Mu Wanyao had Yan Shang sit on the couch by the window as she retrieved medicine powder and a small spoon, making him tilt his face up so she could apply the medicine.

When her fingers touched his face, she felt his skin was slightly hot beneath her touch, and he trembled involuntarily.

Mu Wanyao glanced down to see him lowering his eyes again, avoiding her gaze. However, when she looked toward his temples, she noticed his ears were slightly red, and she laughed inwardly.

He was just trying hard to appear calm.

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together, feeling as if her fingertips might be burned by the heat of his face.

But who was truly calm?

Mu Wanyao’s emotions always shifted quickly—moments ago she had been angry enough to tear him apart, but now she was holding his face with perfect composure, forcing him to tilt his head back. When he showed slight resistance, she scolded: “Don’t move.”

Yan Shang kept his eyes lowered, saying softly: “Your Highness, please just clean it with water, don’t use alcohol.”

Mu Wanyao’s hand had already been reaching for the wine cup on the nearby table. Hearing this, she asked in surprise: “Why is that?”

Yan Shang said quietly: “Your Highness knows I never drink alcohol, I can’t even touch it at all. I’m afraid if even a bit of wine touches me… I’ll become drunk.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

What an incredibly delicate constitution.

She suddenly remembered the night she refused the Emperor’s marriage decree when Yan Shang came to find her. That night when she was drunk, she recalled Yan Shang stumbling slightly when he first entered… so he had gotten dizzy just from the alcohol fumes?

Then he… he had still managed to endure the discomfort of rejecting her.

That must have been difficult.

Mu Wanyao casually said “Oh,” and poured a cup of fresh water instead, saying: “It might hurt a bit, don’t cry out.”

Yan Shang couldn’t help glancing up at her.

She looked at him mischievously.

He coughed once and moved his gaze away.

Then naturally she used the water to clean his wound, wiping away the blood before holding the medicine powder and using the small spoon to sprinkle it bit by bit onto his face, gently rubbing it in.

However, Mu Wanyao’s hands trembled slightly. After wiping the blood clean from his face, she saw the long scratch nearly split half his left face. Although the wound didn’t mar the young lord’s beauty, still… it was still damaged.

Guilt rose in Mu Wanyao’s heart.

It was her uncontrolled temper that had hurt him.

Mu Wanyao used a cotton swab to gently rub the medicine powder on his face. Perhaps it did sting, as his lowered eyelashes trembled slightly. She stood before him, feeling how tense his body was. Looking down, she saw the blush on his face flowing down his neck and continuing lower.

The sunlight scattered like gold dust on his eyelashes as they quivered slightly, dancing like flowing light, enchantingly beautiful.

Mu Wanyao found herself staring, her hands stopping their movement.

Yan Shang thought he had disturbed her and said: “I’m sorry, I won’t move anymore.”

Mu Wanyao was startled, mumbling: “It’s not because of you…”

She continued holding his face, applying the medicine.

However, this time she couldn’t help but carefully study his face.

She had rarely looked at Yan Shang properly before. Her heart was always full of anger and disdain toward him, and sometimes when she was happy, she treated him like a toy. She had known he was handsome from their first meeting, but so what?

Princess Danyang’s heart had been like stagnant water, without ripples.

Only now, having to bend close to apply medicine, did she have to be near him. Holding his face, their breaths very close, she saw the golden light scattered on his lowered long lashes, his high straight nose somewhat delicate, his slightly red and pressed lips, his peaceful expression.

He was handsome, but somewhat gentle and soft, his nose, mouth, eyes, and eyebrows all revealing that composed and quiet side of his personality.

Mu Wanyao said slowly: “Yan Shang.”

“…Mm?” With her so close while speaking to him, her breath brushing his face, the temperature of Yan Shang’s face grew even hotter. But he still hadn’t looked up at her once. He hesitated before responding.

Mu Wanyao said: “Do you think my temper is too bad?”

Yan Shang was slightly stunned, finally raising his eyes to look at her. The moment he looked up, his eyelashes lifted, trapping the golden sunlight in his eyes like scattered light on a clear lake, so beautiful that Mu Wanyao’s hand trembled slightly, pressing on his wound, making him stiffen.

However, he didn’t show it, so Mu Wanyao didn’t realize her clumsiness had hurt him again.

Yan Shang looked at her for a moment, saying: “Why does Your Highness say this?”

