The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 376 - 375 How can he be so thoughtful?

Chapter 376: 375 How can he be so thoughtful?

Li Xianyun saw Ali’s puzzled look and continued, "Actually, it’s easy to deal with those hesitant commoners. As long as they see that many Khitan commoners are still coming to Ruyi Square to shop, they will naturally come as well."

Ali said, "Good, I’ll call my relatives and friends now. There’s just a limited number of them, though."

"I’ve already sent for reinforcements. They should be arriving soon," Li Xianyun said.

In fact, Li Xianyun had anticipated that Ruyi Square’s business would be greatly affected. Therefore, on the way there, she had ordered several Hidden Guards to run to Shitoutun to explain the situation to its residents and ask them to come and support Ruyi Square’s business.

It was no longer news that Yelu Yan had assigned Hidden Guards to protect Li Xianyun. Sometimes, Li Xianyun herself would send them out to do certain tasks.

The residents of Shitoutun were poor, and Li Xianyun certainly wouldn’t let them spend their own money. For those who came to support the business, she planned to compensate them double in the future.

Ali admired Li Xianyun greatly. She had thought of everything and always planned ahead.

Li Xianyun rolled up her sleeves, ready to join Ali in cleaning the stains on the door.

Ali quickly said, "My lord, this is not appropriate."

Especially since he knew Li Xianyun was the Khan’s favored concubine, he dared not let Li Xianyun do such work.

Li Xianyun picked up a soaked cloth from the bucket and said, "What does this matter? Let’s do it together; it’ll be faster."

Many commoners nearby were watching the commotion at Ruyi Square.

Some were gloating. Ever since Ruyi Square opened for business, it had been booming, making their own shops deserted and rarely visited. The envy of the surrounding merchants was palpable, and now they finally felt a sense of relief.

Others were purely there for the spectacle.

And some were drawn by the identity of Li Xianyun as the favored concubine.

They were curious to see what the woman who had bewitched their own Khan, making him break his precepts, looked like.

While sneaking glances, they also whispered among themselves, but of course, they only dared to whisper.

Though Li Xianyun was Han, her status as a favored concubine was not something to be casually commented on.

"She is actually working side by side with the servants. She doesn’t seem like a bad person."

"The word ’bad’ isn’t written on a bad person’s face. She’s probably just doing this for show."

"Ruyi Square’s business is done for this time."

"Women should recognize their place, stay at home, care for their husband and teach their children; flaunting themselves in public is highly improper."

"Keep your voice down. Do you want to keep your head if those words got out?"

"..."

Li Xianyun and the people of Ruyi Square cleaned the stains on the doors and windows, allowing the square’s stalls to open as usual.

Yuchi Qian and Yelu Xuan were among the first batch of customers to arrive.

Yelu Xuan embraced Li Xianyun’s legs as soon as he arrived and looked up at her, "Godmother, Xuanxuan has missed you."

Li Xianyun reached out to rub Yelu Xuan’s head, "Godmother has missed you too."

Li Xianyun then took some pastries for Yelu Xuan to eat.

She looked at Yuchi Qian and asked, "How come you’re here?"

"What do you think?" Yuchi Qian replied with a mysterious smile.

Li Xianyun asked incredulously, "Could it be the Khan had you..."

She suddenly remembered that the previous afternoon, Yelu Yan had rushed over from the outside, had been affectionate with her for a while, and then returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance to deal with official duties. Could it be that he had arranged for nobles to come and support her business?

How could he be so considerate?

Yuchi Qian laughed and said, "Don’t doubt it. It was indeed the Khan who informed us, and it isn’t just Liuwang Residence; other royal relatives and nobles were also notified to come and support Ruyi Square’s business today."

Li Xianyun was utterly touched by Yelu Yan’s gesture.

Soon after, Yuchi Qian’s words were confirmed as the Great Princess Consort arrived with her three children, and other officials’ family members also came.

Ruyi Square gradually bustled with activity.

After Habu and the people from Shitoutun arrived, the crowd at the entrance of Ruyi Square had already formed a long line.

Li Xianyun had Yuchi Qian and Yelu Xuan eat in the main hall, while she herself approached Habu.

Upon first seeing Li Xianyun, Habu was a bit constrained. He hadn’t expected that Li Xianyun was a woman, and moreover, one extremely favored by the Khan.

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "I must thank Elder for bringing people over to patronize us today."

"There’s no need for formalities, Princess. You have been kind to us from Shitoutun, it’s the least we can do," he replied.

The title "Princess" was quite awkward for Li Xianyun to hear, and with a chuckle, she said, "Just call me ’Young Master.’

Habu breathed a sigh of relief and called out "Young Master."

The strategies of Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun proved effective. Seeing that many officials and nobles, as well as Khitan folks, were taking care of Ruyi Square’s business, the undecided commoners gradually eased up and started coming over to Ruyi Square to buy things.

The pastries, candied fruits, and milk tea in Ruyi Square were truly delicious and satisfying. Having grown accustomed to them, people really craved them when suddenly unable to have them.

If they didn’t buy, even the children at home would be difficult to appease.

Pastries and candied fruits were the children’s favorites, after all.

At the street corner, two individuals were observing the situation at Ruyi Square. One of them said, "I’ll stay here and watch; you go back and report to our master."

"Yes."

With that, the person turned and ran out of the alley, mounted a tall horse, and rode towards the Nanwang Mansion.

Upon reaching the back door of Nanwang Mansion, the person knocked, and the door opened in response.

"I need to see the Prince."

Inside the study of the Nanwang Mansion.

Ji Xueyuan was reading a secret letter that instructed him to remain under cover and not to expose his identity because of personal feelings, lest years of effort go to waste.

After reading it, Ji Xueyuan was so enraged that he crumpled the letter into a ball and hurled it onto the floor.

How much more was he expected to endure? What had he not already endured?

He had even sacrificed his own son and daughter—how could they ask him to endure more?!

Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Prince, your servant has returned."

Ji Xueyuan took a deep breath, picked up the secret letter from the ground, and placed it in the incense burner.

The red charcoals met the letter, and it immediately caught fire.

Not until the letter was burned beyond recognition, leaving only a few ashes, did Ji Xueyuan sit back down in the Taishi Chair at the front of his desk and leisurely said, "Come in."

The person who had been watching on the street corner promptly pushed the door open, entered, and closed the door behind him from the inside.

Approaching the desk, he knelt on the ground, bowed respectfully, and reported, "To inform the Prince, the guests at the front of Ruyi Square continue to come and go incessantly, unaffected."

Ji Xueyuan snorted coldly. Yelu Yan really was blinded by lust; for the sake of a woman, he had even let the officials and nobles patronize the place. That was truly absurd.

However, currently, assassinating or abducting Li Xianyun was simply impossible.

Yelu Yan had assigned many people to ensure her safety—nobody could get close to her.

Since a tangible kidnapping was unfeasible, then it would have to be rumors and slander.

A torrent of gossip—if only one or two could reach Yelu Yan’s ears, it would greatly impact their relationship.

If it led to the two of them turning against each other, that would be quite amusing.

At this moment, probably only Li Xianyun could bring down Yelu Yan.

For a man as foolish in love and flawless as Yelu Yan, only emotions could harm him.