The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 173 Ayan is really lucky to have you (second update)

Chapter 173: 173 Ayan is really lucky to have you (second update)

The next morning, Li Xianyun got up, got ready, and went to the central hall for breakfast.

Yaduo was also there eating, and when she saw Li Xianyun, she smiled and waved her over.

"Xianxian, come here, this silver ear mushroom porridge is really tasty. The Chief of the kitchen said you taught them how to make it to help Ayan nourish his stomach, you really are thoughtful."

Li Xianyun looked up at the Chief of the kitchen.

The Chief smiled and bowed to Li Xianyun.

She had only mentioned it offhand and didn’t expect the Chief to actually take it to heart.

In fact, what Li Xianyun didn’t know was that, in Yaduo’s presence, everyone in the palace spoke very highly of her.

After hearing this, Yaduo was over the moon and even more pleased with her beloved granddaughter-in-law.

Li Xianyun sat down beside Yaduo, "The Khan has fought in wars for many years, and his stomach isn’t very good, so as a granddaughter-in-law, I thought of these methods to help manage his stomach."

Yaduo took Li Xianyun’s fair, delicate hand and gently patted it, "Good child, Ayan is really fortunate to have you."

Li Xianyun chuckled lightly, "It’s just a little effort, grandmother is praising me so much I’m almost embarrassed."

She paused for a moment and looked at Yaduo, "Grandmother, yesterday Zhuo Ma mentioned that you’re suffering from leg pain. I know a bit of medicine, so after we eat, I would like to examine you."

"It’s nothing serious, just an old problem for more than a decade. My left leg hurts terribly whenever the wind blows or it rains. It rained the night before and my leg pain acted up."

As Yaduo spoke, she touched her knee.

Li Xianyun handed chopsticks to Yaduo, "Grandmother, please eat first, and after the meal, let your granddaughter-in-law take a look. There might be a chance for improvement."

"That sounds good."

Yaduo took the chopsticks. Although she said so, she didn’t really harbor any hopes.

After the meal, Li Xianyun and Yaduo went to the side hall.

The maid rolled up the pant leg on Yaduo’s left leg.

Li Xianyun felt and squeezed around, "Does it hurt here?"

Yaduo shook her head, "No, it doesn’t hurt."

Li Xianyun continued to search for the sore spot.

When she pinched a certain spot, Yaduo broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, "It hurts."

Li Xianyun stood up straight and looked at Yaduo, "Grandmother, the pain in your leg is due to coldness entering the body. I will insert a few needles, and your leg will stop hurting."

Yaduo was somewhat skeptical, "Really?"

"Why don’t you give it a try, grandmother? You’re not afraid of the pain, are you?"

"Afraid of pain? How could I be? I’ve seen it all; surely I wouldn’t fear a few tiny silver needles?"

Li Xianyun grinned, knowing that goading always worked on the elderly, "Then shall we try it?"

"Let’s give it a try."

Li Xianyun smiled and glanced at Youlan, "Silver needles."

Youlan placed the already prepared medicine box on the table, opened it, took out the package of silver needles, and handed it to Li Xianyun.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Ma lit the oil lamp.

The two of them coordinated quite seamlessly.

Li Xianyun took out a silver needle, warmed it over the fire for a moment, and then inserted it into the acupuncture point.

The moment the silver needle was inserted, Yaduo instantly couldn’t feel the pain in her leg anymore.

It was truly miraculous.

She looked at Li Xianyun in amazement.

Li Xianyun seemed to know her feelings already, her lips curling into a smile, "Not hurting anymore?"

"It’s not hurting anymore."

Li Xianyun felt around for a few more acupoints and, after inserting the needles, waited the length of time it takes to drink a cup of tea before removing all the needles.

Yaduo just felt that her left leg was no longer in pain and had also become much more relaxed. It was as if she had regained the sensation of youth.

She looked at Li Xianyun thoughtfully, recalling someone who once was just as skilled in medicine, but alas...

Li Xianyun glanced at Yaduo, noticing that her gaze seemed to peer through her to someone else.

"Grandmother, are you thinking of someone?"

Yaduo snapped out of her thoughts, "Yes, your grandmother thought of someone with medical skills as remarkable as yours, but unfortunately, she is no longer with us. Ah, it’s all past history now, better left unmentioned."

