The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 438: Khan Injured, Whereabouts? (Second Update)

Chapter 438: Khan Injured, Whereabouts? (Second Update)

Every aristocratic woman who wanted to participate in the archery game would go there and receive ten arrows from the palace servant. After shooting them, if she wished to play again, she needed to line up anew.

The game seemed simple, but after several attempts, many of the aristocratic women found it was not so easy to land the arrows in the pot.

Even the best players among them had three or four arrows that missed the target.

Yelu Xuan led Li Xianyun to try the archery game.

"Godmother, why don’t you play this?"

Li Xianyun agreed, taking the ten arrows handed over by the palace servants. She shot them casually, one by one, each hitting the mark precisely, dazzling the onlooking aristocratic women into applause and cheers.

Yelu Xuan then pulled Li Xianyun to the top spinning game.

After Li Xianyun left, Princess Jinyu took the arrows offered by the guard and tried once. One of her ten arrows missed, but she still garnered a few flattering compliments.

However, she knew in her heart that she hadn’t been as effortlessly skillful as Li Xianyun.

She felt irked. Li Xianyun was showcasing her strengths against others’ weaknesses—it was hardly a fair comparison or something to brag about.

Just then, cheers erupted from the top spinning area.

Princess Jinyu squeezed her way through the crowd to see what was going on. In her understanding, spinning the top was simply about keeping it spinning, but she hadn’t expected Li Xianyun to be so skillful with so many fancy tricks.

The top seemed glued to Li Xianyun’s whip, flicking into various intricate patterns.

More and more people crowded in to watch Li Xianyun spinning the top, chattering and laughing amongst themselves.

Yaduo, watching Li Xianyun, remarked with a smile, "Youth is truly wonderful."

An older matron added, "Indeed, just looking at them play and frolic makes one’s heart joyful."

Another joined in, "Absolutely. My granddaughter and grandniece haven’t had this much fun in a long while."

"Imperial Noble Consort, did you organize these recreational activities?"

"Heavens, I don’t have such clever ideas. It was all arranged by the Princess Consort herself," Yaduo said with a smile.

"The Princess Consort is truly intelligent and thoughtful. Many young women in the capital admire her immensely."

"That’s true. My granddaughter adores the Princess Consort. She always talks about her and has visited Xuanyi Pavilion several times with her sisters, just walking back and forth in front, all for a glimpse of the Princess Consort."

Yaduo listened with delight, finding more pleasure in the praises for her daughter-in-law than she would in praises for herself.

In truth, top spinning was nothing for Li Xianyun; her real forte was shuttlecock kicking.

The shuttlecock seemed as though it was tethered to her feet, flying east only if she willed it east, and south only if she willed it south.

With Li Xianyun’s deft touches, the feather shuttlecock danced in the air like a bird, accompanied by her agile and graceful figure, utterly beautiful.

Someone mustered the courage to ask Li Xianyun for tips.

Li Xianyun taught hands-on, even demonstrating personally, very approachable without a hint of the favored concubine’s haughtiness.

It was as if she had a magical power; her very existence should have incited envy in other women.

But not only did these aristocratic women not envy her, they admired Li Xianyun tremendously, virtually becoming her fangirls.

After all, would you envy someone who, like the clear breeze and the bright moon, was utterly beyond your reach?

Of course not.

Ji Xueyuan watched the area where Li Xianyun was, seething with hatred.

All because of this Han Ethnic Group woman, her poor daughter had lost her beloved and missed the chance to be the Princess Consort. Now, she even faced the disgrace of being stripped of her position and exiled to the cold desolation of Kunlun.

She was truly detestable to the extreme.

He clenched his fists tightly.

Why was his daughter heartbroken and physically drained, while this Han Ethnic Group woman lived so carefreely and happily, also gaining the favor of many people?

Everything that Li Xianyun had should have belonged to his daughter, Ji Chuchu.

Just then, a guard approached Ji Xueyuan, bowed, and whispered in his ear, "Prince, our people have started to take action."

Ji Xueyuan gravely "Hmm"ed in response and gestured for the guard to leave.

He coldly watched Li Xianyun, thinking to himself, enjoy your frolicking and laughter all you want, for you don’t have much time left. You’re joyful now, but I wonder if you will still be able to laugh when it’s time for you to lose your life?

Li Xianyun, along with Yelu Xuan, tried all the activities one by one, and she personally taught Yelu Xuan many of them.

After going around, Yelu Xuan couldn’t express just how happy he was.

In previous autumn hunts, he had always been drowsy in his mother’s arms, never before had he been as joyful as he was today.

Yelu Xuan, still not having enough, said, "Godmother, can we rest for a bit and then continue playing?"

Li Xianyun was about to speak when Yuchi Qian hurriedly chimed in, "Xuanxuan, your godmother is tired. How about later your mother accompanies you for another round, would that be good?"

Disappointment painted the young face of Yelu Xuan.

Although it was nice to have his mother play with him, she didn’t know how to play shuttlecock or spin top - this meant much less fun.

He still wanted to enjoy another round with his godmother.

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Xuanxuan, after a short rest, your godmother will accompany you for another round, is that good?"

"That’s wonderful!" exclaimed Yelu Xuan, clapping his hands with a laugh.

Right then, a rider came galloping furiously, dismounted before even reaching the hunting field’s entrance, and hurried directly toward Li Xianyun and Yaduo.

Upon approaching, the soldier kneeled and saluted, saying, "To inform the Imperial Noble Consort and the Princess, something terrible has happened. The Khan has been ambushed during the hunt and is severely injured."

Upon hearing this, an uproar ensued among the crowd; the women who had been enjoying themselves stopped and silently returned to the long pavilion.

Yaduo undeniably panicked, her brows furrowed, and she coldly asked, "How could this happen?"

After a moment’s thought, looking at Li Xianyun, she said, "Xianxian, you have superior medical skills, go quickly and see to Ayan’s condition."

Li Xianyun, with cold eyes, looked at the kneeling guard and asked, "Where is the Khan wounded?"

The soldier promptly replied, "The injury is on the chest, very close to the heart."

He added, "Please, Imperial Noble Consort and Princess, make your decision quickly. The Khan cannot wait."

Yaduo said, "Xianxian, there’s no time to lose, you must go with him immediately and see how Ayan is doing."

Li Xianyun, still with cold eyes on the soldier, said, "Someone, arrest this man for spreading false news, seize him at once!"

The soldier was completely bewildered and said, "Princess, I have spoken nothing but the truth; if there is a single lie, let me be struck by lightning and suffer a fate worse than death."

Li Xianyun calmly said, "Your oath is useless; it doesn’t prove you’re a good person. Take him away."

Ji Xueyuan was about to speak when someone else interjected, "Wait a moment!"

Everyone turned towards the lavish Princess Jinyu.

She continued, "Princess, the Khan’s life is of utmost importance, better wrongfully trusted than negligently ignored. Why do you disregard his condition? It is known that the Khan holds the Princess in high regard, yet you seem to care so little for his life. Does the Princess truly honor the deep favor she has received from the Khan?"