The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 659 - 657 What use is the world without her by my side? (One more update)

Chapter 659: 657 What use is the world without her by my side? (One more update)

The Shadow Guard approached Murong Ce with trepidation and knelt before him, greeting, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Although the bloodstained floor and the blood-splattered curtains in the grand hall had been cleaned, the sweet, metallic scent of blood still lingered in the air.

It was chilling.

Murong Ce looked coldly at the kneeling Shadow Guard.

"Do they think by killing the message-bearing Shadow Guard, they can block all the news? Issue an order to the Shadow Guards of Later Tang, it’s time for the people of Later Tang to see the true face of their so virtuous and morally upright Prince Rui."

The Shadow Guard took the order and withdrew.

Only Bai Mengling stood not far away in the massive palace, while the other Palace Attendants trembled and waited outside for orders.

Murong Ce turned his head to look at Bai Mengling, his gaze frosty, "Why haven’t you left? Are you not afraid that I might kill you too?"

Bai Mengling slowly approached Murong Ce and knelt at his feet, looking up at him.

"Your Majesty, you are the sovereign of a nation, possessing supreme status and power. You can do many things that many others can only envy. That woman doesn’t truly love you, why do you hurt yourself for her?"

Murong Ce spoke irritably, "What do you know? When you truly fall in love with someone, you know everything. I may reign over the land, but if she is not by my side, this throne is worthless to me."

Bai Mengling’s eyes reddened.

Hadn’t she truly fallen in love with someone?

The man she loved was precisely the enemy who had killed her own kin.

People often find themselves helpless.

If she had acted entirely rationally, she wouldn’t have fallen in love with Murong Ce, nor would Murong Ce have fallen in love with Li Xianyun.

They were both the same kind of person.

Bai Mengling stopped trying to persuade him, deciding just to accompany him.

...

By the time the Shadow Guard had conveyed Murong Ce’s command to Later Tang, rumors about Murong Ce were silently spreading and becoming the talk of the streets and alleyways.

"It turns out the hostage of Houliang had killed so many people."

Even though Murong Ce had already ascended the throne, since he was not their Emperor of Later Tang, people in Later Tang still commonly referred to Murong Ce as the hostage of Houliang.

"Exactly, with such a father, it’s not surprising that he would do such things."

The absurd actions of Murong Yi were staggering to everyone.

"I also heard that after Houliang was greatly defeated by Khitan, the hostage of Houliang became the laughing stock of the world, went mad, and now randomly accuses people."

"Accuses who?"

"Who else could it be? What caused the war between Houliang and Khitan?"

"Princess Hehui?"

"Yes, the hostage of Houliang was infatuated with Princess Hehui during his time in Later Tang and never got her love. Princess Hehui then married into Khitan, how could he stand that? Since he couldn’t have her, he wanted to destroy her."

"The Khitan Khan is not someone easy to mess with, can such a thing really happen?"

"Of course the Khitan Khan is formidable, but the hostage of Houliang can direct his animosity towards the family members of Princess Hehui. The Emperor has just ascended the throne and public sentiment is unstable. If rumors about the Emperor spread now, it will surely destabilize the public’s heart and cause trouble for the Emperor and thus trouble Princess Hehui."

Hearing this, people shivered, "It’s good that Princess Hehui didn’t marry him; such a scheming and vengeful man is truly frightening."

Others began to join in the conversation.

After chatting some more, the man discussing Murong Ce seeking trouble with Li Rui found an excuse to leave.

He approached an alley where someone was waiting for him.

Upon arriving, the man indeed found the person he had hoped to meet.

"My Lord, how was my performance?"

"Very well," Qu Ting took out a large pouch of money from his bosom and threw it into the man’s hands, "This is only a part of it; if your words spread to everyone’s knowledge, there will be a greater reward."

The man had never seen so much money before, and with sparkling eyes, he said, "Young master, rest assured, I will do my utmost."

Qu Ting nodded, leapt up, and jumped over the wall into the alleyway on the other side.

The man hefted the heavy pouch in his hands, "Truly, I have met a noble person."

He stuffed the pouch into his sleeve, walked out of the alley, and saw people chatting on another street.

He walked over with a smile, "Old Seven, what are you talking about? You seem so happy?"

...

As the saying goes, good news stays indoors, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

Rumors and gossip about Murong Ce sprouted wings and flew through the streets and alleys and even beyond Zhang’an to other places.

"I’m telling you, it has spread all over the Capital City..."

Upon hearing "It has spread all over the Capital City," everyone immediately perked up their ears.

So when the Hidden Guard, following Murong Ce’s orders, disseminated the narrative that Li Rui was a master of calculations, profound in thought, and used his own daughter as a bargaining chip, it sparked disdain among the people.

Because they knew it was Murong Ce’s conspiracy.

It was all to cause trouble for the current Emperor, adding to Princess Hehui’s woes.

Those spreading the rumors about Li Rui were quickly driven away as they started to speak.

Thus, the rumors regarding Li Rui simply could not spread.

When Murong Ce received this news, he was lying in bed, clutching his splitting head.

Upon hearing the Shadow Guard’s report, he vomited blood on the spot.

Bai Mengling hastily pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the blood from his mouth, "Quick, call for the Imperial Physician, call for the Imperial Physician!"

But by then, almost everyone in the Imperial Medical Bureau had been killed by Murong Ce, and those who had connections had already fled during the night.

The few remaining apprentices who were pulled up to temporarily fill in fumbled their words, much to Murong Ce’s fury, and he killed two with a swing of his sword.

...

In the sleeping quarters of the Empress of Later Tang, Qiu Qianyun sat by the window, gazing out in a daze,

with knitted brows.

A few close maids stood nearby, looking at each other, unsure how to console her.

These maids, brought over from the Prince’s Mansion, were used to seeing the love between Prince Rui and the Princess Consort, but ever since entering the magnificent Imperial Palace, the Princess Consort had never smiled again.

Indeed, who could?

After Prince Rui ascended to the throne, he purged the remnants of the former dynasty but spared one person—the former Emperor’s favored concubine, Qin Rou.

She still resided in her previous residence at Shuangluan Hall, enjoying her usual privileges.

Many Palace Attendants believed that when he was still Prince Rui, he and Qin Rou had an affair, colluding internally and externally to ascend the throne.

When this rumor spread in the palace, Li Rui was furious and executed many gossiping Palace Attendants.

Li Rui had always appeared to be gentle, benevolent, virtuous, and wise, but after ascending the throne, he was just as decisively ruthless.

From then on, no one dared spread such rumors.

However, a rift still grew between the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor would rest daily at the Empress’s quarters, running to Qiu Qianyun’s side after court, just as he had done back in the Prince’s Mansion.

Aside from Qin Rou, there were no other consort or concubine in the palace.

But still, the underlying conflicts could not be concealed.

Since moving into the Imperial Palace, Qiu Qianyun had never smiled again.