Chapter 191 Ending One “Please, Princess, Ascend the Throne!”

Chapter 191: Ending One — "Your Highness, take the throne!"

As soon as Jiang Huai saw his daughter, he hurried forward.

Jiang Congyan walked toward him too.

Father and daughter quickened their pace, drawing closer and closer. But when only a step or two remained, they both halted simultaneously, staring intently at one another.

After being separated for six or seven years, both had changed noticeably.

Jiang Congyan noticed her father was still thin, but his hair had turned much whiter, and his face had aged noticeably, showing the passage of time.

She had grown up in Liangzhou and hardly ever saw him. Even after returning to Chang’an, due to Jiang Ming’s suspicions, they rarely interacted—he even went out of his way to avoid her. Their only real heart-to-heart had been shortly before her marriage, and that had been brief.

The long separation had not weakened their bond; if anything, it only made them miss each other more.

Though they had exchanged letters over the years, nothing matched seeing each other in person.

Before her marriage, Jiang Congyan had imagined they might be apart for a long time, but she never expected it to stretch to seven years.

Now, though she had so much to say, she couldn’t find the words. Voice trembling, eyes wet, she could only whisper, “Father.”

As she studied Jiang Huai, he was doing the same to her, his gaze lingering on her face, not daring to blink.

Her complexion had improved greatly since leaving Chang’an—the constant pallor of illness that once clung to her had completely vanished. But the greater change was in her demeanor. The youthful softness in her features had faded, especially in the maturity now reflected in her eyes and expression. Now she looked every bit the ruler capable of leading this dynasty.

By all rights, Jiang Huai should’ve been proud—she had taken care of herself and risen to such heights. Yet it only made his heart ache.

Perhaps because, as a father, he hadn’t been by her side these past six or seven years, unable to protect her from hardship.

“Father, I’ve failed as a daughter,” Jiang Congyan said, kneeling before him.

The moment her knees touched the ground, Jiang Huai grabbed her arms and hauled her up.

“Just being well is filial enough. If you kneel like this, I’ll be angry. Get up quickly,” he said firmly.

Jiang Congyan had no choice but to rise.

“Chang Shengnu, have you been well these years?”

Jiang Huai wasn’t thinking about the Han-Hu tensions right now. As a father, his greatest concern was his daughter’s life during all these years.

“Of course I’ve been well—just look at me,” Jiang Congyan replied with a smile. “But you, Father, seem to have aged much more.”

Jiang Huai chuckled. “Just getting old.”

“You’re not that old, but you must take better care of yourself from now on.”

After exchanging a few more words, they both calmed down. Jiang Congyan’s gaze shifted past her father to the others behind him—faces both familiar and strange: Huan Jun, Xie Shao, Jiang Yuer, Cui Wang… All were watching her.

She glanced briefly before turning back to Jiang Huai. “Father, there’s some good news you might not know yet.”

“What is it?”

She lowered her eyes slightly, her hands resting gently on her belly, her eyes warm as she looked down. “You’re going to be a grandfather.”

“What?” Jiang Huai felt as though he had misheard.

“I’m four months along now. In a few more months, you’ll be a grandfather,” Jiang Congyan repeated slowly.

Jiang Huai finally snapped out of it, his expression shifting from surprise to delight.

Those behind him had also heard the words.

The group’s reactions were mixed.

Huan Jun mirrored Jiang Huai’s joy—just as thrilled, though more composed. If his information was correct, Tuo Baxiao still had no children; this would be his first.

Jiang Yuer was just plain happy for her.

Xie Shao’s head jerked up in shock, his manners forgotten as he stared straight at Jiang Congyan.

She wasn’t far along, and with the weather turning colder, a loose outer robe completely hid her condition. If she hadn’t said anything, they’d have been none the wiser. But now that they knew, they could spot the little tells—like how her hand kept drifting to her belly.

She’d been married to Tuo Baxiao for six or seven years. A pregnancy was only natural—even late by normal standards. Most women would already have children five or six years old. Yet Xie Shao was stuck in a daze, as if their past meetings were still fresh, like they had happened just yesterday.

