Chapter 48 “Do you like it?” Tuo Baxiao stood beside her…

Chapter 48 "Do you like it?" Tuo Baxiao stood in front of her...

It was early summer, and as far as the eye could see, there was an endless green ocean. The land undulated slightly, and the grassland swayed under the breeze, truly resembling waves.

The people of Liang State were seeing such a vast grassland for the first time and couldn't help but marvel at it. They had never imagined that such a vast and flat land actually existed, though after a while, the novelty wore off.

Jiang Congyan thought that the grassland was indeed a natural place for raising horses.

The flat and open land allowed horses to gallop freely, and the rolling hills were gentle, unlike the steep mountains of the Central Plains. Naturally, there were no mountain passes.

With such terrain, a powerful cavalry could dominate the entire grassland.

In the distance, herders were tending their flocks. White and black sheep speckled the green grassland, forming a serene and picturesque scene under the clear blue sky, much like what she had seen in documentaries in her previous life.

But she knew that in this era, any appearance of peace was an illusion. Just as the peaceful farming outside Chang'an was false, the seemingly harmonious peace before her eyes was equally false. Beneath these scenes lay bloodshed, slaughter, and war.

As natural disasters became more severe, the grassland tribes were forced to battle each other for more land to survive, especially in winter when heavy snow blanketed the land and vegetation withered away. Life was extremely harsh for the grassland people, leading them to raid the south, sparking centuries of war with the Central Plains.

Jiang Congyan sighed to herself. The root of all these conflicts was the lack of developed productive forces. Even in modern society, social productivity couldn't fully meet people's material needs, let alone in ancient times, eighteen hundred years ago.

She might have many ideas, but realizing them would take a long time.

As they neared the royal court, the number of tents and houses grew, though they remained sparsely scattered. The population on the grassland had always been dispersed.

The closer they got to the center, the larger and more opulent the tents became. Jiang Congyan occasionally caught sight of some cavalry passing by.

After passing by a lake, the procession finally came to a halt. A large group of people approached from ahead. Sitting inside the carriage, Jiang Congyan only heard a loud voice—

"Welcome back, King!"

"Welcome back, King!"

...

Tuo Baxiao, riding on the back of a Li Eagle, stood at the front of the procession, looking down at the crowd. With a wave of his hand, everyone immediately fell silent.

"I have returned from Liang State, and the alliance has been settled. Other matters will be discussed later. Next, I will hold a wedding with the princess. You may go and prepare."

He waved his hand, and no one dared to disobey the king's orders. They dispersed with many questions in their hearts.

The king had been away from the royal court for several months, and upon his return, the first thing he mentioned was holding a wedding with the princess of Liang State.

Some people curiously glanced at the procession, but the Liangzhou Imperial Guard surrounded the carriages, which were tightly sealed, making it impossible to see inside.

Earlier, Su Li's subordinates had returned and told everyone about their ambush on Wudati Hou. They mentioned that Wudati Hou had captured the Han Princess, and the king had missed the chance to kill Wudati Hou in order to save her. Those who heard this were furious. Wudati Hou was their most powerful and hated enemy, and they couldn't understand what was so special about this Han Princess.

While some ordinary Xianbei warriors were merely angry, this news carried a different meaning for the nobles.

Their king had half Han blood! And now he had gone through great trouble to marry a Han Princess from Liang State. What would become of the Xianbei tribe in the future was hard to say.

Tuo Baxiao paid no attention to the mixed feelings of the crowd. After dismissing them, he led Jiang Congyan's carriage to a tent.

This tent was enormous, covering hundreds of square meters, located right next to his royal tent, only a hundred steps away.

The tent was supported by dozens of large wooden beams, with thick felt walls and waterproof oilcloth covering the outside. Windows were cut into the sides to let in light. In terms of size, it was no less than a small courtyard.

Jiang Congyan finally stepped out of the carriage. Over the past month, her injuries had mostly healed. She could walk and run again, her face had regained its original smoothness, and the bruises on her waist and back had faded. Only a faint mark remained on her neck, but it was barely noticeable unless closely examined.

