Yang Si jumped onto the carriage and sat opposite Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao just frowned but did not chase him off.
This was the case because of her friendship with Yang Sanlang.
But when he mentioned Yan Shang to her and said something like he hoped she would be happy, she was stunned for a moment, turned her head away, and looked at him strangely. She had known him for so many years, and this didn't seem like something he would say.
Mu Wanyao: "...Why are you telling me this?"
She asked back: "What if I like him, what if I don't like him?"
Yang Si smiled.
His smile was clean and bright, like the winter sun, with the fearless and carefree style of a young man, different from the arrogance and self-containedness of other noble men in Chang'an.
Yang Si looked at Mu Wanyao very seriously: "If you don't like him, just pretend I didn't say anything. But if you like Yan Er, then tell me, I will help you observe him carefully to see if he is suitable for you. You don't have to think too much about his status or identity. Just look at your heart, and then tell me. Yaoyao, we have known each other for so many years, even if I am helping the prince, you should know that I will not harm you, right?"
Mu Wanyao looked at him quietly, and for a moment her eyes seemed to have a clear light shining on the lake, shining brightly.
She lowered her eyes and clenched her hands.
She murmured, "Inappropriate."
Yang Si: "Why do you care whether it's suitable or not? Just ask yourself whether you like it or not. You can't sacrifice every relationship for the sake of profit, right? You are a princess after all. Do you have to listen to others if you want to marry a man?"
Mu Wanyao felt a little confused.
This was the second time after Yan Shang that a man encouraged her to like someone she wanted to like.
Mu Wan shook his head and laughed: "What are you talking about? How can I not care?"
Yang Si said calmly: "Then why are you pursuing power now? Don't you want power so that you can make your own decisions? If you have power but still can't like what you want, then why are you working so hard now? When you are in the world, you don't have to always follow the rules, you don't have to always convince yourself, you should always be willful and live for yourself."
Mu Wan looked at him in a daze.
He leaned down to look at her, and the light in his cold eyes suddenly softened. He leaned over, stretched out his rough fingertips, and gently rubbed her face.
Mu Wan was stunned and leaned back. She didn't expect him to pinch her face suddenly. She said angrily, "Just talk, why do you have to do that?"
Yang Si teased: "Why, now I can't even touch you? And you still say you don't like Yan Er?"
Mu Wan shook his head stubbornly: "No! What does it have to do with you?"
Yang Si: “Tsk.”
He smiled and said, "You are such a copycat. You imitate my way of speaking, my way of doing things... why don't you imitate my temper? If I were you, I wouldn't be so afraid to admit it like you are."
Mu Wanyao opened her eyes wide, like a cat, charming and alert. She blushed and wanted to retort, "Who learned from you?", but when she met Yang Si's eyes that saw through everything, she swallowed her words back.
He lowered his head and smiled to himself, clenching his fists even tighter.
Yes, how could Yang Si not see that she was just imitating him? I'm afraid he would have seen it when she returned to Chang'an.
Why should she learn from him?
Because he was the most unbridled and carefree person around her and among the people she knew. He had been climbing up the roof and tearing off tiles since he was a child, and he had always wanted to do whatever he wanted. Yang Si's father, the Crown Prince, had been hanging behind this ancestor since he was a child, cleaning up his mess.
Mu Wanyao was very envious of Yang Si.
She had lived such a wronged life in Wuman. When she wanted to change her gentle temperament, she couldn't help but think of Yang Si. She wanted to be like Yang Sanlang, who could lose his temper whenever he wanted and ignore anyone he didn't like...
So she imitated Yang Si's behavior and speech. Unconsciously, Mu Wanyao really changed herself into a very different person.
But what if your personality changes drastically? You still need to stay calm about many things.
Mu Wan lowered her eyes and stopped talking to Yang Si about Yan Shang. Instead, she asked, "You encouraged me to do this because you don't want to marry me?"
Yang Si: "Didn't I tell you this long ago? I don't care. Anyway, I can still take a concubine if I marry you."
Mu Wan shook her head and glared at him: "You!"
He suddenly laughed.