Mu Wanyao continued applying medicine slowly and methodically: “Isn’t it obvious? I often get angry, often show you a black face, and now I’ve even hurt you. I’m unreasonable and don’t listen to what you say; I’m willful and affected, only thinking of myself.”

The corner of her lips curved.

She smiled, self-mockingly and coldly: “It must be very tiring dealing with someone like me?”

Yan Shang said: “It is quite tiring.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Her eyes immediately blazed with fire as she glared at him fiercely.

She saw Yan Shang, sitting on the couch looking shorter than her, smiling slightly. Mu Wanyao noticed his reclining, kneeling posture.

If they were lovers, in this position, it would be perfect for him to reach out and hold her waist, pull her to sit on his lap to comfort her.

But unfortunately, Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang weren’t in that kind of relationship.

Yan Shang’s arms were braced on the couch, his distance from her both close yet carefully controlled to not be too burdensome. His upper body leaning slightly back, face upturned, this position… Mu Wanyao glanced at his waist, thinking his waist must be quite strained.

Of course, Yan Shang had no idea Mu Wanyao’s mind was wandering, randomly thinking about his waist.

He said softly: “Although dealing with Your Highness is quite tiring, for me, it seems fine somehow.”

As he analyzed himself, he smiled somewhat uncomfortably: “Your Highness knows how I am, usually dealing with people skillfully, rarely finding anyone troublesome or not knowing how to handle them. After a long time, my interactions with people… all follow somewhat fixed patterns.”

Mu Wanyao sneered: “Indeed, perfectly diplomatic.”

Yan Shang was the type of person very used to self-analysis. He frowned slightly, continuing to analyze himself: “But I often can’t understand Your Highness’s thoughts, don’t know what Your Highness is thinking… because Your Highness’s moods are unpredictable, one moment happy and the next turning away from me. Dealing with Your Highness forces me to be attentive, it gives me a kind of…”

Mu Wanyao interrupted: “A feeling that you’re still human and haven’t become a saint?”

Yan Shang: “…”

He said helplessly: “I suppose that’s the idea.”

Although Mu Wanyao put it quite harshly.

Mu Wanyao looked down at him, suddenly smiling. She said softly: “Actually, I wasn’t always like this… I used to be very gentle, even better-natured than Fifth Miss Zhao. If you think Fifth Miss is lovely the previous me was even better. If you had met me then, you would have found me obedient and clever.”

She thought for a moment, puffing her cheeks, saying resentfully: “However, if I had known you back then, I definitely would have been completely fooled by you, would have counted money for you after being sold by you, would have thought you were the best man in the world, crying and insisting on marrying you.”

Yan Shang chuckled, probably imagining what an obedient and well-behaved Mu Wanyao would be like.

He smiled lightly, shaking his head, not refuting her jabs at him. He rarely showed such a relaxed state, no longer maintaining that perfectly composed expression unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Mu Wanyao’s heart stirred at the sight.

She had finished applying medicine for him but was reluctant to let go of his face. The cotton swab was tossed on the table, her fingers still holding his face, watching him smile.

Her heart rippled slightly, showing a somewhat enchanted expression.

She murmured: “But maybe not. You’re such a good person, how could you deceive a weak, innocent young lady like me?”

Yan Shang couldn’t help glancing at her, sighing: “At last Your Highness speaks fairly of me.”

Mu Wanyao saw her reflection in his upturned eyes, becoming entranced as she said dazedly: “…Why didn’t I meet you back then? If I had known you then…”

Perhaps even if she still couldn’t escape her fate of political marriage, things wouldn’t have reached this point.

If she had known Yan Shang then, if Yan Shang would still have helped her then, if he had been in Wuman then, comforting her… she thought she probably wouldn’t have developed such a terrible personality.

Yan Shang was silent for a long time.

After quite a while, he said hoarsely: “Your Highness, is the medicine finished?”

Mu Wanyao came back to her senses, stepping back.

She lowered her eyes as Yan Shang stood up. He stood before her for a while before saying softly: “Does Your Highness still want me to apply medicine for you?”

Mu Wanyao looked up: “Weren’t you unwilling to apply medicine for me?”

Yan Shang said gently: “I was only afraid of being improper with Your Highness, afraid of damaging Your Highness’s reputation. What would I be unwilling about?”

Mu Wanyao said: “…I thought you were afraid your good reputation would be dragged down by me.”

Yan Shang’s eyes paused, unable to bear her clear self-awareness.

