On this day, Jiang Sanyi had just finished the morning court session and was preparing to leave the palace when someone suddenly hurried after him. "Chancellor Jiang!"
Jiang Sanyi turned around and saw Di Lianzhong. He was somewhat surprised; although Di Lianzhong was deeply indebted to him, the two did not usually display much intimacy in public. He cupped his hands in greeting. "Grand Marshal Di, what brings you here?"
Di Lianzhong glanced at Zheng Zhizhou, who was standing nearby. Jiang Sanyi understood the hint and gestured for Zheng Zhizhou to leave first. Only then did Di Lianzhong speak. "Lord Jiang, there is a matter that has left me quite unsettled."
"What is it?" Jiang Sanyi asked. "Please, Grand Marshal, speak plainly."
Di Lianzhong gritted his teeth and said, "To tell you the truth, when Zuo Canglang was captured back then... it wasn't actually an accident." Seeing Jiang Sanyi’s slight start, he decided to lay everything bare. "I made a deal with Ren Xuan to lure her into a trap. I thought West Jing would never give her a chance to live, but I didn't expect that Ren Xuan to be so untrustworthy. Not only did the Emperor of West Jing spare her life, but he also demanded an exorbitant price from His Majesty. And His Majesty... he actually agreed to trade cities for her. Now, he has even sent people to rescue her with everything we have."
Jiang Sanyi began to understand. Di Lianzhong continued, "If she returns safely, I fear... she will slander me relentlessly before His Majesty. What should I do?"
Jiang Sanyi replied, "Grand Marshal, do you know that when Ren Xuan was captured, I advised His Majesty three times to execute him to appease the people's anger? Zuo Canglang saved his life; it is not surprising that he refused to take hers."
Di Lianzhong said anxiously, "What use is saying that now, Chancellor?! What I worry about is..."
Jiang Sanyi thought for a moment and asked, "When you had your secret talks with Ren Xuan, did she obtain any physical evidence?"
"No, she didn't," Di Lianzhong admitted. "But she is so close to His Majesty. Even without evidence, a few whispers on the pillow would be enough to take my life, wouldn't it?"
Jiang Sanyi looked at him steadily and slowly smiled. "It wouldn't."
Di Lianzhong was stunned. Before he could ask more, Jiang Sanyi walked away with long strides.
By the time Zuo Canglang reached the Panlong Valley mountain range, it was already the eleventh month, and the weather had begun to turn cold. The mountain paths were rugged and difficult to traverse; most of the time, Leng Feiyan carried her. After a bumpy journey, they finally reached the lands of Yan.
When Leng Feiyan set her down, Zuo Canglang was reluctant. "Carry me a little longer."
Leng Feiyan jerked her chin toward the path ahead. Zuo Canglang froze. Turning her head, she saw Murong Yan standing by a stream, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade belt, his figure poised against the wind. Seeing her look over, he simply smiled. Zuo Canglang ran a few steps and suddenly threw herself into his arms.
Murong Yan was taken aback. For a long moment, ignoring the gazes of Leng Feiyan, Yang Lianting, and the others, he slowly spread his arms and held her waist. The person in his arms was incredibly thin. He let out a soft sigh and said, "At least you're still in one piece."
Zuo Canglang blushed. In all these years, when had she ever been so proactive?
It was only because of those days and nights of longing that this single embrace felt so real.
She released him and said, "My Lord, I..." She had intended to take his hand and place it on her lower abdomen, but suddenly remembering the audience behind her, she felt too embarrassed. Murong Yan patted her shoulder. Behind her, Yang Lianting and Leng Feiyan already knew of their relationship, so they thought nothing of it.
However, Duanmu Shang and Duanmu Rou found it quite strange and averted their eyes. Murong Yan spoke up, "You have done well this time. Delivering her here is enough. You may go."
The group bowed and departed.
Once they were far away, Murong Yan swept Zuo Canglang up into his arms. Perhaps this was the time to speak words of deep affection or blood-soaked longing, but suddenly, he didn't want to say anything at all. Zuo Canglang wrapped her arms around his neck. Usually restrained and controlled, she suddenly whispered, "Back in Suye City, when I realized I had fallen into the enemy's trap, I thought I was doomed for sure."
