This was the first time in three years that Mu Wanyao entered the mansion next door.
The garden was full of weeds, the trees were withered, the water in the pond had become stagnant, and the light flakes floating on the surface were like shadows of the past.
Mu Wan stood here, seeing Yan Sanlang and Yan Xiaozhou, and listening to their conversation, she felt as if time had gone back. But time clearly had not gone back, because Yan Sanlang said that Yan Shang was going to get married...
Mu Wanyao felt empty inside, and for a moment, she didn't know what she was thinking.
I just felt like I was in a trance, like I was wandering in a dream.
When she came to her senses, she was already standing in Yan Shang's old house. The furniture in the house was the same as before, except that it was covered with a layer of dust and there were cobwebs in every corner, but there was nothing else.
Mu Wanyao was not looking at those things. She was standing beside a desk, looking down at a pot of water lilies that had been withered for a long time.
She lowered her eyes to stare at the flowerpot, and suddenly thought of the heavy rain that night. When he opened the door and saw her, his eyes were as clear and bright as a shooting star.
She looked at the mud in the basin, vaguely saw the fluttering curtains and the dim candlelight. She leaned on his back and looked at him. He asked her, "Have the water lilies bloomed?"
-----
The water lilies are not blooming.
The water lilies are dead.
-----
Pei Qing came to the princess's mansion and saw a carriage parked in the alley that did not belong to the princess's mansion. He felt something was wrong. He soon learned that Mu Wan had gone to the next door. Pei Qing hurried to the next door and saw all the servants and two strange men and women standing outside a house together.
Pei Qing used his identity to squeeze into the crowd. He looked through the window and saw Mu Wanyao standing in front of a flower pot.
She just stood there, the setting sun floating on her face from behind, her eyelashes drooping, her expression cold.
But at that moment, Pei Qing saw a very sad feeling from her.
So all the words in her heart were stuck in her throat, and her heart was soaked in the water, feeling sour and bitter... Pei Qing couldn't help but feel despair, thinking that three years of companionship could not compare to the thoughts that were ignited in her heart when she saw the light and shadow of the old days.
What on earth is he to Her Royal Highness the Princess?
-----
Mu Wanyao was not in the mood to spend time with Pei Qing that day, so she invited Yan Xiaozhou and his sister to live in the princess's mansion. Pei Qing returned to her own mansion and calmed down in the study for a while, but the jealousy in her heart could not be subsided.
He couldn't help but laugh at himself.
In just three years, he had become a sixth-rank official in the court. Even if he could not compare to Yan Erlang's promotion of several ranks in a year, such an achievement was already very promising.
However, everyone around him couldn't help but mention "Yan Erlang" and "Yan Suchen".
Because Yan Suchen was a famous official in the country; because although Yan Suchen was not in Chang'an, the two major events he accomplished in Chang'an would not be forgotten by anyone; because Yan Suchen was so young, and because Yan Suchen also had an ambiguous relationship with Princess Danyang back then.
Because Pei Qing and Yan Suchen look so similar at first glance.
Only Mu Wanyao never mentioned Yan Suchen.
Pei Qing thought that Yan Shang was in Nanyang, and after a long time, the people around him would forget about him. Unfortunately, as Yan Shang stayed in Nanyang for a long time, Nanyang's political achievements became more outstanding, and all kinds of rumors flowed into Chang'an...Rumors about Yan Suchen were everywhere!
Pei Qing sat in the study, his handsome face twisted for a moment. He was not convinced... He was not convinced about where he had lost.
He is about to marry the princess, but the princess can't forget another person... What kind of marriage is this?
Yan Suchen just showed up earlier than him. Just left earlier.
That's why Mu Wanyao only remembers the good of that person and can't remember the bad of that person. But as a man, Pei Qing doesn't believe that the white moonlight in the princess' heart is really perfect. Only by breaking the traces of the white moonlight in the princess' heart, maybe... he can really get close to the princess' heart.
Otherwise, this marriage... Pei Qing always felt that something unexpected would happen.
-----
Two days later, it rained continuously in Chang'an, and she went into the palace to see the emperor in the evening.
