At the end of September, the Hai clan returned to Chang’an. Some young members of the Hai family were preparing to take next year’s imperial examinations. Whether out of respect for the examiners or guilt toward the Princess, the Hai family sent people to visit the Princess Imperial’s residence three times, paying their respects to both the Princess and Yan Shang.

Yan Shang supported the Hai clan’s young members in taking the next year’s examinations. His gentle and courteous manner reassured the Hai family. After meeting this Personnel Evaluator once, they privately analyzed his character—concluding that his mild temperament made him easy to take advantage of, a potential weak point.

In contrast, was his wife, Mu Wanyao. Though she never mentioned holding a grudge over the Hai clan’s suspected involvement in the Imperial Prince’s attempted murder, her ambiguous attitude left them unable to read her intentions.

The Hai clan’s return to Chang’an was meant to establish connections. Beyond cultivating relationships with both noble and common families, in October, they sent their youngest daughter to the palace as an Imperial Consort.

Mu Wanyao promptly responded by selecting several beauties to send into the Emperor’s harem, as if in competition.

Meanwhile, the Emperor in his deep palace was troubled by these ministers’ machinations. Late at night, he sat in the Imperial Study, sighing over endless memorial documents.

The Emperor, head propped in his hand, struggled to decide about the rights to a plot of good farmland in the suburbs:

A noble family wanted this land and had presented the Emperor with a hundred-year-old coral tree. The Emperor had used it to please his new concubines and casually approved their request.

However, this sparked a lawsuit—apparently, a minor eunuch under Liu Wenji had already purchased the land but was beaten by the noble family who had received imperial approval. So Liu Wenji came to file a complaint.

The Ministry of Justice officials came from noble families, making the eunuch faction feel the judgment would be unfair. But the Court of Judicial Review was controlled by the eunuchs, making the noble families feel that court would be biased.

This small case reached the Emperor’s desk, no longer about mere land but about whether the Emperor favored the noble families or the eunuchs. Both sides watched the Emperor intently, leaving him caught in the middle, unable to decide. After staring at the case for half an hour, he finally turned to ask a minor eunuch: “Has Yan Suchen returned from his leave?”

The minor eunuch lowered his head: “He returned to the Secretariat yesterday to sign documents.”

The Emperor immediately sighed in relief, tossing down his brush: “Then send this case back to the Secretariat and let Yan Suchen handle it. Let him resolve this matter, and if anyone remains unsatisfied, I will mediate for them.”

Minister Liu had been waiting outside the hall for half an hour for the Emperor’s verdict, only to receive this result. Seeing that the Emperor had barely processed any memorials and had pushed difficult decisions back to the Secretariat, especially to Yan Shang… Minister Liu gave a cold laugh and burst into the cabinet despite the eunuchs’ attempts to stop him.

Though elderly, he was still sharp and imposing. The Emperor had just tried to slack off when the Prime Minister burst in. Not daring to disrespect these elder statesmen left by his father, he hurriedly dismissed the eunuchs and had someone prepare a seat for the Minister.

Seeing the Emperor’s attitude, Minister Liu’s expression softened slightly as he said: “Your Majesty has been governing for nearly three months and should be able to make decisions on such matters. You cannot avoid taking a stance on the struggles between scholars and eunuchs. I brought this memorial to Your Majesty, yet you push it back—do you plan to keep avoiding it?”

The Emperor tried to dodge: “But we have Yan Suchen. I hear he’s your junior disciple, Minister, surely you trust his abilities?”

Minister Liu contained his anger: “He’s already in the Secretariat, serves as Personnel Evaluator, manages the Imperial Academy, and oversees palace security as Imperial Guard Commander… how could such legal cases fall to him?”

The Emperor sheepishly replied: “Then we could give Yan Suchen the position of Metropolitan Governor.”

