Chapter 41 For the first time, he actually felt fear…

Chapter 41 For the first time, he actually felt a sense of dread...

Su Li was momentarily stunned; only after a while did he grasp the anger in the king's tone. He wanted to ask, "Why is the king angry?" but as soon as he opened his mouth, General Modolou quickly grabbed him and forcibly took him away.

Couldn't he see how furious the king was? How dare he provoke the king at such a time. General Modolou thought Su Li sometimes couldn't read the situation even worse than himself.

Only after they had walked far away did Su Li shake off General Modolou's hand in disgust and bring up the previous matter again.

He was still resentful about letting Wudati Hou escape.

"Hmph, these Han people are really useless; they couldn't even protect their own princess and let Wudati Hou capture her. If the king hadn't gone to rescue that Han Princess, with his bravery, he could have definitely killed Wudati Hou..."

Hearing his words full of disdain towards the Han Princess, General Modolou, recalling the fine wine he had received from the princess these days and how the Han people had helped many Xianbei warriors treat their wounds yesterday, couldn't help but warn him, "You better not let the king hear these words, or if you anger the king, I can't help you either."

Su Li was puzzled and looked at him unhappily. "I'm just telling the truth."

General Modolou scratched his head and sighed, "The king is very fond of the Han Princess. Previously, when Chigan Balie offended her, the king punished him in front of everyone."

Su Li's eyes widened, "The king actually punished Chigan Balie over a Han woman?"

"But Chigan Balie was also to blame..." General Modolou was about to explain, but Su Li directly interrupted him, "Where is Chigan Balie? Why isn't he with you? I want to see him." As he spoke, he looked around, completely ignoring General Modolou's following words.

Su Li quickly found Chigan Balie lying on open ground with a piece of grass in his mouth, staring blankly at the sky, lost in thought.

His chest and arms were heavily bandaged, indicating serious injuries.

"Chigan Balie—" He was about to say something, but upon seeing the whip marks on Chigan Balie's face, he was stunned. His tone then became incredulous, "Did the king do this?"

No one but the king would dare to whip Chigan Balie across the face.

Having his wound prodded, even facing a brother he had fought alongside, Chigan Balie didn't look pleased; his face darkened instantly, and he threw away the grass in his mouth. He was about to turn over and ignore him, but suddenly, the Han doctor's advice came to mind: General, your injury is in the chest cavity, it's best not to move around, try to lie flat and rest.

He hesitated and ultimately didn't turn over, but rolled his eyes, his tone unfriendly, "Are you here to mock me?"

Su Li thought there was a reason why Chigan Balie was disliked; with such a bad temper, it's a wonder anyone could stand him. If it weren't for inquiring about the Han Princess, he wouldn't bother with him.

"General Modolou said you were punished by the king for offending the Han Princess."

Chigan Balie lay on the ground, glaring at General Modolou as if to say, "You big mouth, always bleating like a sheep."

Chigan Balie snorted, disdainful to respond to him.

Su Li continued, "Did the king really punish you over the Han Princess? Could it be that you did something else to anger the king?"

He still couldn't believe it; the king was wise and brave, never indulged in women, how could he get so angry over a Han woman? Even if he wanted to punish Chigan Balie, he wouldn't just whip his face; that's a trampling on the dignity of a Xianbei warrior.

Chigan Balie suddenly sat up, glaring angrily at Su Li. "Su Li, don't think I won't duel with you just because I'm injured!"

The three of them had been close followers of the king for a long time. In the past, Chigan Balie disliked General Modolou the most, thinking he became a general just because he had some childhood connection with the king. Next was Su Li, who came from a good family, his father was a general, Su Li just inherited the family's army. Only he was a true Xianbei warrior, becoming a general through his own bravery.

Su Li knew he had been punished by the king and still came to mock him, Chigan Balie now declared that Su Li had surpassed General Modolou to become the person he disliked the most.

"I just came to care about you, you're the one with a small heart and overthinking." Su Li felt wronged.

Chigan Balie was about to get up and hit him, but General Modolou, thinking of the injury on his chest, quickly held him down, standing between the two.

"You can argue, but don't fight! Chigan Balie, you have such a big hole in your chest and still want to fight, don't you value your life? Su Li, Chigan Balie is injured, even if you win, it doesn't make you a warrior!"

General Modolou tried to mediate between the two, but unfortunately, neither took his advice, both snorted in unison, "Get lost!"

Modolou: "..."

"I rarely act like a good guy, and you still don’t appreciate it."

Modolou gave up, his face turning cold. He walked away with his arms crossed, "Fine, fight if you want to. Kill one, and there’ll be one less!"

As soon as he left, Chigan Balie and Su Li glanced at each other, and the fight didn’t happen.

The atmosphere was tense and awkward.