She talked about the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel in order to inform her father in advance. She wanted to have a say in the Ministry of Personnel, but was afraid that the King of Qin would be too vigilant, so she wanted to make a feint in the Ministry of War to make the King of Qin think that she wanted the power of the Ministry of War.
Speaking of this, Mu Wanyao's heart still beat violently, fearing that the emperor would not allow it: "The Li family recommended a military genius to me and wanted this person to come to Chang'an to serve... I wanted to use this person to attract the attention of my third brother."
In fact, this person was also a step taken by the Jinling Li family to test the Chang'an circle.
No one knew whether the emperor would allow it.
Behind the bed curtains, the emperor coughed weakly. After coughing for a long time, Mu Wanyao finally heard the emperor's weak voice: "...Yes."
Mu Wanyao hesitated for a moment and continued, "Also... the Li family sent a letter saying that my grand grandfather is dying. I want to go to Nanjing. First, to see my grand grandfather for the last time. Second, to talk about my marriage. Third, to meet with them in person to discuss the Ministry of War. Fourth, the person in charge of the Li family will change, and I want to contact them."
The emperor said in a weak voice: "I believe in your current ability. Ahem, Yaoyao, whatever you want to do... Ahem, just go ahead and do it."
Mu Wan shook his head and said, "Can I get the troops into Chang'an through the Li family? Because I think my third brother has been very popular recently, so I'm afraid to be prepared..."
The emperor sneered: "I am afraid that I will die first before I have arranged everything just in case?"
Mu Wanyao hurriedly said: "Father..."
The emperor sighed tiredly, "It's alright, do as you wish. Don't worry, I will arrange the way for you. I only hope to see you in red and get married in style. Ahem, you should come back from Jinling as soon as possible and don't delay your marriage.
"I have always wanted you to marry the one you love the most. Now, ahem, it's up to you. Whatever you wish, ahem, that's it."
Tears welled up in Mu Wan's eyes as she shook her head. She seemed extremely sad. She threw herself on the bedside, sobbing and grabbing the emperor's hand that was stretched out from the tent, and began to cry, begging her father to take care of himself.
-----
Half an hour later, Mu Wan washed his face, walked out of the emperor's bedroom where the air was filled with a strong smell of medicine, stood under the night sky, and let out a long sigh.
But I wasn't very happy.
Because she clearly felt that the emperor's health was getting worse.
Liu Wenji stood quietly behind her, called the princess softly, and said, "I will escort your highness out of the palace."
There was no expression on Mu Wan's face, and he didn't even glance at the powerful eunuch behind him.
Liu Wenji now controls the military power of the Northern Yamen, and has scholars like Zhao Gong who rely on him and flatter him. Liu Wenji is now in the court, and he is no ordinary person. But when he returns to the palace, Liu Wenji is still an eunuch serving the emperor, and he still has to respectfully call himself a "slave" to Mu Wanyao.
Liu Wenji personally escorted Mu Wanyao out of the palace, and the other palace servants kept a distance from them. Liu Wenji lowered his head and whispered a few words: "The imperial physician said that your majesty will not survive this year."
Mu Wanyao had a blank expression on his face, as if he hadn't heard what he said.
But she already knew the most important message.
good.
When the emperor's health deteriorated, Liu Wenji needed someone to lean on, and Mu Wanyao also needed someone to pass on the emperor's most obscure state to her. Mu Wanyao and Liu Wenji cooperated very low-key, and each of them had their own purpose, but they were both using the emperor as a springboard to pursue their own future.
Of course, all this had to be kept secret from the emperor.
After Liu Wenji sent the princess off, he went back to the imperial court. He was informed by the eunuch that the Prince of Jin had come to see His Majesty with his family again, and he could not help but think deeply.
A good-for-nothing who only knows how to be filial... Would it be better for a good-for-nothing to be the emperor?
Liu Wenzhi's eyes were filled with sinister and gloomy expressions, and he let out a breath of foul air.
After all, he and the prince have a bad relationship, and Mu Wanyao and the prince have a bad relationship. So he and Mu Wanyao can cooperate... But the emperor has no intention of abolishing the prince, and the prince is so tolerant now. If the prince really survives until the emperor dies and ascends the throne, will Liu Wenji's glory today be affected?
