Chapter 172 “Like, I Do Like Him…”

Chapter 172: "I like him... I do like him..."

Jiang Congyan felt as though she had been through an impossibly long sleep, so long that it seemed she was awakening from another distant world.

She let out only a faint murmur, her breath weak, barely audible. Yet Tuo Baxiao seemed to understand, immediately grabbing her hand. "I'm here, Yan Yan."

"I'm here," he repeated, giving her hand a firm squeeze to reassure her of his presence.

The sky outside was still dim, the rough dirt hut illuminated only by faint light filtering through a small window. Jiang Congyan, having just woken, could barely see clearly—her sight was blurry, and the man's features were indistinct, leaving only a blurry but familiar silhouette. In the dim light, his deep green eyes gleamed with faint light.

Her body remained completely drained, too weak to get up from the bed. She simply stared at him, disbelieving, yet the warm, solid touch of his hand told her he was real. He was alive. This wasn’t a dream—she had truly altered his fate.

She gazed at him, unblinking, for a long time until her eyes grew moist, tears dampening her lashes.

Tuo Baxiao stared back just as intently, unable to hide his feelings.

She had been unconscious for three straight days. Though Zhang Yuan had examined her pulse and prescribed medicine, and though her fever had subsided, he couldn’t relax until she awoke. He couldn’t stop worrying—how could her frail body endure the nonstop strain?

"Yan Yan, Yan Yan."

He kept calling her name over and over, his voice choked with regret, fear, relief, and joy.

"Mmm," Jiang Congyan managed a weak reply.

Tuo Baxiao kept calling her name until, suddenly remembering something, he turned and called out, "Someone!"

He summoned Zhang Yuan and urgently asked, "Now that she’s awake, does that mean she’s out of danger?"

Zhang Yuan, almost out of patience with him, replied, "Let me take her pulse first. Only then can I say for sure."

Reluctantly, Tuo Baxiao moved aside. Zhang Yuan sat on a small stool by the bed, first taking Jiang Congyan’s pulse, then checking her color and asking her a few questions. Too weak to speak, she was instructed to nod or shake her head instead.

"Since the lady has awakened, she just needs time and rest to recover," Zhang Fu concluded.

Only then did Tuo Baxiao finally relax.

But though she had woken, her body was completely worn out and couldn’t move. Zhang Fu suggested she eat something before sleeping again.

Since receiving news of Tuo Baxiao’s ambush, she had gone without a bite of food, only sipping water a few times. She had grown so thin she looked like a paper doll that might topple in the slightest breeze.

Tuo Baxiao carefully held her up against him as Si Zi brought over a bowl of warm yam congee, feeding her spoonful by spoonful.

Yet Jiang Congyan had gone too long without food, and her stomach was still weak. After only half a bowl, she shook her head, letting him know she was full.

Tuo Baxiao wanted to urge her to eat more, but seeing her frailty, he didn’t press further.

After eating, Jiang Congyan felt a pressing need and struggled to get out of bed. Tuo Baxiao refused to let go, asking, "What do you need? I’ll help you."

"..."

Jiang Congyan closed her eyes. This was something no one could assist her with.

Though she had barely eaten or drunk these past few days, she had been given medicine while unconscious.

Unable to break free and lacking the strength to rise on her own, she finally whispered her need.

Without hesitation, Tuo Baxiao carried her to the adjoining room.

Once she had relieved herself and returned, Si Zi approached with a tray. "My lady, it’s time to change the dressing on your wounds."

"Okay." Jiang Congyan nodded.

As the bandage was unwrapped, the wound beneath was revealed—not deep, but covering a large area of broken skin, red and swollen, streaked with pus and smeared with ointment. It was a gruesome sight, almost nauseating.

She suddenly realized how awful she must look. Seeing Tuo Baxiao still staring at her with nothing but concern in his eyes, no trace of disgust, she still didn’t want him to see her like this.

"Get out. Stop looking at me."

Tuo Baxiao refused. "Why?"

