The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 169 Will you take responsibility for this Khan? (Second shift)

Chapter 169: 169 Will you take responsibility for this Khan? (Second shift)

Yelu Yan sat up, and the two of them were practically sitting side by side.

He could see Li Xianyun’s blush, ear tips and all.

Yelu Yan cleared his throat softly, "Last night, this Khan..."

Li Xianyun glanced hurriedly at Yelu Yan, cutting him off, "Last night, this concubine was presumptuous towards you, I will take responsibility for you."

Yelu Yan couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

What’s this all about?

Yelu Yan’s lips curled up into a smile, thinking, silly girl, you’ve got it all backwards.

"Actually, it was this Khan who was presumptuous towards you last night."

"You don’t have to lie for this concubine," Li Xianyun said, staring at him with an extremely serious demeanor, "I will take responsibility for you, I will be good to you."

Yelu Yan looked at her adorable expression, at first stunned, then soon after, he chuckled, "Xianxian, you said that yourself, you’re going to be responsible for this Khan, you can’t abandon me halfway, understand?"

"Mm."

"You will be good to this Khan?"

"Mm."

Yelu Yan gazed intensely at Li Xianyun, "Xianxian, you must remember your words today; this Khan can be quite troublesome, and even if you want to drop me, you won’t be able to."

What kind of person does she take me for?

Li Xianyun "hmmed" and averted her gaze, falling upon the red comforter.

That was still the quilt from their wedding day, the dowry her mother personally made for her.

"This concubine should get out of bed now."

Yelu Yan continued to watch her with an amused smile.

His large body didn’t move away, his long legs blocking her in bed; how could she get past him?

Li Xianyun looked down for a moment.

Yelu Yan "oh"ed, and bending his legs under the quilt, he moved them aside.

Li Xianyun moved to the edge of the bed, not looking at him, put on her shoes, walked to the dressing table, sat down, and started combing her hair on her own.

Yelu Yan threw off the thin quilt, followed by getting out of bed, and took clothes from the nearby rack.

He untied his sleeping clothes, revealing his well-built chest.

Yelu Yan had just undone half of his clothes when he stopped.

Li Xianyun, with her thin skin, would certainly be embarrassed, and living together, she also needed somewhere to change her clothes.

Yelu Yan unfolded the folding screen, carrying his clothes behind it to change, then came out.

He went straight to Li Xianyun, pulled up a stool and settled down, watching the beautiful woman in the mirror, "Are you going out of the palace today?"

Li Xianyun shook her head slightly, holding the comb and continuing to lower her eyelids to comb her hair, "My grandmother has just returned to Shangjing, and this concubine would like to hold a banquet tonight, inviting the royal relatives to join, to make my grandmother happy."

Yelu Yan watched her with a smile, "You always think things through."

Li Xianyun looked at Yelu Yan in the mirror, seemingly on the verge of speaking.

Seeing her hairdo finished, Yelu Yan handed her a hairpin.

Li Xianyun had a habit when combing her hair, always taking out the hair ornaments she would need beforehand, which is how Yelu Yan knew which one she needed, otherwise, it would be really hard to guess from so many hairpieces.

Seeing her insert the hairpin, Yelu Yan said, "I am your husband; you can speak freely about anything."

Li Xianyun hesitated for a moment, "After my grandmother returns to Shangjing, can this concubine still leave the palace?"

Most elders prefer obedient and well-behaved younger generations.

Leaving the palace every few days, she wondered whether Yaduo would be displeased.

Yelu Yan wanted to reach out and rub her little head but restrained himself, "Grandmother is not a rigid person who adheres blindly to old rules; you just do as you like, grandmother won’t say anything, and even if grandmother does, don’t you still have this Khan?"

Li Xianyun gently nodded, "Mm."

Yelu Yan glanced at the screen, "I’ve unfolded the screen; you can change your clothes behind it, it will be more convenient."

Li Xianyun followed his gaze, just about to speak, when Yelu Yan interrupted her.

"You’re not allowed to say words of gratitude."

Li Xianyun pursed her lips and smiled upon hearing this.

After Yelu Yan attended the morning court, Li Xianyun and Yaduo had their meal in the main hall.

Li Xianyun talked about wanting to hold a banquet and asked Yaduo for her opinion.

Yaduo did not want anything elaborate; she just wanted to invite a few princes with their families for a simple meal.

Li Xianyun instructed the kitchen maid of Haoyang Palace to prepare the evening banquet meal according to the highest standards.

Of course, she did not miss the chance to showcase her specialties: iced porridge, pastries, and candied fruits, seizing every opportunity to introduce these three types of food to lay the groundwork for business.

That night, Haoyang Palace was as bright as day.

Besides the meticulously prepared delicacies, there were performances arranged by the Music Bureau.

The songs and dances were enchanting, and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments was incessant.

In addition, there were juggling acts that children enjoyed.

Though the performing children and dancers within the palace could not compare with the outside jugglers, it was more than enough to delight the kids.

The guests gathered together, each one very pleased with the banquet.

Preparing juggling entertainment for children at a court banquet was unprecedented.

Li Xianyun noted that whether in Khitan or Houtang, performances in the court had always overlooked children, deeming them insignificant.

In fact, it was quite the opposite; they were the most important.

Adults preferred to see their children happy, and this was no exception even for those of noble birth.

Li Xianyun had caught onto this point, leaving everyone with a sense of longing at the end of the banquet.

Of course, the happiest was Yaduo.

On one hand, she could enjoy familial joy; on the other hand, she was genuinely pleased to see Li Xianyun managing the harem well.

Moreover, seeing Guli fuming with anger added quite a bit to her pleasure.

During the banquet, Li Xianyun became greedy with her cup and drank a bit too much of the aromatic fruit wine, initially feeling nothing.

But on the way back to Khan Palace, the wind blew and the effects of alcohol set in. Her legs went soft and her walk became unsteady.

Seeing this, Yaduo looked back at Yelu Yan, who was carefully supporting Li Xianyun, "Grandmother is tired, let’s return first. You two take your time."

Yelu Yan responded curtly with a "hm."

Yaduo thought to herself, this little rascal, could it be that he has been looking forward to her leaving?

No sooner had Yaduo left with her entourage than Yelu Yan picked up Li Xianyun horizontally, gazing down at her fair, flushed face, "I told you not to overindulge in drinking. Didn’t you listen? Are you feeling bad now?"

"Hmm."

Li Xianyun, when drunk, resembled herself when sleepy—obedient like a child.

Her eyes, like pools of autumn water, gazed at him, both clear and hazy—a contradiction that struck the heart.

Li Xianyun stared straight at Yelu Yan, as if she didn’t recognize him.

Yelu Yan found it amusing, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"...Sir, you are truly handsome."

Yelu Yan chuckled softly, "More handsome than Shulu Xi?"

A few days ago Li Xianyun had mentioned that Shulu Xi was handsome, and Yelu Yan was still holding onto that comment.

Li Xianyun frowned in thought, "Shulu Xi..."

Thinking she was considering who was more handsome, Yelu Yan couldn’t help but feel annoyed, "I won’t allow you to think about other men."

Li Xianyun still had her brows lightly furrowed, clearly not taking his words to heart, "Who is Shulu Xi? Does he look as handsome as you?"

With that statement, all the clouds in Yelu Yan’s heart cleared, and his mood smoothed out.

He was easy to appease.

Li Xianyun still looked at him intently, "Sir, are you married?"

"Hmm."

Li Xianyun clicked her tongue twice, "What a pity."

Yelu Yan gazed down at her tenderly, "Why is it a pity?"