Su Li looked at Chigan Balie, his face stern. "Modolou is right. You’re injured now, and even if I win, it wouldn’t be honorable. Let’s wait until you’re healed, and then I’ll definitely beat you down." He spoke with a disdainful tone.

Chigan Balie still looked defiant but didn’t shout about fighting anymore.

The three men stared at each other, and finally, Su Li spoke first, asking about the Han Princess.

"Is the king really so fond of this Han Princess? Today, to save her, he was even willing to let Wudati Hou escape?" Su Li couldn’t understand.

No one in the Xianbei tribe agreed with the king’s decision to marry the princess from Liang State. They believed the king already had half-Han blood, and marrying a Han woman would make the Xianbei tribe more like the Han’s territory.

The elders had repeatedly advised, saying that if the king liked Han women, he could just take a few back—why must he make a Han woman his Khatun?

But no matter how much they advised, once the king made up his mind, no one could change it.

Speaking of the Han Princess, Modolou had something to say.

"This Han Princess might look delicate, but she’s as brave as an eagle. She wasn’t afraid of Chigan Balie at all, daring to point a sword at him. And this Han Princess has so many good things—I’ve never had such delicious wine or meat. She also has miraculous medical skills and powders; Chigan Balie’s wounds were treated by her servants..."

As Su Li listened to Modolou’s endless praise of the Han Princess, his frown deepened.

He turned to look at Chigan Balie, "The king punished you in front of everyone for that Han Princess, making you lose face. Don’t you hate her?"

"I do," Chigan Balie replied without hesitation.

Modolou: "???"

"Didn’t you injure your arm saving the princess? And you say you hate her?"

Su Li: "???"

He was stunned and suddenly turned back, staring hard at Chigan Balie, as if trying to see if this was the Chigan Balie he knew—the one who hated Han people the most.

Chigan Balie felt oddly embarrassed under his gaze but turned his face away to save face. "I saved her for the king’s sake, fearing he’d blame me for failing to protect the princess."

Su Li: "Chigan Balie, when you lie, you tend to look away."

Chigan Balie was somewhat annoyed by his taunt, his face red as he defended himself, "I did it for the king!"

Su Li didn’t believe it, sneering, "You clearly respect that Han Princess. A Han woman, in less than two months, has made both of you stop hating her and even defend her. Han people are truly cunning."

Hearing this, both Modolou and Chigan Balie frowned.

Su Li continued, "Chigan Balie, your personality is all about face. If someone secretly says something bad about you, you have to knock them down. You were publicly punished by the king for that Han Princess, losing so much face, yet you still risked danger to save her. You won’t admit it, but you’ve already been won over by her. What benefits did she give you?"

Chigan Balie, being slandered like this, was furious. His sharp eagle eyes narrowed, flashing with dangerous light. "She never gave me any benefits. The king punished me—it was indeed my fault for not following the king’s orders. Su Li, if you keep saying this, even if my wound is still bleeding, I will definitely fight you to the death!"

Seeing that he was truly angry—not just the usual casual argument—Su Li’s heart also sank unusually. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but finally held back, snorted heavily, and with a gloomy face, swung his arm and strode away.

There was still some time before returning to the royal court, and he wanted to see what kind of magic this Han woman possessed, that could make Modolou and Chigan Balie defend her so much.

"Tie up these Xiongnu people and cut off their heads. The Prince has ordered that none be spared!"

Su Li, having been angered by Chigan Balie, immediately ordered his men to gather the Xiongnu captives and prepare to execute them. Only blood could quench his burning rage!

The Xianbei people and the Xiongnu were mortal enemies, and there was no mercy for these Xiongnu captives. The soldiers, upon receiving Su Li's command, eagerly stepped forward, swinging their blades as if it were child's play. Heads fell one after another, blood spurted wildly, and the scene was as gruesome as a nightmare from hell, enough to haunt the faint-hearted for months on end.

However, the Xianbei people were long accustomed to such slaughter. They not only felt no aversion but actually relished it, for it meant they had eliminated many enemies and could occupy more vast lands, with richer pastures and more livestock.

The Lüben Guard, seeing this, frowned slightly. The Xiongnu were indeed their enemies and deserved to be killed, but killing enemies in battle was different from executing captives. In the past, the Central Plains dynasties would not completely annihilate their foreign captives but would instead relocate some to the Central Plains, assimilating them into serving the Han people.

But the Xianbei people had no such concept. To them, all enemies should be killed, and this brutal culture was deeply ingrained in their very being. The way they treated the Xiongnu now might one day be how they treat the Han people.

——

Inside the tent, once Tuo Baxiao had left, Ruo Lan and Si Zi carefully removed Jiang Congyan's clothes. When they saw the particularly horrifying bruise on her abdomen, their hands shook with heartache.

