The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 322 Life of an Old Married Couple (Second Update)

"Young Master, your arrival is truly timely. We just had some questions about the construction of the overturning cart and were hoping to seek your guidance," he said.

Li Xianyun replied with a smile, "Mr. Sang, you’re too courteous. I am younger than you are, so there’s no need for formalities."

The young man was neither arrogant with favor nor prideful of his talents. Gentle, modest, and polite, he was indeed very likable. Sang Yanlin laughed and said, "Alright."

But no matter what was said, how could one not take seriously someone personally appointed by the Khan? He still deserved respectful treatment.

Li Xianyun followed Sang Yanlin to where they were making the overturning carts, where several craftspeople from the Department of Equipment were looking worried. When they saw Li Xianyun, their eyes lit up.

One of the craftspeople picked up a blueprint and pointed at a part, saying, "Young Master, we can’t understand this part."

The overturning cart was different from a tub wheel: a tub wheel simply needed to be placed in the water, and using the water’s flow, it could transport water into the ditches.

An overturning cart, however, needed to lift water from a low place to a high place. It required someone to tread, it needed a power matrix, and if this wasn’t overcome, there was simply no way to transport the water up.

Therefore, the production of an overturning cart was much more difficult than a tub wheel.

After Li Xianyun had thoroughly explained it, seeing that everyone still seemed confused, she smiled and said, "I will make a power matrix with you all, and then you will understand."

Li Xianyun rolled up her sleeves to reveal her forearms, which were as white as lotus roots, so pure and flawlessly white that they were striking to the eye.

Everyone couldn’t help but admire how a man could have such fair skin, even fairer than a woman’s.

But soon, their focus shifted away from that. They wondered if all good-looking people were also skilled with their hands.

Li Xianyun led them through each step of crafting the power matrix, taking it slow, but if they didn’t listen or watch closely, they would still have trouble executing it properly.

Fortunately, the handsomely young master was very considerate. After demonstrating each step, she would diligently check on each person, offering individual guidance.

The craftspeople of the Department of Equipment hadn’t started out there; they had initially been apprentices in various small workshops making equipment.

The masters there were very strict, and they had to endure scolding and beatings while also doing extremely exhausting work. They had never had a master as patient as Li Xianyun.

With Li Xianyun’s attentive instruction, everyone learned quickly, and soon they understood how to make the power matrix for the overturning cart.

Li Xianyun seized the moment to lead everyone in constructing the overturning cart together.

She planned to complete one overturning cart before heading to the Northern Region to check on the foundation work.

Li Xianyun joined them in sawing wood, driving nails, and installing the power matrix...

Every movement was so adept and effortless, yet when others tried, they didn’t find it nearly as easy. They couldn’t help but admire Li Xianyun even more, realizing that it was still a case of "easier said than done."

The Department of Equipment had already completed all the various parts except for the power matrix beforehand, so the latter stages moved along more swiftly.

About an hour later, with everyone working together, an overturning cart was finally completed.

Li Xianyun had the cart taken to the edge of a pond for testing. Watching the water being transported upward with the treading of two craftspeople, everyone couldn’t help but jump for joy.

The Department of Equipment was filled with lavish praise for Li Xianyun.

Seeing that it was getting late and there was no time to delay, and just as the tung oil on the three tub wheels had dried, Li Xianyun ordered that the three tub wheels be loaded onto large carts and pulled by horses towards the Northern Region.

Because the Department of Equipment frequently needed to transport large items, the carts had been modified. Carrying heaps of seven- or eight-meter-long tamarisk and pine was not a problem, let alone transporting tub wheels.

For the three tub wheels, three carts were needed, and Li Xianyun had nine soldiers from Antler Camp accompany the transport.

Once in the Northern Region, Li Xianyun discovered that, just as Yelu Yan had said while on the carriage, he had sent people to the Northern Region while she was asleep, instructing soldiers to start working.

By the time Li Xianyun arrived, the foundations were already well compacted.

Nur kept the soldiers busy, leading them to engage in the digging of ditches and the stacking of field ridges.

Upon receiving Yelu Yan’s order, Antler Camp did not dare to be negligent, and they dispatched the capable leader Nur for the task.

He led his soldiers not only to complete their designated tasks but also took on many additional responsibilities.

Li Xianyun, looking at the deep and long canals as well as the sturdy field ridges, instantly felt much relieved, and decided to have Yelu Yan give Nur a generous reward once they returned to the Khan Palace.

Li Xianyun and her soldiers worked together to erect the three tubular carts, anchoring them firmly into the foundation.

The force of the water flow moved the vanes of the wheel and the small buckets that carried water, causing them to rotate slowly and fill the canals with water.

Everyone was extremely happy.

After they had installed all three tubular carts, the sky to the west was adorned with a resplendent sunset.

Li Xianyun told everyone to clean up and head home for the day.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Li Xianyun, worn out, got into her carriage.

Although exhausted, this peaceful and meaningful life gave her a profound sense of fulfillment.

This was a feeling she had never experienced in Houtang, where she realized that living without constant fear and trepidation was indeed wonderful.

When Li Xianyun returned to the Khan Palace, the sky was already pitch black, yet Yelu Yan had not come back.

She had a bit of dinner and then went to the bathhouse with some clean clothes.

Inside the bathhouse stood a round pool of about three meters across and a little over one meter deep, with long low wooden benches at its bottom edge for sitting, filled with warm water that never got cold, no matter how long one soaked in it.

Li Xianyun took off her clothes and stepped into the water, the warm vapors caressing her face, a truly comfortable sensation.

Sitting on one of the wooden benches, the water level just reached her fragrant shoulders.

Li Xianyun washed herself thoroughly, then leaned back gently against the pool’s wall.

The wall of the pool, made from wood planks coated in tung oil, was smooth and tightly joined, causing no discomfort to her back or head.

The person who designed the pool walls was very considerate; the walls leaned back slightly with a gentle curve, conforming to a person’s back.

Most commendable was the soft pillow installed along the upper edge of the pool walls, based on an individual’s height.

Resting against the pillow was like reclining on a lounge chair with a slight curve, very comfortable indeed.

Li Xianyun lay back against the pool wall, eyes closed, enjoying her bath.

She relished the sensation of the warm water enveloping her, as if it could dissolve away all the fatigue of the day.

Perhaps due to sheer exhaustion, Li Xianyun soon drifted into a semi-conscious state, only to become aware after some time that the water level had risen slightly and that she could hear the soft stirring of water.

Under such circumstances, who could be coming?

Out of instinct for self-preservation, Li Xianyun’s eyes snapped open and she sat up straight.

She immediately saw the muscular man.

He was naked, approaching her without reservation, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Li Xianyun’s face turned red in an instant, her neck flush with color, appalled by his boldness.

From her seated position, her eyes inadvertently fell upon a part of him that she shouldn’t have seen, already erect and intimidatingly impressive.

This man was always thinking about... with her.

Li Xianyun uncomfortably diverted her gaze to one side and softly called out, "Husband," her voice barely above a whisper.

Yelu Yan chuckled lightly and slid down beside her, "We are husband and wife, and there is nothing that we haven’t seen of each other."

Li Xianyun muttered under her breath, They had only been married for a short while; how could they be considered an old married couple?

And even if they were, should that mean there’s no need for any restraint?