Deposed Empress General Chapter 63

After morning court, Murong Yan directly went to the Southern Palace Hall. Zuo Canglang had just lied down after applying medicine, and hearing his arrival, she was just about to rise, when he said, "Don't move around." As he was speaking, he had already walked to her side. Wang Yunzhao only had one expression as he ordered the servants to retreat. Murong Yan finally held her hand, asking, "Has the royal doctor come over and taken a look? Have you taken the medication?"

He palm was calming and warm, and though Zuo Canglang wanted to pull her hand back, he added thirty percent more strength to his grip. She could only leave her hand there, letting him hold onto it, saying, "I've just re-dressed the wound. How come your majesty has come over at this time?"

Murong Yan said, "Court was just recessed, so I came over here to take a look." Saying thus, his fingertips brushed aside her hair, saying, "These past two days, you've gotten skinnier."

Zuo Canglang said, "Your majesty, this subject is, after all, an external court official, and Wen estate and the palace are only separated by half the city, so staying in the palace for a long period of time to recover, would ultimately be problematic due to rumors. I think...... it'd be better if I recovered at Wen estate."

Murong Yan's forehead slightly creased, and was a bit dissatisfied, "What? Are there nails in the palace?"

Towards the matter of releasing Zuo Canglang, he was originally still a bit stifled, as he kept feeling like he was being manipulated by her. It was just that he had seen her being more accomodating and obedient, and that her wounds were indeed not light, and thus he had held his temper. But now that he heard her speak this way, it was hard for him not to get angry again.

How did Zuo Canglang not know this? She lightly rested her head on his leg, saying, "It's just that these days, being in the palace, there are definitely rumors outside. If I return to the estate, the elders and the children in Wen family would also be more at ease."

Murong Yan harrumphed coldly, and his expression was still dark, but his right hand lightly brushed her hair. Those strands curled around his fingers, and didn't feel bad, so he said, "The Wen family members increasing hold no respect in their eyes for this king."

Zuo Canglang smiled, saying, "What type of a person is your majesty, so how could he bicker with the old, the weak, and the disabled."

Murong Yan lightly rubbed her face, saying, "This king only doesn't want to bicker with you."

Zuo Canglang was deep in thought, and Murong Yan slowly rose, lifting her chin, htwo lips lightly kissing a point on her lips. He actually doesn't like kissing, as the exchange of spit, always made him uncomfortable. That's no matter if it was her or Jiang Bilan, his lips always fell somewhere else, always minimizing the fluid exchange.

Currently, touching her lips like this, was already pretty rare. Zuo Canglang slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, the wounds on her back were stretched again, but she didn't let go, as she couldn't bear to toss aside this moment of affection.

The two just stayed like that in an embrace for a while, when outside, someone suddenly called out, "Your ladyship? Your ladyship please wait a bit first......"

Jiang Bilan's voice spread over, not carrying any anger, but seemed like it was entertained, "What? This queen wants to meet the general, and I still need you to announce it?"

Zuo Canglang was startled, but Murong Yan already quickly released her. He only quickly rose, and when Jiang Bilan parted the bead curtain to enter, Murong Yan was already sitting by the table. The two sat at a distance, as though they were only undertaking a normal conversation between ruler and subject. Seeing her enter, Murong Yan's expression was also calm, saying, "The queen has also come over."

Jiang Bilan was smiling, and she slowly bowed, saying, "Originally I thought to come over and speak with General Zuo, but I didn't think that your majesty would also be present. No wonder the servants outside tried so to stall me, and it really was this subject wife's wrong. Had I known that your majesty was currently just speaking with the general, this subject wife would not have come."

Murong Yan said, "Rise, you are the queen, so in the palace, of course you can go anywhere you wish."

Jiang Bilan came forward, and stood by him. Zuo Canglang knelt down to pay respects, and Jiang Bilan reached her hand out, saying, "General is wounded, so there is no need to pay these mere respects. Your majesty, did I interrupt your discussion over official matters?"

Murong Yan said, "It was only some random matters, so how could it be an interruption?"

Jiang Bilan used her hands to lightly grasp his hand, saying, "Then....... can this subject wife hear what random topics your majesty and the General were discussing?"

Murong Yan glanced at Zuo Canglang, saying, "Of course."

The two of them sat down by the table, and Murong Yan said, "Today, General Yuan Xi returned to Jinyang, and managed to submit the inventory of the hostage and wealth exchange with Western Jing, where the amount was quite a hefty sum. General Zuo's merit was not small."

Zuo Canglang said, "Western Jing was just afraid of your majesty's might, so what merit did this subject have?"