Liu Wenji just thought about it. At present, the emperor was still alive, and Liu Wenji did not have the courage to do anything under the old emperor's nose. The more it is at this time, the more calm you need to be.
But when Liu Wenji was about to enter the palace, he saw the Princess of Jin in the outer hall. The Princess of Jin was scolding a woman behind her with harsh words. The woman stood trembling in the shadows, and seemed to be crying when she answered.
Princess Jin was angry: "Why are you crying? I said a few words to you, and you just acted aggrieved and tried to show off to your husband. If I hadn't helped you out of pity, would you have become the concubine now? You and your son would have been killed by those women in the harem! You are a waste..."
Liu Wenji said coldly: "Princess, please don't make so much noise in the forbidden area. What if you disturb His Majesty's meditation?"
Princess Jin was startled and quickly smiled at the eunuch who was now in front of the emperor, asking about her father-in-law's health and whether he could see people. In the shadow corner, Chunhua quietly raised her eyes and looked at Liu Wenji with gratitude.
Liu Wenzhi didn't turn around or look at her.
-----
When Pei Qing heard that Mu Wanyao was going to Jinling, he felt that she did not take their marriage seriously at all.
She is going to get married in half a year. Does she still have time to go to Jinling?
It was as if... the marriage was just a side thing and didn't affect her daily life at all.
Although Pei Qing also knew that the princess agreed to marry him in order to help him get promoted, but she acted like this, didn't she treat him like nothing? How could he survive in the court?
Pei Qing immediately came to the princess to beg, but Mu Wan was too hard-hearted. For the sake of her power, she would not give way to his feelings. Pei Qing had no choice but to say, "Your Highness can go to Jinling, but since I am the future consort, Your Highness can't abandon me forever. I have no prestige at all. Your Highness, please agree to let me go to Jinling with you."
"What's more! Since this is the princess's mother's family, I should have the right to visit, right?
Mu Wan shook her head indifferently: "It's up to you."
Pei Qing was delighted to see that she didn't care, and he began to help the princess arrange her trip to Jinling. He was just testing whether Mu Wanyao would let him intervene, and seeing that Mu Wanyao didn't care, he was even happier.
What’s interesting is that some people, like Pei Qing, want to go to Jinling with Mu Wan, while others are unwilling to go to Jinling.
The person who was unwilling was Fang Tong.
When Fang Tong came to ask for leave, Mu Wanyao was immediately unhappy. Over the years, from Wuman to Chang'an, Fang Tong, the chief guard, would follow her wherever she went. She was used to Fang Tong's presence, and Fang Tong was also familiar with her habits, and would cooperate well with the princess to avoid many accidents.
If Fang Tong doesn't go, and Mu Wanyao makes some mistakes, and there's no one to help her clean up the mess, what's the point?
Fang Tong was embarrassed to see that the princess was unhappy. He smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, I am not a young man anymore. I always have to take my family with me. It is not convenient to travel for several months each time. Recently, my eldest son came back from my wife's house. I haven't spoken to that kid for a year. If I go to Jinling again, when I come back, that kid will definitely be sent away by my wife to practice martial arts again.
"I just... I just want to spend two more days with that boy. Our father-son relationship is quite cold. I don't want to be so cold all the time."
Mu Wanyao finally understood.
She suddenly had an idea: "Ah, I remember. I have seen your son. Isn't he still quite young? He is only four years old this year? Did you send him to practice martial arts? You can let your son go with us. He has never been to Jinling, right? It's a good opportunity for him to have some fun along the way."
Fang Tong was stunned.
Said: "Your Highness doesn't like children, doesn't he?"
Mu Wan shook her head and calmed down.
She thought of some past events and smiled slightly: “I don’t dislike it that much.
“Actually… I haven’t cared about these things for a long time.
"It's okay, let him come with me, I won't be bothered."
-----
The government office of the county magistrate of Rang County, Nanyang, was still brightly lit late into the night.
The rain has been drizzling since the beginning of the month and has been raining intermittently for half a month.
