The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 593 - 591 Change His Mind for Peace (First Update)

Li Xianyun arrived at the cleansing room, and just as she was about to close the door, Yelu Yan’s large hand propped it open.

Li Xianyun knew that she was thinly dressed, visibly so, thus she moved quickly, but she did not expect Yelu Yan to still catch up with her.

She pushed against the wooden door from the inside with both her small hands, her voice laughing with feigned complaint, "Oh, my husband, I’m tired. Please, let me rest."

"Be good, it’ll be quick," Yelu Yan reminded, "Be careful not to pinch your fingers."

As Yelu Yan spoke, he exerted a little more strength in his hand.

The difference in strength between men and women was indeed vast, especially when facing someone as robust and strong as Yelu Yan.

Instantly, Yelu Yan pushed the door open.

Li Xianyun’s clothes fluttered as she turned to leave, but Yelu Yan wrapped his arms around her from behind, sweeping his hand over her small face and urgently pressing his mouth against her red, tender lips in a fervent kiss.

In a moment’s time, clothes fell to the floor, and Li Xianyun was pinned down on the table inside the cleansing room by Yelu Yan.

Soon, the fragmented, heated sounds emerged from the room, persisting without end.

In the end, after Yelu Yan was satisfied, he held Li Xianyun, who seemed soaked in sweat, and attended to her as she washed.

Taking advantage of the washing, his hands were particularly restless, naturally taking his fill of liberties.

Much later, Yelu Yan wrapped Li Xianyun in a soft towel and carried her horizontally in his arms, emerging from the cleansing room.

Li Xianyun rested her head weakly on Yelu Yan’s shoulder, her face tender and flushed, her lips full and red, clearly the look of someone who had been dearly loved.

That nearly transparent nightgown was soaked and wrinkled, lying limp on the ground.

Back on the bed, Yelu Yan dressed Li Xianyun again in clean nightwear, then changed into his own pajamas, removed his shoes, got into bed, and pulled Li Xianyun into his arms, bowing his head to look at her.

After Yelu Yan’s exertions, Li Xianyun was utterly exhausted and finally felt drowsy.

She lifted her eyes to glance at Yelu Yan, then snuggled closer into his broad embrace, showing great affection.

Yelu Yan chuckled softly and gently kissed her forehead.

"Xianxian, tomorrow I need to go outside Hengzhou City to have a look. I might return quite late... or I might not return at all, but I’ll send you a message then."

Li Xianyun’s butterfly-wing-like long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Although Yelu Yan did not spell it out, Li Xianyun was aware that the situation in battle shifted rapidly, filled with too many unforeseen events and surprises, and nothing was certain—she needed to respond as circumstances demanded.

Tomorrow, when Yelu Yan took people to inspect the outskirts of Hengzhou City, both sides would have their morale exceptionally boosted due to the personal campaigns of their emperors, and it was very likely that a conflict could occur.

To keep her from worrying, Yelu Yan would not discuss the details of war with her.

If he did not speak, then she would not ask, to put his mind at ease.

Yet this did not mean that she wouldn’t seek to understand the situation on her own—she wanted to grasp the current circumstances in her own way.

Li Xianyun cuddled closer in Yelu Yan’s embrace, softly saying, "Husband, I’ll wait for you at home. Please, you must ensure your safety."

These words fell upon Yelu Yan’s ears, comforting his heart and soul, especially the phrase "I’ll wait for you at home," which filled him with both warmth and happiness.

She understood him.

It seemed she already knew about some of the things that might happen; there was no need for further explanation from him.

"Alright," Yelu Yan said.

Though he uttered only one word, it was especially solemn and firm with a weighty significance, carrying a multitude of promises and reluctance to part.

Yelu Yan kissed Li Xianyun’s cheek, cuddling her small head, and closed his eyes.

"Sleep now, hmm?" Yelu Yan spoke softly.

"Mhm."

