Chapter 43 Tuo Baxiao stiffened all over.

Chapter 43: Tuo Baxiao's entire body stiffened.

Zhang Zheng opened his mouth, his parched lips stuck together with dead skin, cracking and bleeding slightly as he moved.

"I know the lady doesn't blame me, but I can't forgive myself for failing to protect her," he said hoarsely, his eyes glistening with moisture.

Jiang Congyan gave a bitter smile. "If that's how you see it, then I'm the one who deserves the most blame."

"I was the one who ordered you to tend to the wounded, so I should take full responsibility. You were merely following orders—what crime is there in that?"

"Please, get up."

Zhang Zheng still couldn't overcome his own guilt.

The moment he saw the lady captured by Wudati Hou, he felt as if his heart had been ripped out. Overwhelming regret flooded his heart.

He cursed himself for not being there to protect her. If anything had happened to her, even giving his life wouldn't make up for his failure.

Jiang Congyan looked at his guilt-ridden face. Out of all the soldiers in Liangzhou, her grandfather had chosen him to be her guard. He might not have been the strongest commander, but he was undoubtedly the most loyal and courageous.

Zhang Zheng's loyalty was commendable, but his stubbornness was becoming a problem.

Jiang Congyan took a deep breath, her tone turning serious. "Do you see me as your lord?"

"Of course," Zhang Zheng hurriedly replied.

"Then I command you: get up, take the soldiers to treat their wounds, and get some rest."

Zhang Zheng's face went blank.

"What, don't you see me as your lord? Are you refusing to obey my orders?"

"Or, if you keep kneeling, I'll stand here with you."

The lady was badly injured; how could she stand here for long? But he also knew that behind her fragile appearance was a will of iron.

Zhang Zheng had no choice but to obey. He forced his heavy legs to stand. After kneeling for so long, even his strong warrior's body was stiff and shaking.

He gritted his teeth against the pain in his knees and bowed to Jiang Congyan once more. "Your subordinate will obey!"

Jiang Congyan smiled and nodded.

After he left, Jiang Congyan turned around and saw Tuo Baxiao standing behind her at some point. She didn't know how long he had been there.

His face was cleanly groomed today, and his clothes were changed, but a lingering gloomy aura surrounded him, making his handsome features appear sharp and forbidding.

"My king?" she called softly.

Only then did Tuo Baxiao stride over. He reached out as if to carry her back to the tent, but withdrew his hand just before touching her.

He used to think she was too delicate, but only now did he truly realize how fragile she was. She was covered in injuries, making him afraid to touch her.

"Are you just going to let them off like that?" he asked, his voice cold.

"Huh?" Jiang Congyan was taken aback for a moment.

"They failed to protect you, they deserve to die!"

His words didn't sound like a joke, especially the last two words, which carried a tangible sense of murderous intent.

Jiang Congyan was taken aback, then slowly lowered her eyes.

She hadn't expected Tuo Baxiao's desire to kill Xie Shao and Zhang Zheng to be so strong. After a moment of silence, she replied, "They did their best, and it was really my lack of caution."

Tuo Baxiao, however, brushed it off. It wasn't a lack of caution; they were just not strong enough. With hundreds of cavalry, he hadn't expected them to defeat Wudati Hou, but just to buy some time so he could arrive in time. Yet, they let Wudati Hou snatch her away right under their noses. Completely useless!

If it weren't for the fact that they were her people and he wanted to wait for her to wake up and handle it herself, Tuo Baxiao would have already chopped off their heads in a rage.

Seeing his cold and stern expression, clearly dissatisfied with her approach, Jiang Congyan didn't want him to punish Zhang Zheng and the others. She reached out and took his rough hand, gently shaking it, her voice slightly hoarse as she said, "These are my people, let me handle it myself. Don't interfere."

Though her words were a request, the tone was half-threatening, half-coaxing, touching Tuo Baxiao deeply and melting his cold resolve.

Especially—

His gaze shifted downward, landing on her delicate, pale wrist.

This was the first time she had reached out to hold his hand.

There were a few small cuts on the back of her hand from the wild grass, red marks on her jade-like skin that didn't mar her beauty but instead added a touch of tragic beauty.

