The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 268 This is something between me and my husband (first update)

Chapter 268: 268 This is something between me and my husband (first update)

These masked figures were all masters of poison, their lithe forms emerging amidst the black-clad men and veiled figures. A strange scent arrived in an instant, and in just a moment, both the black-clad men and the veiled figures had succumbed to the poison, collapsing to the ground.

The four experts of the Hidden Guard, seeing the situation was beyond salvaging, leapt to Murong Ce’s side to stand firm, like four colossal beasts guarding their master.

Murong Ce, clutching at his chest, leaned against the stairway entrance, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Li Xianyun, "You laid such an extensive trap just waiting for me to leap in, didn’t you, Hall Master of Ji Shi Tang?"

Initially, Murong Ce only had suspicions, but now, seeing that each masked figure was a master of poison.

How could Li Xianyun summon so many to die for her if she were not the Hall Master of Ji Shi Tang?

Jinwu, Zhuo Ma, and the others looked at Li Xianyun in shock.

How had their princess transformed into the Hall Master of Ji Shi Tang?

Li Xianyun did not deny, but merely looked at Murong Ce with cold eyes, "You’ve finally come to your senses."

Indeed, he had realized it long ago; even knowing it was her trap, he still jumped in without hesitation, abandoning the chaotic political situation to come looking for her.

Yet she still hated him.

It pained him, and he intended to make her feel the same pain.

Murong Ce’s eyes slightly lifted, his expression smug, "Xianxian, what would Yelu Yan think if he knew your marriage to the Khitan was to use his power to avenge your beloved maid? You came to Tianshui County to kill me, yet Yelu Yan followed you around like a fool, and at the critical moment, he even foolishly left Shangjing. If he knew you were such a crafty woman, would he still cherish you as his treasure?"

Li Xianyun said calmly, "This is between my husband and me. I will explain it to him, and it doesn’t concern you."

Murong Ce’s smile remained playful, but upon hearing the words "my husband," he couldn’t smile anymore. His gaze turned icy, like a winter north wind, chilling to the bone, "What did you call him?"

Seeing Murong Ce’s furious rage, Li Xianyun felt a sense of satisfaction, "Having married Yelu Yan, he is naturally my husband."

Murong Ce looked at her coldly, suddenly rising to his feet, yet nearly collapsing due to weakness.

Li Xianyun didn’t expect him to be able to stand up after being poisoned, and she unconsciously stepped back.

Jinwu and the guards, the Hidden Guard sent by Yelu Yan, as well as the people of Ji Shi Tang, all gathered around, protecting Li Xianyun.

Murong Ce knew full well that it was impossible to capture Li Xianyun.

Gazing into those fierce eyes, Li Xianyun’s heart pounded with nervousness.

Murong Ce’s jaw was set tight, his face a mask of brute force. He was a devil, a specter from Hell, akin to the darkest serpent, coiling tightly around her, suffocating her to the brink of collapse. With him present, she would never be able to lead the life of a normal person.

"I’ll ask you again, what did you call him?" Murong Ce demanded coldly.

Li Xianyun felt a chill run down the back of her neck as if the next moment it would be snapped, an instinctual reaction from her body.

Nonetheless, she said calmly, "Yelu Yan is my husband."

Zhuo Ma and Jinwu heard this, pleased inside. They wondered how happy the Khan would be to hear the princess say such words.

Murong Ce’s handsome face twisted with rage, "Xianxian, don’t push me. You know I’m mad, capable of anything."

Li Xianyun looked at him with cold eyes.

Murong Ce was as handsome as Pan An, tall and well-proportioned, emanating the presence of a dragon among mortals with such an excellent visage, but harbored a heart as venomous as that of a viper.

Facing Li Xianyun’s hateful gaze, Murong Ce remained unaffected.

He had clearly grown accustomed to Li Xianyun’s disdain for him.

At first, Murong Ce wanted her to like him, but finding that goal too lofty, he hoped she would treat him as any ordinary person would. But he found this too was wishful thinking, so he deigned to hope she would simply remain by his side.

Time and again he lowered his standards, allowing her to become more outrageous; now, she had even begun to harbor other intentions.

"Xianxian, you must know you are mine, it was you who made me come back to Houliang to ask for your hand in marriage. Your husband can only be me, do you understand?"

Li Xianyun glared at him furiously, "Don’t delude yourself. Even if I were to die, I would never be with you. The mere sight of you disgusts me."

The scene of Huanhuan being bullied and hurt was something she would never, ever forget, and she would never, ever forgive Murong Ce, the instigator.

Li Xianyun said to the crowd, "Kill him!"

Facing the guards who came to kill him, Murong Ce spoke in a light voice, "Seeking death!"

With a wave of his fan, the approaching blades were shivered into two pieces, and the guards were struck down heavily to the ground.

He had been affected by the Soft Bone Powder and yet he was still able to prevent others from getting close to him, which showed how advanced his martial arts skills were.

The four top masters of Ji Shi Tang had also been poisoned. Struggling against so many opponents, they were clearly overexerted.

Gong, the leader of the four top masters, said to Murong Ce, "Master, as long as the green hills last, there’ll be wood to burn. Let us leave quickly!"

Murong Ce stared at Li Xianyun intensely, and if glares could eat a person alive, Li Xianyun would have been devoured without a trace left.

Li Xianyun said in a deep voice, "Don’t let him escape!"

Murong Ce laughed bitterly, and said, "There’s nothing greater than the death of a heart."

She actually hated him so much, all for the sake of an insignificant maid.

How laughable.

Gong urged him again, "Master, please make a quick decision, or we will all die here!"

Yelu Yan’s guards were all masters, and the Hidden Guard had exceptional skills. Continuing like this, they were headed for a dead end.

Murong Ce’s forehead throbbed with bulging veins, and, finally, he squeezed out one word through clenched teeth, "Retreat!"

With such a great opportunity to kill Murong Ce at hand, how could Li Xianyun let it slip by? She ordered firmly, "Close the doors and windows!"

Immediately, guards leapt to close the doors and windows.

The five, fighting as they retreated, could have escaped with ease had they not been poisoned; now, all five affected by Soft Bone Powder, their combat effectiveness was halved.

Gong and Shang Zhengyu covered Murong Ce as they retreated, each sustaining varying degrees of injury.

Finally reaching the door, the five found they couldn’t break free.

Seeing that a full escape was impossible, Gong said to Murong Ce, "Master, you take them and go first. I will cover the rear!"

Murong Ce and Shang Zhengyu opened the door and fled.

Although Gong was the leader of the four top masters and highly skilled in martial arts, he was outnumbered and was killed within moments.

As the crowd looked as if they were about to give chase, a cold voice came, "No need to give chase!"

Li Xianyun was worried there might be an ambush outside, and besides, in this fortress of Gucheng, unfamiliar with the terrain, dispersing their forces wasn’t a good idea.

Everyone had no choice but to abandon the pursuit.

Li Xianyun had the guards and the Hidden Guard check the bodies lying on the ground in black clothes and black veils, to see if there were any survivors.

At the same time, she ordered some people to help the innkeeper, waiters, and the doorman to rest, tally the financial losses clearly, and make high compensations the next day.

The people from Ji Shi Tang finally saw their Hall Master, and they were extremely excited, bowing with clenched fists, "Hall Master."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "You’ve worked hard."