The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 314: Let that woman come to Zhaoming Hall at the second watch of the night (2 am)

Chapter 314: Let that woman come to Zhaoming Hall at the second watch of the night (2 am)

Xiang Rong saw Li Xianyun walking out from the Accounting Office, hurrying outside. From her trembling shoulders and the motion of wiping tears, it was evident she was crying in sorrow.

Xiang Rong’s eyes were as cold as frost. How could there be such an ungrateful woman in this world?

Did she not know that the love she scorned was something others could not attain even if they spent their entire lives searching for it?

As Xiang Rong had expected, Murong Ce’s love for Li Xianyun had reached a level of madness.

That very day, because of a single sentence from Li Xianyun, he set out to return to Houliang.

Completely ignoring the major events concerning the world he was plotting, wholly disregarding the punishment he would face for returning to the Capital City without an edict.

For a woman who did not love him, a woman who played him in the palm of her hand, he rashly threw everything away without a second thought.

For Li Xianyun’s hand in marriage, Murong Ce did not hesitate to use all the power he could command, almost revealing to the world the ambition he had concealed for many years.

He knelt outside Zhaoming Hall for three full days and nights before he obtained the late emperor’s consent.

However, on his way back to Houtang, he was suddenly informed that Li Xianyun had been conferred the title of Princess Hehui and was already on her way to Khitan for the marriage alliance.

Someone had suppressed this news; by the time Murong Ce learned of it, it was too late.

Li Xianyun had already entered Khitan territory, and with Murong Ce’s power at the time, he was helpless to reach her, watching as she married into Khitan and unable to do anything about it.

It was from that time on that Murong Ce accelerated his steps to ascend the throne.

Murong Ce had done so much for Li Xianyun, had given so much, yet she was ungrateful and threw herself into the arms of another man.

How shameful.

How could such a fickle, deceitful woman deserve to be the object of Murong Ce’s all-consuming affection?

The sudden crash of a cup falling to the ground pulled Xiang Rong out of her memories.

Xiang Rong hurriedly prostrated herself on the floor. She had only mentioned that Li Xianyun was an unclean woman, she had not yet called her "fickle and heartless," but Murong Ce was already furious. If she had uttered those two terms, wouldn’t her head be in jeopardy?

Indeed, Murong Ce was madly in love with Li Xianyun.

"Your Majesty, forgive me!"

"Xianxian is my Empress; how dare you judge her? Moreover, you dared to harm her, but now you’ve lost your martial abilities, there’s no need for you to stay alive."

Having said that, Murong Ce glanced at the guard in the hall.

Immediately, a guard stepped forward to take Xiang Rong away.

Xiang Rong quickly spoke, "Your Majesty, spare my life! I have undercover agents in Shangjing, and only I can contact them. Please spare my life, Your Majesty, and I will wholeheartedly conspire for You and the Empress."

How ridiculous, to save her own life, she could only bring up the woman she despised to the bone.

Upon hearing this, Murong Ce raised his hand slightly.

The two guards respectfully withdrew.

Yelu Yan had eradicated all of Murong Ce’s undercover agents that were planted in Shangjing, and he was particularly keen on protecting Li Xianyun, sending many to guard her openly and secretly, making it impossible for Murong Ce’s men to get close.

If Xiang Rong had undercover agents, it could be of help to his secret plans in Shangjing.

Seeing this tactic successful, Xiang Rong continued, "These few undercover agents were ones I planted in Shangjing when I was in Tianshui County. To avoid detection, I have not contacted them."

"Are they reliable?" Murong Ce asked in a flat tone.

"Absolutely reliable. They have been through life and death with me and wouldn’t betray me," she replied.

Murong Ce spoke indifferently, "Contact these agents immediately and have them spread the news of the attack on the Prince’s Mansion."

Xianxian, you actually called Yelu Yan your husband; it’s time you learned a lesson.

Xiang Rong, elated, bowed and said, "Yes!"

During the days when Li Xianyun was betrothed, Xiang Rong had not failed to advise Murong Ce to take action against the Prince’s Mansion, to force Li Xianyun to return.

