At Fachang Temple, Wang Nan walked ahead while Weiwei followed behind him. The sky was dim; a martial artist like Wang Nan walked as if on level ground, but Weiwei struggled, her steps uneven and labored. Seeing this, Wang Nan simply turned around and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
Weiwei let out a sharp cry. "What are you doing?"
Wang Nan replied, "I don't mean to be rude, but at your pace, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival today—we wouldn’t reach Fachang Temple until New Year’s."
Weiwei was exasperated. "Nonsense! I came up here with the General before!"
Wang Nan laughed. "The General was fine back then, but if she were here today, she’d also be spending New Year’s at the temple. Why else do you think she didn't come herself?" He then asked curiously, "What exactly is this thing? Why did she have you come with me in the middle of the night to get it?"
Being carried made Weiwei dizzy and nauseous. "How should I know? Put me down!"
Wang Nan chuckled but instead shifted her position. The girl was truly light; holding her was like holding a doll. He carried Weiwei and strode up the mountain. Weiwei struggled for a long time but couldn't budge him an inch, her hands only meeting his cool light armor.
He asked, "You really don't know? The General sent you to get something without telling you what it was?"
Weiwei snapped, "The General sent me precisely because she *doesn't* know what it is!"
Wang Nan burst into laughter. "Fair point."
The two talked as they ascended. Wang Nan’s hand rested against her, his warmth slowly seeping through her clothes. Weiwei felt a bit uneasy and said, "Put me down!"
Wang Nan replied, "Let's just get up the mountain like this. The path is dark and slippery; don't go twisting your ankle."
Weiwei pursed her lips and fell silent. The stone steps of Fachang Temple were covered in moss; the mountain was steep and the path slick, making it indeed difficult for her to walk. Once they reached the top, Wang Nan set her down and lit a torch. "Start looking."
By then, Fachang Temple had long fallen into ruin. Charred remains of corpses could still be seen scattered on the ground. As the wind blew, wild grass swayed like dancing shadows. Weiwei’s legs trembled. Wang Nan glanced at her pale face, handed her the torch, and walked in front.
Suddenly, a dark shape darted past. Weiwei shrieked and leaped onto Wang Nan. He caught her quickly, took another look, and said, "It’s just a rat. Don't be afraid."
Weiwei clung tightly to his waist. "Is... is it really just a rat?"
Wang Nan said, "If you're scared, wait for me here. I'll get the thing and bring it back to you."
Weiwei thought for a moment and said, "I’d better go with you. What if you try to hide something for yourself?"
"Do you have to be so honest..." Wang Nan sighed. He looked down at her hands and said, "Can you let go of me first?"
Weiwei’s face flushed bright red, and she quickly withdrew her hands. As Wang Nan walked ahead, Weiwei followed, her eyes inadvertently drifting to his figure. This young commander’s waist and back were remarkably firm and upright.
*Why am I noticing his waist?!* Weiwei’s face burned, yet she couldn't help stealing another glance. Since she was behind him, it wasn't like he had eyes in the back of his head. But after a few looks, why was her heart racing?
*Am I... am I in heat?!* Weiwei was horrified by the thought.
Wang Nan used his blade to clear away thick cobwebs and climbing vines, poking at the surrounding weeds to ensure no snakes or rats jumped out. Weiwei followed, holding the torch high to light his way. Before long, they finally reached the Great Hall.
The Buddha statues in the hall were all mottled and peeling. Wang Nan looked around, feeling a sense of sorrow. Standing in the center, he said to Weiwei, "Go ahead and take it."
Weiwei stood still. Wang Nan thought she was afraid and was about to go himself when she cried, "Wait!"
Wang Nan turned to her. She bit her lip and said, "I'll get it myself." Wang Nan shrugged. After a long pause, Weiwei still hadn't moved. He asked, "What now?"
Weiwei stood there for a while before asking, "First, tell me... which one is the Manjusri Bodhisattva?"
Wang Nan: "..."
So that was it. She had been standing there because she couldn't recognize the statues.
Suppressing a laugh, Wang Nan pointed to an altar. Weiwei finally walked over, picked up the Bodhisattva statue, and felt around it, but found nothing unusual. She looked suspicious. "Could someone have already taken it?"
Wang Nan stepped forward, took the statue from her, and shook it. There was a faint sound from within. He pulled Weiwei behind him and slammed the statue onto the ground. Stone fragments flew everywhere. Weiwei gasped as two letters were revealed amidst the shattered remains.
