Although Murong Yan was the second prince of Yan country, but he wasn't favored by king Yan. Last time, at the feast, Zuo Canglang had already noticed this. But as to the reason why, there weren't many people who knew. Back in the day, Murong Yan's mother consort was the Rong Jieyu that had been pampered throughout the rear harem. At the time, there wasn't a master of the imperial harem, so Rong Jieyu led the various consorts, and could have been counted as being beneath one, but above ten thousand.
This woman not only had the brains, but also the ambition. That's why since young, the way she educated Murong Yan was extremely strict and tight. From a small age, Murong Yan had already become proficient at musical instruments, the game of go, literature, and the arts. King Yan was also pretty pampering towards him. At this time, almost everyone believed he would become the successor to the throne.
Murong Yan since young had played together with the right minister, Jiang Sanyi's daughter, and their relationship was extremely intimate. Seeing that the two children were childhood friends, Jiang Sanyi naturally thought to accommodate the state of affairs, and asked the empress dowager for an edict, and establish a marriage arrangement for the two children.
But right when everyone was awaiting Rong Jieyu's establishment as queen, and for Murong Yan to be established as crown prince, Shan Rong tribe suddenly rose up to attack Yan, consecutively conquering many cities. Murong Yuan sent three consecutive generals, but received three military defeats instead. Finally, within court, there actually wasn't anyone willing to go to war.
At the time, the individual that was only ranked humbly, consort Li, suggested her own elder brother to lead the troops. After the Li family left for war against the Shan Rong, they constantly sent status of the war, and Murong Yuan was exceedingly pleased, and within court, the officials of the Li clan began making relations with the other officials, convincing Murong Yuan to establish consort Li as queen.
Consort Li pointed out that since the eldest prince, Murong Ruo had matured, if she was made queen, then it was equivalent to making the eldest prince crown prince.
Rong Jieyu had long received imperial favor, and the way she had treated the other consorts below her was naturally not very good. And in a short moment, she lost good judgment. And at the time, the Li family that was making war with the Shan Rong had stopped advancing for a long time, and the consumption of military rations, for the Great Yan at the time, was as if it was doubling the trouble.
Murong Yuan, helpless, establish consort Li as queen. The day the edict was announced, Rong Jieyu made a big ruckus in Cheng Guang Hall. Murong Yuan under momentary anger, send her poisoned wine, and ordered her suicide. This was originally just an act in anger, and towards the king, Rong Jieyu knew his behavior the most, as in this situation, if he didn't make a strong statement, then she wouldn't recognize her wrongs, and would cause more unnecessary unrest.
Who would have known, that within the palace, at that time everyone believed that Rong Jieyu's time had passed. Queen Li sent her own confidantes, with the edict, and immediately forced Rong Jieyu to consume the poisoned wine.
When Murong Yuan had finished the ceremony for establishing the queen, and went to Rong Jieyu's Zhangwen Hall, Rong Jieyu's face had turned purple, like a ghost, and her corpse had already turned cold. And the cold corpse still had a grip like a claw, tightly holding on to Murong Yan's hand.
Murong Yuan and his five year old son exchanged glances, and nobody knew what he saw in this child's gaze. But from then on, he never spared Murong Yan another glance, and never spoke with him again.
And that who was once the favorite for becoming crown prince, the most potential to unite authority, fell into the mud within a single day. He had not come of age, yet was sent out of the palace really early on, even until now, he had not received his title. Within court, he also had no connections.
This was a psychological trauma of king Yan, and nobody was willing to touch this sore spot. Once the days grew long, finally there were no more court officials that would mention this prince. In the past, he was noble and had a promising future, but after he left the secrecy of the palace, nobody had the gall to mention him again.
Leaving the estate, when Murong Yan was speaking of these things, his expression was calm. Zuo Canglang followed behind him, the wide street was secluded, and there wasn't even the shadow of a person there. Murong Yan smiled, saying, "At the time, I was only five, but I remember ever pearl on her face."
