The next morning, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan packed up and departed from Dingzhou.
At the city gates, the common people stood in two rows to bid them farewell. "Your Highness, Your Highness, have a safe journey."
Lan Yan couldn't help but lift the curtain and wave to them, calling out, "Take care." Only after they were out of sight did she lower the curtain and look at Jun Yelan, who was reading nearby.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to greet them?"
Jun Yelan picked up the book in his hand and gently touched Lan Yan's forehead, smiling dotingly, "Having you represent me is enough."
Hearing his answer, Lan Yan couldn't help but smile and lean on Jun Yelan's shoulder. She looked at the ancient text on the book and said, "Your Highness, it's boring on the road, could you tell me about these books?"
Jun Yelan readily agreed. Worried that Lan Yan would fall asleep as she had before, he tried his best to make it interesting. "Back when I was by the sea..."
Lan Yan listened for a quarter of an hour and was fine, but as he continued, her eyelids grew heavy. She widened her eyes, pulling at the corners of her eyes, and tears flowed involuntarily.
Seeing her like this, Jun Yelan stopped talking about the book and took out a box from his side. "This is for you."
"What is it?" Lan Yan opened it to find it filled with exquisite toys. "Your Highness, why are you treating me like a child?"
In Jun Yelan's eyes, Lan Yan was sometimes like a child, very cute. He took out a Rubik's Cube and placed it in Lan Yan's hand, saying, "I thought you might be interested in these."
Lan Yan looked at the intricate puzzle in her hand and asked, "What if I can't solve it?"
"I'll help you." Jun Yelan had Lan Yan lie on his chest, and together they slowly worked on the puzzle. Seeing that Lan Yan was no longer sleepy, the corners of his mouth curved upwards, and he thought about collecting more of these in the future.
Lan Yan became more and more engrossed as she worked on it, and with Jun Yelan's guidance, she solved it in a short while. Her attention was focused on the box throughout the journey, and they soon arrived at the prince's manor.
Jun Yelan went to the study to organize the evidence, intending to present it to the Emperor in person.
Lan Yan naturally went to the back courtyard to see her mother and younger brother, and also to tally the manor's account books and manage the household servants.
Madam Li was with Granny Qin when she saw Lan Yan arrive. She quickly hid the wedding dress she was sewing in a chest. Then, the two walked out as if nothing had happened, calling out, "Xiao Yan/Princess Consort."
Lan Yan looked at her mother and saw that she and Granny Qin were getting along so well. She asked, "Mother, what were you two doing?"
"Nothing, nothing," Madam Li and Granny Qin exchanged a glance and both smiled. They had actually received a letter from Jun Yelan asking them to make up for the previous wedding, so they had been busy making the wedding dress.
The more Lan Yan looked, the more peculiar she found it. She walked towards the door and was blocked. As expected, these two were hiding something from her. "Then, Mother, I won't come in. But Mother, are you alright lately?"
Madam Li thought for a moment and decided to conceal the fact that the Duke of Lan's manor had approached her, not wanting to burden her daughter further. "What could be wrong with me? You're just overthinking things. Hurry back and get some rest."
Being told to leave by her mother for the first time, Lan Yan decided to find Lan Yue.
Lan Yue, listening to his mother, naturally wouldn't tell his sister. He and Lan Yan just looked at each other, doing nothing.
Finally, Lan Yan withdrew. She decided not to disturb her younger brother's studies and returned to her courtyard alone.
Xia Lian was already waiting there, hesitant. "Princess Consort, this courtyard hasn't been lived in for a while and needs some repairs. Your servant has already prepared the courtyard in the back, and you can live there for now."
This had also been instructed by the prince.
Lan Yan: "...Didn't we only leave for two months! And it's already broken." She felt as if everything was trying to push her away today.
Xia Lian was also helpless, and bracing herself, replied, "Princess Consort, yes." This courtyard needed to be decorated, and the Princess Consort couldn't know for now.
"Since you say so, I'll have to move." Lan Yan headed towards the courtyard in the back, glancing back at Xia Lian. Seeing that she remained composed, she assumed it was just an accident and walked away.
Meanwhile, Xia Lian's back was covered in sweat. She had lied to the Princess Consort.
After Lan Yan moved to the new courtyard, even Jun Yelan was acting mysteriously, saying he was busy in the study organizing the Dingzhou case. She had a peculiar feeling, but everyone in the manor was tight-lipped, and she couldn't get any information.
She decided to stop worrying about it and continued to tally the accounts and develop the manor's businesses.
At this moment, Jun Yelan returned from the palace after submitting the evidence to the Emperor. He stood at the entrance of the courtyard and looked at the beautifully decorated bridal chamber, saying, "Tonight, we proceed as planned."
He had originally intended a grand ceremony, but there were many watchful eyes in the imperial city, always looking for an opportunity to harm Lan Yan. He was in the process of eliminating them, and he could not allow any danger to come to Lan Yan.
Xia Lian, standing nearby, called out, "Yes, Your Highness." She went to the courtyard in the back, holding a plate with the wedding attire, and knocked on the door. "Princess Consort, today is a day for solemn rituals, and you need to wear red."
Lan Yan felt inexplicably confused, wondering if such a custom existed. She looked into Xia Lian's eyes and nodded, "Let's change clothes." As she spoke, several maids entered and helped her change into the new attire.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought the red dress was a bit too grand! Never mind, perhaps royal attire was always like this. She then heard Xia Lian say they were going to the courtyard and walked there.
Xia Lian and the others followed behind, helping to carry the wedding attire.
Lan Yan reached the courtyard where she used to live and froze. The courtyard was now decorated with red silk and "囍" (double happiness) characters, and Jun Yelan was in front, sitting in his wheelchair, looking at her in his wedding attire.
She suddenly realized this was the wedding Jun Yelan had spoken of before. The corners of her mouth curved upwards, and she walked towards Jun Yelan, calling out, "Your Highness, no wonder you were absent these past few days, you were preparing all this."
Jun Yelan stepped forward, took Lan Yan's hand, and smiled, "My Yan'er deserves the best. There are no invited guests here, nor a bridal sedan, I'm afraid you've been wronged."
Lan Yan shook her head and smiled, "My family is here, and the prince's old servants are here, they are the best guests. Besides, we visited the Matchmaker in Dingzhou, and he is our matchmaker."
Jun Yelan couldn't help but tighten his grip on Lan Yan's hand, his eyes subtly filled with emotion. He said nothing more, merely nodded, placing everything into their clasped hands.
"Yan'er is right, then let's go in for the wedding ceremony."
Lan Yan smiled all the way as she followed Jun Yelan into the room and bowed before Madam Li. After the three bows, they didn't need to entertain guests and went directly to the bridal chamber.
With red candles and a red quilt, Lan Yan was reminded of the night in the wooden house. "Your Highness, this is like when we were at Brother Wu's house."
Jun Yelan turned to look at Lan Yan, illuminated by the red candles, and curved his lips, saying, "No, the end will be different." He touched Lan Yan's cheek and pushed her onto the bed.
...
A night of passion.