Deposed Empress General 10- Desolation

Murong Yan did not attend the feast, but Murong Yuan didn't say anything about it. After all, he wasn't someone who could stomach what had happened to consort Rong, and unless it was absolutely necessary, he was unwilling to see her offspring. That person's eyes would drip blood, making people disgusted. Since he didn't mention it, then the queen of course more so would not pay any attention to this second prince. And so everyone within the palace just went ahead and pretended that this person did not exist.

Who would know that after Murong Yan had left, at the feast, something unspeakable would happen!

Jiang Sanyi brought his daughter, Jiang Bilan to attend the feast, and when Jiang Bilan was thirteen years old, she had offered a dance at the empress's birthday feast, mesmerizing everyone with her dance, henceforth becoming famous. She was known as the first beauty within Great Yan. All these years, Jiang family didn't skimp on spending resources developing her, and in every other respect, she was also extremely proficient; it was only the matter of her wedding......

She followed behind her father, Jian Sanyi, and took a glance left and right, noticing that she did not see Murong Yan at the feast. She immediately asked, "Father, why don't we see his second highness?"

Jiang Sanyi's face immediately fell, but seeing that his daughter's soft face, he wasn't willing to say much.

King Yan, seeing her, seemed as though he thought of something, and his expression grew grave, not saying anything. But the crown prince beside King Yan, kept staring at Jiang Bilan. That day, she was calm and graceful, with her inserted in her hair. When she was leaving, it seemed as though there was a chime gracing her steps, as though it was the spring breeze of dawn.

Jiang Sanyi, what type of a calculating old fox was he, managed to immediately discover the crown prince's gaze. To smiled slightly, but didn't bother pointing it out. Murong Ruo and Murong Yan's ages were close, and when they were young, Jiang Bilan pretty much entered the palace daily, and accompanied princess Murong Shu. When she had fallen off her horse, the two brothers hastily chased after her, and finally Murong Yan flew over with his body, and Jiang Bilan coincidentally fell into his embrace.

Actually, what is love, Jiang Bilan had in countless restless nights recalled that day's scenery. Perhaps love, was nothing more than something that occurred in an instant, when one would suddenly want to be with someone forever.

Jiang Bilan kept on being distracted. For although her father and mother kept on being against her marriage arrangement with Murong Yan, she knew this. But she loved him, and should she really just not marry him just because he had fallen from grace?

Perhaps it was because Murong Ruo was too mesmerized in his stares, that Jiang Bilan finally also discovered something was strange. She glanced over at the crown prince's seat, and their gazes crossed, causing her to immediately blush, and look away from his gaze. Murong Ruo's heartbeat became unsteady, and not long later, he received a message passed to him by a eunuch. He found a place devoid of people, opening it, and saw that there was a small scroll of little letters written upon it. Someone had invited him to meet in Nong Hua Hall.

He was slightly startled, as that letter had a light fragrance wafting from it, and it was obvious that the words and the letters both came from a woman's hand. And once he lifted his gaze, he saw that Jiang Bilan's seat had unwittingly become empty.

He grasped that letter, his heart beating rapidly-- could it be, it was that beauty's invitation?

He used an excuse of leaving the palace, to leave the feast, and went to Nong Hua hall. Nong Hua hall was in a reclusive area, and was the place King Yan usually kept his high officials overnight. When Wenqi entered the palace, most of the time he would live in Nong Hua hall. It was obvious that unless an official was staying for the night, it would pretty much be an empty hall.

His heart was somewhat unsettled with suspicion, and he didn't even bring an assistant, and directly entered this quiet and silent hall. Inside the hall, there was already lamp light, and he followed the lamp light in, but that the yard was very dark, with foliage all about. He crossed the yard, and when he neared the inner chambers, he saw a pot of wine wafting out a fragrant scent, giving the night sky a lovely aura.

The crown prince quietly knocked on the door, but nobody answered. He pushed open the door, and only saw Jiang Bilan sitting by the desk, her face flushed red. On the table was half a jug of wine, the cup still warm. He observed the beauty's face, and although it seemed like his actions might cause waves, but he ultimately still lifted up the wine and took a sniff.

Indeed, there was something up with the wine, it was something that would entice people as an aphrodisiac. Of course his heart would be moved, after all this was his younger brother's intended wife. Who could possibly have invited her here in the middle of the night? And who would possibly apply such a drug to her? The person who invited him here, was it her? No, if it was her, herself, she definitely would not have drunk from an aphrodisiac wine.

Then...... was it Jiang Sanyi? He realized, currently Jiang Sanyi did not want anything other than to cancel his daughter and the crown prince's second younger brother's marriage. He was looking for an opportunity to jump ship, and other than using this scheme, he didn't have any other beneficial move. No matter what, he was still the crown prince, and towards Jiang Bilan, he had always had a crush. This chess move by him was actually a marvelous play. Only, on the matter of his second younger brother......