Tuo Baxiao suppressed his untimely emotions, lifted her veil to look at her, and met her soft, watery eyes. He found himself speechless.

Jiang Congyan returned to the tent and sat on the bed, talking with Tuo Baxiao for a while, asking about what happened next. When she heard that he had ordered the slaughter of all the Xiongnu captives, she was taken aback.

The Xiongnu indeed deserved to die. Whether to Liang State or the Xianbei, they were implacable foes who should not be shown mercy. Yet, for some reason, Jiang Congyan felt a twinge of sadness.

Her light gaze fell on Tuo Baxiao, seeing the unmistakable coldness and thirst for blood in his green eyes. She suddenly wondered, if one day Tuo Baxiao decided to head south, would he treat the Han people the same way?

Though the two states were said to be allies, Jiang Congyan knew well that this was only a shallow truce maintained by temporary interests. Tuo Baxiao wanted Liang State's abundant resources to expand his army, while Liang State needed his formidable cavalry to keep the Xiongnu in check.

He was ambitious, a leader as formidable as Wudati Hou. Though he had half Han blood, in his mind, he didn't consider himself half Han.

He was the Xianbei King.

If that day came, and he became an enemy of Liang State, he would hold nothing back.

In this chaotic era, in this time of increasingly severe natural disasters, whether Han or barbarians, everyone just wanted to survive.

The phrase "great ethnic fusion" in the history books was built on bloodshed and suffering.

Seeing her troubled expression, her moist eyes filled with sorrow, Tuo Baxiao thought she was pitying the Xiongnu, disapproving of his actions. He was displeased. His large hand rested on her slender shoulder, squeezing it slightly as he said in a deep voice:

"They are enemies. You must never show mercy to enemies, or they will only turn around and bite you."

This was the lesson he had learned from years of living on the grasslands.

Both sitting on the edge of the bed, close together, his tall and sturdy frame was impossible to ignore even when seated. Now, with him so close, his imposing presence was even more overwhelming. With his hand gripping her shoulder, Jiang Congyan's delicate frame seemed even more fragile and insignificant before him.

Jiang Congyan raised her eyes to meet his gaze, a faint smile on her lips as she responded, "I know, my King."

But will we become enemies in the future?

She could accept Tuo Baxiao's ambition to dominate the world, but she could not accept him treating the Han people with the same methods he used against other tribes.

Tuo Baxiao saw that she had agreed to his proposal and even smiled at him, but he couldn't feel happy.

He always felt that while she verbally agreed, her heart wasn’t truly in it.

But he believed he had done nothing wrong. Showing mercy to enemies is cruelty to oneself. Those Xiongnu had once invaded their royal palace, killed their people, and stolen their livestock. The Xiongnu's blades would show no mercy to anyone, so they must respond with even harsher measures to protect their own people and property.

The way of thinking of an adult is not easily changed, especially for a determined leader. Once they set their mind on something, almost no one can alter it.

Their relationship had just started to improve, and it wasn’t the right time to bring up such sensitive topics. Jiang Congyan didn’t want to upset Tuo Baxiao, so she quickly changed the subject.

She smiled at him again, her bright eyes looking at him, "My King, thank you for saving me yesterday."

Including the banquet incident, he had saved her twice now. Her life over the past decade hadn’t been as thrilling or dangerous as the last two months.

Indeed, once you enter the whirlpool of power, peace becomes a thing of the past.

She had also thought at the time, what if Tuo Baxiao refused to compromise and insisted on taking Wudati Hou’s life for her sake?

It seemed like a fair deal? Jiang Congyan thought. Eliminating a future tyrant who would destroy the Han dynasty’s territories—not everyone could achieve that.

The slight frustration Tuo Baxiao had felt earlier vanished like smoke upon hearing her words.

"I told you, I’ll protect you and won’t let you get hurt again," Tuo Baxiao said firmly.

He didn’t think saving her was a big deal. He considered her his woman and naturally would take her under his wing.

But remembering her decisiveness yesterday, Tuo Baxiao’s gaze hardened, and he looked at her sternly. "From now on, you’re not allowed to take such risks again." His tone was commanding.

Although he couldn’t quite sort out the complex emotions in his heart, he knew he didn’t want to lose her and wouldn’t allow her to be hurt again.

