicts between inner court servants and scholars. Now that Juyuan has returned from his diplomatic mission, his status is far different from before – the Ministry of Personnel is discussing making him a Lang Zhong in the Ministry of Rites. He’s at the height of his glory, and the Zhao family is also glorified… but not in the same way as Juyuan.”

“With such different positions, the Wei family, who cultivates Juyuan as an outstanding son, will certainly not accept a Zhao family daughter. If Juyuan were still his former self, it wouldn’t matter if he wanted to marry Zhao Fifth Miss… but he is after all extraordinarily talented, and once he shows himself before others, he can’t simply do whatever he wants anymore.”

Mu Wanyao was silent for a long while.

She suddenly said softly: “Different positions don’t necessarily prevent marriage ties.”

Yan Shang’s heart stirred, and he turned his head to look at her.

She stared at him, especially serious: “As long as there’s determination to move forward, determination to sacrifice, if two people truly like each other, there are ways to be together. Positions can be adjusted and worked around – if you truly like someone, you’ll naturally move toward them without hesitation.”

Yan Shang’s face grew warm.

He wanted to say something, but in the end only smiled, and as if rewarding her, poured a cup of wine and placed it under her eyes.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes curved as she unhesitatingly accepted Yan Shang’s toast, throwing her head back to drink it all in one go.

With Yan Shang watching, she didn’t drink much after marriage, each time just taking small sips, which made each drinking opportunity all the more precious.

The wine was sweet, and her husband’s shyness was sweet too. All of this made her head spin, and she wanted more.

Mu Wanyao grabbed Yan Shang’s sleeve, lovely words flowing to him as if they cost nothing: “I liked you when I was eighteen! I liked you when we were still in Lingnan!”

Yan Shang smiled, saying softly: “I know.”

Mu Wanyao raised her eyebrows, and Yan Shang lowered his head: “I knew you liked me back then. When you were vaguely flirting with me, I could feel it in my heart. It’s just that you were too high above me then, I couldn’t possibly look up to you. Later, later… I felt your affection wasn’t worth much, so I let it go.”

Mu Wanyao immediately objected: “How was my affection not worth much?”

Yan Shang thought for a moment and said: “Because when you liked me then, I felt it was no different from liking a kitten or a puppy. You just found me amusing and liked teasing me. Because you were so repressed then, new to politics, and didn’t understand anything, always being schemed against. You needed to find some entertainment in your life and just happened to find me amusing, so you came to tease me.”

“But you didn’t want to take responsibility. When I first came to Chang’an and didn’t seek you out, I thought you must have felt relieved in private.”

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together.

She truly had nothing to say about her past heartlessness. But the way Yan Shang spoke as if he was completely innocent made her unhappy.

Mu Wanyao retorted: “How were you so simple? You were the same. When you talked with me then, you’d often run out of things to say. Wasn’t that because you felt guilty? What’s wrong with me liking to tease you – with your personality, weren’t you just waiting for me to flirt with you? I remember when I kissed you, you opened your mouth…”

Yan Shang suddenly covered her mouth, his face red as he scolded her: “I was only seventeen then, I didn’t understand anything…”

Mu Wanyao pulled his hand away, her eyes round and cat-like in their charm: “You didn’t understand anything but still opened your mouth. You had feelings for me, you just never dared admit it. I dare say, if I had wanted to sleep with you then, you would have half-heartedly agreed.”

Yan Shang was annoyed: “Nonsense! I would never have done that.”

Mu Wanyao was about to retort, but suddenly paused, wondering what they were doing – it was like they were dredging up old accounts to argue about. And what they were arguing about was who liked whom first.

Mu Wanyao couldn’t help but laugh, resting her head against his neck as she said coquettishly: “Alright, whatever you say. Anyway, I know in my heart how easy you are to push down.”

Yan Shang’s cheeks burned hot as he turned his face, looking down at her helplessly: “In the future, let’s say such things in private. Don’t let others hear, alright?”

Mu Wanyao sneakily reached for the wine cup on the table, saying carelessly: “No.”

Yan Shang: “…”

He didn’t speak but reached out to press down on Mu Wanyao’s hand, stopping her from drinking more wine. Mu Wanyao tried to grab the wine bottle from his hand, but he wouldn’t give it to her.

He usually went along with whatever she wanted, rarely opposing her, but only at times like this would Yan Shang firmly refuse to give her wine, making Mu Wanyao’s eyes red with frustration.

She scolded him coquettishly: “You’re bullying me!”

Yan Shang said softly: “How am I ‘bullying you’? You must have drunk plenty of wine behind my back at the palace banquet, did I say anything? The palace banquet drinking was fine, but why do you need to drink more after returning? Don’t you know drinking harms the body? When your stomach hurts, who do you think worries?”

Mu Wanyao lifted her face, saying stubbornly: “I was wrong before – marrying you isn’t good at all. You try to control everything about me, I have to report to you wherever I go, you’ve made me unfree.”

Yan Shang said softly: “Marriage isn’t about freedom to begin with. Even if you say this, I still won’t let you drink more tonight.”

