When Di Lianzhong woke again, he was already in Western Jing. Ren Xuan had captured several of his personal guards as well, but since those men held no military rank, they were naturally all executed. Now, he was escorting Di Lianzhong alone back to the capital of Jing.
This was considered a significant achievement; after all, a First-Rank military official of Great Yan carried some weight.
Di Lianzhong sat in the prisoner’s cart, his head bowed. On either side were the angry citizens of Western Jing—everyone was still quite incensed that Zuo Canglang had escaped last time.
Ren Xuan rode at the front. Although he had once collaborated with Di Lianzhong, and successfully at that, he felt absolutely no goodwill toward the man. Even between enemies, there were natural distinctions of good, evil, right, and wrong.
Di Lianzhong said, "There is no way out for me in Western Jing this time, is there?"
Ren Xuan did not even turn his head, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "At your age, you shouldn't be afraid of death."
A citizen threw a rotten melon into the cart, the putrid pulp splashing all over him. He said, "I don't understand. Zuo Canglang was finally in your hands—why didn't you kill her? Shouldn't she be the person you fear most?"
Ren Xuan urged his horse forward and said, "Back at the White Wolf River, she saved my life. I was merely returning the favor."
Di Lianzhong’s beard bristled with rage. "You are a Great General of Western Jing, yet you collude with the enemy and speak of personal favors to an opposing general?! Is this not treason?"
Ren Xuan chuckled. "I am a human being first, and a Great General of Western Jing second. Di Lianzhong, a man like you has truly lived all these years in vain."
The prisoner’s cart entered the capital of Western Jing, and Di Lianzhong was cast into the dungeon. This time, Ren Xuan personally escorted him to his cell, selecting a specific one for him. As Di Lianzhong was shackled heavily to the wooden bars, Ren Xuan actually entered the cell and stood before the wall, staring at it for a long time. Di Lianzhong turned his head with great effort and saw a map of the river systems drawn upon it. Some parts were etched with fingernails, others with blood.
He studied it for a while and asked, "What is this?"
Ren Xuan replied, "This is where Zuo Canglang stayed when she was in Jing." Di Lianzhong was stunned. Once Ren Xuan had left and the cell door was relocked, he stared intently at the wall and suddenly roared in fury, "Zuo Canglang has ruined me!!"
This time, the Emperor of Western Jing had no intention of negotiating with Murong Yan. The following day, he directly ordered Di Lianzhong to be taken to the execution ground to suffer the death of a thousand cuts. Afterward, the head was preserved in lime, placed in a wooden box, and sent back to Great Yan.
At that time, Murong Yan was in Nanqing Palace, accompanying Zuo Canglang for lunch. He did not allow the head to be brought inside, instead ordering Jiang Sanyi to inspect it before sending it back to the Di residence.
When Jiang Sanyi opened the wooden box, the female members of the household all covered their faces and turned away. He sighed. Beside him, the Minister of Agriculture said, "Prime Minister, it seems His Majesty is truly angry with you this time."
His brother-in-law, Zheng Zhizhou, added, "Brother-in-law, I heard that His Majesty went to Nanqing Palace again today. That’s four days in a row."
Jiang Sanyi sighed. Murong Yan had indeed visited Nanqing Palace for four consecutive days, though he did not stay the night, leaving after having dinner with Zuo Canglang. He said, "What can be done? Di Lianzhong was simply too useless!"
the Judicial Officer said, "Prime Minister, do we really have no other options? Consider Ren Xuan—last time he clearly captured Zuo Canglang but did not kill her. And in the battle of Liangzhou, Grand Marshal Di was eighty li away from the Western Jing border city, yet Ren Xuan managed to slip in and lure him to the White Wolf River. Could we perhaps make something of these events..."
Beside him, the Minister of Agriculture also spoke up. "His Majesty’s nature has always been suspicious. These matters might truly be linked to Zuo Canglang somehow."
Jiang Sanyi closed the wooden box and waved for a servant to take it to the Di residence. He sighed and said, "Do you think Zuo Canglang wouldn't have anticipated this? Given her temperament, after suffering such humiliation in the palace, why has she remained in Nanqing Palace instead of returning to the Wen Manor? Not only is she close with Da Xiqin, but Wen Qi’s two children have even taken him as their tutor. Yet now, while Da Xiqin is in prison, why does she never mention him or plead for mercy?"
The others were stunned. Jiang Sanyi continued, "It won't be easy to link her to this! She has stayed in the palace the entire time. Da Xiqin is in prison, and she even refused the invitations of various generals to gather outside the palace during the New Year. Yuan Xi and the others were never involved in this campaign, and Wang Nan wasn't even in Liangzhou. How can this be tied to her?"
The group fell silent. Zheng Zhizhou asked, "Could it be that she was distancing herself from this from the very beginning?"
Jiang Sanyi said, "Now that Di Lianzhong is dead, we can only wait to see who His Majesty intends to appoint as the next Grand Marshal. Given His Majesty’s recent favor toward her, I fear..."
