When Yang Lianting opened his eyes, the first thing that hit him was pain. A bone-deep, agonizing pain. As a physician himself, he understood his injuries better than anyone. Under the brutal torture he had endured, nearly every bone in his body had been broken. Without timely treatment, he would likely be left a cripple for life.
He kept his eyes closed, sensing that he was already in recovery. Who had administered the acupuncture? Who had provided the medicine?
Beside him, something warm and soft was slowly radiating heat toward him. Though his world was dark, his nose caught a faint, delicate fragrance. His fingers brushed against the bedding—soft silk quilts and fine gauze curtains. This was clearly a woman’s bedchamber.
He tried to sit up, but at the slightest movement, he felt as though his entire body was about to shatter. Someone gently supported him, whispering, "Don't move! Yang Lianting, are you awake?"
Overwhelmed by the intense pain, Yang Lianting didn't immediately recognize the voice. He instinctively asked, "Where is this?"
The person let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank heavens you're finally awake! You've been sleeping all these days; you scared me to death!"
Yang Lianting suddenly remembered the owner of that voice. "Miss A-Fei?"
A-Fei stood up. Without lighting a lamp, she poured him some goat's milk. "You must be hungry. Here, drink something first."
As the warm milk trickled down his throat, Yang Lianting finally felt a spark of warmth in his stomach. It was already the beginning of summer in the fifth lunar month, yet even these thick quilts could not warm his chilled body. He said softly, "Miss A-Fei, how did I end up here? Could you light a lamp?"
A-Fei replied, "No... we can't light a lamp. If anyone finds out you're here, my adoptive father will be furious."
He was no fool. With a little thought, he could guess who would have dug up the past and revealed his identity as a descendant of the Yang family. A-Fei remained silent for a moment. After he finished the milk, she wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief and said, "Physician Yang, I'm sorry. If I hadn't invited you to the Xinglin Assembly, my father wouldn't have..."
Yang Lianting sighed. Unable to move in the darkness, he could only say, "It has nothing to do with you, Miss. Even I don't understand why Sect Leader Mu would do this. Does he hold some ancient grudge against my ancestors?"
Even in the dark, A-Fei’s face flushed with shame. But Mu Qingxie was the man who had raised her. He was the one who had led her and her clansmen away from their village, saving them from being burned alive. He had brought them through many hardships to the Kingdom of Yan and provided them with stability. She couldn't bring herself to say that he had watched his old friend die a wrongful death just to save himself—or that he had betrayed that friend’s only surviving child for the same reason.
She simply said, "Physician Yang, just focus on recovering here for the next few days. No outsiders come here; you can rest easy."
Yang Lianting exhaled slowly as the wave of pain finally receded. "Miss A-Fei, I cannot thank you enough for this great kindness."
A-Fei tucked the quilt around him. The moonlight of Mount Gu射 filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a faint glow across the floor. Neither of them felt sleepy. Their breaths mingled in the darkness, creating an atmosphere so intimate it was almost awkward. Even with A-Fei’s uninhibited nature, she felt her cheeks heat up. Searching for a topic, she asked, "Does Physician Yang have any relatives in Yan? Should I send word to them so they don't worry?"
Yang Lianting stiffened slightly. He said slowly, "My relatives all died on the execution grounds six years ago."
A-Fei wished she could slap herself. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bring that up. I just... I just..."
Yang Lianting gave a bitter smile. "I know Miss A-Fei means well."
A-Fei said, "Actually, I don't have any relatives either. My *Ji* and *Li-a* were all burned to death."
"Because of sorcery?" Yang Lianting asked.
"Yes," A-Fei replied. "They raised Gu insects to heal people, and usually, no one was allowed to watch. Once, a curious patient secretly tore off his blindfold. My clansmen were nearly hunted to extinction. It was my adoptive father who led us away from our homeland to Yan." She paused, biting her lip. "He... he is actually a good person. He’s just too afraid. Physician Yang, please don't hate him, okay?"
She turned and took Yang Lianting’s hand. "Once your injuries are healed, I will send you away safely. But please, don't hold a grudge against him, alright?"
