Yan Shang's house was very empty and simple. In the night, it was as dim as a candle, quietly illuminating the young man who stood up behind the desk.

His eyes were covered with white veil, and his figure was thin and lonely. His words were sad. The white shadow was like mist, and the moonlight shone in from the window, with the sound of insects chirping and a chill.

Mu Wanyao's eyes were full of anger, but seeing him standing there so alone and somewhat at a loss, he was probably "looking" in her direction, and a low "Yaoyao" in her ear made Mu Wanyao's mood suddenly become complicated and embarrassing.

She said, "What do you mean?"

The words were still cold and emotionless, but the questioning tone had faded.

Er Shang was silent for a while, of course he understood her question.

He retracted his previous ups and downs and gave a calm answer: "...We have been separated for a long time, and each of us has our own way to go. Your Highness also wants to recognize me, right? My reasons are the same as yours."

The fire that had already gone out in Mu Wanyao was easily rekindled by him.

She laughed sarcastically: "From what you said, you think you are not the same as me, and you think I am hindering your future. Of course, now Yan Erlang is Yan Suchen, a famous minister in the country. Who doesn't know his reputation? It must feel very good, right?"

Yan Shang didn't say anything.

He lowered his head and his eyes could not be seen. Mu Wanyao didn't know what he was thinking.

She just got even angrier - "Where's your fiancée? Your eyes are like this, and you don't even let anyone take care of you? Even I, who had a relationship with you in the past, would ask about your eyes, but your fiancée didn't show up from beginning to end. What's going on?"

Yan Shang finally turned his head and looked in this direction.

It was true that as soon as she opened her mouth, he could see what she really cared about. Yan Shang said softly: "What are you doubting, Your Highness? I am indeed going to get married. But Miao Niang is a girl from an ordinary family, different from Your Highness. Men and women should not be intimate with each other. Before marriage, I will not meet Miao Niang often."

Mu Wanyao: "Men and women shouldn't touch each other? When you were dating me and were eager to get into bed, I didn't see you being as conscious as you are now."

Yan Shang’s face turned pale.

He said with difficulty after a while: "...So, it was wrong at the beginning."

Mu Wanyao walked towards him and asked him as if she was provoked by him: "Being with me is wrong, but being with others is right? Am I a mistake in your past? Why are you so eager to get rid of me? You..."

Yan Shang retreated, but there was no way to retreat. He fell down and sat down. Mu Wan shook her hands and leaned on the table, staring at him. He looked up, and even though he couldn't see, he could feel her breath and sense her emotions that were almost out of control.

Yan Shang felt even more tormented.

He couldn't help but ask, "What do you want?"

Mu Wan was startled.

Yan Shang: "Your Highness is so angry, do you want to rekindle our past relationship?"

Mu Wanyao immediately regained control of her emotions and said calmly, "How is that possible?"

Yan Shang was stunned for a while, his fingers in his sleeves trembled a few times as he supported himself on the table, and then he spoke softly, as if to convince himself and to persuade Mu Wanyao: "Yes, Your Highness and I are not suitable. Your Highness is doing well now, he has a beloved husband, and he can marry him. Your Highness will get better and better.

"Although, although... I don't deserve your Highness's forgiveness, I still sincerely hope that your Highness can live a good life and marry the man she truly loves. I will bless your Highness."

Mu Wan looked at his jade-white face. She wanted to be as generous as he was and say a few nice words to wish him and his fiancée a happy success. But when the words came to her lips, she couldn't say any more, not even a word.

Mu Wanyao's face suddenly changed. He felt embarrassed at that moment and realized his own evil ambitions.

Her wolfish ambition made it impossible for her to bless him.

-----

Mu Wanyao thought, perhaps deep in her heart, she had never let go.

She seemed unwilling to give in.

She seemed to feel that Yan Shang could only love her, love her deeply.

Why does she think so?

-----

Mu Wanyao was a little absent-minded and stopped talking.

