Li Xianyun looked at the patient on the bed and asked, "Has he been given his medicine?"
Yelu Yan uttered a sound of assent and continued to gaze at the patient on the bed.
Li Xianyun hesitated for a moment, walked up, and seeing that Yelu Yan had no intention of moving away from the bedside, she said somewhat awkwardly, "I'll take his pulse."
Yelu Yan lifted his eyes to Li Xianyun, her bright and beautiful eyes betraying her thoughts.
She was very afraid of him, merely feigning composure.
Yelu Yan just glanced at her once, then stood up and stepped aside.
That man was truly towering; the moment he stood, Li Xianyun felt as though she was entirely enveloped in a vast shadow.
Li Xianyun silently breathed a sigh of relief, sat by the bed, took Xiao Dilu's hand, turned it over, and began to take his pulse.
Her earnest and confident demeanor was quite enchanting; Yelu Yan couldn't help but take a few extra glances at her.
After taking the pulse, Li Xianyun stood up, stepped back, and looking up at Yelu Yan said, "His life is out of danger, but he still needs to be nurtured back to health."
The two of them were very close to each other, and Yelu Yan saw clearly that the woman before him was flawlessly beautiful.
Seeing Yelu Yan scrutinizing her, Li Xianyun's face flushed instantly, and she averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.
Yelu Yan realized his lapse and cleared his throat, sat by the bed, and said, "Thank you."
Li Xianyun was stunned.
All along the way, the Khitan had been rough and barbaric, harboring malice toward Han people, yet she did not expect to hear the words "thank you" from Yelu Yan.
Wasn't it said that Yelu Yan was cruel and unkind, cold and heartless? This seemed somewhat different from the rumors.
Li Xianyun looked at Yelu Yan and said, "Khan, you haven't slept all night. Why don't you rest for a while? I'll keep watch here."
Yelu Yan looked at Li Xianyun with surprise; she was so afraid of him, yet she had not thought of staying far away.
Seeing the odd look in Yelu Yan's eyes, Li Xianyun misunderstood, and said, "If you do not trust me, you can have your guard accompany me. I have no reason to save Minister Xiao only to harm him."
Yelu Yan lowered his tiger-like eyes, looked at Xiao Dilu, and said, "This Khan understands. You go rest; this Khan will keep watch here."
Li Xianyun had no choice but to say no more, returning to the soft couch, yet not lying down again. Just now the journey's jolts, added to the depth of night, had left her extremely tired, and she had slept a bit, which now made her feel much more awake.
Having nothing else to do, Li Xianyun got up and sat at the writing desk to write down the recipe for the restorative medicine.
Yelu Yan gave her a glance. Li Xianyun was bending her head slightly, one hand pressing the paper, the other holding a writing brush, seriously writing characters, as beautiful as a painting itself.
This woman was very quiet, far better than those women who knew only to vie for favor and beauty, and to nag incessantly.
After writing the prescription, Li Xianyun realized there might be items on the desk she shouldn't see, so she moved to the soft couch and idly sat on the edge, sometimes looking at her toes, sometimes fiddling with her delicate fingers.
Not knowing how much time had passed, Li Xianyun heard a stir from the bed and, looking up, saw Yelu Yan stand and walk towards her.
Li Xianyun tensed up as if facing a great enemy, sitting upright and staring unblinkingly at Yelu Yan, not knowing what he intended to do.
Yelu Yan's deep tiger eyes looked her over briefly, then he came to the couch, took a water jug from the table, and began to pour water.
Li Xianyun exhaled in relief. So he had come to drink water.
Yelu Yan's fingers were distinct and slender; she had never seen such beautiful hands before.
Yelu Yan poured two cups of water, placing one cup in front of Li Xianyun.
Li Xianyun hadn't expected him to pour water for her, catching her by surprise as she softly said, "Thank you."
Her voice was gentle and pleasant to the ear.
Li Xianyun held the tea cup with both hands, brought it to her mouth, and took a gentle sip, involuntarily frowning slightly. The water here was bitter and tasteless, making her long for Chang'an.
Yelu Yan took a sip from the other cup and looked at the small figure sitting primly on the soft couch.
Although she pretended to be composed on the surface, every fibre of her being spoke of her fear of him.
Yet her appearance was not at all pretentious, and it was hard to dislike her.
Yelu Yan took another sip of water, said calmly, "Are you Princess Hehui?"
"Yes," Li Xianyun lifted her eyes and replied.
"The eldest daughter of Prince Rui?"
Li Xianyun gave Yelu Yan a quick glance, turned her eyes away, and softly uttered a sound of assent.
Thinking he might say more, she was surprised when Yelu Yan poured himself another cup of water, drank it in one gulp, placed the cup back on the desk, then, without looking at her again, turned and walked straight to the bed, where he sat down.