The Yan family’s second son, a white-robed scholar, stood in his home’s outer hall facing the elegantly dressed young lady. After his initial shock, he quickly composed himself.

Yan Shisheng swiftly and discreetly surveyed his family home.

Lingnan was remote and had few wealthy residents. His family was merely a modest household in Shashui Town, nothing exceptional, but slightly better off than ordinary commoners.

Now looking at the house again, it had become “better than better.”

The once-empty walls now displayed calligraphy, paintings, and a chess board from unknown origins. The tables and seats were covered with cushions, and the floor with carpeting. The maids had refreshed the house with incense and hung pearl curtains. The entire house had transformed from its original simplicity to understated elegance.

Yan Shisheng deduced that this lady must be either wealthy or noble.

Such an esteemed lady must not be offended. He should try to maintain good relations with her.

Even if she acted like a “fierce demon.”

Having thought this through, Yan Shisheng ignored Mu Wanyao’s provocative smiling gaze and raised his sleeve to bow, making a cupped-hand salute to the princess.

Mu Wanyao: “…”

The cupped-hand salute was an era-appropriate gesture that was simple, respectful, and almost impossible to perform incorrectly. Yet after she had maliciously mocked him, he still greeted her without hesitation.

Mu Wanyao gazed at his fair face for a long while, her eyes filled with meaningful contemplation.

She asked: “What are you trying to do?”

Yan Shisheng kept his eyes lowered and spoke in a gentle tone, explaining: “The lady has come from afar, and perhaps saw that my family’s house is the best in the vicinity, wishing to stay for a night. But does the lady perhaps dislike being disturbed by others?”

Mu Wanyao: “Tch.”

She propped her chin on her hand, changing her position to languidly observe this fussy scholar.

Her voice was sandy and weary, her lips curling slightly: “Just say what you want to say. If you keep beating around the bush like this, I’ll have you thrown out.”

Yan Shisheng smiled slightly, still not raising his eyes to look at her, apparently prepared to keep his gaze lowered indefinitely.

Mu Wanyao was surprised at how well he had taken her initial lesson about his perceived improper intentions.

Then she heard Yan Shisheng say: “This humble scholar merely thinks that someone as gentle and kind as the lady probably wouldn’t enjoy seeing others suffer because of her. I believe that when the lady chose to stay in my humble home but drove out my family, this couldn’t have been the lady’s order. It must have been the servants acting on their own, tarnishing the lady’s reputation.”

Mu Wanyao raised her eyebrows slightly. She had merely been traveling south and, growing bored, had found someone to toy with. She never expected this person… this rural upstart, to be so skillful with words.

Mu Wanyao was the Danyang Princess of Great Wei.

She had always been of high status; there was no reason for her to make way for commoners. Wherever she stayed, that place naturally had to make room for her. This was so natural that Mu Wanyao didn’t even need to think about it. As for the people whose house she occupied, her subordinates would naturally handle the arrangements. Why should a princess concern herself with such trivial matters?

Mu Wanyao had already reached Lingnan, the most remote part of Great Wei, and she didn’t mind becoming a princess known for her misdeeds.

Yet while she was the villain, this scholar claimed it was her subordinates who had damaged her good name.

Mu Wanyao stared unblinkingly at Yan Shisheng, beginning to think this person might truly be quite interesting.

She spoke slowly: “Young sir, you’re mistaken. I am the one doing evil deeds. The person who wanted to occupy your house was me.”

Yan Shisheng was stunned.

For a moment, he couldn’t control his expression and instantly raised his eyes to look at her face. This was the first time he had encountered a young lady who wore “I am the villain” on her face and completely refused to take the graceful exit he had offered.

Yan Shisheng was dumbfounded, his mind somewhat dazed.

Seeing his expression, Mu Wanyao suddenly burst into laughter, bending over the table. The gold and jade ornaments in her cloud-like hair swayed chaotically, her eye corners and brow tips dancing with mirth as she laughed continuously.

When she raised her face to look at him again, the lady’s eyes and brows were flushed with a warm, tender charm.

She spoke softly: “Keep talking. You spoke well; I might not play the villain anymore.”

