The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 473 - 472 Heart-to-Heart between Mother and Child (Second Update)

Chapter 473: 472 Heart-to-Heart between Mother and Child (Second Update)

It is said that Yelu Yan, father of the Khan Yelu Zhang, was also a man of great passion.

Yelu Zhang cherished Tia dearly, and as long as she was willing to stay, he would comply with her every wish and agree to anything she asked.

Although Tia’s demands were excessive, Yelu Zhang found them hard to accept but ultimately agreed to them and followed through.

He gave her no official status and let no one know about her; even the royal secret records did not contain her name.

It was for this reason that Tia referred to herself as "the mother," instead of "imperial consort."

A simple sentence from Tia instantly brought tears to Yelu Yan’s eyes.

He had never dared to hope that his mother would apologize to him; just having his mother acknowledge him and not hate him was enough to satisfy him.

And yet, the situation had far exceeded his expectations.

Even though Tia only managed to choke out this one sentence, Yelu Yan understood that he had not been abandoned by his mother; she loved him.

Yelu Yan approached Tia and knelt before her, looking up at her and calling, "Mother."

His voice was deep, laden with suppressed emotion.

Yelu Yan had once called her "mother" when he was a child, but as he grew older, he couldn’t bring himself to say it again, and thought it would be difficult to call her that once more.

To his surprise, the word came out effortlessly.

Tia bent down to embrace Yelu Yan’s head, her tears wetting his cheeks, "Ayan, it’s all my fault, will you forgive me?"

Yelu Yan’s eyes were moist as he hummed in response, "Mother, you won’t leave Ayan behind again, will you?"

Tia nodded firmly, her voice quavering with tears, "I won’t."

Her gaze was resolute, her decision made.

Just like Xianxian said, life is but a few short decades, passing in a blink of an eye; why should she torment her own son?

-

Li Xianyun took Youlan to the second room of the east wing, where tea and pastries had been prepared.

When one is in a good mood, tasks become light.

Seeing Li Xianyun content and smiling, Youlan asked curiously, "My lady, why are you so happy?"

"Of course, because something joyful has happened."

Youlan’s eyes lit up instantly, and she leaned in to ask, "What happened?"

Li Xianyun leaned towards Youlan as if to share a secret of utmost importance.

Youlan moved even closer, all ears for what was to come.

Li Xianyun whispered into Youlan’s ear, smiling, "I can’t tell you now, I’ll let you know once it’s confirmed."

Youlan sat up indignantly and said, "My lady, since when did you become so mischievous?"

It’s always said ’you are influenced by those you keep close’, the Khan must have led astray her pure-hearted mistress.

It was indeed detestable.

Li Xianyun handed a pastry to Youlan, "Have something to eat."

After Youlan took it, she also picked one up to eat.

Earlier, when she was dining with Tia at the restaurant, she had been too busy chatting to eat much; now that she was settled, she felt hungry.

Seeing Youlan still standing, Li Xianyun patted the spot beside her, "There’s no one else here, sit down."

Youlan took a seat next to Li Xianyun.

The two of them sat side by side on the couch, eating pastries, just like they did when they were children.

They were very close, always sharing the good things that came their way.

Li Xianyun’s starry eyes dimmed slightly. If only Huanhuan were still alive, she would’ve been able to taste the sweetness of life in these ever-sunny days to come.

But she had been humiliated to death.

It was so tragic.

Youlan turned to look at Li Xianyun, not sure what she was thinking. Although she was smiling, the smile did not reach the bottom of her eyes.

"Master has changed," Youlan said abruptly.

Li Xianyun was taken aback for a moment, took a second to react, and then began to emerge slightly from her sorrowful emotions, lifting her delicate, alabaster hand to push Youlan’s head.

"You little imp, just because I haven’t grilled you yet, you say I’ve changed. If that’s the case, you’ve changed too." Seeing Youlan’s puzzled look, Li Xianyun added, "Why didn’t you tell me about you and Jinwu?"

Her voice had barely faded when Youlan’s face flushed red with embarrassment and she stammered, "Master, what are you talking about?"

Li Xianyun’s smile lingered at the corner of her eyes and brows, "Still trying to hide it from me? Jinwu was jealous of you and Bater and spilled everything to you."

The other day, when Youlan was on duty, Jinwu had brought her a basket of pastries. Several maids from the main building saw it and clung to her like hungry wolves, insisting she share with them.

Youlan had no choice but to give each of them a piece, just as Bater happened to pass by the main building’s corridor and was stopped by an enthusiastic maid.

"Bater, Guard Jin has brought Youlan lots of tasty treats again. Come and try some?"

Everyone in the Khan Palace knew that Jinwu liked Youlan except for the clueless Youlan herself.

So, Bater walked over, smiling, "Then I really must have a good taste."

Youlan, not the stingy type, came out of the main building with the pastries and stood on the porch, saying with a smile, "Pick a few you like, take them back with you."

Bater chuckled, "That won’t do. If Guard Jin found out, he’d flay me alive."

"Big Brother Jin isn’t that petty," Youlan rebutted.

Bater laughed lightly. There it was, the defense.

Jinwu, having hurried back to the Khan Palace after a task, was set to report to the Khan. From afar, he saw Youlan and Bater chatting and laughing on the porch, Bater holding the very pastries he had given Youlan.

Jinwu’s face turned green with rage on the spot. He walked over with large strides and bumped Bater’s arm with his sturdy chest fiercely.

The force was great, causing Bater to stagger, and the pastries in his hand tumbled to the ground.

Jinwu glared at Bater with anger.

Khitan men prized straightforwardness, directing their jealousy not at their own women but unceremoniously towards the men who flirted or enticed others’ women.

Bater, aware of the misunderstanding, didn’t try to explain and walked away with a smile.

Jinwu was as if mute; like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, not a single word could be beaten out of him. If not provoked, he wouldn’t know how to pursue a woman until who knows when.

Bater, Zhuo Ma, and even everyone at the Khan Palace were anxious on his behalf.

Rubbing his chest where it hurt, Bater muttered to himself: The lad hits hard. I’ll just have to provoke him a bit, and soon Jinwu will come apologizing and thanking me with a bottle of wine in hand.

Jinwu watched Bater leave, fuming. Turning around, he saw Youlan picking up the pastries that had fallen on the ground.

Youlan, holding the pastries, complained with heartache, "Big Brother Jin, how could you be so careless? Such good pastries wasted. No, I have to take them to Jiujiu."

Jiujiu was the bird that Yelu Yan had given Li Xianyun.

Li Xianyun had named it "Jiujiu" for its melodious chirping.

Watching Youlan about to leave carefree, Jinwu was so exasperated that he grabbed the basket of pastries from her arms, placed it on the bench in the corridor, and dragged Youlan by the hand into a nearby corner, where they talked for quite a while.

When the two of them came out again, their faces were both flushed.

The lip rouge on Youlan’s lips had faded considerably from smudging.

Jinwu’s lips, however, were inexplicably stained with quite a lot of a woman’s lip rouge.

The awkward and bashful scene between the two was just happened upon by Zhuo Ma, who had come back to the palace to report. She immediately told Li Xianyun, delightedly.