The sky gradually darkened, and the jailers who had been patrolling the corridors began to settle down. Zuo Canglang sat leaning against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest. She knew this matter would not end so easily; those intent on her death would surely seize this opportunity.
Yet, she no longer wished to dwell on it. She only wanted to sit there in silence, ignoring everything and thinking of no one.
After a while, a jailer arrived to deliver food, placing a bowl of porridge by the door. Zuo Canglang sat for a moment before eventually walking over. As someone who had never been cherished by the world, she did not have the luxury of waiting for someone to coax her into eating. She picked up the bowl; the porridge was thick, and though cold, it was still edible.
She took several large gulps, but suddenly noticed something shimmering at the bottom of the bowl. Poking through the grains of rice with her chopsticks, she was struck with horror—there lay the severed head of a vibrantly colored snake.
Her hand shook, and the bowl flipped onto the ground. Her stomach churned violently; she turned her head and vomited.
In that instant, the truth became clear. She had always assumed that the person who tried to kill her during her last imprisonment was Jiang Sanyi. After all, it would have been easy for him to find someone to do his bidding in the Imperial Prison. But now it seemed the culprit was actually Jiang Bilan.
Jiang Bilan must have discovered her weakness during the rescue at Fangcheng. But had her reach already extended into the depths of the Imperial Prison?
Was this miscarriage also part of her scheme? Why would she use her own child for such a poisonous plot? Even setting aside maternal affection, such a price was simply not worth it.
Her mind raced, though her stomach continued to heave until she was retching nothing but bile. Suddenly, a rustling sound emerged from the straw beside her. The hair on Zuo Canglang’s neck stood on end. She turned her head and saw a black snake weaving in and out of the straw.
She backed away slowly, her hands empty. The snake, however, drew closer and closer. Sweat poured from her body like rain. Finally, seeing no other way, she closed her eyes and lunged, grabbing the snake. Unsure if she had pinned its vitals, she slammed it with all her might against the wall.
The snake’s body fell to the floor, motionless. Yet the cold, slimy sensation lingered on her skin like a maggot in her bones, refusing to dissipate.
She panted heavily, her stomach still cramping in waves of nausea. She kept her eyes fixed on the straw, constantly scanning every corner of the cell.
Suddenly, something brushed against the top of her head. She looked up to see a snake striped with green, black, and yellow slowly crawling down from above. As she raised her head, the snake’s flickering tongue nearly touched the tip of her nose.
"Ah—!" she screamed hoarsely, raising her hands to shield herself. The snake struck, biting her wrist. She didn't know if it was venomous and had no time to think. She grabbed its tail and hurled it away. Then, she clutched her head in her hands, trembling uncontrollably. What should she do? He wouldn't let her out. What was she to do?
She did not sleep all night, her body racked by fits of shivering. When someone came to deliver food again, she cautiously poked through the rice with her chopsticks. As expected, a bloody snake head lay hidden beneath. She knew she should pick it out and force herself to eat. She had no idea how long she would be trapped here; if she didn't eat, others would only think she was acting out of spite.
No one would suspect a hidden, malicious plot.
But she couldn't do it. The mere thought of those things entering her mouth made her vomit.
***
Meanwhile, a subtle shift was occurring in the imperial court. Since the death of Wen Qi, the position of Grand Marshal had remained vacant. Originally, as the General of the Agile Cavalry, Zuo Canglang held nearly half of the military power. Murong Yan had intended to promote her to Defender General, which would have made granting her the title of Grand Marshal a natural progression.
However, in the past two days, Murong Yan had suddenly summoned Di Lianzhong. Di Lianzhong was a man of considerable military merit and had been a comrade-in-arms of Wen Xingye. He once held significant prestige in the army until Wen Xingye accused him of embezzling military pay. Murong Yuan had been displeased, and over time, Di Lianzhong was cast aside.
Now that he had returned to court, the ministers were baffled by Murong Yan’s intentions.
During the morning assembly that day, Murong Yan issued an imperial decree, declaring that the accusations of embezzlement against Di Lianzhong were entirely groundless. Now that the truth had been revealed, the court would reinstate him, appointing him as the Defender General with the added title of Grand Marshal.
