Chapter 187 “Summon Zhang Fu Here.”

Chapter 187 "Call Zhang Fu over for a moment..."

She was unprepared for the man’s sudden surprise move, and instinctively turned her head—right into his grasp.

Tuo Baxiao wasted no time, capturing her soft lips in a deep kiss.

Jiang Congyan had been stargazing. The night was cloudless, the sky ablaze with countless dazzling stars, like mesmerizing gemstones.

In her past life as a modern woman, she rarely saw such a beautiful night sky. Now, whenever she had free time in the evenings, she loved to look up at the stars. But Tuo Baxiao rarely had the patience for it. Sometimes, when he claimed to accompany her in stargazing, his hands would start roaming—like they were now.

He towered over her; Jiang Congyan barely reached his shoulders. One large hand cradled the back of her head while his other strong arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly to meet him.

Jiang Congyan could no longer see the stars. Before her was only the man’s face, his jade-green eyes shimmering with a brilliance that outshone the entire night sky.

The deck was deserted, but the river breeze... saw it all.

He kept kissing her relentlessly, only pulling back when she gasped for air, then trailing his kisses downward.

Her entire body had gone weak, her toes barely scraping the deck. If not for his firm hold, she would have collapsed. But he kept going, kissing his way down her slender neck.

The weather was warm, and since she didn’t need to go outside, Jiang Congyan had only worn a thin gauze dress. The material was so light that she could distinctly feel the roughness of the calluses on his palms against her skin.

Tuo Baxiao buried his face against her, nipping through the thin fabric, leaving a damp spot on the dress. Jiang Congyan shuddered, finally snapping back to her senses. Her hands, looped around his neck, gave a light scratch as she panted, "Inside. Now."

Her reminder made Tuo Baxiao realize they were still on the open deck, completely exposed. Nearby were the other warships, though the thick darkness of the night obscured any details. Only the stars above and the shimmering reflections on the river stood out vividly.

He hadn’t had the chance to appreciate the scenery earlier, but now he found himself captivated by its beauty. He burned to take her right there—but he knew she would never agree.

*Later. I’ll find another night.*

"Inside," Jiang Congyan urged again when he remained motionless, sensing a hint of danger in his stillness.

Finally, Tuo Baxiao moved. He swept her into his arms and strode into the cabin. But instead of placing her on the bed, he carried her to the porthole.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Jiang Congyan tried to step away, only for him to pin her in place.

She could feel the heat radiating from his chest, his breath warm against her face, making her cheeks flush.

"Hot?" His voice was rough.

"A little," she murmured, pressing the back of her hand to her cheek. It was indeed burning.

The weather wasn’t particularly warm, especially at night, when the temperature was quite pleasant. This heat was all his doing.

They had been married for years and had shared countless intimate moments. She had even taken the initiative before. Yet his teasing still left her flustered, especially when she sensed he was plotting something mischievous—her heart raced, torn between a flicker of fear and a thrill of anticipation.

Tuo Baxiao raised his hand, but instead of touching her, he reached behind her to crack open the porthole slightly. From the outside, the cabin remained hidden, but through that narrow gap, they could glimpse the moonlight beyond.

A breeze slipped through, dispelling the stifling heat between them.

Just as Jiang Congyan began to relax, Tuo Baxiao spun her around by the shoulders, turning her to face the window.

His burning chest molded to her back as his lips found the nape of her neck once more.

Realizing his intentions, Jiang Congyan struggled slightly, but her resistance was effortlessly subdued.

Standing before the window, the heat behind her threatened to melt her into his embrace. Yet the night air streaming through the gap kept her mind clear, her hair whipping around them like ink-black silk, tangling them together.

The ship was steady, but they were still on the river. The river’s gentle sway caused a faint rocking sensation. Occasionally, a swell would tilt the deck, and though she knew it wouldn’t capsize, her stomach lurched.

A sudden, husky groan escaped the man's throat beside her ear, marking the beginning of an endlessly long night...

……

Jiang Congyan slept deeply for a long while.

When she finally regained consciousness, she instinctively reached for the spot beside her, only to find it empty—reminding her that Tuo Baxiao was already gone.

The cabin was quiet, with no one else around. She lay alone in bed, opened her eyes and stared blankly.

By now, he must already be on his way to Jiangxia.

They had only just parted, yet she found herself missing him already.

She hugged the thin blanket, still faintly carrying his scent, and breathed it in for a moment. Once she composed herself and prepared to rise, the moment she moved, soreness in her hips and thighs nearly sent her collapsing back. She remembered last night’s escapades.

