The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 472 - 471 Full of gratitude towards her (first update)

Chapter 472: 471 Full of gratitude towards her (first update)

Tia’s tears gathered more and more until they fell heavily, searing into the swaying carriage.

She had left as soon as she gave birth. Yelu Yan was so small, he hadn’t even tasted her milk before she departed.

When they met again, he had been poisoned, lingering on his sickbed, at death’s door.

By then, Yelu Yan was beyond medical help. With no cure in sight, Yaduo had no choice but to publicize his illness far and wide, all to catch her attention.

To bring her back to save her own child.

Once Tia got the news, she was beside herself with worry and, through Yaduo’s help, quietly snuck into the Imperial Palace, taking care of Yelu Yan for two months until he recovered.

Now, Yelu Yan had reached the age of maturity, yet their time together amounted to less than three months. How could she face him again?

She had let down her parents, her lover, her people, and, most of all, her child.

She was a person who couldn’t be more of a failure...

It was all fate—no one can change destiny.

Seeing Tia so heartbroken, Li Xianyun took her hand and said earnestly, "Master, you avoid seeing the Khan because you feel you’ve wronged him, right?"

Tia silently shed tears, remaining mute.

Li Xianyun was now sure of her thoughts; they were as she had suspected.

"Master, the Khan understands your difficulties and has never held hatred for you. It is just that, without his birth mother by his side since childhood and growing up in an environment full of deceit and scheming, he always felt insecure and feared abandonment. He often suffers from anxiety over losing the people he cares about."

Yelu Yan always said to her:

"Xianxian, please don’t leave me, alright?"

"Xianxian, you will never leave me, right?"

"Xianxian, remember what you said today, you will never leave me."

...

These words of Yelu Yan’s echoed in her ears; only someone deeply insecure would repeatedly seek confirmation, needing her to assure him over and over again.

Yelu Yan was also particularly jealous, fearing she didn’t like him—an obvious sign of his insecurity.

Li Xianyun never understood why Yelu Yan was so insecure, but now she finally did.

Though Yelu Yan was strong-willed and resilient, Tia’s departure had dealt him too harsh a blow, leaving behind an indelible shadow.

Tia thought of this and admitted, "It is I who have let him down."

Li Xianyun squeezed Tia’s hand tightly.

"Master, you have reached the age of knowing heaven’s decree; the Khan is now over thirty. Life is short, fleeting like a galloping horse; since those standing in your way are no longer in this world, why should you remain separated, enduring the agony of estrangement from kin?"

"The Khan has had a truly hard time these years. Besides facing the dangers of the battlefield, he also has to deal with the deceit and conspiracy of court life. Since I have come to Khitan, the Khan has survived numerous assassination attempts. His body is covered in scars, scars upon scars, with several near vital spots. With the slightest error, the Khan might..."

Li Xianyun’s eyes reddened, struggling to continue.

Yelu Yan had been very kind to her, and the thought of losing someone who cared for her so deeply...

She couldn’t even dare to think about it.

At some point, Yelu Yan had taken up an exceedingly important place in her heart.

Tia knew that what Li Xianyun described was Yelu Yan’s everyday reality, with assassination and conspiracy unlikely to decrease. Thinking of this, her heart felt as if it was being sliced inch by inch, an unbearable pain.

The hard shell she had built around herself for protection slowly started to crack.

Tia, looking at Li Xianyun’s teary eyes, felt a surge of consolation.

Li Xianyun was someone she had watched grow up, naturally kind-hearted, and tenderly considerate.

Yelu Yan was indeed blessed by heaven to be able to marry Li Xianyun.

"Xianxian, don’t be sad, your teacher will have a good talk with Ayan."

With a heavy nod, Li Xianyun hugged Tia’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder just like she depended on her when she was little.

The carriage soon arrived at the Xuanyi Pavilion, stopping at the entrance of the second courtyard.

Yelu Yan dismounted and walked straight to the side of the carriage.

As Li Xianyun stepped out of the carriage, she prepared to hold onto Yelu Yan’s hand, but he pinched her slender waist and lifted her down from the carriage.

Li Xianyun bit her lip lightly, surrounded by so many people, with her master right there, he still brazenly lifted her down.

Once she was on her feet, she noticed Yelu Yan foolishly standing in place, so she pushed his arm.

Yelu Yan hesitated for a moment before reaching out to hold Tia, who had just stepped out of the carriage.

Tia, looking down from above, extended her arm toward her son, who made her feel quite guilty but also proud.

Yelu Yan held onto Tia’s arm.

He was a little nervous, his palms tingling and sweaty.

Meanwhile, Jinwu had already opened the door, and Ge Lei, along with a palace servant at the gate, hurriedly knelt to pay their respects, "Greetings to the Khan, greetings to the Princess Consort."

The kind-faced woman whose arm was held by the Princess Consort, Ge Lei did not recognize, and unsure how to address her, he simply let it be.

But in his heart, he reckoned that anyone who could be affectionately linked with the Princess Consort’s arm like that must have no ordinary status.

Ge Lei carefully held a lantern at the front.

Li Xianyun walked into the second courtyard’s gatehouse, arm in arm with Tia.

Yelu Yan followed behind the two, feeling as if he were in a dream, as everything around him seemed surreal.

The group entered the second courtyard and went straight to the west wing room.

Li Xianyun seated Tia in the main seat of the hall and said, "Master, please sit here for a while, Xianxian will get you a glass of water."

She said this and hurried out before Yelu Yan and Tia could react, giving Yelu Yan a deep look before leaving.

Yelu Yan, with his deep tiger-like eyes, how could he not understand her painstaking effort?

If it were not for Li Xianyun, it was likely he and his mother would have still been worlds apart, uncertain if they could meet in this lifetime.

Li Xianyun was truly his lucky star; with her in his life, everything seemed more radiant and was moving in a good direction.

How could he not be filled with gratitude for the woman he treasured so dearly?

Li Xianyun left the room, closing the door from the outside.

Youlan and her company, not understanding the situation, were all somewhat bewildered.

Seeing Youlan about to ask questions, Li Xianyun interjected, "Youlan, follow me to make some tea."

Bater and Jinwu followed, while the others stood guard at the door of the west wing room.

After Li Xianyun left, the spacious hall felt oppressively small and tense, even the air seemed heavy with an unspoken gravity.

Before they met, it seemed they had a thousand words for each other, but now, actually together, neither knew where to begin.

In the end, it was Tia who broke the brief silence.

"Ayan, you have suffered so much over these years, your mother has wronged you."

Tia, having moved into the Imperial Palace with Yelu Zhang, adamantly refused any official status from him and was unwilling to be seen in public or recorded in the royal secrets.