Chapter 28 His strong and dangerous gaze slowly consumed her…

Chapter 28: His intense, dangerous gaze slowly engulfed her...

Tuo Baxiao leaned down, about to kiss her, but she struggled even more fiercely in his arms.

At first, he paid no mind, but as he was about to touch her skin, her scent already enveloping him, her resistance grew stronger, tinged with anger and resentment. Tuo Baxiao had to stop.

He loosened his grip slightly, adjusting her position slightly, and looked down at her face. Sure enough, her beautiful face now bore emotion, her dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears, as if she were utterly wronged.

Tuo Baxiao paused, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Please let me go," Jiang Congyan said, her lashes fluttering, her voice strained. Her voice quivered slightly.

"Why?"

His deep voice rumbled from above, his tone unreadable, neither pleased nor displeased, yet it carried a weight that made her heart drop.

She knew Tuo Baxiao’s visit at this hour wasn’t a good sign, but she hadn’t expected him to be so direct, immediately pulling her into his embrace without any pretense, like a predator ready to devour its prey, making her careful responses futile.

He was acting like a lecherous scoundrel, and in reality, it wasn't far from the truth.

Jiang Congyan knew that since she had married him, physical intimacy was inevitable in the future. She might have to lower her guard to win his favor, and she had been mentally preparing herself to accept it.

But not now.

She was unwilling to engage with him in this manner at this time and in this environment. This was her last stand for dignity.

After much deliberation, Jiang Congyan steeled herself and looked directly into Tuo Baxiao's eyes, her gaze steady and unflinching.

"Because I don't want to!" she said, her eyes burning brighter than the candlelight.

"You promised to treat me with respect and not force me to do anything I don't want to do."

"And now, I don't want to!"

She repeated it, her tone firm, her eyes like flames.

Her voice rang out, clear as a mountain song, ethereal in the quiet night.

Tuo Baxiao listened to this melodious tone, but his mood was far from pleasant, especially the words "don't want to," which irritated him greatly. His brows furrowed, and the commanding aura of a ruler seeped through. His voice was a suppressed growl, "You've already married me, and yet I can't touch you?"

A king’s wrath could bring ruin to thousands!

He lowered his head, his sharp, handsome face rapidly closing in, his hot breath washing over her face. The space before her was completely dominated by him, and Jiang Congyan instinctively shrank back, feeling completely overwhelmed.

Offending Tuo Baxiao so mercilessly, Jiang Congyan's heart was stretched to its limit, and the familiar ache returned, her face losing all color, making her dark eyes appear even more striking.

Since ascending to the throne as the Xianbei King, the most noble and exalted ruler of the northern frontier, being repeatedly rejected by a woman had pushed Tuo Baxiao's patience to its limit. His anger finally erupted, his deep, dark green eyes gleaming with a terrifying light in the darkness, like a wolf baring its fangs, ready to pounce and tear its prey apart.

He liked her, so he was willing to indulge her, but that didn't mean she could reject him without limits.

He had married her, not to have a vase that could only be admired but not touched.

The strength in his palm unconsciously increased, the veins on the back of his hand bulging prominently. Jiang Congyan could feel how tightly his muscles were clenched at this moment.

She trembled slightly, her arm easily captured in his large palm, like a tender bamboo shoot that could be snapped with a little force. The disparity in strength between her and Tuo Baxiao was so vast that any resistance was futile in his presence.

She no longer resisted, letting him hold her, only lifting her pale, delicate face, her long lashes trembling. Even in fear, she met his gaze, standing firm in her position.

"The grand ceremony hasn't been held yet, so it doesn't count as a complete marriage," she said, looking into his eyes, half-hidden in the darkness but particularly sinister due to his anger. She buried her unease and fear deep within, speaking with righteous conviction. Her next words, however, softened in tone, her expression and eyes softening as well, appearing delicate and harmless. "Once the wedding is held, and we are truly husband and wife, I naturally won't refuse you anymore."

