When the maids came to lift the bed curtains, they were surprised to find the princess already awake so early.

No one knew when she had awakened, but she sat on the couch wearing only her middle garments, her long hair scattered messily across the bedding. In the dim indoor light, when Chunhua lifted the curtain, she saw the princess’s skin was so white it seemed translucent as she stared vacantly into space, lost in thought.

This Mu Wanyao frowned slightly, showing hints of displeasure.

The maids exchanged glances, reminding each other to be careful in attending to the princess who was in a bad mood for unknown reasons today.

After washing up, Mu Wanyao went outside, standing in the corridor watching the guards practice martial arts in the Yan family’s small courtyard. She watched for a while until she saw a side room near the fence gate open, and Yan Shisheng walked out carrying books in his blue robes with wide sleeves.

Yan Shisheng looked up and saw Mu Wanyao standing under the corridor eaves. He stepped forward and bowed: “My lady is up early today.”

Mu Wanyao’s gaze, which had been resting idly on the guards practicing in the courtyard, drew back to look at the young scholar bowing to her at the bottom of the steps.

Yan Shisheng thought she was probably still angry about his mentioning her husband yesterday. He couldn’t explain or console her, only thinking to himself that this lady must have a poor relationship with her husband to dislike others mentioning it so much.

Seeing she hadn’t calmed down, Yan Shisheng prepared to leave of his own accord.

Unexpectedly, Mu Wanyao stared at him, her gaze like lightning and blades, making Yan Shisheng who had raised his head feel somewhat stiff, as if he was about to be ground to dust by her.

Looking at Yan Shisheng’s face, Mu Wanyao thought of her dream last night. Thinking of last night’s dream made her think of her former husband, who had somehow been replaced by Yan Shisheng in the dream.

Then, Mu Wanyao projected all the matters between her and her former husband onto Yan Shisheng.

She imagined Yan Shisheng’s refined face wearing her former husband’s identity, showing not the slightest respect due to a princess of Great Wei.

He would mock her without restraint, look down on her, and allow his clan members to insult and slander her. He would walk arm in arm with other women, and let his concubines flaunt their power before her…

The fifteen-year-old Mu Wanyao, the Mu Wanyao who would only hide in her room and cry… Her dignified and magnificent period died in her former husband’s hands, the princess’s pride withering in barren soil.

When Great Wei’s envoys appeared to see her, her former husband threatened her so she didn’t dare seek help. And she knew that even if she sought help, nothing could be done – an envoy couldn’t make decisions. Those who could make decisions only hoped she would stay there forever, and never return. Once the Great Wei envoys left, her former husband would begin torturing her again…

How hateful!

Standing under the corridor eaves, Mu Wanyao’s expression grew increasingly dark, her demeanor increasingly cold.

Yan Shisheng, who had only bowed to her, was rendered speechless by her cold gaze, somewhat amazed at why the killing intent in her eyes grew stronger the more she looked at him…

Yan Shisheng quickly spoke to interrupt her thoughts: “My lady looks unwell, did you not sleep well last night?”

Mu Wanyao’s thoughts were interrupted, and she looked down at Yan Shisheng for a while before giving a cold snort, completely ignoring him as she turned and went inside.

Yan Shisheng: “…”

He naturally couldn’t know that last night’s dream should have been romantic and beautiful, but Mu Wanyao had no maiden’s sentiments, she went against her dream.

Imagining Yan Shisheng as her husband not only failed to make Mu Wanyao happy but made her increasingly angry, so that when she saw him her previous good feelings vanished completely, replaced by growing antipathy—

That day, Mu Wanyao was playing cards with her maids when she heard Yan Shisheng had come.

She said with disgust: “Why does he come so eagerly every day? Just looking at him is annoying.”

The maid Chunhua had grown familiar with the Yan family members recently, so she smiled apologetically for Young Master Yan: “Young Master Yan respects my lady, this servant will go see.”

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Chunhua immediately understood the princess wanted to speak with Young Master Yan but couldn’t lower her pride.

After a moment, looking out the window, Mu Wanyao saw Chunhua speak with Yan Shisheng at the door for a few sentences before turning and leading him into the room.

Mu Wanyao: “…?”

She suddenly became somewhat flustered, ordering her maids: “Lower the curtain! I won’t see men from outside!”

The maids looked at each other, having no choice but to rise and lower the bamboo curtain before the princess.

When Chunhua led Yan Shisheng over, what he saw was the bamboo curtain blocking his view, only faintly able to see the silhouettes of Mu Wanyao and her maids sitting quietly behind it.

Chunhua was surprised by the princess’s unnecessary action but only curtsied: “My lady, Young Master Yan has something to say to you.”

