Lan Yan found that after being with Jun Yelan for so long, she couldn't help but blush and her heart race.
She took a deep breath, reached out to touch Jun Yelan's cheek, and made him turn his head. She murmured, "Yelan, don't look at me, watch the performance."
She added, "This kind of performance isn't available in the palace."
Jun Yelan touched the back of Lan Yan's hand and chuckled, "Alright, I'll listen to you." He then focused on the fire-breathing performance before them.
Seeing this, Lan Yan smiled and lowered her hand. Jun Yelan, beside her, took her hand, her palm feeling warm. Her smile widened, and she then turned her attention to the performance.
After one act concluded, she felt an urge to applaud and looked at their clasped hands. Her eyes darted around, and she gently tapped the back of Jun Yelan's hand.
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's playful eyes, a smile tugging at his lips, his gaze filled with immense affection.
At this moment, the performers began the chest-breaking stone act. The gong player shouted, "Everyone, come and see, come and see! These stones are absolutely genuine!"
The surrounding onlookers were curious, "Are you telling the truth! Aren't you tricking us!"
"My dear lady, if you don't believe me, I can select someone from the crowd to touch the stone." The gong player scanned the crowd and his gaze landed on Lan Yan. "Madam, would you be willing to give it a try?"
Lan Yan looked behind her and realized they were addressing her. She glanced at the stone meant for the performance and nodded, "Alright, I'll represent everyone and take a look."
She smiled at Jun Yelan and said, "Yelan, wait for me."
"Okay." Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan leave like a cheerful rabbit, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
The surrounding townspeople, witnessing Lan Yan's affection for Jun Yelan, chimed in with a tease, "This husband of yours is truly blessed. My spouse would never say such things, but your wife's tenderness towards you is overflowing."
Jun Yelan, uncharacteristically, replied, "She has always been very good."
His words caused a ripple of envy among those around them.
Lan Yan walked around the stones, tapping one here, examining another there. She stood up and declared, "There are no issues."
"Everyone has heard what this lady has said, so let's begin." The gong player signaled Lan Yan to return and then looked at the burly man lying on the ground, moving the stone onto his chest.
He then picked up a hammer and struck the stone. The stone immediately cracked into pieces.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Lan Yan, seeing the stone-breaking performance for the first time, jumped up and applauded.
Jun Yelan's eyes darkened slightly as he noticed Lan Yan's gaze lingering on the performer. He leaned closer to her ear, his deep voice laced with a hint of jealousy, "I can do that too."
Before Lan Yan could react, Jun Yelan had already walked forward, heading towards the performance area.
Jun Yelan ignored the surrounding onlookers, his gaze fixed solely on Lan Yan. "My wife enjoys these performances, so I will add a special act for her."
"Good!" the crowd roared, excitedly looking at Jun Yelan. More entertainment was coming their way!
Seeing this, Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan with a smile and called out, "Yelan, you're the best, the most amazing." Even though she didn't know what Jun Yelan was going to perform, she knew it would be wonderful.
Jun Yelan smiled, walked over to the gong player, and said, "I won't steal your livelihood, I just need to borrow your broadsword." After receiving consent, he effortlessly picked up the broadsword and walked to where the stones had been broken.
Then, he looked at Lan Yan and, turning, began to carve words onto the broken stone with the broadsword.
The performing couple stood aside, stunned. The calligraphy was exquisite, powerful, and bold. It was no wonder they had sensed that this gentleman was no ordinary person from the moment they saw him.
Even the lady in the crowd was not ordinary.
Lan Yan, observing the couple's reaction, became even more curious about what Jun Yelan was writing.
A quarter of an hour later, Jun Yelan's broadsword stilled. He turned and smiled, "The words inscribed here are a gift for my wife."
Lan Yan's heart fluttered. She walked closer in front of everyone, and as she saw the five large characters etched onto the stone, her face immediately flushed red.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's reaction, then leaned closer and took her hand. He spoke aloud, "Our love is unwavering. Yan'er, these are the words I most wish to say to you right now."
Lan Yan's heart pounded wildly. She clasped Jun Yelan's other hand and nodded solemnly, "Okay. I, Lan Yan, also vow here to uphold this promise for a lifetime. Yelan, this is my response to you."
She couldn't help but tiptoe and wrap her arms around Jun Yelan's neck, her smile growing even brighter.
Jun Yelan's heart was filled by her words, and he longed to embrace Lan Yan tightly. However, with so many people watching, he gently pulled Lan Yan through the crowd.
Lan Yan kept pace with Jun Yelan. As they passed the onlookers who had witnessed the event, she waved and said, "I wish you all a swift journey to find your destined partners. Goodbye."
This garnered even more envy from those around them.
After leaving the performance area, Lan Yan's stomach began to rumble. She and Jun Yelan sat at a roadside stall to eat noodles.
Once the noodles were served, she first picked out half of them and placed them in Jun Yelan's bowl, playfully saying, "I can't finish this."
Jun Yelan moved his bowl closer, a helpless smile on his face. "I'll eat them." He picked out the chopped scallions from his bowl and gave them to Lan Yan, knowing she liked them. Worried she might find them too spicy, he then carefully removed the Sichuan peppercorns.
Lan Yan watched Jun Yelan's actions, propped her chin on one hand, and smiled, "My Yelan is truly too wonderful."
"Eat up," Jun Yelan said, handing Lan Yan's bowl back to her. He watched her eat, the curve of his lips widening, a faint blush coloring his ears.
He was delighted by Lan Yan's words earlier.
After finishing their meal, the two continued to explore a few more places before preparing to return to the palace.
Lan Yan looked at the road leading back to the palace and rubbed her calves. Her legs ached from walking so much.
Jun Yelan noticed and knelt before her, smiling, "Yan'er, hop on."
Lan Yan didn't hesitate, climbing onto Jun Yelan's back and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Jun Yelan began to walk, glancing at the sky. He then bought an umbrella from a vendor and handed it to Lan Yan, who was behind him.
"Yelan, is it going to rain soon?" Lan Yan tilted her head back, seeing only a few stars, unable to discern any changes in the weather. However, since Jun Yelan had bought an umbrella, it was possible. "Yelan, I should get down. You'll get wet."
Jun Yelan tightened his grip on Lan Yan's legs and chuckled, "It's fine, you can hold the umbrella for me later." He didn't want the rain to dampen her shoes and socks, and what if she caught a cold upon returning?
Lan Yan had no choice but to remain on his back. A droplet of water suddenly landed on her forehead, and she quickly opened the umbrella.
In the next instant, raindrops began to fall more rapidly. The surrounding townspeople covered their heads and hurried towards shelter.
Only Lan Yan, holding the umbrella, was leisurely carried by Jun Yelan. In that moment, she felt truly fortunate to have found someone to know, love, and grow old with, wishing for nothing more than for this to last for the rest of her life.
Stepping through the falling raindrops, the two slowly made their way back to the palace.