This decision sent shockwaves through the military. Yet, at this moment, no one dared to speak out. Zuo Canglang stood accused of harming the Queen and murdering the imperial heir—a crime no one could defend. It was already a stroke of luck that Murong Yan had not yet ordered her execution. Now that she was in prison, could they really expect Murong Yan to reserve the title of Grand Marshal for her?
If she could no longer serve, Di Lianzhong, by virtue of both seniority and merit, was a fitting candidate for the rank of a first-grade military official.
With no objections raised, the matter was settled.
Having received such a great favor from Jiang Sanyi, Di Lianzhong could not limit his gratitude to mere words. He praised Jiang Sanyi’s eldest son, Jiang Qi, as being sharp and brave. Jiang Sanyi took the opportunity to have Jiang Qi acknowledge Di Lianzhong as his godfather. Consequently, even if Di Lianzhong could not immediately entrust Jiang Qi with heavy responsibilities, it became natural for him to keep the young man by his side within the military.
The veteran generals were well aware of the old grudge between Di Lianzhong and the Wen family. Men like Yuan Xi were naturally unwilling to submit to him. Since Di Lianzhong had been away from the army for a long time, he had to slowly cultivate his own confidants. Within a short span, a subtle transformation began to take hold of the military.
***
That night, Murong Yan stayed with Jiang Bilan until she finally fell asleep, after which he left the Phoenix Nest Palace. He had hardly shared a bed with her lately, though he came to accompany her every evening.
Wang Yunzhao followed behind Murong Yan and whispered, "Your Majesty..."
Murong Yan gave a cold snort. "You have been by my side for many years; you should know which words are better left unsaid." At the very least, they should not be said now.
Wang Yunzhao paused but spoke anyway. "Your Majesty, the last time the General was imprisoned, there were those in the Imperial Prison who sought her death." Murong Yan remained unmoved. Wang Yunzhao continued, "Please consider, Your Majesty—given General Zuo’s temperament, if she hadn't truly reached the end of her rope, why would she have sung a song of Chu for help and knelt to beg for mercy?"
Murong Yan replied, "I thought she had simply come to her senses. So, it was out of desperation? It seems she has truly been wronged."
Wang Yunzhao hadn't expected him to take it that way and immediately said, "Your Majesty..."
Murong Yan said sternly, "Silence! If she is so unwilling, why should I force her?" With that, he strode away. Wang Yunzhao hurried to keep up, wanting to say more, but seeing the King's expression, he dared not open his mouth again.
The next day, in the study, Murong Yan was reviewing memorials. The reaction to Zuo Canglang’s current imprisonment was not particularly intense. Perhaps because of the previous incident, no one believed he would truly punish her severely. After all, he had been furious then as well, yet he released her after only a day and a night.
Furthermore, after her release, his favor toward her had only increased. Thus, neither the generals nor the Wen family felt the same panic as before. However, Di Lianzhong submitted a memorial accusing Zhuge Jin of disrespect. He claimed that when he inspected the army and his carriage reached the camp gates, Zhuge Jin refused to come out to greet him, making him wait outside for an hour.
Murong Yan set the memorial aside without a response.
The study was silent when a figure appeared like a shadow, standing noiselessly at the foot of the room. The palace attendants were startled, but fortunately, Wang Yunzhao was present to prevent an outcry. Murong Yan glanced up and said, "Leng Feiyan, did you receive a summons to appear in my study like this?"
Leng Feiyan stood tall without kneeling. "A summons? Back when my Lord was still the Second Prince, you didn't put on such grand airs."
The vermilion brush in Murong Yan’s hand paused, leaving a small ink stain on the memorial. He looked up, meeting Leng Feiyan’s gaze directly. She did not flinch. "The last time A-Zuo was imprisoned, it was because you wanted to support the Duanmu family. What is the reason this time?"
Murong Yan’s expression darkened. "Is this something you should be questioning?"
Leng Feiyan said, "I occasionally wonder. This time, rather than her murdering the imperial heir, it is more that you have always harbored suspicions toward Wen Qi’s old subordinates. Thus, you had to find a pretext that would leave everyone speechless to have her imprisoned. Only then could you rightfully support a faction opposed to the Wen family to weaken their influence in the army. Because, in the beginning, it was you who drove Wen Qi to his death."
