The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 162 Not Daring to Confront the Khan (First Update)

Chapter 162: 162 Not Daring to Confront the Khan (First Update)

The butler asked anxiously, "Prince, what do we do now?"

"Who is in charge of this case?" Ji Xueyuan asked coldly.

"Lord Shulu."

"How come it’s him?"

Shulu Xi was a man of Yelu Yan.

It seemed that Yelu Yan intended to punish him, so he assigned Shulu Xi to take charge of this matter.

Now the situation had become difficult.

After Ji Xueyuan returned to the mansion, no sooner had he reached the study than the Nanwang Consort made a scene at the door.

The voice of the Nanwang Consort was heard before she even entered the door.

"I have long told you not to go against the Khan, but you wouldn’t listen, and now look, you’ve gotten Qingqing involved!"

Ji Xueyuan frowned at the sight of the Nanwang Consort, his principal wife, at the doorway.

The Nanwang Consort was somewhat plump, with wrinkles around the corners of her eyes.

Over the years, Ji Xueyuan never stopped taking concubines and had already accumulated a large number of wives and concubines.

Ageing and losing her looks, she couldn’t compete with the young and beautiful newcomers, so she simply stopped bothering about her appearance and devoted herself entirely to her son and daughter.

She was the legitimate daughter of a marquis family, powerful and wealthy. Back then, Ji Xueyuan smoothly advanced his career thanks to her.

So even though Ji Xueyuan had risen to great heights, he still dared not mistreat her because of her family’s influence.

The couple maintained a superficial harmony.

But now, they seemed on the verge of a falling out.

With furrowed brows, Ji Xueyuan said, "What do you know, woman? I have my own ways to save Qingqing."

"Hmm, what can you do? You were made a noble Prince because you once saved the former Khan and were recognized for your merits, but as the saying goes, ’a new sovereign brings a new court.’ Apart from causing the Khan troubles, what merit have you shown? And strutting about as if you can’t be defeated, how could the Khan not discipline you? I just feel sorry for my Qingqing."

She started crying loudly as she spoke.

Impatiently, Ji Xueyuan said, "I’m troubled enough as it is, don’t make a scene here. Let me think of a solution."

The Nanwang Consort stopped crying, wiped her tears forcefully, and said, "I don’t care about those things. You’re faithless and constantly taking new concubines, and though you have a slew of sons and daughters, I only have Qingqing and Chuchu. If anything happens to Qingqing, I swear on my life I will fight you to the end!"

Ji Xueyuan spoke calmly, "I understand. Now go away and let me have some peace."

The Nanwang Consort glared at him fiercely before leaving.

With his surroundings finally quiet, Ji Xueyuan called all the resident scholars to discuss the issue.

After chattering for an hour, they still could not come up with a solution.

In the end, their quarrelling gave Ji Xueyuan such a headache that he had no choice but to dismiss them.

In fact, he had already contemplated a plan. Yelu Yan had just ascended the throne a year ago, but he led the Khitan army to unmatched victories that frightened neighboring countries.

In the court, he ruled with an iron fist, and in just a few months, he had the courtiers bowing to him.

The ministers revered him to an indescribable extent. Whenever he made an appearance, they dared not even breathe too loudly.

Today in the court, with just a casually spoken word, he frightened the great ministers as if they were terrified grandchildren.

Without a doubt, Qingqing had been caught because Yelu Yan sent people to investigate and find leverage against her, and moreover, he assigned Shulu Xi to oversee the matter. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Yelu Yan was aiming to strike at the Nanwang Mansion.

No one would dare to cross Yelu Yan in the future.

There were also the spies he had sent to investigate the Consort in Houliang - none returned alive. Yelu Yan even deliberately left the royal seal of Khitan as a calling card, as if worried that no one would recognize his handiwork.

It was a blatant warning to him.

Ji Xueyuan even suspected that his recent confrontations were exactly what Yelu Yan wanted.

Ji Xueyuan’s regret was overwhelming.

Yelu Yan, forged through military campaigns, was ruthless and decisive, inspiring fear in others.

It seems that he had to change his strategy, he could no longer openly confront Yelu Yan.

He must conceal his sharpness, restrain his brilliance, let go of the pride of being the only different-sex Prince of the Khitan, and show weakness to Yelu Yan.

...

After Yelu Yan left the Khan Palace, Li Xianyun got up, tidied everything up, and exited the palace with Youlan and her entourage.

Li Xianyun first delivered pastries to the Ice Porridge Shop in the East Market, solving several small problems for Nata, and then took her people to Shitoutun to check on the grape procurement, the Drying Room, and the construction of the workshops.

The strong men were full of energy; it seemed that Habu had gathered them together yesterday and detailed the regulations to them.

Without rules, there can be no squares or circles; with rules, efforts can be twice as effective.

Seeing that the grape-drying business was progressing in an orderly manner under Habu’s direction, Li Xianyun took her people to help at the Ice Porridge Shop in the West Market.

Upon arrival, Ali was directing the carpenters and tile workers.

When Ali saw Li Xianyun coming, he was overjoyed and greeted her, smiling, "Young Master, there’s something that needs your decision precisely at this moment."

"What is it?"

Ali said, "I went to order the shop sign this morning, and the shopkeeper said we should think of a name. I didn’t dare to decide on my own, so I wanted to ask you."

Li Xianyun pondered for a moment.

Calling it the Ice Porridge Shop would indeed be too common amidst a host of elegant shops.

The wealthy always like to embrace elegance, so let’s choose a pleasing name.

After thinking for a moment, Li Xianyun said, "Let’s call it Ruyi Square."

Ali said, "To let the customers be satisfied with their hearts’ desires, a good name indeed."

Li Xianyun explained the appearance and specifications of some tools in the shop to the carpenters again.

She also mentioned a lot of professional jargon.

Some carpenters looked at Li Xianyun in surprise and asked, "Young Master, you actually understand carpentry?"

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "This is exactly what I do. The reason I haven’t done it myself is that I am too busy and have no time."

The carpenters, realizing they were dealing with a connoisseur, dared not treat this task lightly.

They say different trades are as different as mountains; carpenters could easily cheat on the material and specifications without non-professionals realizing.

Therefore, some carpenters would deceive their employers, making money on the purchasing process.

Now that the carpenters saw Li Xianyun was an expert, they dared not entertain such thoughts.

Li Xianyun stayed in the West Market for half a day, had a meal with Ali and others in the middle of the day, and then returned to the palace by carriage.

No sooner had she returned to the Khan Palace and settled down than the Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to complain, saying that there were Palace Attendants who did not obey management.

Li Xianyun bluntly said, "Then just drive them out of the palace."

The Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said with difficulty, "That person is of advanced age, threatening to die, and simply cannot be moved out."

"Even the guards cannot move her?"

"Yes."

"Where is this person?" Li Xianyun asked.

"Right inside the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Just as Li Xianyun arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a maid said, "There’s no use making a scene here."

Another maid said, "You were the one who stole things first, and now you’re throwing a tantrum. How can there be such logic?"

Then an elderly woman’s voice was heard, "Which of your eyes saw me steal anything?"

The maid said, "How can you be so unreasonable? We all saw you sneakily put things into your sleeve, with both human and physical evidence present. How can you deny it?"

"Lies! You’re just ganging up on me because you see I’m an old lady on her own; it’s truly hateful to the extreme." The woman raised her voice as she spoke.

Li Xianyun stepped forward and saw an elderly woman, past the age of sixtieth, with speckled white hair, sitting cross-legged on the ground in a defiant manner.