The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 614 - 612 It Was Just a Dream (Second Update)

The government officer saw the plans drawn by Li Xianyun and noticed many symbols he couldn’t understand.

It was clear there were many things he hadn’t thought of, but Li Xianyun had considered them all.

The officer’s mind instantly brightened.

No wonder Master Yu Chi treated Li Xianyun with such respect, someone so talented truly deserved such courtesy.

After making a round, Li Xianyun thanked and bade farewell to the officer, and then she took her people to the street.

She first visited the second-hand furniture store, thinking she’d check in advance before renovating the Earth God Temple—she planned to buy some used furniture for the beggars to use, to allow them to live like normal people.

Exiting the shop, Li Xianyun led her people to the brick and tile sector and handed over the plans to a tile worker. After a discussion and paying a deposit, she urged them to start work as soon as possible.

After Li Xianyun had left, an apprentice approached his master, "Master, was that person a fool? The Earth God Temple isn’t his property, why bother fixing it? Won’t it still belong to the official government in the end?"

The man addressed as master, viewed the plans without lifting his eyelids, and uttered indifferently, "If we’ve taken on work, we should do it well. Earning other people’s money and then gossiping, that isn’t what a gentleman does. And that gentleman, at first glance, is not an ordinary person; we cannot afford to neglect him."

"How can’t I see it? That person looks like a rich young master, completely ignorant, only knows how to spend money everywhere. We can make a big profit..."

He hadn’t finished his words when he received a slap from his master.

"What do you know? This time we’ve come across a professional. If we don’t do our job well and end up losing such a big opportunity, wouldn’t we be giving it away to others?"

Seeing his puzzled apprentice rubbing the struck head, the man said, "It’s said that one can only tell a mule from a horse when they’re out on a stroll. That gentleman speaks with sophistication, his words all professional lingo. If he’s not an expert, what is he? Don’t be careless and mess up this deal."

"I wouldn’t dare," said the apprentice.

Li Xianyun left the bricklayers’ place, and the setting sun was dimming the sky. frёeωebɳovel.com

She instructed the Hidden Guard to tell Yuchi Hong to post a notice, stating that the farmers should meet at the entrance of the clothing workshop at the designated time the next day, and she would explain the details of the recruitment in person then.

Meanwhile, Li Xianyun had Bater use Yelu Yan’s token to withdraw some funds from the County Government Office.

There were many places in need of funds at the moment, and it wouldn’t do to be without silver.

By the time Li Xianyun returned to her mansion, darkness had thoroughly set in.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, Li Xianyun ate more than usual that evening.

After dinner, Li Xianyun called Jinwu.

"Is there still no news from Prince Rui?" she asked.

Jinwu replied truthfully, "None yet. The Khan is very anxious about the delay in receiving the guard’s message, and has sent out three groups to inquire, but still no word has come."

Li Xianyun’s brow furrowed; there had usually been news within a day or two, but now it had been several days without any word from her father or mother. It was too long a silence.

She instructed Jinwu to send a message to the Ji Shi Tang, asking them to join the search.

Noticing her master’s dejected appearance, Youlan consoled, "Master, the Khan dispatched so many top fighters to escort and has arranged for meetups along the way, so there should be no trouble, don’t worry. You’ve been busy all day, why not wash up and rest early? Perhaps tomorrow you’ll receive letters from the Prince and Princess Consort."

Li Xianyun hummed in response, rose to bathe, dressed in her thin nightgown, and crawled into bed.

She lay tossing and turning, unable to sleep, and when she finally fell into slumber, she was plagued with nightmares.

In her dream, she returned to their cozy family home in the village, back when her father wasn’t yet a prince, nor her mother a princess consort, and their family of five relied on each other for survival.

In that cramped yet warm courtyard, Li Xianyun sat on a small stool peeling corn kernels, Junjun played "riding a great horse" with a wooden stick in the yard, and Nannan, who had just learned to walk, followed Junjun unsteadily.

Li Xianyun laughed joyfully, as if it had been many years since she last laughed so heartily.

At that moment, the courtyard gate was pushed open and a tall figure entered with men.

Li Xianyun looked up and saw those cold, unfathomable phoenix eyes.

"Xianxian..." Murong Ce called out.

He was a bad man, come to harm her family and friends.

Li Xianyun searched everywhere for Nannan and Junjun, but where were their shadows to be found?

The courtyard was filled with evil spirits; only the figure of Murong Ce stood alone.

Li Xianyun wanted Murong Ce to leave, wanted to throw the corn in her hand at him, but it was as if something was tightly binding her hands and feet, and she couldn’t move at all.

Just as she was caught in fear and helplessness, Li Xianyun suddenly opened her eyes, her chest heaving violently.

It was all a dream.

Thank goodness it was just a dream.

It had been a long time since she’d dreamt of Murong Ce; why had he suddenly appeared in her dream again?

Li Xianyun struggled to get up, got out of bed, and poured a cup of water to drink.

She was even more worried about her relatives now.

Li Xianyun’s gaze was piercing as she realized that she needed to quickly uncover the spies Murong Ce had planted in the city; they might know something.

Li Xianyun lay on the bed, staring straight at the bed canopy, her thoughts fluttering chaotically like the catkins and willow flowers of spring, messy and impossible to chase away completely.

Not until the sky turned slightly light did sleep finally sweep over her, and Li Xianyun fell into a deep slumber.

Youlan paced outside the inner chamber.

It was almost the Hour of Chen, yet her mistress still hadn’t gotten out of bed.

If she didn’t get up soon, they might miss the time agreed upon with the farmers.

Youlan hesitated for a moment, but finally pushed the door open and entered, only to see Li Xianyun sitting up in bed, raising her arm to clothe herself.

Youlan hurried over, gathered the transparent bed curtains, and hung them on the golden hooks at either side.

"Family Head, why didn’t you call your servant in to attend to you as you got up?"

"I’ve just woken up too."

The reason Li Xianyun hadn’t called for Youlan was that she was afraid Youlan would see the petal-shaped marks left on her collarbone and tender chest by Yelu Yan.

The other day, Yelu Yan had been too rough, losing a sense of measure.

These marks would probably take a few days to fade.

After getting ready, Li Xianyun had her breakfast and then headed to the clothing workshop.

At the entrance to the clothing workshop, a large throng of farmers had gathered, three layers inside and three layers out.

Some farmers had come alone to scout out the situation, and many had come with their families in tow, mostly women; the men were just trying their luck to see if they could find work.

Children weaved through the crowd, innocent and carefree, completely unaware of the difficulties their families were facing.

Li Xianyun had not expected to see Yuchi Hong there as well.

Upon seeing Li Xianyun approach, Yuchi Hong glanced at the government officer beside him and walked briskly toward her.

The government officer quieted the crowd, instructing adults to hold onto their children.

Li Xianyun looked at Yuchi Hong and smiled, "Thank you, Officer Yu Chi, for bolstering the scene."

"It’s part of my duties; no need for concern," Yuchi Hong said very modestly.

Li Xianyun walked to the entrance of the clothing workshop’s main gate where there was a high platform; standing on it, she would be visible to everyone.

The moment she ascended, everyone’s attention was drawn to this beautiful young person.

The noble aura emanating from Li Xianyun commanded respect from all.