Chapter 169 Grandfather, Go Borrow from Grandfather…

Chapter 169: Grandfather—I must ask Grandfather for help...

For a moment, Jiang Congyan almost forgot to breathe, lost all feeling. Her soul and body seemed to separate, her mind blank, the scene before her blurred as the world spun around her.

After a wave of dizziness, her heart suddenly erupted with excruciating pain. The searing agony finally dragged her wandering spirit back. Her face turned ghostly pale, beads of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead as she clutched her chest in visible distress, looking as though she might collapse at any moment. They cried, worrying her maids and the Imperial Guards.

"My lady!"

"My lady!"

Tuo Baxiao could not escape his fatal fate; all their efforts over the years now wasted. Jiang Congyan could not, would not accept this outcome.

Fate was mocking her. She had worked so hard to avoid Tuo Baxiao's early demise—why, why was it her actions that had led him into this desperate situation?

A wave of unprecedented regret washed over her. This was a turbulent year, and she knew he might face danger—so why had she quarreled with him? Even just reassuring him would have sufficed. Yet at that moment, faced with his questioning, she had lost her usual composure. Perhaps his love was too intense, too pure, making it impossible for her to utter a single insincere word—and causing her to forget this hidden danger.

She had thought the biggest threat would come from the battlefield. Never had she imagined it would be herself.

But why had he pursued her so urgently? Their return to Liangzhou had been planned long ago—had he forgotten?

Jiang Congyan shook violently. She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, steadying herself with Si Zi's support.

She couldn’t panic. The report only said he had been ambushed. He was so brave and sharp-eyed—he wouldn’t be easily captured. There was still a chance. She could still save him. She *had* to save him!

The confusion in Jiang Congyan’s eyes dissipated, replaced by piercing focus as she turned to the messenger guard. "How many Imperial Guards did the king take with him?"

"Fewer than two hundred."

Her heart lurched. The veins on her snow-white hand, gripping Si Zi’s arm, bulged prominently. That was far fewer than she had expected.

No—she had to stay calm.

"Aside from you, did anyone else escape? Were any other calls for help sent?" she pressed.

The guard replied, "I can't be sure. Once the king spotted the ambush in the valley, he led us in an immediate breakthrough. But the enemy forces were too numerous, all fixated on him. He ordered a few of us to split up and break through to seek reinforcements. The enemy also sent troops to intercept us. I only just escaped—I don’t know if the others succeeded."

Jiang Congyan closed her eyes. This trap had been set from the moment she was attacked. She had been the bait to lure Tuo Baxiao in. Had she been captured, the enemy would have achieved their goal. But even her escape had been used to deceive him—and Tuo Baxiao, with all his battle experience, had pursued with so few men. Had he not sensed the danger? Had he truly believed their ruse? Or had he simply been too desperate to care?

The Xiongnu had carefully orchestrated this ambush. They wouldn’t get a second chance—they would ensure Tuo Baxiao was cornered. The few guards sent to seek help had likely faced fatal odds. Whether their messages would reach anyone was uncertain.

The two nearest military forces were the Central Garrison and the Liangzhou Army. Both were roughly the same distance away, but the Central Garrison lay across the Yellow River. With the river thawed at this time of year, reinforcements would need to cross—wasting precious time. More critically, would the Xiongnu anticipate Tuo Baxiao seeking aid from the Central Garrison and lie in wait at the crossing to ambush the reinforcements? Having trapped Tuo Baxiao, they wouldn’t let reinforcements ruin their plans.

Jiang Congyan pressed a hand to her forehead. Relying solely on the Central Garrison was too uncertain. Even if they eventually arrived, missing the critical window would render their efforts futile.

The Liangzhou Army!

Yes—Grandfather. She would go to Grandfather and borrow troops!

If Grandfather agreed to lend her soldiers, their chances would at least double.

"Lingxiao! Lingxiao!" Jiang Congyan threw her head back, calling Lingxiao’s name with near-hysterical urgency.

