The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan

Chapter 31: 031 Nightmare (first update) Chapter 31: 031 Nightmare (first update) Li Xianyun had soaked long enough before she emerged from the hot bath and, wearing a loose-fitting robe, opened the door. She immediately saw Youlan and Zhuo Ma guarding the entrance and smiled, “Didn’t I tell you to rest earlier? Why are you still here?”

Zhuo Ma replied with a smile, “We can only rest assured when we see that you’ve settled down. Otherwise, Khan might blame us if he finds out.”

When Yelu Yan was mentioned, Li Xianyun thought back to the scene in the carriage, her face blushed, and she used her smile to cover her embarrassment, “I really don’t think Khan would care about such trifles.”

Zhuo Ma chuckled, “The princess’s affairs are certainly not trifles.”

Hearing her flattering words, Li Xianyun smiled but did not respond, instead she let the two of them sleep on the soft couch in the outer room while she yawned and crawled into the mosquito net, fluffed up her pillow, hugged her bolster, and looked up with admiration at the mosquito net she had made, well-crafted and elegant. Now, she wouldn’t have to fear mosquito bites at night and could have a good night’s sleep.

With that thought, Li Xianyun closed her eyes contentedly, and it wasn’t long before she fell asleep.

In her dream, Li Xianyun saw a figure familiar beyond words, and she turned pale with fright, wanting to retreat and escape, but she couldn’t move at all.

Just when she was at her wit’s end, the figure turned around, his handsome phoenix eyes gazing at her, a wicked smile hanging on his attractive face.

“Xianxian…”

Li Xianyun was terrified and trembled as she said, “You… don’t come closer.”

But the figure didn’t respond and kept approaching her with a dreadful smile on his lips.

Li Xianyun was so scared that she suddenly sat up in bed, already drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

She pressed her small hand against her chest, looking completely panicked.

Li Xianyun looked around and realized she was in a side hall, alone, and let out a soft sigh of relief.

It was then she noticed her mouth was dry and bitter, and swallowing saliva was as painful as dragging a knife across her throat.

Li Xianyun threw off the thin blanket, put on her shoes, and walked to the nearby desk, her hands trembling as she poured herself water to drink.

Because her hands trembled so violently, some water spilled, but fortunately, the cup was filled.

Li Xianyun took a few sips of water, felt much better, set down the cup, and walked back to her bed. She crawled into the mosquito net and lay down slowly, but couldn’t fall asleep again, instead staring up through the mosquito net at the ceiling beams.

She had thought that by coming to Khitan, she would have left all her past behind, but those terrible nightmares, like creeping vines, kept entangling her, not allowing her to breathe.

Yelu Yan arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance, Yuchi Hong and Shulu Xi hurriedly knelt down and bent their arms in salute, “We greet Khan.”

Yelu Yan stepped over to Yuchi Hong and helped him up, saying, “General Yuchi’s arrival is timely. I have something to discuss with you.”

Yuchi Hong, with an expression of pleased surprise, said, “Khan, you already know.”

Yelu Yan said, “General Yuchi has earned great merit for Khitan, and now your sixth brother is defending our borders. How could I possibly let the beloved Princely Heir Xuanxuan come to harm?”

Upon hearing these words, Yuchi Hong felt tears welling up. A burly man like him, accustomed to blood and sweat but not to tears, was truly moved by Yelu Yan’s words.

Yelu Yan walked over and sat at the desk, speaking calmly, “Bring the person up.”

“Yes!”

A guard escorted a man with grizzled hair into the room; he limped, his face severely burnt, his mouth twisted, his eyes askew, revealing ugly teeth, unspeakably hideous, a sight that struck fear into those who saw him.

Yuchi Hong stared at the man in shock, his eyes wide as he exclaimed, “How could it be you? You’re the one who harmed Xuanxuan?”

Arnold looked at Yuchi Hong with cold eyes and said, “You didn’t expect it, did you? It was me, old man!”

Yuchi Hong stepped forward, seized the man’s collar, and nearly lifted him off his feet as he demanded, “Haven’t I been good enough to you? Why would you do this?!”

“Why?” Arnold let out a scornful laugh. “Back then, Shaoguan was a joint effort between the two of us, but just because you are a descendant of the Yuchi family, all the credit went to you. You soared high into a life of ease, while I ended up neither human nor ghost!!”

Thirty years ago, Yuchi Hong and Arnold followed the army on a campaign, but they were betrayed by a traitor and surrounded by the Houliang army at Shaoguan. With more soldiers than provisions and the mountains sealed by heavy snow, the bad weather left the army in dire straits.

The Houliang commander planned to starve them out in Shaoguan.

After discussion among the generals, rather than being starved to death in Shaoguan, they decided to send someone out to call for reinforcements to give the whole army a fighting chance at survival.

But who would they send? It was a path fraught with danger; anyone who went might as well be walking to their death.

Yuchi Hong and Arnold volunteered.

Both exemplary generals, the commander, after consideration, agreed to let the two of them break through with a dozen men to carry the message.

That night, the Khitan army launched an attack, creating a diversion to occupy the enemy’s attention.

Yuchi Hong and Arnold led a dozen soldiers, carrying the hope of the entire army through another city gate, ready to break through the encirclement.

On the road, they suffered a fierce attack from the enemy forces; their comrades fell in battle, and in the end, only the two of them remained.

Yuchi Hong and Arnold both fought valiantly and were wounded in the fray, but fortunately, they shook off the enemy forces by a significant margin and were on the brink of escape.

Just as the two men were about to disappear into the forest, an arrow flew and hit Arnold’s leg, bringing him down to the ground.

Seeing this, Yuchi Hong turned his horse to come to the rescue, but the enemy forces were quickly closing in.

Arnold, pushing himself up from the ground and drawing his curved sword, turned to Yuchi Hong and said, “You go quickly and send the message. I’ll hold them off!”

Leaving Arnold behind was a certain death. How could Yuchi Hong just leave?

With no other choice, Arnold roared, “Go! Do you want the entire army to be wiped out?!!”

His words convinced Yuchi Hong, who clenched his teeth and with veins bulging on his forehead, turned his horse, struck the back of the horse, and with a shout of “Hyah!”, spurred his horse and rode away.

After many hardships, Yuchi Hong finally escaped and quickly brought back reinforcements, and together with the Khitan army, they dealt a crushing defeat to the Houliang troops, driving them back in a total rout.

But Arnold disappeared without a trace, and despite Yuchi Hong’s efforts to find him far and wide, he found nothing.

After the war, Yuchi Hong, by virtue of this battle, became renowned throughout Khitan, promoted to general, and from there his career soared, eventually reaching the enviable position of Defender General.

Yuchi Hong released Arnold’s collar and said, “I never concealed your contributions. I told them it was you and I who broke through the encirclement to call for reinforcements. I’ve been looking for you all this time. After so many years, I thought you were dead.”

Arnold gave a bitter smile. “What difference is there between me now and the dead? Who would remember my contributions? Who would know why I ended up in this plight? Everyone only knows me as an unspeakably ugly cripple!”