Chapter 80: Royal Court Sisters

Chapter 80: Sisters of the Royal Court

Jiang Congyan was already somewhat tired, and after dozing off for a while, her thoughts were muddled, making it hard for her to think of a rebuttal.

Of course, even if she had presented the most logical arguments, if the man was set on it, how could he possibly give up?

Still, she found it strange: "You think about this every day, don't you get tired of it?"

Tuoba Xiao: "Where is it every day? Didn't I let you rest three times before? Not to mention, you had your period a few days ago, and I didn't touch you for eight days. Counting this month, it's only been half a month that I've been able to be with you."

Jiang Congyan: "..."

You sure remember it clearly.

Tuoba Xiao had no intention of arguing with her about how many days it had been. He just kissed her to shut her up.

As he said, he would be going on a campaign in a few days, and he wouldn't see her for at least a month or two. Naturally, he wanted to get some sweetness ahead of time.

It was getting late, so they had to hurry.

...

The next day, Jiang Congyan nearly overslept again.

She used to have a very regular schedule, waking up at dawn every day except in winter when she slept a bit later. But now, she slept so deeply every night that it felt like she could never get enough sleep, forcing her to have A Fei wake her up.

After washing up and grabbing a quick breakfast, she had just handled a few urgent matters when A Fei informed her that Lan Zhu had arrived, accompanied by Qiu Liju and Mica.

She quickly invited them in.

That day, she had told Si Zi that Lan Zhu was always welcome to come play with her.

"Am I bothering you?" Lan Zhu asked cautiously.

She had just seen several pieces of paper on the Khatun's desk, which were quickly put away by the maid when she arrived.

"There have been some odds and ends these past few days, but don't overthink it. I'm really glad you came; it's no bother at all."

Jiang Congyan took her hand and sat down, then greeted Qiu Liju and Mica.

Qiu Liju looked to be in her twenties, though she might actually be a bit younger. Her skin was slightly tanned, like many girls on the grasslands, and her high nose bridge gave her a somewhat bold appearance. However, her eyes were gentle, and this mix of traits gave her a unique charm, making her less-than-perfect features seem unimportant.

Moreover, Qiu Liju's hair was black.

Most Xianbei people's hair was a bit more brownish-yellow, with some having reddish-brown hues. Black hair existed but was less common.

Some historical texts describe the Xianbei people as "golden-haired and blue-eyed," and terms like "yellow-bearded Xianbei slaves" or "yellow-headed Xianbei slaves" were also used to refer to them. As a result, some later scholars believed they were of Caucasian descent. However, the reality is far more complex. Based on archaeological findings from the Xiajiadian site and studies of unearthed skulls, the academic community tends to think they were of Mongoloid descent, with some admixture of North Asian traits, which made their appearance quite distinct from that of the Central Plains people.

As she had once told Chigan Balie, ethnicity is an ongoing process of fusion. Pure bloodlines no longer exist, and what they call bloodlines is more like a cultural identity.

Jiang Congyan's eyes lingered on Qiu Liju's face for a moment before shifting to the little one by her side.

Mica was around four or five years old, with thin hair tied into a small braid that stuck straight up on his head, swaying as he walked, like a little tail.

His face was round, his black eyes were round, and his body was round too. He looked at people obediently, looking utterly adorable. It was clear that Qiu Liju had raised him well, unlike the more temperamental Tuoba Wuxi.

Jiang Congyan looked at him, and he tilted his round little head to look back at her, his shiny black eyes filled with curiosity, making her heart soften.

Mica stared unblinkingly at the Khatun. Lan Zhu had told him that the candy he ate came from the Khatun.

After exchanging a few brief greetings with them, Jiang Congyan thought for a moment and called A Fei over to give her a few instructions.

She spoke in Chinese, which they didn't understand, so it wasn't until a quarter of an hour later that A Fei arrived with two maids carrying several trays. They placed the porcelain cups and pastries from the trays onto the small table between the chairs.

"This is a milk drink and some pastries I whipped up. Try them and see if they suit your taste."

It's a Chinese tradition to offer guests something delicious as a sign of hospitality. She hadn't expected their visit today and wasn't well-prepared, so making milk tea was the easiest option.

The moment A Fei brought in the trays, the rich aroma of milk filled the air. It was different from what they were used to—it had a unique fragrance and a hint of sweetness.

Lan Zhu was the first to reach for a cup. The freshly brewed milk tea was still steaming, so she blew on it gently before taking a small sip. Just that one sip made her eyes widen in surprise, and her face lit up with delight.

"It's so good, so sweet!"

She looked at the Khatun, eager to praise the delicious milk tea, but could only express her delight with a simple phrase.

They also brewed tea with milk, but the tea was bitter, and the milk turned bitter as well, lacking any sweetness.

This sweetness was unlike any sugar they had tasted before—it was a unique, indescribable sweetness.

Seeing Lan Zhu's excitement, Qiu Liju also took a sip and was equally amazed.

Mica, enticed by the aroma, couldn't resist tugging at his mother's arm. "Mom, I want some too."

