Jun Yelan felt a pang of annoyance. How could he have rushed in like this! Looking at the person in his arms, he released his grip and said, "I was just passing by, so I came to take a look. I'll leave right away."
He turned to leave, only to find his sleeve being held by the person before him, their eyes looking pitiful. He couldn't leave. He asked, "Do you lack anything here?"
Lan Yan shook her head, "With the silver notes you, City Lord, gave me, and the monthly stipends I saved before, it's more than enough. Besides, you, City Lord, have been here these past few days, helping me with all this housework."
"City Lord, can you not leave?" Seeing Jun Yelan still hesitating, she rubbed her forehead and cried out, "Oh, my head hurts, I can't cook anymore."
Jun Yelan saw this, supported Lan Yan to sit down, and said helplessly, "I'll help you."
Lan Yan revealed a smug smile, then feigned discomfort again. "My head really hurts, I can't stir-fry dishes."
Jun Yelan then picked up the spatula, added oil and salt, and poured in the vegetables. After he finished one dish, he turned to see Lan Yan still pressing her head, and brought the dish over.
"Eat."
Lan Yan nodded, smiled, and picked up a bite. She immediately drank water. Jun Yelan had definitely put too much salt. She reluctantly picked up another bite, staring at the dish. She had to swallow the karma she created.
Seeing Lan Yan like this, Jun Yelan grabbed her wrist and said, "Don't eat anymore. I'll go to town and buy you something to eat."
"No need, City Lord, it's too dark at night." Lan Yan was pretending to be sick, and she couldn't go with Jun Yelan, otherwise, her act would be exposed. She smiled, "Actually, it's alright." It was just too salty.
Just then, Bai Hu returned from outside the door, dropped the rabbit it was carrying in its mouth onto the ground, and went to sleep in a corner.
Jun Yelan looked at the rabbit, "I'll roast a rabbit for you." He grabbed the rabbit's ears and went out to deal with it.
Lan Yan took her hand away from her head, looked at Bai Hu, and smiled, "Little Bai Hu, thank goodness for you." She looked around, brought out the jars, opened the cabinets, and exclaimed, "Oh dear, my head hurts, I can't do any work."
"Tonight, if someone could just help me, that would be great." She looked pitifully towards Jun Yelan, who was roasting the rabbit outside.
Jun Yelan had planned to leave after roasting the rabbit, but seeing Lan Yan's actions, he nodded and said, "I'll stay tonight, you can rest assured."
He saw Lan Yan's face light up in an instant, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up as he continued roasting the rabbit.
After the rabbit was roasted, they shared it.
Lan Yan saw a tear in Jun Yelan's sleeve and called out, "City Lord, come sit here, I'll sew it for you." She took out the needle and thread and the piece of cloth from yesterday and sewed it for Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan looked at the piece of cloth that was left. He had already been discovered yesterday. He raised his head and stared at Lan Yan's profile as she gently mended his clothes, just like ordinary couples in the city.
In the flickering candlelight, her eyes were very bright.
It made him unable to look away, and his desire to leave Lan Yan began to waver.
Lan Yan sewed carefully and said, "City Lord, is the city very busy? You haven't changed your clothes." She felt that Jun Yelan had become thinner after she left.
No, from now on, she would make Jun Yelan eat with her.
Jun Yelan did not respond. Since Lan Yan had left, he had spent most of his time in the hall, just sitting. He had seen his sleeve torn last night, but when he thought that it was torn at Lan Yan's place, he didn't want to change it for a while.
So he had worn it until now.
Lan Yan cut the thread with scissors and looked at the crooked stitches, saying, "It's done. I guess it's because my head hurt today, so it's not even embroidered properly."
Jun Yelan looked over and touched the newly mended part of the sleeve, "It's mended very well."
Lan Yan was startled and seized the opportunity to ask, "City Lord, can you tell me why you sent me away? Was it because of the righteous factions' siege? But it doesn't seem like it." She moved closer and closer to Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan reached out and tapped her forehead, "If your head hurts, you should sleep well. Don't think about these things." He glanced at the bed behind him.
Lan Yan had no choice but to lie down and sleep obediently.
Jun Yelan sat on the chair by the bed, staring at her until she was truly asleep. He got up, covered Lan Yan with the quilt, and seeing that Lan Yan was still clutching his sleeve, he coaxed, "I'm not leaving."
He tucked Lan Yan's hand into the quilt, propped his head with one hand, and closed his eyes.
In the corner of the room, Bai Hu watched this scene, let out a relieved yawn, and lay down on the ground again.
The next morning, Lan Yan woke up and Jun Yelan was gone, but she was in a good mood. She had managed to keep Jun Yelan last night. She then continued to be a maid in the Nie family to watch the good show of the righteous factions.
After the Li and Nie families became estranged, other arriving righteous factions also began to whisper, "This young master Nie is too impatient. He actually sent such a thing to Miss Li and was rude in front of everyone."
"I see Miss Li is quite angry this time. She's been unwilling to see young master Nie. This marriage is probably ruined."
"Then can we still watch the show this time! We came all this way, and if we don't kill Jun Yelan, won't it be a waste?"
"Who says not. Moreover, as long as Jun Yelan is not dead, he will always be a great threat to us."
These words all fell into Lan Yan's ears, word for word. She stood aside and said, "I heard that the people in the dead city are very grateful to Jun Yelan, not like the rumors say."
"Whose person are you? You can't say such things randomly."
Lan Yan shook her head and stopped paying attention to these people. She went upstairs and saw a man enter Li Wan'er's room, so she turned to see young master Nie. She pretended to be flustered and called out, "Young master, this servant just saw Miss Li meeting a man in private."
"What!" Young Master Nie immediately pounded the table in anger, stood up, went out, grabbed the man, and beat him up. He also shouted fiercely, "Li Wan'er, I'm telling you, you can only marry me."
"If you don't marry me, our Nie family won't help, and your father won't be able to keep his position as alliance leader."
Li Wan'er's eyes burned with rage, and she loathed this young master Nie even more.
These words were overheard by Alliance Leader Li. He looked at the righteous faction members gathered around, feeling completely humiliated. He had finally persuaded young master Nie, and he didn't expect such a thing to happen again.
This Nie family was also excessive, even wanting to interfere with his position as alliance leader. He was so angry he gritted his teeth but could not vent it. He said, "Enough, our two families are old friends, there's no need to make a scene like this."
"Young master Nie, since that's the case, our two families will get married before the great battle. It can also be considered a good omen for the great battle."
"Father!" Li Wan'er cried out with great unwillingness, only to be glared at by Alliance Leader Li.
Young Master Nie then calmed down and said, "Fine. If she marries me, our Nie family will help." After she becomes his person, would he still not be able to control Li Wan'er!
Lan Yan watched this scene and curled her lips. This marriage would not happen.