Seeing she couldn’t wrestle the wine away from him, and that neither tricks nor schemes would work, Mu Wanyao had no choice but to angrily let go. She turned her face away, not wanting to pay attention to him anymore.

Seeing her like this, Yan Shang hesitated, then bent down to kiss her lips.

Mu Wanyao lifted her eyelids, saying stiffly: “What are you doing? Think a kiss makes everything better? Am I so easily appeased?”

Yan Shang: “Shall I peel fruit for you?”

Mu Wanyao turned her face to look at him, seeing him lower his head to start peeling fruit again.

She watched his jade-like profile, pure white form, and after staring for a long while, that bit of stubbornness in her heart dispersed, while at the same time her heart trembled as if brushed by a feather.

Mu Wanyao propped her chin and asked him: “Second Brother Yan, are you tired?”

Yan Shang thought for a moment: “Not really.”

He sighed: “The fireworks are too noisy, and tomorrow morning we still have to attend the grand banquet. Won’t sleep well tonight.”

He paused, turning his head to look at her: “Are you tired? Then you should go to sleep. Mm… do you want me to accompany you?”

Mu Wanyao: “Wooden head.”

Yan Shang turned his head: “What did I do wrong now?”

Mu Wanyao repeated: “Second Brother Yan, do you want to sleep?”

Yan Shang stared at her eyes for a moment, suddenly understanding her true meaning. His face instantly grew hot, and he turned his head away embarrassedly, not looking at her beautiful, alluring eyes.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly – they had both been busy, and it had indeed been a long time since…

Yan Shang said softly: “What do you mean?”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes curved in a smile. Seeing his embarrassment, she deliberately moved closer, her long eyelashes brushing his face, feeling his face grow redder, his eyelashes starting to tremble.

His arm resting on the table tensed, his whole body becoming hard as stone.

Mu Wanyao loved his honest reactions, and she smiled: “What do you mean ‘what do you mean’? Just sleeping. Can you last all night?”

Yan Shang’s face was red, but he couldn’t help smiling: “I don’t know.”

Mu Wanyao’s heart swayed as if drunk as she murmured: “Silly brother, at a time like this you shouldn’t say ‘I don’t know’, you should say you can do it.”

He turned his face to look at her, and Mu Wanyao blinked at him.

His eyes curved slightly as he reached out to cup her face, bending down to kiss her. Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, enjoying his tender kiss. Then suddenly, she felt something cool on her nose and couldn’t help opening her eyes.

Mu Wanyao: “It’s snowing.”

Yan Shang looked down and smiled: “Mm.”

The two sat in the hall, Mu Wanyao holding Yan Shang’s arm. He bent down to kiss her, but she giggled and pulled him to watch the snow together, not letting him kiss her. Though helpless in his heart, he smiled in the end, accepting her new idea—

Auspicious snow heralds a bountiful year, husband and wife sit together under the eaves watching the snow.

The world was a vast expanse of silvery white, pure white drifting.

Mu Wanyao said thoughtfully: “I hope the man I’ve loved since I was eighteen will accompany me year after year, month after month, every year like today.”

Yan Shang said softly: “Even though he’s not good enough?”

Mu Wanyao: “He is the best.”

Mu Wanyao quickly added dissatisfied: “I’ve said so much, why don’t you say something nice?”

Yan Shang sighed with a smile, looking up at the snow in the sky, his eyes like the night, yet clear as lake water.

As she wished, he slowly spoke: “Yaoyao, we spend our whole lives making difficult choices between reason and emotion, balancing each other. For some, reason wins; for me, emotion wins. No one can say they chose right, we only seek to have no regrets.”

“The lady who quietly moved my heart when I was seventeen is my life’s true love. In my heart, I’ve long wanted to marry her.”

He turned his head, looking at her tenderly: “Meeting you, I have no regrets.”

Mu Wanyao looked at him, immersed in the dream he wove, the emotions in her eyes eager, always intense and flamboyant. Yan Shang loved this about her extremely, and gazed at her entranced.

Mu Wanyao hugged his arm tightly, saying softly: “I have no regrets either.”

Yan Shang smiled. He didn’t speak again, but held her close, asking if she needed a cloak. His wife shook her head, only burrowing into his embrace, saying she was very warm in his arms – this was his wife.

This was the wife who would go wherever he went, no matter what happened.

Yan Shang’s heart was peaceful and warm as he bent down to kiss Mu Wanyao’s hair. They continued watching the snow flying between heaven and earth. The sound of fireworks had faded, but the snow’s light covered the sky, wrapping the whole world like goose feathers.

Under their gaze, the new year arrived—

As the new year arrived, all things revived, and with it came the spring imperial examinations.

Yan Shang presided over this year’s imperial examinations. At the same time, the Yan family bid him farewell as they prepared to leave Chang’an and return to Lingnan.

There was no movement from the Crown Prince’s side, but on Prince Qin’s side, after enduring through the winter, when the official positions of the Jiang clan of Nanyang were about to be stripped away one after another, they finally couldn’t endure it anymore.