Lan Yan told herself it was just sleeping together. Thinking so, she lay down, too nervous to move. "Your Highness, I toss and turn in my sleep."
"Mm," Jun Ye Lan replied, lying on the outer side. He reached his hand towards Lan Yan. Seeing her eyes shut in panic, the corners of his lips curved upward.
He spread the quilt and covered them both.
Lan Yan opened her eyes, realizing she had misunderstood. Embarrassed, she relaxed and looked at Jun Ye Lan beside her. "Your Highness, you are actually a very good person. Those rumors outside are false; they never truly knew you."
Jun Ye Lan was taken aback, a warmth flowing through him. These were words no one had ever spoken to him before.
He coldly scoffed, "They wouldn't want to know me either. When I had power, they all fawned over me. But when trouble truly struck, their true faces were revealed."
"You are the only one different." Sometimes, he found it strange, doubting Lan Yan's true identity. But he didn't want to doubt anymore; maintaining the status quo was enough.
At this moment, Lan Yan felt a pang of sympathy for Jun Ye Lan. He had experienced so much at the tender age of twelve, an early immersion into hardship. It was no wonder Jun Ye Lan's demeanor had become so deep and cold.
She reached out, patted Jun Ye Lan's shoulder, and smiled, "Your Highness, no matter your identity or how you change, I will always be the same towards you, forever."
As she spoke, her eyelids gradually drooped.
Jun Ye Lan's pupils trembled slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile. "As long as you are by my side, I can disregard everyone else." He received no response and turned his head to see Lan Yan had already fallen asleep.
He smiled helplessly, reaching out to pull Lan Yan into his embrace, resting his chin on her small head. He felt a sense of peace he had never experienced before.
This feeling was wonderful.
The next morning, Lan Yan bid farewell to Princess An. Facing Princess An's teasing gaze, she could only smile, "Princess An, then we shall meet again."
"Certainly, Sister-in-law, Brother-in-law," Princess An waved enthusiastically as they departed.
Lan Yan and Jun Ye Lan boarded the carriage together and smoothly returned to the princely estate.
Remembering the sachet she had seen on the street yesterday, she sought out Madam Li. "Mother, my craftsmanship isn't very good; I'd like to learn more from you."
Madam Li smiled, "It is time you learned. When you have your own children, you'll be sewing clothes for them." She cast an intentional glance at Lan Yan's belly as she spoke.
Lan Yan: "..." Is Mother overthinking?
Next, she picked up her embroidery hoop and diligently learned from Madam Li. However, with a *zi* sound, she pricked her finger again. Shaking her hand dismissively, she called out carelessly, "Again."
She refused to believe she couldn't learn it.
Madam Li saw this and said, "Little Yan, whatever you wish to embroider, Mother can help you." She couldn't bear to see her child suffer.
"Mother, I want to do it myself." This was her tool for gaining favor. Lan Yan planned to ask the system about her progress later; surely it hadn't remained stagnant!
Seeing the determination in Lan Yan's eyes, Madam Li said no more. "Little Yan, then take your time. Embroidery isn't learned in a day."
"Mm," Lan Yan nodded, picking up the needle and thread, slowly stitching. Finally, a basic shape emerged. She couldn't help but curve her lips.
At this moment, Lan Yue, with a cloth bag slung across his shoulder and a book in his hand, walked over dejectedly. Seeing Lan Yan in the courtyard, a smile bloomed on his face, and he ran over to greet her.
Lan Yan couldn't resist pinching Lan Yue's cheek. He finally had some flesh on his face, looking like a young prodigy. "Little brother, how are things at the academy?"
Lan Yue immediately lowered his head and nodded.
Seeing this reaction, Lan Yan guessed Lan Yue was hiding something. She said, "Little brother, if anything is wrong, you must tell your sister. Tell me honestly, are you unhappy at the academy?"
Lan Yue clutched his cloth bag, not daring to meet Lan Yan's eyes. He couldn't cause trouble for his sister.
Lan Yan instantly understood. Her little brother wasn't doing well at the academy, something she hadn't considered thoroughly. She said, "Little brother, if you don't want to go to the academy, I'll hire a tutor to teach you."
Her brother couldn't speak; someone must have been saying things to him at the academy.
Lan Yue looked up, his large eyes brimming with tears. He was often picked on by other students at the academy, but he worried his sister would be angry if she knew. He was already causing her enough worry.
Seeing her brother's distress, Lan Yan gently stroked his head. "Little brother is the best, but you are my family. If you are well, only then will I be truly happy."
Lan Yue immediately understood and vowed to repay his sister well in the future. No one would be allowed to bully his sister, not even his brother-in-law.
After settling this matter, Lan Yan asked Xia Lian to invite several tutors, intending to choose them herself this time.
The tutors arrived one after another, muttering phrases like "Zhi Hu Zhe Ye."
Lan Yan, sitting nearby, couldn't help but yawn. After the tutors introduced themselves, she had Xia Lian explain Lan Yue's situation, but all the tutors declined.
They were unwilling to teach a twelve-year-old who was just starting his education, and moreover, a mute child. For them, there was no future in teaching him.
Lan Yan angrily declared, "You are all unappreciative of talent!" After seeing the tutors off, she returned to her room and sighed wistfully, not even noticing someone else was in the room.
Jun Ye Lan, aware of what had transpired in the estate that day, saw Lan Yan's troubled expression and approached the table. He poured a cup of tea and placed it before Lan Yan.
Lan Yan looked up and said dejectedly, "Your Highness, my little brother is truly quite clever. He remembers books after reading them just once. He just can't speak, but he can do other things."
She simply felt it was a pity, and after spending time with him, she had grown fond of him.
Seeing Lan Yan's beautiful brow furrowed, Jun Ye Lan couldn't help but reach out to smooth it. He said, "These tutors are all like this; you needn't mind. If you don't object, I could teach him."
He truly couldn't bear to see Lan Yan looking so disheartened.
Lan Yan's eyes suddenly lit up; she saw hope. She smiled, "Your Highness, this is truly the greatest good fortune in the world. You are so capable, Your Highness, your students are bound to be exceptional."
Wow, why hadn't she thought that there was a tutor right in her own home!
If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously right now. Excitement made her take a step forward and embrace Jun Ye Lan, murmuring, "Your Highness, I knew you were a truly good person."
These were her genuine feelings.
Listening to these praises, a flicker of desire appeared in Jun Ye Lan's eyes. As Lan Yan started to pull away, he held her waist. He pulled Lan Yan onto his lap, stroking her hair.
Lan Yan: Why is his reaction different from last time!