Murong Xun’s brows drew together at once. The fingers tapping against the table abruptly stopped, and a powerful sense of unease surged through him. He muttered under his breath, “It’s been three days. Could they have been discovered?”
Leaning back in his chair, he looked increasingly grim. “How is that old fool Jiang Yan doing? The Qianji poison was a deadly toxin my mother brought from the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate. No one who ingests it has ever survived. It’s already been three days—why haven’t I heard anything?”
Murong Xun was the third son of Emperor Changping. His mother, Consort Rong, came from the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate. Her family was of modest standing, and she held little influence in the imperial harem. Among the many imperial princes, Murong Xun was hardly favored.
He had come to Moyun City for two reasons: first, to bring Jiang Yanyan back to the capital to marry her; and second, to use his engagement with the Jiang family as justification to take control of the Moyun Army and pave the way for his own future.
However, several of the Moyun Army’s generals had been personally promoted by Jiang Yan. They paid lip service to Prince Yong, but refused to submit to him. No matter how much pressure he applied, they would not yield.
Now there had been no news from the city lord’s residence, while he had made no progress with the Moyun Army either. The frustration in his heart grew increasingly intense.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Murong Xun reached out, seized the white porcelain teacup on the table, and crushed it in his hand.
With a sharp crack, the teacup shattered. The broken porcelain cut into his palm, and tea dripped between his fingers, yet he did not seem to notice.
He cursed furiously, “A bunch of stubborn old fools! They have no idea how to show respect. I am an imperial prince, yet they dare to treat me with such contempt! Do they truly think the Moyun Army is the Jiang family’s private property? Does this realm belong to the Murongs or the Jiangs?”
The guard kneeling on the floor did not dare make a sound. After a long while, he finally urged him in a low voice, “Please calm down, Your Highness. The generals of the Moyun Army all served under Jiang Yan, and many of them even came from Muyun Manor. They are merely honoring their old loyalties.
“Once Jiang Yan passes away, the army will be left without a leader. They will naturally acknowledge Your Highness as their master. By then, won’t the Moyun Army be yours for the taking?”
Murong Xun drew a deep breath and suppressed his anger. He casually wiped the blood from his palm, but his voice remained cold and sinister. “Let us hope so.”
After a pause, he remembered something else and asked in a deep voice, “What have you found out about Yanran’s whereabouts? It has been so many days. You still haven’t found her?”
“Your Highness, the capital has already been searched from top to bottom. We also sent men to Yucheng, where you first met Miss Yanran, and had it searched thoroughly twice. There is still no sign of her.”
“Keep looking!” Murong Xun ordered, his eyes flashing with obsession. “No matter the cost, you must find Yanran and bring her back to me!”
A viciousness suddenly surfaced in his eyes as he stared fixedly at the tent flap. “Send another group of elite assassins into the city lord’s residence. Find out how Jiang Yan is really doing, and while you’re there, check on Jiang Yanyan and Jiang Xiao.
“Jiang Yan is already poisoned. He shouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. As for the people we have placed beside Jiang Yanyan and Jiang Xiao—if they fail, kill Jiang Yanyan and Jiang Xiao immediately!”
“Jiang Yanyan knows a little medicine, but her martial skills are mediocre. Jiang Xiao is only six years old and poses no threat. Aside from them, what else can Jiang Yan rely on? Once he dies, the Moyun Army will belong to me sooner or later, and those stubborn old fools will have no excuse left to resist!”
The guard hurriedly acknowledged the order. “This subordinate will obey! I’ll arrange the men at once and have them infiltrate the city lord’s residence tonight.”
“Go.”
Murong Xun waved a hand. The guard bowed and withdrew, leaving him alone in the tent. In the candlelight, his shadow stretched long and thin.
………………
The following morning, just as the sky began to brighten and a pale sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon, Jiang Yanyan personally carried the freshly brewed medicine to the main courtyard.
She had worked out the prescription overnight and added some spiritual spring water. It should make the medicine even more effective.
When she entered the room, she saw Jiang Yan propped up against the headboard while a maid helped him wash. His face was no longer as deathly pale as before; a faint flush had returned to his cheeks, and his breathing was much smoother. When he saw Jiang Yanyan enter, he raised a hand and motioned for her to come closer.
“Yanyan, you’re here.”
Jiang Yanyan placed the bowl of medicine on the low table beside the bed. “Grandfather, today’s medicine is ready. Drink it while it’s hot. This is the new prescription I modified. After you take it for another two days, the poison in your body should be completely neutralized.”
As she spoke, she poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him. “Grandfather, drink some water first to soothe your throat.”
Jiang Yan accepted the cup and took a few sips before taking the bowl of medicine and drinking it all in one go. He set the bowl aside and looked at Jiang Yanyan, his eyes filled with warmth and pride.
“These past few days, I have you to thank. You’ve had to prepare medicine and study prescriptions to cure me, look after Xiao’er, and help your mother shoulder her responsibilities. I’ve seen it all. My Yanyan has truly grown up. You’ve become such a sensible girl.”
Jiang Yanyan tucked the blankets around him and said softly, “What are you talking about, Grandfather? These are things I should do. Xiao’er is very well-behaved and never causes trouble, so he’s no burden at all. As long as you recover, everything I do is worth it.”
She then glanced at the maids and servants in the room and said sternly, “All of you, leave. I have something to discuss with Grandfather in private.”
The servants bowed one after another and quietly withdrew. The door was gently closed, leaving only the grandfather and granddaughter in the room.
Jiang Yanyan looked at Jiang Yan, her expression turning solemn. She got straight to the point.
“Grandfather, all the spies in the residence have been identified and removed. I imagine you already know that many forces are involved behind the scenes.
“There are people from Jing, Prince Yong, the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate, and even the Crown Prince and His Majesty.
“So many people are watching the Moyun Army. Either they fear your influence, or they want to claim the army for themselves. Grandfather, what are you planning to do?”
At her words, the smile faded from Jiang Yan’s face. Leaning against the headboard, he gazed at the carved beams on the ceiling, his expression growing somber.
After a long silence, he let out a soft sigh. His voice was filled with wistfulness.
“When I was young, your grandmother and I watched over Muyun Manor. Although we did not possess the power and status we have today, we lived peaceful, comfortable lives.
“Unfortunately, your grandmother passed away later.
“When I first met the late emperor, we took to each other at once. He revealed his identity to me and invited me to help restore order to the realm and accomplish great things together. I then devoted the entire strength of the manor to him, providing both men and money to help him establish the Qi dynasty and bring an end to the chaos.”
“Emperor Changping was still young back then, and I can say that I watched him grow up. He was merely a child, gentle and courteous, always following Emperor Mingzheng and treating others with genuine sincerity.
“I never imagined that he would change so completely. He secretly placed his own people in Moyun City. In that regard, he has become a capable emperor.”
Jiang Yan rubbed his brow, his voice tinged with disappointment. “Prince Yong came here with impure motives from the very beginning. For the sake of military power, he even poisoned me.
“The Crown Prince became involved because he feared that Prince Yong would gain control of the Moyun Army, grow too powerful, and threaten his position as heir.
“I simply do not know whether Prince Yong acted with Emperor Changping’s tacit approval.
“As for Jing, they have coveted this region for many years. They would be delighted if the Jiang family fell into disorder and Moyun City were left without a leader. Then they could seize the northwestern gateway while the opportunity remained.”