Minister Liu spoke severely: “The new Metropolitan Governor is a royal family member. How would people view Your Majesty dismissing him after just three months? What would the royal family think? Is Your Majesty trying to elevate the common officials or just Yan Shang specifically? He is but one official, already at his limit with multiple positions. Does Your Majesty intend to push all decisions onto him?”

The Emperor grew displeased at being lectured.

He said: “My approach is reasonable. When nobles and eunuchs clash, having a commoner leader mediate makes perfect sense.”

Minister Liu looked at this Emperor trying to smooth things over and eventually said: “Is Your Majesty reluctant to deal with the eunuchs? You only see the nobles wanting land but ignore the eunuchs’ tyranny. Liu Wenji abuses Your Majesty’s favor, acting wildly—no court official respects him, yet a eunuch’s rank is counted alongside us ministers… who should listen to whom?”

The Emperor replied: “Liu Wenji was left to me by Imperial Father, he is loyal. He treats me like family, Minister, you worry too much.”

Minister Liu: “…”

Minister Liu ultimately couldn’t out-argue the Emperor, who was determined to avoid addressing the conflicts between eunuchs and scholars. What could he do? Minister Liu worried about Liu Wenji’s growing power overshadowing the Emperor, yet the Emperor relied on Liu Wenji for entertainment…

Minister Liu finally left, and the Emperor wiped the sweat from his brow with relief. These ministers were all difficult to handle, but did they think him a fool? If he dealt with Liu Wenji, these ministers would become even more demanding, asking for more… What chaos could eunuchs cause without proper backing?

A minor eunuch bent near the Emperor, whispering: “Your Majesty, Sir Liu has arranged the Huaqing Pool for tonight…”

The Emperor waved his hand, interest piqued: “That lady Danyang sent recently has a lovely voice, let’s go see her tonight.”

The minor eunuch, following Liu Wenji’s instructions to prevent the Princess Imperial’s influence from growing, smiled: “Lady Hai has also sent someone to invite you…”

The Emperor instantly lost interest, feeling pulled in different directions, used by everyone. After a while, he said: “Forget it, I’ll visit the Empress tonight.”

The minor eunuch reported the Imperial Study’s events to Liu Wenji, who heard how Minister Liu had criticized him and urged the Emperor to suppress the eunuchs. Liu Wenji sneered, cursing under his breath: “Old fool. Still causing trouble when he’s about to retire.”

The eunuch reported: “Recently, noble families often host banquets in the Northern Quarter, inviting Young Master Yan.”

Liu Wenji narrowed his eyes, worry rising in his heart. Yan Shang had a master-disciple relationship with Minister Liu. After Minister Liu’s retirement, he would likely leave all his connections and talented proteges to Yan Shang. And now Minister Liu’s son was stirring up trouble in court, rallying people against the eunuchs.

Liu Wenji truly feared an alliance between nobles and commoners.

But would Yan Shang ally with him against the nobles represented by his teacher?

Liu Wenji hesitated, then ordered: “Set up a banquet in the Northern Quarter tomorrow, say I’ve invited Young Master Yan, see if he comes.”

If Yan Shang didn’t come, Liu Wenji planned to ally with the nobles to bring down Yan Shang first.

The Emperor now relied so heavily on Yan Shang that Liu Wenji felt threatened, fearing Yan Shang might persuade the Emperor to suppress the eunuchs… If Yan Shang wouldn’t cooperate, they would have to strike first—

Yan Shang did not attend Liu Wenji’s banquet. His current position meant everything he did was watched. The noble families had approached him many times, and though he represented the commoners, he was still a scholar. If he associated with the powerful head eunuch, the entire scholar class would question it.

Moreover, Yan Shang’s health had been poor recently, and the Emperor kept piling work on him. When Minister Liu called Yan Shang over and told him the Emperor wanted him to handle the land dispute between nobles and eunuchs, Yan Shang sighed softly, tired from being too busy for too long.

Yan Shang smiled bitterly: “I already have endless tasks daily, and His Majesty keeps adding more. I cannot take this case—if I do, I fear I won’t even have time to sleep.”

