Chapter 150 “Divine Doctor, can fish bladder also be used as medicine…”

Chapter 150: "Miracle Doctor, Fish Bladders Can Also Be Used as Medicine..."

With his assurance, the matter was smoothly resolved. She no longer needed to take medicine, yet Jiang Congyan did not feel as relieved as she had imagined. Instead, her heart was burdened by another heavy feeling.

If Tuoba XIAO successfully avoided his fatal calamity and the Xianbei continued to grow stronger, he would inevitably need to have a child. She wasn’t selfless enough to let him have a child with another woman, which led her back to the same problem.

Should she bear a child?

Waiting a year or two was fine, but what about five or six years? Even if he was willing, his subordinates would never allow it. The throne needed an heir. If he remained childless for too long, some might start scheming.

But for now, she truly didn’t know what to do. She could only play it by ear.

The next day, Jiang Congyan invited Zhang Fu over and let him know her thoughts. He gave her a relieved glance, letting out a long breath, as if his head was no longer at risk—no longer needing to live in fear that the Prince of Mobei might one day discover the truth and have him executed.

"My lady, you’ve finally seen reason. You should have discussed this with the Prince of Mobei earlier. Fortunately, it’s not too late now."

Two days later, Zhang Fu personally delivered a small box.

In truth, it would’ve been better to tell Tuoba XIAO directly, but Zhang Fu was too intimidated by his aura and had no desire to approach him.

Jiang Congyan, too, was too embarrassed to give this to her maids. Hiding her unease, she accepted it with a composed expression.

Whether out of consideration for her embarrassment or adherence to medical professionalism, Zhang Fu maintained a professional air as he opened the box.

The wooden box had two layers. The lower compartment held a porcelain bottle of medicinal liquid, while the upper layer contained the items for use, made from two different materials. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that each material came in two sizes.

...How considerate.

Zhang Fu had been too embarrassed to ask Tuoba XIAO about his exact measurements, so he had relied on his medical experience to estimate. Considering the elasticity of the material and unsure which size Tuoba XIAO might prefer, he had prepared both a snug and a looser fit.

Having practiced medicine for many years, he had encountered all sorts of unusual cases and understood well the importance of a harmonious marriage—especially for those in positions of power. If a man was unhappy in this area, there was always the risk of him being tempted by another...

They all depended on the young lady to keep their position among the Xianbei. If someone were to divert the Prince of Mobei’s affections, it would be bad for her and them alike. Naturally, he had to put extra care into this matter.

"One is made from sheep intestine, the other from fish bladder. I’m not sure which will be more comfortable, so you can test both. If there are any inconveniences, you can let me know, and I’ll see if improvements can be made," Zhang Fu said, pulling out a neatly folded piece of paper from his sleeve and handing it to her. "The instructions are here."

After Zhang Fu left, Jiang Congyan glanced over the paper and found the instructions to be incredibly thorough.

From how to soak the item before use to cleaning and maintenance afterward, everything was covered. It even mentioned how many times each could be reused—incredibly thorough.

Jiang Congyan looked it over before placing both the box and the instructions into the cabinet beneath her dressing table.

That evening, when Tuoba XIAO returned, he asked, "Has Zhang Fu been here?"

"...Yes."

"Did he bring that thing?"

"...Yes."

"Where is it?"

Jiang Congyan pointed silently toward the dressing table.

Tuoba XIAO went to retrieve it.

Having never used such a thing before, he was rather curious.

Opening the box, the first thing he saw was the instructions placed right on top.

He picked up the paper, first giving the items a squeeze. The texture felt rather stiff, and he frowned—it looked unusable at first glance.

"How do you use this?"

"The instructions are on the paper."

Tuo Baxiao unfolded the instructions. After reading them, he couldn’t help but complain, "This is such a hassle."

Jiang Congyan knew he was feeling aggrieved. She walked over, gently wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling her face against his chest. "I know you’re putting up with this for me, my lord. This is all for my sake."

Her sweet talk shut Tuo Baxiao up.

A few days ago, he’d worried she might be hiding any discomfort and had dragged Zhang Fu over to question him again. Of course, Zhang Fu didn’t dare reveal anything else, only stating that given the lady’s current health, pregnancy wasn’t advisable—it’d be too hard on her body. Since she was already weak in qi and blood, waiting a year or two before conceiving would be better for both mother and child.

Tuo Baxiao didn’t question it.

If this was really better for her, then fine—even if it was annoying.

He held her for a while before going to prepare the items.

He grabbed a bowl, filled it with warm water, and selected one of each to soak, following the instructions by adding a few drops of the medicinal solution.

The solution not only removed any residual odor but also enhanced the material’s flexibility.

Jiang Congyan watched his actions. "Soaking so many?"

Tuo Baxiao replied, "First time using these. No clue which one’s better, so yeah, we’re trying them all."

"..." *You’d better just be testing them and not planning to use every last one.*

Tuo Baxiao paid no mind to whether she saw through his intentions. He stared at the bowl for a while, occasionally giving the items a squeeze. As they absorbed water, the texture did soften.

At first, he was curious, but once he actually used them, he found it not nearly as good as before.

Guilty, Jiang Congyan tried to make it up to him, taking the initiative to kiss him and running her delicate fingers over his prominent Adam’s apple. This way, he gradually accepted it, holding her close and murmuring sweet words for a long time.

In the end, he only used two—the other two were too tight—no good.

Even then, he didn’t particularly like either of them. Between the two, the fish-bladder one was thinner and stretchier—he liked that better.

