The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 521 - 520 so you must give up your husband (first update)

Chapter 521: 520 so you must give up your husband (first update)

When the epidemic in Shuozhou was mentioned, Yelu Yan’s gaze unwittingly deepened.

According to the spies’ reports, Li Xianyun’s diagnosis aligned perfectly with what was actually happening, and by following her prescribed treatments, the epidemic improved day by day.

The people were, of course, deeply grateful to Li Xianyun.

Commanding his people to reveal Li Xianyun’s identity, Yelu Yan wished the whole world knew of his woman’s merits.

The news spread among the populace, from ten to a hundred, each individual astounded.

They hadn’t expected the pale scholar who tirelessly delivered children, wandered the streets treating the sick, and meticulously inspected homes to be the Khan’s favored concubine.

Ever since Li Xianyun arrived in Khitan, the people had heard many rumors about her, both good and bad, but mostly bad.

Rumors said Li Xianyun was a spy from Houtang, beguiling the sovereign, harboring ulterior motives, even claiming she was the reincarnation of a nine-tailed fox spirit, born with a bewitching beauty skilled in enchanting men, and witchcraft—how else could she have enchanted the wise and valiant Khan?

Now that they knew Li Xianyun’s true identity, the people understood the ugliness of spreading false rumors.

How could such a kind-hearted Consort, who cared for the people’s ailments, ventured into impoverished alleys without disdain for dirt and chaos, be a demon or a spy from the enemy nation?

Moreover, the Khan was wise and sagacious, how could a woman favored by him possibly be a demon or evil spirit?

Thinking back on their interactions with Li Xianyun, many people knelt down to express their heartfelt thanks to her.

However, Yelu Yan didn’t tell Li Xianyun about this matter, as she had always been low-key, not doing these things for any vain glory.

What if she knew he had revealed her identity and stopped him?

Wouldn’t all her good deeds be buried and forgotten?

Since their reunion, Yelu Yan couldn’t take his eyes off Li Xianyun, his eyes brimming with smiles, unable to suppress the joy on his face, his longing for her clear as day, like a lovestruck fool.

Li Xianyun gazed down at her small foot held firmly in his large, rough hand, her foot appearing even more delicate and exquisite in his grasp.

Seeing her embarrassed by his staring, Yelu Yan turned away and pulled out a letter he had read many times from his chest, handing it to Li Xianyun.

She took it and saw it was the letter she had written to Yelu Yan before leaving to rescue Youlan:

"My husband, as we part today, I know not when we shall meet again. I entreat you to pity my aged parents and my young siblings, and care for them in my stead. Also, Youlan and Jinwu have developed affections for each other, I hope you can grant them your blessings."

When Yelu Yan received this letter, he read it countless times, feeling anger and sorrow in equal measure.

She thought of her maid, yet failed to think of him, not leaving a single word for him.

In the grueling days spent searching for her, Yelu Yan would pull out her letter whenever he had a moment to spare.

Imagining her expression as she wrote, her motions at the time, her emotions when penning the letter.

He read it obsessively, like a sick man, trying to find traces of her presence in every single character.

He kept the letter close to his heart, agonizing over his thoughts of her.

In that period, he hardly closed his eyes, using all his might, sparing no effort or thought for consequences, searching frantically for Li Xianyun.

Sometimes, when he couldn’t hold on any longer, he would rest for a while against a street corner or under an old tree in the wild, frequently woken up by nightmares.

In those dreams, Li Xianyun would look at him with silent tears, an expression of reproach and complaint.

He would search for her desperately in his dreams, but always failed to catch her. Just as he was close, he would awaken to face the harsh reality—his woman had been abducted.

Yelu Yan’s entire world had almost collapsed.

His spirit was on the brink of breaking.

If anything happened to Li Xianyun, he was capable of anything, even if it meant destroying heaven and earth, even if it meant living beings were smeared with soot, even if the people could no longer survive... he would make those who harmed her pay a thousandfold.

He had completely changed, beyond even his own recognition.

Kindness, integrity, calmness, restraint... all had dissipated into the clouds.

Without Li Xianyun, he really was falling apart, and the only remnants of his sanity were for the sake of finding his beloved woman.

He loved Li Xianyun more than he had imagined, deep to the marrow, engraved in his bones and heart.

Yelu Yan had once seen a book at Shulu Xi’s place, he had forgotten what it was specifically about, he only remembered fragments of sentences, "I wish to be acquainted with you, for a long life without decay" "mountains without a ridge" "only when heaven and earth unite, shall I dare to part with you".

Faced with such effeminate sentiment, Yelu Yan couldn’t help but sneer. In this world, who cannot live without whom?

Such lovelorn men and women appeared only in poetry.

However, during the days separated from Li Xianyun, he deeply felt that the poem was excellently written; it was precisely the true reflection of his heart.

He had become one of those lovelorn men and women, and even more so to an extreme extent.

When Li Xianyun saw him take out the letter she had written, she instantly understood his intention and extended her delicate arms to Yelu Yan, gently saying, "Husband, hold me."

Yelu Yan extended his long arms to take her onto his lap, hugging her in his embrace, afraid that her little feet would get cold, he pulled his cloak over her legs and feet.

He took care of her meticulously.

Li Xianyun looked up at Yelu Yan, his handsome face unkempt with stubble, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, which made her feel distressed.

"Husband, are you blaming me for not leaving you a single word?"

Yelu Yan didn’t speak, merely looking at her intently, which amounted to acknowledgment.

He had thought countless times that when he saw her again, he must question her, why she hadn’t left a word for him.

In fact, he already had the answer in his heart, and knowing the answer only made him angrier.

Li Xianyun’s lips parted slightly as she spoke softly.

"Being kidnapped by Murong Ce, my life and death were uncertain. I didn’t know if I could still see you alive, so I didn’t leave you a message, hoping you would hate me, resent me, forget about me, and then accept another woman to live a normal life."

Upon hearing this, Yelu Yan’s chest heaved, and his face turned stern, as he had suspected she would think this way.

This woman, who had easily disrupted his heart, was now trying to escape from his life without a second thought, so decisively abandoning him, sentencing him to death.

"So you intended to abandon your husband and perish together with Murong Ce?"

This time, it was Li Xianyun who fell silent.

"Xianxian, how could you be so certain that your husband could accept another woman and live the normal life you think of without you? You didn’t even give your husband a chance to choose, and just like that, you sentenced your husband to death by imposing what you think is the right choice upon him."

"But do you know that your husband does not want these things? Your husband just wants you. Without you, your husband would rather be dead than alive."

Yelu Yan held Li Xianyun tighter, continuing, "Xianxian, do you know? During these days when you were taken away, what your husband thought about the most was that, should you suffer any mishap, your husband would avenge you first, then commit suicide at your grave."