The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 307 Have you been drinking? (Second updated)

Chapter 307: 307 Have you been drinking? (Second updated)

Li Xianyun took Youlan and Bater to tour around the Drying Room and then stayed for a while at Habu’s place.

Habu seemed much more spirited; he used to be responsible for the workshop, Drying Room, and fruit procurement, which was incredibly stressful.

Now he’s only in charge of the fruit procurement, a task he’s extremely adept at.

He felt much more relaxed and had enough energy to manage the procurement process efficiently and clearly.

Li Xianyun looked around and asked, "Why haven’t I seen Shart around?"

Habu laughed and said, "Shart works one day, then rests and reads books the next. Today just happens to be his rest day. Who would have thought that the notoriously lazy man from miles around is now the most diligent? Every day he reads late into the night, foregoing sleep and food."

Habu didn’t forget to praise Li Xianyun, "It’s all thanks to Your Highness. If not for you, who knows what he would be doing now?"

"He has to be diligent himself for it to count," Li Xianyun said with a smile.

As they were speaking, Zhuo Ma, wiping sweat from her brow, came over, nodded at Habu, and said to Li Xianyun, "Young Master, the candied fruit has been loaded onto the carriage."

"Good," Li Xianyun looked at Habu, "Uncle, we’re off."

Habu smiled, "Alright."

On the way to the workshop, Zhuo Ma said as they walked, "Young Master, there are more than two hundred pounds of candied fruit in total. Our horse carriage couldn’t carry it all, so I found another one."

"Very well, but this amount of candied fruit is nowhere near enough for Qingxiang Pavilion and Xingfang Restaurant. A large quantity still needs to be produced," Li Xianyun replied.

Both Houliang’s Qingxiang Pavilion and Houtang’s Xingfang Restaurant had many branches, and hundreds of pounds of stock would not go far once divided among so many outlets—it wouldn’t even last a day.

"Yes," Zhuo Ma replied.

Before getting onto the horse carriage, Li Xianyun checked the candied fruit.

The candied fruit was securely packed in ceramic jars, well-preserved.

The jars were arrayed neatly.

Zhuo Ma, who had served for many years as a palace maid, was indeed reliable and efficient at her work.

Li Xianyun, along with the group, arrived at the West Market’s Xinglong Standard Firm, paid a portion of the deposit, handed over the candied fruit, and asked them to deliver it to Tianshui County as quickly as possible.

When leaving the firm, Li Xianyun noticed someone lurking in a corner, peeping and spying, suggesting her whereabouts had been detected.

In Khitan, except for her support from Yelu Yan, she had no other foundation or protection, and many were unfriendly towards her.

If someone became aware of her whereabouts and decided to cause trouble, it would be all too easy.

Therefore, she was always very cautious and careful in her actions.

The person, catching Li Xianyun’s gaze, quickly withdrew their head.

Li Xianyun signaled Bater to take care of it.

Understanding her intent, Bater was about to step forward when he saw two tall men following the suspicious person.

Bater recognized them as the Khan’s personal guards.

The Khan truly doted on the princess, assigning his most capable protectors for her.

Bater turned and said to Li Xianyun, "Young Master, someone has already gone to take care of it."

Li Xianyun grunted in acknowledgment and was the first to step down to the carriage, "Let’s eat something before going back."

"Yes!"

The palace servants envied Bater, Zhuo Ma, and Youlan, as they got to accompany Li Xianyun outside the palace.

Every trip out meant delicious food, and sometimes Li Xianyun would even buy them gifts.

Although the maids and Palace Servants in the Imperial Palace occasionally received gifts from Li Xianyun, they received far less compared to what Bater and the others got.

In balancing kindness and authority, Li Xianyun did exceedingly well, earning her subordinates’ respect and loyalty.

The four of them went to a reputable restaurant to dine.

They chose a private room and the four gathered around the table for the meal.

Being outside the palace, without so many rules, Li Xianyun often dined at the same table with them.

Li Xianyun looked at Bater, "How many people did the master secretly send to protect me?"

She wanted to know if her frequent outings had caused much trouble for Yelu Yan.

Having swallowed his bite of food, Bater replied respectfully, "I do not know the exact number, my lady, but there must be quite a few, and all of them are highly skilled."

Li Xianyun continued to eat in silence, no longer speaking.

After the meal, the group hurried toward the Imperial Palace.

Li Xianyun had thought she left enough time to return to the palace, but by the time she got back, the sky had already turned completely dark; Yelu Yan must have been anxious waiting for her.

Who would have known that upon returning to the Khan Palace, she didn’t catch even a glimpse of Yelu Yan.

The maid informed her that Yelu Yan had sent a message that he was detained by official affairs and would return later.

Yelu Yan was always busy with official duties, which Li Xianyun was aware of, so she didn’t think much of it.

Having dined adequately outside the palace that day, she wasn’t hungry in the evening. After taking a bath and washing up, she climbed into bed dressed in her sleeping clothes.

She had walked so much that day and was very tired. She thought she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but having just soaked in a warm bath, she felt quite refreshed and not at all sleepy.

Li Xianyun decided to get up, propped her soft pillow against the head of the bed, leaned back on it, and picked up a travel book from the desk. She began reading with great interest.

She liked reading travel logs that recorded the landscapes and customs of different places, as well as various extraordinary stories that always provided a fresh perspective.

Just a few pages in, Li Xianyun heard the sound of the door being pushed open, followed by Yelu Yan’s steady and forceful footsteps.

Li Xianyun put the book on her lap and turned her head to look toward the door.

Soon, Yelu Yan’s tall figure appeared before her.

The corners of his mouth held a smile, his eyes black and bright, slightly reddened at the edges, and his steps somewhat unsteady, quite different from his usual demeanor.

Arriving by the bed, Yelu Yan sat beside Li Xianyun, gazing at her with bright eyes. His hands were not idle; he took her small hand, gently squeezed it, and softly said, "I’m back."

"Hmm, have you been drinking?"

As he drew near, Li Xianyun caught a strong scent of alcohol.

He must have drunk quite a bit.

In the days they had spent together, Yelu Yan seldom drank alcohol.

Li Xianyun remembered the last time he had taken her to dine with the herders, he drank alcohol, and then there were a few times at palace banquets, but he never drank much on those occasions.

With a status like Yelu Yan’s, unless he was willing, no one could make him drink more than he wanted.

Yet this time, she didn’t know what had happened, but he had drunk a lot.

Yelu Yan looked intently at her and chuckled, "I had a little."

With such a strong smell of alcohol, how could Li Xianyun believe it was just "a little?"

Yelu Yan laughed lightly, "A few pots."

"Has something happened?" Li Xianyun looked at him worriedly and asked.

"Nothing happened."

How could Yelu Yan tell her that his birth was filled with sin, that he was a child neither blessed nor liked, with such a background, would Li Xianyun still like him?

These thoughts brought the fear in his heart surging back once again.

Although Yelu Yan kept telling himself that the matters of the previous generation had nothing to do with him, that he was innocent, the feeling of inferiority still tightly wrapped around him.

Yelu Yan took the book from Li Xianyun’s hands and placed it on the desk, then pulled her into his embrace. Cradling the back of her head, a kiss full of the scent of liquor descended upon her.

"Mmm..."

This was the first time he had kissed her while drunk, and the sensation was very different.

His lips were unusually warm, prying hers apart and probing inside, spreading the fragrance of the fine wine to every corner of her mouth.

The kiss was exceptionally intense and moist.