Yan Shang explored and groped, reaching out his hand through her sleeve and gently holding her wrist.

He said softly, "Your Highness, even though Your Highness and I...are already strangers, I can still help you if you have any difficulties."

Mu Wan shook her head and looked at him: "Why, do you still want to be friends with me?"

His words were still a little stiff.

After a while, he smiled bitterly and took back the hand that was holding Mu Wan's wrist. He shook his head and said softly: "I, I can't be friends with His Highness... I'm sorry, but I really can't do it."

Mu Wan looked down at him, and this time she didn't force him to help her. She suddenly understood Yan Shang's feelings at this moment - he was such a serious person.

Such a serious person, if he has ever loved a girl wholeheartedly and devotedly, he would not be able to be friends with this girl without any scruples afterwards, even Yan Shang could not do it.

Mu Wan was stunned: "So, you just want to... forget about me and the world."

Her eyes were filled with mist, and she felt breathless and desperate because of this realization. She had never realized so clearly that Yan Shang was really going to walk out of her life and become the past... Her past memories were not good, only him was the best.

But he tried so hard to leave.

...Just because she loves power and he loves people's livelihood, does it have to be like this?

What's wrong with loving power? Power comes first, he comes second... Then he also comes second!

What's wrong with that.

What's wrong with that!

-----

Mu Wanyao left like this. After she left, Yan Shang was alone in the house, sitting quietly against the wall.

He sat there blankly for a long time, and he couldn't help wanting to chase her several times, but he forced himself not to go.

What happened three years ago made Yan Shang realize that someone like him might not be suitable to like anyone or to be loved by anyone.

A long time ago, when Mu Wanyao joked with him, he said that he didn't value love or marriage. But he was still young at that time, and he didn't understand that when he didn't value it, he shouldn't accept the princess's love. His love would hurt people, make people miss people, and abandon people...

He was fit to be alone, not to be loved by any girl.

His love is fruitless.

When he was young and determined to speak for the people, he might have lost the possibility of loving a girl... But he didn't understand at that time. When Mu Wanyao smiled at him, he still felt that he liked her. At that time, he still dared to like Mu Wanyao, to open his heart to her, and to be moved by her.

He may have to try to balance his personal emotions and the great love in his heart throughout his life...and the premise is that he doesn't delay Mu Wanyao anymore.

For him, marriage is not just about being with the girl he loves, but only about continuing the family line.

It doesn't matter, he is no longer the Yan Shang of his teens, he knows it now. So the fiancée he chooses will not have any hope, will not have any value. He will not invest in emotions and hurt anyone anymore... it's just a responsibility.

Yan Shang thought about this and felt even more uncomfortable. He had been trying to convince himself, but every time he realized it, he felt pain. Yan Shang leaned over the table and lay quietly for a long time, his shoulders tense.

He sat like this for most of the night. After going to bed in the second half of the night, he lay flat on the bed, but he still couldn't sleep until dawn.

-----

But Yan Shang had thought so clearly in his mind and had made such clear arrangements for himself. When he heard from Qiu Si's casual words that Mu Wanyao had not eaten for two days, he was still stunned.

Mu Wanyao's identity was now exposed and he no longer concealed it. Yun Shu and his former servants naturally admitted their mistakes to Yan Shang. Yan Shang was disheartened and had no intention of punishing them.

When Qiusi said this, she was asking Yunshu through the window if there was any porridge in Nanyang that was new and delicious. Because the princess hadn't eaten for two days, everyone was very worried and tried every means to get her some.

Yan Shang's eyesight has not changed recently, so he has to dictate what he wants to write, and Yunshu writes it for him. Yunshu heard Qiusi say this while grinding ink, and thought to himself that it was bad. Yunshu quickly dismissed Qiusi: "How do we know? My husband has official duties and is busy. You can ask the servants for such trivial matters."

After he sent Qiusi away, he didn't hear his husband dictating what he wanted to write, so he quietly turned his head.

