Mu Wanyao was nearly frightened by Yan Shang’s silence. What did his silence mean? Was he tacitly agreeing?

Fortunately, just as Mu Wanyao was about to be scared out of her wits, he seemed to finally come to his senses and smiled to ease the tension: “Your Highness is joking again.”

Mu Wanyao let out a huge sigh of relief: it was good that he hadn’t agreed.

Indeed, she had always wanted to share a moment of intimate passion with Yan Shang. Even now she still wanted to, her initial desire unchanged.

However, she didn’t want any relationship with Yan Shang beyond the bedroom.

Mu Wanyao fanned herself with her hand, pretending to be at ease as she stood up, muttering that it was getting hotter.

Then, as if changing the subject – or as if finally remembering – she ordered someone to fetch Fang Tong.

Mu Wanyao spoke angrily: “Who allowed him to bring Yan Er here? Is my Princess Manor a place where just anyone can come and go as they please? Is it somewhere where random people can eavesdrop on my conversations? And all of you! You saw it happen but said nothing! What if assassins entered my manor one day – would you all just stand there like dead people?”

This was indirect criticism aimed at Yan Shang.

The maids were bewildered and helpless, their faces reddening as they lowered their heads to accept the Princess’s scolding.

In truth, they felt wronged, because they couldn’t understand the Princess’s attitude toward Yan Shang.

The Princess often said she wouldn’t see Young Master Yan, but when they stopped him and he didn’t come, she would get angry and take it out on the maids. When Young Master Yan did come, she never blamed the maids. This had happened several times… so the servants had assumed Yan Shang had special privileges at the Princess Manor.

While others couldn’t come and go freely, they thought Young Master Yan could.

Who knew the Princess would now say that even Young Master Yan couldn’t come and go as he pleased?

Yan Shang let out a soft sigh. Seeing the servants being punished because of him, he stepped forward to apologize. When he had come over, he had anticipated that Mu Wanyao might punish Fang Tong and the others. He had been concerned about Mu Wanyao’s dispute with Consort Zhao Ling, so he hadn’t pointed this out. Or perhaps he had harbored some hope that Mu Wanyao wouldn’t mind.

But Mu Wanyao did not mind now.

Naturally, it became his fault.

Yan Shang said: “…It was all because this subject was too anxious and forgot about the proper hierarchy. If Your Highness wishes to punish someone, punish this subject instead. Fang Tong and the others were merely caught up in my mistake – please don’t punish them too severely.”

Mu Wanyao glared at him, coldly rebuking: “Now you remember about proper hierarchy!”

In front of Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao harshly established new rules for Princess Manor’s staff. The rules were meant for Yan Shang to hear, with indirect criticism of him throughout. To cover up any implications from their earlier exchange of glances, she was being especially unforgiving.

Yan Shang saw it all but pretended not to notice.

If it were anyone else being ridiculed by the Princess this way, they would have fled in shame long ago. But Young Master Yan maintained perfect etiquette – when the Princess punished Fang Tong for copying characters, he even offered to help, earning Fang Tong’s gratitude.

After all this commotion – no need to elaborate further –

After leaving the Princess Manor, Yan Shang didn’t return to the Hongwen Academy, but went straight home and continued reading into the night.

Though he had many friends, he was selective about meeting them and did so rarely. Everyone knew he was busy studying, so they didn’t disturb him easily. Meanwhile, his friends had sent him many books and materials from senior scholars, all to help him achieve a good ranking in the Imperial Examination.

Late that night, after finishing his day’s reading, Yan Shang sat at his desk, lost in thought for a moment.

Then he lifted his brush and began writing down everything he had read, done, said, and everyone he had met that day.

Having practiced calligraphy daily and received guidance from friends who were masters of the art, Yan Shang’s handwriting now was completely different from a few months ago. His current calligraphy showed an ancient elegance with steady, dignified strokes. The writing reflected the man – just looking at his brush strokes revealed Yan Shang’s stable character.

Not only did Yan Shang practice calligraphy daily, but before bed, he would, as he did today, review everything he had done throughout the day, checking for any oversights.

He had learned this from his teacher.

However, his teacher had only meant to encourage him, never expecting anyone would perform such self-reflection every day, persisting without fail.

