Lan Yan was eager to see inside and pulled Jun Ye Lan's hand towards the room door.
Jun Ye Lan looked down at their clasped palms, a faint smile gracing his lips as he followed Lan Yan in.
Upon entering, Lan Yan saw that the room contained only a bed, a table and chairs, and the rest were books and paintings. She casually picked up a book and flipped it open, finding Jun Ye Lan's annotations inside.
"Jun Ye Lan, your writing is very detailed, I can understand it all."
Jun Ye Lan looked at the words on the page and said, "These were written when I was young. Father had just passed away then, and I didn't know what to do, so I started annotating books."
Lan Yan unintentionally brought up a sad memory for Jun Ye Lan. She reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Your father would surely be happy to see you as you are now. Since you love reading so much, take all these books back with you."
"And your paintings, they shouldn't go to waste on those people in the Jun family." She looked at the paintings around the room, all of landscapes that were very calming.
She blurted out, "Jun Ye Lan, paint a picture for me too."
"Alright."
Lan Yan was surprised. She had said it casually, yet Jun Ye Lan agreed. She happily said, "Whatever you draw, I will like it." She lowered her head and put away the paintings, not noticing Jun Ye Lan's brightening eyes.
Next, she found a chest, and together with Jun Ye Lan, they moved these items inside, preparing to take them back to the palace later.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Jun Jiu called from outside, "Empress, Elder Brother, I've brought you some food." Seeing no response, he pushed the door open and found them with one holding a book and the other putting one away. He felt a pang of envy.
He looked at Jun Ye Lan, tightened his grip on the plate, and smiled, "Elder Brother, why did you bring the Empress here? No one has lived here for a long time, and the dust is so much. It's not good for the Empress's health."
"Empress, why don't you eat something first? I'll do this. You are our family's honored guest, why would you trouble yourself with these trivial matters?" He put down the plate and walked over, preparing to take the book from Lan Yan's hand, but she avoided him.
Lan Yan's expression was cold, "Young Master Jun, no need. I like doing it. And as for your food, I don't like it. I prefer the osmanthus cakes Jun Ye Lan gives me."
She turned and continued putting away books.
Seeing herself ignored, Jun Jiu prepared to step forward again but was stopped by Jun Ye Lan. "Elder Brother, what are you doing? As the Empress's man, don't you feel the Empress is working hard? I just want to help her!"
"She doesn't need your help. She has me," Jun Ye Lan said, glaring coldly at Jun Jiu, completely preventing him from getting close to Lan Yan. "Don't think I don't know your intentions. Restrain yourself."
Anger ignited in Jun Jiu's eyes. His elder brother always ruined things for him. When he was young, he wanted to please his father, but his father only had eyes for his elder brother, so he turned to his mother.
It was the same now, he wouldn't let him get close to the Empress! Tears welled up in his eyes, and he looked at Lan Yan, "Empress, I should leave then. Don't make Elder Brother angry here."
He remained standing in place after saying this.
"You know yourself well, yet you still don't leave," Lan Yan, who had been watching from the side, quietly observed Jun Jiu's antics. "Also, this is Jun Ye Lan's territory. Don't come here again in the future. I will also speak to Minister Jun about this."
Seeing Lan Yan so protective of Jun Ye Lan, Jun Jiu's hatred grew. He left indignantly, and a voice called out from behind him.
"Take your things with you as well." Lan Yan was close to throwing them out.
Jun Jiu bit his lip, turned, and took his plate. Standing at the courtyard gate, he realized he couldn't use ordinary methods. He took out a porcelain bottle from his怀, muttering, "Jun Ye Lan, you're forcing my hand."
The courtyard became quiet again. Lan Yan and Jun Ye Lan continued sorting the books and finished quickly. A servant from the mansion reported that they changed their clothes and went to the front hall to attend the birthday banquet.
Many ministers had arrived in the front hall, all congratulating Minister Jun. "Your son is truly remarkable, Minister. He is now completely favored by the Empress."
"We don't have such good fortune. Even if we wanted to send our sons into the palace now, it's impossible." This was the Empress's sensitive spot now.
Minister Jun beamed with pride as he was praised, his eyes showing smugness. "My son, he has been intelligent and likable since childhood. It is his destiny to win the Empress's favor this time."
The minister beside him twitched his lips. No one knew of Jun Ye Lan before. If he hadn't entered the palace, everyone would have thought the Jun family only had one son.
It was too disingenuous for Minister Jun to say that.
They turned and saw Lan Yan and Jun Ye Lan, and they all paid their respects, "Greetings, Empress, Consort."
"No need for formalities outside the palace today," Lan Yan said, without even glancing at Minister Jun, and sat in her seat, with Jun Ye Lan beside her.
The ministers understood. Jun Ye Lan had gained the Empress's favor, but Minister Jun did not. They had heard that Minister Jun was suspended and originally didn't want to come, but upon hearing the Empress would be there, they decided to attend.
Minister Jun was busy attending to Lan Yan and had no time to manage these ministers, thus not noticing their thoughts. "Empress, are the dishes to your liking? This wine is newly brewed, the Empress may try it."
He even signaled to Jun Ye Lan, who completely ignored him, feeling even more indignant towards his son.
Lan Yan said, "Minister Jun, today is your birthday banquet. You should attend to your own affairs. I am accompanied by Jun Ye Lan, and that is sufficient."
"Empress, since you have come specifically, of course, I must accompany you."
"Hmph," Jun Ye Lan sneered, "Minister Jun's face is as it always is. Minister Jun, the Empress accompanies me here today for another reason: I want to reclaim my father's belongings."
Minister Jun's pupils trembled, and he angrily said, "Ye Lan, don't you see what kind of occasion this is!"
Lan Yan shot him a look, which made Minister Jun's tone soften.
"Ye Lan, today is Mother's birthday. As a son, instead of congratulating her, you are causing trouble for Mother," Minister Jun said with a show of distress.
Jun Ye Lan's expression was blank, "You don't even remember my and Father's birthdays. When Father passed away, you were in the moonlit garden. I stayed with his body for three days and three nights. If not for the servants in the mansion, would you have remembered me!"
He was only three years old at the time.
Minister Jun was instantly targeted by everyone, standing there in anger, this rebellious son! "Fine, if you want your father's belongings, I will give them to you. But I will give them to you tonight; I am busy during the day."
"Alright," Jun Ye Lan only wanted to reclaim his father's belongings and sever ties with the Jun family.
Lan Yan also said, "Then I will accompany Ye Lan tonight. Minister Jun will not go back on his word, will he?"
"With the Empress here, I dare not," Minister Jun bowed, his heart burning. After tonight, everything would change.