There remained a trace of shyness, like a soft feather lightly brushing his heart, bringing a tingling sensation that pierced through Tuo Baxiao's rage.

His anger ebbed slightly, and he looked at her with doubt, "Really?"

Jiang Congyan raised her watery, glass-like black eyes, gazing at him earnestly and nodding.

Tuo Baxiao took a few deep breaths. Although still somewhat annoyed, he felt considerably better than before. Seeing her delicate and pitiful appearance, her pale face devoid of color, like a delicate flower battered by a storm, he couldn't help but feel compassion.

He was reluctant to let her go just like that, but he couldn't bring himself to force her against her will. His large hand gripping her alternated between loosening and tightening.

The air was oppressive, making it difficult to breathe. Jiang Congyan felt as though he wasn't gripping her arm but her anxious heart, which tightened and loosened with his grip, causing her heart to race even more.

Tuo Baxiao stared intently at her pale, pitiful face. After his expression shifted several times, he finally compromised, muttering, "You Han people are such a hassle!"

They insisted on so many formalities, and only after the wedding ceremony would it be considered a marriage.

Jiang Congyan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, the man suddenly pinched her chin.

His hand, roughened from years of martial arts practice, rubbed against her soft skin, causing a bit of pain.

Jiang Congyan was compelled to lift her chin, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Just now, Tuo Baxiao seemed to agree not to touch her for the time being, so why was he doing this again...

Tuo Baxiao was intently feeling the softness beneath his fingertips. For the first time, he touched her without the barrier of clothing. Her skin was really tender, even more so than he had imagined, like the delicate skin on fresh milk. He was afraid that a little more force would puncture it.

The desire that had just abated flared up again because of this incredibly soft touch, but he had just promised not to touch her. Tuo Baxiao could only grit his teeth, quell his rising emotions, and consume her with his intense, dangerous gaze.

"Remember what you said. Once we arrive at the royal court, you can no longer refuse me."

"By then, even if you cry your eyes out, I won't be soft-hearted."

...

After uttering these words, Tuo Baxiao strode out of the post house, while Jiang Congyan slumped weakly in front of the table.

She gently touched her still unsettled heart, which ached faintly.

In this life, her heart was healthy, but she still occasionally experienced the familiar twinge of pain, especially in the first two years after she crossed over. In the middle of the night, she would suddenly wake up from the pain, unable to breathe, like a fish gasping in a dried-up puddle.

She was young and weak then, and her grandmother loved her dearly, keeping her in her own courtyard. Her grandmother often checked on her at night to see if she was sleeping well. Finally, one night, she found Jiang Congyan in a cold sweat, pale and in pain. Her grandmother was horrified, nearly fainting, and hurriedly called a doctor to examine her.

Ordinary doctors couldn't find the cause, only saying that she was naturally weak due to premature birth and had fallen into the water in winter, making her constitution cold and weak, but they couldn't diagnose the cause of her heart palpitations.

Later, the Zhang family widely posted notices seeking medical help, offering a heavy reward, and finally found the famous doctor Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan examined her and said it was a psychological issue.

Jiang Congyan knew from the start that it was psychological, but this pain had accompanied her for twenty years, inseparable from her since birth, ingrained in her bones, like eating and breathing. It wasn't something she could simply cut off.

Zhang Yuan advised her to relax and not overthink, otherwise, even with the best medicines, it might affect her lifespan in the future.

Too much wisdom brings harm!

Her grandmother, upon hearing this, hugged her and wept, "Chang Shengnu, you're just a little child, how could you be overthinking? What exactly happened to you in Chang'an these years?"

She couldn't say. She could only tightly hug her weeping grandmother with her thin, small arms.

She felt guilty for causing this sixty-year-old woman such distress, but she truly couldn't explain the reason.

