Wen Qi received the news that very night. However, that same evening, he also received a decree from Murong Yuan ordering him to return to Daji City and resume command of the military. The first thing he did after receiving the order was head to Murong Yan’s manor. Wang Yunzhao was frantic with worry; seeing the General arrive was like seeing a savior. "General Wen! You must save His Highness! That nursery rhyme has absolutely nothing to do with our Prince..."
He had barely started when Wen Qi interrupted, "Where is Zuo Canglang?"
Wang Yunzhao hurried to answer, "In the rear garden. This old servant will lead you there at once."
But as he turned, he saw Zuo Canglang already walking out from the inner manor. Dressed in sturdy traveling clothes and carrying a bundled pack, she looked prepared for a long journey. Wang Yunzhao said, "Miss Zuo, General Wen was just looking for you."
Zuo Canglang nodded and gave Wen Qi a slight bow. "Before His Highness left, he instructed me to follow the General’s arrangements in all things."
Wen Qi said, "You will accompany me back to Daji City first."
"Yes," Zuo Canglang replied. She stepped forward to lead his horse for him. Wen Qi had taken two hundred lashes from his father, Old Master Wen, and his wounds had not yet healed, but he was accustomed to riding.
As Zuo Canglang helped him onto the horse, Wang Yunzhao stood dazed. He asked, "Miss Zuo, if even you leave, then His Highness..."
Zuo Canglang turned back to comfort him. "His Highness is the King’s own flesh and blood; His Majesty will not truly harm him. Rest easy, Steward."
Wang Yunzhao wanted to say more, but she had already flipped onto her horse and galloped away with Wen Qi.
Wen Qi remained deeply curious about this young girl. She appeared no older than sixteen, yet her conduct was remarkably composed. Seeing her following behind him, he asked with a smile, "Are you not worried about your Prince?"
Zuo Canglang bit her lip slightly and said, "I am. But His Majesty and the Second Prince are father and son; he harbors no intent to kill him. Even if there is suspicion, it is merely the result of being deceived by treacherous people. Given a little time to calm down, the Second Prince will no longer be in danger. Therefore, there is no need to worry."
Wen Qi was quite surprised. Hearing such words from a young girl was a novelty. He asked, "Are you not afraid that petty people will continue to sow discord?"
Zuo Canglang shook her head. "His Majesty is not muddled; he actually knows who the petty people are. Currently, among all the civil and military officials in court, there is only one person who could truly drive His Highness to his death..." She looked up, glancing at Wen Qi. "And that is you, General."
Wen Qi’s heart skipped a beat. Zuo Canglang continued, "If the General were to insist on a death-remonstrance, fighting desperately to prove the Second Prince’s innocence, then His Highness’s chances of survival would truly be slim."
The long night had not yet ended, and the streets of Jinyang were empty of pedestrians. On the vast, open road, the rhythmic clicking of hooves against the bluestone pavement rang out clearly. Wen Qi suddenly said, "The wind is rising." Zuo Canglang looked around, but there was no wind. She looked at Wen Qi, who said, "You are right; the Second Prince is surely blessed by heaven. In truth, you do not need to follow me to the Northwest."
Zuo Canglang froze. Wen Qi said, "Go back."
With that, he spurred his horse forward. Zuo Canglang hurried to catch up. "General, did I say something wrong?"
Wen Qi replied, "No. You are clever and transparent; you should also know why the Second Prince recommended you to the military." Zuo Canglang fell silent. Wen Qi said, "You are loyal to the Second Prince, but the Yan army can only be the King’s Yan army."
At those words, both fell into silence.
Wen Qi spoke again, "Go back. The Northwest is bitter and cold; it is no place for a phoenix to perch."
He galloped ahead. Zuo Canglang was dazed for only a moment before she quickly gave chase. "General!" Wen Qi did not rein in his horse, his voice already tinged with displeasure. "I have said my piece. Say no more."
Zuo Canglang spurred her horse to block his path. "I am an orphan, born in a village at the foot of the Southern Mountains. During the plague that year, my father died of illness. I watched him die because there was no medicine. My mother loved me dearly, but she wanted to remarry, and it is not easy to find a new husband while burdened with a daughter. As more and more people died in the village, they decided to sacrifice young boys and girls to the gods. I was one of them."
Wen Qi asked, "And? Are you telling me this to gain my sympathy?"
Zuo Canglang said, "No. I am saying this to show that who I am loyal to is not important. I only hope that in the future, Great Yan will have fewer people like me." Wen Qi was stunned. Zuo Canglang continued, "The Yan army is the King’s army, but the State of Yan belongs to the people of Yan."
The sky was beginning to brighten, and the dew dampened their clothes. Wen Qi said, "Keep up."
Zuo Canglang’s eyes lit up with brilliance. She gave a loud cry of "Yes!" and followed him out of Jinyang, heading west.
The two traveled day and night, rushing all the way back to Daji City. As soon as Wen Qi returned to camp, he received a letter from the Left Chancellor, Xue Chengjing: *“To my dear nephew Wen Qi: Northern Yu has long coveted our Yan lands, and the Second Prince’s merit in this campaign is immense. His innocent imprisonment is not a failure of war. I ask you, nephew, to seek an audience with the King and put in a good word for him.”*
Xue Chengjing was a known "good man" who tried to please everyone, but Wen Qi remained unmoved. He sent back a cold reply: *“The Second Prince is His Majesty’s subject, and more importantly, his own flesh and blood. A father disciplining a son, a King rebuking a subject—it is always for his own good. We are but external officials; why should an outsider interfere in the Son of Heaven’s family matters?”*
Upon receiving Wen Qi’s reply, Xue Chengjing was naturally anxious. However, the one most anxious at this time was Jiang Bilan.
