The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 108: Did Khan say anything? (First update)

Chapter 108: Did Khan say anything? (First update)

Yelu Yan, with his exceptional martial arts skills and extraordinary hearing, sensed someone approaching and swiftly recomposed his expression, adjusting his sitting posture.

True to expectation, it wasn’t long before Yelang’s voice came from outside the door.

"Khan."

In a calm voice, Yelu Yan said, "Come in."

Yelang pushed open the door with utmost respect and entered, immediately closing it behind him.

Approaching Yelu Yan, he knelt down and bent his arm in salute, "Khan, you summoned me."

Yelang, having received the news in Yan Manor, immediately rushed over with his men at full speed.

Yelu Yan spoke in a stern voice, "Go to Houtang immediately and investigate everything about the Queen’s life there over the years. Who she has met, what has happened; I want a clear and thorough investigation, then report back to me."

Yelu Yan still remembered that late night when, after dealing with official duties, he returned to Khan Palace only to hear the sound of a window opening in a side hall.

Thinking a villain had broken into Li Xianyun’s room, he pushed the door open without a second thought.

He found Li Xianyun standing by the window, bathed in the cold moonlight that fell upon her cheeks and shoulders.

She was so beautiful, so delicate, yet the loneliness and desolation on her face were starkly evident.

She seemed to have gone through a great deal, exuding a sense of weathered experience.

Today, seeing the fear on the sleeping Li Xianyun’s face,

Yelu Yan became even more certain that something unpleasant must have happened to her.

He tentatively asked her, only to find she was reluctant to mention it.

Therefore, Yelu Yan did not press further, not wishing to upset her by bringing up the past. He decided to have the Hidden Guard conduct a thorough investigation.

Upon hearing this, Yelang responded firmly, "Yes!"

As the leader of the Shadow Guard, the Khan did not send him on missions lightly.

It seemed the Khan was taking the Queen’s matters very seriously.

Yelang, thinking of the new information he had just received, saluted Yelu Yan, "To report to the Khan, you had me monitor the movements of Prince Nan. I have just learned that a few days ago, Prince Nan sent people to Houliang to investigate the relationship between the Queen and the Crown Prince of Houliang."

Upon hearing this, a disturbing expression spread across Yelu Yan’s handsome face.

Yelang continued, "However, those he sent had just entered Houliang territory when they were all killed. Thus, he found out nothing."

Yelu Yan asked with a cold demeanor, "Do you know who did it?"

Yelang replied respectfully, "I do not know. My people investigated, but those responsible left no traces, extremely secretive in their actions. Yet from the corpses strewn about, it was clear that the assassins were highly skilled and ruthless."

It appeared that the person behind this was no simple matter.

Yelu Yan said in a calm voice, "I understand."

He paused, then added, "Ji Xueyuan found nothing, but he likely will not give up just like that."

"The Khan is wise, Prince Nan has sent more people to Houtang to investigate the matter of the Queen and the Crown Prince of Houliang."

Yelu Yan sneered and said, "Have your men kill all of Prince Nan’s spies, leave none alive."

Yelang saluted, "Yes!"

Yelu Yan spoke indifferently, "Regarding the Queen’s matter, take your men and investigate immediately. If it goes as I expect, someone will try to interfere. These people are probably the same ones who killed Ji Xueyuan’s secret agents. Find out who they are, and report back to me immediately if anything arises."

"Yes!"

"You may go."

"I shall take my leave."

***

At dusk, Yelu Yan returned to Khan Palace with his men.

The orange glow of the setting sun hung over the willow treetops.

The palace was tranquil, with maids and Palace Servants busily performing their tasks in an orderly manner.

Seeing Yelu Yan, everyone saluted him one after another.

Yelu Yan went straight to the main building and immediately spotted Li Xianyun among the people.

She was sitting at a stone table, teaching the maids to embroider.

There were four stone stools in total. Apart from the one Li Xianyun was sitting on, Youlan and Zhuo Ma each occupied one, and a maid sat on another.

Four or five maids were sitting on low stools, with several others standing.

Each of them held a round embroidery frame, surrounding Li Xianyun in the middle.

Li Xianyun was leaning over to look at a maid’s embroidery and said, "The stitches here are not right, they should be like this."

As she spoke, she lowered her head to demonstrate.

The maid said with a smile, "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Just then, the maid sitting on the stone stool saw Yelu Yan coming and became terrified, quickly kneeling on the ground and saying, "Khan, please forgive me."

There was a rule in the palace that servants were not allowed to sit in the company of their masters.

The other maids also knelt down in succession.

Li Xianyun stood up and said to Yelu Yan, "Khan, please don’t blame them, it was I who allowed them to sit."

Yelu Yan approached Li Xianyun with a smile and said, "Did I say anything?"

It seemed that he had not.

Li Xianyun pressed her lips together and smiled.

Seeing her lovely smile, Yelu Yan said to the group of maids in a soft voice, "Get up."

The maids stood up one after another and silently bowed before taking their leave.

Only Youlan and Zhuo Ma, as personal maids, remained behind.

Yelu Yan looked down at the embroidery frame in Li Xianyun’s hands.

Two sparrows were embroidered on the white soft cloth, chirping joyfully on a branch.

One was perched on a soft branch, poised to fly, while the other was fluttering its wings as it flew in.

Her embroidery was incredibly lifelike; it felt as if the sparrows might fly off the fabric at any moment.

"You embroider very well," Yelu Yan said sincerely.

Li Xianyun said with a smile, "It’s passable."

She was always so modest.

Yelu Yan’s smile became even more pronounced.

"Khan, you must be hungry by now. Let me have them prepare a meal for you," said Li Xianyun as she started to walk toward the main hall.

Yelu Yan gently grasped her slender and tender arm, saying with a smile, "Let’s have the meal prepared here."

The setting sun painted the trees, gatehouse, stone table, and stone stools warm yellow, even Li Xianyun’s beautiful cheeks seemed to glow with a warm hue.

The sky was vast and the earth wide, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves.

Spending time in such an environment could not be more pleasant.

Li Xianyun had chosen this spot in the afternoon for this very reason, to teach the maids embroidery.

It turned out that Yelu Yan also favored such surroundings.

Li Xianyun’s gaze landed on his rough, large hand holding her arm.

Seeing her look, Yelu Yan followed her gaze and let go of her hand.

It seemed that there was still a long road ahead for her to accept him.

Though the journey was long and challenging, he faced it with eager anticipation.

Li Xianyun glanced at Zhuo Ma, who immediately understood and quickly walked towards the pantry.

Yelu Yan gazed at Li Xianyun, saying with a smile, "Don’t stand, have a seat."

"Alright."

Yelu Yan noticed that Li Xianyun’s seat had a thick layer of cotton padding and began to think.

Li Xianyun sat down and rolled up her needlework, placing it in the needlework basket.

The basket, woven from bamboo, had a band of red fabric sewn along the edge to avoid pricking one’s fingers when carrying it.

Inside the basket were scissors, pieces of cloth, needles of varying lengths and thicknesses, and embroidery threads of bright, vibrant colors.

After tidying up the stone table, Li Xianyun prepared to have Youlan take the needlework basket to the main building.

As she looked up, she noticed that the clothes on Yelu Yan’s shoulder had come unstitched.