Yelu Yan looked ahead and asked in a faint voice, "How do you know what Minister Xiao is thinking?"
Li Xianyun glanced at Yelu Yan and said, "You guarded Minister Xiao all night and it was apparent that you share a profound bond. You must both consider each other greatly, which led me to be sure of Minister Xiao's thoughts."
Yelu Yan turned to look at Li Xianyun, his gaze falling upon a woman who seemed made of water — so delicately luminous and frail yet so deeply empathetic.
When they returned to the Great Khan's bedchamber, Yelu Yan changed into his court attire and asked, "Where is the princess consort?"
Jinwu bowed his arm in salute and replied, "She has not come out yet."
Right then, a faint noise came from the direction of the turret.
Yelu Yan turned his head and saw Li Xianyun, whose approach was as graceful as a drifting cloud.
She had changed out of her red clothes into a pale blue gown—simple, graceful, and serene. Her face was as small as a palm, with soulful eyes, pearly teeth, and crimson lips—an indescribable beauty that seemed perfect to the point where one more bit would be too much and one less would be too scant.
Li Xianyun had not expected Yelu Yan to be waiting at the door for her; by his side, besides his guard, there stood a Khitan woman in her thirties, dressed as a maid.
Lifting her skirt, Li Xianyun descended the steps and stood before Yelu Yan, giving him a curtsy as she waited for him to speak.
Yelu Yan towered a head taller than Li Xianyun and, looking down at her, said, "From now on, Zhuo Ma will attend to you. If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask her."
Li Xianyun regarded this maid named Zhuo Ma, who bore the attributes of a Khitan woman—tall and robust, with slightly darkened skin and an unspeakably efficient air.
Listening to the underlying message in Yelu Yan's words, she felt this was someone she could trust.
006
After last night's effort in saving Xiao Dilu, she had evidently boarded Yelu Yan's proverbial great ship.
Zhuo Ma bowed to Li Xianyun and said, "Greetings, Princess Consort."
Li Xianyun replied softly, "At ease. I am not familiar with many Khitan customs; you may explain them to me in detail."
In a calm voice, Zhuo Ma said, "It is this servant's duty."
Her demeanor was indifferent, her expression stoic, matching her master—Yelu Yan, who always seemed to keep others at an arm's length.
Yelu Yan looked at Li Xianyun and spoke softly, "Let's go; I will take you to the Empress Dowager's Palace."
Li Xianyun nodded her head.
Yelu Yan led the way forward.
Li Xianyun maintained a distance of one meter behind him.
Following at a considerable distance behind were Jinwu, Youlan, Zhuo Ma, and other guards, palace servants, and maids.
After a while, Yelu Yan stopped and turned to look at Li Xianyun.
Seeing this, Jinwu and the others also hastily halted, leaving ample space for the two.
Li Xianyun stopped and looked at Yelu Yan with perplexity.
Yelu Yan stated plainly, "You are the Princess Consort."
The implication couldn't be more clear.
Thus, Li Xianyun walked up to Yelu Yan and started walking shoulder to shoulder with him.
After a short distance, Yelu Yan glanced at Li Xianyun and said, "As the Princess Consort, I can offer you endless wealth and glory, but I cannot give you anything in terms of affection."
Li Xianyun looked up at the towering man beside her, nodded, and replied, "Alright."
Yelu Yan's words were in line with her own desires.
In truth, amidst the chaos of the era, Li Xianyun harbored no extravagant hopes for sincere affection; she simply wished for a tranquil life.
Yelu Yan was surprised by Li Xianyun's quick agreement; he had thought she might feel as lost as other women or need to struggle somewhat, but on her face, he saw only tranquility and ease.
Yelu Yan pursed his lips slightly. For him, wasn't this a good thing too?
His goal was to accomplish great things; romantic entanglements would only be a hindrance on his path forward. A woman with no desires or demands would save him a great deal of trouble.
The two arrived at a majestic palace, where a line of maids immediately greeted Yelu Yan with a salute, "Greetings, Khan."
They did not so much as glance at Li Xianyun.
Jinwu, seeing that Yelu Yan looked their way, rebuked the maids, "How insolent, to fail to pay respects to the Princess Consort!"
The maids, terrified, quickly knelt and bowed their arms to Li Xianyun, "Greetings, Princess Consort, may you be forever peaceful."
Li Xianyun glanced at Yelu Yan and then told the maids in a gentle voice, "Rise."
The maids stood up, looking nervous and uneasy.
Yelu Yan said to Li Xianyun, "Tonight, I will return late."
"Alright."
In reality, Yelu Yan could have instructed her this morning, yet he chose to do so before so many maids. Was it to show them, so their masters would restrain themselves and not trouble her?
Was that it?
Li Xianyun thought again about what Yelu Yan had said earlier—aside from affection, he could bestow upon her endless glory and riches. Perhaps that's why he spoke in such a way.
Once again, Li Xianyun was taken aback by another facet of this man; though he seemed cold and unfeeling, his thoughts were meticulously tender.
Yelu Yan gave Li Xianyun a glance, ready to leave when he was stopped by her call.
"Khan!"
Yelu Yan halted and looked back at her, asking, "What is it?"
Li Xianyun responded, "I would like to redecorate my living quarters; may I?"
Since she was to live in Shangjing, she desired to make her surroundings comfortable.