Who can’t write poetry? But the vastness of heaven and earth, the mountains and valleys in one’s heart – how could these be expressed through poetry alone? Hai Sanlang was talented from a young age and known as a child prodigy. But Chang’an was full of prodigies – where couldn’t you find one? Yet Yan Erlang, who could write verses with the majesty of “Observing mayflies across ten thousand years,” stood out among those prodigies, making Hai Sanlang particularly resentful.

But no matter how resentful he was, today he had lost. His verses could be ornate, his humble words could be perfectly structured, and he could say Yan Erlang’s poetry was ordinary and crude. But he couldn’t compose a line that surpassed, or even matched, the grandeur of “Observing mayflies across ten thousand years.”

At the Apricot Garden banquet, everyone looked sympathetically at this young man who had been pushed back by Yan Erlang. Hai Sanlang was devastated, his face pale, feeling humiliated at losing to a chief examiner he considered mediocre in scholarship. But the officials of Chang’an thought differently – if someone could make the usually good-tempered and broad-minded Yan Erlang angry, the Hai family was finished.

Before anyone could make amends, Mu Wanyao arrived. Seeing the Princess carrying a whip, everyone felt afraid. However, Mu Wanyao was calm and even smiled at them before walking towards her Prince Consort.

When she first entered the pavilion, she was full of anger, thinking of avenging Yan Shang. Why should Yan Shang endure their humiliation? But Yan Shang had avenged himself, and now she felt a bittersweet relief.

Mu Wanyao stood beside Yan Shang, gripping her whip tightly, her lips trembling. Traces of pain still lingered in her eyes as she looked at him: “Let’s go pay our respects to His Majesty.”

Yan Shang knew she wanted to berate the Emperor, so he smiled at her: “We’re family, why be so formal?”

He turned and bowed to those seeing them off, saying he couldn’t drink anymore and needed to return home with Her Highness the Princess.

The Emperor was in Purple Cloud Tower at this time, secretly observing the Hai family’s disrespect towards Yan Shang as Chief Examiner, but not showing himself. When he heard Princess Danyang had arrived, his scalp went numb, thinking his sixth sister would come furiously to question him.

The Emperor deeply felt that since Yan Shang was so young yet held such a high position, it wasn’t wrong for the noble families to criticize him somewhat. This was also to stabilize his throne – he enjoyed seeing the noble and common families bite at each other.

But he was still guilty, becoming restless upon hearing the Princess had arrived. However, after drinking two cups of tea, the palace servant informed him the Princess and Prince Consort had already left. The Emperor was stunned, his face reddening with embarrassment.

He felt everyone could see through his schemes clearly, that they were just watching him make a fool of himself.

They were all laughing at him!

But he had played dumb for so many years, living as a prince in such constraint, yet still wanting to govern well… His talents had been worn away by time. Now middle-aged and mediocre, he was bullied by those high-ranking ministers and dared not act against them.

How had Imperial Father governed this realm? Why did those ministers fear Imperial Father but not him? Should he start executing people? But now he couldn’t even command people effectively – if he killed everyone, who would work for him?

…Ah, Yan Shang was still the best.

Without desires or demands, sharing the Emperor’s burdens-

The night was pitch black, with palatial lamps casting light on emerald waves and red lotuses, creating a lovely scene.

Surrounded by palace servants and attendants, Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang walked towards their carriage waiting outside Apricot Garden. Halfway there, a palace eunuch caught up to them, panting, saying Yan Erlang had been wronged, and His Majesty had gifted him some good fields and houses – the deed had already been sent to the Princess’s mansion.

After Yan Shang dealt with these eunuchs, using them to comfort the Emperor, Mu Wanyao stood beside him with a half-smile, coldly observing. The message-bearing eunuch didn’t dare meet the Princess’s eyes, fearing the ill-tempered Princess might say something unpleasant and embarrass the Emperor.

