After returning to the palace, both Lan Yan and Jun Yelan drank a bowl of ginger soup.
The next day, neither of them caught a cold, and they each went about their business.
After attending the morning court, Lan Yan headed to the garden. Today was the day to receive the daughters of the imperial clan into the palace.
The young girls from the imperial clan had been raised outside the palace. After Lan Ting married, they were raised in his residence. Today, Lan Ting brought them, and upon seeing Lan Yan, he bowed and said, "Imperial Sister, this is Ruo'er."
The little girl named Ruo'er hid behind Lan Ting. Seeing Lan Yan smile at her, she secretly peeked her head out. She followed suit and bowed, "Your Majesty."
Lan Yan looked at Ruo'er, her large eyes curiously fixed on her, and couldn't help but laugh. She crouched down and said with a smile, "Ruo'er, your etiquette is very good. You will be living with me from now on, and you'll have a big brother too."
"Don't be afraid, we will treat you well. If you can't adapt, you can still live at King Ting's residence."
Ruo'er glanced at Lan Ting, then looked at Lan Yan. Her cheeks were plump, and she had dimples when she smiled. "My Uncle Ting has told me that Your Majesty is a very kind person and will dote on Ruo'er."
"Ruo'er is willing to stay." Although she was young, she had been taught by her teachers and understood many things. She extended her small hand into Lan Yan's palm and softly called out, "Your Majesty."
Lan Yan's heart was melting. She took Ruo'er's hand and said to Lan Ting, "Eldest Brother, you've worked hard. Please return to your residence. Imperial Sister wishes Eldest Brother and Mei Dong the birth of a precious daughter or son soon."
"Then I'll accept Imperial Sister's auspicious words." Lan Ting smiled and left.
Lan Yan then took Ruo'er to Jun Yelan's palace. Seeing Jun Yelan reading, she called out, "Yelan, come quickly, Ruo'er is here."
Jun Yelan looked up and saw a timid little girl. He walked towards her with a blank expression.
Ruo'er shrank closer to Lan Yan.
Seeing this, Lan Yan smiled and said, "Ruo'er, don't be afraid. Big Brother is actually very gentle. See, I'm the Empress, and I'm not that fierce, am I? And Big Brother is my husband, so he'll be even less fierce."
Seeing that Ruo'er was still hesitant, she looked helplessly at Jun Yelan, "Yelan, smile for her."
"I don't smile at other women," Jun Yelan said, coldly staring at Ruo'er.
Lan Yan was speechless for a moment. Ruo'er was just a child. However, she felt a hint of joy in her heart. Jun Yelan saw her as his only one. So, she decided to take care of Ruo'er herself, but when attending court, she would entrust Ruo'er to Jun Yelan.
Ruo'er sat obediently on the desk, lowering her head and clenching her small fists.
Jun Yelan was handling the affairs of the inner palace. After dealing with half of them, he looked up and saw that she was still in that state. He remembered Lan Yan's instructions before she left, took out a book, and placed it in front of Ruo'er, saying, "Since you are already the heir, you should study well."
Seeing that Ruo'er didn't move, he added, "If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."
Ruo'er then looked up, her eyes unwavering. She felt that the Empress was right; the Lord was truly the most handsome man in the world. She was discovered by Jun Yelan and quickly lowered her head, starting to read.
Jun Yelan glanced at her from time to time. He saw that the little girl was intelligent and worthy of being Lan Yan's heir.
As soon as Lan Yan came down from the morning court, she saw such a heartwarming scene at the entrance and her lips curved upwards.
Days passed, and Lan Yan managed the Yan Dynasty with perfect order, bringing prosperity and peace to the nation. Of course, all this was thanks to Jun Yelan's help. After dealing with state affairs every day, she and Jun Yelan would check Ruo'er's studies, and they got along better and better with Ruo'er.
In their free time, they would go out to play outside the palace, returning the next day.
Lan Yan also did not forget the system's existence, but the system had not contacted her. She didn't mind. She prepared something in advance and put it in her cabinet, living day by day.
One day, after returning from outside the palace with Jun Yelan, they planted the seeds they brought back in the garden of their sleeping quarters. Every time she encountered a flower she liked, Jun Yelan would collect the seeds.
"Yelan, we have one more type of flower this year. It looks even better here."
Jun Yelan dug a hole, buried the seeds in the soil, and looked up at Lan Yan, smiling, "This place is still missing a few rare flowers. Next time we go out, we'll go to the northwest."
"Okay." Lan Yan didn't understand flowers; she only knew how to appreciate them. She asked, "Yelan, why are we always like this?"
Jun Yelan washed his hands, pinched Lan Yan's nose, and smiled, "You are the Empress and cannot go out freely. So, I want to bring the outside world to you."
"From now on, this place will be filled with flowers from all over. By then, even if you don't leave the palace, you will feel like you possess everything."
Lan Yan's heart warmed. She leaned on Jun Yelan's shoulder, a smile on her face.
Jun Yelan curled his lips, put his arm around Lan Yan's shoulder, and they looked at the flowers together.
At night, Lan Yan lay in bed and had a good dream, growing old together with Jun Yelan.
However, the system voice in her mind sounded, "The system has been repaired. The host will now be extracted from this world and enter the next world."
Lan Yan noticed nothing, and neither did Jun Yelan lying beside her.
The next day, after waking up, Jun Yelan woke Lan Yan as usual, "Yan'er, it's time for the morning court." There was no response. He was slightly stunned and gently shook Lan Yan's shoulder, but Lan Yan seemed to be in a deep sleep.
He panicked and began to shake her harder, but it was no use. His hands began to tremble, and looking at Lan Yan, who appeared to be sleeping, he managed to force out a sound from his throat, "Yan'er."
There was no response as he expected, and all his strength was instantly drained. He just stayed by Lan Yan's side. "Yan'er, are you sleeping in again? Please wake up, okay?"
"Yan'er, I should have gone to see the flowers in the northwest with you earlier; I shouldn't have delayed."
He spoke alone, and only his voice echoed in the entire room. When he was silent, the room felt as terrifying as a ghost, so quiet that even the sound of the wind could be heard.
A month later, on the day the Empress was to be buried, her adopted daughter Ruo'er had ascended the throne and become the new Empress. The entire palace was filled with grief for the good deeds done by the former Empress.
After Ruo'er ascended the throne, she received an imperial decree and a letter left in a cabinet. Knowing the royal custom of human sacrifice, she handed the letter to Jun Yelan and said, "Lord, the Empress abolished this custom for you. From now on, no one will be sacrificed."
Jun Yelan took the letter, tucked it into his embrace, and looked at the coffin beside him. He gently touched the coffin and murmured, "This time, I will accompany her willingly."
He paid no further attention to Ruo'er and left with the coffin, never to return. He made a vow in his heart that he would see Lan Yan in the next life, as a fragment floated into the air.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan suddenly appeared on a desolate path, her clothes torn and dirty. Her memories were somewhat jumbled as she rubbed her head and said, "Stupid system, where did you bring me!"