She stood in front of the tent, looking it over, and asked Tuo Baxiao, "King, is this newly built?"

The materials looked fresh, showing no signs of wear from wind or rain, untouched by the decay of weathering. The surrounding ground bore signs of recent digging.

Tuo Baxiao nodded at her, "This is your sleeping tent."

Jiang Congyan smiled at him, "Thank you, King."

Compared to the others, this tent showed his care and effort.

At the entrance, two Hu women knelt to greet her.

Jiang Congyan continued to walk inside. The tent was spacious, its dome ceiling towering above, though the light was dim.

However, most interiors in this era were dimly lit, relying only on natural light from the windows. Candlelight and oil lamps paled in comparison to sunlight.

This would be her home from now on. Jiang Congyan examined it carefully, pondering how to arrange it.

Seeing her so absorbed, Tuo Baxiao felt a sudden, inexplicable nervousness.

She had grown up in the heart of the Central Plains, and he had also seen the prosperity of Chang'an City, a stark contrast to the grasslands. Having lived in those exquisite palaces, would she adapt to life on the grasslands? Perhaps only the grandest palaces could truly suit her.

"Do you like it here?" Tuo Baxiao asked, standing behind her.

Jiang Congyan turned to look at him, "I love it!"

"Really?"

"Mhm," she nodded, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

Tuo Baxiao looked at her expression—her dark, lively eyebrows and eyes, so obedient, her fair skin particularly striking in the dim light. His heart skipped a beat, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

It had been too long since he'd been close to her.

He reached out, brushing her soft cheek, when Ruo Lan's voice suddenly came from the entrance:

"My lady, shall we bring in the luggage?"

Jiang Congyan deftly sidestepped his touch, giving him a playful glance before turning to Ruo Lan and saying, "Bring it in."

She then looked up at Tuo Baxiao, "Perhaps you should return to your royal tent? I plan to rearrange this place. It might get a bit messy. Besides, you've just returned, and I see many generals and officials waiting for you. They likely have matters to discuss."

Tuo Baxiao found her reasoning flawless, her words impeccable, yet he felt she was subtly urging him to leave.

It wasn't about anything else—just a man's intuition.

Tuo Baxiao stared at her for a while. She remained calm and composed. He couldn't find a reason to object, and with outsiders present, she wouldn't want to kiss him with others around. He could only remind himself that the wedding was soon, and then...

As soon as Tuo Baxiao left, Jiang Congyan let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

Although they were about to marry, she still wasn't used to being alone with him in a private space. His presence was too overpowering, and sometimes the way he looked at her made her feel like a piece of delicious meat.

The worries she had suppressed earlier resurfaced. Normally decisive, she couldn't help but adopt an ostrich mentality now, thinking she could avoid the situation for as long as possible. When the time came, she would deal with it then.

Ruo Lan quickly directed the maids and servants to bring in her luggage, along with many dowry items.

Some had been destroyed by Wudati Hou, but many were still intact. Some delicate and portable items had been hidden in advance and could now be used for decoration.

The tent was spacious, and after some thought, she planned to divide it using screens and curtains into a front hall, dining area, bedroom, study, storage room, and washroom.

The dowry prepared by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices contained a wide variety of items, including a dismantled canopy bed that needed reassembly, as well as wardrobes, chests, and silks. Together with the supplies she had brought, it met all her daily needs.

Once the space was planned, Ruo Lan and the maids got to work, arranging everything to Jiang Congyan's liking. Meanwhile, Jiang Congyan stepped out of the tent to inquire about the arrangements for Si Zi, Zhang Zheng, and Wen Yu.

Si Zi replied, "General Zhang and the others have been assigned tents not far to the north, near the Prince of Mobei's Imperial Guards. As for Minister Wen and his group, they are further out, given a small plot on the outskirts. With few tents available, they’ll have to squeeze in."

Jiang Congyan quickly grasped the situation. It seemed that Tuo Baxiao held her in high regard, as Zhang Zheng and his men were treated well. As for the craftsmen, this was the best arrangement for now.

