“We were all saved by the General, and we heard you saved the General, so we wanted to have a word with you,” the soldiers said, standing before Jun Yelan, scratching the backs of their heads sheepishly.
They had all spoken ill of Jun Yelan before.
Jun Yelan’s expression remained icy, his tone even colder, “What words?”
The soldiers replied, “We’ll never call you a monster again.” As soon as they finished speaking, they flinched under Jun Yelan’s gaze and quickly corrected themselves, “Young Master Jun.”
They had never seen the General care so much about anyone; the person before them must have an extraordinary background.
Jun Yelan’s eyes remained impassive, his brows furrowed. What did these people want? “Is there anything else?”
“No, nothing else,” the soldiers said, parting to let Jun Yelan pass, not daring to block his way.
Jun Yelan grew more bewildered. Were these soldiers also sent by Lan Yan? Only Lan Yan would do such bizarre things.
He walked forward and saw some soldiers whispering amongst themselves, instinctively feeling annoyed.
But this time, the content of their whispers was different.
“The General announced in front of everyone that that person is her savior, and we should treat them well.”
“The General used to kill prisoners directly, without mercy. This is too different this time.”
“What do you know? Our General treats people differently based on who they are. I think our General is also reaching that age.”
“What do you mean?” More and more soldiers gathered around the soldiers who were speaking.
Jun Yelan strained to listen but couldn’t make out what they were saying. He shifted slightly and saw patrolling soldiers. He moved back and quietly returned to his tent.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan was with Ruan Yuan, giving instructions for the camp’s next actions. “Tomorrow, I will travel by carriage with Jun Yelan to speed up our march. We must reach the imperial city by the end of this month.”
Although the Emperor hadn’t given her a deadline, those meddlesome officials certainly would not let her off the hook.
Ruan Yuan asked, “Yes, General. One more thing: after we return, how will the General arrange for Jun Yelan?” She was worried that someone might use this situation to harm Lan Yan.
“Do I have a residence?”
Ruan Yuan hesitated before replying, “There is the General’s mansion, with only a few servants inside.”
“Then it’s settled.” Lan Yan smiled and patted Ruan Yuan’s shoulder. “It suits me perfectly.” More people would hinder her interactions with Jun Yelan; this was the best arrangement.
Ruan Yuan was confused, looking at Lan Yan’s smile. She felt the General was becoming increasingly strange.
Lan Yan waved her hand. “You may go. When you meet someone like that yourself, you will understand.” Jun Yelan was her most important mission target, and of course, she had to consider him carefully.
Ruan Yuan could only leave. As she reached the doorway, she murmured, “Could it be that the General likes this type of man?” Her pupils widened in shock. She glanced back and saw Lan Yan still grinning slyly; she understood!
She quickly departed.
Jun Yelan emerged from the side of the tent, his eyes deep, and muttered to himself, “Likes?” He suddenly let out a cold laugh. That word would never apply to him.
When Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan enter, her first instinct was to pull the covers over herself, place her crutch by the bed, and beckon him, “Jun Yelan.” She nervously avoided his gaze and picked up an orange from the side, peeling it.
Jun Yelan sat by the bed and took the orange from Lan Yan’s hand, slowly peeling it.
Seeing Jun Yelan’s change in attitude, Lan Yan was startled and asked, “Did something happen to you?”
“Nothing,” Jun Yelan replied, not stopping his movements, his head lowered, not looking at Lan Yan. He knew the kindness he felt was all arranged by Lan Yan.
He knew Lan Yan couldn’t possibly like him, but even if she had other motives, Lan Yan had at least pretended for so long and treated him well.
The favor Lan Yan had shown him by saving him last time had been repaid. What followed were merely these trivial matters.
Lan Yan was still puzzled. An orange was placed in her hand. She could only eat it while staring at Jun Yelan’s face.
Jun Yelan picked up another orange, peeled it, and placed it on a plate. He looked at Lan Yan’s leg, his eyes darkening. He asked, “When will your wound heal?” This was also because of him.
Hearing this, Lan Yan lost interest in eating the orange. She pitiably clutched her leg. “Oh, I still can’t walk.”
“Is that so?” Jun Yelan’s gaze deepened. “I heard you went out today.”
Lan Yan froze. She had secretly gone out when Jun Yelan was not around. Being discovered by Jun Yelan, she gave an awkward smile. “Let me tell you, I was forced.”
“Deputy General Ruan made me go out; I didn’t want to.” She sniffled, appearing even more pitiful, her face displaying an innocent expression.
Jun Yelan placed the orange in Lan Yan’s hand without saying a word. Internally, he felt a slight wariness towards Ruan Yuan.
Lan Yan lowered her head and ate, thinking to herself, “Deputy General Ruan, I apologize for letting you take the blame.”
Jun Yelan looked at his palm. The orange he had been peeling was ruined, so he picked up another.
The next morning, the convoy set off again. This time, Lan Yan traveled by carriage, unable to ride a horse.
Jun Yelan boarded the carriage shortly after, taking the food box from Ruan Yuan’s hand, and said coldly, “She needs rest and cannot be disturbed by idle people. Please remember this, Deputy General.” He then entered the carriage.
Ruan Yuan remained in place, puzzled. “What does that mean? Why specifically ask me to remember?” She moved away from the carriage and rallied the other soldiers, shouting, “The General has ordered, set off!”
The soldiers lined up neatly behind the carriage. Hearing Ruan Yuan’s command, they began to march.
The carriage moved forward slowly. Lan Yan leaned against the carriage wall, holding a flatbread in her left hand and osmanthus cake in her right. “Jun Yelan, eat quickly, I can’t finish it all.”
Jun Yelan glanced silently at the food box, then shifted his gaze. He picked up a book from the side and began to read.
Seeing that he was ignoring her, Lan Yan occasionally tilted her head to look at him curiously. She propped her chin with her hands, staring intently at Jun Yelan’s face.
Jun Yelan’s eyebrows and eyelashes were white, his eye color very pale, his nose bridge high, and his lips thin. Coupled with his snow-white hair and the coldness emanating from him, he was like a true ice beauty.
She was mesmerized for a moment and blurted out, “So handsome.”
Jun Yelan’s pupils trembled slightly. He looked up at Lan Yan, wondering what she was talking about.
Lan Yan immediately felt embarrassed and looked down at the pastries on the table, murmuring, “They taste really good.”
Jun Yelan took this to mean the pastries, withdrew his gaze, and continued reading.
Lan Yan patted her chest, sighing in relief, what a close call. Her legs had gone numb from sitting for so long, so she shifted slightly.
However, the carriage suddenly jolted. “Oh no!” She lurched forward, landing squarely on Jun Yelan, her hands bracing against his cascading white hair.
Silence fell within the carriage.