Li Xianyun put the silver needles back into their case, not probing further. Everyone has secrets, everyone has a past unknown to outsiders.

"Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law needs to leave the palace for a while."

Now that Yaduo’s legs were better, she paced around the side hall with a touch of novelty, "Go ahead. Ayan told me that you have business to attend to outside the palace. It’s great to be young, able to do what you want."

Young people should indeed make the most of their youth to venture out and create their own achievements, regardless of being a man or a woman.

Li Xianyun originally thought it would be difficult to leave the palace, but Yelu Yan had already paved the way for her.

Yaduo was open-minded; such a lively old child was hard not to adore.

After packing her bags, Li Xianyun, accompanied by her entourage, rode out of the palace gate on horseback.

No sooner had her carriage left the Khan Palace than Xiao Dilu sought an audience with Yaduo.

At that moment, Yaduo was listening to palace attendants recounting Li Xianyun’s outstanding deeds.

Li Xianyun had saved the Princely Heir, treated the Great Prince, and rescued Minister Xiao.

Previously, the attendants at the Khan Palace had only told Yaduo about Li Xianyun’s exquisite cooking and her humble demeanour, avoiding mention of her medical skills.

Because the Princely Heir and the Great Prince were royal family members, and Minister Xiao was a pillar of the state, they dared not discuss these matters. Irreverently speaking of one’s superiors could, if not handled well, lead to execution.

But when Yaduo herself asked, it became a different matter, allowing them to speak without fear of repercussions and to earn a reputation for loyalty.

Yaduo listened with keen interest, her expression shifting from frowns to sighs of relief, and at times, nods of approval.

The Great Prince was her first grandson and naturally received her utmost affection.

The Princely Heir was her favorite great-grandchild, and the thought that someone had tried to harm him filled her with indignation.

Thank heavens for Li Xianyun’s timely help; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to see her Princely Heir again.

Yaduo’s gratitude toward Li Xianyun deepened, and her affection for her grew even more.

She thought to herself, Li Xianyun truly is modest.

Others who had done such good deeds would have loudly broadcasted it for the whole world to know, but Li Xianyun remained unassuming. Had Yaduo not inquired, she wouldn’t have heard a whisper.

Just as Yaduo was rejoicing that Yelu Yan had found a treasure, a maid came in, "Reporting to the Imperial Noble Consort, Minister Xiao requests an audience."

Having been away from the capital for so long, it was naturally a joy for her to have an old friend visit as soon as she returned, "Quickly, let Minister Xiao come to the main hall."

When Yaduo arrived in the main hall, Xiao Dilu was already seated in the strategist’s chair waiting for her.

Upon seeing Yaduo enter, Xiao Dilu bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Imperial Noble Consort."

Yaduo’s heart sank as she looked at Xiao Dilu’s legs.

Xiao Dilu, ever loyal and devoted to Yelu Yan, had been poisoned and was confined to a chair.

Fortunately, according to the palace attendants, after Li Xianyun’s treatment, he had greatly improved. Practicing walking every day, he would soon recover fully.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Dilu got straight to the point, "Imperial Noble Consort, have you come from afar because of concerns regarding the Khan?"

Yaduo’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, "The Khan? Has something happened to him?"

That rascal is now with a beauty, living in delight. What could possibly have happened?

Xiao Dilu let out a light sigh, "Ever since the Khan’s wife arrived, there has been a great change. A few days ago, the Khan took a day off. The day before yesterday, he arrived late at the court session, making the ministers wait in the Hall of Diligent Governance for nearly an hour. Today at court, while a minister was presenting a petition, the Khan was distracted. I had to call him several times before he took notice."

Yelu Yan was dedicated to his governance, even on official rest days he still diligently attended to public affairs and never took a day off.

The day before, with dark circles under his eyes, it was apparent he had overindulged the night before... indeed, upon inquiry, Xiao Dilu found out the Khan had spent the night with that Han woman.

As for being distracted during court, that was something completely new.

All these anomalies were highly unusual.

Xiao Dilu had come to seek out Yaduo because Yelu Yan had lived with her until he was ten years old, and he might take her advice to heart.

Yaduo instantly understood why Xiao Dilu had come, "So, you think these changes in the Khan are because of the Prince’s wife?"