The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 354 - 353 She rarely clings to people like this (second update)

Chapter 354: 353 She rarely clings to people like this (second update)

Li Xianyun was eating a lamb skewer when she suddenly spotted a baked sweet potato stall.

White steam billowed from the stall, the sweet aroma of the sweet potatoes wafting straight into her nose, and the soft, plump sweet potatoes looked incredibly sweet.

Li Xianyun stood up, intending to head over.

Yelu Yan steadied her waist and looked up at her, "What are you doing?"

"Buying baked sweet potato."

"No need for you to go." Yelu Yan said, glancing at Jinwu.

Jinwu immediately set down the skewered meat in his hands, took a soft cloth from the table to wipe his hands, and headed towards the sweet potato stall.

The waiter quickly brought over the warmed wine.

Yelu Yan took the wine jug and poured a small half glass for Li Xianyun, and filled his own glass to the brim.

Li Xianyun picked it up, comparing her glass with Yelu Yan’s, and pouted, "Why did you pour so little for me?"

"It’s already good that I let you drink at all. If you think it’s too little, then don’t drink."

As Yelu Yan spoke, he reached out for her wine glass.

Li Xianyun quickly shielded her glass with her hand, "No."

Yelu Yan just liked to tease her.

He took the wine glass with his large hand.

His hand was really too big, making the wine glass look very small; the disparity was odd yet endearing.

Li Xianyun watched as his glass approached, not understanding why.

Yelu Yan clinked his glass against hers, smiling, "Drink less."

He said this and then threw back his head, downing the drink in one gulp, his large Adam’s apple moving rapidly up and down. His movements were brisk and decisive, exuding an air of unruliness and wildness.

Li Xianyun held the wine glass with both hands and tilted it slightly against her lips, taking just a tiny sip before finding it too bitter and spicy to handle.

Her delicate eyebrows knitted, she looked at Yelu Yan and pursed her lips, "How can it be so hard to drink, fruit wine tastes much better."

Speaking of which, she hadn’t had fruit wine in a long time. She would have to get some when she returned to the palace.

Yelu Yan took the wine glass from her hands and drank the contents, "I told you not to drink, but you never listen. Now you understand?"

Li Xianyun, hugging a naan, began to eat, eyeing the passersby as she munched.

She was like a cute little squirrel.

Yelu Yan draped his long arm over the back of her chair, watching her with a smile, his eyes and heart filled with her.

The baked sweet potato that Jinwu bought had arrived.

Yelu Yan picked up the sweet potato, peeled it, and held it to her mouth, "It’s a bit hot; I’ll hold it for you."

Li Xianyun withdrew her small hand and took a bite of the baked sweet potato from Yelu Yan’s hand.

The part near the skin was a little charred, flavored with the sweet taste of the sweet potato and a hint of burnt fragrance, which was quite delicious.

Li Xianyun, with her mouth partly covered, chewed and said, "My lord, you should eat too."

Yelu Yan lowered his head and took a bite.

The two exchanged a smile, their affection for each other beyond words.

After a satisfying meal, Li Xianyun thought they would return to the palace, but to her surprise, Yelu Yan took her to stroll casually through the street market, admiring the scenery as they went.

"My lord, do you have free time today?"

"Mmm. Just enough to accompany you."

Just as the two were laughing and talking, a drunk blocked their path.

Behind the drunkard followed several people, and the common folk around them all steered clear, clearly a notorious group of ne’er-do-wells.

Seeing the bad situation developing, Jinwu and the others stepped up to protect.

The drunk leered at Li Xianyun, saying lasciviously, "Beauty, come have some fun with this lord, I have plenty of money."

Although Li Xianyun was dressed as a man, her charm was not easily concealed, making her an easy target for those who were not particular about gender.

Before the drunk could say another indecent word, Jinwu and his men set upon the group and gave them a beating.

In an instant, the drunk and his entourage were knocked to the ground, rolling about in pain.

Yelu Yan’s voice came, cold as ice, "Take it from him, feed it to the dogs."

Jinwu bowed with a bend of his arm, "Yes."

Yelu Yan led Li Xianyun forward.