A man with a stern face ignored the servants' obstruction and broke into the county magistrate's office, stretched out his hand and pushed open the door. He saw a dim light and Yan Shang sitting behind a desk piled with books, still reviewing official documents. As he broke in, Yan Shang raised his head from behind the desk and looked at him thoughtfully.
Yan Shang said with a smile on his lips, "Brother Ziwang."
He was as clear as the moonlight, elegant and peaceful. He smiled politely at the man who broke in, and smoothed out the man's grievances.
Yan Shang nodded to Han Shuxing who was following the man and said, "You can leave first."
Han Shuxing nodded and left. The intruder looked relieved, thinking that Yan Shang was giving him face by asking his guards to leave. However, Han Shuxing lowered his head, thinking that the people of Wei were treacherous, and Yan Erlang was the most treacherous person he had ever seen.
Yan Erlang was clearly working here, waiting for this person to come, but he let them stop him and looked very embarrassed.
The man who broke into the county magistrate's office late at night was the sixth son of the Jiang family. He was a direct descendant of the Jiang family. With his great abilities, he is now the Jiedushi of Shannan Road, in charge of the military affairs of Nanyang.
Jiang Liulang broke in late at night because Yan Shang had just issued an official document to suppress eighty bandits near Nanyang. This matter involved military affairs, so Liulang was of course indignant and felt that Yan Shang was overstepping his authority, so he wanted to have a discussion with Yan Shang.
-----
Jiang Liulang paced in the room, suppressing his anger. "Okay, you Yan Erlang are really capable. Since you came to Rang County as the county magistrate, you have promoted education, encouraged farming, maintained public order... Why didn't the Jiang family cooperate with you? It's all for the good of Nanyang. You went to the Jiang family several times to ask my grandfather to be born, and let several major families vote to support you in running a school... Since you are really working for the country for thousands of years, we will cooperate with you all the way.
"But now you want to suppress the bandits! Yan Erlang, you are only the county magistrate! This kind of thing should be my job, right? I am not in a hurry, so why are you in a hurry? You..."
Yan Shang looked at him with a smile, thinking that the Jiang family agreed to his doing this only because of his political achievements, and he and the Jiang family would share them equally in the end. It was not for the sake of the country for generations.
Seeing that the other party had said enough, Yan Shang spoke softly, "Brother Ziwang, as far as I know, you are from the direct line of the Jiang family, but the current governor of Nanyang is not from the direct line. In recent years, you should have found opportunities to gain merit. Why do you refuse something that is both good for the people and has merits?"
Jiang Liulang said earnestly: "Because you don't understand how difficult it is to suppress these mountain bandits. It's like a wildfire that can't be completely wiped out... It won't take several years to completely eliminate them. I should just be a good governor. Why do I have to do such a thankless job?
"And if I agree with you, it would be obvious that I am trying to steal the credit from the governor. Now he is the one our family supports, and I am obviously going against him... Hey, I know you may not understand the affairs of our big families, but I really can't be so disrespectful to him."
Yan Shang said softly: "Do you know what level of practice Rang County has reached now?"
Jiang Liulang was puzzled: "Rang County is just a medium-sized county, how high can it reach?"
The states and counties of the Wei Dynasty were divided into upper, middle and lower states according to the population. Nanyang was a middle state, and Rang County, the seat of Nanyang, was also a middle county.
Now Yan Shang suddenly mentioned this, Jiang Liulang couldn't help but twitch his eyelids, and laughed dryly: "Don't tell me that the household registration in Rang County has changed a lot..."
Yan Shang said softly: "If nothing unexpected happens, I will leave Nanyang when the system is re-measured this year, and the governor of Nanyang will also be promoted... But the Jiang family is so powerful in Nanyang, how can I be willing to leave? You also said that suppressing bandits is not a one-year matter, and I can't get away with it, but if you suppress bandits, it is excusable and you can stay in Nanyang without promotion."
Jiang Liulang murmured: "In this way, the Jiang family will support me..."
