Deposed Empress General Chapter 66

The second day of the second month, at the head of the Dragon's Perch. Murong Yan was paying respects to his ancestors in the palace, and coincidentally granted Rong Jieyu the title as Queen Mother.

Rong Jieyu, after being punished, was stripped of her title as Jieyu. According to convention, she was a Convicted Consort. This type of titling, seemed a bit unfitting. However, currently within court, Zuo Canglang wouldn't make a peep, so who dared to defy him?

Thus after he exited from Cheng Tian building, the various accompanying officials at his side, not a single one of them dared to criticize this act.

Outside of Cheng Tian building, flowers had just bloomed vibrantly. Zuo Canglang followed behind all the officials, and even though Gan Xiaoru intended on giving her way, she still didn't walk beside Murong Yan. It seemed as though she was intentionally avoiding him, to walk by herself in the rear. And then she knelt down beneath the tree-- the weather of the second month, this flower tree actually managed to bloom vibrantly, having a beautifully yellow sweet melon!

Although Zuo Canglang found it unexpected, but at this time, seeing this, she still found it curious. She lightly jumped, landing in the eaves of the tree, and picked this melon-- this...... tree, how would it have this in it?!

She wasn't one who would mind the little things, and immediately took out a knife at her waist, and peel the melon skin. Inside, the melon was already ripe, a lot of juices flowed from it. She took a bite. It was rather sweet. As she buried her head into eating the melon, suddenly, from behind her, not knowing when he had arrived, Murong Yan spoke, asking, "General Zuo, what is the fourth rule of Great Yan's military doctrine?"

Zuo Canglang turned around, her lips still stained with yellowish syrup. She was clueless what was his issue was, and said, "To not take a single piece of property or food from the people, ah."

Murong Yan pointed at the melon in her hand, "Not informing others and just seizing it is considered theft. You are the great Biao Qi Great General, yet you have managed to steal the peoples' melon, so what crime have you committed, ah?"

Zuo Canglang looked at him, and then looked at the melon in her hands, and angrily said, "Isn't it just a melon?!"

Murong Yan had said these words, and criticized her, "What a child that knows nothing. Stealing even a single melon or pea of the people, is still a violation of military doctrine! Knowingly violating it, and still not recognizing your wrongs, this king edicts, Biao Qi General Zuo Canglang, without permission, stole from the people, mmm...... she'll just have half a year's salary deducted then!"

Zuo Canglan held that melon, and was really angry-- this piece of shit melon was so expensive, so ridiculously so, ah!

But in the moment, she actually hadn't thought of any words to counter, so she just held that melon, and angrily harrumphed, and just flapped her sleeves and left.

Among the officials, those that had witnessed what happened, only secretly chuckled. There were also prim and proper ones like Xia Chang You, who silently wiped their sweat. Only those like Jiang Sanyi, those with ulterior motives, unconsciously frowned-- Murong Yan was obviously criticizing a subject, but but difference did it make?

Zuo Canglang hugged that melon, walking in the front, not bearing to toss it-- half a year's worth of salary, ah! She buried her head continue to chomp away at it, she suddenly saw that the heart of the melon had a soft long tooth shaped...... pendant? She picked it up, and that item looked rather fine in her eyes, sharp and intricate. Behind her, Murong Yan slowly passed by and softly asked, "Is it pretty?"

Zuo Canglang lifted her gaze, an met his gaze. He chuckled, and walked towards a nearby place.

Zuo Canglang slowly held that jade piece in her palm, and around her, the flowers were in full bloom, light and being blown away by the spring wind. She stood in the small breeze, and not knowing why, she had a strange feeling like she wanted to cry.

In this world, there were some people, ah, whom you would just like, to the core of your being, it was an incurable disease, and it was one that would stain you with blood and seek greatness through your love. Have you ever also loved someone this way, so that for her thin hand, you would love every strand of her hair, love her every gaze, so that even when outsiders mentioned her name, you would still feel its sweetness?