Murong Yan gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. The woman in his arms was as light as a feather as he walked with steady steps. Zuo Canglang continued, "At the time, I thought that as a general, dying on the battlefield wouldn't be a regret. But later, I thought I must come back. I had to come back alive."
Murong Yan lowered his head to meet her gaze. Her eyes were tender enough to drip with emotion as she whispered, "Your Majesty, I am pregnant."
Murong Yan’s footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second before resuming their rhythm. He asked softly, "When did this happen? Why was I never informed?"
Zuo Canglang pressed her face against his chest. "It has been over six months."
Murong Yan glanced at her abdomen. She was truly too emaciated; her stomach was slightly rounded, but it did not look like a six-month pregnancy. Zuo Canglang studied his expression and asked, "Your Majesty?"
Murong Yan set her on the ground and reached out to touch her belly. "Ah-Zuo."
"Is Your Majesty unhappy?" she asked.
"How could I be?" Murong Yan replied. "I am only startled when I think of the dangers you faced on the road. Fortunately, both you and the child are safe."
Zuo Canglang slowly leaned against his shoulder. Murong Yan felt a faint, weak movement from within her womb. He froze. Zuo Canglang said, "Given my current identity, it is not suitable to make this public. I was thinking of not returning to Jinyang for now, and making plans after the child is born."
Murong Yan patted her shoulder and said, "No matter what, this is my flesh and blood. How can I allow it to wander outside?"
Zuo Canglang was slightly stunned. He gently stroked her long hair and said, "In any case, the title of 'Madam Wen' is merely an empty name. Everyone, including Wen Xingye, knew the truth. Now that things have come to this, Ah-Zuo, after we return to the palace, I will announce this to the court."
The mountain wind whistled past her ears, and Zuo Canglang felt as if she were hearing echoes, a hallucination of sorts. But Murong Yan’s gaze was solemn and firm. He said, "I will grant you a consort's rank. This child will be my eldest son."
Zuo Canglang gripped his hand tightly. At that moment, all the suffering felt worthwhile. She whispered, "To hear such words from Your Majesty, I could die without regrets. But doing this might harm Your Majesty's reputation. In my opinion, it would be better to..."
Before she could finish, Murong Yan picked her up again. "I cannot, for the sake of a bit of worldly reputation, ignore my own flesh and blood... and, and you."
Zuo Canglang nestled in his arms. In the deep mountains of early winter, only the pines and cypresses remained green. The sound of flowing water murmured in her ears, and the clouds in the sky scattered and gathered again. The world felt peaceful and beautiful, and the hardships and humiliations she had suffered in the enemy nation began to slowly heal.
His gaze was the ultimate medicine for her wounds.
When the carriage entered Jinyang, the gate official only performed a routine inspection. Seeing Murong Yan inside the carriage, he was startled and moved to bow, but Murong Yan said, "Dispense with the formalities. Do not disturb others."
Thus, the guards let them through silently.
Upon returning to the palace, Murong Yan took her back to Nanqing Palace. Wang Yunzhao hurriedly ordered the palace maids to bring some food so she could fill her stomach, and Murong Yan then summoned the imperial physicians to examine her.
The Head of the Imperial Physicians, Hai Yun, and the Assistant Physician, Zhao Zien, both hurried over. Arriving with them was Queen Jiang Bilan. Murong Yan stayed by Zuo Canglang’s bedside. Inside the bedchamber of Nanqing Palace, the charcoal brazier was burning brightly. Dressed in a thin, soft sleeping robe with her long hair loose, Zuo Canglang lost a bit of her usual grit and gained a different kind of tenderness.
As Murong Yan kept watch by her bed, a voice announced loudly from outside, "Her Majesty the Queen arrives!"
Zuo Canglang was startled and moved to rise, but Murong Yan signaled for her to stay still. Jiang Bilan entered first. Before Murong Yan could speak, she asked, "What has happened, Your Majesty? You summoned the physicians as soon as you returned. Are you feeling unwell?"
As she finished speaking, she seemed to finally notice Zuo Canglang on the bed and smiled. "General? I heard the General unfortunately fell into the hands of the West Jing rebels. It is wonderful to see you have returned safely."
