Deposed Empress General 19- To Tolerate

Wenqi heard of what had transpired that night, but it was also on that same night, that he received Murong Yuan's orders, sending him to return to Daji city, to once again take up command there. The first thing he did after receiving the orders, was to go to Murong Yan's estate. Wang Yunzhao was currently worried, and seeing him arrive, it was as though his savior star had appeared, "Marshal Wen! You've got to save our highness! That childish song and our highness doesn't have any relationship......"

Once he had just started speaking, Wenqi immediately asked, "Where is Zuo Canglang?"

Wang Yunzhao busily said, "In the back yard, this old servant will immediately guide Marshal Wen over."

But upon turning around, he saw that Zuo Canglang had already come out of the estate. She was dressed in military attire, and carried a bindle, looking as though she was planning on leaving on a trip. Wang Yunzhao said, "Miss Zuo, Marshal Wen was just looking for you."

Zuo Canglang nodded, bowing to Wenqi, "Before his highness was accosted, he ordered me to obey all marshal Wen's arrangements."

Wenqi said, "Return with me to Daji city first."

Zuo Canglang said, "Yes." Saying thus, she began helping him to lead the horse, as Wenqi's body had recently suffered the whipping by Wen Old Sir, and his wounds hadn't recovered yet, but he was accustomed to riding horses.

Zuo Canglang helped him onto the horse, and Wang Yunzhao stared coldly, asking, "Miss Zuo, if even you have also left, his highness......"

Zuo Canglang turned around, comfortingly saying, "His highness is his majesty's own flesh and blood, so his majesty won't do anything to him. Just be at ease."

Wang Yunzhao wanted to say more, but she had already mounted the horse, and followed Wenqi away.

Wenqi was still very curious about this little miss, as just by a glance, she seemed to still be sixteen, but whether in her thoughts or her actions, she was extremely mature. Seeing Zuo Canglang following behind him, he smiled, asking, "Not worried about your highness?"

Zuo Canglang slightly bit her lips, saying, "Worried. But his majesty and his second highness are blood-related father and son, and he doesn't actually have killing intent towards his second highness. Even if he has some distrust, it could only have been through the deception of others. With just a little bit of time, after he calms down, his second highness will no longer be in danger. That's why I also don't need to be worried."

Wenqi was very surprised about hearing this type of analysis come out from the mouth of a little girl; it actually made people inquisitive. He asked, "You're not afraid conniving people continue to sow discord?"

Zuo Canglang shook her head, "His majesty isn't an easy confused person, and he actually knows who the conniving ones are. Currently, within the whole imperial court, the one that can truly threaten his highness's life, there is only one person......" She lifted her head, looking at Wenqi, "it is Marshal Wen, you."

Wenqi's heart suddenly thumped, and Zuo Canglang continued, saying, "If Marshal Wen stays stubborn, forcibly arguing that his second highness is without crime.... Then his majesty will really turn his suspicions into truth."

The long night didn't end, and within Jinyang city, there were no longer any visible pedestrians. In the empty and vast streets, the horse hooves fell upon the light cobblestones, their sound crisp. Wenqi suddenly said, "It's gotten windy." Zuo Canglang looked around, but there actually wasn't any wind. She looked towards Wenqi, and Wenqi said, "What you've said is correct; his highness will definitely survive as the heavenly signs show. Actually, you don't need to accompany me towards the northwest."

Zuo Canglang was startled, but Wenqi said, "Why don't you return."

Saying thus, he whipped his horse forwards. Zuo Canglang quickly caught up, asking, "Marshal Wen, did I say something wrong?"

Wenqi said, "No, you are observant and discerning, and you should also know why his second highness recommended you to enter the military?" Zuo Canglang considered, and Wenqi said, "You're loyal to his second highness, but the Yan troops, can only be his majesty's Yan troops."

Speaking up to this point, everyone began to enter into consideration.

Wenqi continued, saying, "Why don't you return, as the northwest is cold and desolate, and has never been an appropriate place for wives or phoenixes."

He galloped forward, and Zuo Canglang only wavered for a moment, before she quickly followed forwards, "Marshal Wen!" Wenqi didn't slow his horse, his voice already a bit unhappy, "I've already said my piece, so you don't need to say more."

Zuo Canglang rushed her horse forwards, halting him, "I am an orphan, born in a village near South Mountain. That year, there was an outbreak of cholera, and my father died to sickness. I watched him slowly wither away, not having any medication. My mother cared a lot for me, but she wanted to remarry, and bringing along a daughter, would not make it easy to find another mother-in-law. The amount of people dying in the village kept increasing, and thus, everyone use a pair of boy and girl as a sacrifice to the deities; I was one of them."

Wenqi said, "So what? Are you speaking of this because you want my pity?"

Zuo Canglang said, "No, I said this, because whom I am loyal to is not important, as I only want Great Yan to, in the future, not have as many people that are like me." Wenqi was startled, and Zuo Canglang continued, saying, "The Yan armies are his majesty's Yan troops, but Yan country is Great Yan's peoples' Yan country."

The weather slowly chilled, and dew had wet their clothes; Wenqi said, "Follow along."

Even Zuo Canglang's facial expression became bright, and she loudly affirmed with an, "Mmm" following him out of Jinyang, heading towards the west.

The two of them traveled day and night, rushing back to Dali city. Wenqi had just returned to camp when he received a letter from left minister, Bi Cheng Jing, "Wen Qi nephew, seeing this letter as the person, northern Yu has invaded my Yan lands for a long time, and this time his second highness was brilliant in his stratagems. This time, he innocently was imprisoned, was not the crime of fighting in this war. Begging nephew to meet with his majesty, and put in a few good words."