Seeing Yan Shang's slightly tense chin, Yun Shu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that her husband still couldn't let go.

Sure enough, Yan Shang spoke: "Qiusi... is that so? Wait a minute, why hasn't His Highness eaten for two days?"

-----

It was not unusual for Mu Wanyao to not eat. In the past few years, she did not want to eat when she was in a bad mood. When Pei Qing heard that the princess was not eating or drinking again, he racked his brains to find some delicious food for the princess. But Mu Wanyao was not interested.

Mu Wanyao didn't eat this time because she was jealous.

She felt very uncomfortable, and the more she thought about her marriage, the more upset she became. She thought about Yan Shang's fiancée, and the more she thought about it, the more jealous and resentful she became.

I feel like why.

Why should she marry a man she doesn't like, just to help him get a higher position? But Lang Shang can be shared by another woman.

Mu Wanyao was unwilling to accept it. After she and Yan Shang parted unhappily that day, she asked someone to check what happened to Yan Shang's fiancée. She had a hope that he was just deceiving her and that he would never marry.

But the information Fang Tong found out told her that Yan Shang would really get married.

The other party was the youngest daughter of the county magistrate of Nanyang County. The county magistrate saw Yan Shang all the time, and Yan Shang was his superior. So this marriage was between Yan Shang and the daughter of his subordinate.

Perhaps it could help Yan Shang consolidate his power among the gentry in Nanyang, and make his job as a county magistrate easier.

But will Yan Shang always be the magistrate of Nanyang County?

Mu Wanyao and Fang Tong also went to secretly look at Yan Shang's fiancée named Miao Niang. She sat in the wine shop and took a look at the young lady who came to buy wine. But no matter how she looked at her, no matter how she exaggerated the beauty of this lady, she felt that Miao Niang was just a beautiful girl from a small family.

She couldn't see any talent Miao Niang had... According to Fang Tong, this Miao Niang was most likely illiterate.

She couldn't see how beautiful this Miao Niang was...she wasn't even as pretty as the maids in her house.

He is actually gentle, honest and kind... However, this was also a virtue that Mu Wanyao had tried hard to find in him for a long time.

Mu Wan shook her head in confusion: "I am really devastated."

Fang Tong was speechless.

Mu Wanyao said, "He had a good life with a girl like me, but in the end he had to marry a girl from a humble family. He made me feel that... the girl he chose and I were of the same level. Because we were of the same level, he could easily transition from a princess to a country girl."

Fang Tong struggled to speak for Yan Erlang: "You can't say that... maybe Erlang just wants to change his aesthetic."

Mu Wanyao was even more confused: "What kind of aesthetic is that? He has seen someone like me, slept with someone like me, and he actually thinks that others are better than me? He chose this, this... I really don't know how to explain it."

Fang Tong was unable to explain Yan Erlang's aesthetic taste in more words, so Mu Wanyao continued to be unhappy.

-----

In the evening, Mu Wan lay on the bed, biting her fingers in a daze.

There was a maid greeting her outside the door, and she heard Yan Shang's gentle voice, but Mu Wanyao just moved her eyelids and still had no interest in getting up.

After a while, Yan Shang came into the room, through the curtains, he probably came to see her. He smiled and spoke to her maid: "...I made some porridge, maybe Your Highness can try it."

The maids asked, "Did Yan Erlang come here specifically to bring porridge to see our prince? Erlang is very thoughtful."

Yan Shang said: "I have some official business to discuss with His Highness..."

The maids understood and said, "Then please sit down, Erlang. We will wait outside."

Yan Shang's cheeks were burning, and he said thank you a little unnaturally. The maids answered seriously, and he couldn't see them with his eyes, but he always felt that everyone had guessed his thoughts and was just pretending not to know... Yan Shang's heartbeat was uneven, and the fingers on his knees were stiff.

He struggled for a long time and mustered up a lot of courage. He took advantage of Pei Qing's absence to come and see her and persuade her to eat well.

