The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 510 - 509 Huanhuan’s Tragedy Must Not be Repeated (Second Update)

Chapter 510: 509 Huanhuan’s Tragedy Must Not be Repeated (Second Update)

Sheng Heng’s last sight in this world was of Qu Ting leaping out the window, unhindered by the many skilled opponents attempting to stop him.

After that, as his blood flowed more profusely, his eyelids grew heavier, the pain became more blurred, and he quickly descended into an everlasting darkness from which he would never awaken...

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The next morning, Li Xianyun rose early, went through her routine of washing up and getting dressed, and then visited the chamber where Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun were staying.

Li Rui had visibly improved, sitting up in bed and reading a book.

Qiu Qianyun was sitting not far away, looking at embroidery patterns.

This was the advantage of treating the disease with the right remedy—the effect was expedited.

When Li Xianyun had borrowed that book from Sheng Heng years ago, she had been engrossed in it, quickly becoming captivated by the description of a highly lethal epidemic contained within its pages.

She was obsessed with medicine, always delving deep into the study of difficult and complex diseases.

It was this habit that, after extensive research, gave her profound insight into that epidemic.

Some had orchestrated the epidemic out of self-interest.

Seeds for the disease were sown right from the beginning, which allowed it to rapidly develop within a mere day or two.

As for the prescription, the Persian Physician who authored the book deliberately omitted part of the ingredients, leaving an incomplete formula, in fear that people might exploit the epidemic for nefarious deeds.

He wanted the people to know that this plague was incurable, with far-reaching ramifications that shouldn’t be taken advantage of.

He could never have imagined someone as calculating and reckless as Sheng Heng, a desperate fugitive willing to stop at nothing.

Li Xianyun wasn’t interested in uncovering whatever the Persian Physician intended to reveal to the world—she was only interested in challenging diseases.

Through studying the origins of the epidemic, Li Xianyun deduced the prescription and then returned the book to Sheng Heng.

The dedication and deep contemplation of that time solved the urgent crisis at hand.

Seeing that Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun’s health had improved, Li Xianyun was pleased and finally smiled a little.

"Father, Mother, how do you feel? Are you still coughing severely?"

Li Rui set aside his book and replied with a smile, "The coughing has lessened, and I’m no longer coughing up blood."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "It seems we got the treatment right."

As she spoke, she sat by the bed to take Li Rui’s pulse and then took Qiu Qianyun’s, asking a few questions about their well-being and reassuring them, "Father, Mother, your conditions have both improved. However, your bodies are still very weak, so you should stop reading and doing needlework. Rest well, and you will recover more quickly."

Li Rui responded with a laugh, "Alright, both your mother and I will heed your advice."

Li Xianyun had many tasks to attend to, so she didn’t linger too long with Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun.

After leaving the chamber, she wrote a prescription, prepared the medicine, and had someone brew it for her father and mother to take.

Li Xianyun then went to the abandoned training field, which had been gloomy the day before but now seemed to have regained some vitality overnight.

A few people were loitering outside the buildings, but most were talking inside their rooms.

When people feel good physically, their spirits lift, and there is laughter and chatter.

This time, upon entering the room, Li Xianyun was not met with the cold reception she had faced initially—the patients greeted her with respect and politely called her "Physician Li."

While taking the patients’ pulses, Li Xianyun offered many encouraging words.

Their health had vastly improved, seeming more promising than even her father’s condition.

After examining the patients, Li Xianyun visited the homes of those with milder conditions to check their pulses. After making a full round, she returned to the post station to prepare prescriptions, mix herbs, and have someone deliver the medicine to the critically ill.

Li Xianyun personally led people to deliver medicine bags to those with mild conditions, while also fumigating to disinfect their living spaces.

As the sun set, Li Xianyun dragged her tired body back to the post station.

Li Shaojun and Li Xianyi were already waiting for her in her room.

Upon seeing Li Xianyun, Li Xianyi pouted and said, "Sister, you’ve been so busy, we haven’t seen you since last night."