After writing down everything he had done and read that day, Yan Shang went through it stroke by stroke, making corrections and annotations where needed to deepen his impressions. Finally, his brush hovered in mid-air as he fell into deep thought, not writing for a long time.

The ink gathered at the brush tip dripped onto the paper, creating scattered dots.

After a while, Yan Shang lowered his wrist slightly and wrote a name in the blank space on the paper: Mu Wanyao.

Setting down his brush and sitting upright, he stared at this name, his gaze growing complex.

Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao…

Before this, he had occasionally written her name during his nightly self-reflections. But never had staring at this name left Yan Shang sitting for so long, not knowing what to think or how to continue.

He thought again about what he had heard Mu Wanyao say when dismissing Consort Zhao Ling earlier that day.

He didn’t know that Mu Wanyao had been making things up, didn’t know that Mu Wanyao herself might not have given much thought to what she said. But she spoke so well.

She not only moved Consort Zhao Ling, making her retreat… she also moved Yan Shang, who stood behind the screen, listening quietly for a long time without stepping out.

When he looked at her through the screen then, her image became extraordinarily clear in his eyes, so strong and resilient.

Being able to speak of the people’s welfare, being able to speak to his heart… Mu Wanyao struck Yan Shang’s heart at that moment, leaving him speechless, feeling as if he had finally found someone who understood what he sought.

“Those who know me say I worry for the world, those who don’t know me wonder what I seek.”

How rare to find someone who shares the same aspirations?

This shared ambition moved Yan Shang far more than appearance or personality ever could. Though her beauty and charm stirred his heart, it couldn’t compare to how her broad-minded vision captivated him completely.

Yan Shang closed his eyes, suppressing the turbulent feelings in his heart. He originally had no thoughts of romance, and even when he couldn’t help wanting to care for and get close to the Princess, he had tried very hard to maintain his distance… Yet in one’s lifetime, it’s hard to find a kindred spirit.

At this moment, he finally understood – how fortunate would he be if such a person who shared his aspirations could become his life partner?

Peaceful prosperity, three or five close friends, one beloved companion… wasn’t this all that he, Yan Shang, sought in life?

A thousand thoughts flashed through Yan Shang’s mind. After opening his eyes again, Yan Shang let out a breath and rubbed his neck, sore from a day of reading.

He stood up and took the papers containing his self-reflection to the candlelight, burning them bit by bit. He was indeed such a careful person – even though he had done nothing wrong, he wouldn’t leave any traces.

When the flame reached the three characters spelling “Mu Wanyao,” Yan Shang’s eyes softened with tenderness, and he smiled slightly.

He had made up his mind: for such a young princess who shared his aspirations, he would not only help her but if he could truly marry her… how fortunate that would be.

He needed to adjust his attitude when interacting with Mu Wanyao.

After the paper was completely burned, he washed up and went to get his clothes for tomorrow from the chest. While arranging his robes, a jade pendant fell out. The jade was emerald green and cool to the touch.

Yan Shang paused when he saw this pendant, picked it up to examine it, and fell into deep thought.

This was an ancestral love token his father had given him when he left Lingnan, telling him to give it to the lady who captured his heart.

However, because Yan Shang had no interest in such matters, and for various reasons, it wasn’t appropriate to discuss marriage now, he had thrown the pendant into the chest shortly after arriving in Chang’an and hadn’t taken it out since. Unexpectedly seeing the pendant tonight, Yan Shang’s heart stirred.

He thought of something that made his face slightly flush.

He took the pendant out of its dark confinement in the chest and placed it with the clothes he would wear daily, then extinguished the lamp and went to bed.

It seemed that starting tomorrow, this jade pendant, which carried his father’s deep hopes, would finally appear on Yan Shang’s person-

The next morning, Mu Wanyao unhurriedly ate her breakfast, looked through some music scores for a while, and reviewed the memorials her advisors had submitted yesterday.

Estimating that the morning court session had ended and the timing was right, she leisurely went out, planning to go to the Eastern Palace.

Leaving the outer courtyard, at the gate tower in front of the manor entrance, Mu Wanyao saw a tall, elegant figure like a cloud-wreathed bamboo, talking with Fang Tong and two or three maids about something.

Mu Wanyao thought she was seeing things, unconsciously blinked, and stopped in her tracks.