"Scree!"

Lingxiao responded, flapping its wings as it landed beside her. Sensing its master’s distress, it gazed at her intently, nudging her gently with its head.

Jiang Congyan dispatched a small squad to the Central Garrison to summon reinforcements, then pulled out paper and brush to write a letter.

Her hand shook so violently as she wrote that she had to press down hard with her left hand to steady it. The resulting script was wildly uneven, so only someone intimately familiar with her handwriting could decipher it.

After the ink was barely dry, she rolled the letter into a message tube and tied it to Lingxiao's leg.

"Caw." Lingxiao cried again, as if to comfort or reassure her.

It nuzzled her twice more, reluctantly stepping back before spreading its massive wings and soaring into the sky.

Lingxiao was extremely fast and didn’t need to cross the mountain barriers on the ground, saving at least half a day.

Next, Jiang Congyan split her Imperial Guard in two, keeping only a few dozen for herself and sending the rest to support Tuo Baxiao.

Even the faintest hope was worth clinging to, though her Imperial Guard was few in number and might not make much difference against thousands of enemy troops.

"Ride hard for Liangdu!" Jiang Congyan gritted her teeth and swung back into the saddle, gazing at the vast land ahead.

Yesterday, to escape the encirclement, she had already ridden dozens of miles at breakneck speed. Now, dead tired—but she had to push through.

A single letter might not be enough to persuade Grandfather. She had to beg him face-to-face. Every moment sooner she reached Liangzhou meant reinforcements could be dispatched earlier, giving Tuo Baxiao a better chance of survival.

As for whether he had already been surrounded and killed by the enemy... Jiang Congyan wouldn’t let herself think it. She couldn’t bear that outcome. As long as she didn’t see his body with her own eyes, she would believe he was still alive. Only this conviction could keep her from collapsing.

Dozens of fast horses galloped toward Liangdu in a mighty formation, churning up a storm of dust.

——

When Tuo Baxiao stepped into the narrow valley, he knew something was wrong. The moment he reined in his horse, ambushers surged from both sides of the valley, and he realized at once that he had walked into a trap.

At this moment, the first thought that flashed through his mind was—*At least it’s just a trap. She’s unharmed.*

He recalled the signs he had seen along the way. In his haste and panic, he had overlooked many details. Now, looking back, aside from the obvious signs of struggle at the beginning, the rest seemed deliberately staged—but in his agitated state, he had lost his usual sharpness.

Of course. She was too clever to fall for such a scheme so easily.

All these thoughts raced through Tuo Baxiao’s mind in an instant. The knowledge that Jiang Congyan was safe eased his heart, even as he remained trapped in the ambush.

Without hesitation, he snapped the order, "Fall back!"

The moment he gave the command, the ambushers attacked. Boulders and arrows rained down, meant to bury Tuo Baxiao.

Fortunately, Tuo Baxiao had noticed the trap early. His troops had not yet reached the center of the valley and were still near the entrance.

They retreated swiftly, and the boulders and arrows failed to achieve their intended effect. The Huns seethed—Tuo Baxiao was a slippery foe. He had pursued all the way here, only to detect the trap at the critical moment.

But their informant had warned them of Tuo Baxiao’s cunning, so they had prepared more than just the ambush on the mountains.

The moment Tuo Baxiao withdrew from the valley, another large force of Xiongnu soldiers emerged, cutting off his retreat.

"Tuo Baxiao, I’ve waited far too long for this moment. Let’s see how you escape this time," Wudati Hou finally revealed himself.

"Who would have thought the legendary Prince of Mobei would be such a fool for love? For a woman, not only did you hand over a city to the treacherous Liang people who betrayed you, but you also marched straight into a trap." Wudati Hou tsked in fake praise, oozing smugness.

Tuo Baxiao glared icily but did not respond, focusing instead on hacking through the encircling Huns.

