Published at 26th of August 2019 11:51 pm

Chapter 41- Old Ailment

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

With the battle at Fang city, it was practically a victory without a battle. From now on, Great Yan's ruler would officially become Murong Yan, and the reason he went to Fang city, was for the sake of convincing former right minister Jiang Sanyi to surrender. As a subject son, Murong Yan, ultimately did not attack his own father king.

This silenced the mouth of those who still recollected Murong Yuan's past favor.

When they returned to Jinyang from Fang city, Zuo Canglang turned back to take a look at the city they had taken without attacking, and suddenly thought, he had ordered herself and Leng Feiyan to head towards Fang city to save Jiang Bilan. Was it ultimately because he missed her, or was it because he needed Jiang Sanyi to help him break open the window to this city?

With this battle, whether he personally made a move, no matter if he succeeded or failed, it would still have incited criticism from people all over the world, but with Jiang Sanyi's appearance, it beautifully and completely resolved this problem.

But this thought only surfaced momentarily within her mind, before disappearing without a trace.

That day when Jiang Bilan returned to Jinyang city, all the civilians all rushed to the city in Jinyang, wanted to witness this number one beauty in Great Yan's countenance.

At that time, Jiang Bilan sat within an extravagant palanquin, but the pink bead curtains were half raised, and people could slightly see the beautiful woman's flowered dress corner. The people all pointed and commented, and of course there were people that didn't care for their lives, still making underhanded comments. Although Murong Yan had broken all the barriers for his love, but this miss from Jiang family had married the abolished crown prince. This was something everyone in Great Yan knew about.

Right now, this man had already conquered the world, the queen was slain, and Murong Yuan and the abolished crown prince already no lost their place to live.

The world was within his grasp, and by just waving his finger, what unparalleled beauty could he not attain?

How was he going to deal with this royal sister-in-law that already had a husband?

Raise her in the palace, and secretly have meetings? Or, to luckily name her as a consort, to forever receive peoples' criticism?

Within the varied rumors, Jiang Bilan gripped the hem of her dress, and beyond the wavering bead screen, saw that her own father had been behind Murong Yan's body the whole time.

Right now, the street was filled with tens of thousands of people, and everyone was focused on looking at her. She lowered her head, her heart unable to not feel stifled, not knowing whether she ought to be happy or sorrowful. Actually, these days, Murong Ruo's treatment of her was not bad. Currently, Murong Ruo and Murong Yuan had completely lost, and one did not know where they were.

All these years, she had already been married to Murong Ruo. He....... did he really still love her?

She looked towards Murong Yan who was riding atop his horse, and only saw him wearing a red robe, his gaze falling on an extravagant pattern, looking like a happy and accomplished ruler.

She difficultly put away her own feeling of unsettledness, and Murong Ruo's shadow flashed a few times in her mind, the joy and excitement at having conquered this noble house's priceless daughter's heart. After all, this event had already become a well known popular tale. Within the world, the women were countless, and who could still be like this?

The carriage rode across Jinyang's great road, directly entering the palace. Jiang Bilan's heart held a sense of worry, were they just going to enter the palace like this? Without either name nor position.......

She didn't know what she was expecting, as she had been over thinking. She was alternating between sorrow and joy, and even when the carriage had stopped, she hadn't discovered it.

"Miss Jiang, please step off the carriage." Some palace servants had carried a stool over, and supported her off the carriage. Jiang Bilan went forwards under the support of the palace servant girls, and she was still pretty familiar with the palace. At this time, she the further she walked forwards, the harder her heart beat. In the front was....... was the Qi Feng hall that the queen lived in!

Indeed, the palace servant girls helped her to the front of Qi Feng hall, and her two servant girls, Hui Yun and Hua Yue were already waiting for her in front of the gate.

"Miss!" The two servant girls rushed forwards, hot tears streaming. Back when Jiang Sanyi had accompanied Murong Yuan to escape Jinyang city, it was actually in a great rush. They didn't bring along their servants. Who would have thought, Murong Yan would actually keep those who had been by her side.