Zuo Canglang didn't say anything, and Murong Yan suddenly stopped his steps; she, who was following behind him, ran directly into his back. That back was as if it was made of iron, and Zuo Canglang could only rub her nose, her tears almost falling. Murong Yan turned around to look at her. In the dark and blurry night, his clothes fluttered, and he seemed neither close nor far, floating about.
Zuo Canglang, as if seeing a god or a demon, couldn't help but retreat a few steps; a while later, looking for a different topic, said, "Your highness, until now, you have not yet married; is it because minister Jiang has an intention to cancel the marriage?"
Murong Yan said, "Naturally. Based on the queen's personality, once my elder brother ascends the throne, how would there be a way out for me? Who would be willing to marry their daughter to a prince that has no future?"
Zuo Canglang didn't know what she should say, and Murong Yan lightly continued, saying, "You don't need to say anything, just accompany me to walk a bit."
A five year old child lost his mother consort, lost his father's love. In the cold deep recesses of the palace, having to endure how many humiliations, what had he truly experienced? He didn't say. Zuo Canglang nodded her head, and the two people, one in front, and one in the back, strolled through the street, having the night sky accompany them on that long street without people. The wind licked at them, and the beautiful moon followed them.
That night, in the palace of Great Yan. Murong Yuan was working through the memorandums, his tiredness coming, he sat on the arhat bed, shutting his eyes. Not long later, he quickly entered his dreams. In his dreams, he once again returned the Zhangwen Hall from back then. That hall was extravagant and beautiful, its colors strong and full of impact.
That woman was dressed richly, sitting atop the consort seat, that was stuffed with gems, her right hand tightly gripping her son's wrist. He slowly walked close, with a serious face, calling her personal name, "Ye Ping."
But there was no response. He peeled away that light silk, and saw that woman drooping her head, head face had already turned purple; black blood already dying a large portion of the clothes on her chest. Her purple face, her black nails, it seemed as an angry female ghost of a thousand years, even with a light breath, she would be awakened.
That child raised his head, he was by his deceased mother, letting her pinch his wrist with her death grip. Silent, depressed. It seemed like someone who had been possessed by a demon. The next moment, he might peel apart his own skin, and reveal a bloody true self.
"Ye Ping--" He suddenly called out this name again, but when he opened his eyes, he only saw his hall, illuminated with candlelight, the entire night silent.
In the deep night, Murong Yan only felt his wrist hurting. It was as though he had once again returned to that time, when that woman held his wrist with a death grip, that beautiful pair of eyes slowly being filled with a bloodshot look, turning blood red. Her lips changed color, black blood dying her teeth, disgusting and dirty. She tightly gripped his hand, pulling him before her eyes, her nose touching his face, "This is the fate of the weak. Take a close look, this is the fate of the weak!"
The black blood fell on his face, and she sat back on the noble consort's chair.
"I know you hate me; these years, I have not been good towards you, right?" He blood dripped, staining the robes of the Jieyu, "back then, when I was bearing you, I thought, if I gave birth to a princess, then it would be good. But when I was giving birth, I also thought, in this entire universe, a princess or a prince, neither would be worth as much as a single you. If you want to hate me, then just hate me. I'm not afraid of death, but after I die, I really don't know how you will carry on."
She turned her head towards him, smiling, bleeding from her nose, her gaze soft, "Yan'er, actually I really think...... to watch you marry a virtuous wife and have obedient children, to see you with your own children......"
Once her words had landed, she slowly drooped her head, but she still deathly gripped his hand. They were a group of the most venomous and cruel predators, but they were also the most aromatic and appealing prey, destined to run for their lives their whole life, and to chase for their whole lives.
The next day, Zuo Canglang went to exchange shifts with Murong Yan's guards. Other than her, Murong Yan had two proficient martial artists by his side, one was called Zhou Xin and the other was called Feng Ping. It was rumored that they were the confidantes especially prepared by consort Rong for him.
Zuo Canglang walked outside of Murong Yan's door, and Feng Ping quickly left. Actually, strictly speaking, Feng Ping and Zuo Canglang's group of three still had the relationship of master and disciple. Back in the orphan camp, things had his organization, including the "masters" inside.