Her laughter made Yan Shisheng’s face heat up. He turned his head slightly, adjusted his breathing, then lowered his eyes respectfully to answer: “This humble scholar dares not ask the lady’s identity, and fears the lady wouldn’t tell anyway. But from the lady’s accent, you seem to come from the north. Lingnan is already the most remote region of Great Wei, a land beyond civilization, plagued by miasma, where education is not established and neither people nor livestock flourishes well, quite different from other parts of Great Wei. If the lady is only staying overnight, that’s fine, but if you plan to stay longer, it would be best to have a local person accompany you.”

Mu Wanyao: “This local person you speak of, wouldn’t happen to be yourself, would it?”

Yan Shisheng smiled slightly.

He continued: “To be honest with the lady, my father is one of the rare gentry in this area. In his youth, he passed the jinshi examination, but due to his pride in his talents, he simply chose not to become an official!”

At this point, his heart thumped twice, his cheeks burning hot as he secretly stole a glance at Mu Wanyao.

In his heart, he prayed this lady would be impressed by the “jinshi” status. After all, in this era, passing the jinshi examination meant being one in ten thousand. Even without an official position, a jinshi would become a leader in the local area, representing the common people in deep interactions with local officials.

As for Yan Shisheng’s father… better not mention more.

But surely a jinshi title would be impressive enough?

However, Mu Wanyao continued smiling, neither confirming nor denying his claims about the “jinshi,” patiently waiting for him to continue.

Yan Shisheng collected himself and continued: “My father is on good terms with the local county magistrate, and our families often visit each other.”

This was to indicate that his family wasn’t so easily bullied.

“Moreover, our family is warmhearted toward guests and extremely welcoming of the lady’s stay. My sister’s brewed wine is exceptionally sweet, and tomorrow morning the lady can have a bowl of warm wine. If you stayed far away, unable to taste this wine, it would be a pity.”

This was to suggest it would be better not to drive them away.

“Night has fallen, and in this remote mountain village, having local people to assist would be more convenient.”

“Of course, the lady has come from afar, and our family has always welcomed guests, willing to clear our rooms to receive you. The best rooms in our house should indeed be reserved for guests. We have two guest rooms that aren’t regularly occupied – we wouldn’t dare let guests stay there, and we siblings can make do for one night.”

“Though I fear my elder brother’s snoring might disturb the lady at night.”

He finally raised his eyes to look at Mu Wanyao, his voice carrying sincerity and earnestness: “If the lady finds my elder brother’s snoring bothersome, we can stay at someone else’s house tonight.”

He had even left Mu Wanyao room for the face.

Even if Mu Wanyao still wanted to play the villain and drive out his whole family, he was determined to maintain good relations with this lady.

Creating the impression that “we are leaving voluntarily, not being cruelly driven out by the lady.”

This person… was truly skilled with words.

The maid Chunhua, peering from the inner chamber’s curtain while cleaning with other maids for the princess, heard the scholar’s clear, elegant voice from outside. Chunhua couldn’t help but observe secretly, seeing the princess sitting in the lamplight, apparently stunned by his words, staring directly at the white-robed scholar.

Chunhua marveled inwardly, repeatedly amazed: This country bumpkin didn’t seem like a country bumpkin at all.

He was too eloquent.

He had rendered their princess, with her terrible temper, unable to get angry!

He had left the princess sitting there in a daze!—

The humble room fell silent.

Mu Wanyao sat quietly while Yan Shisheng stood with lowered hands.

After a while, Mu Wanyao called out: “Fang Tong!”

“Present!” A male voice responded from outside the hall, and then a tall guard in military robes entered with cupped hands, standing in the hall.

Mu Wanyao didn’t even look at the guard, her eyes fixed only on Yan Shisheng: “In your arrangements for tonight’s lodging, did you simply drive this family out without arranging where they would stay?”

The guard named Fang Tong replied in a deep voice: “Yes!”

Mu Wanyao nodded.

Her expression was cold, her voice carrying a certain authority: “Prepare the side rooms for their family to stay. If you don’t handle this well, go out and receive twenty strokes.”

Yan Shisheng was startled, not expecting someone would be beaten because of his words. Before he could intervene, the guard, without even raising an eyebrow, responded resolutely: “Yes!”

Mu Wanyao then smiled at Yan Shisheng: “Is the gentleman satisfied? If not, I can have him forfeit his life for your family.”