Minister Liu looked at his student, now so thin and elegant, remembering how dashing Young Master Yan had been when he first arrived in Chang’an. Now he was as pale and faint as misty moonlight, making one’s heart ache. If this were his child, Minister Liu would surely keep him at home, feeding him meals and medicine daily until he fully recovered.

But Yan Shang was Chancellor, equal to the Prime Minister. If the Emperor wanted to employ him heavily, no one could stop it.

Minister Liu also sighed, waving his hand in distress: “Fine, take care of your health. I’ll speak to His Majesty on your behalf, and have someone else handle this case.”

Yan Shang paused, saying: “I fear His Majesty will be displeased if I don’t accept.”

Minister Liu: “You must still value your life. The Princess Imperial has sent people several times asking me to assign you less work… Suchen, you’re so young with a bright future ahead, why work yourself to death?”

Hearing that Mu Wanyao had specifically sought out his teacher to plead for him, Yan Shang felt both moved and embarrassed.

He said: “I want to rest too… After this period passes, I may need to request a long leave.”

Minister Liu was pleased to hear this, saying he would certainly approve the leave request. Yet though they spoke thus, Minister Liu didn’t know when Yan Shang would be able to rest. With three factions fighting so fiercely if Yan Shang fell, the other two forces would surely destroy everything.

Yan Shang could not fall.

Yan Shang chatted casually with his teacher, hearing about how Liu Ruzhu and her husband were searching for ancient texts among the common people in Hexi. He was pleased to hear this and said he would write back to his junior apprentice-niece Liu Ruzhu. When Minister Liu mentioned that the young couple was planning to have a child, he teased Yan Shang: “You and Her Highness aren’t young anymore, you should consider having a child too.”

Yan Shang smiled at this: “Her Highness and I are both very busy, I’m afraid we don’t have time for children.”

Minister Liu sighed, wanting to say that Mu Wanyao should stop involving herself in politics and focus on having children, as was proper. He had never approved of a princess being so involved in governance, but since the emperors hadn’t objected, he kept quiet. However, considering the pressure Yan Shang was under now… without the Princess Imperial’s help, wouldn’t Yan Shang fall even faster?

Yan Shang took his leave from Minister Liu, saying he needed to check on matters at the Ministry of Personnel. He still held a position there, the crucial role of Personnel Evaluator, and couldn’t neglect it.

Minister Liu let him go, but watching Yan Shang’s tall, bamboo-like figure depart, he suddenly asked with feeling: “Suchen, tell me, is it better for the world to be in chaos while the Emperor is clear-minded, or for the Emperor to be confused while the world remains orderly?”

Yan Shang turned back, looking into his teacher’s weathered, tired eyes.

A chaotic world with a clear-minded Emperor referred to as the previous Emperor; a confused Emperor with an orderly world described as the current Son of Heaven.

After a while, Yan Shang replied: “One always hopes for both the world and its rulers to be clear-minded and wise.”

Minister Liu laughed ruefully and said no more. He sat in the main hall of the Secretariat’s Political Affairs Office, his grand sleeves sweeping the floor, his temples streaked with gray. He watched Yan Shang’s retreating figure leave the hall for a long time, observing the setting sun painting the sky crimson.

He was old now, no longer able to support the Great Wei’s revival. He could only watch helplessly as the great edifice crumbled…

When Yan Shang declined to handle the conflict between noble families and eunuchs that the Emperor had assigned him, that very evening, the Emperor wrote a letter thoroughly berating him.

The Emperor was furious, accusing Yan Shang of disrespecting his authority, being stubborn and self-righteous, and showing no regard for his sovereign…

That night at the Princess’s residence, Mu Wanyao had already sent Yan Shang to bed when she opened this letter. Scanning the Emperor’s angry words, she couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Mu Wanyao casually folded the letter and instructed her people to have the beauties she had sent to the palace whisper persuasive words in the Emperor’s ear.