Even though she knew they weren't fitting people, but she would still charge into the flame like a moth, burning herself into a crisp. In the end, she would use up her entire life, to become the one he most wanted you to become.

In the night, after she returned to Wen estate, Wen Xingye began muttering, saying that ultimately Consort Rong was an abolished consort, so how could she be titled as Queen Mother? It was indeed inexcusable. Zuo Canglang ignored him, as all the court officials didn't dare to have complaints, and so he could only mutter in his own estate.

She returned to her room, and had the servants bring in hot water. After she soaked in the bathtub, the hot water penetrated her skin, did she finally sigh. In her hand, she held that warm jade piece, and the jade piece dangled, reflecting the flame of her soul, like her thoughts that lacked peace.

At the side, the window slightly moved, and Zuo Canglang was stunned, and reached her hand out to grab clothes, when someone lightly pressed down her hand, and softly laughed, "If I didn't come, would you come?"

Zuo Canglang was startled, "Lord master?"

Murong Yan smiled, and pulled her out of the bathtub. Zuo Canglang was embarrassed, "Put me down!"

Murong Yan placed her on the bed, and he also got on it. Zuo Canglang grabbed the blanket, covering her body, "Lord master! This is Wen estate, and if it is seen by others......"

Murong Yan had a frivolous tone, "So what if they see? Even if Wen Xingye personally saw it, he would still pretend that he didn't see anything."

Zuo Canglang's brows scrunched up, and Murong Yan continued, "I only avoided him to give you a bit of face. Do you really think the Wen family members consider you as a family member? Wen Xingye currently only treats you well, because he cannot leave you, and also cannot leave me. And," He reached his hand out, lifting Zuo Canglang's chin, looking into her eyes, "you've always been mine from the start, mine!"

His eyes were dark and moving, like ink that wouldn't melt. Zuo Canglang asked, "What is our relationship?"

Murong Yan was startled, and let go of her chin, and then he lied down by her side, a long time later, spat out two words, "Ruler-subject."

Zuo Canglang lowered her eyes, and Murong Yan smiled, "You always ask the wrong question, and so you can only blame yourself for your painful sorrow." She didn't talk, and Murong Yan pulled her over, and pressed her into his chest, "you should be asking, why is lord master coming over here even though it is so late? Then, this king could answer, because the thing that I want is here, and the person I want to see is here."

Zuo Canglang couldn't break out of his grasp, and was afraid of making a ruckus would truly draw members of the estate over, so she could only stay silent.

Murong Yan lowered his head, his chin lightly rubbing the top of her head, "White eyed wolf, I had a bad dream, and I didn't want to sleep in the palace."

Zuo Canglang wasn't comforting, and lightly said, "Lord master can put away his seal and leave for vacation, heading for the distant lands. The king father and the abolished prince would both be extremely willing to return to the palace to sleep."

Murong Yan snickered, and then used his finger to flick her head, "What a load of rubbish, if this king left, do you think you would still have room to live?"

Zuo Canglang was stunned, and a long time later, said, "If lord master is willing to go, what use would I have for space to live?"

Murong Yan lightly rubbed her cheek, saying, "Mmm. These words are very good, this king feels comforted."

He reached his hand to caress her body, and Zuo Canglang began dodging, " lord master really wants to leave me a bit of face, then don't do it at Wen estate." Murong Yan chuckled, saying, "Still angry?"

Zuo Canglang stopped talking, and he said, "She is after all the queen, so no matter what relationship you have with me, before her eyes, wanting to not receive even a bit of oppression, it is impossible." Zuo Canglang was stunned, and Murong Yan lightly brushed her long hair, saying, "Other than me, within the whole Great Yan, nobody can match her rank, nobody can. You understand?"

Zuo Canglang was silent, and Murong Yan pressed her head into his chest, saying, "I can allow you to rarely encounter her. Or, to put it another way, if you don't want to enter the palace, I can give you another estate. However, Ah Zuo" he held her hand, slowly pressing into into his chest, saying, "Murong Yan also only has this single heart, which can only be pulled out for a single woman. Thus everything that can be given to you, even if it is peace or authority, can only be given to her."

