Jun Yelan looked at the person who had thrown herself into his arms and froze. He reached out and stroked Lan Yan’s back, comforting her, "It's alright, I'm here."
Although Lan Yan held the title of Empress, she was still just a girl who had recently come of age.
As he comforted her, he coldly looked at the person lying on the ground. Jun Jiu!
Lan Yan detested strange noises at night, a phobia stemming from a childhood fright. So, after arriving in the transmigration world, she brought this habit with her.
She hugged Jun Yelan’s waist tightly at the moment, mumbling, "Jun Yelan, I thought I'd encountered something unclean just now."
"No, don't overthink it," Jun Yelan whispered soothingly to Lan Yan. He noticed she wasn't wearing shoes and bent down to pick her up from the ground, intending to place her on the bed. However, remembering what had just happened, he set her down on a chair instead.
"Don't move," he said, walking to the side of the bed. He took Lan Yan's outer garment and shoes, then returned and stomped hard on Jun Jiu's hand.
Jun Jiu woke up in pain, shouting, "Where am I!" He suddenly saw Jun Yelan before him, and the murderous glare in his eyes made him recall everything.
He trembled all over. What was he going to do now?
Jun Yelan saw his reaction but ignored it, walking over to Lan Yan and giving her the items.
After Lan Yan was dressed, Minister Jun arrived just in time.
"What is going on here?" Minister Jun looked at the chaotic scene before him, feeling as if the sky was about to collapse. He knelt on the ground, crying out, "Your Majesty, this must be a misunderstanding."
Lan Yan's eyes turned cold, "Minister Jun, do you think I am a fool! I was sleeping soundly, and suddenly an assassin appeared, and it was your second son."
Minister Jun trembled all over. Assassination was a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan. But if she admitted to the original scheme, her son would be utterly ruined. "Your Majesty, this subject would never dare!"
"Then what is this?" Lan Yan was not one for pleasantries and pointed to Jun Jiu on the ground. These two dared to disturb her sleep, and she would not let them off easily today.
Jun Jiu had also sobered up by now. He knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, Jun Jiu meant no harm. Jun Jiu only wanted to see if Your Majesty needed anything. I have absolutely no disloyal intentions."
"Then what is that scent on you?" Jun Yelan directly hit the crucial point. He knew his younger brother very well.
Jun Jiu glared angrily at Jun Yelan, but the intense coldness emanating from Jun Yelan forced him to lower his head. "I always use incense; everyone in my household knows this."
"In that case, summon the people from your household to question them," Jun Yelan said, his gaze fixed on the man before him. Jun Jiu's greatest mistake was daring to set his sights on Lan Yan!
Jun Jiu was taken aback. Jun Yelan was truly trying to force him into a corner. Since his elder brother was treating him this way, he wouldn't be blamed for being ruthless.
Seeing Lan Yan allow Jun Yelan to act so freely, he changed his demeanor and cried, "Big Brother, didn't you tell me to come!"
"You said you were tired serving Your Majesty, so you asked me to come and take care of Your Majesty out of brotherly affection. Otherwise, why would you have left tonight!"
Minister Jun, seeing this, chimed in, "No wonder Yelan came to me earlier and didn't rush to take his father's things, but instead sat down leisurely. Yelan, since you had this intention, why didn't you tell me, your mother, causing me to worry for nothing."
She then looked at Lan Yan, "Your Majesty, my two sons have a deep bond, which is why this incident occurred. Rest assured, I will discipline them well and have them take good care of Your Majesty!"
A hint of ruthlessness flickered in Jun Yelan's eyes. After so many years of family ties, these two were treating him like this! He couldn't help but look at Lan Yan, wanting her not to believe their lies.
Lan Yan smiled at Jun Yelan and patted his shoulder, "It will cause criticism if you deal with your family yourself. I will handle this from now on." She moved her wrist and looked at the two men before her, "I must say, you put on quite a show."
"To commit a mistake and then blame it on others, all while maintaining a look of earnest sincerity. Originally, your conspiracy was just one crime, but now falsely accusing the consort is another. I'll give you one chance, do you want to change your testimony?"
Before Minister Jun could speak, Jun Jiu shouted, "Your Majesty, everything I said earlier is true. Big Brother asked me to come, and my mother can testify for me."
"Your mother cannot testify for you, and your words are useless. As Yelan just said, there's something wrong with the scent on you. Guards, bring the people from the household here," Lan Yan said coldly.
Jun Jiu collapsed to the ground, praying that the servants wouldn't speak.
Minister Jun was utterly beside herself and sought help from Jun Yelan, but only received a cold stare.
How could this be!
The servants were brought in and, upon seeing Lan Yan, trembled all over.
"Speak clearly. My patience is limited," Lan Yan said. She was trying hard to stay awake, feeling extremely drowsy, but she needed to handle this matter. Not just for herself, but for Jun Yelan as well.
Startled, the servants naturally confessed everything. "That incense has aphrodisiac effects; it was specifically prepared by the second young master. He also spoke ill of the eldest young master, saying that if he had entered the palace at that time, he would have gained Your Majesty's favor even more."
"You wretched slaves!" Jun Jiu cursed furiously.
Lan Yan raised her hand, and Mei Dong, who was waiting outside the door, entered. "The matter is clear. Hand Jun Jiu over to the Ministry of Justice. As for Minister Jun, this position is no longer needed. You may leave with them. I will appoint a new person to this post!"
"No, please, Your Majesty, spare my life," Minister Jun cried.
Lan Yan said coldly, "You should not be begging me. Oh, before you leave, take out all the Jun family keys and give them to Jun Yelan."
Minister Jun suddenly understood and shouted at Jun Yelan, "I am your mother, quickly beg Your Majesty!"
Jun Yelan remained cold. "Minister Jun, my father also pleaded with you like this before, have you forgotten!"
This sentence stunned Minister Jun. She remembered how, when she had imprisoned her husband’s relatives, her husband had also pleaded with her. What was she doing then? She was romantically enjoying herself with Jun Jiu’s father, drinking wine under the moon.
Jun Yelan stepped forward and continued, "From then on, my father's health declined. You forced him to his death. If that is the case, why beg me today!"
He stepped back coldly, distancing himself from anyone related to the Jun family.
Seeing that they had said all they needed to, Lan Yan said, "Take them away."
Minister Jun was led away in a daze, while Jun Jiu was still crying out, but his mouth was stuffed with cloth, making him much quieter.
Lan Yan placed the Jun family keys in Jun Yelan's palm and smiled, "From now on, all members of the Jun family are yours to deal with." As she finished speaking, she was embraced by the person before her.
She knew Jun Yelan was reacting to the recent events and placed her hands on his back, remaining silent.
Jun Yelan had almost been lost in memories just now. He clung to the warmth emanating from Lan Yan and finished the latter half of what he had intended to say before his father's portrait. "Please, Father, bless your son so that he may remain by her side."