However, Zuo Canglang did not lead her army back to the capital. She remained in Mayi City for half a month, using the provisions seized from the city to sustain her troops.
A day or two meant little, but after several days, the court began to buzz with hushed discussions. Jiang Sanyi said, "Your Majesty, Zuo Canglang knows full well that the national treasury is empty and provisions are hard to come by, yet she delays her return. It has been half a month now; this is clearly a display of arrogance, resting on her laurels! It seems that unless Your Majesty bestows further titles and rewards, she has no intention of returning to court."
As soon as these words were spoken, Bo Zhengshu and several others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Despite belonging to a different faction, Bo Zhengshu spoke up: "Chancellor Jiang, General Zuo has just won a great victory over Xijing and captured Mayi City, venting a long-held grievance for our Great Yan. Though she has delayed for a few days, your words are perhaps a bit too severe, are they not?"
Jiang Sanyi shot him a look and replied, "I am merely stating the facts. What is severe about it?"
Seeing the two about to argue again, Gan Xiaoru intervened: "Your Majesty, General Zuo’s failure to set a date for her return is indeed unusual. Should we perhaps dispatch an army supervisor from the court? Firstly, to understand the situation, and secondly, to accurately convey the imperial will."
Murong Yan scanned the crowd. After a long silence, he said, "Since she refuses to return, she must have her reasons for staying. A general in the field is not bound by every command from afar. What is there to panic about?"
Jiang Sanyi was stunned. Just as the other ministers were about to speak, Murong Yan called out, "Chancellor Jiang."
Jiang Sanyi hurriedly knelt. "This subject is here."
Murong Yan said, "You are the Chancellor and the Father of the State. To publicly slander a colleague of the Senior First Rank without evidence—do you acknowledge your crime?"
Jiang Sanyi was shocked. "Your Majesty!" He moved to defend himself, but upon looking up and meeting Murong Yan’s gaze, he immediately relented. "This subject acknowledges his crime! I shall be cautious in word and deed hereafter. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"
Murong Yan replied, "Very well. Considering it was an unintentional lapse, I shall fine you half a year’s salary."
Jiang Sanyi touched his head to the floor. "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"
The court fell into a deathly silence. Murong Yan said in a low voice, "Since my dear ministers have nothing else to report, you are all dismissed."
Wang Yunzhao announced loudly, "The court is adjourned!"
As Jiang Sanyi walked out of the palace gates, his forehead was drenched in cold sweat. Zheng Zhizhou followed behind him, whispering, "Brother-in-law, you were merely speaking the truth. Why did His Majesty disregard your face and punish you so openly in court?"
Jiang Sanyi hurried his pace, muttering, "Shut up. Do not say another word."
Gan Xiaoru followed behind, also breaking into a cold sweat—how had Jiang Sanyi misread the winds so badly? He had nearly tumbled into that pit himself.
Only Bo Zhengshu and his associates frowned slightly. Historically, the bond between a general and a monarch was the most fragile of things. A relationship like that of Murong Yuan and Wen Qi was rare; yet now it seemed Murong Yan’s trust in Zuo Canglang was no less profound.
In the palace, Jiang Bilan was brewing tea when Huiyun entered. "Your Grace, at court today, the Chancellor briefly mentioned General Zuo’s arrogance and her delay in returning, only to be rebuked by His Majesty. I heard he was even fined half a year’s salary."
Jiang Bilan paused. "General Zuo... is that Zuo Canglang?"
Huiyun replied, "Who else in this court but her would put on such airs? It has been half a month since the victory report reached Jinyang, yet she remains stationary. She hasn't even drafted a schedule for the army's return. Our Master Chancellor suggested she might be waiting for imperial rewards, and His Majesty punished him for it."
Jiang Bilan asked, "Has His Majesty finished his duties? Has Wang Yunzhao sent anyone? Will he be coming here?"
"No," Huiyun said. "And we don't know if His Majesty’s anger toward the Chancellor will linger."
Jiang Bilan mused, "Father has been an official for many years and is usually cautious. Why would he speak ill of Zuo Canglang in court today?"
"That, this servant does not know," Huiyun replied.
Jiang Bilan said, "Then let it be. His Majesty only fined him half a year’s salary; it is no great matter."
That night, while Murong Yan was in his study, someone suddenly rushed in. Wang Yunzhao was about to stop the intruder, but seeing it was Wang Nan, he allowed him through. Murong Yan looked up, and upon seeing him, he stood abruptly. "What has happened to cause such panic?"
Wang Nan was out of breath. "Your Majesty! General Zuo’s old wounds have reopened. To lure the enemy, she took another arrow from Ren Xuan at the White Wolf River. After we fought our way into Mayi City, she has been bedridden. We sent three urgent reports to Jinyang, but received no reply from Your Majesty. The General ordered me to ride through the night to report the situation in person!"
Murong Yan’s right hand clenched tight, then slowly relaxed. He sat down slowly and asked, "Is General Zuo’s injury very serious?"
