The following day, while Zuo Canglang was reading, Xiao Pingzi suddenly entered. "General, for some reason, His Majesty paid a sudden visit to old Master Xue’s manor today. He only took Head Eunuch Wang with him; his intentions are unclear."
Zuo Canglang hummed in acknowledgment, pleased with his alertness. "Well done, Xiao Pingzi. I have a task for you, and it must be handled with the utmost secrecy."
Xiao Pingzi hurried to pledge his loyalty. "Please speak, General. Whatever your command, this humble servant will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"It isn't quite that dire," Zuo Canglang said. "Do you have any reliable people under you? I need someone to find Generals Xu Lang and Wang Nan. I want to know exactly how much of the current military budget is actually reaching the troops."
Xiao Pingzi looked a bit hesitant. "To be honest, General, if I want someone to be truly reliable, they eventually need to see some profit. Otherwise..."
Zuo Canglang understood. Liao Liping was a man driven by interest, and those around him were likely the same. "I have no spare funds at the moment, but after this trip is made, I will."
Xiao Pingzi thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "I'll have someone see to it immediately!"
Zuo Canglang penned a letter. Before handing it over, she paused and cautioned him, "This must remain strictly confidential. If it leaks, I can protect myself, but your head will surely roll. However, wealth is found in risk. If this succeeds, neither you nor I will ever have to worry about silver again."
Liao Liping’s expression turned solemn as he respectfully accepted the letter.
Liao Liping had entered the palace as an adult and had a circle of old associates from his life before. Contacting them was easy enough. Taking Zuo Canglang’s warning to heart, he chose his most reliable contact to deliver the message to Wang Nan and Xu Lang.
When Wang Nan and Xu Lang read the letter, their brows furrowed—Zuo Canglang wanted the detailed records of military pay and winter clothing distribution.
In non-wartime, military supplies and pay were always subject to embezzlement. The methods were generally the same: one was to keep deceased soldiers without families on the rolls to "eat empty pay," drawing wages for ghosts.
Then there was the soldiers' actual pay. A commander with a conscience might ensure each soldier received eighty or ninety percent of their due. A ruthless one might leave them with only sixty or seventy percent.
As for grain and uniforms, it went without saying—the quality reported to the court was top-tier, while the items issued to the camps were substandard.
In the entire army, the soldiers had only received their full pay under two commanders: Wen Qi and Zuo Canglang. Zhou Xin was better than most, but even then, the soldiers only received ninety percent. Though the remaining ten percent seemed small, it amounted to a staggering sum. This money didn't go to one man alone; it was siphoned off at every level of the bureaucracy, everyone taking a little grease for their palms.
This was only because Zhou Xin was highly favored by Murong Yan, and everyone had to give him some face.
Now, although Zhou Xin was the Grand Marshal, his power did not match Jiang Sanyi’s. The soldiers under Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, and others stationed elsewhere ultimately received only sixty percent of their silver. Wang Nan and Xu Lang fared slightly better, receiving about seventy or eighty percent.
It wasn't that the remaining money was flatly denied, but *when* it would be paid was a question with no clear answer. Since the Grand Minister of Agriculture was one of Jiang Sanyi’s men, it was easy to imagine where the lion's share of that money went.
Having spent years in the army, Zuo Canglang knew these tricks well. However, when Wang Nan and Xu Lang finished compiling the details for Yuan Xi, Zhuge Jin, Zheng Chu, and the others and delivered them to her, she was still shocked.
Among the old Wen subordinates, Yuan Xi’s division had the strongest combat capability, yet his military pay was sometimes docked by as much as forty or fifty percent. Any lower, and it would incite a mutiny.
Furthermore, the winter clothes and equipment his army received were often the leftovers from other divisions; shortages were common, and some items were literally unwearable.
Zuo Canglang was reviewing the details from each camp when she suddenly heard a noise from the rafters. Startled, she snapped the scroll shut and looked up to see Cang Ge leaning down, peering at her. Her racing heart slowly calmed, and she felt a deep sense of her own negligence—if it had been someone like Duanmu Shang, she might not have noticed at all.
