Chapter 164 “I’ve Helped You, Now You Help…”

Chapter 164: "I've Helped You, Now You Help..."

The winter of the seventeenth year of Yongan was exceptionally harsh.

After the upheaval in Guyuan, unrest spread both within and outside the court, leaving everyone in fear that Tuoba Baxiao might seize the opportunity to march south. This was also why the Emperor of Liang was temporarily willing to spare Jiang Huai—if war truly broke out, could Jiang Congyan (You'an) really abandon her own father?

The court once again mobilized its forces, drafting 100,000 troops from Qingzhou, Jingzhou, and Xuzhou to reinforce Xiaoguan, Yuguan, and Hangu Pass, standing ready for battle. Fortunately, after a period of observation, it became clear that Tuoba Baxiao had stationed his forces in Lingwu, Guyuan, and Zhongwei without any further movement. Instead, by mid-October, he had returned to the royal court with a portion of the Xianbei Army.

Everyone in the Liang State let out a sigh of relief, finally emerging from the shadow of imminent collapse.

After Wudati Hou’s defeat and Tuoba Baxiao's return to the Xianbei, Liang appeared peaceful again, having only lost some soldiers and territory. But the storm had only just begun—it wouldn’t end quietly.

Having suffered defeat, the Emperor of Liang could not take Jiang Huai’s life, nor could he do anything about Jiang Congyan. In the end, he took out his anger on the Zhao clan and Liangzhou.

If not for Zhao Bian’s incompetence and greed, how could Liang end up like this? And as for Zhang Yan—how dare he collude with that traitorous daughter to slaughter Liang’s own soldiers? His whole family deserved to die for this!

The Emperor immediately sent envoys to Liangzhou with an edict, arresting Zhang Yan on charges of treason and bringing him back to Chang’an. He also ordered the entire Zhao clan to be seized and imprisoned—the men executed, the women enslaved in the palace as maidservants. Even Noble Consort Zhao was not spared, demoted and confined to the cold palace.

Though she had already fallen out of the Emperor’s favor before this, she had at least retained her title as Noble Consort, and the Zhao clan had not yet collapsed. Though her life was no longer as glorious as before, she could endure it. Now, however, she had hit rock bottom.

Noble Consort Zhao stood motionless in the snow as the palace attendants arrived to announce the decree.

"Zhao Shi, you are to receive the edict."

The words "Zhao Shi" clearly reminded her of her current status.

She remained still as the cold wind whipped her face. After standing for a while, she suddenly shuddered, lifted her head, and started laughing uncontrollably.

"Hahaha, hahaha..."

The palace attendants called out again, but she only laughed, as if she could no longer hear anything.

"Did Zhao Shi lose her mind?" whispered a young eunuch nearby.

"Mad or not, His Majesty’s word is final—she is now commoner Zhao Shi, no longer Noble Consort Zhao."

The palace attendants came and went.

Her last few maids abandoned her.

In Luo Tong’s residence, Minister of the Imperial Stud...

When Fifth Princess heard that Noble Consort Zhao had been deposed, she demanded to go to the palace and beg for leniency. Luo Tong stopped her. "What’s the point of begging? Zhao Bian committed such a grave crime, getting hundreds of thousands of our best soldiers killed and offending the Xianbei. The Emperor’s rage has the whole court terrified. If you go now, you’ll only provoke him further. Do you want our Luo family to suffer alongside them?"

Jiang Yinzhu, furious at his callousness, snapped, "She is my mother! Am I supposed to just watch her spend the rest of her life in the cold palace? As her son-in-law, you refuse to help—fine! But now you’re stopping me from even seeing my father?"

Luo Tong’s face darkened as he grabbed her arm. "You can arrange for someone to look after her later, but I won’t allow you to enter the palace now."

"And if I insist?" She pushed him back hard.

"Servants!" Luo Tong barked. The household servants immediately gathered, blocking the doorway.

Jiang Yinzhu gaped at them. "Luo Tong, what are you doing? You’re locking me up? You’ve got some nerve!"

Luo Tong ignored her yelling, his silence making his stance clear.