Wang Nan bent down to pick them up. "This must be what the General is looking for." However, as soon as he saw the handwriting, he froze. "This..."
Weiwei asked, "What is it?"
Wang Nan’s breathing grew ragged. "This is..." He compared the handwriting on the other letter; the strokes were bold and vigorous, like dragons and snakes. He gasped, "This is Commander Wen’s handwriting!!"
Just as he spoke, a voice came from the side: "What did you say?"
Both Wang Nan and Weiwei were startled. Looking toward the source of the voice, they saw Yuan Xi and Zhuge Jin emerging from the shadows. Wang Nan breathed a sigh of relief. "General Yuan, General Zhuge, what are you doing here?"
Yuan Xi said, "I saw you sneaking around with the General’s maid and heading up this desolate mountain. I thought you were trying to elope with her, so I followed to take a look."
Weiwei’s face burned like fire again. "General Yuan!"
Yuan Xi laughed. "I’m just teasing. What did you just say?"
Wang Nan said, "These two letters are in Commander Wen’s handwriting."
Yuan Xi said, "Commander Wen used to correspond with Master Xuezhan often, so it’s not strange for there to be letters here. But... for Master Xuezhan to hide them so carefully inside a Buddha statue is suspicious."
He walked over to take the letters. Wang Nan hesitated, and Weiwei spoke up, "The General sent us to find these. They should be taken back to the palace and given to her."
Yuan Xi said, "Since they are Commander Wen’s personal letters, we should be allowed to see them as well."
Weiwei looked at Wang Nan, who was also unsure. For one, Yuan Xi held a higher rank; for another, they had always belonged to the same faction. Seeing his hesitation, Yuan Xi said, "This one is already unsealed; it must be the one written to Master Xuezhan. Can't we just take a look?"
Wang Nan couldn't easily refuse, so he handed the letter over. Yuan Xi took it and pulled out the paper. Gradually, his gaze froze. Wang Nan watched his expression closely and asked, "General Yuan? What is it?"
Yuan Xi didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Zhuge Jin. "Look at this. Is this the Commander’s handwriting?!"
Zhuge Jin took the paper and scrutinized the script. After a long time, he said, "There is no doubt. And looking at the ink, it isn't recent." The two men looked at each other, their eyes filled with horror.
Weiwei was frightened. "Generals, what did Commander Wen say?"
Yuan Xi slowly folded the paper back into the envelope. "I finally know why Murong Yan has remained so wary of us and suppressed us in every way even after Commander Wen’s death."
Wang Nan’s expression shifted. Even the usually mild-mannered Zhuge Jin gritted his teeth. "He forced the Commander to his death... He actually forced Commander Wen to die!"
Weiwei grew anxious. "What are you talking about?"
Yuan Xi said, "We were all wrong. This man has long been insane."
With that, he did not return the letters to Wang Nan but turned and left Fachang Temple. Weiwei tried to chase after him, but Wang Nan reached out to stop her, shaking his head.
***
Late into the night, Zuo Canglang was waiting for news when Weiwei rushed back. Seeing her panicked expression, Zuo Canglang’s brow furrowed. "Did something go wrong?"
Weiwei said, "General, inside the Manjusri statue were personal letters from Commander Wen." Zuo Canglang’s heart skipped a beat. "You couldn't bring them back?"
Weiwei said urgently, "General Wang Nan and I got the letters, but they were taken by General Yuan Xi and General Zhuge Jin!"
Zuo Canglang slowly sat down at her desk. Seeing her reaction, Weiwei was stunned. "General, why don't you seem surprised at all?"
Zuo Canglang’s right hand gently stroked a lion-headed paperweight on the desk. "Commander Wen left letters for Master Xuezhan, and the Master hid them so secretly. This means they contained something that must not be known. If it were anything else, Yuan Xi and the others would have let you bring word to consult with me rather than taking them directly. Is the content of the letters... the cause of Commander Wen’s death?"
Weiwei was shocked. "General, you... I haven't said anything yet, and you’ve already guessed? But I don't know how the Commander died either. General Yuan didn't say..."
Zuo Canglang said, "Commander Wen’s death only benefited one person. If it truly concerns the cause of his death, it can only be related to that one person. And precisely because it involves him, Yuan Xi and the others would not consult with me."
Weiwei finally understood. "You mean... His Majesty?"
Zuo Canglang’s grip tightened on the lion-headed paperweight. She leaned forward slightly, as if enduring great pain. Weiwei said, "General, please don't be like this. Maybe the letters are fake. After all, Commander Wen has been dead for so long, and he died at the hands of Ren Xuan of Xijing!"