Over the past decade, Ruo Lan had put in countless efforts nurturing the young lady from a frail infant to a beautiful woman, and she had taken great care of her snow-white, delicate skin. Even the smallest bump would make her anxious, let alone such a severe injury. It was unclear how long it would take for her to recover.

Besides the large bruise on her waist and abdomen, her arms and back were also badly scraped from the fall. Her once flawless, jade-like skin was now a pitiful sight, red and swollen, with many areas broken and bleeding. Si Zi's eyes filled with tears.

She couldn't fathom the pain the young lady must have endured, yet she had endured it silently and even risked her life to assassinate Wudati Hou.

The two meticulously examined Jiang Congyan's body, gently cleaning the blood and dirt from her wounds, applying medicine, and then dressing her in fresh, soft clothes before going to find Zhang Fu.

As soon as they stepped out of the tent, they found Zhang Zheng and Xie Shao kneeling outside the silk tent.

Zhang Zheng looked haggard, with disheveled hair, his blood-stained armor caked with dust and blood. His shoulder bore a wound that had already formed a thick scab, but he had not treated it. He knelt rigidly in front of the tent, his gaze empty, unresponsive to anything said to him.

Ruo Lan glanced at him, her gaze lingering briefly, but she ultimately said nothing and turned to find Zhang Fu.

After explaining the situation to Zhang Fu, he comforted the two, saying that the young lady was merely weak and had suffered a severe shock and exhaustion, which had caused her to faint. She would wake up in a day or two. He would prepare some medicine, brew it, and bring it over later for the young lady to take. If she did not develop a fever by night, she would be fine.

With that, Zhang Fu went to gather the herbs but was called back by Ruo Lan.

"Sir, will the young lady's face... scar?" Ruo Lan asked hesitantly and cautiously.

Zhang Fu paused, realizing he had forgotten to mention this, and slapped his forehead.

He gave a reassuring smile and explained to Ruo Lan in detail: "The wound on the young lady's face is not deep. It will scab over in a couple of days and heal completely within half a month. As for the bruises and scrapes on other parts of her body, there is no need to worry. With proper care, they will fade in time. Only the wound on her neck is slightly deeper. I will prepare a scar-removing ointment, and with careful application over a month or two, it will heal completely."

It was a relief that there would be no scars.

Ruo Lan quietly exhaled and bowed to him in gratitude. "Thank you, sir."

Zhang Fu quickly stepped aside, saying, "I dare not accept such thanks. This is my duty," and went to gather the herbs.

Ruo Lan stood still for a moment. She knew that the young lady was not particularly concerned about her appearance, but the current situation was different—she was to marry the Prince of Mobei.

Most men in the world love women for their beauty, and when beauty fades, so does their love.

The Prince of Mobei was no different in his feelings for the young lady.

Though it pained Ruo Lan to see the young lady forced to cater to him, she knew the path the young lady had to take. Given the future circumstances, gaining the Prince's favor would be the most advantageous. Therefore, a good appearance was indispensable.

The lady was born with great beauty, but even the most stunning appearance would be marred by scars, like a blemish on a flawless gem.

Reassured by Zhang Fu's promise, Ruo Lan finally felt a bit more at ease, though she remained on edge.

As night quietly fell, she continued to keep watch, checking if the lady had a fever.

"Auntie, you've been up for two days and a night, go rest. I'll watch over the lady," Si Zi urged.

Ruo Lan only shook her head in refusal.

At that moment, Tuo Baxiao's tall figure appeared as the tent flap was lifted.

The tent's entrance was limited in space, perfect for the Han women, but a bit low for Tuo Baxiao, who had to slightly bow his neck to avoid hitting his head. Even so, it was hard to conceal the commanding presence he exuded.

Ruo Lan instantly tensed up, as if a fierce tiger had burst into her home.

She knelt on the carpeted bed, feigning calm as she met his gaze, but before she could open her mouth to greet him, she heard a cold command:

"Get out!"

Shaken by his formidable presence, Ruo Lan's heart skipped a beat.

The Prince of Mobei had always been domineering in his actions; apart from the lady, no one dared to defy him, and everyone else was like an ant in his presence.

She glanced at the still unconscious lady, weighed her options, and decided that Tuo Baxiao wouldn't harm her. She nodded respectfully, "Yes," and then carefully escorted Si Zi past him.

With that, only he and Jiang Congyan remained in the tent.

Many supplies had been destroyed, and the tent was hastily set up, with a layer of carpet spread out, and a bed made of white wool and rabbit fur blankets on top of the carpet. A silk quilt covered her, and a low table stood beside the bed with a teapot and cups. Nearby was a bronze basin filled with clean water for washing, and a bronze floor lamp shaped like a flower branch, with two thin candles burning on the candle tray.