As Mu Wanyao turned around, she saw Yan Shang standing in his robes under the parasol tree’s shadow in the empty corridor.

He reached out to her, his gaze fixed on the letter in her hand.

Mu Wanyao’s face remained expressionless as she hid the letter behind her back.

Yan Shang couldn’t help but smile: “What’s worth hiding about this?”

Mu Wanyao: “It contains words criticizing you. I don’t want you to see them.”

Yan Shang: “It’s not like I haven’t been criticized by His Majesty before. Don’t worry, I can handle it. I just want to check if there are any other instructions I might have missed.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him for a moment, seeing his determination, and finally yielded. They sat together on the corridor steps reading the letter, her arms wrapped around his, watching his expression. Seeing his eyes dim after reading it, Mu Wanyao bit her lip.

Mu Wanyao: “Don’t mind him. He just wants you to handle everything for him. He wants us to do all his work while he enjoys being Emperor… How could it be so simple?”

She nuzzled her fluffy head against his neck, burrowing into his embrace, her voice both coy and domineering: “Brother Yan, I’m cold, hold me!”

Yan Shang smiled gently, holding her loosely while softly saying he wasn’t hurt, she needn’t act this way. As they were thus engaged, someone came to the front hall—another letter had arrived from His Majesty—

This letter encouraged Yan Shang to work well, saying the Emperor still trusted him. The Emperor also invited the couple to lunch at the palace tomorrow, saying it had been long since he’d dined with them.

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao looked at the two completely contradictory letters, both speechless—

Mid-October brought the first snow.

As court struggles intensified, Censor Zhao’s younger daughter, Zhao Lingfei, who was discussing marriage arrangements with the Wei family of Luoyang, left her residence.

Zhao Lingfei met her distinguished guest who was already waiting at a wine shop. She brushed snow from her clothes, concealing her natural unruliness and adopting a young lady’s demeanor, respectfully bowing to the young man opposite her.

The young man’s face was kind but his eyes were cold, his features five or six parts similar to Wei Shu, Wei Number Seven. This was Wei Shu’s eldest brother, Wei Kai.

Now Wei Shu was already a Bureau Director in the Ministry of Rites, a rank 5a official. Yet Wei Kai, who had already been a rank 5 official when Wei Shu first entered Chang’an, was still just Assistant Director of the Imperial Library, now at the same rank as the seventh brother he had once looked down upon.

Wei Kai nodded to Zhao Lingfei, gesturing for her to sit. After brief pleasantries, he addressed the main topic: “Since Juyuan returned from his diplomatic mission, the family has recognized his abilities and begun grooming him earnestly. At my age, it took ten years to reach rank 5, yet Juyuan achieved it barely past twenty. He was even the top scholar… we truly underestimated Juyuan all along.

“I hope it’s not too late to cultivate his talents now.”

Zhao Lingfei smiled, letting her deliberately crafted docility fade somewhat, revealing her natural vivacity.

She could barely contain her joy: “Brother Juyuan is indeed extraordinary.”

Wei Kai nodded.

Looking at her young, beautiful face, he said slowly: “Juyuan is excellent in every way, except for his marriage plans. As an outstanding scion of a noble family, receiving the family’s cultivation and scholars’ expectations, how do you think people would view Juyuan if he married someone connected to the eunuch faction?”

Zhao Lingfei froze slightly. Her eyes narrowed, glancing evasively at the falling snow outside.

But Wei Kai pressed on: “Your Zhao family allied early with Liu Wenji, becoming the eunuchs’ lackeys. Liu Wenji is desperate to marry into noble families, and some are wavering, but whoever yields, should not be Juyuan. Juyuan has a brilliant future, young and capable—how many at his age have become Bureau Directors in the Ministry of Rites?

“He should become a leader of the noble families and scholars. He shouldn’t marry into the Zhao family, allying with the eunuch faction! Scholars and eunuchs will inevitably oppose each other—even if they cooperate now, they’ll eventually fall out… Where would that leave Juyuan?”