With an extra Jiang Bilan, the conversation between the two had suddenly become so stodgy that it would make one's heart sour. Murong Yan said, "Beloved subject has no need of being humble, as it is only proper to receive a reward for your service." At the side, Jiang Bilan smiled, saying, "Speaking of it, tject wife has a Spring Valley Nightwalker's Treasured Jade belt, which has twenty some jade pieces, carved together. This subject wife feels that, this item and General are fitting for each other. Currently, since your majesty has mentioned a reward, why not just gift it to the General?"

Murong Yan said, "Since the queen thinks it is good, of course it is good."

Jiang Bilan ordered a palace servant to retrieve the item, and not long later, the palace servant brought a beautiful scented wood box in. Jiang Bilan received the box, and passed it to Zuo Canglang, saying, "This item will be gifted to General."

Zuo Canglang took a glance at Murong Yan, and bowed down, her two hands receiving the wooden box, lifting it above her head, said, "Thank your majesty, thank your ladyship's gift."

Murong Yan was silent, and Jiang Bilan said, "General, quickly rise. In the past, General was already his majesty's close subject, and speaking of it, we are all one family. And now, you are actually being so formal."

Zuo Canglang slowly stood up, and held the box, standing before the two people. Of course they weren't a family, only he and her, were actually one family.

But she had no way of pushing it off, so she lowered her head, and Murong Yan stood up, saying, "Okay, beloved subject should recover well. This king still has matters, and will leave first."

Jiang Bilan said, "This queen also won't disturb General's rest then."

Zuo Canglang slowly bowed down, "This subject sends off your majesty, sends off your ladyship."

Murong Yan slightly nodded, and turned, leaving. When he lifted the bead curtain, he turned back looking at Jiang Bilan. Jiang Bilan lightly smiled at him, and then the two left shoulder to shoulder.

After the two had walked afar, Zuo Canglang finally discovered that she was still hugging that wooden box. She put the box down on the table, and put her clothes on, preparing to leave the palace. The palace servants saw it, and quickly tried to dissuade her, "General! Your wounds are still not recovered, and his majesty has ordered, to have you stay in the palace to recover......."

Zuo Canglang ignored him, and left the Southern Palace Hall.

From the palace to Wen estate, she walked for a very long time. The blood on her back slowly seeped out again, but it actually wasn't very painful. The autumn sun shone on her, but she only felt cold.

Right as she walked to the gate, the Wen family members saw it, and immediately, a servant came forwards to help her, and other servants reported the matter to Wen Xingye. Wen Xingye and Old Madam Wen both came out, and Zuo Canglang waved them off, signaling them not to ask anything.

All the way until she reached her own room, did she finally say, "Look for a doctor that can treat external injuries."

Wen Xingye didn't even need her to mention it, and had ordered someone to go. At this time, he finally asked, "How did you offend his majesty? You actually managed to cause him to get this enraged?"

Zuo Canglang said, "I only said a few things that I should not have said, that's all."

"That's it?" Wen Xingye was angry, and the worry and concern he had held in all these days finally erupted, "what did you really say. Did you know that after you were imprisoned, what your colleagues in the army turned into? Everyone was making trips on your behalf, and you're just like this, not putting matters to heart at all?"

Zuo Canglang rubbed her nose, saying, "I have my reasons."

Wen Xingye asked, "You can't tell me, right?"

Zuo Canglang said, "Mmm."

He said, "Ah Zuo, you need to know, that matters now are already different from the past. He is the ruler, and since antiquity, accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger. No matter how your relationship was with him in the past, now, you must be careful of your words and your actions!"

Zuo Canglang was out of patience, and waved her hand, "Okay okay, can't you see I'm still wounded? If you still don't leave, I'm going to undress, ah!" Saying thus, she began undressing her outer robe, and Wen Xingye could only blush angrily, leaving both angrily and in a hurry, but also having no way to cope with her.

It's not like he could really just stand there and watch his daughter-in-law change, right? He could only leave with a face like a stubborn bull.

It was sill Old Madam Wen that came in later, and seeing their own family's Old Man enraged until he was red-faced, she found it both humorous but also helpless. She also knew of Zuo Canglang's personality, and entered, saying, "Although he was worried, but ultimately, it was still for your good. Don't anger him."

Zuo Canglang said, "Like I could be betty with him? What a bad tempered old man."

Old Madam Wen couldn't hold in her laughter, and the consecutive days of gloom over Wen estate finally seemed to have dissipated. After all, she was Wen Estate's head right now, and once something happened to her, Wen Estate would definitely collapse. Old Madam Wen came forward and helped her change, but with one glance of her back, she was also scared witless, "This......."