After sending off the eunuch, as they walked again, new people came running from behind-

“Lord Yan! Lord Yan!”

“Minister Yan!”

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow, seeing Yan Shang’s slight frown, clearly displeased with this form of address.

In the deep night, under the splendid palace lanterns, Yan Shang, wearing his crane-feather robe, turned back and gently reproached the approaching Hai Sanlang: “Hai Sanlang, don’t address me this way. Since you’re unwilling to consider me your examining official, I don’t deserve to be called ‘Minister’ either.”

Hai Sanlang was young, his face still showing youthful confusion and vigor. He ran up panting, first being lectured by Yan Shang, his face slightly reddening as he defended himself: “Lord Yan is Equal to the Chief Minister, ranked as high as Prime Minister, so calling you ‘Minister’ isn’t wrong. Of course, I want to call Lord Yan ‘Teacher,’ but I know I’ve done many things wrong before, and Lord Yan probably wouldn’t accept such an address.

“I’ve come to apologize to Lord Yan! I shouldn’t have challenged you at the banquet, I just thought… thought…”

Yan Shang smiled: “You thought I had no talent or virtue, was too young – what right did I have to be Chief Examiner and oversee the imperial examinations? What qualifications did I have to examine you all?”

He sighed: “It’s fine. Many people say such things behind my back – you’re just the one brave enough to challenge me to my face.”

His gentle eyes looked at Hai Sanlang as he advised: “But you’re still young, pampered by your family since childhood. Newly arrived in Chang’an, making one or two close friends, and being praised as a ‘genius,’ it’s easy to become complacent and think too highly of yourself. But today you should understand – if I wanted to make things difficult for you, it would be effortless.

“When others incited you to challenge me, did you consider whether those who encouraged you would help you even slightly if I deliberately made things difficult for you in the future?”

Hai Sanlang was stunned. Coming from a noble family, with Yan Shang’s slight hint, his mind froze and his hot blood turned cold, understanding his own rashness. He stammered: “So Lord Yan won’t make things difficult for me in my future career?”

Yan Shang smiled gently.

He joked: “It depends on my mood.”

Hai Sanlang became nervous.

Mu Wanyao couldn’t help but look at Yan Shang, surprised that he wasn’t angry at being challenged by a junior today – his mood seemed quite good… He was even joking.

Hai Sanlang muttered: “Very well… I just don’t understand, Lord Yan can write verses like that, why didn’t you teach me earlier, why wait until today to show it? Everyone in Chang’an says Lord Yan has no talent, I thought so too, but tonight I realized that if Lord Yan put his mind to poetry, he wouldn’t necessarily be worse than me.

“Since Lord Yan has such ability, why not apply yourself to it?”

Yan Shang looked at him thoughtfully, silent.

Hai Sanlang questioned again.

Yan Shang: “Who are you asking this question for?”

Hai Sanlang was stunned, then instantly understood what Yan Shang was asking. He felt humiliated, both ashamed and defiant, trembling all over: “Even if I’m from the Hai family, it doesn’t mean I have to consult my family about everything. Yes, what I did tonight was partly due to instigation from certain family members… but it was also my arrogance. I’ll be careful in the future, not to be used by others.

“Although I’m from the Hai family, seemingly opposed to Lord Yan… I’m not limited by the distinction between noble and common families! I am myself, not a puppet of the Hai family!”

Mu Wanyao coldly interjected from the side: “Such words can be said when young, but try saying them to your father and grandfather, see if they break your legs or not.”

Hai Sanlang declared loudly: “I know Your Highness has a grudge against my family, but I haven’t harmed Your Highness. If Your Highness wants to settle scores with my grandfather and father, I haven’t wronged Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao’s lips curled in mockery.

Yan Shang interrupted Mu Wanyao’s mockery of this youth, speaking gently: “If you’re asking this question for yourself, then I’ll answer you. Do you know how much official business I have waiting for me each day? Before the rooster crows, I must rise, before dawn, I must go to the Department of State Affairs to coordinate the day’s court matters with several ministers.