Wang Nan replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is extremely grave! When I left, the General could no longer hold a pen; the letter was written by the military secretary on her behalf."
Murong Yan quickly tore open the letter. It read: *Having received no reply from Your Majesty, I suspect the previous urgent reports have fallen into the hands of those with ill intent. Though the enemy has temporarily retreated, their malice remains. Should word of my grave injury spread, they will surely return, and the fruits of these days will be lost in an instant. Therefore, I shall continue to occupy Mayi City, gambling that the enemy states will suspect a trap and dare not advance.*
There was no signature at the end of the letter, but a jade Peace Buckle was tucked inside.
Murong Yan glanced at Wang Nan. "You may withdraw for now."
"Your Majesty!" Wang Nan cried. "Suye City has only just been reclaimed, and Mayi City is effectively an empty shell. The General guards an empty city alone, unable to retreat. If the enemy sees through the ruse, it would take only ten thousand men to take the city, and Mayi will be lost. The General is gravely ill and cannot even walk—how can she protect herself? I beg Your Majesty to immediately dispatch reinforcements to Mayi City to rescue the General!"
Murong Yan said, "I know what I am doing. Leave!"
Once Wang Nan had gone, Wang Yunzhao finally spoke. "Your Majesty, what exactly has happened?"
Murong Yan threw the report to him. After reading it, Wang Yunzhao was speechless. "Your Majesty!" That newly captured Mayi City currently had defenses thinner than paper. Tuhe, Guzhu, Xijing—any of them could shatter it with a gentle prod.
Now, all three powers bordered Mayi. The Xijing army was not far, Guzhu was watching like a hawk, and Tuhe was salivating for a piece of the prize. Yet Zuo Canglang, with old wounds reopened and new ones added, had held that isolated city for fifteen days without breathing a word of her weakness.
At this moment, the most anxious were naturally Murong Yuan and the deposed Crown Prince. The two had finally found this opportunity and were working hard to persuade the three powers to deploy troops. Murong Yuan still had many old acquaintances in the court; though he was now a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, he could still find a few ministers loyal to their old master.
He had intercepted the three urgent reports Zuo Canglang sent to Jinyang. Learning of Mayi City’s peril, he immediately took the letters to persuade Xijing and Guzhu to move against the city. As soon as chaos erupted in Mayi, Murong Yan would surely go to the rescue. Once he left Jinyang, Murong Yuan would have his chance again.
He knew Zuo Canglang would eventually become suspicious; after all, military messengers were fast, and Murong Yan always replied to her urgent dispatches immediately. But now, half a month had passed. Not only was there no movement from Murong Yan, but Zuo Canglang remained steadfast in Mayi City.
Xijing, Guzhu, and Tuhe—none dared to move. Zuo Canglang had become a terrifying figure to them; they feared this was yet another of her schemes to lure them into a trap. Especially now, when she clearly knew her letters were being intercepted, yet showed no sign of retreating.
If the army did not retreat, did she intend to fight again?
Murong Yan did not visit Jiang Bilan for several days. He ordered Zhou Xin to escort provisions, sending a continuous stream of grain toward Mayi City. Zhou Xin found it strange; the only funds Murong Yan could have gathered were the million taels seized from Wen Weishu’s estate. Where did so many grain wagons come from?
But he did not dare ask. Since Murong Yan had commanded it, he could only fulfill his duty. Murong Yan, of course, would not say it openly, but the Yan Tower had accumulated no small amount of illicit income over the years. Furthermore, to gather such a large quantity of grain, he had secretly ordered Leng Feiyan to lead men disguised as horse bandits to plunder numerous wealthy households. In the skirmishes, casualties were inevitable. Once the victims recognized their origins, silencing them was common practice. Could he, as a "sage monarch" in the eyes of the people, ever speak such truths aloud?
Xijing and Guzhu had spies in Yan territory. While they couldn't infiltrate highly secure areas, the movement of grain wagons could not be hidden from them. Hearing that Murong Yan was stockpiling grain in Mayi City, Xijing and the others grew even more suspicious of a trap and dared not act rashly.
That night, Murong Yan said to Wang Yunzhao, "Wang Yunzhao, I must go to Mayi City."
Wang Yunzhao was greatly alarmed. "Your Majesty, given the current situation, how can you go to Mayi City?"
Murong Yan replied, "It is no matter. I believe Xijing and Guzhu will not move against Mayi again." He paused, then added, "A-Zuo... I am a little worried."
Wang Yunzhao said, "General Zuo has always been resilient; a few minor injuries would never leave her bedridden. But even if Your Majesty is worried, you cannot risk your own person! If..."
Murong Yan said, "If Xijing or Guzhu attack the city, my appearance will only make them more certain that we were prepared. As for who is behind this, it goes without saying. If the news of my departure from Jinyang spreads, I fear my Father and Brother will be unable to wait any longer. Therefore, my departure must be kept in absolute secrecy. You must act according to the situation."
