Deposed Empress General Chapter 47

Zuo Canglang entered the study, and before she had even knelt, Murong Yan already said, "No need for kneeling, come over here." Zuo Canglang walked over to his side, and didn't speak yet before Murong Yan already grasped her two hands, saying, "Your wounds aren't recovered yet, so how have you already entered the palace?"

Zuo Canglang said, "I heard that minister Bi had contracted the plague in prison, and Old Sir Wen was worried, and begged this subject to enter the palace to see your majesty."

Murong Yan seemed extremely pleased, as he knew what she said was the truth. Wen Xingye and Bi Chengjing had always had a good relationship, and now that Bi Chengjing had fallen on hard times, and had contracted an illness, it was impossible for Wen Xingye to not be worried.

He pulled Zuo Canglang into his own embrace, sitting her there, asking, "Then you've come today, to pass his words on to me, or did you have your own words to say?"

Zuo Canglang wanted to stand up, but only struggled for a little bit, as ultimately, her wounds could not endure the pressure. She could only resign herself to being embraced by him, saying, "If I was passing a message on to your majesty, it should be that minister Bi has assisted the Murong clan for many years, that it was exactly because Great Yan had Marshal Wen facing the outside, and for internal matters there was this able minister, that we would ultimately not be defeated despite our dire circumstances. For all these years, even if he had any failings, your majesty is someone with superior grace to the average man, and does not need to find trouble with someone who is old, perhaps."

Murong Yan harrumphed coldly, and Zuo Canglang then chuckled saying, "Speaking of it, this subject has also only remembered, that back then when lord master was still Qian Yi Marquis, and Northern Yu utilized the scheme of calling you a traitor, and King Yan had imprisoned lord master in the prison. The entire court ignored the matter and kept out of it, and there was only minister Bi himself, who made a trip for lord master, and even sent a letter to Marshal Wen, wishing to have Marshal Wen accompany him together to beg for mercy for lord master."

Murong Yan seemed as though he had remembered something, and the dismissive expression in his eyes slowly dimmed, saying, "Mmm."

Zuo Canglang turned her head, and faced him, saying, "Thinking of it, although it was stupid, but he has always been counted as a clean official. Currently...... lord master has ascended the throne, and everyone has submitted to your authority. The entire court will praise your reign to last ten thousand years, but back then, the one that preserved lord master's life, has been removed from his post, and imprisoned. Thinking closely on it, it would also make people feel uncomfortable."

Murong Yan said, "Bi Chengjing this person...... these person, sometimes, he really deserves to die." He seriously said, and a bit later, he then softly sighed, "But he is also truly a good person."

Zuo Canglang said, "Lord master has a discerning eye, and can truly discern between the loyal and the villainous. Actually minister Bi is after all advanced in age, so how many years does he really have left? Why doesn't lord master give him a good end, which could also be counted as the grace of the throne, to return his favor back then for speaking on your behalf."

Murong Yan lowered his head, burying it into her neck, a long time later, saying, "I heard he contracted a heavy sickness in prison, and on account of his old age, and also had done a lot for the sake of the realm, he can be absolved of the suffering of staying in prison, and allow him to recover in his estate, perhaps."

Zuo Canglang got up and knelt, "This subject thanks your majesty's grace on behalf of minister Bi."

Murong Yan said, "Who are you to him, to also be able to thank the grace for him?" Zuo Canglang blushed, and his ten fingers rubbed her lips, that warm sensation, Zuo Canglang lifted her face, and his gaze entered her eyes.

His lips kept getting closer, and Zuo Canglang quickly escaped him by standing up, her wounds immediately stinging in pain, as she said, "Lord master!"

Murong Yan was just about to say something, when Wang Yunzhao suddenly called out loudly from outside, "Your majesty, her highness the queen begs to meet you."

Zuo Canglang cleaned up her appearance, and knelt by the side. Murong Yan finally slowly said, "Have her enter."