The flickering candlelight reflected on the surrounding tent walls and illuminated the unconscious lady on the bed. The hazy light and shadow made the quietly lying lady's figure seem somewhat illusory, as if a light touch would cause her to vanish like mist.

Tuo Baxiao stood at the entrance for a while before striding over to the bedside, lifting his robe as he sat beside her.

He lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over the quilt covering her, lingering on her troubled expression. He looked at this ghostly pale face, covered with small wounds, for a long time without blinking.

He hesitantly raised his hand, as if wanting to touch her, but just as he was about to touch her cheek, he withdrew it, clenching his fist mid-air, gradually squeezing until the knuckles made cracking sounds, until the copper-colored joints turned white, and the thick veins on the back of his hand stretched to the limit, almost bursting. He suddenly took a deep breath, as if to steady himself.

Those eyes that had always dominated the world now showed an unprecedented look of regret.

For the first time, he truly felt fear.

Fear, a word that had almost never appeared in his life, was this its true nature?

He was the bravest Xianbei King, having killed his first person at the age of eleven, and since then, no one could bully him again, until he ascended the throne.

No matter how dire the situation on the battlefield, no matter how strong the enemy, no matter who betrayed him, he was never afraid, because he was confident he could bear the consequences of failure.

But now, he actually felt a bit of fear.

What if, at that time, Wudati Hou had chosen to take her life instead of blocking the arrow?

But...

Wasn't this their understanding?

He had seen her suggestive glance at him and understood her meaning.

This was the best choice, catching the enemy off guard, and if successful, they wouldn't be controlled by Wudati Hou. That's what he had thought at the time.

Wudati Hou had exhausted all his schemes to kill him, and he too had wanted to seize the opportunity to kill the other. He couldn't just stand by and let Wudati Hou escape from his grasp.

He was drawn to her bravery, calmness, and decisiveness—qualities that set her apart from other Han women and were the reasons he had chosen her initially. But now, he wished she wasn't so brave, wished she would ask him to save her.

But she wouldn't.

Closing his eyes, the vivid scene of her stabbing Wudati Hou with a hairpin reappeared in his mind. He had not mistaken it; she had acted with resolute determination.

She wasn't afraid to lose her life; to her, killing Wudati Hou was more important than her own safety.

Why?

Tuo Baxiao couldn't understand how such a delicate body could muster such immense strength, why she was so determined to kill Wudati Hou.

But one thing he was certain of: if he lost her, there would be no other woman like her in the world.

At that moment, he had thrown his silver spear at the long sword Wudati Hou was about to strike her with, rather than taking the chance to kill Wudati Hou. In that instant, he didn't have time to think it through; perhaps, deep down, he had already made a choice—if he had to choose between killing Wudati Hou and saving her, he would choose her!

Tuo Baxiao leaned slightly forward, reaching out to touch her cheek, smeared with ointment. He gently brushed away a strand of hair stuck to her face, his hand moving down her cheek to her slender neck, wrapped in gauze. Yet, what he saw was clearly the long scar from before, the bright red blood burning his eyes.

At this moment, an unprecedented rage surged in Tuo Baxiao's heart—

Wudati Hou, I will kill you with my own hands!

...

Jiang Congyan's sleep was restless. Scenes from her past and present life flashed before her eyes in a chaotic mix.

"Our Congcong is the bravest, not afraid of surgery in the least."

"Congcong is our parents' treasure, and we'll always be with you."

"Congcong, Mom hasn't been feeling well lately, so I can't visit you..."

"Chang Shengnu, Chang Shengnu, praying for a long life, only wishing my child health and longevity!"

"Go, your maternal family will look after you!"

"Chang Shengnu, you're just a little girl, why are you so worried that it's making you sick?"

"Ah Cong, Grandma is letting you go out with us, that's wonderful."

"Ah Cong, don't forget to write to me when you reach Chang'an, I want to visit Chang'an to play with you."

"Congcong..."

"Chang Shengnu..."

"Ah Cong..."

...

They surrounded her from all directions, and Jiang Congyan stood confused, not knowing whom to look at.

The world spun around her, familiar faces disappearing and reappearing, everyone calling her name, and for a moment, she couldn't discern what her name really was.

"My name is Jiang Congyan, but not the Jiang Congyan from my past life; I am Jiang Congyan from the era of Liang State." Her thoughts finally cleared.

The figures from her past life faded, and the faces from this life became clearer. Jiang Congyan was about to smile at them when she noticed a shadow gradually forming behind them. As the shadow became more solid, she realized it was a huge character—Death!

Jiang Congyan suddenly widened her eyes, unable to breathe for a moment, and woke up from the dream.

Opening her eyes, she met a sharp and handsome face.