Zhao Lingfei stared at him, stunned.

Wei Kai softened his tone: “I know that during those years on diplomatic missions, you and Juyuan entrusted your lives to each other and developed feelings. Juyuan wants to marry you, and I shouldn’t interfere. He’s my family’s concubine’s son, and the higher his position, the more disadvantageous it is for me. But as members of the same clan, and as his elder brother, I must consider his future.

“Even if there’s joy today, you’ll be enemies tomorrow. If Juyuan were still his old self, sacrificing his marriage for the family wouldn’t matter. But he’s no longer that Juyuan and his marriage can no longer be sacrificed for family interests.

“Young Lady Zhao… you’re young, and your father now relies on the eunuchs, wielding great influence at court. You won’t lack for marriage prospects. Please let go of our Wei family, let go of Juyuan!

“I’ve said my piece. I hope you’ll consider your feelings for Juyuan and give him his future, don’t ruin him!”

Wei Kai finished and rose to leave.

Zhao Lingfei stood up, her voice rising: “Elder Brother Wei, aren’t you afraid Juyuan will be angry if he learns what you’ve said to me?”

Wei Kai raised his eyes, looking back. He spoke quietly: “I am the Wei family’s eldest son, responsible for protecting and managing all my clan brothers. The Wei family’s prosperity may not depend on me, but its decline would certainly be my fault. Though I don’t particularly like him, I am still his elder brother. I’ve done what I should. If you both insist on being together if you insist on ruining his future… I can do nothing more.

“It’s up to you, Young Lady Zhao.”

Zhao Lingfei’s voice trembled: “But how can I control my father’s actions? Does my father’s allegiance determine mine? He’s only allied with the eunuchs, he’s not some great traitor bringing calamity…”

Wei Kai: “As Censor Zhao’s daughter, your positions are naturally bound together. Would you break with your father? And where would you go then, what refuge would you have? Young Lady Zhao, we scions of noble families are not masters of our fate. Love and romance are beautiful things—even I am moved by the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, but in reality… I’m sorry, I still want to separate you two.

“If you can restrain your feelings, please do so. If you cannot, then be prepared—to ruin Juyuan’s future.

“The choice is yours.”

Zhao Lingfei watched numbly as the Wei family’s eldest brother opened his umbrella and descended the stairs. She leaned on the window, watching the young man get into his carriage, its wheels sinking into the snow, taking the driver considerable effort to get moving. Wei Kai lifted the carriage curtain, looking up at Zhao Lingfei with a sigh.

Zhao Lingfei lay against the window, her eyes blurring. Looking at Wei Kai reminded her of Wei Shu. That cool, pure… young man with a heart of ice and a soul like jade.

But she covered her face and wept, beginning to hate many people. If only they were still on their diplomatic mission if only they hadn’t returned to Chang’an… Back then in that lonely foreign kingdom beyond the frontier, when the head envoy had jokingly offered to matchmake for them, if only they had agreed then, it would have been so perfect.

She began to hate Chang’an.

She began to miss the gentle moonlight beyond the frontier, miss that endless desert, miss those days of constant journeying, when hope for survival seemed distant, yet they depended on each other for life itself.

She missed the Wei Shu of those days—

In November, Zhao Lingfei threatened suicide, refusing the Wei family’s marriage proposal.

Censor Zhao cursed furiously, and when Wei Shu came to speak with her, she refused to see him. However, after Wei Shu waited outside her door several times, Zhao Lingfei clearly couldn’t avoid him for long.

Meanwhile, Yan Shang found an opportunity to rest for a few days. However, during this break, a newly built garden needed someone to write calligraphy for it, and they sought out Yan Shang. He demurred, saying his scholarship and calligraphy weren’t good enough, and declined to waste their time.

However, they insisted that calligraphy from a Chancellor was precious, sending gifts daily to the Princess’s residence, begging Yan Shang to write for them.

Unable to refuse further, and with Mu Wanyao finding it amusing and encouraging him, he finally agreed.

