The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 161 Wants to Hug Her (Second Update)

Chapter 161: 161 Wants to Hug Her (Second Update)

Li Xianyun looked at the coarse hemp rope and said, "Lower it a little more, otherwise I won’t be able to feed them or give them water."

Yelu Yan lowered the rope further and asked, "This high?"

"That’s good."

Upon hearing this, Yelu Yan tied a firm knot on the rope, then took the birdcage from Li Xianyun’s hands, hung it on the coarse hemp rope, and gave the birdcage a solid tug to ensure it was secure before turning to Li Xianyun and asking:

"Is this okay now?"

"Yes, it is." Li Xianyun replied, "But the birdcage can’t stay out here at night, lest yellow weasels or other animals come to eat them."

When she was young, her rural home had raised a few chickens, and they had been snatched away by yellow weasels.

Yelu Yan took down the birdcage and held it, saying, "You seem to understand these things quite well."

Li Xianyun replied with a smile, "I have raised birds before, so I have a bit of experience."

Yelu Yan looked at her, a smile unwittingly forming at the corner of his mouth.

Li Xianyun also turned her head towards him.

This man really did look good when he smiled.

Yelu Yan escorted Li Xianyun to the entrance of the inner chamber and handed the birdcage to Youlan.

Youlan and Zhuo Ma took the birdcage inside.

Yelu Yan, seeing Li Xianyun standing still as if she had something to say, parted his thin lips gently and inquired, "Is there something you wanted?"

Li Xianyun nodded slightly.

She looked up at Yelu Yan and said, "Khan, I have given thoughtful consideration to what you told me this morning, and I am willing to think about the matters between a man and a woman, but what if I don’t fall for you? Besides, I have never liked a man before, so how would I know what it feels like to like someone?"

It was always better to clarify things beforehand to avoid trouble later on.

With a smile, Yelu Yan replied softly, "You don’t need to worry about these things, just enjoy the present. Leave the rest to me, I will make you fall for me."

"Alright," Li Xianyun said, "Then I will head inside."

Yelu Yan gazed at her silently.

He didn’t want to part with her like this and wished to embrace her, but he was also afraid of being too abrupt.

After all, his feelings were unilaterally passionate; it was best to have mutual understanding before engaging in any intimate behavior.

Otherwise, what would be the difference between him and a flirtatious man?

Seeing his expression, Li Xianyun asked, "Khan, do you have anything else?"

"No," Yelu Yan said softly, "Go inside, cover yourself well at night, and don’t catch a cold."

"Okay."

Yelu Yan watched Li Xianyun go into the inner chamber before he finally turned to leave, feeling a profound sense of fulfillment and contentment.

The next morning, after practicing swordsmanship for a while, Yelu Yan sat down in the main hall for a meal and inquired, "Has the Princess not risen yet?"

A maid replied respectfully, "Answering the Khan, at this time, the Princess has not yet awakened."

It seemed he wouldn’t be able to see the young girl before attending court.

Yelu Yan lowered his head to eat.

After the meal, Yelu Yan dressed in his court attire and went to attend the court session.

He intended to establish a Border Market in the central area of the border, which would allow selling Khitan goods to neighboring countries, enhancing the nation’s finances, and mitigating the impact of the snow disaster.

Upon hearing this, Ji Xueyuan stood up from his leading position and said, "Your Majesty Khan, I beg to differ."

"Let’s hear it," Yelu Yan said with a cold gaze.

"Yes," Ji Xueyuan replied, "The Border Market poses too great a risk, allowing spies from other nations to infiltrate easily, which could endanger the state’s foundation."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a minister who supported Yelu Yan retorted:

"Prince Ji need not hold such concerns. The Border Market is a marketplace agreed upon by Khitan and neighboring countries to be established at border crossings. The people engage in trade there and then return to their respective countries. Those wishing to enter other countries must have proper documents. Without them, no one is allowed to enter or exit, so there’s no issue with spies infiltrating, as Prince Ji suggests."

"Better safe than sorry, have you not heard that caution is the parent of safety?" Ji Xueyuan said gravely.

Another minister retorted, "So you would ignore the common people’s lives and deaths for a risk that might not even exist?"

Ji Xueyuan said, "How could I neglect the lives of the people? I was just considering..."

"Enough," Yelu Yan said in an indifferent voice, "Is there anyone else who agrees with the Southern Prince’s thoughts?"

There was not a single sound in the vast palace.

Ji Xueyuan turned his head to look at the few old officials standing with their hands hanging down; all of them had their eyes lowered, evidently having submitted to Yelu Yan.

Now on the royal court, he was the only one who dared to go against Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan, with his profound and stern tiger-like eyes, looked around the room and said in a light voice, "Since there are no objections, then it’s settled. Ma Zhaoming, you go to the frontier immediately and take care of this matter."

Ma Zhaoming made a gesture of respect with his arm and said, "Yes!"

With the matter settled, Ji Xueyuan had no choice but to remain silent.

After the court session was dismissed, Yelu Yan kept Shulu Xi behind.

The two of them went to the study.

Shulu Xi spoke respectfully, "Khan, do you have any orders for me?"

Yelu Yan said, "At 11 AM, go to the Official Government. There will be a very thin man waiting there; he has been wronged, and you are to seek justice for him."

"Khan, you would remember such trifles?" Shulu Xi said with a smile.

The two had grown up together since childhood and were extremely close.

"How is it a trifle? Take care of this matter carefully for me without any negligence," Yelu Yan said in a light voice.

Shulu Xi responded respectfully, "Yes."

He didn’t need to think to know it must be for the princess. The Khan, with so many matters to attend to each day, how could he have time for such trivial things?

Yelu Yan, sitting before his desk, reviewing documents, said, "Go and take care of it."

Shulu Xi made a respectful gesture with his arm and said, "Yes!"

As he spoke, he was about to leave.

"Hold on," Yelu Yan said with a deep voice.

Shulu Xi stopped and looked at Yelu Yan, "Khan, do you have any further instructions?"

Yelu Yan scrutinized Shulu Xi from head to toe.

This made Shulu Xi so nervous that he felt his hair stand on end.

"Khan, what’s the matter?" Shulu Xi asked anxiously.

Instead of answering him, Yelu Yan said, "Turn around and let me have a look at you."

"But..."

"Do it," Yelu Yan said in an indifferent voice.

Shulu Xi had no choice but to turn around.

Gazing at Shulu Xi, Yelu Yan said in a light voice, "You look so ordinary, why are you called the number one beauty of the Khitan? Honestly, it’s an unworthy title."

Shulu Xi couldn’t help frowning.

He hadn’t offended Yelu Yan today; why was he speaking so hurtfully?

Why did it feel like Yelu Yan was looking at him so oddly and saying such hurtful things?

Yelu Yan lifted his hand and said, "You may leave now."

Shulu Xi left, puzzled.

Meanwhile, after Ji Xueyuan left the court and was on his way back to the Prince’s Mansion, he was stopped by the butler of the mansion.

The butler said in a fluster, "Master, something terrible has happened; the Princely Heir has been arrested."

Ji Xueyuan asked in a deep voice, "For what reason?"

The butler said, "It is said that a great deal of wealth was found during a search of the old house by the Official Government, and during the interrogation, someone claimed that the Princely Heir embezzled silver taels and temporarily stored them in the old house."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xueyuan cursed, "They’re nothing but ungrateful, heartless dogs, biting the hand that feeds them. Had I known, I wouldn’t have helped them at all."