Jiang Congyan looked at him steadily for a moment, blinked, and a faint dimple formed at the corner of her lips. "This subordinate will obey the King’s command!"

Tuo Baxiao stiffened, his fingers slightly curling, and his expression changed instantly.

But she was in such a pitiful state, covered in wounds, with no safe place to touch. Even if he had the desire, there was nothing he could do.

Tuo Baxiao exhaled sharply, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"…" Was a little joke really that big of a deal?

She was almost glad she was still injured; otherwise, with his temper, he might not have let her off so easily.

It seemed she couldn’t tease him so casually in the future, or he might lose control.

Tuo Baxiao didn’t stay long before leaving. Mainly because he could look but not touch—not even a little. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he might truly turn into a beast.

Once he left, Jiang Congyan secretly sighed in relief.

She had no experience in love and was only cautiously navigating their relationship. Being in a weaker position, she naturally had to take the initiative to keep the man interested. After all, her future in the royal court depended on his attitude. But now, it seemed he was a bit too invested. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

Jiang Congyan sorted out her thoughts for a while, then had Ruo Lan help her to see Chigan Balie.

Chigan Balie—she owed him her thanks.

She hadn’t told Tuo Baxiao that she was going to see Chigan Balie, fearing it might upset him.

Although Chigan Balie had taken an arrow for her at a critical moment, he still couldn’t stop her from being captured by Wudati Hou.

Logically, she knew that Chigan Balie had done his best despite being injured, but Tuo Baxiao still harbored some resentment.

It can be said that everyone who failed to stop Wudati Hou from allowing her to be kidnapped was almost sentenced to death in his heart.

...

Chigan Balie hated his current life—constantly lying down and unable to do anything. He really wanted to grab his sword and fight alongside the king, but by the time he woke up, it was already too late. Later, when Su Li and the others arrived with so many people, there was no chance they’d allow a wounded man like him to join the battle.

He thought his injury was no big deal—it wouldn’t kill him—but the Han doctor kept nagging, and he couldn’t understand a word of the man’s Chinese. It was so annoying. He chased the pale-faced man away, but then the doctor brought over a kid to translate—the same kid he had almost killed that day. The kid was so terrified his legs shook, and he stuttered for ages before spitting out a single sentence. This only made Chigan Balie more impatient, and he shot a fierce glare at the kid, who immediately stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

Chigan Balie let out a nasty laugh and barked, “Ha!” to shoo them off.

“General Chigan, it's time to reapply your medicine,” Zhang Fu repeated.

A Mao translated his words.

But the fear Chigan Balie had instilled in her was too deep. She dreaded facing him. He was as fierce as the village leaders—no, fiercer. A Mao was terrified, but Zhang Fu said she was necessary.

A Mao wanted to do everything she could to help her mistress. Since Zhang Fu served the lady, helping him was helping her. She couldn’t refuse.

When Jiang Congyan arrived, she saw the awkward tension between them. The atmosphere wasn't exactly friendly, but it wasn't as hostile as before.

Chigan Balie was only trying to intimidate them.

When he saw Jiang Congyan, Chigan Balie instinctively straightened up.

For some reason, he couldn’t face the Han Princess as boldly as before.

He felt uneasy.

He didn’t know how to act around this Han Princess now. To respect her as he respected the king? No way. But... when it came to hating her Han blood, Chigan Balie remembered those words.

“‘Tuoba’ originally meant a hybrid tribe of Xianbei fathers and Xiongnu mothers.”

“So, the pure bloodline you’re so proud of hasn’t existed for centuries!”

If his proud Xianbei bloodline had Xiongnu in it, what did that make him? Chigan Balie was caught in an identity crisis.

Jiang Congyan continued to approach. Chigan Balie sat on a patch of weeds, staring blankly up at her.

She walked slowly, still injured and needing support. Her frail body seemed as if it would scatter with a gust of wind. This was the kind of Han person he hated most, but now, all he could see were those piercing dark eyes.

Because of those eyes, no one could say she was weak.

Chigan Balie kept a straight face, looking up at her without speaking. He wanted to see what this Han Princess wanted from him now.

He stretched his arms and moved his legs, pretending not to care.

