Lan Yan waved for Lord Jun and the others to leave. She looked at the dishes on the table. They were exquisitely plated, but she wondered if they might be poisoned. She glanced at the palace maids brought from behind her, who took the food containers and arranged the dishes on the table.
“Jun Yelan, let’s eat this. It’ll be safer.”
“Alright.” Jun Yelan smiled faintly and picked up a piece of meat, placing it in Lan Yan’s bowl. He was grateful that Lan Yan always stood by his side.
Seeing Jun Yelan being so proactive, Lan Yan felt a bit unaccustomed. But then she thought that since she had helped Jun Yelan, he would naturally change somewhat.
Content, she ate the meat and picked up a rib for Jun Yelan. “Jun Yelan, you should eat more too. The imperial physicians said you need to replenish your strength.”
Jun Yelan usually didn’t eat much meat, but he ate the piece Lan Yan had given him. He reached for a plate of vegetables, then remembered Lan Yan’s words and reached for the meat dish on the left.
Seeing that Jun Yelan was getting a balanced diet, Lan Yan smiled and nodded. Having taken care of Jun Yelan’s health, it would be much easier to improve his favorability towards her. Now, all she needed to do was resolve the Jun family’s matters, and Jun Yelan would be even better.
After the meal, Lan Yan felt a bit overfed, so she pulled Jun Yelan to wander around the mansion.
Jun Yelan still led the way. They arrived at a dilapidated courtyard. Jun Yelan stopped, looking inside with lingering affection, and murmured, “This is where my father used to live.”
Lan Yan looked at the courtyard. Although it was overgrown with weeds, the layout suggested that the original owner had been an elegant man. She couldn’t help but hold Jun Yelan’s hand and say with a smile, “Let’s go in and pay our respects.”
“Okay.” Jun Yelan hadn’t been here in a long time, and he didn’t want to be triggered by memories.
Lan Yan walked carefully through the courtyard, not disturbing a single blade of grass or tree. She entered the main bedroom and saw a painting hanging on the wall. The man in the painting looked very much like Jun Yelan.
She knelt down, kowtowed three times, and said with a smile, “Esteemed Lady of the Jun household, I will take care of Jun Yelan from now on. I will treat him very well. Please rest assured.”
To be remembered by Jun Yelan for so long, this person must have doted on him dearly.
Jun Yelan was slightly taken aback, not expecting Lan Yan to do such a thing. He knelt down as well, kowtowed, and said in his heart, “Father, seeing you and Mother like this, I thought I would never fall for anyone. But now, things are different.”
He turned his head to look at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan happened to finish paying her respects and stood up. She asked, “Jun Yelan, why don’t you take this painting with you?” It was likely that only Jun Yelan would come to this courtyard; the other Jun family members didn’t care.
Jun Yelan nodded, stepped forward, and carefully collected the painting. He noticed a square indentation behind it. His eyes moved slightly, and he pushed down. It turned out to be a hidden compartment, revealing a box.
The box was locked.
Lan Yan leaned closer. No wonder Jun Yelan was so outstanding; it turned out his father was extraordinary. Judging by the style of the box and the intricate lock, whatever was inside must be very important.
Jun Yelan stared at the lock, which coincided with what his father had taught him in his memory. He put away the box. “I need to go back and think about it.”
“Alright.” Lan Yan smiled. She had gained something today; it was fortunate she had come to pay her respects. She walked towards the door, her hand gently grasped. She looked at Jun Yelan in confusion.
Had she let go of his hand when she was paying respects?
Jun Yelan seemed not to notice Lan Yan’s bewilderment. He tightened his grip on her hand and led her away from there.
Upon returning to the room, Lan Yan yawned, ready to sleep.
Seeing this, Jun Yelan said, “You rest first. I’m going to Lord Jun’s place.” He had some of his father’s belongings to retrieve.
“Okay, be careful,” Lan Yan said, her eyelids drooping. After Jun Yelan left, she lay down on the bed.
Jun Yelan glanced back at the door, smiled, and turned towards Lord Jun’s room, the smile completely gone from his face.
Behind him, a man emerged from around the corner. It was Jun Jiu. He wore a thin garment, had makeup on, poured the contents of a porcelain bottle onto himself, and walked forward triumphantly.
He stood at the door and said with a smile, “Big brother, you’ve lost this time.” He had long since found out that the Empress favored young men but rarely shared a room with Jun Yelan.
Someone as cold as his big brother being favored by the Empress now was merely a fleeting novelty.
He looked at the dark door, reached out, pushed it open, and walked towards the bed.
Meanwhile, in Lord Jun’s room, Jun Yelan coldly asked, “Where are my father’s belongings?”
“Unfilial son, do you only say such things to your mother?” Lord Jun’s face was filled with anger. How could she have raised such a son as Jun Yelan!
Jun Yelan said expressionlessly, “Lord Jun, you made a promise to the Empress and the ministers today. You can’t go back on your word.”
A hint of hatred flickered in Lord Jun’s eyes. “You scheme against your own mother like this. Does the Empress know?” She had intended to rely on Jun Yelan, but his response made her realize she couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless!
“She knows everything.” Jun Yelan thought of Lan Yan, and his heart warmed. “I’ll say it again: give me the things. You know my temper.”
His tone was extremely cold as he stared intently at Lord Jun.
Lord Jun suddenly had nowhere to escape. Gritting her teeth, she went to the cabinet. She slowly rummaged through the cabinet, occasionally glancing out the window, wondering why there was still no news from Jun Jiu.
Jun Yelan frowned, finding Lord Jun’s behavior tonight rather peculiar. She was so slow and kept looking elsewhere. He followed Lord Jun’s gaze and his eyes darkened. That was his and Lan Yan’s room.
“Damn it, I’ve fallen into a trap.” He immediately turned to leave.
Lord Jun found a box and turned, saying, “A portion of it is here.” But there was no one behind her. She realized Jun Yelan had discovered something and got up to chase after him. “This unfilial son!”
If her plan was ruined, their Jun family would perish.
Lan Yan, because Jun Yelan hadn’t returned, remained in a light sleep. She vaguely heard footsteps and thought it was Jun Yelan. She suddenly opened her eyes and saw a figure outside the bed curtains.
She couldn’t see clearly, but her intuition told her it wasn’t Jun Yelan. Could there be something unclean in this Jun mansion? She tiptoed off the bed and hid by the foot of the bed, holding a stick she’d found under the bed.
Whatever it was, she’d hit it first.
Jun Jiu lifted the bed curtain and walked towards the innermost bed. The Empress would be his now. He suddenly lunged onto the bed and was startled; there was only a quilt here.
Just as he was wondering, a sharp pain struck his back, and he couldn’t help but cry out.
Lan Yan heard the sound and knew it was a person. Her eyes darted around. She exclaimed, “What kind of place is this Jun mansion, to have such unclean things! I’ll beat you to death for harming people.”
She picked up the stick and hit him, controlling her strength so as not to kill him.
Later, the cries stopped.
The sound of the door opening again came from the entrance. Lan Yan glanced over and saw it was Jun Yelan. She dropped the stick and rushed over to him. “Wuwuwu, Jun Yelan, you scared me to death just now.”