But three days after Yan Shang wrote his piece, the Hai family’s Third Young Master Hai, who was to participate in next year’s imperial examinations, was also invited by the garden’s owner to contribute calligraphy. Young Master Hai was sixteen, called a prodigy. The youth, not knowing his limitations, proudly wrote when asked.

Young Master Hai’s talent was extraordinary, his calligraphy dynamic and graceful, stunning all who saw it.

Delighted by this talent, the owner immediately placed Young Master Hai’s calligraphy at the first gate of the garden entrance, moving Yan Shang’s piece back to the second wall.

Soon Chang’an buzzed with talk, everyone saying that a sixteen-year-old youth had outshone the Chancellor. They said sixteen-year-old Young Master Hai had prodigious talent like Wei Juyuan of old, calling him “the second Wei Shu.”

Wei Shu had indeed overshadowed Yan Shang back then and in the end… Yan Shang’s talents remained modest. Whether then or now, he remained inadequate, unable to compare with those young, arrogant prodigies.

When Mu Wanyao heard these rumors, she flew into a rage, grabbing her whip to settle accounts with the Hai family, furious at them for climbing to fame by stepping on others. Yan Shang stopped her, saying it was nothing. That night, Wei Shu visited to placate Mu Wanyao, saying he had never looked down on Brother Yan.

Wei Shu was also annoyed at the Hai family’s social climbing using him as a stepping stone. He was already troubled by his official disputes with the eunuchs and his complicated marriage situation with Zhao Lingfei.

In the end, it fell to Yan Shang to comfort both his disgruntled wife and the depressed, uncertain Wei Shu.

The next day, the Hai family brought the defiant Young Master Hai to apologize to Yan Shang. Being generous by nature, Yan Shang didn’t mind. He felt his scholarship was indeed shallow and hadn’t wanted to write calligraphy in the first place. Now that it had upset everyone, he blamed himself for being too self-satisfied when flattered.

Yan Shang reflected: “…In the future, I shall not write calligraphy for others again.”

Mu Wanyao still simmered with anger, her face expressionless, not responding to Yan Shang’s words—

In March of the following year came the first imperial examinations since the new Emperor’s ascension. As Personnel Evaluator in the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Shang naturally presided over this year’s examinations.

The Hai family, fearing Yan Shang might harbor resentment over Young Master Hai’s humiliation of him last year, anxiously visited the Princess’s residence several times to submit applications. When the examination results were announced, Young Master Hai ranked first, becoming that year’s top scholar. When the news reached the palace, Young Master Hai’s sister, who served as an Imperial Consort, rejoiced for her brother.

The Hai family relaxed, seeing that Yan Shang was indeed the gentleman everyone said he was, never seeking revenge.

The Apricot Garden held a grand banquet for this year’s successful candidates, which the Emperor attended. Meanwhile, Lady Hai in the palace held a feast for her brother’s success, inviting all the consorts. Mu Wanyao compromised, skipping the Apricot Garden banquet to attend the consorts’ feast in the palace.

At the feast, Chunhua, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, watched conflictedly as the beauty surnamed Huo, whom the Princess had sent to the palace, traded barbed words with Lady Hai. The beautiful Lady Huo had a fluid grace, occasionally exchanging knowing smiles with Mu Wanyao.

Their glances carried meanings others couldn’t comprehend.

Chunhua watched Mu Wanyao’s smiling face and gentle fan-waving, then looked at the graceful, charming Lady Huo whom the Princess had sent to the palace…

Chunhua felt lost and hurt. She suddenly felt the distance between herself and the Princess growing ever wider.

The Princess would rather send new beauties to the Emperor than use her. His Majesty had said Liu Wenji and Young Master Yan were fighting fiercely at court. Was it for this reason that the Princess now saw her as an enemy? But Chunhua was just a woman of the inner palace, she had never had any say in their affairs, nor did she understand them.

The Princess should have known this.

