Lan Yan looked at the market here. Although it wasn't as prosperous as the imperial city, it had everything one could want. She approached a stall selling ceramics and picked up a bowl with exquisite craftsmanship.
"Ye Lan, what do you think of this as a soup bowl?"
Jun Ye Lan nodded. "Whatever you choose is good." He casually picked up a bowl with a high rim and said, "This one is thick, so you won't get scalded when carrying soup."
Lan Yan looked over, fixated on the large bowl in Jun Ye Lan's hand, and said decisively, "Alright, let's buy two." She scanned the remaining bowls and spotted a pair with lotus patterns. Just as she reached for them, one was taken.
It was another customer who, staring at the bowl, declared, "I'll take this one." He had already pulled out silver to pay.
Lan Yan looked regretfully at the other bowls.
Jun Ye Lan noticed Lan Yan's expression and said to the customer, "Sir, my wife fancies this bowl. Would you be willing to let me have it? I am willing to pay three times the price."
The customer looked at Jun Ye Lan and Lan Yan, then put the bowl down. "Fine, I live alone, any bowl will do." He chose another with a different pattern and received Jun Ye Lan's silver.
Jun Ye Lan presented the lotus bowl to Lan Yan, smiling. "I've already bought them. Now we each have one, and no one can take them away."
"Mhm," Lan Yan nodded happily, a smile gracing her lips.
After buying the bowls, they moved on to the adjacent fabric shop.
Lan Yan wanted to buy some fabric to make clothes and curtains. She spotted a piece of blue fabric and couldn't help but look at Jun Ye Lan. Today, Jun Ye Lan was also wearing a blue long gown, a shade lighter than the fabric in her hand.
"Ye Lan, I've noticed you've been wearing blue a lot lately. Let's buy this one."
Jun Ye Lan glanced at the fabric and had no objections. He wore this color because the first time he wore it, he saw a look of admiration flash in Lan Yan's eyes.
From then on, whenever he opened his wardrobe, he would unconsciously choose blue.
Seeing Lan Yan about to pay, he noticed a roll of blue fabric beside them out of the corner of his eye. He placed it alongside the green one and said, "Yan'er, this one is nice too."
Lan Yan looked down and realized that these two bolts of fabric seemed to represent her and Jun Ye Lan. She smiled and said, "Let's buy both."
After their purchases, Jun Ye Lan carried all the items, while Lan Yan continued to browse.
When they grew tired of shopping, they found an eatery to have a bite.
Coincidentally, a storyteller was performing in the eatery. He slammed his table and declared, "Speaking of Jun Ye Lan, the Eunuch of the Imperial City, he is quite a figure."
Lan Yan immediately looked at Jun Ye Lan. They understood each other's glances and calmly continued to sit.
The surrounding diners called out, "How is he quite a figure?"
"Don't rush, I'm just getting to that," the storyteller said, shaking his head. He fanned himself slowly with a folding fan and began to narrate. "Jun Ye Lan had a tragic background. After entering the palace, he was banished to the desolate Cold Palace."
"But he didn't despair. It was there he met the current Emperor, who was then a prince in the Cold Palace. Then he encountered the Grand Eunuch of that time, gained his favor, and was selected to study as an inner attendant, thus acquiring his knowledge."
The diners chuckled, "Then Jun Ye Lan was quite lucky to gain benefits when he was at his lowest."
"Not so, not so," the storyteller sighed. "Being too outstanding in that palace would attract unwanted attention. Later, because Jun Ye Lan saved the Emperor, he was thrown into a well by those who intended to harm the Emperor. It's said he spent a night in the well, and his eyes changed when he returned the next day."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yan couldn't help but grip Jun Ye Lan's hand on the table, her eyes filled with concern.
Jun Ye Lan squeezed her hand back, a slight smile gracing his lips, indicating that it was all in the past. That night had been a nightmare for him, but with Lan Yan, his nightmares had transformed into sweet dreams.
The storyteller continued, "After that, Jun Ye Lan followed the Grand Eunuch for ten years. Ten years of palace intrigues and ups and downs shaped his unfathomable personality. Later, somehow, he managed to put the most unlikely of princes on the throne."
"Then Jun Ye Lan is quite capable. What's he up to now?" the diners asked curiously.
The storyteller shook his head. "Some say he's dead, others say he's returned to his hometown. Regardless, the Imperial City will no longer have a figure like him. His story ends here."
The diners sighed in unison, finding it a pity. "Such a capable person, it's a shame."
Their sighs reached Lan Yan's ears. She looked at Jun Ye Lan and smiled. "From now on, in your story, I'll be there, and it will never end."
"Naturally," Jun Ye Lan's smile deepened. "I never felt regret; instead, I feel relief and ease, along with a hint of joy and happiness."
The world only saw how capable he was, but they didn't know the price he paid for those words. In his midnight dreams, his nightmares never disappeared, and during the day, he had to pretend as if nothing had happened.
But now, feeling the warmth transmitted from her hand, his heart was at peace.
Lan Yan looked at Jun Ye Lan with a smile, holding his hands tightly with both of hers. "We've heard the story and eaten our meal, let's go home."
"Alright," Jun Ye Lan picked up the packages from the table, and they left hand in hand.
The diners behind them were still engrossed in the storyteller's tale, completely oblivious to the couple leaving the entrance.
Upon returning home, Lan Yan washed the bowls and chopsticks clean, placing them one by one into the kitchen cabinets. She looked at the tidy kitchen and clapped her hands in satisfaction before going out to the courtyard.
She had Jun Ye Lan hold one end of the fabric while she held the other with a pair of scissors. She cut from her side all the way to Jun Ye Lan's, dividing the fabric in half.
Jun Ye Lan watched Lan Yan, a faint smile on his lips, cherishing this kind of day. Simply helping Lan Yan with chores, watching her every move, stirred his heart.
Lan Yan picked up another bolt of fabric and turned to see Jun Ye Lan staring at her. She said helplessly, "Stare at the fabric. What if you cut your hand!"
"I trust you, Yan'er," Jun Ye Lan curled his lips upwards, his gaze fixed on Lan Yan.
Faced with such a Jun Ye Lan, Lan Yan indulged him. "Fine." She continued cutting the fabric, glancing at Jun Ye Lan from time to time, sharing smiles with him.
Working together, they finished cutting all the fabric in no time.
Jun Xiao Yao also returned from next door and giggled upon seeing her brother and Sister Lan's affectionate moment. "Oh, Brother, Sister Lan, even cutting fabric is so sweet for you two. Should I go play at the neighbor's for a while longer?"
"Xiao Yao, you've started teasing your Sister Lan now." Lan Yan scooped up Jun Xiao Yao and tickled her, laughing. "Come on, Sister Lan will take you to eat."
Jun Xiao Yao laughed while nestled in Lan Yan's embrace, calling back, "Brother, hurry up and follow!"
Jun Ye Lan couldn't help but smile and followed the footsteps of the woman in front.