“Your Highness!” The servants’ greetings made that person turn around. He smiled, his features gentle and refined, joining the servants in greeting her.

Mu Wanyao looked him up and down – graceful and distinguished as always, but something seemed different. Oh, perhaps it was the bunch of pink apricot blossoms still covered in dew that he held in his hand.

Seeing Mu Wanyao staring at the branch of flowers in his hand, Yan Shang looked down at it and smiled as he explained: “A friend’s apricot blossoms were dying, and I studied with him for two months. Unexpectedly, his flowers bloomed again. He was overjoyed and came early this morning to give me flowers.”

Yan Shang waved the branch of apricot blossoms.

Dewdrops lightly sprinkled onto his robes and hands.

The pink color was dazzling, making his features appear even more elegant and refined.

He casually waved the flowers a couple of times, and seeing Mu Wanyao staring, extended them forward: “If Your Highness likes them, please take them to enjoy.”

“Such lovely and charming apricot blossoms naturally suit someone like Your Highness. It would be a waste to leave them with me.” His words were characteristically pleasant, something Mu Wanyao had grown quite used to.

Mu Wanyao: “…You came here early in the morning just to bring me flowers?”

Though her tone was unfriendly, Mu Wanyao still gave Xia Rong behind her a meaningful look, signaling the maids to come forward and take away the dew-covered apricot blossoms. She truly did like these flowers… though what she liked even more was Yan Shang’s casual manner as he waved them.

For a man to hold flowers without appearing effeminate showed just how refined Yan Shang’s bearing was.

Yan Shang smiled and answered the Princess: “It’s because Guard Fang and the others were punished because of me yesterday, so I came to check on them.”

Mu Wanyao looked at Fang Tong and the others, and sure enough, saw them looking extremely touched. Before Mu Wanyao appeared, Yan Shang had been very successful in winning people’s hearts.

Mu Wanyao snorted in disdain, refusing to acknowledge him as she strode outward.

Unexpectedly, she heard footsteps following her.

She glanced sideways at Yan Shang who had caught up.

Yan Shang, following her, took a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to her: “Yesterday I should have submitted this along with the other advisors, but I was too busy and forgot. Feeling deeply anxious about it, I naturally had to come personally today.”

Mu Wanyao took his memorial and flipped through it briefly before having a nearby maid take it.

The advisors were meant to give her suggestions, and she usually just made the major decisions. However, because Yan Shang was busy studying, he rarely submitted memorials to her, so she hadn’t expected him to present one now.

Mu Wanyao grumbled internally but didn’t think much of it. However, to her surprise, Yan Shang still hadn’t left.

When she was about to get into her carriage, she saw Yan Shang standing at the manor gate seeing her off.

Mu Wanyao: “…”

Only then did she find it strange: “Aren’t you usually at the Hongwen Academy by this time? Why are you still at home so late today?”

Yan Shang said apologetically: “I stayed up late reading yesterday.”

Mu Wanyao: “Oh.”

After a pause, she stared at him for a long while, thinking of a possibility that seemed unlikely. But she still hesitantly probed: “Are you asking me to give you a ride?”

Yan Shang showed a delighted expression and said: “If it wouldn’t trouble Your Highness. I have some state affairs I’d like to consult with Your Highness about.”

Mu Wanyao was stunned, but then she saw the wound on his face where she had struck him with her hairpin, and feeling guilty, agreed to his request—

Because Yan Shang had voluntarily gotten into Mu Wanyao’s carriage that morning, Mu Wanyao remained distracted all day.

While discussing state affairs with the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace, she zoned out several times, thinking of Yan Shang’s smile that morning. She felt his smile had been much more genuine than usual, much closer to her… she hadn’t sensed wrong, had she?

“Yaoyao, are you listening to what I’m saying?” The Crown Prince put down the memorial helplessly, looking at his absent-minded sister.

Mu Wanyao came back to her senses, responding carelessly: “I’m listening. Brother is saying that Father Emperor doesn’t have his people around him, but the Noble Consort is Third Brother’s mother, and you’re worried the Noble Consort might speak ill of you to Father Emperor, so you hope I’ll spend more time with Father Emperor and put in good words for you.”

The Crown Prince nodded.

