Yang Lianting and A-Fei left the palace. A-Fei asked, "Are you going to pay your respects to Leng Feiyan?"
"How did you know?" Yang Lianting asked.
She puffed out her cheeks. "How could I not? You returned to Jinyang so early just for them. I also want to pay my respects to Master Xue Zhan."
Yang Lianting quickly interjected, "Don't go. Fachang Temple is currently cordoned off. If you are discovered, it will inevitably arouse the King's suspicion again."
A-Fei sighed. "I know. It’s just a pity that such a great monk was left with no one daring to claim his body after his death. I heard he still lies exposed in the wilderness."
Yang Lianting lowered his head. "One must look after the living first."
"I’ll go with you to pay respects to Leng Feiyan then," A-Fei said. "We can burn more spirit money for her and ask her to bring some to Master Xue Zhan."
Yang Lianting gave a bitter smile. "Let’s go."
The two passed by the Palace of Yan; Fachang Temple lay just to the south. Yang Lianting glanced at the scorched mountain ridges and instinctively steered clear of them. Before they had gone far, a beggar suddenly blocked their path. Shaking a broken bowl, the beggar spoke in a raspy voice, "Kind nobles, please, spare a little."
Both A-Fei and Yang Lianting were healers by trade. They immediately pulled out a five-tael silver ingot and gave it to him. A-Fei remarked, "I see you have healthy limbs; why do you resort to begging?"
Hearing this, the beggar slowly raised his head. The left side of his face was charred, while the right side still vaguely resembled a human. A-Fei gasped, recoiling slowly. She had once performed a disguise on Murong Ruo and remembered his face vividly. Even if she hadn't known his identity initially, how could she not know now, having entered Jinyang and seen the wanted posters plastered across the city?
Seeing her strange expression, Yang Lianting asked in confusion, "What is it?"
A-Fei looked around to ensure no one was watching before whispering, "Murong Ruo?"
Yang Lianting was also startled. Both stared at the beggar before them. It truly was Murong Ruo, though half his face had been burned during the mountain fire that consumed the temple. Fortunately, it was this very disfigurement that had allowed him to evade the dragnet.
After all, who would have thought that the former Crown Prince would become a faceless beggar?
Murong Ruo said nothing. A-Fei’s temper flared. "You caused Master Xue Zhan’s death! What are you doing back here now?"
Yang Lianting pulled at her, signaling for her to lower her voice. A-Fei realized her mistake and hissed, "Leave! None of you Murongs are good people anyway! When Murong Yuan killed my foster father, you had a hand in it too! I won't turn you over to the authorities today, but I might not be so kind next time."
Murong Ruo opened his mouth, finally whispering, "I'm sorry."
Then, clutching his bowl, he silently walked away.
A-Fei found herself speechless and turned to look at Yang Lianting. He pulled her away, asking, "Has he looked for you before?"
"Last time, Master Xue Zhan brought him to me to change his appearance," A-Fei said. "I didn't know who he was then; I thought he was just the son of some fallen official. I only realized it was him today after seeing the portraits on the walls."
"We will stay in Jinyang until the Grand Ceremony is over, then leave immediately," Yang Lianting said. "We must not approach this man again."
A-Fei agreed and looked down to see him holding her hand. Her face flushed slightly as she slowly interlocked her fingers with his. Yang Lianting stiffened slightly. The Saintess of the Baiyu Sect was not permitted to marry. Initially, the sect members had not accepted Yang Lianting, suspecting him of harboring ill intentions.
Seeing the two grow closer, many had questioned whether he and A-Fei had already crossed the line. However, Yang Lianting’s medical skills were truly superb, and since joining, he had always prioritized the sect's interests. Over time, the members had gradually accepted him.
Now, seeing him and A-Fei as a pair, they felt it wasn't such a bad thing. After all, a close relationship between the Sect Leader and the Saintess was not necessarily detrimental to the Baiyu Sect.
The two left Jinyang, carrying incense and candles. They rode along the Panlong Valley mountain range until they reached the banks of the Yi River. Leng Feiyan’s grave had no headstone, yet fresh flowers and fruit were laid before it; it seemed someone had just visited.
A-Fei asked, "Do you have private words for her? Should I step away?"
Yang Lianting shook his head. "I just wanted to see her."
He unwrapped the spirit money and began burning it at the grave. A-Fei said, "Then I'll stay right here."
"Mhm," Yang Lianting replied.
Together, they burned the paper offerings. Nearby, the Yi River flowed, surrounded by lush green mountains and the sound of babbling water. A-Fei remarked, "If I die in the future, I want to be buried in a place like this too."
"Don't talk nonsense," Yang Lianting said.
"If you die in the future, would you be willing to be buried next to me?" A-Fei asked.
Yang Lianting’s hand paused as he added more spirit money. A-Fei pressed, "Would you?"
Yang Lianting resumed burning the paper. "Yes."
A-Fei beamed and hurried to light the incense. A gentle scent of floral pollen drifted from her, brushing past his nose.
***
In Nanqing Palace, Zuo Canglang allowed the imperial physician to perform a routine pulse check. Once he left, she called for Liao Liping. "The Leader and Saintess of the Baiyu Sect will be in the city for the next few days. Gather some men to shadow them discreetly."