The impassioned intimacy gradually dissipated, and a tranquil, serene night engulfed them completely.

That night, with the moon shining sparsely among the stars, Hengzhou City’s imposing Southern City Gate gathered many civil and military officials, as well as civilians from the city, who were kept to the outskirts by soldiers.

Countless people crowded together, a vast sea of heads.

After dinner, the people had all been waiting at the Southern City Gate, waiting until nightfall.

They were all eager to see the pitiable Emperor who cared for his subjects, poured his heart and soul into defending the land, yet suffered the indignity of having his Empress taken from him.

The Khitan had broken through several of Houliang’s border fortresses in succession, advancing irresistibly, and now their massive army was arrayed outside Hengzhou City.

Although Hengzhou was a natural fortress, impregnable as if cased in iron and bronze, the shadow of war still loomed over the hearts of the people.

But now, things were looking up.

The Emperor had come to Hengzhou to take personal command of the battle.

Hengzhou would be saved, and its people would no longer have to wander homeless.

The previous anxiety of the people had slowly dissipated, like the morning sun melting away the fog.

Time passed interminably, the cold seeping through their cotton boots without a trace of warmth.

In the distant darkness, elusive shadows could be seen.

The crowd suddenly began to stir—they had finally been waiting for this moment.

The sound of horses and carriage wheels gradually grew louder and clearer in the dark night.

The crowd fell silent out of reverence for the Emperor’s majesty, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

The sovereign as sovereign, the subjects as subjects, fathers as fathers, sons as sons—these moral principles had long since been ingrained in the blood of the people, taught by word and example, passed down from generation to generation.

Amongst the approaching entourage, a particularly magnificent and majestic palanquin stood out—it was the imperial palanquin of the young Emperor of Houliang.

Before Murong Ce’s chariot even came near, someone shouted loudly, "Kneel!"

The voice rang out like a mighty bell.

Officials and citizens alike knelt in unison, daring not to move, nor to lift their eyes to catch a glimpse of the Emperor’s noble countenance.

Murong Ce pulled back the carriage window, lifting a corner of the curtain to take a glance at the kneeling officials and citizens.

His gaze was profound, and he thought of the woman who might be sleeping in Yelu Yan’s arms, his hand resting on his knee unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Foolish woman, what’s wrong with being with him?

All the honors and favor that Yelu Yan could give her, he could give tenfold, a hundredfold.

Besides, Yelu Yan had been sent to the battlefield at the age of ten, educated only in Military Books, and probably hadn’t even read those books about love beneath the flowers and moonlight. How could such a stiff, miserly brute understand her true feelings or be as gentle to her as he was?

Thinking of these things, that uncontrollable irritation and jealousy surged up again, tearing at his heart like the blade of a knife.

Murong Ce relaxed his grip, and the curtain fell back into place with a crisp sound from the dangling beads at the end.

A mighty cavalry procession entered Hengzhou majestically.

The soldiers, clad in armor, their sharp blades glinting under the moon, casting a menacing glint.

These deadly weapons were indeed intimidating.

What the people didn’t expect was that the imperial palanquin, symbolic of the regal majesty of the Emperor, did not head to the grand official residence but went directly to the Northern City Gate instead.

The rest of the entourage split off into their respective camps to station themselves.

Murong Ce, accompanied by his main generals, ascended the tall city tower of the Northern City Gate.

The city wall and tower were built of huge, sturdy stones.

Upon reaching the top of the tower, they discovered a completely different realm.

The wall featured a passage more than thirty meters wide for walking, flanked on both sides by battlements where soldiers could defend, high and low, orderly and evenly spaced.

The higher battlements even had lookout openings where one could observe the enemy while also providing protection.

The passage ran around the entirety of Hengzhou City, facilitating the generals to deploy troops and issue commands.

The open space above the city gate was very spacious; apart from the city tower, there was also a row of low buildings at the back for storing weapons or miscellaneous items.