He always felt guilty that this was not a good thing...but since she didn't eat, he suspected that he had made her unhappy.

After the maids left, Yan Shang coughed lightly. He called out "Your Highness", but no one answered. Yan Shang continued, "It's like this, because the bandit suppression in Nanyang is not going smoothly. Recently, Your Highness came to Nanyang, and the news has spread... I want to use the news of Your Highness's visit to Nanyang to lure those bandits out, at least to take down a few camps..."

Mu Wanyao finally spoke: "Do you want to use me as bait? Do you want me to go out for a walk, or do you want me to go up the mountain and be kidnapped by bandits?"

Yan Shang quickly explained: "No, no! It's not what you think. How could I do that to Your Highness? I just said that I would borrow Your Highness's name for use. Naturally, there are other girls who will play Your Highness... I was just afraid that Your Highness would be unhappy after knowing it, so I came to ask Your Highness if you can allow me to do this."

Mu Wanyao said nonchalantly: "Oh, so you mean, I don't even need to show up?"

Yan Shang said, “Yes.”

He assured her: "Your Highness, it is safest to live here. I will never let the bandits enter here and disturb Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao: "None of these plans require my involvement, what are you eagerly coming to discuss with me?"

Yan Shang's cheeks grew even hotter.

He knew that she was straightforward and didn't like beating around the bush, and he also knew that no matter how many excuses he made, they would only be a cover-up, so after being embarrassed for a long time, he managed to say in a very light voice: "...I heard that you didn't want to eat, so I came to persuade you."

Mu Wanyao was curious: "How are you going to persuade her?"

Yan Shang whispered, "I, I made some porridge. It's a local recipe from Nanyang. Your Highness probably hasn't tasted it. It tastes very light. Your Highness might be willing to try it... Even if Your Highness is angry with me, you can't torture yourself."

Mu Wanyao skipped his last superfluous words and was only interested in the previous ones: "You made it yourself? Aren't you blind? How can you make porridge?"

Yan Shang was even more embarrassed.

Mu Wanyao hated him being like this the most and said unhappily, "Speak!"

Yan Shang whispered: "...I stayed in the kitchen all afternoon."

Mu Wanyao was speechless for a moment.

Yan Shang, who has poor eyesight, stayed in the kitchen for an entire afternoon just for her to have a bowl of porridge? He couldn't even see, and he stayed in such a narrow, airless place... Mu Wanyao's voice was hoarse: "Come and sit over here."

Yan Shang hesitated for a moment, then he stood up and fumbled around, and was held by a hand that a girl stretched out from the tent. His fingertips trembled slightly, but she held his hand tightly. Yan Shang was still quiet, but she still held his hand and led him to sit by the bed.

The bed curtains were hung up by the hooks. Yan Shang sat carefully on the edge of the bed. Mu Wan smoothed her long hair and looked at him.

He naturally couldn't see the scenery in front of him, and didn't know how disheveled Mu Wanyao's clothes were, and how her shoulders and neck were exposed. He just sat here and smelled the fragrance of his daughter in the tent, which made him feel uncomfortable. Mu Wanyao watched him sitting with his back straight, and a layer of red appeared on his face.

Mu Wan rolled her eyes and was a little interested to see him so reserved.

She asked, "Where's your porridge?"

He was a little surprised and turned his head towards her: "Do you want to drink?"

Mu Wan shook her head: "No."

Yan Shang: “…”

Mu Wanyao chuckled and said mischievously, "But if you feed me, I will drink."

Yan Shang was stunned.

A few strands of his hair were rubbing against his face, making him look a little dull. Mu Wanyao liked the way he looked. She wondered why this man was still the same, not having changed at all.

After so many years, how could he still have this expression after being teased by her casual words?

This made Mu Wanyao feel nostalgic and sad.

It took Yan Shang a while to come back to his senses and said, "I... this doesn't make sense."

Mu Wan just snorted and said nothing.