At this time, the master and servants were reunited, so there were countless things to talk about. Jiang Bilan followed them into the hall, and not long later, Jiang Sanyi and his wife, of the Zheng clan, were also brought into the palace. Jiang Bilan's heart was finally calmed.

Jiang Sanyi looked at Qi Feng hall's beautiful phoenix seat, saying, "We are ultimately fortunate. If back then, I had long known what would happen, this father would not have needed to get in your way."

Jiang Bilan blushed, and madam Zheng was still a bit unsettled, saying, "Old sir, seeing as he had settled our daughter here at Qi Feng hall, does he have the intention of naming her as queen?"

Jiang Sanyin was slightly serious in thought, saying, "Just call him his majesty, what are you doing using the informal 'he' pronoun. His majesty has settled Lan'er here, so he naturally has his own meaning. It is to remind the imperial court members occasionally, and to let them be a little bit prepared."

Madam Zheng pursed her lips, saying, "But....... but Lan'er was ultimately still formerly with the abolished crown prince......"

Jiang Sanyi looked at his wife, and then looked at his beautiful daughter, saying, "It is exactly because of this, that once the edict for making her queen comes, the court would have some old and stubborn fools that would oppose it. But his majesty is someone with his own ideas, and cannot be stopped by others. So don't worry."

Madam Zheng said, "But right now, old sir doesn't have a position in court, otherwise, you could also help Lan'er by speaking some things on her behalf."

Jiang Sanyi laughed, saying, "We first need a few people to stand stably. As long as his majesty is truthful in dealing with us, how could he be afraid that my Jiang family wouldn't have a place in court?" He turned around to look at his own daughter, and the more he looked at her, the more he was pleased with her, saying, "What's the use in talking about this, let's eat, eat."

The palace servants had long prepared the cutlery, and the whole family began eating together.

Murong Yan didn't have the spare time to head over, and when the great army returned, although they had won without a fight, he still had to prepare the rewards. And currently, the imperial treasury was empty, but he still had to provide awards. Wang Yunzhao prepared a list, but still had difficulty, asking, "Your majesty, general Zuo....... is it good if we award her something?"

He was a meticulous person, and knew that currently the relationship between the two was not normal, but still needed Murong Yan to personally say it for it to be good.

Murong Yan laughed, saying, "Just prepare the list as usual, but hold back on the rewards. She wouldn't care about this." After smiling, he asked, "Where is Ah Zuo?"

Wang Yunzhao bowed, saying, "General Zuo should probably have returned to Wen estate, and I heard her leg was a bit injured. So this servant has already used your majesty's name, to send the imperial doctor over to take care of it."

Murong Yan was a bit stunned, "When did this happen?" Wang Yunzhao also didn't know, and he stood up, saying, "No matter. Her two legs had an old wound, so instruct the imperial doctor to carefully treat it, and if he can't take care of it, just summon Yang Lianting."

Wun Yunzhao said yes, and seeing him rise, lit the lantern, saying, "Your majesty, are you planning on heading to Qi Feng hall?"

Murong Yan said, "I'm bored, and in Qi Feng hall, Lan'er's entire family is reunited, so I won't bother them first."

Wang Yunzhao found it very unexpected, as based on Murong Yan's relationship with Jiang Bilan, shouldn't he....... he lifted the lantern and walked in front, leading Murong Yan back to his hall. The moonlight was like a layer of frost, illuminating all the flowers and grass, the weather a bit hot and humid.

Entering the hall, he served Murong Yan by helping him undress. Murong Yan got on the bed, and he put down the screen. At this time, he finally had the nerve to think-- he had settled Jiang Bilan at Qi Feng hall, but also didn't head there....... on the one hand it was because of his strong ties with the beauty, and the other hand, he was also demonstrating his imperial dignity to Jiang Sanyi.

Was this the meaning of this?