She was a solitary spirit that had drifted over eighteen hundred years from the future, fully aware of the inferno this land would plunge into over the next decade, knowing the tragic fate that awaited the hundreds of members of the Zhang family and the hundred thousand soldiers.

From the moment she awoke in the body of this little girl and opened her eyes, she was already ensnared in a complex web of fates.

She was tightly wrapped like a silkworm in its cocoon, unable to find an escape.

Zhang Yuan urged her to relax, and though she wished to, she simply couldn't.

The sword of Damocles looming over her head denied her true peace of mind until it was removed.

Later, her grandmother, unable to find peace, slept beside her at night. When her heart palpitations struck, she bore it in silence, allowing the quilt to soak up her sweat. Sometimes she managed to conceal it, other times she failed.

At those moments, her grandmother would cradle her, wiping away her tears as she wept, while she extended her small hand to wipe her grandmother's tears.

"Chang Shengnu, don't be afraid, this is your home, and grandmother will never allow anyone to harm you again..."

Grandmother and granddaughter leaned on each other through those dark and somber nights until three or four years later, when her health began to steadily improve, the frequency of her heart palpitations lessened, and she finally relocated to a new house.

As time went by, the influence of her past life diminished, and as long as she avoided intense emotional upheavals, she was just like any normal person. The occasional mild discomfort was inconsequential to her.

"I am healthy, I will live well, and I will ensure my grandmother lives to a hundred with a smile," Jiang Congyan said to herself in her heart.

The moment Tuo Baxiao left, Ruo Lan and Si Zi hurried in to check on their lady. Seeing her collapsed on the ground, pale and frail, their hearts skipped a beat, fearing that Tuo Baxiao had hurt her, their expressions instantly shifted.

"My lady, are you all right? Are you injured?" Ruo Lan asked urgently, quickly helping her to the bed.

The inn room was cramped and had poor soundproofing. She had been standing outside the door, overhearing most of their argument, and was deeply concerned that Tuo Baxiao might have erupted in anger. With his formidable build, even a slight shove would be too much for their delicate lady.

"I'm fine, don't worry, I'm just a little exhausted," Jiang Congyan ignored the discomfort in her heart and softly reassured them.

The events of the night had been perilous for her, even more so than the day she had actively sought out Tuo Baxiao for negotiations. She had mustered all her courage to say those words of refusal, as she wasn't sure if the man would fly into a rage and harm her.

But fortunately, the outcome was good.

In the values of the nomadic tribes, plunder was not a shameful act but an opportunity to display bravery and a means to increase wealth. They lived by their strength, thriving on plunder.

Tuo Baxiao, raised in such an environment, carried a savage undertone in his character. If he wanted something, he would get it.

Through these brief encounters, Jiang Congyan found that while he was somewhat domineering, he was not unreasonable. His level of "reasonableness" even surprised her, and his tolerance towards her was higher than she had expected.

Like just now, if he had insisted on forcing her, she would have had no other choice, but he was ultimately persuaded by her.

She couldn't tell if it was out of affection or a man's sense of conquest, but for her at this stage, it was at least a good thing.

Jiang Congyan comforted Ruo Lan and Si Zi, telling them that the days ahead should not be as tense as today, and only then did they finally relax and help her to bed.

After Tuo Baxiao left, he didn't return to his room immediately. Instead, he stood in the front courtyard of the inn, letting the cool wind blow over him for a long time.

The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright. He looked up at the white jade disk hanging in the sky, which seemed to reflect the cold, delicate face of the young girl, and those dark, glistening eyes, like a pool formed from mountain snow. Just one glance, and all his anger dissipated.

When he was first rejected, his initial feeling was only anger, but now, upon reflection, he inexplicably felt a sense of anticipation.

It was like encountering a rare, peerless steed on the grassland, one that was proud and untamed, and he was determined to bring this exceptional horse back, to one day have it completely submit to his palm!

