Wuming followed Jun Yelan with confusion, to be nursed back to health at the Jun manor before he could see Lan Yan.
Jun Yelan returned to his study to sort out the evening's events, writing a memorial that included the confessions of the assassins. He would attend the morning court tomorrow to resolve everything.
By the time he finished, it was past midnight. Unable to sleep, he got up and went to Lan Yan's room, standing at the door. From here, he could hear Lan Yan's even breathing, which always calmed his heart.
He was accustomed to a lack of strong emotions, but after tonight's events, he found fear arising within him. This was something he hadn't experienced even when he was sold, sent to the palace, or struggling within its walls, but it had surfaced because of Lan Yan.
"Lan Yan, I don't know why you came into my life. Since you have, don't leave so easily." He stood there alone for a long time until the sky began to brighten before returning.
Inside the room, Lan Yan was fast asleep, completely unaware of what was happening outside.
Jun Yelan entered the palace, attended the Emperor, and presented the memorial to him.
The Emperor, only fourteen years old, had grown up with Jun Yelan by his side. Without opening the memorial, he looked at Jun Yelan, "Eunuch Director, has your injury healed?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servant's injury has healed," Jun Yelan replied respectfully.
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, then opened the memorial and exclaimed angrily, "These old officials are causing trouble for Eunuch Director again. Eunuch Director, wait and see, I will punish them severely in court today."
In the past, Jun Yelan would have declined, but not today. He needed to teach those people a lesson, even if it invited further trouble.
The Emperor went to court, and Jun Yelan followed.
In the imperial court, the Censors led by Yan Zhongcheng saw Jun Yelan, and fury blazed in their eyes. "Isn't Jun Yelan recuperating at home? Why is he out?"
"The Emperor's complexion is not good; it must be that Jun Yelan said something again. It seems we need to be careful in our dealings."
Yan Zhongcheng snorted, his mustache above his lips quivering with rage. "What is there to fear from a mere eunuch? No matter what he does, he is no match for loyal officials like us."
His gaze towards Jun Yelan was filled with hatred. He had sent so many people, and they had all failed! Jun Yelan was still alive and well!
"Yan Zhongcheng, how do you explain these matters?" the Emperor asked, opening the memorial and staring coldly at him.
Yan Zhongcheng took the memorial and, upon seeing its contents, his pupils trembled. "Your Majesty, this is baseless slander."
The Emperor turned his head and looked at Jun Yelan. "Eunuch Director, handle this matter."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Jun Yelan walked closer to Yan Zhongcheng, holding the assassins' confessions. "Yan Zhongcheng, you dispatched three batches of assassins sequentially to assassinate me on my way back to the city. These are the statements of those captured."
"Furthermore, you hired the assassin Wuming at a great expense, and Wuming has the bank notes you gave him. Also, you arranged an inside informant in your manor; the butler has been imprisoned by the Eastern Depot and is also a witness."
Every word he spoke cornered Yan Zhongcheng.
Yan Zhongcheng's expression worsened. He hadn't expected Jun Yelan to be so meticulous, but he was no simple man either. "This is clearly someone framing me. I am a Zhongcheng; I usually only impeach you, why would I hire people to kill you!"
"It must be someone deliberately doing this. Eunuch Director, wait, I will find the culprit for you." He glanced behind him, scanning the officials, as if the killer was among them.
Jun Yelan quietly watched Yan Zhongcheng's act and sneered, "With so much evidence, and Yan Zhongcheng refuses to admit it, this is showing disrespect to Your Majesty."
"You and I both serve Your Majesty. We should be at peace, yet you target me time and again. Yan Zhongcheng, a person's tolerance has limits." His eyes grew colder.
When Yan Zhongcheng heard the Emperor mentioned, he knew he had fallen into Jun Yelan's trap. He quickly shouted, "Your Majesty, this old official impeaches Jun Yelan for harboring a civilian woman in his manor, which is utterly shameless."
"Heh." Jun Yelan remained unfazed and continued, "Yan Zhongcheng, you'd better mind your own business." He then respectfully looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, your humble servant has finished questioning."
Yan Zhongcheng called out more urgently, "Your Majesty." But his words were interrupted.
"Enough. Eunuch Director has been wronged; grant him some restorative gifts. As for Yan Zhongcheng, reflect on your actions." The Emperor said with slight anger, "Court is dismissed."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Jun Yelan bowed in gratitude, staying until the end.
Yan Zhongcheng also remained, looking coldly at Jun Yelan. "Jun Yelan, do you think you can defeat me and the officials behind me!"
Jun Yelan tidied his sleeves and turned to leave. "I don't need to. I just don't want you to have an easy time."
"Why!" Yan Zhongcheng had targeted Jun Yelan so many times before, and Jun Yelan had never retaliated. Why was it different this time? He remembered what his son had said last night, that Jun Yelan had carried a woman back.
Could it be because of that woman! He looked at Jun Yelan's retreating back. "Jun Yelan, you will eventually fall into my hands." It seemed he needed to fan the rumors, leaving Jun Yelan with nowhere to turn.
By this time, Jun Yelan had already left the palace gates and met Song Cheng, who was waiting for him, and they returned to the manor together.
"Eunuch Director, we have carried out your orders and taught those people a severe lesson. What should we do next!"
Jun Yelan looked towards the market ahead. "Buy some things."
"Ah?" Song Cheng looked at Jun Yelan, bewildered. Seeing him already stepping forward to buy a pile of things, he nodded, thinking these must be for his future wife.
Jun Yelan walked back to the manor with bags and packages, heading directly to Lan Yan's room.
As Song Cheng returned, passing the market, he overheard the rumors and immediately felt indignant on Jun Yelan's behalf. Tomorrow, he would have a good talk with the Eunuch Director.
Just as Jun Yelan reached the door of the room, he saw Lan Yan run out. He said with a helpless sigh, "Why not rest a bit longer?"
"I'm all better." Lan Yan deliberately spun around to show she was unharmed. Seeing Jun Yelan holding so many things, she tried to help but was dodged by Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan smiled. "I'll carry them."
"Alright." Lan Yan felt uncomfortable doing nothing. She looked at the items on the table and said, "Eunuch Director, why don't you buy anything for yourself? Next time, call me along, and I'll help you pick."
Seeing Lan Yan furrow her brow, Jun Yelan couldn't help but nod. "Okay." He always forgot to buy things for himself, but Lan Yan remembered everything.
Lan Yan sat down and began unpacking the items, arranging them before herself. She suddenly saw something shaped like a spider and jumped up in fright, leaping into Jun Yelan's arms.
"Eunuch Director, there's a spider!"
Jun Yelan blinked, looking at the person clinging tightly to his clothes in his arms, unsure how to react for a moment.