The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 507 - 506 Unlucky Encounter (1st watch)

Chapter 507: 506 Unlucky Encounter (1st watch)

Li Xianyun struggled to control her own sorrowful emotions and opened her mouth to call out, "Father King."

But before she could speak, she choked up, the emotional gateway opened, and it was difficult to close again as round pearls of tears rolled down.

Qiu Qianyun sat beside the bed, tears falling with her.

Li Rui’s eyes couldn’t help but redden.

Since she was little, his daughter had always been obedient and sensible, starting to take care of her brother at the age of five or six. In addition to looking after her brother, she also had to do household chores. Despite her young age, she never complained or uttered a word of hardship.

After Nannan was born, he and Qiu Qianyun went out to work, and Nannan seemed to grow attached to Li Xianyun.

The villagers often saw Li Xianyun with a five or six-month-old girl on her back, holding the hand of a toddler over three years old.

Yet she was still just a child of eight or nine years old, but had already prematurely taken on adult responsibilities.

Every time Li Rui thought of this, his nose felt sour.

In his life, the person he most let down was Li Xianyun.

He had thought that such a good daughter would surely find a caring husband in the future, but she ended up meeting that cursed Murong Ce.

Although Li Rui had recognized his ancestors and become a prince, he was without power or influence. The royal relatives genuinely looked down on him, and Murong Ce was someone even the Emperor revered to some extent. What could he do?

He couldn’t even protect his own daughter; his life was truly too useless.

Li Rui’s emotions surged, his chest heaved violently, and a thick blood rushed from his chest into his mouth.

He quickly covered his mouth with a soft cloth, bent over, and coughed violently, allowing the tears to flow unrestrained with his coughs.

It’s said that a man does not easily shed tears, but that only holds until his heart breaks. At this moment, he truly wished to cry his heart out.

Qiu Qianyun leaned over to pat his back.

Li Xianyun quickly set the tray on the desk beside the bed and handed a clean cloth to Qiu Qianyun.

Li Rui coughed for a while until his head was throbbing, and he didn’t know how much blood he had coughed up.

Li Xianyun’s heart ached unbearably, and her hatred and rage toward Sheng Heng reached a boiling point.

She wanted to make Sheng Heng fall from grace and pay his debt in blood!

When Li Rui had somewhat recovered, Li Xianyun handed him the medicine, "Father King, drink the medicine and you’ll feel better."

Li Rui took the medicine.

Li Xianyun then passed the medicine to Qiu Qianyun.

Li Rui drank the medicine and asked, "Xianxian, is Yelu Yan good to you?"

Li Xianyun took the medicine bowl and said, "The Khan is quite kind to me. He is not as terrible as the rumors say. You will know when you meet him. Moreover, you have met him before."

Met him before?

The couple was of course greatly shocked.

They had been in such a rush last night that she hadn’t mentioned this to Qiu Qianyun.

"He is the Khitan man who passed out at the entrance of our Prince’s Mansion," Li Xianyun said.

"It’s actually him?" Li Rui truly hadn’t expected this.

At that time, the Khitan and Houtang were constantly at friction over territorial issues. Saving a Khitan was punishable by law, so aside from Li Rui and Li Xianyun, only two servants in the mansion knew about it. Others were unaware.

It was some time after the incident when Qiu Qianyun first heard about it from Li Rui.

Li Rui carefully recalled the appearance of the Khitan man.

At the time, he was seriously injured, with disheveled hair and his face covered in bloodstains, and was continuously unconscious, having no memory of what he looked like.

Li Xianyun probably didn’t know what he looked like either.

Seeing the confusion on Li Rui’s face, Li Xianyun said, "Daughter also did not recognize him at the time. The Khan said that when he awoke, he heard the conversation between you and a servant and caught the words ’Prince Li Rui,’ and since the man left from Prince Li Rui’s Mansion, he was convinced that you were his lifesaver."

"He was originally against the Khitan’s marriage alliance with Houtang, but when he learned that the person coming for the marriage was the daughter of his savior, if he disagreed with the marriage, it would certainly tarnish my reputation. To repay your kindness, he agreed to the marriage."

"Since daughter entered the Khan Palace, he has been protecting her in every possible way, not only exempting her from the obligatory morning and evening court visits but also allowing her to leave the palace to do the things she likes. He has never let her suffer the slightest grievance. Later, when daughter asked him why he treated her so well, she learned the reason from him."

Li Xianyun had not informed Li Rui or Qiu Qianyun of such an important matter in her letters because she feared that if the letters fell into the wrong hands, they would bring disaster upon Prince Li Rui’s Mansion.

Yelu Yan was planning to reveal the full story after Li Rui and his party arrived, adding joy upon joy.

Ever since Li Rui learned of Sheng Heng’s cursing of Li Xianyun, he felt that Sheng Heng intentionally slandered Yelu Yan and did not believe a word he said. Now, hearing Li Xianyun speak this way, he completely set his mind at ease.

Li Rui was very relieved and said, "Xianxian, it was fortunate you saved him at the time; this is the heavens rewarding you for your kindness."

Li Rui and his wife often taught their three children to be kind to others, that kindness is rewarded and wickedness is retributed, and that even if good people initially suffer, they will eventually receive blessings.

And isn’t the blessing coming now?

Qiu Qianyun said, "He treats you well; that puts our minds at ease."

Li Rui then asked about his own illness, to which Li Xianyun shared her thoughts.

Angered, Li Rui repeated the phrase "an ill-matched marriage" several times.

Fearing that his emotional agitation would trigger another coughing fit, Li Xianyun quickly comforted him, "Father, please rest assured, on my way here, I had already sent someone to deal with Sheng Heng. He will pay the price for his actions."

After talking for a while longer, Li Xianyun, knowing that Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun were in poor health and should not overexert themselves, asked them to lie down and rest. She would return in a couple of hours to check their pulses.

The couple, also fearing they would pass their illness to Li Xianyun, did not insist she stay, only asking her to take extra care of her younger brother and sister.

With Li Xianyun there, they completely put their minds at ease.

Li Xianyun left the side room, boarded a carriage, and headed straight for the abandoned training grounds to the west of Shuozhou City.

There were indeed a dozen or so low buildings, used by soldiers. Although modest in height, they were very sturdily built.

A high fence surrounded the buildings, enclosing the dozen or so houses, with soldiers patrolling outside the fence.

Li Xianyun couldn’t help but admire, Da Nai was indeed reliable in his work.

She stepped out of the carriage, and the patrolling soldiers, although a bit startled at first, were followed by two soldiers stepping forward.

Although they had never seen Li Xianyun, Da Nai had described her appearance to them before inspecting the city.

Da Nai’s exact words were, "If you see a man whose beauty surpasses that of a Heavenly Immortal, that’s the official from Shangjing. Treat him with the utmost respect."

The soldiers did not believe it at the time.

Who in the world is more beautiful than a Heavenly Immortal? And besides, who has ever seen a Heavenly Immortal?

It seemed too exaggerated.

But the moment they saw Li Xianyun, they instantly understood.

They finally knew why people always use "beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal" to describe someone.

If a person’s features are too delicate, too perfectly beautiful, making one feel that any more or less would be inappropriate, the only descriptor left is Heavenly Immortal.

The two soldiers approached Li Xianyun and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, my lord."