The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 357 - 356 Seeking Yelu Yan for the First Time (First Update)

Chapter 357: 356 Seeking Yelu Yan for the First Time (First Update)

After seeing to these arrangements, Li Xianyun led a group of people to the Northern Region.

Since both the water wheels and the turnplows had been built, turbid water flowed in the ditches, and locals were clearing the waterways in the fields.

Many fields had been adequately watered, and the inlets were sealed, just waiting for the land to dry before sowing the seeds, which would mark the completion of this year’s major activities.

Li Xianyun saw a large number of locals queuing in the distance at the poplar grove, and out of curiosity, she walked over to have a look.

It turned out that officials and clerks from the Agricultural and Mulberry Office were distributing grain seeds according to the size of land allotted to each family.

Normally, these farmers would have to go to the Agricultural and Mulberry Office to collect their seeds, but since the office was far away and it was a critical time for irrigation, the officials, sympathizing with the locals, brought the seeds to the fields for distribution.

The officials were kind, and the farmers, happy with having solved their watering issues, created a harmonious and joyful scene.

Li Xianyun watched for a while and was about to leave with her people when, by coincidence, an old man failed to hold his bag properly, spilling many seeds.

The old man hurriedly crouched down to scoop the seeds back up.

Li Xianyun went over to help.

The old man quickly put his hand out to stop her, "Young Master Li, please, there’s no need, I can handle it myself."

Li Xianyun was amiable, talented without arrogance, and not afraid of hard work, willingly doing carpentry alongside the craftspeople without disdain for dirt or fatigue.

Sang Yanlin and the craftspeople of the Department of Equipment all liked her very much.

Whenever they encountered locals with questions, they would heap praise on Li Xianyun.

Of course, Li Xianyun also treated the locals very well.

During the construction of the turnplows and water wheels, many locals would come to watch.

The clean-cut young master who directed the construction always left a deep impression.

He seemed confident without being overbearing.

Occasionally, when locals approached Li Xianyun with various questions during her downtime, she would respond with a smile, without a hint of impatience.

Her smile was contagious; the onlooking locals with their dark faces couldn’t help but smile back, speaking with such a gentle and graceful young master subdued their roughness.

Word about Li Xianyun spread far and wide, and there was no one in the Northern Region who didn’t recognize Young Master Li, all grateful for the water wheels and turnplows he had built, which solved the pressing need for irrigation.

Li Xianyun said with a smile, "It’s fine, I’m not busy anyway."

But when she picked up the seeds, she noticed something was off, the seeds were very light.

Upon closer inspection, Li Xianyun discovered many roasted seeds mixed in.

Even if these seeds were planted, they wouldn’t grow into crops.

Someone was attempting to ruin the crops, to waste all the effort of the farmers and the Department of Equipment, aiming to draw criticism towards Yelu Yan for the agricultural issues.

Their intentions were malicious.

The old man, seeing Li Xianyun staring at the seeds, asked with confusion, "Young Master, is there a problem?"

"No."

Li Xianyun’s heart pounded like a drum, but she remained calm and helped the old man gather the seeds.

The old man nodded towards Li Xianyun with a smile and walked away.

Li Xianyun looked up at the officials distributing wheat and couldn’t help but narrow her eyes, realizing that everyone who had touched the seeds needed to be thoroughly investigated.

To avoid alarming the wrongdoers, Li Xianyun silently led her people away.

Once they were at a distance, Li Xianyun asked Bater, "Do you know where the Khan is right now?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Bater replied, "The Khan has gone to the Northern Great Camp."

His straightforwardness made Li Xianyun take another look.

Bater said, "Whenever the Khan goes somewhere, he sends someone to inform me, in case you’re looking for him and can’t find him."

"Does he do this every day?"

"Yes."

Even though Li Xianyun never actively sought him out when she was outside, Yelu Yan still made it a point to keep Bater informed of his whereabouts.

Li Xianyun’s heart was quite touched, as Yelu Yan, who seemed rough and careless, turned out to be so considerate.

Li Xianyun and Youlan boarded the carriage.

"To the Northern Great Camp," Li Xianyun said.

Youlan thought they were going to Shitoutun, and couldn’t help asking with confusion, "Master, why are we going to the Northern Great Camp?"

"I have something to discuss with the Khan."

Youlan looked at Li Xianyun and smiled ambiguously.

Li Xianyun looked at her, "Put that expression away, it’s not what you’re thinking."

"Master is so clingy to the Khan; he will surely be very happy," Youlan couldn’t resist saying.

She had indeed misunderstood.

Li Xianyun lightly tapped her forehead with her hand and smiled, "You’re overthinking it."

The carriage traveled for over an hour before arriving at the Northern Great Camp, and Li Xianyun felt her waist was about to break.

Being delicate from her monthly discomfort, sitting or standing for long periods would cause severe back pain.

High walls of the Northern Great Camp were guarded by soldiers every few meters.

Seeing a carriage approaching from afar, they quickly reported to the commander.

The commander went up to check from above the gates.

Before the carriage could draw near, soldiers had their bows drawn, and one of them shouted, "Stop!"

Bater pulled the carriage to a halt and looked up at the soldiers on the city walls.

"Who goes there?!"

Bater stepped down from the carriage and said, "We have come from the palace to seek an audience with the Khan!"

Li Xianyun had only brought Bater to the Northern Great Camp once before, and many soldiers had not seen them and were unaware of their identities.

But upon hearing that they were looking for the Khan, the commander did not dare to neglect them and quickly sent a soldier to report to the Khan, letting him decide.

Meanwhile, he shouted down from the walls, "Someone has been sent to report; wait here!"

Bater responded loudly, "Understood!"

The soldier who went to deliver the message came down from the wall, mounted his horse, and raced toward the training ground located at the center of the Northern Great Camp.

The vast training ground was used for drilling soldiers, with a twenty-meter-square arena at the forefront.

Between drills, martial arts contests were held to boost morale and practice skills.

When the soldier arrived, Yelu Yan was sparring with more than a dozen strong men on the arena.

Those strong men were clearly no match for Yelu Yan, with seven or eight of them falling within a few rounds.

Then another seven or eight soldiers stepped up to challenge.

The Khitan prized martial prowess, and ranks and status were irrelevant on the training ground, which focused solely on martial skills.

The contest was reaching a crucial moment when the soldier, not wishing to disturb, whispered to Jinwu, "Guard Jin, someone from the palace has come seeking the Khan. General Shi does not know how to handle it and sent me to consult with the Khan."

Jinwu, a martial fanatic, craned his neck towards the arena, distractedly saying, "How could someone from the palace come here?"

The consort had never sought out the Khan before.

The soldier now knew what to do, bowed, and retreated.

A thought suddenly burst into Jinwu’s mind: Could it be the consort coming to find the Khan?

How could that be?

But what if it was true?

If the Khan knew that because of him the consort was stopped outside, he would be terribly upset; having Jinwu guard the city gate for ten days to half a month would be considered getting off lightly.

With this in mind, Jinwu hurriedly caught up with the soldier, "I’ll go with you."

How dare someone disturb his enjoyment of such a thrilling contest! If they discovered an impostor outside the camp, they would certainly give them a sound beating to relieve their anger.