The following day, Wen Qi ordered Zuo Canglang to be sent to the Wen residence in Huatai. His family had been residing there, and Huatai was not far from Fangcheng, separated only by Tang County. Zuo Canglang was completely unable to stand; Zang Tianqi had shown no mercy when he ordered her legs broken.
Forget a full recovery—she feared that even if she were treated, she would never be the same. For one who lived by the sword on the battlefield, she was now little more than a cripple.
The Wen residence in Huatai was not as magnificent as she had imagined. It featured bronze-studded doors and vermilion walls, with a pair of stone lions guarding the entrance beneath a gold-leafed plaque. Zuo Canglang was carried into the manor. Normally, a concubine’s entry would involve a specific set of rituals, but the Wen family seemed indifferent to such things.
She was carried into a small pavilion. In the courtyard before it, melon vines crawled everywhere. Zuo Canglang turned her head and saw two young boys standing on either side of a moon gate.
She had heard Wen Qi mention his two sons before. Without needing an introduction, she said, "Wen Yixuan, Wen Yirong."
The two children stepped out from behind the gate. Wen Yirong asked curiously, "How do you know my brother’s name and mine?"
Zuo Canglang replied, "I heard your father mention them."
Just as Wen Yirong was about to speak, a woman’s voice called from outside, "Yixuan, Yirong! Come out. Do not disturb your aunt’s rest."
The two children made faces and scurried out of the courtyard. The servants placed Zuo Canglang directly onto the bed; every movement felt as though the shards of her broken bones were stabbing into her flesh. A moment later, a woman entered. She was in her thirties, with faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes, yet she remained exceptionally elegant.
She walked to the bedside and glanced at Zuo Canglang’s legs. It seemed Wen Qi had already explained the situation to her. She said, "You shall stay here from now on. If you lack anything, just send word to me."
Zuo Canglang asked, "Madam Wen?"
The woman gave a soft affirmation. "My surname is Yu, my given name is Qiushu." Having said that, she turned and left the pavilion. Shortly after, two maidservants entered to help Zuo Canglang wash. They showed no particular care for her injuries; as they bathed her, Zuo Canglang could almost hear the grinding of her shattered bones.
Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, but she did not utter a single sound. Wen Qi likely did not wish for her to recover, so these people naturally felt no need to be gentle.
Yu Qiushu assigned two coarse-working maids to look after her. Zuo Canglang could not leave her bed; she even needed assistance to use the commode. Though the two maids were not particularly attentive, they weren't cruel either. They handled her daily needs and nothing more, ignoring everything else.
Confined to her couch every day, Zuo Canglang’s only view was through a single latticed window facing south.
One day, the elder Master Wen, Wen Xingye, was practicing boxing in the courtyard. He was a veteran of the battlefield himself, forced into retirement by injury. He possessed a fierce temperament and a booming voice that could be quite intimidating.
With nothing better to do, Zuo Canglang watched him through the window. After a while, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. Wen Xingye turned and immediately glared at her. "What are you laughing at?"
Zuo Canglang instantly composed her face. "Nothing. You won't let me leave, but am I not even allowed to laugh?"
Wen Xingye strode inside and demanded, "Speak! What were you laughing at?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I'll tell you, but you mustn't get angry." As Wen Xingye glowered, she continued, "Old Master Wen, did you really rely on those flowery, showy moves to kill enemies on the battlefield back in the day?"
Wen Xingye was livid. "Impudent girl! What did you say?!"
Zuo Canglang replied, "I'm just telling the truth. If you don't like the truth, I'll stop talking."
Wen Xingye’s eyebrows shot up. "Get up! This old man wants to see what skills you have!"
Zuo Canglang retorted, "Nonsense. Can't you see I can't get up?"
Wen Xingye stepped forward and roughly hauled her into a sitting position. "You can still use your hands, can't you?"
The two began to spar with their fists. Every movement left Zuo Canglang drenched in sweat. To avoid taking unfair advantage, Wen Xingye stood perfectly still, his lower body unmoving.
As they exchanged blows and parried moves, Wen Xingye gradually grew interested. *This girl is quite good! Qi'er said her legs were ruined—could he have been lying?*
He wanted to check, but he was, nominally, her father-in-law. It would be improper for a father-in-law to inspect a daughter-in-law's legs. Without further words, they fought for the entire morning until both were soaked in sweat. Finally, the elder Madam Wen, deeming the display unseemly, came and scolded him away.
