The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 149 Where did you just go? (Second Shift)

Chapter 149: 149 Where did you just go? (Second Shift)

Li Xianyun’s voice came to an abrupt halt.

Because the tall and powerful man had already hurried over, eagerly pulling her tightly into his embrace.

Li Xianyun was forced to stand on tiptoes, her eyes widening in surprise.

Yelu Yan held the back of his head with one hand and encircled her slender waist with the other.

He did so with such strength, as if to clamp her into his own chest.

That joy of regaining what was lost surged forth like a flood, overwhelming him to the point of losing his composure.

Zhuo Ma and Youlan exchanged a glance upon seeing this and smiled, turning their gaze away.

In the moment Youlan turned her head, her gaze met with Jinwu’s head-on.

Jinwu hurriedly averted her eyes.

But Youlan furrowed her brows, finding this person somewhat strange lately.

The passing pedestrians were also startled by this scene.

If a man and woman were to embrace and cling to each other in the street like this, it would be absolutely scandalous.

Fortunately, it was two men embracing each other due to a long-awaited reunion, so they did not find it amiss and walked away with a laugh.

Li Xianyun’s mind was a blank, at a loss for what to do.

After a long while, she softly said, "Husband."

Only then did Yelu Yan gently let go of her, yet still holding her in his embrace, he looked down at her tender, blush-tinged face.

When she had bought the sugar-coated haws, she had pushed her mask onto the top of her head, revealing only the small face below her forehead, her bright eyes and white teeth, her red lips stunning enough to stir the heart.

Li Xianyun looked up at his deep and fervent eyes, her ears gradually blushing.

"Where did you go just now?" Yelu Yan asked, staring intently at her.

Li Xianyun’s lips parted slightly as she explained, "I saw that shop selling sugar-coated haws, so I went over to buy two skewers."

Fearful that Yelu Yan might not believe her, she explained while gently shaking the sugar-coated haws in her hand.

She looked incredibly cute.

Seeing Yelu Yan’s serious expression, Li Xianyun asked, "Husband, what happened?"

"Nothing."

Yelu Yan took a step back as he spoke, loosening his arms around her.

He feared he would frighten Li Xianyun.

Yelu Yan didn’t know when he started handling Li Xianyun with such caution, as if holding something precious in his mouth he feared might melt away, or in the palm of his hand he feared might fly away.

"It’s crowded in the streets. Stay with your husband and do not run off, lest you hurt yourself or encounter bad people."

He had many enemies, and his only vulnerability was Li Xianyun, so he had to be extremely vigilant.

Li Xianyun nodded obediently, feeling quite guilty as she said, "Husband, I understand. I worried you just now."

"Be good, alright?"

"Alright."

Li Xianyun offered a skewer of the red sugar-coated haws to Yelu Yan, smiling as she said, "This is for you."

Yelu Yan accepted it.

Li Xianyun bit into a sugar-coated haw; it was sweet and tangy, very delicious.

Seeing that Yelu Yan was still staring blankly at her, Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Husband, try it, it’s really good."

Yelu Yan took a bite and chewed gently.

Li Xianyun asked with a smile, "Is it good?"

"It’s good," Yelu Yan said, gazing at her small face.

He didn’t like sweets, but today he found them delicious.

Li Xianyun had a lot of fun today; once she became playful, it was hard for her to stop.

She saw someone not far away carrying a long, thick wooden stick, with thick straw wrapped around the very top, and many objects made of straw were inserted into it, including sparrows, kittens, and even big horses...

Each "little animal" looked incredibly cute.

Li Xianyun took steps towards it, wanting to take a closer look.

But her small hand was firmly grasped by a rough, large one.

Li Xianyun followed his hand with her gaze upward and then saw a pair of profound tiger-like eyes.

Yelu Yan looked at her and said, "The market is crowded; don’t get lost."

Li Xianyun hummed in acknowledgement.

Yelu Yan released his rough, large hand and lifted it protectively over her as if to encircle her in his embrace, yet without touching her garments.

Together, they threaded through the crowd to approach a vendor’s stall.

The middle-aged man selling goods paused upon seeing them approach, and looking at Li Xianyun, he said, "Young master, which one do you fancy? I’ll get it for you."

Li Xianyun looked around carefully and eventually pointed to a kitten, saying, "I’ll take this one."

The vendor smiled, took the "kitten" down, and handed it to Li Xianyun.

Yelu Yan glanced at Jinwu, who had up till now not dared to come closer, and immediately Jinwu stepped forward to pay.

Li Xianyun, holding the kitten, showed it to Yelu Yan and laughingly asked, "Husband, does it look nice?"

"It does."

Yelu Yan, looking at the mask on her head, said, "Let me take your mask for you."

Li Xianyun, with a stick of candied haw in one hand and the "kitten" in the other, had no hands free to remove the mask.

Yelu Yan smiled as he removed the mask from her head and held it together with his own in his hand.

Jinwu stepped forward and said, "My lord, allow me to carry things for you."

Yelu Yan spoke indifferently, "There’s no need."

Jinwu turned away somewhat disheartened to rejoin Bater and the others.

Zhuo Ma laughingly said, "The lord surely doesn’t want others touching the madam’s things."

So that was it.

Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun strolled through the West Market for quite a while and bought quite a few items.

As the night deepened, the number of people on the streets dwindled.

Li Xianyun covered her mouth to yawn and rubbing her eyes, she said to Yelu Yan, "Husband, let’s go back; I’m a bit sleepy."

"Alright," Yelu Yan said with a tender fondness.

Why did everything she did, even yawning and rubbing her eyes, seem so adorable?

The group arrived at the place where the horses and carriages were kept, boarded a carriage, and headed for the Imperial Palace.

Li Xianyun, who became drowsy easily, began to feel sleepy not long after getting on the carriage.

Yelu Yan moved beside her and said, "You can lean on me and sleep."

Li Xianyun demurred, "This consort isn’t sleepy."

She said this as her eyes widened, trying to stay alert.

The previous few times she had dozed off, she had accidentally taken liberties with Yelu Yan, and she was afraid she might inadvertently do something inappropriate again.

Yelu Yan, hearing this, did not insist but still sat by Li Xianyun’s side.

Soon, a small head rested on his sturdy shoulder, a delicate white hand slipped from beneath his arm, and slender arms wrapped around his muscular forearm.

Yelu Yan turned his head to look at Li Xianyun.

She was gently closing her eyes, her long lashes creating soft shadows against the pale pink of her skin.

Her nose was well-defined, and her lips were tender and moistly red.

With her lips slightly parted, her breath was indeed as fragrant as orchids.

"Khan, this consort will sleep for a while. When we arrive at the Khan Palace, you must wake me, and I will walk back on my own," she said.

"Mm," Yelu Yan tenderly replied, "sleep well."

"Mm."

...

The next morning, Li Xianyun woke to find her lips uncomfortable and even a bit painful.

She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and walked to the bronze mirror.

The reflection showed her lips reddened with a dark crimson mark at the edge, appearing slightly swollen.

Could it be that the mix of foods she ate at the West Market last night caused her to break out?

Yet a breakout should lead to canker sores, not swollen lips.