Zuo Canglang had not returned to the Wen Manor, nor had she seen Yuan Xi or the others again.
As the Spring Festival approached, Da Xi Qin remained in prison. Unable to restrain himself, Yuan Xi went to visit him in secret. As a surrendered official, the downside for Da Xi Qin was that he was not given any significant responsibilities; the upside was that he had no real enemies. Since Zuo Canglang ignored him, no one else went out of their way to make things difficult for him.
Consequently, his days in prison were quite bearable.
He had always enjoyed mingling with the common folk, and because he was a man of many talents, the jailers were all eager to learn a thing or two from him. While they couldn't grasp the refined arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, they could certainly learn a few tricks for rolling dice and gambling. When Yuan Xi arrived, several jailers were huddled around him, seeking his guidance.
Yuan Xi shooed them away and entered the cell. Inside Da Xi Qin’s quarters stood a small, low table. Yuan Xi sat before it and said, "Sir, our General is truly something else. Now that she’s out, she hasn't even bothered to plead for your release."
Da Xi Qin asked, "Is the General well?"
Yuan Xi ordered wine and meat to be brought in, saying, "Mhm. But things seem a bit strange this time." He slowly recounted everything that had happened recently, then asked, "Sir, tell me—this time, Di Lianzhong is leading troops to Mount Xiaoquan. Isn't victory already in his grasp? Our General is staying in the palace and won't even return to the Wen Manor. What kind of plan could she possibly have left?"
Da Xi Qin pondered for a moment before speaking. "When we first set out for Mount Xiaoquan, I devised a strategy for her: take Mount Xiaoquan, Jiming Commandery, and Liangzhou. If we held those three locations, we could choke off Xi Jing to the west, overlook Wuzhong to the east, and retreat to defend Pingdu Pass. However, she chose Mount Xiaoquan, Jiming Commandery, and Kongzhou, pointedly leaving Liangzhou alone. I have been thinking about this lately, and I feel there must be a profound reason behind it. Yet, for the life of me, I cannot fathom it."
Yuan Xi said, "Liangzhou borders the White Wolf River and is currently occupied by Wuzhong. Did the General leave it because she was worried about Xi Jing crossing the river to harass us?"
Da Xi Qin replied, "She said nothing, but in my view, there is more to this matter."
Yuan Xi scoffed, "What more could there be? Even with the natural defense of the White Wolf River, Liangzhou isn't exactly an impregnable fortress. With that dog Di Lianzhong leading over a hundred thousand troops, wouldn't taking that place be easy?"
"Perhaps," Da Xi Qin murmured.
At the end of the twelfth lunar month, it was New Year's Eve.
Murong Yan did not hold a formal palace banquet, but he followed custom by bestowing dishes upon his officials. In the past, he had always shown great favor to the Wen Manor, usually sending two dishes. This year, however, he treated everyone equally, bestowing only one. Fortunately, Zuo Canglang had not returned and was still staying at Nanqing Palace, so it did not appear as though she was being slighted.
He spent the New Year's Eve dinner at Qifeng Palace with Jiang Bilan. Wang Yunzhao cautiously suggested, "Your Majesty, this year... the General is in the palace. Should we invite her to join the celebrations?"
Murong Yan replied, "We'll speak of it later."
Jiang Bilan had prepared extensively for this New Year's Eve. After a meticulously crafted dinner, she arranged for music and dance performances. Finally, she said, "Your Majesty, I have had the Bright Moon Terrace redecorated. Might I invite Your Majesty to move there to enjoy the festivities?"
Murong Yan smiled. "Since the Queen has put so much heart into this, I should naturally accompany you."
Thus, the King and Queen went together to the Bright Moon Terrace.
Wang Yunzhao thought it over and decided to send word to Zuo Canglang. His message was laced with hints—she and Murong Yan had been in a cold war for many days. This was a rare opportunity; she should go to the Bright Moon Terrace for a "chance encounter" to mend their relationship.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Canglang merely instructed an attendant to convey her thanks. Wang Yunzhao was secretly anxious, but there was nothing more he could do.
That night at the Bright Moon Terrace, Jiang Bilan performed the "Moon Goddess Melody" and danced herself. Murong Yan was captivated by her peerless beauty and spent the start of the new year with her until dawn.
Zuo Canglang stayed alone in Nanqing Palace. Yuan Xi sent people several times to invite her; the military officers had organized a banquet in the city and wanted her to join them, but she politely declined.
When Di Lianzhong reached Jiming Commandery, he encountered a problem. While the Yan army held the vital passes of the former Northern Yu lands, attacking Guzhu proved difficult—the Retired King, Murong Yuan, was in Guzhu's hands.