However, the old master’s itch for competition remained. He returned in the afternoon, bringing a sand table to discuss military strategy. Zuo Canglang had never known any elders and felt no need for restraint. She said, "The room is damp and cold. Help me out to the courtyard before we talk."
The old master glared at her. "Is that how you speak to your elder? No respect for seniority!"
Zuo Canglang countered, "Do you want to play or not?!"
Wen Xingye thought about it. He wanted to help her up but felt it was inappropriate to touch her. He called the maids to assist her while he went outside to set up cushions and a bamboo chair in the courtyard. As Zuo Canglang sat in the chair, the warm winter sun shining down on her, she sighed, "Alas, between the two of us, we only have one working leg."
Wen Xingye rapped her on the head. Each taking small flags, they began to carve out their respective spheres of influence on the sand table.
After sitting for a long time, Zuo Canglang wanted to shift her position. After several attempts, she finally used both hands to lift her injured legs and place them on a nearby stone stool. She immediately turned back to the troop formations. Wen Xingye became increasingly suspicious that her leg injuries were a ruse.
He reached out and pressed down on her knee. His heart skipped a beat—where he touched, the kneecap was completely shattered. He could feel the jagged shards of bone beneath the skin. Such an injury could only have been caused by a heavy weapon.
While he was secretly shocked, Wen Yirong watched with wide eyes and asked, "Grandfather, why are you touching Auntie's leg?"
Wen Xingye delivered a swift slap. Wen Yirong burst into loud wails. Yu Qiushu and the elder Madam Wen rushed over, asking urgently, "What happened? What's wrong?"
Wen Yirong sobbed, "Grandfather touched Auntie's leg! And then he hit me..."
Wen Xingye: "..."
Zuo Canglang: "..."
Though Wen Xingye had long been away from the battlefield, he still loved the arts of war. The women of the household were all refined ladies of noble birth who knew nothing of such matters. Now that Zuo Canglang was here, she provided a welcome distraction, so he visited often.
Zuo Canglang was unable to walk, and no one in the manor would provide her with medical treatment, so her injuries showed no sign of improvement. Having someone visit frequently was better than languishing in bed alone.
Thus, she welcomed the old master’s daily visits for "paper warfare." At first, they gambled with peanuts, but finding that dull, they moved on to money. Since she was not one to defer to her elders, she frequently drove Wen Xingye into fits of rage.
Though the Wen residence was far from the capital, its rules were strict. Wen Yirong and Wen Yixuan came every day to pay their respects, morning and evening, without fail. Zuo Canglang won quite a bit of silver from the old master and was generous with it, often giving the brothers plenty of pocket money. Since the wool came from the sheep itself, she didn't feel the sting of spending it.
Wen Yixuan knew to be frugal, but the younger Wen Yirong thought she was the most wonderful person in the world.
While she spent her days in the Wen residence eating her fill and doing nothing as a concubine, news of the marriage reached Murong Yan in Jinyang. Spies even brought him a rubbing of Wen Qi’s wedding invitation.
Murong Yan gripped it in his hand; his fingers tightened, and the invitation crumbled into ash. He looked down at the red dust scattering. Gan Xiaoru, Feng Ping, Zhou Xin, and others stood to the side, none daring to speak. Murong Yan said, "Since Wen Qi has gone to Fangcheng, Xiuye City must have been handed over to Yuan Xi, correct?"
Zhou Xin replied, "Your Majesty, it should be so. However, since Wen Qi dared to leave, I suspect the defenses of Xiuye are meticulously arranged."
Murong Yan said, "Yuan Xi is a man of courage but no strategy. If he is the one guarding Xiuye, no amount of meticulousness will matter."
Zhou Xin looked at him, not daring to respond. After all, Wen Qi’s defensive capabilities were something even West Jing admired.
Murong Yan said, "Call Xu Lang. I shall lead the campaign personally."
Gan Xiaoru spoke up: "Your Majesty! Marshal Wen could not have gone to Fangcheng without preparation. Furthermore, Xiuye City has just repelled West Jing; its morale and public support are high. A sudden attack might lose us the people's hearts!"
Among all the ministers, he was likely the one who least wanted to see Murong Yan defeated.
Murong Yan said, "Wen Qi thinks that by capturing Zuo Canglang, I am left without generals capable of war. Hmph. Where is Xu Lang? Summon him."
