As Mu Wanyao went to close the door, Yan Shang hurriedly tied his robe sash, feeling somewhat annoyed. He had simply returned to change clothes before going out again that evening – originally a matter without any complications. But who could have anticipated Princess Danyang’s sudden intrusion? Only she could go wherever she pleased, entering directly without even knocking…

While Yan Shang was still brooding, he heard footsteps returning. He froze, hastily grabbing an apricot-colored outer robe lying on the bed and draping it over himself. As he moved to pull the lapels tight, he realized this gesture seemed too feminine, as if he were being overly cautious around her…

With his fingers still on the sash, before he could think it through, Mu Wanyao had already returned. Yan Shang was startled – he hadn’t expected her to come back… Normally, shouldn’t she have just left after his polite dismissal?

Why did she return?

Not only did she return, but the young princess’s ink-drop black eyes looked at him differently now – gone was her earlier brash demeanor when she had first burst in. Now her gaze held curiosity, shyness, teasing… and a touch of bewilderment.

She stared at him unblinkingly.

Her eyes traced down from his neck… Yan Shang turned sideways, tugging at his collar.

Mu Wanyao had come to her senses now, no longer the foolish princess who had been sent to close the door. Seeing him dodge sideways, the corners of her lips curved into a smile.

Her cheeks burned even as her heart leaped with joy. She said, “What are you hiding from? It’s not like I haven’t seen before…”

She had seen his chest before, after all.

That night when he had lain gasping in her arms, barely conscious, his face covered in sweat that had flowed down his neck into his clothes. His disheveled robes had been partly soaked through with his sweat then. At the time, Mu Wanyao had been too shocked by how much he was sweating to look properly… but now as her thoughts wandered chaotically, she realized he hadn’t looked as good then as he did now.

The beautiful youth wearing only a loose outer robe and middle garment had long, graceful limbs and a well-proportioned frame, magnificent as a snow crane.

His hair was still damp, drops of water dripping down to wet his inner garment, making the snow-white fabric somewhat translucent…

Lost in her scattered thoughts, Mu Wanyao noticed Yan Shang turning to look at her.

There was a touch of red beneath his eyes, but his tone was properly puzzled: “When has Your Highness seen before?”

Mu Wanyao: “Uh.”

Seeing him staring at her, knowing how clever he was, she feared he might guess if their eyes met for just a moment longer… Mu Wanyao quickly averted her gaze, clasping her hands behind her back as she scolded, “Why so many questions? Hurry up and get dressed properly!”

She went on the offensive first: “You’re so strange! How can you change clothes without locking the door!”

Yan Shang replied helplessly: “I’m in my room, in my own home, why would I need to lock the door to change? How could I know someone would…”

Mu Wanyao: “What did you say?”

Yan Shang sighed: “Nothing. Could Your Highness please step out again and let me get dressed?”

Mu Wanyao said: “Wouldn’t leaving make it seem like I feel guilty? Why should I feel guilty when I’m not even looking at you? Just get dressed casually, why are you being so fussy? You’re a man, after all.”

Yan Shang stood frozen, facing away from her without moving for a long while. She saw him tug at his sash a couple of times, but he seemed to remain conflicted.

The apricot-colored outer robe draped over his form – it was a light shade that few men could pull off effectively. Yet on Yan Shang, it looked elegant and pleasing.

Mu Wanyao couldn’t help but stare at his silhouette, lost in thought for quite a while before biting her lip.

…Indeed, a feast for the eyes.

Then she blushed again, feeling that such thoughts were improper. Mu Wanyao’s eyes swept across the bed, seeing the other garments folded neatly there. She couldn’t help imagining these clothes being held in his arms, being put on one by one… Mu Wanyao heard Yan Shang say softly: “Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao replied absently: “What is it?”

Yan Shang kept his head lowered, his voice soft and warm, somewhat pleading: “If Your Highness won’t leave, at least go behind the screen… I really cannot undress and dress in front of Your Highness.”

Mu Wanyao said: “…You’re too troublesome.”

Despite her words, Mu Wanyao still stood up and went behind the screen. She felt relieved herself, because if Yan Shang hadn’t asked her to leave, having her sit there watching him change clothes… Mu Wanyao herself would have felt somewhat embarrassed.

She just didn’t want to show her embarrassment—

After about a quarter-hour of such fussing, Mu Wanyao finally sat down again, able to have a normal conversation with Yan Shang.

Yan Shang was fully dressed now, his long hair half-bound with a ribbon, half draped over his shoulders to dry naturally. He sat on the bed, leaning against the bedpost and curtains, maintaining distance from Mu Wanyao who sat on the couch opposite him.

They sat awkwardly.

In silence.

