Yan Shang took his sister back to her room and poured her some tea. Sitting with the tea in his hand, he looked at his sister and considered his words.
Yan Xiaozhou was a beautiful girl as delicate as a flower, with a fair face, red lips and dark eyes. She was a girl like the sunshine of tomorrow, with sparkling eyes when she smiled, without a trace of grime or vicissitudes.
She is different from Yan Shang's wife, who has a charming and charming beauty. Mu Wanyao is enchanting, but I am ruthless; while Yan Xiaozhou is gentle alone, but looks back for you.
In fact, people's appreciation for girls is more inclined towards girls like Yan Xiaozhou. Because people can never control girls like Mu Wanyao, but they think they can control girls like Yan Xiaozhou.
Not to mention how independent-minded and stubborn Yan Xiaozhou was beneath her gentle exterior, just based on her looks and talent, Yan Shang knew that his sister would never lack admirers.
What's more, he is so famous in Chang'an.
So my father entrusted my sister's marriage to Yan Shang, and Yan Shang never cared much about his sister.
He was really too busy. Although he roughly knew from Mu Wanyao about the accidental relationship between Yang Si and Yan Xiaozhou, he didn't think that the two would end up together at first, so he didn't ask much.
Until tonight, when Yan Shang looked at his sister's face, he suddenly felt ashamed: he was self-righteous and looked down upon feelings. Didn't the story he thought was over actually end?
Yan Shang was afraid that being frank would hurt his sister's feelings, so he asked her softly, "Did you go to Jiannan specifically to find Sanlang? I heard from Yaoyao that you and Sanlang have only known each other for half a year. Xiaozhou, the vague affection in youth should not be taken seriously. You are a girl, and you traveled thousands of miles to Jiannan, and Sanlang is a responsible person. In his current situation, even if you go, he will never accept you, because he doesn't want to implicate you."
He paused and said, "In private, I know that people like Yang Sanlang and Yaoyao are naturally attracted to those who are clean, beautiful and simple-looking. Because they are different from the people they know in their world, the novelty will bring good impressions and create illusions. But when they return to reality, they will behave very ruthlessly.
"I'm not saying that Sanlang is bad... I'm saying that people like him are not the kind of people who would do anything for love. To Sanlang and Yaoyao, love is important, but not a necessity, because there are too many alternatives. Xiaozhou, we grew up in a different environment from them, and you're a girl... It's easy to get hurt if you do that."
Yan Xiaozhou blushed.
She had thought of all the objections her brother might have, such as his status not being suitable for her, that it would arouse suspicion from political parties, and that he did not approve of a girl traveling thousands of miles for a man...but she had never expected her brother to oppose her in this way.
Yan Xiaozhou was embarrassed and her ears turned red instantly. Her brother was a man who could see through people's minds. She wanted to refute that she didn't mean that, but looking at her brother's gentle and worried eyes, Yan Xiaozhou calmed down and thought about her own heart. She might have had that thought.
Yan Xiaozhou whispered: "Second brother, do you say that? Doesn't second brother like sister-in-law? Does second brother feel tired of being with sister-in-law? Does second brother deny everything he has been through?"
Yan Shang smiled.
He said softly, "I am saying this because I have experienced it myself. Forgive me for being so temperamental. If it were your sister-in-law, she would definitely encourage you to move forward boldly without worrying about anything. As for me... I don't regret meeting your sister-in-law, nor do I regret going through so much trouble to be with her.
"But if I go back to the beginning, if I don't remember her, I will still feel that this journey is difficult and wonder if it is worth it. I think it is worth it now, but it is only because the result is good and because your sister-in-law is stubborn... Your sister-in-law's obsession is very deep, which is different from Saburo."
Yan Xiaozhou lowered his eyes, as if thinking seriously about Yan Shang's words.
But after a while, she raised her bright eyes and said firmly: "I still want to go to Jiannan."
Yan Shang looked at her gently and said nothing.
Yan Xiaozhou's cheeks were burning, but he smiled shyly and said calmly: "Second brother, I don't think exactly the same as you do. Sanlang left last month, and I thought about it for a month before making this decision.