Mu Wanyao sat formally, looking down at her cards, speaking lazily: “What do you want to tell me?”

The cards in her hand were leaf-shaped, looking quite novel. Yan Shisheng glanced through the curtain, having never seen such items before, and felt somewhat interested.

Yan Shisheng collected himself and said: “I’ve come to bring my lady some tea.”

Mu Wanyao sneered: “How many fine teas haven’t I drunk? I have no interest in your local country tea.”

Yan Shisheng smiled: “Since I’m bringing it to you, naturally it has its merits. Please try it.”

Yan Shisheng called outside, and his younger sister Yan Xiaozhou entered carrying a teapot.

Yan Xiaozhou sat behind Yan Shisheng, timidly glancing at Mu Wanyao behind the curtain.

Every time she saw Mu Wanyao, Yan Xiaozhou felt the other was so noble she dared not look too much. Yan Xiaozhou then secretly looked at her second brother but saw him completely composed.

Yan Shisheng sat across the curtain, having Chunhua and others bring teacups. He poured the already brewed tea into cups one by one, his posture looking quite good, showing no timidity.

He first had a maid take a cup of clear tea to Mu Wanyao behind the curtain.

Mu Wanyao took the tea, seeing the emerald green leaves floating on the water slightly curled, the tea color bright, and her heart rejoiced, knowing it was good tea.

But she remained expressionless, closing her eyes to savor after drinking a cup. She found the tea’s fragrance clear and strong, its taste sweet and rich, with a lasting aftertaste.

However, weren’t pre-rain and pre-Qingming Dragon Well teas even better than this?

Mu Wanyao shook her head and sighed, thinking Yan Shisheng was after all a country bumpkin who grew up in Lingnan, had never tasted truly good tea, and was trying to curry favor with her using this ordinary tea.

But he was currying favor wrongly.

Seeing her shake her head, Yan Shisheng just smiled: “What, not good?”

Seeing him take the initiative to offer tea, Mu Wanyao’s disgust at seeing his face from the past two days receded somewhat. Upon reflection, Mu Wanyao also felt she was being unreasonable, resenting Yan Shisheng because of a dream.

So Mu Wanyao kindly analyzed his tea: “It’s just ordinary. You shouldn’t bring out this tea to show off to people in the future.”

Hearing Mu Wanyao’s words, Yan Shisheng hadn’t reacted yet, but his sister Yan Xiaozhou sitting behind him had already turned red with shame.

Yan Shisheng persisted: “But this tea’s flavor is above average, right?”

Mu Wanyao, sympathetic to his limited knowledge, nodded.

Yan Shisheng smiled and said: “Then watch this.”

Instead of drinking the tea, he turned to take some tea leaves from the cloth his sister was holding.

He put the tea leaves in his mouth, and while Mu Wanyao was surprised, she saw him take a copper coin from his worn pouch at his waist, its needlework crude and color faded beyond recognition, and put it in his mouth as well.

He chewed the tea leaves and copper coin together.

The room was silent, everyone except Yan Xiaozhou watching Yan Shisheng curiously. Then they heard a very faint “crack,” and Yan Shisheng spread what was in his mouth onto the cloth he was holding.

Chunhua, standing close to Yan Shisheng outside, saw first and exclaimed: “My lady, the copper coin has split in two, it’s broken!”

Mu Wanyao suddenly lifted the curtain, finally emerging from behind it.

She immediately came before Yan Shisheng, bending down to look at the broken copper coin on his cloth. Meanwhile, Yan Shisheng took another cloth and spat out the tea leaves.

When Yan Shisheng finished and turned around, he stiffened. Because Mu Wanyao was bending down, standing before him with her face almost touching his.

And Mu Wanyao grabbed his chin, commanding: “Open your mouth, let me see.”

Yan Shisheng’s eyelashes trembled violently, his gaze floating.

Yan Xiaozhou was dumbfounded.

This lady was so bold! Not only rushing out from behind the curtain but grabbing her second brother’s chin and ordering him to open his mouth…

Yan Xiaozhou lowered her head – Mu Wanyao wasn’t embarrassed, but she was so awkward she turned red.

Yan Shisheng was only slightly better than his sister.

His ears turned red, and after composing himself for a while, he opened his mouth. Fragrant breezes came in waves as he held his breath, her face magnified before his eyes.

Knowing she was looking in his mouth, Yan Shisheng’s thoughts scattered, wondering if he had rinsed his mouth properly today if any tea leaves remained, if his tongue coating looked normal if his teeth were straight…

As his face grew increasingly red, Mu Wanyao exclaimed in amazement: “You bit through the copper coin!”