They came in different thicknesses too. Tuo Baxiao favored the thinner ones, but they ripped easier and didn’t last as long.

So he sought out Zhang Fu and asked him to make more, preferably the thin ones.

But no matter how comfortable they were, after experiencing the ultimate pleasure before, having this barrier now was definitely a letdown for him. So he shifted his focus, testing moves from the book on her—sometimes her legs, sometimes her breasts, but most often, he would slip those golden bracelets onto her wrists and grip her jade-white feet.

He had brought this up before, but she had refused at the time. Now, he coaxed her again. The man had indeed made many concessions for her. Torn between guilt and reluctance, Jiang Congyan finally gave in.

At his age, he was in his prime—a king who held the power of life and death. He didn’t have to hold back, but he did. If people found out, they’d probably laugh at him.

It wasn’t that she agreed with the idea of men keeping multiple wives and concubines—that’s just how things were.

If she could make it up to him somehow, maybe that was okay.

Not all fish bladders were this big, and the quality varied greatly depending on the species. No way Zhang Fu could collect enough by himself. Thus, the physician, who had previously only purchased medicinal herbs, now had to add "fish bladders" to the list of items his clinic procured.

Someone noticed and asked curiously, "Master Physician, can fish bladders be used as medicine too?"

Zhang Fu answered expressionlessly, "Call it a... unique medicinal ingredient."

After sorting through things, there was enough to go around.

Several days later, Jiang Congyan was startled to learn that Wudati Hou was leading a Xiongnu force south to plunder.

She hurriedly found Tuo Baxiao in the study of the front courtyard, only to see that the man showed no surprise.

“You already knew?”

Tuo Baxiao nodded. “Essentially. We received word that day saying the Xiongnu were mobilizing their forces.”

“Such an important matter—why didn’t you tell me?”

Jiang Congyan felt a pang of frustration. If Wudati Hou marched south, Liang State would bear the brunt. He knew full well her family was in Liang State, yet he withheld such vital information from her.

Tuo Baxiao saw little significance in it, but seeing her anger, he modulated his voice, offering an explanation. “That day, I saw you crying and was so worried I forgot.”

“You forgot at the time, but why didn’t you tell me afterward?” Jiang Congyan compressed her lips.

“I saw little significance in it. Wudati Hou is attacking Liang State, and you’ve already left. It has nothing to do with you.”

In Tuo Baxiao’s mind, she was his now, completely severed from Liang State.

Jiang Congyan said, “It may not affect the Xianbei much, but if Wudati Hou heads south, Liang State will be the front line of battle. My mother's family is all there—of course I’d worry about them and want to know the news as soon as possible.”

Though she tried to restrain her emotions, her tone held an edge.

Tuo Baxiao fell silent for a moment. He truly didn’t care about Liang State and felt no kinship with the Zhang family. Even knowing her maternal grandfather was there didn’t concern him.

Rulers faced all kinds of challenges. If they lacked the ability, they’d be killed—it was only natural. Moreover, he didn’t want her forever fretting over others.

But if he voiced this, she’d surely be furious.

“Fine, I was wrong. From now on, whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you,” he relented, pulling her firmly into his arms.

Jiang Congyan sensed he didn’t genuinely believe he was at fault, but with this promise, her resistance melted. She leaned against his shoulder. “You know I grew up in Liang State. My grandfather cherished me like precious jade, and my siblings were wonderful to me. I don’t want anything to happen to them—or to the soldiers and civilians of Liang State. They’ve only had a few years of peace. If war breaks out again, countless families will be torn apart.”

Tuo Baxiao marveled that she'd worry even about unrelated people. “You care too much. They have their own lives to live—what can you alone do? Zhang Fu said you must ease your mind to regain health.”

Jiang Congyan had no rebuttal. If she had been born an ordinary person in this era, she wouldn’t trouble herself with such matters. But having come from the future, knowing history's bloody trajectory and how this land would be ravaged, how the people would suffer in darkness—she couldn’t help but wonder: Could she, with her slight foreknowledge, deflect history's course even slightly?

And if the entire land were engulfed in war, how could she emerge unscathed?

Tuo Baxiao looked down at her, noticing the sorrow in her expression, and tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry too much. I doubt Wudati Hou is truly determined to march south now.”

Jiang Congyan lifted her head. “How so?”

“Our scouts report that Wudati Hou hasn’t mobilized the full Xiongnu army. The weather is cold now—it won’t sustain prolonged warfare. They’d have to travel far, while Liang State can defend from behind city walls, giving them the advantage.”

“Then why is he doing this?”

“Most likely, he’s consolidating his newly seized throne and rallying support. That’s why he’s gathering forces now.”

Hearing this, Jiang Congyan understood immediately.

Her earlier panic had clouded her judgment, but now, calmer, she saw Tuo Baxiao was right.

Winter campaigns were inherently difficult, with unpredictable weather. Another blizzard like last year’s wouldn’t even require enemy attacks—the cold alone could kill countless men and horses.

Extreme cold was deadly, not just in ancient times but even in modern warfare.

Every Xiongnu warrior dreamed of raiding the south. Wudati Hou’s move was a show of resolve. If he could plunder grain from nearby regions, it would be killing two birds with one stone. The Xiongnu were strong, but their lives were harsher than the Xianbei’s, especially in winter.

News took time to travel. By the time Jiang Congyan learned of it, Wudati Hou’s forces had already reached Zhangye and Zhongwei.