Lan Yan watched Jun Yelan intently. Seeing him nod, her lips immediately curved upwards. She bowed and said, "Thank you, City Lord. This servant will certainly do her duty and guard you tonight."
After speaking, she withdrew with a smile.
Jun Yelan remained seated, recalling Lan Yan's words. His heart stirred with a ripple more than usual, but it quickly vanished. He was curious about Lan Yan's intentions, knowing she must have a purpose.
He waited for that purpose to reveal itself.
Lan Yan returned to the rear hall, recalling the tea she brewed yesterday, which had been rather bitter. She considered trying something different. With the current season, she could make some flower tea.
After inquiring with Xia Qi, she took a basket and headed to the garden. Admiring the full bloom of spring, she walked to a peach tree, stood on tiptoe, and picked the flowers from it.
The flowers emanated a faint fragrance. Collecting them and drying them would be nice.
Her movements became increasingly swift.
Not far behind her, Qiu Ju was glaring at Lan Yan with malice. She clenched the packet of medicine in her hand, remembering how she hadn't slept all night due to the bed. She couldn't let this slight go unaddressed.
Even though Lan Yan was now the City Lord's personal maid, she was still just a simple maid, unlike Qiu Ju who had a hidden identity. Seeing Lan Yan picking flowers in the bushes, Qiu Ju poured the contents of the medicine packet onto the ground.
Black insects and ants began to crawl out. With every inch they moved forward, more gathered, heading in Lan Yan's direction.
Lan Yan was looking down, placing a peony into her basket, when she felt an itch on her foot. She looked down to see an insect crawling onto her shoe. She shook her foot to dislodge it.
However, after one was gone, another followed. She frowned, lifted her foot, and crushed four or five, but more would appear.
She grew suspicious.
Watching this scene, Qiu Ju displayed a smug smile. "Lan Yan, keep stepping on them. You'll never be able to finish them. I told you, the people in this dead city are not simple, and you shouldn't have treated me that way."
Hatred flashed in her eyes. She then scattered all the medicine packets on the ground, watching as the insects and ants swarmed Lan Yan. "Hahaha." Her laughter grew louder. Turning her head, she saw a figure and froze.
"City... Lord."
Jun Yelan cast a cold glance at Qiu Ju before looking at Lan Yan. He saw Lan Yan lifting the hem of her skirt, struggling to stomp on the insects and ants. Despite her small face being creased with effort, she persisted.
He took out a dagger, sliced his palm, and blood began to flow. The blood dripping onto the ground landed on the insects and ants, which immediately dissolved into a bloody mess.
He walked forward, and the insects and ants quickly scattered in all directions, as if encountering death itself.
Qiu Ju behind them fell to her knees, her eyes filled with terror. Why had the City Lord come, and why was he helping Lan Yan? It was over. She would die a terrible death.
Lan Yan, busy with the insects, saw Jun Yelan approaching from the corner of her eye. She stopped him, saying, "City Lord, please don't come closer. There are too many insects here. I'll deal with them, and then you can come."
She took out the fire starter from her怀, lit a handkerchief, and threw it onto the ground. Watching the insects and ants burn over a large area, she smiled and said, "Heh, do you think I can't find a way to deal with you?"
This time, no other insects or ants appeared. She looked forward curiously and saw patches of ground with traces, as if made by insects and ants.
These insects and ants dared to attack her, and now they were getting their just deserts.
She let down the hem of her skirt and ran to Jun Yelan. She suddenly saw his hand still bleeding. "City Lord, you're injured!" Her handkerchief had already burned, so she tore a piece from her skirt to bandage Jun Yelan's hand.
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's earnest eyes and withdrew his hand. "Don't touch." His blood was dangerous.
Lan Yan looked up, thinking Jun Yelan disliked her touching him. She offered the torn piece of cloth. "Then, City Lord, you can bandage it yourself. Remember to apply some medicine."
Jun Yelan did not respond but stared at the torn cloth in Lan Yan's hand. He didn't understand why Lan Yan cared about his wound; he himself had never cared about such things.
Seeing Jun Yelan remain silent and not allow her to approach, Lan Yan felt a pang of difficulty. She hung the torn cloth on a nearby bush, stepping back a few paces. "City Lord, this should be alright."
She stopped looking at Jun Yelan and turned her attention to Qiu Ju, who was kneeling on the ground. "Oh, you brought these, didn't you?" She moved her wrist, determined to teach Qiu Ju a lesson today.
Qiu Ju swallowed as she saw the sly smile on Lan Yan's lips. She didn't want trouble and shouted, "You have no right to lecture me. The City Lord is right here."
"Heh, and you even injured the City Lord!" Lan Yan obviously had to greet Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan, who didn't care about these people anyway, waved his hand and said, "Since they were meant for you, I'll leave you to deal with it." He also wanted to see how Lan Yan would handle the situation.
The people in this dead city were not simple.
Lan Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, City Lord." The smile on her lips deepened as she clenched her fist and walked towards Qiu Ju.
This aura intimidated Qiu Ju, causing her to curl up and try to retreat.
Lan Yan would not give Qiu Ju such an opportunity. She grabbed Qiu Ju by the collar of her clothes and tossed her towards the area where the insects and ants were gathered. She also collected some of the unused medicinal powder from the ground and sprinkled it on Qiu Ju.
"Oh, you like insects and ants so much, then stay with them."
"No, Lan Yan, hurry up and let me out!" Qiu Ju shouted in terror as the insects and ants swarmed towards her.
But Lan Yan merely clapped her hands, uninterested in Qiu Ju. She picked up her basket, intending to find Jun Yelan, but discovered he had already left. Never mind, she would make some flower tea and bring it to him as thanks.
After she left, Qiu Ju's screams echoed through the corridor.
The maids along the corridors all heard it and immediately felt that the newcomer, Lan Yan, was not someone to be trifled with, as she had the City Lord's backing. They had never seen the City Lord act before and realized they would have to avoid Lan Yan in the future.
Thus, Lan Yan encountered no one as she walked. Upon reaching the room where tea was brewed, she found Lu Qi. She saw Lu Qi picking up beans from the floor and walked over, saying, "Let me help you."
Lu Qi was initially surprised, then nodded. She dared not look up at Lan Yan, always seeing the shadow of her sister.
After picking up the beans, Lan Yan went to brew tea nearby.
Lu Qi stood behind her, hesitating to speak. She had also heard about the day's events. Looking at the smile on Lan Yan's face, she cautioned, "The people in this dead city come here because they have no other recourse."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yan turned her head, listening intently. This was important information! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Some have tragic pasts, some are utterly wicked. Everyone has the ability to protect themselves. Moreover, the position of City Lord is held by the capable. Whoever kills the previous City Lord can ascend to the position."
"The current City Lord is like this. He is not someone we can approach. And the Saintess in this city, although she doesn't manage affairs normally, is very powerful, just like the City Lord."
Lu Qi finished in one breath, "You should remember all of this." She then turned and walked out of the room.
Lan Yan didn't have a chance to thank her and could only wait for the next time. She only now understood how the position of City Lord was obtained, and it was no wonder Jun Yelan would fall ill; he must have suffered greatly.
Lost in thought, she went to serve tea, drawing Jun Yelan's attention.