Upon the White Wolf River, a massive vessel buffeted the waves. Murong Yan and Jian Yang stood against the wind, jointly holding a jade vessel as they proclaimed their alliance to the north.
After drinking the blood-wine, Jian Yang asked, "There is something I have always wished to ask the King of Yan."
"Speak," Murong Yan replied.
Jian Yang said, "Last time, when your General Zuo visited the capital of Jing as a guest, the King of Yan promised to exchange cities for her on one hand, while secretly sending men to snatch her away on the other."
"If Brother Jian intends to offer a moral condemnation," Murong Yan said, "I am all ears."
Jian Yang shook his head. "I am not so bored as that. I merely wish to ask—had your men failed to rescue General Zuo, would you truly have traded those cities for her?"
Murong Yan’s gaze lowered slightly, catching sight of Zuo Canglang by the gunwale. That day, she wore a robe of plain brocade cinched with a silk cord, her long hair tied high. Amidst the rushing wind and surging waves, she possessed a striking, heroic aura.
Would he truly have traded cities for her? Even if he would have, how could he admit it to Jian Yang?
"No," he said.
Jian Yang laughed heartily. "A man like you is truly the height of hypocrisy. You sent two groups of people back then; if the first failed, were you planning to have her killed in the Jing capital?"
Murong Yan’s gaze was like the sharp wind over the river. Sensing it, Zuo Canglang looked up slightly, her eyes meeting his. She offered a faint smile.
Murong Yan asked, "What did Brother Jian say?"
Jian Yang repeated, "I asked, had the King of Yan already made up his mind? If she could not be rescued, would you have had her killed in the Jing capital?"
"The question before that," Murong Yan said.
Jian Yang paused. "The one before? If you failed to rescue her, would you truly have traded cities for her?"
"Yes," Murong Yan said. He had never loathed a person so much; it turned out he could not endure her walking amidst such nauseating gazes.
Jian Yang was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "It is no wonder. Such a beauty—even when she was carrying a child, I found myself thinking of her day and night after getting a taste." Murong Yan remained expressionless. Jian Yang continued, "I heard she was not yet fourteen when she first followed the King of Yan. I imagine she must have been even more... enchanting back then?"
Murong Yan said, "We are swearing an alliance with the gods as our witnesses. Brother Jian’s words are a bit too foul, are they not?"
Jian Yang chuckled. "The King of Yan jokes. Even with the gods present, there is no harm in a few private words between men. Last time, she was pregnant, so certain... diversions could not be performed. This time, I find myself looking forward to it immensely."
Murong Yan turned to look at him. Jian Yang laughed loudly. "I understand, I understand. Some things are better left unsaid."
Once they descended from the ritual platform, Ren Xuan, Zuo Canglang, and the others stepped forward to help their respective sovereigns dress. Jian Yang glanced at Zuo Canglang and asked, "This time, whom does the King of Yan intend to send into my Jing camp?"
Murong Yan’s face remained as still as deep water. He held out his arms, allowing Zuo Canglang to serve him as he dressed, offering no immediate answer. Once his robes were set, both parties entered the cabin. Wine and food had been prepared, and Jian Yang sat opposite Murong Yan. Ren Xuan and Zhou Xin stood behind their lord, each leading a hundred armored soldiers armed with spears and halberds.
Only then did Murong Yan ask, "I wonder whom Brother Jian intends to send into the Yan camp?"
Jian Yang took a drink with him and said, "I have decided to send Ji Guang."
"General Ji is a man of high prestige and is well-acquainted with my army. He is a fitting choice," Murong Yan said. This "acquaintance" between the Yan and Jing armies was hardly a pleasant thing; the two sides had clashed in countless battles, and much blood had been spilled between them.
Jian Yang smiled and asked, "Has the King of Yan not yet decided on a candidate?"
Murong Yan turned his head and glanced at Zuo Canglang. Jian Yang also swept a look over her, then gave a nearly imperceptible glance toward his Great General, Ren Xuan. If Zuo Canglang entered the camp, would Ren Xuan be able to handle her?