At the third watch of the night, Murong Yan entrusted the internal affairs of Jinyang to Gan Xiaoru and the Imperial Guard to Feng Ping. He personally led his troops out of Jinyang, making a grand show of attacking Fangcheng.
Yuan Xi, ordered to garrison Xiuye City, was naturally worried for Wen Qi upon hearing this news. But at the same time, he saw a strategic opportunity. Now that Murong Yan had taken the army's elite to besiege Fangcheng, places like Little Ji City and Great Ji City were bound to be lightly defended.
Fangcheng was far from Little Ji City. If he took the chance to attack Little Ji City, Murong Yan would be unable to return in time to save it.
He was intent on this, but Zhuge Jin and Zheng Chu remained uneasy. After all, Wen Qi had issued military orders: under no circumstances were they to deploy troops without permission before his return. As they argued, Yuan Xi said, "How about this: I will lead a detachment to attack Little Ji City while you two guard the city. Even if something happens, it won't endanger Xiuye."
Though Zhuge Jin and Zheng Chu did not agree, they could find no reason to refute him. Yuan Xi declared, "It is settled."
That night, he led an army to attack Little Ji City under the cover of darkness. As the battle raged, a figure suddenly appeared on the city walls. It was clearly a woman clad in armor. In the flickering light of the torches, she looked exactly like Zuo Canglang. Yuan Xi was secretly stunned, and the soldiers below began to whisper, "It's Zuo Canglang!"
Wasn't Zuo Canglang supposed to be a prisoner in Fangcheng? How could she be here?
In an instant, the army's morale plummeted.
Leng Feiyan, wearing Zuo Canglang’s armor, stood motionless on the battlements. Murong Yan had forbidden her from descending. In the dim light, no one could see her clearly. But the moment they engaged in combat, someone would surely realize the deception. Meanwhile, Zhou Xin ordered his men to change into the uniforms of Wen Qi’s army—the eight thousand elites under Xu Lang had originally been Wen Qi’s soldiers.
Now, while those eight thousand were supposedly attacking Fangcheng, he ordered them to fly Yuan Xi’s banners and head straight for Xiuye City.
It was the middle of the night. When Zhuge Jin and Zheng Chu saw their own soldiers' uniforms and Yuan Xi’s banners, how could they suspect a ruse? They immediately opened the gates of Xiuye.
Zhou Xin seized the opportunity to charge in, and the sounds of slaughter instantly filled Xiuye. Normally, the garrison in Xiuye still held the numerical advantage, and Wen Qi’s troops were far superior in combat strength and equipment. But at that moment, Yuan Xi, seeing "Zuo Canglang" personally defending Little Ji City, was forced to retreat empty-handed.
Upon returning to the city, he found that Zhou Xin had already breached Xiuye!
Shocked, Yuan Xi immediately ordered his men to engage the enemy.
In the darkness, both sides wore the same uniforms, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe. It was a chaotic massacre. The force Zhou Xin had brought into Xiuye was actually only about six thousand men, while there were over seventy thousand troops within the city.
Zhuge Jin and Zheng Chu did not know that Yuan Xi had returned. The two friendly forces began firing arrows at each other in the city, fighting a devastating battle in the dark.
At that moment, Leng Feiyan and Luan Di Diao Tao Feng Gao led their reinforcements to attack Xiuye again. Caught between two fires, Yuan Xi suffered a crushing defeat and was captured by Leng Feiyan.
By then, Zheng Chu and Zhuge Jin realized they had been tricked and urgently ordered a ceasefire. Leng Feiyan linked up with Zhou Xin. Using Yuan Xi’s military tally, Zhou Xin tricked Zhuge Jin into trusting him and entered the main camp. Another fierce battle ensued.
By dawn, the fighting ended. Zhuge Jin and Zheng Chu were captured alive. Xiuye had fallen.
Meanwhile, at Fangcheng, Wen Qi had soundly defeated Murong Yan. Murong Yan’s defeat was decisive, and his retreat even more so. After losing over a thousand men in a single clash, he immediately withdrew his troops toward Jinyang.
Wen Qi instantly realized he had been duped. He prepared to rush back to Xiuye that very night. Murong Yuan still didn't understand: "Xiuye has a garrison of sixty thousand, all elites of our Yan army. No matter how many schemes that rebellious son Murong Yan has, how could he possibly take it?"
