Jun Yelan remained in place, his pupils trembling as he gazed into Lan Yan's radiant eyes. This time, he took a step forward, approaching Lan Yan of his own accord.
"Be careful on this expedition," he said.
Lan Yan was taken aback, then her lips curved upwards. "With your words, I will definitely protect myself well." It was wonderful; Jun Yelan's attitude towards her had softened.
A hidden joy bloomed within her, and the smile in her eyes deepened.
Jun Yelan observed this, then took a copper coin from his embrace. He took Lan Yan's hand, placed the coin in her palm, and closed her fingers around it.
Lan Yan was immediately puzzled. "What is this?" she asked.
"It's the copper coin I've always used for divination," Jun Yelan replied. "I cannot divine for you, so I am giving you the coin, hoping it brings you good fortune."
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile. She tightened her grip on the coin and raised her hand, waving it before Jun Yelan's eyes. "Jun Yelan, don't worry, I will cherish it. I'll return it to you when I get back."
She carefully put it away, placing the coin into her sachet, where a strand of Jun Yelan's hair also lay.
Jun Yelan had always been perplexed by Lan Yan's actions. Thinking of her imminent departure, he blurted out, "Why do you keep it? Aren't you afraid it will bring you bad luck!"
Those people said he was a harbinger of disaster, that he shouldn't have been born.
Lan Yan looked up, seeing Jun Yelan's dejected expression. She reached out and touched his head. "You just said that the copper coin would bring me good luck, so its owner must also be a fortunate person."
"Jun Yelan, those are just other people's words. They are jealous of you, so you don't need to pay them any mind."
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled even more as he stared at Lan Yan. What she said was true!
Lan Yan thought for a moment, realizing she had no significant item on her person. She then plucked a strand of her hair, clasped Jun Yelan's wrist, and wound it around.
"I'll give you this too. If you don't believe you have good luck, then I'll bring it to you."
"Jun Yelan, you've always been wonderful."
Jun Yelan's body stiffened, his mind going completely blank.
Suddenly, all of Lan Yan's words flashed through his mind. He remembered Lan Yan saying he was handsome, that he deserved better, that he was fortunate.
Unknowingly, Lan Yan had entered his heart.
He looked at the black hair strand on his wrist, contrasting with his own falling white strands. They shouldn't have been connected, yet now they were so close.
He reached out, gently embracing Lan Yan before him, and murmured, "You must come back."
Lan Yan was still somewhat taken aback. She stroked Jun Yelan's back and smiled, "I promised you, and I will do my best. You must take care of yourself while you are alone in the palace."
Jun Yelan nodded, his lips and chin trembling. He could no longer bear to part with Lan Yan. Despite knowing he was unworthy, he greedily wished to remain by her side.
He felt his good fortune had existed all along, from the moment Lan Yan appeared.
After a long while, Lan Yan was released. She walked to the palace gates, waved goodbye to Jun Yelan, and turned to leave.
Only when her figure disappeared from view did Jun Yelan depart. He touched the strand of hair on his wrist and murmured, "For some reason, I feel as though I've known you for a very long time, so long that I've forgotten the passage of time."
Lan Yan returned to her residence, packed a few things, and then headed for the military camp. She saw Ruan Yuan and instructed, "Arrange for the soldiers to form ranks. We depart in one hour."
"General, such urgency this time!" Ruan Yuan asked.
Lan Yan nodded. "The Emperor issued the order directly. Moreover, the earlier we arrive, the less danger the border residents will face." She was a general of the Yan Dynasty, and this was her duty.
"Yes, General." Ruan Yuan did not dare to delay and hurried to organize the soldiers.
An hour later, Lan Yan sat astride a tall horse, touched the sword at her waist, and called out, "March!"
A vast army of ten thousand soldiers followed, heading towards Yong Pass.
The march continued until evening, when they made camp.
Lan Yan called over the messenger soldier and handed him the letter she had previously written. "Deliver this to Priest Jun, ask him to reply. Never mind, no need to reply." She waved her hand, dismissing the soldier.
As the soldier left, he happened to encounter Ruan Yuan entering the tent.
Ruan Yuan saw the letter and then looked at Lan Yan, teasing, "General, it's only been a short while, and you already miss Priest Jun."
"I'm worried about him," Lan Yan said, her gaze darting away, refusing to admit it.
Ruan Yuan smiled. "General, your feelings are written all over your face. But Priest Jun has protected you so many times; it's clear he has you in his heart as well."
"When we return from this campaign, General should simply request a reward and have the Emperor arrange a marriage for you."
Lan Yan shook her head. "I cannot do that, not without considering Jun Yelan's feelings. Unless Jun Yelan is willing to marry me, I will not marry him."
"Caring for someone doesn't mean acting on your own; you must consider their perspective. He's different from me; I can easily make choices. For him, even a small step requires his all."
Ruan Yuan was momentarily bewildered. So, matters of the heart were this complicated. She decided not to interfere. "But General, after saying all this, it seems you really care about Priest Jun."
"Ruan Yuan, I'm done talking with you. Go do your patrol quickly." Lan Yan's face flushed slightly. She grabbed her sword and hurried out of the tent, evading Ruan Yuan.
Ruan Yuan was still calling from behind, "General, I haven't finished speaking."
Thus, Lan Yan quickened her pace, while in her heart she thought, "Jun Yelan, you must stay safe alone!" It was precisely because of this situation that she was so anxious to send the letter.
After all, in the imperial city, the Ning family was still lurking like a tiger.
When this letter arrived, Jun Yelan was performing a divination. He handed the newly calculated divination chart to the eunuch at the door, asking him to deliver it to the Emperor.
With this divination, Ning Yuan could not tamper with the grain transport. Ning Yuan's sudden proposal to transport the grain himself was, on one hand, to curry favor with the Emperor, and on the other, to suppress Lan Yan.
But now, while he was in the imperial city, he had to resolve Lan Yan's worries, to prevent her from being distracted on the battlefield.
He turned to go back to his room, heard footsteps at the palace entrance, and turned to see an unfamiliar young eunuch.
"Priest, this is a letter from General Lan." After delivering the letter, the young eunuch was about to leave.
Jun Yelan called him back. "Wait, I need to write a reply." He unfastened a jade pendant from his waist, tossed it to the young eunuch, and walked inside.
The young eunuch waited at the door, head bowed.
Jun Yelan sat at the desk, opened the letter, and a slight curve formed on his lips as he read the handwriting. It was Lan Yan's handwriting, and it spoke her words.
He took out a blank sheet of paper and paused as he picked up the brush, unsure of what to write.
At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the door. He swiftly wrote two characters on the paper and placed them in an envelope. He reopened the door, saw Consort Ning arriving with a crowd, and frowned.