The blood on her back had already drenched the bandages, and her clothes all had blood stains on them. Zuo Canglang actually didn't think it serious, as actually, returning to Wen estate, she could be much more at ease, and said, "Didn't I just take a hundred beatings from rods, so bleeding is only natural."

Old Madam Wen was worried, and said, "His majesty is really enough! At the very least, you're still a young lady, so even if you were not careful and said a few wrong words, there's no need to beat you to this state, ah!"

Zuo Canglang made a tsk sound, and then crawled off the bed, saying, "It's not that I accidentally said something wrong, so help me see if the doctor is here yet."

Old Madam Wen quickly went out, and coincidentally, ran into the doctor and brought him in. Old Madam Wen also had the servants boil water, and the servants in the estate all grew busy, but their hearts were finally calmed down.

Not long after Zuo Canglang returned to her estate, Yuan Xi, Wang Nan, and Xu Lang all came over. Zuo Canglang couldn't wear clothes right now, and Old Sir Wen couldn't possibly let them enter his own daughter-in-law's room, so they just spoke a few words in the main hall.

Yuan Xi and the others also weren't ones that had to see Zuo Canglang. And seeing that she was released, they were finally relaxed, and also discussed a bit with Wen Xingye before departing.

Zuo Canglang knelt on the bed, and unknowingly, she actually took a good nap.

In the night, Old Madam Wen entered again, and prepared a recovery soup for her. Zuo Canglang held her hand, drinking it, asking, "How are Yixuan and Yirong?"

Old Madam Wen said, "Since the family had such a matter, your father-in-law was worried, so he had them stay at their teacher's home, and they haven't returned. It also saved the kids from asking about this and that."

Zuo Canglang nodded, saying, "This matter has already passed, so there's no need to worry."

Old Madam Wen fed her the soup spoon by spoon, saying, "We're old, and whenever we hear the slightest rustle of the wind or the grass, our hearts would be filled with worry, so how could we not be worried for you? When I was thirty six, my eldest son perished in the battlefield. When I was thirty nine, my husband lost a leg, but luckily he managed to return. After surviving with much difficulty until our old age, Qi'er then also...... now I'm truly afraid, and hearing that you were imprisoned, it truly made me extremely scared and worried. When leaves fall, they could still awaken people from their dreams."

Zuo Canglang only pat her hand, the household of a general, ah, if you talk about them, they are quite glorious, but that type of constant worry, lack of knowledge regarding their life-or-death, perhaps only those who experienced it would understand it.

She said, "Don't think randomly. Why don't you go to bed?"

Old Madam Wen nodded, and seeing that she had finished drinking the soup, she brought the bowl out. Zuo Canglang shut her eyes. In the morning, she had slept a lot, and now, she couldn't fall asleep. Suddenly, from outside, something hit her window. She was startled, and only thought it might be Murong Yan, but worriedly asked, "Who is it?"

The window was opened, and someone jumped in from outside. It was Leng Feiyan. Zuo Canglang really wanted to jump up and give her a good thrashing, asking, "Where have you gone these past days?"

Leng Feiyan drew close to her, and looked her over, asking, "What did you do, to enrage him so?"

Zuo Canglang said, "Like I need your worries! Tell me what you have done recently?"

Leng Feiyan said, "Cang Tianqi that old man has some skill, and I was stabbed by him, so I looked for a place to recover for a month."

Zuo Canglang was startled, "You killed Cang Tianqi?"

Leng Feiyan said, "More or less."

Zuo Canglang said, "His majesty's orders?"

"Who other than him?" Leng Feiyan took her shoes off, and fell on her bed, and smelling the scents on her body, she quickly lifted the blanket and frowned, "What did you eat, that there's such a stench of medicine."

Zuo Canglang said, "The matter of Duanmu Family, being unmatched in the martial arts convention, do you know of it?"

Leng Feiyan muttered, saying, "At the very least, I'm a member of the martial arts world, and at the very least, I am in the business of spreading news, so how could I not know of this matter?"

Zuo Canglang karate chopped the top of her head, asking, "Since you know of it, why did you not compete for the place of the martial arts head?"

Leng Feiyan rubbed her head, saying, "I didn't want to compete, as what do I want the martial arts world for? Could I boil it and eat it, ah?"

Zuo Canglang said, "Tibetan Pavilion is composed of what types of people, are you unclear? Do you plan on being an assassin your whole life?"