Wen Qi said, "I was wrong."
Murong Yuan asked, "Why do you say that, Minister Wen?"
Wen Qi replied, "We all thought he would send people to rescue Zuo Canglang, but we were all wrong." Without further explanation, he slipped away toward Jinyang that night. Zang Xiao and others escorted him, bypassing Jinyang through the rugged peaks of the South Mountains, crossing the Yi River and the Gray Leaf Plains, heading straight for Xiuye.
However, beneath the walls of Xiuye, he saw Murong Yan waiting for him.
Wen Qi came to a halt. Murong Yan said softly, "Marshal Wen, I trust you have been well?"
Wen Qi felt a chill run through his entire body. There were over sixty thousand elite soldiers in Xiuye. Murong Yan’s entire army numbered no more than seventy thousand. He had taken at least twenty thousand elites to attack Fangcheng. The defenses of Jinyang would not be less than twenty thousand. Even if he had deployed every remaining soldier, it would only be thirty thousand—and those thirty thousand would be a ragtag militia conscripted from the commoners.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he could hardly believe this man had truly broken Xiuye City.
Murong Yan had a canopy set up below the city walls, with wine and food laid out. He said, "I have waited long. The Marshal indeed did not miss our appointment."
Wen Qi walked forward slowly. Beside him, Zang Xiao gripped his sword hilt, but Wen Qi raised a hand to stop him. It was New Year's Eve. He sat down opposite Murong Yan. Murong Yan rose personally to pour him wine. Leng Feiyan wore her silver mask but was not in armor as she stood guard behind him.
Wen Qi lowered his eyes, watching the clear wine fill the cup. After a long silence, he asked, "How did you break the city?"
Murong Yan replied, "I did not break the city. Your own subordinates slaughtered one another; the city broke itself."
Only then did Wen Qi truly look at him again. This prince had always been like a piece of jade obscured by dust. Now, the dust was wiped away, the jade finely carved, revealing a world-shaking brilliance. Wen Qi said, "I thought you would go to rescue Zuo Canglang."
Murong Yan said, "The Marshal should not have thought so."
Wen Qi said, "Correct. Your long-standing favor and reliance on her clouded my judgment. Everyone thought you raised your banners for Jiang Bilan; everyone thought you favored Zuo Canglang most; everyone thought you had no interest in the throne. And yet, for that throne, you have been calculating for all these years!"
Murong Yan drank his wine and said, "The Marshal overstates things. To be honest, I wait here today firstly to reminisce with the Marshal, and secondly to discuss a transaction. But certainly not to argue or justify myself."
Wen Qi slowly tightened his grip on his wine cup. "What else do you wish to say?"
Murong Yan said, "The Marshal has served the country and the people for so many years; I have always admired and respected you."
Wen Qi sneered, "Do you want me to surrender to you?"
Murong Yan shook his head. "The Marshal’s loyalty to my father is also something I admire. If the Marshal were to join me, whether sincerely or falsely, I could not trust it. Furthermore, it would tarnish the Marshal’s honorable name. Centuries from now, when people speak of Marshal Wen, they would inevitably add the stain of 'a minister who served two masters.' I am unwilling to damage the reputation of a virtuous official for my own selfish gain."
Wen Qi began to understand. Murong Yan continued, "I have taken Xiuye, but to be honest, there are still several thousand remnants of your army in flight. Xiuye is a border city, bordering the old lands of Yu to the north and West Jing to the west. The only route they can take is through the Gray Leaf Plains. I cannot allow them to reunite with my father, nor do I wish for the people of Yan to kill their own kin. Even less do I wish for the people of West Jing to harm the soldiers of my Yan State. Therefore, I would like to ask the Marshal to persuade them to surrender."
Wen Qi laughed as if he had heard a joke. "You think I would do that?"
Murong Yan poured him more wine. "You will. After all, they are the ones truly loyal to you. And Wen Qi is a man of compassion and righteousness; surely you cannot bear to see them buried in a foreign land, their lonely souls unable to return home."
Wen Qi fell silent. Murong Yan was in no hurry. After a long time, Wen Qi asked, "The transaction you mentioned—is this it?"
Murong Yan said, "No, this is merely a request. The transaction I refer to is the matter that truly troubles me. The fate of Great Yan is now largely decided, yet the Marshal is a pillar of the state. I cannot keep you, and I am unwilling to kill you. But regardless, the matter must be resolved. If my hands are stained with the Marshal’s blood, I will surely draw the resentment of the people. To eliminate that hatred, I would have to purge the Marshal’s old friends and family, leading to another river of blood."