Yang Si reached out and touched her head: "Alright, alright, I've said everything I need to say. I also pretended not to notice you secretly coming to see Yan Er, but do you have any good gifts to give away?"
He looked up at the sky and said, "I had a quarrel with the prince yesterday, and I want to bring some gifts to the East Palace to make amends."
Mu Wan glanced at him and said, "You are so insincere. You want to apologize and extort money from me. How disappointed would the prince be if he knew about this?"
Yang Si smiled and said, "How would he know? If you don't complain, he won't know. If you complain, I will tell him that you don't want to marry Yan Er, and you will see how the prince will deal with you."
Mu Wanyao: "You are talking nonsense! That's not the case at all!"
Yang Si: "So you're crying and shouting about wanting to marry me?"
Mu Wanyao was so mad at him that she raised her hand to hit him, but he easily controlled her with his arm so that she couldn't hit him at all.
Mu Wan was furious: "Go away! Fang Tong, take the wine I brought to Yang Sanlang and let him go!"
Yang Si was driven off the carriage by Mu Wan, leaving behind the young princess's red face and the jar of wine in his arms.
Yang Si waved his hand casually, said goodbye to Mu Wanyao, and was about to leave. Mu Wanyao looked at his back and called him again: "Third Brother Yang!"
Yang Si's back stiffened slightly.
This was the first time she called him like this after she returned from her marriage. This call seemed to take him back to his youth, like that delicate little princess, still following him carefree, gently pulling his clothes, saying, "I can't let you go. Big brother asked me to look after you. If you leave, I won't be able to explain to big brother."
At that time, she was frightened by his cold face and her face turned pale, but she still followed him stubbornly: "Brother Yang San, where are you going? Can you take me with you? Brother Yang San, please don't ignore me, don't abandon me."
Brother Yang, Brother Yang.
Midnight dream.
It tormented him like a demon.
After she married Wuman, Yang Si always dreamed of her at that time. But he still abandoned her and ignored her... He couldn't take her away, couldn't help her. He left her in a nightmare, lost her, and could never find her again.
It was his fault. He didn't deserve to be called "Third Brother" by her. He was not a good brother.
Yang Si stood there for a long while, quietly watching the noisy crowd in front of the imperial city. His heart was in agony because of the voice of "Third Brother Yang", but he had to suppress it.
Yang Si turned around and looked at Mu Wanyao who was looking at him through the curtain of the carriage, smiling the same as always.
He joked nonchalantly: "What's wrong with Yaoyao sister?"
Mu Wan shook her head and glared at him, then whispered, "I know you don't want to marry, you are just standing in front of me to be good to me. Third Brother Yang, I know, thank you."
Yang Si clicked his tongue: "You're overthinking it, aren't you? Who is doing this for you? I'm so handsome and I don't want to get married early, what does it have to do with you?"
Mu Wanyao gave him a look that was both annoyed and amused.
She said, "What kind of girls do you like? Can I help you choose?"
Yang Si stared at her: "Are you admitting that you want me to help you look after Yan Er, and are you exchanging terms with me?"
Mu Wanyao was furious and said, "No! I am just concerned about your marriage! I want to find a girl who can control you and stop you from bullying me!"
Yang Si looked up at the sky and really thought seriously about what kind of woman he liked.
He said: "I like those who are gentle, virtuous, obedient, speak softly, and do things meticulously. But I don't want a girl who is too pretty. It would be better if she looks like a fairy, has a generous personality and can be brought out to meet people. She should have the same aspirations as me and can understand my ideas..."
Mu Wan shook: "..."
She said sarcastically, "I'm just asking casually, you really have a lot of ideas, don't you?"
Yang Si looked at her with a smile: "When it comes to marrying a wife, of course I have to think about it seriously. Aren't you going to help me choose one? Then please help me find one."
In the evening, I was silent for a long time.
Seeing that there was some sincerity in his jokes, she said quietly, "You and I really have the same view of the opposite sex."
Yang Si was stunned for a moment.
I immediately thought of Yan Shang.
He hummed, held his chin up and thought, "Are you talking about Yan Er? If Yan Er is a girl, it would meet my requirements... Does he have any younger sisters at home?"
Mu Wan shook her head and said, "No, don't just think about my sister!"
