The final day of porridge distribution arrived in a blink. Lan Yan prepared some filled buns at the manor, while Jun Yelan stationed himself at the manor's entrance.
At the manor gate, disaster victims slept on the left, and the porridge station was on the right. A figure stealthily approached the porridge station and, retrieving a small porcelain bottle from his robes, poured white powder into the pot.
He then smiled triumphantly and turned to leave, only to freeze in place upon seeing Jun Yelan before him.
Jun Yelan gazed at him coldly. "Shi Lei, you've been hiding quite well." Due to Shi Lei's deliberate attempts to approach Lan Yan, he had already arranged for him to be watched, and today he had finally caught him in the act.
Shi Lei was the scholar from the past two days. He met Jun Yelan's gaze, a flicker of fear in his eyes, and feigned composure. "Your Highness, I don't know what you're talking about. I was just adding some seasoning; you can have a doctor examine it."
He had known for a long time that Jun Yelan was formidable, so he had prepared two contingency plans.
Jun Yelan was not in a hurry. "Shi Lei, you have poison on you. Do you want me to have you searched, or will you hand it over yourself?" If he hadn't been fully prepared, he wouldn't have confronted him directly.
Shi Lei's pupils trembled as he clutched the medicine bottle in his sleeve. Just as he was contemplating how to escape, he saw Lan Yan emerge with buns and call out, "My Princess, save me!"
"I was forced."
Lan Yan was still bewildered. She first handed a bean paste bun to Jun Yelan, smiling. "Your Highness, these are fresh from the oven, very delicious." She then said to the manor servants behind her, "You all go eat first."
The servants, grateful, went to get buns.
Jun Yelan looked at the warm bun in his hand, the coldness on his face softening slightly as he ate at a leisurely pace. Shi Lei was not as important as the bun Lan Yan had given him.
Lan Yan sat beside him. After eating her fill, she turned to Shi Lei. "Tell me the specifics."
"My Princess, the First Prince captured my mother and ordered me to add something to the pot. I'm grateful to you, Princess, and didn't want to, but the First Prince was too insistent." Shi Lei's words carried genuine emotion, enough to move those around him.
But not Lan Yan. "According to you, since you were forced, why didn't you tell me and His Highness? You've been here for several days and even offered to help; there's no way you couldn't find an opportunity."
"If someone has no intention, they will overlook opportunities even if they are placed before them." She gave Shi Lei a cold glance. Once you have harmed someone, do not use excuses to seek their forgiveness; it will only cause further pain.
Hearing these words, Jun Yelan's lips curled. He found the bun in his hand remarkably fragrant.
Lan Yan, seeing Shi Lei's stunned expression, no longer bothered with him. "Your Highness, since he was sent by the First Prince, we cannot let the First Prince get away with it."
"Of course." Jun Yelan had already devised a plan. Seeing Lan Yan lean closer, he couldn't help but reach out and touch her hair. He smiled, "Leave this to me."
Lan Yan nodded. Seeing that Jun Yelan still had half a bun in his hand, she urged him, "Your Highness, don't rush, eat your food first."
"Alright." Jun Yelan's eyes showed a doting affection.
Shi Lei could only stand there obediently, realizing his failure.
When the Dali Temple officials arrived, Jun Yelan explained the situation to them and handed Shi Lei over. "His Imperial Majesty specially issued an imperial decree for every manor to set up porridge stations, which shows the importance of this matter."
"And my elder brother not only treated the disaster victims poorly but also sabotaged my porridge station. Magistrate Du, you know what needs to be done next."
Magistrate Du's forehead broke out in a cold sweat as he nodded. The Third Prince had made himself clear enough. He quickly led his men toward the First Prince's manor nearby, calling out, "This humble official needs to see the First Prince."
The butler went in to announce him, and shortly after, the First Prince emerged, looking at the scene with bewilderment. But the next instant, he was apprehended by the Dali Temple officials.
"What are you doing? I am the First Prince!"
Magistrate Du's forehead streamed with sweat. Both parties were princes, and it was difficult to offend either. However, this matter also concerned the Emperor's decree, so he had no choice but to proceed. "First Prince, you incited someone to poison the porridge and frame the Third Prince. You are now being taken back to Dali Temple."
"What!" The First Prince finally noticed Shi Lei behind them, realizing this useless person had been discovered. He couldn't possibly be taken away in public; everything would be ruined.
He roared, "Let me go! You have no right to arrest me!"
However, no one paid him any mind. He was dragged away, passing by Jun Yelan's location. He glared at Jun Yelan's leisurely demeanor, fury rising within him, and shouted, "Jun Yelan, you despicable scoundrel!"
Lan Yan stepped forward and promptly stuffed a smelly sock into the First Prince's mouth, smiling. "You are the hypocrite and the scoundrel. Hurry up and scram!" She watched as the First Prince's face turned dark, her lips curling up triumphantly.
She clapped her hands and turned, saying, "Coincidentally, Lan Xiaoxiao is also in prison. The two of them can keep each other company and tell tales of their misfortunes. Haha!"
Jun Yelan chuckled and walked over, glancing at the departing figure of the First Prince. He had already made arrangements; even if the First Prince were released, he would lose half his life in prison.
Just then, disaster victims from nearby surged forward, realizing that Lan Yan and Jun Yelan had just saved their lives. They knelt on the ground, crying out, "Many thanks to Your Highness and Your Highness, the Princess! You didn't disdain us; instead, you continuously helped us!"
"Yes, other manors only had thin gruel, but here, not only was the porridge thick, but there were also buns with fillings."
"Furthermore, His Highness and the Princess personally served us porridge. This is a treatment no other manor has offered." They were all refugees from various places and had experienced many cold shoulders, once believing they would never survive.
But now they had food to eat and a place to stay. Once they recovered, they would find places to farm or work to earn a living.
Lan Yan stepped forward to help them up, saying, "Please rise quickly. This is all due to His Imperial Majesty's decree." Their manor couldn't overshadow the Emperor's intentions, lest they attract the Emperor's attention again.
The disaster victims finally rose, still expressing their gratitude. "But we must also thank Your Highness and the Princess. We had heard before that His Highness was cruel and fierce, but seeing you now, you are clearly very gentle."
"His Highness is a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart. Paired with the kind and radiant Princess, you are simply a perfect match!" Others even boldly said to Jun Yelan, "Your Highness, you must cherish the Princess dearly."
Jun Yelan had stayed within the manor for years, unwilling to interact with others, detesting their peculiar glances and malicious words. He once thought he was crippled and his life would be like that forever.
But Lan Yan enlightened him by his side and brought him to distribute porridge, allowing him to receive gratitude from others for the first time. His heart trembled incessantly; he felt he wasn't a cripple and had things within his capability.
These were all things Lan Yan had brought him. He looked at the person beside him with burning eyes and smiled faintly, "I will cherish her for my entire life."
Lan Yan froze.