He tapped his index finger lightly on the low table, elegant and noble. "If the Marshal’s death has nothing to do with me, no one will harbor resentment, and naturally, no one will seek revenge. And I, of course, will be able to sleep soundly without suspicion. So, the content of this transaction is this: as long as the Marshal’s blood does not splash upon this King, I promise that during my reign, I will never involve any of your kin or associates in any punishment."
Wen Qi said, "Murong Yan, you are utterly brazen and shameless."
Murong Yan smiled. "The Marshal flatters me." He poured another cup. "Please, drink this cup to the full."
Wen Qi raised the cup and drained it. He then rose to leave. Murong Yan also stood, brushing the dust from his robes. "Leave this Great Hero Zang behind."
Leng Feiyan said, "As you command."
As the words fell, her short sword flashed like a rainbow, heading straight for Zang Xiao. Zang Xiao drew his sword to meet her, but he could hardly believe he would encounter such an opponent here! In less than fifty moves, Leng Feiyan had gained the upper hand. Within a hundred moves, she disarmed him.
Zang Xiao watched helplessly as his sword flew several yards away, pinning itself into the ground. This person... this terrifying person...
Leng Feiyan gave him no chance to speak. After knocking away his weapon, she immediately sealed his throat with her blade.
As Zang Xiao collapsed into the dust, Murong Yan was just entering the city.
Wen Qi went to the Gray Leaf Plains and found his remaining troops. They were led by Yan He. Everyone had been fleeing for days, without food or water, their faces covered in mud. Seeing Wen Qi was like seeing hope itself. Wen Qi gathered all the soldiers and said, "Though Murong Yan forced his way to the throne, he is a man of extraordinary talent and can be considered... a wise and sagacious ruler. You joined the army to protect your homes and country. Now, though the ruler has changed, Great Yan remains. Everyone... lay down your weapons and head to the banks of the Yi River..."
He gritted his teeth and said slowly, "Surrender."
"Marshal!" Thousands of soldiers knelt in the marsh. Wen Qi said, "For all these years, I thank you all."
Having said that, he gave a deep bow to all the soldiers.
The next day, Wen Qi’s remnants surrendered.
Murong Yan did not allow them into the city, settling them instead by the White Wolf River. He distributed a small amount of porridge and some clothing. That night, the Great Marshal of Yan, Wen Qi, rode out of Xiuye City alone, charging toward Mayi City.
Mayi City was a stronghold of West Jing. The garrison, confused by the lone rider, unleashed a volley of arrows in the dark. Wen Qi was struck by over forty arrows and died in battle.
When the news reached Jinyang, the entire army mourned. The West Jing general, Ren Xuan, respected his loyalty and righteousness. Unwilling to desecrate his body, he placed it in a simple coffin and sent it back to Great Yan. At that time, the scorch marks in Xiuye City were still fresh, and the north wind whipped the battle standards.
When the news reached Huatai, it felt as though the sky had collapsed on the Wen residence. Murong Yuan immediately ordered Zuo Canglang’s execution, but Murong Yan had anticipated the outcome and moved faster. After killing Zang Xiao, Leng Feiyan rode through the night to Huatai.
Zuo Canglang was surprised to see her. "Why are you here? No! Why did you only come now?!"
Leng Feiyan leaned down and gently pressed on her legs. Zuo Canglang frowned and pushed her hand away. Leng Feiyan lowered her head and said, "The Master sent me to take you back."
Zuo Canglang said, "I... cannot walk now. How can I leave?"
Leng Feiyan replied, "Since I have come, I naturally have a way."
She lifted Zuo Canglang from the bed and strapped her to her back. Since Murong Yuan had placed Zuo Canglang here, he had naturally stationed guards. But these guards could not stop a member of the Yan Tower. That night, Leng Feiyan fought her way out of the Wen residence with Zuo Canglang.
Murong Yuan had originally ordered an ambush at the city walls, but that night, news of Wen Qi’s death arrived. Everything east of Fangcheng fell into chaos.
Murong Yuan could no longer spare a thought for Zuo Canglang. Everyone knew his cause was lost.
Zuo Canglang didn't know the reason for the chaos at first. Only after they cleared Fangcheng did she ask, "What happened?"
