The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 254 The Most Beautiful Woman in Chang’an (Part 1)

Chapter 254: 254 The Most Beautiful Woman in Chang’an (Part 1)

Eight-year-old Murong Ce was lashed by Liu Zhaoyi until he was covered in wounds, but he didn’t shed a single tear, didn’t speak a word, nor even let out a whimper.

Only in hell would a child be beaten by his own birth mother to the point of skin splitting and flesh bursting.

In the end, Liu Zhaoyi was too exhausted to continue and threw the whip onto the ground, her face pale with anger, she pointed at Murong Ce’s nose and cursed, "You are a devil, a devil come to collect debts from me!"

After saying so, she stormed off in a rage.

Liu Zhaoyi became the laughingstock of everyone after being violated by the Emperor of Houliang in front of the crowd in the grand hall.

Even after being promoted to the rank of Consort, the mockery never ceased.

Gossip and slander about her spread everywhere, becoming the talk of the alleys and streets.

Obscenities too foul to hear.

She hated the Emperor of Houliang, and even more so, the Emperor’s flesh and blood.

She wanted to forget that day’s events, but the existence of Murong Ce constantly reminded her, forcing her to recall the disgraceful past.

So many years passed, and Xiang Rong still couldn’t forget that day’s scene.

When she draped a cloak over Murong Ce’s battered body, he didn’t look at her but glanced outside the window instead.

The warm light of the setting sun shone into his eyes, turning his deep-set eyes to the color of amber.

But those gilded eyes bore no trace of warmth.

After this incident, Xiang Rong dared not underestimate this ill-fated prince, who lacked the Emperor’s favor.

She was diligent and loyal, and gradually earned Murong Ce’s trust.

Xiang Rong watched as Murong Ce seized the opportunity to become a hostage in Houtang, watched as he trampled those who had once humiliated him beneath his feet, watched as he grew so powerful that he could decide people’s life or death at will, to the point that even the Emperor of Houtang had to give him some regard.

Xiang Rong felt that following such a master, every day was filled with purpose, with fiery passion.

Murong Ce seemed like an existence akin to a deity, no matter the situation, he would strategize behind the scenes, act with cold ruthlessness, and make brilliant and decisive judgments. He was so strong that it seemed as if nothing and no one could affect him.

She had thought Murong Ce would always be like this, but things always go contrary to one’s wishes.

All the changes began with the winter five years ago.

That year, Murong Ce was seventeen, and so was she; however, Xiang Rong’s heart was entirely devoted to Murong Ce, even harboring special affections for him.

But Xiang Rong understood clearly that Murong Ce could never reciprocate her feelings, so she buried this love deep within her heart, placing it in the most cherished spot.

On that sunny and bright afternoon five years ago, the warm light fell on the white snow, reflecting a blinding brilliance.

Xiang Rong was in the study adding charcoal to the brazier, while Murong Ce sat at the desk reading.

A group of young nobles with bruised faces came to complain.

"Master, that Li Xianyun is truly detestable, she actually drugged us, knocked us out, tied us up, and then beat us up."

A name fell into Xiang Rong’s ears—Li Xianyun, the name of a woman.

Another chimed in, "One shouldn’t hit a dog in the presence of its owner; she’s not just slapping our faces, but yours too."

"Indeed, a wild girl who just entered the Capital City dares to stir trouble under your nose. If we don’t put her in her place, she will strut around Shangjing uncontested in the future, and no one will hold you in regard anymore."

Murong Ce, with his dignified bearing, held his book and glanced indifferently at the group, "If you can’t even handle a naïve girl, what use are you to me?"

The young nobles didn’t dare to say anything further.

For a good while after, Xiang Rong heard no mention of Li Xianyun’s name, until a young noble came once again to complain about her.

He, because of teasing a respectable woman, was shot in the leg with a sleeve arrow by Li Xianyun; his walk was a hobble, very comical.

At that time, Murong Ce was in a foul mood because of some matters related to the Houliang Imperial Court, and was disturbed at this moment, just needing an outlet.

"Doesn’t Li Xianyun have a younger brother in the academy?"

What happened afterward, Xiang Rong heard, almost led to the loss of life.

Everyone knew who was behind the incident, but no one dared to ask, let alone intervene.

Afterward, the name of Li Xianyun was seldom heard in the prison, but in the Capital City of Chang’an, her name was often mentioned—with good rumors, but mostly bad ones.

Some rumors said Li Xianyun was a skilled doctor who saved many lives.

Others claimed Li Xianyun was an exceptional talent, praised endlessly by serious and strict scholars with stringent demands.

There were also those who said Li Xianyun was extremely beautiful, the number one beauty of Chang’an.

More numerous were the unfavorable rumors, saying Li Xianyun had violated propriety, lacked social grace; claiming she was arrogant and disrespectful, looking down on everything; alleging her personal teachings were chaotic, and her chastity compromised; accusing her of moral deficiency, rebellious and wild speech; and others even branded her as naturally seductive, deliberately enticing men...

Xiang Rong was quite curious—what did such a woman actually look like?

Finally, at a royal banquet, Xiang Rong saw Li Xianyun.

Xiang Rong, following Murong Ce to the banquet, stood with a group of maids and palace servants at one spot.

In the vast palace hall, seated were many members of the royal family and their female relatives; Xiang Rong looked around, searching for the figure of Li Xianyun.

This was a royal family banquet, and as the eldest daughter of Prince Rui, she was expected to attend such a feast.

However, with so many women attending the banquet, finding someone she had never seen before was somewhat difficult.

Just as she was scanning the room, Xiang Rong spotted in the back row of the corner, a young lady of about fifteen or sixteen from an official’s family.

She wore plain clothes with no makeup, her elegance stood out among the other richly dressed officials’ daughters, stunningly beautiful to the point of being breathtaking, making her hard to ignore even in such a secluded corner.

The surrounding officials’ daughters chatted and laughed, only she sat there either sipping tea or staring blankly at a spot on the table.

She emanated a tranquil aura like an orchid, growing all the more gentle and charming under the soft lighting.

She was like the bright crescent in the sky, seemingly within reach but unattainable, or like the fragrant lotuses in a pond, to be admired from a distance but not to be toyed with.

Such a woman was hard not to like.

A woman herself was captivated by her beauty and demeanor, let alone a man?

A foreboding feeling began to surge in her heart: Could she be Li Xianyun?

Xiang Rong’s gaze sharply turned towards Murong Ce, seated high on the dais.

There he sat with the Houtang Emperor and Empress, as well as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, on the main dais, clearly indicative of Houtang’s regard and veneration for Murong Ce.

To Xiang Rong’s surprise, she discovered that Murong Ce was also looking at that woman, even the corner of his lips curving ever so slightly as he sipped his wine.

Xiang Rong froze, she had never seen such an expression on Murong Ce’s face.

She had seen Murong Ce smile, but it was always a cold sneer, under which many suffered, and some lost their lives.

Yet she had never seen such a gentle smile as the one he wore now.

Xiang Rong once again scrutinized Li Xianyun seriously, and a maid beside her couldn’t help but whisper, "Don’t look at Commandery Princess Xian anymore, be careful of being punished by the master."

Commandery Princess Xian was what the servants called Li Xianyun.

Xiang Rong had previously heard that due to jealousy of Li Xianyun’s beauty, the officials’ families in the Capital City forbade their servants from looking at Li Xianyun, and some ladies even sold their maids for doing so.