“While discussing these things, we must attend court. Daily court discussions, none can be missed. Before His Majesty has even understood what the ministers will discuss in morning court, I must already be clear about it. Nothing can go wrong in court – I must both manage the ministers and observe His Majesty, helping him out of difficult situations.

“After morning court ends, I must go to the Imperial Study, then return to the Department of State Affairs. After finishing these, I must go to the Ministry of Personnel. For lunch, I must hurry back to the Department of State Affairs. Sometimes people come from the Hanlin Academy, the palace guard comes, I must handle it all… Sometimes His Majesty finds some official unsuitable, calls me for questioning, and directly orders me to handle certain matters.

“Which county has flooding, which prefecture is requesting tax reduction this year, which commandery has militia uprising… I must worry about all these things, keeping me busy until the third watch of the night before I can sleep.

“Hai Sanlang, tell me, where would I find time to study how to compose poetry and prose? What do my daily duties have to do with poetry and prose?”

The young man listened with an embarrassed expression, seeming thoughtful. Yan Shang sighed: “You’re all still too young, spending all day writing poetry and prose, thinking that if your poetry is impressive, you can become an official, a good official. But what does being an official have to do with poetry and prose? Last year I discussed this matter with the Minister, about reforming the imperial examinations, but unfortunately, it was delayed when His Majesty ascended the throne.

“Cherish this title of Top Scholar well. It might be the last one.”

Yan Shang asked the stunned Hai Sanlang, in the third month, feeling somewhat cold, after coughing twice, he added: “Since you’re the Top Scholar, how do you plan to serve as an official in the future?”

Hai Sanlang said blankly: “I don’t know, I just have good scholarship, found the examinations simple, just took them casually…”

Yan Shang smiled.

Hai Sanlang asked shamefacedly: “Should I seriously consider this question?”

Yan Shang sighed: “Consider it.

“Is being an official about seeking benefits for your family, or for the people and the realm? Is it about protecting cherished ones from bullying, or achieving personal ambitions?

“How the common people of Great Wei live, how to balance family and personal interests, how to deal with seeing treasured things treated as worthless by others… these are all things you should start considering now. Being young is good, full of vigor, and not wasting your youth. Let me give you a piece of advice – don’t waste your fine youth.”

Hai Sanlang’s face reddened from these words, yet he gained much from them. Yan Shang had refreshed his understanding, letting him see his future from a completely new perspective. After Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang left, Mu Wanyao looked back at Hai Sanlang several times, seeing the youth staring admiringly at their figures, his gaze burning bright.

Hai Sanlang’s eyes were full of longing, struggling with wanting to follow but not daring to. He stared intently at Yan Shang, hoping desperately that Yan Shang would look back at him once – then he would have the courage to stick around… but unfortunately, Yan Shang didn’t look back.

Mu Wanyao thought mischievously: Here’s another person “heartlessly” disappointed by Yan Er-

Back in the carriage, in the cramped space, Mu Wanyao immediately tucked the incense burner into his sleeve. Yan Shang leaned against the carriage wall, finally feeling warm. And Mu Wanyao, without pause, took the ginger soup that the maids had been keeping warm and fed it to Yan Shang.

Mu Wanyao bustled about, watching his complexion change from pale to rosy before feeling satisfied.

Yan Shang held her hand, making her sit down, telling her to stop fussing. Mu Wanyao only sat with him when she saw his color had improved significantly.

The carriage began moving. Inside, Mu Wanyao held Yan Shang’s arm, looking at him with a smile: “You truly have the bearing of a high official now. That Hai Sanlang was completely won over by you. I think he’ll be chasing after you from now on.”