He smiled, his burning gaze scrutinizing Zuo Canglang inch by inch. "In my view, General Zuo is very suitable. Ever since the General left the Jing capital, I have been pining for her. Now I hear she is at leisure, and since she is an old acquaintance of my General Ren, it would be most appropriate for her to come and go from the Jing camp."
Murong Yan remained silent. Zuo Canglang was indeed the most suitable candidate, but for some reason, in that moment, he felt a desperate urge to gouge out Jian Yang’s eyes for the way they roved over her.
Nearly everyone could see his hesitation. Jian Yang merely looked at Zuo Canglang with a smile, though it was clearly the appreciative gaze one gave a woman. Murong Yan’s displeasure was written plainly on his face. Suddenly, he said, "General Zhuge Jin in my camp is also a man of great strategy. I am sure he and General Ren will find much to discuss. I have decided to send him into the Jing camp."
Jian Yang said, "To be unable to relive old dreams with General Zuo is truly a regret."
He directed these words at Zuo Canglang. Though she was surprised by Murong Yan’s decision, she nonetheless cupped her hands and asked with perfect etiquette, "Between the Battle of Huiye Plains and the Battle of Mayi City, may I ask which 'old dream' Your Majesty wishes to relive with the Yan army?"
Jian Yang’s face instantly turned hideous.
At Huiye Plains and Mayi City, she had slaughtered every soul in the cities she captured. To this day, the commoners of Huiye Plains still regarded her as a blood-handed Asura. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, truly enraged.
"Presumptuous," Murong Yan said. The word was a rebuke, yet there was no trace of actual reproach in his tone.
Zuo Canglang quickly bowed her head. "This lowly general accidentally spoke the truth. I hope the Emperor of West Jing will not take offense."
This master and servant pair were well-versed in playing off one another. Jian Yang let out a furious huff, knowing that since the alliance had just been formed, it was not the time to turn hostile. He sat back down and said, "Since the candidate is decided, let General Zhuge enter the camp."
Murong Yan turned to look at Zhuge Jin. Though he hadn't been notified beforehand, Zhuge Jin was willing to go. Zuo Canglang was, after all, a woman; none of the old subordinates under her command wanted her to enter the enemy camp. Even though they were allies now, the way the Jing Emperor spoke of her was seen by all as a crowning insult.
With Zhuge Jin going instead, everyone felt satisfied.
Once the alliance treaties were exchanged and confirmed to be in order, Murong Yan and Jian Yang departed. As they disembarked the great ship, a surge of waves caused the vessel to rock slightly. Murong Yan reached out his hand to steady Zuo Canglang, but before he touched her, he withdrew it.
Zuo Canglang saw his displeasure and said, "He intentionally provoked you to make you change your choice at the last moment. Why fall for his scheme?"
Murong Yan said, "Do you think I could not guess his intentions?"
Zuo Canglang fell silent. Murong Yan stepped onto the smaller boat, which swayed as it headed toward the shore of the White Wolf River.
Upon landing, Yuan Xi and the others learned that Zhuge Jin was replacing Zuo Canglang in the Jing camp and were overjoyed. That evening, bonfires were lit in Mayi City, and Murong Yan joined the generals in celebration. Someone beat a rhythm with chopsticks and sang; the atmosphere was incredibly lively.
Zuo Canglang leaned against the camp palisade, watching the cold, hook-like moon. Yuan Xi approached her with a cup of wine. "Why is the General here alone?"
Zuo Canglang took the wine and took a small sip. Yuan Xi said, "Even with an alliance, it truly isn't appropriate for the General to go to the West Jing camp personally. Actually..." He hesitated before continuing, "Actually, His Majesty... feels very deeply for the General. Why are you so despondent?"
Zuo Canglang glanced at him. "And what do you know of 'feeling deeply'?"
Yuan Xi said, "I am a crude man, but General, I have eyes. Today at the bow of the ship, His Majesty stripped his robes and boots—was that not to avenge the humiliation you suffered back then? General, in the past, the brothers didn't really support you entering the palace. We felt it was a kind of degradation. But... if His Majesty is sincere, and the General is willing to accompany him, I think even if General Wen’s soul is watching from heaven, he would not object."