Zuo Canglang understood it. His continuous behavior towards her this whole time, was a type of warning to her, and also a demand from her.

He wanted her to submit to him, and also to submit to Jiang Bilan. When she opened her mouth again, her voice held a bit of sternness to it, "But I have never thought of, enjoying everything she has. I......"

Before she finished speaking, he shut her mouth with a kiss, and then lightly said, "This life of mine, a lot has occurred, but the women I have had are only you and her, only. If one day, even you leave me, then wouldn't I feel regret? White-eyed wolf, don't speak words of departure, but stay at my side."

Zuo Canglang kept silent, as that oppression she had encounter, slowly froze over. She secretly thought, if this lifetime, she could stay by his side, what was did a title matter? Suffering some oppression, what did that matter?

If Zuo Canglang had once received even a bit of Murong Yan's true feelings, then what did it matter if her tears ran dry, and if her blood ran dry?

Love was something that had neither dignity nor pride. If who touched it first, they would definitely fall into suffering it.

The spring night was vibrant, and she leaned into his embrace, his warm throat was comforting. She slowly covered his body with the blanket, and the night became calm and quiet.

The next day, Zuo Canglang had just left court, when Wang Yunzhao came to speak to her. Zuo Canglang thought that it was Murong Yan wanting to summon her to the palace, and the vibrancy in her eyes gradually receded. But Wang Yunzhao instead said, "General, his majesty has an order, to gift general with another estate. This old servant will take General over on a trip, and if there is anything that is not desirable, General, just mention it, so that the overseers can make adjustments based on the designs."

Zuo Canglang finally released her breath at this, as she really didn't want to enter the palace. Thus, at this time, she followed Wang Yunzhao forwards, but the route was extremely familiar.

Zuo Canglang froze in place, a what Murong Yan gave her, was his old estate when he was still Marquis Qian Yi.

The old estate had never fallen into disrepair, and from the building to its yards, it was still as it had been in the past. Zuo Canglang slowly entered, and reminisced about the past, when she had first entered the estate.

Time had passed without making a sound, and in the blink of an eye, it had already been five years.

Zuo Canglang slowly stepped into the main hall, and Wang Yunzhao followed behind her, asking, "The places that need correction have already been taken out. General, take a look to see if any other place needs correction. This old servant will immediately order them to begin work."

Zuo Canglang said, "Chief steward has worked hard. I think it is fine the way it is, so there is no need to trouble you."

She walked to the old building she had lived in in the past, and inside, that wild rose on its trellis was still there. It was still early, and the stars hadn't gathered in the sky yet, and Zuo Canglang's expression slowly softened. She walked to the old wall that had been covered by those roses, and reached out her hand, lightly touch that empty space.

Wang Yunzhao said, "I knew that general liked this flower cave, and thus, have kept it without touching it all the time."

Zuo Canglang said, "Actually, as I see it, as long as this small yard and rose cave are here, it is enough."

Wang Yunzhao nodded, saying, "Then this old servant will report the matter as such. If general thinks of anything, it won't be late to expand in the future."

Zuo Canglang cupped her hands at him, and Wang Yunzhao bowed, and turned, returning to the palace.

Within the Yan palace, inside Zhang Wen Hall. Murong Yan rarely came here, as it was where Rong Jieyu used to live. After Rong Jieyu died, no other consorts had lived here. It had been sealed, and was dark and without a sound. After Murong Yan ascended, there had always been people that would clean the place according to a schedule, and the whole hall had been repainted with a new layer of paint.

At this time, the wall still had a painting of Rong Jieyu hanging from it. The beauty was in a pose, with birds orbiting, lightly smiling. Murong Yan stood before the painting, his expression calm-- currently, your wish has been fulfilled, and you have finally attained that position, but are you satisfied?

Wang Yunzhao entered, and seeing him stare at Rong Jieyu's painting, he quickly paid respect, "Your majesty, I already brought General Zuo over there."

