The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 297: She likes him.

Chapter 297: She likes him.

Yelu Yan emerged from the Khan Palace and headed straight for the Hall of Diligent Governance. On the one hand, he ordered the officials responsible for agricultural development to be summoned to the palace; on the other, he had those idling while digging ditches arrested for interrogation.

Yelu Yan was resolute and firm, always one to stick to his words with swift, decisive action. Under his command, the Flame Army and the Ironclad Soldiers, one tasked with external affairs and the other with internal, were fearsome to all, with every soldier skilled in martial arts and utterly loyal to Yelu Yan.

The officials, seeing Yelu Yan seated on the high platform with an inscrutable expression, were terrified and trembled uncontrollably.

As the saying goes, a strong leader has no weak soldiers, and soon the Ironclad Soldiers had clarified the whole sequence of events.

Yelu Yan executed the officials directly involved in the case. The others were punished according to the severity of their crimes; some were thrown into prison, others were stripped of their official positions.

Furthermore, Yelu Yan appointed new and capable officials. After the reorganization, he issued stern orders to them, setting a deadline of half a month to finish building the ridges and doing the irrigation. Should the planting of the winter wheat be affected, all implicated officials would be held accountable.

The officials all lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

It was only when the sound of Yelu Yan’s footsteps grew fainter and finally inaudible that they exhaled softly.

A few officials collapsed powerlessly on the ground, wiping the sweat from their foreheads.

Having narrowly retained their lives and positions, they no longer dared to neglect their duties or waste their days away.

As Yelu Yan left the Hall of Diligent Governance, the night deepened, the sky turned increasingly dark and overcast, and the cool wind whipped the leaves into turmoil.

He thought of that charming figure and, lengthening his stride, unconsciously quickened his pace.

Yelu Yan soon arrived at the entrance of the inner chambers.

Zhuo Ma, Youlan, and the other maids wanted to greet him and pay their respects but were stopped by a gesture from Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan’s chest heaved somewhat as he panted.

He had rushed back in a flurry like a young man eager to see his woman, his heart brimming with anticipation; his hurrying made his breathing disorderly.

Yelu Yan paused at the entrance to compose himself before gently pushing the door open and entering.

The room had lamps burning everywhere and was brightly lit.

Yelu Yan gently closed the door, walked through two archways, passed two strings of bead curtains, and the bed came into view.

But the bed was empty, bereft of that petite woman’s figure, his heart clenched abruptly as if his soul had momentarily left his body.

His Xianxian...

Fortunately, as he turned his gaze, he spotted Li Xianyun’s figure in the Warm Pavilion.

She was asleep at the desk.

Yelu Yan’s restless heart finally settled, though it still beat rapidly.

At the instant when he didn’t see Li Xianyun on the bed, countless thoughts had flashed through his mind.

Although he had fortified the Imperial Palace like an iron barrel and placed many skilled guards openly and covertly around Li Xianyun, he still felt it wasn’t enough; he was afraid his woman would encounter danger or get hurt.

Whenever Li Xianyun was out of his sight, he began to worry, as if only by tying Li Xianyun to his side could he truly feel at ease.

Yet he didn’t want to deprive Li Xianyun of her freedom; she should have her own life and not just revolve around him.

Yelu Yan’s expression softened considerably, his mouth curving in a smile, and he tread lightly as he approached.

Li Xianyun had her fair little hands crossed and placed on the desk, her head resting on them, looking obedient.

She lay on her side, revealing her exquisite profile.

Li Xianyun’s skin was white as snow, cheeks tinged with a pale pink, eyes closed, breathing evenly, sleeping soundly.

Yelu Yan saw the draft of a device under her hand and his eyes immediately lit up.

The draft was titled ’Waterwheel,’ designed for irrigation purposes.

Besides the main drawing, there were detailed breakdown sketches, accompanied by descriptions written in Khitan.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, the handwriting graceful.

A sense of joy and excitement surged within Yelu Yan. She had done all this for him...

Yelu Yan had always been insecure in front of Li Xianyun.

From the start, it was he who liked her. Every step in their relationship had been initiated by him, with her being reactive, never taking the initiative to express any fondness for him.

Of course, Yelu Yan never dared to ask.

He didn’t want to pressure her too much and was afraid of hearing an unfavorable answer.

But now, witnessing this scene, Yelu Yan began to believe that Li Xianyun did have some affection for him; otherwise, she wouldn’t have done these things for him.

Thinking this, his chest heaved with overwhelming joy and emotion, almost wanting to engulf Li Xianyun in his arms and cover her with frenzied kisses.

Nevertheless, he restrained himself.

After his endless toiling, Li Xianyun must have been utterly exhausted; he needed to let her rest properly.

Yelu Yan bent down and gently kissed her beautiful cheek.

Li Xianyun slightly furrowed her brows, still deep in slumber.