She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 14 Servant Mo Shan, meets Princess Anping

"What is the teacher thinking about?" Xiao Hongshen asked, seeing Yan Wanqing remaining silent.

Through the mottled shadows of the forest, Yan Wanqing saw Qin Wu slowly walking along the mountain path, her complexion pale, dark circles under her eyes a shade of blue and purple, clearly from a lack of sleep last night.

"Your Highness, your opportunity has arrived."

Yan Wanqing didn’t miss the eager glint in Xiao Hongshen’s eyes, yet she saw him still restraining himself and standing in place, continuing to question her.

"Today, I heard that the newly appointed Top Scholar confronted the teacher. Does your Highness need to intervene and resolve the matter?"

Yan Wanqing found it amusing in her heart and shook her head, "It’s normal for young people from a prominent household like the State Duke’s to be unruly; it’s not worth fussing over."

"How is this acceptable? The teacher is none other than Princess Anping herself. What status does that Tanhuai Scholar have to discuss matters with the teacher?" Xiao Hongshen expressed indignation, "It’s all because the teacher is usually too mild-mannered, lacking someone devoted by her side."

He suddenly clapped his hands, and a woman emerged, her features bland as if she were plain water.

Yan Wanqing raised an eyebrow, Mo Shan.

No wonder he wasn’t looking for Qin Wu; he intended to blatantly plant someone by her side.

"This is a female guard from my retinue. She is skilled and most suited to remain by the teacher’s side, to protect the teacher on my behalf."

Protect?

This was nothing more than brazen surveillance.

Yan Wanqing concealed the irony in her eyes and replied, "Prince Seven is considerate."

If he insisted on imposing, then she would accept.

This scene had not occurred in her past life. It seemed that, after her rebirth, many things had changed.

"Mo Shan, have you not hastened to pay respects to your new master?" Xiao Hongshen ordered in a deep voice.

Mo Shan immediately knelt before Yan Wanqing, "This servant, Mo Shan, pays respects to Princess Anping."

Capable of bending and stretching, yet as a human, she showcased not a trace of emotions that one should possess.

She must be a dead soldier, raised from childhood without the cultivation of emotions, Yan Wanqing thought, her eyes lingering on Mo Shan’s nondescript features that could easily vanish in a crowd, pondering slightly.

How could the son of a mere palace maid foster such an excellent dead soldier or perhaps, even a group of them?

Yan Wanqing narrowed her eyes; in this life, she discovered many things in Xiao Hongshen’s entourage that she hadn’t noticed in her previous life.

"I’ve seen this one before," Yan Wanqing smirked.

A flicker of depth passed through Xiao Hongshen’s eyes, "As expected of the teacher, to recognize Mo Shan when even Lord Lin has met her many times without remembering."

"Mo Shan isn’t hard to remember. Such a lovely young lady is naturally unforgettable," Yan Wanqing chuckled.

Both Xiao Hongshen and Mo Shan were taken aback for a moment.

But Yan Wanqing acted as if she hadn’t noticed, slowly turning away, "The banquet is about to start, your Highness should hurry."

After saying this, she left gracefully.

Watching that retreating figure, Xiao Hongshen’s face, which was previously filled with smiles, instantly darkened, his gaze turning sinister, "... Go ahead, you know what to do."

A momentary obsession flashed in Mo Shan’s eyes, vanishing quickly as if it were a gust of wind. She nodded respectfully and called out, "As you command, my master."

On this side, Xiao Hongshen chased after Qin Wu, who had disappeared in the distance.

Yan Wanqing stepped out for a breath of fresh air and returned with a palace maid by her side, who seemed as inconspicuous as a figure in a water-ink painting, attracting no one’s attention.

The only one startled was Cong Ge, who stood by her side and passed a hand warmer to Yan Wanqing, lowering her voice to ask, "Miss, isn’t she someone from the Seventh Prince’s entourage?"

Yan Wanqing could almost feel the calm façade of Mo Shan’s face crackling ever so slightly behind her.

She hadn’t expected Cong Ge to recognize Mo Shan. Qin Wu herself was able to because she had trained with Qing Aunt in unique secret techniques, which made such deceptive tricks useless against her.

But Cong Ge had been with her since childhood and had never been exposed to such things.

