Having drunk at the Crown Prince’s place and now skipping dinner, Mu Wan Yao directly ordered her maids and guards to line up before the hall. She wanted to investigate exactly who had received letters from Yan Er Lang.

Chun Hua also stood among those being questioned in the hall. She carefully glanced at the princess’s expression, noting how the gold and silver powder at the corners of her eyes had smudged, leaving her complexion somewhat pale.

The princess reclined on a long couch, resting on her arm as maids carefully attended her, not daring to breathe loudly for fear of her anger.

Under Mu Wan Yao’s interrogation, guards and maids stepped forward in small groups, nervously admitting to receiving letters from Yan Er Lang—

“Previously in Lingnan, this servant chatted casually with Yan Er Lang, mentioning some old injuries that cause headaches when it rains. Er Lang later wrote to inquire about this and even sent medicinal herbs.”

“This humble maid caught a cold one day in Lingnan, and it was Er Lang who provided medicine. After returning to Chang’an, when Er Lang asked this maid about trivial matters in the capital, seeing his kindness, this maid answered truthfully.”

As those below rambled on, Mu Wan Yao’s expression grew increasingly dark.

She understood now. That well-connected Yan Er Lang not only exchanged letters with her servants but occasionally sent them gifts as well.

Seeing others still speaking, Mu Wan Yao rose and threw a cup of tea.

Everyone below immediately fell silent.

Mu Wan Yao called out: “Guard Fang.”

Fang Tong: “Yes!”

Mu Wan Yao, heavily drunk, showed an even worse temper than usual: “One matter shouldn’t serve two masters. Since you once cursed at Yan Er Lang and developed a friendship through that exchange, this time, you speak, and let Chun Hua write. Help this princess properly berate Yan Er Lang, asking him why he shows such ingratitude.

“Why hasn’t he written me a single word? Didn’t he use me quite well back then, fawning like a dog? How could he turn his back on me so quickly?

“This won’t do, Yan Shi Sheng! If you want to curry favor with this princess, you must be consistent!”

Mu Wan Yao spoke harshly, pounding the table while grinding her teeth: “Give him a proper scolding!”

Nearby maids gently advised: “Your Highness is drunk and should rest.”

The group of women surrounded the princess to escort her to rest, while Chun Hua dismissed the servants and exchanged bewildered looks with Fang Tong.

Shortly after, the maid Xia Rong came out to tell them: “Today at the Crown Prince’s banquet, some official said that a princess who had been married off shouldn’t wander about. Her Highness lost her temper there and was scolded by the Crown Prince. Her Highness left immediately.

“That’s why her mood is poor and she spoke harshly upon return. Fortunately, she directed her anger at Yan Er Lang rather than beating or killing any of us.”

Chun Hua and Fang Tong sighed, both feeling somewhat bitter. They also worried that since the princess had shown such disrespect to the Crown Prince, she would probably have to swallow her pride and apologize to him once sober…

Her Highness wasn’t just thinking of herself but of everyone in the princess mansion.

Fang Tong asked: “So should we still write that letter scolding Yan Er Lang?”

Chun Hua replied helplessly: “Let’s write it. If we don’t, the princess will be angry again. We’ll add another letter explaining the situation to Yan Er Lang, asking him not to blame our princess.” —

After the letters were written, Mu Wan Yao looked them over when she sobered up the next day, merely making an “mm” sound without further comment.

As Chun Hua went to arrange for the letters to be sent to Lingnan, a maid came to report: “Sister Chun Hua, Young Master Liu has come to the mansion looking for you.”

Chun Hua started, naturally overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her lover. Yesterday’s examination results had been posted without Liu Wen Ji’s name, and she had been worried about him.

How was Liu Wen Ji’s condition today?

Still holding the letters, she left the inner quarters for the outer courtyard’s gatehouse chamber, where she indeed saw a young man in light cotton clothes with his back to her, gazing absently at the princess mansion’s walls.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Wen Ji turned around, his refined features showing bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep.

He smiled at Chun Hua.

Chun Hua said: “Yesterday’s results…”

Liu Wen Ji interrupted: “It’s nothing, just a failed examination! These two months in Chang’an have shown me clearly – there are so many talented scholars, I just haven’t adjusted yet. I plan to write home, telling my father and mother I want to stay in Chang’an and try again next year. I won’t return to Lingnan until I become a jinshi! With this first experience, next March, I will pass!”

Chun Hua worried deeply, for having grown up in Chang’an with the princess, she knew how many talented scholars there were, with only one in ten thousand becoming jinshi.

But seeing Liu Wen Ji’s confidence, his eyes full of youth’s unique defiance and self-assurance, Chun Hua gave a gentle smile and nodded encouragingly.

Seeing her tender smile, Liu Wen Ji’s face reddened slightly, ashamed of having avoided her yesterday.

He coughed once, changing the subject: “What are you holding? Sending letters for your princess?”

Chun Hua replied softly: “Yes, Her Highness wants to send letters to Lingnan, to ask Yan Er Lang… ahem, about some matters.”

Liu Wen Ji paused, feeling strange: “So Yan Er Lang still corresponds with Princess Danyang.”

Liu Wen Ji naturally exchanged letters with Yan Shi Sheng, and now hearing about his correspondence with the princess, he felt uncomfortable.

He thought of what he’d heard in Chang’an, how many scholars carried poems of introduction and collections of their works, seeking out officials and royal relatives, hoping to gain their recognition and help in passing the examinations.