Leng Feiyan said, "Wen Qi is dead, I suppose."
Zuo Canglang froze. She asked slowly, "What?"
Leng Feiyan repeated, "Wen Qi is dead."
Zuo Canglang trembled slightly, then finally closed her eyes, leaning against Leng Feiyan’s back.
When Wen Qi’s coffin arrived in Jinyang, Murong Yan ordered the gates of Yuyang opened for the Wen family, allowing them to enter the city for the funeral. Despite Murong Yuan’s many attempts to stop them, Wen Xingye and his wife, along with their daughter-in-law and two grandsons, traveled day and night to reach Jinyang.
The Wen family arrived in Jinyang just as the sun was setting.
Wen Qi’s old subordinates, dressed in hemp and mourning white, escorted his coffin through the West Hua Gate. Zuo Canglang could not walk; Leng Feiyan half-carried, half-supported her as they stood under an old eaves in the distance. Leng Feiyan said, "Your leg injuries are severe. I’ll take you back first, then find Yang Lianting to take a look."
Zuo Canglang said, "Don't go yet. Wait a moment."
Leng Feiyan didn't move. Wen Qi’s black coffin passed through the long street. The commoners made way, and the entire path was silent. Leng Feiyan urged, "Let's go. The Wen family is in the depths of grief right now; are you really going to go offer a sacrifice? Look at your legs!!" Half-supported and half-carried by Leng Feiyan, Zuo Canglang moved away from the long street.
The past rushed back like a tide. The Marshal who had laughed in Xiuye, saying he was "just learning some high-flown talk to make himself seem more learned," had finally fallen beneath the desolate moon of the borderlands.
The coffin was taken to the Yan Palace. When it was opened, Madam Wen washed him and changed his clothes. Despite the cold weather, too much time had passed; the body in the coffin was swollen, its original features unrecognizable. Yet it was covered in arrow wounds, not a single patch of skin left whole.
Qiushu helped him into his burial robes. Her eyes were red as she reached out a slender hand to stroke his face. "Husband, you are finally back. From now on, every day and night, I will know where you are." She pressed her face against his forehead. Even though her lover’s face was ruined, she remained gentle. "We are finally together. I should be happy, shouldn't I? I should be happy..."
From now on, the moon would shine over the rivers and mountains, and her beloved would cease his distant campaigns. She collapsed against his chest and suddenly wept bitterly.
Jinyang observed a period of mourning. Murong Yan built a General’s Tomb for him on Mount Guanqu. On the day of the funeral, a fine autumn rain fell. Officials lined the road to see him off. Master Wen supported his wife; it seemed as though, in an instant, he had reached a frail and trembling old age.
Xu Lang led the old subordinates of Wen Qi’s command, dressed in mourning, to carry the coffin. Paper money filled Jinyang like snow, and the hearts of the passersby were heavy with grief.
Before the tomb, Murong Yan poured wine as an offering, his expression solemn and sorrowful. "How can one escape the net, brush off one's robes, and leave the clamor of the world? Leisurely leaning on a bramble staff, returning to the Peach Blossom Spring. Marshal Wen has not passed away; he has merely returned to the Peach Spring. Since the founding of Great Yan, we have been repeatedly oppressed by West Jing; the border troubles from the Shanrong, Guzhu, and Wuzhong, along with internal strife, have never ceased. General Wen resisted West Jing and quelled internal unrest; he was the backbone of our Great Yan.
"All his life, he aspired to a western campaign, but the national strength was insufficient to fulfill a hero's ambition. I have decided that from this day forward, Great Yan shall break away from West Jing and refuse to be its vassal. I swear here that I will make West Jing pay its debt of blood, inherit the General’s legacy, and never forget the great cause of the western campaign. May the General’s heroic spirit remain near, to see our Great Yan at peace across the four seas, with all hearts united." He poured the wine onto the earth. Upon hearing these words, the commoners erupted in thunderous cheers.
The cold wind swirled withered leaves, and the drizzling rain dampened their clothes.
Prime Minister Xue Chengjing stepped forward to offer a stick of incense. He turned his head and saw Murong Yan standing in the slanting wind and fine rain. The commoners were running to tell one another the news, their joy beyond words.
He sighed and looked once more toward the tomb. While the kin still weep, others are already singing. Many years from now, how will the pages of history judge this?
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