Lan Yan and Jun Yelan were surrounded by disaster victims in the porridge tent. Hearing the steward’s voice at the entrance, they exchanged a knowing smile.
“Someone really has too much time on their hands,” Lan Yan chuckled. “Your Highness, I’ll go stir up some trouble for them.”
Jun Yelan smiled and replied, “Good.” He watched those who had come to their door with a cold gaze.
Lan Yan stood before the steward, saying with amusement, “You have problems with your own Grand Prince’s mansion, what does it have to do with us? Hurry along, not just anyone can loiter at our Third Prince’s mansion.”
“Pah!” The steward, seeing Lan Yan wearing a veil and unaware of her identity, retorted angrily, “What is your Third Prince’s mansion? An ill-omened existence, and you have the audacity to say such things.”
These words successfully enraged Lan Yan. She looked at the guards behind her and commanded, “Someone’s mouth is too foul, give them a beating.” Such people weren’t worth her personal effort.
The guards stepped forward and proceeded to beat the steward soundly. They brought the bruised and swollen steward back before Lan Yan and respectfully announced, “Princess Consort, it is done.”
“Mm, you may stand down,” Lan Yan said, looking coldly at the steward. “Let’s go take a look at the Grand Prince’s mansion.” She had been looking for an opportunity to deal with the Grand Prince, and now someone had delivered themselves.
The steward only then realized that the woman before him was the Princess Consort. He dared not speak rashly and obediently led the way.
Lan Yan surveyed the porridge tent, finding it utterly subpar. She stared at the porridge being cooked in the pots and declared, “You are defying the imperial decree!”
Hearing such a grave statement, the steward trembled all over and shook his head, “We would not dare.”
“Then hurry up and cook the porridge anew, and treat these disaster victims with kindness. Otherwise, you will be defying the imperial decree!” Lan Yan stood with her hands on her hips, supervising from the side.
She watched the steward unload sacks of rice and instructed, “Keep going, fill the pot.”
The steward grit his teeth and poured in a whole sack, pained by the expense. Yet, with Lan Yan watching, he couldn't refuse. Once it was done, he asked pitifully, “Princess Consort, is this sufficient?”
Lan Yan nodded. “My household will keep an eye on you. If another disaster victim comes from your place, you’ll be dead.” With that, she returned to the entrance of her own mansion.
Jun Yelan smiled, “Is the beating over?”
“Yes, it was exceptionally well done.” Lan Yan’s lips curved upwards as she continued ladling porridge, oblivious to the doting look in Jun Yelan’s eyes beside her.
At the Grand Prince’s mansion, the steward’s head ached as he watched more sacks of rice being moved from the manor. He had no choice but to go and report to the Grand Prince.
The Grand Prince, furious, slammed his ledger. “This Lan Yan, why is she meddling with my estate! It must be Jun Yelan’s doing! And you, you fool, couldn’t you have brought out the old rice!”
The steward stammered, “People from the Third Prince’s mansion are still present. If we dare to cause trouble, they’ll say we defied the imperial decree. We dare not!”
“A bunch of useless good-for-nothings!” The Grand Prince was so enraged he felt like spitting blood. He was confined to his estate and had intended to use this porridge distribution opportunity to regain his freedom. However, he didn't want to incur further expenses.
Now, he could only continue with the porridge tent. “Fine, you continue with it, but don’t let the Third Prince’s mansion outshine us. I refuse to believe Jun Yelan has more money than me.”
He had amassed considerable wealth over the years, while Jun Yelan had remained within his manor. “Also, on the last day of the porridge distribution, arrange for people to go to their place and do as I say.”
After enduring such significant losses, he wouldn't let Jun Yelan and his consort have it easy either.
Lan Yan had been distributing porridge for half a day and then handed over the task to Xia Lian, going to rest nearby. She took out two freshly steamed buns, offering one to Jun Yelan, and said, “These buns are made by my mother, they are very delicious.”
She tore open a bun, dipped it in the prepared sauce, and popped it into her mouth. It was truly exquisite.
Seeing that Jun Yelan wasn’t eating, she held out the other half to his mouth and said with a smile, “Your Highness, please have a bite.”
This was the first time Jun Yelan had been fed like this, and he was somewhat taken aback. He gently took a bite, chewed it in his mouth, and looked at Lan Yan’s expectant gaze, nodding, “It is very delicious.”
“See, my taste is still quite good.” Lan Yan smiled, scooped a large spoonful of sauce, and placed it on Jun Yelan’s bun.
Jun Yelan: “……” He opened his mouth and took a large bite, perhaps a bit too much. “Ahem!”
Lan Yan offered him water. “Your Highness, you criticized me earlier, but look at you, eating too quickly. You should chew slowly and savor it, just like me.” She completely forgot her own manner of eating and chattered on to Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan hadn’t expected that the words he’d said to Lan Yan would one day be used against him. He couldn’t help but want to laugh. “Yes, I should indeed be like you.”
Lan Yan smiled and took another bite of her bun. “Cough, cough.” Now it was her turn.
The two of them laughed while eating.
The disaster victims nearby witnessed this scene and sighed, “These two must be husband and wife, they are too sweet.” They felt as if they were watching a scene from a play.
“I also heard those people call them the Prince and Princess Consort. Back in my hometown, I heard that the Third Prince was like a phantom, very frightening. When children cried, they would use this saying to scare them.”
“But looking at them now, that’s all false. And they also said that no woman in the world would marry him. I think the current Princess Consort is beautiful and kind-hearted.”
“Earlier, the wind blew away the Princess Consort’s veil, and I saw her. She is truly a peerless beauty. She doesn’t look down on us at all and eats buns and drinks porridge with us.”
The disaster victims nodded in agreement, endorsing these words. When they could live normal lives again, they would definitely come to thank the Prince and Princess Consort.
These words also spread, gradually changing the perception of Jun Yelan.
After a brief rest, Lan Yan resumed distributing porridge. Before doing so, she instructed Xia Lian to check on the Lan State Duke’s manor. If the person who came out was Lan Xiaoxiao, she was to report back.
Xia Lian went to the Lan State Duke’s manor and returned quickly, whispering into Lan Yan’s ear, “It is indeed the eldest daughter of the Lan family.”
Lan Yan’s lips curved. “I knew she wouldn’t miss this opportunity to show off. Since that’s the case, I’ll go take a look.” Before leaving, she also notified someone in the palace, informing them that Lan Xiaoxiao was not adhering to the imperial decree.
She walked to the entrance of the Lan State Duke’s manor and fixed her gaze on the woman standing at the front.
Lan Xiaoxiao sat on a chair, instructing the maids beside her to distribute porridge. She rubbed her waist and arms, her previous injuries still not healed. She deliberately wore no veil, revealing her face, all to gain a good reputation.
She said, “Hurry up and distribute the porridge. Make sure to tell these ignorant disaster victims that this is all my doing.” As long as she succeeded this time, she would be able to regain her reputation and smoothly marry the Grand Prince.
As for Lan Yan, she couldn't possibly defeat her.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan had approached her and feigned surprise, exclaiming, “Oh my, isn’t this the eldest daughter of the Lan family? You caused such a scandal in the palace earlier and were punished, forbidden from leaving the house, how did you get out!”
Lan Yan was a person who avenged every grievance.
Lan Xiaoxiao froze, startled. Where had this Lan Yan appeared from!