Murong Yan didn't head towards Qi Feng hall for three days, and the entire Jiang family started getting worried. Jiang Sanyi found Wang Yunzhao, and in the past, how could he have this type of person in his eye?! Back then, he was the high and mighty right minister, and held a lot of power and authority, and received a lot of Murong Yuan's reliance. And what type of thing was Wang Yunzhao?

He was just a steward at Murong Yan's side, so how would he have to make a relationship with this type of person?

But currently, things had already changed, and he smiled with his whole face, "Chief steward Wang, it's been a long time since we met. Has everything been alright?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "Official Jiang, don't blame this old servant for having clear eyes, and not personally inviting you." Turning, he said to the little eunuchs by him, "I've been blind, and you all have also been blind. Still not quickly coming over to prepare tea for official Jiang."

The palace servants quickly brought good tea forward, and Wang Yunzhao said, "Official Jiang, please sit. Have a taste of this tea. Speaking of it, it was something his majesty picked when he passed by Yu Yang's tea estate. He gifted some to this old servant. How could this old servant be someone that could enjoy it? But thankfully, official Jiang has come over, and can have a taste."

At this, Jiang Sanyi finally sat down, and seriously had a taste of this fragrant tea.

The tea was good tea, but what caused him to be surprised was not this. Actually, the people by Murong Yan's side, he had never put in his eyes. What Zhou Xin, Feng Ping, what Wang Yunzhao, and that teenage baby girl that would lead troops into battle.

Murong Yan's troops were even worse-- they were all peasants and trash soldiers.

But now that he sat across from Wang Yunzhao, he suddenly realized, that these people, whom he never formerly would have taken a second glance at, had truly overturned a dynasty!

He smiled, saying, "Chief steward, what are you saying, you are the closest person to his majesty, so if you also couldn't enjoy it, who is left that could enjoy it?" He realized from some time that he had not known, the dismissive heart head had within him had slowly been taken back, and he started using a tone as if he was speaking to an important official to speak with Wang Yunzhao.

Wang Yunzhao was covered in smiles, saying, "Official Jiang has come here, could it be that you are missing anything? If the palace servants are not serving sufficient enough, I beg official Jiang to immediately inform this old servant."

Jiang Sanyi continually waved his hand, "Steward Wang, I'll speak frankly, currently his majesty, although he has settled my child at Qi Feng hall, but still hasn't seen him again. This old one's heart is a bit all over the place, and some things that I don't understand, so I'm begging chief steward to give some advice."

In the middle of his words, he pulled out a golden sandalwood box from his sleeve, saying, "It's a small gift, so please, begging chief steward not to reject it."

Wang Yunzhao, although he was cordial, but he didn't really reject it, and received the box, saying, "Official Jiang, please think, you are, after all, someone who has served at king Yan's side for many years, clearing the path forwards and settling the rear. And now that you have returned to court, the court officials, and the peoples' eyes, who isn't placed on you? His majesty is peerless in knowledge and the martial arts, so although the court officials submit to him, but those who are relying on old connections are also not in the small number....... official Jiang, you are currently rarely having the free time, but could you also help his majesty to help calm them down."

Jiang Sanyi was an old fox-like person, and with this word, he immediately understood. He thought it over, saying, "This man Jiang thanks eunuch for his pointers."

Wang Yunzhao repeatedly said that he didn't dare, and accompanied him the whole way out of the palace. After Jiang Sanyi had walked far, he finally softly sighed. Looks like currently, Murong Yan still wanted to push him down a bit, which meant he would still use him a lot. Jiang family's revival, was probably just a matter of time.

It was just that in this court, Bi Cheng Jing was an old and respected important official, and had deep support. How could he be touched? Gan Xiaoru was also Murong Yan's confidante, and currently also didn't have any mistakes, so he also couldn't be randomly demoted. He didn't know how his majesty would settle this person.

