The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 535 - 534 Sister, they all like you so much (first update)

Chapter 535: 534 Sister, they all like you so much (first update)

Qiu Qianyun smiled and said, "There’s no need for apologies, Khan has already done very well."

Li Xianyun’s lips curved in a smile, it seemed that her father the king and her mother the queen were very satisfied with Yelu Yan.

The three of them talked a little while longer until Youlan came to report that the meal was ready.

Laughing and chatting, the group made their way to the main hall for the meal, where Li Shaojun and Li Xianyi were already present, bickering at the entrance.

Li Xianyi said, looking at the sword in Li Shaojun’s hands, "Brother, just let me hold it for a bit."

Li Shaojun turned his back, dodging her, "No way, this sword is heavy. If you hold it and hurt yourself then what?"

"How could that possibly happen?" Li Xianyi pouted, "How can someone get hurt with the sword sheathed?"

While the two were arguing, Li Shaojun looked up, saw Li Xianyun coming over, and said with a smile, "Sister, come and manage her, she insists on getting my Longyuan Sword."

Li Xianyun had seen Yelu Yan’s Longyuan Sword before and couldn’t help asking in surprise, "How did this sword end up in your hands?"

Li Shaojun said proudly, "Brother-in-law lent it to me."

This term "brother-in-law" was said so naturally, and even with a hint of pride, that Li Xianyun felt quite awkward hearing it.

Li Xianyi also thought of Li Xianyun as a savior, going up to her and wrapping her arms around hers, whining sweetly, "Sister, brother is being too stingy. I just wanted to hold the Longyuan Sword for a bit, and he just won’t let me."

"I’m staying out of you two’s business; work it out amongst yourselves," Li Xianyun turned to look at Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun with a smile and said, "Father, Mother, let’s go inside for the meal."

In front of Li Shaojun and Li Xianyi, Li Xianyun always knew how to keep an even keel. She would only intervene when something was clearly wrong; as for those small matters that could easily offend, she would rather not get involved.

Li Xianyi and Li Shaojun watched the backs of the three adults walking away and then looked at each other, pulling faces before they too went inside, indeed feeling quite hungry.

After the meal, Li Xianyun led the Li Family members towards Shitoutun.

Li Xianyun had initially prepared two horse-drawn carriages, planning for her to ride in one with Li Rui and Qiu Qianyun, and for Li Shaojun and Li Xianyi to ride in the other. However, Li Shaojun and Li Xianyi insisted on riding with them, saying it was nicer for the family to be together and chat during the journey.

And so, all five members of the Li Family squeezed into one carriage, talking and laughing along the way, the atmosphere lively and warm.

The carriage soon arrived at Shitoutun.

As the carriage traveled the narrow village road, the wheels rolled on, making a dull sound.

A snowfall had occurred a few days prior, but now all the snow had melted away, and the air was fresh and clean.

The sun was warm and the wind mild, not strong enough to stir the slightest twig, a rare perfect weather indeed.

Quite a few elders were sunbathing in the village path or alleys with their grandchildren.

Seeing a carriage approach, many children emerged from the alleys, and those on the village road stood aside.

One sharp-eyed child recognized it was Li Xianyun’s carriage and shouted excitedly, "Goddess Sister is here, Goddess Sister is here!"

More elders and children came out to have a look, and a number of children followed around the carriage, smiling and laughing playfully.

Li Xianyun was very popular in Shitoutun.

Shitoutun used to be a famously impoverished place among the nearby villages, but ever since Li Xianyun had built the Drying Room and workshops there, resolving the issue of fruit going unsold and providing many people with a stable source of income, their lives had improved greatly, and they were deeply grateful to Li Xianyun.

Whenever Li Xianyun had free time, she would provide medical care for the people of Shitoutun. Even Nata’s mother, who had been disabled for many years, was healed by Li Xianyun.

Nata’s mother would greet Li Xianyun with great affection, calling her "Goddess, Goddess," and the nickname rippled out slowly like ripples in water.

The Li Family members couldn’t believe their ears when they heard this nickname; they had never imagined Li Xianyun to be so beloved here.

This matter is a lengthy tale, and cannot be clearly explained in a short time. Li Xianyun planned to give them a detailed account when she had the opportunity.

She had the carriage stop, "Father, Mother, I will get off and distribute some snacks to the children."

Qiu Qianyun finally understood why Li Xianyun had brought so many snacks.

The snacks were wrapped in greaseproof paper, in small individual packets, filling a whole bundle.

Once the carriage was stable, Li Xianyun stepped down from the carriage.

Li Shaojun also got off the carriage, "Sister, let me help you."

Li Xianyi also wanted to help, but Qiu Qianyun stopped her, "Nannan, though you are young, stay put in the carriage."

Li Xianyi had no choice but to give up, her lips pouting enough to tether a donkey.

Li Xianyun, smiling as she took the bundle of snacks handed by Qiu Qianyun, said, "Look what delicious treats your sister has brought for you?"

The children gathered around Li Xianyun, chattering excitedly.

"What kind of treats?"

"Whatever it is, it must be very delicious."

"Goddess Sister, it has been a long time since you last visited our village."

"Yes, Goddess Sister, we have missed you."

Li Xianyun smiled, "Sister has missed you all too."

As she spoke, she and Li Shaojun began to distribute the snacks. When there were some leftovers, they did another round of distribution, and where they couldn’t divide them evenly, she gave a few to the children nearby.

After the distribution, Li Shaojun chatted and joked with the children and the onlooking elders for a bit before getting back into the carriage.

No sooner had they settled down than Li Xianyi couldn’t help but say, "Sister, they all like you so much."

Li Xianyun briefly told them the stories that had happened with these villagers.

By the time she had finished, the Drying Room and workshops she mentioned had also been reached.

The group got down from the carriage.

The members of the Li Family were all stunned by the scene before them.

The carriage stopped in front of a large estate with a tall gatehouse that had a gilded signboard hanging over it. The sign bore a string of dark green characters in Khitan script, which the Li Family members couldn’t understand.

In the thick walls over two meters high, the rooftops of five or six large buildings could be seen. The roofs of each workshop were frighteningly long, and at the entrance, two young servants stood guard. Upon seeing the carriage stop, one of the servants bowed and immediately went inside to report.

Not far from the workshops, dozens of Drying Rooms were neatly built on the hillside, the yellow earth shimmering in the sunlight, with occasional moving figures busily working inside.

Zhuo Ma, upon receiving the news, hurried out with a few overseers and came before Li Xianyun, quickly kneeling to perform an arm-folding salute, then doing the same to Li Rui and his wife.

Zhuo Ma, looking at Li Xianyun, smiled and said, "My lady, if I had known you were coming, I would have been waiting at the gate much earlier."

She still had honey sticking to her hands and had come out without even washing them upon hearing that Li Xianyun had arrived.

Li Xianyun smiled, "This concubine is just showing Father and Mother around for a stroll, carry on with your work."

"Yes!" Li Xianyun led the Li Family members on a tour around the workshops.

This tour was quite rewarding for Li Xianyi, who found something tasty everywhere they went, like candied fruits, raisins, and walnuts with dates, among other things.

With so many treats, she felt almost full from just this short tour.