How old is Yan Xiaozhou? She is even younger than Concubine Zhao Lingfei. Yan Xiaozhou is usually well protected and cared for by Yan Shang, and is taken care of by her brother in every possible way... Although Mu Wanyao is very jealous of Yan Xiaozhou, Yan Shang will be unhappy if she dares to have ideas about Yan Xiaozhou.
Yang Si saw her wary look and wondered what she was wary of. Yang Si rolled his eyes. He was just saying it casually and he was really leaving this time.
-----
Although Yan Shang was surrounded by a crowd of people, he was still focused on the carriage in the corner of the house diagonally opposite the imperial city.
He saw Yang Si being driven out of the car, and then he was still talking to the people in the car with a smile. He opened the curtain and saw only a silhouette at a glance.
But Yan Shang couldn't have been wrong.
He saw Mu Wan blushing.
From a distance, he only saw her blushing but didn't see any other expression on her face because the curtain was quickly lowered.
Yan Shang didn’t know that Mu Wanyao’s face turned red because of Yang Si’s anger. He thought of another possibility... He was a little dazed and wondered how could this be possible.
She was with him last night... and she was with Yang Sanlang today... Didn't she pay too little attention to the boundaries between men and women? When he saw her, he, he should tell her about this.
Since she is good with him, she should keep her distance from other men.
Yan Shang was thinking about these things absentmindedly, but he would still look at the carriage from time to time. He saw Yang Si leaving, because he had been staring in that direction, and Yang Si casually raised his head and saw him.
Yang Si was stunned for a moment.
Yan Shang nodded in greeting, and when he saw Yang Si, he also smiled. Yang Si did not come over to say hello, but raised the wine jar in his hand, saying that he was going to drink and would meet Yan Shang another day... Yan Shang nodded gently, but in his heart, he thought that the wine jar seemed to have been taken from Mu Wan's rocking chair.
She gave the wine to Yang Sanlang.
Yan Shang felt even more confused.
She was even a little annoyed that she didn't drink. Mu Wanyao looked like an alcoholic. He never drank. Was he too far away from her... Yang Sanlang and she had such a good relationship. Was it possible that they both loved to drink?
But drinking or not... is it that important? !
Soon after, Yang Si left. Yan Shang waited for a while and saw that the carriage also left.
Yan Shang was startled, and the last thought in his mind was broken. He thought that she was not coming to see him... When he first saw the carriage, he thought... he was overthinking.
-----
Mu Wanyao originally wanted to meet Yan Shang, but Yang Si had a conversation with her. Yang Si was trying to encourage her, but Mu Wanyao found herself too uncalm after hearing what he said.
Even though she knew it was impossible, she still wanted to see Yan Shang.
If you know something is impossible, you should control it.
So after Yang Si left, Mu Wanyao sat in the car for a while in a daze, and then had the car driven away, with no intention of meeting Yan Shang again.
After Yan Shang came out of prison, he became a famous figure among the scholars in Chang'an, and everyone wanted to get to know him.
That's fine.
After Yan Shang was released, he would visit each of the people who rescued him to express his gratitude. With this back and forth, Yan Shang set himself two days to settle these favors.
Yan Shang also went to visit Mr. Liu.
Although Liu Xianggong didn't say anything during the three-court trial that day, Yan Shang knew that his quick release must have something to do with Liu Xianggong's attitude. Yan Shang specially chose a day to visit him. Even if Liu Xianggong didn't want to see a small figure like him, Yan Shang had to make a gesture.
After the gatekeeper of the Prime Minister's Mansion received Yan Shang's invitation, he did not let Yan Shang wait any longer, but instead kindly invited him in.
Yan Shang paused, thinking that judging by the constant flow of people in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion, he was received so soon... Prime Minister Liu must also want to see him.
-----
In the main hall of Prime Minister Liu's mansion, there was not only Prime Minister Liu, but also another prime minister, Prime Minister Zhang.
Zhang Xianggong once got Yan Shang's scroll, but he did not help Yan Shang, so Yan Shang had to turn to Mu Wanyao and ask Princess Danyang to help him.
