The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 175 Do you really understand your pillow partner? (Second update)

Chapter 175: 175 Do you really understand your pillow partner? (Second update)

On either side of the imperial road were tall buildings and courtyard walls, with the occasional passerby through the wide and orderly alleys.

Li Xianyun dismounted and walked to a secluded spot on the roadside about ten meters away to avoid people.

Ji Chuchu followed her there.

Li Xianyun looked at the woman who considered her a rival in love, "Speak, what is it?"

Although she already had a plan in mind, she still wanted to hear what the other side had to say.

Ji Chuchu solemnly bowed to Li Xianyun, "I beg Your Highness to save my brother."

As expected, it was for the sake of her brother, Ji Zuqing.

Li Xianyun looked at her and lightly opened her red lips, "Affairs of the former dynasty are not within my power to decide; seeking my help is futile."

Ji Chuchu pursed her lips.

Everyone knew how much Khan favored Li Xianyun; if she were to whisper in his ear, how could Khan not listen?

Ji Chuchu calmly said, "If you are willing to save my brother, I will not compete with you for Khan and will keep my distance from him hereafter."

Li Xianyun chuckled, "A man who can be stolen away is not worth keeping. Commandery Princess, you truly have sought the wrong person."

Saying this, she walked away.

Ji Chuchu gloomily watched Li Xianyun’s graceful retreating figure, "Do you really understand the man who shares your bed? Aren’t you curious about his affairs?"

Li Xianyun stopped but did not turn around, her voice cold and firm, "Rather than hearing it from you, I would prefer to hear it from Khan himself."

With that, she returned to "Xiaoxue," mounted, and galloped away.

Ji Chuchu stood where she was, feeling helpless and dejected.

Since losing to Li Xianyun at the last horse-racing event, Ji Chuchu returned to the military camp, determined to carve out a career for herself that would leave that woman in the dust and earn Yelu Yan’s admiration.

Of course, she had always been doing this, just not strenuously enough.

In the military camp, Ji Chuchu heard that Ji Zuqing had been arrested. Her father had tried to meet with Khan several times but was turned away at the door.

Ji Chuchu then thought to plead with the Grand Imperial Consort and the Imperial Noble Consort on behalf of her brother, but the guards at the gate must have been ordered not to let her through, no matter what.

It seemed that Khan was set on prosecuting her brother.

So, Ji Chuchu took her chances at the city gate, hoping to encounter Yelu Yan—instead, she saw Li Xianyun leaving the city with her entourage.

She stopped them, thinking to try one last desperate measure, hoping for a sliver of a chance.

And so the scene just now unfolded.

Ji Chuchu looked at the fading figure of Li Xianyun, teeth clenched in anger, "You’re gloating now, but one day, you will come to me in tears, begging for help."

Li Xianyun led her people straight to the West Market.

The signboard of Ruyi Square had already been hung, and the interior of the building was nearly decorated. The rooms were equipped with cupboards, tables, chairs, benches, and more, with only the finishing touches remaining.

Li Xianyun, accompanied by Ali, inspected each room, "How is the hiring going?"

Ali reported truthfully, "We have confirmed ten waiters, two doormen, and ten kitchen maids."

Li Xianyun examined everything, "It looks like we can wrap up by the afternoon."

Ali opened the door to a room, "Yes."

"After the carpenters and tilers finish, gather the people you’ve recruited and clean Ruyi Square inside and out, particularly the kitchen, which must be cleaned several times. Tomorrow, I will come to teach the kitchen maids how to make ice porridge, pastries, and preserves. You will lead the waiters and doormen in preparing for the opening."

"Understood."

After giving instructions to Ali, Li Xianyun did not go to the East Market but went directly to the Drying Room to the east of Shitoutun.

Things at Nata’s place were already formalized; checking on him often seemed like a lack of trust.

Trust those you employ and don’t employ those you cannot trust. It is time to improve his ability to stand on his own.

If the people under her weren’t capable, having to do everything herself was just too exhausting.

At the Drying Room, the people selling grapes were orderly, yet their numbers didn’t seem to diminish.

Li Xianyun reined in her horse and dismounted; Bater leaped down from his mount, took the reins from her hand, and tied the four horses to a large mulberry tree not far away.

When the crowd saw Li Xianyun’s arrival, they all greeted her with smiling faces and warm hellos.

The burly men greeted her with smiles because Li Xianyun was their employer who provided them with opportunities to make money.

The grape sellers greeted her with smiles because Li Xianyun had solved the problem of their unsold grapes.

For both groups, Li Xianyun was a benefactor and a noble person.

How could they not be happy to see Li Xianyun?

Li Xianyun inquired about the grape purchasing with Habu. Seeing that everything was well organized and running smoothly, she went to the expansion sites of the Drying Room and the workshop.

Tuotuo was there giving directions. Catching sight of Li Xianyun, he hurried over, "Young master, you’ve come."

"How is it going?"

"The Drying Room is basically completed, and the workshop will take a bit longer because it’s divided into many rooms inside."

Li Xianyun walked and inspected the site, "Make sure the quality is assured; I plan on using these Drying Rooms and workshops for a long time."

Tuotuo smiled honest-letter, "Don’t worry, young master, the quality will definitely pass muster."

"Mm. Good."

As Li Xianyun was inspecting the Drying Rooms one by one, she heard a familiar voice coming from behind.

"Young master."

Li Xianyun turned around and saw it was Shart.

He set down five or six bricks and knelt down with a smile, intending to offer a salute to Li Xianyun, but she stopped him.

"Stand up quickly, what are you doing?"

Shart didn’t listen and insisted on kowtowing twice before rising.

Li Xianyun looked to Tuotuo.

Realizing her intent, Tuotuo said, "Young master, I’ll go back to directing the workers."

"Mm."

Li Xianyun smiled at Shart, "It seems things are going well?"

"Yes," Shart said with some excitement, "That day, as you advised, I waited at the entrance of the Official Government, and indeed, a very handsome official came to greet me. I did as you said and told him all about the wrongful case. That official immediately arrested the person. The man was a gambler by trade, truly spineless, and confessed after a few beatings. According to Khitan law, which says a life for a life, he was put in a death cell, his property confiscated. The official who had sold him his office was punished as well."

Shart paused for a moment, "I initially thought I’d have to wait until autumn for that villain to be executed. I didn’t expect the very next day, an official asked me to go to the execution ground. I saw with my own eyes the man who killed my father being beheaded. My family’s great vengeance was satisfied; I can now die without regrets."

Li Xianyun chuckled lightly, "Die? Why talk of death when you’re so young?"

Shart was surprised and delighted, "Young master, do you mean you are willing to save me?"

Li Xianyun revealed the truth, "You’re not suffering from any incurable disease; I just made up that story to stop you from causing trouble here."

Shart was overwhelmed with emotion, his thin chest heaving up and down, his eyes slightly red, "This is great, I can finally fulfill my unfinished duties."

"What duties?" Li Xianyun was curious.

"Of course, to repay your grace of rebirth with my full effort," Shart said with gratitude.

Li Xianyun was taken aback for a moment, her lips curving up, "Do you really wish to repay me?"

Shart nodded sincerely and earnestly.

"Habu told me you are quite good at studying. Why not pick up where you left off, continue your studies? In the future, you can take the civil examinations and aim for a successful career."

Since the founding of the Khitan, they had undertaken the imperial examination system from the Han people. The Khitan initially prohibited their own people from participating in the exams to maintain their martial traditions of horseback riding and uphold their ruling status.