Jiang Sanyi returned to his temporary residence in Qingquan Hall. He thought it over a night, and wrote a piece. The next day, this piece with its high literary style had been spread into the mouths of some literary peoples, and was spread wide. Within it, it complained of the collapse of the old empire, but at the same time, praised that Great Yan, under the leadership of the new ruler, had entered an era of peace.

He had been the right minister, so naturally his literary prowess didn't need mentioning. This piece was flowery, but didn't have a single word that lowered Murong Yuan, but comparing the new and the old, it could not prevent people from pondering over it. It had deep feeling infused in it, and it was quite marvelous.

Among the literary people, they were glad to read it, and it was highly influential. Only Bi Cheng Jing's faction, after looking it over, cursed out the author for being an obsequious sycophant.

As for how this piece was, Murong Yan didn't make a judgment, but rather, gifted the old Jiang family estate back to Jiang Sanyi's family to live in. Jiang Bilan continued living in Qi Feng hall.

In the night, he went to Qi Feng Hall, and ate dinner with Jiang Bilan. Jiang Bilan, once again seeing her beloved, naturally was filled with an alluring gaze and a soft temperament. She personally added dishes for Murong Yan, but when the small piece of deer meat was sent close to Murong Yan's mouth, Murong Yan's brows creased-- she used her own chopsticks.

At the side, Wang Yunzhao quickly without a change in his expression, used a small plat to receive that piece of meat, saying, "Today's fish soup is also fresh, and it is even the tribute sent over from Fan Yang, so it is the most appealing for one's liver. Your majesty and miss Jiang should both have a taste."

Saying thus, he poured them the fish soup, and Murong Yan tasted a mouthful, saying, "It is not bad."

Wang Yunzhao quickly grabbed a clean pair of chopsticks, and prepared dishes for him. Every dish was one that Jiang Bilan hadn't touched. Luckily, Jiang Bilan didn't actually discover it, and drank two cups with Murong Yan.

One person's face was filled with worry, and was also worrying over the guest, but the scenery was naturally beautiful and appealing. But Murong Yan only said, "It's late now, so rest first."

Jiang Bilan was a bit dumbstruck, but ultimately, it wasn't good for her to inquire more, so she only held back her embarrassment, saying, "Then...... tomorrow, will big brother Yan come over?"

Murong Yan lightly brushed her hair, saying, "Of course. In this palace, other than you here, do I have any other place to go to?"

Jiang Bilan pursed her lips, slowly revealing a sweet and contented smile, "Tomorrow, I will prepare two small dishes, as I remember when we were small, big brother Yan really liked Ruyi rolls."

Murong Yan gripped her shoulders, slightly using a bit more strength, saying, "At that time, I didn't actually like Ruyi rolls." Jiang Bilan was startled, and then heard him lightly say, "every time I brought a bit away, was because your family's dog would always bark."

Jiang Bilan's laughed like a trembling flower.

She sent Murong Yan to the gate, and Murong Yan said, "The wind is strong, so you should return."

Jiang Bilan nodded, and every three steps, would turn to wave, finally, still returned into the hall. Wang Yunzhao followed behind Murong Yan, and the softness on his face slowly melted away, saying, "Should I still summon the imperial doctor to take a look?"

Wang Yunzhao said, "It's just that you majesty hasn't seen miss Jiang in too long, and is a bit not used to it. Additionally, this habit......" back when Rong Jieyu was still alive, Murong Yan was still young, and especially liked one of Rong Jieyu's palace's entertainers. The entertainer played the lap harp really well, and had a pair of extremely beautiful hands. A child of a few years old, liking a beautiful girl wasn't any big matter.

But one day, Rong Jieyu cut off that pair of beautiful hands, and used it to make a bowl of soup for Murong Yan. From then on, Murong Yan developed this habit. He didn't like the smell on women, and didn't like eating with others.

It was also exactly from that day, that Rong Jieyu had, in his eyes, entirely turned into "that woman." She had left various whip marks and old wounds on him, but had never again gained his respect or love.

Even when she had died, he still only quietly observed. The whole time, there was not a single tear.

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