Zuo Canglang seemed to be suppressing her agony. After a long silence, she said, "They won't be fake."
He was that kind of man; how could it be fake?
No wonder for all these years he had been so resentful toward Wen Qi’s old subordinates and remained wary of Wen Yixuan. He would rather trust Jiang Sanyi’s faction than stop suspecting Yuan Xi and the others. It wasn't that he didn't understand who was loyal and who was treacherous; he simply understood all too well what the consequences would be once the truth came to light.
"Have they returned?" Her voice was slightly hoarse in the night.
Weiwei quickly replied, "They have. I saw General Yuan leaving in a great hurry."
Zuo Canglang said, "Tomorrow, I must go to Mayi City."
Weiwei was startled. "General, what are you going to Mayi City for?"
Zuo Canglang said, "Yuan Xi cannot keep his composure. If he knows the truth, he will surely reveal it to the soldiers under his command. Once this spreads, it will inevitably give Jiang Sanyi an opportunity to strike. The consequences would be unthinkable."
Weiwei said, "But for you to leave the palace, and to go as far as Mayi City... what about His Majesty?"
Zuo Canglang said, "This matter is of grave importance; say no more. Prepare yourself. I am going to the Wen residence."
***
At the Wen residence, the night was deep. Wen Xingye and his wife had already retired, leaving only the daughter-in-law, Yu Qiushu, still reviewing the accounts for their lands and estates. When Zuo Canglang entered, bringing with her the chill of the night dew, Yu Qiushu was quite surprised. "It is so late and the dew is heavy; why has the General come?"
Zuo Canglang said, "Something has happened. I need the Old General to accompany me to Mayi City."
Yu Qiushu’s expression changed. "But my father-in-law has difficulty walking..."
Zuo Canglang raised a hand to stop her. "I know. I need to speak with him alone."
Wen Xingye was woken up. Knowing Zuo Canglang must have urgent business, he dismissed the others with a wave of his hand. "What is this hurried visit about?"
Zuo Canglang looked at him for a long time before pulling up her robes and kneeling before him. Wen Xingye was taken aback and sighed softly. "Though my son Qi’er had no such fortune, in my eyes, you have long been like a daughter. What is it that cannot be said plainly?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I wish to ask you to accompany me to Mayi City to prevent a bloody conflict."
Wen Xingye was stunned. "Xijing no longer invades our Yan lands, and Guzhu and Wuzhong have both surrendered. From where would a conflict arise? Besides, if there truly were a war, what could an old man with one foot in the grave like me do?"
Zuo Canglang looked up and said slowly, "Before Commander Wen passed away, he left two personal letters for Master Xuezhan. The Master hid them within a Buddha statue, saying that if I ever felt regret, I should go and retrieve them." Wen Xingye’s gaze grew solemn, his hands tightening on the armrests of his chair. Zuo Canglang continued, "Those letters have now been taken by Yuan Xi."
Wen Xingye said, "Though Yuan Xi is older than you, he has always respected you. For you to use the word 'taken'... could it be..." At this point, he seemed to realize something, his gaze becoming as sharp as a blade.
Zuo Canglang did not flinch. "They must contain accusations very damaging to His Majesty. And... serious enough to shake the morale of the army."
Wen Xingye said, "Are you saying that based on two letters from Qi’er, Yuan Xi and the others would raise an army in rebellion?"
Zuo Canglang remained silent. Wen Xingye asked, "What exactly did Qi’er write? No... that’s not right. If he were writing his final words, why wouldn't he send them to us instead of Master Xuezhan?"
Zuo Canglang looked up. Though this old general had long been retired, his mind was as sharp as ever. Wen Xingye’s voice trembled. "Qi’er’s death... there was another reason, wasn't there?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I believe so."
Wen Xingye suddenly stood up and grabbed her hand. "It was his doing?!"
No one spoke. Wen Xingye flung her hand away. "Murong Yan! Why? My Wen family has served the Murong clan for generations..."
Zuo Canglang said, "Because with Commander Wen’s character, he would rather die than switch his allegiance to Murong Yan."
Tears shimmered in Wen Xingye’s eyes. "Qi’er was not wrong. A ruler like Murong Yan, hypocritically kind on the surface while his heart has long been hollowed out by power... how could such a ruler deserve the loyalty of my Wen clan?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I know you have many grievances against him, but you must go to Mayi City. If Yuan Xi makes Commander Wen’s letters public, the soldiers loyal to the Wen family will surely rebel. At that time..."
