By evening, as light snow fell, the commander who had intervened in the events at Nanshan Mountain that afternoon had finished detaining and questioning both sides’ forces, reprimanding the envoys, and arranging for an Imperial Physician to attend to the Wuman King.

Only after completing all these tasks did the commander visit Prince Qin’s residence to report on the situation’s progress.

After Princess Danyang and the Wuman King had both departed, the commander could only detain the Princess’s guards and the Wuman King’s subordinates. However, following Yan Er’s reminder, the commander realized these people would eventually need to be released, so he dared not offend them and provided them with good food and drink.

Believing he had handled the matter appropriately, the commander proudly went to report to Prince Qin.

Prince Qin was drinking tea, and his temple veins were already throbbing as he listened to the commander’s report. When he heard that both Yan Shang and Princess Danyang had left, he finally lost control and hurled his teacup.

The scalding water and tea leaves struck the commander’s head directly.

Dazed by the hot water and tea leaves covering his head, the commander looked up at Prince Qin’s dark expression and, realizing he must have erred, fell silent.

Prince Qin was so angry he started laughing: “You let Yan Er and Sixth Sister leave? Such a major incident occurred at Nanshan, and you just let them escape? Who killed whom, who struck first, who shot the Wuman King… The Wuman King was shot with an arrow! And you let the shooter go?! Are you an imbecile?”

The advisors and strategists sitting on both sides shook their heads and sighed, looking at the commander with contempt, thinking: These weapon-wielding types aren’t very bright.

One advisor insincerely counseled: “Your Highness, please calm down. Commander Ye surely wouldn’t dare release people on his own. Most likely someone whispered something in his ear… Commander Ye, why don’t you tell His Highness the truth?”

Commander Ye startled and quickly said: “Yes, I failed in my duties! The reason I let them go was because Yan Er kindly helped analyze the situation…”

At this point, he dared not conceal anything and repeated Yan Shang’s original words.

Yan Shang’s reasoning had seemed sound at first hearing. But now as Commander Ye repeated it, even before Prince Qin could speak, he sensed something strange.

Prince Qin sneered: “So you were fooled by a few words from him… When you arrived, you saw him and Sixth Sister shooting arrows together, right? You didn’t dare arrest Sixth Sister, you let Yang San go, and you couldn’t even arrest Yan Er, a mere eighth-rank official?

“He deceived you with words, making you too scared to even question Sixth Sister. Then you were grateful to him and watched as he left with Sixth Sister… You’re completely stupid! He was the one who shot the arrow! He’s the suspect in the attempted assassination of the Wuman King! At minimum, all blame could have been pushed onto Yan Er alone!

“If you were too afraid to move against a princess, were you also too scared to move against Yan Er? But since you didn’t arrest him on the spot, following up on this matter later will be troublesome!

“After all, he’s an official in the Department of State Affairs, and his teacher is the current Prime Minister. Without arresting him at the scene, what reason would you have later to detain an imperial official?

“And you! For your own selfish interests, for fear of future punishment, you let a great achievement slip away… you missed a prime opportunity for promotion!”

Commander Ye broke into a cold sweat as he was berated, filled with bitter regret. Rising from soldier to general, then maneuvering in Chang’an – how difficult that had been… yet he had let Yan Shang deceive him so easily.

In an instant, Commander Ye no longer saw Yan Er as refined and considerate but began to view him as deeply scheming.

How could someone be so devious?

Appearing to be sincere and thoughtful on the surface, yet harboring such ulterior motives?

Enraged, Commander Ye turned to leave the hall: “I’ll go arrest them again right now!”

Prince Qin sneered: “Come back! Can you still catch them? How would you arrest them now? Would you arrest Sixth Sister, interrogate Yang San, or just Yan Er alone? Now the Department of State Affairs and the Crown Prince will be involved in this matter… Once a golden opportunity is missed, it’s not so easy to recover!”

Commander Ye retorted defiantly: “But we still have the Princess’s guards in custody! Many people witnessed today’s killing at Nanshan! Someone must be held responsible for the Wuman King’s injury.”

