Chapter Fifteen: The Khitan Princess, Xiao Yanyan
Just as Li Xiao was bandaging the old man’s wound, the distant sound of galloping hooves suddenly echoed through the air.
The young men of Hexi Fort, who were busy cleaning the battlefield and rounding up the displaced Ketur horses, immediately halted their actions and looked up in unison.
From the southwest, three riders were swiftly approaching.
“Is that them?”
“They’re still here?” Li Xiao shook his head lightly, having thought they had long since fled.
“Khitans?” the old man said calmly, recognizing them by their clothing.
“Yes, they’re definitely Khitans. We encountered them earlier on the way back to the village—they were being chased by the Ketur!” Li Xiao briefly explained the situation to the old man.
Soon, the three Khitan riders arrived before the group.
“Huff, huff, huff~”
Under the cold, watchful eyes of the men at Hexi Fort, the three immediately pulled their reins tight, wary of making any sudden moves.
In truth, the Han people of the northern borderlands harbored little fondness for the Khitans.
Throughout history, the common folk have always harbored some resistance toward their rulers.
Though the Khitans did not impose cruel or tyrannical rule on the northern Han, they demanded heavy taxes from the region every year.
Much of the hard-earned labor of the northern Han was squandered by the royal court.
Moreover, in the recent Battle of Beishan, it was the reckless commands of the Khitan governor that led to the loss of a hundred young men from Hexi Fort.
This debt was firmly noted by the people of Hexi Fort against the Khitans.
“We mean no harm—only to come and thank you for your help,” Kunji quickly dismounted and offered a conciliatory explanation upon seeing the hostile gazes and the hands gripping bows.
“Are you Han people living nearby?” Kunji spoke in Chinese.
The Western Liao dynasty was a state formed jointly by Khitans, Han, and Uighurs, with the Khitans being the principal power and holding the most influence.
Though many Han contributed significantly, their voice was minimal.
Still, the Western Liao had a considerable Han population.
Historical records indicate that around this period, roughly one hundred thousand Han lived under Western Liao, primarily in the four northern border prefectures.
Besides this, the royal court also had many Han officials.
Thus, Kunji grew up interacting with Han people, learning their culture and language.
“No need to thank us,” Li Xiao said shortly after Kunji finished speaking. A youthful voice rang out as Li Xiao stepped forward, his calm eyes fixed on the three Khitans.
“If there’s nothing else, you should leave quickly. This place isn’t safe; more Ketur will be coming.”
The short stature of the lead Khitan rider was immediately noticeable—it was a woman, someone the Ketur had been desperate to capture after their long pursuit.
Her identity had to be extraordinary.
But Li Xiao was indifferent; he still had battlefield duties and didn’t want to waste time on a woman.
Kunji, recognizing Li Xiao as the young man who had saved him, grew interested.
“I remember you—you’re the one who saved me!”
Drawing an arrow from his back, Kunji presented it.
Li Xiao saw it was the very arrow he had shot earlier; out of boredom during quiet nights, he often carved his name onto his arrows.
Nothing special—just a pastime.
Only now did Li Xiao begin to scrutinize the Khitan woman carefully.
She was short, slender, dressed in a typical Khitan man's round-collared, narrow-sleeved robe, with a sheepskin jacket over it and a sheepskin hat concealing all her hair, disguising herself as a man.
In her early twenties, her eyes large and bright, with a high nose bridge hinting at some mixed ethnic heritage.
Perhaps due to the long ride and agitation, her cheeks flushed a rosy red like apples.
Her skin was delicate and fair, clearly pampered, without the weathered look of a grassland woman.
Li Xiao judged her to be a mature and alluring Khitan lady.
“That is indeed my arrow!”
“No need to thank me,” Li Xiao shook his head, reaching out to take back the arrow.
But the woman pulled it away, holding her head high.
“This arrow saved me; why not let me keep it?”
“You may think little of it, but we Khitans value debts and favors clearly. You saved me—I must repay you.”
“And your Han people behind you as well.”
“You killed so many Ketur; you truly are heroes of the Great Liao. I will see to it that the Xiangwen Prefecture rewards you handsomely.”
Perhaps due to long indulgence, her speech carried an effortless air of superiority.
She herself was unaware of it, and ordinary people would not find it strange—after all, nobles have always been like that.
