The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan

Ji Chuchu didn't even look at the horse anymore and trotted all the way to her own room, throwing herself onto the bed and crying.

Ji Xueyuan rushed over quickly and, seeing a few maids peering at the door, said displeasedly, "Scram!"

The maids hurriedly retreated.

Ji Xueyuan stepped into the room, his heart nearly breaking at the sound of his beloved daughter's sobs.

The reason he had petitioned Ji Zuqing to return to Shangjing this time was precisely because he was worried about his precious daughter being aggrieved.

Ever since Chuchu was little, she had been fond of Yelu Yan. Now, seeing Yelu Yan get married, she was certainly unable to bear it. He came back also to support his daughter.

Ji Xueyuan came to the bedside, sat down on the stool there, and said, "Chuchu, Father understands the Khan's temperament. He is not the kind of man to be indulgent in beauty; what outsiders are saying is not true."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chuchu stopped crying, looked up at Ji Xueyuan, and asked, "Really?"

"Really," Ji Xueyuan said, "Father may not know others, but he does understand the Khan. The Khan only cares about the world and would never be preoccupied with romantic affairs. What they have said must be false."

"But what if it's true?"

Ji Xueyuan said, "Even if it is true, what can be done? Would the Grand Imperial Consort allow a Han woman to roam freely in the harem? Even if the Grand Imperial Consort lets her pass, what about the court officials? They despise the Han people, wishing they could tear them apart alive. That Han woman has no support and will end up just like the previous peace-bride women that came to the Khitan—facing a tragic end."

Ji Chuchu sat up, wiping away her tears, and said, "Daughter doesn't need her to have a tragic end, as long as she doesn't compete with me for Brother Yan."

Ji Xueyuan said with certainty, "Chuchu, rest assured, the Khan will marry you sooner or later. Father promises you this."

Ji Chuchu wrapped her arms around Ji Xueyuan's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder, saying, "Thank you, Father."

After a while, she added, "Why doesn't Brother Yan like Chuchu? Is Chuchu so unlikable?"

Ji Xueyuan felt very distressed, turned his head to look at Ji Chuchu, and said, "Why say such foolish things? In Father's heart, you are the best."

After consoling Ji Chuchu for a long time, Ji Xueyuan came out and instructed his subordinates, "Have someone reliable secretly investigate the relationship between Princess Hehui and the Crown Prince of Liang Country."

While the Crown Prince Murong Ce was a hostage in Houtang, he had had some involvement with Li Xianyun, yet the specifics were unknown to others.

As long as it was confirmed that Li Xianyun had someone in her heart, the Khan would inevitably distance himself from her. Then, it would be much easier to intervene at the right time.

"Yes!" The subordinate took the order and hurried off to carry it out.

Ji Xueyuan's eyes narrowed, his gaze filled with dangerous signals. He would not let off anyone that caused his precious daughter's heartache.

Within the Khan Palace, maids and palace servants were cleaning, but they were all tiptoeing, for the Khan had ordered that the princess consort's rest must not be disturbed.

Li Xianyun woke up very late and sat on the bed, wrapped in her quilt, dazed for a moment.

She had initially thought that coming to Khitan would lead to stormy troubles, but Yelu Yan wasn't as tyrannical as the rumors had suggested.

She didn't need to do much to vie for favor; besides, her thoughts were not on such matters—she just wanted to live a peaceful, prosperous, and carefree life.

Therefore, from the inside out, she felt incredibly relaxed, carefree, and unrestrained in her actions.

After a while, Li Xianyun looked out the window at the radiant sunlight that made the room bright and warm.

She straightened her clothes and called out, "Youlan, Zhuo Ma."

Youlan and Zhuo Ma immediately came in with clothes in hand.

Li Xianyun took the clothes and began to dress.

Zhuo Ma and Youlan hastily tidied up the bed.

Zhuo Ma made a point to check the bedsheets—there wasn't a single unusual spot. While Li Xianyun was getting dressed, she gently touched Youlan's arm.

Youlan looked at her questioningly.

Zhuo Ma glanced at Li Xianyun, who was not far away putting on her clothes, and noticed that she wasn't looking their way. She then whispered to Youlan, "Last night the Khan and the princess mustn't have... "

She hinted at Youlan with a suggestive look.

"Haven't what?" Youlan didn't catch on at first.

Zhuo Ma whispered, "There's no 'fallen red' on the bed. The princess will be drowned in spit."

Youlan suddenly grasped the situation; her nanny had taught her these things before she had come to the marriage.

Zhuo Ma took another look at Li Xianyun's back, put a finger to her mouth, and bit down hard, causing fresh blood to gush out.

"You..." Youlan said in disbelief.

Zhuo Ma smeared the blood on the bedsheets and said, "Now no one will talk."

Youlan felt deeply moved as she looked at Zhuo Ma. She had not expected that in Khitan, someone would sincerely look out for her mistress.

After getting dressed, Li Xianyun turned to the two of them and said, "Are you not done yet?"

"We are done now," the two responded, casually straightening up.

Li Xianyun didn't suspect a thing, and she led the way back to the side palace.

The side palace was already cleaned up; there wasn't a hint of the smell of blood, and the bloodstains on the ground had been thoroughly washed away, leaving the air filled with a faint fragrance.

She sat at the vanity, combing her hair.

Li Xianyun disliked flamboyant hairstyles and ornaments, settling for a simple hairdo crowned with a cyan hairpin, which, along with her light lotus-colored attire, gave her a fresh and elegant appearance.

She proceeded to the main hall for breakfast, which Khitan maids had prepared. It consisted of naan, milk tea, and roasted meat, but she was not accustomed to it and ate very little, planning to start teaching the palace maids how to make Houtang dishes from today.

After having a little breakfast, Li Xianyun went to the kitchen to stew porridge for Xiao Dilu and then took a stroll around the courtyard.

The wood treated with lacquer had dried, but there was still a slight odor. She decided to let it air out for another day and then set up the bed frame in the evening, along with the mosquito net.

The ground to the west had been turned and prepared, covering about ten meters squared.

Next to the soil were several towering parasol trees, their immense leaves as large as palms. The trees' branches intertwined, forming thick layers and shading half the sky, creating large patches of shadow.

Li Xianyun looked up and noticed that two tree trunks were straight and parallel—a perfect location for a swing. However, it seemed like a waste to use such a nice spot for that purpose.

Instead, she planned to install a hanging chair where she could comfortably recline and read, which seemed delightful.

Li Xianyun called over Bater, the Palace Servant in charge of the Khan Palace.

"Bater, instruct someone to fetch some more wood for chairs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for me; I have use for it," she ordered.

"Yes!" Bater responded with great respect.

Li Xianyun then assigned tasks to the Palace Servants, instructing them to irrigate the field. Once the water dried up, they could start planting.

She had brought many seeds of flowers and vegetables from Houtang, and once planted, she would be able to enjoy fresh vegetables anytime upon maturity.

After walking around the courtyard, the porridge in the pot was ready.

She had someone carry the porridge and headed to Xiao Dilu's palace.