The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 439 - 438 Who is really being scheming (First update)

Chapter 439: 438 Who is really being scheming (First update)

As soon as Princess Jinyu spoke, not only did a group of women start whispering about Li Xianyun, but also a number of ministers among the male guests revealed disappointment in their eyes.

Li Xianyun looked towards Princess Jinyu.

Although she had just been enjoying herself with Yelu Xuan, she had carefully observed the reactions of the people around her.

She had basically met all the Khitan women, so she didn’t pay them too much attention. Instead, she took more notice of the princesses and Commandery Princesses from other countries.

Since she had arranged the seating order, it was easy for her to determine their identities based on their seats.

Li Xianyun quickly detected something amiss.

The other princesses and Commandery Princesses looked at Yelu Yan with reverence, but not as intensely as Princess Jinyu did, plus Princess Jinyu looked at her with a fair amount of hostility and seemed to compete with her in secret.

Whatever activity Li Xianyun participated in, Princess Jinyu would also take part, always seeming to vie with her for superiority.

Li Xianyun was already certain that Princess Jinyu was a romantic entanglement stirred up by Yelu Yan.

Facing the objections of Princess Jinyu now, Li Xianyun was not surprised and said sternly, "It is not that I disregard the Khan’s life, but there are simply too many suspicions, and there must be deceit involved. This guard has a very unfamiliar face, and is not one of the Khan’s personal guards. If he is a villain disguised as one, luring me out to capture me, wouldn’t it just add trouble for the Khan?"

Her words seemed reasonable, and many people echoed in agreement.

Princess Jinyu couldn’t save face and said coldly, "Now I see clearly, the princess consort is just afraid of death and avoids danger, so why bother coming up with these grand-sounding excuses?"

This remark was extremely arrogant and showed no regard for Li Xianyun.

Princess Jinyu’s maid was anxious for her.

The Khan of Yue Nation had made arrangements before Princess Jinyu and Prince Gechu left for Khitan; Princess Hehui of Houtang was highly favored, and they were to handle her with care, avoiding conflicts that could ruin the significant affairs between the two nations.

It seemed now that Princess Jinyu had completely disregarded her father Khan’s words.

Li Xianyun sneered and said, "I do have many concerns, but it is not my own life I worry about, but rather the safety of the Khan. The Khan is wise and valiant, and also deeply values loyalty and righteousness. If he learns that I have been captured, he will certainly send troops to rescue me, which would put the Khan at a disadvantage. Far from helping the Khan, I would instead become a burden to him."

"So we just sit and wait for doom?" Princess Jinyu was unconvinced.

Li Xianyun calmly replied, "Of course not."

She looked at Bater and instructed, "Bater, take more than ten men to investigate, verify the truth, and then report back."

Li Xianyun also wanted to know the current situation.

Bater obeyed the command, mounted his horse with his men, and galloped away.

Li Xianyun glanced at the Ceremonial Supervisor Official.

Understanding her, the official loudly announced, "Please, esteemed guests, take your seats and wait quietly for the Khan’s return."

Everyone sat down, their mood clouded by the incident, and the previously harmonious atmosphere was gone.

After sitting down, Li Xianyun leaned close to Yaduo and whispered in a volume only they could hear, "Grandmother, today’s events are all within the Khan’s calculations; you need not worry."

Yaduo responded in a low voice, "Good."

She had been initially alarmed upon hearing that Yelu Yan was injured but had calmed down after hearing the exchange between Li Xianyun and Princess Jinyu.

A few days earlier, Yelu Yan had specifically visited her in Cirui Palace to inform her of the assassination attempt during the hunting event and asked her not to participate in the autumn hunt, but it was she who insisted on coming because of her worries.

Knowing about the planned assassination, she panicked when she heard that Yelu Yan was wounded and had failed to notice that the guard was indeed a stranger.

Li Xianyun remained calm and composed, which greatly comforted Yaduo. With such a virtuous wife by his side, the harem would be secure, and they would have nothing to fear from behind.

Seeing that he could not deceive Li Xianyun and lure her away, Ji Xueyuan feigned a slip of the hand,

and the wine cup fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

He had already arranged multiple hidden weapons and ambushes in the hunting grounds’ viewing area, taking the falling of the cup as the signal to strike.

To his surprise, a considerable time after the cup dropped, silence prevailed; there was no movement whatsoever.

Upon entering the hunting grounds that morning, he noticed something amiss. The Chief of the Department Ceremonial Affairs was nowhere to be found, and even the spies planted by him had disappeared without a trace, causing him an uneasy and ominous premonition.

Now he was even more certain that Yelu Yan had uncovered his ploy.

The men he had ambushed at the hunting grounds must have been exposed by now, and Yelu Yan would soon execute them in retaliation.

If he remained there, he would have no choice but to surrender and await his death.

Rather than wait for the inevitable, it was better to make plans early

and to seize an opportunity to leave, to flee the Khitan swiftly, and to seek refuge with his former master.

With this in mind, Ji Xueyuan stood up and said to Yaduo, "Imperial Noble Consort, the guards who went to scout have not returned for a long time. I am truly worried about the Khan’s safety and earnestly request to lead people to investigate."

Yaduo was about to agree when a delicate white hand touched her own.

Yaduo turned to Li Xianyun. Since Yelu Yan had entrusted the matter to Li Xianyun, it was best to let her handle it, to prevent any inadvertent mistakes from ruining Ayan’s plans.

Li Xianyun looked at Ji Xueyuan and said, "The guards need some time to go back and forth, Prince of the South, please be patient."

Ji Xueyuan furrowed his brow, knowing that waiting any longer would seal his fate.

"Princess Consort, by showing such disregard for the Khan’s life and death, what exactly are you aiming to achieve? Rumors say you are a Houtang spy. If anything were to happen to the Khan, Houtang would benefit the most, and the intentions of the Princess Consort are indeed suspicious."

His words made many people draw a sharp breath.

Li Xianyun was the Khan’s favored concubine, and Ji Xueyuan dared to publicly accuse her of being a spy. Was he not afraid of the Khan’s retribution?

Everyone looked at Li Xianyun, waiting to see how she would respond.

Li Xianyun remained unruffled, her demeanor nonchalant as she calmly said, "Why provoke with such words, Prince of the South? You are so anxious to leave, but is it truly out of concern for the Khan, or do you have ulterior motives?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but reassess the young Princess Consort.

Although she was only seventeen or eighteen years old, she seemed as if she had been through many storms, composed and measured in her actions, and neither panicked nor intimidated by Ji Xueyuan, a seasoned official of three dynasties.

Despite appearing frail, her brows conveyed a vigorous spirit, full of dignity and instilling both fear and awe in those who met her gaze.

The vast contrast between appearance and demeanor was both impressive and shocking.

Even Princess Jinyu could not help but revisit her assessment of Li Xianyun.

She had initially thought Li Xianyun to be nothing but a pillow with a pretty face, but she had not expected her to have such a steady and experienced side.

Upon hearing Li Xianyun’s words, Ji Xueyuan replied coldly, "I am a loyal official of three dynasties, my loyalty clear as the sun and the moon, yet here you are, taking advantage of the Khan’s favor to twist the truth, aiming to drive a wedge between me and the Khan with insidious intentions, utterly detestable!"

Li Xianyun sat upright in the wide and sturdy gilded Taishi Chair, her presence imposing, and she scoffed, "Prince of the South, you concluded based on mere rumors that I am a Houtang spy, and that I disregard the Khan’s safety. Exactly who is jumping to conclusions, who is sowing discord, and who harbors insidious intentions?"