Yang Lianting froze. At that time, his hands were so swollen he had almost lost all sensation, yet he could still feel the softness and smoothness of the hand holding his. For the first time in his life, he understood the meaning of "delicate, jade-like hands." He spoke involuntarily, "Alright, I don't hate him."
A-Fei brightened up. "Tomorrow, I'll show you the prescription I wrote. I'll need Physician Yang’s expert guidance!"
Yang Lianting chuckled, though the movement made his chest feel like it was shattering. "I wouldn't dare. When the Saintess bestows medicine, how could I presume to comment?"
A-Fei tilted her chin up and said proudly, "Of course! My asking for your guidance was just a courtesy. Don't you dare take it seriously!"
Having said that, she couldn't help but laugh, her voice ringing like silver bells in the boundless moonlight. Yang Lianting did not pull his hand away, and A-Fei, assuming his hands were still numb, did not let go either.
Yang Lianting closed his eyes, feeling her warmth lingering in his palm.
***
The next day, A-Fei went out, forbidding any maidservants from entering the room. The affairs of the Baiyu Sect were managed by the Sect Leader, while she and the remaining two hundred or so clansmen were responsible for raising Gu insects. The Gu of the Baiyu Sect differed from common varieties and were divided into White Gu and Black Gu. White Gu were raised by women and used primarily for healing, while Black Gu were generally raised by men and could harm people invisibly.
The mere mention of these hideous insects was enough to make people turn pale; it was no wonder commoners viewed them as demons.
Initially, A-Fei never let Yang Lianting see the Gu insects on her person. Every time she used them to mend his bones or regenerate his flesh, she would cover his eyes. Yang Lianting, however, wasn't repulsed; he found it fascinating. These insects, finer than a strand of hair, entered the body and, under their master's control, successfully located the fractures. The gel-like substance they secreted could repair broken bones without leaving a scar.
Seeing that Yang Lianting didn't seem afraid, A-Fei gradually stopped covering his eyes—his injuries were so numerous that the Gu treatment was a slow process. Watching the nearly invisible long insects crawl in and out of his pores, Yang Lianting was initially unnerved. "Are you sure none of them stayed inside?"
A-Fei laughed uncontrollably. "Oh yes, they're staying! They're going to build a nest inside you!"
At the thought of that, Yang Lianting’s hair stood on end. A-Fei quickly added, "No, no, I'm joking. Gu insects are very obedient."
Only then did Yang Lianting slowly relax. A-Fei teased, "How can you be so cowardly? And you call yourself a doctor!"
Yang Lianting replied, "I'm already considered brave. If A-Zuo saw this, she’d probably rather die on the spot!"
A-Fei tilted her head. "Who is A-Zuo?"
Yang Lianting paused. "A friend."
"A girl?" A-Fei asked.
"Yes."
A-Fei fell silent, lowering her head to urge the Gu insects to continue mending his bones. Yang Lianting felt compelled to explain, "A friend I grew up with, well..." He wanted to add that they were like siblings, but thinking of how Cold Non-Face and Left Wolf would mock or even beat him for such a sentiment, he gave a bitter smile and stopped.
A-Fei looked up at him and whispered, "A very good friend, then?"
"Yes," Yang Lianting said. "If not for her, I would have died in the orphan camp years ago."
A-Fei said softly, "That’s nice. I’ve followed my adoptive father since I was a child, always revered as a Saintess. I have no friends."
"Don't you have hundreds of clansmen?" Yang Lianting asked.
A-Fei shook her head. "I... I carry the Mother Gu. They only protect and respect me. They won't be my friends."
Yang Lianting understood. He nodded and said, "If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll take you to meet them. You’ll like them."
"Really?" A-Fei’s face lit up like a red apple. Her sparkling eyes met Yang Lianting’s for a fleeting second before, for some reason, they both looked away.
***
At that time, Jinyang City was in a state of unrest. The news of the Yang family’s wrongful execution was spreading like wildfire. Although the court suppressed it with all its might, the people were furious, even if they didn't dare speak out. It was then that West Jing sent another envoy, demanding that the annual tribute be doubled.
The civil and military officials were in an uproar. Everyone knew that although Yan had won the war against North Yu, they hadn't gained much from it. Murong Yuan had not taken the opportunity to demand gold or grain from North Yu, yet Yan had nearly lost the entire city of Daji in the process.
