Chapter 44 Who else is as shameless as him?…

Chapter 44: Does Everyone Have No Shame Like Him?...

Xie Shao quickly reorganized the Lüben Guard.

He cremated the fallen soldiers' remains and brought the ashes back. At the same time, following Jiang Congyan's suggestion, he beheaded dozens of barbarians, preserved their heads with lime to prevent decay, and took some tokens from the barbarian generals to bring back to Chang'an. In this way, the merit of resisting the barbarian enemy and protecting the princess was firmly established.

As for the soldiers under his command, they also felt that they had risked their lives and made significant contributions. Although the military achievements might have been somewhat exaggerated, it was not entirely fabricated. Moreover, exaggerating military achievements was common practice, and Xie Shao's approach was highly beneficial to them, so they all agreed.

Being able to confront the barbarians head-on and kill them, their unit could be considered among the elite even in Chang'an City, so they had no reason to feel guilty.

Some people who disliked Xie Shao for being too rigid and inflexible also began to view him slightly differently after this incident. In the officialdom, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish—meaning that in officialdom, some flexibility is necessary. What the subordinates wanted was not a rigid and uncompromising leader, but a superior who could bring them benefits, so they could also benefit.

The final outcome was thus settled in this tacit understanding.

The next day, both sides reorganized their troops and lined up on either side of the valley.

This was the official farewell.

Xie Shao rode forward, approached the princess's procession, dismounted, and then knelt on one knee, clasping his fists. "This general can only escort the princess this far. May the princess have a safe and smooth journey."

Jiang Congyan sat in the carriage and had Si Zi lift the curtain, looking at Xie Shao.

"May the general take care as well. I hope we will meet again."

Xie Shao bowed his head again in salute.

May we meet again.

Xie Shao retreated to his ranks, mounted his horse, and watched the procession leave until the carriage completely disappeared from view. Then, with a wave of his hand, he led the remaining Lüben Guard on the road back to the capital.

Now, he too had to walk his own path.

——

After parting with Xie Shao, the wedding procession continued northeast from Guyuan.

Leaving Guyuan, the terrain and landscape changed significantly. It was no longer mountainous and rugged but a sandy area. However, the desertification on this plateau was not as severe as it would become in later times, and occasional patches of greenery could still be seen.

Of the five thousand elite cavalry Su Li had brought, Tuo Baxiao kept only a few and sent the rest back early. With a large army in the field, the resource consumption was substantial. They had come lightly equipped and did not bring much provisions.

This was already the outer edge of Xianbei territory. With Wudati Hou defeated and fleeing, no one dared to challenge him any longer.

Before the army left, Su Li looked at Tuo Baxiao, hesitating to speak up. "My king, I wish to stay and return with you."

The king had been away from the royal court in Liang State for three months, and no news had come back except that the alliance between the two states had been settled. The tribe's elders were very curious about what kind of Han woman he would marry and how he would treat this Han princess.

The ideal scenario would be for the king to treat the Han princess as just a plaything. Once he lost interest, he could marry a few noblewomen from the Xianbei tribes to bear his children. However, the current situation was clearly heading in the direction the elders least desired.

The king himself was no exception. For the sake of this Han princess, he was even willing to let Wudati Hou go.

It was understandable that Modolou liked the Han woman. Modolou had always been the king's follower, and he himself was of mixed blood, so he didn't care whom the king married as long as the king was happy.

But Chigan Balie, who, before leaving the royal court, had been like them in not wanting the king to marry a Han woman—wasn't he the one who hated the Han people the most? Now, he was actually defending that Han woman!

After the argument that day, when his anger subsided, he asked Chigan Balie about the specifics of saving the Han princess. Well, although he wouldn't admit it, based on his understanding of Chigan Balie, if he hadn't changed his view of the Han princess, why would he have risked his life to block an arrow in a critical moment?

Su Li couldn't understand how this had happened, so he wanted to stay and see what kind of witchcraft this Han princess used to bewitch them all. Hmph!

Tuo Baxiao had originally planned to let Su Li return first, but since he wanted to stay, it didn't matter, so he agreed.

Su Li followed the procession with a few subordinates, secretly observing the Han Princess.

After leaving Liang State, with no post stations available, the convoy had to camp outdoors every day.

Jiang Congyan's bruises were so painful initially that she could only lie in the carriage, unable to do anything. After several days of applying medicine and massaging to reduce the bruising, she finally improved enough to move around.