Murong Yan had not expected that girl to come see him. The environment inside the Imperial Prison was naturally poor. Jiang Bilan was wrapped in a hooded black cloak, her face deathly pale. "Brother Yan, I will go beg my father again. You must take care of yourself."
Murong Yan wanted to laugh. *Beg your father? Your father wishes I were dead this instant.* But that fairy-like beauty was weeping behind the prison bars. Murong Yan reached out and grasped those delicate, soft hands.
*Silly child, your tears are truly a man’s poison. Fine, for the sake of your tears today, I will compensate you. I promise.*
His voice was low and gentle. "I am fine, and I will take care. Royal Father is merely acting out of temporary anger; you needn't worry. And do not come here again." Her delicate frame trembled. He sighed softly, "I know you are afraid. I’m sorry for scaring you."
Jiang Bilan pressed her small face against the back of his hand. "Brother Yan!" Her tears were so plentiful, it seemed they would never run dry. Murong Yan gently stroked her cool, silky long hair. Love and reluctance were felt in the silence.
He said softly, "You must remember, Murong Yan is not like Murong Yuan. When I love a woman, I will be faithful to her for this entire lifetime." Jiang Bilan sobbed so hard she couldn't speak. Murong Yan said, "Don't cry. Go back now."
Jiang Bilan didn't know what else to do; she could only return. She was born into a noble house, raised with fine food and silk clothes, surrounded by servants. After her grandfather died, he was posthumously titled the Marquis of Qinglie. Her father was the current Right Chancellor, and her brothers all held important positions.
Not only was her birth noble, but her beauty was one in ten thousand. Under the tutelage of her mother and wet nurse, she was proficient in chess, the zither, calligraphy, and painting.
But she didn't know what she could actually do.
As soon as she returned to the Jiang Manor, she saw her father, Jiang Sanyi, with a dark expression. Before she could speak, he barked, "Kneel!"
Jiang Bilan’s knees buckled, and she knelt in the hall. Jiang Sanyi roared, "You went to see Murong Yan again, didn't you? Are you so eager to ensure this disaster spreads to the Jiang family?!"
Jiang Bilan said, "But I am his betrothed wife. What is wrong with me visiting him?"
Jiang Sanyi slapped her across the face. A clear handprint immediately appeared on her porcelain-delicate cheek. As Jiang Bilan clutched her face, Jiang Sanyi pointed at her. "His title has been stripped. Tomorrow, the Queen will issue a new marriage decree for you. After tomorrow, you will be the Crown Prince’s consort. If you ever dare to have any further involvement with that commoner, don't blame me for disowning you!"
Jiang Bilan trembled as she spoke, "But the Crown Prince already has a Primary Consort. If I marry him, won't I just be a concubine?"
Jiang Sanyi snapped, "Even a concubine is the Crown Prince’s concubine! When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, you will be a Consort of the King of Yan!" Having said his piece, he didn't want to talk to her anymore. He turned to his wife and said, "Watch her closely for me!"
Jiang Bilan was led away by servants; Jiang Sanyi had placed her under house arrest. The next day, the Queen indeed issued a decree, betrothing her to the Crown Prince as a Side Consort. No one mentioned the engagement made years ago when Consort Rong was still alive, as if that betrothal had never existed.
Jiang Bilan heard the news and cried and protested, but Jiang Sanyi didn't take her resistance to heart—he knew his daughter too well.
She was merely a bird raised in a golden cage. Her destiny was to walk the path designated by her master, step by step. Even if one day the master opened the cage door, she would not have the courage to fly out.
While the Second Prince, Murong Yan, was imprisoned, only the Left Chancellor, Xue Chengjing, spoke up for him in court. Xue Chengjing was the type of man who would stand up and lament the death of a dog; he didn't really count.
Thus, not a single person among the civil and military officials spoke for him, which showed just how poor his reputation was. Murong Yuan’s anger gradually dissipated.
*I should kill him. That boy will grow fangs and claws sooner or later,* he thought. *But this time... he wasn't actually wrong. In fact... he is actually very good, very capable. He just hates me.*
*Do I really want to kill him? Just like I killed his mother back then?*
Murong Yuan stood by the window of the Hall of Virtuous Governance, facing the moon, thinking for an entire night. Then, he issued an order to release Murong Yan and restore his title. However, he was ordered to reflect on his faults behind closed doors and was forbidden from leaving his estate.
Murong Yan received the decree. When he emerged from prison, Wang Yunzhao was already waiting with servants. It was late in the seventh month, and the sun was like fire. He raised his hand slightly to block the stinging sunlight, and Wang Yunzhao hurried forward to hold an umbrella over him.
Murong Yan asked, "Where is Ah-Zuo?"
Wang Yunzhao replied, "General Wen came to the manor and took Miss Ah-Zuo away."
Murong Yan asked, "She wasn't sent back?"
Wang Yunzhao was somewhat confused but said, "No. Once she left, she never returned."
Murong Yan lowered his hand and looked directly at the red sun. The midsummer light bloomed in his eyes, brilliant and magnificent.
"I knew she wouldn't disappoint me." He smiled into the blazing sun.
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