The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 381 - 380 Provoking a Fight (First Update)

Chapter 381: 380 Provoking a Fight (First Update)

Li Mu took the clothes from Qin Rou’s hands, seeing the concern on her face, his heart grew warm.

He had always treated her as a toy, but as time passed, he gradually discovered that she was virtuous and considerate, truly a person after his own heart.

When he thought of how she had become a widow only a year after getting married, it truly seemed pitiable, and he couldn’t help feeling some compassion for her.

Qin Rou said, "Your Majesty, you should hurry over."

Li Mu hummed an acknowledgment, dressing on the move with the assistance of the palace servants.

Kneeling outside Yanfei Palace were palace servants and maids, covering the ground.

Hearing the hurried and unsteady footsteps of Li Mu, they quickly bowed their heads, trembling with fear.

With their master killed, the attending palace attendants were certainly to be subject to harsh interrogation, and in the end, there would only be one fate awaiting them—death. They would not meet a good end.

The fellow palace servants and maids also wore solemn expressions. The Ninth Princess had always been favored, and with her being murdered today, the Emperor’s furious wrath would surely lead to a bloodbath in the palace.

No one would have an easy time of it.

Li Mu, seeing the horrific scene on the bed, nearly fainted. It was only with the support of the palace servants that he managed to approach the bed. He called out several times the milk name of Li Yumin, lying on the corpse, weeping sorrowfully, his old tears flowing freely.

His crying was low and old, filled with boundless desolation.

Li Mu had many children, but Li Yumin was the one who pleased him the most.

When Li Yumin was born, the eastern sky was filled with colorful clouds and auspicious mist.

The words of the head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau still rang in his ears.

"Your Majesty, this is a rare auspicious sign that comes once in a hundred years. The Ninth Princess is blessed with deep good fortune, she will surely bring long-lasting prosperity and peace to Your Majesty and to our great Houtang."

At that time, Li Mu had just ascended to the throne, holding immense power, and he indulged somewhat in pleasures with women, which led to much criticism within the court.

Besides, he indulged in music and nightlife excessively, resulting in his health deteriorating day by day.

Ever since Li Yumin’s birth, with good fortune upon him, the court officials seldom presented memorials advising him, and since then, his health had gradually improved.

Li Mu felt that all these were brought to him by Li Yumin, and therefore he doted on her greatly.

To this day, he was unaware of the hidden truths within this affair.

Qin Rou quickly dressed and rushed over from Shuangluan Hall, seeing the current situation as an excellent opportunity to stir up trouble—how could she not give it her all?

Standing at the entrance of the inner chamber of Yanfei Palace, Qin Rou blinked only a few times, and her eyes became red-rimmed with tears streaming down, seemingly more sorrowful than if she had lost her own flesh and blood.

Even though her personal maid was accustomed to watching her alluring ways, she was still shocked by such a display.

How could someone summon tears in an instant, especially for a sworn enemy?

Qin Rou quickly walked to Li Mu’s side, clutching his arm, leaning against him, "Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body. The Ninth Princess, blessed in heaven, wouldn’t want to see you so heartbroken."

Li Mu raised his head to look at the woman crying just as sorrowfully as himself, feeling deeply moved in his heart.

It’s easy to find someone who will laugh with you, but someone who truly cries with you is precious and rare.

Li Mu and Qin Rou embraced each other, weeping uncontrollably.

After a while, Qin Rou, wiping her tears, said, "Your Majesty, restrain your grief, now we must seek revenge for the Ninth Princess."

Her words brought Li Mu back to his senses. He stood up, looking at Qin Rou with fierce eyes, and said coldly, "You’re right, I must avenge Minmin."

Qin Rou’s cheeks and the tip of her nose were red from crying. Wiping her tears, with a sobbing voice, she said, "Your Majesty, do you know who is responsible?"

Li Mu’s eyes held hatred, a raging fury nearly bursting forth, "Who else could it be? Yelu Yan has repeatedly pressured me about the Prince’s Mansion affair. If not him, who else could it be? We are irreconcilable!!"

