Lan Yan was held by Jun Yelan for a while. She looked up and saw that his expression had returned to normal, but she still felt something was off. She was about to ask, but the carriage had already arrived at the manor.
Jun Yelan said, "I'm going to the study. You don't need to wait for me today. Go to bed early." With that, he left.
Lan Yan watched Jun Yelan's retreating back and murmured, "Never mind, give him some time to calm down. If I had to listen to those words, I wouldn't feel comfortable either."
She then walked towards her room, unaware that Jun Yelan had stopped in the corridor.
Jun Yelan had already stopped walking. Only after watching Lan Yan enter her room did he turn towards the study. He busied himself in the study until the next morning.
He took a carriage to the palace and saw an ordinary couple by the roadside through the window. The man was carrying a burden, and the woman, heavily pregnant, was using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The man smiled at the woman and placed his hand on her belly, as if speaking to the child.
Such a scene was forever impossible for him. He had long accepted it, but he could not drag Lan Yan down with him. He clenched his fist and said, "I'm going out of the city on a mission today and won't be back. You go back to the manor later and inform Madam."
"Yes, Director." Song Cheng replied, finding it somewhat strange. Usually, the Director informed Madam himself, and to avoid worrying her, he would rush back to have dinner with Madam.
He couldn't make sense of it.
Jun Yelan sat in the carriage and unfurled his clenched fist. A bloodstain remained on his palm.
The carriage slowly proceeded into the palace.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan was in the manor, preparing to eat breakfast. She saw a note left on the table. "There's something important at the morning court today, so I can't have breakfast with you. Jun Yelan."
She sat down and stared at the note. Jun Yelan had not returned to her room last night either. She found it increasingly odd. Jun Yelan must be hiding something from her!
After breakfast, she began to calculate the accounts for the estates outside the city. Jun Yelan not only owned some businesses but also had two residences outside the city that needed to be managed.
Her mission was to win Jun Yelan over, but she could also help him with what she was capable of.
She was calculating accounts until evening, but Jun Yelan had not yet returned.
Hui Niang brought the dinner over and said, "Lan'er, you eat first. The Director might be busy with something."
"Okay." Lan Yan picked up her chopsticks. She was unaccustomed to eating without Jun Yelan accompanying her. She kept looking at the courtyard gate and suddenly saw a figure approaching. She stood up with a smile, only to feel disappointed.
The person who arrived was Song Cheng.
Song Cheng bowed respectfully and said, "Madam, the Director has gone out on a mission and said he won't be back. He also said he'll be busy for the next few days and asked Madam to take good care of herself, not to overeat, and not to catch a chill at night."
There were many other things, but he couldn't remember them all clearly. Fortunately, he had written them down. He handed the paper to Lan Yan.
Lan Yan took it. It was filled with instructions for her. Some things she didn't even know about herself, such as her habit of drinking cold tea during meals. Jun Yelan had asked her to be careful, saying it would harm her stomach.
She realized then how closely Jun Yelan observed her and how well he understood her. Her heart warmed. "Then tell him to take care of himself and not skip meals."
"Yes, Madam. I will certainly deliver your message." Song Cheng left, even more bewildered. The Director and Madam's relationship seemed fine, so why was the Director having him relay these messages?
He had also asked the Director, but the Director had said nothing.
After Song Cheng left, Lan Yan tidied up and returned to her room. She carefully folded the paper and placed it under her pillow, sleeping soundly.
The next day, Jun Yelan still had not returned.
Lan Yan went to the Eastern Depot to inquire. The news she received was that Jun Yelan had gone out on business. She handed a food box to someone at the Eastern Depot and walked back.
A cart passed by on the road. A bag suddenly fell from it, about to hit her feet. However, the bag shifted slightly and landed beside her.
Her mind was occupied with thoughts, so she didn't pay it any attention and continued walking forward.
From behind her, a person emerged – it was Jun Yelan. He retracted the hidden weapon in his hand and stared at Lan Yan's retreating back, his eyes filled with complex emotions, mostly reluctance and longing.
After Lan Yan reached the manor, he turned and returned to the Eastern Depot.
Song Cheng saw Jun Yelan looking somewhat sorrowful. "Director, what's wrong?" he asked. "The Emperor has assigned you a new mission to the west to handle the drought and the resulting civilian unrest."
"Mm." Jun Yelan walked past coldly.
Song Cheng couldn't help but call out, "Director, this trip will take at least one or two months. You should go back and inform Madam. Madam will be worried and sad if she can't see you."
Jun Yelan's steps halted. He tightened his grip on the mission document and turned to leave. However, an urgent task came up. By the time he finished dealing with it, it was already dark. He quickly rode his horse towards the manor.
He thought Lan Yan would have fallen asleep, but he saw a light in the courtyard from afar. Lan Yan was slumped over the table. His eyes revealed a hint of pain as he walked towards her.
Lan Yan had been waiting for Jun Yelan and had slowly become drowsy.
Jun Yelan gently picked up Lan Yan and walked towards the room. With every step, his heart trembled. For a moment, he wasn't sure if his choice was correct.
But if it was for Lan Yan's future, this was the best way. Yet, why did his heart ache so much? He placed Lan Yan on the bed and prepared to leave, but his hand was suddenly grabbed.
Lan Yan, in her dazed state, looked at Jun Yelan, unable to distinguish between reality and dream. "Jun Yelan, if you don't see me, I'll be angry."
"I'm sorry." Jun Yelan sat down and looked at Lan Yan's face. Seeing Lan Yan close her eyes again, he murmured, "I wish you would be angry with me, completely disappointed in me, and leave my side."
"But the moment I see you, these thoughts disappear, and I just want you to stay by my side and be with me." He leaned down and gently kissed Lan Yan's forehead, murmuring, "Yan'er, wait for me to return."
By then, he would have figured things out.
He tucked Lan Yan's hand into the quilt. When he reached the door, he looked back for a long time before closing it.
The next day, when Lan Yan woke up, she was a bit puzzled. "Did I see Jun Yelan last night?" She looked at the tidy room. There were no signs of anyone having been there. "Did I dream it?"
She got up and went to the table. There was another letter. "Jun Yelan has gone to the west to handle matters. He said he would return as soon as possible and asked her to take good care of herself."
A trace of disappointment welled up in her heart. "Why didn't he tell me in person?" It had been several days, and she hadn't seen Jun Yelan. Now they would be separated for several months.
"Alas, this is too difficult for me."
"Host, don't sigh yet," the system called out. "There must be a problem with your relationship. Host, you should find out and resolve it as soon as possible."
Lan Yan suppressed her anger and shouted, "You say it so easily! How can I know from just a letter! Wait, Jun Yelan was acting strange after he returned from the restaurant that day. I understand now!"
She slammed her hand on the table, startling even the system.