Two days later, news arrived from the palace that Keqing was pregnant. When the word reached her, Zuo Canglang said, "Weiwei, speaking of which, you aren't young anymore. Keqing is even a bit younger than you, yet she is already becoming a mother."
Weiwei blushed. "General, why are you suddenly bringing this up?"
Zuo Canglang replied, "Though I have been away from the court for a long time, I imagine I can still act as a matchmaker. Is there any fine young man who has caught our Weiwei’s eye?"
Weiwei flicked her sleeve. "I’m not listening to you anymore!"
Zuo Canglang laughed. "If you won't say, I’ll have to choose for myself. What about Xu Lang?"
Weiwei grew anxious. "You’re the one who shouldn't marry him!"
Observing her expression, Zuo Canglang asked, "Then who else? Wang Nan?"
Weiwei’s face turned crimson instantly. "General!"
Zuo Canglang said, "This matter is best settled sooner rather than later. Since they are all in Jinyang now, it’s better to finalize it early. You’ve met them all, and I know their character. If you marry out from my palace, they wouldn't dare mistreat you, no matter what."
Only then did Weiwei realize she was serious. She was stunned. "General? I wanted to stay with you for a few more years. Besides, if I leave, who will look after you?"
"I’m not missing any limbs," Zuo Canglang said. "Besides, once you leave, someone else will come in. Don't worry."
Weiwei wanted to say more, but Zuo Canglang cut her off. "Alright, I’ll speak with Wang Nan tomorrow."
Since she proposed it personally, Wang Nan naturally had no objections. He had met Weiwei; the girl was pretty, and though her temperament was a bit impulsive, she was innocent and lovely. Thus, he agreed. The next day, he petitioned Murong Yan for Weiwei’s hand.
She was merely a palace maid, so Murong Yan naturally had no objections, and the matter was settled.
On the day Weiwei and Wang Nan were married, Zuo Canglang personally escorted her to the palace gates. Dressed in festive red, Weiwei leaned on her, gripping her hand tightly the entire way, appearing very nervous. Zuo Canglang patted her hand and said, "The Emperor has use for Wang Nan. Titles of honor and the like will surely come in the future; I won't fight for those on your behalf. Once you are out of the palace, it won't be like when you were by my side. Think carefully before you act."
Weiwei gripped her hand tightly and suddenly asked, "General, why did you suddenly marry me off in such a hurry? Did I do something wrong?"
Zuo Canglang shook her head. "What nonsense are you talking? A girl should marry when she comes of age."
Weiwei’s tears fell, splashing onto the back of Zuo Canglang’s hand. Before long, the wedding procession arrived. Wang Nan, dressed in vermilion official robes, sat high atop his horse, looking spirited and proud. Zuo Canglang placed Weiwei’s hand into his. Their eyes met, and she said, "I am entrusting her to you now. Treat her well."
Wang Nan nodded. He suddenly recalled the first time he had seen her in the army years ago. The girl had been wearing wolf-skin hunting attire, a bow and arrows on her back, and black finger tabs on her hands. Yet, most people in this world could never truly grasp the stars or the moon.
He took Weiwei’s hand and said, "Rest assured, General. I will."
Zuo Canglang raised her hand and patted his shoulder.
The marriage of a palace maid was, in the end, a minor affair. Furthermore, following the great defeat at Yuhou Pass where over forty thousand soldiers perished, it was not appropriate to hold grand celebrations. Thus, aside from the people of Nanqing Palace, no one else came to see her off. However, the dowry was generous; in addition to Zuo Canglang’s portion, Murong Yan had also ordered Wang Yunzhao to add a significant amount.
After all, a young general like Wang Nan would be a pillar of the military in the future. Murong Yan had always been generous toward those he found useful.
Keqing stood far off at a fork in the road, not approaching. Beside her, a maid whispered, "Liangren Keqing, you are pregnant. Standing for too long is not good for you. It is better to return."
Keqing gave a soft "mm" in response. She watched as Wang Nan helped Weiwei, clad in her wedding dress, into the bridal sedan. If... if it were Weiwei who was pregnant, that young and heroic commander would likely be full of joy and provide every possible care, wouldn't he? She looked up at the magnificent yet desolate palace buildings.
Everyone has their own path. One might wish to regret, but there is no way to turn back.
This day happened to be Murong Yan’s birthday. Perhaps because of Empress Dowager Rong, he rarely celebrated with much fanfare. But this year was different from previous ones; Great Yan had never experienced such a crushing defeat as the battle at Yuhou Pass.
Therefore, this birthday had to be celebrated with great bustle to reassure the people.
