Chapter 152 Wudati Hou Couldn’t Wait Anymore…

Chapter 152: Wudati Hou Was Impatient...

The seventeenth year of Yongan.

This year's spring seemed to arrive earlier than usual, and many believed it might be a rare good year.

At the end of January, just as the harsh winter had ended, Jiang Congyan called a meeting with Ruo Lan, Gan Luo, Su Li, and others.

"How is the progress on the roads from Jinyang to Tumochuan and the royal court?"

Ruo Lan replied, "The sections within Bingzhou are already complete. Now, only the stretch near Yanmen remains. We expect to finish by August this year."

"August?" Jiang Congyan frowned. "I want to accelerate the work. It’s best if it’s finished by June."

"So urgent?" Ruo Lan's expression shifted slightly, puzzled.

Jiang Congyan nodded. "Critically urgent."

Her fingers drummed absently on the table. "This must be completed as soon as possible. Once the roads are built, iron and coal can be transported smoothly out of Bingzhou—especially the coal. If there aren’t enough workers, I permit you to recruit laborers in exchange for exempting them from taxes and labor duties this year. I’ll also allocate a portion of food supplies."

Hearing this, Ruo Lan understood. "Good. I'll see to it immediately and ensure the roads are open by June."

Jiang Congyan explained further, "This year, we may face a hundred-year cold wave. We must stockpile enough fuel in advance."

"Worse than the blizzard two years ago?"

Ruo Lan didn’t doubt the credibility of her lady’s words. Though she didn’t know how Jiang Congyan had come by this information, judging from past years, her lady’s predictions had never been wrong. Sometimes, they were so precise that Ruo Lan even wondered if her lady was truly an immortal reincarnated, possessing the ability to foresee the future.

"That blizzard would be like a stream compared to the river of this cold wave," Jiang Congyan said distantly.

A shiver ran through them, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Su Li, who had been listening to their conversation in Han Chinese, only caught a few words and looked completely lost. Jiang Congyan repeated the instructions in Xianbei. For the past two years, he had been garrisoned in Bingzhou, and she hoped he would cooperate with her people in organizing the locals to build roads and open mines.

"If that's the Khatun's order, I’ll follow it," Su Li said. Though skeptical about the cold wave, he agreed nonetheless.

He had once disliked her, but at some point, he'd naturally come to obey her commands.

With their assignments given, everyone dispersed to carry out their duties.

By evening, Tuo Baxiao hadn't returned yet, so Jiang Congyan took the opportunity to practice Baduanjin in her bedroom.

She had occasionally practiced it before, though it didn't do much for her. Some movements were beyond her ability, so she treated it merely as a way to stretch her limbs.

The ondol kept the room warm and cozy. After finishing her exercises, Jiang Congyan was slightly sweaty and decided to wash her hair and bathe.

In the bathing chamber, there was a shampoo chair. All she had to do was lie back and enjoy the process.

The first time Tuo Baxiao saw this clever device, he was amazed. He had always washed his own hair before, but after Jiang Congyan helped him a few times, he found it quite pleasurable and wanted her to do it more often.

Jiang Congyan refused to help him every time, suggesting a maid assist instead, but he wouldn’t allow it.

He disliked being touched by women other than Jiang Congyan—even her maids were only permitted to handle minor tasks, never personal care. Yet he was more than happy to let her tend to him.

After her bath, A Fei applied jade-scented lotion to Jiang Congyan’s skin and dried her hair. Noticing her nails had grown a bit long, she brought scissors. "Let me trim your nails, my lady."

"Mm." Jiang Congyan disliked long nails and had them trimmed twice a month.

She sat on a low couch nearby and held out her slender, pale hands to A Fei.

Her nails were unpainted, showing a soft pinkish hue with a natural sheen—they looked lovely.

A Fei trimmed them while sighing, "If my lady grew her nails a bit longer and polished them, she would surely be more beautiful than anyone else."

She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed—the lady didn’t pay much attention to adornment, so her hard-earned skills went underused. She secretly yearned to style her lady in all sorts of looks.

Jiang Congyan gave a small smile.

After carefully finishing her hands, A Fei glanced at her feet—the toenails were also a bit long, so she trimmed them as well.

It was at this moment that Tuo Baxiao returned, just in time to catch Jiang Congyan stretching out her delicate, porcelain-white foot while her maid attentively trimmed her nails.

Both were bent over their work and didn’t notice him at first, not until his shadow loomed over them as he approached.