Jiang Congyan had no choice but to explain. "I look too terrible right now."

"No, you don’t," he insisted.

Tuo Baxiao genuinely didn’t find her appearance unpleasant—only heartache and guilt filled him.

Still unwilling to let him see her mangled, messy appearance, Jiang Congyan insisted he turn around if he wouldn’t leave.

She was so adamant that she refused to continue the bandage change otherwise. He reluctantly gave in.

Later, Zhang Yuan prepared a new ointment for her, using wet healing therapy. He applied a thick layer over the broken skin to keep the wound clean and moist, which would reduce pain, speed up recovery, minimize scabbing, and lower the chance of scarring. Naturally, the dressing process became more tedious, and the wound seemed even worse now.

After much effort, Jiang Congyan was close to blacking out again when Zhang Yuan brought another bowl of medicine.

Downing it awake beat being force-fed, as improper administration could risk choking.

Mustering what little energy she had left, Jiang Congyan finished the medicine before finally collapsing from exhaustion and falling back asleep.

Now that she had awakened and was out of danger, Tuo Baxiao could finally listen to the doctor.

He also changed his dressings, ate two bowls of porridge and a flatbread, then drank a foul-tasting, sludge-like medicinal brew.

Maybe it was just in his head, but he always felt his medicine tasted stronger and stranger than hers—last time was the same, and this time was no different.

Once everything was done, he lay down beside Jiang Congyan and fell asleep.

Having endured so many sleepless days, he had only been forced to rest once, far from enough to recover his energy—let alone staying up another day and night while injured. He was dead on his feet.

The bed was narrow, and the two of them filled the small space completely, yet it felt oddly cozy.

While the couple was still deep in sleep, two newcomers reached the remote mountain village.

Zhang Hongying and Zhang Yinhua.

They had received the news from Wei Liao—Tuo Baxiao had been rescued in time, but Jiang Congyan had collapsed from exhaustion. The whole Zhang clan was beside themselves with worry, so the two sisters volunteered to visit her, bringing along a cart full of food and supplies.

However, since both were still asleep, the sisters could only steal a glance through the doorway before finding a place to rest.

Jiang Congyan slept for another full day and night. This time, when she woke, though still weak and racked with throbbing pain, her eyes were sharper now, a far cry from her earlier zombie-like daze.

Zhang Yuan took her pulse again, and this time, he smiled. "Good, good, good."

He repeated the word three times. Others might assume he was simply pleased by Jiang Congyan’s improvement, but only Zhang Yuan knew—the weight she’d carried for years had finally lifted.

With her worries gone, a few more years of proper recuperation would get her back to full strength.

The worst was behind them. Brighter days lay ahead.

Tuo Baxiao looked down at her. Her complexion had indeed improved, but more importantly, something about her had subtly changed—something he couldn’t quite name, only that she seemed lighter somehow.

Jiang Congyan's beauty stemmed not only from her fairy-like beauty but also from the sorrow history burdened her with. From the moment she awoke in this girl's body to becoming a Liangzhou lady, and then being made a princess to marry Tuo Baxiao and live in luxury, she had never once shown a carefree smile throughout those long years. Her brows, her hair, the hem of her clothes—every movement carried the grief of troubled times.

Now, she had completely altered Tuo Baxiao's fate, changing the most crucial turning point. This meant history wasn’t set in stone. Even if Liang State fell, perhaps a new dynasty could rise again, reuniting the land and saving countless people from the chaos. Liangzhou could escape its doomed fate, and those she cared about could live on.

At last, she had shaken off the heavy shackles of historical causality that had weighed upon her for so long, and she felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

Just then, cheerful laughter suddenly came from outside the house.

"Ah Yan."

"Ah Yan, sister!"

Zhang Hongying and Zhang Yinhua called out as they ran over, bursting into the room like a whirlwind of joy.

"Sister Ah Yan, we heard you woke up!" Zhang Yinhua said with a laugh.

