The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 434 - 433 wants to hide her away from sight (late at night)

Chapter 434: 433 wants to hide her away from sight (late at night)

Li Xianyun’s tiny head rested in the solid crook of Yelu Yan’s arm, as she looked up at him with a smile, "Husband, how did you know I was sleepy?"

Yelu Yan lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead against her smooth, porcelain-like forehead, and chuckled, "How could I not know you, sleepyhead."

Li Xianyun’s eyes crinkled with her smile, her dimples shallow, her beauty firmly imprinted on Yelu Yan’s heart.

Yelu Yan lifted his head slightly and looked at her intently, "Sleep well, alright?"

"Mhm."

Li Xianyun said and closed her eyes.

After the pair returned to the Khan Palace and bathed, they went to rest, naturally without conversation.

The next morning, when Li Xianyun turned over, she found that there was no one beside her. Thus, she lay on the soft pillow and lazily called out, "Youlan."

Youlan quickly pushed the door and entered, smiling, "My lady, Khan instructed that you should sleep a little longer."

"No need to sleep any longer."

Today was a hunting day, and it was not to be taken lightly.

"Where is the Khan?" Li Xianyun propped herself up to sit.

She didn’t feel anything amiss during the wildness of the previous night, but after a night’s sleep, she felt terribly sore in her waist. That place was also somewhat uncomfortable.

Yelu Yan, what on earth did he eat to grow up like that, so huge, as if to kill me.

Youlan hung up the bed curtains and said, "Khan specially instructed me to tell you that he went out to take care of some matters and will be back soon. He wants you not to worry."

Li Xianyun "hmmed" as she got out of bed and put on her shoes, and when she looked up, she saw a red garment placed on the clothes rack at the side of the bed.

That garment was extremely luxurious, and its style was very attractive.

The neckline and cuffs were painted with Khitan patterns, and the clothing was adorned with various pearls and agates.

Even inside the chamber, it could not hide its dazzling lustre. If worn in the sunlight, it would certainly be stunning and eye-catching.

Underneath the garment, there was a pair of matching black boots, adorned with patterns similar to the neckline and cuffs, and also embellished with pearls and agates.

This set of attire was naturally extravagantly priced.

Following Li Xianyun’s gaze, Youlan said, "My lady, this is a garment that the Khan specifically ordered the embroideresses in the palace to sew for you. It took them nearly a month, and the pearls and agates on it are worth a fortune."

The Khan is truly good to my lady, sending her gifts every day—be they edible, utilitarian, or wearable, never repeating the same.

After Li Xianyun washed up and got dressed, she had the meal served in the chamber.

Wearing such luxurious attire for a meal seemed cumbersome; better to finish eating before donning the clothes.

As Li Xianyun ate breakfast, Yelu Yan returned. He was already dressed in his riding gear.

The crisp riding gear accentuated his tall and handsome figure even more.

Yelu Yan looked at Li Xianyun and smiled, "Up already?"

The two interacted just like any ordinary married couple, intimate and at ease.

Li Xianyun "hmmed" and asked, "Husband, have you had your meal yet?"

"Not yet."

Li Xianyun then had Youlan bring over a set of bowl and chopsticks.

Yelu Yan, looking at Li Xianyun, smiled and asked, "Do you like the clothes?"

"I like them."

Yelu Yan, hearing this, smiled happily.

"Husband, did you wear your silk armor today?"

"I have."

Yelu Yan noticed that Li Xianyun was looking at him skeptically, so he pulled open his front garment a little, revealing the silk armor underneath.

Li Xianyun then felt relieved and lowered her head to continue eating, but when she looked up, she caught Yelu Yan staring at her intently.

Li Xianyun’s eyes twinkled as she smiled, "Husband, you don’t need to worry about me."

Yelu Yan said, "Xianxian, today some princesses and commandery princesses from other countries will come. Their intentions may not be entirely pure, but you must trust me. I will love only you in this life."

He hadn’t considered this matter too seriously before, but after Xiao Dilu’s incident, Yelu Yan started to pay attention, afraid that Li Xianyun might be upset, so he reiterated it.

