The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 425 - 424 Are you here to take advantage of people again? (Second update)

Chapter 425: 424 Are you here to take advantage of people again? (Second update)

Yelu Yan furrowed his brows and said, "Just let me kiss you, and I’ll let you go, be a good girl, hmm?"

As he spoke, he took hold of Li Xianyun’s nape without asking, caught her lips, grinding and twirling. When Li Xianyun tried to say something, Yelu Yan didn’t give her the chance. He pressed her head firmly, preventing her from moving.

Li Xianyun soon melted in Yelu Yan’s embrace, letting him kiss her deeply or lightly at his will.

After a while, Yelu Yan kissed Li Xianyun’s face all over, slowly moving towards her ear.

Li Xianyun, with her eyes gently closed, fluttered her butterfly-like lashes, and said in a soft voice, "My lord, this is the study."

While kissing her, Yelu Yan muttered indistinctly, "It doesn’t matter."

If the two of them had only shared kisses, it would have been fine, but Yelu Yan soon couldn’t restrain himself.

Li Xianyun quickly grabbed his hand, her face blushing as she said, "My lord, if the clothes get wrinkled, people will notice."

Yelu Yan looked up, kissing Li Xianyun’s lips, and said vaguely, "I will straighten them for you."

As he spoke, he kissed down her neck, pulled aside any obstruction, and buried his head in her chest.

Li Xianyun tilted her head back, lightly biting her swollen, reddened lips.

After quite some time, Li Xianyun finally managed to free herself from Yelu Yan and walked out of the study.

Yelu Yan originally wanted to come out with her, but Li Xianyun stopped him.

Intervention in court affairs by the harem was a strict taboo, no matter in Houtang or Khitan.

If the ministers from the previous dynasty found out, who knew what they would say.

Li Xianyun went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, double-checked the items needed, and then visited Haoyang Palace to view the samples of cakes needed for the hunt.

Haoyang Palace had always managed court banquets and had more experience, so delegating the preparation of cakes, meals, and fruits for the hunt to them was somewhat reassuring.

Because the Chief of Haoyang Palace had been informed in advance, a Chief from the Khan Palace’s kitchen was also sent there personally to direct the making of cakes.

Thus, when the kitchen maids from Haoyang Palace brought out the samples of cakes, both their appearance and taste were quite exceptional.

There were still places for improvement, though, and Li Xianyun helped them make two kinds of pastries.

By the time they finished, it was time for the evening meal, so Li Xianyun had the cakes from Haoyang Palace brought to Cirui Palace—Yaduo’s residence.

When Li Xianyun arrived at the main building of Cirui Palace, she saw Yaduo teasing Snowball with a gold-covered stick.

Tied tightly to the front of the stick were two chicken feathers and two little bells.

As she shook it, the crisp sound rang out, delighting Snowball, who gleefully jumped and ran around.

Witnessing this harmonious and cozy scene before her, Li Xianyun couldn’t help but think that Yelu Yan was right; Snowball should indeed stay with Yaduo.

She was so busy every day that she hardly had time to accompany Snowball, and on the rare occasions she was free, Yelu Yan would cling to her so persistently that she seldom got the chance to play with it.

Li Xianyun didn’t want to interrupt Yaduo’s leisure, so she quietly watched from the side, a smile curving her lips.

Yaduo’s personal maid wanted to alert her mistress but was stopped by Li Xianyun.

However, Snowball quickly noticed her and came rolling over, meowing happily at her legs.

It was then that Yaduo noticed Li Xianyun, straightened up, and laughed, "Oh my, little Snowball is just too energetic, doesn’t seem to get tired from running. Being young is great indeed."

Li Xianyun crouched down to embrace Snowball, stroking its fur, then stepped forward and linked arms with Yaduo, chuckling, "Grandmother is also quite young."

The personal maid took the cat-teasing stick and Snowball away.

