Chapter 141 He’s gone mad!

Chapter 141: He's Out of His Mind!

The tent where the two were lying had been borrowed temporarily—basic and cramped, with no bed, just a carpet spread on the ground and quickly cleaned up.

The original royal tent and sleeping quarters had been burned down, and the new residence was a mess after the night battle, leaving the entire royal grounds in shambles.

Jiang Congyan, held in the man's embrace, could feel his burning hot body, much hotter than usual, his cheeks and neck flushed an alarming red, his breathing heavy.

Tuoba Baxiao remained silent, not a groan or complaint escaping him as if nothing was wrong, relying solely on pure willpower. His mind was already dizzy, his limbs numb and nearly senseless, holding onto her purely by instinct.

Now that she lay safely by his side, he finally relaxed completely, and within moments, he fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Congyan was held facing him, her head resting on his shoulder. She preferred sleeping on her back, so this position was uncomfortable for her. The moment she moved a little, the man jolted and tightened his arms around her, as if afraid she might leave.

Seeing this, she had no choice but to try to relax and make herself as comfortable as possible.

She, too, was completely worn out. Since the news of Tuoba Baxiao's ambush had reached her, she hadn't slept a full night. Yesterday had been another exhausting day and night, her nerves frayed, running on pure adrenaline.

Though there was still much to handle in the aftermath of the rebellion, she was too tired to think about it now. At least, for the moment, they were both safe.

After lying like this for a while, she, too, drifted off without realizing.

The tent remained quiet for a long time, with no sound of conversation. A Fei worked up the nerve and lifted a corner of the tent flap to peek inside, seeing the two embracing in sleep before quietly letting it fall back.

"The lady and the king are asleep," she told the others.

"Let them rest for now. Keep an eye out and make sure no one disturbs them," Ruo Lan said.

After some discussion, the group split up the work.

Zhang Zheng and He Zhou were responsible for dealing with the prisoners. Qiumu Lingju, Si Zi, and Lan Zhu led efforts to reassure the displaced clansmen in the royal court. Gan Luo led the craftsmen in reconstruction work, while Zhang Fu took care of the injured...

Meanwhile, Ruo Lan sought out Tuoba Wuxi.

Tuoba Wuxi was surprised to hear that someone from Jiang Congyan's side wanted to see him. After a moment's thought, he agreed.

"Sixth Prince, thank you for jumping in when things got bad and changing the game. On behalf of the lady, I offer my deepest gratitude. Once she has a moment to spare, she will personally come to thank you."

Ruo Lan's command of the Xianbei language was now fluent, and Tuoba Wuxi understood her perfectly.

His expression remained cold, indifferent to Ruo Lan's goodwill, offering only a faint "Hmm" in response.

Ruo Lan smiled faintly, her demeanor neither submissive nor overbearing. "There is one matter I’d like to ask for your help with."

Tuoba Wuxi finally looked at her properly. "What is it?"

"I heard that Kediyan's scouts once tried to win you over. Do you know exactly which people were involved in the rebellion?" Ruo Lan asked.

Tuoba Wuxi raised an eyebrow. "Why should I tell you?"

Unfazed, Ruo Lan replied, "You could also tell the king and the Khatun directly."

These Han folks were sharp as knives—not just that Han Princess, but even her subordinates were difficult to deal with.

Tuoba Wuxi had no desire to see Tuoba Baxiao, unwilling to face his triumphant demeanor. After stewing in frustration for a while, he finally relayed what he knew to Ruo Lan.

Ruo Lan thanked him sincerely before taking her leave. Immediately afterward, she gathered her people and, using the list obtained from Tuoba Wuxi, sent A Long with Tuoba Baxiao's personal troops to arrest the suspects.

At the same time, they interrogated the prisoners—which clans, which individuals, and to what extent they had participated in the rebellion. Every last detail had to be uncovered, with no one spared.

Everyone was busy at work outside, and just like that, time passed—a day and a night went by.