Leng Feiyan said, "THere's nothing bad about it, ah, as it is so free and unfettered. Also, seeing as how we have met for so long, can't you be a bit nicer to me? This old man almost died at Cang Tianqi, that old man's hands."

Zuo Canglang's voice unwittingly turned soft, saying, "Tibetan Pavilion, you have to escape from sooner or later, and with Duanmu Family's rise, it is harmful to you. In the future, you must be extremely careful of your actions, and you definitely cannot give them any ace cards. Swallow's Nest needs to slowly change into conducting proper business, for example clothing, taverns, gambling houses, and brothels and slowly exchange these unsightly businesses, and then slowly pawn off Tibetan Pavilion's management to others. Make less and less people involved with Tibetan Pavilion's matters."

Leng Feiyan was quiet, and Zuo Canglang used her elbow to nudge her, saying, "Did you hear me?" She finally said, "Was it for the matter of Duanmu family that you objected to him?"

Zuo Canglang said, "You don't need to worry about me, as the lord master's mood, I can understand a certain degree of."

Leng Feiyan reached her hand out, rubbing her head, saying, "Ah Zuo, you look like you're very smart, but you're actually very stupid, really." Zuo Canglang looked at her with the corner of her eye, angry, and Leng Feiyan continued laughing, saying, "But sometimes you're so stupid that it's a bit cute. Perhaps this is the reason he likes you."

Zuo Canglang reached her hand out to tap her head, saying, "You wanna die?!"

Leng Feiyan yelped, and laughed as she pulled her head over, and the two furry heads leaned against each other. She lightly said, "What a naive idiot."

The two of them lay on the bed, side by side for a while, and Zuo Canglang fell asleep again. Leng Feiyan waited until her breathing grew deep, and then she slowly rose, and jumped out the window.

Outside, the moonlight was just nice, so she ran at a fast pace, and quickly entered the palace. Murong Yan was in the study, and seeing her enter, he asked, "You went and saw Ah Zuo?"

Leng Feiyan walked before his desk, and knelt, saying, "Reporting to lord master, yes."

Murong Yan said, "For your matter, she really had to act all cute and behave like a gangster, using every tactic imaginable."

Leng Feiyan said, "She trusts lord master, and is also close to lord master, and that is why she can be reckless."

Murong Yan said, "This time, I've summoned you, not for her matter. Last time, the matter with Cangjian sect, someone else already cleaned up after you." Leng Feiyan's body was startled, but she listened to him continue, "in the future, this type of matter, this king does not hope there will be a repeat."

Leng Feiyan's heart was a bit shocked and suspicious, but she still said, "Yes."

Murong Yan said, "Last time, some old officials in court were removed from their post and returned to their hometowns, but among them, some people were actually restless." He passed a list of names on his desk to Leng Feiyan's hands, saying, "Get rid of them, old people with weak bodies, and whom have just suffered the torments of prison, it's difficult for them not to be dissatisfied. And they also have to travel long distances, and endure the pains of travel, so if they contract some unbearable diseases, or if they pass away on their trips, I think nobody would be suspicious."

Leng Feiyan hid the list into her pocket, saying, "Yes."

Murong Yan took a glance at her, saying, "Are you wounds from the deep mountains a bit better?"

Leng Feiyan was startled, and said, "Thanks to lord master's care, it is already fine."

Murong Yan said, "You three are all people that this king watched grow up, and whether close or distant, outsiders ultimately cannot be compared to. But when performing your duties, you must still be alert, as it cannot be that in all matters you will need this king's reminder."

Leng Feiyan cupped her hands, saying, "Lord master's lesson, this subject will remember."

Murong Yan nodded, saying, "Then go."

When it was the beginning of winter, Zuo Canglang's wounds slowly recovered. Finally this day, she could finally attend court. It was then, that she learned, that some of the officials that had been removed from their posts and returned to their hometowns, some number of them had already died. Most of them had perished due to depression, and two had committed suicide.

Wei Tongyao was one of them.

Zuo Canglang saw these reports, and her mood was complex. With these officials, normally she didn't have any particular interactions. They had always been orthodox and against outsiders, so they wouldn't have even respected her. But not knowing why, in that moment, she still felt restless in her heart.

These people, every one of them, were all once Jinyang city's elite. Back when they were young and famed, they were the talented youth that had advised the nation, and were dressed in rich garb, riding in high carriages, but who would have thought, ultimately they would end up without their lives?

After court, Zuo Canglang left the palace, and Yuan Xi and the others had invited her to drink. It was also a celebration of her escape from danger, and surviving a threat to her life. Of course, Zuo Canglang would not reject it, and the group of them passed the grand street, when suddenly they heard the voice of a woman calling out against injustice.