Mu Wanyao always understood everything in her heart… Yan Shang felt a slight pain in his heart as he grabbed her wrist, saying softly: “How could my reputation be more important than Your Highness?”

He thought for a moment, then said slowly: “Your Highness, you are a princess, you can be however you wish to be. If even a princess must compromise her temperament, wouldn’t the world be too difficult? Your Highness can naturally become a princess who is loved and admired, enduring humiliation with dignity, maintaining composure no matter what happens, never showing any trace of disturbance, and making everyone around you trust and follow you.

“But what does it matter if you don’t want to be that way? Who decided that a princess must be one way, that ladies in the world can’t have any personality of their own? I haven’t seen Your Highness beating your servants, at most, you just scold them a bit… I think for a princess who can do whatever she wants, just getting angry sometimes is already quite good.

“Your Highness… living freely is quite nice.”

Mu Wanyao looked up at him.

She remained silent, but thought to herself that Yan Shang spoke this way because he didn’t understand her past; once he knew, he would be like everyone else in Chang’an, knowing that she, this princess, didn’t have such a good reputation.

About Yan Shang, people said he was perfectly diplomatic, yet when he spoke to everyone, he was always very sincere. He seemed to see everyone’s difficulties and empathize with them… such a person was very hypocritical, but also very gentlemanly.

Whether genuine or false, if Young Master Yan was willing to treat people this way for life, then he was a gentleman. These words of his moved Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao smiled indifferently, lowering her eyes as she pushed him, saying: “Go get the medicine.”

Yan Shang turned, putting away the medicine on the table, going out to give it to the maid and get a new medicine. While he was out, Mu Wanyao threw a mint leaf into a cup of clear water and drank it.

She frowned with red cheeks.

Thinking that soon he would have to apply medicine to her mouth.

She needed to quickly rinse her mouth while his back was turned—

At night, the Princess’s residence was brightly lit.

Mu Wanyao sat in the three-story pavilion in the inner courtyard, quietly staring at the residence opposite the princess’s mansion. Behind her, besides the attending maids, there were also three or four advisors standing, accompanying the princess.

However, the princess just sat without speaking, and no one knew what she was looking at, leaving the advisors confused.

In Mu Wanyao’s eyes, the mansion opposite the princess’s residence had dim, sparse lighting. This meant only servants were there now, Yan Shang wasn’t present.

Half an hour ago, Zhao Lingfei had still been waiting in the alley; now, with the district gates about to close, Zhao Lingfei had reluctantly left.

After Mu Wanyao sat in the cold wind a while longer, she saw the lights across the way gradually brightening, scattered here and there, as if the whole courtyard had come alive. Mu Wanyao changed her sitting position, rubbing her neck, knowing this meant Yan Shang had returned home.

Only after his return did this place stop being like still water without ripples.

Mu Wanyao asked the maid behind her: “These past few days, has Fifth Miss Zhao still been blocking Yan Shang’s way every day from morning to night?”

Today’s duty maid was Xia Rong. Because Chun Hua said she wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early.

Xia Rong quickly answered: “Yes, Fifth Miss Zhao has persisted for almost ten days now. It seems… she can still keep going.”

Mu Wanyao sneered but felt somewhat envious in her heart.

Such persistence. To decide on someone and want to follow them for life? Mu Wanyao had long lost such attitudes.

For Mu Wanyao, even with things already in her grasp, she could throw back into the pool for benefits. Let alone things not yet obtained?

However, now every time Mu Wanyao left the residence and saw Zhao Lingfei, she felt irritated. To stop herself from being irritated, she decided to resolve this matter.

Mu Wanyao asked her advisors: “You are all young lords, let me ask you, if a lady was desperately pursuing you, insisting on marrying you, and she had a good family background so you couldn’t offend her, how would you avoid this lady?”

The advisors knew Mu Wanyao was talking about Young Master Yan.

Pretending not to know, they suggested: “If it were this humble official, I would say I already had a lady I admired.”

Mu Wanyao looked at the maid Xia Rong.

Xia Rong looked back blankly.

Mu Wanyao said impatiently: “Send this suggestion to the servants in the residence across the way, let them give some hints to their master who doesn’t know how to reject people.”

Xia Rong repeatedly said “Oh,” ashamed at not being in sync with the princess, and hurried out to handle the matter.

But shortly after, Xia Rong returned.

