The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 418 - 417 Feeling a bit sorry for Yelu Yan (First Update)

Chapter 418: 417 Feeling a bit sorry for Yelu Yan (First Update)

Li Xianyun paid her respects to Yaduo.

Snowball was comfortably lying in Yaduo’s arms, squinting his eyes. Upon seeing Li Xianyun, he immediately stood up, jumped down from Yaduo’s lap, and rubbed against Li Xianyun’s legs while meowing.

Li Xianyun bent down to pick up Snowball into her arms.

Snowball comfortably nestled his little head in Li Xianyun’s embrace, his ears drooping and eyes half-closed, extremely obedient.

Li Xianyun held him with one arm and gently stroked his sleek white fur with the other.

Seeing this, Yaduo said with a smile, "It’s different when the master is here. Xianxian, please sit."

Li Xianyun sat on the couch, with a low table separating her from Yaduo.

On the table were pastries sent over by Li Xianyun’s people, and the noontime sunlight shone through the gauze on the window lattice, casting a tranquil and peaceful scene.

"Grandmother, how is your health?"

Yaduo replied with a smile, "With the medicinal formulae you’ve provided, I feel full of energy, as if I have grown younger."

To prove her point, she even stretched her limbs a bit.

Indeed, it’s said that the elderly can be like children, and it certainly seemed so.

"Xianxian, the pastries you had sent over last time were truly delicious."

Li Xianyun replied with a smile, "If Grandmother likes them, when I have some free time, I will make them for you."

Yaduo waved her hand dismissively and said with a laugh, "You have many responsibilities. Attend to your matters first. Don’t worry about Grandmother, so as not to cause you trouble."

Li Xianyun’s eyes crinkled as she smiled, "Grandmother’s matters are of utmost importance; how could they be considered trouble?"

Her words were measured and pleasant to hear, making Yaduo very fond of Li Xianyun.

"You sweet talker, you’re better at flattering people than Ayan, that boy."

"I wouldn’t dare flatter you, Grandmother; I’m merely stating the truth."

Yaduo’s smile was full of happiness.

Every time Li Xianyun visited, she could easily bring joy to her, causing her to smile from ear to ear.

Li Xianyun paused before saying, "Grandmother, the royal hunt is in three days. I have prepared everything for the hunt, and I would like you to take a look, to identify anything that may be inappropriate, so I can make improvements."

Yaduo left all palace affairs to Li Xianyun, showing her trust in her.

Li Xianyun was naturally aware of this.

However, arranging the hunt without consulting Yaduo would seem disrespectful. Additionally, being new to these matters and organizing such an event for the first time, she feared making mistakes, and having Yaduo check would be an added layer of assurance.

Seeing her humility, Yaduo was quite comforted and said, "Grandmother is old and not as useful as before. You manage it on your own just fine."

"How can Grandmother talk about herself like that? You are the backbone to Khan and me. With Grandmother stepping in, what problem cannot be solved? Please, do not decline."

Elderly people watching their juniors grow stronger and realizing they’re no longer needed may feel a sense of loss and anxiety, and they may fear becoming useless or worry about being disregarded by the younger generation.

Li Xianyun’s words were also a form of comfort to Yaduo.

Yaduo smiled broadly, reached out to touch Li Xianyun’s face affectionately, "Alright, Grandmother will go, let’s consider it as an outing for us."

Yelu Yan, after hearing that Xiao Dilu had called Li Xianyun aside for a word, was quite worried. He immediately left the affairs in the Hall of Diligent Governance and hurried over. Upon entering the doors of Cirui Hall, he heard Yaduo’s joyful laughter.

He strode into the Warm Pavilion, only to see a harmonious scene.

The maids inside all paid their respects to Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan’s eyes were solely on Li Xianyun, trying to discern any abnormalities from her blooming smile.

As Yelu Yan approached, Li Xianyun stood to pay her respects.

Yelu Yan walked quickly to her, grasped her hand, squeezed it, and almost pressed his whole body against hers as he said, "Haven’t I told you not to do formalities with me? How could you forget again?"

The elders were still present, yet Yelu Yan was so bold.

Li Xianyun’s little face flushed with heat, and she felt a bit awkward as she withdrew her small hand from his large one.

Seeing this, Yelu Yan took a step back, turned his head, and caught sight of Yaduo’s amused, smirking face. He touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, and bowed to Yaduo.

Yaduo laughed, "You rascal, if Xianxian hadn’t come to grandmother’s palace, who knows when you would have shown up."

Yelu Yan sat where Li Xianyun had just been sitting, took hold of Li Xianyun’s forearm, and pulled her to sit beside him.

"Grandmother is teasing her grandson again. I’ve been tied up with official duties, which is why I haven’t come as often," he explained.

Yaduo pursed her lips and said, "Always blaming official duties, as if your grandmother doesn’t know you."

She paused, then looking at Yelu Yan, she said, "Tell me, did you upset Xianxian?"

Yelu Yan glanced at Li Xianyun and chuckled, "How could I? With grandmother’s support, how dare I upset your precious granddaughter-in-law?"

"But when you just came in, you looked so flustered and fixated on Xianxian—it was like seeing a guilty conscience," Yaduo teased.

"Grandmother, rest assured, your grandson doesn’t have the heart to bully your precious granddaughter-in-law. I just had some issues I wanted to discuss with Xianxian, so I came in a bit of a rush," he replied.

"Really?"

"Absolutely true."

"Grandmother doesn’t believe a word you say," Yaduo said, turning to Li Xianyun. "Xianxian, tell me, did Ayan bully you?"

"No, Khan is very good to his granddaughter-in-law," Li Xianyun said with a smile while petting the cat.

"That rascal can be stubborn and overbearing. If he ever angers you, you just tell grandmother and watch me break his legs."

Yelu Yan laughed mirthfully, "Grandmother, how can you be so partial?"

"If grandmother wants to be partial, is there anything you can do about it?"

"Your grandson wouldn’t dare."

These two were so very entertaining.

Yaduo laughed, "Didn’t you say you had something to discuss with Xianxian? Go on then."

She had no intention of getting in the way of the young couple’s affairs.

Yelu Yan forcibly took the kitten from Li Xianyun’s hands and placed it into Yaduo’s embrace.

"Grandmother, your grandson and your precious granddaughter-in-law have been very busy lately. I must trouble you to take care of Snowball for a few more days," he said.

Yaduo already adored the fluffy, round little cat. Hearing this, she smiled, "Alright, you two go about your business. I’ll take good care of Snowball for you."

Yelu Yan replied with gratitude, "Thank you, grandmother."

Seeing Yaduo’s affection for Snowball, Li Xianyun found it hard to object.

She only thought how cunningly he had managed to dispose of his "rival" so effortlessly.

Yelu Yan, holding Li Xianyun’s hand, led her out of Cirui Hall and took the path toward the rear garden.

Li Xianyun let him lead her, already guessing the reason for his hurried return.

Yelu Yan always paid close attention to matters concerning her, and the fact that Xiao Dilu had sought her out would naturally have reached his ears, precipitating his hasty arrival.

Suddenly, Li Xianyun felt somewhat sorry for Yelu Yan.

He loved her so much, yet she could not promise to bear him children.

If he married another woman, the issue of offspring would no longer be a problem.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice when Yelu Yan came to a stop, until she found herself wrapped in his wide embrace.

The guards and all the maids and palace servants had already put some distance between themselves and the two, stopping now, not daring to look this way.