After the plague in Daji came the reconstruction, which required massive amounts of silver. The current Kingdom of Yan simply could not afford to pay double the tribute.
Murong Yuan urgently summoned Wen Qi back to Jinyang to discuss the matter. Wen Qi sent three successive letters to the capital, stating that West Jing was merely using intimidation and would not move against Yan for the time being. He suggested that Murong Yuan stall for as long as possible and ignore the demands.
However, rumors continued to swirl in the court, and West Jing worked hard to stir up trouble, making a show of preparing for war. Left with no choice, Murong Yuan increased taxes to collect funds and grain. The people of Yan, unable to bear the burden, finally began to riot in the Lingzhi area.
Murong Yuan was unable to pacify them, and the number of rioters grew. He was forced to divert the garrison from Suye to suppress them. However, the soldiers' pay had been delayed for a long time, and there was much resentment in the ranks. Wen Qi did not dare to deploy the troops; instead, he repeatedly wrote to Murong Yuan, urging him to stop the grain collection.
Murong Yuan finally flew into a rage and sent a trusted eunuch with an imperial decree, ordering Wen Qi to suppress the "bandits" and end the chaos.
Left with no alternative, Wen Qi ordered Xu Lang to lead eight thousand troops to Lingzhi. Xu Lang knelt, not daring to accept the order. "General Wen, you know Lingzhi is already impoverished! The people are stealing and looting because they literally cannot survive. Do you really want me to take the army there and slaughter them all?"
Wen Qi clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them. "The Emperor’s decree is here. How can we disobey? Go. Focus on intimidation; try to avoid actual combat."
Xu Lang had no choice but to take the tiger tally and prepare his troops. Wen Qi remained silent in his tent. Left Wolf stood by his side. After a long while, he asked, "You have a bold and meticulous mind; you see things I miss. Do you have a solution for this?"
Left Wolf said, "I have some words that will surely infuriate you, General. But if I don't say them, I won't be at peace."
"Speak," Wen Qi said.
Left Wolf hesitated. "The General will surely take offense. Perhaps it's better if I don't."
Wen Qi laughed. "Speak. I grant you immunity."
Only then did Left Wolf speak slowly. "The Emperor of West Jing understands our King’s temperament perfectly. He demanded double tribute only to force the King into tax collection, inciting internal strife so the King would be too distracted to look elsewhere. You aren't unaware that things would reach this point, General. It's just... you didn't dare mention it. Because you understand the King’s temperament even better. Your talents and ambitions, General, far exceed this place. It is a pity the water is too shallow and the land too narrow to allow a dragon to ascend to the heavens. If you were to serve a heroic lord, you would surely shake the world and achieve legendary feats."
Wen Qi fell silent. Then he said, "I will pretend I didn't hear that. If you say it a second time, I will have to kill you."
With those words, he swept out of the tent.
Left Wolf did not follow. Once Wen Qi had left, she finally found Xu Lang. Xu Lang had accepted the tally out of necessity, but the morale of his soldiers was incredibly low. Seeing Left Wolf approach, he whispered, "Adjutant, how am I supposed to fight this battle? We became soldiers to protect our homes and country, not to fight our own people!"
Left Wolf looked him in the eye and said, "I have a plan that can save you from this embarrassment, General. However, we must discuss it inside the tent."
Xu Lang nodded immediately. "Let's go!"
Once inside, Xu Lang asked, "What should I do? Tell me, Adjutant."
Left Wolf took a long saber from the weapon rack and placed it slowly on the table. "I have already discussed this with Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, and General Zheng Zhu." Xu Lang’s expression froze. Left Wolf continued, "The current King is weak and incompetent, and the Crown Prince is devoid of virtue. The hearts of the people of Yan have changed. We have decided to support the Second Prince, Murong Yan, to take the throne. What are your thoughts?"
The tea bowl in Xu Lang’s hand hit the ground with a clang, splashing water everywhere. His teeth chattered uncontrollably. It took him a long time to ask, "Wh-what?"
Left Wolf slowly drew the long saber, the blade singing. "I, Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, and Zheng Zhu intend to assist the Second Prince in ascending the throne. We want to know your thoughts."
