Chapter 53: “No.”

Chapter 53 "No."

Time crept by, and the last star faded from the sky. The morning mist dissipated as a red sun gradually rose on the eastern horizon, blazing and bright. Large swathes of golden light fell, splitting the grassland into patches of light and shadow. Gradually, the line between light and shadow drew closer until it completely enveloped the royal tent in golden light.

Inside the royal tent.

After a night of intimacy, the room still held a faint, lingering scent. The red candle on the table was nearly burnt out, with layers of red wax pooled at its base. On the carpet by the bed, a light pink silk nightgown lay in a heap on the floor, its collar torn as if by force, the ties broken. A delicate embroidered shoe lay crooked nearby, while its pair was nowhere to be seen.

The bed, without curtains, allowed a clear view of the two sleeping figures. The bedding was in disarray, with one pillow having fallen to the floor. The intimate moment lay hidden under the red satin quilt, though the man sleeping on the outer side, apparently too warm, had pushed half of the quilt aside, revealing a broad, muscular shoulder and back.

He lay on his side, his broad body shielding the girl.

Even asleep, Tuo Baxiao clung to her delicate form. He held her slender body tightly in his arms, his thick arm wrapped around her swan-like neck to serve as her pillow. His forearm and hand were hidden beneath the quilt, resting on her chest, while his sturdy thigh entwined with hers, their bodies pressed closely together. His chin rested on the top of her soft, black hair, and he breathed in her faint, sweet fragrance, content.

Morning light filtered in through the window, casting scattered spots of light on the girl's peaceful sleeping face. Her long lashes were closed, casting small shadows under her eyes. Her cheeks, pink and soft, looked like dewy petals, though her lips were an unusually deep red.

Jiang Congyan didn’t know when she had fallen asleep or when the man had finally stopped. When she woke, her body ached as if she'd run a marathon or been trampled. Her bones felt ready to give out.

Jiang Congyan groggily opened her eyes, only to find her hands and feet tied, immobile. If she hadn't realized she was still in the royal tent, she might have thought she had been kidnapped. Her back pressed against a firm, heated wall, making her feel uncomfortably warm.

She slightly moved her neck, trying to see what time it was and how the sky looked outside. But with just the slightest movement, an arm like iron clamped around her waist.

Before she could catch her breath, her body was turned, and a pair of scorching lips pressed against hers again.

Jiang Congyan's mind was still foggy, but the sudden attack jolted her awake. Remembering the torment of the previous night, she tried to push him away, but even without resistance, his massive body didn't budge. Her limbs were still limp and weak...

The man, however, only grew more excited by her resistance. He kissed her hard, first her lips, then her earlobe, causing her to tremble slightly. Tears sprang to Jiang Congyan's eyes unbidden.

After a long while of biting and kissing, he moved down to her neck, then buried his face further, taking her in.

Jiang Congyan was so overwhelmed that she couldn't speak, only biting her lip to suppress the strange, whimpering cries of pain.

As he continued to kiss her, his knee bent, and she felt an unusual sensation. Realizing his intent, she struggled to force out a few words from her throat.

"It hurts... don't..."

She froze in fear, taut as a bowstring.

"Really not okay?" the man panted heavily.

"No," the girl's crimson-tinged eyes brimmed with tears.

Tuo Baxiao held her soft, smooth body, so tender and delicate, and he wished he could thrust into her as fiercely as he had the night before. But her refusal was so resolute.

He tested with his fingers and found her tight and tense.

The man stared at her, his muscles taut like iron. Jiang Congyan felt a bit scared under his gaze, her eyes shrinking back, her delicate face looking fragile.

Her tearful, fearful gaze made her look pitiful. Tuo Baxiao fell silent for a long time. Finally, he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and let out a heavy breath. Suddenly, he rolled off the bed, landing barefoot on the carpet, grabbed the clothes he had prepared earlier, and quickly dressed before striding out of the tent.

Ruo Lan and the two maids were still wondering when someone would call for them, given the time. Suddenly, they saw the Prince of Mobei emerge from the tent, striding forward with such force that they couldn't even see his face clearly, only catching a glimpse of his imposing back.

