The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 160 Quite the old married couple feel (First update)

Chapter 160: 160 Quite the old married couple feel (First update)

Li Xianyun’s drawing of the bird’s nest was shaped like a little wooden hut that could fit two small birds inside.

The birds had to enter and exit through a round hole.

The round hole was not too large; the birds had to squeeze themselves through it.

This ensured good concealment, and the birds were willing to live there.

In the past, Li Xianyun kept birds and had made nests for them out of straw, similar to those found in trees, but the birds never settled inside, instead scattering the straw everywhere.

As they flapped their wings, bits of straw flew all around, making it hard to clean up.

After she switched to a well-concealed wooden bird’s nest, not only were the birds willing to "live" inside, but she no longer had to toil so hard cleaning it.

As soon as the plans were drawn up, the sound of knocking and hammering echoed from Erfang.

Li Xianyun, worried the noise might disturb Yelu Yan while reading his memorials, glanced up and saw Yelu Yan gazing at her intently.

The smile on his lips was rather noticeable.

When Yelu Yan noticed Li Xianyun looking his way, he dropped his eyelids to the memorials in his hand with the air of someone minding their own business, a picture of calm composure.

Li Xianyun parted her red lips and said, "Khan, it’s too noisy here; would you like to return to the sleeping chamber?"

Yelu Yan looked up at her and his mouth curved into a smile, "It’s not noisy. Keep busy with your work, don’t mind me."

Li Xianyun had no choice but to continue working on the bird’s nest with her head lowered.

Once she started, she became somewhat oblivious to her surroundings.

It wasn’t until a cup of water was offered in front of her.

Assuming it was Youlan or Zhuo Ma offering her water, she didn’t even lift her eyes and said, "Just set it aside; I won’t drink it."

But the cup of water remained steadfastly in front of her, and Li Xianyun, still smiling, looked up as she spoke, "I said I won’t drink it."

The hand holding the cup was slender and attractive, clearly a man’s hand.

Li Xianyun suddenly realized that it was Yelu Yan holding the water for her.

She sat up straight and said, "Khan, why are you still here?"

Woodworking was time-consuming and laborious, quite tedious, and not something most people could endure for long.

Yelu Yan smiled and said, "Drink some water."

"Um."

Li Xianyun, saying this, lowered her head to pat her hands—they were covered in sawdust and would dirty the water cup.

Yelu Yan watched her intensely, his voice soft, "Let me feed you."

Li Xianyun looked at her little hands, indeed quite dirty, and the sawdust needed washing; it couldn’t be dusted off.

She could only murmur a quiet "mm-hmm" in agreement.

Yelu Yan gently offered the cup of water to Li Xianyun’s face.

Li Xianyun moved in to drink.

Being so close, she could clearly see her own delicate, breakable skin.

She lowered her eyelashes, her fine, long lashes fluttering, sipping the water delicately like a kitten, which was very endearing.

After a few sips of water, Li Xianyun looked up at Yelu Yan and said, "Thank you, Khan."

When she smiled, there were shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth, sweet and attractive, as if all the world’s splendor had faded, leaving only her bright and beautiful face.

Yelu Yan didn’t speak, but gazed at her slightly moist lips, leaned in, and used his hand to wipe away the water at the corner of her mouth.

His fingertips were rough, carrying a scorching warmth.

Li Xianyun could smell a fresh scent unique to him; his powerful presence enveloped her, making her ears burn with heat.

Yelu Yan’s movements were gentle, and somehow his fingertips brushed against her tender red lips.

Their gazes crashed into each other at that moment.

Li Xianyun hastily glanced at him once, then averted her gaze.

Yelu Yan dropped his rough hand and straightened up, asking, "Want more?"

Li Xianyun shook her head softly and said, "No more."

As she spoke, she looked outside; the sky was already dark, and the cool evening breeze slipped through the window grilles.

"Khan, it’s getting late..."

It’s late, you should return to the sleeping chamber and rest.

"Trying to send me away again?" Yelu Yan said with a laugh.

Li Xianyun pursed her lips without speaking, but the smile was written all over her face.

Yelu Yan walked back to the Taishi Chair he had been sitting on and sat down, chuckling, "Go about your business, don’t mind me."

Li Xianyun had no choice but to continue with her work.

There wasn’t much left to do, just smoothing out the rough spots and hanging it in the bird cage.

A moment later, only the last step remained—hanging the bird nest.

Li Xianyun needed someone’s help. She looked toward Youlan, about to speak, when someone else beat her to it, "Need a hand?"

Yelu Yan had already come over while speaking.

Li Xianyun, holding the bird nest, said, "If you could hold the bird nest for me, I will tie it securely with some fine hemp rope."

Yelu Yan did as Li Xianyun instructed, holding the bird nest in place inside the cage while also trying to prevent the two canaries from escaping, looking somewhat comical in the process.

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

Yelu Yan said with a smile while watching her, "No laughing."

"Oh."

But Li Xianyun still didn’t restrain her smile; instead, she bent down, threading the hemp rope through the small holes she had left at the top and bottom of the nest, tying knots.

After securing the bird nest at five points, it was now firmly fixed within the cage.

Yelu Yan withdrew his hands, quickly closing the door of the bird cage.

Li Xianyun bent down to look at the two hopping canaries and said with a smile, "Lovely little ones, this will be your home from now on."

Her voice was melodious and extremely gentle.

Yelu Yan watched her with an indulgent smile.

Zhuo Ma and Youlan, seeing the adoration pouring out of the Khan’s eyes, couldn’t be happier.

Li Xianyun picked up the bird cage.

Yelu Yan, looking at her with a smile, said, "Heading back to the bedroom?"

"Mhm."

Yelu Yan took the bird cage from her hands, saying, "Let me carry it for you."

With that, the two walked toward the side hall.

As they passed through the corridor, Li Xianyun looked around.

Yelu Yan turned his head and asked, "What’s wrong?"

As she looked around, Li Xianyun said, "I am thinking about where to place the bird cage."

Yelu Yan also began looking for a suitable spot.

"How about hanging it outside your window?" Yelu Yan chuckled.

That way she could fall asleep to the cheerful chirping of the little birds.

Upon hearing this, Li Xianyun gently clapped her hands together with a smile, "That’s a wonderful idea."

She looked irresistibly adorable.

The corners of Yelu Yan’s mouth had stayed lifted the whole while.

The two left the main building, circled around to the small courtyard at the back, and came in front of the inner chamber’s window.

In the yard grew lush bamboo, there was flowing water, and the stones in the shade were covered with green, velvety moss.

Li Xianyun had placed several pots of Chinese roses on the windowsill and also planted a few branches around it.

The roses were blooming nicely, with one petal overlapping another, exuding fragrance.

Yelu Yan looked up around the area, then pointed at a crossbeam, "How about tying the rope to the crossbeam and hanging the bird cage from it?"

"Good," said Li Xianyun, looking up at the high crossbeam.

Yelu Yan asked someone to bring a ladder.

He handed the bird cage to Li Xianyun and climbed up in a few quick steps.

Li Xianyun steadied the ladder, looking up at Yelu Yan, "Please be careful."

"It’s fine," Yelu Yan said.

The two had quite the air of an old married couple.

Yelu Yan took the rough hemp rope passed up by the maid, wrapped it around the crossbeam a couple of times.

After doing all this, Yelu Yan jumped down from the ladder, joined both ends of the rope together, and asked Li Xianyun, "Is this height suitable?"