Murong Yan slowly set down his brush and used a piece of silk to wipe the ink from his hand. Wang Yunzhao was breaking into a cold sweat on the side, keeping his head low and not daring to speak.
Murong Yan asked, "And so?"
Leng Feiyan said, "You view us all as a transaction—you invest, and we provide a return. So, over these years, we have supported you, and you have given us power and status. But even if you were raising a dog, wouldn't there be a shred of old affection to remember? I cannot understand you, but I hope you know that for her, it was never about a transaction. Everything you gave her was nothing more than trivialities. If you cannot even trust her, is there a single person left in this world you can trust?"
Murong Yan said, "What is the point of telling me this? If you wish to draw your sword against me, you are welcome to try."
"I hope that day never comes," Leng Feiyan said before turning to leave. The study fell into a heavy silence. Wang Yunzhao didn't dare speak, and the attendants nearby all knelt, trembling. Murong Yan scanned the room and whispered, "That person..."
Then he looked at Wang Yunzhao. With just a single glance, Wang Yunzhao understood—the attendants serving in the study today could not be allowed to live.
***
The following day, Murong Yan ordered Di Lianzhong to station troops at Xiaoquan Mountain. Currently, Xijing would not move against Yan, but the smaller states of Guzhu, Tuhe, and Wuzhong, sensing that Yan had not yet recovered its strength, began to frequently harass the border cities.
They knew that once Yan truly recovered, they would be in grave danger. The previous ruler, Murong Yuan, had feared war and always prioritized peace. Murong Yan’s style, however, was worlds apart from his father’s.
When Xijing had launched its massive invasion of Yan, they had watched from the sidelines. Now that Xijing had retreated west of the White Wolf River, they sensed a crisis.
Yet even they did not expect Murong Yan to dare send troops against Guzhu at this time. That night, Murong Yan summoned Di Lianzhong to the palace, spread out a map of Xiaoquan Mountain, and spoke with him through the night. Di Lianzhong was well-versed in military strategy and desperately needed an opportunity to earn new merits and establish his prestige in the army.
He cherished this chance and remained extremely cautious during his discussions with Murong Yan.
The next day, with Di Lianzhong as the Commander-in-Chief and Jiang Qi as the Vice Commander, an army of one hundred thousand set out for Xiaoquan Mountain.
Everything was planned perfectly; both he and Jiang Qi knew the map of Xiaoquan Mountain like the back of their hands. This battle was meant to be one of glory and achievement, a demonstration of Yan’s might to the smaller states. However, when the great army reached the outskirts of Mayi City and began to set up camp, rumors began to spread like wildfire.
Some claimed that Zuo Canglang had already been persecuted to death and that Murong Yan, having no other generals to use, was forced to send Di Lianzhong as commander!
Di Lianzhong’s prestige in the army could not compare to Zuo Canglang’s. Once the rumors started, the soldiers' morale wavered. Di Lianzhong was furious and executed dozens of soldiers for spreading rumors, but this only caused the whispers to intensify.
That night, some soldiers deserted. Di Lianzhong’s rage grew. Although he acknowledged Zuo Canglang’s military achievements, he secretly looked down on her. She was just a young girl who had been unknown until she suddenly became famous in a single battle. Perhaps Murong Yan had been the one strategizing for her all along.
If not for Murong Yan’s deliberate promotion, what could a woman possibly achieve?
Was she truly worth these soldiers putting her on a pedestal?
He felt the current instability was simply because he had been away from the field for too long. Deciding that further delay would be useless, he consulted with Jiang Qi and decided to launch a surprise attack on Xiaoquan Mountain that very night.
However, when he led his troops to Xiaoquan Mountain, the command flag of Ren Xuan from Xijing was flying atop the heights. Hesitating, Di Lianzhong did not dare to attack—he didn't even know when Xiaoquan Mountain had changed hands, so how could he risk a siege?
After much deliberation, he ordered a retreat. The soldiers were already dispirited; having finally been roused for a siege only to return empty-handed, their morale plummeted further. Just then, a massive force surged out from Xiaoquan Mountain, pursuing the retreating Yan army.
