Shangguan Xuan caught the faint scent of sandalwood lingering on Murong Yun. It felt out of place in the summer air, light and delicate, like tender buds just emerging in early spring.
After a moment, he realized the fragrance was disrupting his focus. He turned his face slightly aside and steadied his breathing.
A curtain hung by the window. When the wind stirred it, slivers of moonlight slipped through, scattering in grains across the gauze drapery.
Their shadows, standing so close together, flickered on the ground from time to time.
He remained motionless. Murong Yun set down the sunflower seeds, walked slowly up to him, and reached out to grasp his sharply defined chin, studying him for a long moment.
“If you’re going to kill or punish me, say it,” Shangguan Xuan said, his hands clasped behind his back as he quietly circulated his internal energy, searching for a way to break free from the restraint of the silver needle.
“Still stubborn…” Murong Yun tilted her head, her gaze lingering on the small mole at his neck. “When you do something wrong, there’s a price to pay.”
Before her words fully settled, her fingertip pressed lightly against his lips.
Her phoenix eyes shifted subtly as they met his dark gaze.
Shangguan Xuan was always cautious in his actions, yet he had been caught by her. It seemed that in his youth, he was still too inexperienced.
Murong Yun felt a mischievous urge rise within her. He appeared gentle and refined, yet deep down he was cunning and calculating. Since such a handsome man had delivered himself to her door, she might as well tease him a little and give him a scare.
His warm lips brushed against the coolness of her fingertip. His expression tightened, his dark eyes surging with restrained emotion, and even the rhythm of the internal energy he had been gathering faltered.
“I don’t lack wealth or material things,” she said softly.
“If I call for the others, it will only damage your reputation and bring me no benefit.”
“But this face of yours is quite pleasing. I’m rather interested. If you satisfy me, we can consider tonight’s matter settled…”
A soft laugh slipped from her throat as her finger continued to trace along his lips in a quiet, suggestive motion.
“Let go,” Shangguan Xuan said in a low voice, his breath already heated, the last remnants of his composure tinged with anger.
“Oh? You’ve changed your mind?” Murong Yun leaned back half an inch, though her body still remained close.
When she sensed his reaction, she slowly released him with a hint of reluctance.
“I’ll let you off this once. Next time, it won’t be so simple…” she said, her fingertip resting briefly against her own lips as a silent warning.
She lifted her gaze with a faint smile, her eyes slightly upturned. Her hair was bound high with a jade crown, her handsome features carrying an oddly alluring charm.
Shangguan Xuan turned his head away. “What poison was on the needle?”
Murong Yun reached out and removed the silver needle from his neck. “There was no poison. It merely struck an acupoint.”
She tossed two packets of sunflower seeds into his arms. “I bought three packets when I went down the mountain. Since we crossed paths tonight, one is for you.”
A faint smile lingered on her lips. “The other is for Song Qi.”
Holding the thick paper bags, Shangguan Xuan stepped out. He pressed a hand to his neck, finding no trace of blood, yet he could not understand why he had failed to break free earlier.
He turned back to glance at the closed door, his eyes dark with anger.
Murong Yun… frivolous and unruly. Not someone to befriend closely.
The night deepened.
Moonlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across Shangguan Xuan’s lashes.
He had not fallen asleep.
With his skill, a single needle should have been easy to overcome, yet earlier, even after two full quarters of an hour, he had been unable to free himself.
Murong Yun had disrupted his control over his internal energy again and again.
Recalling her provocative behavior, irritation surged within him.
Scholar Zhao’s assessment was held that day.
Compared to Master Xu’s, his paper was simpler, testing less of the past material.
Murong Yun finished quickly, resting her head on her left hand as she idly used her brush to draw a turtle on the paper.
The turtle was none other than Master Xu.
Served him right for trying so hard to torment her.
As time dragged on and the exam neared its end, Murong Yun quietly pulled out sunflower seeds from beneath the desk and began cracking them.