Tuo Baxiao extended his broad hand, making a grasping motion towards the moon in the sky.

---

The next day, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, Jiang Congyan rose from the narrow bed in the inn.

Today, she didn’t wear the elaborate wedding dress from when she left the city. Instead, she had Ruo Lan help her into a simple, lightweight outfit. Her hair was tied up casually with two hairpins. After a light breakfast, she got into another carriage pulled by two horses—the same one she had taken when returning to Chang'an from Liangzhou.

The carriage was spacious and lightly decorated, so even with three ladies, it wouldn’t strain the horses. Ruo Lan had padded the carriage with a thick layer of cushioning, which would help reduce discomfort even on bumpy roads. The side compartments held small items like teacups, water bottles, and silk handkerchiefs, ensuring her comfort during the journey.

The chief envoy, Wen Yu, noticed her switch carriages, glanced at it a few times, but said nothing.

As a man, he was tired after just half a day of travel, let alone the princess. If she had to sit in the wedding carriage every day, she’d likely fall ill before reaching the Xianbei King’s court.

The procession moved on but met another group less than an hour later by the Jing River. This group of about a hundred, half on horseback, didn’t seem like ordinary guards. They seemed to be waiting there, putting Xie Shao on edge.

"Who’s there?" Xie Shao shouted, riding forward.

Zhang Zheng rode up alone, straightening his back and clasping his hands in greeting. "I’m Zhang Zheng. We’re the Marquis of Liangzhou’s Imperial Guards, sent to protect the lady. Now that she’s heading north to Xianbei, we’ll escort her."

Xie Shao frowned, still serious. He waved a hand and told a subordinate, "Inform the princess."

The Lüben Guard rode to the middle of the procession and soon returned. "General, the princess says these are her Imperial Guards, and they’ll travel north with us."

Xie Shao silently watched Zhang Zheng and his men, then agreed. Of course, he had to agree. They were firm, just informing him, not asking for permission.

He realized the Peacemaking Princess wasn’t just a figurehead. She had real power.

Then, understanding dawned in his eyes. Though not the emperor’s daughter, the Peacemaking Princess had a more complex identity than a true princess. She was Crown Prince Zhaowen’s only granddaughter, raised by the Marquis of Liangzhou. The Marquis doted on her like a treasure, and word of his spending heavily on her medical care had reached Chang'an. No wonder he had sent so many Imperial Guards to escort her.

As for why they hadn’t joined the procession when leaving the city but chose to wait here instead, perhaps she didn’t want to draw too much attention.

With Zhang Zheng and his men joining, the procession grew significantly larger. The Lüben Guards who had been escorting Jiang Congyan’s carriage were now replaced by the Liangzhou Imperial Guards. Behind them followed over twenty heavily loaded carts, covered with sturdy tarpaulins, their contents unknown.

Wen Yu stood at a distance, watching the newly joined group with narrowed eyes, as if deep in thought.

The procession continued on its planned route, with Si Zi being sent out by Jiang Congyan to ride on horseback.

"Go out and scout around. If you notice anything, come and tell me."

"Understood, my lady!" Si Zi replied with a sly smile.

She was naturally lively and had practiced martial arts and horseback riding since childhood. Her equestrian skills were on par with those of ordinary soldiers, and she thoroughly enjoyed herself, often riding back and forth along the convoy.

Everyone knew she was the princess’s personal maid, so no one dared to trouble her, allowing her to come and go as she pleased.

A couple of days ago, there had been a chilly drizzle, but today the weather had finally cleared up. The warm March sun bathed everyone in its gentle glow. The procession was passing through a lush forest, where the sunlight filtered through the layered leaves, creating a dappled pattern.

"Brother Lamb, your ancestral home is in Jincheng? That’s so close to our Liangzhou. We’re practically fellow townsfolk," Si Zi chatted cheerfully with a young man leading an ox cart as she rode alongside it.