Zuo Canglang replied, "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern."
Jiang Bilan said with a smile, "His Majesty summoned the physicians in such haste. Is the General unwell somewhere?"
Murong Yan waved his hand. Hai Yun, the Head Physician, stepped forward to take her pulse, but Zuo Canglang refused to offer her hand. "Physician Zhao," she said. Only then did Zhao Zien step forward. Hai Yun’s expression turned very sour, but he stepped aside nonetheless.
Zhao Zien carefully felt her pulse. After a long time, he could not hide his astonishment. "General..." He looked back at Murong Yan.
Murong Yan said slowly, "General Zuo is pregnant. This is a joyous occasion; there is no need to hide it."
The faces of every servant in the hall changed, and Jiang Bilan looked as if she had been struck. Then, she said, "That is strange. General Zuo is the wife of the late General Wen. General Wen has been dead for several years; I wonder where the General’s pregnancy came from?"
Murong Yan turned and met her gaze. "Ah-Zuo and General Wen were never truly husband and wife. General Wen and his wife were always deeply in love; his taking her as a concubine was merely out of appreciation for her talent. Now that the deceased is gone and the Duke of Ding and his wife have no one to rely on in their old age, I ordered Ah-Zuo to uphold the Wen family name."
Jiang Bilan’s face turned deathly pale. By saying this, was he determined to give her an official status?!
Sure enough, Murong Yan said slowly, "Now, I cannot allow my own flesh and blood to remain unrecognized. It is time to give her a proper title."
Jiang Bilan felt a sweetness in her mouth; her silver teeth had bitten through her lip. She said, "If Your Majesty does this, where do you intend to place the old subordinates of the Wen family in the army?"
Murong Yan took Zuo Canglang’s hand. "The world is full of changes; how can everything be perfect?"
Zhao Zien naturally dared not say anything. What could he, a mere physician, say? After finishing the pulse reading, he said, "The General’s body is weak, but fortunately, the pregnancy is stable. However, she must remain in bed and rest from now on. Great care must be taken with her diet; there must be no more negligence."
Zuo Canglang held Murong Yan’s hand. Murong Yan met her eyes and said, "As for the court officials, I will personally clarify the matter. You just focus on resting. Currently, there is only the Queen in the palace; the titles of the Four Consorts are all vacant. See which one you would like. I will have the Minister of the Imperial Clan draft the decree tomorrow."
Zuo Canglang pursed her lips, the shock and doubt feeling like a dream. Jiang Bilan clenched her right hand, her nails digging into her flesh—to let this woman choose her own title right in front of her, the Queen. Had he ever even considered her?
Her heart was filled with extreme resentment. Beside them, Zhao Zien had finished his diagnosis. Murong Yan said, "From now on, you will personally oversee everything in Nanqing Palace. You must be meticulous and not delegate your duties to others."
Zhao Zien bowed. "It is this humble official's honor. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as the General follows my medical advice, in five months, I guarantee Your Majesty will welcome a royal heir."
Murong Yan’s expression slowly froze. Zuo Canglang asked softly, "What did you say?"
Zhao Zien looked at her, then at Murong Yan. "The General is currently five months pregnant. In five months, she should give birth to the royal heir. Is... is there something wrong?"
Zuo Canglang threw a pillow at him and shouted angrily, "Physician Zhao, you had better know what you are saying!" Her anger was beyond words. Five months ago, she was at Xiaoquan Mountain; how could she have possibly gotten pregnant then?!
Murong Yan’s eyes also darkened. "Assistant Physician, is it possible your diagnosis is incorrect?"
Zhao Zien looked bewildered. "Your Majesty, based on the General’s pulse, she is indeed five months pregnant. There is no mistake."
Murong Yan glanced at Zuo Canglang and turned to the Head Physician. "Head Physician Hai."
Hai Yun did not need to be told twice. He immediately stepped forward and took Zuo Canglang’s pulse again. After a moment, he knelt on the ground. "Reporting to Your Majesty and the Queen, the child in the General’s womb is indeed just over five months old. The difference is no more than ten days."
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