Two hours later, Lan Yan carried a stewed chicken to Jun Yelan's room, poured a bowl of soup, and placed it by the bedside, then stared intently at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan put down the memorial he was reading, picked up the soup, and noticed Lan Yan's expression. "What's wrong?"
Lan Yan remained silent, remembering what Hui Niang had told her: she needed to make the other person notice her.
Jun Yelan became even more confused. Had something happened just now? But he had been in the room the whole time, not going out. "Did anyone in the manor trouble you? I'll send them all to the Eastern Depot."
"No, they wouldn't dare." Lan Yan simply crossed her arms and said, "Drink."
Jun Yelan was stunned. He drank the bowl clean. Seeing Lan Yan staring at his bowl, he poured another and drank until he was full. He wanted to put the bowl down, but Lan Yan's gaze was still upon him, so he had to eat some more chicken.
He saw Lan Yan let out a sigh of relief and then he too put down his bowl.
Lan Yan got up, took the bowls away, and walked directly out the door without another word.
Inside the room, Jun Yelan's eyes were filled with confusion. Lan Yan seemed different today. Why did he feel like Lan Yan was angry, yet not angry?
Lan Yan stood at the door, a smile on her lips, and sighed, "Good, it's all eaten." Hui Niang's method was indeed effective. She walked towards the kitchen with a smile on her face.
Song Cheng, walking down the corridor, saw only Lan Yan's back. He knocked and entered the room, seeing Jun Yelan sitting alone. "Director, Wuming has been clamoring to see Miss Lan. He also said he will only give his testimony to Miss Lan."
Jun Yelan's eyes darkened. "It seems the torture you used on him wasn't enough."
Song Cheng quickly lowered his head. "I've already applied considerable torture, but he was an assassin before, with a tough disposition. I will continue to torture him until he speaks."
"Remember, I don't want to hear Lan Yan's name from his mouth again," Jun Yelan said, looking coldly at Song Cheng, his tone icy to the bone.
Song Cheng respectfully shouted, "Yes, Director." This Wuming actually dared to covet his future madam; he wouldn't let this person off! "Director, someone from the palace has arrived, asking about your injuries."
He dared not answer rashly and could only come to ask the Director.
Jun Yelan took out the memorial from the bedside. "Submit this." In the past, he had always flown into a rage, letting those who targeted him act with impunity, but not this time.
Song Cheng took it and saw it was a memorial of apology, and asked in confusion, "Director, are you sure it's this?"
"Yes, those censors have pushed the Emperor too hard. We need to do the opposite," Jun Yelan said. "If anyone from the palace comes again, tell them that I, the Director, have not yet recovered and need to recuperate at home."
Song Cheng nodded, trusting Jun Yelan's decision, and prepared to leave.
Jun Yelan called out to him, cleared his throat, and asked, "If someone who was originally very enthusiastic towards you suddenly becomes cold, what could be the reason?"
"Ah?" Song Cheng thought of Lan Yan, who had just left, and narrowed his eyes. "Director, when it comes to these matters, you've come to the right person. I have six older sisters, and I understand women's minds extremely well."
Jun Yelan responded, "I didn't say it was a woman."
Song Cheng put on a knowing expression and casually sat on a stool, muttering, "Then it must be that you, Director, did something wrong to anger her. You need to learn to coax her."
"My father often coaxes my mother, and my brothers-in-law do the same for my sisters."
Jun Yelan frowned, not understanding these things. "How specifically?"
"Just be extremely good to her," Song Cheng said, resting his legs on his knees, and chattered on for half an hour. "Well, that's about it."
Jun Yelan waved his hand. "Go back." He needed to sort things out properly.
Song Cheng left and encountered Lan Yan, who was holding Jun Xiaoyao. He smiled and said, "Miss Lan, you've changed our Director."
Lan Yan was slightly taken aback. As she entered the room, she saw Jun Yelan standing before her, almost startling her. "Are you healed?" She quickly helped Jun Yelan sit down. Just as Hui Niang had said, he truly was a worry.
Jun Yelan sat down helplessly, all the words he had planned to say gone. He turned to look at Lan Yan and said somewhat cautiously, "I forgot to say earlier, your chicken soup was delicious."
"And I asked Song Cheng to buy some things; they'll be delivered soon."
"Mm." Lan Yan, holding Jun Xiaoyao, smiled. "Xiaoyao, didn't you want to see your brother? Go and be with your brother."
Jun Xiaoyao glanced at Lan Yan and tentatively approached Jun Yelan, softly calling out, "Hello, Brother." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Jun Yelan was unaccustomed to interacting with children. Seeing that Lan Yan liked Jun Xiaoyao, he nodded slightly. At the same time, he was wondering why Lan Yan wasn't smiling at him and kept looking at Xiaoyao.
Song Cheng's method wasn't very effective either.
Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan looking at her from time to time and stifled a smile. She picked up a book and said, "Xiaoyao, would you like Big Sister to tell you a story? Then you can sleep quickly."
Hui Niang had mentioned that Xiaoyao hadn't been sleeping well recently.
Jun Xiaoyao immediately climbed onto Lan Yan's lap and smiled, "Okay."
Lan Yan then opened the book and began to read.
The voice was filled with gentleness, calming Jun Yelan's heart. He unconsciously looked at Lan Yan, committing the story she told to memory.
Lan Yan saw Jun Xiaoyao's eyelids drooping and placed her on a soft couch.
Seeing this, Jun Yelan quickly walked over, took the book from Lan Yan's hand, and said, "Let me read." Song Cheng had just said that to coax someone, one must go along with their wishes and help them.
"Alright." Lan Yan leaned against the soft couch, listening to Jun Yelan's deep voice, a smile on her lips. Jun Yelan was handsome and had a pleasant voice.
She couldn't help but rest her head on her knees, looking quietly at Jun Yelan. Hui Niang had told her to be more reserved and occasionally throw a little tantrum.
But looking at this scene, the word "reserved" had nothing to do with her. Moreover, Jun Yelan was so gentle, she couldn't bring herself to act temperamental. It was better to follow her own methods.
Jun Yelan saw that Lan Yan was about to fall asleep and stopped reading. He picked Lan Yan up and placed her on the soft couch, to sleep with Jun Xiaoyao. He looked at the sleeping face before him, becoming even more certain of what he needed to do.
He wished they could continue like this, provided he could protect Lan Yan.
Lan Yan was already asleep, unaware of the tenderness in the person beside her.
The next morning, an envoy from the palace arrived, bringing some rewards. Eunuch Du, a trusted eunuch of the Empress Dowager, had been specially sent by the Emperor to visit Jun Yelan.
His eyes held arrogance, and his tone was dismissive. "Director, the Emperor wants you to rest more. You don't need to come to the palace these days. You are truly fortunate; you are rewarded, while many others are punished."
Jun Yelan's face showed no emotion. "People must bear the consequences of their actions. This subject thanks His Majesty for his grace."
"Hmph." Eunuch Du flicked his sleeve and left, eager to see how long this Jun Yelan could live.
Jun Yelan's eyes deepened, and he turned to walk down the corridor.