By the end, she had been too exhausted to stand. Tuo Baxiao had turned her around, lifted her into his arms, and carried her in laps around the cabin before finally returning to the waiting bed—yet even then, he hadn’t stopped.

By then, she could no longer tell whether the rocking beneath her came from the river’s currents or the man himself. She had no idea what time it was when she finally drifted into a hazy sleep.

That damned man had wrecked her like this. Well, any lingering reluctance she felt vanished instantly.

After resting a while longer, Jiang Congyan managed to push herself up.

Thankfully, she had already been cleaned. She changed into an everyday summer robe before calling A Fei in to help with her hair and washing.

——

After Tuo Baxiao’s departure, Jiang Congyan continued overseeing matters as always, showing her face daily and even bringing General Modolou along to inspect the riverbanks.

Southern Liang scouts only dared to observe from a distance. General Modolou’s build was similar to Tuo Baxiao’s, and with his beard shaved, a helmet, and armor, his features were blurred at such a range. In contrast, Jiang Congyan’s figure was unmistakable.

Since she had always appeared alongside Tuo Baxiao before, the scouts naturally assumed the man with her now was him, without raising an eyebrow. They reported back to Xie Shao that the Xianbei forces remained unchanged.

The standoff lasted over two months, with Tuo Baxiao never launching an offensive. The Southern Liang forces speculated that he was unaccustomed to naval warfare, letting them relax slightly.

Just as they assumed the stalemate would continue, in mid-June, Shouchun and Lujiang were hit by surprise raids from the Xianbei Army.

The Xianbei forces had been stationed in Nanyang without a hint of movement. The Southern Liang never expected Tuo Baxiao to strike from Jiangxia instead.

Southern Liang’s forces were stretched thin. Given his earlier posture, it seemed he intended to focus entirely on Jingzhou, so they had committed every available soldier to counter the Xianbei Army. The defenses in Jiankang and the Huai River region were left barebones—fewer than 50,000 troops—and completely unprepared. Within days, Tuo Baxiao had overrun them.

This battle revealed that the Xianbei naval forces far exceeded expectations. Weren’t the Xianbei steppe horsemen who hated water? Yet their performance proved otherwise.

During the clashes, many Han Chinese faces were spotted among their ranks—men sworn to his banner and fighting for him. This was yet another blow to Southern Liang.

Initially, Tuo Baxiao’s target had indeed been Jingzhou. But as time passed, he realized naval warfare wasn’t something his forces could master overnight. Without overwhelming superiority, he decided on an end run.

While maintaining the appearance of preparing for a decisive battle in Jingzhou, he secretly relocated his naval forces. Scouts were dispatched to scout the defenses along the Huai River, confirming his suspicions—the region was poorly guarded. When the time came, the surprise attack left the Liang forces helpless.

By late June, Tuo Baxiao had fully captured Shouchun and Lujiang, followed swiftly by several military strongholds along the Huai River—Liankou, Jiaocheng, and Xiashi—closing a vise around Jiankang across the river.

Jiankang was now on the brink. Messengers were urgently dispatched to summon Xie Shao back for reinforcements.

But the Xianbei Army still loomed threateningly in Nanyang. If Xie Shao withdrew now, wouldn’t he be gifting Jingzhou to Tuo Baxiao outright? Losing Jingzhou would allow the Xianbei forces to sail downstream unimpeded. Yet if he didn’t return, once the Xianbei crossed the Yangtze and laid siege to the capital, Jiankang would surely fall.

It was an impossible dilemma.

Back in Chang’an, when the Xiongnu invaded, the aristocratic clans could still flee south for refuge. But now—where could they possibly escape to? There was no retreat left. In desperation, two urgent decrees were issued, commanding Xie Shao to return at once.

Jiang Congyan had received the message sent back by Tuo Baxiao several days earlier. Now, hearing reports that Xie Shao had left without lingering, she ordered her people to pack and set off for Lujiang.

After nearly a month on the road, she finally arrived at Liyang, where Tuo Baxiao was stationed, in early August.

Xie Shao had traveled south along the river, moving much faster than her. Before her arrival, the two sides had already clashed briefly. After such a long stalemate, this was their first real clash.

Xie Shao naturally sought to seize the opportunity to retake Lujiang and drive the Xianbei back north of the Huai River, but he failed to achieve his goal. Likewise, Tuo Baxiao couldn’t deliver a crushing defeat to the Southern Liang army.