"I didn't act on impulse or act recklessly. On the contrary, I thought a lot. Recently, I met a good friend in Chang'an. She is older than me. She said her name is Zhao Lingfei and that my brother knows her."
Yan Shang raised his eyebrows and smiled: "You are talking about Wu Niang."
Yan Xiaozhou's eyes curved like autumn pools. Her voice was originally gentle, but when she talked about her new friend, her tone became a little more lively: "Yes, it's her. She is a very bold person. She said that when she was young, she chased my brother and was even cried by my sister-in-law."
Yan Shang shook his head and smiled.
Yan Xiaozhou: "And later, in order to escape her marriage, she chased the envoys alone and left Wei for four years. She only returned to Chang'an recently."
Yan Xiaozhou was lost in thought and said quietly, "Second brother, I envy her courage. Second brother, you are a man, you have never had the same tangled thoughts as us girls. You only think that Ling Fei is so bold and admirable, you don't know how much she has shaken me. She made me think about what kind of life I want.
"Should I stay in Chang'an obediently, listen to my brother's arrangements, get married and have children early, or should I decide on my own path?
"What kind of life do I want? What do I want to do? Brother, can you understand why I am hesitating?"
Yan Shang's eyes flickered. He thought of his wife Mu Wanyao, who was restless. Even after marriage, Mu Wanyao never sat at home and acted as a good wife. Although Liu Ruozhu went to Hexi with her father after marriage, she actually went there to protect the rare ancient book. Zhao Lingfei ran away from the marriage capriciously for several years and even left the Wei Dynasty directly. And Yan Xiaozhou...it seemed that he did not like the life of a good wife and mother.
Yan Shang was confused, but he vaguely understood their difficulties. Although he did not fully understand, Yan Shang had an advantage, which was that he was good at listening and respecting other people's lives.
Yan Shang then asked, "You went to Jiannan, wasn't it just for Yang Sanlang?"
Yan Xiaozhou smiled, his eyes bright, "I know that Second Brother can understand. I don't necessarily have to do anything with Sanlang, I just feel it's a pity, even as an old friend, I feel it's a pity for Sanlang. Even if Second Brother was in my current state, he would definitely not give up his old friend. Didn't Second Brother encourage his old friends and make some efforts for them?"
Yan Shang smiled but said nothing.
The tea he was holding had already gone cold, just like some people who had walked away and would never come back.
He tried hard for Liu Wenzhi, but to this day, Yan Shang has given up on this old friend.
Yan Xiaozhou was still firm and gentle: "I have thought about it carefully. I have asked my sister-in-law to help me. I plan to study medicine and make herbs after I go to Jiannan to see what I can do. I don't know what the future will be like, but I want to try what I can do.
"I want to accompany Sanlang through this most difficult time, to help him get through the difficulties, and wait for him to stand up again. Second brother, the court struggles and the succession of the throne, what do these have to do with Sanlang? The former crown prince is gone, Sanlang's affairs in Chang'an are over, and his new journey has just begun.
"I want to find my own path, and I also want to witness his path. I don't want to marry him, I want to support him as a friend. What if I am exiled to Jiannan and never return to Chang'an?
“That’s not Saburo’s life.
"Brother, there is a poem like this: A cup of fine wine from Xinfeng costs ten thousand, and the knights of Xianyang have been wandering for many years. When we meet, we drink for you, and tie our horses beside the weeping willows in the tall building.
"This is Yang Sanlang's life. But this is only the first half of Yang Sanlang's life.
"And the second half of Yang Sanlang's life should be - he was born as a Han Yulin Lang, and first followed the cavalry to fight in Yuyang. Who knows that he would not suffer in the frontier, and even if he died, his chivalrous spirit would still be remembered.
"He should be a knight-errant, should go to the frontier, should be a general. This is his life!
"And I just want to accompany him, encourage him, support him... and let him get out of this situation as soon as possible, in the way he really should."
Yan Xiaozhou looked up. Under the candlelight, the girl's face was beautiful, fresh, clean and white. There was light in her eyes and she had a lot in her heart. She was not a naive little girl who wanted to be protected for her whole life.
Yan Shang had never realized so clearly that the little sister he had coaxed, loved, hugged, and taken care of for many years had really grown up. He couldn't control her or tie her down. He should give her a way to go, and if she was right, he should support her.
