The selection trials had reached the third round. Lan Yan stifled a yawn, but her spirits lifted when Jun Yelan returned.
Noticing the lingering mist in Lan Yan’s eyes, suggesting fatigue, Jun Yelan’s expression softened. He sat down again, and something was immediately placed in his hand.
Lan Yan smiled, "It’s so boring here, I almost fell asleep. You should eat something too, don’t go hungry.”
Jun Yelan looked at his palm. It held dried yellow peaches; Lan Yan even knew his preferences. He observed that Lan Yan was always picking up pastries. He picked up a plate of osmanthus cakes and placed it in Lan Yan’s hand, saying nothing.
Lan Yan blinked, surprised it was exactly what she liked. She curved her lips and slowly began to eat.
The sound of chewing reached Jun Yelan’s ears, piquing his appetite. He popped a dried yellow peach into his mouth, a smile dawning in his eyes.
While the two ate, the noblewomen below were deep in thought. The second question was already difficult, but Lan Ting’s third question was even more so: solving a Kongming lock.
They struggled for a long time, losing patience, wishing they could just toss the locks aside.
As the time for one incense stick passed, Lan Yan looked at Lan Ting and asked, "Elder Brother, do you have any favor among them?”
Lan Ting shook his head, his gaze lingering on Mei Dong for a moment before retracting.
Lan Yan also felt that these six noblewomen were not particularly remarkable. The first question, an analysis of the court situation, had some plausible answers. The second question regarding white paper and black ink elicited a myriad of responses. And for the third question, all of them lacked the patience to unlock the puzzles.
“The three questions are complete. Ladies, you may depart.”
Upon hearing this, the women knew they had failed. The Lin family daughter, standing at the front, cried out, “Your Majesty, this commoner’s feelings for Prince Ting are sincere. I am willing to give everything to marry Prince Ting.”
She even kowtowed, refusing to rise. She had come today on Chancellor Lin’s orders. If she couldn’t marry Prince Ting, she would lose her status within the Lin family.
Lan Yan glanced down at her, “As I said, you may leave. If everyone were like you, would I marry my brother to all of you!”
“Moreover, I truly haven’t seen your sincerity. Your answer to the second question was about the inability to remain pure, and in the third, you didn’t unlock it. In fact, the lock didn’t need to be solved. My brother was testing your mindset.”
She stood and walked towards the noblewomen, passing them by and leaving the Imperial Garden. This plan to select a wife wasn't working. It seemed she’d have to find another way. It wasn’t easy for her, having to act as a matchmaker. She pondered this on her way back.
Seeing that there was no other option, the noblewomen in the Imperial Garden returned. “We thought we could marry Prince Ting, but His Majesty’s questions were so rigorous. How could we not fail!”
“I heard before that Her Majesty disliked Prince Ting and made him stay in the Cold Palace for twenty years. Seeing today, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“Her Majesty’s temperament has changed greatly recently. Before, she had three thousand consorts in the harem, and now she exclusively favors the attendant consort. So, a change in her attitude towards Prince Ting is also normal.”
“Forget it, let’s hurry back to find our mothers. We’ll likely be lectured again.” They sighed and left the palace.
The Lin family daughter walked last, deep worry in her eyes. Upon returning to the Lin manor, Chancellor Lin slapped her hard. Her lips bled, and she knelt submissively in place.
“Chancellor Lin, this commoner was wrong. Please give me another chance, and I will surely succeed.” She crawled towards Chancellor Lin, only to be kicked away by him.
“Useless creature, be gone!” Chancellor Lin ordered servants to drag the Lin family daughter away. His anger was unquenchable, and he hurled a teacup from the table to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
She had been targeted by Lan Yan in court recently, and now she had failed to connect with the royal family. It seemed Lan Yan was determined to deal with him. “Your Majesty, if you are unrighteous, do not blame me for being unrighteous.”
She summoned guards and instructed them, “Set up a trap at the hunting grounds. Do not let anyone discover this matter.” After the guards left, she sat in a chair, a smug smile on her lips.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan had returned to the sleeping quarters, intentionally closing the door. She was about to do something important, something no one else should hear or see.
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan’s demeanor, filled with confusion, yet he found her suddenly a little charming. He saw Lan Yan turn her head to gaze at him. No one else was in the hall, and he was Lan Yan’s attendant consort. Could it be what he was thinking?
His injuries had healed, and Lan Yan might indeed have thoughts, but it was daytime! Just as he was about to speak of this, Lan Yan spoke first.
“Jun Yelan, I have something very important to discuss with you. Please sit down first.” Lan Yan, worried that Jun Yelan might not be able to handle the shock, gently pushed him onto a chair.
She then brought another chair and sat facing Jun Yelan, her expression serious.
Jun Yelan’s body tensed involuntarily as he looked at Lan Yan.
Recalling what had just happened, Lan Yan spoke sincerely, “You just heard them call you attendant consort. You must be upset. Don’t get angry with me first, I’ll explain.”
Jun Yelan: “……” He had thought it was something else. His body relaxed, and he nodded, “Speak.”
Lan Yan blinked. This was not what she had expected. No matter, the most important thing now was to clarify. “Ministers of the previous court have been discussing this matter, and there have been rumors in the harem as well.”
“I originally wanted to send you out of the palace, but I heard that it would lead others to misunderstand them as being abandoned, and then you wouldn’t be able to survive outside. So, I thought it best to keep you here, and conferring you the title of attendant consort was merely a temporary measure.”
“Besides, I haven’t conferred it yet; I was planning to discuss it with you first. But with so many things happening recently, I kept delaying.”
Seeing no reaction from Jun Yelan, she wondered if the blow was too great. She reached out, waved her hand in front of Jun Yelan’s eyes, and called, “Jun…”
Jun Yelan grasped her wrist, his voice softer than usual, “I heard.” This person before her had always thought of him. He should trust Lan Yan.
He had never trusted anyone, not even his own mother, but at this moment, a thought arose in his heart: to believe in Lan Yan.
Lan Yan patted her chest, relieved. She added, “Rest assured, if there is a better way in the future, I will definitely help you leave this position of attendant consort, or help you leave the palace.”
“In any case, please be at ease. No matter what, I will help you and protect you.”
Jun Yelan’s eyes trembled, and the heart within his chest trembled along with them. He tightened his grip on Lan Yan’s hand and said, “Why are you doing this? What do you seek?”
He thought it was him, but Lan Yan was again planning to send him out of the palace.
Lan Yan responded without hesitation, “It should be to make you happy.” Her hands moved towards Jun Yelan’s cheeks, lifting the corners of his mouth. “You look so good this way.”
Jun Yelan stood frozen, engraving this moment into his memory, forever cherishing it for the rest of his life.