But perhaps it was because of her uselessness that she had become the Princess’s discarded piece… Though she held the rank of Consort Xian, she had nothing but a son.

Chunhua stared blankly at Mu Wanyao’s features, hoping to find a chance to speak with her, to ask if the Princess had abandoned her… when suddenly two palace maids hurried to the feast, one rushing to Lady Hai, one to Mu Wanyao.

Both Mu Wanyao and Lady Hai’s expressions changed slightly as they looked at each other.

Mu Wanyao stood abruptly, her face cold as she left the feast.

The gathering buzzed with whispers, and half an hour later, the consorts learned why the Princess Imperial had suddenly departed—at the Apricot Garden banquet, Young Master Hai had challenged the Chief Examiner Yan Shang, demanding he compose matching poetry.

Each year’s candidates should regard the Chief Examiner as their teacher. For Young Master Hai to show such disrespect, embarrassing Yan Shang before the Emperor… Mu Wanyao gripped her whip and mounted her horse, leaving the palace and riding straight through Fan Valley toward the Qu River Pool, heading for the Apricot Garden.

Her eyes were red with hatred. She gritted her teeth: “The Hai clan! I’ll kill them all… How dare they humiliate you again and again like this!”—

At the Apricot Garden banquet, Mu Wanyao dismounted and rushed in. Ignoring all attempts to stop her, she stormed toward the feast for successful candidates. She carried her whip, followed by guards from her Princess’s residence. She was enraged, clearly ready to explode.

Yan Shang stood by the stairs on the pavilion’s second floor, having just barely passed Young Master Hai’s challenge. Having just escaped the candidates, his servant anxiously whispered in his ear that the Princess was charging this way.

Yan Shang paused, then moved to the window and opened it, looking out into the misty night. He saw Mu Wanyao in crimson robes adorned with gold and jade. She strode quickly, whip in hand, and as she was about to enter the building, presumably hearing what Fang Tong whispered to her, she suddenly looked up toward the upper floor.

Her gaze met Yan Shang’s downward glance.

One above, one below, separated by window and night, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao locked eyes.

He saw her red-rimmed eyes, saw the hatred in them, saw her hand trembling on the whip.

Her eyes seemed misty with tears, her expression hard and cold, yet her gaze at him was filled with pain—

Humiliation.

One humiliation after another.

Yan Shang didn’t mind, but Mu Wanyao felt it as keenly as he did. He thought Young Master Hai was just a youth, and youthful arrogance wasn’t worth minding; but Mu Wanyao heard the rumors, saw him being criticized as unworthy of his position, saw the Hai family trying to climb up by stepping on him… and it hurt her, tormented her.

Yan Shang stared at her.

The humiliation directed at him burned her like fire, becoming unbearable. In that moment, he understood Mu Wanyao’s concern, understood her protection of him.

Yan Shang stood before the pavilion and slowly spoke: “Young Master Hai.”

Young Master Hai, who had retreated among the scholars after issuing his challenge, looked up at the youth in pale blue robes standing at the window.

Yan Shang stood with his back to all the scholars, to Young Master Hai. His eyes fixed on the beautiful Princess below as he spoke: “You challenged me to test whether I am worthy to be Chief Examiner. But I wasn’t the one who set this year’s examination questions, nor was I the one testing your talents.

“However, today I wish to pose one couplet to test you.”

Yan Shang suddenly turned around, his gaze both gentle as water and cold as lightning as he stared at Young Master Hai. The night wind stirred his robes as he spoke loudly, ensuring the Princess below could hear his challenge—

“I ask you this: The phoenix strikes nine thousand li skyward, beyond rainbows, bearing the azure heavens, feet tangling clouds, watching mayflies across ten thousand years—who soars thus?”

The cosmos in heaven, looking down upon mayflies. What magnificent spirit, what grand vision. The scholars stared at Yan Shang in amazement, seeing for the first time the sharp aura of this Chief Examiner.

They heard Yan Shang say quietly: “My line is given, please match it.”