Just like that, the princess who once set off alone on a political marriage now returned to her homeland with her husband, the Prince of Mobei—and their child.

Xie Shao couldn’t pin down what he was feeling, nor did he dare dwell on it. He forced himself not to think too deeply.

Jiang Congyan noticed his expression was different from the others’, but didn’t give it much thought.

Jiang Huai burst out laughing, saying “good” over and over, then frowned. “Since you’re expecting, you should be resting. What was Tuo Baxiao thinking, letting you travel in your condition? What if—”

In his mind, she was still that sickly little girl. For someone with her constitution, getting pregnant must have been an enormous strain.

“He said the same thing. But I had to come—I wanted to see you. And besides, only if I came in person would everyone feel reassured.”

Jiang Huai still didn’t look happy about it.

Jiang Congyan shifted her gaze to Huan Jun, smoothly changing the subject. “We’re short on time—no point dragging this out. Let’s get started.”

“After you, Your Highness.”

Together, the group left the docks.

Tuo Baxiao stood on the warship’s deck, anchored mid-river, watching everything through a telescope. He saw the small talk and quick goodbyes before they departed the docks. As Jiang Congyan disappeared from sight, his fists clenched.

Whenever she was out of view, he’d get hit with this crushing dread. He feared nothing—not even facing thousands of enemy troops alone—but when it came to her, he couldn’t bear the slightest mishap.

“How much time’s passed?” Tuo Baxiao paced impatiently.

A Long checked the water clock carefully. “My Prince, just thirty minutes.”

Not even halfway yet.

Tuo Baxiao kept asking A Long for the time, convinced at least half an hour had passed, only to hear each time it was less than a quarter. Time had never crawled like this before—as if countless needles were pricking him all over.

With time pressing, Jiang Congyan followed Huan Jun and the others away from the docks into the city. No small talk—they got straight down to surrender terms.

They all knelt across from each other in the hall. Huan Jun, representing Southern Liang, stepped forward and bowed to Jiang Congyan. “After talking it over with my advisors, we’ll surrender—on a few conditions.”

Jiang Congyan gestured calmly. “Speak.”

“First, as Your Highness promised, once we surrender, the Xianbei Army must not indiscriminately slaughter Han people or plunder the city’s wealth.”

Jiang Congyan nodded, meeting their gazes with unwavering confidence. “You didn’t even need to ask—I’d never allow it.”

She continued, "I know many of you here have been threatened by the Xiongnu and witnessed their brutality firsthand. Even before this, conflicts between the surrounding nomadic tribes and the Central Plains were frequent, which is why these tribes are often seen as a dire threat. But the Xianbei are different. The current Xianbei King, Tuo Baxiao, is half Han by blood. He was raised by his mother to speak Han language and learn Han characters—he can hardly be considered one of the nomadic tribes.

"Now, with him restraining the Xianbei Army, I dare not claim they will be completely harmless to the Central Plains' people, but at the very least, their discipline is strict. Any misconduct will be punished under martial law. Moreover, the current army isn't solely composed of Xianbei soldiers. The Liangzhou Army, the Han troops integrated after the Battle of Guyuan, and the naval forces absorbed during the southern campaign number over a hundred thousand—already on par with the Xianbei Army..."

Jiang Congyan spoke with a measured tone, laying out her case in a clear, firm voice that carried an innate air of conviction.

Previously, she had sent letters and envoys to convey her intentions, but nothing compared to the impact of her speaking in person.

The tense expressions around her gradually eased.

With assurances of safety secured, Huan Jun presented the second condition: "What will happen to our official positions if we surrender?"

Jiang Congyan smiled. "Even if I wanted to take over all administrative affairs, I don’t have the manpower for that, do I? I will only send a few officials here—most positions will still rely on you. You needn’t worry about that."

"What about Chang’an?" someone asked.

Jiankang isn’t the capital, after all. Once the north and south are unified, Chang’an will be the center of power.

"That’s exactly what I was coming to."

All eyes turned to Jiang Congyan.

"Huan Jun, I intend to appoint you as Chancellor. Xie Shao, I wish to appoint you as Grand General. Are you willing?"

