The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 479 - 478 The Terrible Curse (Part One)

Chapter 479: 478 The Terrible Curse (Part One)

Li Mu suddenly remembered that yesterday Li Rui had someone send over a letter.

He really detested Li Rui. Every time he thought of how the late emperor felt guilty towards Li Rui, how he held both his and Li Rui’s hands and urged them to live in harmony as brothers, and how he smoothed the way for Li Rui, making sure he and his family were well-clothed and fed, his anger was uncontrollable.

If it weren’t for Li Rui being stolen away in his youth and lost among the common folk, perhaps the imperial throne would not have been Li Mu’s turn.

How could he tolerate someone else sleeping soundly beneath his couch?

Li Mu had always seen Li Rui as a thorn in his side, so when he needed a noble lady to marry into the Khitan, the first person he thought of was Li Xianyun. As long as it could sicken Li Rui, he was more than willing.

He just hadn’t expected Li Xianyun to be so capable; not only did she utterly bewitch Murong Ce, she even caught Yelu Yan, who was as cold and hard as a rock.

When one man attains the Tao, his poultry and dogs ascend to heaven.

Under Yelu Yan’s coercion, he had no choice but to send men to protect the safety of Prince Rui’s Mansion.

How could this not make him despise the bunch at Prince Rui’s Mansion even more?

So, when he received Li Rui’s letter yesterday, Li Mu tossed it aside with distaste.

Now, looking at the letter sent from the Khitan, his mood grew even more irritable.

The letter invited him and Li Rui to attend the wedding and the ceremony of Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun becoming the queen.

Li Mu knew this was just a formality.

What Yelu Yan truly wanted was to invite all the people from Prince Rui’s Mansion; Li Mu would not go out of his way to attend.

Li Mu took out that solitary letter from the imperial case and opened it.

It turned out that Li Rui had long known about Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun holding a new matrimonial ceremony, and the letter was to request permission to bring his entire family to the Khitan to attend the celebration.

Since Yelu Yan had sent a letter, how could Li Mu dare to refuse?

He called over the Chief of the Palace Servants and had him personally visit Prince Rui’s Mansion to consent to Li Rui’s request.

-

Qiu Qianyun sat in the flower hall working on needlepoint, while Li Xianyi was beside her, focused on painting.

It was a scene of harmony and understanding, yet it was disrupted by Qiu Qianyun’s sighs.

Li Xianyi put down her brush and looked up, "Royal Mother, don’t worry. Father already said that His Majesty will agree to us going to Khitan. Don’t you believe Father?"

Qiu Qianyun’s frown persisted.

"It’s not that Royal Mother doesn’t trust your Father, but there has been no news from the palace up to now. I’m afraid of the endless possibilities that come with waiting."

"Perhaps the news will come soon; don’t worry, Royal Mother."

Though Li Xianyi was as mischievous and unruly as a boy, she was very sensible and considerate.

Hearing Li Xianyi’s reassuring words made Qiu Qianyun feel much better inside.

Mother and daughter each continued with their tasks, and soon a young servant came running over.

"Princess Consort, Commandery Princess, someone from the palace has come. Prince invites you to go over there."

Qiu Qianyun looked at Li Xianyi with surprise and joy, and the mother and daughter hastened to the main building’s main hall.

Indeed, upon reaching the hall, they saw three Palace Servants, with the leader being Li Mu’s personal attendant.

Li Mu had the least regard for Prince Rui’s Mansion and yet had sent his personal attendant; it was indeed rare.

Li Rui and Li Shaojun were already there, exchanging pleasantries.

The Chief of the Palace Servants, seeing everyone present, conveyed Li Mu’s oral decree.

After sending off the attendants with great courtesy, the family was as jubilant as if celebrating the New Year.

Li Rui looked at Li Shaojun and said, "Junjun, go to Sheng Residence and tell Sheng Heng of this news. He was still asking yesterday if there was any news from the palace; go tell him, so he doesn’t worry."

"Alright."

Li Shaojun spoke, then walked briskly out.

The Sheng Residence was just two streets away from Prince Rui’s Mansion, very close.

Li Shaojun, riding on horseback, soon arrived at the sumptuous Sheng Residence.

The Sheng Family was a well-known wealthy house in Chang’an, and luxury shone from every corner.

Such a vast estate was all for Sheng Heng to inherit.