They say people get busy when they're embarrassed.

Under her veil, Jiang Congyan's lips curved slightly, and she slowly stopped in front of him.

"General Chigan, I came to thank you," Jiang Congyan said softly, then bowed slightly and clasped her hands in a gesture of gratitude.

Just that one movement caused a wave of unbearable pain, and Jiang Congyan gritted her teeth in secret.

Chigan Balie stared at her in shock.

This Han Princess came to thank him?

Given how they used to be at each other's throats, she actually came to thank him?

Su Li was right—the Han Princess is one sly fox.

"I don’t want your thanks," Chigan Balie said, turning his head away.

"But General, you saved me. I owe you my thanks," Jiang Congyan said.

"I didn’t save you because I wanted to—I was just scared the King would hold me responsible," Chigan Balie retorted, his neck stiff.

She wasn’t on the mountainside but higher up. She had come down a bit because he had asked to see her. He wasn’t sure if Wudati Hou would’ve captured her if she hadn’t come down.

Yesterday, the King interrogated them about how the Han Princess was captured by Wudati Hou. He didn’t dare to hide anything and told the King about his meeting with her. The King’s glare was ice-cold, colder than ever before, and Chigan Balie's heart skipped a beat, almost thinking the King would draw his sword and kill him on the spot.

He knew for sure—if he hadn’t saved the Han Princess and let her get shot, the King would’ve killed him.

So, his reason was true.

But he only figured all this out after the fact. When the arrow flew, he didn't have time to think so much, but Chigan Balie didn’t want to admit it.

Jiang Congyan saw right through his tough act and said, "General Chigan, we have a saying in the Central Plains: Let’s keep things separate—one thing at a time."

"You crossed me before and tried to kill Liang’s people for no reason. I was indeed very angry, but you've already been punished by the King, so that matter is settled."

"Later, you fought bravely on the battlefield and were injured. I see you as just another soldier. You got hurt protecting everyone, so I had Zhang Fu patch you up."

"Yesterday, you took an arrow for me, saving my life. It’s only fair I come to thank you today."

"I judge you, General, by your actions, not by whether you’re Han or barbarian. I hope you can do the same."

Chigan Balie’s heart skipped a beat.

He figured the Han Princess would hold a grudge. Even though she sent someone to treat his wounds, he still felt she was just putting on an act. But now she said she wouldn’t hold the past against him?

Xianbei warriors were blunt and to the point. No matter what grudges they had, as long as they proposed a duel and fought, they couldn’t pursue the matter further. But the Han people were different. They were cunning and deceitful, always holding grudges and seeking revenge from the shadows. They weren’t upfront or honest. So, apart from disliking the Han people's weakness, Chigan Balie hated their cunning even more.

Now, this Han Princess said one thing is one thing.

Chigan Balie looked at her, wanting to see if she was lying, but her face was covered by a veil, and he couldn’t see her expression.

Although he couldn’t see her face, Chigan Balie somehow sensed sincerity in her tone, as if what she said was true.

Chigan Balie’s thoughts were a mess. He felt he shouldn’t give this Han Princess a good look, but those words that shattered his worldview kept echoing in his head, "...pure bloodline, it no longer exists..."

"General Chigan, let Zhang Fu change your bandages."

"This isn’t charity or brown-nosing. It's the treatment you deserve as a soldier. You don’t have to feel like it’s beneath you."

Chigan Balie sat frozen as Zhang Fu seized the chance to unwrap his bandages. Indeed, he didn’t resist anymore.

...

Han or barbarian, seeds from the south, planted in northern soil, take root and sprout, blooming into flowers of the grasslands. Similarly, seeds from the north falling on southern soil grow into southern scenery.

Jiang Congyan came from a future where the nation was a melting pot of cultures. So, she wouldn’t adopt the perspective of this era to hate all barbarians. However, if someone indiscriminately slaughtered civilians and trampled the land, whether they were Han or barbarians, they were enemies.

The reason she wanted Wudati Hou dead so badly was because of his cruelty. He let his Xiongnu cavalry run wild, burning, killing, and looting, turning the fertile southern lands into ruins. He even took pleasure in massacring cities to spread his fame and intimidate the surrounding regions.