A short while later, the incense scattered with the wind, and a tinkling sound echoed with Jiang Bilan's entrance as she slowly came inside, behind her, the palace servant, Hui Yun lowered her head, and helped pass the soup bowl over to her. She placed the bowl of soup on his desk, saying, "Your majesty." She glanced at Zuo Canglang, and Murong Yan said, "No need for extra propriety, as Ah Zuo isn't an outsider."

Jiang Bilan smiled as she said, "Speaking of it, I and General Zuo are also old acquaintances. General is also your majesty's subject from his youth. As the palace is fresh and empty, in the future, General Zuo should still visit often."

Zuo Canglang lightly paid respect, "This subject thanks your highness's favor, and this subject will obey your order."

Jiang Bilan nodded, and walked beside Murong Yan, she poured a small bowl of soup, and then said, "I didn't know Zuo Canglang was also here, as if I had known before hand, I would have brought an extra serving."

Zuo Canglang respectfully said, "This subject does not dare. This subject shall retreat."

Murong Yan said, "The matter of the edict, just hand it to the servants to handle. Beloved subject's injuries have not yet healed, and does not need to worry over it."

Zuo Canglang answered a yes, and then retreated three steps, before slowly exiting the study. Wang Yunzhao had originally been guarding outside the gate, and at this time, quickly came over to support her, saying, "General, this old servant has called for a carriage to send you back to your estate."

Zuo Canglang supported his hand, saying, "Chief steward Wang, his majesty has promised to forgo the requirement for old minister Bi to stay in prison and suffer, and temporarily allows him to return to his old estate to recover. Asking you to send someone to immediately issue the edict."

Wang Yunzhao's heart skipped a bit, and he softly said, "General, ah, do you know, regarding this matter, who made the move in the shadows? You begged for mercy for old minister Bi, so I'm just afraid you have unwittingly made an enemy for yourself, ah!"

Zuo Canglang shook her head, but didn't answer this question, and only said, "It is rumored minister Bi had contracted the plague, and the royal doctors within the palace are untrustworthy. Please send someone for me to Bai Yu sect, to find Yang Lianting to come take care of him. It must be immediate, otherwise, once the news spreads, I'm only afraid that minister Bi's life would immediately be threatened."

Wang Yunzhao nodded, saying, "General, count on me."

That day, the news of Bi Chengjing being returned to his old estate to recover, was spread in court. Bai Yu Sect's sect leader, Yang Lianting rushed overnight back to Jinyang, and personally helped Bi Chengjing treat his illness.

And that day, Zuo Canglang entered the palace with a wound, and had stayed in the royal study for the length of a quarter hour. In this time, all the court officials had shifted their attention towards her. She was wounded and had been recovering, and had not attended court for many days. But within court, the officials all repeatedly offered memorandums, their voices were loud and clamorous for all these days, but the effect was less than the few words she had said in that quarter of an hour.

And who also didn't understand, that she was obviously Murong Yan's close confidante, so why would she suddenly beg for mercy for Bi Chengjing?

After all, Bi Chengjing's faction, had never considered her one of their own.

When the court officials were quietly observing, Bi Chengjing had been escorted out, and after suffering in prison for several days, had contracted a heavy illness, and even though Murong Yan had not used torture on him, he had already grown emaciated into an entirely different look.

Yang Lianting didn't even meet with Zuo Canglang, but directly went to Bi estate. From the moment Zuo Canglang returned to her estate, she was constantly sleeping. And not knowing why, Jiang Bilan's birdlike visage kept repeating before her eyes.

Right now, she was the one who was his wife. Every time she saw her, this truth was coldly thrust between her and him. And who was she? Wenqi's widow.

In this lifetime, that which had been dreamed, or dreams that had not yet been dreamed, was all doused within the boundless recesses of her wants.

The next day, Yang Lianting ordered Bai Yu sect's members to send a letter to her, having her head towards Bi estate. When Zuo Canglang was about to head out, Wen Xingye said, "I will accompany you over."

Zuo Canglang waved her hand, "The plague is contagious."

Saying thus, she left. Wen Xingye watched her retreating finger, and had a moment when he was lost in thought. Old madam Wen stood behind him, saying, "Old sir, you said minister Bi was released, was it truly because Ah Zuo spoke to his majesty?"

