The handsome youth’s sincere attitude and cutting words shattered her tender heart completely. Yet Yan Shang remained somewhat confused, looking at her with bewilderment – believing this was his most sincere way of repaying her.

However, Yan Shang was clever. As soon as Mu Wanyao revealed an expression of speechless frustration, he instantly understood what she had misunderstood.

Yan Shang froze, then fell silent.

After a moment, he asked softly, “What else could there be?”

What other way could he repay her besides this? Could he marry her? Or serve her personally? Did he have such qualifications?

Mu Wanyao met his gaze, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Her heart felt both ashamed and annoyed – ashamed of her presumption and annoyed that there truly was no better solution… Her rejection of marriage happened in March, and now it was only May.

In just two months, how could Mu Wanyao, who had refused marriage then, be willing now?

It was impossible.

She had her ambitions too.

Thinking it through, Yan Shang’s solution was indeed the best. He was always someone who handled things with utmost consideration.

Yet sometimes such consideration, though right, still brought displeasure. Even knowing certain things were impossible, having not even a glimmer of hope still aroused anger.

Sitting on the bed, Mu Wanyao fixed her obsidian-like clear eyes on the youth kneeling before her bed.

She directed her misplaced anger at him, asking with a cold smile, “What makes you think I’ll agree just because you’re willing to be my retainer? Do I lack advisors or servants?”

Yan Shang kept his eyes lowered: “Your Highness certainly doesn’t lack retainers or advisors, but all those in your household have gone to serve the Crown Prince. Your Highness needs people by your side – why not use me?”

Mu Wanyao: “What help could you be?”

Yan Shang: “Please tell me what Your Highness needs.”

Mu Wanyao blurted out: “The Crown Prince is desperately short of money right now. I want to help him raise funds – can you think of a way?”

Yan Shang: “Yes.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She was speechless as she watched Yan Shang, who had been keeping his eyes lowered, raise his head to look at her with a slight smile. His smile was gentle and subtle, yet full of reassuring strength… What could Mu Wanyao say?

She could only slap the bed, finding another excuse for anger: “Who allowed you to enter my chambers while I was sleeping? I’ll have whoever let you in beaten twenty times!”

Yan Shang promptly replied: “It was my fault. Please don’t implicate others, Your Highness – just punish me. I was anxious… Hearing Your Highness fell ill because of me, I couldn’t be at ease without seeing you with my own eyes… If I didn’t enter at this time, I feared once Your Highness woke, you wouldn’t see me again.

“Your Highness holds a high position and authority. If you chose not to see me, I would have no chance to express my sincerity to Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao was stunned. After hearing his explanation, she stared at him absently, her expression improving though still showing some hesitation.

…She truly couldn’t tell whether Yan Shang’s careful consideration was sincere or false.

If it was false, given how well he was acting… who could find fault with him?

As for refusing Yan Shang as her retainer… While Mu Wanyao was willful, she wasn’t foolish. She had few people she could use who would listen to her. For Yan Shang to volunteer his service, yet she rejected him just because she disliked him… what right did she have?

Someone of Yan Shang’s caliber, choosing to serve her instead of the Crown Prince… she should be celebrating.

Though displeased in her heart, Mu Wanyao didn’t want to refuse. She just pulled up her blanket and lay back down, sulking: “If you want to be a retainer, then fine, do as you please.”

Only then did Yan Shang stand. Mu Wanyao lay with her back to him and didn’t hear his footsteps leaving. Just as she wondered about this, she heard him say from behind: “I noticed Your Highness’s hand seems injured earlier. May I ask what happened?”

Mu Wanyao was confused. She looked at her hand and saw three red scratch marks on her jade-white skin. Then she remembered: “A cat scratched me.”

Yan Shang said: “Then I’ll ask a maid to come apply medicine to Your Highness’s hand.”

Mu Wanyao heard footsteps and suddenly felt moved. She abruptly turned and sat up, kneeling on the bed to face his retreating figure: “Stop!”

Yan Shang turned back.

He saw that Mu Wanyao, who had been unhappy just moments ago, now had curved eyebrows and eyes like spring water as she gazed at him.

Her clothes were disheveled, her hair like ink, sitting on the bed with beautiful eyes smiling at him, weak yet clear – what an enchanting beauty she was.

