Jun Yelan realized his thoughts and quickly took a step back, grasping Lan Yan's wrist. He said in a low voice, "I'll do it myself." He quickly tidied his clothes and set off for the palace.
Lan Yan watched from the side, thinking that she would learn next time. She handed the food box to Jun Yelan, reminding him, "This is today's breakfast and lunch. You must find a place to heat the lunch."
She was also unfamiliar with the palace and believed Jun Yelan would find a way.
Jun Yelan nodded, clutched the food box in his hand, and mounted his horse. He looked at Lan Yan, who was standing at the door, and for the first time, a sense of reluctance welled up in his heart, as if they were an ordinary couple, with the wife sending the husband off.
He lowered his head, saw his official robes, suppressed the bitter surge that arose, and smiled faintly at Lan Yan, "Alright." He rode away.
Lan Yan waved, smiling as she walked back into the manor and summoned the system. "System, my relationship with Jun Yelan has changed. Has the mission made significant progress?"
The system replied helplessly, "It has, but it hasn't reached the passing line yet. Host, Jun Yelan must still be hiding some things from you, which is why the knot in his heart hasn't been untied."
"This will take time," Lan Yan said indifferently. "At least Jun Yelan doesn't refuse me now and even sends me things. By the way, I can also prepare some small surprises for him."
She snapped her fingers and walked towards the kitchen to find Hui Niang.
System: "..." He could no longer control the host.
Lan Yan asked Hui Niang, "Sister Hui, are there any festivals happening in the manor recently?"
"I haven't heard of any," Hui Niang shook her head, then remembered something. "I heard from Song Cheng before that the Eunuch's birthday is within these two days. But they never held anything in previous years, so perhaps it will be the same this year."
"A birthday," Lan Yan mused. It was a day that only came once a year, and it deserved a good preparation. She asked again, "Hui Niang, what does a wife usually prepare for her husband's birthday?"
She had never celebrated a birthday for anyone.
Hui Niang thought of her own husband and nodded. "I gave my husband a piece of clothing before. In this day and age, giving him something you made yourself to show your affection is enough."
"It's the same for the Eunuch."
Lan Yan only knew how to cook, not sew clothes. So she asked Hui Niang for help, "Then, Sister Hui, teach me."
"Alright."
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile. "I'll go get the fabric and needle and thread." She quickly ran out, returned with a bolt of bamboo-green fabric, and pulled Hui Niang to help her make clothes.
Hui Niang said, "The imperial tailor's workshop has the Eunuch's measurements. You measure the fabric first, and then..."
Lan Yan listened humbly and began to sew and mend on the fabric. After a while, she became proficient and said with a smile, "Thank you, Sister Hui. Oh, and I have a menu here. Could you please help me prepare it?"
Since she was making clothes and couldn't do everything, she delegated the task of preparing the banquet.
Hui Niang wanted to help because of Lan Yan's thoughtfulness. She looked at Lan Yan's pricked finger and felt a pang of pity, thinking how difficult it was for this girl.
She came from the countryside with a child, had no elders around, and the Eunuch was very busy. She decided that if Lan Yan didn't mind, she would teach Lan Yan more.
Lan Yan, unaware of Hui Niang's thoughts, was concentrating on sewing the clothes, finally finishing a sleeve.
Meanwhile, Jun Yelan was in the palace, grinding ink for the Emperor and helping to handle memorials.
The Emperor, while reading the memorials, secretly glanced at Jun Yelan's complexion and said, "The Eunuch's complexion has been good lately. I hear your wife is a great cook."
He had heard from the eunuchs that Jun Yelan often brought heated dishes, and the aroma was truly enticing.
Jun Yelan thought of Lan Yan, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "My wife's culinary skills are indeed excellent. I used to suffer from stomach pain, but after my wife's care, I have recovered greatly."
"That's great." The Emperor had always been concerned about Jun Yelan's health and knew about the old illness he had. "Eunuch, hearing you say that makes me want to try it. Did you bring anything?"
He had lived in the cold palace before, and if Jun Yelan hadn't brought him food, he wouldn't have survived until today. Therefore, he sincerely hoped that Jun Yelan would have someone to take care of him and extend his lifespan.
Jun Yelan went to get a food box and brought out a plate of pastries. "This is food my wife prepared, worried that I might be hungry. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, you can try it."
"Of course." The Emperor picked up a pastry, put it in his mouth, and chewed. "Not bad, indeed delicious." He even wanted to meet this wife.
When Yan Zhongcheng and others arrived at the imperial study, they saw this scene. They snorted, thinking that this Jun Yelan was again trying to curry favor with the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this is food from outside the palace. How can you eat it, given your noble status!"
Jun Yelan's eyes turned cold, and he stood behind the Emperor without changing his expression.
The Emperor glared at the leading Yan Zhongcheng irritably. "Yan Zhongcheng, you are being too meddlesome. I have just reviewed the memorials and found many problems in the four regions. What does Yan Zhongcheng think should be done?"
Yan Zhongcheng's only thought was that Jun Yelan should not be sent, as it would only strengthen this person's influence. "Your Majesty, I believe the Six Ministries have many talented individuals. Your Majesty can select from them. As for certain people of low status, they should not associate with them."
Previously, the Emperor had always sent Jun Yelan to execute tasks and serve as the main pillar, managing the subordinate officials. He felt indignant just thinking about it.
Jun Yelan remained expressionless, not even giving a glance.
However, the Emperor's face showed displeasure, and he stared coldly at Yan Zhongcheng. "Unfortunately, I have already decided to have the Eunuch assist the Ministry of Revenue in handling the drought in the west. Yan Zhongcheng, I know you want to impeach me again, so I called you here early."
This way, it was difficult for Yan Zhongcheng to say anything else, so he could only glare fiercely at Jun Yelan. Seeing that Jun Yelan didn't even look at him, his anger grew even greater.
After Yan Zhongcheng and the others left, Jun Yelan received the imperial decree and went to the Ministry of Revenue. He returned to the manor late and found the courtyard completely dark, which confused him.
Suddenly, the lights in the courtyard all lit up, and from the lamplight emerged Lan Yan. She held a bouquet of flowers and walked in front of Jun Yelan, tossing them into the air. The petals scattered, swirling around her and Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan was stunned, staring blankly at the smiling face before him, his heart slowly stirring.
Lan Yan spread her arms and shouted, "Happy birthday, Eunuch!" She had prepared all day and had finally finished sewing a piece of clothing and prepared a table of delicacies. Just then, Jun Yelan returned.
She couldn't help but look at Jun Yelan with a smile.
At this moment, Jun Yelan could only see Lan Yan, feeling that all the lights in the courtyard and the petals on the ground were adding to this scene. His heart was no longer under his control; he wanted to surrender to the person before him.