Jiang Congyan hadn’t expected them to appear before her so suddenly. She froze for a moment, her eyes widening slightly.

"What, cat got your tongue?" Zhang Hongying teased, waving a hand in front of her.

"Of course," Jiang Congyan blurted out.

"Second Sister, Yinhua, why are you here?" she asked after collecting herself.

"We were free, and the whole family was worried. Since we were free, we came to see you," Zhang Hongying said.

Jiang Congyan smiled.

After exchanging a few words, the sisters openly studied him.

His hulking figure made his presence impossible to ignore—they had seen him the moment they entered but hadn’t had the chance to acknowledge him.

"This must be brother-in-law," Zhang Yinhua said, glancing at him.

At the word "brother-in-law," Tuo Baxiao's expression remained unchanged, but his brow lifted slightly.

Hearing the title, Jiang Congyan also paused before nodding. "Yes."

The first thing that caught their attention was his imposing stature and formidable aura. Though dressed in plain clothes and bearing injuries, the commanding presence forged in battle made him seem unapproachable—fitting the legendary image of the undefeated barbarian warlord. But when their gaze traveled upward to his face, the impression shifted slightly.

Though his bone structure was sharp, he wore no long beard, only light stubble, tempering his ruggedness. Beyond that, his high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and elegant eye shape combined to create an unexpectedly striking look.

Zhang Hongying’s gaze flickered between Jiang Congyan and Tuo Baxiao, silently assessing their compatibility.

She had once thought someone as ethereal as Ah Yan should be paired with an elegant, bookish type. But looking at Tuo Baxiao now, it didn’t seem so bad—a perfect contrast of strength and grace. Though his build was perhaps too burly; Ah Yan was so slender that if he accidentally rolled onto her in his sleep, his leg could probably break her ribs. Catching herself, Zhang Hongying quickly reined in her thoughts and introduced herself to Tuo Baxiao.

"I am Zhang Hongying of Liangzhou’s Zhang family, Ah Yan’s second sister."

"And I’m her younger sister, Zhang Yinhua. We grew up together and are very close."

Tuo Baxiao gave a curt nod.

When Jiang Congyan had rushed back to Liangzhou that day, the sisters had only exchanged a fleeting glance, with no time to speak. After more than three years apart, they had years’ worth of stories to share.

They first spoke of their parents’ worries. "...Grandmother told you to stay in Liangzhou and wait for news, but you refused and insisted on marching with the army. Now you’ve worn yourself out like this—just wait for her lecture."

Jiang Congyan laughed at this. "I’ll take whatever scolding comes. But I bet she won’t really."

Zhang Hongying huffed, "You're just riding on her favor."

She deliberately said this not just to joke around but also to hint to Tuoba Xiao, "Ah Yan has sacrificed so much for you, even saving your life—you must never betray her in the future."

Whether Tuoba Xiao caught her drift or not, he kept staring at Jiang Congyan.

After chatting a bit more, Jiang Congyan noticed they still had things to say but were holding back, realizing that some topics were off-limits with Tuoba Xiao present, so she asked him to leave.

"We have some sisterly talk to share. Go wait outside for a while—no eavesdropping."

Tuoba Xiao couldn’t bear to leave her side, but since she insisted, and considering her deep bond with the Zhang sisters, along with her looking much better than the past few days, he reluctantly stood up—but not before warning, "You’ve only just started recovering. Don’t talk for too long."

Jiang Congyan nodded.

The moment he left, Zhang Hongying and Zhang Yinhua both drew out a teasing "Ooooh."

"Don’t talk for too long," Zhang Yinhua parroted Tuoba Xiao’s tone.

Too weak to fight back, Jiang Congyan could only glare at her.

Afraid of truly upsetting her, the two quickly changed the subject and moved on to other topics.

They talked about recent events, last year’s Guyuan rebellion, and even dug into their love life, occasionally mixing in Jiang Congyan’s questions about Liangzhou.

