The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 97 - 0 She likes thrills (second update)

The village chief’s wife said happily, "If you like it, drink a little more."

She was afraid the guests wouldn’t be accustomed to the drink, so she had only poured half a cup.

Now that she discovered Li Xianyun enjoyed it, she wanted to pour a full cup.

Yelu Yan wanted to stop her.

Li Xianyun’s small hand gently rested on the cuff of his sleeve, preventing him from speaking.

Yelu Yan’s hand was under the table where the couple couldn’t see.

Li Xianyun said to the village chief’s wife, "Thank you."

To reject someone’s kindness would be terribly upsetting for them.

Yelu Yan looked at her small hand on his sleeve.

Her hand looked even fairer and more beautiful against his black garments.

Was this woman made of snow?

Hearing her words, the village chief’s wife happily filled Li Xianyun’s teacup, then sat back down beside her husband.

Li Xianyun lifted her small hand from Yelu Yan’s sleeve and, holding the teacup, looked towards Yelu Yan, who was also looking at her.

Li Xianyun smiled and quickly, with a cunning twinkle in her eye, gave Yelu Yan a look, then lowered her head and pretended to casually take a sip of the milk tea.

Seeing her playful and cute demeanor, Yelu Yan’s smile deepened.

Li Xianyun had thought Yelu Yan would have nothing to say to the village chief, considering their life experiences had so little in common.

To her surprise, the two men hit it off, speaking about everything from the price of cattle and sheep to the assistance from the Imperial Court, and even recent battle news.

Most of the time during the conversation, Yelu Yan was listening; he wanted to hear more of what the common people thought.

Although he seldom spoke, every time he did, he hit the nail on the head.

The village chief found the conversation extremely pleasant.

Unable to join in, the village chief’s wife moved to sit beside Li Xianyun, and the two women began to chat.

Li Xianyun, quite interested in the nomadic life, began asking about their way of living.

Once the conversation started, the village chief’s wife couldn’t stop talking about the incidents that happened while herding or moving with the grass and water.

The two women enjoyed their conversation immensely. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

From time to time, Yelu Yan glanced towards Li Xianyun; as she talked with the village chief’s wife, there was always a smile on her lips, gentle and serene.

While the four of them were talking, a boy of about ten years old came in.

"Grandpa, dinner is ready. Father and mother sent me to call you to eat," he said.

The village chief responded with a laugh, "Understood."

He looked at Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun and said, "Let’s go eat."

All four made their way towards the door.

At the doorway, Yelu Yan picked up Li Xianyun’s shoes and bent down to help her put them on.

Li Xianyun quickly took them, saying, "I’ll put them on."

Yelu Yan’s behavior today was so out of the ordinary, it made her uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Yelu Yan didn’t insist.

Some things were better taken gradually, lest he frighten her.

"Sit on the bench to put them on," Yelu Yan said to Li Xianyun.

"Mm-hm."

Li Xianyun took her shoes and obediently began to put them on.

Yelu Yan glanced at her, then bent down to put on his shoes, standing up to wait for her afterward.

After all four had donned their shoes, they stepped out of the tent.

The sun had already set, painting the far-off mountain tops with layers of purple and the pale color of a fish’s belly.

Night was about to fall.

The group followed the village chief to a flat grassy area on the perimeter of the cluster of tents.

There, a lively crowd of men, women, the elderly, and children had already gathered.

A woman reminded the group, "Our benefactor has arrived."

The crowd turned to look, gradually falling silent.

The faces of the herdsmen were all brimming with simple, genuine smiles.

The crowd automatically made way for Yelu Yan and his entourage.

Li Xianyun spotted a large pile of stacked wood not far away.

Around the woodpile, there were many low tables and round stools.

The tables and stools were set quite far from the woodpile, creating a considerable open space with the woodpile at the center.

Every table was laden with fruits and dishes.

The dishes mainly consisted of meat.

At the main seat, there were two tables, each with room for two people.

The dishes there were much more abundant than at the other tables: there were roasted beef legs, braised beef chunks, big plate chicken, and many other dishes.

A table full of food spread before them.

The evening breeze carried the aroma of the food, tantalizing the taste buds.

The village chief led Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun to the main seats, smiling, "Honored guests, please sit."

Yelu Yan gently held Li Xianyun’s slender arm and smiled, "Sit down."

After Li Xianyun sat down, Yelu Yan took his place beside her.

Once they were seated, the village chief looked at a strapping man and said, "It’s ready."

The strapping man took a torch from a young man and placed it at the base of the woodpile.

With a whoosh, the entire woodpile caught fire, sending flames leaping two meters high.

The blaze was so intense it strained the eyes.

"Oh..."

Li Xianyun was startled by the sudden turn of events, involuntarily letting out a cry.

Yelu Yan looked down at her and smiled, "Frightened?"

Li Xianyun looked up at him and replied with a smile, "Not at all, it’s just very thrilling and fun."

So she liked excitement.

Yelu Yan’s tiger-like eyes were deep, with the firelight burning within them.

Li Xianyun continued to watch the fiercely burning woodpile.

The sparks flew, and the wood crackled and popped.

Li Xianyun’s little face was illuminated to a rosy hue, her eyes reflecting the firelight, her face full of a smile, naive and vivacious.

Yelu Yan couldn’t help but smile at the corners of his mouth, feeling it was indeed right to have come today.

Facing something unfamiliar, Li Xianyun always liked to dig deep and understand it.

She examined the woodpile closely.

The woodpile must have had grease poured over it, and the wood was arranged to leave plenty of gaps for airflow, which is why it burst into flames upon contact with the fire source, creating such high flames.

The radiant bonfire instantly heightened the festive atmosphere of the banquet.

In the blaze of the fire, the village chief stood up with a cup of wine and smiled, "Today, as we welcome our esteemed guests, let us all raise our glasses in celebration, and not return until we are all drunk!"

Everyone stood up and replied in unison, "Good!"

Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun also picked up their cups to stand.

Yelu Yan glanced at Li Xianyun, raised his cup, and looked around with a smile, "Thank you all for your warm hospitality to us as a couple. My wife and I toast to everyone."

The herdsmen made polite remarks and cheerfully raised their cups, toasting to Yelu Yan from a distance.

Yelu Yan leaned towards Li Xianyun and said, "This wine is strong, just sip a little."

Being so close to him, Li Xianyun looked ahead somewhat awkwardly and nodded, "Mhm."

Yelu Yan and the others drank up, while Li Xianyun, under his watch, delicately sipped her wine.

The wine, held in a transparent glass, was purple, tasting sweet upon the lips, not at all spicy, and very delicious.

She wondered why Yelu Yan wouldn’t let her drink more of it.

Yelu Yan noticed what was on her mind and leaned in close with his tall figure.

Their clothes nearly touched, adding an intimacy to their presence.

One tall and mighty, strikingly handsome; the other petite and tender, stunningly beautiful—the two of them looked like divine beings, an exceedingly well-matched pair.

Yelu Yan looked down at Li Xianyun with a smile, "This is fruit wine, tastes sweet, is good to drink, but it has a strong kick and can easily make one drunk."

So close to her, his faint breath of wine caressed Li Xianyun’s ear, scorching her.

Li Xianyun obediently responded with a "Mhm" as her hand tightened slightly around the glass.