Such natural talent was indeed wasted on a mere maid attending to her.

Thinking Mo Shan couldn’t hear, Cong Ge covered her mouth and whispered again, "Should we have someone throw her out?"

Mo Shan: "..."

Yan Wanqing struggled to contain her laughter. "No need."

The sky quickly darkened, campfires were lit all around, and people began to arrive in succession. Prince Xiao Hongshen came with Qin Wu, and upon arrival, he cast a special glance at Yan Wanqing.

Yet, she didn’t even lift her gaze, and a sinister light flickered through his dark pupils.

"What a pity the Noble Consort is with child and cannot attend the banquet, or else I’d really like to witness her sword dance," Qin Wu sighed, bringing Xiao Hongshen’s thoughts back to the present.

"That’s not a problem. Most women in our dynasty practice martial arts. If the Princess wishes to watch, I will arrange for them to perform for you later."

Upon hearing this, Qin Wu’s mood marginally improved. She then saw Xiao Hongshen, considerate of his inability to keep her company, sending over a minister’s daughter to accompany her, causing Qin Wu to significantly change her impression of him.

"Do you also know how to perform sword dances?" Qin Wu asked.

The most beautiful woman of Dawei, adorned in a complicated Luo skirt, Lin Yanran was taken aback. "Ah?"

Qin Wu patiently repeated the question, and Lin Yanran shook her head: "Why bother learning those things? For ladies, it’s better to stick to the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Sword fighting’s too bloody."

"How boring." Qin Wu found it uninteresting. Her mind was on someone she had yet to see, and her gaze wandered among the ladies present until it landed on Yan Wanqing, who was feigning sleep behind the screen, her eyes suddenly lighting up.

"Who is that?" Qin Wu asked, pulling on Lin Yanran’s arm.

Lin Yanran followed her gaze and saw, behind the white gauze caressed by the evening breeze, the orange glow of the sunset shimmering in her hair, her lovely cheeks like snow, and her slightly furrowed brow, making you want to bring all the world’s treasures before her.

Lin Yanran, a hint of envy in her heart, also remembered her father lately mentioning that Prince Xiao had been keeping close company with her. This left a bitter taste in Lin Yanran’s mouth, so she spoke with a sour tone.

"She’s Anping Commandery Princess from our Dawei, known outside as ’the Female Zhuge.’ She has even enlightened and taught the young Princes in the capital and is respectfully called ’Teacher’ by them."

"Is that Yan Wanqing?" Qin Wu stared at the figure behind the gauze, asking word by word.

Lin Yanran, sensing an opportunity, curved her lips into a sly smirk. "Yes, that’s the eldest daughter of the Yan Family. I remember that the Anping Commandery Princess’s Spirit Snake Sword Dance is considered a rare spectacle in this world."

Qin Wu had certainly heard of it. All her life, her father had mentioned Yan Wanqing the most, always as a benchmark for her to strive against. Now seeing the person herself, Qin Wu felt somewhat incredulous.

"Just some time ago, the Commandery Princess gave the newly made Top Scholar a good lesson because of an issue involving her fifth sister’s marriage contract. I hear she scolded someone until they fainted in front of everyone at noon today," Lin Yanran went on, noting Qin Wu’s slight frown.

"Although there is a considerable difference in status between the Top Scholar and the marquis’s household, marrying a legitimate daughter as the principal wife surely honors the marquis. Yet, Anping Commandery Princess had her servants throw him out, humiliating the Top Scholar to the point of nearly seeking death."

"Nevermind her disdain, seeing each other again today, the Commandery Princess publicly chastised the Top Scholar in front of everyone, angering him so much he fainted right there. I wonder if he’s come to yet."

Lin Yanran sighed while subtly observing the reactions around her.

Suddenly feeling a warmth on her body, she saw a young child holding a bowl of hot tea. Now, the bowl lay empty, the tea entirely spilled over her clothes.

"Whose child are you? How can you be so rude!" Lin Yanran was not lightly angered, for her clothes had cost a fortune and took over half a month to acquire.

As she reached out angrily to grab the child, she saw him dodging nimbly, making faces at her while shouting, "That’s for badmouthing my elder sister—who else should I splash if not you!"