Ruo Lan's heart tightened, and she immediately rushed into the tent, lifting the curtain to enter the inner chamber.

"My lady!" she exclaimed upon seeing the lady lying motionless on the bed.

"My lady, are you alright?" Ruo Lan hurried over to check on her.

As soon as Tuo Baxiao left, Jiang Congyan's anxious heart finally settled, and she buried herself in the quilt. She had originally planned to rest and recover her strength, but upon hearing Ruo Lan's anxious voice, she had no choice but to lift her eyelids to look at her. Her red lips parted slightly, and she spoke in a soft, low voice, "I'm fine, what's wrong?"

Seeing that Jiang Congyan still had the strength to respond, Ruo Lan's tense nerves finally relaxed. She patted her chest and said, "It's good that you're alright. I was just worried about you..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Jiang Congyan grasped her meaning and shyly averted her eyes.

"By the way, my lady," Ruo Lan remembered the state Tuo Baxiao was in when he left and couldn't help but feel a bit concerned. "The Prince of Mobei appeared somewhat angry when he left just now. Did something occur?"

Jiang Congyan: "..."

She truly couldn't bring herself to say it. How could she explain that he was left unsatisfied? She simply couldn't bring herself to say it.

"My lady, the Prince of Mobei couldn't possibly be upset with you, could he?"

It was merely the first day of their marriage, and she couldn't imagine what conflict could have arisen between them.

"No, Auntie, there's no need to worry," Jiang Congyan had to reassure her.

Although Tuo Baxiao had departed abruptly without a word, Jiang Congyan could sense that he wasn't angry with her. It was more probable that he had to depart, or else...

Jiang Congyan banished the image of the man from her mind. After uttering a few words, her throat felt parched and sore. "Auntie, I want some water."

Ruo Lan was suddenly filled with remorse. She had been so preoccupied with inquiring about the Prince of Mobei that she had forgotten to ask if her lady was feeling unwell.

She swiftly poured a cup of warm water. Drinking while lying down was challenging, so Jiang Congyan attempted to sit up slightly, clutching the quilt. However, she had misjudged her current strength. As soon as she shifted, her waist and legs ached intensely, and she frowned in pain.

Ruo Lan rushed over to assist her, but in doing so, she glimpsed the smooth, snow-white skin of Jiang Congyan's back, now marred with red and purple bruises from her nape down to her spine, scattered like blemishes, both chilling and enticing.

Ruo Lan was momentarily stunned.

If her back looked like this, she didn't dare to imagine what the front of her lady's body must look like...

Jiang Congyan followed Ruo Lan's gaze and suddenly realized her current state.

After bathing last night, she had intended to put on her nightgown before sleeping, but that beast of a man hadn't had enough of her, and she had been too exhausted to do anything but fall asleep. As for this morning...

Now that Ruo Lan had seen her like this, even though she had been cared for by Ruo Lan since childhood, she still felt embarrassed and quickly wrapped herself tighter in the quilt.

The Prince of Mobei was truly too rough. Ruo Lan suppressed her anger and helped her lady drink the water before frowning and asking, "My lady, didn't I tell you yesterday to be more accommodating to him? Why did it still..."

Jiang Congyan also wore a bitter expression. She had been accommodating, but her compliance hadn't earned her any gentleness from the man. Instead, it had only fueled his aggression.

Seeing her like this, Ruo Lan understood.

The Prince of Mobei was impatient and rough. With her lady's beauty, he had probably lost all reason and turned into a beast. At that point, no matter how much her lady pleaded, it would have been useless.

Though it was disrespectful, Ruo Lan cursed Tuo Baxiao several times in her heart. How could he treat her lady like this? She wasn't one of those captured slave girls to be used for his pleasure.

"My lady, let me apply some medicine for you."

Jiang Congyan was still embarrassed, but Ruo Lan didn't give her a chance to refuse.

However, before applying the medicine, Jiang Congyan wanted to wipe herself down.

She couldn't stand even a bit of sweat, let alone the way that beast had treated her, as if she were a bone to be gnawed on.