And he seemed to be trying to please her, whispering: "Your Highness, please don't embarrass me. How can I feed Your Highness porridge when I can't even see?"

Mu Wanyao said: "I think you are completely insincere. Forget it, just let me starve to death."

She lay back down in despair, and Yan Shang grabbed her arm. He said awkwardly, "I'll try," and let Mu Wanyao sit down obediently, waiting to see how he would feed her.

She was just that bad. She loved to see him make a fool of himself at any time.

-----

Yan Shang was indeed not very mobile, and it took him quite some time to take the bowl of porridge out of the food box and hold it in his hands. After he scooped a spoonful, he frowned and was dazed, wondering how to feed her. He couldn't even tell where her mouth was...

He scooped a spoonful of porridge tremblingly and handed it forward based on his own impression...

Mu Wan shook her head and screamed.

Yan Shang panicked: "What's wrong?"

Mu Wan shook her head: "No... your hand just shook a little bit, I thought your rice porridge was going to drip onto my hand. I got scared."

Yan Shang pursed his lips.

He said, "Your Highness, I can't feed you this porridge."

Mu Wan raised her eyebrows and said, "Are you going to starve me to death?"

Yan Shang asked back: "Are you going to force me to death?"

Mu Wan was stunned: ...Time is really a powerful force, Yan Shang actually refuted her.

Seeing the spoon he had tremblingly handed out, he took it back again. He placed the jade spoon in the bowl, lowered his head, and looked a little unhappy.

Mu Wanyao looked at him, a little worried whether she had really made him angry. Mu Wanyao stopped while she was ahead, held his hand and coaxed him, "Don't be like this, just touch it and you will know where my face is. You see, I didn't mean to tease you."

After that, while he was still not reacting, she pulled his hand and let his jade-white fingers rest on her cheek. Yan Shang was so frightened that he wanted to withdraw his hand, but when his fingers touched her snowy skin, they trembled as if they had their own consciousness, but did not move away.

Mu Wan's face turned red, her beautiful eyes sparkled, and she looked at him tenderly.

Of course he couldn't see it.

Mu Wan shook his fingers and asked him to touch her eyebrows and eyes. She tempted him: "Look, isn't it clear now? You haven't seen me for a long time. Have you forgotten what I look like? You must feel carefully to know where the eyebrows are and where the eyes are... When you feed me porridge, don't feed the soup into my nose, or I will be angry..."

He moved his fingers over her face.

He hesitated for a long time and said, "I, I want to feel it more clearly, is that okay?"

Mu Wan shook her head and her face turned even redder, but she was very serious: "Of course."

So Yan Shang put down the bowl of porridge, hesitated and leaned over to sit. He held her face with one hand, and the fingers of the other hand fell on her cheek. He despised his Sima Zhao's heart, but he still leaned over like this.

He brushed his fingers over her long eyebrows and beautiful eyes... He relied on his fingers to search for the girl in his memory.

His fingers gently hooked across her eyes, itching and light, making Mu Wanyao feel uncomfortable. She looked at him, and saw that he was just a breath away from her, his eyebrows were slightly frowned, and his lips were moist. He leaned so close to her, he lowered his head, and his hair brushed against her face.

Because he couldn't see it himself, he had no idea how ambiguous they were now.

He had no idea of ​​the allure he had for her.

Mu Wan looked at him, watching him frown and relax his long eyebrows. His fingers fell on her face, disturbing her heart. Her mind was in a mess because of his touch, her eyelashes flickered, and her eyes stared straight at his slightly opened lips... He didn't know that if he lowered his head, he could kiss her.

As Yan Shang was caressing, his chin was suddenly hooked. His lips were kissed, and before he could react, he was pushed down by Mu Wanyao.

-----

The intimacy of lips and teeth lingers, the love is passionate and affectionate.

The hair is tangled and the heart is restless.

Yan Shang was rocked and pressed by Mu Wan on the soft mattress, and he was kissed by the chin. At first he was confused and uncomfortable, then he was obsessed, and then panicked, feeling that it was inappropriate.