Prince Qin’s eyes darkened.

He said: “…That will have to be left to the Wuman King now.”

After contemplating for a moment, he had an advisor deliver a message: “Take precious medicines and visit the Wuman King on my behalf. And tell the Wuman King that regardless of how he wishes to resolve this matter, I stand with him.”

The designated advisor stood and was about to leave after bowing, but Prince Qin called him back.

Prince Qin pondered briefly, his lips curling into a mocking smile: “Also tell him that I’ve discovered Yan Shang, styled Suchen, is the Yan Shisheng he spoke of.”

Though confused, the advisor still nodded in acknowledgment.

The Ministry of Personnel had already discovered that Yan Shang was Yan Shisheng.

But Prince Qin hadn’t told the Wuman King.

Prince Qin was curious why Yan Shang mattered so much to the Wuman King, and what Yan Shang had done.

Prince Qin had been waiting for the right moment to tell the Wuman King.

And now… perhaps that opportune moment had finally arrived—

At this time, a servant knocked on the door outside: “Your Highness, the Eastern Palace summons you for questioning.”

Prince Qin’s expression remained unchanged as he asked: “Just me?”

The reply came from outside: “They say Yan Er was also summoned.”

Prince Qin muttered: “I knew it. This shows an intention to reconcile both sides.”

An advisor anxiously said: “If so, won’t the Crown Prince and Department of State Affairs join forces? If they unite to suppress us, won’t Princess Danyang truly be beyond our control and avoid the diplomatic marriage?”

Prince Qin pondered: “Not necessarily. Perhaps to appease the Wuman King, Sixth Sister will still have to be sent… I’ll go see what happens.”

The advisors all wore troubled expressions as they discussed among themselves—

In Princess Danyang’s chambers, the lantern on the low table cast a faint, weak light.

Yan Shang sat by the bed, holding the bulging quilt, speaking many words. Outside, the Crown Prince’s people were still urging him to enter the palace, but he couldn’t bear to leave just like that, leaving Mo Wanyao alone.

Yet since he had sat here talking, he could no longer hear even the faint sobbing that had initially come from within the bedding.

In the silence, it seemed as if he was talking to himself, with no one responding.

Yan Shang knew that after saying so much without Wanyao acknowledging him, she likely wouldn’t emerge from the blankets no matter what else he said. He couldn’t bring himself to forcibly pull her out, so he had to try a different approach.

After brief consideration, Yan Shang sat in the darkness and softly asked: “May I ask Your Highness, in your original plan, after killing the Wuman King, what was the next step? Did you think his death would be the end of it? Things aren’t so simple. Someone would have to take responsibility for the aftermath. What was Your Highness’s original intention?”

He looked down at the lumpy bedding.

Still no response.

Yan Shang continued: “Now that I’m involved in this matter, today’s arrow that struck the Wuman King was partly my doing. Even if I’m to take the blame for Your Highness, shouldn’t you let me die with a clear understanding?”

A muffled female voice came from within the bedding: “You won’t die. Stop treating me like a fool.”

The voice was hoarse with a hint of dampness, but at least she had spoken.

Yan Shang’s eyes brightened slightly, and he unconsciously leaned forward. But fearing he might startle the person hiding in the blankets, he controlled himself from getting too close. Clearing his throat with his hand at his lips, he said with a hint of amusement: “Even if I don’t die, once they realize what happened, it wouldn’t be hard to send me to prison, right?

“Am I going to prison again?

“Won’t Your Highness help me?”

He reached out and gently tugged at the corner of the blanket. That corner frantically pulled away from his hand, shifting toward the inner side of the bed. He pretended not to notice, just sitting at the edge of the bed, sighing: “But if I knew Your Highness’s original intentions, I might have some guidance and could perhaps contain this situation.”

Wanyao said sullenly: “Knowing wouldn’t help. My original plan is completely different from the current situation. You can’t use it at all.”