She wore a simple, narrow-sleeved green silk robe with minimal embroidery on the collar and cuffs, paired with riding boots. A leather belt cinched her waist, adorned with various small trinkets. Her hair was tied back with a ribbon, revealing a lively and spirited face with slightly tanned but healthy, glowing skin. A small bow hung from her saddle, making her look less like the princess’s personal maid and more like a young lady from a military family.

"It’s my honor to be considered a fellow townsfolk by the lady," the young man replied with a smile.

To pass the time during the journey, people often chatted with those around them. Si Zi, being outgoing, could strike up a conversation with anyone. Over the past few days, everyone in the craftsmen’s group had come to know her. They found the princess’s maid to be amiable and cheerful, never flaunting her status, and they were happy to befriend her. In a way, they were also part of the princess’s entourage, and once they reached the grasslands and fell into the hands of the barbarians, their future might well depend on whether the princess was favored or not.

"Oh, come on, no need for such formalities. We’re all in the same boat now, heading to the grassland king’s court together. We’ll need to look out for each other in the future," Si Zi waved her hand, completely unpretentious.

She was casually chatting with those around her when suddenly, some commotion arose from the back of the convoy. Si Zi quickly rode over to investigate.

As she drew near, she saw that an elderly craftsman named Fu Tiejian had fainted.

"What happened?" Si Zi dismounted her horse and pushed her way to the front.

The crowd around her began chattering all at once. After listening for a while, Si Zi finally pieced together the sequence of events.

The old man was a blacksmith known as Fu Tiejian. He was over fifty years old and had been doing heavy physical labor for years while being undernourished, which had left his body weak. Unfortunately, he had been caught in the rain two days ago and developed a fever that night. Even though he was forced to keep moving, his fever had persisted for two days without improvement. Artisans like him were considered the lowest class of society, not allowed to own property, and even when sick, they had no money for treatment. They could only rely on their own resilience to pull through. If they survived, it was as if they had returned from the brink of death; if they didn’t, their lives were considered worthless, and no one would care. Fu Tiejian had finally collapsed from exhaustion.

Si Zi’s brow furrowed. "Even if he can’t afford medicine, since he’s sick, why wasn’t he allowed to lie down in one of the freight carts?"

"This..." The people around her looked at her with a mix of discomfort and a hint of "noble ladies don’t understand the hardships of common folk." "These are freight carts. How could we lowly folk dare to sit on them? At most, his son could carry him for a while."

When it came to matters of life and death, they couldn’t even sit in a cart?

Si Zi's frown deepened, the lines between her brows almost forming a '川' character.

She was raised in Liangzhou, where the Marquis of Liangzhou governed with strict discipline but also cared deeply for the people. She had been chosen from a young age to serve by the lady’s side, and the lady treated her subordinates with kindness and valued their lives. If anyone fell ill or was injured, she would send physicians to take care of them. As long as no mistakes were made, there was never any unjust punishment. Therefore, Si Zi couldn’t fathom a situation where human life was so disregarded.

Si Zi’s chest tightened, but she had no one to vent her frustration on. These people were just the lowest class of society, living within the confines of their own understanding, and they absolutely couldn’t afford to provoke the displeasure of the nobility.

Si Zi drew a deep breath and pointed at Fu Tiejian. "Move him to the cart to rest."

The people around her didn’t dare hesitate any longer.

Si Zi put on a stern face, adopting the authority of the princess’s personal attendant. "What? Are my words not to be obeyed?"

They hastily rearranged some of the cargo on the cart to make a small space for Fu Tiejian.

Si Zi gave a nod, then swung onto her horse and returned to the front of the procession. She immediately reported what had just happened to Jiang Congyan, her face still flushed with anger.

After listening, Jiang Congyan said, "Send Zhang Fu to check on him. No matter what, as long as he’s still alive, do everything possible to save him."

"Yes, yes," Si Zi nodded vigorously. "My lady, I was thinking the same thing. Making him walk while he’s so sick is just too harsh."

