Outside the Puji Temple, the chaos was beyond the ability of the officials ambushed there to deal with. There was a mixture of noise and bustle. An official hurried down from the attic opposite, shouting "Send someone! Send someone quickly!" The people were screaming and hiding from the beggars. Some beggars were pushing their way into the temple, arguing loudly, "The things here are free, why didn't you tell us?"
In the chaos, someone shouted "The government is killing people", making the situation even more explosive.
At the temple gate, the strange woman surrounded by officials was forced to wash her face and questioned because her makeup looked a bit like Princess Danyang. The rude officials saw that her face after washing was completely different from the portrait given by the superiors, and they turned around and left with a curse: "Lock her up first!"
The strange woman was shocked. She thought this was different from what she thought. When she was hired, the other party did not tell her that she would be imprisoned. She screamed: "Why did you arrest me? Why did you arrest me!"
The officials shouted loudly: "Evacuate the crowd! Evacuate the crowd! Damn it, everyone, get out of the way! It's so crowded, don't you want to live? Aren't you afraid of people stepping on you? Aren't you afraid of fire?"
They drew their knives: "Everyone, get out of my way—"
The lights are bright tonight, the brightness has surpassed the moonlight, the whole temple and even the whole city are magnificent and glorious... The officials are terrified, fearing most that something might happen on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The highest-ranking official here, an official of the eighth rank, had a sullen face. As he walked towards the temple, he ordered everyone: "Close the city gates! From tonight onwards, everyone entering and leaving the city gates must be strictly checked! They said that the beggars were causing unrest and threatening the government offices, so we had no choice but to close the city gates... Watch out tonight, if even a mosquito flies out, I will hold you accountable!"
The officials who followed him wiped their sweat and hesitated: "My dear, I'm afraid we can't spare anyone to guard the city gate now... People are blocked here, we can't just protect the princess and ignore the people, right?"
The petty officials were different from the officials. They were all from the common people and naturally tended to be on the side of the common people. They always thought they were protecting the princess and worked extra hard.
The leading official suddenly had an idea and breathed heavily. "Are you saying that we will neglect the city gates? Then we should send more people to the city gates! Quick! Don't let anyone leave the city!"
The clerks who came to report were stunned: "But this place is full of people. The beggars can't find food, so they started to rob the people..."
The official was startled and sweating profusely, realizing the troublesome situation. However, he made a prompt decision and still ordered: "Go to the city gate to stop the people! As for this place, this place... block the temple! No one is allowed to enter or leave! Let them go first and talk later."
The petty officials looked at him in horror. Seeing that their superior had a serious face, he really wanted them to withdraw all the hands from the city gates... And the people in Puji Temple who were surrounded by beggars, these beggars who could not find their source, these monks who were stopped and tied up...
The clerk muttered "there will be trouble" and turned around to give orders.
The leading official was slightly relieved to see that the clerk had finally obeyed his orders, but his emotions were still tense.
He was promoted by the local county magistrate, and he has always been loyal to the Nanyang Jiang family. The local officials were from the Jiang family, but unfortunately they were not from the direct line, but from the collateral line. The direct line of the Jiang family was in Nanyang and Chang'an, so how could they get their turn?
When he set out, the county magistrate secretly told him that it would be a good thing for Jiang if he could capture the princess, or even kill her in the chaos. If he succeeded, his career in Nanyang would be smooth.
And such a good thing turned out to be so chaotic tonight!
"Sir! The medicinal herbs guarding the temple are missing!" Another clerk climbed down the temple wall with sweat all over his forehead, because the main entrance was completely blocked by beggars and common people, and no one could enter or leave.
Who cares about medicinal herbs now? The official waved his hand in annoyance, only worrying about how to explain to the county magistrate when he returned.
He frowned, and reviewed what happened tonight in his mind: someone said he found someone who looked like a princess outside the temple, and then he met someone who looked like a princess at the temple gate, and then a beggar suddenly broke in... He muttered to himself: "It turns out that Yan Suchen, the famous minister in the country, is really with His Highness."
Originally he just wanted to use medicinal herbs to trick people, but now the herbs are lost... The official smiled and thought, how could a blind man and a weak princess escape from the city gate that he had made into a cage!
-----
Near the temple, officials were constantly being recalled, but those who were sent out did not receive the latest transfer orders. In a deep alley, a team of four or five clerks were patrolling and noticed the people in the alley, so they approached step by step.
The light was dim, flickering alternately. From the direction of the patrolling clerk, a man and a woman embracing each other in the alley could be vaguely seen.