"I am a princess! How dare you treat me like this—" Jiang Yinzhu refused to relent.

Seeing that she would not calm down anytime soon, Luo Tong ordered the servants to block her way and left.

Jiang Yinzhu tried to force her way through, but the servants showed no fear of her. She ranted and raved until her voice grew hoarse and her strength drained away, finally giving up in defeat.

She tilted her head back, gazing at the narrow square of sky visible within the courtyard walls, twin trails of tears sliding down her cheeks.

Mother, you misjudged them too. All men are truly worthless. Father could drop you cold, and even the son-in-law you handpicked for his supposed integrity and loyalty threw us under the carriage when it mattered most, desperate to distance himself lest he be implicated.

Mother, what should I do now?

Two and a half years earlier, Noble Consort Zhao had fallen from favor due to Zhao Zhen's incident. After exhausting every means to regain the emperor's affection, she finally understood her predicament—she had been utterly discarded by the emperor.

Once she reluctantly accepted this truth, she thought of her daughter. If she had lost favor, what would become of Yinzhu? The northern tribes were always watching covetously. If another tribal chief demanded a political marriage, how could Yinzhu possibly escape?

While she still had some connections left, Noble Consort Zhao began searching for a suitable husband for her daughter. After much deliberation, she settled on the Luo family.

In the past, a family like the Luo's would never have been worthy of her daughter. But times had changed. Tainted by Zhao Zhen's disgrace, the Zhao clan's reputation had suffered, and many noble families were unwilling to marry the Fifth Princess associated with the Zhaos. The ladies who once swarmed around Noble Consort Zhao like bees, fawning over her, had all vanished.

This fair-weather friendship infuriated Noble Consort Zhao, but what could she do? The Zhao family was no longer the illustrious powerhouse it once was, and she was no longer the peerlessly favored Noble Consort Zhao. She could only choose a reliable match from among the second-tier families, ultimately selecting the Luo family. Luo Tong had a reputation for integrity, and Noble Consort Zhao hoped only that her daughter could live a stable life after marrying him. Before the wedding, she repeatedly admonished Yinzhu to be obedient and sensible, to think carefully before acting, and to abandon her former willfulness.

Jiang Yinzhu obeyed. After marriage, she tempered her temper considerably over those two years. Yet Luo Tong grew increasingly indifferent toward her, until today when he acted like she didn't exist. Even the household servants no longer heeded her commands. The once lofty princess had finally tumbled from phoenix to sparrow.

Would she have to endure such humiliation for the rest of her life? And Mother—how could she possibly help her now?

Inevitably, Jiang Yinzhu thought of Jiang Yuer again. Married to Huan Jun, she must be living much better than herself.

Jiang Yuer was also anxious at this moment. Confined to the inner quarters with no access to court affairs and Huan Jun away from home, she only learned about the events in Guyuan much later.

By then, multiple conflicting rumors had already spread through Chang'an. One claimed Jiang Congyan had planned everything from the start, pretending to fall for Zhao Bian's scheme while actually colluding with Tuo Baxiao to seize Liang's cities. Another painted her as a jinx whose abduction drove Tuo Baxiao to slaughter tens of thousands of Liang soldiers in vengeance. The rumors grew increasingly exaggerated, especially those involving women in warfare—people always viewed such tales with morbid curiosity, prime material for tea-house chatter.

With only a few maids around her and no reliable means to uncover the truth, Jiang Yuer writhed in frustration in her courtyard. After much deliberation, she decided to have Eleventh Brother investigate.

Since she needed his help, she instructed Nv Xia to prepare two trays of pastries.

Before leaving Chang'an, Jiang Congyan had not only gifted her jewelry but also several recipes for pastries and dishes.

In this era, culinary and medicinal recipes were valuable assets closely guarded by great families, rarely shared with outsiders. For a bride to bring such recipes as part of her dowry signified exceptional familial regard.

Naturally, what Jiang Congyan gave her were all exquisite.