If pushed too hard, Guzhu might hang him from the city gates. Di Lianzhong would be unable to advance or retreat. If Murong Yuan’s life were lost because of his siege, could he bear the responsibility?
He considered sending a letter to ask Murong Yan for instructions, but that was also a dilemma. What kind of orders could Murong Yan give? He could neither tell Di Lianzhong to ignore his father's life nor tell him to abandon the conquest of Guzhu. Sending such a letter would only put Murong Yan in an impossible position.
If he caused the monarch grief before achieving a single merit, he would be seeking his own death.
Left with no choice, he settled for the next best thing. He ordered Wang Nan and his confidant, Xu Ci, to attack Guzhu together, while he himself turned his attention to Wuzhong. With Mount Xiaoquan, Jiming Commandery, and Kongzhou already in Yan's hands, things were indeed much more convenient.
However, as an old veteran, he saw at a glance that there was another strategic location that had not yet been occupied: Liangzhou, situated on the banks of the White Wolf River. Liangzhou currently belonged to Wuzhong, and Wuzhong didn't have a Retired King to use as a shield. Furthermore, if he seized such a geographical advantage and secured a victory in his first battle before reporting to Murong Yan, it would count as a significant achievement.
Though the first battle seemed simple, it could not be allowed to fail. Naturally, he led the troops himself. Wuzhong was no fool; they stood ready at Liangzhou and once again sought aid from Xi Jing. However, the Emperor of Xi Jing had failed several times already, and his people were full of grievances. Even Ren Xuan did not have the face to request another deployment against Yan.
While a large-scale deployment was impossible, Ren Xuan had come to the banks of the White Wolf River to inspect the Xi Jing border garrison. Ji Guang accompanied him. The two stood on the west bank, looking across the river toward Liangzhou. It was mid-January, the weather was freezing, and the White Wolf River had frozen over once again.
Walking on the surface of the river, Ren Xuan suddenly said, "Do you remember the last time? I fell for Zuo Canglang’s scheme and became a prisoner of Great Yan right here at the White Wolf River."
Ji Guang forced a smile and said, "That was merely due to a moment of carelessness on your part, General."
Ren Xuan glanced at him and said, "It was not." Ji Guang froze as Ren Xuan continued, "I lack that person's audacity."
Ji Guang said, "If you knew that, General, why did you let her live to see our Emperor? Wouldn't it have been better to kill her?"
Ren Xuan looked up as the northern wind howled, blowing shards of ice. He said, "I could not kill her. But now, she has given me a bit of inspiration."
Ji Guang didn't understand. Ren Xuan said, "When she was in the cell, she drew a river course and a city on the wall. At the time, I couldn't make sense of it. Now, I think I understand a little."
Ji Guang asked, "Has the General thought of a strategy?"
Ren Xuan smiled, raising his hand to trace a line in the air over the river. "Break the ice here, set fishing nets beneath it, and pour pig oil over the opening. Go, quickly."
Ji Guang complied and hurried to instruct the soldiers.
That night, Di Lianzhong led his troops to attack Liangzhou. He had over a hundred thousand men, while Liangzhou had only about thirty thousand. No matter what Wuzhong did, the city was doomed. Without other forces to aid Wuzhong, he had nothing to worry about.
As Yuan Xi had said, it was a matter of simply sitting back and collecting the credit.
Thus, Di Lianzhong was quite relaxed. He stood at a distance, watching his soldiers besiege the city while Jiang Qi commanded the front. Jiang Qi was also eager to earn merit and was charging at the vanguard.
Di Lianzhong was not particularly fervent. He was already the Grand Marshal; such a guaranteed victory wouldn't add much to his glory—it was merely a way to wash away his previous shame.
As he watched the battle from the rear, a stray fire arrow from somewhere nearby seemed to miss its mark, and a warhorse was startled in the darkness! Di Lianzhong followed the light and saw about a dozen figures hidden in the boundless dark. The borderlands had few trees and no cover; only the darkness provided concealment.
Now that the fire arrow had been shot, these people were exposed.
Di Lianzhong’s pupils constricted. Normally, a dozen people wouldn't be worth noting. But in that lightning-fast moment, he recognized the leader!
That was the great general of Xi Jing, Ren Xuan! He had dealt with Ren Xuan up close; when he had betrayed Zuo Canglang previously, the two had met face-to-face.
At this hour of the night, had Xi Jing entered the war?
No, that wasn't right. He only had a dozen men with him. Had they snuck over to observe the battle?