The fighting remained at a stalemate, but upon hearing that Jiang Congyan was about to arrive, Tuo Baxiao still carved out time to personally fetch her.

It had been over two months since they last saw each other, and he missed her dearly.

After bringing her back, that evening, Tuo Baxiao was eager to be close to her.

Jiang Congyan gently pressed against his shoulder, frowning slightly as she pleaded, "I’m not feeling great. Can I just rest tonight?"

She was the only one by his side, and she knew he had been holding back for a long time, eager for release. After their reunion following a separation, she wouldn’t normally turn him away like this, but today she truly wasn’t feeling well.

Tuo Baxiao was alarmed. Looking at her face, he saw that she indeed didn’t look as well as she had two months ago. Pressing further, he asked, "Where do you feel unwell? Is it serious?"

Jiang Congyan shook her head. "I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s just the heat and exhaustion from traveling. I just feel worn out."

Hearing this, Tuo Baxiao relaxed slightly but still wanted to call Zhang Fu to examine her.

Jiang Congyan grabbed his hand. "It’s so late already. Don’t trouble him. It’s nothing serious—I’ll be fine after a night’s rest."

Tuo Baxiao reluctantly gave in. "Alright, get some sleep first. I’ll call him over tomorrow."

Jiang Congyan was truly exhausted. After speaking with him, she closed her eyes and was out like a light in no time.

Tuo Baxiao gazed at her weary face for a long time. The weight she had gained last winter had vanished again, leaving her chin sharp and delicate. It pained him to see her like this.

Though her health had improved compared to before, marching with the army was grueling even for men, let alone someone as slight as her.

He couldn’t bear to see her suffer like this, yet he also couldn’t stand being apart from her for so long. At the beginning of the year, when they marched south, he’d debated bringing her with him, but she had insisted on coming.

The Xianbei could’ve easily overrun Southern Liang, even if it took longer and cost more. But if possible, she still hoped to persuade Southern Liang to surrender, sparing them all a brutal war.

Given this, Tuo Baxiao alone could never achieve this goal—her status was crucial. This was why Jiang Congyan had insisted on accompanying him south.

Tuo Baxiao got what she was trying to do and was also trying to end this war of unification at the lowest cost possible. He only hoped everything would go as she wished.

Gently, he drew her close, resting his chin atop her head and breathing in her familiar fragrance before finally closing his eyes.

After a full night’s sleep, Jiang Congyan woke up the next day feeling much better, with a bit of color returning to her cheeks.

Tuo Baxiao had risen early to handle military affairs at the camp, making sure to get back around when she’d wake.

As the commander-in-chief, he had to review and decide on all military matters, big and small. One wrong move could hand the enemy an advantage, leaving him swamped with work. Yet he still managed to carve out time to be with her.

When he returned, Jiang Congyan had just finished washing and dressing. A Fei and Yun Duo were setting out breakfast.

The southern region was crisscrossed with waterways, abundant in fish and shrimp. Making the best of local resources, today’s breakfast consisted of delicious fish congee paired with a few refreshing side dishes—a spread that looked downright delicious. However, congee alone wasn’t filling, so they had also prepared a few hefty meat buns for Tuo Baxiao.

Tuo Baxiao’s gaze first landed on her face. "Feeling better?"

Jiang Congyan smiled faintly. "Much better. It must have just been exhaustion."

Tuo Baxiao nodded.

The two sat down at the dining table. Tuo Baxiao grabbed a meat pie and started chowing down, while Jiang Congyan took spoonfuls of fish porridge.

However, after just a few bites, she suddenly got queasy.

At first, she tried to endure it, but when she could no longer hold back, she quickly turned her head, braced herself against the table, and vomited the few mouthfuls of fish porridge she had just eaten.

Tuo Baxiao was shocked. Reacting swiftly, he threw down the meat pie, stood up abruptly, and gripped her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

Jiang Congyan remained hunched over, gagging weakly. But she had already emptied her stomach, and there was nothing left inside.

Tuo Baxiao was freaking out and angrily scolded A Fei, who stood nearby. "What kind of food did you serve? Is there something wrong with it? Look what it’s done to her!"

A Fei didn’t dare to argue and sank to her knees.

Weak from vomiting, Jiang Congyan collapsed against him. Hearing him blame A Fei, she quickly grasped his hand. "It's not her fault."

"If the food isn’t the problem, why are you vomiting?"

Jiang Congyan closed her eyes briefly, a thought dawning on her, and murmured, "Send for Zhang Fu."

"Right, we should call Zhang Fu. Someone!" He was so panicked he’d forgotten the most important thing.