Lan Yan was not afraid and shouted, "Those captives are outside the city. Whether what I say is true or false can be seen at a glance." Her gaze fixed coldly on Ning Yuan, who was deliberately stirring up trouble.
"Your Majesty, General Lan's previous actions have already caused public resentment. I implore Your Majesty to investigate clearly," Ning Yuan shouted loudly. He absolutely could not allow Lan Yan to retain military power any longer.
Lan Yan chuckled, "Censor, I led the soldiers through bloody battles, risking our lives to return. Many of those captives were the ones who harmed our soldiers. How can there be public resentment?"
"Could it be that Censor is speaking on behalf of the Ying Kingdom? If so, I have no objections."
"You!" Ning Yuan's face turned extremely ugly, and he said angrily, "This is twisting logic."
Lan Yan snorted coldly, completely ignoring him, and watched Ning Yuan become agitated.
"Enough!" The Emperor frowned, looking at the civil and military officials below, and exclaimed, "You are all my loyal ministers. Why must you target each other like this! General Lan has made a contribution this time. I shall reward her with a box of South Sea pearls."
Lan Yan knelt and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." A slight smile curved her lips; she had won this round.
Ning Yuan, filled with unwillingness, flicked his sleeves and left, returning to the ranks of the civil officials. Lan Yan's father had opposed him back then. With great difficulty, he outlasted the old general, only to have a younger one appear.
He had originally thought that since the old general had no sons, there would be no successor, and his own family's descendants could take over the military power. Who would have thought a daughter would appear, and be enfeoffed as a general by the Emperor, continuing to lead the Lan family army!
He clenched his fists; this matter would not end here!
"General Lan, you have worked hard. Please rest well upon your return," the Emperor said.
Lan Yan bowed again, took the rewarded pearls, and walked out of the grand hall. The sounds of court officials discussing matters echoed from behind her. Once she could no longer hear them, she quickly opened the box.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, looking at the large, white pearls inside. She picked one up and placed it in the sunlight, where it still reflected light. "They are so beautiful. I'll give a few to Jun Yelan when I get back."
She put them away with a smile and quickly walked out of the palace gates.
By now, the Emperor had adjourned the court. Looking at the memorial Lan Yan had submitted, he said, "Why is the Ying Kingdom's priest not on the list?"
A man in black stood beside him, the Emperor's hidden guard. "He entered General Lan's residence."
The Emperor's brow furrowed. "I've heard this priest is quite capable and has helped the Ying Kingdom's monarch a great deal. Issue an imperial decree, ordering him to be brought here. I wish to meet him."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The man in black departed.
After a fifteen-minute horse ride, Lan Yan arrived at her own residence. She stood at the entrance, looking at the large plaque above the mansion, and sighed, "I must say, the original owner was quite capable."
The original owner, born in the countryside, had protected her village with the villagers, and then gradually climbed to her current position. The world believed the original owner relied on her father, but in reality, she was merely fostered under the old general's name, a mere facade.
She strode in and spread her arms, declaring, "I'm back."
However, her only response was the sound of the wind. There was no one in the entire courtyard or along the corridors.
Lan Yan: "..." What kind of mansion is this! She thought Jun Yelan should have arrived, so she walked to the backyard and saw Jun Yelan moving a stone table and chairs.
"Oh my!" she quickly stepped forward, supporting the corner of the table and placing it firmly on the ground. "Jun Yelan, this is too heavy. Why didn't you ask for help?"
Jun Yelan's gaze fell upon Lan Yan, then down to her injured leg, his eyes darkening. An hour ago, it hadn't healed, but now it was!
"What is it?" Lan Yan blinked, her expression confused.
Jun Yelan remained silent and continued moving the table. Seeing Lan Yan approach, he turned and dodged. He placed it under a tree, then picked up a broom and swept the fallen leaves in the courtyard.
Lan Yan remained standing there, muttering, "Why do I feel like Jun Yelan is angry with me? What did I do to upset him?"
She walked directly forward, grabbed Jun Yelan's sleeve, and put on a pitiful expression.
If it were before, Jun Yelan might have shown a hint of concern, but now that he discovered Lan Yan had been lying to him, he said coldly, "General Lan, I see you can walk as fast as a flying dragon. There's no need to feign pitifulness."
He pulled his sleeve away and swept the fallen leaves at his feet under the large tree. "Also, General Lan, if you have this time, you should attend to other courtyards. It's very dirty here, not suitable for you."
So she had been discovered. Lan Yan stood there awkwardly, explaining, "I don't know when it healed either, I didn't pay much attention. Besides, you're the only one in this mansion, so of course I'd stay here."
She diligently picked up another broom and walked to Jun Yelan's side, but he turned and walked away.
Jun Yelan went directly to the room door and closed it, isolating himself from Lan Yan.
Lan Yan looked at the closed door, with only one thought in her mind: she was finished. She had planned to tell Jun Yelan in a few days, but now she had been discovered under such circumstances. "Sigh!"
She sat down on the steps, supporting her chin with one hand, sighing uncontrollably.
Her sighs reached inside the room. Jun Yelan stood behind the door, clenching his fists. He had intended to leave, but seeing Lan Yan injured, a strange feeling arose in his heart, and he stayed.
Now that he knew the truth, he was angry at Lan Yan for deceiving him, but he also wondered why Lan Yan treated him this way. He had no value, so why keep him?
Having lived for twenty years, confined to the indoors, he was filled with confusion. This confusion magnified the strange feeling in his heart, making him worry that Lan Yan was truly his variable!
Lan Yan saw that the door remained closed, and Jun Yelan was truly angry this time. She said dejectedly, "Stupid system, if you don't come out, I'm leaving, I really am."
A system voice immediately sounded in her mind, "Host, why are you in such a hurry? We must take things slowly." The host's temperament.
"Heh," Lan Yan shouted, "I wonder who was so impatient before, constantly urging me. System, quickly think of a way for me to get out of this predicament!"
The system replied, "Host, it's your own fault for going too far. I can't help you." Seeing Lan Yan about to get angry, he added, "Wait, here's a hint. Go to the kitchen."
After speaking, he quickly went offline. This was all he could hint at; the rest depended on the host. But why did these two lovebirds always involve him in their arguments? Torturing a single dog like him!
Lan Yan was suddenly bewildered, but there was no other way now, so she got up and walked towards the kitchen. She smelled a faint fragrance and walked in, finding a pot of soup simmering on the stove.
She lifted the lid, her pupils trembling slightly. "This is actually bone broth!" There were only she and Jun Yelan here, so it could only have been Jun Yelan, for her sake!
She suddenly felt a pang of self-reproach. She shouldn't have deceived Jun Yelan; it turned out Jun Yelan was worried about her. She hurried out and walked to Jun Yelan's door, only to see a man in black standing in front of Jun Yelan!
"Jun Yelan!"