She said trembling: “This servant went to find the attendant called Yun Shu who has been following Young Master lately. He said their master had already tried this approach with Fifth Miss Zhao, but it didn’t work at all.”

Mu Wanyao was puzzled: “How could it not work?”

Xia Rong didn’t dare tell the princess that Yun Shu had said such simple methods, which their master had thought of long ago, without needing others’ hints.

Xia Rong picked out the important parts to say: “Young Master Yan told Fifth Miss Zhao he had a lady he liked, but Fifth Miss Zhao demanded to know who it was. Young Master made up a lie, and that day Fifth Miss Zhao left very heartbroken. Young Master thought Fifth Miss had finally left, but who knew Fifth Miss Zhao remembered what Young Master said and went to find this supposedly admired lady.

“Once she looked, naturally she discovered Young Master had lied. When Fifth Miss Zhao came back to see Young Master Yan, not only did she not question why he had deceived her, but she confessed again with tears in her eyes, begging Young Master that even if he didn’t like her, he shouldn’t toy with her.

“For someone as gentle as Young Master, what could he do? Now, he can only avoid seeing people.”

Mu Wanyao said: “Useless.”

It wasn’t clear if she was calling Yan Shang useless or the advisors behind her who had made the suggestion.

In any case, the people standing behind the princess all lowered their heads, not daring to speak. Later they made some more suggestions, only to discover Young Master Yan had tried them all already, with no effect. Everyone looked at each other as the princess snorted coldly and got up to leave.

Mu Wanyao said impatiently: “Such a simple matter, yet I have to handle it personally.”

Xia Rong said softly: “It’s mainly because of reputation concerns…”

Getting one look from the princess turning back, she immediately dared not speak further, trembling inside and silently praying for Chun Hua to recover soon. Serving the princess closely was too difficult—

The next day, when Mu Wanyao returned from outside, she again saw Zhao Lingfei squatting at Yan Shang’s residence gate, chatting and giggling with the maids.

Mu Wanyao kept her face expressionless as she called out: “Zhao Lingfei.”

“Ah?” Zhao Lingfei looked up, saw the princess had returned, and hurriedly stood to bow, smiling brightly, “Your Highness has returned quite early today.”

Her tone carried a hint of disappointment, thinking she definitely wouldn’t see Young Master Yan again today.

Mu Wanyao looked at her: “Come to my residence. I have some things to tell you.”

Zhao Lingfei was bewildered but quickly picked up her skirts, following Mu Wanyao with a smile.

Having played with her cousin for so long, although she often saw Mu Wanyao’s cold face, because Yang Si always spoke of Mu Wanyao in a casual, carefree tone, it gave Zhao Lingfei the impression that the princess wasn’t a bad person.

However, others didn’t think so.

The maid who had been happily chatting with Zhao Lingfei at the gate became worried, knowing Princess Danyang’s bad temper, afraid this lively and cheerful Fifth Miss Zhao would be bullied by the princess. This maid quickly went to find help from the manor’s servants, and one servant said he would go find Young Master Yan to return.

If the princess wanted to torment Fifth Miss Zhao… probably only Young Master could stop it—

Mu Wanyao brought Zhao Lingfei to the main hall, having maids serve Zhao Lingfei tea and snacks while she went back to the inner quarters to change clothes.

When Mu Wanyao returned, she saw Zhao Lingfei standing with a bright smile, chatting with the several maids waiting in the main hall.

Everyone’s atmosphere was very harmonious and friendly, but as soon as the maids saw the princess return, they quickly composed their expressions, too embarrassed to show their friendliness with Fifth Miss Zhao in front of the princess.

Mu Wanyao glared at these maids before taking her seat.

Mu Wanyao looked at Zhao Lingfei who was kneeling at the side and said: “Do you know why I asked to speak with you today?”

Zhao Lingfei thought for a while: “…Is it to talk about my cousin?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She was momentarily stunned, only then remembering that Zhao Lingfei was Yang Si’s cousin. In Zhao Lingfei’s eyes, their only connection was probably Yang Si.

Mu Wanyao secretly felt annoyed.

She said sternly: “I want to talk to you about Yan Shang.”

Zhao Lingfei suddenly understood, but became even more confused: “So that’s it… but, but why does Your Highness want to talk to me about him?”

Mu Wanyao was concise: “I want you to give up on Yan Shang, stop pursuing him.”