Jiang Congyan looked up, startled to see him, then followed his gaze—straight to her foot. A sudden realization hit her, and she instinctively curled her toes. The motion only highlighted their soft, rounded cuteness, fair and tinged with pink.

But the man didn’t even pretend to look away, his stare unwavering, thick with implication.

Jiang Congyan itched to hide her feet under her skirt, but with A Fei still present, that’d just draw more attention.

The maids were clueless about his shamelessness.

Tuo Baxiao took in every one of her reactions, especially the way she struggled to maintain composure in front of her maid despite her obvious discomfort—absolutely charming.

A deep, amused laugh escaped him.

Jiang Congyan could clearly sense the teasing, smugness, and a hint of hidden suggestiveness in that laugh, as if deliberately reminding her of what had happened before.

She glared at him.

The room fell silent.

Not knowing whether to stay or go without her lady’s order, A Fei stood frozen, scissors clutched in her hand.

"Shouldn’t you go change?" Jiang Congyan finally chided the man.

Tuo Baxiao noticed her fair earlobes had flushed crimson, the rosy hue spreading to her neck and cheeks. Sensing she was close to snapping, he finally averted his gaze and headed to the bath to wash and change.

Only once he’d vanished behind the door curtain did Jiang Congyan say to A Fei, "Continue."

A Fei quickly finished trimming the nails and slipped away discreetly. Shortly after, Tuo Baxiao emerged from the bath and looked at her.

She was no longer on the couch but sat in a nearby chair, wearing rabbit-fur slippers.

Tuo Baxiao strode over, his long arms resting on the back of the chair as he leaned down, caging her in effortlessly.

His solid chest, still warm and damp from bathing, pressed against her.

Jiang Congyan tilted her face slightly away, lowering her lashes. "Stand properly."

Tuo Baxiao adored seeing her flustered by his teasing. "I’m not doing anything," he said, his tone utterly innocent.

...If this was nothing, what would ‘something’ look like?

She raised a hand to push him away. "Aren’t you hungry after a whole day outside?"

Tuo Baxiao: "I am."

"Then go get some food."

The man stood up, and just as Jiang Congyan breathed a sigh of relief, she was suddenly lifted into his arms.

Not only that, he twirled her around, startling her into losing a shoe.

"What’s gotten into you?!" She struck his chest hard.

Tuo Baxiao let her hit him, chuckled, then set her back on the chair. He picked up the shoe that had been flung aside and gently slipped it onto her foot, sneaking in a playful squeeze.

After the meal, barely letting her rest, the man carried her to the bed.

Within moments, soft cries escaped the bed curtains.

The man pinned her hands to the bed. "Let it out," he murmured. "They won’t hear."

He loved the sounds she made at times like this.

Whether it was his words or his skilled lips and tongue, she could no longer suppress her body’s reactions and finally let out unbridled cries.

Like the melodious song of a morning bird, or the soft mewl of a kitten.

When he’d had his fill, Tuo Baxiao retrieved a pair of golden bracelets from the wooden compartment by the bed and clasped them around her ankles. Then, he lifted those jade-like feet and brought them close...

The bells chimed softly, on and on.

Afterward, once they’d freshened up, the man pulled her into his arms and pulled the blanket over them.

Jiang Congyan hadn’t exerted much effort this time, so unlike usual, she didn’t immediately fall asleep. Nestled in the crook of his arm, she started chatting.

"Are you going out on patrol in a couple of days?"

"Mm." One of his hands rested on her waist, the other on her chest.

"Which places will you inspect this time?"

Every year, in early spring and autumn, he would inspect his lands, varying his route as needed. Last autumn, he had inspected the Murong Tribe, and it was unclear whether he would go again this year.

"I’ll take a look around the Helan Mountains." His hand had already wandered under her clothes, fingers working open her clothes.

Jiang Congyan could only try her best to ignore his mischievous hand. "Which route will you take?"

Tuo Baxiao’s eyes brightened as he looked at her. "Planning something?"

Before she could answer, he continued, "Do you want to come with me?"

"Well... I’d like to go out and see more. It’s been almost two years since I came to the Xianbei, and I’ve stayed in the royal court the whole time. I’ve never been outside. I’d like to see what Tumochuan and Zhuoyan Nao'er are like." She gazed at him with bright, dark eyes. "Will you be in a hurry? Would bringing me along delay your business?"

Tuo Baxiao had never wanted to be apart from her in the first place. Hearing her express a desire to accompany him, he wouldn’t dream of it. "Good. You’ll come with me."