Trapped between ambushers and pursuers, outnumbered ten to one, he seemed to have been driven into a hopeless situation. Yet not a trace of fear showed on Tuo Baxiao’s face. Instead, a murderous rage radiated from him.

"Break through together!" he roared.

The Xianbei Imperial Guards had indeed flinched when surrounded by so many enemies. But seeing their king remain composed, his resolve steeled, his advance relentless—utterly unaffected by the Huns—they too found renewed confidence. Their king had always been undefeated, always cheating death. Maybe he’d do it again.

Thus, the less than two hundred Xianbei Imperial Guards unleashed astonishing combat power. For a time, the outnumbering barbarian troops couldn't immediately annihilate them.

Yet their numbers were too few. If this stalemate continued, they would ultimately be surrounded and killed.

Tuo Baxiao fixed his gaze on the forests flanking the mountains.

Wudati Hou had deliberately lured him into this valley for an ambush, but the terrain here was complex—rolling hills and dense forests—making it impossible for large-scale cavalry to maneuver effectively, thus neutralizing their numerical advantage.

This was Tuo Baxiao's only chance for a breakthrough.

Fighting as he assessed the situation, he finally spotted a weak point and led his Imperial Guards in a full-on charge in that direction.

"Stop him!" Wudati Hou noticed Tuo Baxiao's intent and swiftly pursued with his men.

"Whoever lets Tuo Baxiao escape will lose their head!" he roared furiously.

"Kill!"

Tuo Baxiao fought relentlessly to break through, while Wudati Hou was determined to eliminate his long-time nemesis who had repeatedly thwarted his plans. Both sides poured their all into the battle, the battle cries shook the mountains, driving birds to flee and beasts to cower.

The slaughter continued until nightfall. The forest was so dark that not even a sliver of moonlight penetrated, making fighting nearly impossible. Yet neither side dared relent. Countless torches dotted the darkness like stars, but beneath this dreamlike scene lay a brutal, bloody struggle.

If Tuo Baxiao escaped now, there would be no second chance to kill him—not only would he remain a future threat, but he might also ruin Wudati Hou's grand ambitions. Driven by a fierce premonition, Wudati Hou ordered another wave of attacks.

"Charge! All of you, charge!"

"Capture Tuo Baxiao!"

Though the Xianbei Imperial Guards fought valiantly, they were still mortal. They fell one by one, and Tuo Baxiao's forces dwindled. If this continued, they would inevitably be worn down and killed.

Under the cover of night, Tuo Baxiao sent several men to break through in different directions to deliver messages. If reinforcements arrived, he might still have a sliver of hope.

Wudati Hou did his utmost to intercept them, but the forest was too dark, tangled with thickets and shrubs. The escape routes varied, making it impossible to cover them all. If he split his forces to chase these messengers and Tuo Baxiao slipped away, what then?

Fuming but helpless, Wudati Hou could only focus on Tuo Baxiao, ordering his men to encircle the remaining forces from behind.

Fighting a retreat, Tuo Baxiao finally seized a hilltop by dawn.

It was less a mountain—more like a steep cliff, with sheer drops on two sides and only a narrow, treacherous ridge leading up.

A perfect defensive position.

Tuo Baxiao led his men to the summit first, securing the high ground, then guarded the path, using the terrain to hold off the barbarian forces below.

The path was so narrow and steep that it was nearly impossible to breach. Combined with the barrage of loose rocks hurled downward, the barbarians' numerical advantage was once again negated.

Wudati Hou was so enraged he nearly spat blood. Despite his overwhelming advantage, even the heavens seemed to aid Tuo Baxiao.

All he could do was order relentless assaults, giving Tuo Baxiao no respite, waiting to see how long they could hold out.

——

Jiang Congyan rushed without stopping into Liangzhou, finally reaching Yong City's gates by dusk, just as they were about to close.

Spotting a group of several dozen barbarian horsemen, the gate guards tensed, swiftly sending troops out in defense.

Seeing this, He Zhou galloped ahead, raising a token and shouting, "The young mistress is back! Open the gates now!"