After a long while, Yan Shang finally coughed once to break the strange atmosphere: “What did Your Highness wish to see me about? I have an appointment to go out tonight that I shouldn’t break.”

Mu Wanyao said: “I thought as much.”

He had specifically come back to bathe and change clothes, clearly planning to go out.

Mu Wanyao raised her head to look at him, focusing on his face. Though he kept his eyes lowered, with half his features cast in shadow… looking at his face was better than looking at other parts of his body that might lead to wandering thoughts.

Mu Wanyao said: “I know about your plan to send people to Wu Man for half a year to gather information.”

Yan Shang remained silent.

Mu Wanyao forced her tone to be cold, refusing to be affected by what she had seen earlier: “Why are you gathering information? Is this something you should be concerned with? Yan Er, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Yan Shang lifted his face slightly.

Still not raising his gaze, he asked in return: “Can Your Highness not guess?”

Mu Wanyao’s expression remained blank: “Your mind is as complex as a wasp’s nest, who knows what you’re thinking? Perhaps you want to use my past to threaten me, feeling I’ve been too harsh with you and wanting to rebel.”

Yan Shang finally couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at her. She had clearly guessed but deliberately spoke this way, so Yan Shang had no choice but to explain: “Because the most troublesome matter concerning Your Highness is the past with Wu Man. Since I told Your Highness I would be your retainer and help you, naturally I must find ways to resolve your greatest difficulty.

“I certainly have no clear direction. And precisely because I have no direction, I need people to go to Wu Man, to help me understand the Five Tribes of the South, understand the relationship between Wu Man and the Southern Barbarians… Only by knowing these things will we not be at a loss, not know where to begin, if trouble truly arises in the future.”

Mu Wanyao said nothing.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, her hand gripping the wooden table.

She had guessed this was the case.

Because Yan Shang had no reason to harm her… he would only be good to her.

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, somewhat vacant. She murmured: “If you want to help resolve my troubles, want to understand Wu Man, why not ask me directly? In all of Great Wei, who could understand Wu Man better than me?”

She had spent her most painful two to three years there, after all.

If Yan Shang wanted to know, he could just ask her directly, why go to the trouble of sending people to Wu Man?

Yan Shang remained silent.

Mu Wanyao felt utterly humiliated, thinking he must be pitying her, which was why he stayed silent, not answering. His consideration cut like a blade – sometimes that gentleness was truly bone-deep painful… Mu Wanyao trembled uncontrollably, starting from her fingers throughout her whole body.

She tried to suppress her emotions, but couldn’t keep the hoarseness and harshness from her voice.

She tried to save face: “I know why you won’t ask me. You think my memory is poor, that whatever you tell me today, I’ll forget tomorrow. Whatever we do one moment, the next moment I act like it never happened… You think my memory is poor, that even if you ask I won’t remember, so you simply don’t ask.”

Yan Shang was stunned.

Moonlight shone in from outside.

Night had fallen, yet no lamps were lit in the room. In the darkness, neither of them was in the mood to light any candles.

Yan Shang leaned against the bed, looking at the princess sitting on the couch. She sat there with drooping shoulders and lowered eyes, her fingers hidden in her sleeves, showing no trace of emotion.

He stared at her for a long while, several times barely restraining himself from getting up to embrace her. But Yan Shang forced himself to hold back, turning away his gaze, telling himself he must not.

She was unrestrained, unconstrained. Her moods were mercurial – when coquettish she was as adorable as a young girl, when angry her words were harsh and hurtful. The distance between them was too great – he knew she had no heart for him, clearly knew which path she wished to take, he couldn’t let her…

So Yan Shang didn’t go over, only saying gently: “Your Highness shouldn’t speak this way. Your Highness doesn’t have a poor memory at all – I’ve heard Your Highness was once accomplished in both talent and music. How could someone who accomplished both have a poor memory?

“It’s just that Your Highness’s life was too bitter before. Your Highness doesn’t wish to remember, deliberately making yourself forget. Your Highness keeps forcing you to forget in your heart, which is why you often can’t remember many things clearly. Those unpleasant matters won’t affect Your Highness’s life now. What’s wrong with Your Highness not wanting to remember, remembering today, and forgetting tomorrow?

“None of that matters. Your Highness need not worry – from the day I agreed to be your retainer, the Wu Man matter became my pledge of loyalty to you, to show Your Highness my capabilities. These are matters that your advisors and retainers should help you think through – Your Highness need not concern yourself with them at all.”

Mu Wanyao suddenly raised her eyes to look at him.

In the hazy moonlight, the room was dark, with just the two of them sitting quietly on opposite sides, the distance between them as vast as the Milky Way.