The wounds on her face had also healed significantly, with some small scabs already fallen off, leaving only faint traces behind. However, it was still not presentable enough for public appearances. The veil hat partially blocked her vision, so today, when she stepped out of the carriage, she wore a veil, revealing only her dark, luminous eyes.

Tuo Baxiao stared at her intently for a long time when he saw her dressed like this.

At first, Jiang Congyan thought something was off about her appearance, but then she noticed the man's gaze growing increasingly intense.

"..."

She shot him an annoyed glare.

Lately, the man had been behaving himself. Jiang Congyan assumed that given her current physical condition and appearance, he wouldn't be interested. But she had clearly overestimated his restraint.

She didn’t realize that while she thought her appearance wasn’t attractive, the veil revealed only her cool, icy eyes. The rest of her face remained half-hidden, adding an air of mystery. Her slender frame and luminous eyes were enough to captivate anyone’s imagination.

Tuo Baxiao leaned in close, bending down as if suddenly compelled to kiss her eyes.

Jiang Congyan swiftly raised her hand to block his advance.

He might not care about shame, but she did. After all, not everyone was as brazen as him in public.

Tuo Baxiao let out a helpless sigh.

Women from the Central Plains were far too reserved in this regard, lacking openness. On the grasslands, when couples who admired each other kissed openly, others would simply smile and envy their bond.

After that single kiss, he couldn’t stop replaying it in his mind.

He had previously angered her and planned to wait a few days for her temper to cool before seeking another opportunity. This time, he wouldn’t go too far—just a kiss. However, Wudati Hou’s interference left her so badly injured that she was too fragile to touch, leaving him powerless.

He had never felt the journey back to the royal court drag on so endlessly.

The evening sun dipped low in the west, painting the land in a vast, desolate glow.

Amidst the yellow sand, a few sparse poplar trees stood as the only signs of life on the vast, barren earth.

Seeing such a scene for the first time, Jiang Congyan felt as though the frontier poems she had read were now vividly brought to life before her eyes. The lonely smoke in the desert, the desolate autumn wind, the long journey... all played out repeatedly on this frontier land.

Liangzhou also had similar terrain, but she had grown up there and hadn’t traveled much. As for her previous life, she could only see the outside world through a screen—those towering peaks, dangerous valleys, and surging rivers were shores she could never reach.

The horizon’s clouds blazed red under the setting sun. In the distant sky, a majestic eagle soared with outstretched wings, adding grandeur to the desolate scenery.

However, Tuo Baxiao's expression suddenly changed. "Someone, bring me my bow!"

Jiang Congyan looked at him and saw the man's eyes turn icy cold, his features hardening.

She followed his gaze to the black eagle in the sky. "Is there something wrong with that eagle?"

Tuo Baxiao's sharp green eyes remained fixed ahead. "That's Wudati Hou's eagle."

The people of the grasslands were skilled at raising eagles, and Wudati Hou raised especially many, training them exceptionally well.

Four years ago, when Tuo Baxiao first clashed with Wudati Hou, he had suffered a loss. At the time, he discovered that his movements were easily detected by the Xiongnu. Initially, he thought there were spies among the Xianbei, but later he realized Wudati Hou had raised eagles that could fly high and spot enemy movements.

However, his eagles weren't omnipotent. If the terrain was complex or the distance was great enough, Wudati Hou couldn't discern the details.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Congyan thought of another matter—Wudati Hou was indeed alive.

She wasn't surprised, yet she couldn't help but sigh softly.

A Long swiftly retrieved Tuo Baxiao's specialized Black Dragon Iron Ridge Bow. He stretched his arms, nocked an arrow, narrowed his emerald eyes, and aimed at the black eagle circling in the sky.

The man's body was robust, his muscles bulging like cords. At this moment, he fully extended his arms to draw the four-stone bow. The veins on the back of his hands stood out prominently, and the muscles on his shoulders and arms were taut to the extreme. Even through his clothes, the pronounced arcs of his muscles were visible, making it hard not to imagine the terrifying power stored within.

Jiang Congyan subtly stepped aside.

Tuo Baxiao suddenly released the string, and the arrow, fletched with white feathers, streaked toward the sky with the force of a collapsing mountain, shooting like a meteor and almost becoming a black dot.