Her offer stunned everyone—she was willing to offer Huan Jun the position of Chancellor.

Even Huan Jun himself was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at her.

Jiang Congyan remained composed, meeting his gaze with bright, meaningful eyes.

Others might think she was just placating or bribing them, but Huan Jun discerned something deeper in her expression—her ambitions extended far beyond this.

Recalling her earlier proposals for land reform, his heart raced, the blood pounding in his ears.

"Your servant accepts," Huan Jun replied, suppressing his excitement as he bowed deeply.

The other scholars, unaware of the tacit understanding between the two, whispered to each other. Seeing that Jiang Congyan had even offered Huan Jun the Chancellorship—and knowing Huan Jun shared their interests—they had no further objections.

The details could be worked out later. Once the negotiations were nearly concluded, Jiang Congyan rose from her seat and drew a small seal from her sleeve.

"Minister Cui, do you recognize this seal?" she asked, stepping forward and presenting it to Cui Wang.

With just one glance, Cui Wang recognized it. His hands trembled as he took it, blinking hard to read the inscription at the bottom. A shudder ran through him, and tears welled in his eyes. "It’s the Crown Prince’s—Crown Prince Zhaowen’s seal, Qinggui."

Few alive today would recognize this seal. Only elders like him still remembered how Crown Prince Zhaowen carried himself decades ago—his noble bearing and a heart devoted to the realm.

He had thought the seal long lost, yet after all these years, it had found its way to her.

Cui Wang gazed at the young woman before him, just past twenty. Though her features did not entirely resemble her grandfather’s, her presence reminded him vividly of the Crown Prince.

The Founding Emperor and the Crown Prince had left a worthy successor.

The moment Cui Wang uttered "Crown Prince Zhaowen," it sent a shock through the room.

Whether those present had ever met the Crown Prince or not, he was a revered figure to the people of Liang.

If he hadn’t died so young, Liang might never have fallen this far.

"Now, before all of you," Jiang Congyan declared, her voice steady and unwavering, "I swear upon the spirit of my grandfather, Crown Prince Zhaowen, that I will protect the Han people’s land and bring peace and prosperity to the land."

Pale daylight filtered into the hall, casting light on her determined face.

At this moment, no one could question her resolve.

After so many years of unrest, this turning point that would decide everyone's fate was finally at hand.

Jiang Congyan thought of Tuo Baxiao waiting for her return. With his temperament, even a slight delay could make him act rashly. She dared not waste any time and prepared to leave immediately.

As when she had arrived, the officials came to bid her farewell as she departed.

When the procession reached the city gates, Huan Jun suddenly called out to stop.

Curious, Jiang Congyan pulled back the carriage curtain and saw not only the accompanying courtiers but also thousands of citizens gathered around.

She stepped down from the carriage.

Her Imperial Guards grew tense, wondering if the crowd might turn against them at this crucial moment. As they started to draw their swords, Jiang Congyan calmed them with a gesture, signaling not to act recklessly.

"What is it?" she asked Huan Jun.

Standing before her, Huan Jun replied, "We have one final condition."

To make such a demand at this moment and in this setting could easily be mistaken for a threat, yet Jiang Congyan sensed no hostility.

"Speak," she said steadily.

Huan Jun knelt before her, bowing deeply with his hands clasped together. "We beg Your Highness to claim the throne."

Jiang Congyan never imagined that his final request would be this.

As Huan Jun knelt, those around him followed suit, and soon, thousands of citizens in the distance bowed one after another, touching their foreheads to the ground.

"We beg Your Highness to claim the throne!"

"We beg Your Highness to claim the throne!"

Chant after chant rose from the crowd, swelling into a roaring wave.

Huan Jun trusted her, but promises alone needed real power behind them. Only when she truly held authority and could match Tuo Baxiao's power would they feel secure.

Beneath the bright autumn sun, within the age-old city, Jiang Congyan stood among the people, staring in wonder at the scene unfolding before her, her dress billowing in the breeze.

All her past efforts, combined with the heartfelt voices of the people, had created a rising wind, carrying her toward the future she envisioned.