The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 77 - 0 No Need for Frequent Formalities (Second Update)
Chapter 77: 077 No Need for Frequent Formalities (Second Update)
Chapter 77: 077 No Need for Frequent Formalities (Second Update)
After bathing, Yelu Yan drank some ginger soup and had his meal, his body comfortably warm and cozy.
He dealt with some official duties, and only went to bed to rest when the night deepened.
Yelu Yan crossed his arms behind his head as a pillow and looked straight up at the painted beam on the ceiling, his eyes shining brightly, his upturned lips never falling.
The following morning, Li Xianyun got up very early.
Maybe because she slept so soundly to the sound of rain last night, she woke up at the first light of day, lazing in bed briefly before sitting up to get dressed.
Youlan and Zhuo Ma were stunned to see their mistress rise so early.
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Zhuo Ma took out the men’s clothing for Li Xianyun and smiled, “Mistress, why are you up so early today?”
Li Xianyun sat in front of the dressing table, lifted her slender jade hands to pin up her hair high, and smiled, “The consort normally rises early.”
Youlan, who was putting away the washing utensils, couldn’t help but laugh, “You do wake up quite early, getting out of bed when the sun has already climbed three poles.”
As she spoke, she laughed together with Zhuo Ma.
Zhuo Ma didn’t dare to joke with Li Xianyun, but because Youlan had been with Li Xianyun since childhood, she was slightly more audacious, although only occasionally; most of the time, she strictly abided by her duty as a servant, being utterly respectful towards Li Xianyun.
Li Xianyun glanced at the two with playful reproach and laughed, “Well, well, you two are getting more and more presumptuous. I won’t take you out of the palace today.”
Youlan and Zhuo Ma immediately wilted like frostbitten eggplants and pleaded weakly, “Mistress, we were wrong. We will never dare to do it again.”
After Li Xianyun finished combing her hair, she tied it up with a silver-white ribbon, which matched her pale lotus-colored men’s clothing quite well.
As she looked in the mirror, she spoke, “I will spare you this time, but don’t let it happen again.”
The two beamed with smiles and said, “Thank you, mistress; you’re the best.”
Once Li Xianyun was ready, she went to the main hall for a meal, and as she passed through the corridor, she saw Yelu Yan practicing sword beneath the Mimosa Tree outside the main building through the lattice windows of the corridor.
His movements were clean and unrestrained, neither dragging nor slowing, fast, accurate, and fierce, which made one shiver just by watching.
Li Xianyun knew of Yelu Yan’s high martial skills.
As Li Xianyun watched his technique, Yelu Yan’s gaze collided with hers starkly.
Li Xianyun hurriedly walked away from the window, heading straight to the main hall with slight embarrassment.
On the way, she encountered Jinwu, who came with a message.
Jinwu saluted and said to Li Xianyun, “Your Grace, the Khan summons you.”
Li Xianyun paused for a moment and then followed Jinwu outside.
Zhuo Ma and Youlan exchanged glances, raised their eyebrows, and their smiles grew deeper.
They did not follow but went straight to the main hall instead.
When Li Xianyun emerged from the main building, she saw that Yelu Yan had stopped practicing with the sword.
He stood next to a stone table, tall and majestic.
Yelu Yan was holding a white handkerchief and wiping the sharp hilt of his blade.
Jinwu silently withdrew.
Yelu Yan lifted his eyes to watch Li Xianyun as she approached slowly, looking very attractive even in men’s attire.
This handsome little figure would undoubtedly captivate countless young maidens.
The ground was moist from last night’s rain, with the fallen Mimosa Flowers lying shattered upon it. The air was filled with the fresh scent of water, soil, and plants.
All around was so beautifully comforting, and Li Xianyun walked closer within this environment, blending perfectly with the surrounding beauty.
As she came up close, Li Xianyun was about to salute Yelu Yan.
Yelu Yan gazed into her watery eyes and asked, “Last night the wind was fierce, and the rain heavy, you didn’t catch a cold, did you?”