If Murong Yan discovered her privately investigating military records, his suspicion would surely flare up again.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"I came to see if these things actually reached your hands," Cang Ge said. "They were all very worried."
Zuo Canglang fell silent for a moment. "Are you not leaving Great Yan?"
Cang Ge was quiet for a long time before saying, "If I leave Great Yan, where would I go?"
Zuo Canglang shared his silence. In this world, he no longer had a single relative or old friend. Cang Ge added, "By staying here, I can still see her occasionally."
"Do you have no other plans?" Zuo Canglang asked. When he didn't answer, she said, "Since you're idle anyway, help me pass messages when you have the time."
She was certainly not being polite. Cang Ge simply replied, "Mhm."
He said no more.
After he left, Zuo Canglang gathered the reports and hid them beneath her wardrobe. These documents could set her life ablaze at any moment, but she had to keep them. Just as she finished hiding them, a servant announced that Madam Yu Qiushu had arrived to see her.
Zuo Canglang went to the palace gates to greet her. When Qiushu had entered the nunnery to completely vacate her position for Zuo Canglang, she had shaved her head. Now, her hair had not yet grown back, and she was still dressed as a bhikkuni, looking very plain and elegant. Zuo Canglang smiled and said, "Yirong must be overjoyed to have you back."
Qiushu had been unsure how to start the conversation, but hearing this, she felt an unexpected sense of relief. "The boy has grown so tall; I almost didn't recognize him."
The two women walked hand-in-hand into the hall, where palace maids served tea. Zuo Canglang kept Weiwei and Keqing by her side to serve. Qiushu took a small sip of the fragrant tea and remarked, "Your residence is quite simple and elegant."
Zuo Canglang laughed. "I am a mere soldier; I have no such taste. Head Eunuch Wang manages everything."
Turning to Keqing, she said, "Last time, Yixuan had someone bring back a set of bracers. I have no use for them; go and fetch them."
Keqing complied and went to the cabinet. Zuo Canglang looked steadily at Qiushu and gave a slight, subtle shake of her head. Qiushu was inwardly startled—were there things that could not be said in front of this maid? Being a shrewd woman, she immediately took the bracers when they were brought, examining them with high praise.
Zuo Canglang said, "I suppose because you like them, he assumed I would too. But if I had to wear these, I might as well have my hands tied with hemp rope."
Qiushu laughed as well. "In that case, I won't be polite."
"They were your son's to begin with; it's only right they end up in your hands," Zuo Canglang said. "But I won't let him off for the gift he owes me. Tell him to make it up to me next time."
Qiushu truly laughed this time. "You are his mother as well. If you speak, how would he dare refuse?"
The two chatted and laughed, their conversation filled with idle talk about the two boys and the Wen family. Sometimes they discussed Wen Xingye and the Old Madam, spending a long time on their minor quirks. When it grew late, Qiushu rose to take her leave.
Shortly after she left, Keqing used the excuse of collecting needlework to leave Nanqing Palace. Qiushu’s entry into the palace required layers of approval, so Murong Yan naturally knew of it. Since the Queen was currently confined, these matters were handled by Wang Yunzhao, who had to report to Murong Yan first.
Keqing quietly entered Murong Yan’s study through a side door. Murong Yan was buried in official scrolls. Without looking up, he asked, "Has Madam Wen left?"
Keqing knelt on the floor. "Reporting to Your Majesty, she stayed for the duration of a cup of tea and then departed."
"Did they say anything?" Murong Yan asked.
"Only idle talk about the two young masters, nothing else," Keqing replied.
"Did she have you wait upon them?"
"Yes," Keqing said. "From the moment Madam Wen entered until she left, I was serving by their side."
Murong Yan nodded. "You've worked hard. You may go."
Keqing kowtowed and withdrew. Once she was gone, Murong Yan remarked, "Since she returned to the palace, I feel as though she has become a different person."
Wang Yunzhao smiled. "After wandering and hardship, one tends to become more sensible."
"Seeing her so obedient now... for some reason, I feel she isn't as good as before," Murong Yan said.
Wang Yunzhao was slightly stunned. "Before... didn't the General often make Your Majesty angry?"