Li Shaojun straightened his clothes and knocked on the door.

Two unfamiliar young servants opened the door.

"Is the young master of the Sheng Family in?"

A young servant said, "The eldest young master went to deal with some matters, and he will be back shortly."

Li Shaojun felt some regret and said, "Then I shall visit another day."

Another young servant blurted out, "Is this gentleman from Prince Li Rui’s Mansion?"

"Exactly."

Upon hearing this, the attitudes of the two young servants improved significantly.

"My young master said if someone from Prince Li Rui’s Mansion were to come, they should wait for him in his study. He will arrive shortly."

Sheng Heng had a fondness for sister, and he took great interest in matters concerning her, so it was no surprise that he gave special attention to Prince Li Rui’s Mansion.

Li Shaojun followed a young servant to the study, while the other remained at the entrance to guard the door.

He looked at the unfamiliar young servant in front of him and asked, "Why has the person at the door been replaced?"

The young servant replied, "Azhong had some matters to attend to, so we’re covering his duties for now, until he returns to take over."

"I see."

Li Shaojun did not inquire further, as it was not appropriate to ask too many questions about another family’s affairs.

Upon arriving at the study, the young servant said, "Young master, please sit here for a moment. I will go inform my young master of your visit."

"Thank you," said Li Shaojun.

He had been taught since childhood to treat everyone with equal respect and not to demean anyone just because they were a servant.

After the young servant left, Li Shaojun sat for a while before getting up to admire the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.

Sheng Heng was not only a superb physician, but he was also particularly adept at poetry and essays.

It is no wonder he attracted the admiration of many young ladies from noble families, especially after he emerged as the top scholar in his first imperial examination, leading to a throng of people seeking to arrange a match with him, almost wearing out the threshold of Sheng Residence.

But Sheng Heng only had eyes for his sister.

Such a person was hard not to like.

Li Shaojun, with great interest, was admiring the calligraphy and paintings on the wall when he heard a "snap". Suddenly, a ceramic pot near the desk shattered for no apparent reason, revealing a small clay figurine inside.

The craftsmanship of the ceramic pot was quite crude, awkwardly out of place next to the valuable and extravagant decorations nearby.

The pot had broken while he was alone in the room, leaving him unable to escape blame.

Li Shaojun hurried over to investigate and wanted to find out the cause of the pot’s shattering.

However, as he drew closer, he gasped in shock.

The exposed clay figurine was a kneeling naked woman.

Silver needles pierced her scalp, eyes, ears, chest, and her private parts—every place where there was an orifice on her body.

The image was savage and extremely unsettling.

How could such a filthy thing be present in Sheng Heng’s study?

Li Shaojun, influenced by Li Xianyun, was fond of reading a wide variety of books.

Upon seeing the uncovered clay figurine, he suddenly remembered an account from an obscure book.

There was a dreadful curse widely known in Persia.

To create a clay figurine in the likeness of the person you despised, place it in a ceramic pot, write your curse against them, and then worship it daily with sincerity, and your wishes would come true.

Li Shaojun looked down and indeed found a small plate made of painted clay at the bottom of the pot, upon which was written in tiny letters:

Lure Prince Li Rui’s eldest daughter, Li Xianyun, to me so that she cannot eat or drink, extend her hand, leave the house, or fall asleep, until she comes to my side—to Sheng Heng’s side. Besides me, she cannot touch any other man. I will drag her by her hair and pull her intestines until she never leaves me... until she is forever obedient to me, longing for me, telling me all her thoughts.

After reading, Li Shaojun’s face turned ashen, never expecting Sheng Heng to be such a despicable and malicious person.

He had been blind to think that his sister and this beast were well-suited for each other.

Noisy and hurried footsteps came from the doorway, and the next moment, Sheng Heng rushed in with Azhong, whose head had been injured, followed closely by Cen Cong.

Sheng Heng caught sight of the clay figurine and board in Li Shaojun’s hands, and his face turned deathly pale.

He had clearly hidden these objects in a secret compartment of the study, so how had they been taken out?

"Junjun, listen to my explanation."

"What more is there to explain?"

Li Shaojun, seething, smashed the objects he was holding on the ground and strode towards Sheng Heng, mustering all his strength to land a heavy punch on the hypocritical cheeks of Sheng Heng.