She continued enthusiastically: “The way you guided Hai Sanlang today was so much like how your teacher guided you that night. I was there when you kowtowed to Minister Liu, calling him ‘Teacher.’ You said you would serve as an official for the people and common folk, said no matter how difficult the path, you would walk it… My heart surged hearing that. How could I have known that in just these few years, you’d be able to guide others?

“You’ve become as formidable as your teacher!”

Yan Shang said softly: “It’s been almost ten years.”

Mu Wanyao protested: “What ten years? It’s only been seven.”

The carriage swayed gently, making its occupants unsteady. Yan Shang said: “So many years have passed… My teacher is about to retire, and now I can be called ‘Teacher’ by others.”

Though Mu Wanyao had started this topic, seeing his melancholy now made her displeased: “Why speak so pessimistically and world-weary? As if you’re already ancient and decrepit. You’re only in your twenties… yet full of ailments!”

By the end, she was gritting her teeth.

Yan Shang’s gaze, gentle as a clear lake, fixed upon her.

Mu Wanyao lifted her chin: “What? Did I say something wrong? It’s the third month, look how thickly you’re dressed, coughing after speaking just a few words – if that’s not being sickly, what is? The Imperial Physician told you to rest and said if you keep going on like this, you’ll die early. I see you don’t take it seriously, probably planning to leave before me, leaving me in the world to keep pretty young men, having a wonderful time every day.”

Yan Shang smiled: “That’s nice.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes blazed: “I say I’ll keep a bunch of male companions and you say that’s nice!”

Yan Shang caught her wrist, speaking softly: “I meant that just now when you were offering tea and covering me with clothes, it made me feel strange as if you weren’t the Princess I knew. Now that you’re angry, I see you’re still yourself.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him, ice-cold: “Do you enjoy being abused? Only when I scold you do you feel I haven’t changed?”

She pointed at his nose and scolded: “If it weren’t for you earlier, I would have settled everything with one crack of my whip. Just the Hai family – am I afraid to offend them?”

She began complaining about Yan Shang’s temperament, saying he was too mild-mannered. She also said the Emperor wasn’t good to them, that he was cunning and narrow-minded, making Yan Shang rush about until he was worked to death… She spoke for a long time, gripping his arm tightly, trembling all over when she reached the height of her hatred.

She truly felt it was all humiliation, that heaven was unfair to Yan Shang. He was such a good person, why should he endure the Emperor’s oppression, the juniors’ insults, others’ testing!

Yan Shang just watched her, suddenly saying: “Why don’t I resign from office?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She was stunned for a moment, looking up at him.

Yan Shang: “My health… has worried you for so long. Recently official duties keep piling up, His Majesty can’t do without me for a moment, I feel I can’t hold on anymore. Moreover, what His Majesty gives me are all trivial matters. Others could do them, but he insists on me, simply because he finds me reliable and undemanding. His Majesty’s trust is good, but treating me as an on-call tool – I truly can’t keep up anymore.

“Noble families, common families, palace servants – three forces fighting each other. Standing among them, whether noble families or palace servants, all want to win me over. I have to deal with these things daily… these matters are too complicated and too boring.

“And you’re so unhappy. I thought for a moment… I want to resign and return to Lingnan, spend more time with my father and brothers, and properly recover my health in the countryside.”

He lowered his eyes, suddenly backtracking sheepishly: “I know you’ve lived in Chang’an since childhood, you love Chang’an. But I want to resign and return to Lingnan… I don’t know if you’d be willing to come to the countryside with me. If you’re unwilling, then forget it.”

Mu Wanyao immediately gripped his hand, her gaze starlike: “I’m willing.”

Yan Shang looked up.

She said softly: “I already hold great power, I can’t go deeper on the path of power – any deeper and I might become someone’s scapegoat. I can already use power to ensure I won’t be bullied, so I want to pursue other things. I’ve always liked Second Brother Yan’s world…

“Second Brother Yan’s world is different from mine, always filled with birdsong and flower gardens, a paradise beyond this world, full of unrealistic ideals and dreams, seeming almost false. But such dreamlike ideals still move my heart… Wherever Second Brother Yan goes, I’ll go too.”