Jiang Congyan gazed intently, initially thinking Tuo Baxiao would surely bring down the eagle. However, the eagle's awareness of danger was remarkably acute. Sensing the incoming arrow, it rapidly flapped its wings to evade.

It flew too high, and even with Tuo Baxiao's immense strength, gravity's pull caused the arrow's momentum to significantly wane by the time it reached mid-air, just barely grazing the eagle's wing.

The arrow fell to the ground, and a few black feathers drifted down.

Although the eagle wasn't killed, its wing was grazed.

It appeared enraged that someone had managed to injure it. Flapping its wings, it emitted sharp cries and continued to circle overhead.

The other Xianbei warriors also knew this eagle was Wudati Hou's scout. They quickly drew their bows and fired, releasing a barrage of arrows.

Unfortunately, while the brave Xianbei cavalry could traverse thousands of kilometers across the grasslands, they were powerless against this vertical distance of a few hundred meters.

The black eagle cleverly ascended higher into the sky, making the seemingly lethal arrows ineffective.

The Xianbei warriors below were incensed.

Being constantly shadowed by Wudati Hou's spy was maddening. Even Tuo Baxiao's expression darkened.

They shot for a long time but still couldn't bring down the eagle. As night fell and the sky darkened, it became even harder to see, compelling them to temporarily abandon their efforts.

After dinner, all but the night watch retired to rest.

Jiang Congyan sat in the tent while A Fei tended to her bandages. She rubbed the still-bruised areas, and after everything was settled, she changed into her nightclothes and prepared to sleep. Suddenly, she heard a disturbance outside, mingled with angry cries in Hunnic.

At first, she thought it was another conflict. She asked A Fei to fetch her a cloak and draped it over herself, then put on her veil. Stepping out of the tent, she realized the conflict wasn't between people but between a man and the eagle.

The eagle was indeed clever. It had been shot at in the evening and, perhaps out of anger, took advantage of the poor visibility at night to launch a sneak attack. One of the Xianbei soldiers on night patrol was even injured by its sharp claws.

By now, many torches had been lit in the camp, illuminating the surroundings brightly, but the distant sky remained shrouded in darkness.

The Xianbei warriors were furious. As undefeated Xianbei heroes, they were now helpless against an eagle and even being provoked by it.

So, regardless of whether they could see, they unleashed a chaotic barrage of arrows.

Jiang Congyan watched for a while but, seeing no results, decided to return to her tent and continue sleeping.

However, after dodging the arrows, the eagle, perhaps noticing fewer people near her, took advantage of the night's cover and dove straight toward her. It wasn't until it was almost upon her that everyone noticed.

Tuo Baxiao's tent was nearby. Seeing this, he rushed to her side, ready to act.

His sharp, arrow-like gaze locked onto the eagle. If it dared to descend, he would never let it fly back to the sky alive.

With Tuo Baxiao's unparalleled bravery by her side, Jiang Congyan felt a strong sense of security. She stood her ground, watching to see if the black eagle would be caught.

However, before it could reach her, another large bird suddenly appeared from nowhere, swooping in mid-air and striking the black eagle.

It was a huge white bird.

Its size was a full twice as large as that of the black eagle, with wings spanning about ten feet wide, an unimaginably enormous size.

Everyone's eyes widened in astonishment.

The black eagle, ambushed, let out an angry screech, flapping its wings in a fierce counterattack. The two birds tumbled and fluttered in the air, scattering feathers and emitting sharp cries.

Both were birds of prey, engaged in a fierce aerial battle, truly resembling a fierce battle between a dragon and a tiger.

After a while of tussling, the white bird, leveraging its size and strength, managed to claw the black eagle's back, its sharp talons immediately tearing through the eagle's spine.

Subsequently, the white bird fully mounted the black eagle's back, and the black eagle, unable to support its weight, plummeted.

The Xianbei Warriors immediately surrounded and killed the eagle.

However, it was then they noticed how deep the wound on the black eagle's back was, almost splitting it in half, with half of its feathers torn off. Even if they hadn't intervened, the black eagle would not have survived.

They looked back at the giant white bird in the sky, both awestruck and cautious.

Su Li had been staring at the white bird since it appeared, and seeing it take down Wudati Hou's Li Eagle, his eyes instantly sparkled with excitement.

He had never seen such a majestic bird before; if he could capture and tame it, it would surely rival the king's Li Eagle.

Su Li rubbed his hands together, eager and restless.