The man was tall and thin, slightly hunched, holding the face of the girl in his arms with one hand and holding her waist with the other. His moon-white coat was draped over the girl in his arms, blocking her shadow. Only her black hair could be seen flowing from her fingers, entangled on the man's arm, and then spread to the ground like a waterfall.
Only a princess from the royal family could grow hair so long that reaches her ankles.
After Yan Shang took off her hairpin, he realized his negligence. He pretended to be obsessed and held her hair with his arm, hoping that the minor officials would not notice that her hair was different in length from that of ordinary girls.
The man and woman's voices were obscure and low, and one could tell what they were doing at a glance. But the leader of this team of petty officials was a man who was used to dealing with all kinds of people, and he instinctively felt that something was wrong. He did not immediately notice that the girl's long hair was different from others, and he thought: How could a man and a woman be unable to control themselves in such a situation in the temple?
Holding the hilts of their knives, they approached cautiously and shouted from a distance: "Turn around! What are you doing? Why are you here!"
Yan Shang felt Mu Wanyao's eyelashes, which were close to his face, trembled, and he obviously heard the footsteps of the officials approaching them. Yan Shang remained calm, hugging Mu Wanyao and kissing her, while tightening his grip on the knife in his sleeve. He listened to the sound and thought about how to easily kill those officials without leaving any trace when they came over...
He didn't intend to kill anyone, but he wanted the person to be unconscious.
Mu Wanyao closed her eyes in a drunken state, her whole body buried in Yan Shang's arms, her hands affectionately wrapped around his waist. In her sleeve, she also clenched a dagger. She thought that if the time came, she would let Yan Shang run away and she would cover the retreat. Yan Shang had difficulty with his eyes, but at least she had a dagger... and even if she fell into the hands of the government, she would always have a chance of survival because of her status as a princess.
As the footsteps behind them got closer and closer, the couple became even more inseparable.
The lips and teeth are gurgling, the breath is flowing. Soft and unrestrained, the mind is deliberately intoxicated, and at the most emotional moment, it maintains a cold judgment.
But Mu Wan tilted her head upwards, eyes slightly open, originally wanting to see the official approaching, but she noticed Yan Shang leaning down to kiss her with his eyes closed. There was silence all around, fighting was going on in the distance, and in this endless game, he closed his eyes.
The messy hair was scattered on his face, and a few strands of it flowed down his collar to his neck. His clothes were draped over her, and a few drops of mud splashed on his cuffs. He was thin and clean, with a frown on his face, indulging in love, and a flushed face, which made her feel...
Um.
Yan Shang opened his eyes.
She clearly couldn't see it, but the moment she "met his eyes", and he paused slightly, Mu Wanyao felt the fingers he pressed on her cheek trembled.
He seemed extremely moved and pushed her shoulders, letting her lean against the wall.
The officials behind him: "Stop!"
Of course we can't stop.
Actions speak louder than words.
In the silent game, Mu Wanyao remained silent, and was pushed against the wall by Yan Shang. His hand moved from her waist upwards, and the moonlight shone on their faces. He became as rude and excited as a regular visitor to Beili, excited but ruthless. He was so strange that it reminded Mu Wanyao of those men in Wuman...
Those malicious touches, those crushing teasings.
But she looked up, eyes dark and quiet, looking at Yan Shang's face. His clean, warm face was next to hers, and his breath was pressing on her neck. The coldness was in her bones, and the heat was in her spine.
Mu Wanyao raised her neck high, hugged him tightly, and a lingering sound came out from her lips: "Hmm..."
Like a cat's meow, so gentle and charming.
Those petty officials blushed at this, not to mention the words? That touch of charm touched her heart, and she was in his palm, her slightly cool cheek against his slightly hot skin. She hummed softly, and her nose rubbed his neck slightly, and the goose bumps on his neck disappeared layer by layer.
He suddenly felt dry, and his whole body was tense. It wasn't a show, but a real one... He immediately thought of the countless times they had been in bed together.
The petty officials had already walked to within three feet.
Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao each clenched their knives or daggers tightly in their hands... The petty officials saw that someone had ignored the officials until now, and of course they realized that something was wrong. They held their knives horizontally, and during the brief confrontation, when the officials were about to attack, a shout came from the end of the alley: "What are you still doing here! Sir, send people to the city gate! Protect His Highness!"
Several petty officials holding swords in the alley were unwilling to accept this: "But..."