Yan Shang quickly lowered his gaze, but his arm stiffened, his hand slightly clenched within his sleeve.

Mu Wanyao said coquettishly: “Why call a maid to apply medicine? Yan Er-lang, you’ve already entered my room while I was sleeping – what propriety are you still keeping? You might as well apply the medicine yourself.”

Yan Shang said stiffly: “That would be…”

Mu Wanyao: “My hand was scratched by a cat at the Princess Imperial’s residence.”

Yan Shang’s pupils contracted, and he no longer refused.

Mu Wanyao snorted at him – she knew once he learned she was injured because of him, his sense of moral duty would compel him to comply.

Watching Yan Shang go to fetch medicine, Mu Wanyao sighed softly, her eyes gazing into space. Gone was her earlier alluring charm, replaced by an empty stare as she became lost in thought—

Yan Shang sat at the edge of the bed, holding Mu Wanyao’s hand as he gently sprinkled medicine powder on her scratches.

She flinched, perhaps from pain.

Yan Shang held her hand to keep her from pulling away, and to her surprise, he lowered his head and gently blew on her hand, saying softly: “A little blow and it won’t hurt anymore.”

Mu Wanyao burst out laughing.

She said: “Are you stupid? Are you treating me like a three-year-old child?”

Yan Shang raised his head to look at her, meeting her laughing eyes. Though her words criticized him, her eyes were smiling. His gaze shifted unconsciously for a moment, but he also gave her a faint smile.

The atmosphere between them finally lost its rigid coldness and began to harmonize.

While applying medicine to Mu Wanyao’s hand, Yan Shang asked: “Your Highness, may I know which physician treated me these past two days?”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: “What do you want to know?”

Yan Shang said: “To thank them, of course.”

Mu Wanyao: “…It was someone from the palace’s Imperial Medical Bureau. This was their duty – surely there’s no need for thanks?”

Yan Shang said gently: “Thanks must still be given. Your Highness need only tell me a name. When I enter the palace, I’ll find a way to send thanks and a gift through someone. It won’t be anything expensive, just a token of appreciation – please don’t worry, Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao said with an odd tone: “…You want to thank even an old man? What did he do? He just gave you a few acupuncture treatments, while I…”

Yan Shang looked up at her.

Mu Wanyao suddenly bit her tongue, taking back her unfinished words.

Her cheeks reddened, her eyelashes fluttering like rippling water. She thought it better not to let him know about that night when she had helped ease his condition.

If he knew, it would be too awkward.

A lord-servant relationship was quite good too, at least it was safe.

Otherwise… with their ambiguous relationship, she and Yan Shang would eventually spark a fire. And once that fire started, who could extinguish it?

Yan Shang misunderstood Mu Wanyao’s sudden silence, thinking she meant her care for him. He smiled and said: “That’s why I’m repaying Your Highness by becoming your retainer, isn’t it?”

Mu Wanyao gave a noncommittal grunt.

She said: “Then fulfill your responsibility well – think of ways to help me gain face with the Crown Prince!”

After one night, while the Princess of Danyang’s side entered a period of false romance, things changed dramatically for the maid Chunhua.

Waking in the morning to find herself naked in bed with the Prince of Jin, Chunhua’s mind was struck like lightning, her face instantly turned deathly pale.

She clutched her clothes and retreated in panic. Such large movements also woke the Prince of Jin.

The Prince rose and embraced her shoulders. He didn’t immediately abandon the beauty he had cherished last night: “What’s wrong? Are you unwell somewhere?”

Chunhua backed against the wall holding her clothes, white as paper. The Prince’s hand on her shoulder made her tremble even more violently.

With disheveled hair stuck to her face, her heart turned cold as ice as she suddenly thought of Liu Wenqi.

Young Master Liu, Young Master Liu… She had still been angry with him, refusing to see him even though he came to the Princess’s residence daily. She hadn’t forgiven Liu Wenqi’s careless words, but she hadn’t wanted to break things off with her lover either. She was just… just still struggling…

But now this had happened!

Chunhua raised her ashen face to look at the Prince of Jin: “Why… why did this happen between Your Highness and me…”

The Prince of Jin fell silent briefly.

He showed a strange smile and said: “You’ll have to ask your family about that.

“They’re the ones who sent you to this prince’s bed. Otherwise, did you think that no matter how much this prince admired you, I would be so despicable?”

