Jun Yelan looked up and immediately sat up straight, facing Lan Yan.
Seeing this, Lan Yan felt too embarrassed to speak. She walked a few steps forward, stood in front of Jun Yelan, and said, "Regarding the current rumors, I..."
"This matter is not your concern." Jun Yelan's tone was gentle, thinking Lan Yan was blaming herself. He stood up to meet Lan Yan's gaze, his expression softening. "Those people targeted me and used you."
Lan Yan had intended to comfort Jun Yelan but was instead comforted herself. She couldn't help but smile, "Eunuch, we truly have a telepathic connection."
Jun Yelan was slightly stunned, not understanding Lan Yan's words.
"Actually, what I wanted to say just now was..." Lan Yan paused deliberately, leaning forward slightly, blinking. "Because of the rumors, I need to take responsibility for you."
Jun Yelan's ear tips turned slightly red. He coughed twice and said, "What are you talking about?"
"What I'm saying is true." Lan Yan straightened up, her eyes full of amusement. She smiled, "You spread these rumors to help me, so I'll just admit it generously. But they got it wrong, I'm doing this willingly."
She was willing to stay by Jun Yelan's side, unlike what they said, that she was forced.
Jun Yelan looked at the sly smile on her face, speaking his true feelings. His heart trembled slightly. He said, "You are like this because of me. Just leave these matters to me to handle."
He didn't want someone who thought so much of him to be wronged.
Lan Yan naturally understood Jun Yelan's thoughts. However, no one would believe what Jun Yelan said, so she had to help him.
She had an idea and looked at Jun Yelan, saying, "Jun Yelan, no matter what they say about you, I don't believe it. I only believe what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears."
She remembered when she first arrived, Jun Yelan outwardly disliked her but didn't mistreat her. Instead, he had always indulged her.
Jun Yelan was stunned. The fundamental reason he didn't explain the rumors was that he didn't care about those people. But hearing Lan Yan say she believed him, he realized he did care, and only about Lan Yan.
He took a step forward, closing in on Lan Yan, suppressing the urge to hold her hand. He managed a single word from his throat, "Good."
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile, instinctively reaching out to grasp Jun Yelan's sleeve, a sweet feeling rising in her heart.
Seeing this, Jun Yelan slightly parted his fingers and touched Lan Yan's palm, a faint curve appearing on his lips.
After leaving the room, Lan Yan went to the study and copied ten marriage certificates, handing them to Hui Niang and Wu Ming. "You two go and post these at the mansion gate, so those people can see the truth."
Hui Niang saw a marriage certificate for the first time and finally understood why Lan Yan and Jun Yelan were different towards each other; they were engaged. She looked regretful, thinking that if the eunuch hadn't entered the palace, he and Lan Yan would likely have children by now.
"Lan girl, rest assured, I will post them properly."
"Yes, Miss Lan." Wu Ming nodded and went to the gate with Hui Niang.
Hui Niang directly pasted it onto the wall at the entrance and called out, "Everyone, fathers and mothers, this is a notice posted by the Jun Mansion. Please look carefully. The person the eunuch embraced last time was his fiancée all along, not as scandalous as some people imagined."
The commoners gathered, murmuring, "No wonder that woman wasn't reserved at all last time. So that's why."
"We thought the eunuch had bullied this woman. It seems we were mistaken."
"If they are engaged, why didn't they clarify earlier? I suspect something is amiss." The speaker was Yan Ming. He had been keeping an eye on the Jun Mansion recently and couldn't let Jun Yelan successfully clear his name.
Hui Niang immediately became indignant but couldn't argue with everyone individually. She turned and saw Lan Yan approaching and quickly went to her, asking with concern, "Lan girl, why did you come out? They will target you."
"Sister Hui, I haven't done anything wrong, so I can't hide in the mansion forever!" Lan Yan smiled and looked coldly at Yan Ming, "Young Master Yan, do you not have eyes? The marriage certificate clearly states everything, yet you're still causing trouble here."
Yan Ming's eyes blazed with anger, "You!" He didn't want to be overshadowed by a mere girl. "Who knows if this is true or false!" He stared at Lan Yan with mockery, inciting the surrounding crowd.
Lan Yan sneered, "It seems Young Master Yan truly didn't bring his eyes out today." She walked to the marriage certificates and said to the crowd, "Everyone, these marriage certificates are ten years old. They were arranged when Eunuch and I were children."
She forced out two tears and continued, "We were supposed to be a golden couple, but fate intervened. Due to poverty in the countryside, Eunuch was sold to human traffickers by his family, and we were separated."
"When I grew up, I brought the marriage certificate and came to find him in person, all for the sake of that past affection. No matter what Eunuch has become, he is the husband I, Lan Yan, have chosen for this life!"
The surrounding commoners couldn't help but weep, "This is truly moving. We always thought the eunuch was terrifying, but with such sincere feelings, he couldn't possibly be such a fearsome person."
"This Miss Lan and the Eunuch have had a difficult time."
Yan Ming, seeing no one siding with him, stared blankly at Lan Yan, then erupted in anger.
Lan Yan, acting as if nothing had happened, smiled, "Young Master Yan, you may not have it yourself, but you shouldn't destroy others' relationships." She saw Yan Ming's expression becoming increasingly ugly, a hint of triumph in her eyes.
Then she looked at Hui Niang and Wu Ming, "Let's go, we're going inside."
Hui Niang and Wu Ming now admired Lan Yan and felt she had gone through a lot.
Lan Yan looked with satisfaction at the change in everyone's expressions. Now no one would spread rumors about Jun Yelan. She then busied herself with kitchen matters.
Meanwhile, Song Cheng had also heard these words at the gate. His eyes were red. When delivering official documents to Jun Yelan, he called out, "Eunuch, you must treat Madam well. Madam has suffered."
Jun Yelan was bewildered, "What Madam are you talking about?"
Song Cheng then recounted everything that had happened at the gate to Jun Yelan. "Now everyone knows about your relationship with Madam. Eunuch, you can't be a heartless person; you must treat Madam well."
He was now completely on Lan Yan's side.
Jun Yelan recalled Lan Yan's expression when she left earlier. He realized she had already thought of a solution. He stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Song Cheng behind. He went to the kitchen door and called out, "Lan Yan."
"Eunuch, why have you come?" Lan Yan was beating dough. With a sudden pat, her face and hair were dusted with white powder.
Jun Yelan walked closer, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped Lan Yan's cheeks. Seeing Lan Yan standing still, he couldn't help but smile, "I've come to find my wife; it's only natural."