Yelu Yan cherished Li Xianyun greatly and couldn’t bear to see her unhappy, even less so to see her jealous.

He had experienced the taste of her jealousy before, and it was truly uncomfortable. He didn’t want his woman to feel that sort of pain.

"I know," Li Xianyun said.

After the meal, Youlan and another maid attended to Li Xianyun as she changed her clothes.

Yelu Yan accompanied them from the side.

Li Xianyun’s skin was pale and white like snow, truly suitable for wearing red; the red attire made her look like a celestial spirit lost in the mortal world, charming as a seductive sprite in the mountains.

The garment was quite form-fitting, displaying Li Xianyun’s graceful figure to its fullest extent.

As Yelu Yan watched, he started to regret having prepared this set of clothing for Li Xianyun.

His woman was too beautiful; he did not want other men to see her, not even a glance.

"Xianxian, if you don’t like this outfit, you can change into another," he said.

After all, it wasn’t the only outfit made especially for her.

"Doesn’t it look good?" Li Xianyun turned to look at him.

Yelu Yan raised his hand slightly, and Youlan with the other maid quickly withdrew.

Yelu Yan walked over to Li Xianyun, his large hand encircling her willowy waist, "It looks good, I just want to hide you away, not wanting other men to see you."

Li Xianyun laughed, "Such flattery."

But that was genuinely what he thought.

"It’s getting late, let’s go," Li Xianyun said.

"Okay."

Yelu Yan, with his arm still around Li Xianyun, left the main pavilion.

-

Imperial Hunting Grounds.

The royal relatives and high officials had arrived early with their female companions, with men and women seated separately.

In front of each person was a table laden with pastries, candied fruits, raisins, and fresh fruits.

There were pastries of all colors and shapes, apricot and peach candied fruits shone with luster, and the raisins were a rare delicacy that many had never seen before.

Upon sitting down, everyone was captivated by the food on the table.

The women started to pick them up and eat.

Intending only to taste, they couldn’t stop eating once they started.

Everyone dared only to whisper, careful not to raise their voices.

"What is this, it’s so delicious?"

"Raisins, they’ve been on sale at Ruyi Square for many days now, have you not tried them?"

The person shook their head.

Another said, "It’s not strange that you haven’t tried them. These raisins are very popular. As soon as Ruyi Square puts them out every morning, they are sold out within half an hour."

"They’re that sought after?"

"Indeed, they are."

Princess Jinyu, seated in the front row, overhearing this, also took one to taste and found it delicious.

Princess Jinyu was the pearl in the palm of the Khan of Yue Country, and today, she came to attend the Khitan autumn hunt with her elder brother, Prince GeZhuo.

Although Yue Country was a tiny nation in the Western Regions, it was wealthy and powerful due to its production of precious jade.

Furthermore, thanks to Yue Country’s policy of neutrality, it had not been involved in wars or conflicts for many years.

With peace within the nation and its people living in affluence, Yue citizens developed a sense of superiority, looking down on others.

Princess Jinyu and Prince GeZhuo were especially arrogant and imperious.

Of course, despite their arrogance, they dared not disregard Khitan and Yelu Yan.

Five years ago, when a nation coveted Yue Country’s wealth and attacked, Yelu Yan himself led ten thousand elite troops to the rescue as if they were heavenly soldiers. Without this aid, Yue Country would have likely been annihilated.

For this reason, Yue Country became a vassal state of Khitan, paying endless amounts of gold, silver, and jewels each year.

With Khitan’s protection, other nations no longer dared to attack Yue Country.

The Khan of Yue Country, anxious that the relationship cemented by the payment of tribute wasn’t secure enough, had always hoped that Princess Jinyu would become one of Yelu Yan’s consorts.

However, Yelu Yan had always refused to accept her. Moreover, although Princess Jinyu was interested in Yelu Yan, she did not want to take her close friend Ji Chuchu’s beloved and, therefore, had been resistant to marrying into Khitan.