Zuo Canglang looked over, but only saw a woman dressed in white, with her hair disorderly, lifting up a lawsuit paper, stopping Xia Chang You's carriage, calling out loudly against injustice. Xia Chang You only lifted his carriage curtains, and ordered people to brush her aside. That girl called out deeply, "Uncle Xia, take a look at me! I am Bing'er! I father didn't commit suicide, but was murdered by someone. Take a look at me, ah!"

The surrounding civilians all pointed and commented, and not long later, two people from Xia Chang You's office already came, and brought the girl away. Zuo Canglang asked, "Who is that?"

Yuan Xi said, "I don't recognize her, but even if there is some injustice, Xia Chang You would also take care of it. What does it have to do with you?"

Zuo Canglang's gaze fell on that girl, and Wang Nan said, "Let's go, Head of Halls, Xia, this man, is still one of the more upright. Additionally, we're just martial folks, so we can't mind this matter."

At this, Zuo Canglang finally nodded, and the group left.

But the following days, they also didn't see Xia Chang You investigate any crimes. Zuo Canglang was inquisitive and wanted to inquire, but she wasn't particularly close to Xia Chang You, and so this matter, she truly should not mind. It was just that she noticed that girl's name-- Bing'er?

Yuan Xi and the others stayed in Jinyang for a few days, and then they all returned to their garrisons. Martial folk were just like this, spending their usual days by the border. It was just that without war, they would occasionally also have time to return home. Zuo Canglang sent them out of the city, and right when she returned, Wang Yunzhao sent someone to summon her to the palace.

She was a bit surprised, but ultimately still followed the eunuchs into the palace.

This time, Wang Yunzhao didn't bring her into the Southern Palace Hall, but rather to Qing Quan Hall. Qing Quan Hall had a hot spring, so it was coincidentally fitting for her, who had just recovered from heavy injuries.

Zuo Canglang stood by the side of the white porcelain spring, and Wang Yunzhao laughed, saying, "General, first take a soak for a bit, as it is beneficial to your health. His majesty...... will come over later."

Of course Zuo Canglang understood what these words meant. She wasn't a consort in the harem, and hearing these words, she still felt unnatural. Wang Yunzhao also knew that she would be shy, so he didn't have any others serve her. Within the whole Qing Quan Hall, there was only her left.

At this, Zuo Canglang finally undressed and entered the water. The water temperature was just right, a light steam rising from its surface, emanating there. She bit her lips, and not knowing why, she thought of Jiang Bilan. The hatred she held for her, Zuo Canglang could naturally feel. But she couldn't blame her.

Even if they had arrived at the present, she still had a type of feeling like she was committing adultery. Stealing someone else's husband, stealing someone else's love.

She had taken this route, so how could she hate her?

She was by the edge of the pool, and just as she was staring off into space, the screen was lifted, and Murong Yan slowly walked in. Even if she was in the water, Zuo Canglang still couldn't help but curl up and retreat. Murong Yan only wore a white robe, and at this time, he slowly entered the water, saying, "You've been away for a long time. Your combat wounds, the humid airs, are very harmful to your body. If you have no other matters, you can come over here to have a soak, as I think it will be beneficial to you."

Zuo Canglang felt very restricted, as this type of scene with naked favoring (sex) of consorts, it still made her uncertain where to begin. Murong Yan had actually already come to her side. Within the light fog, her face had grown red, and her skin had taken on a soft and supple pinkness. A nineteen year old girl, even if she didn't use makeup, she still had a type of youthful style.

He looked at her, and then held her wrist, practically pulling her into his embrace.

She could make him excited, and he liked this type of feeling where she belonged completely to him. Her strands of long hair, her red lips, her gaze, her acknowledgement and deep adoration all made him have an unnatural sense of joy.

"In the past, did you think of this moment? Hmm?" He spoke in her ear, lightly nibbling on her ear, asking in a whisper. Zuo Canglang didn't answer, and his light breathing had easily excited her entire state. How coudl she not have imagined it, as that type of complete reliance, complete care, something that was fragrant like a rose in every moment?

But no matter how strong her desire, when it was placed between the love of others, all that was left was bitterness.

TN: I find it a massive lost opportunity here, where Zuo Canglang didn't take the opportunity to warn Leng Feiyan about the fact that Jiang Sanyi was the liaison with Duanmu Clan. If she had warned Leng Feiyan, based on Leng Feiyan's intelligence network, perhaps she could be more guarded against the machinations of the other side, as opposed to continuing to operate with a potential lack of knowledge here.