Chapter 85: “Crush the Jie, Boost Our Clan’s Prestige!”…

Chapter 85: "Wipe out the Jie and bring honor to our clan!"...

The man's kiss came fierce and urgent, as if he were biting her.

Jiang Congyan was hauled against him, her body pressed tightly to his. The icy chill of his armor seeped through the thin silk onto her skin, making her shiver, while her face was flooded with his hot breath.

Between cold and heat, her breath stolen again and again, she grew dizzy. Only when his arms locked around her so tightly it hurt did she come to her senses.

No—if this continued, they would truly be delayed.

She feebly pushed back a few times. Fortunately, he noticed, though he didn’t release her immediately. Instead, his arm slid under hers, effortlessly lifting her until her face was level with his. A large hand cradled the back of her head, pressing her close as they embraced neck-to-neck.

Her feet dangled, her entire body suspended in midair, supported only by his powerful arms. She had no choice but to wrap her own arms around his shoulders.

"It’s time to go."

Tuo Baxiao glanced at the window—the sky was still pitch black, pierced only by scattered torches.

"Let me hold you a little longer."

For the next month or two, he wouldn’t be able to embrace her like this.

The thought of taking her along had crossed his mind, but it remained just a thought. Marching to war was nothing like returning from Liang State. Days of relentless travel and nights of ambush were routine, and the battlefield was ever-changing. Her delicate body couldn’t endure such harsh conditions, let alone the dangers. It was better for her to stay in the royal court and wait for his return.

Jiang Congyan allowed him to hold her a while longer before gently reminding him of the time again. At last, he set her down.

She slipped out in soft slippers to find A Fei waiting by the door, and instructed her to bring breakfast to the dining hall.

Time was short. Tuo Baxiao moved swiftly, devouring two meat pies and calling it enough after a bowl of soup.

Finally, Jiang Congyan personally fixed the tasseled cap on him, and he strode out with his saber at his waist.

Tuo Baxiao was off to rally the troops.

After he left, Jiang Congyan, though still drowsy, did not return to bed. Instead, she changed into more formal attire—a red top and blue skirt—and had A Fei sweep her hair into soft wisps at her temples, adorned with golden hairpins that glittered brilliantly. A light touch of makeup completed the look, making her glow with noble grace.

Once dressed, Jiang Congyan stepped out of the tent. Dawn was breaking, and the distant drums and horns grew louder. Flag-bearing riders raced to and fro, relaying orders.

Jiang Congyan mounted her horse and rode slowly toward the southern edge of the royal court.

Along the way, she saw many others like herself—wives and children of the Xianbei warriors, all heading to bid farewell and cheer for their husbands and fathers.

By the time she arrived, the grounds were packed. A guard barked, "The Khatun has arrived!" and the crowd parted to make way.

She urged her horse forward and spotted Lan Zhu and Qiu Liju, who seemed to have been there for some time. Qiu Liju held Mica in his arms—the boy, barely awake at this hour, blinked groggily.

The two greeted her, and Jiang Congyan exchanged a few words in return.

Before long, Tuo Baxiao noticed her. He spurred his horse toward her.

Jiang Congyan lightly nudged her horse forward, meeting him halfway.

Their eyes locked, yet neither spoke.

Clad in red and blue, astride her white horse, she was bright as a banner, eclipsing the rest.

Tuo Baxiao realized how much care she'd put into her appearance just for this moment. It warmed him—and twisted the knife of leaving.

Jiang Congyan gazed at him with her dark, glistening eyes, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions, tinged with reluctance.

After a moment's hesitation, she remembered Lingxiao and pulled a bamboo whistle from her sleeve, blowing a distinct melody. Soon, a massive white eagle appeared in the sky.

Hearing the call, Lingxiao swooped down and finally landed before the two of them.

"I've already told you how to command Lingxiao. If anything happens after you reach the Jie, you can send me a message through it. Treat it well—don’t take advantage of my absence to bully it."

"I’d never pick a fight with a damn bird," Tuoba Xiao muttered, clearly irritated by her lack of trust.

Jiang Congyan: "..."

If you ‘don’t care,’ then use its damn name.

She rolled her eyes—no point arguing. Typical man—all talk. Picking on Lingxiao since it couldn’t clap back.

After taming Lingxiao, she had tested it once by sending it with an Imperial Guard to Tumochuan and having it fly back alone. It proved intelligent, memorizing the route after just one trip.

With that, Jiang Congyan felt assured it could deliver messages.

Lingxiao, aware it had been given to this man by its owner, looked displeased, deliberately presenting its tail feathers to Tuoba Xiao.

Tuoba Xiao scowled and snorted.

"Don’t do anything stupid out there. I’ll be waiting at the royal court for your safe return."

Everything else had been said yesterday. In the end, all those unspoken words boiled down to this.

The man’s iron-hard expression softened slightly as he reached out, his calloused fingers grazing her cheek.

"Alright."

"You should eat more too—gain some weight. You’d be nicer to cuddle," he added.

Jiang Congyan: "..."

Any lingering sadness evaporated.

Meanwhile, Tuoba Wuxi was also saying his goodbyes to his family.

Lan Zhu rode forward, but Tuoba Wuxi gave her a perfunctory head-pat and walked past her without a word, heading straight for Qiu Liju.

"Brother?" Her voice faltered, turning to watch.

Tuoba Wuxi had already taken Mica from Qiu Liju’s arms, tossing him playfully upward. Mica’s sleepiness fled as he stared wide-eyed at his father, who boomed with laughter.

"Mica, your father is going to war."