[Host, you need to crack the seeds so they make a crisp sound.]
Murong Yun thought to herself that eating sunflower seeds did not necessarily require cracking them audibly, there was a difference.
[Task wording adjusted: crack sunflower seeds.]
She snorted inwardly.
[The host is too unruly. Reward granted: Da Ying Land Tax Records.]
Her mind instantly cleared. In a flash, she rushed to the front.
“Scholar! I’m submitting my paper!”
“Check it for mistakes first—” Scholar Zhao began, recalling her previous flawless answers.
“No need. Once I write something down, I never regret it.”
Under everyone’s gaze, she vaulted over the wall and left.
“….”
Scholar Zhao coughed awkwardly. “Murong Yun shows no respect for authority. I will deduct points later.”
Not long after, Shangguan Xuan clutched his stomach.
“Scholar, I’m unwell. I’ve finished my paper. May I return to rest?”
His face was pale, his hand trembling slightly.
“Go at once. If the pain persists, have someone fetch a physician,” Scholar Zhao said, concerned.
Shangguan Xuan declined assistance and left.
The moment he turned away, the pain vanished.
He quietly followed Murong Yun.
Having grown up among common folk, trained rigorously in martial arts by his adoptive father, he moved silently and skillfully.
Murong Yun did not notice.
She had changed into coarse clothing, her face smeared with dirt, looking like a farmer fresh from the fields.
“Granny Wei!”
She waved energetically.
Granny Wei took a moment to recognize her.
Murong Yun joked and even teased her about appearances, making the old woman laugh.
Later, Granny Wei pointed out her former field, now seized by officials.
“They plan to build houses for the magistrate,” she said bitterly.
Murong Yun crouched down, examining the soil.
Inside Granny Wei’s home, she noticed bamboo weaving materials and even demonstrated skill in weaving, though she injured her finger in the process.
Granny Wei showed her the land contract, revealing exploitative terms.
Murong Yun carefully folded it and tucked it away. “Don’t worry. In a few days, I’ll make the magistrate personally loosen this soil for us.”
After leaving, she sighed. “Murong Yun, you really boast too much.”
Still, she headed toward the county office that night.
At the third watch of the night, Murong Yun crouched by the back wall of the county yamen.
Her sleeves were stuffed with mechanical tools.
She had just thrown a grappling hook when a voice sounded behind her.
“That outfit suits you more than your usual dandy appearance.”
She froze and turned.
Shangguan Xuan stood perched on a tree branch, dressed in black.
“Brother Shangguan… enjoying the moon as well?”
Her laugh was forced.
“Enjoying the moon with a hook?” he asked, amused.
She flicked a needle toward him, but he easily evaded it.
He caught her chin. “If I shout, you’ll be in prison tomorrow.”
She panicked and quickly pleaded.
“I have something important to do. Tomorrow, you can deal with me however you like.”
He looked at her quietly.
“Foolish.”
She said nothing.
After a moment, he released her and leapt onto the wall. “Do what you came for.”
She quickly followed. Inside, she retrieved the account books and discovered the corruption.
Just as she tried to escape, a guard stirred.
Before she could act, Shangguan Xuan grabbed her and carried her over the wall.
The night wind rushed past them as she clutched his clothes tightly.
“You rely too much on gadgets. Learn martial arts instead,” he said.
She smiled sheepishly. Then he asked, “Why risk your life for this?”
“To help an old woman,” she replied simply.
“You don’t even know her.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
He shook his fan lightly. “Not worth risking your life.”
Murong Yun stopped and looked at him.
“Then why do you want to become an official?”
“For wealth and respect,” he answered casually.
She smiled. “I already have money. Respect is meaningless. But helping someone… that’s interesting.”
“Even if you get hurt?”
“I didn’t, did I?” she said brightly, bouncing in front of him.
Her lively figure contrasted sharply with the quiet night.
“Doesn’t it make you want to help her too?”
“Too foolish, I have no interest.”