The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 209 Like an Ordinary Couple (Part 2)

Chapter 209: 209 Like an Ordinary Couple (Part 2)

Yelu Yan, upon hearing this, bent down and pulled up a few bok choy, shook off the black soil against the field ridges to remove the dirt.

Li Xianyun watched Yelu Yan with a smile.

In the dim light, his entire demeanor became even more gentle.

Yelu Yan was tall and sturdy, a man used to wielding weapons and leading troops in battle, yet there he was, picking vegetables in the garden, a stark contrast indeed.

Li Xianyun pursed her lips, feeling that she and Yelu Yan were living an ordinary domestic life just like any other couple.

Seeing him pick a handful of bok choy, Li Xianyun said, "Husband, pick two more scallions."

Bok choy stewed with tofu, garnished with green onion—sure to be light and delicious.

Yelu Yan did as she said and, after gathering the vegetables, came out of the vegetable patch and closed the bamboo fence gate.

The two of them walked side by side towards the kitchen.

Li Xianyun turned her head to look at Yelu Yan, "Husband, you go deal with official matters in the study. Give me the vegetables, and I’ll call you when the meal is ready."

"Are you chasing me away again?" Yelu Yan looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

Li Xianyun glanced at him sideways, "If you wish to follow, then follow."

She was somewhat soft-hearted towards Yelu Yan, but she couldn’t always indulge him. Spoiling him would only bring trouble.

As they walked shoulder to shoulder, the faint warm light from the lanterns cast multiple overlapping shadows of them both.

Ever since learning that Li Xianyun had nightmares, Yelu Yan had added many more lanterns around the Khan Palace for illumination.

Yelu Yan turned his head to look at Li Xianyun and hesitated for a moment before parting his thin lips, "Do you know Yuchi Hong?"

Li Xianyun knew what he was going to ask, "I saw him when I was in Chang’an."

Yelu Yan remembered that Yuchi Hong had once accompanied an envoy to Houtang, but that was two years ago. After so much time had passed, the fact that they could still recognize each other showed that their impressions were indeed very deep, and certainly something must have happened.

Li Xianyun saw that Yelu Yan’s expression was serious and let out a light laugh, "Husband, what are you overthinking?"

Yelu Yan turned to look at her as the lantern light fell on his face, adding a layer of warm amber to his dark cheeks, his black eyes and chiseled features giving him an otherworldly handsome look.

"I wasn’t thinking anything."

Still stubborn, no telling what he might be really feeling inside.

Li Xianyun deliberately teased him, "Alright then."

As they approached the kitchen, Yelu Yan finally spoke up, "How do you know Yuchi Hong?"

Li Xianyun looked at him with a smile.

Yelu Yan’s face grew slightly solemn, "Tell me."

Li Xianyun bit her lip and laughed, revealing shallow dimples.

"When I went up the mountain to gather herbs, I encountered General Yuchi severely injured. I saved him, not knowing his identity. It’s only upon seeing him just now that I was surprised."

Yelu Yan was aware that Yuchi Hong had been the target of an assassination attempt, the wound at his chest extremely close to his heart, very dangerous indeed.

Yuchi Qing and Ye Qiu were very worried, asking how he survived in a foreign land. He only mentioned that he encountered a Divine Doctor who saved his life but didn’t provide any details.

It turned out the Divine Doctor in Yuchi Hong’s story was none other than Li Xianyun.

Yelu Yan wanted to ask for more details, but they had already arrived at the kitchen’s entrance, and Li Xianyun was reaching to take the bok choy and scallions from him.

Yelu Yan didn’t give them to her but went straight into the kitchen.

Li Xianyun looked at Yelu Yan’s tall and straight figure; there’s a saying, "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen," but clearly, Yelu Yan didn’t care about that.

The people in the kitchen were surprised to see Yelu Yan and knelt, bending their arms in salute, "Greetings, Khan, greetings, Princess Consort."

Yelu Yan said in an indifferent tone, "Rise."

The people in the kitchen stood, but they were so constrained they dared not move.

Looking at them, Li Xianyun curved her lips into a smile, "You may continue with your work; do not mind me or the Khan."

"Yes."

Li Xianyun rolled up her sleeves, revealing two sections of her white, tender arms like lotus roots.

She took the bok choy and green onions from Yelu Yan’s hands and placed them on the table, "Khan, you should go and handle official business in the main building."

Li Xianyun was very shy in front of others, and it embarrassed her to call him "Husband."

Yelu Yan watched her with a smile, "Don’t worry about me, focus on what you’re doing."

"My husband," with so many people listening, it was somewhat embarrassing.

Li Xianyun’s ears turned a slight red, and she ignored him.

Li Xianyun took the apron handed to her by Zhuo Ma and tied it around her slim waist, which accentuated her curvaceous and well-proportioned figure.

She lifted her delicate hands, picked up a bok choy, removed the outer yellow leaves, and snapped off the root.

The bok choy was growing well, tender and crisp. When she snipped it, her hands were coated with cool juice.

After picking through the bok choy and green onions, Youlan brought over a basin of clean water.

Li Xianyun washed the vegetables in it, changed the water a few times to rinse them thoroughly, and then chopped them into sections on the cutting board.

Yelu Yan maintained a proper distance, watching her intently.

She was born with fair and delicate skin, a tender beauty like those only found in paintings, seemingly out of place in the smoke-filled kitchen.

Yet her movements were so practiced and natural, clearly accustomed to the work of the kitchen.

Watching Li Xianyun wash and chop the vegetables, the tenderness of her bowed head gave Yelu Yan an illusion.

It was as though they were an ordinary couple, concerned with the trivialities of daily life, plain yet real, happy and beautiful.

Yelu Yan’s lips curled up fiercely, finding himself entertaining the thought of neglecting his duties.

He finally understood that the saying "beauty is a curse" was just an excuse for men with weak wills to save face.

Just then, Jinwu walked over respectfully, bent his arm in a salute, "Khan, Divine Doctor Shulu has an urgent matter to report."

Yelu Yan collected his expression, walked over to Li Xianyun, gazing at her lovely face, "Xianxian, I have some matters to deal with and won’t be able to join you for the meal."

"Okay, you should go quickly," said Li Xianyun.

Yelu Yan did not leave immediately but cast a glance to the side.

The kitchen staff hurriedly bowed their heads.

Li Xianyun, puzzled, "Khan, you—mmph..."

Yelu Yan kissed her deeply, with profound eyes, "I will try to come back early."

Li Xianyun’s face was already flushed with an unnatural red, and she avoided his gaze with just a "hmm."

As Yelu Yan was about to leave, Li Xianyun stopped him, "Husband."

A familiar address, blurted out in a moment of urgency.

Yelu Yan paused, looking at her with a smile, "What is it?"

Li Xianyun glanced at him and continued with her work, not looking his way, "You haven’t washed your hands."

Yelu Yan looked down and saw that his hands were covered with a lot of dirt from picking the vegetables.

Zhuo Ma had already scooped half a basin of water into the wooden tub and brought it over while Li Xianyun was speaking.

Yelu Yan washed his hands and landed a kiss on Li Xianyun’s cheek, "Thank you for the reminder, my lady."

This man had little sense of occasion; she regretted reminding him a bit.

Li Xianyun fried the tofu chunks in a pot until golden, then sprinkled salt and green onions on top, filling the air with fragrance in an instant.

She poured the chopped bok choy into the pot, stirred briefly, and finally sprinkled more green onions, giving it a turn—bok choy and tofu stew was done.

The aroma wafted through the kitchen, snaking into people’s nostrils, tantalizing their taste buds.