The door was pushed open, and Jun Yelan looked up, his gaze chillingly fixed on the leader of the elite guards who entered.
The leader was surprised that Jun Yelan showed no fear, unlike the men she was accustomed to. She produced a jade pendant from her hand and asked, "As a man, how did you obtain this?"
Jun Yelan let out a cold snort, responding to the leader's suspicion with neither subservience nor arrogance, "This was left to me by my father. My father was a son of the Shen family."
He had made himself clear enough and watched the leader’s expression closely.
The leader froze, the name of the Shen family having not been heard for many years. "Ten years ago, the Shen family was feared by the suspicious former Emperor. He first assassinated the Commander and then seized the opportunity to scatter the Shen family army, handing them over to his trusted confidants to manage."
She tightened her grip on the jade pendant. Fortunately, she had already received the Commander's orders to lead the elite guards away and had since been hiding at the border between the two kingdoms.
Seeing the sorrow on the leader's face, Jun Yelan realized that this person had not forgotten the Shen family. Now that he had to take command of this army, he spoke, "I have brought the jade pendant specifically to find you. Do you still obey the people of the Shen family?"
"Naturally." The leader had been raised by the Shen family's Commander since childhood and their bond was deep. She looked at Jun Yelan and said, "But you were born to a son who married out of the Shen family, and are not considered a Shen family member at all."
Jun Yelan's eyes turned cold. "So the leader is also a superficial person. The blood flowing in my body is also that of the Shen family, and what I wish to do is what the Shen family should do."
"If the leader refuses solely based on gender, then this elite force, under your leadership, will amount to nothing." He closed his eyes, saying no more to this person.
If the leader could understand, it would be good, as she was an old subordinate of his father's family. If not, then he could not be blamed for being ruthless. He slightly clenched his fist.
"Furthermore, if you dare to harm my wife, I will be annihilated along with you, but I will not let you off lightly. I have said all I need to say!"
Seeing this, the leader was also filled with confusion. Thinking of the man's wife, she turned and walked towards the adjacent room.
At this moment, Lan Yan was leaning against the wall, rubbing it to check for any hidden mechanisms. Hearing footsteps, she quickly sat down obediently and looked at the woman she was seeing for the first time.
Looking at the woman's demeanor, and the respectful attitude of the person at the door, it was not difficult to guess that this was the leader. "Oh, the leader graces me with her presence. It's a pity I have nothing to offer as hospitality."
Her tone was not exactly pleasant.
The leader found that these two spouses had very similar temperaments, both showing her no favor. "I heard you came to find me with that man. Who are you?"
She looked at Lan Yan's bearing, always feeling she was not ordinary, and that there was a kingly aura about her.
Lan Yan said leisurely, "Me? Just an ordinary merchant." She had heard about the Shen family's affairs. If they knew she was the Empress, not only would she be in danger, but Jun Yelan would likely be too.
"You don't seem like it." The leader had been discerning people at the border for so many years, she had this much confidence.
Lan Yan smiled, "I really am. By the way, how is my husband?" She sized up the leader. All the women here, would they make a move on Jun Yelan!
The leader saw through Lan Yan's intentions at a glance and said, "Rest assured, my subordinates are strictly managed, and no incidents will occur. However, if you two do not speak the truth, that may not be the case."
"You are threatening me," Lan Yan sneered. "If you wanted to kill us, why would you have waited until now? You care about the Shen family and have been testing us. I can tell you that my husband's name is Jun Yelan, and he is the sole descendant of the Shen family."
"If you do not accept him, you are defying the Shen family."
The leader frowned. This woman was truly glib. "But he is a man, how can we obey?"
"So what if he is a man? He has ability and great aspirations." Lan Yan stood up, her eyes determined as she looked at the leader, "My husband is wise and capable, he manages our household in perfect order, and he is also well-versed in military strategy."
"And you refuse to give him a chance simply because of his identity!" she exclaimed angrily.
The leader was also angered and turned to leave. She needed to think carefully about these two people.
After the leader left, Lan Yan slammed the door shut. "Quick, let's go." She leaned against the wall again, reaching out to knock. "Jun Yelan, are you there?"
A not-too-loud voice came from next door. Jun Yelan's eyes flickered, and he stood up, facing the wall and knocking as well.
Lan Yan pressed her ear against the wall. Hearing the response, she smiled, "Fortunately, they didn't separate us and allowed us to stay together. Jun Yelan, how are you? Are you injured? And do you think this leader is capable?"
Faced with Lan Yan's string of questions, Jun Yelan felt a warmth in his heart, and the corners of his lips turned upwards. "I am fine next door, but you, sleeping alone tonight, don't kick off your blankets again."
"The border is cold, easy to catch a cold. Don't take off the fox fur I bought for you."
Lan Yan had expected Jun Yelan to talk about the leader, but instead, he spoke only of her. She smiled, "I've remembered it all, and you remember it too."
She then sat down and continued, "Jun Yelan, don't pay any mind to the unpleasant things the leader said earlier. In my eyes, you are the best. When I get out, I will definitely beat her up and get revenge for you."
Jun Yelan thought of Lan Yan's small frame and smiled helplessly. He would handle it. He also leaned against the wall. "Lan Yan, I never had any expectations of them, so it doesn't matter."
He only held expectations for Lan Yan. Just as he was about to say something more, he heard Lan Yan yawn. "Sleep."
"I can't sleep, sing me a song." Lan Yan lay down on her side, facing the wall.
Jun Yelan said, "I can't sing."
"Then I'll do it." Lan Yan recalled the only children's song she knew that she could sing in tune and began to sing in a light and cheerful voice.
Jun Yelan listened quietly, his eyes filled with more smiles. Gradually, her voice grew softer, and he called out, "Lan Yan?"
Lan Yan in the next room's eyelids drooped, she didn't even have the energy to respond, and closed her eyes.
Jun Yelan curled his lips. She had just said she couldn't sleep, and now she had fallen asleep. He thought of the tune Lan Yan had sung and sang it along, murmuring, "Lan Yan, I wish you sweet dreams."
With that, he lay down on his side against the wall, his palm pressed tightly against it, as if he could feel the person on the other side. In his dreams, all he thought of and saw was Lan Yan's smile.
The next morning, Lan Yan was woken up. She looked at the leader standing before her and said unhappily, "What, you don't even let people sleep here!"
"Get up." The leader had thought all night and finally come up with a good plan.
She dragged Lan Yan out and into a flat area in the courtyard.
Lan Yan moved her wrists, still wondering what was going on, when she heard the leader's voice.
"You and I will exchange three palms. If you win, I will let you go. If you lose, I will kill you."