By the next morning, A Fei noticed there was still no sign of movement from the two inside the tent. She grew worried but didn’t dare disturb them without cause.

Just then, Lingxiao was wandering nearby, and she had an idea.

"Lingxiao," she beckoned.

Lingxiao waddled over.

"Lingxiao, our lady hasn’t woken up after a full day and night of sleep. I’m a little worried—could you help me rouse them?" A Fei crouched down and pleaded softly with Lingxiao.

It wasn’t clear whether Lingxiao understood, but when she lifted a corner of the tent flap, Lingxiao indeed slipped inside.

It circled the two once, then stopped, tilting its head to observe them. Seeing no movement, it let out a shrill cry.

"Yo!"

The clear birdcall broke the stillness inside the tent, and finally, there was a stir on the carpet.

The first of the two to wake was Tuo Baxiao.

The man opened his eyes, his first instinct being to reach for the person still in his arms. Feeling her soft body and confirming she was lying there, his tense muscles gradually relaxed.

It was as if he’d had a nightmare—dreamed that he hadn’t returned in time... Thankfully, it was just a dream.

After sleeping for so long, the exhaustion from days of hard travel had vanished. Though the poison in his body hadn’t fully dissipated, the medicine Zhang Fu had prepared was working, leaving him in much better condition than the day before—the numbness in his limbs had lessened, and the dizziness had faded.

Tuo Baxiao’s mind wandered until he heard Lingxiao cry out again.

"Yo!"

It approached, rubbing its white head against Jiang Congyan.

That’s when Tuo Baxiao noticed something was wrong—she was running a fever too.

He was still feverish himself, so he hadn’t immediately realized her condition.

"Get in here!" Tuo Baxiao shouted.

A Fei was standing guard outside the tent and immediately lifted the flap to enter, her heart pounding.

"My king?"

"Get Zhang Fu."

Tuo Baxiao’s authoritative presence was intimidating, and seeing the lady’s flushed face, A Fei didn’t dare question him. She hurried off.

After a day of research, Zhang Fu had just finished preparing a new dose of medicine and was about to deliver it when he encountered the anxious A Fei.

"Master Zhang, come quickly—the king’s calling for you."

...

"The lady’s constitution is inherently frail. After days of continuous strain, exposure to the night wind the night before last, and severe emotional distress, it triggered this fever. I’ll prepare a dose of medicine for her—with a few days of rest, she should recover," Zhang Fu explained to Tuo Baxiao.

His tone was calm, but inwardly, he frowned.

Since last autumn, the lady had fallen ill more frequently than before, and her pulse wasn’t as strong as it once had been.

Perhaps it was indeed due to excessive stress and exhaustion, but more likely... it was the effects of that pill. Yet, Zhang Fu dared not reveal even a hint of this before the Prince of Mobei.

Despite Zhang Fu’s attempt to soften the explanation, Tuo Baxiao remained furious.

Overwork, exposure to the wind, emotional upheaval?

With Kediyan plotting rebellion, of course she’d been terrified and unable to sleep.

Tuo Baxiao’s features tensed, his deep green eyes reflecting a chilling murderous intent.

"Prepare the medicine," he commanded.

Zhang Fu felt the suffocating tension of a storm brewing but dared not say more, only focusing on his task.

Tuo Baxiao then ordered A Fei to bring water, personally wringing out a cloth to cool Jiang Congyan’s fevered forehead.

Her fever burned fiercely, and she showed no signs of waking from her unconscious state.

After an hour of work, Zhang Fu finished preparing the medicine and brought it over. Once she had taken it, Tuo Baxiao instructed, "Look after her," before storming out of the tent.

——

"Slaughter them!"

Tuo Baxiao arrived at the military camp where the rebels were held. Seeing the bound captives, his eyes were glacial, and without hesitation, he issued the order for total execution.

Zhang Zheng thought of the lady—she’d never stand idly by while the Prince of Mobei slaughtered so many. He took half a step forward, about to speak, but A Long grabbed him.

