Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan enter, her face beaming. He put down his book, sensing she had good news and would want to share it.
Lan Yan took a sip of tea. "Your Highness, I met the County Princess. She is a sensible person. I had prepared two plans today, and if she hadn't sided with me, I would have acted on my own."
"I absolutely won't let those people slander Your Highness." Even now, thinking of their words made her angry.
Jun Yelan saw Lan Yan's cheeks puff out, a different kind of cuteness. He wheeled his chair closer. "When she was young, she used to follow me around. She's a bit impatient, but not bad at heart."
He was also worried about Lan Yan being bullied outside, and associating with Princess An could help her. "From now on, if you hear such things outside, don't trouble yourself to argue with them. Just remember it and tell me. Once their patron is gone, they won't be able to act so high and mighty."
He had plenty of evidence against various ministers in his possession.
Lan Yan's eyes lit up. This was a good way to solve the problem permanently. "But sometimes I can't help myself."
"Then do it," Jun Yelan smiled faintly. He would handle it for Lan Yan.
Lan Yan nodded and smiled. "Oh, right, the County Princess also gave me some food. I'll go get it for you." She had only been focused on complaining earlier and had forgotten.
Jun Yelan couldn't help but smile. Her personality was truly unique.
Meanwhile, at the Lan State Duke's mansion, Lan Xiaoxiao grabbed Lan夫人's sleeve, pointing at her swollen red face. "Mother, it's all Lan Yan's doing! She actually made the County Princess hit me."
"It hurts so much! Will my face be disfigured? Mother, you must get revenge for me!"
Lan夫人 was also filled with resentment, looking at her daughter with heartache. This was her own flesh and blood. She exclaimed, "Let's go, Mother will get you justice."
She led Lan Xiaoxiao towards the back courtyard, where a desolate courtyard stood.
The servants they brought kicked open the door, standing on either side.
Lan夫人 strode in angrily, shouting, "Bitch! You breed bitches too!"
Inside, there was a small room with a dilapidated roof. Two people were sitting inside. One was dressed as a married woman, wearing coarse cloth clothes, her head also wrapped in cloth. Her cheeks were sunken, and her face and arms bore scars.
She cradled a child about twelve years old, who was frail, his lips dry and cracked.
Hearing Lan夫人's voice, the two tried to hide in fear, but there was nowhere to hide.
Lan夫人 rushed in, grabbed the woman by her hair, and yanked hard. "If I had known, I should have thrown you and your daughter into the river, so she wouldn't bully my daughter now."
"Ahhh!" The child desperately tried to speak, but only sounds came from his throat. He tried to save his mother, reaching for Lan夫人. Unable to reach her, he bit down hard on Lan夫人's arm.
Lan夫人 cried out in pain, releasing the woman, Li shi, and pushing the child, Lan Yue, away.
Lan Xiaoxiao heard the commotion and walked in, helping to shove him to the ground. Looking at Lan Yue on the floor, she yelled, "Mother, this mute dares to bite you! Let's sell him!"
"No, no one can take my son," Li shi said, though she was afraid of Lan夫人, she held onto Lan Yue tightly. Anyone who dared to take her remaining child would face her fiercest resistance.
Her only reason for living now was to find a way out for her child. Although Lan Yan had married poorly, at least she had escaped this hell. Now she had to protect Lan Yue.
Seeing Li shi suddenly become defiant, Lan夫人's pent-up anger erupted. "I think you mother and son are tired of living! Do you think you can escape by relying on Lan Yan? I'm telling you, she won't come here. Guards, beat them!"
Servants poured in from outside, pulling at Li shi and Lan Yue.
Not far away, in the stables, a groom left through the back gate and ran towards the prince's mansion. The second madam had shown him kindness, and he needed to find the second young lady for help.
At this moment, Lan Yan was accompanying Jun Yelan. Hearing from Xia Lian that the original owner's mother and brother were in trouble, she hurried out. "Your Highness, I need the mansion's servants to accompany me."
"Yes, be careful," Jun Yelan said. Seeing Lan Yan rush off, he also wheeled his chair to follow. He was slow but didn't want her to go alone, worried about her.
Lan Yan, leading the prince's mansion's servants, charged directly into the Lan State Duke's mansion. Seeing a mother and son about to be taken away, she realized they must be the original owner's mother and brother.
She shouted directly, "Prince's mansion personnel, beat them!" Seeing the injuries on both of them, which indicated long-term abuse, the fire in her heart flared up.
The prince's mansion servants were all skilled fighters and usually obeyed Lan Yan. In an instant, they sent the Lan State Duke's mansion people scattering like fallen leaves.
Lan Yan walked up to Li shi, untying the ropes from their wrists. "Mother, brother, you've suffered. I'll take you away."
Li shi and Lan Yue burst into tears. It was wonderful that Lan Yan was doing well, and they were happy for her.
Lan Yan helped Li shi up, took Lan Yue's hand, and headed towards the mansion gate.
Behind them, Lan夫人 shouted, "You can't leave! This is the Lan State Duke's mansion, they are under my control. Lan Yan, you're just the consort of a cripple, what right do you have!"
"You don't think the Prince will help you, do you!"
Lan Xiaoxiao climbed up from the ground, her body aching all over. She had her personal maid find the First Prince, while she stayed behind to bolster their side. "Lan Yan, if you have the guts, make the Prince appear now!"
Everyone knew the Third Prince was a cripple, and how could he possibly care about Lan Yan!
"My consort doesn't need status; she herself is the best status," Jun Yelan said, entering from the doorway and looking coldly at everyone. He moved to Lan Yan's side, glanced at her with concern, and asked, "Are you hurt?"
Lan Yan was about to say she was fine, but her throat had hurt from shouting earlier. She said pitifully, "Yes."
Jun Yelan had never seen Lan Yan like this and felt that she must have been bullied in this mansion. His eyes turned cold. "Continue the beating. Some people's mouths, hands, and feet are very unsightly, and they are no longer needed."
The prince's mansion servants understood the Prince's meaning and, in an instant, the Lan State Duke's mansion people suffered even more miserably.
Li shi and Lan Yue stood aside, somewhat shocked. This Prince seemed quite good, and most importantly, he treated Lan Yan well. They felt relieved.
Lan Xiaoxiao's pupils also widened in shock. She had actually managed to summon the Prince. While being beaten, she looked Jun Yelan up and down. Although Jun Yelan was in a wheelchair, he exuded an aura of dominance.
Moreover, his masked face held a sense of mystery.
She had been deceived. This was not a cripple at all, but a king. But the next moment, her eyes were fiercely struck, making it impossible for her to see.
Lan Yan looked at the noisy scene before her and smiled with satisfaction. She held Jun Yelan's wheelchair and said, "Your Highness, it's so noisy here, let's go back."
"Mm," Jun Yelan nodded, the coldness in his eyes vanishing.
Li shi and Lan Yue followed.
But just as they reached the doorway, they encountered people brought by the First Prince.