Yan Shang said: “If the Wuman King doesn’t survive his arrow wound and dies tonight, wouldn’t my knowledge become useful then? Wouldn’t I have to pay with my life?”

These words finally moved Wanyao.

Yan Shang sat at the bed’s edge, not daring to move closer, as he watched the bulging blanket that had retreated to the furthest side of the bed slowly lift at one corner. He remained motionless in the darkness. Perhaps feeling safe, the bedding was tentatively pulled back bit by bit.

She clutched the blanket around herself, kneeling as she looked over at him.

In the dim lamplight, she appeared so small and thin, completely wrapped in the bedding, only her disheveled long hair visible, her eyes red and lashes tangled messily. The princess’s face was delicate, her skin fair, giving off a milky glow in the lamplight.

Having cried extensively, tear stains still marked her face, and as she looked over, there was a sickly, fragile beauty about her.

Yan Shang’s eyes contracted slightly.

Ripples of disturbance stirred in his heart, making his body tense, and within his loose hanging sleeves, his fists clenched in hatred toward those who had hurt her.

However, Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged, his posture unaltered, and he didn’t attempt to move closer. He just smiled at her as usual, waiting for her explanation.

Perhaps feeling secure, Wanyao finally wrapped herself in the blanket and told him in a hoarse, tired voice: “I arranged for someone who looks very similar to Meng Zai Shi. Originally, I planned that after Meng Zai Shi died, this person would replace him. I wanted to install a puppet king in the Wuman nation who would follow all of Great Wei’s instructions.

“I know Meng Zai Shi well, I could have this person completely imitate him at first. And by the time the deception couldn’t be maintained any longer, my arranged person should have gained enough control over speech in Wuman. As long as this person is a puppet, is fake, he could never truly control Wuman. He would always need Great Wei’s support.

“Still no need for war. Great Wei could easily dissolve Wuman. And I wouldn’t need to marry for diplomacy. Isn’t that good?”

Yan Shang was stunned, momentarily shocked that Wanyao’s thoughts could be so bold.

What should he say?

Should he say… as expected of a princess? That she truly had the courage befitting a princess?

Such a plan, if spoken by others, would seem unrealistic, a fool’s dream… but Wanyao now had her own power at court, and if allowed to proceed, she might actually be able to execute this plan perfectly.

Especially if the real Wuman King truly died, all of Great Wei’s court officials would have no other choice but to unite on the same side, holding their noses, and follow Wanyao’s plan.

Seeing Yan Shang’s silence, Wanyao said softly: “What, is my plan not good?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes: “In that case, I was wrong.”

Wanyao remained aloof, her eyes fixed on space, not acknowledging him.

She heard Yan Shang say quietly: “I lacked courage and ruined Your Highness’s plan. If I had had more courage today to help Your Highness execute the plan… perhaps the situation could truly have been turned around.”

Wanyao was startled.

Her empty eyes returned to him, watching as he truly apologized with a lowered head. She stared at him for a long while: “You think my original plan could have been executed?”

Yan Shang said: “Although it was quite bold… it wasn’t impossible. If I had trusted Your Highness more, it would have been better. It’s all my fault for delaying Your Highness’s affairs.”

Wanyao gazed at him for a moment, tears slowly welling in her eyes as she murmured: “Don’t blame yourself. It’s because I’m usually too fierce, making you think I’m brainless and reckless. I didn’t trust you either, never discussing anything with you. Even your coming to Nanshan today was your deduction, not because I told you.”

She lowered her long lashes, self-mockingly: “And if you and Yang San hadn’t come, perhaps today I would have… Meng Zai Shi, I truly underestimated him. I thought I had made good arrangements, but he’s quite cunning too. He had already secretly communicated with Prince Qin, and even without you, my plan probably couldn’t have succeeded.

“Meng Zai Shi is formidable. I both hate him and was taught by him. He’s not so easily killed – I was too arrogant.”

Yan Shang remained silent for a moment, then said: “Your Highness, please rest assured and take care of yourself. I won’t let Your Highness enter a diplomatic marriage. Besides, Young Lord Yang has returned today… With him by the Crown Prince’s side, the Crown Prince will support Your Highness. Your Highness’s most urgent task now is to rest well and not think about these matters.