Li Xianyun looked up at Yelu Yan, "My lord, what did you say to take from him?"

Yelu Yan turned to look at her, his ferocity from a moment ago gone, "What do you think?"

With that counter-question, Li Xianyun immediately understood and said softly, "Yes, they should be taken."

Li Xianyun sighed softly to herself, thinking how nice it would have been if Yelu Yan had been there when she was harassed on the streets five years ago.

"She and her family wouldn’t need to go through such hardship."

After strolling around the market for quite some time, Li Xianyun grew a bit tired at the end.

Yelu Yan instructed the guard to notify Bater to bring the carriage over from the carriage shop.

Li Xianyun walked slowly, looking somewhat listless.

Yelu Yan took her little hand, stopping her, then squatted in front of her and turned to look at her, "Climb aboard, my husband will carry you on his back."

"Only children get carried on the back."

Li Xianyun said as she tried to walk around him, but someone caught her little hand.

"Behave."

Seeing Li Xianyun hesitating, Yelu Yan smiled and said, "Nobody knows us here, what’s there to fear? Come on, be good."

Li Xianyun could only lay on his broad, firm back, while wrapping her arms around his neck.

Yelu Yan stood up straight, supporting her thighs with his hands as he headed towards the carriage shop.

The night deepened, and few pedestrians were on the streets; shopkeepers in the stores by the street were tidying up, preparing to close for the night.

The tranquil night was finally about to arrive.

Yelu Yan carried Li Xianyun slowly forward.

The lamplight cast long shadows of the two on the ground.

Jinwu, Youlan, and several guards followed from a distance.

Jinwu took off his own clothes and handed them to Youlan.

Youlan looked at him, puzzled.

"Put this on, it’s cold," said Jinwu, his face reddening.

As soon as he spoke, the guards started chuckling softly.

Jinwu, unable to keep up appearances, simply draped the clothes directly over Youlan’s shoulders.

Li Xianyun placed her little face on Yelu Yan’s head.

In the dark night, her heart turned very calm and tender, her gestures affectionate; she depended greatly on the man before her.

"Tired? You refused to climb up earlier when I asked. Don’t try to be strong when you shouldn’t."

"Mm."

"The carriage will be here in a short while."

"Mm."

Yelu Yan carried Li Xianyun slowly, feeling her affection; she was rarely this clingy.

It was quite enjoyable.

He wished this road would go on forever and never end.

Time should stay frozen in this beautiful evening.

-

The sleeping quarters of Houtang’s ninth princess, Li Yumin, were in complete disarray.

Li Yumin, spoiled and petulant, would frequently trash her palace on a whim.

The Emperor of Houtang, Li Mu, indulged her greatly, replacing destroyed items with new ones every time.

The world belonged to him—what could he not afford for his precious princess?

Li Yumin paced around the palace, then suddenly headed towards the palace gates.

The towering gates were firmly closed, with palace servants guarding outside.

Li Yumin pounded on the door fiercely, creating a clamor, while angrily shouting, "I want to see Father Emperor, let me out, let me out!!"

A terrified palace servant outside, still mustering his courage, respectfully said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered you to reflect behind closed doors, and we servants cannot overstep."

"Reflect on what, reflect on nothing! I’ve done nothing wrong! Quick, let me out!!"

The palace servants outside knelt down, their heads knocking against the ground, "Forgive us, Your Highness, but we are bound by the Emperor’s command."

"Fine, very well, then I shall hang myself here in Yanfei Palace and see if you wretched servants can save your own lives??"

In a fit of rage, Li Yumin walked to her inner chamber and took out the white silk she had previously used in her threats of suicide.

Seeing this, the maids were terrified and fell to their knees, tugging at her, "Princess, you must not do such a thing at all, you simply must not!"

Hearing the commotion inside the palace of searching for death, the palace servants dared not delay and hurried to inform Li Mu.

At that moment, Li Mu was in the sleeping quarters of his favored consort, entwined with her on the bed, the pleasure escalating.

This favored consort was a widow of exceptional talents in bed, clinging to Li Mu night after night, keeping him in her palace.

Though there were three thousand beauties in the Harem, only she held the title of his exclusive favor.