When Yan Shang met Mu Wanyao’s upturned gaze, he saw the moonlight rippling in her eyes like waves.

Yan Shang said: “Your Highness, don’t cry.”

Mu Wanyao immediately retorted: “Which eye of yours saw me crying? Since you’ve known me, when have you ever seen me cry? Are you blind?”

Her words were still like sharp knives, showing no mercy.

But Yan Shang remained as peaceful as ever, unharmed by her harshness.

He still looked at her gently, saying softly: “Then, Your Highness, don’t be sad.”

Mu Wanyao froze.

He said: “Don’t be so sad. It’s nothing.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes suddenly reddened.

She had said she wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t shed tears. Since enduring all those grievances and humiliation, she had told herself she would never shed another tear. Yet tonight, with just these few words from him, she truly couldn’t help her eyes reddening… Mu Wanyao bit her teeth, fighting back tears, just staring at him.

She looked at him for a long time.

Suddenly she said: “Are you using the Wu Man matter to buy my heart, to make me depend on you?”

Yan Shang was stunned.

Then his face grew slightly cold, his jaw tightening.

Even with his usual gentle nature, he couldn’t help but find this laughable now.

Yan Shang said: “Does Your Highness think I have a heart of iron and stone, that everything I do must be for manipulation and profit, with no other reason?”

Mu Wanyao: “I don’t know. Because you’re just like that – you have too many hearts, who knows how many petals of them I’m fortunate enough to receive.”

Yan Shang felt somewhat angry. He leaned back slightly, opening his mouth to argue but not knowing where to begin. In her eyes, his image was always that of someone who pleased all sides, who never acted without profit in mind, who always had some ulterior motive no matter what he did…

She was… was…

He lowered his eyes, somewhat dejected and helpless. Yan Shang said: “Your Highness may think whatever you wish.”

Mu Wanyao smiled slightly: “Are you angry?”

She paused: “I was just asking you, just clarifying whether you were trying to win my favor. I was just confirming.”

Yan Shang: “Confirming what?”

Mu Wanyao said: “If you’re not deliberately trying to win my favor, then I’ll think you’re being good to me for no reason.”

As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and walked toward the bed. In Yan Shang’s downcast peripheral vision, he saw Mu Wanyao standing beside him. He thought she was going to say something, but who knew that the next moment, she would kneel on the bed and throw her arms around him.

Yan Shang was stunned, leaning back. His back pressed against the bedpost as he looked up at her in surprise. She embraced him, kneeling on the bed with her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.

Yan Shang’s entire body was frozen stiff, his voice trembling: “Your Highness…”

—Had she become so accustomed to suddenly running over to embrace him?

Mu Wanyao’s voice was muffled against his chest: “I envy Yan Xiaozhou.”

Yan Shang was bewildered: “What?”

How did his little sister come into this?

Mu Wanyao said: “Yan Xiaozhou has such a brother as you, who thinks of everything for her, and arranges everything. You’re naturally good to her, not like how you are with outsiders. Your heart for outsiders surely isn’t as good as it is for Yan Xiaozhou.”

Yan Shang didn’t know what to say.

Being embraced by her like this, his expression was conflicted. He knew she was upset and needed comfort; however, being embraced like this… he struggled greatly.

But Mu Wanyao suddenly had an inspiration, lifting her face from his chest, saying softly: “Why don’t I call you ‘Second Brother’ too? Be good to me like you are to Yan Xiaozhou, be good to me for no reason, alright?”

Yan Shang froze, then laughed helplessly: “Don’t joke around.”

She was the Emperor’s youngest daughter, of imperial blood. She had her real brothers – how could she casually call others ‘brothers’?

Mu Wanyao said: “You don’t like me calling you ‘Second Brother’? True, many people call you ‘Second Brother.’ Even Wei Shu calls you ‘Second Brother.’ Then, how about I call you… Second Big Brother, alright?”

Yan Shang blushed, starting to push at her shoulders to make her get up. He could see she wasn’t so upset anymore – she had started teasing, started having wild ideas.

Yan Shang repeated: “Don’t joke around.”

Mu Wanyao ignored him. She hugged his neck, leaning close to his ear, soft and gentle, as if nibbling his ear, calling out once: “Second Big Brother…”

In that instant, pressed against Yan Shang’s ear, she felt his ear turn completely red at once, his heartbeat suddenly quickening, the artery in his neck beginning to pulse violently. He suddenly looked at her, his gaze electric, many emotions suppressed beneath…

Mu Wanyao called out coquettishly, charmingly, softly, coyly: “Second Big Brother!”

Her wrist was grabbed and she was suddenly pushed down onto the bed. Yan Shang’s voice was taut above her head, his emotions suppressed yet nearly breaking: “…Don’t make fun of people!”