The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 269: She’s my woman, you’re not allowed to seek revenge against her (Part 2)

Chapter 269: She’s my woman, you’re not allowed to seek revenge against her (Part 2)

Li Xianyun said to the person leading the group, "Murong Ce already knows that I am the Hall Master of Ji Shi Tang. He will definitely target Ji Shi Tang in the future, you all need to be more cautious."

The people of Ji Shi Tang bowed and said, "Yes!"

"Rest at the inn tonight, and you can start your journey back to Houtang tomorrow."

"Yes!"

After Jinwu finished the inspection, he reported to Li Xianyun, "Reporting to the young master, there is one survivor, but he bit his tongue and committed suicide by the time we found him."

Li Xianyun spoke in a faint voice, "It seems they had all sworn a death pact, and if captured, it’s their families who would be unlucky."

Jinwu nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Jinwu’s lips were pale, Li Xianyun thought of the injuries he and Bater had just sustained, then turned her head to Youlan, "Youlan, go get the medicine for treating bruises and injuries from the medicine chest, and use it for the wounded."

Apart from Jinwu and Bater, there were quite a few injured guards and Hidden Guards.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities.

"Yes!"

Speaking, Youlan went upstairs to get the medicine.

Li Xianyun said to Jinwu, "So many people died at once, the Official Government will surely come to investigate. Reveal your identity if necessary, that way they will not pester us anymore."

"Yes!"

Li Xianyun looked outside, the day was about to break. She ordered the guards to clean up the aftermath, while she went upstairs with Zhuo Ma.

Her mind was in disarray. She had thought that after planning for so long with so many people, they would certainly kill Murong Ce. But in the end, she had underestimated Murong Ce. Not only did he escape, but her identity as Hall Master of Ji Shi Tang was also revealed.

Back in the room, Li Xianyun saw Zhuo Ma with a hesitant expression, "My head is a bit uncomfortable right now, let’s talk another day."

Zhuo Ma bowed and said, "Yes."

Seeing Li Xianyun looking haggard, Zhuo Ma asked worriedly, "My lady, do you need me to bring the medicine chest for you?"

"No need, I’ll be fine after lying down for a while."

Li Xianyun said this as she took off her overcoat and slowly lay down on the bed, gazing at the canopy above her and closing her eyes gradually.

"Zhuo Ma, wake me up when it starts to get light, we need to hurry back to Shangjing."

"Yes."

Murong Ce and his group left the city gates overnight.

Technically, a curfew would start at a certain time at night, and no one was allowed to be on the streets.

But money talks — with money and benefits, you can compel some people.

Having left the city gates, Shang, one of the four masters, looked back: the tall and thick city gates were shut tight under the dim yellow light of the night.

Shang looked at Murong Ce, who was in a bad mood, and dared not speak.

Their master had saved the lives of the four brothers, hence they were utterly loyal to him.

Murong Ce didn’t turn his head but said in a calm voice, "No need to look anymore, your eldest brother won’t be coming back."

Sadness filled Shang Zhengyu’s eyes.

Though the four were not born of the same mother, they were disciples of the same school and shared a deep bond.

Murong Ce glanced at them, "She is my woman, not someone you can touch. If you want to avenge, go find Yelu Yan. If he hadn’t sent so many men, your eldest brother wouldn’t have died."

The three brothers responded solemnly, "Yes!"

As Murong Ce’s prized darling, how could Li Xianyun be unknown to them?

Murong Ce walked for about two miles with the three brothers before regrouping with a bunch of people.

Despite his love for Li Xianyun, Murong Ce had not been so blinded as to send in all his forces.

The leader of the group greeted Murong Ce with a clasped fist and said, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has sent a message asking you to return to the Capital City early to take charge of the situation."

Murong Ce replied in a deep voice, "Understood."

Murong Ce looked back at Gucheng, his gaze calm, yet unable to hide the tumultuous waves beneath his eyes.

If she was unwilling to come back, then he would have to make her return by necessity.

He wanted to rightfully obtain Li Xianyun from Yelu Yan’s hands.

At the crack of dawn, Zhuo Ma woke Li Xianyun up.

After getting dressed, arranging her hair, and washing up, Li Xianyun stepped out of her room with Zhuo Ma and Youlan.

The inn was a mess last night, but by early morning, the guards and staff had nearly finished cleaning up; there was finally space to walk freely.

The shopkeeper was sitting despondently in front of the accounting desk, looking utterly hopeless.

Li Xianyun glanced at Youlan.

Understanding, Youlan took out a five-hundred silver note from her bosom and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the silver note in surprise, looking at Li Xianyun, "Young Master, this is..."

Li Xianyun smiled at him and said, "My apologies for last night."

The shopkeeper, though fond of wealth, also understood the principle that a gentleman should acquire his wealth in the right way and tried to refuse, "Young Master is too polite. Had it not been for your help last night, I fear we all would have met untimely deaths."

The man who looked as enchanting as a demon but as vicious as a serpent was clearly intent on killing, and at that moment, the shopkeeper felt he was on the brink of death.

It was the Young Master staying at the inn who saved them, how could he accept his money?

"Separate issues should be addressed separately; this is what you deserve. Take it."

Seeing the shopkeeper about to say more, Li Xianyun smiled and said, "If you accept it, I’ll tell you a way to make money."

The shopkeeper looked at Li Xianyun with excitement and said with a smile, "Alright, I’ll accept the silver note, many thanks, Young Master. Please do impart your guidance."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Although this inn is remote, it’s backed by a small mountain and faces a lake; you can adapt based on local conditions."

Seeing the shopkeeper still confused.

Li Xianyun planned to explain more specifically, "You could spend money building a few simple pavilions on the mountain for the traveling guests to climb and enjoy the view. You could also buy or rent a few boats for the guests to enjoy on the lake. You must offer them something unique, for instance, a free lake tour with one stay, then charge for the second. This way, on one hand, you attract many guests to your inn; on the other hand, you can make money from the boat service—a double benefit. It’s something you could try."

Admiringly looking at Li Xianyun, the shopkeeper bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Many thanks to the Young Master for showing me a clear path."

Li Xianyun left the inn, bid farewell to the people from Ji Shi Tang, and set out toward Shangjing with a group of guards and Hidden Guards.

Since the Hidden Guards had already been exposed, there was no need to hide in the shadows any longer.

Before leaving, Li Xianyun still urged everyone to stay alert.

The two groups of assassins last night, the one with the black veil was Murong Ce’s man, and the men in black aimed to kill her; they were surely from some faction in Khitan.

Many in Khitan wanted her dead, such as the Grand Imperial Consort, Ji Xueyuan, or perhaps others.

With the enemy hidden and themselves in the open, they must be extremely cautious.

In the following days, there were continuous assassination attempts, but thanks to the many men Yelu Yan had left behind, they managed to avoid disaster.

Li Xianyun instructed every guard and Hidden Guard to protect themselves well.

However many people Yelu Yan entrusted her with, she intended to bring back exactly that number.

As they neared Shangjing, the frequency of assassination attempts against Li Xianyun increased.

Close to the border of Shangjing, suddenly a sound of the earth shaking and mountains moving arose; Li Xianyun stepped out of the carriage to see. Not far off, a cloud of dust billowed as several hundred people on tall horses sped toward them, too far to tell if they were friend or foe.

However, Li Xianyun always prepared for the worst in any situation, "Jinwu, pass the order—hurry our march and remain on high alert, guarding against an attack!"

"Yes!" Jinwu bowed in salute and went to relay the order.