Liu Wen Ji had always despised such people.

He never expected Yan Shi Sheng would also…

Chun Hua smiled and asked: “By the way, Young Master Liu, don’t you also need to send letters to Lingnan? Why not bring your letters here, and we can send them together through the princess mansion? Letters sent from the princess mansion will be processed quickly at the postal station, and you’ll receive replies soon.”

Liu Wen Ji’s eyes showed shame and anger: “I am not someone who curries favor with the powerful or fawns for advancement! I have no fortune to receive favors from the princess mansion.”

Chun Hua pressed her lips together, knowing his strong pride and dislike for those who relied on connections, so she said nothing more.

If only the young master could understand that water too pure bears no fish—

A month later in Lingnan’s Shashui Town, Yan Shi Sheng sat in his room, reading letters from Chang’an, from Mu Wan Yao.

The princess demanded to know why he hadn’t written to her.

Yan Shi Sheng sat in silence.

Thinking of Mu Wan Yao brought back memories of their parting when she pulled him into her carriage to kiss him… The feeling of her hand on his cheek, the fresh fragrance of her lips – even now the memory disturbed his heart and kept him awake at night.

He didn’t know how to face Mu Wan Yao.

But at least it seemed the princess remained unaffected.

She didn’t think that a parting kiss meant anything, nor did she think it would make their relationship strange… She didn’t like him, it was just a moment of passion, teasing him.

Princess Danyang treated him as a plaything, leaving without a word, and sending no message after departure.

Her heartless actions told him it meant nothing, and he shouldn’t try to use it to pressure her for anything.

Sitting by the window, Yan Shi Sheng’s features remained gentle as he privately pondered her meaning.

She was a willful lady. She neither wanted him to think too much about their relationship nor wished him to deliberately avoid her. Yet Guard Fang said the princess was having a difficult time now…

Yan Shi Sheng didn’t want to make her more upset.

He sat motionless at his desk, holding his brush, long uncertain how to reply to such a letter.

Outside, his younger sister Yan Xiao Zhou called: “Second Brother, you’ve been sitting there all afternoon, Big Brother wants you to go running with him!”

Yan Shi Sheng responded with a sound and put down his brush—

Mu Wan Yao did receive Yan Shi Sheng’s letter after all.

Given how diplomatic Yan Er Lang was, how could he not reply after she had written to scold him?

In the fifth month, Mu Wan Yao sat in the corridor eating cherries while listening to Chun Hua read the letter.

Chun Hua said: “…In short, Er Lang apologizes to Your Highness, and as compensation, he has sent eyebrow stones. He says they’re the famous ink stones from Lingnan, for Your Highness to draw your eyebrows.”

Mu Wan Yao was unimpressed—

Lingnan produced ink stones, smooth and soft, which when dropped with fragrant dew produced bright ink perfect for drawing clear, beautiful eyebrows.

Who didn’t know this? He was just offering borrowed flowers.

However, when Chun Hua brought over the box, Mu Wan Yao still opened it leisurely.

Twelve eyebrow stones carved in the shapes of the zodiac animals were arranged in the box, sculpted so lifelike they looked like twelve small animals gazing expectantly at Mu Wan Yao.

The attending maids exclaimed in unison: “Heavens!”

Mu Wan Yao froze, reaching out to handle one eyebrow stone, then couldn’t put it down and went to examine another. Her delicate white fingers gently caressed them, noting they were freshly carved.

Mu Wan Yao’s heart stirred, knowing that given Yan Shi Sheng’s careful nature, these twelve zodiac pieces must have been carved by him – he would never delegate such work.

This man… always puts the most effort into maintaining his face.

As if afraid others wouldn’t notice his thoughtfulness.

Mu Wan Yao pressed her lips together, hating how well he knew how to please people, but as she lingered over the twelve zodiac pieces, she couldn’t help but smile, supporting her cheek as her eyes curved with pleasure.

Whatever gifts he sent to others, what he sent here was surely the most effort-consuming and the best.

Seeing the princess’s smiling expression, Chun Hua knew she had calmed down and deliberately asked: “Is Your Highness happy now?”

Mu Wan Yao replied: “Happy about what? Carving the eyebrow stones so beautifully that one can’t bear to use them? He deliberately meant for me to look but not use them, right?”

Chun Hua: “…”

The princess was too difficult to please.

Mu Wan Yao pressed her lips together, then said quietly: “Send some grapes from the Western Regions to Lingnan.”

Chun Hua was surprised: “Are those the ones Crown Prince gave to Your Highness? The journey is so far if they spoil along the way…”

Mu Wan Yao covered her face with a fan, turning over on the couch. The curtains fluttered, hiding her figure.

The maids couldn’t see the princess’s expression, only hearing her casual tone: “If they spoil, they spoil. I just thought that country bumpkin has never tasted grapes, so let him try them. If they spoil on the way, it means he wasn’t fated to have them.”

As the maids were surrounding the princess, trying to please her, suddenly someone announced from outside: “Your Highness, a Wei Qi Lang is seeking an audience, saying his teacher sent him to pay respects.”

The maids were puzzled.

Mu Wan Yao, face buried in her pillow, opened her eyes as she remembered. Her uncle’s recommended candidate, the illegitimate son of the Wei family, Wei Ju Yuan, had arrived in Chang’an.

According to her uncle’s plans, this should be her Prince Consort.

…Time to make things difficult.