"Third Brother said the Prince of Mobei isn’t seeing anyone else. Is that still true now?" Zhang Yinhua asked.

Jiang Congyan looked down.

"It seems the Prince of Mobei truly loves you. But do you love him?"

Jiang Congyan lowered her gaze. Her third brother had asked her the same question before, and back then, she couldn’t give a straight answer. But now—

"Yes, I do love him."

Her admission was straightforward, her tone so frank that it shut down their teasing.

"Then tell us what he’s like with you. Just now, I noticed Brother-in-law seems to listen to you so well. Who would’ve thought the legendary Prince of Mobei would be like this—like a loyal puppy," Zhang Yinhua said, cupping her face in her hands.

Calling the Prince of Mobei a dog was something she’d only dare say because Jiang Congyan was present.

Unaccustomed to sharing details of her private life with Tuoba Xiao, Jiang Congyan still indulged their curiosity by recounting some less intimate moments—how he taught her to ride and shoot, hunted foxes to make her a cloak, and supported her in pursuing her passions...

The sisters ooh-ed and aah-ed throughout.

The three got carried away chatting and lost track of time until Tuoba Xiao came at noon to remind them to eat, reluctantly ending their conversation.

After the meal, Jiang Congyan grew tired again and, at Tuoba Xiao’s insistence, napped for over an hour. It wasn’t until nearly evening that the sisters resumed their talk.

The mountain village was rough, but they had brought plenty of supplies—clean, comfortable bedding, fresh clothes, snacks, toothbrushes and soap, books for entertainment... Basically, everything they needed.

Even so, the village had too many inconveniences, especially regarding safety.

Wudati Hou was unlikely to return, but what if he did? That was why Wei Liao and the Liangzhou Army remained stationed there, on constant guard.

Had Jiang Congyan not been too weak to endure the journey, they would have returned to Liangzhou long ago.

After a few days of recuperation, she finally improved, and the group prepared to head back.

The Zhang sisters had brought a roomy, cushioned carriage, allowing her to lie flat on thick cushions to keep her comfy during the trip.

Tuo Baxiao also shared the carriage with her.

Though he appeared unaffected, this was actually the most severely injured he had been in years. He had lost a great deal of blood, with several deep and long wounds that still hadn’t healed. If not for Zhang Yuan’s exceptional medical skills, infection alone would have been unbearable.

The return journey was extremely slow, taking four days for the group to reach Liangdu.

Wei Liao sent word ahead, and to their surprise, the Marquis of Liangzhou and Madam Cui personally came to the gate to welcome them.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Congyan insisted on stepping out of the carriage and, together with Tuo Baxiao, greeted the elderly couple with respect.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, your granddaughter has failed in her filial duty, causing you such worry," she said, about to kowtow.

"What are you doing? You’re still unwell yourself..." Madam Cui quickly helped her up.

Jiang Congyan stood straight and glanced at Tuo Baxiao before introducing him to the elders. "This is my husband, the Prince of Mobei, Tuo Baxiao."

Madam Cui noted her phrasing—referring to him first as her husband, then by his title.

The elderly couple turned their gaze to Tuo Baxiao, who did not hesitate. He knelt and touched his forehead to the ground. "Thank you, Grandfather and Grandmother, for saving my life."

No one expected him to humble himself so completely before them. Even the Marquis of Liangzhou was stunned. He had anticipated gratitude but not such a gesture.

"No need for such formalities," the Marquis said, gripping his arm and pulling him up. "I didn’t act on my own—it was Chang Shengnu who pleaded with me desperately. In all these years, I’ve never seen her so distraught. If you must thank anyone, it should be her."

Tuo Baxiao turned his face toward Jiang Congyan, his gaze deep and filled with love.

"I know. I will love and honor her always, never betraying her."

His gratitude to the Marquis wasn’t meant to overshadow Jiang Congyan’s role. Rather, her sacrifice was so immense that mere words felt insufficient—only a lifetime of devotion could repay it.