“These troublesome affairs… should be left to us men.”

Wanyao lowered her head, kneeling while wrapped in the blanket, her face hazy. After hiding in darkness for so long, staying quiet for so long, her voice came out soft and trembling: “Brother Yan Er.”

Yan Shang: “Mm?”

He saw the moisture clinging to her lowered lashes, and heard her hoarse voice: “Do you think I’m a bad person?”

Yan Shang was quiet for a moment, his heart aching as if someone had grabbed and squeezed it violently. He smiled, though his voice had changed slightly: “Why would you say that?”

Wanyao: “I have a bad temper, always scolding you, hitting you, criticizing you, mocking you. I’ve been intimate with more than one man, my past in Wuman is so filthy I don’t even want to mention it. I act fierce but am weak inside, telling you I don’t care when I do. My relationship with Meng Zai Shi… is also not ordinary.

“I didn’t resolve any of these things before getting involved with you. You were originally pure-hearted, not caring for anyone, not understanding love… You could have just been a good official, but I keep bothering you with my troubles every few days. I… have you ever thought about breaking ties with me?”

Yan Shang stared at her, saying: “Your Highness should know what kind of person I am.”

Wanyao made a soft sound of agreement, speaking distantly: “I know, that’s why I approached you. I know you’re a very serious person, and once you make a decision, you rarely regret it or turn back. So no matter how bad I am, as long as I don’t bring it up, you won’t break ties with me, right?”

Yan Shang: “That’s not my reason. Your Highness always thinks I do this out of sympathy, out of tolerance… but in this world, there are many people I sympathize with and tolerate. Sympathizing with someone doesn’t mean I would sacrifice myself to care for them.

“Am I really some sort of saint? Am I really that good? In others’ eyes, I’m just a minor eighth-rank official, without talent or distinction, yet I’m entangled with Your Highness – it’s truly presumptuous.

“Your Highness is learned and talented, while I’m like an uneducated country bumpkin. Before Your Highness, I haven’t read any good or rare books. I hear Your Highness is extremely accomplished, skilled in both poetry and painting, but I’m completely dull – in poetry, I fear I could never match Your Highness in this lifetime, unable to compose poems together with you.

“Your Highness plays the konghou beautifully; when I first heard it, it was like celestial music descending to earth. But I can do nothing. I only know Your Highness plays the konghou well, but can’t even explain why. That day I was enchanted by Your Highness, and still can’t forget it. It’s just that Your Highness doesn’t touch these things anymore – I don’t know when I might hear Your Highness play the konghou again.”

Wanyao turned her face to look at him steadily.

Yan Shang finally said: “…It is I who am unworthy of Your Highness.”

Wanyao gazed at him for a long while, and the tears that had just stopped began to fall again uncontrollably.

Perhaps hearing her sobbing, he raised his eyes to look at her.

Wanyao choked: “I really don’t want to tell you about my past, don’t want you to see who I was before. In Wuman… there are still many things I don’t want you to know.”

Yan Shang said hoarsely: “It doesn’t matter. I also don’t want to know… if Your Highness never wants to speak of it in this lifetime, I will never ask in this lifetime.”

Wanyao covered her face, trembling: “You said, you said that past events follow like shadows, they never truly pass.”

Yan Shang’s heart ached again, remembering those words he had spoken back in Lingnan.

He hated himself for saying that then – when Wanyao heard those words, how hurt she must have been.

Yan Shang said: “I was young then, my understanding unclear. The past is intangible, it shouldn’t carry so much weight. What’s important is the future. We should live our remaining days well, not letting the past affect us.”

Wanyao raised her tear-streaked face from her hands, glistening with moisture as she gazed at Yan Shang, her eyes clouded with mist.

She choked out: “Brother Yan Er.”

Yan Shang: “Mm.”