Wen Xingye slowly said, "I just wanted to try, but didn't believe, that she really could."

Old madam Wen said, "But she is after all, his majesty's trusted confidante, and this time, it was obvious that his majesty intended on sending minister Bi to his death, so why would he suddenly change his mind?"

Wen Xingye said, "I'm even more concerned about, why she would agree to save minister Bi. Was it for the sake of extending grace to minister Bi's faction, to reinforce her own power? Or is there another reason?" Old madam Wen said, "She is actually a pretty good child."

Wen Xingye said, "I only feel that, if she saved minister Bi, for the sake of buying peoples' hearts, then what is her ambition? How frightening it would be."

When Zuo Canglang went to Bi estate, the gardens in Bi estate had all withered. It seemed like in the blink of an eye, this high and respected estate had turned into a ruin of disrepair.

Zuo Canglang stepped over the fallen flowers, entering, and only saw Bi Chengjing with his hair all messy, lying atop a decrepit bed. Yang Lianting, clothed in pure white, was trying his hardest for a long time, his clothes messy, with an intimidating air.

She walked to Yang Lianting's side, asking, "How is he?"

Yang Lianting said, "His condition is not good, as someone had purposefully made him contract the plague, and the wound where he had been bitten by a rat was just a distraction."

Zuo Canglang was not surprised, but only asked, "Can he be saved?"

Yang Lianting said, "Can. Stand a bit away, and by the door, there is a medicine handkerchief that has been boiled, so cover your face before you enter again."

Zuo Canglang retreated to the door, saying, "Then what did you call me over for, I will return first."

Yang Lianting didn't even turn his head back, "That wound of yours, how many days has it been, and yet it still hasn't healed? Wait outside, as after I am done, I will prescribe you two medicine prescriptions."

Zuo Canglang said, "How can I wait, there's no place to even sit outside for a bit!"

Yang Lianting grew impatient, and took off the cloak he had one him, and threw it to her. Zuo Canglang balled the cloak up into a ball, and sat outside, resting against the table that had been split in two, but hadn't fallen to the ground, shutting her eyes to rest.

Not long later, Jiang Xing brought people to send medicine and blankets, and thus the inside finally began to warm.

Yang Lianting prepared the medicine, and brought it over, and seeing her expression of sleeping against the table, sighed, and found a light bed blanket, covering her with it, and then, nudged the brazier a bit closer to her. Zuo Canglang was already awake, but was still sleepy. The medicine the royal doctor had prepared, only made her move less, as pretty much every day, she was sleeping. This type of medicine, although for her energy, it wasn't good, but for her type of active personality that loved to move, it was effective for treating external wounds.

Zuo Canglang only slept for a bit, but was awakened by the movement. Yang Lianting said, "First drink the medicine."

She reached out to receive it, but Yang Lianting already had lifted a spoonful and blown it, feeding her spoon by spoon.

Jiang Xing watched by the side for a while, and harrumphed coldly, saying, "Putting a foot on two boats, not afraid of sinking."

Yang Lianting stared at him, and Zuo Canglang couldn't hold it in, asking, "Who's the other boat?"

Yang Lianting also didn't bother using the spoon anymore, but squeezed her nose with his left hand, and with his right hand, used the bowl of medicine to shut her mouth, dumping it all in.

That night, at Jiang Sanyi's estate, Jiang Sanyi said, "What does this Zuo Canglang really want to do? She is his majesty's confidante, so why would she suddenly save Bi Chengjing?"

His brother-in-law, Zheng Zhizhou said, "Brother-in-law, do you think she is trying to gain favor with Bi Chengjing's faction?"

Madam Zheng said, "Even if she intends to do it, how could his majesty allow it? It really is inexplicable."

Jiang Sanyi said, "His majesty allowing it is not strange." Zheng Zhizhou and Madam Zheng both looked at him, and he slowly said, "Words at the pillow-side, not many men can resist."

Madam Zheng's expression changed greatly, "What? Old sir, you are saying......"

Jiang Sanyi slowly nodded.