Xu Lang began to tremble all over. "Ad-adjutant, you... you aren't joking, are you?"
Left Wolf asked, "What do you think?"
Xu Lang looked like he was about to cry. "But... but General Wen... No, Adjutant, this is treason!"
Left Wolf said, "Yes. Because this is a matter of grave importance, no outsiders can know. And if they do, we must ensure they cannot leak the secret." She held the blade, slowly running her fingers along the flat of the steel. "Now, give me your answer."
Cold sweat poured down Xu Lang’s face. He knew he was no match for Left Wolf. After a moment of thought, he asked, "What about General Wen?"
Left Wolf said, "General Wen is loyal only to the King of Yan. Once the Second Prince ascends and becomes the King of Yan, he will naturally be loyal to him."
"You... you won't kill him?" Xu Lang asked.
Left Wolf replied, "General Wen is upright and loyal; we all view him as our mentor. Why would we harm him? Moreover, the Second Prince has always held the General in high esteem. If the Prince gains power, not only will the General be safe, but the Wen family’s power and status will remain untouched."
Xu Lang gritted his teeth and thought for a while. Left Wolf added, "Agree to it. The heart of the army has already shifted. You are but a minor lieutenant general; how can you hope to stop this tide?"
Xu Lang asked in a trembling voice, "What... what do I need to do?"
Left Wolf leaned in and whispered to him. Xu Lang nodded repeatedly, cold sweat still dripping.
That night, Left Wolf invited Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, Zheng Zhu, and Xu Lang to drink. She said calmly, "We are all on the same side. Let's finish this bowl first."
Yuan Xi and the others didn't stand on ceremony, raising their cups. Xu Lang looked around nervously; with a guilty conscience, everyone looked like a conspirator to him. He didn't dare doubt Left Wolf’s words and drained his bowl in one gulp.
The next day, Xu Lang led his troops out. Left Wolf went to a contact point of the Yan Tower and presented a pure gold, swallow-shaped hidden weapon, sending a message to Cold Non-Face.
When Xu Lang reached Lingzhi County, he found Murong Yan’s personal guard, Zhou Xin, already waiting for him. He had no choice but to join Zhou Xin in incorporating the local rebel forces. Zhou Xin was well-prepared; he listed the various failings of the imperial court and, under the banner of "cleansing the court of evil officials," began recruiting soldiers to march back to the capital to "save the King" in Wen Qi’s name.
Starting from Lingzhi, the army absorbed a massive number of commoners. By the time they reached Daji City on their eastward march, they numbered no fewer than fifty thousand.
The public only knew this was Wen Qi’s army. People everywhere responded to the call, and most cities along the way opened their gates in surrender. They encountered almost no large-scale resistance. Zhou Xin and Xu Lang led the army directly to the gates of Jinyang.
Driven by the people's fury, internal riots broke out within Jinyang as well.
The civil and military officials were thrown into a panic. Everyone knew only one thing—Wen Qi had rebelled!
Murong Yuan was faint with rage, but there was nothing he could do. The army had marched for only a few days, appearing like divine soldiers from the heavens, and were already attacking the West Flower Gate. The citizens of Jinyang acted as internal collaborators, while groups of thugs took advantage of the chaos.
Before the West Flower Gate even fell, shouts erupted throughout the city that Jinyang had been lost!
Murong Yuan was terrified. The wealthy gentry and landowners of Jinyang fled with their families toward Yuyang in the east. Finally, the officials persuaded Murong Yuan to move the capital to Yuyang.
With the army’s morale shattered, the West Flower Gate was breached. Murong Yuan was forced to flee toward Yuyang in haste under the protection of the Imperial Guard.
That night, before anyone could fully process what had happened, Jinyang changed masters. When the news reached Suye, Wen Qi asked three times, "What?"
The messenger knelt. "General Wen, Xu Lang has rebelled! He and a man named Zhou Xin led a rebel army to capture Jinyang and have installed the Second Prince, Murong Yan, on the throne! Jinyang... is already occupied by the rebels!"
Wen Qi felt a bone-chilling cold seep into his soul. After a long silence, he stepped forward and grabbed the messenger by the collar. "Where is the King? What has happened to His Majesty?"