Zhao Lingfei was stunned—

The district where the Princess’s residence was located had an excellent position, particularly close to the imperial city. When Yan Shang’s people wanted to help Fifth Miss Zhao, it only took time to drink a cup of tea to ride to the imperial city to find someone to send word to the Hongwen Academy and get Young Master Yan to come out.

When Yan Shang came out, he heard the servant anxiously saying that Mu Wanyao had fiercely taken away Miss Zhao, the situation looking very frightening.

Yan Shang was slightly stunned.

The servant Yun Shu said anxiously: “Young Master, please come back with me quickly to check. What if we return too late and Her Highness beats poor Miss Zhao to death?”

Yan Shang suddenly found it amusing.

He said: “How could that happen? She’s not that kind of person.”

He pressed his lips slightly, his tone somewhat strange: “Besides, Fifth Miss Zhao is Third Young Master Yang’s cousin. Even if just for Yang Si’s sake, she wouldn’t make things difficult for Fifth Miss Zhao.”

The servant couldn’t detect the subtlety in Yan Shang’s tone, just pulling at Young Master Yan’s sleeve, hoping Yan Shang would return to stop the war between the two ladies.

Yan Shang thought it was indeed inappropriate.

Mu Wanyao had a fierce temper, and Zhao Lingfei was good at martial arts… what if Mu Wanyao said something hastily and Zhao Lingfei lost control for a moment, accidentally hurting Mu Wanyao?

Moreover… he didn’t want to be caught between two ladies.

Yan Shang pondered that he needed to resolve this matter thoroughly.

Thinking this way, Yan Shang mounted his horse and returned to the residence with his servants.

The Princess’s people were now very used to seeing Young Master Yan visiting. Yan Shang just cupped his hands in greeting, and they let him pass.

As Fang Tong led Yan Shang into the residence, Yan Shang said gently: “I don’t think Her Highness would hurt Fifth Miss Zhao, so I’m not here to make accusations. Let me see the situation first.”

Fang Tong understood: “The main hall has screens on all four sides without walls. Young Master, you can stand behind the screen and listen to their conversation to understand the situation.”

Yan Shang nodded.

As the servants withdrew, Yan Shang found a position behind the screen near a tree. While still thinking, he first heard Mu Wanyao’s clear and decisive voice: “It’s not because I once refused marriage to him that I won’t allow other ladies to pursue him. I just think you’re not worthy of him.”

Yan Shang was stunned, unconsciously looking toward the direction of the voice.

Unfortunately, with the screen in front of him, he could only see shadowy figures—

In the main hall, Zhao Lingfei, who had jumped up at the princess’s words, flushed red.

She protested: “How can Your Highness say I’m not worthy of Young Master Yan? My looks, family background, talents, martial arts—where am I not worthy of him?”

Mu Wanyao smiled slightly, perfectly composed.

In her golden splendid attire, Princess Danyang was dazzlingly beautiful, completely overshadowing the ordinarily dressed Zhao Lingfei standing in the hall.

This was naturally the effect Mu Wanyao had intended when she changed clothes.

She lifted the lid of her teacup, not even raising her eyelids: “In your eyes, to marry a young lord, looks, family background, talents, martial arts… are these enough? Just because these qualities are good enough, do you think the young lord should marry you? Should he marry you just because you’re good enough, good enough to meet his conditions?”

Zhao Lingfei was stunned.

At her young age, just awakening to love, she was still quite naive in these matters and couldn’t argue with Mu Wanyao who was four or five years her senior.

Zhao Lingfei muttered: “What’s wrong with that?”

Mu Wanyao put down her teacup and looked at Zhao Lingfei: “Do you know it’s almost the tenth month, almost time for the Broad Learning and Grand Literature examination? Yan Shang comes from Lingnan, his father may be a jinshi, but their family was just farmers. He traveled thousands of li from Lingnan to Chang’an, do you think that was easy? Do you think he came to Chang’an for romance and love with you?”

Zhao Lingfei was dazed.

Mu Wanyao said: “Do you know that each year out of two thousand candidates, only twenty-two pass? Do you know that even after passing, these jinshi can’t immediately take office, but must wait for court appointment? Some people can’t wait these few years and directly leave Chang’an. And for those who can’t afford to waste time, the fastest way to become an official is the subject selection examination in the tenth month of each year, open to all jinshi. Once admitted, they are immediately assigned positions. This is the only chance for that jinshi without background.