"Even so," Murong Yan said, "she was always more... vivid."
Wang Yunzhao didn't dare respond to that. Murong Yan then asked, "How has the Queen been lately?"
Wang Yunzhao bowed. "The Queen has sent people several times, both openly and covertly, hoping Your Majesty might visit. The Prince and Princess surely miss Your Majesty dearly as well."
Murong Yan nodded. "I shall go see her this evening."
Wang Yunzhao bowed in acknowledgment.
That night, Wang Yunzhao sent word to Nanqing Palace that His Majesty would not be coming.
Weiwei reacted as if a catastrophe had occurred, her face full of shock and anger. "General! I heard from Xiao Anzi that His Majesty has gone to Xifeng Palace again!"
Zuo Canglang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Weiwei, the Queen lives in Xifeng Palace, along with his son and daughter. It is perfectly normal for him to go see them."
Weiwei fumed, "But His Majesty hasn't gone there in days! Going there so suddenly now makes it look like our General did something wrong!"
"If you get any louder, you'll blow the roof off," Zuo Canglang said.
Weiwei looked at her in disbelief. "General, how can you not be angry at all?!"
"Fine, I'm furious. I'm about to explode!" Zuo Canglang said. "Now go stand guard outside. I'm going to read for a while; don't let anyone in to disturb me. I'll have a little sulk by myself."
Hearing this, Weiwei hesitated. "General, please don't let the anger ruin your health."
Zuo Canglang was speechless.
Once Weiwei was outside guarding the door, Zuo Canglang finally brought out the scrolls detailing the military pay and studied them for a long time.
How to expose this matter was a problem. Given Murong Yan’s current temperament, it wouldn't be good if she or anyone from the Wen family brought it up. And once it was exposed, who would investigate it?
Jiang Sanyi’s people would surely minimize the issue until it vanished. Gan Xiaoru would love a strict investigation, but if it involved his own people, he wouldn't dare offend Jiang Sanyi. Who could disregard power, act with impartiality, possess the necessary ability, and hold Murong Yan’s trust?
This matter would inevitably lead to the Grand Minister of Agriculture; the investigator had to be someone of high prestige. Otherwise, how could they command public confidence?
While she pondered in solitude, Xifeng Palace was bustling with activity.
Jiang Bilan was naturally happy that Murong Yan had come. She was always dressed in her finest, whether in public or private, and today she was exceptionally charming. Murong Yan played with Princess Yide. In truth, in terms of pure beauty, Jiang Bilan far surpassed Zuo Canglang. Even after having two children, she was only slightly more curvaceous, and her dancing remained as light as ever.
Time passed more easily in the company of such a beauty. Moreover, she was dedicated to pleasing him; even a heart of stone would soften under such tender attentions.
Seeing that he was in a good mood, Jiang Bilan didn't dare bring up other matters. she focused on singing and dancing, using every skill she possessed just to keep him happy. After several rounds of wine, Murong Yan inevitably spent a night of intimacy with her, sinking into the "gentle village" of her embrace.
Murong Yan did not visit Nanqing Palace for two days. Zuo Canglang finally finished analyzing the military pay situation. When he came over at noon, she greeted him with a smile and accompanied him for lunch. However, Murong Yan seemed to be in a hurry and left Nanqing Palace quickly.
It was only then that Zuo Canglang felt something was wrong. But what?
When Murong Yan returned to the Hall of Virtuous Governance, Wang Yunzhao noticed he seemed preoccupied. "Your Majesty seems distracted today. Is something the matter?"
Murong Yan said in a low voice, "I stayed at Xifeng Palace for several days, yet today, she seemed completely unbothered. Wang Yunzhao, I feel as though her heart is not on me."
Wang Yunzhao’s heart sank, but he maintained a smile. "The General is a warrior; her mind is naturally a bit coarser. Even if she feels something, she likely wouldn't show it. Besides, Your Majesty was staying in the Queen’s palace. She currently... has no title or rank. Even if she were jealous, what could she say?"
"Truly?" Murong Yan asked.
"Think about it, Your Majesty," Wang Yunzhao said. "If the General acted like a typical jealous, pouting maiden, wouldn't that be even more abnormal?"