He had heard the Emperor of Xi Jing forbade sending troops, but if Ren Xuan saw an opportunity and had a hundred percent certainty of a great victory, the Emperor surely wouldn't blame him.
Was that why he had personally come out in the middle of the night to scout the situation?
Di Lianzhong’s heart raced. Victory in this battle was only a matter of time and didn't mean much. But if he could capture the great general of Xi Jing, Ren Xuan—now that would be a massive surprise!
Thinking this, he remained cautious. Pretending not to notice, he sent a few soldiers to scout. He was a veteran, after all, and knew that relying solely on scouts could lead to missed opportunities, so he quietly led a group to follow behind. Ren Xuan and his men were extremely alert; as soon as they spotted the scouts, they spurred their horses and fled! Along the way, their true strength was revealed—perhaps fearing discovery, Ren Xuan had indeed only brought a dozen or so riders!
Blood rushed to Di Lianzhong’s head. The Yan army was busy besieging the city. He ordered his personal guards, "Charge! Capture Ren Xuan!" With that, he was the first to draw his bow and fire an arrow. Ren Xuan pressed himself flat against his horse's back, and the arrow whistled past him.
Invigorated, Di Lianzhong pursued even more relentlessly. The ground was covered in ice, and even with cloth wrapped around the horses' hooves, travel was difficult. The group chased and paused, and Ren Xuan was truly running fast. Seeing him flee so desperately, Di Lianzhong became even more convinced that he was truly unprepared.
Just then, someone behind him fired an arrow that struck Ren Xuan in the shoulder.
Di Lianzhong’s eyes turned red with excitement. He shouted, "Capture Ren Xuan alive! Faster! Don't let him get away!"
His hundreds of personal guards all chased after Ren Xuan’s dozen riders, and before long, they reached the White Wolf River. The river surface was even slicker, and the horses slowed down. Ren Xuan felt the freezing wind cutting his face; ice shards crawled into his collar, but he could no longer even feel the pain.
When that person was fleeing all those years ago, was it like this for her too?
He tumbled from his horse, appearing to flee on foot. Because the White Wolf River refroze very quickly, a single person running on the edge was less likely to fall through the ice. Sure enough, as he ran forward, Di Lianzhong took the lead and rode his horse directly onto the frozen river.
The river surface, slick with pig oil and covered by only a thin layer of ice—how could it support a man and a horse charging across? Instantly, the horse’s head dipped, and both man and beast plunged into the river.
Behind him, some of his guards couldn't stop their horses in time and fell in as well. Those who didn't fall scrambled to prepare a rescue. But with so many people splashing in the ice hole, where could they find Di Lianzhong in the chaos?
At that moment, the Xi Jing soldiers who had been lying in ambush nearby charged out from the side. Di Lianzhong’s guards were terrified. In the darkness, they couldn't tell how many enemies there were and assumed they had fallen into a massive trap. They fled in a panic.
Ren Xuan clutched his right shoulder. Ji Guang rushed forward, shocked. "General, you're wounded?!"
Ren Xuan didn't actually feel much pain; it was so cold his body was numb. But he was in a good mood. He said, "Fish this Grand Marshal of Yan out for me."
The Jing soldiers complied and began pulling in the nets. In truth, to avoid detection, they had only hidden a few hundred men. But with everyone shouting and cheering now, who on the other side would dare to fight?
Before long, the fishing nets were pulled in. Di Lianzhong and the others were still struggling. Torches were lit, and Ren Xuan walked slowly up to him. "Grand Marshal Di, it has been a long time. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
Di Lianzhong widened his eyes, struggling for a long time before he recognized him. After confirming repeatedly that he had indeed fallen into the hands of the Jing army, he couldn't catch his breath and fainted straight away.
Ren Xuan ordered his men to bind Di Lianzhong and the others and take them back to camp. He turned back to look at the dark, wind-swept White Wolf River. If the one besieging the city today had been *her*, what would she have done?
Would she have fallen for this trick?
Probably not. As he thought this, he suddenly remembered the map of the river course she had left on the prison wall after her escape. Could it be... she had known long ago that he would encounter Di Lianzhong here today?!
No, impossible. If that were true, it would be too terrifying! He suddenly felt a strong urge to go back to that cell where she had been held and look at that map one more time.
As dawn broke, Jiang Qi captured Liangzhou. However, before he could celebrate, a soldier arrived with a report: "General! The Grand Marshal fell into the White Wolf River and was captured by the Xi Jing general, Ren Xuan!"