Yaduo, with her free hand, gently patted Li Xianyun’s hand. "You always know how to make grandmother happy," she said.

Her conversation took a turn as she laughed, "How did Ayan let you go today? Usually, you’re called away before you’ve even had a chance to sit down."

Yaduo could tease her own grandson but as his wife, it was best not to follow that lead.

Li Xianyun said, "Grandmother, for the hunting day, I have brought the snacks that were used. Please try them and see how they are. If they’re not good, I will take them back and have them improved."

Yaduo originally thought that Li Xianyun’s offer to have her oversee the hunting preparations was just polite talk, but it turned out to be true.

What an elderly person wanted most was to feel useful and valuable, not forsaken by the passage of time.

"You, child, could have decided on your own; there’s no need for you to show them to your grandmother."

"How could I not? Without Grandmother’s guidance, I would take detours."

Yaduo patted Li Xianyun’s hand affectionately and laughed, "Grandmother really likes the way you talk; you always manage to cheer me up."

"I’m speaking the honest truth," Li Xianyun laughed in response.

Yaduo tasted each type of pastry and was very pleased, laughing, "If I really had to rank them, I think these two snacks are the tastiest."

Youlan couldn’t help but say, "The Imperial Noble Consort truly has an eye for quality. The other snacks were made by the kitchen maids following the Princess’s instructions, but these two were handmade by the Princess herself for you to enjoy."

Yaduo said with a laugh, "Your mistress must indeed be a culinary expert; all of you attendants must have enjoyed quite a few delicacies, haven’t you?"

"Imperial Noble Consort surely is divinely perceptive," laughed Youlan.

Yaduo laughed heartily, "You two, master and servant, might as well stay here for good. With you two by my side, I find myself smiling all day long."

Just then, a rich magnetic voice cut across, "Grandmother, what brings you so much joy?"

Yaduo looked at her grandson, her smile gradually subsiding, and said with dissatisfaction, "Xianxian has just arrived, and you’re here to whisk her away?"

Yelu Yan performed a respectful salute to Yaduo and laughed, "What are you saying, Grandmother? You’re making me sound like a bandit stealing people away."

"At least you’re self-aware. Tell me, when have you not arrived shortly after Xianxian has said but a few words? This time is no exception."

Yelu Yan sat down next to Li Xianyun, and as usual pulled his chair closer to her, sitting right beside her.

"How about today I stay and dine with you and your precious granddaughter-in-law?"

"Xianxian was already planning to stay for the meal; there was no need for you to say anything," Yaduo said with a hint of scorn.

Yelu Yan gave Yaduo an amused look and then turned to Li Xianyun.

A certain young woman was smiling happily, her bright eyes and lovely features radiating with joy.

Yelu Yan leaned closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Are you watching the jokes between your husband and Grandmother again?"

Li Xianyun was momentarily stunned and then whispered back softly, "I am not."

Yelu Yan took hold of Li Xianyun’s hand under the table, laughing, "Alright, alright, if not, then not. But even if there were, it wouldn’t matter."

In a room full of people, his leaning over like this to talk to her was ultimately embarrassing.

Li Xianyun withdrew her hand and picked up a pastry from the table, offering it to the tall, robust man next to her, "Khan, please try the snacks for the hunting day."

Yelu Yan took it and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and then nodding, "Delicious."

"How could it not be delicious? It was made by Xianxian’s own hands," Yaduo said with a smile.

Yelu Yan looked straight at Li Xianyun with a meaningful smile, "Indeed, delicious."

When he first said "delicious," Li Xianyun had no other thoughts; but when he said it the second time, accompanied by that not-so-innocent smile, it suddenly reminded her of a scene in the Hall of Diligent Governance study.

Yelu Yan was holding her, burying his face in her chest, nibbling, and had also said "delicious."

Thinking of this, Li Xianyun’s palm-sized face flushed red.

She felt like she was being teased, but there was no particularly direct evidence.