The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 420: April 19 - No Extravagance Desired (first update)

Chapter 420: April 19 - No Extravagance Desired (first update)

Yelu Yan’s expression grew colder and sterner.

"The consort is the woman who is to spend her life with me, doesn’t my mentor think it’s inappropriate to refer to her in such a manner?"

He actually went to such lengths to defend Li Xianyun that he couldn’t even tolerate the term "a woman."

Xiao Dilu felt as if he had thorns in his back, his heart cooling by half in an instant.

"The consort is a woman I sought after tirelessly, and I value her even more than my own life. It was my idea not to want heirs, and it has nothing to do with the consort. If my mentor must blame someone, blame me. Yet today, you attribute all these faults to the consort. How is that fair to her? Besides, the consort is my support, she has never been an impediment."

"Has my mentor ever considered that if I had not met the consort, I would never have married in my lifetime? By then, the worries of my mentor would not merely be about the succession."

Xiao Dilu’s face showed deep sorrow.

"Khan, for the sake of the great cause, I never married nor had children. I regard the Khan as my own child. For the Khan, I would readily give even this old life. How could I possibly do anything to harm you? You are of age to dote on women, and I do not oppose that, as people have their desires. Nor am I heartless. The Khan is free to favor women, but should not favor one exclusively; doing so would surely lead to chaos."

"From what I observe, the consort’s feelings for the Khan are not deep. If the consort were truly fond of the Khan, why would she not bear you an heir? If the consort were fond of the Khan, why didn’t she oppose when I suggested filling the harem?"

He even went on to say these things.

Yelu Yan’s eyes narrowed involuntarily, his dark eyes brimming with an icy coldness akin to winter snow.

The elegant interior was silent, with only the occasional chirp of sparrows coming from outside the window.

Yelu Yan was silent for a moment before saying, "Between the consort and me, it has always been me who willingly chased after her. I never dared to hope that the consort would offer me the same level of emotion; as long as she is willing to stay by my side, I am content."

A wave of tumult crashed over Xiao Dilu’s heart. The Khan, a figure who commands heaven and earth, was invincible—how could such a revered hero be insignificant in her eyes? How low the Khan seemed in front of her.

That woman was truly detestable.

Xiao Dilu couldn’t help but feel pain for Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan continued, "Today, the consort brushed aside what my mentor said to her, attributing it to inquiries about her illness. She never revealed a single word of it to me."

Xiao Dilu was surprised; he hadn’t expected that he might have wronged that woman.

But what of it?

A woman who is unwilling to extend the Khan’s lineage will ultimately become a hindrance to him.

"I will have another palace cleaned out, and when my mentor’s health is restored, you can move there," Yelu Yan said.

Three years ago, after Yelu Yan ascended to the throne and considering Xiao Dilu’s poor health, he brought him to live in the Imperial Palace, sparing him the exhaustion of traveling to the Imperial Court.

Xiao Dilu looked at Yelu Yan in shock, his heart aching more intensely.

For the sake of a woman, Yelu Yan had become so muddleheaded.

Their twenty-odd years of companionship couldn’t even compare to the few months he’d spent with that woman.

Having finished speaking, Yelu Yan stood up and strode out.

Although Yaduo no longer interfered in the affairs of the palace, there were some matters that she took to heart.

Ever since Xiao Dilu had repeatedly sought out Yaduo, asking her to persuade Yelu Yan, she had foreseen that there would eventually be discord between Yelu Yan and Xiao Dilu over Li Xianyun.

Now the old officials had not been completely removed; further internal strife would only add fuel to the fire.

Yaduo thus ordered people to keep an eye on Xiao Dilu’s movements.

She learned about today’s events broadly and, after lunch, heard that Yelu Yan had gone to Xiao Dilu’s place.

The two seemingly parted on bad terms. After Yelu Yan left, Xiao Dilu began packing up to move out of the palace.

Such a commotion would only please enemies and pain friends.

Yaduo quickly brought attendants to Xiao Dilu’s chamber, just as she saw Xiao Dilu instructing Huo Dun and another palace servant to carry his bundled possessions out.

Xiao Dilu was an official of integrity, possessing little more than a few articles of clothing, some books, and a small amount of travel funds.

Yaduo blocked Xiao Dilu’s path and said, "Minister Xiao, why this?"

Xiao Dilu replied with indignation, "This old official is of advanced age and can no longer serve the Imperial Court; I have already submitted a petition to retire and return to my hometown."

Yaduo said, "Please allow me one moment, Minister Xiao. If, after I have spoken, you still wish to leave, I will not stop you."

Xiao Dilu remained silent.

Yaduo turned to her attendants and said, "What are you standing around for? Take Minister Xiao’s belongings back inside the house."

Immediately, two palace servants took the bundles and headed towards the main hall.

After the bundles were put down, Yaduo dismissed everyone else.

Only Yaduo and Xiao Dilu were left in the vast main hall.

Yaduo sat in the seat of honor, while Xiao Dilu sat down to her right.

Yaduo looked at Xiao Dilu and said, "Minister Xiao, today Ayan upset you, and I, as his grandmother, apologize to you on his behalf."

Xiao Dilu quickly stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "This old official dares not accept."

"Please sit, Minister Xiao," Yaduo continued, "I know that you have always had Ayan’s and Khitan’s best interests at heart. Having you as his mentor is the greatest fortune of his life. He is still young and now takes matters of men and women perhaps too seriously. Given time, this will pass."

"Xianxian is a girl of solid virtue and gentle heart, and having her by Ayan’s side is not a bad thing."

Seeing Xiao Dilu about to speak, Yaduo said, "Their relationship is one of deep affection, and they are still newlyweds. It is indeed too early to press them about having children. Given time, they will come to understand this on their own."

"Minister Xiao, it is said that once a teacher, forever a father. You have been painstakingly devising plans and caring for Ayan like a father all these years. When you were poisoned and hanging by a thread, Ayan stayed by your bedside without rest. Such affection is no different from that of father and son. There is a saying that children and grandchildren have their own luck, and it’s best to let them make their own decisions. We can’t control them, so let’s just let nature take its course."

Although Xiao Dilu was angry, he had never thought of abandoning Yelu Yan. Recalling the image of Yelu Yan attending to him at his bedside, his eyes warmed slightly. Hearing Yaduo’s heartfelt words, he felt he had made a fuss over a trivial matter.

Xiao Dilu stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "This old official has been confused, please forgive me, Imperial Noble Consort."

"When one is too concerned, they become muddled. How could I not understand that?" Yaduo replied. "You can settle back into the palace with peace of mind. I will go back and break that rotten boy’s legs and teach him a good lesson."

Xiao Dilu hastily said, "Imperial Noble Consort must not! There must be a distinction between sovereign and subject, and moreover, the Khan has already allowed me to retain my dignity. Please do not speak of this matter again."

Yaduo smiled and said, "Minister Xiao truly has a broad mind. Now I am at ease."

After sitting for a while longer and offering some words of comfort, she left with a group of maids and palace servants.

Back in Cirui Hall, Yaduo’s personal maid dismissed the others and served her a cup of tea, then said, "My lady, shall we not have the Khan come and make peace?"

Yaduo sipped her tea, moistening her throat, and said, "Make peace over what? Minister Xiao was making a mountain out of a molehill. What’s wrong with a newlywed couple being affectionate? Besides, they’ve just married and haven’t even had enough time to enjoy each other’s company before being urged to have children—who would want to hear that?"