After venting her frustration, Si Zi hurried off to find Zhang Fu.

The Zhang family had been physicians for generations, helping the common people without discriminating based on status or wealth. Back then, Zhang Yuan had departed despite Zhang Wei’s pleas because he was worried he would become a physician exclusively for the nobility and lose the freedom to treat ordinary people. Later, he decided to stay not just because of Jiang Congyan’s innovative theories but also because he saw how they cared for the common folk.

Now, when Zhang Fu heard from Si Zi that someone was on the verge of death and needed his help, he snatched up his medical kit and followed her without hesitation.

The artisans had thought it was already a great act of mercy for Si Zi to allow Fu Tiejian to sit in the cart. They never expected her to return with a physician who was going to treat him!

They were in disbelief, even wondering if they were hallucinating. How could such unimaginable good fortune come to lowly people like them?

"What are you standing there for? Don’t block the physician from treating your father!"

"Oh, oh!"

Fu Tiejian’s son had been completely stunned, standing frozen in place until someone nudged him. He quickly moved aside.

Everyone watched with wide eyes as Zhang Fu took Fu Tiejian’s pulse, inserted a few needles, and then instructed his young apprentice to prepare the medicine.

Zhang Fu said to Si Zi, "Although the old man’s condition is serious, it’s not difficult to treat. He just needs to take two doses of the medicine, and once the fever breaks, he’ll be fine." However, his body was severely depleted, and he would need to recuperate and avoid heavy labor.

He held back the last part, knowing it would be of no use. As a physician, he could help the patient temporarily, but he couldn’t change their circumstances.

Little did he know that his words were like music to the ears of those around him.

All the artisans gazed at him and Si Zi with grateful tears. Fu Tiejian’s son knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed to them. "Thank you, my lady, my lord! You are so kind! Thank you..."

He was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t speak coherently, and Si Zi couldn't even help him up.

"Get up quickly, don’t thank me. It was the lady—the Princess of Peace—who ordered me to do this. You should thank the princess," Si Zi hurriedly said.

Thus, everyone quickly changed their words, all praising the princess for her benevolence.

Their gaunt, sun-darkened faces—both old and young—stared at the carriage guarded in the distance. Their dull eyes suddenly lit up with a glimmer of hope, flickering with faint glimmers of light.

No noble had ever cared for the lives of these common folk as the princess did. She was the first to actively seek medical help for them.

They had all been forced into the marriage procession, no one willing to leave their lifelong home. Though life there was equally harsh, it was still better than going to the grasslands, where the barbarians lived, killing on a whim. They could only imagine what their lives would be like there; a single misstep could cost them their lives.

But now, they saw a glimmer of hope in this Princess of Peace.

Since the princess cared about their lives, perhaps she would persuade the barbarian king in the future?

Zhang Fu stood by, taking it all in. He knew the lady was winning them over, but she was genuinely caring for the most downtrodden among them.

The next day, the blacksmith's fever had indeed subsided significantly. When he regained consciousness and learned that the princess had saved him, he was too excited to speak, just holding his son's hand tightly, his eyes fixed on the distant carriage.

After this incident, Si Zi became even more popular among the craftsmen.

When setting up camp, if they occasionally caught a fish by the river or picked some wild fruits from the trees, they would specifically offer them to her, but Si Zi always declined, as she didn’t need the food, whereas they themselves needed the nourishment.

Sometimes Ruo Lan would also go to take a look, then return and tell Jiang Congyan something.

Si Zi got along well with the craftsmen, helping them with their difficulties as much as she could, but she always kept a distance from the Lüben Guard.

Many of them were from respectable families or noble clans, and the treatment in the Lüben Guard was among the best in the army. Si Zi's small favors never caught their attention, and Jiang Congyan never intended to win them over with such things. Her target was only one person—Xie Shao!