Lan Yan hazily felt something on her lips. She opened her eyes to see a magnified face before her and was momentarily stunned.
Jun Yelan hastily withdrew his fingers, revealing a handkerchief. His gaze darted away as he said, "You were drooling, so I wiped it for you." With that, he awkwardly retreated to the side.
Now it was Lan Yan's turn to feel embarrassed. How could she have fallen asleep and drooled? She took the handkerchief from Jun Yelan, wiped herself, and smiled, "Your Highness, thank you. Otherwise, I would have lost so much face in front of everyone in the manor."
"They wouldn't dare laugh at you," Jun Yelan said, his eyes fixed on Lan Yan's. Those people feared her.
Lan Yan inwardly thought that she had indeed lost face in front of Jun Yelan. She got up, walked behind Jun Yelan, and pushed his wheelchair. "Your Highness, your storytelling is so captivating that I couldn't help but fall asleep."
Jun Yelan thought, Wasn't it just boring, that's why she slept? He didn't expose Lan Yan's compliment to him and nodded.
Lan Yan finally relaxed, having successfully deflected the matter of her drooling. She smiled slightly and pushed Jun Yelan towards the room.
At this moment, Xia Lian hurried from ahead, calling out, "Your Highness, Your Highness Consort, someone from the palace has arrived." And they had sent a woman. She glanced at Lan Yan before lowering her head.
Lan Yan had a premonition that this person was related to her. "They're not wolves or tigers, we'll know once we see." She and Jun Yelan walked towards the front hall.
As Jun Yelan passed Xia Lian, he received a signal. He frowned; the noble consort was causing trouble again. He couldn't help but look back at Lan Yan, clenching his fist.
The two arrived at the front hall. As Lan Yan stepped inside, she saw a woman of beauty standing there. Her figure was alluring, and she carried a peculiar fragrance.
She sneered. It seemed they had sent a woman for Jun Yelan, also to provoke her. This was killing two birds with one stone!
Jun Yelan's face darkened, and his eyes turned cold.
The woman's gaze landed on Jun Yelan, a glint of calculation flashing in her eyes. The corners of her lips curled up as she curtsied, "Greetings, Your Highness, Your Highness Consort."
After speaking, she leaned to the side and said apologetically, "Your Highness, my body is weak. I've been standing for too long. May I sit for a while?" Her eyes provocatively fixed on Jun Yelan.
"You can return to the palace directly," Jun Yelan said, his tone extremely cold.
Lan Yan watched the woman, stunned, and secretly chuckled. The more she looked at the woman, the more displeased she became. She said, "The affairs of this manor are all managed by me, this Princess Consort. What business do you have here?" Since it was a woman, she would deal with her.
The woman was called Liu Niang, who had served Consort Noble by the consort's side. This time, she had come to the manor specifically on the consort's orders. "Princess Consort, Consort Noble pities Your Highness and has sent me to serve Your Highness."
"I suppose Your Highness, being of noble birth, is not very skilled at taking care of people." Her words were laced with sarcasm.
Lan Yan found it jarring and said with a laugh, "You are even less qualified to be near His Highness. Moreover, His Highness likes my care." Hmph, don't think you can be arrogant here just because you have Consort Noble behind you. With her, that logic didn't apply.
Liu Niang immediately bit her lip, not expecting this Princess Consort to be so sharp-tongued and unafraid of offending Consort Noble.
Lan Yan couldn't be bothered with Liu Niang. She looked at Jun Yelan, "Your Highness, I don't like this person. Let's drive her out."
"Alright." When speaking to Lan Yan, Jun Yelan's tone softened and even carried a hint of a smile.
Seeing that she was about to be driven away, Liu Niang hastily retreated and took out an imperial edict from her embrace. "Your Highness, Your Highness Consort, Consort Noble is considerate of you, fearing you might misunderstand her."
"She specially obtained an imperial edict, allowing me to stay in the manor." She smiled triumphantly. Her consort was truly clever, having thought of this move long ago.
Lan Yan and Jun Yelan's eyes turned cold. She took the imperial edict and placed it before Jun Yelan. It clearly stated everything. This Emperor and Consort Noble were indeed accomplices, plotting together to make Jun Yelan uncomfortable.
Jun Yelan gripped the handles of his wheelchair, staring ferociously at Liu Niang, contemplating how to kill her.
Liu Niang also noticed Jun Yelan's gaze, which was terrifying. She took a few steps back. She didn't necessarily need to get close to His Highness; creating a rift between these two was enough.
"Consort Noble also said that she could overlook the Princess Consort's previous matters, but from now on, the Princess Consort must behave herself and not engage in any actions that violate the three cardinal guides and five constant virtues."
Jun Yelan roared, "Consort Noble has no right to control my Princess Consort. My Princess Consort can do as she pleases!" He had never feared the people in the palace; on the contrary, he had scores to settle with them.
Lan Yan nodded, "Your Highness is correct. Whoever it is, you can stay with this imperial edict, but you'd best be careful. This manor is not an easy place to live in. Hmph!" She let out a cold snort and pushed Jun Yelan away.
Behind them, Liu Niang seethed with indignation and schemed, "Princess Consort, we shall see." She already had a way to deal with Lan Yan. Before leaving the front hall, she went to find Lady Li.
However, she didn't know the way, and when she asked for directions, no one was willing to respond. This made her even more furious. She would have her revenge.
Lan Yan had already returned to the room with Jun Yelan. Seeing his glum expression, she knew he was affected by what had just happened. She said, "Your Highness, don't worry. That person is no match for me. I have my own ways of dealing with her." She narrowed her eyes, myriad ways of tormenting Liu Niang flashing through her mind.
Jun Yelan didn't care about a mere Liu Niang. The imperial edict only stated she could stay in the manor, not that she had to stay intact. He was only thinking that since Consort Noble had made her move, she would surely target Lan Yan even more.
"You must be careful recently and try to stay within the manor."
Seeing the concern in Jun Yelan's eyes, Lan Yan nodded. "Your Highness, I will. Oh, right, I have something to give you. I forgot just now because Liu Niang interrupted."
She took out a sachet from her embrace. The lotus embroidered on it was crooked, but at least it had a shape.
Jun Yelan was taken aback. This was the first time he had received a sachet. "You've been going to your mother's place recently just to embroider this for me."
"Yes." Lan Yan smiled and nodded. "Unfortunately, it's still not well-embroidered." She truly had no talent for embroidery.
Jun Yelan's heart warmed, and the corners of his lips curved. "Thank you, I will cherish it." He clasped the sachet in his hand, inhaling the scent emanating from it, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace.
Seeing him happy, Lan Yan's smile deepened. It seemed her sachet had indeed served its purpose.
As night fell, the two, as usual, one slept on the bed, and the other slept on the floor.
Jun Yelan opened his eyes, carefully moved to the floor, and carried Lan Yan from the ground onto the bed. He hugged the person in his arms and murmured, "Lan Yan, you've always treated me like this. I can no longer ignore my feelings."
"At first, I just thought we could warm each other and live our lives like this. But people always become greedy. I've become increasingly unlike myself, wanting to receive a response while protecting you."
"Lan Yan, my feelings for you are more than just gratitude. But I only dare to say these things when you're asleep." He was afraid Lan Yan would leave him if she knew, so he had to keep it hidden.
He lowered his head and gently kissed Lan Yan's forehead, suppressing the knots in his heart.