The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 441 - 440 Winning People’s Hearts (First Update)

Chapter 441: 440 Winning People’s Hearts (First Update)

Li Xianyun looked at Yaduo and said, "Grandmother, Ji Xueyuan will surely threaten your granddaughter-in-law with that girl’s life. How can I stand by and watch her die?"

Li Xianyun had a slight impression of the young girl, who often stood with a few girls of her age at the entrance of Xuanyi Pavilion, always greeting Li Xianyun with a bright smile.

At first, Li Xianyun thought she had an ulterior motive, but later, finding her harmless, she let it be.

How could Li Xianyun watch such a lively and lovely girl whither away before her very eyes?

As soon as Li Xianyun finished speaking, Ji Xueyuan had already swiftly approached, pressing a sharp blade against the young girl’s neck and coldly said to Li Xianyun, "Your Highness, if you want to save her, you must exchange yourself for her."

The male guests also clearly saw the situation here.

A middle-aged man cursed loudly, "Ji Xueyuan, I’ve served in the court with you for years, how can you harm my daughter?!!"

Another official, in his sixties or seventies, spoke in desperate anxiety, "Ji Xueyuan, Duoduo grew up under your eyes, how can you treat her like this?!"

The girl named Duoduo, having lost her mother at a young age, had been raised by her grandparents who doted on her sympathetically for lacking a mother’s love.

When had she ever suffered such fright from childhood to adulthood?

Ji Xueyuan shouted, "Shut up! If anyone dares to speak another word, I will kill her!!"

As he spoke, the blade pressed closer to her delicate skin.

The blade was extremely sharp, capable of slicing through hair. At that moment, Duoduo’s neck was already cut, beads of blood seeping out.

With just a little more force, Ji Xueyuan would surely end her life there and then.

Seeing this, Li Xianyun said in a deep voice, "Ji Xueyuan, do you not wish to exchange the princess for her? Fine, I agree!"

Since the horse racing event, Duoduo had come to adore and admire Li Xianyun greatly, unwilling to let her take risks, she blurted out, "Your Highness, you need not worry about this subject’s daughter. I’d rather die than see you in danger!"

Ji Xueyuan raised the blade even higher, hissing, "Silence!!"

"Do not harm her! I will exchange myself for her!" Li Xianyun said, glancing at Duoduo to reassure her, and stepped forward.

Yaduo, unwilling to let Li Xianyun go, grabbed her slender wrist from behind, her brow furrowed, "My dear, your grandmother doesn’t allow you to go. If Ayan were here, he would never permit you to make such a dangerous move!"

Li Xianyun, unable to break free, could only whisper, "Grandmother, rest assured, I have my ways and will not let myself come to harm."

Yaduo, seeing Li Xianyun’s convinced gaze, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately let out a heavy sigh, releasing her hand.

Everyone watched Li Xianyun walk toward Ji Xueyuan, hearts racing in their throats.

Tears welled up in the eyes of the ladies present.

In the face of life and death, not everyone can be as brave and composed as Li Xianyun, disregarding her own safety to protect someone unrelated.

Such an act was both admirable and lamentable.

The ministers all bore an unwilling look.

They regretted doubting her due to her Han ethnicity, having disparaged her in secret on many occasions.

Now they felt extreme remorse.

The princess, despite being a delicate woman, understood the greater good; indifferent to personal safety, she would save others from peril, truly commendable.

Watching Li Xianyun approach step by step, Ji Xueyuan suddenly thought of something, and said loudly, "Wait!"

Li Xianyun halted and looked coldly at Ji Xueyuan.

Ji Xueyuan spoke in a calm voice, "I know you are adept with Hidden Weapons and poisons. You must have concealed many on your person, yes? Throw all the Hidden Weapons and poisons you have to the ground. Otherwise, I will kill her!!"

Li Xianyun raised her hand and said, "Alright, don’t be impulsive, I will throw all of them away."

Ji Xueyuan added, "You must not keep any, otherwise, I will still kill her."

Li Xianyun took off the sleeve-arrow and threw it to the ground, then took out the poison from her cuffs and threw it away as well.

Ji Xueyuan had her turn her cuffs inside out to make sure nothing was hidden before he said, "Come over here."

Li Xianyun stood her ground and said, "I will come over, but I have one condition."

Ji Xueyuan let out a cold laugh and said, "Has the princess not understood the situation? The hostage is in my hands, what right do you have to negotiate terms with me?!!"

Li Xianyun spoke calmly, "If you weren’t holding me hostage, do you think you could escape? Moreover, my condition is quite simple and will not trouble you."

Ji Xueyuan paused for a moment and, with impatience, said, "Speak."

"This girl named Duoduo has dislocated her ankle, she cannot walk. After you take me hostage, you must allow two people to help her leave, otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what?" Ji Xueyuan said with a cold voice.

Li Xianyun said, "Otherwise, you will be holding my corpse. For a physician, seeking death is all too easy. If Khan were to see my corpse, do you think you would still have a way to live?"

She had not said these words in front of Yaduo, for if she had, Yaduo would never have let her take this risk.

Just now, many women had already teary eyes, and now, hearing Li Xianyun was willing to threaten her own life for a girl unrelated to her, how could such nobility not touch them?

Many women quietly wiped away their tears.

Duoduo’s grandmother knelt on the ground, crying, "Princess..."

Duoduo’s grandfather and father also knelt down and kowtowed to Li Xianyun.

"You..." This woman is truly detestable! Ji Xueyuan, his voice cold as ice, "Fine, I agree to your terms."

Li Xianyun looked at Yaduo and said, "Grandmother, please send two people to help Duoduo away."

Yaduo, with reddened eyes, nodded vigorously.

Li Xianyun walked up to Ji Xueyuan.

Immediately, Ji Xueyuan pushed Duoduo away, his hand gripping Li Xianyun’s shoulder like a hawk’s talon, while pressing the sharp blade tightly against Li Xianyun’s neck, he said coldly, "You better behave."

Yaduo sent two people to help Duoduo away.

Ji Xueyuan cried out, "Stop where you are!! Your princess is in my hands, if you don’t want her to die, get out of my way!!"

All the guards stopped but showed no intent to move aside.

They were all hand-picked guards by Yelu Yan, skilled in martial arts and experienced in battle, how could they so easily comply?

Seeing this, Ji Xueyuan raised the blade higher.

Li Xianyun frowned; the sharp blade had already cut through her epidermis, and it hurt.

Jinwu, seeing this, hurriedly said, "Do not harm the princess, we will back off!"

It was absolutely imperative that they not allow the princess to suffer even the slightest harm, or else they could die a hundred times and still not atone for their sin.

Jinwu gestured with his hand, and the guards moved to one side.

Ji Xueyuan, escorted by his men, started moving towards the outside when suddenly, resounding hoofbeats thundered from outside.

He widened his eyes and looked around in shock.