While watching a desert transform into a small oasis was a fulfilling endeavor, it was an incredibly slow process. The days repeated themselves in an endless cycle, lacking the grand battles and glorious conquests a child might imagine. Murong Xuan lay on the grass where the first tender shoots had just emerged, his hands pillowed behind his head just like Zuo Canglang’s. Gazing up at the blue sky, he said, "I thought you brought me and Mother here to fight a war. I didn't expect we’d be planting trees, herding sheep, and raising fish."
His body had begun to stretch out; lying on the grass, he appeared lean and lanky. Zuo Canglang asked, "Is it boring?"
Murong Xuan thought for a moment and said, "A little. But sometimes it’s actually quite interesting."
"Then you’re better than I was," Zuo Canglang remarked. When Murong Xuan looked at her in confusion, she continued, "Back when I was planting trees and feeding pigs, I never felt that way for a single moment."
Murong Xuan’s interest was piqued. "You used to plant trees and raise pigs?"
"Mhm. Back then, with Marshal Wen, Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, and the others..." She began to speak excitedly of the past, only to suddenly realize that those scenes, which felt like they happened only yesterday, were already more than a decade old.
She fell into a pensive silence. Beside her, Murong Xuan said, "This place should have a name." It had been a desolate wasteland before, nameless. Zuo Canglang replied, "Since His Majesty granted this land to Your Highness as a fief, the name should naturally be chosen by you!"
Murong Xuan took on a solemn expression, but after thinking for a long time, he said ruefully, "Can't you help me think of something?"
Zuo Canglang suggested, "Xiaoquan Mountain is flanked by An'an County and Yangcheng. If Your Highness doesn't mind, why not simply call this place Anyang Oasis?"
"Anyang Oasis? That works," Murong Xuan said. He jumped up and declared, "From now on, I am the Prince of Anyang!"
Zuo Canglang couldn't stop laughing. However, when Murong Xuan returned to the post house, he actually ordered a letter to be sent to Murong Yan, requesting to be made the Prince of Anyang. About a month later, Murong Yan sent back an imperial decree, surprisingly granting the request. Not only did he enfeoff him as the Prince of Anyang, but he also granted his mother, Zhitong, the rank of Consort.
Zuo Canglang smiled and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness. The borderlands are harsh; does Your Highness have any thoughts of returning to the palace?"
Zhitong replied, "What is the General saying? Since His Majesty has granted Anyang to the Prince, I am naturally willing to stay here to accompany the General and my son."
Zuo Canglang took her hand and said, "Stop calling yourself a servant, Zhitong. Although this place is slightly better than the border cities, it is ultimately a tiny speck of land, not a home where one should linger forever."
Zhitong finally looked at her steadily. "The General means..."
Zuo Canglang patted her shoulder. Zhitong said anxiously, "But His Majesty has a legitimate eldest son from the Empress. Although he is kind to Xuan'er, that is entirely..." It was entirely for Zuo Canglang's sake, but she didn't dare say it aloud.
Zuo Canglang said, "You need not worry about such things."
Zhitong hesitated again and again before finally saying, "But General, I am short-sighted; I feel that staying here is a matter of peace and tranquility. Why must we return to the palace to face those life-and-death dangers?"
Zuo Canglang replied, "Because when you are caught in a reverse tide, you have no choice."
Zhitong fell silent.
That night, after Murong Xuan had finished eating, Zuo Canglang said, "Come, I'm taking the Prince of Anyang somewhere."
Murong Xuan was excited. "Where to?"
Zuo Canglang led him out and had a farmer drive a carriage all the way to Xiaoquan Mountain. The moonlight was like frost as the two of them ascended the mountain, climbing for an hour before reaching the mountainside. Murong Xuan’s health had become excellent over the years; he was even able to support her as they climbed.
Ahead stood a stone hut. Murong Xuan asked curiously, "Are we here to find someone? Who lives here?"
Zuo Canglang said, "This man’s surname is Zheng, and his given name is Chu. He was once one of Great Yan’s famous generals."
Murong Xuan’s eyes lit up. "I know him! After General Yuan was defeated at the Battle of Yuhu Pass, he requested to retire and return to his hometown. Eh? Why is he here?"
Zuo Canglang said, "Because this place is far from the capital and quiet."
Murong Xuan said, "I heard people say that the reason he retired was because he was dissatisfied with Imperial Father."
Zuo Canglang turned to look at him with unusual gravity. "Yes."
Murong Xuan hadn't expected her to be so direct. He asked, "Then aren't we afraid of being discovered by him?"
Zuo Canglang knelt before him. He stared into her eyes and suddenly understood. "A-Zuo, do you want me to win him over?"
Zuo Canglang said, "You could put it that way, but if you treat someone with sincerity, it shouldn't be called 'winning them over.' I hope you can take him as your master and learn martial arts from him. Furthermore, although Anyang is small, it will eventually need a guard; he can help you train your troops."
Murong Xuan asked, "But if he is dissatisfied with Imperial Father, why would he help me?"
Zuo Canglang replied, "That depends entirely on you. Your Highness, three parts are determined by fate, but seven parts are made by man. The key is not why he should help you, but what you possess that would make such men entrust their lives to you. I cannot accompany you inside; there are many paths ahead that you must walk alone. But I can tell you, this is very important for you."