Every few months, Jiang Yuer would claim to have perfected a new pastry recipe through experimentation, having her maids prepare it as an offering to Huan's mother. Gentle and compliant by nature, Jiang Yuer might as well have been widowed since marriage, with Huan Jun scarcely ever home. Considering this, and moved by her filial devotion, Huan's mother treated her with increasing kindness. When the Huan family hosted banquets later, their pastries earned praise from many noble ladies, greatly enhancing Huan's mother's face. Consequently, she grew even warmer toward Jiang Yuer, making the latter's life tolerable—boring perhaps, but stable.

Jiang Yuer often brought pastries to Huan's mother, and Eleventh Brother frequently visited his mother to pay respects. The moment he caught their aroma, he couldn't resist tasting them and immediately became enamored.

Jiang Yuer suspected he had a dog's nose—whenever he was home, he'd invariably appear at precisely the right moment to partake. With Huan's mother present, she couldn't refuse and had to play the caring sister-in-law, offering him more.

After several such encounters, Jiang Yuer took the initiative to say before Huan's mother, "Since Eleventh Brother enjoys them so, I'll have pastries delivered next door for him from now on."

Eleventh Brother was delighted, though he felt somewhat embarrassed about constantly freeloading. He proactively asked if there was anything he could do in return.

After some thought, Jiang Yuer requested his help in borrowing books.

The Huan family possessed many volumes, but they were all kept in the front courtyard study—an area she couldn't access.

Eleventh Brother was surprised to learn she enjoyed reading, something he found utterly baffling. Beyond mandatory school texts, he couldn't sit still for books, he'd rather be drilling with swords. Becoming a battlefield general someday would be ideal. Nevertheless, he agreed to Jiang Yuer's request.

Through these interactions, what began as hostility gradually softened. Not only did Eleventh Brother warm to the Sixth Princess, he even found her alright after all—especially after an incident last year where she bailed him out.

Yet the young man's heart remained conflicted. She was good, and Sister Lu was good too. Whomever his elder brother chose would mean breaking the other's heart.

Now, Jiang Yuer had Nv Xia deliver pastries next door.

Eleventh Brother was surprised she came to him first and felt strangely happy—her first time reaching out to him.

"What brings you here?" Eleventh Brother raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," she murmured, looking down.

Over the past two years, Eleventh Brother, who had once still looked like a boy, had grown taller. Combined with his martial training, his physique had grown strong, and his youthful air had faded, looking more like a grown man now.

Jiang Yuer had once been about the same height as him, but now she had to tilt her head up to look at him.

"Come in and talk."

Jiang Yuer hesitated for a moment. A few words wouldn’t cut it, and lingering at the door wasn’t proper. In the end, she agreed.

"Eleventh Brother, I need a favor..."

Jiang Yuer explained her purpose. After listening, Eleventh Brother asked, "Are you close with Princess You'an?"

She replied, "She helped me once. I just want to check on her."

Eleventh Brother said, "You got help from her people last year, right?"

Jiang Yuer was startled, widening her eyes at him.

But it wasn’t hard to guess. She usually had little social interaction, yet when trouble arose last year, she’d pulled strings to get help. Now she was specifically asking about Jiang Congyan’s situation—it had to be related to her.

Huan Jun had previously kept ties with Lu Yun, frequently visiting her. Everyone knew Lu Yun was his woman and didn’t dare make advances. But now that he was married and had left Chang’an, heading south where he wouldn’t return home even once a year, he was too far away to protect her. Lu Yun, alone and without family protection, became a target for the entitled young nobles, who began harassing her. When she refused them, they tried to break in and assault her.

Lu Yun’s maid had no choice but to seek out Eleventh Brother for help. But Eleventh Brother was just a kid with no clout—the offenders weren’t afraid of him, and the Huan family wouldn’t intervene for Lu Yun’s sake. Just as he was at his wit’s end, Jiang Yuer had helped him find someone to resolve the matter.

Naturally, Eleventh Brother had been astonished, but since Jiang Yuer didn’t explain, he hadn’t pressed her—only remembered the favor. Now he got it.

Seeing her tense up, he quickly bent down to reassure her, "Relax, your secret’s safe."