Mr. Liu invited Mr. Zhang to his home for tea. The steward came and reported that Yan Erlang wanted to see him. Mr. Liu asked the person to come in, and Mr. Zhang was stunned for a moment.
Zhang Xianggong said, "Well, I was wondering why you invited me to tea. So it was for Yan Erlang?"
Mr. Liu stroked his beard and smiled.
Liu Xianggong said: "At the three-court trial three days ago, Yan Suchen left a very good impression on me, and I want to promote him. I heard that you got his manuscript but didn't help him, so I want to ask you what you think of him."
Mr. Zhang then recalled the scroll he had seen at the beginning.
Zhang Xianggong shook his head and said, "I really have no impression. I'm afraid this person is just average, so I really can't remember him."
Liu Xianggong said, "The quality of a person is not determined by his talent and learning. I think the court's system of selecting officials should be changed someday. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable to keep out talents like Yan Suchen and instead recruit some pedantic people who can only recite poems and write essays but have no knowledge of government affairs."
Prime Minister Zhang remained silent. Of course, the official selection system had to change bit by bit, but they all came from large families, and even if they knew about this matter that would affect their own interests, they would not say too much.
Zhang Xianggong changed the subject: "It seems that you are really optimistic about this Yan Erlang. Why, do you want to take him as your disciple, or do you want to marry your precious granddaughter to him?"
As soon as Mr. Zhang said this, a young girl's voice came from behind the screen: "Why did Grandpa Zhang say that? It's so embarrassing!"
Mr. Zhang: "..."
He looked at Liu Xianggong, who raised his head, stroked his beard, and looked at the white clouds in the sky seriously. Zhang Xianggong twisted his neck in astonishment and looked towards the plain screen to the south.
He hadn't noticed it just now, but only now did he see that there was a young girl standing in the shadowy figure behind the screen.
The girl quickly poked her head out from behind the screen and greeted Mr. Zhang. When she heard footsteps, she quickly hid behind the screen again.
This person is none other than Mr. Liu’s favorite granddaughter, Miss Liu Ruozhu.
The young lady is already of 18 years old this year, but Mr. Liu dotes on his granddaughter and does not like any man, so he is unwilling to marry her off.
And today... they were all looking at each other through the screen, and Mr. Liu's thoughts were obvious.
Mr. Zhang suddenly became interested in Yan Shang. Mr. Liu even brought out his precious granddaughter. He wanted to take a closer look at this Yan Erlang to see what kind of demeanor he had that made Mr. Liu so fond of him.
-----
When Yan Shang came over, he greeted Mr. Liu and Mr. Zhang.
Zhang Xianggong looked at him and said, "Did you ask me for a gift, but I ignored you? Are you blaming me for ignoring you?"
Yan Shang smiled and said, "My lord, you are busy with all kinds of things. How can you always focus on small people like me? The manuscript is an opportunity. It's good if you have it, and it doesn't matter if you don't. How can you feel resentful just because the other party doesn't appreciate you? Moreover, Mr. Zhang has selected so many talents for the court over the years. I admire him so much. How can I blame him for not being appreciated by me?
"My husband, you ask me this, which makes me feel ashamed."
Mr. Zhang had a strange look on his face and looked at Mr. Liu.
Liu Xianggong raised his eyebrows and smiled at him meaningfully: See? This man is good at talking. Otherwise, he would not have been able to convince all three parties by himself during the trial.
He is neither humble nor arrogant in his words and has a gentle attitude. He is not the type who is eager to flatter, which makes people like him very much.
Zhang Xianggong winked at Liu Xianggong: "I can see why you admire him. He has the same style as you did when you were young, a modest gentleman, and he is very good at dealing with people."
Liu Xianggong's smile deepened, but he smiled without saying anything. Then Zhang Xianggong took the lead and continued to ask Yan Shang a few questions, with extremely tricky angles.
-----
Liu Xianggong's granddaughter, Liu Ruozhu, hid behind the screen and secretly watched Yan Shang.
A few days ago, her grandfather came back and told her that there was a man named Yan Erlang, and her grandfather was very optimistic about him. If Yan Erlang was sensible and knew to come to the mansion to pay a visit, he would let her take a look at him. If Yan Erlang was not sensible and did not know to come to pay a visit, the matter would be dropped.
