Chapter 49 Pervert!

Chapter 49: Freak!

Jiang Congyan's heart skipped a beat, but her legs remained firmly planted on the ground, showing no intention of retreating. She raised her head and looked directly at the approaching man without flinching.

She was betting he wouldn't dare!

Sure enough, as the distance closed rapidly and it seemed he was about to collide with her, the man suddenly yanked the reins, bringing his steed to an abrupt halt.

The gust of wind from the steed lifted her dark hair and the hem of her clothes, sending strands of hair flying into the air, tangling around her snow-white cheeks and neck. Yet, her dark eyes remained calm, icy as stars.

"So, you're the Han Princess that Tuo Baxiao brought here?" He sat on his steed, his gaze openly sizing her up.

Such behavior was extremely rude, but judging by the man's demeanor, he clearly didn't care about offending her.

Hearing him casually drop Tuo Baxiao's name, Jiang Congyan's pupils flickered slightly. "Yes, I am the Princess of Liang. You must be the Sixth Prince, then."

Tuo Wuxi was startled when she spoke in Xianbei language and immediately identified his status. He couldn't hide his surprise.

"How did you know? Did you figure it out that quickly?" Tuo Wuxi narrowed his green eyes, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

"Your clothes aren't what an ordinary person would wear, and you dared to call the Prince of Mobei by his name. Considering your age, I guessed you must be the Sixth Prince," Jiang Congyan replied calmly.

Tuo Wuxi listened to her explanation and thought to himself that this Han Princess was not like those ignorant women. She was sharp and had some guts. But even so, he wouldn't give her a friendly face.

"I heard you're good at winning people over. Tuo Baxiao punished Chigan Balie for you. A man like Tuo Baxiao actually liking a woman? Or is it because you're a Han woman?"

Jiang Congyan shook her head. "He didn't punish Chigan Balie because of me. He was punished because he did something wrong. There's a fundamental difference between the two."

Tuo Wuxi didn't buy her explanation. He snorted coldly. "From now on, you'd better watch your step in the royal court. Don't think that just because you're Tuo Baxiao's woman, I won't dare to mess with you. If I catch you up to no good, I won't go easy on you."

Tuo Wuxi clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking, clearly using physical intimidation to threaten her.

Jiang Congyan had long known that life in the royal court wouldn't be peaceful, but she didn't expect someone to come and warn her on the very first night.

Being repeatedly provoked, even if Jiang Congyan didn't want to cause trouble, she couldn't let him treat her like a pushover.

Her face as cold as ice, she raised her black eyes and stared directly at him, showing no sign of fear. In a clear voice, she said, "What do you mean by behaving or not behaving? If I make a mistake, it's up to the King to punish me. It's not your place to meddle."

"You..." Tuo Wuxi didn't expect her to talk back to him. He was so angry he was momentarily at a loss for words, but there was nothing he could do to her at the moment.

"You'd better not give me any reason to come after you! Hmph!" Tuo Wuxi could only whip his steed in frustration and ride away.

Long before the decree was issued, Jiang Congyan had been paying attention to the situation in the Xianbei royal court, especially regarding Tuo Baxiao.

Four years ago, during the struggle for the throne, the Second Prince had the First Prince killed, and then the Third and Fifth Princes joined forces to deal with the Second Prince. The Fourth Prince tried to fish in troubled waters, but in the end, Tuo Baxiao took them all out.

The previous princes had all died, except for the Sixth Prince, Tuo Wuxi, who was in the Helan tribe at the time and managed to escape. By the time he returned, it was too late to compete with Tuo Baxiao for the throne.

He and the First Prince were full brothers, their mother being the Khatun of the old Xianbei King, Tuo Ta, and also the daughter of the Helan tribe's chief. His noble lineage and the backing of the Helan tribe gave him the strength to compete with Tuo Baxiao at the time.

But just then, Wudati Hou launched an attack. To protect himself, Tuo Wuxi had no choice but to ally with Tuo Baxiao to deal with Wudati Hou.