He agreed so quickly that Jiang Congyan felt a little uneasy, worried he might be letting lust cloud his judgment. "You know I’m not very strong—I definitely won’t be able to ride hard every day. Won’t I just be a burden?"

Tuo Baxiao’s chest warmed at her words. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "How could you ever be a burden?"

"We’re leaving early this time, so there’s plenty of time. As long as we return before the Spring Assembly, we’ll have nearly two months."

With his reassurance, Jiang Congyan stopped hesitating.

They curled up together for the night.

After two days of preparations and delegating various court affairs, Jiang Congyan and Tuo Baxiao finally set out with their retinue.

Jiang Congyan had braced herself for the hardships of the journey but still overestimated her endurance.

They traveled light, and Jiang Congyan did not use a carriage, riding on horseback like everyone else.

After just an hour of riding, her lower back and legs grew sore, and her thighs were getting rubbed raw. Though she often rode horses, she had never ridden for so long. She clenched her jaw and toughed it out, but Tuo Baxiao quickly noticed her discomfort and tugged the reins, asking, "Tired?"

Jiang Congyan replied, "I can handle it."

Tuo Baxiao sighed. "Still playing tough? What if you fall ill from exhaustion?" Not giving her a choice, he pulled her onto his own horse.

In front of so many Imperial Guards, Jiang Congyan flushed with embarrassment and gently pushed at his arm, but he just held her tighter.

They continued on their way.

Letting him take the reins saved her the effort, and she did feel much more at ease. Yet soon, she stiffened up again as she subtly straightened her back.

But it was no use—with each stride and rise of the horse, her body swayed slightly, brushing against his behind her.

The friction between them was stirring something, and she could feel the heat coming off him.

He didn’t stop or make any improper moves, simply riding normally as if the press of his body meant nothing.

Their layers hid it well enough from others, but she still squirmed. "Maybe... I should ride on my own again. I’ve caught my breath—I’m fine now."

Her words only made him press her closer against him.

"What are you nervous about?" he breathed against her ear.

"......"

Unable to dismount, Jiang Congyan distracted herself by gazing at the clear sky and the sprawling, open grasslands.

At this time of year, the snow had not fully melted, and the land was still patchy with snow, bleak and bare—nothing particularly scenic, yet the feeling it evoked was entirely different.

Amidst such boundless openness, her chest felt a little looser too.

They did not reach Tumochuan by the first evening, stopping instead at a small tribe along the way.

The people welcomed them joyfully, clearing out tents and slaughtering livestock to honor Tuo Baxiao, their king.

Since this was merely an inspection, neither of them had brought many subordinates. Tuo Baxiao’s men were under A Long’s command, accompanied by fifty Imperial Guards, while Jiang Congyan’s were overseen by Qiumu Lingju, also with fifty people—though she had a few more maidservants than Tuo Baxiao.

Tuo Baxiao, accustomed to roughing it, only needed A Long when traveling. But as a woman, many tasks were inconvenient to leave to the Imperial Guards.

Still, she didn’t bring many attendants—just Si Zi and two half-blood attendants. She hadn’t brought A Fei, which saddened the girl, who feared her lady wouldn’t be cared for properly without her.

Jiang Congyan had explained that the journey would be harsh and that A Fei was needed to manage affairs in Changning Courtyard. Only after much reassurance did the girl finally cheer up.

The two half-blood attendants, Lu Zhu and Yun Duo, spoke both Han and Xianbei languages. Built sturdier and taller than most women, they had been trained by He Zhou in the Imperial Guard camp—tough, good in the saddle, and handy in a fight, which earned them a place on this trip.

Since joining Jiang Congyan’s service, they had mostly handled chores like fetching water. Though they had entered her bedroom, they had never attended to her closely.

This time, the Khatun had actually chosen them for the journey, filling them with joy. Determined to prove themselves, they got straight to work setting up camp as soon as they arrived.

They hadn’t brought a tent but had packed bedding, washing supplies, and plenty of pre-prepared food.

After making the bed, they hurried to boil water and roast meat pies.

After a full day of riding, even with face coverings, dust had settled on them. Figuring she’d want to freshen up right away, they prepared everything accordingly.

It was just a small tribe with a sparse population, so Tuo Baxiao took a quick stroll before returning.

Jiang Congyan was already sitting inside the tent, while Si Zi kneaded her legs.