Li Xianyun shook her head, replying, “No, thank you for your concern, Khan.”
Had he summoned her just to ask this?
Yelu Yan lifted his right hand to look, saying, “My hand is somewhat uncomfortable; I want you to have a look for me.”
Li Xianyun’s eyes fell on the base of his right thumb. Yelu Yan had already removed the soft cloth, but the wound had not yet completely healed; it had only been two days.
He must have gotten wet in the rain last night, and practicing with the sword now certainly would have caused the wound to reopen.
Li Xianyun walked over upon hearing the words and picked up his right hand, examining it carefully.
It was indeed as she had anticipated.
Li Xianyun raised her eyes to look at him.
He was also staring intently at her.
The distance between the two was very close, and Li Xianyun could feel his warm breath.
She involuntarily took a step back, and her small hand also let go, as she looked at Yelu Yan’s lapel and said, “Khan, before the wound is completely healed, you cannot exert force with this hand again.”
“Alright,” Yelu Yan said, looking down at her.
“I’ll re-wrap it for you.”
“Mhm.”
Having said that, Yelu Yan placed the polished hilt of his knife into its sheath and set it on the table, where naturally someone would come to take care of it.
The two walked shoulder to shoulder to the main building, where Li Xianyun had Youlan bring the medicine chest to dress Yelu Yan’s wound properly.
Youlan took the medicine chest downstairs.
Zhuo Ma performed a curtsy to the two and said, “Khan, Princess, may we serve the meal now?”
Yelu Yan nodded slightly.
The maids quickly brought up the dishes.
The meal today was still very rich, with Khitan food as well as Han cuisine.
Now that the Princess was in the Khan Palace and the Khan often dined there, the palace’s kitchens finally found their calling, and the kitchen maids’ enthusiasm for cooking was exceptionally high.
Yelu Yan picked up a chopstick full of meat and placed it in Li Xianyun’s bowl, saying, “Eat more.”
“Thank you, Khan.”
“Be careful when you go out of the palace today.”
“I understand,” Li Xianyun said obediently while eating.
Though the two spoke little, their companionship was harmonious.
Aside from feeling somewhat uncomfortable when Yelu Yan was too close, Li Xianyun found the rest of the time quite pleasant.
After the meal, Li Xianyun, accompanied by a group of people, bid farewell to Yelu Yan.
She could ride her little white horse again, and the prospect of getting out of the palace to get some fresh air made Li Xianyun unspeakably happy.
When they reached the entrance of the Khan Palace, Li Xianyun indeed saw her little white horse, and she walked down the steps beamingly, raising her hand gently to touch the horse’s mane.
“Xiaoxue, did you miss your sister?”
The white horse snorted in response, as if to say yes.
When Yelu Yan came out with Jinwu, he saw the affectionate scene between Li Xianyun and the white horse.
He walked down the steps at a measured pace.
Everyone bowed to Yelu Yan in succession.
Li Xianyun was also about to curtsy but was gently held up by the arm by Yelu Yan, who approached her.
Yelu Yan smiled and said, “You are the Princess; you need not bow at every turn.”
Li Xianyun looked up at the tall and formidable man.
The onlookers thought to themselves: Can the Princess forgo the curtsy? That’s unheard of.
Yelu Yan lowered his hand and turned his head to glance at Jinwu.
Jinwu understood the cue immediately and respectfully took out a stack of silver notes from his bosom and handed them to Yelu Yan.
That stack of silver notes must have been worth several hundred thousand taels at least.
Seeing this, everyone was stunned; the Khan was so generous, indeed showing extraordinary favor towards the Princess.
Yelu Yan handed the silver notes to Li Xianyun and said, “Take these silver notes, and if it’s not enough, tell me, or you can go directly to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect more.”
She had mentioned wanting to open an Ice Porridge Shop to earn money, appearing to be very short of cash.