In this royal court war, Tuo Baxiao secured his throne with unmatched military prowess, while Tuo Wuxi was completely sidelined. However, he still had considerable influence behind him, mainly from those who were dissatisfied with Tuo Baxiao's mixed Han and Hu blood.

Jiang Congyan sighed inwardly. The internal forces within the Xianbei were complex. Although Tuo Baxiao could suppress everyone with his formidable military power, their minds were divided, especially towards her, the Han Princess, who was viewed with suspicion. Making a name for herself here and achieving something would be no easy feat.

As Tuo Wuxi left, Jiang Congyan prepared to return to her tent to rest, but she noticed a girl not far away, peeking out curiously at her.

She looked about seventeen or eighteen? Jiang Congyan wasn't entirely sure, but she seemed young. Her hair was braided with colorful ribbons, and she wore a small red round hat. Her upper body was clad in a narrow-sleeved shirt that reached her thighs, tied with a leather belt, and she wore loose trousers and animal skin boots. Her outfit was vibrant and eye-catching.

Seeing that she had been discovered, she was startled, her eyes wide open, and after a moment of hesitation, she turned and ran away without looking back.

Jiang Congyan: Do I really look that scary?

Jiang Congyan shook her head and went back to her tent.

Ruo Lan had already tidied up the bedroom, laid out a carpet, set up a bed, spread out blankets, and hung up the bed curtains. She also used twelve sandalwood folding screens and curtains to create a more secluded area.

The finer furniture and decorations hadn’t been arranged yet. Only a low couch sat beside the bed, along with a high-legged table and chairs. A bronze flower branch lamp stand, as tall as a person, held several bright candles.

On the other side were a wardrobe, chests, and a dressing table, with several boxes of jewelry, a bronze mirror, and some facial creams and fragrances arranged on top.

The northern climate was dry, and Jiang Congyan's delicate skin needed daily moisturizing to prevent peeling. During autumn and winter, she also needed to use it on her body.

After dinner and washing up, Jiang Congyan finished her skincare routine, threw on a peach-pink robe, and sat under the lamp to carefully study the list Wen Yu had given her, memorizing each detail.

The list listed details for over three hundred craftsmen, including their origins, names, ages, and skills. Although she could have had someone gradually collect this data, having the list made things much more convenient. More importantly, it symbolized its importance, allowing her to smoothly take over the team when the time came.

Tuo Baxiao had been meeting with his subordinates since the afternoon, and the reports mainly covered events that had occurred in the royal court during his absence.

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu have been testing the borders near Helan Mountain, frequently sending scouts to gather information about the court's situation. We've captured several scouts, but they must be terrified of the thirty thousand Xianbei warriors you had prepared in advance, so they never dared to invade. Now that you've returned, Your Majesty, should we retaliate?"

"Your Majesty, after hearing about our alliance with Liang State, the Jie tribe divided into two groups. One group wants to strike preemptively, while the other seeks your favor, especially after the news spread that you beheaded their prince, Huo Bineng. The Jie people are constantly trembling in fear, haha, wishing they could kneel before you and surrender immediately. I think we should strike immediately."

"Your Majesty, the leader of the Murong tribe, Murong Tie, has died. His nephew, Murong Qi, defeated his rivals and was chosen as the new leader."

"Your Majesty, we added thirty thousand sheep, ten thousand cattle, and six thousand horses this year..."

"Your Majesty, the number of young warriors fit for military service this year has increased by two thousand compared to last year..."

"Your Majesty, as per your orders, the Tiefu tribe plowed farmland in the spring, but the crops they planted have not grown well. It might be better to convert the farmland back to pasture. Your Majesty, should we turn the farmland back into grassland?"

...

Tuo Baxiao listened to the reports, making decisions on some matters immediately and deferring others for later. Even though he handled things quickly, by the time he finished listening to everyone's reports and stepped out of the tent, it was already late at night.

He looked up at the starry sky, estimating the time, and beckoned A Long over.