Recognizing the token issued to the lord's household and seeing He Zhou's familiar face, the guards realized which "young mistress" this was as Jiang Congyan approached. They quickly swung the gates open and cleared all barricades.

He was about to dismount to bow to the lady when she rushed past him without even a glance, as if she had urgent business.

The path from the city gate to the Marquis of Liangzhou's residence cut through a bustling market, where riding at speed was forbidden. Yet Jiang Congyan could no longer care. Fortunately, her horsemanship had improved enough to avoid injuring anyone.

She charged straight into the estate. The gatekeeper barely caught a glimpse of her face and called out "My lady!" before she vanished from sight. By the time she reached the front hall and saw her grandfather seated there, she yanked the reins hard, leaping off her horse.

Having ridden nonstop for so long, her legs had gone numb. The moment her feet touched the ground, she collapsed.

"Ah Yan!" the crowd gasped.

Her knees hit the ground, but she barely felt it. She looked up and cried, "Grandfather!"

The Marquis of Liangzhou hurried forward to help her up, while the rest of the Zhang family gathered around.

"Grandfather, did you receive my letter? I beg you to send troops to save Tuo Baxiao," Jiang Congyan pleaded, half-supported, her eyes desperate but hopeful.

The Marquis sighed. "I have."

"Then can you dispatch the army now?" Her eyes widened, clinging to him as her last hope.

Jiang Congyan looked utterly disheveled and pitiful—hair tangled, clothes dust-covered, face pale as snow, her dark eyes brimming with shattered tears. No one could help but pity her. Yet the Marquis hesitated, unable to give an immediate answer.

"Grandfather?" she whispered again, her voice barely a breath.

The Marquis couldn’t bring himself to look at her, turning his face away. "Chang Shengnu, if Tuo Baxiao were merely your husband, I would not hesitate to help you save him. But he is still a nomad—the Xianbei King. Especially after what happened in Guyuan last year, he will inevitably become Liang State's enemy. As a Liang general, how can I rescue a tribal leader destined to oppose us? That would be like betraying Liang. How could I face the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen?"

His voice was thick with sorrow and resignation.

Jiang Congyan had not expected such a direct refusal. Stunned, she blinked before quickly rebutting, "Today’s Liang is not the Liang the Founding Emperor built. Can't you see the state is headed for ruin?"

"You sacrificed my mother. My father lost his brother. And all of it was by the current Emperor of Liang's doing. Will you swallow this grudge just to prop up a rotten dynasty? For years, the Zhang clan has defended Liang against the northern tribes. Yet how has the emperor treated Liangzhou? With nothing but suspicion and oppression. Did the court even bother with compensation for the Liangzhou soldiers who fell in battle two years ago? Do those warriors deserve such injustice?"

Gasping for breath, her eyes red, she kept going, "You wish to protect the Han realm and spare the people from tribal cruelty—that is not wrong. But have you considered the current situation? Wudati Hou is ambitious. If Tuo Baxiao dies, who will stop the Huns' iron cavalry? That would mean disaster for millions of Han."

The Marquis's expression wavered, but he remained unmoved. "And what of Tuo Baxiao? He’s still a nomad. Whether Liang falls to him or the Huns—what difference does it make?"

Jiang Congyan took several deep breaths. "It's different. He is different!"

"Tuo Baxiao is half-Han—so am I. Our children will carry mostly Han blood. And under his rule, the Xianbei are nothing like the savage Huns. Last year, after seizing the three northern counties, did he massacre the Han? No. And I would never allow it. He has already begun promoting Han script and culture among the Xianbei—Third Brother knows this. Even if he unifies the realm one day, the court will remain Han. If we speak the same language, read the same books, and write the same words, the divide between Han and tribes can one day vanish."

The Marquis had no rebuttal, yet conflict still clouded his eyes. The choice tore at him. He had spent decades in Liangzhou fighting the tribes, battling them his entire life. To him, they were no different from the Huns or Qiang—brutal beasts who reveled in slaughter. It was hard to imagine Tuo Baxiao's Xianbei being any different.