Earlier, while passing by, she had observed through the carriage window that the royal encampment was spread along the lake. The prime spot, at just the right distance from the lake, was occupied by Tuo Baxiao's royal tent. The mid-sized tents likely held his Imperial Guards and generals, while the ordinary tribesmen were situated further out.

Jiang Congyan spotted an open area near her tent. Two Xianbei people came over and said something, which A Mao translated. Following this, her accompanying servants set up their tents to the west.

To the east of her tent stood Tuo Baxiao's grand royal tent, which was quite tall. People bustled in and out constantly. Having been away for several months, he undoubtedly had much to attend to.

Jiang Congyan took a moment to sit and rest, watching the sun set in the west, the clouds glowing red, bathing her face in a warm light.

At that moment, Si Zi came to report that Wen Yu had requested an audience. Jiang Congyan instructed her to invite him over.

Ruo Lan’s maids worked efficiently, already tidying up the tent and dividing the space as she had instructed. However, the finer details of the arrangement would take more time.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Congyan invited Wen Yu into the tent and asked the others to wait outside.

Wen Yu, in his early thirties, had a neatly trimmed beard that added a scholarly air to his robust figure.

After greetings, Jiang Congyan poured tea for them both and gently pushed a cup toward him. "I hope you’ll excuse the modest arrangements here in the royal encampment."

Wen Yu quickly waved his hand. "Not at all, not at all."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Congyan smiled and asked, "Has Wen Yu recovered from his illness?"

Wen Yu also smiled and replied earnestly, "Thanks to the princess’s care and the meticulous attention of Physician Zhang along the journey, I have finally recovered upon arriving at the royal encampment. I’ll make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch as a token of my gratitude."

Jiang Congyan let out a soft laugh. "It’s not a matter of gratitude. Since Minister Wen fell ill while escorting me from the capital, it’s only natural that I take responsibility for your well-being."

Wen Yu found the princess's words intriguing. Typically, a Peacemaking Princess was merely a symbolic figure, with the escorting officials managing the entire entourage. Yet here she was, taking the lead and positioning herself as the host, while he, the official, was cast in the role of someone needing care—a rare occurrence indeed.

They both played along, exchanging polite words. Eventually, it was Wen Yu who broke the superficial calm. He couldn’t help but admire the princess's composure. She had her own plans, yet she stayed composed, waiting for him to take the initiative.

"Princess, I have come to discuss the wedding, scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow?" Jiang Congyan asked softly, somewhat surprised.

Wen Yu nodded. "The Prince of Mobei has already approached me, insisting on completing the wedding as quickly as possible."

Jiang Congyan: "..."

At this point, Wen Yu also felt a bit exasperated. He had originally planned to choose the soonest auspicious date, seven days later. However, the Prince of Mobei was in such a hurry that he practically demanded the wedding be held the very next day. Wen Yu had to argue extensively, explaining that the ceremonial preparations simply couldn’t be rushed, and that everyone was exhausted from the journey and needed time to settle in. Rushing the wedding wouldn’t honor the princess properly. Only after much persuasion did he manage to dissuade the prince from insisting on a wedding the next day.

"In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Wen Yu," Jiang Congyan exhaled.

Wen Yu quickly expressed his humility and then took out a thick silk document from his robe, presenting it respectfully with both hands.

"Princess, this is the dowry list. Please review it."

Jiang Congyan took the silk document and unfolded it. With just a glance, she noticed something amiss, but her expression remained unchanged. She carefully read through the entire list, then placed it on the table and looked directly into Wen Yu's eyes.

"The dowry list you’ve provided seems to differ from the one I have."

Wen Yu observed her momentary change in expression, followed by her quick return to composure. She was indeed unlike any ordinary princess. Perhaps this was the legacy of the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen... He halted his thoughts and refocused on the matter at hand.

He got straight to the point: "It's not actually the dowry from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. This is a list of the craftsmen along with their contracts."

Jiang Congyan raised an eyebrow, her eyes darkening. "You should know, these craftsmen will be handed over to the Xianbei. What do you mean by giving me their list?"

"Wouldn't that turn them against me?" Her gaze was no longer soft and serene but carried a sharp intensity as she looked at him.