Chunhua’s face grew even paler, her eyes widening.

Tears rolled from her eyes.

She closed her eyes in unbearable shame.

Though her tears fell like pearls, she still knelt for her family, trembling as she pleaded through gritted teeth: “They were wrong… please don’t punish them, Your Highness. They didn’t mean to scheme against you…”

Poor-country folk, ignorant commoners, naively thinking they could control a noble prince through one scheme… Having followed the Princess for so many years, Chunhua knew well the pride of these nobles.

They could take what they wanted themselves, but no one could force them to take anything.

Seeing the beauty cry so pitifully, the Prince of Jin sighed inwardly, feeling even more tender toward her.

The Prince of Jin said: “Chunhua, why do this? You’re this prince’s woman now. Even if it’s your family… mm, this prince will overlook it for your sake.”

Chunhua bit her lip so hard her tongue bled.

Knowing the chances were extremely slim, she still looked up earnestly, begging the Prince: “I wonder if… if Your Highness could let this humble girl go? This servant… this servant already has a lover… This servant doesn’t want… doesn’t want…”

The Prince of Jin was stunned and fell silent.

He felt somewhat unwilling, as this beauty had truly captured his heart. But with Chunhua crying like this… The Prince of Jin was naturally gentle, or to put it less kindly, irresolute. He hesitated for a long time, caught in a dilemma—

The Prince of Jin finally left under Chunhua’s tearful assault, though in an unpleasant mood.

Returning to his own prince’s residence, he was immediately bumped into by a servant rushing out. The Prince of Jin exploded in anger, lashing out with his whip, feeling that no one showed him proper respect anymore.

The Prince returned to his study. His advisor, hearing of the Prince’s return, hurried over to placate him: “Your Highness, please don’t be angry. You must endure… Only by maintaining a gentle disposition can you have a glimmer of hope between the pressure from those two princes.”

The Prince of Jin slumped in defeat.

His several elder brothers were all capable men.

It was one thing when the Second Prince, excelling in both civil and military arts, had suppressed all his brothers to the point they could barely breathe – at least the Second Prince was gone now. But now the Crown Prince was ruthlessly calculating, scheming about everything; the Prince of Qin’s maternal family held great power, his princess consort wielded influence, and he controlled military power… Under the pressure from these people, if the Prince of Jin’s temperament wasn’t good enough, wasn’t soft enough, he would have been crushed countless times already.

The Prince of Jin sat down, thinking about how even a mere maid dared to refuse him. And to maintain his image, he had agreed.

He sighed: “When will these days of being suppressed by everyone ends…”

His advisor again counseled him, saying His Majesty liked his obedience, so the Prince of Jin absolutely must not be disobedient.

After much persuasion, the Prince of Jin’s mood gradually improved, returning to his humble and gentle demeanor. After the advisors left, the Princess Consort of Jin came to ask what had happened, why he had suddenly lost his temper and whipped that servant.

The Prince of Jin had a good relationship with this step-princess consort. After all, they were both under pressure, sharing the same difficulties, which made them see eye to eye.

The Prince told her about his affair with Chunhua last night.

Hearing that the Prince had taken a woman, the Princess Consort felt a slight grief, but suppressed it, saying: “Is it that maid of the Princess of Danyang? I seem to have seen her before.”

The Prince of Jin said: “Yes, that’s her! She’s the most beautiful of them all – I was taken with her at first sight.”

The Princess Consort thought about how her husband still had no children. Though jealous, for the sake of offspring, she had always gritted her teeth and encouraged her husband to take more women.

So now she endured her displeasure and said: “Why don’t I go to the Princess of Danyang and ask her for this maid? She’s just a maid after all. I’ll go speak to her, so Your Highness won’t have to damage your image.”

The Prince of Jin was tempted.

But then he remembered how Mu Wanyao had mentioned her dead maid to him that day with that ambiguous smile, and his heart turned cold. He shook his head…

He muttered: “Better not. Ever since Danyang returned from Wu Man, I’ve felt something changed about that girl. She seems to have become much more ruthless… Better not provoke her.”

The Princess Consort inwardly spat “coward,” but outwardly still smiled and went along with the Prince of Jin’s wishes.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Jin pondered: perhaps it was time for him to have an heir… His two elder brothers shouldn’t mind, should they?