"Princess You'an should be fine—we’d have heard by now. If you want more details, I’ll look into it and let you know as soon as I find out."

Jiang Yuer could only nod.

Hearing that Ah Yan was safe, she relaxed a little, but another worry surfaced in her heart—had she truly cut ties with Liang? If so, would they ever have a chance to meet again?

"Thank you, Eleventh Brother," Jiang Yuer said sincerely, looking at him.

"D-don’t mention it," Eleventh Brother stammered, scratching the back of his head as he met the girl’s bright eyes.

Suddenly, he felt a flicker of curiosity about this Princess You'an. What kind of person was she, really? Was she the unfilial daughter and femme fatale others spoke of, or the remarkable woman who had once helped him?

If Jiang Yuer could ask her people to help save Sister Lu, she probably wasn’t a bad person.

Meanwhile, Jiang Congyan had already returned to the capital with Tuoba Xiao.

After being away for half a year, the capital looked the same. The tribespeople still lived peacefully, unscathed by the war—if anything, they were filled with pride. Tuoba Xiao had defeated Wudati Hou and the Liang State army, proving once again that under his leadership, the Xianbei cavalry was invincible. His prestige among the Xianbei had reached new heights.

When leaving Guyuan, Jiang Congyan had left Zhang Zheng behind to oversee the reorganization of the surrendered troops.

With a full seventy thousand prisoners of war, Zhang Zheng became a general overnight. If the reorganization succeeded, he would become the commander of the largest force aside from Tuoba Xiao himself, even surpassing Su Li and the others.

Zhang Zheng accepted the assignment with a mix of excitement and trepidation, swearing not to let her down.

Three years ago, when he had decided to follow the lady north, he had never imagined reaching such a position. Liangzhou had many soldiers more experienced and valiant than him—he had simply been chosen to escort the lady by chance, and by further chance, she had married Tuoba Xiao, allowing him to rise step by step to become a general. Talk about luck and destiny!

Zhang Zheng thought to himself that his decision was not wrong—to follow such a ruler was the luckiest thing in his life.

Zhang Zheng remained in Guyuan, but Jiang Congyan brought Zhou Hong back with her.

Among the surrendering generals, Li Xiang and Dou Tian surrendered with little resistance. Having rebelled alongside Zhang Yan, they knew the Liang State would never take them back even if they didn’t surrender. Moreover, they clung to a self-deceptive justification: they had surrendered to Jiang Congyan, a princess of Liang, not Tuo Baxiao, so it wouldn’t count as betraying Han for the barbarians. After their surrender, Jiang Congyan promoted both from captains to deputy generals, which only deepened their loyalty to her.

Chen Qi and Dong Yao remained hesitant, unable to make up their minds. Zhou Hong, however, remained steadfast in his refusal, and despite Jiang Congyan’s attempts to persuade him, he stayed unmoved.

"As a descendant of the Zhou clan, how could I ever serve barbarians? Kill me or release me," he said.

Jiang Congyan considered for a moment and ultimately decided to take him back to the Xianbei.

"Let’s make a deal, General Zhou. Serve as my guard for three years, and when the term ends, I’ll let you go."

Zhou Hong couldn’t believe it, sure it was a trap. "Your Highness truly intends to release me?"

Jiang Congyan replied, "Naturally, I hope you’ll pledge loyalty to me. But since you refuse, I respect your loyalty and won’t kill you. So, these three years will be our contest—we’ll see who comes out on top."

"Well then, do you dare take this bet?"

Zhou Hong thought that as long as he held firm to his principles, no matter how she tried to sway him, he wouldn’t be fooled. Three years—he could tough it out.

"Fine, I’ll take the bet," Zhou Hong gritted his teeth.

"A handshake seals it."

After the agreement was made, Zhou Hong suddenly asked, "You’re not worried I’ll run, Your Highness?"

Jiang Congyan smiled. "If you’re that dishonorable, then keeping you would be pointless. Run if you must."

Zhou Hong was struck by her confidence and magnanimity—traits even veteran generals lacked. He had never met a woman like her before.

