019 Who is Xiaobai? (First update)

Yelu Yan woke up to find Li Xianyun clinging to him in her sleep, her head resting on his shoulder, one arm on his chest, and a leg draped over him, treating him as if he were a body pillow.

His gaze involuntarily fell upon her fair, smooth little face. Her cheeks were plump and flushed with a tender, pink glow. Her eyelashes were dense and long. Yelu Yan had never seen such beautiful lashes before.

Just as he was lost in a trance, a disturbance came from outside.

Yelu Yan lifted Li Xianyun's hand and leg off him.

Deep in slumber, Li Xianyun continued to sleep soundly, eyes closed, lips pursed as she mumbled, "Stinky Xiaobai, won't let me hug...fine then."

With that, she turned over in bed, sticking her bottom up in the air as she lay on her stomach and continued to snore away.

"You..."

"Don't look at improprieties," Yelu Yan picked up a blanket to cover her bottom, got dressed without glancing back at the bed, and left.

As soon as he left the inner chamber, a maid was ready to attend to Yelu Yan's washing up.

Youlan and Zhuo Ma were also there.

After he had washed up, Yelu Yan took the white towel to wipe his hands and asked Youlan in a flat voice, "Who is Xiaobai?"

Youlan, not expecting Yelu Yan to speak to her, nervously replied, "Xiao...Xiaobai is a big white cat the Princess has raised. It's...five years old now."

Strange, why is Khan asking about Xiaobai?

Yelu Yan, taking the belt handed over by the maid, said flatly, "The Princess is sleeping, do not disturb her rest."

All the maids responded, "Yes!"

Yelu Yan straightened his clothes and strode outside.

Zhuo Ma looked at Youlan with excitement.

Youlan gave her a slight smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes, wondering if the strong and healthy Khan had been too much for her mistress last night.

She must have been tormented yesterday, right?

If only Khan hadn't instructed them not to disturb, she would have liked to rush in right now to check.

Jinwu was speaking with palace servants in the courtyard.

"Khan isn't practicing his swordplay early today?" Jinwu asked.

"No, he slept until now."

"That's quite rare," Jinwu said.

The palace servant glanced around and whispered, "Last night, the Princess stayed in Khan's room."

Surprise was written all over Jinwu's face; he had never seen Khan be close with a woman before. Had the Princess won Khan over so quickly?

"No wonder Khan woke up late. Married men really are different," the bachelor Jinwu said, pretending to be worldly.

Although Khan and the Princess were married while Khan was busy with official duties in the camp and did not come back.

The Princess entered the Khan Palace in full bridal attire, and the ceremony was completed.

Yelu Yan, a martial expert with exceptional hearing, heard every single word Jinwu said without missing a beat.

He cleared his throat.

Jinwu quickly turned around to see his Khan standing behind him and, feeling guilty, saluted, "Greetings, Khan."

Yelu Yan said flatly, "How is Tuoba Che?"

Jinwu replied, "Reporting to Khan, thanks to the Princess's medicine, Tuoba Che's face was black, and his lips were purple. After drinking the Princess's medicine, he recovered completely in about half an hour. As you instructed, I waited until Tuoba Che was fully recovered this morning before I came to report to you."

Yelu Yan hummed a response and stepped down the stairs.

Jinwu hastily followed.

The news of Yelu Yan sharing a room with Li Xianyun spread widely.

When Xiao Dilu regained consciousness, Yelu Yan, fearing scaring off the snake by hitting the grass, ordered to seal off the news.

Aside from those who first learned of the situation, no one throughout the entire palace knew that Yelu Yan had taken the opportunity to coolly orchestrate a major purge in the Harem, replacing virtually all the palace staff with his own people. The Grand Imperial Consort had essentially been sidelined.

This incident was sufficient to demonstrate Yelu Yan's ability to control information.

The news of the two sharing a room would certainly not have spread without his tacit approval.

Prince Xueyuan of the South, thanks to his outstanding military achievements and as the only non-royal Prince and elder statesman of both dynasties, was in a very influential position in Khitan, with assets spread across the realm. His luxurious residence was situated in a bustling market street, the very best location in Shangjing and a well-known wealthy district.

Ji Chuchu, accompanied by two female generals, returned from the barracks. As soon as she dismounted, a servant took the reins.

"Has Father returned?" Ji Chuchu asked while walking.

The servant replied, "The Prince has returned. As soon as he arrived, he asked where you had gone."

Ji Chuchu ran inside with a smile.

Upon hearing his daughter's voice, Ji Xueyuan smiled and came out of the study.

Ji Xueyuan, who had many wives and concubines and five sons, cherished his only daughter immensely.

"Father!" Ji Chuchu exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms upon seeing him.

Embracing her, Ji Xueyuan laughed and said, "Did you miss your father?"

Ji Chuchu replied with a smile, "Of course I did."

She glanced behind Ji Xueyuan and asked, "Where's big brother?"

Ji Chuchu's older brother, Ji Zuqing, was a general of distinguished service, who had gone south with their father, Ji Xueyuan, to suppress a rebellion.

Ji Xueyuan answered, "Your brother hasn't returned to Shangjing for a long time; he's gone to see friends."

Pouting, Ji Chuchu said, "In my brother's eyes, his friends are more important than me."

"Who in Shangjing doesn't know that Zuqing cherishes you the most?" Ji Xueyuan said with a laugh.

Ji Chuchu's eyes curved into smiles as she hugged Ji Xueyuan's arm and said, "Father, tell me about what happened on the trip."

"Sure, but before I do, I have something to show you," he said.

"Okay," Ji Chuchu said cheerfully.

As she said this, she looped her arm through his and started to walk toward the study.

"It's not in the study," Ji Xueyuan remarked. "Let's go take a look at the stables."

Avid horse lover Ji Chuchu adored fine steeds, so Ji Xueyuan had spent a hefty sum to purchase a Fiery Flame Horse from a horse trader as a gift for her.

The two of them walked merrily toward the stables, but as they passed through a corridor, they overheard two maids gossiping.

"Did you hear? The Khan shared a room with the Princess Consort," one maid said.

"What? How is that possible? The Khan never approaches women; how could he possibly share a room with that princess?"

"It's absolutely true; my cousin serves in the palace, and he's always in the know. How could it be false?"

"But what about our Commandery Princess? She is deeply in love with the Khan," another said.

Before she could finish, Ji Xueyuan ordered the guards behind him, "Beat these slandering servants to death with sticks!"

The two maids turned pale with fright, knelt on the ground, and begged, "Your grace, spare our lives, Commandery Princess, spare our lives!"

Ji Chuchu, her face looking dreadful, said, "Let it be, Father. They're not wrong."

"That won't do..."

Instantly, tears rolled down Ji Chuchu's cheeks as she cried, "Father, I beg you, don't let me be disgraced any further."

After saying that, she ran off crying.

Ji Xueyuan hastily told the guards, "Listen to the Commandery Princess. Spare them their lives, but make sure they don't show their faces around the Prince's Mansion again."

The two guards saluted with bent arms and said, "Yes, sir!"

With faces as white as sheets and heads knocking the ground, the two maids kept repeating, "Thank you for your mercy, Prince, thank you for your mercy, Commandery Princess..."