Murong Yan pondered left and right, unable to make a decision. But a beauty entering his embrace, soft and without resistance, he watched the beauty under the lamplight, only feeling like she was like a fairy. That set of plump, reddish lips, not a part of it was not beautiful. He recovered his senses, and kissed that soft and delicate set of lips, and felt the fragrant scent of that beauty immediately permeate his lips. Immediately his libido was excited, and could not be repressed. He hugged Jiang Bilan, laying her down on the soft bed beside them, his ten fingers curling, and removed the thin belt at her waist......

Nong Hua hall was lit in the darkness, like a pondering beast. That one source of light, was like the eye of the beast. At the location where the beast was watching, someone darkly revealed half a face.

Not long later, thirty some imperial guards surrounded Nong Hua hall. The head of the imperial guard brought people, and kicked asunder the door, and saw that in the midst of the soft lamp light, the bedding was a mess and half covered. The crown prince was currently on the floor performing the mating act of beasts, and underneath him, was actually the exposed Jiang Bilan!

The crown prince raised his head, and seeing that some people had come, immediately his frivolousness turned into a sheet of cold sweat. He angrily yelled, "Who let you enter?!"

Behind, a voice said, "Me." It was Jiang Sanyi's voice, coming in from the darkness.

The crown prince's entire lust turned into cold sweat, and when he had gone into Jiang Bilan, she was asleep and hadn't yet awoken. Upon seeing this, Jiang Sanyi immediately yelled with a voice full of sorrow, "My daughter!!"

He jumped in with two or three steps, and used the blanket to cover Jiang Bilan's body. By now, the crown prince's face had long since turned into the shade of dirt, and realizing that upon disturbing all the court officials still attending the feast, the queen who had followed along also paled her face. King Yan's hands and feet were all shaking, and left minister Bi Chengjing quickly approached, and picked up the open wine that was on the table, and took a smell, then sighed, saying, "Your highness...... this wine has something strange with it; probably miss Jiang was drugged by the contents......"

King Yan immediately kicked the table over, the cup immediately shattering. His hands and feet shook, and he pointed at the crown prince, finally saying after a long time, "Bastard!!"

Murong Ruo had long been scared witless, "Father king, someone invited this child subject here; child subject has been framed!"

King Yan kicked him aside with one foot, breathing heavily like a bull, and then pointed again at that open wine, "This scummy act, was also someone framing you? You, you accursed child!"

Although at the moment Jiang Sanyi was crying, he happened to say a phrase, "Your highness, please calm your anger, perhaps there really was a reason. His highness the crown prince......"

King Yan's anger was reaching his heart, and he shook his face saying, "This type of incestuous thing, he still deserves to be called crown prince?! Come, guards!"

At the side, fifth prince's mother, consort Li quickly came close, and made a sign, and could hardly hide her hidden joy. Everyone knew, upon hearing this news, the king intended to abolish the crown prince's position!

The queen, upon hearing these words, seemed as though anger had reached her peak. She quickly knelt down in front of King Yan, saying, "Your highness, this wife has failed in teaching the child; it is all this wife's fault! Currently, this type of thing happening, please let this wife recompense the sin with her death!"

Saying this, she turned around and left Nong Hua hall. King Yan, under a rush of anger, heard voices outside saying, "Not good, her highness as jumped into the pond!"

His heart was startled, and he quickly yelled, "Save her, quickly save her!"

The imperial guard rushed out to save her, and King Yan followed them outside. The queen was saved out of the pond by others, and her whole body was drenched. The crown prince was also greatly frightened, and didn't mind other people's pushing or pulling, but quickly also entered the water. The mother and child were saved onto the shore by the others, and they were both weeping greatly.

King Yan stood there, pointing his hand, harshly yelling, but he could not find a good way out. A long time later, he listlessly waved his hand, saying, "First send the queen back to Qi Feng palace, and assign an imperial doctor to take a good look. The crown prince is to be confined in Feng Deng room, and without my permission, he is not allowed to leave."

The various officials were all shocked, with this word...... did he mean that he didn't intend to pursue this matter?

King Yan no longer said anything else, as though he also didn't want to hear anyone else comment on the matter, and only threw aside a word, "Everyone leave, leave! Cheng Jing, come with me to take a walk."

Bi Chengjing followed behind him, the king and subject, the two of them walked through the imperial garden, but they saw that the moon was smooth like ice, and the grass and flowers were wilting. Bi Chengjing was an old official in court, and had served three rulers in his lifetime. He was the so-called three-reign elder.