Preparations in the palace had begun early, with an opera stage built and a troupe hired. Zuo Canglang brought Murong Xuan along. Murong Dui and Murong Ze were playing together, and Murong Xuan joined them. The three children hadn't been playing for long before Murong Ze pushed Murong Xuan to the ground.
Murong Xuan was no pushover; he stood up and began to fight Murong Ze. Murong Ze was older and soon pinned him down again, but his face had been scratched several times, and his arm had been bitten. Wiping his face, Murong Ze saw the traces of blood on his fingers and couldn't help but step forward to kick him.
Murong Xuan scrambled up and scratched another mark across his nose. The wet nurses hurriedly stepped forward to pull the two princes apart. Someone said, "First Prince, you mustn't hit him! He is your younger brother!"
Murong Ze glared at them and pointed at Murong Dui. "This is my younger brother. He is just a child born of a lowly palace maid; what kind of brother is he?"
Murong Xuan ignored him and ran to Zuo Canglang. Seeing his disheveled clothes, Zuo Canglang frowned slightly. He quickly lowered his head to tidy himself and leaned against her knees. Zuo Canglang raised her hand, gently wiped his slightly swollen lip, and asked, "Did they hit you?"
Murong Xuan pursed his lips and said nothing. Zuo Canglang smiled. "You are a prince; you can't just go around fighting people, right?" Murong Xuan sniffled and pointed at the pastries on the table. "I want to eat this."
He was unwilling to speak of what had just happened.
As Zuo Canglang picked up a pastry for him, she heard Jiang Biyao scolding the wet nurses on the other side, likely having seen the injuries on Murong Ze’s face. After hearing Jiang Biyao’s tearful complaints, Murong Yan merely said dismissively, "It’s just children fighting. What is there to cry about? Just have the wet nurses pay more attention in the future."
Having said that, he glanced at Zuo Canglang and Murong Xuan, who was eating pastries beside her. Some people, it seemed, were simply born to be at odds.
The opera troupe began their performance. Zuo Canglang did not enjoy watching operas; she disliked anything that required sitting still and watching quietly. Not long after the performance started, Wang Yunzhao came over and said, "General, His Majesty says that if you do not enjoy this, you may take the Third Prince back."
Zuo Canglang was slightly startled. On such an occasion, no one would dare to arrive late or leave early. She turned to look at Murong Yan, and his gaze happened to fall upon her as well. Their eyes met, then both slowly looked away.
Beside Murong Yan, Ban Yang asked, "Your Majesty, may I truly choose the next play?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Zuo Canglang followed her gaze and saw the person at the other end of it. However, Murong Yan seemed to snap back to attention and asked, "What?"
Ban Yang tilted her face up, revealing a sweet smile. "Ban Yang was asking if I could choose the 'Gongmo Scarf Dance' for the next act?"
Murong Yan said gently, "Of course."
Ban Yang said no more. His favor was indeed so gentle as to be completely yielding, making it easy for a woman to lose herself. But in truth, he gave endlessly not because of how much he cared for or loved a woman, but because he didn't care about those things at all.
The person he truly cared for... perhaps he could give them nothing at all.
Tenderness is a river floating on the surface; those who drown too deep will touch the cold, sharp stones beneath the current.
Zuo Canglang indeed did not wish to stay long, but Murong Xuan was having a lot of fun, so she sat for a while longer. Murong Xuan was at an active age and rarely had the chance to leave his palace for a stroll; the world outside was full of novelty.
As a prince, he wouldn't have many years to play freely; it was good to let him see a bit more.
Murong Xuan climbed onto her lap and sat in her arms, stuffing a half-eaten pastry into her mouth. Zuo Canglang was helpless. "Can you not feed me your leftovers? Have I ever made you eat my saliva?"
Murong Xuan giggled, then suddenly said after a moment, "It’s sweet. I tasted it."
So he was stuffing the things he had personally tasted and loved into her mouth. Zuo Canglang said, "Fine, fine, I’m full." She gently patted his back. "So young and already so good at flattery. You Murong men are all the damn same—honeyed words and a hidden dagger, hmph."
As Murong Xuan was giggling, Zuo Canglang stuffed a piece of red date cake into his mouth. "After this piece, no more, or you'll get cavities." As she spoke, she suddenly noticed Jiang Sanyi’s eyes dart toward Bi Chengjing. Zuo Canglang’s heart tightened. At that moment, Bi Chengjing was speaking with Daxi Qin, and a maid had just served a bowl of blood bird's nest soup.
There was a flicker in Jiang Sanyi’s gaze. Given his current relationship with Bi Chengjing, such attentiveness was not a good sign. Zuo Canglang thought for a moment and remained uneasy. She walked over to Bi Chengjing’s side and whispered to Daxi Qin, "Watch Jiang Sanyi."
