Deposed Empress General Chapter 55

The next day, after morning court, Wang Yunzhao personally came to invite her, and had Zuo Canglang head to the royal study to privately meet with the ruler. It wasn't the first time Zuo Canglang had privately met with Murong Yan, and so she just followed behind Wang Yunzhao, heading towards the royal study.

Wang Yunzhao suddenly said, "Does general know, what his majesty summoned general for this time?"

Zuo Canglang was a bit startled, and said, "Is it for the matter that yesterday night all the high officials coming to Wen estate in a gathering?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "General is intelligent, and since general knows his majesty worries about this matter, have you thought of how to answer his questioning?"

Zuo Canglang said, "The Wen clan doesn't have anyone left in court, and Country Stabilizing Gong is only an empty title, with neither power nor authority, and only has the empty title. Even if the old officials are gathered in the estate, what worry does his majesty need to have?

Wang Yunzhao said, "General, Wen clan still has people in court, ah. And it's not just in court, but they also have command over a massive amount of the army, and in the military, their words are uncontested, unparalleled in court, ah!"

Zuo Canglang finally was stunned, and stopped her footsteps, slowly focusing on him, "Chief steward Wang, what do you mean by this?"

Wang Yunzhao sighed, "General, although this old servant is an incomplete person, but can still see that General is deeply attached to his majesty. And had originally also accompanied his majesty. This old servant wishes to ask general a question, if his majesty grants general a title as a consort, would general be willing to continue your prior relations with his majesty?"

Zuo Canglang said, "Chief steward Wang, I'm a military person, and order troops around on the battlefield, where my mind can still be counted as clear-headed. But when speaking or performing duties, my thoughts aren't so complicated with that many twists and turns. If there's something you want to say, could you say it clearly?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "If his majesty ignores everything, and grants general a title as a consort, general would be willing to accompany by his majesty's side, right?"

Zuo Canglang stretched her hand, and snapped off a branch of a cherry blossom, saying, "I think I probably would."

Wang Yunzhao said, "This is right, since general is willing to accompany his majesty, and also isn't someone that cares about a title, why can't general just accede to his majesty? And why must you draw a stringent line between you two?"

Zuo Canglang wanted to head forwards for a long time, but only uttered out softly, "Because if I do that, I would be afraid to look into her ladyship the queen's eyes. I would feel that, I am enjoying the favor that belongs to her and...... the love."

Wang Yunzhao said, "General, the queen is in the rear court, and your are in the royal court. This matter, if his majesty doesn't mention, this old servant does not mention, and you also do not mention, then how would she learn of it?"

Zuo Canglang said, "I personally know of it, and the sun and the moon, as well as the living creatures would all know of it, and all the peoples' hearts would know of it. My mind is made up, so chief steward doesn't need to persuade more."

Wang Yunzhao sighed once again, saying, "General, currently your authority reaches the heavens, but Wen clan's old subordinates are ultimately loyal to their old leader, and Bi Chengjing's faction will not assist you, but will rather also kicked you while you were down. And you saved minister Bi, which has already increased the suspicion minister Jiang has towards you. Official Gan has always bent towards the wind. General, ah, if you don't quickly draw the favor of his majesty...... a blazing fire will spread burning oil, and although it looks glorious and incapable of being threatened, but once the fuel is greatly inflamed, I'm only afraid it will result in being burnt into ash, ah."

Zuo Canglang stared into his eyes, saying, "Chief steward's words, although it comes from a heart willing to do good, but I don't understand."

Wang Yunzhao didn't continue talking, and Zuo Canglang said, "I began following lord master at sixteen years of age, from when lord master was alone until he took over the realm. Lord master has witnessed everything, so does a subject's loyalty, really need to be spoken of directly to demonstrate their heart?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "General, ah..." Zuo Canglang didn't let him continue talking, "Chief steward Wang, no matter where I am, or what type of danger I am in, my treatment towards lord master, will forever be true. If this type of loyalty he still doesn't trust, then he can go ahead and grab a knife to cut it out!"

Wang Yunzhao quickly said, "General, what are you saying, just treat it as this old servant talking too much, and enraging general. This old servant deserves to be punished, deserves to be punished!"

General Zuo said, "Hmmph, it looks like this royal study, I also don't need to go to."

