Lan Yan immediately felt curious and moved closer to Jun Yelan. Unfortunately, her skirt was snagged by the chair she was sitting on, causing her to lurch forward and stumble towards Jun Yelan.
She closed her eyes, bracing for an intimate encounter with the ground.
However, in the next moment, a pair of gentle hands embraced her waist, lifting her up. She looked up, meeting Jun Yelan's gaze, and he smiled, saying, "Jun Yelan, thank you."
Jun Yelan was startled. He released Lan Yan and turned to walk towards the bed, his ears turning slightly red. He hadn't expected Lan Yan's gratitude, and the feeling of her touch seemed to linger on his palm, refusing to fade.
He quickly lay down to sleep, trying to divert his attention from Lan Yan.
Seeing this, Lan Yan tiptoed to the adjacent room, unaware that her retreating figure was being observed by the person behind her. She lay on her own bed, recalling the scene, and summoned the system.
"System, how is my mission progressing?"
The system glanced at the interface and said, "You've only completed a tiny bit. Host, your plan is flawed."
"Impossible, I can clearly feel Jun Yelan treating me differently," Lan Yan mumbled. "System, your interface needs an update. Since you're not of much use anyway, why don't you go for repairs for a few days?"
The system fell silent. Previously, it was the one to discourage the host, but now the host was striking back. "Host, every time you complete a world, I get an upgrade." And it erased the host's memories.
"Oh, but your upgrades don't seem to grant any special advantages," Lan Yan complained as always, unwilling to bother with the system.
The system was accustomed to it and wasn't going to tell the host that the upgrades were useful later. "Host, let me remind you, you are the Emperor, and Jun Yelan is a subject. He naturally has reservations. Moreover, he is now considered one of the men in the harem."
"Think about it carefully," it said before going offline.
Lan Yan began to murmur, "Emperor and subject, of the myriad of waters, I will only take one sip." The system was right; she needed to reassure Jun Yelan. Thinking thus, she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Lan Yan woke up and, along with Jun Yelan, headed to the Imperial Garden to participate in the selection for Lan Ting's marriage.
On the way, they encountered Lan Ting, who first paid his respects to Lan Yan. Observing the two entering and exiting together, he smiled and said, "Imperial Sister, your relationship with Young Master Jun is growing ever stronger."
Upon hearing this, a smile spread across Lan Yan's face, proving her plan correct and the system wrong. She looked at Lan Ting's frail appearance and cautioned him, "Elder Brother, you have just recovered, you must take good care of yourself."
"There is no hurry with this marriage. It is best if you choose a suitable match today, and if you don't, take your time. I am not in a rush, and it is perfectly fine if you stay in the palace for the rest of your life."
Lan Ting smiled and replied, "Thank you, Imperial Sister." However, he decided not to stay in the palace and disturb the two of them.
Jun Yelan listened to the conversation between the siblings. They were different from the royal family he had imagined, but perhaps only Lan Yan was different from the others.
The three of them walked into the Imperial Garden, where Mei Dong was already organizing the event. Six women stood before them, all carefully selected noble ladies.
They bowed in unison, "Greetings, Empress, Prince Ting, and Consort Jun." Jun Yelan's status had already spread among them.
Lan Yan had merely nodded, but upon hearing Jun Yelan's title, she froze. Who had said that! She turned to look at Jun Yelan and saw that he had a neutral expression, likely displeased as well.
After the selection process was over, she would definitely clarify things.
"You are dismissed. Today is for choosing a wife for my brother, so please showcase your true abilities. Furthermore, I value character. As long as you are good to my brother, your abilities can be less of a concern."
A hint of joy appeared on the women's faces. It seemed Prince Ting was quite favored by the Empress. If they could marry him, their future would soar.
They each returned to their positions, straightened their shoulders, and prepared to give their all.
Lan Yan sat down, with Jun Yelan and Lan Ting on either side, and announced, "Begin."
Mei Dong stepped forward and, following Lan Yan's instructions, presented an exam paper. "This is the first question. You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to answer."
The women unrolled the white paper before them and picked up their brushes. Two were writing furiously, while the other four frowned, hesitating to put brush to paper.
Lan Yan observed their reactions and asked Jun Yelan beside her, "What do you think of them?"
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's head as she leaned closer to him, so near, yet he did not feel any aversion. "The two on the left are acceptable, but the one in front is from the Lin family."
Having resolved to serve the country from a young age, he had been studying the court and understood the people of various noble families.
Lan Yan looked over. The one from the Lin family was wearing a yellow dress and bore some resemblance to Lin Zhi. She immediately felt a heightened sense of caution. Prime Minister Lin, that old fox, was planning to make a move on her Elder Brother.
As Mei Dong rang the bell, the first question concluded.
Next was the second question posed by Lan Yan. A white paper with a black mark on it, seemingly drawn casually.
The women received the question and were puzzled, asking, "What is the meaning of this?"
Mei Dong was also unsure and looked towards Lan Yan.
Lan Yan nodded and said, "A white paper with a mark on it, how can its purity be maintained?"
Upon hearing this, Jun Yelan's eyes flickered as he gazed at Lan Yan's profile. He hadn't expected Lan Yan to draw that yesterday. He subtly clenched his fist, and the predicament in his heart seemed to find an answer.
He wanted to ponder this question and said, "Empress, I will go and change, and I will return shortly."
"Very well," Lan Yan said with a smile, as there was nothing else to be done here.
Jun Yelan nodded, rose, and left. He didn't go far, heading to a pavilion near the Imperial Garden.
There, two palace maids were trimming branches, whispering, "The Empress treats Young Master Jun so well, taking him everywhere. I heard the Empress even let Young Master Jun review memorials, and Prime Minister Lin and others questioned the Empress about it."
"The Empress was magnanimous and retorted on the spot, telling them to focus on the people's livelihoods. The Empress is truly capable, always protecting Young Master Jun."
Another palace maid said, "Soon, we won't call him Young Master Jun anymore; we'll call him Consort Jun. And if Consort Jun has children, we'll call him Lord Consort."
"Exactly, given the Empress's affection for him, it's bound to happen."
Jun Yelan heard everything but did not reveal himself. He had previously been dissatisfied with the title of consort, as it was not what he desired. But today, after hearing the question Lan Yan posed and the maids' words, the answer in his heart became clearer.
Even if he were in the harem, he could still achieve what he wanted. If Lan Yan could help him realize his ambitions, he wouldn't mind being Lan Yan's consort.
Having come to this realization, he turned and walked back to where the selection was taking place, a heavy burden lifted from his heart. Instead, he thought of Lan Yan's actions throughout.