The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 313 Don’t come over, don’t! (First update)

Chapter 313: 313 Don’t come over, don’t! (First update)

Xiang Rong looked up hastily at Murong Ce seated at the head of the chamber, knelt, and said, "Your Majesty, when in Tianshui County, Yelu Yan and Commandery Princess Xianyun were inseparable, and they had already... shared a bed. How does such an impure woman deserve Your Majesty’s favor?"

"Has Your Majesty forgotten? She deceived you. She had already promised to marry you, yet while you went back to Houliang to request a marriage from the late emperor, she turned around and became allied with the Khitan."

To this day, Xiang Rong still remembered how happy Murong Ce had been when Li Xianyun agreed to marry him.

It was the first time she saw a smile on her master’s face, so warm and comforting, anyone could feel his fulfilled joy.

But it was clear to anyone with eyes that Li Xianyun was deceiving him.

When Li Xianyun promised to marry Murong Ce, Xiang Rong was just outside the door, hearing their conversation crystal clear.

That day, after Murong Ce had drunk a little at the palace feast, he went to find Li Xianyun as soon as he returned.

At the time, Li Xianyun was doing the accounts in the accounting office.

Murong Ce really trusted her, actually letting her manage a part of the business without any guard.

Xiang Rong and several others had advised Murong Ce against this.

Li Xianyun had agreed to manage the business for him just a few days after her own maid died a terrible death, which was clearly ill-intentioned.

But not only did Murong Ce not listen, he even scolded her and the other servants, and even went as far as to declare that in the prison, there were only two masters: him and Li Xianyun.

As it turned out, Li Xianyun was only seeking revenge; every business she managed suffered great losses.

Furthermore, Li Xianyun was secretly investigating Murong Ce.

Murong Ce knew all this and held back his reaction, when servants came to complain, he simply ordered in an indifferent voice, "She is your master, let her do as she pleases."

It seemed there was no limit to Murong Ce’s partiality towards her.

That day, half-drunk, Murong Ce was carefully helped out of the carriage by a young servant, his first words being, "Where is Commandery Princess Xianyun?"

Xiang Rong bit her teeth but still respectfully said, "To report to His Highness, Commandery Princess Xianyun is in the accounting office."

Murong Ce raised his hand, causing the young servant to stumble, and made his wobbly way to the accounting office.

On the way, he noticed someone following him, stopped in his tracks, turned around, and ordered displeased, "Everyone out of my sight, now!!"

The attendants were so frightened that they hurriedly backed away.

After loving Murong Ce for so many years, how could Xiang Rong resign herself to this? She quietly followed behind.

From a distance, she saw Murong Ce push the door and enter the accounting office, turn his back, and with a backhand, close the door.

Xiang Rong quickly approached the door and then heard something fall to the ground, accompanied by Li Xianyun’s voice, full of shock and fear, "What, what are you trying to do?"

"Xianxian, I like you. Come with me, and I will treat you well."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Rong felt as if her heart had plunged into an ice-cold abyss, the chill piercing to the bone.

How could someone as cruel and ruthless as Murong Ce, a man so cold-blooded and fond of killing, possibly like a woman?

If she were Li Xianyun, she would certainly agree.

Murong Ce was cold and ruthless to outsiders, but he was exceptionally good to Li Xianyun—of course, this was only after the days following her maid’s death.

"Don’t, don’t come any closer!" came Li Xianyun’s voice, filled with despair and terror.

Mixed in was the sound of a sleeve arrow being fired.

Li Xianyun was adept with Mechanism Hidden Weapons, something Xiang Rong knew well, especially the sleeve arrow she kept for self-defense, which never missed its target and could fire in rapid succession, very formidable indeed.

Xiang Rong, fearful for Murong Ce’s safety, eagerly wanted to push the door open and enter.

"Oh..."

A pained woman’s voice came through, stopping Xiang Rong in her tracks as she was pushing the door open.

Indeed, ever since Murong Ce arrived in Houtang, every day he had been diligent—diligent in his studies, diligent in martial arts training. Li Xianyun was but a frail girl, how could she possibly be a match for Murong Ce?

As expected, a tumult of noises followed, mixed with rapid breaths—it seemed Li Xianyun had been subdued.

Xiang Rong’s hands clenched tightly into fists, her long nails digging deep into her flesh, causing a sharp pain.

Yet the pain in her body was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

Murong Ce had taken a liking to Li Xianyun from the start. If today they consummated their relationship, with Murong Ce’s intense infatuation, Li Xianyun would surely become the lofty Crown Princess Consort, and thus Xiang Rong’s mistress.

How could she bear it?!

"Murong Ce, you, listen to me..."

The chaos inside abruptly ceased.

Li Xianyun’s voice followed closely, "You are highly skilled in martial arts and possess power and influence. If you take me by force today, there’s nothing I can do to you, but I will die. I will find a way to end my life in a place you cannot supervise, by any means necessary."

"You dare?!" Murong Ce’s voice was cold, "If you dare to die, do not think for a second that your father, your mother, your brothers and sisters will live. I will make sure they join you in death."

"A person who is utterly disheartened and intent on death, how could they care about the lives of others?" Li Xianyun said.

"You..."

Xiang Rong sneered. Murong Ce could trample anyone beneath his feet, yet he couldn’t control the slightest Li Xianyun.

After a long silence, Li Xianyun’s voice sounded, "You claim to like me, yet you only desire a nameless, clandestine intimacy. Is this really what your ’like’ entails?"

"I will marry you," Murong Ce said eagerly, "I will make you the legitimate and respectable Crown Princess Consort of Houliang."

Li Xianyun sneered, "Men would say anything to get a woman. You’ll marry me? Would your emperor father agree? Moreover, given what he has done to satisfy his desires, if I marry into your family, can you protect me?"

The Emperor of Houliang was infamous for his dissolute and tyrannical rule, coveting his own siblings-in-law and even his sons’ wives. If anything caught his eye, he would use all means necessary to possess it.

It had become an infamous scandal among the nations.

"As long as you agree to marry me, you will be my wife, my Crown Princess Consort, and I will certainly protect you."

Murong Ce paused, then asked with a hint of uncertainty, "You, will you marry me?"

Xiang Rong gritted her teeth; she could actually hear the nervousness in Murong Ce’s voice.

Murong Ce was always so inscrutable and strategic, how could he be nervous?

This was beyond her belief.

After a long moment, Li Xianyun’s voice came softly, "I will marry you, but I require the formal engagement and the full traditional wedding rites. If you can provide them, on our nuptial night, I will naturally fulfill your wishes."

"Good," Murong Ce agreed promptly, "I will go to the Capital City immediately to get my emperor father’s consent for our marriage."

Xiang Rong heard some rustling sounds inside, followed by Murong Ce’s footsteps.

She dared not linger and quickly hid in a corner.

The next moment, Murong Ce walked out of the Accounting Office, his steps light yet hurried.

Xiang Rong watched Murong Ce’s retreating figure and sneered, her eyes slightly moist. This fool, it was clear to anyone that Li Xianyun was only lingering around him for revenge. Her earlier words were nothing but deceitful pleas to escape the tiger’s mouth.

But what could be done? Murong Ce was willingly being deceived, being fooled by her.

Xiang Rong was about to step out when she heard footsteps and quickly hid back in the corner.