His Majesty’s health was deteriorating day by day, who knew when… If he still had no heir, he would be completely irrelevant in the struggle for succession. After all, one who would become the Son of Heaven couldn’t be without an heir—

On Chunhua’s side, after the Prince of Jin left, she also changed into clean clothes.

Her face was frost-like as she faced her brother and sister-in-law, who lowered their heads uneasily under her gaze.

Her elderly mother tried to persuade her: “Entering the prince’s residence would be so good, Chunhua, how can you not know to cherish this opportunity, and now you’re blaming your brother and sister-in-law…”

The family could hurt one the deepest.

Chunhua’s heart ached, but she forcefully suppressed the pain and said with a cold smile: “You think entering the prince’s residence is something good? The Prince of Jin still has no heir until now – do you think this is normal? Our Princess told me this is because the Prince of Jin deliberately avoids having children to not draw attention. Otherwise, how could he possibly…

“Do you think the Prince of Jin’s residence is such a good place?”

At her words, her illiterate family members finally panicked.

Her brother anxiously said: “You don’t mean the Prince of Jin kills his children, do you? That’s impossible, right?”

Chunhua stomped her foot in anger: “Brother! How can you say such things? Speaking those words is a capital offense!”

Her brother immediately shut his mouth in fright.

Her sister-in-law was also at her wit’s end. Though she wanted her sister-in-law to marry up in status, if the Prince’s residence was that kind of place… The sister-in-law trembled: “Then… then what do we do now? Chunhua, it was just one night, you won’t get pregnant, will you?”

Chunhua froze, then tears welled in her eyes again.

She said: “Then I’ll have to trouble sister-in-law to brew me a strong medicine… I cannot get pregnant.”

She was the only educated person in their family, so naturally they listened to her.

Her sister-in-law hurriedly walked out, but Chunhua remembered something and ran after her.

Chunhua held her sister-in-law’s hand, repeatedly instructing: “The medicine must be strong… Otherwise, like our Princess…”

She suddenly fell silent.

Thinking of what the Princess of Danyang had endured in Wu Man, her eyes grew heavy with pain.

She felt both heartache for her mistress and fear of encountering the same fate as the Princess had years ago. Afraid that one failed abortion would lead to more suffering… If possible, what woman would willingly be so cruel to herself?—

The sky was clear and bright.

Chunhua finally sorted out her situation, convincing herself that as long as the Prince of Jin didn’t speak of it, no one would know.

When Chunhua returned to the Princess’s residence, her heart pounded as she went to see Mu Wanyao, fearing the Prince of Jin had already come to ask the Princess to hand her over.

However, when she returned to the Princess’s residence, she found Mu Wanyao wasn’t there.

A maid said: “Her Highness went to the palace with Young Master Yan to seek an audience with the Crown Prince. It must be about some political matters, we don’t understand such things.”

Chunhua was stunned: “Has Her Highness… reconciled with Young Master Yan?”

The maid nodded with certainty: “They must have. Young Master Yan has been at our residence these past few days, and Her Highness hasn’t driven him away.”

Chunhua felt lost, temporarily setting aside her troubles as she began to worry about Mu Wanyao…

When you stay away from someone for a long time, you get used to it; but if you’re constantly together with that person, can you control your feelings?—

Mu Wanyao shared a carriage with Yan Shang.

Though they rode together, they sat far apart.

Mu Wanyao was thinking about how to begin when she met the Crown Prince; Yan Shang was taking advantage of this time to read, head lowered over his book.

The carriage first entered the imperial city, then the palace grounds. When they reached the palace, the carriage stopped as the guards outside went to check their entry tokens. At this moment, something struck the carriage door from outside twice. Though very light, with little force, both occupants heard it.

Yan Shang’s eyelids lifted, his reading disturbed by the knocking sound.

He saw Mu Wanyao’s tense face as she lifted the curtain and leaned out the window. She hadn’t even seen who was outside before she started scolding: “Yang Si, aren’t you bored? Was it you throwing pebbles at my carriage?”

Outside stood a youth in close-fitting red robes – it was indeed Yang Si.

He carelessly stroked the mane of the horse he was leading as he turned to look at the carriage, showing a handsome and casual smile.

He said: “Coming to the palace so early? Are you hoping to have lunch with the Crown Prince?”