He fervently hoped it wouldn't fly away.

As if hearing his prayer, the white bird indeed stayed. Not only did it stay, but it also made a dramatic swoop down.

It swooped down right towards Jiang Congyan. Tuo Baxiao narrowed his eyes, stepping forward to shield her, a dangerous glint in his green eyes, his fingers tightening.

Others, fearing an attack, quickly aimed their bows at it.

Su Li hurried over, stopping everyone, urgently shouting, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot, I want to catch it!"

The others held their fire, but remained vigilant.

This large bird, of unknown origin and possessing formidable combat strength, was indeed unsettling.

However, upon landing, it showed no signs of aggression and even folded its wings.

Even with its wings folded, its size remained astonishingly large.

It stood over a meter tall, its plump white feathers appearing smooth and sturdy, with a glossy sheen. Its black beak and claws were as sharp as steel blades, leaving no doubt that a swipe from them could disembowel.

It turned its head, as if observing something, then strutted over with confidence.

Su Li stood there, watching it approach him, grinning with delight, thinking perhaps this divine bird was showing favor to him.

He reached out, wanting to touch it, but it passed by him without a pause, heading straight towards Tuo Baxiao.

Su Li looked at his empty hand, thinking: This bird really knows how to choose its master?

Could it have recognized the king as their leader, thus only submitting to his aura?

At this moment, no one knew what the bird intended, but they were all in awe of its majesty and dominance, momentarily refraining from attacking it.

"Yo!" the white bird called out to Tuo Baxiao.

Tuo Baxiao paid it no mind.

His calm eyes scrutinized the white bird.

Just then, Jiang Congyan stepped out from behind him.

The white bird's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Birds aren’t known for their expressions, but everyone could see the joy in its eyes.

It let out a cheerful "Yo!"

It waddled its massive body straight toward Jiang Congyan and flopped down at her feet.

But before it could touch her clothes, Tuo Baxiao kicked it away.

The white bird tumbled a few times before staggering to its feet, utterly bewildered. It didn’t get why it had been kicked, but it was clearly annoyed.

It faced Tuo Baxiao, the man who’d kicked it, and let out a grumpy grumble. "Grr!"

Hearing this, everyone realized how fake its earlier calls had sounded.

After growling at Tuo Baxiao, it turned back to Jiang Congyan and called out again, still in that fake tone, "Yo!"

It was only then that everyone noticed how odd this white bird was. Did it... actually recognize the Han Princess?

Everyone, including Tuo Baxiao, turned to Jiang Congyan.

Jiang Congyan was stunned. She looked at the bird and asked, "Do you know me?"

"Yo!" The bird flapped its wings excitedly at the sound of her voice.

It waddled over again and deliberately flopped toward her.

Jiang Congyan braced herself as the large bird crashed into her. She instinctively reached out to push it away, but her hand landed on its head.

Then, it nuzzled her affectionately.

Was this giant white bird... actually flirting with the Han Princess?

No one could believe their eyes, least of all Su Li.

He was a pet lover, raising wolfhounds and taking them hunting. He also had eagles, but they were ordinary, nothing like Wudati Hou’s divine eagle.

Two years ago, they found a herd of wild horses, including one towering, majestic stallion—the herd’s king. Everyone wanted to tame it, but only the king, with his bravery, succeeded—naming it the Li Eagle.

Su Li had been envious but knew he couldn’t compete with the king or tame the Li Eagle. He could only pick another horse from the herd.

When he first saw this white bird, he immediately thought of the Li Eagle. Both were rare divine beasts. He had originally thought of capturing and taming this white bird, but instead, it... it had actively sought out that Han woman?

Su Li’s eyes widened, filled with disbelief and anger.

If it had gone to the king, he could have accepted it, but it had actively shown favor to that Han woman!

Su Li was seething, his mismatched eyes burning with rage as they locked onto Jiang Congyan.

Jiang Congyan didn't have time to pay attention to others. She looked at the large bird in front of her, which had deliberately crashed into her twice, and a long-forgotten memory resurfaced.

"Are you... Lingxiao?" she hesitantly asked.

Upon hearing these words, the white bird suddenly became extremely excited, letting out a sharp, quick cry and abruptly spreading its massive wings, stirring up a gust of wind that startled Jiang Congyan.

Tuo Baxiao, quick to react, kicked it away to keep it from hurting her.

Lingxiao: "???"