So three days ago, Liu Ruozhu began to fantasize about what kind of young man could make his grandfather like him so much.
Her parents could not decide her marriage, it was all up to her grandfather. Everyone in the Liu family trusted Mr. Liu's judgment. Liu Ruozhu had thought about what this young man should look like for three days, and now she was hiding behind the screen and watching quietly -
He has a solemn and dignified figure and a bright and graceful figure, which gives him a very ancient style.
His voice was very soft, and he spoke in his own rhythm, neither hurried nor slow. Even when Grandpa Zhang asked pointed questions, his tone did not seem hurried, which showed that he was a man of his own principles.
He sometimes turned his face to the side and sometimes smiled.
It turns out that his eyebrows are so long, and his eyes are smiling even when he is silent. His nose is very beautiful, and he looks very elegant when he purses his lips... Standing in front of the lobby with mottled light and shadow, Liu Ruozhu's heart has been deeply moved by him.
"The evening wind is cold in the clear river, and the green mountains are as thin as jade."
He is the "green mountain jade bone thin" one.
Liu Ruozhu blushed, covered her pounding heart, and was very satisfied with the marriage that her grandfather was going to arrange for her. She was just waiting for her grandfather to mention it to Yan Erlang... Although Yan Erlang's family background was a little poor now, her grandfather's vision was not wrong, and Liu Ruozhu was not worried about this at all.
She was only worried about whether this man would like her.
She hoped that he would like her instead of nodding to her for Grandpa's sake.
-----
Mr. Zhang asked some questions and Yan Shang answered them fluently.
Prime Minister Zhang and Prime Minister Liu soon realized that Yan Shang's knowledge was acceptable, but when it came to poetry and prose, he was mediocre and had no talent. However, when asked about his opinions on government affairs, Yan Shang's answers would not be as clueless as his answers to poetry and prose.
Mr. Zhang nodded.
Mr. Liu was even more satisfied.
Liu Xianggong said with a smile: "You have gone through the three court trials, which makes you a rare talent in the court. What do you think if I let you work as an official in the Secretariat?"
Yan Shang guessed that the other party was interested in granting him an official position because Liu Xianggong kept asking him about the relationship between the court departments. However, Yan Shang also had his own ideas.
He said softly, "Of course I dare not refute you, sir. I have been studying for several months and will take the examination in October. Although I am not talented, I still want to try my skills. It is rare to have so much time to study in Hongwenguan. It is a rare opportunity in life. I don't want to waste it. I also have many questions that I don't understand. I want to ask you, sir, but I am afraid that you will find it troublesome."
The atmosphere suddenly became slightly cold.
Zhang Xianggong raised his eyebrows, smiling. As someone who had been immersed in the officialdom for many years, he could immediately hear Yan Shang's refusal. No matter how polite the other party was.
Wow.
Old Liu was rejected.
This play is great.
-----
Mr. Liu remained calm, staring at Yan Shang for a long while, then nodded: "If you want to study more, you have a lifetime to do so. It doesn't mean that you have to study for the examinations in the Hongwenguan now, and then you can sit back and relax when you become an official, and you don't have to study anymore. You should keep reading all your life, so that you can make up for the gap between you and others."
He secretly slandered Shang for coming from a poor family, and the gap between him and the children of wealthy families was huge.
Yan Shang cupped his hands: "Thank you for your teachings, sir."
Mr. Liu: “Yes.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he said goodbye.
After he left, Mr. Liu's face darkened.
His granddaughter ran out from behind the screen, stamping her feet and blaming him: "Grandpa! Why are you like this? You didn't even mention my marriage!"
Zhang Xianggong deliberately asked, "Why didn't Old Liu accept me as his disciple? Why didn't he promise his granddaughter to me? Is it because of what I said that you look down on me?"
Mr. Liu glanced at his colleague who was never afraid of trouble.
Prime Minister Liu said, "I never thought Yan Suchen would have such an arrogant side. Oh, since he is so arrogant, I will have to teach him a lesson."
Zhang Xianggong sighed: "You haven't even become a teacher yet, but you're already grinding on others. Su Chen is really pitiful."
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