A man like that was her sworn enemy.

The lower reaches of the Yellow River near Guyuan.

It was the spring flood season, and the river was rushing. A dark figure bobbed up and down in the water, eventually washing ashore at a bend.

A hawk soared low in the sky, circling as it followed the dark figure.

As it approached, it became clear that the person was none other than Wudati Hou, who had fallen into the river.

He was, in fact, still alive.

Wudati Hou, hit by several arrows and having struggled in the river for a long time, was completely exhausted.

He lay on the riverbank, enveloped by the roar of rushing water and the river's cold wind.

Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings grew closer, and the hawk that had been circling earlier landed beside him.

Wudati Hou glanced sideways, his expression dark.

This was a hawk he had raised for several years, the smartest one selected and trained from dozens of birds. It was quite intelligent, able to understand commands, and had even helped him observe enemy formations during battles. But this time, it had failed to detect the five thousand elite soldiers Tuo Baxiao had hidden!

At that moment, Wudati Hou didn't consider that the five thousand soldiers were hidden too far away to be easily detected. Once again, Tuo Baxiao had outsmarted him.

He sat up abruptly, his hand clamping around the hawk's neck, his fingers like iron as they tightened.

Choked, the hawk flapped its wings in a desperate bid for survival.

The hawk was large, its wings powerful. Wudati Hou, having just narrowly escaped death, hadn't fully recovered his strength and was pushed away by the hawk's wings.

Wudati Hou's expression darkened further, but then the hawk suddenly took flight again, circling as if it had spotted something, and called out to him twice.

Wudati Hou swiftly concealed himself in the grass.

Soon, a distant voice sang, "Ah~ break the bamboo, join the bamboo, fly the earth, chase the prey..."

The singing grew louder, revealing an old shepherd clad in a dark sheepskin coat and a small round hat.

It was late spring, and the riverside was lush with grass. The old man, noticing nothing amiss, strolled leisurely by the river as he always did.

Wudati Hou, hidden in the grass, watched the old man's back for a moment before his gaze shifted to the horse.

His golden-green eyes narrowed, and he seized the moment of the old man's inattention to pounce from behind, dragging him to the ground and, without hesitation, plunging a dagger into his neck. The entire sequence flowed smoothly, as if he had done it a thousand times.

The old shepherd died bewildered, on a day that had begun like any other, grazing his sheep, only to end in sudden death.

His eyes, wide with fear and confusion, remained open even in death.

After killing the man, Wudati Hou's expression remained unchanged, as if he had merely taken down prey.

He wiped the dagger clean on the old man's body, sheathed it, and secured it at his waist.

After quickly bandaging his wounds, he mounted the horse and rode northwest.

He had thought this ambush would take Tuo Baxiao's life, but Tuo Baxiao's boldness and cunning exceeded his expectations.

He couldn't shake the fact that Tuo Baxiao had seen through his plan, turning it against him and leading him into a trap. Just when he thought he had the upper hand, five thousand elite soldiers suddenly appeared, catching him off guard. Fortunately, he had the quick wit to decide to go back and kidnap the Han Princess; otherwise, it would have been uncertain whether he could have escaped.

Even so, he had lost three thousand cavalry and hundreds of Imperial Guards.

Since the failed attack on the Xianbei King's court four years ago, the Chanyu had been cold toward him. His younger brothers seized the opportunity to win the Chanyu's favor, taking away the power that originally belonged to him. He was no longer the first prince of the Xiongnu royal court.

After years of building up his military record, he finally regained some standing, but the troops under his command were not many—only about seven or eight thousand. This time, he brought half of them, but they were all lost to Tuoba Xiao. How could he not be seething with rage?

Wudati Hou harbored a deep hatred for Tuoba Xiao, gripping the reins so tightly that they almost dug into his palms.

The black eagle kept flying alongside him. Wudati Hou glanced at it, but his rage still burned within him.

He extended an arm, and the black eagle landed on him, its sharp claws resting on his arm.

Wudati Hou stroked the black eagle's neck, squinted his eyes toward the direction of the Xianbei King's court, and gave the eagle a few commands.

"Go, keep an eye on Tuoba Xiao and that Han Princess."

At his command, the black eagle soared into the sky and was gone.