Fortunately, Ruo Lan didn't think too much of it. Knowing her lady's shyness, she didn't call for anyone else and personally wrung out a warm cloth to help Jiang Congyan clean herself. She then carefully applied the ointment and gently massaged her waist to help ease the soreness.

Finally, she helped Jiang Congyan into a clean, white undergarment and draped a light blue, wide-sleeved robe over her, tying it with a vermilion belt as an accent.

A simple, everyday outfit, with the same facial features as before, but Ruo Lan noticed the lady's flushed cheeks and dewy, seductive eyes, which added a delicate charm to her otherwise cool and aloof demeanor, making her seem somewhat different now.

The sun was already high, indicating it was nearing the end of the morning.

Fortunately, Tuo Baxiao was the king himself, with no elders above him, and the Xianbei people didn't have as many post-wedding rules as the Central Plains. Even if she did nothing today, no one would mind.

However, she still couldn't just lie around. The wedding was over, but the real work was just beginning.

As soon as her toes touched the ground when she got out of bed, Jiang Congyan felt sore and weak. If Ruo Lan hadn't been supporting her, she might have fallen. It took a while for her thighs to regain some strength, but as soon as she started walking, she still felt a burning pain there.

It was so unfair. Just by his eager demeanor, she could tell he must have enjoyed himself. He was reckless, while she bore the brunt of it.

After getting ready, Jiang Congyan slowly made her way to the outer room.

A Chun and A Fei had just set out breakfast when Tuo Baxiao returned.

He came in radiating heat, soaked in sweat.

What had he been up to?

Jiang Congyan gave him a puzzled look but didn't ask. She wasn't in the mood to speak to him at the moment.

"Bring more meat pies," Tuo Baxiao ordered the two maids.

The maids, not expecting him back so soon, had only prepared breakfast for her, mostly vegetarian, with just half a meat pie.

After a few meals together, she had already figured out Tuo Baxiao's tastes. He wasn't picky about flavors but leaned toward meat over vegetables, preferring slightly salty dishes, likely because he sweated a lot from his usual physical exertion and needed to replenish salt. Of course, the most notable thing was his enormous appetite—he could eat enough for ten people on his own.

It wasn't an exaggeration—she had witnessed it firsthand. That day, she had eaten half a bowl of porridge and half a pie, while he had polished off seven pies and two large bowls of porridge.

But given his build and the amount of exercise he got, it was only natural.

Tuo Baxiao tried to sit next to her, but Jiang Congyan raised her arm to block him.

He smelled strongly of sweat.

"Either clean up or sit across from me," Jiang Congyan said, puffing her cheeks.

This was the limit of what she could tolerate. She didn't want to be smeared with his sweat.

Tuo Baxiao had never met anyone as fastidious as her. Mud, blood, alcohol, or even a little sweat—none of it was acceptable. With her temperament, if she were to spend a few days in the army, she might just suffocate herself.

"Such a delicate flower!" he sighed helplessly and sat across from her.

Earlier, he had been so pent up that after leaving, he rode the Li Eagle for a few laps and shot arrows for a long time to vent his energy. Now that the weather was warm, such intense exercise inevitably made him sweat, and as a result, she found him repulsive.

A Fei brought out the meat pies, which were somewhat similar to modern-day roujiamo. The outer layer was a split flatbread, and inside was minced lamb, marinated with spices and stir-fried in an iron pan. The aroma of the lamb and fat was fully released. Tuo Baxiao had fallen in love with it after trying it once, but fresh lamb wasn't always available on the road, so he hadn't had it often.

Having spent over an hour outside in the morning, Tuo Baxiao was hungry and reached out to grab one.

"Slap!"

His hand was halfway in the air when it was suddenly slapped.

It didn't hurt—it was soft, and he even wanted to do it again.

"Wash your hands," Jiang Congyan reminded him coldly.

Tuo Baxiao: "..."

"It's not like you're the one eating."

Jiang Congyan glared at him, "It's my meal, and you can't eat without washing your hands, or have someone else prepare it for you."

Tuo Baxiao reluctantly withdrew his hand and instructed her maid, "Bring some water."

A Chun hurriedly went to fetch water.

Tuo Baxiao quickly scrubbed his hands in the copper basin and then extended them to her, "Princess, check them. Are they clean enough?"