Murong Yan said, "I just feel that a person like her is fine to see occasionally. But if she stays by my side long-term, it becomes quite dull."
Wang Yunzhao laughed. "I fear that if she were far away, Your Majesty would be longing for her again."
That night, he stayed at Xifeng Palace again. Zuo Canglang thought it over repeatedly. At dawn, she instructed Weiwei, "Go and summon Madam Wen. Tell her I wish to see her in the palace."
Weiwei complied and sent someone for Qiushu. As the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Ding, Qiushu found it easy to enter the palace. She arrived in the afternoon. Zuo Canglang sat with her, this time intentionally dismissing Keqing. "When General Wen was in the army, though he rarely came home, he was always thinking of you, Madam."
At the mention of Wen Qi, Qiushu’s eyes reddened slightly, but her smile was sweet. "I married him at sixteen. In truth, the time we actually spent together was pitifully short. Longing in dreams far outweighed holding hands by the fire. Now, regarding your feelings for His Majesty... I'm sure you can understand my heart."
Zuo Canglang said, "His Majesty hasn't been to my palace for several days. He came by yesterday at noon, but I observed his expression and felt I had done something improper. Yet, no matter how I think, I cannot find any fault in my actions. I have no one to talk to, so I had to ask you to come."
Qiushu asked for details about Murong Yan’s recent behavior. "General," she said, "matters of love are different from leading an army. I understand nothing of military strategy, but when it comes to the affairs of the heart, perhaps the General is not as experienced as one like me, who has truly endured the bitterness of longing."
Zuo Canglang nodded. "I am listening."
Qiushu said, "If a man has completely mastered a woman, it is very easy for him to lose that sense of freshness. If a relationship is like a flat plain with no secrets to speak of, I fear it will soon become as bland as plain water and gradually be discarded by the man."
Zuo Canglang listened intently. Qiushu continued, "Life always needs little surprises. To handle a man, a woman cannot simply be submissive and giving. Sugar should be fed bit by bit; if he eats it constantly, he'll get sick of the sweetness. In the way of a couple, occasional bickering or a little temper is part of the charm."
Zuo Canglang found this very insightful. Qiushu smiled. "The General is devoted to His Majesty, and His Majesty is a man of relatively long-lasting affections. But currently, there are only the Queen and the General in the palace. If in the future..." She paused, then added, "If more beauties arrive, I fear everyone will be using every trick and talent they have to compete."
"In this regard, it is indeed my weakness," Zuo Canglang said. "I ask for your guidance, Madam."
Qiushu couldn't help but laugh. "I knew the General needed someone with experience by her side. Back then, Brother Qi... was also completely devoid of romantic sentiment. Later, slowly, he learned to write a bit of love poetry."
As she spoke of her love, those sweet moments were right before her eyes; though he was gone, they had never truly vanished. Those trivial, mundane little things were like grains of sand that had fallen into an oyster, eventually turning into pearls settled at the bottom of her heart.
Such preciousness could only be understood by those who have loved deeply.
Qiushu said, "In any case, serving a sovereign with beauty is no easy task." As soon as those words—*serving with beauty*—left her mouth, Zuo Canglang froze. Qiushu realized she had misspoken and hurried to add, "I didn't mean you, General. It's just that among all the women in the world, who doesn't wish to look their best before their husband?"
Zuo Canglang smiled again. "There is no need to hide it, Madam. Though those words are cruel, they are apt."
Seeing that she truly didn't mind, Qiushu said, "Let me dress you, General. Your features are strong; ordinary palace makeup might not suit you. Besides... besides, the one in Xifeng Palace is already a peerless beauty. It is hard for an ordinary woman to compare. Naturally, we must put in more effort."
Zuo Canglang followed her to the rear hall and sat before a bronze mirror. Qiushu let down her hair and looked at her ornaments, frowning slightly. "The General doesn't have much jewelry. Today, I will teach your maid how to style your hair. Another day, I will bring some jewelry and clothes for you."
