The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 513 - 512 You haven’t responded to me yet (first update)

Chapter 513: 512 You haven’t responded to me yet (first update)

Li Xianyun finished speaking and looked towards Bater, who was the calmest at the moment.

Understanding, Bater said through the pain, "Back to the city!"

Murong Ce, grasping Li Xianyun’s arm, walked into the house, where two old women dressed in men’s clothing were waiting.

"I leave her in your care, do not harm her."

The old women bowed and said, "Yes!"

Murong Ce looked at Li Xianyun and said, "Xianxian, you must be obedient. If you are not, I wouldn’t mind changing your clothes personally."

Although Li Xianyun loathed Murong Ce, she also knew that provoking him would be unwise.

Murong Ce was a madman capable of anything.

As long as he didn’t cross the line, she would not defy him.

Seeing that she did not respond, Murong Ce bent down to meet her gaze at eye level.

He was tall and imposing, towering over Li Xianyun by more than half a head.

Li Xianyun, lost in her thoughts, suddenly faced by the strikingly seductive face that appeared so abruptly before her, involuntarily leaned back, creating some distance between them, a look of wariness on her face.

This gesture amused Murong Ce, who raised his hand as if to stroke her head.

Li Xianyun took a step back and turned her head away.

The hand Murong Ce had raised fell back to his side, but he still leaned forward, watching her as if she was freshly-caught prey.

"You haven’t responded to me."

Without looking at him, Li Xianyun coolly and indifferently hummed an acknowledgment.

Murong Ce was long accustomed to her coldness.

As long as Li Xianyun was back by his side, there would be plenty of time ahead; even if her heart were stone, he believed he could warm it.

Murong Ce straightened up, giving Li Xianyun a deep look, then walked outside.

This declining estate was a residence with two entrances and exits.

The original owner was a Han Chinese who due to business had gone back to the Central Plains and from then on, there was no news of him, leading the estate to fall into disrepair.

There were many rooms within the estate.

Murong Ce came out of the house and stood at the doorway.

Xu Sheng wanted to step forward to persuade him to sit and rest. He shifted his feet slightly but ultimately abandoned the idea.

After such a rough and tortuous journey, Murong Ce had not rested, and with his beloved now in his sight, how could he be willing to rest?

Murong Ce had been preparing for this day since long ago.

In several frontier cities of Khitan towards Houliang and Houtang, Murong Ce had placed his own people.

To avoid the scrutiny of Yelu Yan and the soldiers at the border check, was indeed extremely difficult.

Therefore, Xu Sheng suspected that within Khitan, there must be insiders working for Murong Ce, and not just one or two.

Murong Ce was not as simple as he appeared on the surface; he likely had a vast organization behind him, powerful and following his orders, operating completely independently of the Houliang Imperial Court’s oversight.

In fact, Xu Sheng had harbored suspicions about this for quite some time.

He spent most of his time at Murong Ce’s side, but there were occasions when Murong Ce would deliberately send him away, some matters he did not wish Xu Sheng to know.

Traveling deep into Khitan territory only strengthened Xu Sheng’s beliefs.

At every stop, there were people to meet Murong Ce, loyally serving him.

Murong Ce was indeed unfathomably deep; no one could truly see through him.

No wonder so many feared Murong Ce; such an impenetrable ruler indeed inspired dread.

However, even with allies ready to help, the journey was filled with hardship.

Yelu Yan was strict in his military discipline, keeping tight control over officials, especially in frontier regions.

The possibility of achieving one’s goals by bribing officials was simply impossible.

In order not to startle the snake by hitting the grass, Murong Ce could only find ways through some peripheral figures.

Often, he had to take detours, or disguise himself, frequently travelling by the cover of night.

Although Murong Ce was the emperor, he was exceptionally capable of enduring hardships.

If Li Xianyun knew that Murong Ce had risked his life to venture deep into enemy territory for her, suffering much distress, would she be able to reduce her hatred for him and thus willingly become his Empress?

Murong Ce stood on the steps outside of the house, gazing up at the moon.

It was the middle of the month, and the moon was very round.

When he thought of Li Xianyun, he would always look foolishly at the moon.

Thinking that its glow shone on both him and her, that they were not far apart.

Thinking about what Li Xianyun might be doing under the moonlight with Yelu Yan. This was not a pleasant thought, and as he pondered, his heart would twist in pain, often flying into a rage.

Murong Ce often felt Li Xianyun was like the moon—pure and ethereal, endlessly pursued by him yet forever out of reach.

Fortunately, the moon was finally about to fall into his arms.

Muffled voices came from the room, including Li Xianyun’s and two old crones’, not very clear.

Murong Ce turned and walked to the door, asking, "What’s going on?"

An old crone’s voice came through, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress was unwilling to change into light clothing, but now she is willing."

Murong Ce made a sound of acknowledgment.

Li Xianyun was adept at using poison and hidden weapons, so he had to be extremely cautious.

Murong Ce turned back to continue gazing at the bright moon above.

There was a halo of silver light around the moon, making it look even bigger and brighter.

When one looks up at the sky, they realize how insignificant they are compared to the rest of the world and what they truly desire becomes clear.

He only wanted Li Xianyun in this life.

He only wished for her to love him, even if she didn’t it was alright, even indifference would do, as long as she was willing to stay by his side.

Murong Ce had gone from having nothing, lowly as dust, to now possessing the whole world; he should be content, yet he still felt alone and empty.

If he did not have the woman he loved by his side—the only person he loved in the world—life would be as empty as a walking corpse, meaningless.

In the warm yellow interior, Li Xianyun was changed completely from inside to out, and the medicinal powder she had hidden within her garments was found.

She thought that changing clothes would be the end of it.

An old crone brought back a basin of flesh-colored paste.

Li Xianyun only took one look to understand what it was about.

There were rumors that in Houliang existed a secret technique to change one’s facial appearance, exceedingly convincing to the extent that even one’s own mother would not recognize them.

One of the old crones said, "Please sit down, Your Highness the Empress."

Seeing that Li Xianyun remained unmoved, another old woman said, "If Your Highness wishes to have His Majesty accompany you, this servant can call for His Majesty right now."

The threat was very clear.

Li Xianyun truly did not want to see Murong Ce, so she did as told and sat down.

Now that things had come to this, she could only be at others’ disposal.

But she would not give up; she had already decided to either seize the chance to escape or perish together with Murong Ce.

The two old crones fussed over Li Xianyun’s face, neck, and hands for a good while.

Li Xianyun watched with her own eyes as her delicate, white hands became rough, weathered by time.

"I want to see a mirror."

The two old crones dared not be too offensive, for after all, Li Xianyun was His Majesty’s beloved; if they offended her, and she were to whisper into His Majesty’s ear later, they would surely meet a disastrous end without a place for their graves.

An old crone brought over a basin of clear water, "We don’t have a bronze mirror here, please look into the water basin."