Her eyes curved as she eagerly hugged Yan Shang’s waist, nuzzling against his chest. Earlier she had been domineering and aggressive, now she was like a little girl, both silly and sweet: “I’m willing to go farm in the Lingnan countryside with Brother! I’d love to go farm in the countryside with Brother! When Brother resigns, I’ll take care of Brother.

“I’ll make Second Brother Yan plump and healthy, make his body incredibly strong, and we’ll live to a hundred together!”

Yan Shang’s face reddened with embarrassment, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

He pushed away the constantly nuzzling Mu Wanyao – she was making him somewhat uncomfortable, but he just held her and laughed. After she had finished dreaming, he said softly: “But before I resign, I must first resolve the deadlock between the noble families, common families, and palace servants, make these three sides settle down. Only then, after I resign, they won’t throw the realm into chaos.”

Mu Wanyao closed her eyes against his neck, sweetly saying: “I’ll do whatever Second Brother Yan says.”

Yan Shang grabbed her shoulders, stopping her nuzzling. He coughed once, joking: “Then I’ll need to cooperate with Elder Sister Wanyao.”

Mu Wanyao paused, looking up.

Seeing him blushing furiously for calling her “Elder Sister” in normal circumstances, immediately averted his gaze after speaking. She looked at him teasingly, and after a while, he said somewhat irritably: “Why are you looking at me like that? Can’t I call you that? I just wanted to say, I want to cooperate with you, work together to resolve the three forces – Wanyao, since our marriage, we seem to have never cooperated like this.”

Mu Wanyao corrected: “Not just since marriage, even before marriage, we never truly cooperated seriously. We often fought side by side, but without strategy, relying purely on our tacit understanding and knowledge of each other.

“So… Second Brother Yan, today you want to join forces with me?”

Yan Shang: “Yes.”

Mu Wanyao looked at their clasped hands, and smiled with pressed lips, quite excited. After they had both grown so much, what would their cooperation be like this time?-

After that night hearing Yan Shang’s words, Hai Sanlang started pestering him. Yan Shang didn’t pay much attention to him, but being young, he was quite stubborn, insisting Yan Shang take him as a student. No matter how Yan Shang said he was still young, didn’t take students, and only wanted the relationship of examiner and examinee, Hai Sanlang wouldn’t listen.

Since Hai Sanlang wouldn’t heed the advice, and Yan Shang had tried to persuade him, he simply used Hai Sanlang as a tool.

The Hai family held a banquet in the Northern Quarter to apologize for Hai Sanlang’s behavior, and Yan Shang turned this banquet into a trap, using their force against them. While the Hai family was still confused, Lord Yan Er was poisoned at the banquet. The Hai family naturally denied any connection, anxiously investigating who had administered the poison.

After recovering from the poison, Yan Shang began investigating the Northern Quarter.

The Northern Quarter was Chang’an’s arena of fame and profit, where officials and nobles liked to gather. It harbored too many secrets, too many unspoken underground dealings. When the court didn’t investigate, all was well, but once they did, evidence was everywhere. Yan Shang’s investigation of the Northern Quarter naturally met with much opposition.

But Yan Shang had his reasons – “If someone in the Northern Quarter dares poison a fifth-rank official, wouldn’t they dare poison His Majesty one day? Or perhaps it’s not the Northern Quarter that’s the problem, but the Hai family trying to poison me?”

The Hai family patriarch could only step forward reluctantly, expressing support for Yan Shang: “Our Hai family would never dare harm Yan Suchen! The Northern Quarter is indeed a den of vice, it should be thoroughly investigated!”

To clear themselves of suspicion, the Hai family had to run errands for Yan Shang.

Hai Sanlang watched in confusion: “Father, why are we so afraid of Lord Yan?”

