The next morning, Lan Yan woke up early by design and had breakfast with Jun Yelan.
Four or five dishes were laid out on the table. Seeing that Jun Yelan still looked thin, she picked up a meat bun and placed it in his bowl. "You're too thin. Don't you usually eat anything?"
Jun Yelan looked at the meat bun, momentarily lost in thought. In his memory, not even his own mother had ever done such a thing, yet Lan Yan had naturally put it there for him.
He slightly parted his lips and said, "I eat."
"Oh." Lan Yan felt that Jun Yelan must not be eating enough, which was why the food didn't suit his taste. But the dishes in the imperial palace were of the finest quality. What did Jun Yelan actually want to eat?
She turned her head and saw that Jun Yelan had only eaten a few pickles and a few sips of porridge. She couldn't help but shake her head.
Influenced by Lan Yan, Jun Yelan picked up the meat bun and immediately saw Lan Yan's eyes brighten. This person before him was truly unlike an empress. Her emotions were all displayed on her face. A little of his usual coldness faded.
Lan Yan noticed that if she accompanied Jun Yelan while he ate, he could eat more. She nodded, knowing what she needed to do from now on. She ate a few buns and, seeing that she was going to be late for the morning court, stood up.
Jun Yelan also stood up. This was etiquette he had learned since childhood, but this etiquette seemed to have no effect on Lan Yan.
Lan Yan placed her hands on his shoulders and smiled, "Don't rush, eat slowly. Oh, and I heard from the imperial physician that your foot injury has improved a lot, and you can walk around now. When I get back, I'll accompany you out."
With that, she left.
Jun Yelan sat in his original spot, surprisingly yearning for Lan Yan's words. He shook his head, telling himself not to dwell on it, and then stood up to pick up a book.
He read a page and recalled Lan Yan's confusion the previous night while dealing with memorials. He looked towards the bookshelf by the wall. He walked over and took down several books from the shelf, all related to how to handle state affairs.
He placed all these books on the desk, as if he could see Lan Yan sitting there. He paused for a moment.
At this moment, there was a commotion from outside the door. Lin Zhi strode in angrily. Seeing Jun Yelan still in his cold demeanor, he roared, "Jun Yelan, you have such fine methods. In just a few days, you've been made a secondary consort."
"I'm telling you, don't be happy too soon. I heard that many ministers in the court want to send their sons into the palace. Do you think the Empress will refuse?"
Jun Yelan's eyes darkened, and he asked, "How did you know about the secondary consort matter?" Why hadn't he heard about it, and Lan Yan hadn't told him?
Lin Zhi was overcome with anger. The thought of being expelled from the palace while Jun Yelan took the position of secondary consort made him blurt out everything.
"I heard the Empress say it herself. Even if you are a secondary consort, you will only live out your days in the palace. More outstanding men will enter the palace and compete with you. Jun Yelan, your life will not be easier than mine."
Jun Yelan stared coldly at Lin Zhi, causing Lin Zhi to swallow the rest of his words. He clenched his fists. Even Lin Zhi knew about this matter, yet Lan Yan, from last night until this morning, had been with him and hadn't said a word.
In Lan Yan's heart, he was just another man in the harem, a status he detested the most. He lowered his head to hide the dimness in his eyes, and when he looked up, a hint of ferocity had appeared in his eyes.
Lin Zhi couldn't help but take a step back and shouted, "What, am I not telling the truth?"
Jun Yelan let out a cold laugh, "You have nothing, and you're deliberately trying to provoke me. How my life turns out, or how the Empress's life turns out, has nothing to do with you. As for you, once you leave the palace, you'll be a discarded son to your father, Prime Minister Lin."
"Instead of lecturing me here, you'd be better off caring about yourself." He straightened his back and walked past Lin Zhi, reaching the window, and tightened his grip on the fallen book.
Lin Zhi clearly began to panic, stumbling out of there. He couldn't end up like this; he had to think of a way to stay in the palace.
He returned to the area where the men of the harem gathered and watched them pack their belongings, a thought forming in his mind.
As soon as she came down from the morning court, Lan Yan heard Mei Dong mention that Lin Zhi had come to find Jun Yelan again. "Didn't I tell you to drive these men out? What's going on?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has already issued the notice, but they need time to pack their luggage. Some have been crying and delaying the time."
Lan Yan put her hand to her forehead. "This matter must be completed today! Go and handle it, you don't need to follow me." She dismissed Mei Dong and went alone to the sleeping quarters, calling out, "Jun Yelan, where is that Lin Zhi? He didn't bully you, did he!"
She rushed in and saw Jun Yelan sitting by the window, completely unharmed. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Jun Yelan saw the sweat beads on Lan Yan's forehead and handed her a handkerchief, remaining seated without any further action. He had been sitting there all morning, still unable to understand the matter of the secondary consort.
He was certain that he did not want to be a man in the harem who only knew how to please and be jealous; he wanted to utilize what he had learned.
Lan Yan took the handkerchief and wiped her brow, smiling, "Thank you." But this time, Jun Yelan didn't even give her a glance, which made her a little puzzled. "Did Lin Zhi do something? I'll go settle the score with him."
"He doesn't have the ability to do that," Jun Yelan replied without looking up, his tone exceedingly cold.
Lan Yan recalled, and it was indeed true. No one in this palace could bully Jun Yelan! She walked a few steps closer and came before Jun Yelan. "Then are you feeling unwell?"
Jun Yelan looked up and said, "Your Majesty, if you don't handle these memorials soon, you'll be sleeping at your desk again tonight." He lowered his head again, puzzled as to why Lan Yan cared so much about him, when he was just one person in the harem.
Seeing that Jun Yelan did not wish to say more, Lan Yan walked to the desk with a hint of disappointment. She began to process the memorials. When she encountered something she didn't understand, Jun Yelan still pointed it out, but his tone was very distant.
It was just like when she had first brought Jun Yelan out of the prison.
She sighed, turned her head, and saw several books on the table. Her mood became a little clearer. Jun Yelan's life in the palace was not his choice, and coupled with his naturally cold disposition, his change in attitude was quite normal.
She remembered what she had said that morning and stood up. "Jun Yelan, let me accompany you for a walk to relax."
Jun Yelan's gaze fell on the memorials before her.
Lan Yan waved her hand, "I'll look at it when I get back. It's just a matter of lighting a candle at night." Worried that Jun Yelan might refuse, she grabbed his sleeve and led him towards the door.
"Let's go out for a walk, and your mood will naturally clear up."
Jun Yelan looked at the sleeve Lan Yan was holding, falling into hesitation, not understanding Lan Yan's intentions or what she wanted to do with him. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Mei Dong.
"Your Majesty, this is bad! Those young lords are causing trouble, clamoring to see you."
Lan Yan had wanted to foster some affection with Jun Yelan, but now this incident had occurred. She shouted, "Fine, lead the way. I will personally see them off!" This was too much!