With so many elders and siblings present, Jiang Congyan felt a little embarrassed. "It’s too kind of all of you to come out for us. Let’s head inside."

"Indeed, you must be exhausted after days of travel," Madam Cui agreed.

Noticing Jiang Congyan’s pale, gaunt face—so thin she looked like a breeze could knock her over—Madam Cui’s heart ached. She had a palanquin brought over.

Jiang Congyan hesitated, uncomfortable riding while her elders walked, but Madam Cui ignored her protests and had her carried straight to her childhood courtyard.

Jiang Congyan had lived in Liangzhou for many years, and her former residence was adjacent to the main house. After she left, Madam Cui had left it untouched, allowing no one else to stay there. Hearing of her return for the Marquis’s birthday celebration, she had ordered it cleaned and restored over a month ago, arranged exactly as she had left it.

Seeing everything so familiar, Jiang Congyan was momentarily disoriented, as if she hadn’t been gone for over three years but had merely taken a long trip.

For Tuo Baxiao, this was his first step into the place where she had once lived. Looking closely, he noticed many similarities to the courtyard in the Mobei royal court. This had been her home.

Back in familiar surroundings, Jiang Congyan relaxed even more.

As it was already late and the journey had been tiring, the family checked in briefly to ensure the couple was settled before Madam Cui ushered everyone out, insisting they rest properly. Matters could wait until the next day.

It was late April, and they had missed the Marquis of Liangzhou’s seventieth birthday.

Only the next day did Jiang Congyan learn that, during the celebration, her grandfather had publicly severed Liangzhou’s ties with Liang before the region’s officials and prominent families.

This naturally sent shockwaves through Liangzhou, with mixed reactions and a chain of consequences at all levels. The Marquis and the Zhang family had been swamped ever since.

None of this, however, disturbed Jiang Congyan and Tuo Baxiao in their secluded courtyard. Madam Cui forbade any disruptions to their recovery.

Though Tuo Baxiao’s injuries were severe, his robust physique and rapid healing meant steady improvement—nothing surprising. What astonished everyone was Jiang Congyan’s recovery. Despite her earlier frailty, she was now regaining strength. Though still thin, her energy and complexion had improved remarkably, even showing a rosy glow.

The Zhang family rejoiced at the sight.

After a few more days of rest, Jiang Congyan was finally able to move about normally, and she sent a messenger back to the royal court.

The mastermind behind it all had fully emerged—it was indeed him, Tuo Bahuai!

So, her intuition hadn’t been wrong. If she’d taken him down sooner, perhaps none of this would have happened. But no use crying over spilled milk—what was done was done. All that mattered now was making sure it never happened again.

Royal court business could wait until they got back. For now, her main focus was on the situation in Liangzhou.

She and Tuo Baxiao went to the front courtyard to discuss the next steps with the Marquis of Liangzhou, her two uncles, and two cousins.

Over the past few years, two major wars had broken out, and the Liangzhou Army had suffered significant losses, now down to fewer than 70,000 men. But since Liangzhou no longer had to bail out the Liang State, just focusing on defending Liangzhou would be enough.

Jiang Congyan said, "Liangzhou will likely face great hardship this year. The Prince and I have discussed it, and we are willing to provide Liangzhou with 200,000 dan of grain and 50,000 jin of iron."

They were floored.

This wasn’t chump change.

The Marquis of Liangzhou let out a booming laugh. "Excellent!"

With these resources, Liangzhou would be able to stabilize.

They then discussed other matters, such as trade, military deployment, and talent recruitment. Once internal consensus was reached, the Marquis of Liangzhou summoned top officials and commanders of Liangzhou to hold a grand banquet at his residence, where Jiang Congyan and Tuo Baxiao appeared together.

The Marquis of Liangzhou introduced the two to the assembled guests. "This is my granddaughter, the daughter of the King of Chu and granddaughter of Crown Prince Zhaowen. Plenty of you probably still remember her. Three years ago, she was married off to the Xianbei for her birthday celebration this year, she returned from the Xianbei specifically for my birthday."