Until now, his impression of Princess You'an had been shaped by her renowned beauty and the banquet dance that had captivated the Prince of Mobei at first sight—a hazy but dazzling idea. Only after witnessing her courage, decisiveness, and cunning firsthand did he realize that this princess was far more than just a beautiful woman. She had the wit and presence of a born leader.

If the emperor of Liang were like her…

Shaking himself out of it, Zhou Hong shuddered. No, no matter how remarkable she was, she was now Tuo Baxiao’s wife, representing the Xianbei. He couldn’t let himself be swayed by her.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to resent her, especially after hearing how she had handled the 70,000 surrendered soldiers. She had refrained from indiscriminate slaughter and barred the Xianbei Army from mistreating them, keeping them under the command of her Han generals. For the common soldiers, little had changed for them aside from a change in leadership. Given time, the rank-and-file would likely pledge full allegiance to her.

The three-year term had only just begun, yet a sense of dread crept in.

His duty and ambition were to protect the Liang State—he could never bow to barbarians. Zhou Hong repeatedly reminded himself to hold firm to his principles.

Jiang Congyan watched his shifting expressions with amusement.

That evening, when Tuo Baxiao learned about Zhou Hong, his worry spiked. "He’s a surrendered Liang general. Keeping him by your side as a guard—what if he tries something? Send him away. If you need men, I’ll assign others to you. How about General Modolou?"

When it came to her safety, Tuo Baxiao couldn’t help but overthink. He couldn’t bear even the slightest risk.

Seeing that he’d offer up Modolou himself, Jiang Congyan knew he was haunted by past fears. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rising to meet his gaze from above. "Don’t worry. I’m not reckless with my life. If I trust my judgment with him, there’s a reason."

Zhou Hong was a descendant of Zhou Qiong, who had served the Founding Emperor his entire life. Given that she herself carried the Founding Emperor’s bloodline, the Zhou family would never harm her. Moreover, history remembered Zhou Hong as loyal and upright. Of course, historical records couldn’t be fully trusted, but after observing him, she found he fit the description.

"At most, he’ll try to escape. He won’t harm me. Humor me this time, alright, husband?"

She deliberately leaned in close to his face and cooed the word "husband" in a sweet, honeyed voice directly into his ear. Tuo Baxiao was utterly enchanted; he could barely hold on.

"Have someone keep a tight watch on him. If he makes any move, arrest him immediately," he managed to say with his last shred of rationality.

"Mm-hmm," the girl responded in a soft, delicate tone.

Unable to hold back any longer, Tuo Baxiao cupped her face and kissed her.

After their journey south, they’d had precious little time for intimacy. He was busy with battles, and they were often apart. Then came the incident at Guyuan—her arm was injured, the weather was freezing, and conditions were rough. He couldn’t afford to be reckless, let alone indulge in closeness during their return journey.

Having held back for so long, now that they were home and she’d regained her strength after resting for two days, he had been longing for this and even specially ordered the heated floor in their room to be extra toasty.

Outside, the world was a frozen, snow-covered wasteland, but inside their bedroom, it was as warm as spring.

Jiang Congyan was laid on the bed, and the man’s strong body pressed down on her.

Gradually, their skin grew slick with sweat.

She could clearly feel how tense he was, yet he didn’t proceed further. Instead, he kissed his way down, his large hand gripping the bend of her knee.

"You..."

Her toes curled on their own. Though it wasn’t her first time, she still felt a little shy—especially since he was deliberately tormenting her.

Scolding him or scratching him didn’t make him stop. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back and let out soft whimpers.

Hearing her delicate cries, Tuo Baxiao was nearly driven wild.

Once the wave of passion finally subsided, he leaned in and whispered hoarsely, "How about returning the favor?"

Jiang Congyan froze for a moment before turning her head away without hesitation. "Nope."

Tuo Baxiao refused to give up. "I helped you. Now it’s your turn to help me."

She covered her face. "I didn’t ask you to. You’re the one who..."

After coaxing her for a while and seeing she truly wouldn’t relent, he reluctantly gave up, though he still wanted more.

But a man like him wasn’t one to accept defeat. If he was refused in one way, he would demand compensation elsewhere, taking it out on her with all his strength.