He bowed to Yan Shang and thanked him. Needless to say, Yan Shang gave his family a way out and left the Jiang family speechless. He wondered why Yan Shang helped him like this... Jiang Liulang guessed that it was probably because when Yan Shang first came to office many years ago, the governor forced Yan Shang to marry in order to win over Yan Shang, so Yan Shang disliked the governor.
-----
After sending Jiang Liulang away and dealing with the matter, Yan Shang continued to work.
Although he had a house in Rang County, which was not far from the county magistrate's office, Yan Shang lived in the office most of the year. Just like tonight.
Yan Shang sat in the darkness, thinking.
Thinking quietly about what was happening in Chang'an.
His Majesty has just given him a secret order, asking him to keep Jiang in Nanyang and not allow him to leave Nanyang within a year.
When Yan Shang received this secret order, he knew that the situation in Chang'an had changed. The emperor wanted him to control Nanyang. After much thought, suppressing the bandits was the best way to delay the Jiang family. And if the bandits were really suppressed, the people would also benefit from it.
But... does your Majesty's decree mean that Chang'an is going to take action against the King of Qin?
Yan Shang frowned slightly, wondering if this would affect Mu Wanyao's marriage.
He was lost in thought in the darkness for a while, thinking that people in Chang'an said that she and her husband were inseparable, and that her husband was very good to her... Had she finally met someone she really loved?
Yan Shang was sad, but also happy for her. He hoped that she could get out of the influence of the past, be a happy princess, have a happy marriage, and have a prince consort who was devoted to her and only had her in his heart.
With her current status, if she is willing to marry, it means that she really loves her, right? Only when she gets married can he feel at ease.
Yan Shang sat quietly with his head bowed. In the darkness, he groped his way to his feet, supported himself against the wall, and took out an ebony box from a hole in the wall that was covered by a mechanism. When he sat down again, he opened the box.
Raindrops dripped under the eaves outside the house. A flicker of candlelight in the house shone on the purse in the box.
Yan Shang reached out and took out the purse, stroking the lines that he had touched countless times over the years. He looked down at the purse, and still couldn't guess what she had embroidered.
It looks like water plants, but also like a big insect.
And maybe... what she embroidered was actually a mandarin duck.
The mandarin ducks return together, this should have been what she was thinking at the beginning.
He leaned over the desk, his shoulders trembling slightly, and supported his forehead with his hands to calm his worries.
Yan Shang closed his eyes and suppressed the bitterness in his heart. He just sat in the dark and looked at the purse, just like he had done countless times before.
But she is getting married now.
He said he would make her fine.
Then you should never disturb her and walk out of her life forever.
Besides, he will get married in the future... It's unfair to everyone to always be obsessed with someone in your heart.
Like a ball of white mist sitting in the dim light. Yan Shang stroked his purse with his fingers and closed his eyes, as if he was trying to persuade himself and others. He murmured softly: "Yaoyao, you have to be well.
"From now on, I won't care about you anymore. You must be well."
-----
He thought to himself that Yaoyao was a person with so many distracting thoughts.
He was afraid that she would get angry when she thought of him, and that she would start to doubt the meaning of marriage and love when she thought of him.
He was also afraid that she would become nostalgic when she thought of him, and that she would be trapped in the past and unable to get out.
So he wanted to sell all the houses in Chang'an, so he couldn't appear in front of her at all.
So he wanted to cut it off cleanly.
-----
Love is like fire, but also like cold water.
The raging fire continues, and the cold water turns into ice.
He wanted to be with her, but he was such a bad person, and helping her forget him was the best thing for her.
-----
Mu Wanyao walked over here and left Chang'an.
During the lunch break, the others were eating outside, but Mu Wanyao sat in the car and did not get out. She was flipping through a sheet of music, studying ancient music in her mind, when the car door opened and Xia Rong looked strange and whispered a few words in her ear.
Mu Wan raised his eyebrows, still looking down at the book: "Let Pei Qing come over."
When Pei Qing came over, he greeted Mu Wanyao. When he saw Mu Wanyao flipping through the music score, he thought of how talented she was. Hearing that Princess Danyang was both talented and musical, how could he hear her play the guzheng and the qin?