But Li Xiao muttered in his heart, “Damn it, this arrogant woman...”
“If I get really mad, I’d just keep you as my fortress wife, and no one would ever know what happened to you.”
He harbored such wicked thoughts, mainly because her haughty tone riled him.
She was so fallen, with only two attendants left.
If he killed them all and pinned it on the Ketur, no one would be the wiser.
Still, though he thought it, Li Xiao would not easily act on such impulses.
Just then, one of the woman’s guards said, “Kunji, we should check by the river—see if any brothers survived.”
The woman nodded softly, then looked toward Li Xiao.
“I don’t even know your name yet!”
“Is it Long?” she asked.
“Li Dalong!” he replied.
“You can also call me Li Xiao,” Li Xiao nodded lightly, though his mind was racing.
The attendant had called this woman “Kunji.”
Though Li Xiao didn’t understand Khitan, he knew this name’s meaning.
Princess.
This woman was a princess?
Li Xiao was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected a Khitan princess to come all the way to the northern borderlands.
No wonder the Ketur had chased after her so desperately.
Historical records of Western Liao are sparse in later generations.
Li Xiao only knew a few famous figures from the Yelü imperial family.
The only princess he knew was Princess Hunhu.
She was the beloved daughter of Gurkhan, the Khitan emperor Yelü Diluogu.
Ten years later, she would be married to the Naiman prince Quchu Shuo.
By age, the Kunji before him could not be Hunhu.
The latter should still be a young girl, not this mature woman.
Sure enough, moments later, the woman chuckled softly.
“Li Dalong? Li Xiao sounds more natural.”
“As your name implies, you are a brave and skilled warrior!”
“My name is Xiao Yanyan!”
When she said her name, her eyebrows lifted, her tone proud, as if the name carried immense honor.
And indeed it did.
“Xiao?” Li Xiao pondered silently.
He understood the significance of the surname Xiao among the Khitans.
It would not be an exaggeration to say, “Yelü and Xiao share the world.”
Throughout Khitan history, many generals came from the Xiao clan, and most empresses were also from this family.
They were undoubtedly the Khitan ‘maternal clan.’
The same held true in Western Liao.
The first Gurkhan of Western Liao, Yelü Dash, was married to an empress from the Xiao family.
After Yelü Dash’s death, the young heir was under the regency of this Xiao empress for ten years.
Moreover, the top general and founding hero under Yelü Dash was named Xiao Wulici.
The Xiao clan held tremendous influence in Western Liao.
Li Xiao had not expected this woman to hail from the Xiao clan.
Yet this made him all the more puzzled.
Though noble, how could a woman from the Xiao family be titled a princess? Empress would be more fitting.
Naturally, Li Xiao did not dare ask.
Then Xiao Yanyan said, “May I ask you for one more favor?”
“My guards chose to stay behind to hold off the Ketur and protect me.”
“I want you to go to the riverside. If there are survivors, please tend to them; if anyone has died, ensure they receive a proper burial.”
“I will reward you generously afterward, and I will also have the Xiangwen Prefecture exempt your village from taxes for three years.”
Damn—
Her tone was so commanding, Li Xiao’s irritation flared again.
But three years of tax exemption?
That was tempting!
Moreover, with her status as a princess and a daughter of the Xiao clan, the rewards she promised were certainly not trifling.
In Li Xiao’s plans, Hexi Fort was to grow strong, attracting more people and cultivating more land.
That required substantial funds.
Being freed from taxes would be an immense boon!
While other villages suffered under Khitan taxation, Hexi Fort would enjoy tax freedom—how could villagers not be enticed?
“Alright,” Li Xiao said.
“I will personally lead people to the riverside battlefield.”
He had to admit, though the woman appeared haughty and a little naive, being a Xiao clan daughter, she was skilled at commanding subordinates.
With just a few promises, she compelled Li Xiao to assist her.
And he was rather pleased by it.
“Thank you,” Xiao Yanyan smiled warmly at Li Xiao.
Around twenty, just shedding the awkwardness of youth, every movement she made exuded the charm of a young woman.
She was undoubtedly a deadly allure to a boy of Li Xiao’s age.
Yet, having been somewhat experienced in his past life, Li Xiao was not so easily beguiled by this enchanting woman.