But those "masters" obviously hadn't left any good images in their hearts, and that's why Zuo Canglang never paid any of the respects due for a master towards him. The two of them did their duty in the places, and never even exchanged words.
After standing by the door for a while, Murong Yan finally got up from bed; only servants entered to serve. Zuo Canglang guarded outside the door, and her job was actually pretty light.
Outside, horses had already been prepared, and after Murong Yan had his breakfast, he brought Zuo Canglang out. Today, the weather was actually not bad, and the sun had peeked its head out early. A ray of fresh light shined upon the green roof tiles, and painted the whole street in radiant light.
Zuo Canglang didn't ask him where he was going, as Wang Yunzhao had already taught her many of the rules, and she had learned how to become a standard close guard.
Right as they got to the main street, a carriage passed by. The four corners were flashy, and had an embroidered seat; with just one look, one could tell that this was some estate's madam or mistress. Zuo Canglang didn't mind, but Murong Yan stopped his horse. The servants parted on the road, and the carriage moved quickly on the street, quickly coming right before them.
The owner inside seemed as though they had detected something, and lifted up the carriage screen. Zuo Canglang unwittingly saw that face, it would really stop one's heart, with its soft nose and forehead. In that moment, she suddenly realized what was called a national beauty.
The carriage passed by the horses, the beauty's gaze was soft like spring water, gazing at Murong Yan. Her expression carried longing, and a bit of embarrassment. The carriage slowly went afar, but she had turned back, not saying anything, in some sort of trance. After the beauty had gone afar, Murong Yan finally continued advancing. Zuo Canglang followed behind him, but he didn't say anything, and thus she did not ask.
But someone that would cause him to freeze in place, she didn't need to guess to know who it was.
Murong Yan only had a little bit of soft expression, but it was quickly hidden away by him without a trace. He brought Zuo Canglang to Leng Feiyan and Yang Lianting's estate, saying, "Feiyan will come with me, as we will go to a place."
Leng Feiyan knew she was about to receive an assignment, and was a bit excited. Yang Lianting said, "Lord master!" Murong Yan smiled, saying, "Study well, there will be a time when you will be extremely busy."
Yang Lianting couldn't help it, but could only stay back. Leng Feiyan followed them out, the whole way they made seven or eight turns, and finally arrived at a strange house. Murong Yan motioned for Leng Feiyan to push open the door, and Leng Feiyan carefully pushed the door to enter. Looking outside the house, it seemed rather normal, but inside, there was actually a mystery to it.
In the back of the house, it actually didn't have a garden, but actually had a place for practicing martial arts, with an orderly dormitory, and an armory. Leng Feiyan was startled, and Murong Yan grasped her hand, and made a circle with her hand, motioning, saying, "From now on, this place is yours."
Leng Feiyan looked all around her, her voice filled with joy, "Really?"
Murong Yan didn't repeat, and after Leng Feiyan had walked around the place, her face was filled with excitement, her unrivaled awe, "Excellent, I like this place!"
Murong Yan's smile was soft, "We need to set up eyes and ears in important places, and we need a large number of people we can count on and whom are useful. But, I don't wish for them to know who is backing you. I hope that you will become in their eyes, the highest authority. Understood?"
Leng Feiyan said with a natural look, "This subject understands."
Murong Yan nodded, satisfied, "Beginning from this month, you will have an account with Tong Bao bank, and every month there will be a sum of money that enters the account, which will be sufficient for this place. I permit you to use any method, to establish our place of contact, and to grow our forces."
Leng Feiyan looked at the blank name board atop the building, saying, "Yes! May this subject personally place a name for this place?"
Murong Yan took the blank sign from atop the entrance, passing it to her, saying, "Go ahead and think of it, as this is your place now."
Leng Feiyan pursed her lips, lifting her brush and dipping it in ink, on the new red sign, she slowly wrote down the two large words of Swallow's Nest.
I personally like Worm-Cattle Society, but I'm compatible with Swallow's Nest.
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