"Has she settled in?" he asked, his steps not slowing as he headed toward Jiang Congyan's tent.

A Long dared not hide anything. "I heard she's settled in, but the envoy spoke with the princess for a while." And it seemed the envoy's attitude wasn't very good.

Hearing this, Tuo Baxiao paused for a moment, then quickened his pace and arrived at Jiang Congyan's tent.

At that moment, A Chun and A Fei were still arranging things inside the tent. When they saw the Prince of Mobei suddenly enter, they were startled and quickly curtsied in greeting.

Tuo Baxiao, however, didn't even glance at them and walked straight inside.

Even after he lifted the curtain and disappeared from view, the two women were still at a loss. Eventually, A Chun made a decision, put down what she was holding, took A Fei's hand, and quietly exited the tent.

Jiang Congyan heard a series of hurried but heavy footsteps and turned to look. Sure enough, it was Tuo Baxiao.

She instinctively stiffened her back, freezing for a moment.

Tuo Baxiao's gaze first swept over her face, noticing her fair complexion and calm expression, which slightly eased his mood.

"Did Tuo Wuxi give you trouble?"

Hearing his first question, which carried a hint of concern, Jiang Congyan felt a bit more at ease and smiled, shaking her head. "No, we just had a brief conversation." "What did he say?" He took another step closer, standing in front of the low couch, his tall figure looming over her.

"He asked me, 'Are you the Han Princess brought back by Tuo Baxiao?' I said I was, and then I guessed his identity as the sixth prince. He was very surprised," Jiang Congyan said with a smile, omitting the two harsh remarks from Tuo Baxi.

She didn’t want to cause a scene over something so minor. If she couldn’t handle a few idle words, she wouldn’t last in the royal court. If she were to tell Tuo Baxiao the truth, he might immediately go to settle accounts with Tuo Baxi. Starting a big scene on the very first day wouldn’t be wise, especially since Tuo Baxi hadn’t done anything serious—just a few words without evidence. Others might even accuse her of stirring up trouble with Tuo Baxiao as soon as she arrived.

Tuo Baxiao, however, wasn’t so easily swayed. "I've said it before, I won't let anyone bully you. If you're wronged, you don't have to endure it."

His tone was confident, bold, and straightforward. Jiang Congyan felt a stir in her heart, genuinely touched by his protectiveness, but she still shook her head. "Really, it's nothing."

"And you know my personality. If someone truly offends me, I wouldn't let it slide. I'd definitely come to you for help."

This struck a chord with Tuo Baxiao. He loved it when she relied on him and acted coquettishly.

After discussing Tuo Baxi, his attention naturally shifted to her.

Having just washed up, her face was bare, and her long black hair was casually draped over her shoulders, accentuating her fair and delicate skin. Her flawless, jade-like complexion glowed softly under the bright candlelight, making his throat tighten.

She was also wearing a light pink outer robe, something she rarely wore. The thin fabric of early summer clung to her as she sat cross-legged, the layers of soft, fresh pink making her cheeks as radiant as a peony. Yet, she seemed unaware of her own beauty, looking at him with her usual gaze, completely unguarded.

His body stirred with desire.

With a long stride, he sat down beside her, his imposing presence filling the space.

Jiang Congyan, realizing she was still sitting cross-legged on the low couch in a rather casual posture, quickly tried to sit up properly. As she moved, her bare feet were exposed.

Tuo Baxiao's gaze was immediately drawn to her delicate feet. They were slender, with thin, snow-white skin clinging to the bones, resembling tender bamboo shoots. The soles were soft and slightly pink, like a kitten's paw pads, utterly adorable.

Without thinking, he reached out and compared her foot to his hand, finding it shorter than his palm. He could easily grasp it with a gentle hold.

Feeling self-conscious under his gaze, Jiang Congyan curled her toes, unsure whether to pull her feet back or hide them under her robe. But Tuo Baxiao didn't give her the chance. His large hand shot out and caught her slender ankle.