Murong Yan recovered his senses, and nodded, saying, "This king has thought about it much, and within the entire Jinyang city, she probably is only willing to live there."

Wang Yunzhao said, "The general actually really likes that yard, as seeing that wall of roses, her entire gaze illuminated."

Murong Yan smiled, saying, "Her personality is rather strange, as ten thousand gardens she doesn't love, but she only likes that small and narrow rose cave." He turned his face, asking Wang Yunzhao, "a wild rose, does this flower have another deeper meaning?"

Wang Yunzhao was also a bit troubled, saying, "This...... old servant really hasn't heard of anything such. Why don't we inquire the old flower masters in the palace?"

Murong Yan shook his head, "No matter, just let her be."

Right as they were talking, suddenly someone reported outside, "Your majesty, her ladyship the queen suddenly fainted in Qi Feng Hall!"

Murong Yan was stunned, and sternly said, "What happened? Was a royal doctor summoned?"

The palace servant quickly said, "Reporting to your majesty, the head of the royal doctors, Official Hai has already gone over." Murong Yan quickly walked out of Zhang Wen Hall, and Wang Yunzhao jogged after him.

Inside Qi Feng Hall, it had currently become chaotic, and the palace servants entered and exited. Hai Yun was currently taking Jiang Bilan's pulse. Murong Yan entered the inner court, and stood behind her. Hai Yun quickly bowed, "This subject greets your majesty!"

Murong Yan waved his hand, "No need. How is the queen?"

Hai Yun had a face full of joy, saying, "Congratulations your majesty, congratulations to your majesty! Her ladyship is pregnant!"

Murong Yan was speechless, but his frown slowly loosened, and his scrunched up brows also loosened, and he began celebrating. Murong Yan said, "You all may rise, all of you are to be rewarded."

Everyone thanked his grace, and then he turned to Hai Yun again, asking, "This is truly a good matter. Since this king had ascended, I have always not had children. This is this king's first child, you all must take good care, that nothing can happen."

Hai Yun continued to kowtow, saying, "Please relax your majesty, as although her ladyship's body is weak, but her pulse is stable. As long as she takes good care, she will definitely give birth to a royal child safely."

Murong Yan came forward, and sat by her side, holding Jiang Bilan's hand. Seeing that her hands were still cold, he couldn't help but rub them, saying, "Since it is so, the queen's pregnancy will be managed entirely by you. Your other duties, leave them aside, to be managed by the other royal doctors."

Hai Yun kowtowed again, "This is this subject's fortune from three lifetimes, so this subject will definitely put both in the effort and heart."

The matter of Jiang Bilan's pregnancy, was thus spread both within and outside of court. All the court officials immediately began congratulating Jiang Sanyi. Jiang Sanyi was also truly happy, since as long as Jiang Bilan gave birth to the eldest prince, her position would be safe by half. Based on the current doting Murong Yan had towards her, this eldest prince would definitely become the crown prince.

No matter how capable Zuo Canglang could be, she ultimately still loved the identity of Wenqi's wife, so she could not threaten the rear court.

The court celebrated this matter, and Murong Yan prepared a feast in the palace.

At the moment, it happened to exactly be the end of the second month, and within court, the peach blossoms had bloomed. Jiang Bilan wore a deep red palace robe, a true national beauty. The person was truly more attractive than flowers, making the peace blossoms pale in comparison. The court officials all praised her beauty, and Jiang Bilan's mood was also pretty good, saying, "Your majesty, this subject wife knows that all the officials are all capable and learned. Now that we are in such a nice setting among the peach blossoms, and with such an auspicious event, why don't we make poems to improve everyone's mood?"

Of course Murong Yan would not reject it, and he said, "Since the queen has opened her mouth, the present officials won't push it off, right?"

What could everyone say, but they all presented their poems. Some were discussing peach blossoms, while others alluded to world peace, tying it to the spring.

Murong Yan and Jiang Bilan sat side by side in the peach blossom woods, listening to the subjects' poems, applauding some of them. The falling petals gathered around the people, and the group seemed as though they had sprouted from the flowers.

