The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 350 - 349 He is my older brother (Second Update)

Chapter 350: 349 He is my older brother (Second Update)

Some people are natural standout figures, becoming the most conspicuous presence in a crowd as if they can control everything, intimidating onlookers, leaving them no choice but to treat them with respect.

Yelu Yan was such a presence.

Habu, looking at Yelu Yan speaking, felt very timid inside, but to protect Li Xianyun, he had no time to worry about the consequences.

Li Xianyun had always been the one putting in the effort, single-handedly looking for a way out for everyone; now was the time for them to repay her.

The villagers shared Habu’s thoughts. Even though they were extremely afraid of Yelu Yan, worried that a mere flick of his finger could spell their doom,

their respect and gratitude for Li Xianyun made them throw caution to the wind, stiffening their necks and masking the fear in their hearts.

When Li Xianyun heard what Habu said, she finally understood the situation and laughed, "Elder, you are mistaken, he’s not here to trouble me."

"Not?" Habu asked, skeptical.

Although the man was handsome, his face was stern, fierce and intimidating as if he was not someone to be trifled with; it looked like he had come to pick a fight.

"No," said Li Xianyun, looking up at Yelu Yan.

The man in question looked down at her with—amusement as if to say, "Let’s see how you spin this one."

Li Xianyun turned back to Habu and offhandedly said, "He is my elder brother."

Yelu Yan raised an eyebrow; he could not believe she had come up with that.

"Your elder brother? But you don’t look alike at all. Young Master, are you being coerced by him? Don’t be afraid, we will protect you," Habu declared.

The villagers echoed their support behind him.

Li Xianyun’s mind raced as she smiled and said, "We are sworn brothers, aren’t we, Elder Brother?"

Yelu Yan humphed through his nose and remained silent.

Seeing such a cold reaction from Yelu Yan, Habu said, "I think he is clearly here to make trouble for the Young Master. Everyone, don’t hold back; we must save the Young Master."

No sooner had Habu spoken than the crowd began to surge forward like a tide.

Yelu Yan’s guards rushed forward, ready to draw their swords to protect him.

Yelu Yan glanced at them indifferently.

The guards instantly calmed down and hurriedly stepped back.

Li Xianyun looked at the crowd of villagers and said, "Everyone, don’t be rash."

After speaking, she raised her hand and slapped Yelu Yan’s arm hard, annoyed, "Will you speak up, please?"

The slap was a bit heavy, and everyone was stunned.

Youlan and Zhuo Ma struggled to hold back their laughter.

Habu started to believe what Li Xianyun had said.

Yelu Yan cleared his throat and began to speak, "I am her—"

The man paused.

Li Xianyun was terrified, side-eyeing him, expecting that he might reveal the true nature of their relationship.

But then she heard him say with a gasp, "Family."

The man truly was quite wicked.

Yelu Yan then blatantly pulled Li Xianyun into his embrace.

It was like a little white rabbit falling into a tiger’s grasp.

Li Xianyun attempted to pry his iron arm away, but he held her even tighter.

Fearing that her strong reaction might be misunderstood by the villagers, Li Xianyun resigned herself to his embrace.

"Elder, it’s all a misunderstanding. Please take everyone back to work," she said.

Only when Li Xianyun saw the villagers follow Habu further away did she struggle out of Yelu Yan’s hold and looked up at him, "Can’t you speak without gasping? You’re going to scare me to death."

Yelu Yan held her in his arms, looking down at her, "When can we be open and above board so that we don’t have to sneak around like this?"

"Then wouldn’t you be even more unbridled?" Li Xianyun lightly huffed and replied.

"The one who knows me best is Xianxian."

He had become more and more slick with his words.

"My lord, you go back to the palace first, I still have some things to take care of,"

she said, as she walked away from his embrace.

Yelu Yan followed her, walking close by her side.

"Since I’m already here, I’ll wait for you to finish your business, and then we’ll return to the palace together,"

He also wanted to take her around the markets of Shangjing, to have some fun.

His governmental duties kept him so busy, he never had time to accompany her.

Shulu Xi had told him long ago that women need companionship, otherwise they would become alienated. He even suggested that Yelu Yan weigh whether governance was more important or his woman was more important.

Yelu Yan laughed softly.

Was there even a need to weigh those options? Of course, his woman was more important.

The only problem was that his woman was truly different, not clingy at all, always sending him away.

Sometimes, Yelu Yan really envied Shulu Xi, who was always tightly embraced by the concubines at home.

If only his Xianxian would cling to him too, he would probably wake up laughing from his dreams.

As Li Xianyun walked, she said, "It’s fine, I can go back by myself."

See, she was sending him away again.

Offended, Yelu Yan stepped forward, wrapped his arm around her slim waist, and said, "I am going to accompany you back."

Li Xianyun laughed with a "pfft," "My lord, you’re acting like a child right now, it’s quite adorable."

Yelu Yan blushed and uttered an unnatural "huh," "I am your man."

Li Xianyun gave Zhuo Ma instructions for storing and transporting the raisins.

Yelu Yan kept her company at first, but when he found he couldn’t join the conversation, he left a few guards with her and went for a walk himself.

He only had a general understanding of the things that Li Xianyun did outside the palace and had never personally been there before.

Now, observing room after room of the Drying Room and workshops, as well as the endless stream of people, he felt a growing admiration for Li Xianyun amidst the bustling scene.

She was a person who seemed fragile enough to need support, yet she single-handedly built this flourishing place, changing so many lives.

What was most commendable was that she did not do it solely for profiting, but was also passing on her experience to the people around her.

It was as if endless strength lay within her, irresistibly drawing people to get closer to her.

Li Xianyun asked Zhuo Ma to take out two pounds each of three different colored raisins and send portions through Xinglong Standard Line to Qingxiang Pavilion and Xingfang Restaurant, to see if they were interested in placing orders.

Zhuo Ma seemed to recall something and looked at Li Xianyun, saying, "Young master, every time the Family Head of Xingfang Restaurant sends a letter, he asks about your well-being."

Li Xianyun’s mind conjured the image of that pale, handsome face and said, "Just tell him that everything is fine with me."

She suspected that Bai Di might have developed special feelings for her.

It was easy for a patient in pain to develop special feelings for the physician who cured them.

Thinking back to when she saw Bai Di for the last time before returning to Tianshui County, his sticky gaze seemed to suggest that he had seen through her disguise as a woman.

With her clear, delicate features and gentle, sweet demeanor, her loose men’s clothing could fool most, but a careful observer might notice something odd.

Li Xianyun pursed her lips, inadvertently attracting another man.

Murong Ce did, Sheng Heng did, and now Bai Di did too, yet she clearly had done nothing.

She wondered what Yelu Yan would think if he knew.

Li Xianyun lifted her eyes to search for Yelu Yan, who was talking with Habu.

Just moments ago, Habu had been antagonistic toward him, but now they were chatting amiably.

With Yelu Yan’s characteristically cool and indifferent nature, he still interacted harmoniously with the common people.

After giving her instructions, Li Xianyun joined Yelu Yan.

Habu was describing the changes in Shitoutun since the construction of the workshops and the Drying Room.

As he aged, he had become more talkative.