Yan Shisheng looked at Mu Wanyao.

She was still smiling, but her eyes held no mirth, like a sword blade hidden under ice and snow. Though the blade remained sheathed, who could not sense its cold?

Yan Shisheng sighed: “There’s no need for that.”

He bowed with cupped hands: “Thank you, lady, for taking charge.”

Mu Wanyao nodded.

She raised her chin slightly, meaning “You may go.” This haughty and indifferent manner seemed to naturally treat Yan Shisheng as her servant. Yan Shisheng’s eyes contracted slightly, thinking her status must be extremely high… not daring to think further, he bowed and turned to leave.

But Mu Wanyao called out to stop him: “You’re a local?”

Yan Shisheng turned slightly, cupping his hands: “Yes.”

Mu Wanyao thoughtfully looked at the pattering rain outside the window: “Then can you tell if tomorrow will be clear?”

Yan Shisheng answered: “I’m afraid this rain will continue for several more days.”

Mu Wanyao seemed unconcerned, giving a light “Oh,” then said: “Then it seems we’ll have to impose for several days, living under the same roof with you all.”

Yan Shisheng nodded.

He hesitated slightly, thinking perhaps he should try to build a closer relationship with this lady. So he smiled and introduced himself: “Earlier in our haste, I didn’t tell the lady, my surname is Yan, given name Shisheng, second in the family…”

Mu Wanyao asked lazily: “Which characters for Shisheng?”

Yan Shisheng told her.

Mu Wanyao pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised her face, her beautiful eyes looking at him, instantly changing from her previous coldness to a mischievous smile: “I’ve heard that in your countryside, humble names are better for survival. Was your original name ‘Stone,’ but then because you started studying, you thought it wasn’t elegant enough and changed it?”

Yan Shisheng’s expression stiffened slightly.

Mu Wanyao burst into laughter. Her eyes curved as she covered her mouth, looking him up and down repeatedly.

Yan Shisheng ignored her teasing and continued gently: “The lady may call me Yan Second Young Master. Since we’ll be under the same roof, may I know how to address the lady?”

Mu Wanyao said: “My name is Mu Wanyao. The ‘Mu’ of dusk, the ‘Wan’ of evening, and the ‘Yao’ of swaying.”

Hearing the princess speak, the maid Chunhua was shocked that the princess would tell her real name to a stranger. How could the princess’s name be casually shared with others?

Not only did the maid Chunhua think this way, but even Yan Shisheng stiffened, somewhat unable to understand.

But Yan Shisheng remained composed.

He praised: “The lady’s name is beautiful, showing your parents’ love.”

Mu Wanyao spoke listlessly: “Pity that one sent me away in marriage, while the other wishes for my death.”

The maid Chunhua, still hanging curtains in the inner chamber, turned pale with fright, and all the maids and guards in the house fell to their knees in a rush, crying out in terror: “My lady!”

How could she… how could she speak of the Emperor and Empress Dowager this way?!

What if someone heard?!

Yan Shisheng: “…”

He pondered: Why did they… kneel just like that?

What exactly was this lady’s status?

Mu… wait, Mu seemed to be the imperial surname.

Yan Shisheng’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged, still warmly pretending not to understand what the lady and servants were doing, and said pleasantly: “Then this humble scholar shall address you as ‘Lady Mu.'”

Mu Wanyao pressed a finger to her chin, raising her eyes to look at him sideways, her eye corners lifting.

She blinked, feigning innocence: “You could also call me ‘Yao Yao.'”

Her alluring eyes rippled like flowing water, neither here nor there.

Yan Shisheng: “…”

While the maids continued in horror: “My lady!”

How could she let someone address her so?

Yan Shisheng said awkwardly: “The lady truly knows how to jest.”

He smiled bitterly, knowing if he dared to call her that, she would likely turn on him immediately.

Yan Shisheng turned around, afraid this lady would say something more terrifying and left almost like he was fleeing.

His tall, clear figure merged into the night rain, the rain clinging to his sleeves, his clothes flowing like a crane’s wings. In this wilderness, he stood out like a crane among chickens, as beautiful and refined as jade in the mountains.

Mu Wanyao gazed long after him until he was no longer visible. She stared into the space, somewhat desolately withdrawing her gaze.