He sighed: “The grand ceremony at the end of this year coincides with Father Emperor’s birthday. I want to arrange it well, inviting various countries to pay tribute. This will cost a lot of money. I’m afraid some people will be dissatisfied, so I need Yaoyao to speak more words in my favor to Father Emperor.”

The Crown Prince’s background was humble; he only became Crown Prince because he was the eldest son after the legitimate second prince died young.

Suffering from having no one to speak for him on the Emperor’s side, the Crown Prince placed his hopes on Mu Wanyao. After all, the Emperor only had two princesses.

Moreover, Mu Wanyao was so pitiful, both a legitimate daughter and the youngest child. Considering that Mu Wanyao was the only remaining bloodline of the late Empress, the Emperor should feel compassion whenever he saw her.

Mu Wanyao felt somewhat unhappy inside – she didn’t want to act pitifully in front of people and make them sympathize with her. But now, for the Crown Prince’s sake, she had no choice but to act more obedient in front of the Emperor, making him feel guilty towards her.

Mu Wanyao agreed to the Crown Prince, saying she would cooperate with him, and then she would go show her filial piety to Father Emperor.

The Crown Prince instructed: “Control your temper a bit, and play the role of your former self well.”

Mu Wanyao paused, then said flatly: “I understand.”

How ridiculous.

She had to pretend to be her former self in front of the Emperor, just to act pitiful and gain his sympathy. Her former self had long since died… but everyone’s memories and hopes were all for her former self.

They wanted Mu Wanyao to play the role of Mu Wanyao well, not letting them feel guilty—

Yan Shang spent the whole day reading at the Hongwen Academy.

He kept running into friends.

Whenever friends saw him and exchanged greetings, they would notice his face: “Su Chen, what happened to your face?”

Yan Shang touched the scratch on his left cheek, having answered the same question countless times these past two days.

He answered concisely: “A cat scratched it, someone else’s cat, it’s gone now. I’ve applied medicine, it’ll heal in a few days. No need to help me catch the cat.”

Seeing the usually courteous Young Master Yan give such a simple answer out of annoyance at being asked the same question, his friend was taken aback, then laughed, cupped his hands, and left.

Then another friend came, saw his face, and was greatly shocked;

Yet another friend worriedly asked if this counted as disfigurement;

Still, another friend stared at his face for a long while until Yan Shang explained on his own…

In short, throughout the entire day, everyone who saw Yan Shang was concerned about the wound on his face. After all, it was too obvious. And, every time someone asked, Yan Shang had to think about how fiercely Mu Wanyao had struck him with her hairpin.

Remembering it over and over, he was distracted several times, making Yan Shang smile wryly. He felt he couldn’t stay at the Hongwen Academy anymore… he was there to study, not to have people constantly asking what happened to his face.

He thought that until the wound on his face healed completely, he wouldn’t want to go to the Hongwen Academy—

After whiling away half the day at the imperial palace and visiting a sick minister’s residence in the afternoon, by the time Mu Wanyao returned to the deep alley where the Princess Manor was located in the evening, she was already exhausted.

She rested a while in her carriage, and when she got out to return to the Princess Manor, she unexpectedly saw Yan Shang just returning with a bamboo box of books on his back. Seeing him return in the night breeze, day after day like this, Mu Wanyao’s mood, which had been depressed all day, improved considerably.

After pretending all day, she could stop pretending now.

Mu Wanyao stopped and looked at him for a few moments. When he saw her, he bowed in greeting.

As he bowed, Mu Wanyao saw sweat glistening on his neck, and even the white undershirt inside his round collar was soaked through. When he raised his face, Mu Wanyao saw the scratch on his face, and her gaze flickered.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, carrying so many books… Mu Wanyao asked: “Did the Hongwen Academy not let you stay? Are you moving all your books back?”

Yan Shang naturally wouldn’t say that the wound on his face made it impossible for him to stay at the Hongwen Academy.

He was always someone who gave face to others.

He smiled: “It’s too hot, and there are too many people at the Hongwen Academy. The air is stuffy every day, and I get dizzy trying to read there, so I decided to move the books home. For these next couple of months, I won’t be going to the Hongwen Academy.”

Mu Wanyao asked curiously: “You’re taking the books home to read? Do you have ice at your house?”

Yan Shang paused slightly.

He said: “Even without ice, it’s better than being crowded with a group of people.”

