Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan approach, exhaling a breath from his chest. He propped himself up and said, "It's dark now, and there are many wild beasts in the mountains. We need to find a place to rest."
"According to Mei Dong's speed, they will find us by morning at the latest."
"Alright, I'll listen to you." A light rain began to fall. Lan Yan helped Jun Yelan up and found a hidden mountain cave, so they didn't have to worry about the men in black.
She had Jun Yelan lean against the wall and went outside to collect some rainwater with leaves. Bringing the leaves to Jun Yelan's lips, she said, "Jun Yelan, drink some water."
However, Jun Yelan had been pushing himself, and his senses were unclear. He could only feel a gentle voice by his ear and instinctively swallowed the water offered.
Memories of his childhood flashed through his mind. He remembered standing outside his room, watching his mother sing a lullaby to his younger brother. His mother had never sung such a song to him.
He mumbled, "Mother, why are you like this to me?"
Lan Yan couldn't hear clearly. She leaned closer and only heard the word "mother." Jun Yelan was missing his mother, but his furrowed brow suggested it was more than just longing.
Not wanting to wake him, she sat beside Jun Yelan and began to play a tune on a leaf she had picked earlier.
The melodious sound drifted into Jun Yelan's ears. His brows gradually relaxed, and the scene in his dream changed. It was no longer his mother and brother, but a woman sitting with her back to him, holding a leaf in her hand.
He moved closer to the woman, wanting to know who she was. When the woman turned around, he saw her face, and it was Lan Yan. But now, he felt at peace.
Seeing that Jun Yelan was sleeping soundly, Lan Yan put down the leaf. She looked at Jun Yelan's wound. It was no longer bleeding black blood, but it appeared more gruesome than before.
Looking at him, a pang of heartache struck her. She held Jun Yelan's slender fingers and murmured, "Jun Yelan, you must hold on. Don't let those who harmed you get away with it."
"And don't fail those who care about you." Her eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep leaning against Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan, in his daze, heard the last sentence. In this world, who cared about him? He recalled Lan Yan's eyes, and it seemed there truly was such a person.
The rain outside the cave gradually subsided, and the search party in the forest noticed the cave. Mei Dong, leading the group and looking disheveled, immediately called out, "Empress," upon seeing Lan Yan safe.
Lan Yan was awakened and felt a sense of relief upon seeing Mei Dong. "Mei Dong, quickly take Jun Yelan back. He needs a physician."
Mei Dong then noticed Jun Yelan's injury and ordered his attendants forward to escort Jun Yelan away. "Empress, the secondary consort is injured. Are you alright?"
Lan Yan shook her head. "Fortunately, he protected me. By the way, there was a person lying at the foot of the mountain ahead. Send someone to bring her back. This is solid evidence. I will not let those who caused Jun Yelan to be like this go unpunished!"
"Let's go back."
"Yes, Empress!" Mei Dong followed Lan Yan, feeling a newfound respect for her. In such adverse conditions, the Empress not only protected herself but also the secondary consort and secured evidence.
The Empress was completely different now, so capable!
Back in the tent, Lan Yan instructed Mei Dong to inform Prime Minister Lin, who was kneeling outside the tent. She herself stayed by the bedside, watching the physician treat Jun Yelan for poison.
The physician, holding a small knife, sweat beading on his forehead, said, "Empress, I need to remove the poison from the wound. This process will be very painful. Please hold the secondary consort."
"Mhm." Lan Yan gently pressed on Jun Yelan's shoulder. As the physician's knife approached, she said to Jun Yelan, "If it hurts too much, bite my hand." She offered her arm to Jun Yelan's mouth.
Jun Yelan looked at the slender arm before him, his eyes darkening. He gritted his teeth.
The physician untied the bandage around Jun Yelan's wound and inserted the knife.
Veins immediately bulged on Jun Yelan's forehead. He clenched his fists tightly, not making a sound.
Lan Yan, watching him, felt her heart clench. Seeing Jun Yelan in such pain and unwilling to bite her, she worried he might bite his tongue. She murmured, "Jun Yelan, just listen to me speak."
"I actually knew of your existence long ago. That day I went to the prison to find you. That was the first time I saw you, yet it felt like we had met before. And you are truly so handsome..."
Seeing Jun Yelan's state, her thoughts became jumbled, and she wasn't sure what she was saying. But she knew she had to keep talking to distract Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan wasn't sure if he feared pain, as no one cared about him anyway. But seeing Lan Yan try so hard to ease his suffering warmed his heart, and he no longer paid attention to the wound.
The physician re-bandaged the wound and let out a sigh of relief. He quietly withdrew, handing the prescription to Mei Dong. "Ah, I didn't expect the Empress to care so much for the secondary consort. Fortunately, the secondary consort is alright this time."
"Yes, having been by the Empress's side for so many years, this is the first time I've seen her care so deeply for someone. May heaven protect the secondary consort, so that the Empress may also be safe." Mei Dong saw the physician off and gave the tent to the two inside.
Lan Yan picked up a handkerchief nearby to wipe the sweat from Jun Yelan's forehead. As she wiped, Jun Yelan's hand caught hers. She looked down and saw his face was still pale. "Rest well. I'll stay with you," she said.
This time, Jun Yelan could only nod. His wound throbbed intensely, and he felt he couldn't endure it any longer, closing his eyes.
Lan Yan then stayed by the bedside, propping her head on one hand and gazing at Jun Yelan's face. Initially, she was attracted by his appearance, but now she was drawn to his inner qualities.
Such a good person shouldn't have to endure so much suffering. Thinking this, she gradually rested her head on the bedside and fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lin, outside the tent, was completely forgotten. Without the Empress's command, she could only continue kneeling. Today, seeing the Empress return, she knew her plan had failed.
However, the Empress hadn't found evidence and couldn't deal with her. If she were to be convicted without cause, it would not appease public opinion, and her subordinate ministers alone were enough to cause trouble for the Empress.
She muttered to herself, "Empress, you shouldn't have returned."
The next morning, Lan Yan walked out and saw Prime Minister Lin about to collapse. She kicked her. "Prime Minister Lin," she said coldly, "I told you to kneel, not to lie down."
Prime Minister Lin startled awake and kowtowed. "Empress, I do not know what crime I have committed!"
"Very good, still playing stubborn!" Lan Yan stared coldly at Prime Minister Lin and called out, "Mei Dong, bring her forward."
Prime Minister Lin was still smug, but her pupils contracted when she saw Lin Jia Nü being brought forward. "Empress, this has nothing to do with me!"