Concern was written all over Qin Rou’s face, "Your Majesty, please think thrice, the Khitan’s national strength is formidable, and Yelu Yan is at the height of his power there. Trying to bring him down is truly more difficult than ascending to heaven."

Li Mu’s face instantly darkened as he shook off her arm and shouted in anger, "What do you mean? How could I remain indifferent to Minmin’s tragic death here? That’s right, Minmin was always at odds with you, seeing her die without any illness, you must be overjoyed, aren’t you?"

The Palace Attendants of Shuangluan Hall all trembled in fear as they heard this; it was said that serving the Emperor was like attending a tiger, and if Qin Rou fell out of favor or committed an offense due to this, they would also be in deep trouble.

Qin Rou was accustomed to knowing how to avoid sharp edges and how to overcome the strong with softness.

She began to sob gently, delicately lifting her handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"Your Majesty has truly wronged me, if not for Your Majesty, I wouldn’t even know what kind of miserable life I would be leading now, probably already dead somewhere unknown. You are the man I regard as my heaven, how could I not wish for everything to go your way? I was just afraid that Your Majesty might be taken advantage of, and thought that to bring down Yelu Yan, we need to find an ally first, that’s why I spoke like that, I didn’t expect to be misunderstood by Your Majesty, this has wronged me deeply."

"Rou’er, don’t cry, I have wronged you," Li Mu had lost his anger when she started sobbing, "You’re right, looking around the world, the only one who dares to oppose Yelu Yan is Houliang."

With the hatred of a stolen wife, how could Murong Ce bear it?

He kept expanding his military, diligently handling state affairs, wasn’t it all to snatch Li Xianyun back?

However, Murong Ce may not be willing to lend a hand, after all, it was he, the Emperor, who directly facilitated the marriage alliance with Li Xianyun.

Li Mu said, "Houliang is indeed a good choice, but Murong Ce may not be willing to help me."

Qin Rou spoke unhurriedly, "The enemy of an enemy is a friend, why not appeal to their emotions and reason with them, Houliang might send troops to lend aid. At that time, Your Majesty will surely achieve a great victory."

"Indeed, you make a very good point."

Just as the two were discussing, the bed board suddenly made a noise.

Someone cried out "Playing dead," and Li Mu’s face turned pale with fright.

Qin Rou stood beside him not far away, watching the movement on the bed.

The bed board banged heavily several more times, and the voice of Li Yumin came, "Father Emperor, let me out."

Everyone present was terrified, their faces drained of color.

Aluo was the first to react, kneeling in front of Li Mu, crying tears of joy, "Your Majesty, it’s the Princess, she’s not dead, it was a body double who died."

It had to be said that Li Yumin had some tricks up her sleeve, managing to find a woman who looked so much like herself to serve as a double.

Li Mu was aware of Li Yumin having a body double; he had only admonished her a few times back then, without taking it too seriously.

In the palace, there was never a shortage of schemes, using a body double to shield oneself from death was nothing new.

Li Mu commanded, "Quickly, let the Princess out."

Qin Rou, surprised by the turn of events, felt a storm surge in her heart, but her face remained calm.

What were these people doing; wasn’t the plan to kill Li Yumin and frame Yelu Yan to promote an alliance between Houtang and Houliang to jointly attack the Khitan?

How was it that they only killed a body double?

She had even specifically sent a message, instructing them to make sure before they acted.

No sooner had Li Mu spoken than Palace Servants stepped forward, moving the body aside, lifting the bloodstained quilt and mattress, and opened the bed board, revealing a hidden compartment.

The Palace Servants opened it, and Li Yumin crawled out.

The dramatic twist shocked everyone.

Li Mu stepped forward a few paces, "Minmin, what exactly happened?"

Li Yumin walked over to Qin Rou and slapped her hard across the face.

Qin Rou leaned against Li Mu, looking up at him with a pitiable expression, "Your Majesty."

Li Mu said displeased, "Minmin, what is this all about?"