Mu Wanyao stared at his embarrassed expression for a while, then burst out laughing, suddenly understanding that he was poor and couldn’t afford ice.

Mu Wanyao said gently: “Well, seeing how pitiful you are, you can bring your books to read at my manor. In this hot weather, don’t suffocate yourself and get heatstroke, or you’ll waste time recovering from illness.”

Yan Shang thanked her.

Then looking at her, he advised softly: “Since the weather is so hot, Your Highness should also go out less and rest more at the manor. Your Highness’s constitution is delicate, how can you withstand going out every day like this?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned for a moment.

Then she lowered her head and smiled.

She was delighted by his concern but didn’t want to show it, so she just mumbled vaguely: “Do I need you to tell me that?”

She always spoke with such thorns, making Yan Shang smile helplessly without saying anything more—

In the scorching afternoon, in the main hall of the Princess Manor’s outer residence, only one screen remained while the other three sides were opened up, offering a view of the clear lake and pavilions in the courtyard.

In front of the screen, pieces of ice were placed in cages to cool the room. The maids all stayed far away, not disturbing their masters.

The sound of cicadas accompanied the sound of turning pages, creating perfect tranquility.

Yan Shang sat at a desk, looking through books and occasionally taking notes. It was a long desk, and besides brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, there were also ice-chilled, cut fruits.

Slightly behind Yan Shang was a beauty couch.

Mu Wanyao had been leaning on the couch, reading a book. But the sun was drowsy and too bright. She used a round fan to shield her eyes, closing them to rest for a while.

As she rested like this, she found it quite comfortable.

After finishing a section of reading, Yan Shang stretched his arms and looked back to see Mu Wanyao reclining on the couch against the pillows, a round fan covering her face, a snow-white stretch of wrist visible, her fingers loosely holding a book. The maids also saw that the Princess appeared to have fallen asleep and came over to check.

They bent down and gently pulled down the fan covering her face slightly, seeing a hint of sweat on her forehead. The maids looked back, noticed the ice in the cage had melted, and busied themselves fetching fresh ice. After placing new ice, they wanted to move the ice cage closer to the long couch where the Princess lay.

Mu Wanyao, eyes closed, vaguely heard Yan Shang talking with the maids.

Yan Shang stopped them in a low voice: “The ice is too cold, don’t put it too close to Her Highness.”

A maid said: “But Her Highness is sweating.”

Yan Shang hesitated, then said gently: “I’ll fan her a bit myself.”

The maids hurriedly protested: “How could we trouble Young Master Yan…”

Yan Shang smiled and said: “It’s no trouble, I’m tired from reading anyway, so I can take a break.”

Mu Wanyao, eyes still closed, smiled and turned over, letting them do as they pleased—

Yan Shang sat at the edge of the couch and softly called her name twice. Mu Wanyao heard him but didn’t want to respond.

He probably thought she was asleep, carefully taking the book from her hands and covering her with a thin blanket. Just as Mu Wanyao was about to open her eyes in displeasure and ask if he was trying to suffocate her, she felt the round fan blocking her face being taken away, and a cool breeze swept over her.

Mu Wanyao’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her eyes closed.

The cool breeze came in waves, and after a while, a handkerchief brushed her forehead, gently wiping away the beads of sweat.

He was extremely attentive and careful, even reaching out to lightly brush away a bit of leaf debris that had settled on her face.

Mu Wanyao was almost trembling.

She no longer felt the heat, as Yan Shang was blocking the sunlight in front of her. He was fanning her, which was fine, but then his hand touched her face, helping her wipe something away. His fingers were slightly warm as they brushed across her face, making Mu Wanyao blush furiously.

She had to try extremely hard to keep her eyelashes still and resist opening her eyes.

She felt that if she opened her eyes now… it would be extremely awkward for both of them.

Yan Shang’s hand rested on hers, using the handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her palm. He murmured: “Why does Her Highness clench her fist even while sleeping? Isn’t that tiring?”

Mu Wanyao thought to herself, if you weren’t sitting here, I wouldn’t need to clench my fist to resist.

Though he had wiped her sweat, his presence so close to her, occasionally touching her here and there, sometimes adjusting her clothes, left Mu Wanyao both rigid and desperate.

Her face grew redder and redder as Yan Shang continued his unhurried attention.