It scrambled to its feet, tilted its neck, and squawked angrily at Tuo Baxiao.

This guy just kept kicking it.

Then it turned to Jiang Congyan and let out a whimper.

"Yo!"

Everyone was stunned by the dramatic turn of events. Even if they had doubts before, they could now see that this large bird had come specifically for the Han Princess—it knew her.

"Lingxiao," Jiang Congyan called again.

Lingxiao eagerly shuffled over, its head eager to nuzzle against her but fearing another kick from the man.

"Is this your bird?" Tuo Baxiao shot a cold glance at the large white bird and then asked her.

"Probably mine," she replied.

"Probably?"

Jiang Congyan nodded and began to explain.

"Four years ago, when I was still in Liangzhou, my cousins went hunting in the mountains, and I begged to tag along. In the forest, I found a young bird that was injured. It looked both cute and pitiful, so I took it home to keep as a pet. It was surprisingly smart and seemed to understand me, so I named it Lingxiao."

"After two months, Lingxiao's injuries healed, but one day it suddenly flew away. I thought it might not like being kept in captivity, so I let it go. I never thought I'd see it again, let alone like this."

"When I found it, it was very small, just a bit bigger than a regular bird. I never imagined it would grow this big, so at first, I didn't recognize it."

Back then, Lingxiao also had white feathers, but its beak was golden. Now, its beak was black, and its eyes were covered with red membranes, its blood-red eyes giving off an eerie vibe.

Most importantly, it was so large. Who could have guessed that such a small bird would grow this big?

When Jiang Congyan first found Lingxiao, it had injured its leg and couldn't walk steadily. While it was recovering, it would often wobble, and when she saw it about to fall, she'd hold out her hand to steady it.

It seemed to enjoy this game, purposely tumbling toward her so she'd catch it. Even after its injury healed, it would still intentionally fall near her feet. She was happy to have such a playful little pet and often played with it this way.

Until one day, as she was feeding it dried meat as usual, it suddenly pecked her hand hard enough to draw blood.

Whether it knew it had messed up or just didn't want to stick around, after pecking her, it flew away.

Later, when her grandmother found out, she cursed it for days, calling it a thankless little creature that had hurt her precious granddaughter. She even wanted to send servants to hunt it down, but Jiang Congyan quickly stopped her.

The world's a big place, and catching a bird isn't exactly easy. Why waste so much effort? Besides, it was just a small wound that would heal with time.

She couldn't help but feel a little sad. She had thought she could keep Lingxiao by her side forever, but it had its own world and freedom.

Now, seeing the "grown-up" Lingxiao return to her, her feelings were suddenly different.

"Lingxiao."

She called out softly again, and upon hearing her voice, Lingxiao was indeed very happy and wanted to rub against her affectionately.

Tuo Baxiao was still uneasy. A bird of prey this large, with a ferocity no less than that of a grown man, especially its sharp beak, could easily break her slender wrist if it decided to attack.

Just as Tuo Baxiao was about to kick it away like before, a soft, delicate hand gently pulled his arm.

Her touch was light, almost without any force, but it made him pause his action.

"Please don't kick it; it bears grudges," Jiang Congyan said with a smile.

Tuo Baxiao snorted; he wasn't worried about being hated by a feathered beast.

But since she had said so, he pulled his leg back and instead advised her, "Although it has some bond with you, it is still a raptor. You're so fragile and untrained in combat; you shouldn't let it get too close to you."

It seemed to be a type of eagle, a bird known for its fierceness, wildness, and unpredictability, very prone to injuring people.

Jiang Congyan thought about it and realized he had a point. After all, Lingxiao had pecked her before, and back then it was small and not as powerful. If it pecked her now, she wouldn't be able to handle it, so she nodded.

"Alright, I won't get close to it, and please ensure your men don't harm it either. It might leave once it's had enough."

She didn't plan on capturing it again. The world is wide; it can go wherever it wants. Freedom is a rare thing.

Tuo Baxiao then gave a few orders, and the crowd dispersed.

In any case, Wudati Hou's eagle was dead, and they had gotten their revenge.

Only Su Li felt a pang of bitterness.

He looked at Lingxiao with envy, yearning to catch it, but the king had given orders not to harm it.

That Han Princess seemed to be the bird's owner.

Hmph, she's just a delicate Han woman. How could she tame such a fierce divine eagle? She must be using some kind of sorcery!