Yan Shang stood up, his sleeves falling to the ground. He reached out and stroked the top of his sister's head, his fingers falling on her beautiful eyebrows.
Yan Shang said, "Go find Sanlang."
Yan Xiaozhou's eyes lit up. Zhao Lingfei had a father who didn't understand her, but Yan Xiaozhou had a second brother who supported her.
Yan Shang: "But I am still worried about you, a little girl, being alone outside. Let Han Shuxing follow you and protect you. When you get to Jiannan, you must write to me often. Xiaozhou, no one knows what the future will be like, just follow the path you choose. If you need anything, come to me.
"You are my only sister. Family members always say the same thing, and your brother always wishes you the best."
Yan Xiaozhou whispered: "If I don't get married, will you say the same thing?"
Yan Shang was stunned for a moment, then smiled. He said, "You are still young, so it's a bit too much to say this. Let's talk about it later. If this is really what you want... Although I don't understand, I can still listen to your reasoning."
Yan Xiaozhou smiled, her eyes moist, thinking how lucky she was to have such a good second brother. She choked up and called out "Second Brother", threw herself into his arms, and hugged him tightly.
—
Yan Xiaozhou left, but Yan Shang didn't feel much relaxed.
He wanted to coax Mu Wan back, but the new emperor immediately assigned him a new position - Zhongshu Sheren, concurrently Tongpingzhangshi.
For a time, the whole court was talking about it with great relish. Yan Shang had made great contributions in saving the emperor, and he should have been promoted long ago. It was too late to promote him now. However, there were too many things worth talking about in Yan Shang's new position -
Yan Shang still held his old post, and the new emperor still made him the official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, which meant that the Ministry of Personnel still wanted Yan Shang to be in charge.
The new emperor gave Yan Shang an official title of Zhongshu Sheren. Zhongshu Sheren was under the Zhongshu Province, so Yan Shang returned to Zhongshu Province after taking turns. Zhongshu Sheren was a high-ranking official of the fifth rank, and this position was directly in front of the emperor. Generally, all prime ministers had to pass through this position.
What’s even more interesting is the concurrent position that the new emperor gave Yan Shang – Tongpingzhangshi.
Tong Ping Zhang Shi, roughly speaking, is similar to the prime minister. Generally speaking, if one holds the position of Tong Ping Zhang Shi concurrently, he will be included in the group of prime ministers and will be called "Prime Minister". But Yan Shang obviously cannot be regarded as the prime minister - because although he holds the position of Tong Qing Zhang Shi concurrently, his main official position is Zhong Shu She Ren. Zhong Shu She Ren is not a low position, but compared with the prime minister, it is obviously not qualified enough.
After his promotion, Yan Shang's status as Tongpingzhangshi allowed him to enter the prime minister's exclusive government affairs hall, but his status as Zhongshu Sheren made him unqualified to speak; his status as Zhongshu Sheren made him only a fifth-rank official, while his position as Tongpingzhangshi made him "equal to the prime minister."
In short, Yan Shang's new position is at a level that is neither awkward nor embarrassing.
You can say he is the prime minister, or you can say he is not the prime minister.
The new emperor played a word game with the previous emperor's edict - the previous emperor wanted to give Yan Shang the position of prime minister, so "Tong Ping Zhang Shi" was the prime minister. But the new emperor was unwilling to let Yan Shang be the prime minister, so he gave him the position of Zhong Shu She Ren according to his own wishes.
As for how the officials in the court would face Yan Shang, whether to call him "husband" or address him as in the past, that was not something the emperor would consider.
Yan Shang held the imperial edict and smiled: "Well, it's a bit clever after all."
The fact that the new emperor could propose this position shows that he has some knowledge. Yan Shang had high expectations for the new emperor, and next, he would have to run back and forth between the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel.
Since the new emperor wanted him to serve him well, he naturally wrote several memorials to the emperor, all of which were about the current political situation, in order to help the new emperor control the situation.
After Yan Shang's memorial was submitted, there was no further response.
The imperial decree that Yan Shang was waiting for was not that the new emperor adopted his suggestion, but that the new emperor allowed a noble family to move back to Chang'an - the Hai family.