She was delighted like a child.

She released his chin and turned to look again at the broken copper coin on the cloth. Mu Wanyao had never seen such a curious thing, and in her disbelief, she reached out to touch the coin to see if it was real.

In his urgency, Yan Shisheng grabbed her extended slender fingers.

Mu Wanyao froze as he held her hand.

Yan Shisheng said: “My lady, that’s dirty, don’t touch it!”

Only then did Mu Wanyao remember these things had been in his mouth… She angrily pulled her hand from his, shouting: “Don’t you think I know that! Who needs you to tell me!”

Yan Shisheng looked at her helplessly.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze flickered as she avoided his steady look, lowering her head to rub the hand he had touched—

After another quarter hour, everyone had tried the tea leaves, proving they could indeed break copper coins, and everyone was amazed.

Yan Shisheng said: “This is White Bull Tea produced in our area. People don’t care about this tea, the trees just grow wild in the fields with no one tending them, which I find a pity. There are many fine teas in the world, but only this one can break copper coins.”

Mu Wanyao nodded repeatedly: “How thoughtful of you. If you sold this tea in Chang’an, those nobles would surely love it.”

Yan Shisheng said: “It’s just a gift for my lady.”

Mu Wanyao immediately thought of what political advantages she could gain if this tea came into her possession. She wasn’t sure if this Young Master Yan understood… but who cared, she would monopolize this tea anyway.

While Mu Wanyao calculated how to monopolize the tea, outwardly she gazed at him with tender eyes.

Her cheeks were slightly red, and she said softly: “I understand. Thank you. Is there something you want to ask of me?”

Yan Shisheng: “There is one thing.”

Mu Wanyao’s face instantly fell.

She was displeased, smiling without mirth: “What, just giving me some tea leaves and already want to get benefits from me? Aren’t you afraid that being so pragmatic will make me dislike you?”

Yan Shisheng said: “I just wanted to ask my lady what cards you were playing, I’ve never seen them before and am somewhat curious.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him for a while, then smiled again.

She said softly: “These cards are called ‘You Xianghe,’ only found in the Chang’an palace. Those imperial consorts and princesses play You Xianghe all day when they’re bored.”

Yan Shisheng’s expression shifted: Palace, imperial consorts and princesses… this Miss Mu, he had roughly guessed her identity.

While Mu Wanyao continued softly: “Young Lord, come here, I not only want to give you these cards, I want to teach you how to play them.”

Yan Shisheng: “…This humble one needs to study, playing cards is unnecessary.”

He had only come to probe Mu Wanyao’s identity, and now that he had found out… his purpose achieved, Yan Shisheng prepared to leave.

Mu Wanyao looked at him with hooded eyes: “But I insist on teaching you to play cards.”

“Sit down! Play cards with me!”

Yan Xiaozhou, who had been watching, saw her second brother dragged away by Miss Mu, and pulled behind the bamboo curtain. Rather like a “fierce woman seizing a husband.”

Mu Wanyao forced Yan Shisheng to sit, and after he refused several times, Mu Wanyao said helplessly: “Fine, do as you wish.”

Yan Shisheng stood up and put on his shoes, preparing to leave.

Mu Wanyao said lazily: “Young Lord.”

Yan Shisheng’s back stiffened as he faced away from her: “…Could my lady please not call me that?”

Mu Wanyao ignored his wishes: “Young Lord, you’ve studied for so many years, but do you know your ancient pronunciations are incorrect? And with incorrect ancient pronunciations, even if you pass your provincial examinations, you have no hope of passing the imperial examination. So even if you leave Lingnan, it seems rather pointless, doesn’t it?”

Yan Shisheng turned back, silently looking at her. He truly hadn’t known his ancient pronunciations were incorrect. His father providing conditions for him to study were already good enough, ancient pronunciations were never considered.

And Mu Wanyao had watched him study for so many days, only mentioning this today…

Truly hateful!

The hateful Mu Wanyao leaned against the doorframe, her eyes and brows flowing with charm.

Yan Shisheng rolled up his sleeves and walked back: “Then I’ll play cards with my lady for the afternoon. I only ask that my lady teach me ancient pronunciations.”

Mu Wanyao made it difficult for him: “That depends on how you play cards. If I lose I naturally won’t be happy, and if I win I still won’t be happy. You’ll have to figure it out.”

Yan Shisheng sat down smiling: “We’ll see if I can make you happy.”

Yan Xiaozhou: “…”

Yan Xiaozhou and Mu Wanyao’s maids exchanged glances and withdrew from the room.

They all felt completely superfluous.