Jiang Congyan thought he was being sarcastic.

She ignored him and continued eating her breakfast. Last night's exhaustion was more than usual, and she was genuinely hungry.

Tuo Baxiao had many strengths; he was strong in battle, had prestige, knew how to keep his soldiers in line, and as a ruler, he was fair in rewards and punishments, not overly cruel. But he also had many flaws, such as his sometimes overly barbaric and domineering personality, and his lack of attention to personal hygiene.

Living in the harsh environment of the grasslands, he had been on military campaigns for years under rough conditions, so she could understand his neglect of personal hygiene. But understanding didn't mean acceptance. She didn't impose her standards on him, but in her presence, especially when close to her, Jiang Congyan insisted he be clean, at least without any noticeable odors or behaviors that disgusted her.

Tuo Baxiao, after being reminded, complied with her demands, though he always teased her a little.

After the meal, Tuo Baxiao dismissed the maids and held her close for a while until her neatly styled hair began to get disheveled again. She pushed him away firmly, and the man reluctantly lifted his head.

He wanted to hold her every moment, but just holding her without doing more was impossible.

She said it hurt and refused, so he had no choice.

Finally, he forced himself to find some serious work to do, otherwise, his mind would be consumed by thoughts of her delicate, snow-white body and her tearful face beneath him.

So he went to inspect the Xianbei troops and then met with the leaders of various tribes.

He had been away for too long and needed to show his authority. Plus, the tribal leaders were not usually at the royal court; they had gathered this time because of his wedding, making it a rare opportunity to discuss many matters.

Once he left, Jiang Congyan instructed A Chun and A Fei to tidy up the inner chamber and return to her own tent.

She had stayed here last night because it was her wedding night. Although Tuo Baxiao's royal tent was splendid, it wasn't as cozy as her own tent, which she had arranged herself. Now that the bathing area was also set up there, it was even more convenient.

Walking back was a bit of a struggle for Jiang Congyan, but her pride kept her from taking a sedan chair or accepting help.

Returning to her sleeping tent, she rested briefly and was about to summon Si Zi to ask a few questions when she saw her leading a Hu servant in.

"Miss, she was just peeking around outside, sneaky. Could she be trying to steal something?"

Jiang Congyan looked over.

Hearing this, the Hu servant immediately panicked and begged for mercy, "Princess, I wasn't stealing, really, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do to serve you."

She spoke, and surprisingly, it was in Chinese?

Jiang Congyan was somewhat surprised and took a closer look at her appearance, noticing that although she was dressed in Hu clothing, her facial features weren't entirely Xianbei but more like Han Chinese.

She suddenly remembered that on the first day she arrived at the royal court, there were indeed two Hu servants kneeling in front of the tent to welcome her. But she didn't need others to serve her, and they hadn't appeared in front of her these past two days, so she had forgotten about them.

She thought they had been transferred back, but they were still here.

"Then why were you lingering in front of the tent?" Jiang Congyan asked.

The servant quickly replied, "I haven't been able to serve you, Princess, and I was afraid you wouldn't want me and would send me back to the original slave camp."

She knelt on the ground, her head deeply bowed, her frail body trembling, clearly terrified.

"The slave camp? What's going on? Tell me about it."

The maid replied cautiously, "The slave camp is where slaves captured from defeated tribes are kept. I was in the women's slave camp, and because I can speak the language of the Central Plains, I was recently chosen by Shili Fa to serve the princess. But I haven't been able to see the princess for many days. If the Xianbei King finds out, I will surely be sent back to the women's slave camp. I don't want to go back; I want to serve the princess."

By the end, her tone was pleading, as if being sent back to the women's slave camp was a terrifying prospect for her.

Jiang Congyan didn't really need her service, but now she changed her mind and asked, "What's your name?"

The maid, still kneeling with her head down, replied timidly, "I have no name. Shili Fa only calls me Woman Fourteen."

Jiang Congyan paused thoughtfully. The name clearly sounded like just a number.

She then asked, "Are you of mixed Xianbei and Han descent?"

"Yes, I have Han blood in me," Woman Fourteen answered.