Just as she was about to lose control and open her eyes, a maid came to report: “Your Highness, Wei Seven has arrived.”

Yan Shang looked over, hesitating whether to ask Wei Juyuan to wait a while when he felt movement behind him. He turned back to see Mu Wanyao covering her mouth in a yawn as she sat up. As she rose, her gauze-like sleeve brushed against his hand.

The beauty, fresh from her afternoon nap, breathed softly, her cheeks flushed pink, her liquid eyes looking at him in surprise.

Yan Shang froze.

Her gaze made him blush as well.

He said stiffly: “Your Highness fell asleep, so I was fanning you.”

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then both looked away, pretending nothing had happened.

Mu Wanyao simply said: “Oh.”—

Wei Shu was led in by the maids.

Mu Wanyao impatiently fanned herself with her fan, feeling unbearably stuffy. But when she glanced at Wei Shu approaching, even in the height of summer, the youth walked through the courtyard like a handful of snow, cool and refreshing, without a single drop of sweat.

His approach immediately made people feel less hot.

Mu Wanyao brightened at seeing the beautiful youth, smiling sweetly: “How does Juyuan have time to go out in such hot weather?”

Yan Shang couldn’t help but look at Mu Wanyao, seeing her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Wei Shu. A graceful and beautiful youth – she was delighted just seeing one, especially someone with Wei Shu’s quiet temperament.

Every time Wei Shu came to see Mu Wanyao, her mood would improve.

Wei Shu was used to this.

But Yan Shang looked at Mu Wanyao a couple more times, slightly furrowing his brow.

He wondered if she was this direct with all handsome young men.

She didn’t smile when she saw him – did she smile at all handsome young men?

Wei Shu saw Yan Shang was there too and asked in surprise: “Second Brother Yan, why are you here?”

Yan Shang paused, not knowing how to answer.

Wei Shu’s inquiring gaze fell on the Princess and Yan Shang’s faces, thoughtful: “I’ve long felt that Your Highness and Second Brother Yan…”

Mu Wanyao was startled.

She hurriedly interrupted: “Juyuan, don’t talk nonsense! There’s nothing between me and Young Master Yan!”

Wei Shu: “Then why is Second Brother Yan here?”

Mu Wanyao said: “He’s my court official, what’s strange about him being here?”

Wei Shu thought to himself, but you clearly look like you just woke up… you let Second Brother Yan sit by your couch and watch you sleep?

Wei Shu’s expression became strange.

He was clever by nature, and Mu Wanyao didn’t dare let him think too much, so she quickly asked: “What brings Juyuan to seek me?”

Wei Shu then answered: “To borrow a rare book from Your Highness. I asked around and was told Your Highness should have this book.”

Mu Wanyao said: “Alright, I’ll help you look for it.”

Her maids obviously wouldn’t be able to find the book, so Mu Wanyao had to get up and go to the library herself. Before leaving, fearing that Yan Shang and Wei Shu together might lead to Wei Shu asking more questions about their relationship, Mu Wanyao glanced at Yan Shang, who with his quick wit immediately understood.

Yan Shang rose to follow, explaining to Wei Shu: “I’ll help Her Highness look for your book.”

Wei Shu watched them stand up together, his eyes black and crystal clear, remaining silently thoughtful—

Walking along the long corridor toward the library, Yan Shang followed behind Mu Wanyao.

She unleashed her anger: “Just now when Wei Shu asked, why didn’t you speak up and let me do all the talking?”

Yan Shang: “What?”

Mu Wanyao was furious: “He misunderstood our relationship, I explained there was nothing between us, why didn’t you explain? Juyuan always has reservations about what I say, but he trusts you very much. If you had spoken up then, he would have believed it.”

Yan Shang was quiet for a moment.

Mu Wanyao impatiently pushed him: “Speak!”

Outside, sunlight filtered through small holes creating dappled patterns, shadows in the corridor rippling like layers of pond weeds.

Cicadas chirped endlessly in the stuffy afternoon.

Mu Wanyao heard Yan Shang’s voice, cool and low: “How should I explain? Between Her Highness and me, is there nothing?”

Mu Wanyao froze, whirling around to look at him.

He stopped walking, quietly gazing at her.

He said: “Perhaps in Your Highness’s heart there is nothing. But in my heart, there is.”