The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 372 - 371 Sweetheart? My darling? (First update)

Chapter 372: 371 Sweetheart? My darling? (First update)

Yaduo looked at a dish in the center of the table and asked, "What is this?"

"Steamed crown daisy, please try some," Li Xianyun said, using the serving chopsticks to pick up a few for Yaduo.

The crown daisy was washed clean, wrapped in a layer of white flour and placed on a steaming rack. Once steamed, it was mixed with salt, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make the dish.

The preparation was very simple.

The dish was steamed until soft and flavorful, ideal for the elderly.

Sure enough, after just one bite, Yaduo couldn’t stop praising it. She asked Li Xianyun in detail about the recipe and even had her personal maid take careful note of it.

Li Xianyun laughed and said, "Grandmother, if you like it, your granddaughter-in-law will cook it for you."

"You might promise, but Ayan won’t agree, he treasures you like ’my darling’ and wouldn’t bear to have you cook every day," Yaduo said with a smile while eating.

Li Xianyun’s fair little face turned slightly red, and just as she was about to deny it, a pleasant male voice was heard.

"What ’treasure’, what ’my darling’?"

His voice was magnetic and pleasing to the ear.

Both looked up and saw a tall and sturdy figure appear at the dining hall entrance.

Yelu Yan looked relaxed with a smile on his lips, glanced at Li Xianyun, then turned his gaze to Yaduo.

Yaduo said with a smile, "Naturally, your ’treasure’, your ’my darling’."

Yelu Yan instinctively looked towards Li Xianyun.

Someone else was looking downwards, as if it had nothing to do with her—a picture of detachment.

Embarrassed, wasn’t she?

Yelu Yan didn’t respond but instead greeted respectfully, "Wishing grandmother well."

"Sit down, it seems better to be lucky than early. We’ve only just begun eating, and here you are," Yaduo said with a laugh.

Yelu Yan sat next to Li Xianyun, shifting his chair closer so that their clothes brushed against each other.

Li Xianyun smiled without looking at Yelu Yan; previously, Yaduo had teased them about their relationship. If they were too affectionate now, who knew how Yaduo would tease them.

Yelu Yan found it amusing when Li Xianyun acted as if drawing a line between them and nudged her leg with his.

Li Xianyun dodged and then looked at him with an obviously warning glance.

Yelu Yan pretended not to notice those private gestures, and started a conversation, "Didn’t I tell you to summon me once the meal was prepared? Why didn’t anyone come to call me?"

He only dared to push the boundaries of Li Xianyun’s patience and was much more restrained in front of Yaduo, forgoing the use of "my husband."

"You are so busy, I didn’t dare to disturb you," she responded.

Yelu Yan gave Li Xianyun a deep look as if to say, ’That’s your excuse? Wait until we’re back to see how I deal with you.’

Yaduo ate while watching the show, happy to see her grandson show less formality and more of a young man’s vigor.

Li Xianyun looked up, catching the amusement in Yaduo’s eyes. She cleared her throat and said, "Grandmother, would you like some crucian carp soup? I added tomatoes to it, so it’s not greasy."

"Good," Yaduo said, smiling.

Both children were very filial, and that pleased her greatly.

As Li Xianyun reached for a bowl to serve the soup, Yelu Yan took it from her hand, saying, "Let me."

He served a bowl to Yaduo and then some for Li Xianyun, placing it in front of her and whispering, "Crucian carp soup is very nourishing, you should drink more of it."

Li Xianyun held the small bowl with her porcelain-white hands and softly replied with a "Mm," then lowered her head to drink the soup.

During the meal, Yelu Yan was as attentive as always to Li Xianyun, serving her dishes and pouring her tea and water.

Li Xianyun reminded him several times with her eyes to no avail and finally spoke up, "Khan, please eat. I can serve myself."

Yelu Yan agreed readily but continued to fuss over her regardless. Eventually, Li Xianyun became irritated and nudged him with her elbow.

Yelu Yan then turned to Yaduo with mock seriousness, complaining, "Grandmother, are you going to do anything about this? Your precious granddaughter-in-law is hitting your grandson."

Li Xianyun was startled by his accusation and blurted out, "You... I didn’t!"

In her panic, she even forgot to use honorifics.

Yaduo laughed and said, "Well done, who made you deserve a beating?"

Yelu Yan laughed happily, "Grandmother, you’re so biased."

"Grandmother is biased indeed, who made Xianxian so lovable?"

After saying that, Yaduo looked at Li Xianyun and said, "Xianxian, Grandmother isn’t an old fuddy-duddy. I’m overjoyed to see the two of you so affectionate, so there’s no need for secrecy, understand?"

Li Xianyun really wanted to find a hole to crawl into, her face blushing as she made an "mm" sound.

After the three of them finished their meal, Li Xianyun took Yaduo’s pulse and gave her acupuncture.

After being pricked by the silver needles at the acupoints, Yaduo felt light all over, her body felt very comfortable, and she wanted to sleep as soon as she lay in bed.

With old age came all sorts of ailments, each day was connected with pain.

Now, after Li Xianyun’s acupuncture, she only felt as if her sick body had returned to her youth, as if the withered tree had sprouted, and the pine had turned green again; she felt completely comfortable, full of vitality.

Yelu Yan took Li Xianyun out of the main building of Cirui Palace, and as soon as they stepped out the door, he scooped her up in his arms.

Li Xianyun looked around and whispered, "Husband, put me down, we’re not in Khan Palace."

"Didn’t Grandmother just say it? She likes that we are affectionate."

Li Xianyun knew arguing was futile, so she refrained and let him carry her.

Being carried meant not having to walk, how comfortable.

And this man’s brute strength made the walk less tiresome, so he might save some energy for bed later.

Her period was almost over, and she didn’t yet know what kind of fierce battle she would be facing.

Just thinking about it made her heart race and face flush.

Yet unbeknownst to her, the look on her face under the dim light was giving everything away.

"What are you thinking about, hm?"

"Nothing."

Not wanting him to see, Li Xianyun lightly leaned her head on his shoulder, gazing at the stars on the distant eaves.

There was no moonlight tonight, and the stars were scattered like jewels against the ink-blue sky.

Yelu Yan kissed her forehead.

Yelu Yan, with Li Xianyun in his arms, walked down the long corridor, a host of maids and guards following far behind them.

"Husband, did you intervene in the matter of Shuoping Princess just to vent my anger?"

"That’s part of it, and there are some other reasons as well."

"After all, Ji Xueyuan is a veteran official serving three dynasties. I don’t want to cause disharmony between you and your subject because of me," Li Xianyun said.

"I was never in harmony with him in the first place, and it’s only a matter of time before I get rid of him."

Yelu Yan’s eyes held a thick murderous intent.

He was deeply calculating, and few people knew what he truly thought, but he never hid anything from Li Xianyun—she was the woman he intended to spend his life with.

Li Xianyun looked up at him, the tiny stars above his head, his gaze gentle to the extreme.

Perhaps no one could like Yelu Yan perfectly embody both tenderness and crudeness.

"I don’t want to influence your decisions because of me."

"Afraid I’m blinded by love?" Yelu Yan laughed heartily, without a worry.

Li Xianyun chastised him, "Can’t you talk nicely?"

Yelu Yan then cleared his throat and obediently became more serious, "Xianxian, be assured, every step I take is carefully considered, and even more so than before. I want a long-lasting life with you, and I cannot allow myself to make a mistake."

The Emperor of Houliang still wanted to fight with him for a woman, a battle was inevitable.

To fall from grace was absolutely not allowed.