The couple still hugged each other as if no one was around, and the clerk who was shouting sternly said that this was the order of the superior and the city gate was the important direction. The other side used the superior to put pressure on them, and the clerks on this side felt that something was wrong, so they could only grit their teeth and turn around and follow the clerks who were delivering the message out of the alley...
The leader of the team of petty officials who was unwilling to be transferred away looked back at the alley again when he left the alley: he saw the man and woman sitting down, the man put his face on the girl's neck, and continued to move down...
He cursed "dirty" and tried to convince himself that he was overthinking it. Maybe the other person was just a sentimental and vulgar love expert.
-----
The officials left, and Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao sat down face to face along the wall. Their whole bodies trembled, numb, and sore to the bone.
When Yan Shang was exhausted, he touched her fingers and felt something. He paused and asked, "What are you doing with the dagger?"
Mu Wan rolled up his sleeves, hooked the hilt of the knife in his hand and his wrist with a smile, indicating to him: Don't laugh at someone who has taken 50 steps but not 100 steps.
Her fingertips lightly hooked, and his body trembled. His face rested on her neck, his breath was hot, and his tense body did not relax even though the enemy left. Mu Wanyao did not push him away, she acted as if nothing had happened: "Can you still leave?"
Yan Shang smiled bitterly.
She knew in her heart that he had shown his ugly side, his true colors were revealed. He was so close to her, covering her with clothes and fitting her tightly so that the enemy could recognize her. How could she not feel it when his desire was uncontrollable?
If it were someone else, Yan Shang would be so ashamed that he would want to die. As someone who values his image so much, how could he tolerate himself showing such an ugly appearance in public? But this person is Mu Wanyao, who has witnessed his past... This makes him feel tense, but not so scared.
Yan Shang whispered: "I need to take it slow."
Mu Wan shook her head nonchalantly: "Do you want me to use my hands?"
Yan Shang: “…”
The fingers on her wrist twitched slightly, and he turned his face to face her. Mu Wan swayed with her legs against the wall, looking at him. His lips were rosy and shiny. His lips were slightly open, and he was breathing with his chin slightly raised. He looked a little stupid and struggling... It really made people want to do something.
Mu Wanyao likes to do something to him the most.
The string in his head was slightly tense. The distance between the two of them was already just a breath away. Mu Wan lowered her head and kissed his lips. He was stunned for a moment and stepped back slightly. Mu Wan couldn't shake him, and after a moment of silence, he leaned forward again and opened his mouth to respond to her.
Shake your head and laugh in the evening.
She said, “You are so dishonest.”
He whispered: "You are too honest."
Continue the previous pleasure, continue the previous love. My mind is blank, maybe I don't want to think too much. But once the emotions are released, they always need to be vented, and once the flood is out, it always needs to slow down... Han Shuxing's voice suddenly appeared: "I got the medicine."
Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, whose faces were touching, froze at the same time.
Everyone realized that they were out of control at that moment.
Mu Wanyao's voice was a little hoarse and deliberately indifferent: "Can you stand up?"
She said this to Yan Shang. Yan Shang's face turned red and he smiled bitterly for a while: "Give me a little more time."
Han Shuxing suddenly became nervous: "What's wrong? Erlang is injured? Where is he injured? Can't he stand up?"
He respected Yan Erlang so much that he came to check if Yan Erlang was injured. Yan Shang leaned back in horror, and Mu Wanyao stretched out his arms to stop Han Shuxing from touching Yan Shang. Mu Wanyao glared at Han Shuxing and gritted his teeth: "...Are you a fool?"
Han Shuxing was at a loss after being scolded by the princess, and he habitually wanted to ask Yan Erlang for help. But Yan Shang lowered his head, grasping the princess's sleeves with his fingertips, and just sat there stiffly, bending over, without saying a word.
-----
Although the county town under the jurisdiction of Nanyang was in such a mess because of Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao, the Dragon Boat Festival night in Chang'an city seemed like a real festival.
The prince originally wanted to keep Yang Si in the East Palace for the festival, saying that the princess would cook for Yang Sanlang herself. However, Yang Sanlang nonchalantly and somewhat complacently said that he had an appointment with the beauty, which surprised the prince, and he felt a bit like "the pig that was raised finally learned to push people".
Now the prince has no requirements for Yang Si, so Yang Si can get married quickly, which will also make the two elders of the Yang family feel at ease.
In the evening, Yang Si happily went to meet the beautiful lady. The prince and his wives, concubines and children spent some time in the East Palace. After hearing a piece of news, the smile on his face faded, and his eldest son Sese, who came to toast him, did not dare to say much.
