Lan Yan grabbed the rolling pin in front of her and looked coldly at Jin Sanniang. "He doesn't eat spicy food. You're not allowed to add it." Jin Sanniang had been a cook for so long; any competent cook would know this. She was clearly doing it on purpose.
No wonder the other kitchen maids said Jun Yelan had a poor appetite and easily got angry during meals. It was definitely related to the spicy food.
Jin Sanniang angrily tried to pull the rolling pin back, only to find the young girl in front of her surprisingly strong. Just as she was about to exert more force, the rolling pin was suddenly released. She immediately lost her balance and fell backward, landing flat on her back.
"Ouch, my backside."
Lan Yan clapped her hands and smiled, "See if you dare add spicy food next time."
The surrounding kitchen maids were stunned. They hadn't expected Lan Yan to be so capable. None of them dared to step forward, nor did anyone help Jin Sanniang up. They had all been bullied by her before.
Jin Sanniang, rubbing her backside, stood up. She had never suffered such humiliation. Glancing at the cleaver on the table, she lunged at Lan Yan.
However, Lan Yan lightly lifted her foot backward, causing Jin Sanniang to fall instantly. The cleaver landed directly above her head.
Jin Sanniang shivered, a foul odor emanating from beneath her. She murmured, "Spare my life."
Lan Yan turned her head, her eyes filled with a chilling intensity. "I said, there won't be a next time." She crouched down, picked up the cleaver, and tossed it in front of Jin Sanniang's fingers as she begged for mercy.
She looked at the convulsing figure on the ground, then stood up and walked out.
Just then, the butler arrived at the kitchen door. Seeing the scene before him, his head ached. "You're causing trouble in the manor. Hurry and come with me to explain yourselves to the Eunuch Director." He couldn't bear to look at his own wife and led the way.
Jin Sanniang became smug. "In front of the Eunuch Director, I'll make you pay." The Eunuch Director dared not offend the one from the palace, so he quickly followed the butler.
Lan Yan stood in place, casting a deep glance at the two people ahead. These two wouldn't have had the guts to do this. Someone deliberately wanted Jun Yelan to eat poorly and had a grudge against him.
She followed them, gave a smile to the worried Hui Niang, and walked out of the kitchen.
Soon, the three arrived in the main hall, where Jun Yelan was seated.
Jun Yelan, dressed in casual clothes, wore a cold expression. His gaze fell on Lan Yan for a moment before shifting away. "What happened?"
Jin Sanniang was the first to cry out, "Eunuch Director, this new kitchen maid is bullying me! Look how badly she beat me. How can I manage the kitchen in the future!"
Lan Yan cast a disdainful glance at Jin Sanniang, thinking she was truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Pretending to be pitiful, anyone could do that. She squeezed out two tears and looked at Jun Yelan with a wronged expression. "Eunuch Director, it's not like she says."
"She took a very long rolling pin and tried to hit me. I just dodged, and then she fell herself. Afterward, she even tried to chop me with a knife. Look, my hands are all red."
She held up her hands, her palms a bright red.
Jin Sanniang then roared, "You little vixen, you're lying!" Her whole body ached now, and she couldn't believe Lan Yan's fabricated story.
"Enough!" Jun Yelan's eyes darkened, silencing Jin Sanniang. "From now on, Lan Yan will be responsible for my meals. You don't need to manage it. All of you, go back."
As Jin Sanniang stood up, he added, "The only reason you can live in this manor is because I don't bother with you. Remember that!"
"I remember, old servant dares not," Jin Sanniang nodded frantically and quickly ran out.
Seeing this, Lan Yan smiled. "Now the old witch won't have the guts." She looked up and saw Jun Yelan staring at her. She said sheepishly, "She was going to add spicy food, so I tried to stop her, and I moved a bit too quickly."
"Come here." Jun Yelan took out a small medicine bottle from his robe and opened it.
Lan Yan didn't know what he intended, but she obediently walked up to him. Her wrist was immediately grasped, and a faintly fragrant medicine was applied to her palm. It instantly felt cool and soothed.
She lowered her head, watching Jun Yelan carefully apply the medicine to her hand, and felt a warmth in her heart. "You are truly as gentle as they say."
"They wouldn't say that." Jun Yelan knew everyone in the manor feared him, but he didn't care. Only this woman, who seemed to have no regard for her own safety, kept coming close to him, stirring something within him.
He finished applying the medicine and placed the rest on the table. "Apply this once a day. It will heal within seven days. Next time, don't be so reckless; you'll hurt yourself."
"Okay." Lan Yan smiled faintly and put the medicine bottle into her robe.
Jun Yelan gazed at her smile, the strange feeling intensifying. He slightly turned his head and said, "Go and rest." As Lan Yan was about to leave, he took out a bag of sweets. "Take this too."
The smile on Lan Yan's lips deepened. "As you command, Eunuch Director." She left with the sweets and the medicine bottle, a smile on her face as she returned to the kitchen.
Hui Niang in the kitchen was still worried. Seeing Lan Yan return safe and sound, she finally relaxed. "Lan Yatou, don't go against Jin Sanniang in the future. She's not someone to be trifled with."
"I know." Lan Yan had already found a way to deal with Jin Sanniang and would use it again next time. "The Eunuch Director said that I'm responsible for his meals from now on. Jin Sanniang can't boss me around."
Hui Niang was happy to hear this. "That's good. Lan Yatou, your loyalty to the Eunuch Director is unmatched in our manor. I truly hope he can see your sincerity."
"He will." Lan Yan believed that day would come. Afterward, she cooked while tending to her hand. By the time her hand had completely healed, she hadn't seen Jun Yelan for several days.
Jun Yelan had been very busy lately, often returning late when she was already asleep. She looked at Jun Xiao Yao beside her and smiled. "Xiao Yao, shall we read a story in a different place today?"
"Mm, I'll listen to Lan Jie Jie," Jun Xiao Yao took Lan Yan's hand, and they went to the pavilion together.
Lan Yan placed a lantern on the table, then held Jun Xiao Yao and sat down beside her, beginning the story. "The little girl lit a match and saw delicious food, but it disappeared in a moment. So the little girl had to..."
Jun Xiao Yao was initially listening with curiosity, but her eyelids began to droop. "Lan Jie Jie, you continue speaking. Xiao Yao doesn't want to sleep." She rubbed her eyes, but they were already closing.
Lan Yan couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, you sleep now." She looked at the empty path, preparing to carry Xiao Yao back, when she saw a figure approaching in the distance.
She immediately smiled, placed Jun Xiao Yao on a stool, and walked forward with the lantern from the table.
Step by step, she saw the figure clearly. It was Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan, accustomed to walking at night, was slightly taken aback when a lantern suddenly appeared before him. He used the lantern's light to see a bright, smiling face. He paused slightly and asked, "Why are you here?"