The rough, burning palm suddenly pressed against her skin, causing her to tense up and instinctively try to pull back. But the man not only didn't let go, he deliberately tugged her closer.

His strength was considerable, and Jiang Congyan, caught off balance by the force, tumbled forward into his arms.

His chest was hard, and the impact hurt a little.

Flustered, she tried to get up, but the man's arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, and the next moment, it came true.

Tuo Baxiao's face leaned in, and he bit down heavily on her lips, his breathing becoming rapid and hot.

After more than a month, Tuo Baxiao finally kissed the soft lips he had been dreaming of. Just the touch of that softness excited him to the core.

Jiang Congyan was unaccustomed to his sudden and forceful kiss. She turned her head to avoid it, but a large hand gripped the back of her head, immobilizing her.

His behavior today was completely different from his previous restraint, as if he were a different person. No, not really—he had always been like this. It was the previous restraint that had been unusual.

Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened. A faint blush spread across her cheeks, adding a touch of alluring charm.

The man kissed her fiercely, more like biting than kissing. Her lips were pressed so hard that they began to hurt, and she couldn't help but furrow her brows. But the man was far from satisfied. The moment he touched her, he found her lips fragrant and soft, with a sweetness that was intoxicating, making him want to devour her.

Having kissed her only once, he was already addicted.

He extended his tongue, tasting every part of her lips, and tried to go deeper, but met resistance.

Now completely under his control, she couldn't resist his strength and could only clench her teeth, refusing to let him in.

Tuo Baxiao tried twice, but seeing her resolute, his eyes darkened, and his hand on her waist gave a gentle squeeze.

Her sensitive waist and abdomen were suddenly attacked, and Jiang Congyan startled like a rabbit, her whole body shivering. Instinctively, she opened her mouth, and Tuo Baxiao took advantage of this fleeting moment to slip in, beginning to stir up trouble...

...

"A Chun, do you think the Prince of Mobei might... to the lady..." She struggled to find the right words but couldn't come up with an appropriate term.

To say he was forcing or bullying her didn't seem quite right, as they were to become husband and wife, and they had no right or standing to accuse him. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that the Prince of Mobei had ill intentions.

"Shh, don't speak," A Chun quickly covered her mouth, fearing she might disturb the two inside.

A Chun and A Fei had been standing guard outside the tent. Though they had never been married themselves, the way the Prince of Mobei looked at the lady was clearly dangerous, making his intentions easy to imagine. Seeing that Tuo Baxiao hadn't come out, they were quite worried. But with no obvious sounds from inside, they dared not barge in, lest they anger the Prince of Mobei and cause trouble for the lady.

Even though the lady was to marry the Prince of Mobei, they sighed, feeling she was being wronged. The lady was so delicate; she deserved a gentleman who would cherish her. The Prince of Mobei, with his rough demeanor, seemed anything but...

The two young maids, inexperienced and knowing little, were more concerned that the Prince of Mobei might harm the lady with his roughness, unaware of another form of suffering.

...

It was hard to tell how long Tuo Baxiao had been kissing her. In addition to the swelling pain on her lips, even the root of her tongue was beginning to go numb, yet the man showed no signs of stopping.

Sitting on the low couch, Jiang Congyan was tightly held in his arms. Besides the firm muscles of the man's legs, she felt another kind of sensation, which made her heart flutter with panic.

She tried to push him away, but her slender arms were no match for his muscular strength. She wanted to voice her refusal, but not a single word could escape her lips.

In the quiet night, the warm glow of the candlelight spread throughout the room.

As it was the first day of their stay, Ruo Lan had specially ordered incense to be burned, its fragrance subtly floating in the air.

The originally sweet and serene scent now seemed tinged with a hint of ambiguity by the scorching breath.

Jiang Congyan, overwhelmed by the kiss, found it hard to breathe, her mind foggy, nearly deprived of oxygen. Finally, she couldn't resist biting him hard.