Mu Wanyao: “You’re one to talk! I think you’re the one hoping for lunch!”

Yang Si smiled brilliantly, showing white teeth that dazzled in the sunlight, without a trace of gloom.

The young man swung his horsewhip carelessly, nearly hitting a nearby guard. He studied Mu Wanyao for a few more moments, seeing her complexion was good and her mood stable. He stepped forward, resting his hand on the carriage shaft, and snapped his fingers at Mu Wanyao.

He drawled: “Such nice weather, yet you’re sitting in a carriage – isn’t it stuffy? Come walk with me.”

Mu Wanyao said: “I’m not riding alone.”

Yang Si was startled, his expression darkening slightly. He suddenly leaned forward and pushed open the carriage door. At this moment, he saw that besides Mu Wanyao sitting properly, there was another person in the carriage.

That person sat in the dimly lit area, extraordinarily quiet and elegant. He hadn’t said a word from start to finish, making Yang Si think Mu Wanyao was alone in the carriage.

That person cupped his hands in greeting Yang Si, his voice gentle: “Third Young Master Yang.”

Yang Si stared at him, studying his refined features for a long while before remembering: “…Scholar Yan!”

Mu Wanyao laughed: “What are you saying, his name is Yan Shang… You’re making up names for people.”

She smiled like a flower, her eyes rippling with mirth. Yang Si was so embarrassed by her laughter that even his neck turned red. However, he affected an impatient manner and gave her a cold glare.

Third Young Master Yang snorted: “I never remember people’s names anyway.”

Young Master Yang looked coldly at Yan Shang, displeasure in his eyes: “What’s he here for?”

Mu Wanyao: “Of course, it’s for business, but why should I tell you?”

Yang Si’s eyes fell on Mu Wanyao’s face. He paused for a moment, then looked again at the young man in the carriage. Yang Si’s searching gaze lingered for a moment or two.

Afterward, without showing any reaction, Yang Si casually stepped back, no longer concerning himself with them.

The young man stood by his horse and waved lazily to Mu Wanyao: “Then I’ll go first, see you at the Eastern Palace. Want me to have the Crown Prince save you some lunch?”

Mu Wanyao quickly said: “No need! I’ll just say a few words and leave, I won’t be dining at the Eastern Palace.”

Yang Si mounted his horse and rode away. Mu Wanyao leaned out the carriage window to shout, though it wasn’t clear if he heard. The youth’s retreating figure was sharp and cold, yet gracefully unrestrained, and he didn’t look back at her again.

Closing the carriage door, Mu Wanyao looked at Yan Shang sitting quietly in the carriage.

Seeing him lost in thought, Mu Wanyao coughed and explained: “That was Yang Si, he’s like the Crown Prince’s shadow. The few times I avoided him before were because I didn’t want the Crown Prince to know where I’d gone… Um, you’ve met him a few times before, I don’t know if you remember.”

Yan Shang looked at her.

After a while, he said: “Your Highness seems to speak very naturally with Third Young Master Yang, without needing to think much.”

Mu Wanyao: “That’s because he’s a very simple person. Even if you speak indirectly with him, he won’t catch on. Of course, I just say what I mean.”

Yan Shang said: “That’s not what I meant.”

Mu Wanyao: “Hm?”

Yan Shang frowned, then slowly said: “…I meant, Your Highness seems to have much to say to Third Young Master Yang.”

Mu Wanyao was puzzled and questioned him with her eyes about what he meant. She had known Yang Si for many years – what was wrong with saying a few more words to him?

But Yan Shang said no more.

He thought to himself that His Highness didn’t seem to have so much to say to him. When he was with Her Highness, they often fell into silence, often had nothing to say to each other. Yet Her Highness and Third Young Master Yang… their conversation flowed back and forth, never fearing awkward silences.

The carriage started moving again, and Yan Shang lowered his eyes, quietly turning the pages of his book.

Mu Wanyao seemed to suddenly remember something, and with a mix of malice and genuine curiosity, she asked with a smile: “I don’t think I’ve ever told you – you know the Li family hopes I’ll marry Wei Juyuan, and on the Crown Prince’s side, they hope I’ll marry Yang Si.

“Since you’re my retainer now, help me decide – which one would be better to marry?”

Yan Shang: “…”