Wang Yunzhao said, "My general! At this time, you definitely cannot be thin-skinned! Hurry, hurry, his majesty is still awaiting you."

Hurrying to the study, Zuo Canglang knelt on the ground. Murong Yan put his brush aside, and raised his head, saying, "Who made you angry? Coming here, with a face full of anger."

Wang Yunzhao quickly said, "This servant said too much, and said a few irrelevant things, which enraged the general. Begging your majesty for punishment."

Murong Yan seemed to smile, saying, "Then you deserve to be punished, as seeing this Biao Qi great General of mine's wounds had just recovered, and you have directly come over to anger here. If you manage to cause some problem angering her, wouldn't you force this king to have nobody within the army?"

Wang Yunzhao repeated acceded, and Zuo Canglang said, "Chief steward has made fun, as chief steward has always treated us as an elder, so how could I be angered at the chief steward."

Murong Yan also smiled, saying, "Rise then, these days, I've been busy with matters, and you've been injured, so you have rarely visited the palace. If I didn't summon you to see you, I'm only afraid that between us, we would be distant again."

Zuo Canglang stood up, and Murong Yan lifted his head, and the four eyes of the two were exchanged, and he finally put away his memorandums, and he reached his hand out saying, "Come over."

Zuo Canglang walked before him, and he held her hand, that type of warm feeling from his palm wrapped around her two hands, and Zuo Canglang froze, slowly escaping his hand. Murong Yan said, "You just don't have some words to tell me?"

Zuo Canglang didn't understand what he wanted to ask, and lowered her head, her hands lax at her side, "What this official has to report, during the morning court, was already stated. There wasn't anything else that needed to be report privately."

Murong Yan nodded, saying, "I heard that last night, in Wen estate, there was some event occurring in the main hall, and was quite lively. How come you didn't tell me, how lively this event was?"

Zuo Canglang knew that he wanted to ask about this matter, and only said, "Your majesty, yesterday evening, there were a few officials that came to Wen estate. Thinking of it, it was probably also about inquiring regarding the matter of King Yan. This subject things, Country Stabilizing Gong has always been free of duties at home, and doesn't have a single responsibility as on official, so even though they would talk, it would at best only be gossip. And thus, haven't paid it much attention."

Murong Yan said, "Just a few words of gossip? You are this king's Biao Qi Great General, and people are gathered at your estate, discussing treasonous matters! You actually manage to only consider it as idle gossip? You forced this king to gather from other sources, a list of these peoples' names!"

Zuo Canglang knelt on the ground, "Lord master!"

Murong Yan didn't let her rise, and looking down from this angle, her face lost that type of iron will and stubbornness, and had a type of a young lady's delicateness. Murong Yan reached out his hand, slowly rubbing her face. Zuo Canglang slowly turned her face, avoiding his hand.

Murong Yan said, "Do you know that in this moment, what this king is thinking in my heart?"

Zuo Canglang lowered her head, "This subject does not know, and begs lord master to clarify."

Murong Yan said, "I am thinking, if I gave you a title as a consort, whether you would be willing, to stay in the rear court, accompanying me forever?" Zuo Canglang was startled, and lifted her head, Murong Yan's expression was distant and deep, "If it is possible, would you be willing?"

"I......" when Zuo Canglang once again opened her mouth, she only felt that each word was extremely difficult. How could she not be willing, as that was something she had had countless dreams over. But...... she said, "But currently this subject, is already using the identity of Marshal Wen's widow. Your majesty has demonstrated to the world multiple times, and displayed your sole attachment to the queen. In the blink of the eye, you are making a subject's wife a consort. No matter whether it is through emotional ties or through righteousness, it would absolutely lack any benefit to your majesty. Additionally, the queen towards your majesty, has a lifetime of love, so if your majesty truly names a consort, I'm only afraid that it would cause her sorrow."

Murong Yan said, "So, you actually are willing, right?"

Zuo Canglang was once again lost in thought, and Murong Yan said, "If you are willing, and you also do not care about a title or reputation, then why must you continue to hide from me?"

Wang Yunzhao heard what the two people were saying, and it had turned into a private conversation, so he quickly retreated, silently. He not only shut the door, but additionally, ordered all the guarding staff to also leave. Zuo Canglang said, "Because that way, I would begin having countless desires, and when lord master is before people with her ladyship the queen, demonstrating their love and strong ties, I would feel sad."