Zuo Canglang followed behind Murong Yan and Jiang Bilan. Currently, since the royal court didn't have the Grand Military official, among the military officers, she held the highest position. She didn't make a poem, and nobody bothered her. Everyone knew that her depth of literary talent, and for the sake of protecting the dignity of Great Yan's military officials, they still didn't make her embarrass herself.

At this time, Jiang Bilan suddenly turned around, saying, "All the present officials have all made their poems, so why doesn't General Zuo make one?"

Zuo Canglang respectfully bowed, "This subject is a military individual, and doesn't have a drop of ink in my eyes, and truly cannot make poems. Begging your ladyship to pass judgment."

Jiang Bilan smiled, saying, "This queen was just mentioning it in passing, but actually managed to make General consider it seriously. General has protected the nation, and being unfamiliar with making poems is also quite expected." Saying thus, she turned and walked forwards. Zuo Canglang followed along. The surrounding officials all talked and laughed, and the scene was rather lively.

Murong Yan heard Jiang Bilan speaking with Zuo Canglang. He knew Jiang Bilan wanted to be petty, but in this type of event, he couldn't do anything. Luckily, in a few steps, they had arrived at a pavilion.

Jiang Bilan increased her speed, and behind her Zuo Canglang also naturally also sped up. But being unguarded, Jiang Bilan suddenly stopped, and Zuo Canglang couldn't react in time, and accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress. Jiang Bilan yelped, and she fell forward. Zuo Canglang moved in a flurry, and hugged her quickly, spinning in the air, and Jiang Bilan fell atop of her.

She reached her hand out supporting Jiang Bilan's stomach, and thus took a deep breath. Jiang Bilan's expression looked a bit painful. Zuo Canglang's gaze slowly lowered, and saw her blood as it slowly stained her palace garb.

This...... what was this?

She was stunned, and by the side, someone shouted out, "It's not good, her ladyship is bleeding!!"

The officials all became chaotic, and in a short moment, someone summoned the royal doctor. Murong Yan rushed over, and Jiang Bilan jumped into his embrace, her two hands grasping his sleeve, "Your majesty, our child......"

After saying these words, she was silent. Murong Yan hugged her, practically charging out of the peach forest.

Zuo Canglang quickly followed after, and Qi Feng Hall was already in chaos. Pail after pail of hot water was brought in, and when it was brought in, it had already been stained red with blood. After a long time, the royal doctor came out from inside, kneeling down, "Your majesty!"

Murong Yan's expression was pale, "What is the matter?"

Hai Yun said, "Reporting to your majesty, her ladyship...... her ladyship had a miscarriage!"

Murong Yan looked at everyone, and his gaze fell on Zuo Canglang. Zuo Canglang knelt down, "This is not possible......" she had obviously caught her, so how could she have suffered a miscarriage?

Hai Yun said, "Your majesty, since her ladyship became pregnant, the fetus had always been stable. In the morning, this subject had taken her ladyship's pulse, and it was still fine. With a minor fall, it would not have resulted in a miscarriage, unless someone pressed against her stomach, intending on this result!"

Zuo Canglang slowly turned around, asking, "Hai Yun, what are you saying?"

Hai Yue kowtowed, saying, "Your majesty, this subject has always served her ladyship, so her ladyship's condition, this subject is the most familiar towards. I definitely would not tell lies."

Zuo Canglang angrily said, "So you're saying, I intended to harm the queen, and cause her miscarriage?!"

Hai Yun said, "What general has done, this subject does not dare to speculate. This subject can only speak the truth."

Zuo Canglang finally understood a bit, saying, "Your majesty, this subject asks to summon another royal doctor, to take a prognosis for the queen!"

Hai Yun hadn't spoken yet, when at the side, Jiang Sanyi said, "General Zuo, this whole time, his majesty has treated general well. Currently, the queen's stomach has his majesty's first child, so how could you bear, to do such a harm to it?!"

Zuo Canglang exploded in anger, "Jiang Sanyi! I am also his majesty's subject, so how would I harm his majesty's blood?!"

