Back at the mansion, Lan Yan looked at the clean courtyard. Before she could feel happy, she smelled something burnt from the kitchen.
"Oh no, the bone soup is still on the stove!"
She hurried to the kitchen and lifted the pot lid. Where was the soup? She turned and looked at Jun Yelan behind her, feeling wronged. She hadn't even tasted a mouthful.
Jun Yelan followed Lan Yan's gaze and saw the burnt soup. He had made it when he first returned.
Seeing Lan Yan looking so pitiful, a hint of displeasure arose in his heart. He said, "I'll make it again."
"Never mind, it's too time-consuming." Lan Yan looked at the meat on the stove, which Ruan Yuan had brought earlier. "I'll stir-fry something casually. We'll make do tonight, and deal with it tomorrow."
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan and inexplicably wanted to laugh. One moment she was so sad, and the next she was so happy. "I'll do it." He had been away at the military camp for so long, and he had never seen Lan Yan go into the kitchen.
"No need, leave it to me." Lan Yan patted her chest, coughed abruptly, having hit too hard. She raised her head and raised her eyebrows again, "Don't worry, in any case."
Seeing that Jun Yelan didn't leave, she nudged his waist and pushed him towards the kitchen doorway. "You go rest first."
Jun Yelan stood at the doorway, watching Lan Yan start to handle the meat, a slight curve forming at the corner of his lips. He walked to the water well in the courtyard to draw water, filling the water缸 in the kitchen.
Then, he washed the small dishes on the stove clean and placed them beside Lan Yan, leaving silently.
After cutting the meat, Lan Yan marinated it while reaching for the small dishes, getting water on her hands. She raised her head, looked at the refreshed stove, and curved her lips, murmuring, "Then I'll make him something delicious."
She rolled up her sleeves, looked at the already lit fire, and excitedly shouted, "Start cooking!"
Jun Yelan sat in the courtyard, listening to the sounds from the kitchen, the curve at the corner of his lips never fading. Only when he heard Lan Yan's footsteps did he suppress his smile and get up to serve the dishes.
Lan Yan set the bowls and chopsticks, and the two sat facing each other, starting to eat. She occasionally glanced at Jun Yelan, and seeing that he wasn't saying anything, she wondered if her cooking skills had declined.
It shouldn't be.
Jun Yelan noticed and turned his head, saying, "You can eat with peace of mind now."
Lan Yan immediately smiled, "Okay." She lowered her head and ate the rice in her bowl, her eyes full of smiles.
Jun Yelan ate quietly. Compared to the leftovers he had eaten before, this was already excellent. He committed this taste to memory.
After eating, the two returned to their rooms to rest. The General's mansion had many rooms, and they lived in adjacent ones.
The next morning, Lan Yan arrived early to watch the soldiers train outside the city.
Ruan Yuan was also there and called out, "General, you're here."
"Mm." Lan Yan asked, "How is the situation?"
Ruan Yuan looked at the soldiers in front and replied, "General, the soldiers have been training continuously these past few days and dare not slack off. Please rest assured."
Lan Yan nodded and walked around the soldiers. Seeing Ruan Yuan about to speak but hesitating, she said, "Speak, what is it?"
"General, how are you and that white-haired priest?" Ruan Yuan was worried that his general might be deceived.
Lan Yan thought of Jun Yelan. Their relationship had eased considerably in the past few days, but it was only limited to that. She sighed, "It's not good, and it's not not good."
Ruan Yuan looked confused. Why was his general speaking in riddles? "General, your method is not working. You have to think from his perspective. You are already too different, and if you can't connect emotionally, it's even more impossible."
"Yes, General, there are many places to wander in the Imperial City. You can go there."
"I heard there is an ancient temple at the city gate, and the maple leaves there have all turned red."
Lan Yan nodded as she listened. Looking up, she saw many soldiers gathered around her and was startled. "No, why are you all here instead of training! Everyone go."
She drove the soldiers away and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruan Yuan couldn't help but smile. The entire camp was now concerned about the General's marriage. "General, I think you can give it a try."
"I'll think about it." Lan Yan dared not casually invite Jun Yelan. If it were misunderstood, all her previous efforts would be in vain.
She found a step to sit on, pondering what to do next, unaware of the teasing glances from others.
It was not until evening, after the training in the military camp ended, that Lan Yan returned to the mansion. She walked into the courtyard and saw Jun Yelan reading under the candlelight. She tiptoed.
She squatted by the table and tapped it. Seeing Jun Yelan look up, she murmured, "Jun Yelan, are you going out tomorrow?"
Jun Yelan sat in the chair opposite, frowning and puzzled. "You can speak louder."
So Lan Yan moved closer, positioning herself in front of Jun Yelan, and asked, "Um, I just think the weather will be good tomorrow. I'm not in a hurry. Have you eaten yet?"
Perhaps she should approach it more circuitously.
Jun Yelan put down the book he was reading and looked at Lan Yan's evasive expression. He said, "If it's about what you just said, I agree." Seeing how much Lan Yan cared, he couldn't help but want to agree.
"Really!" Lan Yan straightened up, thinking Jun Yelan hadn't heard her, which had made her worry. "Then I'll go back to my room to prepare. I'll wait for you in the courtyard tomorrow."
Jun Yelan slightly parted his lips. Seeing Lan Yan had already run out of the room and closed his door, he was speechless. "..." He looked at the book on the table, but Lan Yan's figure appeared in his mind.
The next day, Lan Yan couldn't get up. She had prepared too much last night. She rushed to open the door, saw Jun Yelan sitting in the courtyard, and shouted, "Jun Yelan, we're late, let's hurry!"
After speaking, she scurried away.
Jun Yelan had been sitting there for an hour. Seeing Lan Yan's hurried appearance, he showed a helpless expression. He followed her.
They got into the carriage, and after an hour, they arrived at the ancient temple.
Lan Yan got out of the carriage and saw the ascending steps in front of her, and the magnificent ancient temple at the forefront of the steps. Her heart inexplicably calmed down, and she could even hear the bell tolls from the ancient temple.
She immediately felt that this was the right place to come.
Jun Yelan stood beside Lan Yan, wearing a veiled hat, and looked up at the ancient temple. This was his first time seeing an ancient temple. He found that ancient temples were smaller than described in books, and their shapes varied.
"Jun Yelan, let's go up." Lan Yan lifted her skirt and walked onto the first flight of steps. She turned to see Jun Yelan following and continued walking forward.
Jun Yelan walked on the steps below Lan Yan. Seeing her always stepping on the edge of the stairs, he couldn't help but reach out. When Lan Yan looked over, he withdrew his hand.
There were only the two of them here. Lan Yan smiled, "Jun Yelan, I heard people say the food here is very delicious, and there is a large maple forest in the back mountain."
Jun Yelan nodded.
Lan Yan continued, "This is just one place in the Imperial City. I'll take you to other places in the future. There are many delicious foods and beautiful scenery. You've never been before. I'll take you in the future, okay?"
Jun Yelan was stunned and turned to stare at Lan Yan. He saw a maple leaf fluttering from not far away and landing precisely on Lan Yan's shoulder.