The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 185 The Enemy’s Relationship (Part Two)

Chapter 185: 185 The Enemy’s Relationship (Part Two)

Ali was busy arranging the front hall with his team when the smell of date cake and mung bean cake made his mouth water.

"Shopkeeper, what delicious thing is the young master making with the kitchen maids that smells so good?"

"Yes, Shopkeeper, I have never smelled anything so fragrant, it’s making me hungry."

Ali, who had been promoted from a waiter to a shopkeeper, laughed and said, "Do your jobs well, and you’ll have a chance to taste the goodies."

While the group was joking and laughing, two kitchen maids came out from the kitchen in the back yard, carrying two plates of mung bean cakes, two plates of date cakes, a bowl of apricot preserves, and a bowl of peach preserves.

One of the kitchen maids, who loved to joke, said, "Shopkeeper, the young master saw how hard you all are working and specially told us to bring some snacks for you to try and also take a break."

Hearing this, the men put down their tools and happily crowded around.

On a tray made of red wood, there were colorful and adorable-looking cakes.

The yellow cakes were soft and fragrant, the green cakes gave a sandy feeling, and the glazed bowls of preserves were brightly colored and shiny, making one’s mouth water so much that saliva nearly dripped out.

They were too impatient to wash their hands, just dusted them off before picking up the cakes to eat, each one praising them endlessly.

One man, chewing a mouthful of date cake, said, "What’s this called? It’s delicious."

One of the kitchen maids answered, "Ignorant, aren’t you? These are called mung bean cakes and date cakes, and the ones in the bowls are apricot preserves and peach preserves."

A man teased, "Aren’t you just as clueless? You just learned that yourself and now you’re calling us ignorant."

The kitchen maid smiled and said nothing, implicitly admitting it.

The group of men, like starving wolves, devoured the cakes and preserves in no time.

The two kitchen maids had planned to come back later for the empty plates and bowls, but it seemed unnecessary now.

They returned to the kitchen with the now empty platters and bowls.

They had a good laugh at the men who were working in the front hall.

"Young master, you should have seen them, possessing the spirits of hungry wolves, eating what’s in their mouths while eyeing what’s in the bowls, as if they hadn’t eaten in ten years," one said.

"Indeed, such grown men, utterly shameless," another added.

"This just proves how delicious our young master’s cooking is," yet another chimed in.

Most of these women had their own families, but there were a few who were unmarried. They looked at Li Xianyun with eyes like a tiger spotting its prey.

Li Xianyun, being a woman, understood their thoughts and chuckled, "It’s all thanks to my dear wife. I’ve spoiled her taste so much that she won’t eat anything from outside, only what I cook personally, which inadvertently honed my culinary skills."

The unmarried women, upon hearing this, felt an immense sense of regret. How could such a handsome young master be married so young?

But as the young master was like a celestial being to them, they could only admire him from afar, not daring to desire more.

When they heard Li Xianyun mention having a wife, they felt she was as unattainable as the moon reflected on water or flowers seen in a mirror—not to be touched.

"The young master treats his wife really well, doesn’t he?"

"Young master, when Ruyi Square opens tomorrow, why not invite your wife over to join the fun?"

Li Xianyun cleared her throat and unconsciously thought of Yelu Yan—her wife.

The thought made her smile.

"My wife is indeed delicate and precious, she can’t be exposed to the wind, so she won’t be able to come tomorrow."

At that moment, a certain person was inspecting the military camp with his main officers when suddenly his nose tickled, and he sneezed.

Yelu Yan instantly thought of a certain woman. Could it be that she was missing him?

He missed her too, thinking of her while riding, while inspecting the military camp, and even while listening to work reports.

Li Xianyun had him utterly enchanted.

After finishing the date cakes and the green bean cakes, Li Xianyun and the kitchen maids tidied up the kitchen, then took a group of people out to dine on the street.

She planned to make the ice porridge after having their meal.

The group was joking and laughing as they arrived at a nearby restaurant; just as they sat down on the first floor, a tall and upright figure walked over.

Li Xianyun looked up and saw that it was Ninth Prince Yelu Qi, with two plainly dressed guards standing some distance behind him.

Li Xianyun’s heart sank—should this man discover she was doing business outside of the palace, she had no idea what schemes he might concoct.

She was also worried that Yelu Qi would reveal her identity.

Yelu Qi looked at Li Xianyun with a smile on his lips, "What a coincidence, to encounter you again in a restaurant."

Li Xianyun maintained a politely smiling face, "Quite a coincidence, indeed."

Yelu Qi did not speak further, nodded at Li Xianyun, and then led his people away.

Unable to restrain herself, a woman inquired, "Young Master, who is that gentleman? He’s really quite handsome."

Handsome?

Li Xianyun didn’t think so at all.

A pretty boy, not nearly as attractive as her husband.

"Young Master, what is your relationship with that gentleman?"

Li Xianyun replied while eating, "The relationship of enemies."

Yelu Yan and Yelu Qi were not on good terms, and since she was Yelu Yan’s woman, it wasn’t too much to say they were enemies, right?

Besides, she had to put it strongly—she couldn’t allow anyone from Ruyi Square to be involved with Yelu Qi, or they would face endless troubles in the future.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and dared not ask any further.

Li Xianyun sternly said, "From now on, if you see him, walk around him; Ruyi Square has no place for those who don’t listen."

Previously, everyone thought Li Xianyun had a kindly face and was easy to get along with, but seeing her now in such a serious and cold light, they realized that Li Xianyun was not to be provoked. To keep their jobs at Ruyi Square, they knew they had to perform their duties diligently, speak cautiously, and follow orders.

After leaving the restaurant and finding a secluded spot, one of the accompanying guards respectfully approached and whispered, "Prince, haven’t you been in the Capital City these days wishing for a chance encounter with Princess Hehui? Now that you’ve met her, why did you leave so easily?"

Yelu Qi glanced at him indifferently.

"What do you know? Princess Hehui is intelligent and astute. If I lingered too long, it would surely arouse her suspicion and antipathy, and the attempt to impress her would backfire. It is by being close and yet distant that one can win a lady’s favor. Moreover, my aim was to probe Princess Hehui’s place in Yelu Yan’s heart—if I can discern that Princess Hehui is Yelu Yan’s weak spot, I will know where to apply force in the future."

The two guards bowed and said, "Your Highness is wise."

After finishing their meal, Li Xianyun had Youlan go settle the bill.

Youlan returned shortly, "Young Master, someone has already paid our bill for us. According to the shopkeeper, it was a young master in white clothing, with two servants following behind him."

Li Xianyun’s expression was frosty; it was undoubtedly Yelu Qi.

This man was deep and calculating; appearing here today, she wondered what ill he had in store.

Li Xianyun and her group returned to Ruyi Square.

Ali and the others continued with their work, while Li Xianyun and the kitchen maids made ice porridge.

Making ice porridge was relatively simple; it just required mixing the prepared spice packets, water, ice shavings, and fruits in appropriate ratios.

The clever and skillful kitchen maids learned this quickly.

Li Xianyun instructed the kitchen maids to cover the ice with thick cotton quilts and then placed the green bean cakes and date cakes on bamboo racks, covered them with steaming cloths so they would stay fresh longer.

As for the apricot and peach preserves, they were stored in porcelain jars, sealed with oiled paper so they would last longer.

After giving these instructions, Li Xianyun went to the front hall.