Murong Xuan glanced at the stone hut, suddenly feeling as if there were some monster inside. He was, after all, still young; with Zuo Canglang usually planning everything for him, he inevitably relied on her. Zuo Canglang looked into his eyes and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"
He asked, "He won't kill me, will he?"
Zuo Canglang said, "No. A general’s blade does not strike the elderly or the young."
Murong Xuan took a deep breath and said, "I'm going. Don't lie to me."
"Mhm," Zuo Canglang promised. He took a few steps, then suddenly turned back. "If I really do get killed by him, when you and Mother leave, no matter where you go, you must take me with you."
Zuo Canglang laughed. "I will."
He finally walked toward the stone hut. His steps were hesitant at first, but after a few paces, he steadied himself.
Zheng Chu had been asleep, but as soon as the knocking sounded, he woke up—the alertness from years in the military was something he could never change, even now. He asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"
Murong Xuan said, "Is this General Zheng Chu? Please open the door."
Hearing this, Zheng Chu was startled. He instinctively gripped an axe in his hand as he walked to the door. "Who are you?"
Murong Xuan stood at the entrance. Zheng Chu pulled the door open and saw a half-grown child standing outside, making him hesitate. "Who are you?"
Murong Xuan gave him a solemn bow and said, "I am the third prince of the current Emperor, Murong Xuan. I have come specifically to visit the General."
Zheng Chu was momentarily stunned, but then an immediate look of disgust crossed his face. These princes, at such a young age, had already learned how to curry favor. In the end, wasn't it all for that one throne? He said, "Does Your Highness have some business, visiting in the middle of the night?"
Murong Xuan saw his expression and knew he had already made a bad impression. Though his princely pride was a bit wounded, he remained patient and said, "General, I have heard that your martial arts are superb. I wish to take you as my master. Please, General, do not refuse."
As he prepared to kneel, Zheng Chu reached out to stop him, saying coldly, "Your Highness overstates the matter. My crude skills are not fit for refined halls. Your Highness should seek a more brilliant teacher elsewhere."
With that, he slammed the door shut with a bang.
Murong Xuan, having been rebuffed so thoroughly, returned to Zuo Canglang’s side in low spirits. Zuo Canglang suppressed a smile and asked, "What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?"
He lifted his face, speaking as if defying someone, "Not at all! I thought he was going to kill me, but he’s just a bit grumpy. It’s much better than I imagined."
Zuo Canglang chuckled. "But he seems to have rejected Your Highness."
Murong Xuan said, "Who’s afraid of him! If he doesn't agree today, I'll come back every day to annoy him. Then I'll have people watch him so he can't run away. He’ll definitely agree eventually!"
"Let's hope so," Zuo Canglang said.
Murong Xuan remained somewhat sullen even after returning to the post house. Zhitong noticed and asked, "What happened to Your Highness?"
Murong Xuan said crossly, "It’s that Zheng Chu! I wanted to take him as my master, but he actually refused. He even slammed the door in my face!" Zhitong laughed as she washed his face, saying, "I heard that Zheng Chu and the General were comrades-in-arms for many years; they must have a deep friendship. Why don't you ask the General to help..."
Murong Xuan interrupted, "I won't! If I rely on A-Zuo to make him take me as a disciple, what kind of hero would I be?"
Zhitong said, "Fine, fine. It was Mother who looked down on my son."
Sure enough, starting the next day, Murong Xuan woke up early every morning and ran straight to Xiaoquan Mountain to visit Zheng Chu. Zheng Chu detested him, but the boy didn't care. Sometimes he would sycophantically bring game he had hunted himself; other times he would help fetch water.
Occasionally, Zheng Chu would ignore him and go up the mountain to hunt. Murong Xuan would get annoyed and follow sneakily behind him; whenever they encountered prey, he would shout loudly to scare it away, making Zheng Chu fume with rage.
At first, Zuo Canglang followed him to Xiaoquan Mountain, but gradually she stopped going.
One day, Murong Xuan followed Zheng Chu into the mountains again. After walking for a long time, he grew tired and said, "I'm exhausted. Can you carry me for a bit?"
Zheng Chu ignored him and kept walking. Murong Xuan said, "I really can't walk anymore. I'll wait for you here, then."
Zheng Chu acted as if he hadn't heard, but the boy actually climbed a tree and fell asleep. When Zheng Chu returned, for some reason, he subconsciously glanced at the tree. Seeing the monkey-like Third Prince still asleep, he wanted to leave, but after a moment’s thought, as if possessed, he pulled the boy down. Carrying his prey in one hand and the boy over one shoulder, he headed down the mountain.
Murong Xuan’s eyes peeked open a tiny crack to look at him before quickly snapping shut again. Zheng Chu saw through these little tricks.
Children really were the most wicked things; he supposed Master Xuezhan must have stepped into a trap just like this back then. His heart sank, and he unceremoniously dumped Murong Xuan on the ground before walking away. Murong Xuan jumped up and cursed in a rage, but after he finished, he quickly chased after him, hugging the man's leg with a fawning smile, calling him "Master" over and over again.
***
