The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 110: She was originally worried about him (first update)

Chapter 110: She was originally worried about him (first update)

Just then, the Chief of the Food Hall came over with a maid carrying a tray.

They first paid their respects to Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun with great reverence, then began to set out the meal.

The assortment of meat and vegetarian dishes was fittingly matched, bright in color, and the rich aroma tempted the palate.

Yelu Yan saw a delicate small plate that contained a few pale green pastries.

The pastries were arranged in circles, creating a beautiful round shape.

In the center of the circle, there were some rose petal pieces arranged into the shape of a flower, with a dark green mint leaf underneath, invoking an aesthetic and poetic vibe.

Without guessing, one would know these were surely made by the kitchen maids under Li Xianyun’s instruction.

Ever since Li Xianyun arrived, the quality of the meals in the Food Hall had greatly improved.

Yelu Yan picked up a pastry shaped like a flower, examined it, and smiled at Li Xianyun, "Did you make this?"

Li Xianyun smiled back at him and nodded, saying, "Have a taste and see how it is?"

Yelu Yan took a bite, cold and refreshing, sweet and fragrant, melting upon the tongue, quite delicious, and he couldn’t help but praise, "Tasty."

Li Xianyun, seeing him enjoying the food, also wanted another piece.

She reached out to take a green bean cake from the plate, but a rough hand gently pressed down on her tender white hand.

The coarse warmth of Yelu Yan’s fingertips pressed firmly against her smooth back of the hand.

He turned his head to Li Xianyun and said, "You’re not well, you should eat less cold food."

Wasn’t he indifferent to the charms of women? How did he know that a woman should avoid cold food during her menses?

Li Xianyun later learned that some things men could understand without being taught.

She murmured "Hmm" softly, withdrew her hand, feeling a tingling sensation where he had pressed.

"Let’s eat," Yelu Yan said to her softly.

"Alright."

With so many complicated affairs in the Harem, Yelu Yan decided he needed to explain more to her.

"Xianxian."

Li Xianyun heard Yelu Yan call her milk name for the first time, and it slipped out so naturally, as if he had used it before.

She widened her eyes, looking at Yelu Yan in shock.

Yelu Yan, seeing her adorable expression, smiled and said, "Can I call you Xianxian?"

Could Li Xianyun say no? Of course not.

She lowered her head to sip the porridge, softly murmuring an affirmative.

Yelu Yan said, "Ever since I learned of Minister Xiao’s poisoning, I have thoroughly investigated the Harem and apprehended many people (to say ’killed many’ would have been more accurate, but Yelu Yan, fearing to leave a cruel impression on Li Xianyun, chose to use ’apprehended’), with key positions in the Harem now filled by my people. Nonetheless, there are still some that slipped through the net. Especially the Grand Imperial Consort has a deep-rooted foundation in the Harem, and she will inevitably cause trouble for you, so you must be cautious."

"Alright."

"But you need not be afraid, for no matter what, I will always stand by your side," he said.

Li Xianyun hadn’t expected Yelu Yan to trust her so much, and she was moved as she said, "Thank you, your concubine is not afraid."

She disliked palace strife, but if she had to face it, she would not be daunted.

In Houtang, many who targeted her ended up with tarnished reputations, reduced ranks, or were exiled to remote areas; now they shuddered at the mention of her name.

Li Xianyun paused, then said, "Actually, I have some concerns about managing the Harem."

Yelu Yan served her a chopstick full of dishes, looked at her attentively, and said seriously, "Tell me about them."

Li Xianyun said, "I am Han, and many Khitans have prejudices against me. If I were to manage the Harem, it would surely provoke criticism, and I fear it might be detrimental to you."

She was worried about him.

The corners of Yelu Yan’s mouth lifted involuntarily, "You need not worry about these matters; those are for me to concern myself with. You just do what you wish."

Those words were very reassuring.

Li Xianyun nodded and lowered her head to eat.

Just then, a strand of soft hair fell from her ear.

Li Xianyun raised her hand to tuck the hair back, but she heard Yelu Yan say next to her, "Let this Khan help you."

As Yelu Yan spoke, he set down his chopsticks and gently tucked her hair behind her ear with his fingers.

His rough fingers touched her tender earlobe, sending a tingling sensation into his palm.

Li Xianyun couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile lightly.

Yelu Yan looked at her and laughed, "What are you laughing at?"

"It’s nothing," Li Xianyun said, picking up her chopsticks and earnestly focusing on her meal.

"Are you laughing because this Khan, despite being a rough man, turns out to have such delicate thoughts?"

After Yelu Yan finished speaking, he looked at her with a smile.

Li Xianyun ducked her head even lower, her shoulders trembling with laughter.

It was undeniable that this man had the ability to read minds; somehow, he always knew what she was thinking.

Yelu Yan picked up some more food with his chopsticks for her and laughed, "Alright, stop laughing and eat properly, lest you choke."

After a while, Li Xianyun finally raised her head, her small face flushed red—from laughter.

She bit the tip of her chopsticks with her pearly white teeth and laughed, "Khan, who taught you how to read minds? Could you introduce that person to your servant?"

Yelu Yan picked up some food with his chopsticks, chewed, and laughed, "If you want to learn, isn’t the master right in front of you? Just kneel and kowtow three times and nine bows, and this Khan will accept you."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Then I’d better not."

Yelu Yan, who always appeared unsmiling and unapproachable, turned out to be quite fun after spending more time with him.

After dinner, the sun had set, and it wasn’t long before it would be dark.

Knowing that Li Xianyun had the habit of walking after dinner, Yelu Yan looked at her and laughed, "Shall this Khan accompany you for a walk in the Imperial Palace?"

"Okay."

Yelu Yan asked Youlan to bring Li Xianyun’s cloak over.

Li Xianyun said with a laugh, "Is that necessary? It’s not cold tonight."

Yelu Yan took the cloak Youlan handed him and placed it in his arm, saying, "You are in a special condition these days; you need to keep warm."

"..."

Li Xianyun didn’t know what to say in response; did such a private matter really need to be said out loud?

She turned her head and saw that Zhuo Ma and Youlan were smiling in a way that was both ambiguous and joyful.

Thankfully, Jinwu was absorbed in eating mung bean cake and drinking sweetened water, being far away and not overhearing.

Otherwise, it would have been so embarrassing.

Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun walked side by side at the front, while Youlan, Zhuo Ma, and Jinwu followed at a distance, leaving ample space for the two in front to be alone.

The faint light cast their shadows on the ground.

One tall and mighty, the other gentle and graceful, as if tailor-made for each other.

The night seemed like a vast expanse of borderless black cloth that tightly covered the sky and the earth.

Without the moonlight that night, the stars were like shattered Luminous Pearls, densely scattered across the ink-blue canopy of the sky, tenderly emitting their light.

Li Xianyun looked up at the starry sky, occasionally seeing bats fly low overhead, with the occasional chirping of insects and croaking of frogs reaching her ears.

Her mood was incredibly tranquil and content.

As she gazed at the stars, someone else gazed at her with a smile.

Afraid that Li Xianyun might get tired, Yelu Yan didn’t walk too far and simply strolled around the vicinity of the Khan Palace.