Holding Mica, Tuoba Wuxi shot Tuoba Xiao a smug look—ha! Wife and kid, checkmate. He was itching to rub it in, but Tuoba Xiao didn’t even glance his way, his gaze fixed solely on the woman in front of him.

Seeing her brother ignore her, Lan Zhu lit up like a kid at Christmas upon noticing Lingxiao and made a beeline for Jiang Congyan.

"Swinging off her horse, she zeroed in on Lingxiao."

Tuoba Xiao scowled—could his sister be any more clueless?

Tuoba Wuxi’s face went stormy. What was Lan Zhu doing? She was supposed to be seeing *him* off! Why was she heading toward Tuoba Xiao instead?

He had originally thought he could get the upper hand over Tuoba Baxiao in this matter, but Lan Zhu ended up being a traitor.

Lan Zhu didn’t care what her elder brother thought. She’d just greeted him, and he ignored her completely.

She also adored Lingxiao, but the eagle was just as aloof—only allowing her to touch it when Sister Ah Yan was around.

Both men were clearly pissed, their gazes clashing in midair, sparks practically flying.

After a while, A Long came to report that all the generals had assembled and were awaiting the king’s orders.

Time to move out.

For the first time before an expedition, Tuoba Baxiao felt this reluctant. "I’m leaving," he said.

Jiang Congyan nodded, watching him. "Alright."

Finally, Tuoba Baxiao fixed her with a deep gaze, took a long breath, abruptly turned his head, and yanked his horse around, riding toward the front of the formation.

The surrounding chatter gradually quieted as everyone stared intently at the tall, dark figure.

In the distance, the troops had already assembled in orderly ranks across the vast grassland—a sea of black numbering in the tens of thousands.

Tuoba Baxiao rode Li Eagle to the forefront of the formation, where the generals stood at attention before him, dismounting in turn to report.

Su Li: "Lord, all 20,000 cavalry of the central army have assembled."

Duan Muqi: "Lord, all 5,000 troops of the Duan tribe have assembled."

Jie Nigui: "Lord, all 5,000 troops of the *Kumo Xi* tribe have assembled."

After these three had reported, it was Tuoba Wuxi’s turn. He hated bowing to Tuoba Baxiao publicly in front of so many people, but since he had previously accepted the king’s order to lead ten thousand troops on the campaign, refusing now would give Tuoba Baxiao every excuse to punish him.

Tuoba Wuxi took a deep breath and finally strode forward under their scrutinizing gazes, stepping forward and bowing.

"Lord, my ten thousand troops have also fully assembled."

Tuoba Baxiao said nothing, just giving a curt nod to indicate he’d heard.

Other quartermasters came forward to report that everything was ready.

Just as everyone thought the reports were finished, a Han soldier stepped up.

"Lord, I have joined the ranks. Additionally, Zhang Fu has brought ten medic apprentices and ten carts of medicinal herbs, all prepared to march with the army," Zhang Zheng said.

Zhang Zheng spoke Chinese, and the Xianbei people did not understand his exact words. But appearing before the king at this moment, in full gear, clearly meant he was joining them.

A few shot each other wary looks, puzzled—only A Long remained calm, as he’d been clued in already.

"Did the king assign troops to this Han man?"

"I never heard of it."

"My ranks are full."

"Mine too."

After a quick back-and-forth, they realized no one’s forces were missing—clearly, the king had not allocated troops to him.

In that case, if he wanted to follow, whatever. Without soldiers under his command, he couldn’t cause any trouble.

The muster concluded as Tuoba Baxiao raised his arm, and the restless crowd instantly fell silent, all eyes converging on this man.

The first rays of the morning sun spilled from the eastern clouds, casting light upon him, yet failing to dispel the aura of solemnity that enveloped him.

He lifted his head, his high brow casting a faint shadow over his eye sockets, making his piercing jade-green eyes appear even more profound and icy.

The Li Eagle circled restlessly as the man surveyed the army before him from his elevated position, raising his voice in a resounding declaration:

"Brave warriors of the Xianbei people, two months ago, the Jie ambushed me on the road, attempting to assassinate your king. Though they failed, such provocation against our Xianbei cannot go unanswered. Today, I shall lead you, our Xianbei warriors, southward—to destroy the Jie and show our might!"

His powerful voice thick with battle intent echoed across the grasslands, stirring the hearts of all the generals. They raised their weapons and banners, shouting in unison: "Destroy the Jie! Show our might!"

"Destroy the Jie! Show our might!"

The chant spread farther and farther until tens of thousands of cavalry roared in unison, their battle cries surging like a tidal wave, shaking the very sky.

In such a moment, no one could stay unaffected, no one could resist the rush of excitement.

These Xianbei warriors deeply believed their king would lead them to victory—that one day, they would become the rulers of this land.

After the chants had resounded several times, Tuoba Baxiao raised his arm once more, and the crowd immediately quieted.

Under the golden dawn light, he gazed southward.

"Advance!"

War horns blared once more, and all the cavalry marched in perfect order at his command.

Leading the march was Tuoba Wuxi's ten thousand troops, followed by Tuoba Baxiao's twenty thousand cavalry in the center, while the Duan and Kumo Xi forces formed the rear.

Lingxiao walked beside Tuoba Baxiao, stealing glances at Jiang Congyan every few steps with a pleading look, as if accusing her—*You’re really making me go through this?*

Jiang Congyan could only smile helplessly.

But when she lifted her gaze again, she found—without knowing when—Tuoba Baxiao had also turned his head, his gaze heavy upon her.