Di Lianzhong ordered his men to turn and fight, but their formation was already in chaos. Enemy reinforcements continued to pour out of the city. Before dawn, Di Lianzhong couldn't even tell if they were truly Xijing troops, let alone their numbers. How could he fight back?
In the panic, the army fell into total disarray. By the time they retreated to Mayi City, they had lost over ten thousand soldiers. The loss of horses and supplies was incalculable.
In truth, the actual losses were not yet catastrophic. He had retreated with the rear guard becoming the front, moving slowly and with caution. But when the army returned to camp, the soldiers were utterly demoralized, looking like terrified fugitives.
Di Lianzhong was caught in a dilemma. If he continued to fight, could he truly take Xiaoquan Mountain with the current state of morale? Even if he succeeded, how many men would he lose?
But if he retreated, his authority in the army would be destroyed, and his title of Grand Marshal would become the laughingstock of the world. How could he lose to a mere woman?
At this point, the best course of action would be to send a letter asking Murong Yan to let Zuo Canglang make a public appearance, which would debunk the rumors. Only then could he reorganize the army. Ideally, he would even plead for mercy on her behalf; that way, he could win over the soldiers and ensure the Wen family's old subordinates wouldn't see him as an enemy.
But if he pleaded for Zuo Canglang, would Jiang Sanyi allow it? And what would Murong Yan think? He would surely conclude that Di Lianzhong was inferior to Zuo Canglang after all.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, unable to retreat, he could only grit his teeth and prepare for another battle.
He chose to fight during the day this time, cautiously calling for a challenge beneath the city walls. However, the Guzhu general, He Dian, looked down at him from the battlements and said, "I wondered who it was. So, it’s the embezzler Di Lianzhong. Go back; killing you would only soil my blade."
Enraged, Di Lianzhong ordered the siege. While he was attacking the city, Wuzhong soldiers circled around to the rear of the Yan army, launching a pincer attack with the Guzhu forces. Seeing the situation turn dire, Di Lianzhong was forced to order another retreat. This time, the vanguard of twenty thousand elite troops was completely lost. He led the remaining sixty thousand back to Mayi City once more.
Two battles, no victories, heavy losses, and the total loss of morale.
Left with no choice, Di Lianzhong sent a dispatch to Murong Yan to beg for forgiveness.
***
Murong Yan received the dispatch and remained silent for a long time. Only then did Wang Yunzhao say cautiously, "Your Majesty, the General has been in prison for quite some time now; she must have reflected enough. Perhaps... Your Majesty could go see her later? She is your person, after all; there shouldn't be any lasting grudges."
Murong Yan did not answer him. Instead, he threw the dispatch onto the floor and muttered, "Rotten wood cannot be carved." After a moment of thought, he said, "Let’s go. We’ll go see her."
Everyone assumed that given his relationship with Zuo Canglang, it was just a few days of punishment. Even Murong Yan himself thought: what small tricks could Jiang Bilan possibly use? At most, she would have been made to kneel for a long time.
However, when he arrived at the prison, even he was shocked. Zuo Canglang was far from the straw pile, huddled in a corner against the wall, her food completely untouched. The jailer opened the cell door, and Murong Yan and Wang Yunzhao stepped inside. Zuo Canglang did not move. Wang Yunzhao hurried to say, "General? General? His Majesty has come to see you."
He reached out, but the moment his fingertips touched her, Zuo Canglang reacted like a cornered beast. She violently threw off his hand, her fingernails scratching his skin and leaving a bloody trail. She shrank further into the shadows.
Wang Yunzhao was stunned. Murong Yan stepped forward slowly, crouching down to look at her. The jailer behind him quickly said, "Your Majesty, the prisoner has been in a state of frenzy lately. Please keep your distance to avoid any harm to your person!"
Murong Yan ignored him and slowly approached Zuo Canglang. "What happened?" he asked, reaching out. In the shadows, he felt a sharp pain in his hand, but he did not pull back. Instead, he pulled her into a firm embrace. Her fingernails seemed to have been bitten down, leaving some edges jagged and sharp. They nearly tore into his flesh.
The jailers behind him panicked and rushed forward to pull her away. A cacophony of noise filled his ears, and he suddenly barked, "Stop!"
The people around him froze and backed away. He continued to hold her in his arms, grasping her hands. He realized her pupils were bloodshot, and she looked as if she had lost her mind. In just a few days, the person in his arms had wasted away until she was nothing but skin and bone.
