Lan Yan ran up and grabbed Jun Yelan's hand the moment she saw him, laughing, "Yelan, you've solved it all."
"Mhm," Jun Yelan's eyes held doting affection as he hooked his fingers around Lan Yan's. He was still in his wheelchair, contemplating discarding it completely once they reached his fiefdom.
He smiled at Lan Yan, "The Consort and the First Prince are both dead. Lan Xiaoxiao has been sentenced to exile in the desolate northern lands. She will die on the way."
Lan Yan nodded; knowing the fate of these people was enough.
Upon hearing this, Madam Lan lost her balance and tumbled from her chair. She was carried away, and by the time she left, half her body was immobile, saliva still trickling from her lips.
She had a stroke.
Jun Yelan looked at Duke Lan, his gaze chilling, "Father Emperor has decreed the revocation of Duke Lan's hereditary title. There will be no Duke Lan's Manor here henceforth. Yan'er, are you satisfied with this?"
"More than satisfied," Lan Yan’s lips curved upwards, relishing their downfall. As she pushed the wheelchair out, she chatted with Jun Yelan, "Let's go back to the manor to celebrate." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Madam Li and Lan Yue left without a second glance at the manor.
Duke Lan's Manor had completely fallen into ruin.
Upon returning to the manor, Lan Yan prepared hot pot and invited Princess An to join them.
Everyone gathered around the table, smiles gracing each face.
Princess An boldly slapped the table and exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, the woman I admire most in this life is you. I heard you fell off a cliff with Brother, and you saved him."
"You truly are no ordinary woman! I toast you with this cup."
Lan Yan smiled, picked up her cup, and drank. Strange, why had her cup been replaced with water? She glanced at Jun Yelan beside her, certain he was behind it.
Fine, she would drink water.
Jun Yelan still remembered Lan Yan’s drunken state. Although he liked it, he decided against it this time.
Lan Yan continued chatting with Princess An, revealing the news of her and Jun Yelan's impending departure. "We'll be heading to our fiefdom in Dingzhou in a few days. If nothing unexpected happens, we won't be returning."
"No way!" Princess An's face fell, tears welling up. She would miss Brother and Sister-in-law dearly. She simply hugged Lan Yan and started to cry, "Sister-in-law, you must not forget me, remember to write to me."
She then looked at Jun Yelan, "Brother, you must remember too."
Jun Yelan paid her no mind.
Princess An continued to cling to Lan Yan, and after crying herself out, she sat up properly. She downed two cups of wine in quick succession, murmuring, "I'll send you off with wine today. May Brother and Sister-in-law love each other forever and grow old together."
With that, she slumped onto the table, repeating the same words.
Lan Yan smiled helplessly and asked Xia Lian to escort Princess An away.
She then walked with Jun Yelan in the manor. Having lived here for over a year, the thought of leaving now brought a genuine sense of reluctance. She looked at a courtyard and smiled, "Yelan, I still remember releasing my princely authority there for the first time, warning the people in the manor."
Jun Yelan curved his lips, "I heard everything from inside that day. I felt you were truly different from before."
Lan Yan asked, "Do you think I was too fierce?"
"Fierce is good," Jun Yelan reached out and pinched Lan Yan's cheek, liking her demeanor. "At that time, people were placed in the princely manor, but I couldn't expose my own influence yet."
"And another reason, I didn't want to do anything back then."
Lan Yan laughed, "It must have been my enthusiasm that infected you. I'm quite confident about that."
"It could only be you," Jun Yelan turned and embraced Lan Yan's waist, sitting with her in the pavilion. He looked at the lanterns hanging above, recalling Lan Yan's words, which always managed to warm his heart so well.
Lan Yan's cheeks flushed slightly as she leaned against Jun Yelan's shoulder. "That's because I met you, that's why I have so much passion."
"Mhm, so our meeting was destined by heaven." Jun Yelan held Lan Yan tighter, wishing he never had to let go.
Lan Yan was slightly stunned. Perhaps that statement was true; otherwise, why would her mission target be Jun Yelan?
They sat for a long time before retiring to their room.
A few days later, their belongings were packed, arrangements were made, and they were ready to depart.
Lan Yan finally locked the room door; it held many memories of her and Jun Yelan.
Then she turned, looked at Jun Yelan and the others, and smiled, "Let's go."
The carriage slowly moved forward. Halfway, Jun Yelan had the carriage stop. He brought over a horse and extended his hand to Lan Yan, "Yan'er, we're not in a hurry this time; we can walk slowly."
This was the kind of life Lan Yan had dreamed of. She mounted the horse, sitting in front of Jun Yelan, leisurely watching the scenery along the road.
She saw a bird fly by and would tug on Jun Yelan's sleeve, exclaiming, "It has white feathers."
She saw fruits by the roadside and would ask Jun Yelan to stop and pick a few. "They're quite sweet." She reached back, and could feed them directly to Jun Yelan.
Faced with Lan Yan's whimsical notions, Jun Yelan could only indulge her.
The two traveled, stopping and going, until they reached a riverbank, deserted by all.
Lan Yan immediately dismounted, loving the coolness of the river water. She took off her hair tie and washed her hair with the river water.
Seeing her long hair, Jun Yelan stepped forward to help. He mashed soapnuts and applied them to Lan Yan's hair, gently combing it.
Lan Yan was rendered completely idle, just needing to wait. She turned her head slightly, gazing at Jun Yelan's profile, tapped his nose, and created a small bubble on it.
Jun Yelan didn't get angry and continued washing Lan Yan's hair.
Lan Yan grew bolder and began to play with Jun Yelan's hair strands.
After washing her hair, Jun Yelan pulled Lan Yan into his embrace and tickled her.
"Wait, stop tickling me!" Lan Yan burst into laughter. She shouldn't have teased Jun Yelan so much earlier.
Only then did Jun Yelan release Lan Yan, still holding her.
The two sat by the river, watching the sunset.
The afterglow of the setting sun cascaded onto the river's surface, gilding it entirely in gold.
Jun Yelan worried Lan Yan might be cold, so he pulled her into his embrace and murmured, "I truly wish we could be like this forever." He had been bedridden for ten years and never thought such days would come.
Watching the sunset with the one he loved. In the future, he wanted to travel all over the country with Lan Yan, to more beautiful places. In truth, wherever Lan Yan was, that was the most beautiful place.
Lan Yan couldn't help but nod, "Me too." But she knew it was impossible. The next time the system appeared would be the day she had to leave. Therefore, she wanted to cherish every moment now, to create more memories with Jun Yelan.
This way, when that day arrived, Jun Yelan could endure it with these memories. However, this was merely her own thought.