The Hai family has nothing to do with Yan Shang, but when Mu Wanyao was not yet the Princess Danyang, her second brother was openly killed by the Hai family.
As a result, the Hai family moved away from Chang'an, the family declined, the future was bleak, and no one in the family was allowed to hold official positions.
It can be said that this clan has a grudge against Mu Wanyao, but the new emperor allowed this clan to return to Chang'an.
Yan Shang remained silent and threw the memorial he had just written to the emperor into the furnace. In his heart, he judged that the new emperor was flattering him, but also wary of him, and his tactics were so sticky and straightforward that they were annoying.
The new emperor learned the suspicion of the previous emperor, but he did not have the magnanimity of the previous emperor - he could only use such petty tricks to annoy people.
Yan Shang thought alone in the dark night for a while, and when the clock struck, his legs felt numb from sitting for too long. He came back to his senses, supported himself on the table and stood up. Frowning for a while, Yan Shang asked Yun Shu outside the study, "It's so late, His Highness hasn't returned home yet?"
Yunshu replied awkwardly, "My lord was just working. He told me that when you are busy, if it is not a big deal, I don't need to tell you, and I will tell you after you finish your work. So I didn't tell you - Her Highness sent someone back half an hour ago to say that she would not come back to sleep, so you don't need to wait for her."
Yan Shang was stunned.
Then he said, "She hasn't been back for ten days."
Yunshu knew that the two were arguing, so he had no choice but to remain speechless.
Yan Shang was slightly annoyed: "Hae returned to Chang'an. It's such a big event, and she didn't come back to discuss it with me?"
He put on his clothes and pushed open the wooden door, looking at Yunshu at the door. Under Yunshu's gaze, Yan Shang coughed and said, "Is she staying at Princess Yuyang's mansion today, or is she staying in some other courtyard?"
Because of her brother's rebellion, Princess Yuyang did not get the position of the eldest princess, and she was still just a princess as she was during the reign of the late emperor.
During the new emperor's reign, there was only one princess, Mu Wanyao.
The former Princess Luling is now the Grand Princess Luling. The title is impressive, but unfortunately she has no power. The Grand Princess Luling stays at home all day, sulking and thinking about her mistakes. It is said that she is feeling depressed recently and is secretly meeting with a beautiful boy.
Yunshu saw that Erlang seemed to be going out to pick up the princess again, and for a moment he felt a little sympathetic towards him. Yunshu said, "My dear, why bother going? You can't bring her back, and His Highness doesn't care about you. You'll be a joke."
Yan Shang's face felt slightly hot.
He turned his head and said, "Don't talk nonsense, get the car ready."
He was so reserved that he couldn't tell anyone that he couldn't sleep alone and missed Mu Wanyao. Before he was married, he was used to sleeping alone and didn't think it was a big deal. But now that she hadn't been home for a few days, he felt empty and couldn't sleep every night.
He might have secretly been enjoying her teasing and approaching him, and if she ignored him, he would feel anxious, short of breath, and uncomfortable everywhere.
—
Yan Shang still failed to get Mu Wan to come back.
She was obviously really angry this time. Yan Shang whispered to her again to assure her that he could take a leave, but she just fanned herself, listened to opera and admired flowers with others, and ignored him.
I am at a loss for words.
He was gentle and kind, loved by everyone, but he didn't know how to please Mu Wanyao. He was good at reading her expressions, but she had a strange temper. If she didn't love him, it would be useless for him to be humble. He just felt dull and didn't know what to do.
There was no other way, so he had to go to Princess Yuyang's mansion three times a day to report and ask Mu Wanyao to go back.
—
Princess Yuyang now relies on Mu Wanyao for care. Mu Wanyao is willing to live with her just to help her, so she naturally welcomes it.
Mu Wanyao loved to play and make trouble, and Princess Yuyang finally realized the methods of her sister. She listened to opera and admired flowers without any delay; ministers lined up to see her, but she never let go of government affairs; and her husband Yanshang came to invite her, but she didn't even look at him.
Princess Yuyang was amazed.
Princess Yuyang saw Yan Shang coaxing Mu Wan to go back in a soft voice. She felt embarrassed that such a gentle and elegant man could act properly and gracefully in front of outsiders, but he begged Mu Wan to go back in private.