Shaking his head, A Long signaled Zhang Zheng not to provoke the prince’s wrath at this moment.

"This is how the grasslands are—the strong devour the weak. The defeated have no good end," A Long said calmly, accustomed to such scenes and seeing nothing wrong with executing prisoners.

Zhang Zheng swallowed his words.

Soon, thousands of prisoners were beheaded, their blood soaking the earth like a river, corpses piling into mountains. The sight was spine-chilling, and the faint-hearted would surely be haunted by nightmares for days.

Yet Tuo Baxiao didn’t even flinch, watching it all with cold detachment—and he was not yet satisfied.

If they’d only come for him, he might not have flown into such a rage. But they had dared to harm her.

She was his only weakness!

If not for the poison, he would have slaughtered every last rebel yesterday.

"Arrest all their families. Kill them."

Killing the rebels was one thing, but implicating their families as well...

A cold dread shot up Zhang Zheng’s spine. The Prince of Mobei spoke these words with such calm, as though ordering the deaths of tens of thousands meant nothing.

He’s lost it!

He’s completely lost it!

Zhang Zheng couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and hurried away, striding toward Jiang Congyan’s tent.

A Long hesitated but did not stop him.

On the way, Zhang Zheng ran into Ruo Lan—like grasping a lifeline.

"Auntie Ruo Lan, quickly go fetch my lady. The Prince of Mobei has gone mad—he's about to start a bloodbath. Only the lady can stop him now."

As they walked, Zhang Zheng hurriedly recounted the recent events to her. Ruo Lan was startled and picked up speed.

Upon reaching the tent, Ruo Lan pushed aside the tent flap and stepped in, while Zhang Zheng waited anxiously outside.

A Fei was still tending to Lady Jiang, dabbing her lips with a damp cloth. Seeing Ruo Lan, she called out, "Auntie Ruo Lan..."

"How is my lady now?" Ruo Lan asked.

A Fei replied, "She’s had her medicine, and her fever has come down a little, but she still hasn’t woken up."

Ruo Lan frowned. She knew Lady Jiang shouldn’t be disturbed while ill, but there was no other choice now.

"Help Lady Jiang dress and wake her," Ruo Lan instructed.

"What’s happened?"

"It’s urgent."

The two quickly dressed Jiang Congyan and helped her sit up.

"My lady, please wake up?"

Though still feverish, Jiang Congyan wasn’t entirely unconscious—just too weak to move. Hearing Ruo Lan’s urgent call, she managed to open her eyes.

Relieved, Ruo Lan helped her up, explaining Zhang Zheng’s report as they moved.

Upon hearing that Tuo Baxiao still intended to butcher the Xianbei, Jiang Congyan’s half-lidded eyes flew open.

"Get me there now," she urged, staggering forward, legs buckling.

Ruo Lan caught her and called Zhang Zheng to assist, lifting her onto a horse before mounting herself.

Tuo Baxiao ignored the approaching hoofbeats until A Long alerted him, "My prince, the Khatun is here." He spun around.

Sure enough, Jiang Congyan was riding with Ruo Lan, Zhang Zheng following close behind.

He instantly understood. She was still ill—how dare they disturb her? His eyes turned cold, even deadly, as they settled on the two.

Before Ruo Lan could help Jiang Congyan dismount, Tuo Baxiao stormed over and pulled her off himself.

"Who gave you permission to disturb the Khatun?"

Ruo Lan and Zhang Zheng lowered their heads, not daring to argue.

Jiang Congyan tilted her flushed face up. "Don’t blame them... I had to come."

Her voice was hoarse and faint, barely more than a whisper.

Tuo Baxiao gritted out, "I’m taking you back."

"No." She clutched his hand.

She tilted her red face up, eyes glistening with weakness and silent pleading.

Fever had drained her strength; her fingers were feather-light, easily restrained by his grip. Yet now, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her.