The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 672 - 670 Is he that good that you’re so concerned about him? (Second update)

Chapter 672: 670 Is he that good that you’re so concerned about him? (Second update)

Jinwu said excitedly, "Khan, it’s one of our own."

The two teams quickly converged at one spot.

Torches were lit.

Several burning torches illuminated each other’s faces.

The faces of Yelu Yan and the guards were all tinged with a bronze hue.

Bater dismounted and knelt on the ground, his face beaming with joy, "Reporting to Khan, I have found the Queen."

In fact, as Bater was speaking, Yelu Yan had already galloped up to the carriage.

The ease with which she had been found made him reluctant to believe it readily.

Upon reaching the carriage, Yelu Yan dismounted and personally opened the carriage door.

Inside the carriage, lanterns were lit, and in the dim light, a delicate woman sat upright in the carriage.

Yelu Yan took one glance at her before drawing his longsword and pointing it at her, demanding angrily, "Who are you?"

Everyone present was stunned—this was clearly the Queen. Why would the Khan point a sword at her, and ask who she was?

Bai Mengling was seeing Yelu Yan for the first time.

With handsome brows and starry eyes, upright and impressive, he was a different type of handsome man compared to Murong Ce.

Murong Ce was as gentle as jade, like a cool breeze or bright moon, making others feel unworthy in his presence.

Yelu Yan, on the other hand, exuded a vigorous masculine aura, different from Murong Ce’s cultured and scholarly demeanor. He appeared more aggressive, like a wild horse galloping in all directions, difficult to control.

Both men were equally matched, yet both were rare and handsome fellows in this world.

And such admirable individuals fancied the same woman.

Devoted to such an extent, unyielding and resolute.

It was both fate and karma.

Yelu Yan glanced at Jinwu.

Jinwu immediately stepped forward, intending to pull off Bai Mengling’s disguise.

Bai Mengling said, "I’ll do it myself."

As she spoke, she reached behind her ear and with a flick, her face transformed before everyone.

Aside from her eyes and brows resembling those of the Queen, there wasn’t another feature that matched.

Bater and the others knelt on the ground, arms bent in salute, "We have been blind, please punish us as you see fit, Khan."

Yelu Yan said indifferently, "Make up for your mistakes by continuing the search."

Bater and the others mounted their horses and vanished into the dark night.

Yelu Yan looked coldly at Bai Mengling, "Speak, where was she taken?"

Bai Mengling bitter-smiled, "Do you think His Majesty would tell me such a thing?"

"If your kin knew you were serving the enemy who killed them, I wonder how they would feel?"

Tears welled up in Bai Mengling’s eyes as she looked up at Yelu Yan.

This man was too fearsome; just one sentence had left her utterly defenseless and unable to retort.

Yelu Yan couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, "Take her away for a thorough interrogation."

"Yes!"

...

Li Xianyun climbed to the top of a Gobi dune and despondently found that just as she had suspected, they were in an oasis.

Before her lay the vast Gobi desert with no end in sight, and behind her were the same boundless sands.

Because she stood atop a height, she could clearly make out the shape of the oasis—

An oblong form, like a gem nestled in the midst of the desert.

Amazingly, in such a dry and water-scarce place, there was a crescent-shaped lake in the middle of the oasis with azure blue waters, as if it were the eyes of the earth.

Houses were built by the water while trees lush and verdant stood in front of the houses and behind them.

Here, one lives in isolation from the world, cut off from everyone else.

According to Murong Ce, it started when a criminal escaped here; then more criminals followed, and the place gradually developed.

These criminals were all death-row inmates; going out meant certain death, so they settled down and formed this isolated place.

Li Xianyun stood atop a hill, overlooking the oasis with a sorrowful expression.

Murong Ce, supported by Wen Yao, followed her up.

Seeing Murong Ce out of breath, with a forehead covered in fine beads of sweat and lips alarmingly pale,

Wen Yao couldn’t help but say, "Master, please sit down and rest for a while."

Murong Ce didn’t respond; instead, he looked at Li Xianyun’s desolate expression and finally voiced what was in his heart, "Is he really that good for you to be so preoccupied with him?"

Li Xianyun glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to look even further away.

The sun’s rays turned the desert to gold, and the wind sculpted silky traces in the sand.

Not far away, a gecko climbed against the dunes, quickly reaching the crest and disappearing into a depression in the sand.

Li Xianyun knew she couldn’t provoke Murong Ce.

Although Murong Ce was extremely tolerant and indulgent towards her now, Li Xianyun knew that if she were to provoke him, there was no telling what he might do.

And after years of conflict, Murong Ce was well acquainted with her tactics.

She was without allies, and without absolute certainty, she dared not make any rash moves.

Li Xianyun pursed her lips, looking towards the sun blazing with boundless light – the only reference for direction here.

What could Yelu Yan be doing now?

He must surely be frantic with worry, not finding her.

But there was nothing she could do now; when she was taken away from Shangjing, they had drugged her into unconsciousness, and she left no signs for Yelu Yan.

Tears moistened Li Xianyun’s eyes as she remembered the journey from Yanzhou back to Shangjing – through vast grasslands and the immense Gobi Desert.

When she journeyed to marry into the Khitan, Li Xianyun had seen the desert from afar, but her future was uncertain then, and she had no time to appreciate the exotic scenery.

Yet, the journey back to Shangjing with Yelu Yan was calm and comfortable, where she could do as she wished.

Seeing that Li Xianyun truly enjoyed the desert, Yelu Yan asked, "Xianxian, would you like to walk to the far-off dunes?"

The official road was built over the stony Gobi where it was firm enough for vehicles.

But to reach the distant dunes, one would have to deviate significantly from the road.

"Will it delay our journey?"

"No."

Yelu Yan instructed the carriage to head towards the dunes.

Arriving close by, Yelu Yan was the first to leap off the carriage and reached out his hand to Li Xianyun inside.

Li Xianyun, helped by Yelu Yan, stepped down from the carriage.

Yelu Yan told Jinwu and the others, "Stay here."

He took Li Xianyun’s hand as they walked up the dune.

Sand quickly filled Li Xianyun’s shoes; soft beneath her feet, it accumulated, comfortable yet slightly heavy.

Atop the dune, Li Xianyun’s view opened up – there were mounds and piles of sand, much more and vastly wider than what she had seen from the Gobi.

Li Xianyun bent down to scoop a handful of fine sand, feeling it slip through her fingers like wind, water, silk.

It tickled pleasantly.

With the fine sand in hand, it felt as if she could never tire of playing with it.

While Li Xianyun played with the sand, Yelu Yan looked on with a smile.

These commonplace sights, through Li Xianyun’s eyes, took on a completely different luster and a unique glow.

Yelu Yan raised his hand and affectionately ruffled Li Xianyun’s hair, gazing at her endearingly, "Are you having fun?"

"Mm."

Li Xianyun answered but kept her gaze on the yellow sand in her hands.

Her playful mood emerging, she looked at Yelu Yan and asked, "Husband, may I take off my shoes?"