Zuo Canglang gazed up at the flickering stars in the night sky. After a long silence, she asked, "Tell me, is what our eyes see real?"
Yuan Xi didn't understand her meaning, but other officers came over to invite them to drink. Zuo Canglang couldn't drink heavily with them, so she hurried back to Murong Yan’s side. As long as Murong Yan was present, they didn't dare drink to their hearts' content.
Murong Yan glanced at her and said, "In the coming campaign against Wuzhong, I intend for Jiang Qi and Wang Nan to be the vanguard generals." He still refused to employ Wen Yixuan.
Zuo Canglang could only say, "I follow Your Majesty’s arrangements."
Murong Yan gave a hum of affirmation. Amidst the crackling bonfires, he took her hand. Many generals nearby saw this; Zuo Canglang tried to pull her hand away, but he increased his grip.
When the wine was finished and the crowd dispersed, Murong Yan pulled her directly into his main tent. Zuo Canglang said, "Your Majesty, I have no title or status, and we are in the middle of the army..."
"What of it?" Murong Yan asked.
Zuo Canglang fell silent. He reached out to unfasten her clothes, saying, "You were unhappy when I was going to send you to the enemy camp, and you are unhappy now that I've kept you here and sent someone else. What exactly do you want?"
"I didn't..." Before she could finish, Murong Yan pinned her down on the couch. He pressed down on her from behind and whispered in her ear, "Did Jian Yang touch you when you were in West Jing?"
Zuo Canglang froze. The sound of tearing silk rang out. He said, "Reliving old dreams... what old dreams were you reliving?"
Zuo Canglang remained silent. Murong Yan asked, "You insisted on entering the camp to secure a future for Wen Yixuan, certain that Jian Yang wouldn't do anything to you, isn't that right?!"
Zuo Canglang finally spoke, "Does Your Majesty want me to prove my innocence?"
Murong Yan pinned her down ruthlessly. "Innocence? What innocence do you have?" He took her with forceful, punishing strokes, saying, "I have always wondered—Jian Yang is such a brutal man, yet you were in his hands for so long and managed to keep your pregnancy! You still dare mention innocence to me!"
Zuo Canglang said, "I finally understand where Your Majesty’s rage comes from today." He was this kind of man; once suspicion arose, he would heartlessly rub salt into another's wounds just to vent his own frustration, heedless of whether the person beside him was in agony or drowning in tears.
"You understand? What do you understand?! You understand nothing!" Murong Yan flipped her over and sealed her lips, ignoring her struggles as he kissed her desperately. After a long while, he finally said, "You still wanted to enter the Jing camp! Is Jian Yang better than me in bed?"
Zuo Canglang took a deep breath. "Murong Yan, you’ve gone mad."
Murong Yan gripped her shoulder blade with his right hand. "I am mad. Didn't you know I went mad long ago? Hmm?" His voice dropped low, but his hand slowly applied pressure. Zuo Canglang felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. She tried to push him away, but Murong Yan leaned down to kiss her, his right hand exerting even more force. The sound of bone snapping was terrifying. She let out a pained groan, but the sound was swallowed by his lips and teeth.
Zuo Canglang cried out in agony. Murong Yan held her right shoulder, making love to her with all his might, yet his gaze slowly softened. He whispered in her ear, "It’s alright, it’s alright. Ah-Zuo, I like you like this."
*I am afraid. I am afraid you will pluck off my scales one by one. That when I have cast everything aside and am soft and vulnerable, you will reveal your butcher’s knife to me.*
*So, let me remove your claws. At least when you stay safely by my side, I will protect you under my wings.*
He wiped the dense beads of sweat from her forehead, using his own body heat to stop her trembling. He said softly, "From now on, go nowhere. Alright?"
*From now on, you are permitted to go nowhere.* He spoke with something close to a sigh. "Where I am, you shall be. If I die, you shall follow me."
***
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