She had wrapped soft cloth around her thighs earlier, but upon unwrapping them, she noticed her inner thighs were still chafed red. Looks like I'll need thicker padding tomorrow.

As soon as Tuo Baxiao entered, he waved Si Zi off. "Sore? I’ll do it for you."

With nearly two years of practice, his leg-massaging skills were quite good. Since Jiang Congyan was indeed sore, she let him do it.

After the meal, Lu Zhu and Yun Duo brought a basin of hot water.

The conditions were rudimentary, and the weather was cold—there was no way to bathe properly, so the two could only wipe themselves down.

After cleaning up, Jiang Congyan sat on the bed, opened a jar of face cream, scooped some onto her finger, and worked it into her skin.

The wind outside was harsh and dry, threatening to chap her skin. Looking at Tuo Baxiao, she noticed his face was also drawn tight from the cold.

She at least had a scarf to cover up, while he only had a hat, leaving his face exposed.

Jiang Congyan leaned closer to him and smiled. "Your face is about to crack from the wind. Let me put some cream on you."

Tuo Baxiao turned his head away. "What does a man need face cream for?" He resisted stubbornly, though her face cream's sweet scent filled his nose.

"Stay still." She steadied him with a hand on his shoulder, kneeling before him. "Since when can't men use it? It’d be a shame if such a handsome face got ruined by the wind."

The man paused.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Congyan dabbed a bit of cream onto his face.

"You like my face?" Tuo Baxiao asked. She had just complimented him, after all.

"...I won’t like it if it gets chapped."

Tuo Baxiao: "..."

In the end, he let her apply the cream.

Jiang Congyan slowly spread the cream over his face with her fingertips. At first, everything was normal, but her hands were so soft and delicate, moving gently across his skin. The light, sweet fragrance of the cream lingered in the air, making it impossible for Tuo Baxiao to stay unaffected.

Gradually, all he could see was her beautiful face, glowing like jade in the faint candlelight.

Just as Jiang Congyan finished applying the cream and was about to withdraw her hand, a calloused hand caught her wrist.

"You—"

Before she could finish, the man pressed forward.

The kiss went on and on. Feeling his growing arousal, Jiang Congyan stopped him when his hands began to wander.

"It’s inconvenient while traveling."

The man halted his movements, holding her down while he caught his breath.

The next day, the group arrived at Tumerchuan.

The garrison commander, agricultural officials, schoolmasters, and stewards of Tumerchuan had received word in advance and came to greet them.

The two would be staying in Tumerchuan for a few days. Jiang Congyan’s people there had set up a proper house for them, a far cry from last night's rough accommodations.

This was Jiang Congyan’s first time visiting, so she started by greeting everyone.

No one expected her to arrive with Tuo Baxiao. Some had met her at last year's spring assembly, so she wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to them.

Tumochuan had vast farmlands and a dense population, making it the most industrially developed region outside the royal court.

Jiang Congyan had already made plans. The next day, she first toured the military camp with Tuo Baxiao. Along the way were vast stretches of flat farmland.

This early in the season, the soil had only just thawed, and wild grass had yet to sprout. The landscape was barren and brown, yet farmers could already be seen busily working in the fields.

Some were driving oxen to till the soil, while others were organized to clear irrigation ditches.

Tumochuan had little rainfall, so agricultural development relied mainly on irrigation from the Yellow River. Wherever new farmland was cleared, irrigation ditches had to be dug.

Jiang Congyan also went to the banks of the Yellow River. Ruo Lan had done a good job managing it before, organizing both land reclamation and the construction of embankments.

Back then, desertification wasn’t as bad. Tumochuan was in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, where silt accumulation was much better than downstream. With reinforced embankments, major floods were unlikely unless heavy rains came.

Jiang Congyan also visited the school and the steel factory.

Fu Tiesheng had learned to read and write and had now become a technical manager in Tumochuan.

He gave Jiang Congyan a detailed report on recent progress. "Using the controlled variable method and statistical analysis you taught us, we compiled all the data to gradually study patterns. The small-scale furnace test for the gang steel method succeeded, and we’re now scaling it up. If things go smoothly, we’ll see results this year."

Jiang Congyan smiled. "Very good."

She wasn’t all-knowing—she could only point them in the right direction, combining modern scientific research methods to help them avoid detours. But the actual process still required their own research.

Jiang Congyan asked, "If iron ore supply is sufficient, how much output can we expect this year?"

Fu Tiesheng made a rough estimate and gave a number—about five hundred thousand jin.