She was given a gift by Yan Shang, and was begged by Yan Shang in a friendly manner. When Mu Wanyao was watching the show, she took the initiative to help speak: "...I know that my sister has a misunderstanding with the prince consort. But my sister has been making a fuss for so long. If it continues like this, it will be disrespectful to the prince consort. A man can't save face, and he has gone astray for a while. It will be too late for you to regret it."
Mu Wan waved her feather fan and watched the play attentively. However, she was not watching the play, but the actors and beauties on the stage who were competing for beauty and wearing heavy makeup. After the play was over, Mu Wan asked the actors to leave the stage and take off their makeup. She looked at their figures and appearances carefully.
At the same time, studying the new emperor's taste.
After watching enough, Mu Wanyao picked out a few of the actors and said, "Sister, I like these guys very much. Do you mind if I take them back to the Princess' Mansion to train them?"
Princess Yuyang was stunned for a moment, then said she didn't mind. She was anxious, thinking that Mu Wanyao was staring at these young boys and girls, and it was clear that he wanted to possess the beauties.
Princess Yuyang tried to persuade Mu Wanyao to change her mind again, and tactfully reminded her: "Are a few actors more important than a prince consort? These children are clean and pretty, but how is the prince consort worse? You married Yan Erlang, and Yan Erlang is now a high-ranking official in the court. How can you treat Yan Erlang like this?"
Mu Wanyao didn't realize that Fourth Sister was talking about her love for actors. She was thinking about other things. She said nonchalantly, "I know what's going on."
She insisted that Yan Shang think about it carefully, and that he really bow to her, not just talk about it and still not do it. Yan Shang was a person who wanted to devote himself to government affairs, which made Mu Wanyao very angry.
She told him not to work too hard, and since he couldn't do it, she used force to help him do it.
And now the Hai family has returned to Chang'an.
Mu Wanyao smiled. She knew that the people in Chang'an were waiting to see her laugh and see her quarrel with the new emperor. But she didn't want to... The Hai family had returned, and the noble families probably hadn't figured out their attitude yet. So Mu Wanyao might be able to win over the Hai family to her side?
It's politics.
The former enemies may become friends today.
Besides, the Hai family was accused of framing the former prince, so I was probably very cautious. Let's see their attitude first.
—
The new emperor was happy that Mu Wanyao was reasonable. He used the Hai family to suppress Mu Wanyao's power, and Mu Wanyao did not come to quarrel with him.
The new emperor was just learning to balance the forces of all parties, trying to maintain a balance like the previous emperor. Yan Shang submitted several memorials to him, and to be honest, he was very tired of reading them... He felt that Yan Shang was too controlling and treated him like a child.
The new emperor was displeased and did not like his ministers teaching him how to govern. He threw Yan Shang's memorial aside and ignored it. However, he knew that Yan Shang was very capable, so he continued to use Yan Shang.
So Yan Shang took on multiple duties and became increasingly busy. The emperor gave him everything to do, but he didn't trust him. He just took it for granted that Yan Shang would be selfless and devoted to him.
The new emperor had never seen a minister as useful as Yan Shang.
He was obedient, did not act recklessly, and did everything properly. Since he used Yan Shang, the new emperor felt that his control over the court had become much stronger.
Liu Wenzhi reminded the new emperor: It is not that Your Majesty has strong control, but that Yan Erlang helped you to control it. It is his control ability that is strong.
The new emperor didn't care, thinking that Liu Wenji was just jealous. The status of an emperor makes anyone arrogant, and once they enjoy the benefits, they take it for granted. The new emperor's initial fear of being an emperor gradually faded, and now he began to learn to enjoy the benefits of being an emperor.
—
Rumors spread in Chang'an that Princess Danyang now liked to listen to operas and kept several beautiful opera singers to perform for her all day long. Princess Yuyang couldn't stand it, so Princess Danyang stayed in her own courtyard, reveling every night and was very unhappy.
She completely forgot about her husband.
Everyone felt very sympathetic towards Yan Shang.
Yan Shang had not heard of such rumors at first, but he was puzzled by the way people around him looked at him, as if they were about to speak but could not. It was not until his teacher Liu Xianggong called him over and asked him about his married life in a tactful way that Yan Shang realized, in addition to being embarrassed, that Mu Wanyao might have done something to him.
