Lan Yan realized what was happening, her eyes brightening as she felt her task completion rate rapidly increasing. She instructed the refugees to return to their homes and pushed Jun Yelan's wheelchair into the manor.
Seeing Lan Yan's joyful expression, Jun Yelan inferred that she didn't object to his earlier words. He subtly tightened his grip, wanting to express his feelings to Lan Yan.
Meanwhile, news of the refugees' situation reached the palace. The Emperor, upon hearing the report from his dark guards, said coldly, "The Prince is becoming increasingly disobedient. Have him reflect thoroughly in prison. Also, tell the Consort not to visit here for the time being."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The dark guard left, and an eunuch entered.
The Emperor sighed, thinking of Jun Yelan's actions, "He shouldn't have had to suffer like this. I thought after the fire, he would never leave his room or speak to me again."
"That Lan Yan is quite capable, able to appease my son. For that alone, I will elevate her status and make her a legitimate daughter, thus worthy of my son."
The eunuch beside him changed the tea and said, "Your Majesty truly cherishes the Prince."
The Emperor took a sip of the tea. The taste was still not as good as that from Consort Shu's chambers. As a ruler, he could not indulge his personal emotions or have favored possessions.
He put down the teacup, "It's a pity he still resents me, not even calling me Father Emperor anymore." In his childhood, he used to hold Jun Yelan in his study, and Jun Yelan loved calling him Father Emperor and asking him all sorts of questions.
Seeing the Emperor unhappy, the eunuch coaxed, "Your Majesty, the Prince now has a consort, and will have children in the future. He will eventually understand Your Majesty's hardships."
"Hmm, that makes sense." The Emperor lowered his head to look at the memorial on the table, the Dingzhou case. "This corruption case of river repair is related to the Prince, so I will assign it to Yelan. You are permitted to bring your consort along."
Otherwise, his son would surely refuse.
The eunuch smiled and went to the Prince's manor to deliver the imperial decree.
At the Prince's manor, Lan Yan fried the remaining steamed buns from the day as her lunch. While busy in the kitchen, she chatted with the system, "System, I've noticed I've become more excellent recently."
System: "...Please, Host, do not become arrogant and complacent. Your tasks have not yet met the passing line."
Lan Yan's confidence instantly vanished. "System, are you malfunctioning?"
System: "..." He really didn't want to deal with this host anymore. "Host, please face yourself squarely and do not slander the system. I was chosen from thousands of systems, specifically to execute secret..."
Damn it, he accidentally let something slip.
"Secret what?"
System: "Sweet missions. Host, I must warn you that you will encounter danger in the future, so please be prepared." He went offline, having said enough.
"What danger?" Lan Yan was accustomed to the unreliable system. However, she still trusted it. She supposed she needed to prepare some weapons to protect herself, and Jun Yelan as well.
She nodded, picked up the fried buns, and went out. She saw Jun Yelan still reading. "Your Highness, you are too diligent, I've never seen you rest."
"Unlike me, I can never sit still."
Jun Yelan put down his book. He quite liked Lan Yan's disposition; she was full of energy every day. Just watching Lan Yan run around the courtyard brought him a sense of contentment.
"It's very good."
Seeing that Jun Yelan didn't dislike her, Lan Yan felt less bothered. She squatted down, leaned closer to Jun Yelan, and smiled, "Your Highness, you did very well with the porridge distribution today. Don't belittle yourself anymore."
She had her own thoughts. She often saw Jun Yelan sitting alone by the window with a lonely look in his eyes. Such a fine person should have bright eyes.
Jun Yelan was stunned. He thought Lan Yan knew nothing. His appearance and legs could not be restored, and seeing healthy people always made him feel uncomfortable.
He had already tried his best to suppress his thoughts and not reveal any of his weakness to others, yet he had still been discovered.
Seeing Jun Yelan remain silent, Lan Yan comforted him, "Everyone has something they can do. Your Highness, you should have been an eagle; don't be trapped by the cage you've set for yourself."
Physical wounds can heal, but wounds of the heart are difficult to mend.
She reached out and placed her hand over his chest, smiling, "You need to get better quickly."
Jun Yelan's pupils widened in shock. He instinctively reached out as well, placing his hand over Lan Yan's. At this moment, he felt his heart pounding fiercely, as if urging him to speak those words.
He clasped Lan Yan's hand, looked into her eyes, and said, "Yan'er, thank you." A layer of mist appeared in his eyes, his lips and chin trembling slightly.
He had always kept himself enclosed, unwilling to let anyone know his vulnerabilities. Now, he was willing to expose his weakness to Lan Yan, placing her in the deepest part of his heart.
He didn't want to let go of the hand on his chest at that moment.
Fueled by this tremor, he said, "I actually admire..."
"Your Highness, Consort, an imperial decree has arrived!" Xia Lian saw Jun Yelan's fierce gaze and took a step back. She felt as if she had done something wrong.
Lan Yan blinked and asked, "Your Highness, what were you about to say?" It felt important.
Jun Yelan saw Xia Lian there and heard about the imperial decree. He shook his head, "It's nothing, we'll talk about it next time. Let's go to the front hall." As he left, he glared fiercely at Xia Lian, planning to transfer her elsewhere next time.
Xia Lian continued to retreat. The Prince was truly terrifying today.
As Lan Yan pushed Jun Yelan towards the front hall, she saw the same eunuch who had delivered the decree before and smiled faintly.
The eunuch said, "Your Highness, His Majesty orders you to proceed to Dingzhou immediately to handle the corruption case of river repair there. This is the imperial decree." He handed over the scroll in his hand.
Jun Yelan accepted it coldly. He didn't want to go. Dingzhou was not a good place; it was now completely chaotic, and governing it would be no easy task.
"I do not wish to go."
The eunuch was slightly taken aback. The Prince's temperament had become even more forthright. "Your Highness, this is also His Majesty's intention. Moreover, His Majesty said you are permitted to bring your consort. This is a unique favor."
The words fell into Jun Yelan's ears, and he clenched his fists. The Emperor was threatening him; if he didn't go, he would deal with Lan Yan. "Very well, I will go. Please convey to His Majesty my thanks for his decree."
Though it was gratitude, the eunuch detected a tone of gritted teeth. He withdrew.
Lan Yan looked at the imperial decree, feeling that the trip to Dingzhou would not be simple. It was not a good assignment, and she was sure to encounter danger on the way. No wonder the system had told her to be prepared.
Jun Yelan turned to see Lan Yan lost in thought and said, "If you do not wish to go, I have a way." He could have someone impersonate Lan Yan, so she wouldn't have to suffer the hardship.
"Your Highness, I want to go." Lan Yan would not leave the danger to Jun Yelan alone; together, they could look out for each other. She patted her chest and smiled, "Your Highness, with me here, you can rest assured."
Jun Yelan nodded, held Lan Yan's hand tightly, and vowed in his heart to protect her!