He was pinned down, his hands on her shoulders, and in a rage, he wanted to push her away. He panted, but he didn't know that the more he did this, the more Mu Wanyao refused to let go.

He said with some difficulty: "Your Highness... Your Highness... Yaoyao... Don't do this... Don't do this!"

The girl's strength was ultimately no match for that of a man, and Yan Shang really wanted to pull her away, no matter how tough she was, she would still be pulled away by him. But her sudden attack also startled him, and he held her in his arms, propped up his upper body and sat up from the mattress, his face flushed, his hair messy, and he couldn't speak.

Yan Shang lowered his head, held her face in his hands, and uttered after a long while: "...We can't do this."

Mu Wan shook her head and looked up at him: "Are you going to scold me?"

Yan Shang was confused: "You...you don't know what you are doing at all. You are still like a child, not mature at all..."

Mu Wan shook her eyes with mist in them. "I'm not a child anymore. I'm mature. I just treated you like this...if you want to blame someone, blame yourself. Blame yourself for coming to see me. Just leave me alone."

Yan Shang was a little angry: "You refuse to eat, how can I ignore you? You, you did it on purpose... You can't always be like this."

Mu Wanyao didn't say anything else, she stretched out her hand and brushed his waist. He bent down to avoid it, but her fingers touched him. She whispered: "You are obviously moved, why do you reject me?"

Yan Shang was even more confused. He really couldn't figure out what was going on...

The two of them were in a stalemate, and at this moment, Pei Qing, who was always late, arrived, and was spread by the maids from outside. Yan Shang was shocked, and hurriedly said to Mu Wanyao: "We will talk about our business later. Don't make trouble now, don't let the prince consort see it... You are going to get married, don't make this kind of mistake again."

Mu Wan raised her head and said, "Kiss me once, and I'll listen to you. Otherwise, I'll tell Pei Qing that I couldn't help sleeping with you."

Yan Shang: “……!”

He was shocked and confused by her. He felt that she had become more and more shameless after not seeing her for three years. But Pei Qing's footsteps came over, and Yan Shang felt confused and thought that at least he couldn't be discovered now. He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips perfunctorily.

Mu Wan shook his head and laughed, finally satisfied.

-----

When Pei Qing came in, he saw Yan Shang sitting outside the bed curtain, looking like he was visiting a patient. But when the curtain was opened, the mattress inside the curtain seemed a little messy.

However, the mess on the bed was most likely caused by Mu Wanyao himself.

Because the princess was leaning lazily on the pillow, her brows were misty, her lips were rosy and soft, and she looked like she had just woken up... Pei Qing was unhappy that Yan Shang came over just when the princess woke up.

But the princess started to eat because of Yan Shang's arrival and drank a whole bowl of porridge. Pei Qing felt relieved again.

Pei Qing said politely: "It seems that Yan Erlang should have meals with us every day."

Mu Wanyao said, "Okay, let's eat together starting tomorrow."

Yan Shang: “…”

He said in a strange mood, "No need. My eyes are not good, so I won't disturb you 'couple'."

He deliberately emphasized the word "husband and wife" and turned his face in the direction of Mu Wanyao, as if reminding her of something.

Mu Wanyao explained: "We are just an engaged couple, it is not certain whether it can be successful. Before marriage, isn't it for everyone to get to know each other? Yan Erlang, you are welcome to have dinner with us. Pei Qing, what do you say?"

Yan Shang lowered his head and said slowly: "Prince Consort Pei should be more willing to dine with His Highness in private. It would be too crowded for three people to eat together. Pei Langjun, don't you think so?"

Mu Wan shook her head slowly: "If you don't like three people, you can ask your fiancée to come along. Four people, I think it's fine."

Yan Shang warned: "Don't involve innocent people."

Pei Qing: “…”

I always feel that there is something else between their words, and I feel like an outsider.