Jiang Sanyi said, "This is exactly also the question I wish to ask general. What enmity do you have towards the queen, that you would actually not let go of her unborn child?"

Zuo Canglang was just a military person, and in matters of debate, how could she outclass him? She turned her head, looking at Murong Yan, "Your majesty, I......" before she finished, Murong Yan already kicked her. Zuo Canglang's body fell back, and she worked hard, kneeling before him, not letting herself fall over, "I didn't."

Murong Yan stared at her eyes, asking, "Are you saying, it was the queen who used her unborn child, to frame you?"

Zuo Canglang held her chest. He didn't believe, so nobody would believe, that Jiang Bilan would use her own unborn child to frame her. After all, that was Murong Yan's first child, and if it was a son, it would probably be the future crown prince.

No matter how Jiang Bilan was, she wouldn't use this child to do this type of thing.

Murong Yna slowly said, "She is only a rear court woman, so even if she occasionally troubles you, how far can you go? To actually make you hate her to this extent."

At that time, his gaze was cold like the blade of a knife. Zuo Canglang suddenly realized, he would not listen to her explanation. He felt pained for his wife, pained for his blood, and what was she? She didn't speak, and just silently watched him. Murong Yan uttered each word, "Biao Qi General Zuo Canglang offended a superior and harmed a royal child. She is to immediately be removed from her post, and enter the prison to await judgment!"

Zuo Canglang actually didn't hear his words, but she just watched his lips, opening and shutting. That pair of lips that had once fervently kissed her brows and every inch of her body, was currently just saying this heartless words?

I had once thought, I had always been by your side, ah, but it turns out, that we've actually been separated by thousands of miles?

The imperial guard arrived, and dragged her away from Qi Feng Hall. She was once again tossed into prison, and it was still her old cell. This time, she hadn't suffered torture, but not knowing why, it made her even more sad. Zuo Canglang sat in a corner, and the cell was shut, her chest finally feeling agonizing pain.

A beam of sunlight filtered in, and slowly grew dim, and finally, the world entered darkness. She hugged her two knees, her gaze glu.

In Qi Feng Hall, when Jiang Bilan awoke, it was already dark. Murong Yan was still watching over her by her side, and he held her hand, her voice was light and difficult, "Big brother Yan...... our child...... how is our child?"

Murong Yan held her hand, slowly pulling her into his embrace, saying, "Take a good rest. We will have a child in the future. We will have very very many."

Jiang Bilan shook her head, a long time later, finally crying out, "Our child is gone, right?" Murong Yan didn't answer, and she reached her hand out to wipe her face, crying out loud, "Why? Why did she need to harm my child?"

She was sad and filled with despair, and Murong Yan tightly hugged her. He could think why it happened. If they were to consider the matter, currently within court or outside of it, if someone didn't want Jiang Bilan to give birth to a crown prince, then that person could only be her. The woman in his embrace, was soft as if she had no bones, but a sense of coldness slid over Murong Yan's heart.

The situation in their youth, had already grown blurry and been diluted. But the her in his memory, was still perfect. The flower he had once protected in his hands, and then the stars he pursued. Ultimately, when he had propped her up in the palm of his hand, he ultimately could not keep her untarnished.

Promises were equivalent to empty words.

He lightly pat her back, saying, "She won't have another opportunity."

Jiang Bilan only cried, and Murong Yan hugged her for half the night. After she finally fell asleep, he put her down, and slowly walked out of Qi Feng Hall. Wang Yunzhao followed behind him, and wanted to say something, but didn't dare to. Murong Yan deeply said, "Summon Jiang Sanyi into the palace."

Wang Yunzhao could only do so.

Not long later, Jiang Sanyi entered the palace in a hurry. Murong Yan met him in the royal study, and Jiang Sanyi also looked rather worried, "Your majesty, the queen encountered such an accident. Seeing it, this old subject feels guilty, but can do nothing. I don't know, regarding this matter, whether the queen has any recovery in her mood?"