Crown Princess: "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
The prince put away his expression, smiled slightly, and said, "My father has hired a folk doctor. I am worried, so I will go and see him."
The prince left the East Palace and went to the Emperor's bedroom to pay his respects to the Emperor. The King of Jin and the King of Qin were both there, and Cheng An, the Emperor's personal eunuch, explained the Emperor's condition to the other princes. Liu Wenji stood silently in a corner, observing them.
As he was speaking, a short and thin old man in a Taoist robe walked out of the hall. Cheng An hurried to ask about the emperor's condition.
Cheng An nervously introduced him to several princes: "This is the miracle doctor that Eunuch Liu invited from overseas for Your Majesty..."
Prince Youruo looked at Liu Wenji in the corner. Liu Wenji had been appointed a general and held a high position of power, which was not comparable to his past. Facing the cold gaze of the prince, Liu Wenji bowed and saluted without saying anything extra.
The miracle doctor happily announced the good news to the princes: "Don't worry, my highness, I am here to help your majesty take care of him for at least two to three years..."
Everyone was stunned.
Several princes reacted and showed their gratitude and tears. Liu Wenji laughed at their acting in his heart, but was also very satisfied that the emperor could survive for another two or three years - it was good for Liu Wenji that the emperor was not dead. Liu Wenji, as an eunuch, needed the emperor's support.
Liu Wenji probably wanted the emperor to live more than any other prince.
The prince led his two younger brothers to pay respect to the emperor outside the bedroom, and then led them out. After that, the three of them separated, each of them either returned to the palace or left the palace. After the King of Qin and the King of Jin left, the palace servants held lanterns to clear the way, and the prince walked silently on the way back to the East Palace.
The staff following behind the prince lowered their heads and said nothing.
When he arrived in front of the East Palace, the prince suddenly stopped. He turned around and suddenly looked at the golden palace behind him, at the extremely magnificent buildings... He couldn't vent the depression in his chest, and whispered to himself: "...Why isn't he dead yet?"
How can you endure the torture of living two or three more years?
The staff members close to the prince were terrified and lowered their heads even more, pretending that they heard nothing.
However, he heard the prince's gnashing of teeth, his anger, and his dissatisfaction.
"Doesn't he know that everyone is hoping he will die?"
"Why aren't you dead yet?!"
-----
In the remote counties under the jurisdiction of Nanyang, the county magistrate transferred all the personnel to the city gate, thinking that after such a big commotion tonight, Mu Wanyao would obviously be in a hurry to leave the city.
But Mu Wanyao was not in a hurry to leave the city.
Fang Tong and other guards from the princess's mansion had already left Rang County and were heading south to look for her. Mu Wanyao was not as anxious as she was at the beginning... It would be a little more troublesome to search the city, but with her and Yan Shang's abilities, it would still be enough to handle it.
The most urgent matter is Yan Shang’s eyes.
Mu Wanyao was annoyed and sent Han Shuxing, who was not good at reading people's expressions, to sneak to the city gate to see the arrangements made by the government. If he could leave the city, he would leave. If he couldn't leave the city, he wouldn't leave. But at least he had to find out the attitude of the government.
Before leaving, Mu Wanyao specifically told Han Shuxing: "After applying the medicine to Yan Shang, the two of us will go to bed tonight. When you come back, don't knock on the door to disturb us unless it's something important. We can talk about it tomorrow, even if it's a big deal."
After finally getting rid of Han Shuxing, Mu Wanyao breathed a sigh of relief. In the house they rented, Yan Shang sat on the couch, and Mu Wanyao knelt behind him, carefully applying the medicine to his eyes, and then covered them with gauze.
Mu Wanyao was very serious as if she was doing something important. She gently reminded him, "Starting from tonight, you must apply the mask for two hours every night. You can't stop. If you stop, your eyes might really be ruined."
There was a smile on Yan Shang's lips. He lowered his eyes, and knelt upright with his fingers quietly placed on his knees.
Her hands gathered his hair that was scattered on his shoulders, and when he closed his eyes, he felt her fingers rubbing around the corners of his eyes. Yan Shang said in a low voice: "I know. Thank you, Your Highness."
Mu Wanyao: "Put the gauze back on and don't take it off."
Yan Shang was stunned.
I suddenly felt a twisting pain in my heart.
She still knelt behind him to apply medicine, and helped him lie down, but the burning pain in the corners of his eyes, perhaps due to the medicine, made his whole body begin to feel uncomfortable. When she stood up to get the gauze, Yan Shang held her wrist and whispered: "Why?"