The Hai family patriarch shook his head with a bitter smile. His naive son still thought this was a personal grudge. Though Hai Sanlang was talented enough to be a Top Scholar, he didn’t understand this had already become a factional struggle within the court.

The patriarch explained: “What we fear isn’t Yan Er, but the crime of ‘conspiracy.’ Last time the charge of conspiracy came from the Prince, this time it was from a court official… People say our Hai family’s position is illegitimate because we conspired against the Prince. Bearing this crime, our family will never rise! If we want to rise, we must, no matter what, clear ourselves of any ‘conspiracy’ charges this time in Chang’an!

“Now that we’ve offended Yan Er, if we don’t want to bear the crime of conspiring against a court official, we must listen to him. Yan Er isn’t targeting us… you can rest assured, he’s targeting the forces behind us.”

Whether the Northern Quarter or the Hai family, at this point… Yan Shang aimed to rectify the entire officialdom, purify the official order!

The Hai family patriarch gazed deeply at his son, placing his hand on Hai Sanlang’s shoulder, his tone solemn: “Sanlang, just watch! You’re our family’s new representative… no matter what, we must push you up!”-

As Yan Shang investigated the Northern Quarter, he used it to examine all noble families’ illegal activities. This move cut to the bone, involving the struggle between noble and common families. The Emperor stayed far away, not daring to participate or help either side.

Minister Liu’s son, Lord Liu, came to plead with Yan Shang, but Yan Shang was impartial, not even giving face to his own teacher’s son. When Lord Liu tried again, his father scolded him, and he sheepishly cooperated with Yan Shang.

The Emperor watched nervously, always fearing they would kill each other. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s harem was also restless.

Consort Huo, whom Mu Wanyao had sent into the palace, became pregnant. Consort Xian, Spring Hua, considering their shared origins from the Princess’s mansion, went to visit. Spring Hua was melancholy, and Consort Hai, sent by the Hai family, seeing Consort Xian so depressed, called her over to talk.

Consort Hai merely wanted to sow discord between Spring Hua and Consort Huo, thereby targeting the Princess.

Spring Hua’s heart still sided with the Princess, so she said little, but she was puzzled and confused, not understanding why the Princess was so good to Consort Huo – when Consort Huo became pregnant, the Princess visited the palace daily, sending precious items to protect the pregnancy.

Yet towards Spring Hua, Mu Wanyao hardly ever appeared.

Could years of friendship not compete with the Princess’s interests?

While Spring Hua was feeling this discontent, something happened to Consort Huo. Mu Wanyao was in Consort Huo’s palace, talking with her when Consort Huo suddenly cried out about stomach pain. After calling the Imperial Physician, she lost the child.

Mu Wanyao was extremely agitated, wanting to investigate who had harmed Consort Huo. The Emperor was alarmed by this, pitying the beauty crying like a rain-swept pear blossom, and ordered a thorough investigation of the harem.

And this investigation led to Spring Hua’s son-

A small child, not knowing better, had secretly added safflower and similar medicines to Consort Huo’s medicine. If adults hadn’t mentioned this matter in front of the child, how would a child know?

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow, coldly watching the Emperor’s hesitation, watching Spring Hua’s shock. Spring Hua had followed the Emperor for years; though he didn’t love her, he pitied her obedience. Moreover, Spring Hua came from the Princess’s mansion – why was Mu Wanyao so heartless towards her?

In her own palace, hearing that Spring Hua had been implicated, Consort Hai’s lips curved slightly. She wanted Spring Hua and Consort Huo to clash, wanted Spring Hua to lose Mu Wanyao’s heart, wanted Mu Wanyao to lose control over the Emperor – the Hai family couldn’t conspire against the Prince, but they could use others to eliminate him.

But in this world, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Until the final moment, who knows who is the player and who is the piece?

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang played chess in the Princess’s mansion’s chambers, each holding their pieces. They sat commanding the game, observing all directions, waiting for all forces to enter the field.