Bi Chengjing was an old, good man, but Wenqi didn't speak or move, coldly replying, "His second highness is his majesty's subject, and even more is his flesh and blood. A father punishing a child, a ruler criticizing a subject, whichever way you look at it is for his good. As an outer court official, regarding the household matters of the imperial family, why would it need this subject's putting forth a few good words?"

Bi Chengjing, upon receiving Wenqi's return letter, was naturally worried. But at this time, the most worried one, was actually Jiang Bilan.

Murong Yan didn't expect that that girl would come to see him. The imperial prison's interior condition would naturally not be too good; Jiang Bilan was wrapped in a dark cloak, her expression pale white, "Older brother Yan, I will beg father again, so you must take care."

Murong Yan wanted to smile, beg your father? Your father can't wait for my death, right now, immediately. But that girl that was like a fairy was separated by the prison bars, crying bitterly. Murong Yan grasped that pair of fresh and delicate, soft hands.

Silly child, your tears are really mens'.. Very well, for the tears you shed today, I will compensate you. I swear.

His voice was low and soft, "I'm fine, and I will also take care. Father king is only temporarily angry, so you don't need to worry. Also, don't come again." One person quivered in place, and he lightly sighed, "I know you're scared, so I'm sorry I couldn't help but scare you."

 Jiang Bilan rested her small face against the back of his arm, "Older brother Yan!" Her tears were that many, flowing without ceasing. Murong Yan lightly brushed her cold and silky hair, a bit parsimonious about parting with her, it was tight, close, but unstated.

He lightly said, "You have to remember, Murong Yan is different from Murong Yuan. My loving a woman, for this entire life and existence, will definitely be loyal to only one." Jiang Bilan cried, unable to say anything, and Murong Yan said, "Don't cry. You should return."

Jiang Bilan didn't know what she should do, only returning. She was born to a noble house, and since she was born, she had the best food and clothing, with servants like the clouds. After her grandfather passed, he was named Wei Qing Lie Marquis, and her father was this court's right minister, and her older brothers all had important positions.

She was not only born to a noble house, but her face was also one in ten-thousand. Since she was small, under the tutelage of her mother and her nanny, she had been learned in the ways of instruments, chess, literature, and art.

But she didn't know what she could do.

Jiang estate, just as she returned, she saw that her father, Jiang Sanyi's expression was dark. Jiang Bilan hadn't said anything, and he had already harshly yelled, "Kneel down!"

Jiang Bilan's two legs immediately melted, kneeling in the hall. Jiang Sanyi angrily said, "You went to see Murong Yan again, right? You're just afraid that accursed one won't drag down Jiang family, right!!"

Jiang Bilan said, "But I am his fiancee, so what is wrong with my going over to see him?"

Jiang Sanyi slapped her face, and that soft and supple face was instantly imprinted with a purplish hand print. Jiang Bilan held her face, and Jiang Sanyi began critizing her, "He has already had his title seized, and tomorrow the queen will once again arrange a marriage for you. After tomorrow, you will be the crown prince's consort. In the future, if you dare to have any dealings with this peasant, don't blame me for not recognizing you as my daughter!"

Jiang Bilan shook, saying, "But older brother crown prince already has crown princess, so my marrying over, wouldn't I only become a concubine?"

Jiang Sanyi angrily said, "Even as a concubine, you would be the crown prince's concubine! In the future when the crown prince ascends, you will be one of King Yan's consorts!" Saying thus, he already didn't want to speak more with her, and turned to tell his own wife, "Watch her well for me!"

Jiang Bilan was escorted out by the servants, and Jiang Sanyi had her confined at home. The next day, the queen indeed passed an edict, having her once again passed to the crown prince as a consort. Nobody mentioned the arranged marriage that Rong Jie Yu had established back then, as though this marriage arrangement had never existed before.

Jiang Bilan learned of the news, and cried, and made a ruckus, but Jiang Sanyi didn't even concern himself with her resistance-- his own daughter, he knew too well.

She was just a canary that had long been nurtured within a golden age, and her fate, was destined to follow the route that everyone had pointed out. Even if there was such a day, when her master opened her cage, she would still not fly out of it for her own freedom.

His second highness falling into prison, within the whole court, only left minister Bi Cheng Jing spoke on his behalf. Bi Cheng Jing, this man, even if a dog was to be butchered, he would also stand forward to intervene for it for a while. So he wasn't consequential.

And thus within the whole court, not a single person spoke for him, demonstrating his lack of connections. Murong Yuan's anger actually slowly dissipated.

I should kill him, because that little guy will sooner or later grow out a pair of monstrous teeth and sharp claws. He thought. But this time...... he originally wasn't wrong, ah. And actually...... he is actually very good, very good. It's just that he hates me.

Do I really want to kill him? Just like killing his mother that year?

Murong Yuan was gazing at the moon within Dezheng Hall, thinking the whole night. And then he passed an order, releasing Murong Yan, restoring his title. But he was ordered to stay in his estate to consider his actions, prohibited from leaving.

Murong Yan accepted the order, and when he exited the prison, outside, Wang Yunzhao had already brought his servants to await. At that time, it was already the end of the seventh month, and the sun was like a flame. He lightly lifted his hand to block out this eye-stinging sunlight, and Wang Yunzhao quickly went forwards to help shield him with an umbrella.

Murong Yan asked, "Where is Ah Zuo?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "Marshal Wen came to the estate, and brought miss Ah Zuo away."

Murong Yan asked, "She didn't return?"

Wang Yunzhao was a bit perplexed, but still said, "No, after they left, they have not returned."

Murong Yan put down his hand; only that bright red sun, was beating down, its rays in his eyes, brilliant and bright.

"I knew, she would not disappoint me." He looked at that radiant sun, smiling.