Currently, he lightly asked, "The queen being startled into falling into the water, your highness does not intend on going to Qi Feng palace to take a look?"

King Yan stood under the moonlight, as though he had grown old overnight, "Chengjing, Ruo'er, this bastard, performing such an act. If Rong'er was still alive, I have no idea how angry she would have gotten."

If strangers mentioned this, they would be in trouble, but Bi Chengjing sighed, "Yeah, consort Rong's character is straightforward and noble, and if she was here, perhaps she would have turned heaven and earth over regarding this mater."

King Yan smiled, as though thinking of something, his expression seemed like it wanted to smile, but also like it would immediately shed tears, "Unfortunately she is no longer around, mother is no longer around, and although the son has received such a big embarrassment, no one would actually come forward and speak." Bi Chengjing was startled, and he sighed again, "The queen's character, if she was really deposed, she would definitely seek suicide. At that time, I will once again have another child that has no mother."

Bi Chengjing finally realized what he intended, "Your highness is merciful. But, this thing has been seen by all the officials of court, so perhaps by tomorrow news of it will have spread so that everyone knows. As a country's heir apparent, doing this type of thing where an elder brother monopolizes his younger brother's spouse, is equivalent to a ruler stealing a subject's wife. All the subjects under the heavens, how would they recognize this type of ruler? And where would my Great Yan's heavenly family's respect be?"

King Yan sighed, "Chengjing, back then I forced Rong'er's death, and gained a child filled with hatred. Currently......I...... if you have an opportunity, take my place to go and look after Yan'er."

Bi Chengjing accepted the order, "This subject will definitely bring your highness's intentions to his second highness."

King Yan shook his head, and walked towards Qi Feng palace, he steps weary.

When the news was spread out from the palace, Zuo Canglang asked twice, "What?" The servants that were reporting the news stammered and stuttered, repeating it twice-- the crown prince, was drugged with his wine, and had dishonored miss Jiang's innocence. And he was caught at the scene by the imperial guard.

Zuo Canglang turned around, and saw that Murong Yan was biting into his lips, and his gaze underneath that expression was like a frozen beast.

Bi Chengjing didn't wait until the second day, but upon leaving the palace, he went straight to Murong Yan's estate.

The two sat facing each other, and he went straight to the subject, "Tonight, the things that happened at the feast, your highness probably already knows about." Murong Yan didn't say anything, and he continued, saying, "Based on this old subject's perspective, this thing, towards his first highness, is a extremely bad thing, but towards your highness, it might be a good thing."
Murong Yan stared at him, smiling coldly, "Please explain, minister, how could this be counted as a good thing?"

Bi Chengjing changed his humble expression in front of King Yan, but strongly said, "His highness has long, because of the death of consort Rong, been thinking of your highness. And now, your highness has lost a beauty, but earned a father's compassionate heart towards his son! Towards your highness, could this not be a good thing?"

Murong Yan stared him down, saying, "That's why I should thank him for his grace? To forget the blood debt of my mother's murder, to forget the hatred of the theft of my bride."

Bi Chengjing tapped the table and stood, "You highness! His highness isn't just your father, but also your ruler! If a ruler wants a subject to die, a subject can't help but die, this is loyalty. If a father wants a son to die, a son can't help but die, this is obedience! How can you say such a phrase that is not loyal and not obedient?!"

Murong Yan didn't say anything more, and his tone changed again, "If consort Rong had knowledge from the heavens, she would rather see the second prince she deeply loved succeed in life, and be well off his whole life, or would she rather see him, over her death, with his father, and his brother, turn into enemies?"

Murong Yan shut his eyes, as though he was bearing a heart piercing pain. Bi Chengjing lightly pat his shoulder, "Your highness, a person living under someone else's roof, how can they not lower their pride?"

Murong Yan finally opened his mouth, "Asking minister Bi to bring the news for me to father king, the things he wants child subject to understand, child subject has understood."

Bi Chengjing finally nodded his head at this, and left the estate. Murong Yan darkly looked at his back, looking down from the heavens? If that woman really was looking down from the heavens, and saw her son live a smooth life, and queen Li's son ascended the throne, she would probably go ahead and directly beat him to death.

That day, king Yan sent out an edict, establishing second prince, Murong Yan as Wei Qian Yi marquis. Once this edict was sent, everyone was startled, and even the queen found it a bit out of the ordinary. The light was brushing his feathers, but it was advancing slowly and steadily. It seemed like he was placing his hopes in this one.

TN: Sorry, this last part was a bit difficult to translate. It seems like, by establishing Murong Yan finally as a marquis, it defied everyone else's expectations, as it seemed like there was finally some hope placed in second prince, and based on the name he was bestowed, it was as if the king was bequeathing his future expectations on Murong Yan.