The fires on the street were extinguished, and the crowd quickly dispersed. Only Jun Yelan remained in the middle of the road, frantically searching for Lan Yan.
He pushed his wheelchair along the street but saw no sign of her. People from the Dali Temple were still present. Seeing him linger, one said, "Unrelated individuals, please return." After speaking, he felt a chilling sensation from Jun Yelan's sharp gaze.
Who was this person, possessing such a powerful aura?
Jun Yelan took out a token from his怀 and declared, "The Dali Temple is ordered to spare no effort in searching for the Princess Consort."
Upon seeing the token, the Dali Temple personnel immediately knelt. This was the ruthless and formidable Third Prince! They all exclaimed, "Yes, Third Prince. May we know what the Princess Consort looks like?"
As soon as they spoke, they lowered their heads, fearing they might offend Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan recalled Lan Yan's face and said, "She is petite, possesses beauty that can topple nations, her eyes are lively, and her smile is heartwarming." The more he thought, the more worried he became about Lan Yan.
He beat his legs, lamenting why they never responded. If they did, he could search for Lan Yan himself.
The Dali Temple personnel exchanged glances, seemingly understanding. "Third Prince, please wait here. We will search immediately." They dispersed to search the entire street.
Jun Yelan remained uneasy. He turned into an alley and shot an arrow from his sleeve.
The arrow was caught mid-air by someone who then knelt before him, asking, "What are Your Highness's orders?"
"Find the Princess Consort. Ensure her safety at all costs."
The person was surprised. The Prince had never revealed his full capabilities, yet now he did so for the Princess Consort. "Yes, Your Highness." This was Xia Lian. She pulled up her veil to cover her face and hurried off to find the Princess Consort.
In a corner, the Dali Temple personnel found half a jade pendant. Judging by its appearance, it was no ordinary item. They brought it over and asked, "Your Highness, is this what the Princess Consort left behind?"
Jun Yelan, who had been standing by the roadside, froze slightly at the sight of the jade pendant. He reached out and grasped the pendant, allowing his fingernails to pierce his palm to calm himself.
"It is hers! Deploy more manpower, search for her!" Lan Yan must have met with misfortune.
Seeing the Prince's fury, the Dali Temple personnel dared not delay and went to search.
Jun Yelan surveyed the surroundings, feeling that Lan Yan could not possibly be here anymore. He walked forward, mobilized all his hidden guards, and traced the direction Lan Yan had left.
He headed in that direction.
At this time, Lan Yan slowly regained consciousness, rubbing the back of her head. This was the second time her head had hurt since she transmigrated; she was incredibly unlucky. She vaguely heard a woman crying. Upon opening her eyes, she found herself surrounded by women.
She then looked at her surroundings, which seemed to be a thatched hut with iron bars, presumably to prevent those inside from escaping.
She approached one of the women to inquire about the situation. "This is a den for human traffickers. How did you get here?"
Seeing Lan Yan's composure, the woman stopped crying. "I came to visit relatives and was captured on the road. They are very strong, they beat people, and they bully others. You must never confront them directly."
She then glanced towards a corner where a disheveled, deranged-looking woman sat.
A fire ignited within Lan Yan. She vowed to take down all these people later. For now, she needed to find a way to escape. Jun Yelan must be looking for her.
Just then, the door opened, and several burly men entered – the very same ones being chased by the Dali Temple earlier. Their eyes fell upon Lan Yan, and they burst into laughter. "This woman is truly a stunner. It would be a shame to sell her."
"Brothers can enjoy her first, then sell her." Greed and lust filled their eyes as they approached Lan Yan.
Lan Yan almost vomited her lunch. She stealthily grabbed a stone from beside the wall. She could tie the stone with her sash and throw it at the burly men to keep them at bay.
The burly men, seeing Lan Yan not crying or screaming, found her even more appealing and moved closer with ill intentions.
Just as Lan Yan was about to throw the stone, a commotion erupted at the doorway.
A man in a wheelchair appeared, exuding an aura of deterrence. His eyes darkened upon seeing the burly men surrounding Lan Yan. Hatred flared in his gaze. He snatched a sword from Xia Lian beside him and, with a single strike, killed the burly men.
The burly men died with their eyes wide open.
Lan Yan was still somewhat stunned by Jun Yelan's incredible power. She then reacted, her eyes welling up with moisture. This was a prime opportunity to earn his favor.
Jun Yelan pushed his wheelchair closer, pulled Lan Yan onto his lap, and embraced her tightly. Only then did his heart feel at ease.
He raised his head and noticed Lan Yan's shoulder was exposed. He took off his outer garment and draped it over her.
The men on the ground had died too easily! Seeing Lan Yan on the verge of tears, he reached out and touched the corner of her eyes, saying gently, "Don't be afraid, they are all dead."
Lan Yan had never been afraid of these men; she was only afraid of Jun Yelan getting hurt. Seeing his worried expression, she nodded and stayed quietly in his arms.
Jun Yelan held her waist and looked at Xia Lian beside him. "Find their accomplices and the mastermind behind this. Kill them all." He did not mind being a ruthless killer once more.
"Yes, Your Highness." Xia Lian left with her men.
Lan Yan found the voice somewhat familiar. She said, "Your Highness, these women were all captured. Please send people to send them home."
Seeing Lan Yan's concern for others despite her own suffering, Jun Yelan's heart ached even more. "The Dali Temple personnel will be here to help them. I will take you back." He pushed his wheelchair towards the door, where a carriage was waiting.
Seeing that Jun Yelan had made arrangements, Lan Yan got into the carriage. In the carriage, she looked at Jun Yelan's outer garment and worried he might be cold. She said, "Your Highness, I'll give the clothes back to you."
She adjusted her clothes, which had become slightly loose when she pulled at the sash, revealing her shoulder.
Jun Yelan's eyes darted away, and his ears turned a faint red. He said, "I'm not cold. Continue wearing them." He still felt a bit warm and opened the window to exhale.
Lan Yan had no choice but to continue wearing them. Seeing that she was still held by Jun Yelan, she said, "Your Highness, shall I sit next to you?" She felt somewhat drowsy.
Jun Yelan's eyes dimmed slightly. It seemed Lan Yan still disliked being physically close to him. He intended to release her, but the carriage bumped, causing Lan Yan to lean further into his embrace.
His heart began to race. He placed his other hand on Lan Yan's back.
Lan Yan couldn't help but freeze. She could also hear a heartbeat, but she couldn't tell whose it was. She wanted to get up, but the hand around her waist held her tightly. So, she decided to remain as she was.
However, she was feeling sleepy. This embrace was too comfortable, and she couldn't resist dozing off.
Jun Yelan, on the other hand, was calming his emotions. Seeing Lan Yan's drooping eyelids, he thought to himself, "Lan Yan, since you rely on me, be my reliance for a lifetime."
He did not care whether she liked him or not.