After so long, Jiang Congyan once again experienced the sensation of sleeping until afternoon. When she woke, her body was sore all over—that damn man.

Tuo Baxiao simply held her, letting her complain.

In the heart of winter, nestled in a warm bed with the one he loved in his arms—nothing felt better.

He felt completely boneless. For a moment, he cared nothing for the world or his ambitions.

"No wonder so many rulers throughout history lost themselves in love’s embrace. I’d gladly do the same," the man mused.

Jiang Congyan: "..."

A few days later, she received a letter from Liangzhou.

The Emperor of Liang had ordered Zhang Yan arrested and brought to the capital, intending to charge him with treason. The Marquis of Liangzhou, of course, refused—he didn’t even let the messenger past the gates, sending them away immediately.

Zhao Bian’s act of taking Jiang Congyan hostage had ultimately angered the Marquis. Now that the Emperor of Liang had torn off all pretenses, the Marquis had no reason to hold back.

In the letter, the Marquis also told Jiang Congyan that he didn’t hold it against her—he just hoped she’d remember she was the bloodline of the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen.

Jiang Congyan understood her grandfather's meaning, and her worries eased.

She had been a bit concerned before. With how much Grandpa loved Liang, he would never want the Liang State to fall into the hands of the northern tribes. Even though she had married Tuo Baxiao, her grandfather wouldn’t simply accept him.

But Liang was already doomed, she thought.

That evening, as the two snuggled on the couch reading, Jiang Congyan told Tuo Baxiao about it.

"Next April is my grandfather's 70th birthday. I want to return to Liangzhou to visit him. Will you come with me?"

"It's been three years since I last saw my grandfather. They're getting older, and who knows how often I'll get to see them." At this, Jiang Congyan suddenly grew melancholic.

Tuo Baxiao pulled her into his arms. "Alright, I'll go with you."

The next day, Zhang Fu came over of his own accord.

"My lady, my father has also written to me. He said the new medical texts have been compiled into three volumes and asked for your review to see if there are any omissions or changes needed." He presented the completed medical texts.

Jiang Congyan perked up.

Compiling medical texts was a huge undertaking, especially for a completely new system like modern medicine.

She had studied some theories, but the specific details required physicians to gradually practice and adapt to the times. After nearly a decade of research, Zhang Yuan had finally worked out a basic system.

Jiang Congyan began flipping through the pages.

Zhang Fu added, "Father said that if you find these medical texts worthy of publication, he asks you to put your name on them."

Jiang Congyan's hand paused as she felt a rush of warmth.

Zhang Yuan was supporting her in his own way.

No matter the reasons behind the incident in Guyuan, in the end, she had publicly backed Tuo Baxiao, getting heat from all over Liang. She was well aware of this.

Compiling medical texts was a significant task, especially for an entirely new branch of medicine—it could be considered the founding of a new school.

If she put her name on it, centuries later, regardless of how history judged her, this would remain her lasting mark.

Jiang Congyan hesitated. "But your father spent ten years painstakingly compiling these."

Zhang Fu replied, "Father said that without your guidance, this new medicine would never have come to fruition. Compared to what grows from it, the initial seed is the most fundamental. If you don’t put your name on it, he'd feel even less worthy."

Since that was the case, Jiang Congyan stopped objecting.

The family and friends she had helped and befriended were all quietly backing her in their own ways.

She wasn't afraid of the world's praise or criticism—she had long prepared herself mentally when she embarked on this path. But their understanding still touched her.

Zhang Fu left her a set of the medical texts, keeping another for himself, and returned home to study them nonstop.

An idea came to him—to compile his years of medical cases into a volume. Though it couldn’t be considered a formal medical text, it could help with similar cases.

He already had the habit of recording cases, so the task wasn’t difficult, just tedious, requiring him to dig up all the old prescriptions.

Over the next few days, he got to work with some apprentices.

While organizing, a prescription fell from the medical book. Just as one of the apprentices reached to pick it up, Zhang Fu suddenly snatched it first, looking nervous.

This piqued the young man's curiosity.