Wanyao slowly pushed away the blanket covering her body, revealing her snow-white undergarments. Still kneeling on the bed, she crawled bit by bit toward Yan Shang sitting at the edge. She crawled before him, lifting her face to look at him as he bent down.

Tentatively, she moved forward and lightly pressed her lips against his.

Yan Shang’s eyes curved slightly.

This confirmed he was still her Brother Yan Er in her heart, forever tolerant, forever wonderful, different from all other men in the world. He was the best person in her heart, the best person she had ever met in the world.

Wanyao hugged his waist, burying herself in his embrace. She began crying steadily while holding his neck, and Yan Shang held her, gently patting her back without speaking. She cried softly in his arms, her whole body trembling, tears wetting his neck.

Yan Shang’s heart also rained steadily with hers.

Wanyao spoke brokenly: “I like Brother Yan Er so much.”

Yan Shang held her tightly.

Just then, a maid knocked on the door. Wanyao let out a sob, raising her head in confusion, and Yan Shang said: “I had Xia Rong brew some medicinal soup. Your Highness stood in the icy pond for so long today, and your health isn’t good – I feared you might fall ill. Will Your Highness drink the medicine?”

Wanyao nodded.

Yan Shang sighed: “Yaoyao is so good.”

Xia Rong entered, bringing the medicine. She saw the princess obediently covered with the blanket, being held in Yan Er’s arms, actually listening and allowing Yan Er to take the medicine and feed it to her. Xia Rong marveled, thinking that only Yan Er knew how to handle the princess.

Wanyao leaned against Yan Shang’s shoulder, suddenly saying: “Fang Tong and the others…”

Yan Shang said gently: “Your Highness needn’t worry. I’ll find a way to bring them back.”

Wanyao fell silent.

Xia Rong hesitated for a long while before finally saying reluctantly: “Second Young Master, the Eastern Palace people have been waiting for a long time, asking if you’re still going to the palace.”

Wanyao lifted her head to look questioningly at Yan Shang, who said: “My apologies, let the Eastern Palace escorts return first. I’ll go by myself later.”

Wanyao: “You’re leaving?”

Yan Shang looked down at her, saying softly: “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

Only then did Wanyao relax, lowering her head to obediently drink the medicine. She added: “I want to eat that candy you gave me before.”

Yan Shang started slightly, apologetically saying: “I’ll have my family send more another day.”

Wanyao pursed her lips, her face clearly showing displeasure. Yan Shang bent down and lightly kissed her forehead.

She looked up at him in surprise, and as she lowered her head, she touched her forehead, the little princess’s lips curving up again, somewhat happy—

The Eastern Palace’s intention was for Yang San not to appear; for reconciliation of this matter, the Crown Prince appointed another official to apologize to the Wuman King alongside Yan Shang.

Privately, the Crown Prince said he feared Yang Si meeting the Wuman King would only offend him further, so it was better to confine Yang Si and have him reflect on his actions, preventing him from causing more trouble.

Yan Shang naturally agreed.

The Department of State Affairs was also quite dissatisfied with Yan Shang’s actions, but Minister Liu was absent these days due to family matters. The Department therefore only discussed the matter, reluctant to take action against his student while Minister Liu was away.

With both the Eastern Palace and Department of State Affairs urging Yan Shang to apologize to the Wuman King, someone of Yan Shang’s pleasant temperament naturally went daily with the Eastern Palace’s representative to apologize.

However, the Wuman King wouldn’t see them.

The Eastern Palace’s official couldn’t stand it, changing three people in three days, while Yan Shang remained unmoved, bringing gifts and visiting daily. When the Wuman King wouldn’t see him, Yan Shang would stand in the courtyard all day being refused, his expression unchanging.

Those accompanying him could only marvel.

They sighed that his composure was extraordinary.

On the fourth day, the Wuman side had probably been reminded and felt they had tormented them enough, finally allowing Yan Shang to enter, leave the gifts, and see the Wuman King—

Though only a few days had passed since Meng Zai Shi was wounded by the arrow, he could already walk, appearing stern-faced, hardly different from usual.