She lifted her face, her eyes blooming like small flower blossoms, "Towards something that you cannot beg for, even though you desire and long for it, I can ultimately control my desire. But is lord master really willing, to let me fall into a bottomless pit of darkness, despair, and a lifetime of bitterness?"

Murong Yan slowly pulled his hand back, and Zuo Canglang said, "Actually these words of your majesty's, when this subject was on her way here, chief steward Wang already mentioned to this subject."

Murong Yan said, "How did he say it?"

Zuo Canglang said, "Chief steward Wang said, although a blazing flame spits forth oil, and although on the surface it is glorious, once it draws the flame to itself, it could also only dissolve into burnt ash. That's why this subject, no matter what, should curry favor from your majesty."

Murong Yan's face frowned, and Zuo Canglang said, "Right now, there aren't any others in the room, and there are some words, this subordinate can also directly ask lord master." Murong Yan seemed interested, as this was the first time in his life, someone was in such a conflicted position, angry but also had a deep trust that didn't leave him, asking him. This...... was this really a heart moving connection?

He said, "Ask away."

Zuo Canglang asked, "Does lord master suspect this subordinate's loyalty to lord master?"

When she asked this sentence, she lifted her head to watch him, the light in her eyes like the dawn. Murong Yan had a feeling of sudden recklessness, as he just wanted to press her down like this, and rip apart her clothes, wanting to have her frantically, and hear her body turning around, with her unending moans.

This type of sentiment came without reason, and he had thought, he had long lost his desire. As before this, no matter if it was Zuo Canglang or Jiang Bilan, he had accepted them all, but only accepted them, never desiring them.

He rested against the back of his chair, calming the recklessness of his desire. Although it was a bit unexpected for him, but it was alone, not sufficient to impact him. He slowly said, "It was only a few words of Wang Yunzhao's. Although he wasn't careful with his words, but he still had good intentions. You were actually greatly angered, and ran over here to this king's place to throw a tantrum. And you still want this king to apologize to you?"

Zuo Canglang didn't speak, as she didn't believe Murong Yan would suspect her loyalty. If giving her a title as a consort, was only a type of currying of favor, then all these years, what exactly was her strong longing even unto her bones?

Her face blushed, and Murong Yan reached his hand out, resting it on her head, saying, "Rise, ah! Are you really going to wait for this king to apologize to you?"

Zuo Canglang stood up, her eyes having grown red. Murong Yan said, "This king hasn't said a single sentence, and you've already gotten a stomach full of discomfort first. The ancients said, if I can't bear my temper, it really is for little girls and the thin skinned villains being difficult to appease." Zuo Canglang lowered her head, no longer speaking. Murong Yan said, "Country Stabilizing Gong is old, and Wen clan is thoroughly loyal. This king, no matter if it is based on Marshal Wen's tutoring of you and his grace there, or on the basis of Great Yan's many soldiers' loyalty, I ultimately still want to give him riches and peace, to take care of their lives. But your being in Wen estate, you also have to convince them somewhat, that this king's patience also has limits."

Zuo Canglang immediately knelt again, saying, "This subject will definitely convince the family head, to definitely not again involve themselves with King Yan's matter."

"Family head?" Murong Yan laughed coldly, saying, "You really protect him."

Zuo Canglang said, "This subject is protecting him." Murong Yan's face darkened, and she continued saying, "but is even more so, guarding lord master's heroic name for generations."

Murong Yan laughed, saying, "Only you have such a sharp tongue!" Saying thus, he reached his hand out, lightly brushing it over her lips, when he lifted his hand, it was pretty heavy, but when he dropped it, it had grown quite light. That warm and soft lips in his palm, lightly brushed against each other, smooth and filled with elasticity.

Beneath the lantern light, they had wrapped around each other, and Zuo Canglang's cheeks were beneath their bodies. And that type of strange desire, once again wrapped itself around him.

TN: Sometimes... I hate the way Chinese is so... circuitous in its words. It's like they use euphemisms on top of euphemisms on top of euphemisms to the point where it can be taken several ways. So, I was confused when translating the last sentence, since it could probably be said that they were banging, then again, probably not. Insert annoyed Picard meme.