Actually, she had her own ulterior motives; she hoped that Li Xianyun would hate Murong Ce even more because of this, thus making it even less likely for Murong Ce to win Li Xianyun’s heart.

But Murong Ce hesitated because of his scruples. His biggest regret was having someone humiliate and kill Li Xianyun’s personal maid in his quest to conquer Li Xianyun.

If not for that, he wouldn’t have ended up at such odds with Li Xianyun.

After that incident, Murong Ce no longer dared to rashly disturb Rui Prince’s Mansion; he didn’t want Li Xianyun to hate him for the rest of her life.

Murong Ce raised his hand and made a light, fluttering gesture. Xu Sheng immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty."

"Send someone to Houtang immediately, and command the people of the prison to raid Rui Prince’s Mansion at night. No one must be killed," Murong Ce added, "even the lives of the servants must not be harmed. Do you understand?"

It was because he had someone kill a maid that Li Xianyun came to hate him so vehemently; how could he possibly forget?

Xu Sheng bowed respectfully and said, "Yes!"

After giving his orders, Murong Ce commanded in a deep voice, "Bring that woman to Zhaoming Hall."

"Yes!"

The Chief of Palace Servants accepted the order and hurriedly withdrew.

Xiang Rong was puzzled. What woman? Besides Li Xianyun, what other woman could catch Murong Ce’s eye?

Murong Ce seemed quite tired, waving his hand weakly.

The crowd bowed respectfully and said, "As you wish."

After leaving Zhaoming Hall, Xiang Rong and Xu Sheng had just walked a short distance when a woman approached them from the opposite direction.

She was dressed as elegantly as Li Xianyun, wearing a white dress that fluttered as she moved and had a white veil covering her face, revealing only a smooth forehead and a pair of eyes as serene as water.

Xiang Rong was so startled that her mouth hung open. The thought that Li Xianyun had actually come to Houliang sprung into her mind.

But she quickly dismissed the idea.

The woman, while somewhat resembling Li Xianyun around the eyes and brows, had a very different bearing.

This must be a doppelganger of Li Xianyun that Murong Ce had found.

Murong Ce’s infatuation with Li Xianyun had reached such a frenzied degree, to the point of deluding himself.

Xiang Rong and Xu Sheng consciously stepped aside to let Bai Mengling pass.

Once Bai Mengling was at a distance, Xiang Rong looked to Xu Sheng and asked, "Has His Majesty favored her?"

She and Xu Sheng had worked together for many years and shared a bond.

Xu Sheng, seeing that there was no one around, said, "No, when His Majesty is in a bad mood, he will summon her, asking her to wear the veil and simply stand there. He doesn’t do anything else, doesn’t say anything."

Xiang Rong felt uncomfortable. She didn’t want Murong Ce to favor this substitute, yet she also desired it because if he did, it would prove that Murong Ce didn’t need Li Xianyun and no one else.

******

Li Xianyun, having finished her preparations, left the Imperial Palace with Zhuo Ma, Youlan, and Bater.

Shitoutun and the Northern Region were in different directions, so as soon as they left the palace gates, Li Xianyun sent Zhuo Ma to Shitoutun while the remaining three, including herself, headed to the Northern Region.

Before they had reached the Northern Region, Bater spoke from outside the carriage, "Master, there are many soldiers stationed near the Northern Region, judging by the flags, they should be from the nearby Antler Camp."

Hearing this, Li Xianyun opened the carriage window, lifted the curtain, and saw from afar many soldiers standing in neat rows, waiting. There seemed to be several hundred of them.

Yelu Yan would always fulfill his promises to her, paying close attention to her affairs. It was the same this time.

But why were so many people needed just to lay a foundation?

As soon as Li Xianyun’s carriage drew near, Nur, accompanied by two deputy generals, approached to greet her with respect.

Once Li Xianyun alighted from the carriage, Nur offered a respectful forearm greeting and said, "Master Li, I received orders this morning to muster the troops and am entirely at your disposal."