"It's simply what the princess desires," Wen Yu said, straightening his back and looking directly at her.

Such direct eye contact was a bit forward, but he didn't even try to conceal it, his face also revealing a sharp edge.

At first, like others, he hadn't paid much attention to this Peacemaking Princess, despite her being the descendant of Crown Prince Zhaowen and her maternal grandfather being the Marquis of Liangzhou. After all, she was just a woman.

The first time something struck him as unusual was when they encountered Zhang Zheng and his men on the road. He wasn't sure if she or the Marquis of Liangzhou had arranged their appearance. Later, when she had people treat the craftsmen to win their hearts, in his eyes, it was just a run-of-the-mill tactic, nothing extraordinary.

It wasn't until the night she first clashed with Chigan Balie, and he watched the entire scene from not far away. He watched her walk away, her face cold, observed how she expertly handled her anger and grievances, not only refusing to yield to Chigan Balie's offense but also having the Prince of Mobei punish Chigan Balie for her. He came to recognize the princess's wisdom and strategic mind.

Then the next day when they faced each other with swords, she didn't hesitate to point her sword at Chigan Balie for the sake of a stray child. At that moment, he finally decided.

Because he saw in the princess the courage and worldly sense of responsibility of Taizu and Crown Prince Zhaowen's lineage.

If someone like her can't be trusted with this, then who can?

Although he did not know the princess's future plans, he knew she wanted the craftsmen for more than just her own gain.

Wen Yu thought, if he could add some assistance to the princess, he might just see some surprising outcomes down the line.

Hearing him express his thoughts, Jiang Congyan was not annoyed but instead smiled at him. "You're a smart man, but..." she changed her tone, her expression becoming serious again. "I'm aiming for more than just this."

"Hmm?" Wen Yu was puzzled.

"Isn't there a talented individual right here in front of me?"

"Me?"

Jiang Congyan nodded.

Wen Yu smiled. "You must be joking, Princess. I still need to head back to Chang'an..."

At this point, he suddenly realized something, his words gradually stopping, and then he looked at the lady in front of him with a strange gaze.

Jiang Congyan calmly continued his words. "Your assignment after returning to Chang'an is still up in the air."

Wen Yu subconsciously picked up the teacup on the table, rubbed it for a while, then suddenly raised his eyebrows to look at her. "Are you offering to guide me, Princess?"

Jiang Congyan waved her hand. "I wouldn't presume, but since you've helped me, I'd like to return the favor."

"I am all ears."

"I know you've always aspired to be like Ban Chao!"

Wen Yu's eyes slightly widened, his expression still unchanged.

"The northwest, especially the Western Regions, is a tangled web of nomadic tribes. Isn't this your chance to make a name that lasts a thousand years?"

Like Xie Shao, Wen Yu also came from an obscure background, but he was still a bit better off than Xie Shao. The Wen family was a prominent clan in the local area.

His ancestral home was in Zhongwei, in the northwestern border area, surrounded by many barbarians and a mixed population. He had learned several Hunnic languages since childhood and was later recommended to serve as a translator in the Honglu Temple.

Being a mere translator could never satisfy his ambitions. Wen Yu had always wanted to emulate Ban Gu and Zhang Qian, to be an envoy to the Western Regions and achieve the merit of being enfeoffed as a marquis. But the current Liang State did not have the national strength to support him in traveling and persuading, as the Western Regions were completely under the shadow of the Xiongnu. Between Liang State and the Xiongnu, they would not hesitate to side with the Xiongnu.

Five years later, the court moved south. In order to fully resist the Xiongnu from the north, Southern Liang had to deal with the small states in the Nanyue region to prevent them from taking advantage of the situation. It was at this time that Wen Yu was dispatched as an envoy, though he was only the deputy envoy at first. He was suddenly promoted to chief envoy after the original chief envoy was killed.

Under his leadership, the envoy group stirred up trouble among the small states of the Nanyue region, sowing discord and inciting internal conflicts, which eventually led to their internal chaos, leaving them too preoccupied to organize any military forces to harass Southern Liang from the north.