Whether she broke the skin or not, the man paused for a moment, his fiery lips finally left hers. Before she could recover, they moved to her ear, nibbling on her small earlobe.

Jiang Congyan was extremely ticklish, especially around her ears and the back of her neck. As he bit down, his hot breath sprayed on her thin skin, causing goosebumps and making her tremble.

As the man pressed down, pinning her to the couch and lying on top of her, Jiang Congyan panicked.

"Don't do this, stop, please stop..."

She couldn't bear this torment, fearing he would ignore her pleas like last time, and could only beg him in a low voice.

"No one else is here," Tuo Baxiao said hoarsely, as if responding to her or justifying himself.

With that, he began to kiss her neck.

This time, there were no outsiders in the room, but Jiang Congyan was concerned about more than that.

After a while, seeing her still resisting him, the man added, "We've arrived at the royal court."

"But, but the wedding hasn't taken place yet. Can you wait two more days, please?" Jiang Congyan looked at him with tearful eyes, filled with pleading.

It might seem sentimental, as two days earlier or later made little difference—it was just a ceremony. She had already prepared herself for this, yet she wished to delay until the last possible moment when there was no escape.

Tuo Baxiao could have waited; he hadn't intended to act this way initially. But upon seeing her, he became impatient, every inch of his skin clamoring, unable to wait even a second longer.

He had desired her since he first saw her. After getting close to her once, he became deeply enamored with her soft, delicate body. He had wished he could fly to the royal court the very next day, enduring two months of longing, each day imagining how he would kiss her, embrace her, and press her into his arms upon returning to the royal court, just to barely suppress his desire.

But now, having finally arrived at the royal court, he was told to wait for the wedding. Not just two days, but even two moments seemed unbearable.

"Can't we do it right now?" Tuo Baxiao still wasn't ready to give up, his face buried in the soft side of her neck, his breath brushing entirely against her skin as he spoke.

Jiang Congyan shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "Just one or two more days, please wait a bit longer."

Tuo Baxiao was truly torn, his arms braced on either side of her, his handsome face hovering above her. Although it was May and not yet hot, especially in the north, beads of sweat, large as peas, dotted his forehead; the veins at his temples bulged and twisted fiercely, his neck was strained to the limit, veins bulging, his face flushed red—a sight that was somewhat terrifying.

Yet, more terrifying than his appearance was his gaze. The green in his phoenix eyes was so intense it bordered on chaos, making it hard to discern his expression, only sensing the brewing storm within.

Just one or two more days, just one or two more days...

Tuo Baxiao kept persuading himself: having endured over two months, what difference would one or two more days make? He wanted her to willingly be his.

After repeating this to himself many times in his heart, he finally got up, shifting his gaze elsewhere.

But this glance caught sight of her delicate, lovely jade-like feet.

She didn't walk much, so the flesh on her soles was tender; if she stepped on him, it would surely feel unbelievably soft...

Jiang Congyan thought she had narrowly escaped again, but then she saw the man's gaze fixed on a certain spot, and she followed his look.

"..." Pervert!

She quickly tugged at her clothes to cover her feet, but suddenly found herself pulled back into the man's embrace.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, but his hand grasped her foot.

"Let me hold you for a while," he said hoarsely.

He was willing to endure a little longer; she was temporarily safe, so Jiang Congyan couldn't resist him anymore, allowing herself to be held like a doll, pressed tightly against him.

But his body was already muscular, now tensed to the extreme. She felt like she was leaning against a rock, extremely uncomfortable. Jiang Congyan could only bite her lip to endure, not daring to speak or move.

She thought that just holding him until he calmed down would suffice, but he didn't let go. Her gaze fell on the bronze flower branch lamp stand to the side; the candles on it had burned more than halfway.

Just as Jiang Congyan was staring blankly at the candlelight, passing the time, suddenly, she felt her foot being pulled, bent back.

Before she could understand what the man was doing again, she found him pressing her foot down, and then the sole of her foot stepped on a strange sensation.

She quickly looked down—

"..."

Ahhh, you pervert!