Her grandfather still hesitated, but Tuo Baxiao could wait no longer. Desperate, she remembered something—reaching into her collar, she pulled out a pendant, unfastened it, and presented it to him with both hands.

"Grandfather, do you remember this seal?"

The Marquis had recognized it the moment she revealed it. His eyes widened in shock, his body stiffening.

"Qing Gui—this is my grandfather Crown Prince Zhaowen's seal. My father gave it to me before I left Chang'an, saying he hoped I would never forget the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen's legacy. And I haven't, not for a moment." Tears burned in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. "Grandfather, today Liang is controlled by the aristocratic clans, overrun with corrupt officials. Have the common folk ever had peace? Do you think Crown Prince Zhaowen would want them to continue suffering, or would he rather Liang cease to exist if it meant the realm could reunite in peace, letting the people live in prosperity?"

"Grandfather, trust me. I won’t let the tribes bring chaos to the Han."

Exhausted, her voice grew weaker with each word.

The Marquis cradled the small seal, as if Crown Prince Zhaowen's face and voice from over thirty years ago had resurfaced before him. His old eyes, too, shone with tears.

"Grandfather, I beg you." Jiang Congyan knelt again, kowtowing repeatedly, her tears falling to the ground one after another.

She’d said everything she could. If her grandfather still said no, she was out of options.

Marquis of Liangzhou saw the red mark on her forehead from kowtowing and quickly held her arm, stopping her from hurting herself further.

"Grandfather, please send troops to help Ah Yan," Zhang Xun pleaded as he knelt beside her to join in the appeal.

"Grandfather, I met Tuo Baxiao last year. He truly cherishes Ah Yan and keeps his Xianbei Army in check. I believe Ah Yan will keep her word—even if Tuo Baxiao takes over the realm, she will protect the Han people," Zhang Yan added, also kneeling.

"Grandfather!"

"Grandfather, please agree to Ah Yan's request."

The sisters Zhang Hongying and Zhang Yinhua also urged him. They had never seen Ah Yan in such a state before—proof she was at her breaking point.

"Father, send the troops. If we're being honest, I owe my life to Tuo Baxiao," Zhang Qian added.

"Zhang Wei, are you really going to let your granddaughter die like this?" Madam Cui scolded harshly.

At that moment, everyone looked to the Marquis of Liangzhou. He glanced around, meeting their sincere, pleading gazes.

His eyes grew wet, and his eyes finally locked onto Jiang Congyan's face.

"Alright!" he barked, his voice trembling.

Jiang Congyan's heart unclenched, and she almost crumpled to the ground, but Zhang Xun quickly steadied her.

She couldn't afford to faint now. Gritting her teeth, Jiang Congyan forced herself to stand.

"Wei Liao!" Marquis of Liangzhou barked.

A general in full armor emerged from outside the courtyard. "My lord, the five thousand cavalry are ready and can depart immediately."

"Pass my order—advance at full speed to Fengming Slope."

"Yes!"

Jiang Congyan looked at her grandfather, her eyes blazing with relief and joy. It turned out he hadn't refused to send troops—he just needed a reason to make his decision.

Lingxiao's letter had arrived half a day earlier than hers, and mobilizing troops took at least two or three hours. Her grandfather had already given the order as soon as he received the letter.

"Grandfather, thank you."

Jiang Congyan turned to mount her horse again, but Madam Cui, seeing how unsteady she was, said worriedly, "Let Wei Liao lead the rescue. You're exhausted..."

"Grandmother, I won't rest easy until I see him. I must go," she insisted firmly, without hesitation. Turning, she summoned the last of her strength to climb onto the horse.

Less than a quarter of an hour after entering the estate, Jiang Congyan was back on horseback, accompanied by Wei Liao. When they reached the city gates, the five thousand cavalry stood assembled, ready to ride.

"Move out!"