Zhu Laoda’s eyes welled up, gazing at Xia Lian with tears. "Xia Lian, I think the same way," he exclaimed emotionally. As the words fell, his mouth met a solid fist, and blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
He covered his mouth, daring not to speak to Xia Lian.
The subordinates behind him couldn't bear to watch. Their boss would surely be henpecked in the future, assuming he could even get a wife.
Xia Lian remained indifferent, tossing Zhu Laoda aside and following Lan Yan and the others ahead.
Lan Yan was pushing Jun Yelan down the mountain. She turned her head, seeing Xia Lian as usual, and then looking at the miserable Zhu Laoda behind her, she felt that this marriage was going to be difficult.
She smiled, and Jun Yelan beside her also curved his lips.
After descending the mountain, Zhu Laoda, who had heard about it from his subordinates, now saw it with his own eyes. The city had indeed changed significantly. Previously, the streets were filled with refugees, and the shops were all closed.
Now, not only were the shops on the streets open, but they were also displaying various stalls, and not a single refugee was in sight.
He now fully believed that Jun Yelan truly had the ability to transform Dingzhou. He looked at Jun Yelan and bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, you have shown kindness to the people of Dingzhou, and therefore, you have shown kindness to me, Zhu Laoda."
"From now on, whatever you want me to do, I will go through fire and water for you." He had secretly hoped to encounter such a good official, but seeing the state of Dingzhou's officials, he had given up hope. Now, his heart had come alive.
Jun Yelan's expression was icy, "Since that is the case, I entrust you with the supervision of the river repair." Zhu Laoda had a certain prestige among the local populace for redistributing wealth.
With his involvement, these people would trust the matter more and complete the river repairs sooner.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Laoda shouted directly, "Yes, Your Highness. I will definitely handle it well." He was beaming, not expecting to be assigned a task so soon after descending the mountain; it was a recognition of his abilities.
He couldn't help but glance at Xia Lian, but Xia Lian paid him no mind. He would prove himself.
Jun Yelan handed the completed blueprints to Zhu Laoda. "The common people have been settled in these few estates. You need to organize the people yourself, and work will begin tomorrow."
"Any later, and the next flood will be here."
Zhu Laoda quickly took the blueprints and, with his subordinates behind him, went to rally the people.
Jun Yelan then looked at his guards, "Those officials are idle. Have them all go and repair the river."
"Yes, Your Highness." The guards recalled the officials lying in bed when they left; now they would have to be pulled out of their beds.
Lan Yan watched Jun Yelan busy himself from the side, not disturbing him. She had an idea: the people repairing the river needed food and water. She could organize the women to set up makeshift kitchens nearby.
If the men ate well, the efficiency of the river repairs would increase.
After handling all the affairs, Jun Yelan looked at the pensive Lan Yan and smiled softly, "Yan'er, I'm sorry. Since coming here, I haven't had much time to spend with you."
Lan Yan shook her head, crouched down, and took Jun Yelan's hand. "Your Highness, you are working for the welfare of the people, which is the same as my own thoughts. Not only am I not upset, but I am also very happy."
"Your Highness, I will help you." She stood up and pushed the wheelchair forward.
Jun Yelan was reluctant to let go of Lan Yan's hand for a long time, his heart filled with warmth. He must have done immense good in his past life to have met such a wonderful person in this one.
He had to find a good opportunity to confess his feelings to Lan Yan.
Upon returning to the manor, they each retired to their own quarters.
The next morning, Jun Yelan went to the riverside to check on the progress of the river repairs.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan organized the women, moving stones and setting up several simple stoves near the riverbank.
Aunt Ge was also helping and was asked who Lan Yan was. She smiled, "Oh my, aunties, she is the Princess. She has no airs about her. She's even moving stones with us now."
The women, initially intimidated by Lan Yan, relaxed when they saw her gentle demeanor. They even reached out to take the stones from Lan Yan's hands, laughing, "Princess, your skin is too delicate. Leave this to us."
Before Lan Yan could refuse, the surrounding stones were already cleared.
She had no choice but to go to the side to sort vegetables. Beside her were some elderly aunties.
They glanced at Lan Yan and sighed, "Princess, you are too thin; you need to nourish yourself more so you can give birth to a chubby baby soon."
Lan Yan smiled awkwardly, as if hearing Madam Li's nagging.
The aunties continued, "Old Li's daughter-in-law has already had four children. They all say she is blessed. I told my daughter-in-law to spend more time with her, and after a few months, she also got pregnant."
"Really? That amazing. I'll tell my daughter-in-law to try it too when I get back."
Someone even recommended it to Lan Yan.
Lan Yan immediately refused, saying, "Aunties, I'll pass on that for now. I'm not in a hurry. Right now, His Highness and I are busy with the river repairs and don't have time to think about such things."
These words moved the aunties to tears. They each grabbed Lan Yan's hands, holding back their tears, "Princess, you and His Highness are truly the best. We won't say anymore, aunties will get back to work."
Lan Yan breathed a sigh of relief, handed the sorted vegetables to the cooks, and then went to organize plates nearby.
On the other side, Jun Yelan, after helping Zhu Laoda resolve issues with the river repairs, pushed the wheelchair to the riverbank and looked into the distance. He instructed, "Send more manpower over there. She can't sit idle."
"Your Highness, Miss Xia Lian has already made arrangements," replied the guard behind him. "Your Highness, do you want to go over?" He saw the affection in the Prince's eyes about to overflow; wouldn't he go to the Princess now!
Jun Yelan said, "No need. If I go, she will be distracted. I need to finish the matters in Dingzhou as quickly as possible, return, and bring down those who harmed me, giving Lan Yan a stable life."
The guards didn't quite understand but only obeyed the Prince.
The men here were all busy repairing the river. When it was mealtime, the women from their homes brought food. Seeing that Jun Yelan had no food, they specifically asked, "Your Highness, did your family not send any?"
As they spoke, Lan Yan walked over with a food box and smiled at Jun Yelan, "Your Highness, let's eat over there."
"Alright." Jun Yelan took Lan Yan's food box and headed to another area.
The men were astonished. They had thought the Prince had no Princess, but it turned out he had hidden such a beautiful Princess. They were stared at by the women beside them and quickly buried their heads in their food, no longer asking unnecessary questions.
Jun Yelan ate, listening to Lan Yan. "A bonfire party? If you want to hold one, you can."
"Then we'll hold it after the river is repaired." Lan Yan wanted to bring some joy to the people, but she also had a selfish motive: to increase her favorability with Jun Yelan.
She heard from the system that her favorability had stopped increasing, and she couldn't help but look at Jun Yelan, thinking about the arrangements for the bonfire party.
Jun Yelan felt Lan Yan's gaze and had a feeling something was about to happen.