Ji Chuchu heard the words, and the smile on her face could no longer hold, she chuckled awkwardly and said, "Yelu Yan is indeed a very good person, it's just that he's quite busy, especially with the recent intensifying of warfare, Brother Yan spends all day in the military camp. If you come to the camp, I can take you to find him. However, there are all big, rough men in the military camp, I fear you might not be accustomed to it."
Li Xianyun laughed and said, "No problem, where the husband goes, the wife follows, I must adapt eventually."
Ji Chuchu said unnaturally, "Besides, Brother Yan hates women clinging to him the most. He finds it very troublesome."
Li Xianyun pursed her lips and smiled, "Thank you for telling me this, having such a good sister like you, Khan must feel very happy."
Ji Chuchu's face instantly became very ugly.
Li Xianyun reached out to hold Ji Chuchu's hand with a smile and said, "Even though it's my first time meeting you, I feel as if we've known each other for a long time. Since you and Khan are siblings, we are now sisters too. In the future, I hope you will help me out."
Who doesn't know how to make such polite remarks?
Ji Chuchu said with an unpleased look, "Of course."
After a few more exchanges, Ji Chuchu found an excuse to leave.
After Ji Chuchu left, Zhuo Ma stepped forward and said to Li Xianyun, "Your Highness, please don't take what Commandery Princess Nan said to heart."
Li Xianyun replied, "What she said wasn't true, of course I won't take it to heart."
Hearing this, Zhuo Ma looked at Li Xianyun with admiration. She appeared fragile, but in fact, she had a keen and delicate heart that saw through the affairs of the world.
Li Xianyun said, "Khan has told you about Minister Xiao's situation, hasn't he?"
Zhuo Ma nodded and said, "Yes."
Li Xianyun said, "Let's go see Minister Xiao."
She led Zhuo Ma and Youlan towards Minister Xiao Dilu's palace.
After Yelu Yan had finished attending court, he returned to his study, with Shulu Xi and Ma Zhaoming following behind.
Shulu Xi, extremely frustrated, said, "Those stubborn old fools are infuriating, set in their ways, concocting theories in isolation, claiming that favoring the nomadic lifestyle and distancing from agriculture is inherited from our ancestors and that we mustn't forget our roots. They don't even consider how last year's harsh climate killed so many livestock, starved so many people. If we don't develop agriculture, our people will forever lead lives of hardship, full meals today with none for tomorrow, and Khitan will always be beholden to Houtang and Houliang for food!"
Ma Zhaoming exclaimed angrily, "Dammit, when it comes to fighting on the battlefield, those guys don't show any competence, but when it comes to talking about ancestral rule, they have a whole set of arguments."
Yelu Yan sat before his writing table, picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and calmly said, "They haven't tasted hardship themselves, so naturally, they don't think this matter concerns them."
Shulu Xi asked, "Khan, what do you mean by that?"
Yelu Yan calmly stated, "Recently, a group of bandits has appeared near the southern pass, and it's been a long time since grain has been transported into Khitan from the north."
Ma Zhaoming asked in surprise, "Bandits in the south? When did this happen? They're rebelling against us, I'll lead troops to annihilate them right now."
Shulu Xi quickly caught on, laughed, and said, "Khan is wise."
Ma Zhaoming, still confused, asked, "What do you mean?"
Shulu Xi explained it to him thoroughly, and Ma Zhaoming, scratching his head, said, "So it's all an act, I thought there really were bandits."
Shulu Xi thought of something else and looked at Yelu Yan, asking, "Khan, about Princess Hehui who has come for the marriage alliance, do you really plan to accept her?"
Ma Zhaoming, showing interest as well, said, "Khan, Princess Hehui has significant ties with Houliang, Houtang's move is clearly intended to stir up discord between us and Houliang. We must not fall for it."
Yelu Yan didn't respond, and while leaning back in his chair, said, "Do you all remember Prince Rui?"
Shulu Xi paused, then said, "Of course. What does this have to do with Prince Rui?"
"Princess Hehui is his eldest daughter."
Both Shulu Xi and Ma Zhaoming wore shocked expressions.
Yelu Yan declared, "Consider it a repayment of Prince Rui's kindness, I shall treat his daughter well."
Shulu Xi said, "Then we have no other choice."
Upon reaching the place, Li Xianyun found that Xiao Dilu had already fallen asleep.
Seeing Li Xianyun arrive, Huo Dun felt as if he had found his backbone and said, "Your Highness, Minister Xiao has been in a comatose state, is that normal?"
Li Xianyun didn't speak, but instead sat down to take Xiao Dilu's pulse. Her calm expression made everyone hold their breath in concentration.
After taking the pulse, Li Xianyun laid Xiao Dilu's arm back down, and looking up at Huo Dun, she said, "Don't worry, Minister Xiao's body is weak, and it's normal for him to fall unconscious. Furthermore, having not eaten much these past days, it's inevitable that his body is frail."
Huo Dun stared at Li Xianyun in shock; she was amazing, able to tell just by feeling the pulse that Minister Xiao hadn't been eating properly—how incredible.
"Minister Xiao hasn't eaten much since his condition worsened three days ago," Huo Dun reported truthfully.