"Stop complaining. Sister has important business to attend to, unlike you who just eats until you’re full and sleeps," Li Shaojun teased.

"You’re describing a pig," Li Xianyi clung to Li Xianyun’s arm and said pitifully, "Sister, look how brother is always bullying me. You must do something about it."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Indeed, I should do something about it. Let’s punish him by not letting him have dinner tonight."

Li Xianyi heard this and quickly said, "There’s no need for such severe punishment; just a few words of reprimand should suffice."

Li Xianyun raised her hand and tapped Li Xianyi’s forehead, "Feeling sorry for your brother?"

Li Xianyi pursed her lips and smiled, "It’s not that I feel sorry for him; it’s just that with so many people falling ill, if brother doesn’t eat properly and gets sick too, it’ll be troublesome."

"Still claiming it’s not out of sympathy?"

Li Xianyi, her concern revealed, smiled without saying a word.

Li Shaojun felt very pleased inside; his sister’s affection wasn’t wasted on him.

Youlan waited for a while and finally found the opportunity to interject, "Master, I’ll go check if the kitchen has prepared the meal. Will the Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir also dine here?"

"Of course," Li Shaojun said with a smile.

Hearing this, Youlan stepped back with a smile.

It had been a long time since Li Xianyun had seen her brother and sister, and it seemed there was endless private conversation between them.

As the three of them were talking cheerfully, the voice of Jinwu suddenly came from outside, extremely frantic and anxious.

"Master, it’s terrible, Youlan is gone!"

Li Xianyun’s face changed instantly as she said, "Guard Jin, come inside and speak."

Jinwu’s eyes were bloodshot and his face was pale. He cut the long story short and said, "Master, I saw Youlan head to the kitchen and she hasn’t emerged for quite some time. So I went there to look for her, only to find the kitchen staff knocked out, and Youlan nowhere to be found. I also discovered this note on a pillar."

"Hand it to me for a look."

Li Xianyun stood up and took the note from him; just one glance nearly cost her half her life.

The note briefly read, "If you wish to see your handmaiden again, come alone to the abandoned estate south of the city."

It was Murong Ce’s handwriting.

Li Xianyun thought of the tragically deceased Huanhuan.

The tragedy that befell Huanhuan must not be repeated with Youlan.

Li Shaojun, noticing Li Xianyun’s ashen face, asked anxiously, "Sister, what does the letter say?"

As he spoke, he tried to take the note.

How could Li Xianyun let him take it?

If he and Li Xianyi were to know, then so would their father and mother.

They were ill; how could Li Xianyun let them worry even further?

"It’s nothing," Li Xianyun said while slipping the note into her sleeve, "Guard Jin, go prepare the horses; we are leaving the city shortly. Also, call Tuoba Che in here."

Bater had not been back long with the medicinal materials last night when Tuoba Che returned.

They had captured many people, all confined in the government’s dungeon.

After a round of severe torture by him and the Hidden Guard, those people confessed everything about buying medicinal materials.

However, they had burned all the acquired medicinal ingredients to ashes as instructed.

Tuoba Che inquired about the mastermind behind this, but they all claimed ignorance.

Sheng Heng, no matter how foolish, wouldn’t directly use his own people for such deeds; it’s not surprising that intermediaries were used in convoluted ways.

Li Xianyun didn’t harbor any hope of finding the medicinal materials from these people in the first place.

Jinwu hurriedly obeyed the command and left.

"Junjun, grind some ink for your sister," Li Xianyun said to Li Shaojun.

"Alright."

Li Xianyun approached the desk and picked up the brush to write a prescription.

There was no telling whether she would be able to return from this journey, but the people of the entire city were waiting for her to cure them.

Fortunately, she had already deduced the progression of the epidemic. All she needed to do was write down the daily prescriptions for the coming days. As long as the patients followed the prescriptions, they would recover quickly.