Jiang Qi could hardly believe his ears. While the Yan army attacked Liangzhou, they were naturally monitoring Xi Jing across the river. He grabbed the soldier’s collar and roared, "What nonsense are you talking? We received no signal of Xi Jing reinforcements! The Grand Marshal’s position in the rear was nearly thirty li from the White Wolf River! How could he fall into the river and into the hands of the Jing people?!"
The soldier’s lips trembled with fear. It took him a long time to say, "Gen-General, it’s true! Last night while we were besieging the city, the enemy general Ren Xuan came to scout the camp. The Grand Marshal discovered him and led troops in pursuit. Unexpectedly, the ice on the White Wolf River cracked, and he fell in. The guards couldn't save him in time... and now... now he has been taken!"
The joy Jiang Qi felt after taking the city vanished instantly.
When Zuo Canglang had been defeated, she had taken Mount Xiaoquan without losing a single general and occupied three major fortresses. She had left them the undefended lands of Northern Yu, which were almost entirely flat plains. Yet, in their first battle against a tiny place like Liangzhou—a small state like Wuzhong with no help or reinforcements—their commander-in-chief had been captured by Xi Jing, whose cities were eighty li away across the river!
If word of this got out, where would the army's prestige be? Where would their dignity go?
But there was no way to keep it quiet. Since he had no way to rescue Di Lianzhong, he had to send an urgent report to Murong Yan. How could such a thing be hidden?
Two days later, the battle report reached Jinyang. Murong Yan held it in his hands, reading it over and over. Jiang Sanyi was in the study at the time, reporting on new administrative matters with the Minister of Agriculture and his subordinates. Hearing that a battle report had arrived, he was initially joyful—this was a battle they were guaranteed to win. If they could fail even this, there would be no logic left in the world.
But seeing Murong Yan’s expression, he began to feel uneasy. After a long silence, he finally braced himself and asked, "Your Majesty, has there been a change in the war?"
Murong Yan didn't say a word. He threw the report directly into Jiang Sanyi’s face.
Jiang Sanyi scrambled to pick it up. As he read, his heart sank into a pit of misery.
Cold sweat drenched Jiang Sanyi’s forehead, and he could feel his legs shaking even as he knelt. Murong Yan slowly approached him and said, "Such a useless piece of trash! A glutton! You actually thought that with him, you could replace my General of the Agile Cavalry?! Hmm?!"
Jiang Sanyi pressed his forehead to the floor. "Your Majesty, this servant is guilty! I originally thought that Di Lianzhong’s past achievements were comparable to those of the Wen Manor, and that he was a man of outstanding intellect and strategy! I never imagined that after being idle at home for so long, his skills would have completely withered! To think he is now so utterly incompetent that he has damaged the prestige of Great Yan's army—this servant deserves death! I deserve ten thousand deaths!"
Murong Yan said, "You do deserve to die. If your eyes are so poor at judging men, what use are they?"
Beads of sweat from Jiang Sanyi’s forehead splashed onto the cold, polished palace tiles. He remained bowed, not daring to rise. It was the Minister of Agriculture beside him who spoke up: "Please appease your anger, Your Majesty. In my humble view, although the Grand Marshal was captured..."
Murong Yan snarled, "What kind of Grand Marshal is a glutton like that?!"
Startled, the Minister of Agriculture quickly corrected himself. "Though Di Lianzhong was captured, fortunately, only his personal guards fell into enemy hands. There were no casualties among the main army. Our forces did, after all, capture Liangzhou, and the eldest young master of the Jiang family fought bravely throughout. Your Majesty has merely lost a useless man; it is not worth a sovereign's wrath."
Murong Yan huffed and slowly walked over to stand before Jiang Sanyi. "You should take that mind of yours, so focused on power struggles, and apply it to the right path for once. Whether as a relative of the throne or a Chancellor of the court, the interests of the nation must ultimately come first."
Jiang Sanyi said, "Your Majesty’s teachings—this servant will surely keep them in mind!"
Only then did Murong Yan say, "Withdraw. In the future, do not let me hear a single word about that man again."
At that time, Zuo Canglang was in Nanqing Palace. There was a rare bit of sun, so she had her chair moved into the courtyard to bask in it.
Even with the sun, it was cold in the dead of winter. Wei Wei placed a thin blanket over her, and Ke Qing covered her with a fox-fur coat—the skin of a sand fox that Yuan Xi and the others had hunted specifically for her.
She huddled inside the fox-fur coat, her face appearing small and delicate amidst the fluffy fur, looking quite charming.
