The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 152 Why can’t you give this Khan a chance? (First update)

Chapter 152: 152 Why can’t you give this Khan a chance? (First update)

Seeing Li Xianyun’s eyes widen in disbelief, Yelu Yan felt it necessary to make his words even clearer.

He bent forward sincerely and looked at Li Xianyun, saying, "Xianxian, I like you."

His voice was pleasant and gentle, yet full of enchantment, stirring one’s heartstrings intensely.

Li Xianyun’s fair and tender face was already flushed with color.

Her eyes flickered, unwilling to meet his deep and intense gaze; she was somewhat bewildered by his straightforward words.

Seeing her reaction, Yelu Yan continued, "I know that due to what I said before, you did not consider the matter of men and women. Now you can think about it. I have always been chaste, maintaining distance from other women, and I will dote only on you, ensuring no other woman vies for your favor. And to you, I will be..."

And to you, I will be very good.

He had not finished speaking when Li Xianyun interrupted him.

"I cannot be with you."

She could not let Yelu Yan continue any further.

The more he said now, the more awkward it would be later.

Since she could not give Yelu Yan what he wanted, it was crucial to clarify things to avoid holding him back.

Yelu Yan had anticipated that she might not immediately accept him, but he expected at least an opportunity, not such an outright rejection.

At her words, Yelu Yan felt a pang of hollowness, bewildering him and causing a pain so deep he struggled to breathe.

He had never felt this way before.

Yelu Yan hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question he did not wish to face but had to confront.

"Do you... Do you have someone in your heart?"

The normally decisive man was now so nervous that he even stuttered slightly.

Yelu Yan’s penetrating gaze watched over her delicate face, missing none of the minute expressions that crossed it.

Li Xianyun looked up at him and said, "No."

At last, Yelu Yan’s heart found some solace.

If she had no one in her heart, then all could be managed.

Even if she had someone in her heart, he would not so easily hand her over to another.

From the start, he had recognized Li Xianyun as his woman, and he would not let anyone take her away.

When Yelu Yan was initially rejected by Li Xianyun, countless thoughts crossed his mind, but this thought was the most solid and unshakeable.

"Then why can’t you be with me?"

Li Xianyun looked up at him and said, "Actually, I lied to you. The reason I willingly became a Khitan peace bride was to avoid someone."

Indeed, she had employed some tactics to become a peace bride to the Khitan.

"Crown Prince Murong of Houliang?"

Since learning of Li Xianyun’s mistreatment in Houtang, Yelu Yan had resolved not to spare those who had bullied her, so he dispatched Yelang with the Hidden Guard to infiltrate Houtang; he intended to make those people’s lives a living hell.

However, Yelang soon brought back news:

All who had instigated or participated in bullying Li Xianyun had their families annihilated a year ago, with not a single survivor.

Among these people were nobles and royalty, yet they could not escape their fate of slaughter.

The hand behind the killings was exceedingly cruel, causing shivers down the spine.

Yelu Yan learned from Youlan that all who had once bullied Li Xianyun had received their due punishment, with the worst being driven to madness, yet no lives were taken.

Therefore, these people were surely not killed by Li Xianyun’s orders.

Moreover, Li Xianyun, gentle and kind, did not seem like someone capable of such ruthless deeds.

At the same time, Tuoba Che also sent news.

While investigating Li Xianyun’s life in Houtang over the years, he had heard a rumor.

Crown Prince Murong Ce of Houliang had a notorious reputation for being a profligate when he was a hostage in Houtang, often gathering a group of dubious friends to cause trouble in Chang’an.

Just when Li Xianyun and her family arrived in Chang’an, somehow she managed to offend Murong Ce.

He once led a group that ambushed Li Xianyun, but the specific details could not be verified.

Clearly, someone had deliberately erased them.

Li Xianyun, upon hearing this, lifted her eyes to Yelu Yan and said, "Khan, you know everything?"

Yelu Yan grunted in acknowledgment and said, "But the Khan knows very little."

It could even be said to be minuscule.

He wanted to hear her tell it.

Li Xianyun lowered her eyelids and bit her rosy lip, then lifted her eyes to gaze at Yelu Yan.

Her eyes, like autumn waters, actually shimmered with tears.

This was the second time Yelu Yan saw Li Xianyun cry.

His heart tightened, and even his voice was hoarse as he spoke.

"You..."

Li Xianyun said, "Khan, thank you for your care during this time, but I will take Youlan and leave Khitan tomorrow."

This statement, like thunder in a clear sky, rocked the heavens and the earth.

Yelu Yan’s entire being stiffened, and he said in disbelief, "What did you say?!"

"I must not implicate you," said Li Xianyun, "All men who have come close to me have met with no good end."

Without exception, they suffered utter ruin and destruction.

Actually, during her time in Khitan, Li Xianyun felt immense torment; the kinder Yelu Yan was to her, the guiltier she felt.

She could not harm him.

Yelu Yan gazed at her and said, "Xianxian, why are you so afraid of him?"

As if a floodgate of memories had opened, Li Xianyun began to tremble slightly and said, "Because... because..."

Seeing her pale face and emotional state, full of fear, Yelu Yan could not bear it.

He stepped forward and gently embraced her, resting his chin lightly on her soft hair.

In her ear, he spoke softly, "Xianxian, my dear, don’t be afraid. I, the Khan, will protect you."

Yet, Yelu Yan could still feel Li Xianyun’s trembling, and it pained his heart.

"Stop talking, and don’t think about the past anymore. It’s all over now, understand?"

Yelu Yan paused for a moment, then said softly, "And don’t talk about leaving me again. Now that we are married, you are my woman, Yelu Yan’s woman. I will protect you and not let you suffer any harm."

Li Xianyun said with deep concern, "But..."

Yelu Yan loosened his hold but still encircled her delicate frame.

He lowered his head to look at Li Xianyun and said,

"Or do you think your husband is too weak to deal with Murong Ce? Didn’t you arrange to come to Khitan for a political marriage because you knew Murong Ce would dare not provoke the Khan?"

Li Xianyun looked up at him in surprise and said, "How did you know?"

In order to escape Murong Ce, the idea was to choose someone whom Murong Ce would never dare to trouble and become his wife.

That was her intention when she came.

She hadn’t expected Yelu Yan to see through her at a glance.

Yelu Yan, with one arm encircling her slender waist and the other hand gently caressing Li Xianyun’s head, said with a smile, "Did you really think you could hide it from me?"

Seeing his relaxed expression, Li Xianyun couldn’t help but curve the corners of her mouth slightly.

"Leave everything to me; you just live the peaceful life you want."

He even knew that she longed for a peaceful life.

Was there anything he didn’t know?

The boulder that had weighed heavily on Li Xianyun’s heart during this period had been easily lifted by just a few of Yelu Yan’s words.

But Li Xianyun was still anxious and said, "Murong Ce will ascend to the throne sooner or later. I don’t want to bring disaster to Khitan because of me."

Otherwise, it would truly make her the calamitous beauty Xiao Dilu always said she was.

Bending down to meet her gaze, Yelu Yan smiled and said, "For nearly a century, Khitan and Houliang have frequently clashed over border territory issues, with endless battles, big and small. I will have to wage war against Houliang sooner or later, so it’s not because of you. Understand?"

"Mhm."

She had also come to Khitan having seen the tensions between the two countries.