His methods were unconventional and often ruthless. As long as the goal was achieved, he would even send his handsome young subordinates to seduce the wives of kings, then incite them to rebel. Alternatively, he would steal treasures and plant them in rival tribes to spark conflicts, or deliberately dam rivers upstream and release the water during the flood season to inundate the Nanyue region. Such actions were too numerous to mention.

At the time, the scholars of Liang State looked down on his unscrupulous behavior, especially the flooding that caused tens of thousands of civilians to suffer. Despite Wen Yu's many accomplishments, the scholars held him in low regard, and thus his historical evaluation was mediocre. It wasn’t until later generations, when societal attitudes shifted, that his reputation underwent a reversal.

At that time, online commentators sharply remarked: "The state is on the verge of collapse, yet these scholars are still flaunting their moral superiority. They deserve their fate."

People began to appreciate Wen Yu's methods more, as his ruthless actions were ultimately for the sake of the nation.

According to Jiang Congyan's observations, Wen Yu had not yet shown any signs of being a rogue or scoundrel. Perhaps it was because such behavior was not yet necessary.

Wen Yu shook his head with a smile after hearing her words, "Is Your Highness joking with me? With Liang State's current state, what could possibly be achieved by sending envoys to the Western Regions?"

All diplomatic efforts require the support of a strong nation. Without a powerful empire as support, so-called envoys are nothing more than lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

Understanding Wen Yu's meaning, she offered him another option.

"What if you had the support of the Liangzhou army?"

Wen Yu's pupils contracted, and he looked at her in disbelief.

Although Liangzhou was nominally part of Liang State, its military power was entirely independent.

At this moment, he wasn't doubting whether she had the authority to intervene in Liangzhou's military affairs. Instead, he was thinking of something else—did Liangzhou truly harbor no rebellious intentions?

Governing the Western Regions...

Jiang Congyan looked at him sincerely, "Lord Wen, there's no need to dwell on this. I simply don’t want the Western Regions to become the backyard of the Xiongnu. I want the Western Regions to become a force that restrains the Xiongnu. To achieve this, we need talented and insightful individuals like you."

Wen Yu saw that her expression did not seem deceitful.

Currently, the Western Regions were a complex network of states, but they shared one commonality: they all feared the powerful Xiongnu and had submitted to their iron-fisted rule, paying annual tributes.

The control of the Western Regions by the Xiongnu had severed the Silk Road that had existed since the Han dynasty, and Liang State's influence in the region was nearly nonexistent. Compared to the distant Liang State, they feared the Xiongnu's blades far more.

Wen Yu was silent for a long time.

Jiang Congyan was in no rush to push him for a decision. She simply thought that rather than letting Wen Yu waste years in the Court of State Ceremonial, it would be better to send him to the Western Regions to see if he could make something of himself.

Strengthening her own power by managing Huainan was one path, but disrupting the Western Regions to weaken the Xiongnu's control was another. However, the second path was far more challenging.

The small states of the Western Regions, with their small populations, survived by playing both sides. While they currently submitted to the Xiongnu, they were also exploited by them, and deep down, they might harbor resentment.

Liangzhou bordered the Western Regions. If they could form alliances with a few states, it would be beneficial to Liangzhou.

Even if it failed, it didn’t matter. She glanced at the silk scroll beside her—the primary goal had already been achieved.

Their conversation concluded, and Jiang Congyan personally escorted him out of the tent.

Wen Yu gave her a deep bow before returning to his tent, while Jiang Congyan stood in place for a while.

The sky gradually darkened, turning a deep blue. She was about to return to her tent to rest when she suddenly felt an intense gaze upon her, filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and perhaps even a hint of malice.

Jiang Congyan looked back. Several people near the royal tent were watching her, but her eyes immediately locked onto one of them.

The distance was too great, and the dim light made it hard to see the person's exact features, but he didn’t seem too old. He was riding a horse, his gaze deep and penetrating, wearing a narrow-sleeved fur robe that was different from the others, likely a noble of some standing among the Xianbei.

The two stared at each other. Suddenly, the man spurred his horse toward her at great speed, showing no intention of slowing down even as he approached her.