When Murong Yan walked in, Zuo Canglang did not see him. Ke Qing and Wei Wei moved to kneel, but he raised a hand to stop them. Wang Yunzhao gave a look and led the servants away. Murong Yan stepped slowly behind Zuo Canglang. She pointed to her shoulder and said, "Help me rub this. When I was drawing bows and shooting arrows every day, I didn't notice it, but after staying in the palace for a few days, it’s started to ache."
A pair of hands settled on her shoulders, massaging them. Zuo Canglang said, "These hands of yours are truly accustomed to labor; the strength is perfect." No one behind her spoke. She opened her eyes, and his tall, handsome figure was clearly reflected in her pupils.
Zuo Canglang froze, then shifted her body slightly to avoid his touch. "Why has Your Majesty come?"
Murong Yan said, "I was passing by Nanqing Palace and suddenly thought of you, so I came in to see."
Zuo Canglang said, "I thought I had offended someone again and Your Majesty had come to demand an accounting."
Murong Yan said helplessly, "Right now, you are lying down and I am standing. Who exactly looks like they are demanding an accounting?"
Zuo Canglang moved to stand up, but Murong Yan reached out to stop her. "Stay lying down. You've been disrespectful so many times already; what's one more?"
Zuo Canglang settled back into her coat. Murong Yan slowly leaned down, examining the garment closely. "This fox fur is of good quality. Who gave it to you?"
Zuo Canglang replied, "Regardless of who it was, Your Majesty certainly wouldn't have been so generous."
Murong Yan leaned in further, drawing close to her. Their eyes met. He braced his hands on the armrests of the lounge chair, seeing his own reflection in her eyes. After a long moment, he leaned closer, his lips about to brush her cheek, but she turned her head away.
Murong Yan said displeasedly, "What, after all these days, you're still angry?"
Zuo Canglang let out a cold laugh. "Indeed. Your Majesty believes that only the Queen's child is a royal heir, while my child's life is as worthless as grass. I am only allowed to be angry for a few days before I must act as if nothing happened."
Murong Yan said in a low voice, "I have not yet settled the score for the shameful thing you did with another man! You actually have the face to bring it up yourself?"
Zuo Canglang stood up abruptly. Even though she knew this man’s heart was as cold as ice, she was shaking with rage. Despite her fury, she couldn't find a single word to say. At the peak of her anger, her eyes grew wet. Tears fell, and she took a deep breath, staring straight into his eyes through the haze of moisture.
He slowly averted his gaze. After a long time, he spoke. "From the very first time we were together, I ordered Wang Yunzhao to make sure you took contraceptive decoctions on time. It was because I didn't want any accidents before the time was right. You are naturally sentimental, and I feared it would only cause you grief. When I learned you were carrying my flesh and blood, I too was ecstatic. I thought that no matter what, I would give you and the child a proper status. When my hand touched your belly and I felt him move... Ah-Zuo, I still have no children to this day. Do you think my feelings for him were any less than yours?"
As he spoke these words, every syllable seemed filled with sincerity. He said, "But you went behind my back and dallied with another man! Did you ever think of my feelings? Did you want me to face that child day and night, constantly suspicious, hating every man who ever shared a laugh with you?!"
Zuo Canglang’s tears fell like pearls, one by one. "Is it only what Hai Yun and the others say that is true? Is my word not worth your trust? All these years... all these years I've given you..."
She turned to go back into the hall. From behind, her waist was suddenly pulled tight as Murong Yan reached out and embraced her. He whispered, "Ah-Zuo... I don't care about the past. From now on, stay by my side properly, alright?"
Zuo Canglang’s tears flowed like a deluge. "Murong Yan, I cannot forgive you every single time. Every time..."
From this day forward, I can never love you again with a heart that is pure and stainless. Every time I look at you, I can only think of that child who did not die in an enemy land, but at the hands of his own father...
Every one of your smiles, every look in your eyes, is stained with his blood.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 血垢 | Bloodstains / Blood Grime | The title refers to the metaphorical stain on their relationship. |
| 避子汤 | Contraceptive decoction | Traditional herbal birth control soup. |
| 太上皇 | Retired King / Grand Emperor | Refers to Murong Yuan, the former ruler. |
| 大司农 | Minister of Agriculture | A high-ranking official in charge of state revenue and farming. |
| 猪油 | Pig oil / Lard | Used by Ren Xuan to make the ice slippery and trap the horses. |
| 亲卫 | Personal guards | Elite soldiers assigned to protect a high-ranking official. |
| 哨探 | Scouts | Soldiers sent ahead to gather intelligence. |
| 战报 | Battle report | Official military dispatch regarding the progress of a war. |
| 皇嗣 | Royal heir | The offspring of a monarch. |
| 胎动 | Fetal movement | The movement of a baby in the womb. |