Murong Yan said, "Tomorrow, summon Madam Jiang into the palace, to accompany the queen then."

Jiang Sanyi thanked his grace, and Murong Yan suddenly said, "Since Marshal Wen perished, within court, the position of Wei General has always been empty. Do you have any fitting candidates?"

Jiang Sanyi was stunned, and suddenly his heart beat rapidly! Murong Yan's meaning, was, the position of Wei General, could be one of his personnel?!

He didn't change his expression at all, but still slowly said, "Within the current court, those that can take up this responsibility are not many. Hasn't your majesty considered Yuan Xi, General Yuan?"

Murong Yan said, "Yuan Xi, is martial but doesn't use his brains. It's enough that he is a general. A Marshal, perhaps he would be insufficient."

Jiang Sanyi suppressed the excitement in his heart, slowly saying, "Does your majesty still remember Old General Han Yi?" Murong Yan's brow rose, and Jiang Sanyi said, "Back then, Old General Han and Country Stabilizing Gong were both officials in court. He is also a rather courageous general."

Murong Yan said, "This king remembers, back then Country Stabilizing Gong criticized him for seizing military rations, and although it was discovered that it didn't happen, but because father king trusted the Wen clan, so he gradually grew distant to him."

Jiang Sanyi said, "Exactly so. Actually back then, it is unknown whether the matter was true or not, as everyone all had a measure in their hearts. If the King Father did not grow distant to him, with Marshal Wen's youthful age, how could he have marshaled all the armies?"

Murong Yan said, "Speaking of it, this king has also not seen General Han in some time. Order someone to order him into court for a visit then."

Jiang Sanyi immediately responded, "This general takes the place of General Han, to thank yor majesty's royal favor!"

The light illuminated the royal study, and Jiang Bilan slowly sat up, the candle light wavering. Someone quietly walked over. It was head of the imperial guard, Feng Ping. Jiang Bilan leaned against the headboard of the bed, saying, "If you don't take advantage of this chance, perhaps there is no longer any excuse to be had."

Feng Ping said, "You used the royal child in your stomach, to exchange it for this opportunity? Do you think it is worth it? If it was a boy, you would be the Queen Mother." What a stupid woman, being blinded by your present jealousy, actually doing this type of thing that had no benefit!

Jiang Bilan said, "I don't need your care. Anyways, you must know, this is an opportunity exchanged for with my child's life."

Feng Ping said, "Right now his majesty will definitely not exterminate Wen clan, but of course, he also won't punish her with death. Wang Yunzhao is biased towards her, so I cannot guarantee success."

Jiang Bilan turned to look at him, saying, "You have an opportunity."

Feng Ping looked at her, and she said, "Come here." Feng Ping walked close to that soft bed, leaning his ear over. Jiang Bilan drew near to her ear, and lightly said a sentence. Feng Ping smelled the light fragrance on her body.

"She is afraid of snakes." She said.

TN: Man, honestly, Murong Yan and Jiang Bilan deserve each other. A bunch of actors. I'm conflicted in understanding this novel, maybe you all can chime in on what you think. Personally, there is ambiguity in the dialogue. What I'm unclear of is whether Murong Yan is disappointed in Jiang Bilan or in Zuo Canglang. The "her" who is the only culprit is left ambiguous. Because on one hand, it could be read as Zuo Canglang, but on the other hand, that dialogue exchange could be Murong Yan's disappointment that he couldn't protect the purity of his idealized version of Jiang Bilan. So he may already know she had setup Zuo Canglang. And thus, his subsequent exchange with Jiang Sanyi is a test, where he's digging a hole to let Jiang Sanyi walk into. It's interesting to observe, that Murong Yan was probably observing what move Jiang Sanyi would make, and he didn't disappoint, in selecting someone who has enmity with Wen Xingye. This, seems to show Murong Yan repeatedly that Jiang family's interest, factional bias, and how they are forming a political clique. What do you all think? Do you all lean more to interpretation of throwing Zuo Canglang under the bus, or the more cynical perspective of Jiang Bilan?