"A-Zuo," he called softly, reaching out to brush the tangled hair from her forehead. She struggled several times, but having not eaten for days, she had no strength left.
Murong Yan said, "It’s alright. Be still. Be good, be still." She growled like a wild animal and finally bit down on his hand. Murong Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. A jailer behind him delivered a swift strike to the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.
She collapsed into his arms. Murong Yan picked her up and found that she was as light as if she had no weight at all.
He turned his head and saw the untouched food still sitting by the cell door. Behind him, Wang Yunzhao whispered, "Your Majesty, the General’s condition seems truly dire. Should we summon an imperial physician to examine her?"
Murong Yan gently stroked her long hair. Her entire body was ice-cold, and her hair was not fully dry, still damp within the strands. In such cold weather, she wore only a thin garment. He let go of her hands and saw they were cracked from the cold, her fingernails worn down to sharp points.
With just a firm squeeze, the blood from her chilblains stained his hand.
For some reason, he suddenly felt a pang of pity. This emotion felt absurd even to him—was Murong Yan the kind of person to pity others?
He should have pushed her away; he should have washed off the blood; he should have found it filthy.
Yet he continued to hold her. He turned to Wang Yunzhao and said, "I would very much like to know how, in just a few days, they managed to terrify my brave general into such a state. When you have the time, find out for me."
Wang Yunzhao knew exactly what those words meant and immediately replied, "This servant obeys."
Murong Yan carried Zuo Canglang out. Everyone around them kept their heads bowed, yet their eyes, intentionally or not, stole glances at them. Murong Yan ignored them completely, carrying her back to his carriage. He took a piece of silk and gently wiped the grime from her face.
By that day, the news had spread throughout the palace and the city. The story of the Emperor personally carrying Lady Wen out of prison and back to the palace was quite sensational.
Murong Yan seemed entirely unconcerned. He summoned the Head of the Imperial Physicians, Hai Yun, to treat her.
However, after checking her pulse, Hai Yun bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, the General is likely suffering from extreme agitation and anger. She has eaten very little these past days and has caught a chill. It is not serious; two doses of medicine should suffice."
Murong Yan said nothing, letting him remain kneeling for a while before saying, "The Head Physician must be very busy caring for the Queen lately. The matters of Nanqing Palace shall be handled by the Assistant Physician." The Assistant Physician, Zhao Zien, quickly knelt to accept the order.
Zhao Zien checked her pulse again, not even daring to ask the palace maids to wash her. She was too weak; having not eaten a grain of rice for days, she was only holding on because of her strong constitution. Murong Yan waited outside Nanqing Palace while Zhao Zien fed her some plain porridge before daring to prescribe medicine.
Murong Yan remained by her side. Suddenly, an announcement came from outside: "Her Majesty the Queen has arrived."
Murong Yan turned and saw Jiang Bilan walking in. She wore a pale gold palace robe and no makeup; her complexion, not yet recovered, looked somewhat frail. Murong Yan asked, "Why has the Queen come?"
Jiang Bilan gave him a formal bow and said, "I heard the General was ill and came specifically to see her. Regarding what happened last time... the General must have been careless. Having received such a heavy punishment, I also feel uneasy in my heart."
Murong Yan nodded. "The Queen is most thoughtful."
Jiang Bilan smiled and said, "How could I not be concerned about what concerns Your Majesty? I heard Your Majesty was so worried that you carried the General all the way back to the palace. I feared something terrible had happened."
Murong Yan sat by the bed and slowly took Zuo Canglang’s hand. He took the ointment Zhao Zien had prepared and began to gently apply it to her skin. Jiang Bilan was startled and stepped forward with a forced smile. "Let me do these things, Your Majesty. You are a man; how could you be suited for such tasks? I fear you might hurt the General."
Murong Yan glanced at her, also smiling, and said, "When I was in the palace before, there were always few people to serve me. I am actually quite skilled at certain things."
Jiang Bilan froze. He paid her no more mind, simply applying the ointment to Zuo Canglang’s hands, stroke by gentle stroke.
Jiang Bilan stood to the side, her heart filled with a sudden, hollow confusion.
***
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