Jun Yelan heard the sound, turned his head, and saw Lanyan outside the window, startled.
Lanyan smiled, "Jun Yelan, you haven't seen me all night, you wouldn't have forgotten me, would you?"
Hearing this, Jun Yelan realized it wasn't his hallucination, but the real Lanyan. He got up, walked to the window, stared at Lanyan in front of him, and ripples spread through his heart.
Lanyan leaned forward slightly, also looking at Jun Yelan. "Why aren't you saying anything? Were you bullied here?"
Jun Yelan looked at the worry in Lanyan's eyes and shook his head. He was fine here, he just always felt something was missing, and now seeing Lanyan, he finally understood.
He had grown accustomed to Lanyan being by his side, listening to her teasing words and looking at her sly expression.
Lanyan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'm relieved." She wanted to tug at Jun Yelan's sleeve, but found her position inconvenient, and called out, "Jun Yelan, wait, I'll come in first."
Jun Yelan was a little puzzled, and then saw Lanyan supporting herself with both hands on the window frame.
Lanyan jumped directly up, put one leg over, and then struggled to move the other leg, finally landing both feet inside the window.
She hooked her lips into a smile and stepped forward, but her balance was off, and she fell forward.
Jun Yelan stepped forward and caught her by the arms. Lanyan instead fell further into his embrace. He lowered his head to look at their close eyes, seeing his reflection within them, and froze.
Lanyan was also stunned. It was a complete miscalculation; she had wanted to vault through the window perfectly and looked disappointed.
Jun Yelan couldn't help but chuckle. He held Lanyan's waist to steady her, his earlobes turning red. "Be careful."
"Okay." Lanyan nodded with a smile.
She looked behind Jun Yelan and saw the half-written calligraphy on the table, smiling, "Jun Yelan, your calligraphy is beautiful. It's true that good-looking people have good handwriting too."
She walked over, looking more closely.
Jun Yelan's lips trembled slightly. He was such a monster, yet only Lanyan would say such things. He also walked over and said, "I just practice when I have nothing else to do."
"This can't be achieved without ten years of practice," Lanyan picked up the paper from the table, liking it more as she looked at it. Her eyes darted around, and she smiled, "Jun Yelan, why don't you give it to me."
Jun Yelan looked at Lanyan's cunning eyes and nodded without hesitation. "This calligraphy isn't very good, I'll write another one for you later."
"No need, I want this one." Lanyan smiled and rolled up the paper, tucking it into her sleeve.
Seeing that Jun Yelan wasn't speaking, she tiptoed to look into his eyes and said with a shallow smile, "Jun Yelan, what I, Lanyan, promise is truly good."
Jun Yelan's heart skipped a beat, his eyes filling with many emotions. He was hesitant to move, yet also longed for the gaze and the person in front of him.
"What are you two doing!" Concubine Ning walked beside the Emperor, looking at the scene before her and shouting. Lanyan was truly bold, daring to sneak here and be so intimate with the Great Priest.
Lanyan turned her head, saw Concubine Ning, and hid the anger in her eyes, performing a courtesy, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Ning."
Jun Yelan also bowed, standing in place with indifference.
Seeing this, Concubine Ning looked at the Emperor, her tone filled with pride, "Your Majesty, General Lan is truly arrogant, daring to sneak here. You must punish her severely this time!"
Lanyan chuckled disdainfully. The Ning family's ways were truly all the same.
She raised her head, displaying an innocent look, "Your Majesty, I have lived with the Priest for so long. Yesterday, the Priest moved into the palace, and today I simply came to visit him out of concern."
"Also, I asked the young eunuch at the gate of the Imperial Study, and only then did I find this place. I came here openly and didn't act as Concubine Ning claims."
The Emperor frowned, clearly deep in thought.
Concubine Ning glared at Lanyan, shouting, "General Lan, this is the palace, you can't just come and go as you please! The inner court and the outer court cannot have dealings!"
Lanyan immediately looked at Concubine Ning, feeling that these words should be directed at Concubine Ning. "Concubine Ning, have you misunderstood something? This is the Priest's Hall. The doors and windows are open all around. Even if I just say a few words with Jun Yelan, I can't do anything untoward."
"Also, I came after the court session, and it wasn't a special visit."
Concubine Ning was stunned. How had Lanyan managed to twist her words? She had intended to accuse Lanyan of a grave offense, but had forgotten that Lanyan was a woman, and the situation was different from before.
Strictly speaking, Jun Yelan was not part of the palace.
Lanyan continued, "Imperial Consort Ning, your elder brother has been in contact with you quite a bit in the outer court, hasn't he? But not everyone is like you. What I say to Jun Yelan are just everyday matters."
Jun Yelan stepped forward at this moment and said to the Emperor, "Reporting to Your Majesty, General Lan saved me before and was concerned about my life here, so she came to visit me specifically."
"Moreover, I had calculated a divination before, and Lanyan is the variable in my life. With her present, my divination can be accurate."
Upon hearing this, Lanyan was astonished and couldn't help but look at Jun Yelan. Was what Jun Yelan said true? How had she become his variable!
She looked at the Emperor again. The Emperor's expression changed, and he immediately understood that this was Jun Yelan's expedient measure.
Jun Yelan extended his hand, holding Lanyan's, and stood calmly before the Emperor. He also wanted to tell the Emperor that both Lanyan and he had their weaknesses, so that the Emperor could be at ease.
Currently, Lanyan held military power, and he was responsible for imperial sacrifices, making him feared by the Emperor. Only by revealing their vulnerabilities could they make the Emperor believe they could be controlled.
After understanding Jun Yelan's intentions, Lanyan also held his hand in return and said, "Your Majesty, I am indeed concerned about Priest Jun. This matter is my fault."
Concubine Ning wanted to say more, but seeing the Emperor raise his hand, she could only withdraw reluctantly.
The Emperor said, "General Lan is also of marriageable age, and Priest Jun is talented. You indeed can attract each other. From now on, General Lan can come here freely and also help Priest Jun with this sacrifice."
"Your Majesty!" Concubine Ning's pupils widened in shock. This meant Lanyan would be fine!
A hint of anger flickered in the Emperor's eyes, then was hidden. "Concubine Ning, you should return to your palace first. I still have memorials to handle." He turned and left with an unfavorable expression.
Concubine Ning was startled, her face showing fear. The Emperor was angry. She dared not say more, bowed to see the Emperor off, and then followed him out.
Seeing that the place had quieted down, Lanyan stretched, sighing with relief.
She then looked at Jun Yelan and asked curiously, "Jun Yelan, was what you said just now true?"
Jun Yelan's face turned red. Stared at by Lanyan, he didn't know how to answer for a moment. But Lanyan was waiting for his answer, so he had to speak.