“All the jinshi who couldn’t become officials compete for the subject selection, do you know this is even harder than the regular examination? Among the subject selections, the hardest, ranking first, is the Broad Learning and Grand Literature examination. Yan Shang chose this examination because his ambitions are high, but it also means he must devote himself fully, with no time to deal with other trivial matters.”

Zhao Lingfei said helplessly: “I, I know… no, I didn’t know, I didn’t realize his situation was so difficult… I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to delay him…”

She lowered her eyes, saying guiltily: “I understand, I won’t come to find him anymore.”

Mu Wanyao said: “Don’t find him in the future either.”

Zhao Lingfei looked up: “How can that be? How can Your Highness say this? I won’t delay his examination, but after he finishes isn’t it alright? Does he not need to discuss marriage, not need to take a wife?”

Mu Wanyao said gently: “Someone like Yan Shang when he takes a wife, how could he choose an ordinary woman? Fifth Miss, you’ve known him for almost half a year, you should know his ambitions aren’t just to become an official.”

Zhao Lingfei: “…What other ambitions does he have?”

Mu Wanyao didn’t know.

But Mu Wanyao could make things up, could deceive a young lady: “His ambition is for the people’s livelihood. He wants to become an official only to serve the common people, to make this world more righteous. He wants everyone in the world to be educated, wants to reduce the oppression between nobles and commoners, wants to change the monopoly of great families, and wants to care for those poor people who don’t know if they’ll survive tomorrow.

“He’s wholly focused on making the world better, his ambitions, vision, realm, and breadth of mind are not on ordinary romance. If you want to be with him, wouldn’t you feel you’re holding him back? Can you truly understand him? If he had to choose between family and country, and chose country, would you not blame him? If he had to sacrifice a hundred people to save ten thousand, and among those hundred were your relatives, could you truly support him?

“Can you understand his selflessness, understand his concern for all living beings? Can you always love him as you do today, rather than one day… hating him?

“Someone like him would never put the small love between man and woman first. You may think you can accept this now, but after years and years… you’ll never get his sole love, won’t you grow to hate from love, hate yourself for choosing such a husband?”

Zhao Lingfei was completely stunned.

Mu Wanyao said much more, but Zhao Lingfei’s mind had turned to mush. Her heart was seized by the princess’s words, she was forced to retreat several steps, red-faced and flustered.

Several times she tried to interject, but Mu Wanyao spoke faster and faster, her words becoming more and more fierce… like lightning striking down, forcing Zhao Lingfei to face her own heart.

Finally, Zhao Lingfei stumbled back, tears in her eyes.

She mumbled: “Yes… right now, I’m not worthy of Young Master Yan.”

Mu Wanyao stopped speaking, not wanting to push too far.

After Zhao Lingfei stood dazed for a long while, she wiped away her tears and said softly in distress: “Indeed, if I insisted on being with him now, I could use my family’s position to force him, could force my father to agree. But I’m not worthy of Young Master Yan’s mindset, I don’t know his ideals, and I can’t meet his requirements.

“I, I will go back to practice martial arts properly, study properly. I’m not giving up on Young Master Yan, but rather… I need to think more and let myself grow up. I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with Young Master Yan, I want to help him, not become… not become his burden. Not that I’ll never understand him in my life, and he won’t know how to face me.”

Zhao Lingfei bowed to Mu Wanyao, wiping tears and choking: “Thank you for Your Highness’s guidance, I understand now, I won’t bother him anymore.”

Mu Wanyao clicked her tongue.

Another “Young Master Yan”.

Just watch Yan Shang collect brothers and sisters everywhere—

After sending Zhao Lingfei away, Mu Wanyao was triumphant, leisurely drinking her tea.

A maid bent down and whispered something in her ear. Mu Wanyao’s face suddenly froze as she looked toward a screen.

She saw Yan Shang walk out from behind the screen, silently watching her.

Mu Wanyao met his gaze.

They were silent for a long while.

Mu Wanyao laughed coldly: “What, now that you’ve seen me scare away Fifth Miss Zhao, do you think I’m very bad?”

Yan Shang reproached: “How can Your Highness say such things?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

She thought for a moment, changing her tone to tease: “Then could it be that you heard me praise you, praised you to the heavens, and you can’t control yourself anymore?”

Yan Shang remained silent, quietly looking at her.

Mu Wanyao’s hands holding the teacup stiffened.

Her heart skipped a beat—

He couldn’t have lost control, could he?