With Yan Shang's ability, he naturally found out after a little inquiry that the whole Chang'an was talking about Princess Danyang's romantic affairs and how he had fallen out of favor.
Yan Shang burst out laughing, thinking the rumor was ridiculous.
How could Mu Wanyao be that kind of person?
I'm afraid she has some other reason, she wouldn't treat herself like that.
—
That afternoon, Yan Shang returned to the princess's residence and habitually asked where Mu Wanyao was. He and his wife hadn't spent a month together, and Yan Shang wanted to come back early today to talk to Mu Wanyao about Hai's problems and the recent rumors about her.
Although he trusted her character, she couldn't spread such rumors to him.
When Yan Shang came back, he saw Qiu Si, Mu Wanyao's current personal maid. When he went into the room to change clothes, he saw Qiu Si and his eyes slightly raised. As expected, Qiu Si saluted when she saw him and whispered: "Your Highness is at home today."
Yan Shang was slightly surprised.
He didn't have time to change his clothes, fearing that if he delayed a little longer, she would leave again. He went straight to find her, and when he heard that she was listening to a play in the backyard, he frowned but didn't take it seriously.
The garden is filled with the atmosphere of autumn, with red maple leaves and green willows blending together, creating a particularly charming and beautiful scene.
Yan Shang was standing in front of the Moon Cave Gate, and saw a beautiful girl sleeping on a beauty couch in front of a screen, with her head resting on her arms. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were slightly messy, and her face was slightly flushed, probably because she had drunk some wine again.
Mu Wanyao closed her eyes. Not far away, she saw an actor with heavy makeup on, dancing and singing while waving a whisk.
A garden that is quiet, warm, romantic and affectionate.
Yan Shang felt a little hurt, but she forced herself to suppress it, telling herself that she was just listening to the opera and it was nothing.
As he was thinking this, the actor had finished singing, and the garden fell silent. The actor walked to the princess's couch and knelt down. Mu Wanyao did not open his eyes, and he did not know whether he was drunk or asleep.
The actor knelt boldly in front of the princess's couch for a long time, looking at her lovingly. He suddenly lowered his head, gently took the princess's hand, and kissed the back of her hand gently.
In front of the Moon Cave Gate, under the green shade, Yan Shang's face suddenly changed.
—
The actor held the princess's hand affectionately, wanting to express his love to her. He was born in a humble family, and just wanted to marry the princess. He finally found an opportunity... but unfortunately the princess fell asleep.
When the actor was about to bend down and kiss her again, someone held his shoulders from behind.
He turned back stiffly and saw a dazzling young man in a jade crown and brocade robe standing behind him, putting his hand on his shoulder.
The young man had a gentle face, but his expression was not very good. He seemed to be suppressing something and whispered, "Go down."
The actor was unwilling to give in, and relying on the princess's favor, he said, "Who are you to dare to offend the princess? Why should I leave..."
Yan Shang stared at the boy who was probably only about ten years old. He sat down in front of the couch that Mu Wan was rocking. Suddenly, he lowered his head, hugged the sleeping girl, and kissed her on the lips.
The boy's eyes widened.
Seeing the young man lower his head to kiss the princess, the princess seemed to struggle uncomfortably, but the young man held her waist and did not let go even though she mumbled and sobbed. Mu Wan opened her eyes with trembling eyelashes and saw Yan Shang's face, she was in a trance for a moment.
When he saw that she woke up, he didn't leave her lips, but bit her cheek, as if to vent his anger.
Mu Wan shook: "Oh!"
She woke up completely, pushed Yan Shang away, and covered her cheek. She glared at him angrily, wondering how he dared to bite her face?
Mu Wan shook her head and yelled, "You are crazy! Are you sick?"
The actor knelt on the ground, gloating as he waited for the princess to punish this daring madman so that he could take the throne.
Who knew that before the princess could say anything, the young man frowned and stared at her. He looked from her face to the back of her hand that was kissed by the actor, and said, "It stinks, why don't you go wash it?"
Mu Wanyao immediately got angry: "Who are you saying is stinky?"
Actor: “…”
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