Qiu Liju blew on the tea to cool it slightly before handing it to him.

Mica eagerly took a sip, savored it, and then buried his head, gulping it down.

Qiu Liju: "..."

She discreetly pinched her son, but Mica didn't even notice. She could only offer Jiang Congyan an apologetic smile.

"I'm glad you all enjoy it. My cook prepared plenty, so please help yourselves to as much as you'd like."

"Thank you, Khatun, for such delicious milk tea," Qiu Liju said, though she didn't ask for more.

Delicacies often require rare ingredients, especially something as sweet as this.

"Khatun, what makes your milk tea so delicious and sweet? Did you add something special?" Lan Zhu asked.

Jiang Congyan paused and looked at her for a moment. "You called me Khatun again. Didn't I tell you to call me Sister Ah Yan?"

At this, Lan Zhu blushed and softly said, "Sister Ah Yan."

Jiang Congyan smiled, satisfied. "The tea leaves I used are unique—less bitter. Most importantly, I added rock sugar to the milk tea, giving it its exceptional sweetness."

"Rock sugar?" Lan Zhu exclaimed in surprise.

She was familiar with rock sugar, a rare and precious sugar imported from the Western Regions. She had occasionally tasted it as a child, but since the Xiongnu and Xianbei became sworn enemies a few years ago, the Xiongnu had monopolized the trade routes from the Western Regions to the grasslands, preventing merchants from coming to Xianbei. As a result, such items had become rare, and even a few sheep wouldn't be enough to trade for them.

Something so precious, yet Sister Ah Yan had generously shared it with them.

Even Qiu Liju felt uneasy, unable to accept such a generous gift without cause.

Jiang Congyan could tell what they were thinking from their expressions and said gently, "Do you know about Liangzhou?"

Liangzhou? They had heard of it—a place in the west—but they weren't sure exactly where it was.

"Although the Xiongnu control most of the trade routes in the Western Regions, Liangzhou lies on the crucial path between the Western Regions and Liang State. The Marquis of Liangzhou has a strong army, so even the Xiongnu dare not easily venture south. This allows us to trade for goods from the Western Regions."

"I grew up in Liangzhou as a child, and the Marquis of Liangzhou is my maternal grandfather."

Lan Zhu and Qiu Liju understood then; with such a formidable grandfather, it was possible to trade for honey from the Western Regions.

"Please try these pastries; I think you'll enjoy them."

Unable to resist the temptation and with Jiang Congyan's genuinely warm attitude, Lan Zhu and Qiu Liju gradually let down their guard.

As they tasted the pastries, they were amazed by the soft, powdery texture—delicate and sweet.

Lan Zhu had only meant to visit her sister Ah Yan today, never expecting to be treated to so many delicious treats.

While enjoying the pastries and chatting, Jiang Congyan made a point to thank Qiu Liju for stopping the Sixth Prince that night. Qiu Liju quickly apologized, explaining that her husband had acted impulsively.

Afterward, Qiu Liju worried. Even though she had prevented Tuoba Wuxi from causing trouble, the King and Khatun must have known about it, and she feared they might hold her responsible. Only after several days passed without any repercussions did she feel relieved.

Lately, Lan Zhu had been talking to her about the Khatun, saying she was gentle and beautiful and wanted to be her friend. Qiu Liju wasn’t sure what kind of person the Khatun was, and with Tuoba Wuxi on bad terms with the King, she was a bit concerned. But seeing Lan Zhu so happy, she couldn’t bring herself to spoil the mood. When Lan Zhu said she wanted to meet the Khatun, Qiu Liju asked to join her.

After meeting and spending time with the Khatun, Qiu Liju understood why Lan Zhu admired her so much.

They chatted until noon, when A Fei came to ask when to serve lunch. Jiang Congyan told her, "Serve it now, and pack a portion in a food box for the King. Hmm... tell him I’m hosting friends for lunch today, so he’ll have to dine alone."

When the maid came in to set the table, Qiu Liju realized how long they’d stayed and quickly suggested leaving, but Jiang Congyan held her hand, refusing to let her leave.

"You've tried my milk tea and pastries, why not try some Han Chinese dishes?"

Qiu Liju was about to refuse when a "slurp" sound was heard, and Mica swallowed his saliva.

Qiu Liju: "..."

Jiang Congyan laughed, crouched down to touch Mica's face, "Is Mica hungry? Would you like to have lunch at auntie's place?"

Mica nodded eagerly.

Qiu Liju couldn’t bear to watch and finally gave in.

At the King's tent.

Tuo Baxiao, calculating that it was about time, was waiting to finish the task at hand before going to eat, when A Long came to report:

"King, the Khatun has sent your lunch over."

"Hmm?" Tuo Baxiao raised an eyebrow.

A Fei came in carrying the food box.

"Why isn't she coming?" he asked.

A Fei answered seriously, "The lady said she’s hosting friends today, so the King will have to dine alone."

Tuo Baxiao: "..."

He suspected she was deliberately showing her displeasure from last night.