The two sides met in the study, where Meng Zai Shi sat wearing a robe, coldly watching Yan Shang and the other Eastern Palace official enter, defining Princess Danyang’s attempt to kill him as a misunderstanding, hoping the Wuman King would forgive and reconcile privately.

Meng Zai Shi watched Yan Shang standing with lowered eyes, thinking of the news Prince Qin had told him – so this person was Yan Shisheng.

Heh, no wonder.

Meng Zai Shi said lazily: “You think some gifts can settle the matter of nearly killing me? My subordinates are still being detained by you even now.”

Yan Shang said: “If Your Majesty wants the people returned, they can be released at any time.”

Meng Zai Shi: “That arrow you shot that day… and you don’t even have to go to prison? Are your Great Wei customs a bit unfair?”

Yan Shang raised his eyes, studying this Wuman King who sat roughly while casually playing with an inkstone on his desk, and said: “How does Your Majesty wish to punish me?”

Meng Zai Shi gave him a slow look, harboring resentment that because of the other’s scheme, war had broken out, causing Wuman to fight for two years. Although they had destroyed the Chi barbarians and Wuman had benefited, Yan Shang’s initial suggestion had been ill-intentioned.

Meng Zai Shi answered indirectly: “These past days while recuperating, I’ve been reading your Great Wei books. Only then did I learn that the character ‘man’ in ‘Wuman’ isn’t a good word in your Great Wei.”

He gave a cold laugh, slamming the inkstone onto the desk with a bang, making the official behind Yan Shang tremble.

Meng Zai Shi looked darkly at Yan Shang: “So although our nations are allied, Great Wei has looked down on us from the beginning. You view us as barbarians, calling us ‘Wuman’ – it’s not a good term at all… yet we didn’t know and took pride in it, being laughed at by you Great Wei people for many years, right?”

Yan Shang remained composed: “Regarding how your honored country should be addressed, I truly don’t know – I wasn’t present for the alliance treaty, nor was I responsible for this matter. If your honored country wishes to change its name, that’s entirely up to you. I will persuade our emperor and officials to actively cooperate, without question. It’s just a name, entirely up to Your Majesty’s wishes.”

Meng Zai Shi looked at him coldly.

He said: “Princess Danyang…”

Sure enough, at these four words, Yan Shang’s gentle eyes showed a slight change, his gaze toward him becoming somewhat sharper.

Meng Zai Shi smiled coldly, saying: “I can overlook Princess Danyang’s attempt to kill me. But since you also took action, if you want to protect her, you must pay a price. I hear you have no real talent yourself, reaching your current position entirely through Princess Danyang’s promotion. If you want me to calm my anger and not implicate innocent people, I’ll give you a choice.

“Resign from office and don’t serve as a Great Wei official for five years. Then I won’t mention the Nanshan incident again.”

The official behind Yan Shang’s expression changed immediately: “Your Majesty is too unreasonable! Second Young Master, there’s no need for this!”

But Yan Shang looked at Meng Zai Shi for a long while, saying quietly: “If I resign, will you also drop the matter of the diplomatic marriage?”

Meng Zai Shi found it laughable: “You, a mere eighth-rank official, think yourself important enough to be mentioned alongside a princess’s diplomatic marriage? Very well, if you want me to give up the marriage, you’ll need to meet one more condition.”

Yan Shang smiled, asking: “What additional condition do you want?”

Meng Zai Shi’s gaze lost its mocking quality, seriously staring at Yan Shang before saying after a while: “As long as you resign from office and never marry the princess in this lifetime, I’ll stop troubling you both!”

Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said: “Why doesn’t Your Majesty simply have me return to Wuman with you, to help Your Majesty plan and handle affairs?”

Meng Zai Shi also smiled as he replied: “This king fears that if you help with my affairs, the more you help, the more confused I’ll become, making losing deals… Yan Shisheng.”

The air froze.

Both men’s eyes held smiles, but the smiles were icy cold, tearing away the last layer of pretense.

And the minor official behind Yan Shang was nearly frightened unconscious by their bold exchange.