The men looked at each other, their faces filled with worry.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the plum blossoms were like snow. A playful branch had poked through the window lattice, its petals dripping with dew. Zuo Canglang reached out, and a drop of dew fell into her palm, rolling like a pearl. Murong Yan stood behind her. He had been coming over frequently lately, though they shared no particularly intimate gestures. Zuo Canglang’s miscarriage at six months had been devastating to her health. Her body was currently frail, and the imperial physicians had strictly forbidden any sexual activity.
She spoke very little in his presence now. Most of the time, even when he visited, they remained in mutual silence. Sometimes he would review memorials while she napped on the chaise longue.
"In a couple of days, when you're feeling better, you should attend the morning court," Murong Yan said. "You, the Great General, have been neglecting your duties for quite some time."
Zuo Canglang replied, "Great General? Your Majesty’s Great General was Grand Marshal Di, not me."
Murong Yan’s expression darkened slightly. "Liangzhou has been taken, but Di Lianzhong is dead. Who do you think is suitable to be the commander-in-chief?"
Zuo Canglang feigned surprise. "Di Lianzhong is dead?"
Murong Yan asked, "Are you truly entirely ignorant of this matter?"
Zuo Canglang turned to him, her expression souring as well. "Since returning to Yan from Western Jing, I have been confined to Nanqing Palace. When Yuan Xi and the others returned to Jinyang for the New Year, the few words we exchanged were spoken in Your Majesty's presence. What does Your Majesty think I should know?"
Murong Yan lowered his head and returned to his memorials, his tone softening slightly. "I do not wish to argue with you. At this point, what is the meaning of such disputes?"
Zuo Canglang said, "The matter of Liangzhou is settled. If Your Majesty feels at ease, release Da Xiqin to assist Wang Nan. Together, the two of them can sweep through the former lands of Northern Yu and drive out the Wuzhong and Guzhu tribes."
Murong Yan replied, "Mhm."
Zuo Canglang continued, "However, Your Majesty has never fully trusted Wang Nan. Therefore, dispatch Zhou Xin to serve as the primary commander, with Wang Nan as his deputy, Jiang Qi as the vanguard, and Da Xiqin as the military advisor. That should be foolproof."
Murong Yan turned to look at her and suddenly asked, "What about you?"
"Me?" Zuo Canglang asked.
Murong Yan inquired, "You aren't going yourself?"
Zuo Canglang smiled, though the mirth did not reach her eyes. "In my current state, I fear I can no longer endure the hardships of campaigning and marching. Besides, does Your Majesty truly wish for me to go? If I remain in Jinyang to recover, I doubt there will be any objections from the army."
These words were far too sharp. Murong Yan frowned. "Do not take my concessions as a reason for your insolence."
Zuo Canglang said, "Insolence? Even with me being this 'insolent,' people still dare to bully me. It is better to be a bit insolent; like Grand Marshal Di, at least he died a quick death."
Murong Yan looked angry, but after a moment’s thought, he laughed. "That mouth of yours!" He paused, then added, "Di Lianzhong was the Grand Marshal, after all. Dying in Western Jing... though he was incompetent, it could still be considered a heroic end. Find some time to go to the Di residence and offer your condolences."
Zuo Canglang sneered. "How does Your Majesty think I was captured by Western Jing in the first place? If I hadn't been certain it was him I saw, would I have entered Suye City so easily?"
Murong Yan asked, "Are you saying he colluded with the enemy?" Zuo Canglang huffed. Murong Yan said, "If you are certain of his collusion, once it is verified, I can charge him with treason."
Collusion was a grave crime; not only would the entire household be executed, but the extermination of nine generations was common. Zuo Canglang gritted her teeth. After a long silence, she said, "Though he colluded with the enemy, he is already dead. The rest of the Di family likely knew nothing of it. Forget it."
This took Murong Yan by surprise. He turned his head to study the woman anew. Zuo Canglang was facing the window, her silhouette backlit. She had never spoken of what she endured in Western Jing. But what kind of man was the Emperor of Western Jing? How could he have let her return safely?
Setting aside everything else, how much pain must those three pieces of flesh have caused?
She did not mention it, so everyone acted as if it had never happened. Now, she had finally mentioned the man who had brought her to such a state, hating him enough to grit her teeth, only to ultimately say two words—forget it.
She had led armies for six years, six years of war where her cold iron armor was stained with blood and countless souls fell to her arrows. She remained unflinching even if Mount Tai were to crumble before her, yet she still possessed a heart that was warm and soft.
"A-Zuo," he called her name softly, like a sigh, with a hint of tenderness. He set down his brush, stood up, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Outside the window, a light rain fell, and petals littered the ground. He held her in silence, the winter scene like a painting.
In the afternoon, Zuo Canglang went to the Di residence to pay her respects to Di Lianzhong. Though he was dead, he had been the Grand Marshal. To show that the military of Great Yan stood united, she naturally had to go. The Di family knew she wasn't close to him, so there were no unnecessary words; it was merely a formality.
Zuo Canglang entered the mourning hall and offered a stick of incense. The hall was cold and desolate; none of Jiang Sanyi’s faction had come. Di Lianzhong’s sons