Zuo Canglang nodded. Qiushu indeed taught Weiwei how to comb Zuo Canglang’s hair and apply makeup. Weiwei was naturally clever with her hands and set to work immediately. Zuo Canglang felt her scalp sting as her hair was pulled, but she endured it in silence, letting the two of them laugh as they worked.
This conversation had truly shaken Zuo Canglang. In truth, the difficulty of "serving with beauty" was no less than that of fighting a war. One could even say it was far more complex. It wasn't something that could be achieved with just a few sweet words.
In this light, she actually felt a bit of admiration for Jiang Bilan—previously, she never understood why, as the sole mistress of Xifeng Palace, Jiang Bilan choreographed dances and composed music for over a hundred performances. Given her status, she couldn't perform them in public. What was the point?
Only now did she understand: it was all to win the heart of one man.
Qiushu took the matter to heart. A few days later, she had a set of jewelry made and personally oversaw a tailor making several gowns. Since Zuo Canglang held no official rank in the palace, her clothing didn't need to strictly follow ritual protocols.
A few days later, the first batch of clothes and ornaments arrived at Nanqing Palace. Qiushu was meticulous; not only did she pair the jewelry with the outfits, but she also labeled the hairstyles. Fearing Weiwei might make a mistake, she even drew sketches of the finished looks.
Looking at the drawings, Zuo Canglang was amazed by the talents of these noble ladies. "Madam Wen is truly multi-talented."
"Of course," Weiwei said. "Back then, General Wen was so highly favored by the King; how many noble daughters in Great Yan wanted to marry him? There was a reason he chose Madam Wen. If you ask me, General, your beauty isn't inferior to the one in Xifeng Palace at all, it's just that you..."
She went on at length until Zuo Canglang, who had been nodding along, finally said, "Aren't you exaggerating a bit too much?"
Once her hair was styled and she had changed into the palace gown Qiushu sent, Weiwei couldn't help but gasp in wonder. "Madam Qiushu is a miracle worker! I want to take her as my master!"
"Didn't you already take me as your master?" Zuo Canglang asked.
Weiwei stuck out her tongue and called several palace maids in to look. "Quick, look! How does the General look in this?"
The maids wouldn't dare say anything negative; compliments poured out immediately. Zuo Canglang stood up, stepped back, and looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She felt none of the secret joy of a young girl. She simply observed the ensemble objectively.
Weiwei had gathered the long hair from both sides and braided it into a bud-like bun at the back of her head. The rest of her hair cascaded down to her waist. Tucked into the bun was a jade *buyao* hairpin; its warm, hanging beads rolled subtly amidst her hair, delicate and ethereal. Exquisite silk ribbons from the hairpin fell along her hair; with every step, the ribbons swayed like water plants.
In her ears were a pair of mutton-fat jade earrings—hair like clouds, jade at the ears—making her earlobes look small and fair. Her gown was a plain white skirt, the edges of the wide sleeves trimmed with a narrow black border that met the hem like ripples on water. At her chest, silk ribbons of the same black color crossed and tied, the lapels trimmed to make her figure look exceptionally tall. The lines were simple yet perfectly accentuated her waist. As she walked, her sleeves moved like flowing water.
On her feet were a pair of sparrow-head shoes woven with tortoiseshell patterns, adding a touch of playfulness to the freshness.
It is said that every profession has its specialists. If it were just a matter of taste, these noble ladies truly put her to shame.
As Zuo Canglang was thinking this, Weiwei leaned in. "If His Majesty sees the General like this, he'll surely be entranced. Should I invite His Majesty for lunch?"
"Let me think," Zuo Canglang said.
As she was considering her strategy, more palace maids entered carrying a large chest. "General, Madam Qiushu has sent you some rouge and powders."
Zuo Canglang was startled—such a large chest of... rouge and powder?
She opened the chest and froze. It was indeed a massive collection of bottles and jars. However, aside from the red rouge, she didn't recognize a single thing—and she wasn't even sure if the rouge was for her cheeks or her lips!
Before she could speak, Weiwei chimed in, "I'll help the General paint her brows!"
At the bottom of the chest, however, were several more pages of diagrams, detailing several different makeup looks. Zuo Canglang turned to Weiwei and said, "When you go to take her as your master... take me with you, will you?"
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