Mu Wanyao, who was reading with her head down, said, "I heard that the itinerary you arranged is a little different from the route we take to Jinling. This doesn't seem to be the shortest way to Jinling."
Pei Qing pursed her lips.
Say, "Yes."
Mu Wan shook her head and said calmly: "Why?"
Pei Qing: "This road will not be the shortest to Jinling, because we will pass through a place on the way. We will pass through Nanyang on the way."
He stared at the princess in the car, without missing a thing.
Mu Wanyao slowly raised her eyes, and her attention was finally not on the book, but on him.
Mu Wan shook his head coldly: "You are looking for death."
Pei Qing said: "I think that Your Highness is obsessed with the old man, maybe it's just that the memory is too beautiful. I will soon be the prince consort, and I really want to help Your Highness pick out that thorn. When Your Highness sees that person again, he will know that the past is over."
Pei Qing emphasized: "Some people will change."
Mu Wan shook indifferently: "He won't change."
Pei Qing: "No one will be as good as in our memory."
Mu Wanyao just looked at him without saying anything.
Pei Qing was nervous, and was afraid that she would get angry. After all, she was a princess, and she was the king and he was the minister. If she was determined not to go to Nanyang, he could not stop her.
Mu Wan said slowly, “Whatever you want.
"Then you have to be prepared... Some people are different from what you think."
-----
In mid-March, Mu Wanyao and his group entered Nanyang.
It has been raining for a month, and it has affected the progress of the carriages and horses. The rain is continuous and makes people feel irritated.
Fortunately, there is a carriage.
However, Princess Danyang and her future husband did not sit in the same carriage, because the princess said she liked quietness, she wanted to read, and did not want to hear anyone breathing. And the future husband was always submissive, so naturally he sat in another carriage.
The carriage drove along the mountain road and arrived in Nanyang. Pei Qing came to tell the princess nervously. Pei Qing was much more nervous than Mu Wanyao herself, but Mu Wanyao had been sitting in the carriage quietly reading her book, not caring at all about where they were.
Sometimes she can't help herself, but most of the time she can control herself.
Suddenly, the carriage shook and bumped with a thud, which scared Mu Wan who was in the carriage. He hit his head against the wall and cried in pain.
-----
The group of carriages and horses got stuck on the bumpy mountain road.
Everyone held up umbrellas and tried their best to rescue the princess from the carriage. Mu Wanyao was furious, holding up her skirt and being supported by Xia Rong, staring at the carriages stuck in the potholes on the road.
Mu Wanyao suppressed his anger and said, "What's going on? The road was fine, how could there be such a big hole?"
She looked and saw that the mountain road was full of potholes. Even if the carriage didn't get stuck now, it would get stuck in the future.
Everyone was puzzled and no one knew what Nanyang was doing.
While the people here were trapped here, Xia Rong held an umbrella for the princess, Pei Qing led people to study how to dig the carriage out of the pit, and Fang Tong stood beside the princess, and suddenly: "Uh."
Mu Wan shook her head: "What's wrong?"
She followed Fang Tong's gaze, and in an instant, everything became quiet.
-----
On the winding road ahead, some people probably heard the noise and came over. Most of them were wearing minor official uniforms, so they must be officials here.
But their leader, dressed in a white robe, did not look like an official.
His face was handsome and elegant, and his servants were holding an umbrella behind him, but his clothes were still splashed with mud. He had a white veil over his eyes, and the veil that covered his eyes fluttered in the wind and rain.
He was supported by the hand of a servant and walked towards this side with directions.
He said in a clear and melodious voice: "My dear nobles, I have just arrived in this precious place and I have not yet welcomed you. I am really ashamed to have caused you to be in trouble-"
-----
Mu Wan shook his shoulder and watched Yan Shang approaching with the help of someone. He bowed and apologized first before seeing anyone.
Look at his eyes covered with white veil, and look at his dignified temperament.
Look at the smile on his lips, and see the rain covering his eyes and brows, blocking his vision.
-----
Countless snow-like lights flew in from under the pine trees, the sky and the earth were like a weave, and the mountains and forests were like smoke.
All over the world, she stood in the mud, and he was as white as jade.
When I met him again, it was raining heavily from the sky.
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