Daxi Qin remained composed. Zuo Canglang said to Bi Chengjing, "Lord Chancellor, the food at today’s banquet is quite sweet and rich; I fear it might upset a child’s stomach. I must be thick-skinned and ask you for a little something else."
Bi Chengjing didn't understand why she had suddenly come over, but he said, "If the Third Prince likes it, it is this old official's honor."
Zuo Canglang had a maid bring a small bowl and took a little bit of everything from his table. Daxi Qin inconspicuously observed Jiang Sanyi until she touched the bowl of blood bird's nest soup. Bi Chengjing also realized something was wrong. "General, is there a problem?"
Daxi Qin walked over and said, "Looking at his expression... I fear this is blood bird's nest soup. That man is truly audacious. Shall we expose him?"
Zuo Canglang said, "If we expose him now, His Majesty will think we are putting on a show together."
Bi Chengjing slowly began to understand. "General, are you saying this soup is poisoned?"
"It is very likely," Zuo Canglang said. "Keep your voice down, Lord Chancellor."
Bi Chengjing understood her meaning. Currently, he was the only one close to Zuo Canglang and her allies. If poison was found in his soup and he hadn't touched it, even if it were brought before Murong Yan, it would only make the Emperor suspect him of intentionally framing Jiang Sanyi.
Zuo Canglang fell into a silent contemplation. Beside her, Daxi Qin took the blood bird's nest soup and said, "If he wants to kill the Chancellor, he surely won't make it look like poisoning. The Chancellor is old and his health is already poor; the choice of drug would be very specific."
He scooped up a spoonful of the soup and slowly put it into his mouth. Zuo Canglang cried out, "Daxi Qin! If it’s a lethal poison..."
Daxi Qin glanced at her and said, "If I can share your worries, I would accept it even if it were lethal." With those words, he returned to his own seat.
Halfway through the opera, Daxi Qin’s heart suddenly began to race. He stood up, then abruptly collapsed to the ground. Someone nearby noticed something was wrong and asked in alarm, "Marquis Daxi?"
Murong Yan looked over and asked, "What happened?"
A palace attendant said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, it seems the Marquis has been poisoned!"
Murong Yan’s thick brows furrowed, and he suddenly stood up. "What?! Summon the imperial physicians!"
Many physicians arrived. Daxi Qin’s hands were already trembling, and he was unable to speak. Zuo Canglang didn't know if he was truly suffering or pretending to worsen his symptoms, but regardless, it was terrifying. If Jiang Sanyi had truly put something in Bi Chengjing’s soup, how could it be an ordinary poison?
After checking the pulse, Cheng Han said thoughtfully, "This... looks like heart paralysis. However, the Marquis has always been strong and has no other illnesses. If one were to say it is poisoning, that is also possible."
Murong Yan said, "Take the Grand Minister of Agriculture down for treatment. Bi Dongting, strictly inspect all food and utensils!"
Bi Dongting complied and immediately began the inspection. Before long, Cheng Han discovered an abnormality in the blood bird's nest soup Daxi Qin had previously consumed, and then checked Bi Chengjing’s food. He was also drenched in sweat. "Your Majesty, there is indeed a toxin in this blood bird's nest soup sufficient to cause heart paralysis. Fortunately, the dosage was very light. The Marquis is strong, so this amount is not enough to kill him, but if the elder Lord Bi had consumed it, the consequences would have been unthinkable!"
Murong Yan’s face was grim as he said slowly, "So, someone intended to poison Lord Bi?"
No one dared to speak. Murong Yan was so angry he laughed. "Interesting." He looked around and said, "Torture and interrogate every palace servant who came into contact with Lord Bi’s food. Until there is a result, no one is permitted to leave."
The Imperial Guards immediately surrounded the palace buildings. All the officials were as silent as cicadas in winter. Zuo Canglang glanced toward the inner chamber; the physicians were busy preparing medicine, and she did not know how Daxi Qin truly fared.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 良人 | Liangren | A rank for imperial concubines. |
| 诰命 | Gaoming | A title of honor/mandate granted to the wives of officials. |
| 血燕 | Blood Bird's Nest | A rare and expensive type of edible bird's nest, often red in color. |
| 大司农 | Grand Minister of Agriculture | An ancient high-ranking government office (Da Sinong). |
| 禁军 | Imperial Guards | The elite troops responsible for protecting the Emperor and the palace. |
| 口蜜腹剑 | Honeyed words and a hidden dagger | An idiom describing someone who is treacherous despite their kind words. |
| 分忧 | Sharing the burden | To help someone with their worries or difficulties. |
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