Wen Xingye slowly sat back down and suddenly said, "Go."
Zuo Canglang: "Old General!"
Wen Xingye said, "I will not go. He killed my son. My family has died on the battlefield for generations—has enough blood not been spilled for the Murong clan? And yet, he wouldn't even spare my last son. Do you think I will do anything more for his empire?"
Zuo Canglang said, "Great Yan is not *his* empire. It belongs to the entire land of Yan, to its millions of people."
Wen Xingye said, "I know you will speak for him, but I don't want to hear it. I am tired."
He rose to leave, but Zuo Canglang pressed down on his cane. Wen Xingye said, "Are you going to use force against me?"
Zuo Canglang released her grip. "Old General, Commander Wen is dead, but in Mayi City, in Mount Xiaoquan, and in the west of Great Yan, there are still tens of thousands of people who miss him! Every one of those people has parents and loved ones! You know Yuan Xi’s temperament; once he makes this public, those soldiers loyal to the Wen family will have no way back. They will have no choice but to take up their spears and fight! Are all of their lives combined worth less than the personal vengeance for Commander Wen?"
Wen Xingye remained silent. Zuo Canglang continued, "Right now, Jiang Sanyi is in court, desperate to find even a shred of evidence to seize military power. Imagine if he learns of this, and Yuan Xi and the others make a move—Murong Yan will have no choice but to strike back. Yuan Xi’s faction and Zhou Xin’s faction will inevitably clash. Think about it: Guzhu and Wuzhong have only just submitted; the people’s hearts are not yet stable. Daxi Cheng is still in the former lands of the Yu Kingdom—would they be content to remain subjects forever? As soon as Zhou Xin and Yuan Xi go to war, Great Yan will fall apart and plunge back into chaos! At that time, would Xijing not come to take its share?"
Wen Xingye’s breathing grew heavy. Zuo Canglang said, "You claim you won't do anything more for Murong Yan. But is this the outcome Commander Wen would have wanted? If it were, those letters would have been here at the Wen residence, in your hands, today! Not hidden inside a statue at Fachang Temple!"
Wen Xingye seemed to have all his strength drained from him. He closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his chest. Zuo Canglang said, "Old General, you are also a man of war. But when we don our armor and shed our blood on the battlefield, is it truly only for the sake of the monarch on the throne?"
Zuo Canglang said, "'The people are of supreme importance; the state comes next; the ruler is the least important.' These are the words Commander Wen once said to me in camp. Surely, you were the one who taught him that?"
After a long silence, Wen Xingye finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Zuo Canglang said, "Come with me to Mayi City. As long as you can testify that Wen Qi’s letters were forged by someone else, this matter can be cleared up."
Wen Xingye’s voice was dry. "It’s no use. You have led troops for years; once a mutiny begins, the crowd will be incensed. And you... in their eyes, you are already Murong Yan’s person. If you lead troops there, it will immediately become a confrontation. If you go alone, you won't even be able to enter the camp. How will you explain?"
Zuo Canglang said, "That is why I need your help."
Wen Xingye met her gaze. After a long time, he said, "If I enter the camp, they won't harm me no matter what. But you..."
Zuo Canglang said, "My life compared to the lives of thousands is, in the end, a matter as light as a feather. It is worth the risk."
Wen Xingye was silent. Finally, he leaned on his cane and stood up. "Let’s go. If we set out now, it will likely be dawn by the time we reach the city gates."
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 鸿毛 | Light as a feather | Lit. "Goose feather." From the idiom "Heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a goose feather," referring to the significance of one's death or sacrifice. |
| 法常寺 | Fachang Temple | The ruined temple where the letters were hidden. |
| 文殊菩萨 | Manjusri Bodhisattva | The specific Buddha statue used as a hiding place. |
| 笔走龙蛇 | Vigorous and flowing strokes | Lit. "Brushes flying like dragons and snakes," describing masterful, bold calligraphy. |
| 温行野 | Wen Xingye | Wen Qi's father, a retired old general. |
| 余秋淑 | Yu Qiushu | Wen Xingye's daughter-in-law. |
| 马邑城 | Mayi City | A strategic military location where the Wen family's loyal troops are stationed. |
| 民为贵，社稷次之，君为轻 | The people are of supreme importance; the state comes next; the ruler is the least important | A famous quote from Mencius (Mengzi) regarding the hierarchy of political importance. |
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The Abandoned Empress General | Chapter 116 | Light as a Feather | Novela.app | Novela.app