Jiang Congyan pondered, "Are there many like you, of mixed blood, among the Xianbei people now?"

Woman Fourteen buried her head even deeper, "I... I'm not entirely sure, but there are several hundred mixed-blood servants living with me."

Several hundred... Given the population density of the royal court, that's a significant proportion.

If there are so many mixed-blood people in the royal court, do these Xianbei people still harbor hostility towards the Han? No, perhaps it's precisely because there are so many mixed-blood individuals that they are even more vigilant.

"Are all these mixed-blood people slaves?" Jiang Congyan asked again.

"Except for General Modolou, who is by the Xianbei King's side, most of them are."

Jiang Congyan sighed deeply. It seems that life for mixed-blood people in the Xianbei tribe is indeed very difficult.

Most of these mixed-blood children are likely the result of women from defeated tribes being captured as slaves, becoming the property and tools of those men, and later giving birth to these children.

In the past two years, Tuo Baxiao has been conquering various tribes, and these mixed-blood slaves were transferred to the royal court as property.

This made her think of Tuo Baxiao. His situation back then might not have been much better than these slaves.

As for Tuo Baxiao, the world knows only that he emerged at the age of sixteen and seized the throne. Before that, there are only a few records of him leading troops in battles. Little is known about his earlier life.

And his Han mother, who likely passed away earlier, has hardly been mentioned since Jiang Congyan came to the royal court. Ruo Lan once subtly tried to find out more, but no one could provide any information.

Even if his mother died when he was very young, it has only been a little over a decade. People's memories shouldn't have faded that quickly, especially regarding Tuo Baxiao. Under normal circumstances, people would likely be curious about his past.

Perhaps there are some hidden circumstances.

Given this, Jiang Congyan decided not to probe further. It wouldn't be good to accidentally touch on Tuo Baxiao's sensitive spots.

But regardless of any hidden circumstances, it's certain that Tuo Baxiao had a difficult childhood.

In a royal court where mixed-blood people are discriminated against and oppressed, and with no maternal clan backing him, it must have been incredibly challenging for him to gain the recognition of the Xianbei King, grow into a general, and build his own power base. The hardships he endured are likely beyond most people's imagination.

Thinking of this, she felt a surge of complex emotions.

She instructed Si Zi to take Woman Fourteen away and settle her with the other servants and maids.

Upon hearing that the princess was keeping her, Woman Fourteen was so moved that she burst into tears and kowtowed repeatedly. It was wonderful—she wouldn't have to return to the slave camp.

Although it had only been two or three days, she felt that the princess's people were very kind. They didn't bully others, and the men didn't leer at her with lustful eyes. Most importantly, the food the princess gave her servants was something she could hardly have imagined.

After Woman Fourteen left, Jiang Congyan sank into deep thought.

From the words of Slave Fourteen, Jiang Congyan learned that the slave camp was divided into male and female slaves. The male slaves were mostly children under ten years old, but it was precisely because they were children at the time that they managed to escape slaughter. They were forced to do the heaviest work every day—logging, carrying water, collecting sheep dung, or cutting grass—without any ability to resist. Each day, they received only a tiny amount of food, barely enough to keep them alive. The slaves fought and scrambled for this meager sustenance every day, but the slave overseers, known as "supervisors," never intervened. As a result, people often died, but when a slave died, it was of no concern to anyone.

The situation in the female slave camp was even worse than that of the male slaves. In addition to being exploited, they also had to face violation by men.

Despite the harsh living conditions and the physical and appearance damage that made them far from attractive, there were always some who were not picky or simply wanted to vent their desires, and they would drag women out to assault or exploit them.

After learning this, Jiang Congyan felt a deep sense of oppression, not only because the female slave had Han Chinese blood, but also because there were many other ethnic minorities in the slave camp.

This complete deprivation of human rights made her very uncomfortable, as if she had returned to the earliest slave society. This was not an illusion, as the structure of the grassland tribes was still semi-slave, but this was not something she could change overnight.

Just as she had dealt with this matter, she heard Ruo Lan come to report, "Miss, several Xianbei people have come outside, saying they want to exchange sugar and spices with us."

Jiang Congyan's eyes flickered. They arrived so quickly!