Mu Wan shook his head and said, "What 'why'?"
Yan Shang: "Why do you want me to put on the gauze again? Is it because... you are leaving and want to separate from me?"
Mu Wan fell silent. She looked down at the handsome young man lying on the couch, holding her wrist.
She was absent-minded for a moment, as if she was talking in her sleep: "Of course. Once I leave this city, I can completely leave Shannan Road. After leaving Shannan Road, the Nanyang Jiang family will not be able to hunt me down. I will be free again, and I can turn around and fight back. Naturally, there is no need for you to follow me anymore. You can go back to Rang County and treat your eyes."
Yan Shang whispered, “When are you going to leave the city?”
Mu Wan shook her eyes and narrowed them slightly.
Yan Shang: "You don't have to leave the city. There is a better way."
Mu Wanyao picked up the gauze and covered his eyes with it: "Are you saying that we can use the county magistrate of this county to support him to take the position and replace the head of Nanyang Jiang family? I have also thought of this trick, but..."
Yan Shang's breath was a little short, he sat up, she put her hand on his eyes with gauze, he held her other slender wrist. Yan Shang said: "I can help Your Highness do this. Since there is the best way, we should use the best way. Why settle for second best?"
Mu Wan looked at him blankly and said, "I'm afraid you'll be in danger."
Yan Shang lowered his head and said, "...No. Don't worry. I won't do anything I'm not sure of."
Mu Wan looked at him for a long time, and she whispered: "You...must take this risk? Why do you have to do this? Do you feel sorry for me because of Pei Qing's betrayal, so you want to compensate me?"
Yan Shang was stunned.
He said, “Why would you think so?”
Mu Wanyao helped him tie the gauze. Seeing him frowning, she couldn't help but reach out and rub his brows, concerned about him: "Why are you frowning? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Yan Shang replied in a low voice: "The medicine...it burns a little. It's okay, I'll be fine after a while."
Mu Wan shook: "Do you want to lie down for a while?"
He shook his head, and she thought about it, and then let him sit against the wall. She sat on the couch with him, leaning against the wall, and said she wanted to accompany him. Yan Shang was stubborn again: "Why do you think I pity you?"
Seeing that the topic was still not being discussed, Mu Wanyao held up her chin and asked, "Do you know what he did to me?"
Yan Shang pursed his lips.
He said, "Are you talking about Pei Qing?"
Mu Wan was surprised: "Didn't you call me 'Pei Langjun'? Why are you calling me by my full name all of a sudden?"
Yan Shang paused, a little angrily: "I don't want to call him that. He makes me very angry."
Mu Wanyao disagreed: "Why are you angry? You don't even know what he did."
He whispered: "...I can roughly guess it."
Mu Wanyao raised her eyebrows. She was just about to tell him a story, but he said he had guessed it. Mu Wanyao was curious about what he guessed. Yan Shang's voice was a little tense: "The bandits knew you were a princess, so they must have followed you when you left the city. You were caught, so Pei Qing must not have followed you.
"He...he let go of your hand and ran away by himself. Right?"
Mu Wan was dazed and lowered his eyes.
Yan Shang said: "So you asked him to work in Nanyang and help you deal with the follow-up matters, because you don't want to face him for the time being. And according to your personality... you probably don't want to marry him. You are upset."
Mu Wan lowered her head and said, "Everyone in Chang'an is preparing for my wedding."
Yan Shang: "But I support you, don't get married."
He paused, feeling somewhat depressed but also somewhat determined: "Why is your marriage always so unsuccessful... Why do you treat me like this?"
Mu Wan shook her chin and turned her face away, quietly watching him worry about her. She smiled slightly and leaned her face on his shoulder. She was so happy to see him so worried. She was happy in her heart, but she still wanted to pull him to change the subject: "Why talk about that. Let's chat."
Yan Shang: "What are you talking about?"
He hesitated, thinking about what happened in the alley that night. He began to feel uncomfortable and hesitated. He began to think about how to tell her what happened that night...
But Mu Wanyao said, "Let's talk about ourselves. Yan Shang, what kind of person do you want to be? Are your thoughts now the same as when you were seventeen? I also want to tell you about myself. I don't want to talk to anyone else... I just want to talk to you."
She turned her face slightly and lifted her eyelids. She thought of the passion with which he kissed her in the alley at night. She smiled slowly and slyly, and nudged his arm like a spoiled child: "Anyway... well, you won't marry me, and I won't marry you. Let's just be friends and get along well, okay?"
Yan Shang was surprised - he could be friends with her? What did she think?
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