Wang Yunzhao said, "This old servant will certainly do his best to cover for you. But Your Majesty, Mayi City can be lost, but you cannot!"
Murong Yan said, "I understand. Prepare some medicine for her wounds. Her health was poor before she left, and now, I do not know how she fares."
Wang Yunzhao answered in the affirmative. Seeing he could not stop the Emperor, he had no choice but to go and prepare.
In Mayi City, when Zuo Canglang woke, the light in the tent was dim. She felt a sharp pain in her chest; the tearing of the old wound was far more agonizing than the new one. She struggled to turn over and suddenly saw a shadow by her bed.
Having been in a stupor for days, her vision was blurred. She reached for her bow, only to realize the shadow was Murong Yan! Zuo Canglang gave a bitter smile. "Master, am I dreaming of you again?"
Murong Yan did not answer, but heard her continue, "It makes sense. Besides you, what else would I dream of?"
He froze.
After saying this, Zuo Canglang closed her eyes again. Her forehead was burning, her cheeks flushed, and her lips were parched and cracked. Murong Yan reached out to feel her forehead and muttered, "How do the army doctors usually administer medicine? She is this ill, and no one is watching over her?"
Zuo Canglang opened her eyes again to look at him. After a moment, she seemed to clear her head slightly and asked, "Master? You... why are you here?"
Murong Yan said, "If I hadn't come, you would have died of illness before Xijing even attacked!"
Zuo Canglang shook her head. "I'm fine, just a bit of a headache."
Murong Yan said angrily, "Where are the doctors? You have dozens of doctors in your army, yet not one is serving in this tent! Is this how you command your troops?"
Zuo Canglang felt a buzzing in her ears. She said, "They’ve all gone out to find medicinal herbs."
Murong Yan was stunned. Zuo Canglang gave him a smile, showing a glimpse of her pearly teeth; under the oil lamp, she looked almost playful. "When we arrived, Suye was already lost, and there were wounded soldiers everywhere. Then we kept fighting, and the doctors couldn't keep up. With medicine and supplies so scarce, they can't just watch over me alone."
Murong Yan sat by her bed. "You are the Commander-in-Chief. Did the imperial physicians not prepare all the herbs you needed before you left?"
Zuo Canglang said, "They prepared a lot, but the others needed them more. I couldn't just let those who were dying go untreated."
Murong Yan gently stroked her face. "A person like you is too soft-hearted; you shouldn't be on a battlefield."
Zuo Canglang smiled, the fever making her consciousness hazy. She whispered, "Yes... if my father hadn't died, perhaps I should have stayed in a lady's chambers, spending my days embroidering or sewing soles. When I grew up, if I were lucky, I might have married a scholar and become an official's wife. Or at worst, I’d marry a hunter—coarse tea, simple meals, a thorn for a hairpin and cloth for clothes. It would have been a peaceful, worry-free life."
Her thoughts drifted far away. Murong Yan said, "But now, you are the General of the Flying Cavalry of Great Yan. Even if it isn't a life of luxury, you have high rank and a generous salary. Is that not good?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I don't know. Sometimes I think it's very good. Other times, when blood splatters on me, it's frightening."
Murong Yan found the wound medicine from his travel pack and unwound the gauze from her injury. The arrow wound was shocking to behold. Frowning, he fed her a few pills for internal injuries and used wine to clean the wound. He asked, "If time could turn back, would you wish to return to when your father was still alive?"
Zuo Canglang said, "I would. I would definitely save him."
Murong Yan smiled. "And then continue the life you just described?"
Zuo Canglang said, "And then I would run away... to meet my Master."
Murong Yan slowly closed his eyes, the world falling into darkness, leaving only the sound of the cold frontier wind sweeping past the tent. He said, "You speak such beautiful words of devotion."
How could someone speak such beautiful words? Anyone who heard them would lose their heart.
He slowly took her hand. Her fingers were burning hot; holding them in his palm felt as if his own hand had caught fire. *A-Zuo, if one day I told you everything I have done, would you still be so resolute?*
*I do not want to be close to you while wearing a mask; it makes me feel a thousand miles away. But if I took it off, would you still love the rotting heart beneath?* He took a deep breath and felt a sense of self-mockery. *Murong Yan, what has happened to you?*
He brought her hand to his lips, like a prisoner in a cold palace, desperate for that single spark of light and warmth.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
平安扣 | Peace Buckle | A traditional Chinese jade ornament shaped like a flat disc with a hole in the center, symbolizing safety and peace.
骠骑大将军 | General of the Flying Cavalry | A high-ranking military title, often translated as General of Chariots and Cavalry.
燕楼 | Yan Tower | Murong Yan's secret intelligence and assassin organization.
从一品 | Senior First Rank | A high bureaucratic rank in the imperial Chinese grading system (Rank 1b).
情话 | Words of Devotion / Love Words | Sweet talk or intimate expressions of affection between lovers.
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The Abandoned Empress General | Chapter 48 | Whispers of Devotion | Novela.app | Novela.app
