The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 509 - 508 Life As If First Met (First Update)

Chapter 509: 508 Life As If First Met (First Update)

Sheng Heng had been living in a state of constant fear these days, worried that Li Rui and his party hadn’t died and that his misdeeds would be exposed before Li Xianyun.

He couldn’t bear the thought of Li Xianyun looking at him with the same disgust she held for Murong Ce.

At the same time, he felt certain that Li Rui and his group were doomed to die since the Huahua disease caused the death of many in Persia.

There were many rumors about this epidemic.

The most widespread was that the current rulers had embraced a heretical cult.

This cult required a certain number of people to die en masse within a short period, to serve the purpose of making sacrifices to heaven.

The rulers of the time indeed exhibited many abnormal behaviors: not only would they perform strange rituals during ceremonies, but they would also meet with many peculiar individuals from time to time.

Many of these individuals were identified as devoted followers of some heretical cult, who, in demonstration of their loyalty, had blood on their hands.

However, since they were all high-ranking officials, no one dared to hold them accountable for their crimes, and even if they murdered many, in the end, nothing came of it.

In the face of power, life was as cheap as grass.

Moreover, the peculiarity of this epidemic seemed to lend credence to the aforementioned rumors.

First, the disease arrived in an eerie manner, breaking out suddenly, and with an extremely rapid rate of transmission, spreading to several large towns within a day or two.

Furthermore, physicians had been unable to find a cure.

It was not until a massive number of the elderly and frail died that someone suddenly came forward claiming they could dispel the epidemic.

And this person was soon recognized, belonging to a certain heretical cult.

For many years thereafter, no one dared to mention it, until a revered physician wrote about the epidemic, and only then did the matter come to light.

In his written work, besides speculating about the origin of the epidemic, he also recorded a prescription for dispelling the disease, which was incomplete and not credible due to its ancient nature.

Meaning, this disease was beyond anyone’s ability to solve.

Although Sheng Heng was deeply troubled, he still firmly believed that not only could this act eliminate the entire family of the Prince’s Mansion and avert future troubles, but it could also punish the subjects of Yelu Yan.

He couldn’t forget the guarded look Yelu Yan gave him, nor could he erase the image of Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun’s affectionate moments.

Since Li Xianyun abandoned him for Yelu Yan, she had to pay some price for it and learn a lesson.

Because of these matters, Sheng Heng had been unable to sleep well for many nights, but tonight, for some reason, his eyelids felt as heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.

In a dazed state, it seemed as if he had returned to a year ago.

Back then, he had become the top scholar in the imperial examination and thought that with this status, he could protect Li Xianyun.

But he soon discovered that the officialdom was extremely dark; while Murong Ce was a hostage of Houliang and even the Emperor showed him some respect, what could he, a mere new top scholar, do?

Moreover, Murong Ce’s attitude towards Li Xianyun was very ambiguous.

But soon Sheng Heng noticed something fishy.

He had personally seen Murong Ce deal with several profligate sons who had troubled Li Xianyun, and when the Ninth Princess slandered Li Xianyun behind her back, Murong Ce would also speak out in her defense.

Therefore, a rumor slowly spread in Shangjing, entwining like vines—that Li Xianyun was Murong Ce’s woman, or would be sooner or later.

Sheng Heng broke out in a cold sweat, as many things he had been avoiding and unwilling to face became increasingly clear.

Actually, he hadn’t realized Murong Ce’s feelings for Li Xianyun only after he was captured by Murong Ce; he had noticed Murong Ce’s infatuation much earlier.

That’s why he deliberately spread rumors that Li Xianyun fancied him and even, knowing that Murong Ce was present, spoke to Li Xianyun on the street to stir up trouble between Li Xianyun and Murong Ce.

He indeed succeeded in infuriating Murong Ce.

Murong Ce made a terribly impulsive and irrational decision that day.

He relished situations like this, even taking malicious pleasure in Huanhuan’s tragic death.

But such malevolence, such venomousness was not worthy of Li Xianyun, so he chose to forget.

He imagined himself as a harmless, noble young master, and over time, he even convinced himself that he was pure and harmless.

The truth was, however, that Huanhuan’s death was inextricably linked to him.

And he paid a hefty price for it.

Murong Ce, ruthless and decisive, severed his source of life, so that he would never be able to perform marital duties or have his own offspring for the rest of his life.

Such was his end, that he blamed Murong Ce and even more so, Li Xianyun. He had done all this for her, and she had to take responsibility for him.

In the midst of Sheng Heng’s stupor, the cold blade reached his throat, even nicking his skin.

Sheng Heng suddenly opened his eyes, only to see a figure dressed in black standing by the bed like a specter, looking down at him haughtily.

Sheng Heng instantly came to his senses, his head dripping with sweat and his body drenched in cold sweat.

He forced himself to calm down, "Did Xianxian send you?"

Qu Ting said coldly, "That’s not a name you have the right to call."

Sheng Heng forced a bitter smile, "It is indeed her. To die at her hand, I have no regrets in this life,"

He closed his eyes, "Just kill me."

Qu Ting let out a cold laugh, "No, you’re not dying by Physician Li’s hand, but by Huanhuan’s."

He still referred to Li Xianyun by the initial title—Physician Li, a name he used after she saved him back then.

Sheng Heng’s eyes flew open, disbelieving the figure before him.

"Physician Li had suspected that it was you who deliberately provoked Murong Ce, leading him to abduct Huanhuan. You fell for the narcotic incense and confessed everything, confirming her suspicions. I will report this truthfully to Physician Li."

Sheng Heng’s handsome face twisted instantaneously, and he said loudly, "All I’ve done, I’ve done for her, to have reached this point for her, how can she treat me this way? Just for a trivial maidservant..."

With a slight push, Qu Ting slashed, finishing him off in the simplest way.

Sheng Heng grunted, his throat cut open, no longer able to utter a word.

At the moment of death, one often sees the scene they are most attached to.

In his sixteenth year, he visited his master in the temple.

His spiritual mentor was a practicing bhikkhuni with hair, and whenever he was free, he would visit her, and their chats would always calm his restless soul immensely.

But this visit was destined to be different; he heard the melodious voice of a young girl before he even entered the gates, like music from the heavens.

Rarely did young girls visit such a dull and monotonous place.

Filled with curiosity, he pushed open the door and saw a young girl pounding medicine on a stool.

Hearing the door open, the young girl looked over.

Sheng Heng was immediately captivated.

The girl looked to be about thirteen or fourteen, with a delicate and childish face, pristine and pure, holding a pestle, pounding medicine.

She had rolled up her sleeves, revealing a clear and white forearm, which shone brightly in the warm morning sun.

Since then, those eyes, as expressive as autumn waters, seemed to be etched into his heart, impossible to erase.