Ancient societies had low productivity. Even Liang State, vast and resource-rich, had a peak steel output of no more than eight million jin. Five hundred thousand jin was a huge amount for the Xianbei, especially since their factory had only been established a year or two ago.

They were currently in the factory, walking and talking as they went. She was dressed simply but neatly that day—a warm pomegranate-red narrow-sleeved jacket on top, an indigo horse-face skirt reaching her ankles, and a pair of deer-skin boots. Her hair was tied up entirely with a matching pomegranate-red ribbon, and she wore no gold or silver hairpins. Yet her snow-pale beauty still stood out.

Many were getting their first close look at her, awed by the princess’s beauty but not daring to stare, afraid of offending.

Even so, Tuo Baxiao noticed their gazes, and a flare of irritation burned in him.

He glanced at her serene, beautiful profile as she listened attentively to the person beside her.

He wanted to lock her away, but he knew she would never agree to stay only at home.

That night, back in their courtyard, he pushed her onto the bed with uncharacteristic force. "So many people were looking at you today."

"Darling, are you jealous? Regretting bringing me along?" Jiang Congyan blinked innocently.

Tuo Baxiao couldn’t answer. Of course he didn’t regret it—he wanted others to know her worth, yet he didn’t want them looking at her.

"You talked with that manager for a long time today. He couldn’t take his eyes off you."

Jiang Congyan thought for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "You mean Fu Tiesheng?"

The man nodded.

Jiang Congyan laughed, poking his forehead in playful exasperation. "He was reporting work to me. Was he supposed to read my mind? And should he have been looking at someone else while talking to me?"

"He’s just a small manager, and you’re the king of the entire Xianbei. You’re threatened by him? Tuo Baxiao, where’s your pride?" She teased him lightly.

Tuo Baxiao thought to himself, "I really am this pathetic."

"Then next time, keep a straight face and don’t look so approachable."

"..."

She couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore and simply kissed his cheek.

Having gone without for days, the man couldn’t resist the temptation. They would set off again in two days, and the conditions then would surely be worse than in Tumochuan.

For now, he could think of nothing else, lost in her warmth.

After staying in Tumochuan for a few days, the party moved on. Passing through the Front Bend, they paused for several days to inspect various industries and meet with tribal leaders, discussing this year’s hardships.

When Tuo Baxiao came alone in the past, he would listen, but he’d tune out after a while. Once his expression turned cold, others would fear him and dare not speak further.

Jiang Congyan, however, was different. She was infinitely patient, warm in manner, and capable of proposing solutions. Even if a problem couldn’t be resolved immediately, she promised to gather people later to brainstorm, putting people at ease.

They thought, "Having the Khatun here isn't so bad."

Jiang Congyan also reminded them, "After the New Year, the Grand Shaman consulted the heavens. The gods decreed that this year’s weather would be extremely abnormal, with a severe cold wave coming. You must prepare for winter as early as July or August."

"What?" The crowd exclaimed in alarm, reluctant to believe it yet not daring to dismiss it.

Many stood up, gazing at the sky and murmuring prayers like, "May the gods watch over the Xianbei."

After inspecting the Front Bend, the party headed south and finally arrived at the Helan Mountains.

At the foot of the Helan Mountains lay another vast plain, known as the West Bend, spanning both banks of the Yellow River.

This was Tuo Baxiao's true destination.

He intended to lead a detachment up the Helan Mountains to survey the terrain. The mountain paths were rugged, and Jiang Congyan, worn out from the journey, decided they divide forces.

He led a detachment to patrol the border, while Jiang Congyan went to inspect the plains and meet with tribal leaders.

He was gone for four or five days. When he returned, Jiang Congyan spotted blood on his armor.

Startled, she asked, "What happened? Did you encounter enemies?"

As she spoke, she checked his arms for injuries.

Tuo Baxiao was pleased by her concern and simply said, "I’m not hurt."

"Then what happened?"

Tuo Baxiao replied, "Nothing major. Just ran into a scouting party of Huns and took care of them."

Relieved but thorough, Jiang Congyan urged him to remove his armor and change clothes, making sure he was unhurt.

Beyond the Helan Mountains lay the Huns, and both sides often sent scouts to keep tabs on each other. Run-ins like this happened often.

"Did you learn anything?"

Tuo Baxiao said, "The Huns are mustering at their capital again."

Jiang Congyan’s heart sank. Was Wudati Hou getting restless?