The messenger was so terrified he could barely speak. "The... the King has fled. I heard he went to Yuyang!"
Wen Qi finally released him. After a long pause, he commanded, "Bind Left Wolf and bring her to me!"
But the soldiers searched the entire camp and could find no trace of Left Wolf.
***
Under a sparse canopy of stars and a bright moon, Left Wolf entered the city by night. The city was ablaze with torches. Zhou Xin, leading Murong Yan’s former household guards, was overseeing the city's defense. Seeing it was her, he hurried to open the gates. Left Wolf was covered in dust from the road; she shook it off and asked, "Where is the Lord?"
"In the manor," Zhou Xin said. "The Lord ordered me to wait for you here. I haven't dared close my eyes for two days."
Left Wolf nodded. Without even dismounting, she rode with him toward the Manor of Lord Qianyi.
No one stopped them along the way. When they reached the rear garden, Xu Lang stammered, "Adjutant Left... you..." *You really screwed me over!* By now, he realized he had been tricked, but there was no turning back. The arrow had been fired.
He led Left Wolf and Zhou Xin to Murong Yan’s study. Murong Yan wasn't there yet. Without a word, Left Wolf picked up the teapot on the table and drank directly from the spout until she was full. Zhou Xin and Xu Lang exchanged a look. Just then, Murong Yan walked in.
The group hurried to salute. Murong Yan glanced at the teapot, then at Left Wolf—a tea leaf was still stuck to the corner of her mouth. He gave a small smile and asked, "Was the journey well?"
Left Wolf replied, "Not particularly. The rebels Xu Lang recruited followed us just to get a full meal. If we can't solve the supply issue quickly, they will soon turn into a lawless mob and won't serve anyone."
"So?" Murong Yan asked.
Left Wolf said, "I will lead them around Xiaoji City, cross the Yi River, and infiltrate West Jing’s Huiyeyuan."
Murong Yan was silent for a long time. "That is very dangerous."
Left Wolf said, "West Jing has oppressed Yan for so many years; the people harbor deep resentment. If we attack West Jing, the hearts of the people will naturally lean toward you, My Lord. West Jing will certainly retaliate, but their main forces are in Yu territory and cannot be recalled immediately. Even if they retaliate, they can only attack Suye. General Wen will hold it. And only by doing this... will he be too occupied to worry about the King in Yuyang. Otherwise, I fear he would have his troops at the gates of Jinyang within two days."
Murong Yan said, "Rest first. You depart tomorrow."
Left Wolf shook her head, brushing the sand from her hair. "Speed is of the essence in war. I will muster the troops and depart now."
She had been riding for days and nights without a proper sleep, her face weathered and dusty. Murong Yan said, "Surely there is time for one meal?"
He ordered the servants to bring food and told Xu Lang and Zhou Xin to sit. Left Wolf naturally sat beside him. Having eaten nothing but dry rations for days, she didn't stand on ceremony when faced with a hot meal. Murong Yan occasionally placed food in her bowl. Seeing her devour a bowl of rice in a few bites, a flicker of tenderness touched his heart.
Left Wolf liked meat—fish, pork, anything rich and oily. Murong Yan placed a piece of braised pork in her bowl. Seeing her eat like a whirlwind, he impulsively took a piece back from her bowl and tasted it. *Is it really that good?* He frowned slightly, still finding it too greasy, and quietly pushed it to the side.
Wang Yunzhao and Zhou Xin looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. The Murong Yan they knew had never once touched food that someone else had already started.
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 蛊 | Gu | Venomous insects/parasites used in sorcery or medicine. |
| 白蛊 | White Gu | Gu used for healing. |
| 黑蛊 | Black Gu | Gu used for harming others. |
| 潜翼君 | Lord Qianyi | Murong Yan's noble title. |
| 益水 | Yi River | A river mentioned in the strategy. |
| 灰叶原 | Huiyeyuan | Gray Leaf Plains; a location in West Jing. |
| 令支 | Lingzhi | A county/region where the riots began. |
| 渔阳 | Yuyang | The city where King Murong Yuan fled. |
| 勤王 | Qínwáng | To come to the sovereign's aid; often used as a pretext for military action. |
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