Xiao Pingzi blinked. "General, do you want them monitored?"
"No," Zuo Canglang said. "I just don't want any suspicious individuals contacting them."
Xiao Pingzi understood. "Is the General worried that the deposed Prince's remnants will seek them out?"
"Yes," Zuo Canglang said. "Follow them until they leave Jinyang and return to Mount Gusha. All expenses are to be drawn from Weiwei."
Xiao Pingzi acknowledged the order and hurried off.
Zuo Canglang finally sat down. Recently, Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, and others had sent her letters, all expressing their gratitude. These military correspondences were forwarded by Wang Yunzhao. As the Grand Chamberlain, he was permitted to open and read any military mail with Murong Yan’s permission.
Naturally, these letters had all been opened. Yuan Xi and the others were extremely cautious with their wording; it was clear the letters had been drafted by their military secretaries and then transcribed by the generals themselves. Even these rugged warriors had suddenly learned the art of restraint.
Zuo Canglang flipped through the letters. Did the man on the throne truly not sense the alienation between the lines? The trust forged in blood on the battlefield was being slowly eroded by suspicion. In the end, the reports they submitted to their sovereign were nothing more than monotonous greetings. Knowing the letters would pass through the Grand Chamberlain’s hands, they became mere snippets of respectful pleasantries. Only the letters meant to be delivered via Zang Ge were expansive, even if they were filled with trivialities.
She picked up her brush to reply, but when it touched the paper, she realized she could only write a few words of greeting herself.
As she sat in contemplation, Weiwei suddenly ran in. "General! Qifeng Palace has suddenly summoned the imperial physicians, and His Majesty has gone there as well!"
Zuo Canglang didn't even look up. "What happened?"
Xiao Pingzi hadn't returned yet, and Weiwei was out of breath. "I don't know. I heard that the one in Qifeng Palace... is pregnant."
Zuo Canglang was genuinely surprised now. "Pregnant?"
"Yes," Weiwei said. "This news was passed to me by the Head of the Imperial Physicians, Lord Cheng Han."
Zuo Canglang pondered for a moment. "How many months?"
"I don't know. His Majesty is still at Qifeng Palace. Do you want to go take a look?"
Zuo Canglang shook her head, still finding the matter strange. It was far too coincidental for her to be pregnant now.
At that moment, in Qifeng Palace, Cheng Han finished checking Jiang Bilan’s pulse. Murong Yan asked, "Well?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Cheng Han said, "Her Majesty’s pulse indeed indicates she is five months pregnant."
"Five months?" Murong Yan repeated.
"Yes," Cheng Han said. "However, Her Majesty’s constitution is weak, and the fetal pulse is also faint."
Murong Yan asked, "Did the physicians who performed the routine checks before never notice this?"
Cheng Han lowered his head, unable to explain it himself. He called in several other physicians to examine her together; all confirmed a five-month pregnancy. Murong Yan said, "Since that is the case, let her rest and recover well. Assign two physicians specifically to attend to Qifeng Palace."
Cheng Han complied immediately. However, that pulse... it was indeed a bit strange. His heart hammered with unease.
He wasn't the only one; the other physicians were also trembling with anxiety. Qifeng Palace had routine pulse checks every month. However, with the recent house arrest and the sealing of the palace, it was hard to say if someone had been negligent. Regardless, for a pregnancy to go unnoticed until the fifth month was a grave dereliction of duty.
But no matter what, Jiang Bilan’s pregnancy was a joyous occasion.
Originally, Murong Yan had not intended for her to attend the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. Now, after some thought, he instructed the ritual officials to arrange for the Queen to perform the rites alongside him.
On the day of the ceremony, all civil and military officials present in the capital of Yan were in attendance.
Zuo Canglang held no official rank and hadn't intended to go, but Murong Yan forced her to come along. Jiang Bilan’s procession followed beside the Emperor’s, her banners fluttering. She appeared somewhat haggard; even her exquisite makeup and magnificent palace robes could not hide her underlying unease.
The palace maids carefully assisted her from her carriage. Murong Yan did not walk toward her as he usually did. The two ascended the sacrificial altar together, but one walked behind the other, appearing very distant. As the ritual official began to read the sacrificial address, Zuo Canglang did not have to stand among the officials. Beneath Murong Yan’s canopy a hundred meters away, Wang Yunzhao had set up a small seat for her. With fruit and tea snacks before her, she picked one up and looked up, meeting Murong Yan’s gaze.
Even on the solemn sacrificial altar, he made a gesture to her—*After the ceremony, I’ll take you hunting.*
Zuo Canglang nodded. He then looked away, focusing on his prayers. Jiang Bilan also cast a glance in her direction, the paleness of her face becoming even more pronounced. Zuo Canglang stared at her lower abdomen; because the palace robes were so elaborate and layered, it was impossible to tell if there was a bulge.
Weiwei whispered, "General, did you see that? Did you see? His Majesty was looking at you just now!"
Zuo Canglang’s response was unrelated. "Weiwei, do you think... it's possible the Queen isn't pregnant at all?"
Weiwei froze. "What? But the imperial physicians all examined her."
Zuo Canglang fell silent.
***