Every guest’s eyes went wide.

Rumors had spread that the Marquis of Liangzhou had ordered Wei Liao to dispatch troops to rescue Tuo Baxiao, and that afterward, Tuo Baxiao had come to Liangzhou. It turned out to be true.

"What does Tuo Baxiao’s presence here mean?"

"Is that rumor true? Has the Lord truly severed ties with Liang and will now support the Xianbei?"

"Isn’t Tuo Baxiao a barbarian? The Lord spent his whole life killing barbarians—how could he now be willing to…?"

A murmur ran through the crowd. The Marquis of Liangzhou scanned the room and coughed heavily. "You’ve likely already guessed. Today, I invited the Prince of Mobei to this banquet to formally announce to you all that Liangzhou has decided to ally with the Xianbei."

The moment he finished speaking, the lively banquet went dead silent.

Liangzhou was going to ally with the barbarians?

The Marquis of Liangzhou ignored it and continued, "Since the year before last, when Wudati Hou ascended as Khan, the Xiongnu’s ambitions to expand southward have become unmistakable. Meanwhile, the Liang State grows weaker by the day. The Liang army, from top to bottom, is a bunch of incompetents—they haven’t fought a single decent battle. Every time, it’s our Liangzhou Army that has to mop up after them..."

His tone grew impassioned as he recounted the two crushing defeats suffered by Liang and how the Emperor of Liang had turned his back afterward, offering no compensation or support. By this point, the military officers present were boiling with rage.

They had long harbored resentment but had no outlet for it. Now, with the Marquis of Liangzhou leading the charge, some started cursing up a storm.

The Marquis of Liangzhou let them vent for a while before shifting the topic back to the alliance with the Xianbei.

"The Prince of Mobei is a once-in-a-generation commander, and the Xianbei cavalry is unmatched. He is upright and fair, and having married the granddaughter of Crown Prince Zhaowen, he’s devoted to Han ways. I believe he is destined to be the future ruler of this land, and thus, I have decided to ally with him."

The crowd fell silent again.

"...The Prince of Mobei’s mother was a Han woman, so he’s half Han. Since childhood, he has admired Han culture. He has pledged that if Liangzhou allies with him, he will never harm the Han people and will continue to uphold Han traditions. In fact, as early as two years ago, the Prince of Mobei had already begun promoting the use of Han script among the Xianbei..."

After the Marquis of Liangzhou finished speaking, Zhang Xun also spoke up to corroborate, saying he had visited the Xianbei two years prior and the situation was indeed as described.

Being eloquent and an eyewitness, his vivid details convinced everyone.

Finally, Tuo Baxiao personally stepped forward to make a pledge: "Today, I, Tuo Baxiao, vow to all of you that I will restrain the Xianbei and never slaughter the Han people. In the future, I will continue reforms among the Xianbei—learning Han script, speaking Han language, and bridging the gap between Han and Hu."

After he spoke, Jiang Congyan also addressed the gathering in her capacity as a princess of Liang, even producing the seal of Crown Prince Zhaowen. "As a descendant of the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen, I dare not betray the legacy of my ancestors. This land still belongs to the Han people. My only wish is for the unification of the realm and the peace of its people..."

She personally reiterated the promise of aid in grain and iron, fully convincing the assembly.

Everyone, from high-ranking officials to commoners, was convinced.

Thus, the alliance between Liangzhou and the Xianbei was settled.

The two stayed in Liangzhou for another seven or eight days. By then, it was already mid-May, and their absence had grown too long. There were still many matters awaiting them in the Xianbei, especially with the news of the alliance with Liangzhou—sure to provoke reactions that required their personal attention.

Tuo Baxiao’s wounds had mostly healed, and though they could have set off by then, he hadn’t brought up returning.

That night, after washing up and settling into bed, just when Tuo Baxiao assumed she was asleep, he suddenly heard her ask:

"Tuo Baxiao, when are we heading home?"