A trench was dug from the mountaintop, encircling the entire mountain and reaching down to its foot. The trench was divided into sections, with each section point having a dedicated person responsible for organizing the excavation.
After the digging was completed, those responsible for the subsequent filling came up to reinforce it, truly forming a channel.
The villagers and those in charge worked in an orderly fashion. Sweat streamed down everyone's faces, yet their smiles were filled with joy. The thought of their fields finally receiving water spurred them on to work even harder.
Lan Yan watched this scene, feeling a surge of emotion. She couldn't help but say to Jun Yelan, "Yelan, in just these few days, there's been such a huge change. You haven't been back all this time because you were doing this. You're truly amazing."
Her eyes began to moisten. She really wanted to praise Jun Yelan. He was always doing these things, yet also playing the villain.
Seeing Lan Yan about to cry, Jun Yelan gently held her hand and smiled softly, "It's what you wanted to do, and I naturally couldn't delay it. No matter what, I have to make up for the injuries you suffered."
He also squeezed the palm of her hand, making her smile again.
Lan Yan raised her head, trying to hold back her tears, but her eyes still held a misty layer as she looked at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan leaned close to Lan Yan's ear and whispered, "Yan'er, the way you look now makes me want to tease you."
Lan Yan's face instantly flushed. She lightly pushed Jun Yelan away and returned to watching the excavation, "I'm not talking to you. I'm going to supervise."
"Alright, just stay with me. There are plenty of people eager to supervise," Jun Yelan said dotingly, reaching out to pinch Lan Yan's cheek.
Lan Yan looked over in surprise and saw that the officials from Ningzhou were also there.
They were different from before. Now, they were enthusiastically organizing the excavation, their faces wearing friendly smiles, which somewhat startled Lan Yan. "Why are these people...?"
"By accomplishing this one task, they will have fulfilled their achievements for the year," Jun Yelan said coldly.
Lan Yan finally understood their motive. She also saw villagers giving things to the officials and felt a pang of indignation. These deeds were clearly all Jun Yelan's work, yet the officials who had caused trouble were reaping the rewards.
The officials accepted the villagers' grateful gifts, their faces growing even more smug. They even laughed, "Oh my, we are the loving parents of Ningzhou, and this is what we should be doing."
"Don't you worry, we will oversee all of this."
The villagers were even more grateful. They placed their most precious belongings aside before leaving.
After the villagers departed, the officials all sat down and had their attendants massage their shoulders. "Standing is so tiring. They really need to hurry up with their work, so we can suffer less."
Each of them found the villagers' excavation pace to be too slow. They then began to eat their exquisite meals and even drank some wine on the side.
Lan Yan truly couldn't bear to watch. These people had been living comfortably in the yamen, eating and drinking well before. After Jun Yelan arrived, they had looked down on his status. It was only when they saw the potential for profit that their attitude improved.
Looking at Jun Yelan, after evading assassination attempts, he had been tirelessly handling this matter, not getting any proper rest, with dark circles under his eyes.
These people truly didn't deserve credit for this achievement.
She turned to look at Jun Yelan. Seeing his expressionless face, she knew he must feel bad inside. She glanced around and spotted a patch of wildflowers behind them. "Yelan, I want to go over there."
Jun Yelan followed Lan Yan's gaze, nodded, "Okay, I'll accompany you."
"Mhm." Lan Yan then took Jun Yelan's hand, and they walked towards the wildflower patch together. She inhaled the fragrance of the flowers, picked a few, and slowly wove them into a wreath in her palm.
Jun Yelan didn't understand flowers. He stood nearby, watching Lan Yan, a smile gradually forming on his lips. His Yan'er was the most beautiful among all these flowers.
Lan Yan looked at the wreath she had woven in her palm and then at Jun Yelan, "Yelan, close your eyes first."
Jun Yelan curved his lips and obediently did as he was told.
Lan Yan tiptoed and placed the wreath on Jun Yelan's head. Then, she hugged him and murmured, "Yelan, those people don't know what you've done, nor will they thank you. So, I'll represent them and give you the most beautiful flowers."
In her era, offering flowers was a way to express gratitude and appreciation.
Jun Yelan opened his eyes and looked at the person in front of him, smiling like a blooming flower. His heart was filled with warmth. He thought that heaven had not been unkind to him. After taking away so many things, it had sent him Lan Yan.
He embraced Lan Yan back and smiled with relief, "Good, I will only accept flowers from you."
The flowers that carpeted the mountainside swayed with the wind, beckoning to them.
In the end, the wreath was placed on Lan Yan's head, and together with Jun Yelan, they walked towards the market.
Upon arriving at the market, Jun Yelan went to a stall and bought a portion of osmanthus cakes. "Yan'er, these are your favorites. Eat these first, and I'll go buy you other things."
Without waiting for Lan Yan's reply, Jun Yelan had already moved on to the stalls ahead, causing her to smile. She bit into an osmanthus cake and followed Jun Yelan's footsteps. Just as she reached his side, he placed a sugar figurine in her hand.
"Why does this sugar figurine look a bit like you?"
Jun Yelan revealed the one in his hand, which was crafted to resemble Lan Yan. "One for each of us."
Lan Yan smiled even more brightly and took a small bite of the sugar figurine. "It's really delicious." She gripped Jun Yelan's wrist, urging him to try it quickly as well.
Jun Yelan smiled tenderly at Lan Yan and began to eat.
The stall owners nearby stood frozen in amazement. These two looked sweeter than the sugar figurines. "You two must be from out of town. Besides these snacks, there's a temple ahead. If you get tired of strolling, you can go and see it."
Lan Yan then looked at Jun Yelan, "Shall we go?"
Jun Yelan wiped a crumb from the corner of Lan Yan's mouth and smiled, "Whatever you say." He was clearly a henpecked husband.
Lan Yan nodded and, smiling, walked forward with Jun Yelan.
The two arrived at a temple that was bustling with worshippers. They waited for a while before it was their turn to pay their respects.
Lan Yan knelt on a prayer mat, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes to make a wish.
Jun Yelan, beside her, did the same. He looked at the solemn Buddha statue before him and prayed in his heart, "I make a vow before the Buddha, wishing to meet Lan Yan again in the next life, and to be worthy of her."
"I am willing to exchange everything I have for it." After speaking, he turned his head to look at Lan Yan beside him, his eyes filled with deep affection.
After Lan Yan finished her prayer, she saw Jun Yelan looking at her and smiled, "Let's go. I've said what I needed to say." Her wish had always been only one thing: to ask the gods to protect those around her from further suffering.
"Alright." Jun Yelan took Lan Yan's hand, and they walked out of the temple. The Buddha statue behind them seemed to wear a smile.