Lan Yan had just returned to the manor when everyone within the residence gathered around her, looking at her with worry.
Madam Li stepped forward, took Lan Yan’s hand, and examined her from head to toe before sighing in relief. "Xiao Yan, you must be careful when you go out. Fortunately, you're alright this time. If anything had happened to you, how would your mother live."
Lan Yue also clutched Lan Yan’s sleeve, his small face creased with concern. His sister must not be harmed.
Being held on either side, Lan Yan felt a warmth spread through her heart. She smiled. "Mother, Little Brother, I've made you worry. I'm truly fine. It's all thanks to the Prince saving me." She glanced at Jun Yelan; he had arrived just in time.
Madam Li turned to look at Jun Yelan and bowed thankfully. "Your Highness, thank you for taking care of my daughter." She had heard unpleasant rumors about him before and was indeed afraid, but now she wasn't.
Lan Yue also bowed thankfully. His brother-in-law was a good person.
Jun Yelan helped Madam Li up and said, "Mother-in-law, protecting Lan Yan is my duty." Lan Yan had always protected him before, and now it was his turn to reciprocate.
Hearing the address, Madam Li was a little startled. She looked up and saw the determination in Jun Yelan's eyes. Standing up, she said, "Good. My Xiao Yan is fortunate to be marrying such a good man as Your Highness."
Her heart could finally rest easy.
Jun Yelan smiled faintly, quite pleased with her words.
Seeing the continuous stream of thanks, Lan Yan said, "I'm going back to my room first." She scurried away, and at the door, she met the anxious Xia Lian, calling out directly, "I'm really fine."
She quickly entered her room.
Xia Lian exclaimed, "I haven't even asked anything yet."
Jun Yelan followed her inside, took out the jade pendant he had been holding, and handed it to Lan Yan. "You dropped this earlier."
"Ah?" Lan Yan looked at her waist; it was indeed missing. Seeing her hands, which hadn't been washed since entering the manor, she leaned closer to Jun Yelan and said, "Your Highness, would you help me put it on?"
Jun Yelan stared at Lan Yan's slender waist, his eyes flashing. He nodded and fastened the jade pendant to her waist.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'll go wash my hands first." Lan Yan swayed the jade pendant on her waist and went to wash her hands.
Jun Yelan held the other half of the jade pendant and moved it towards his own waist but did not fasten it.
When Lan Yan returned, she was still a bit puzzled. She crouched beside Jun Yelan's wheelchair, took the jade pendant, and slowly fastened it to his waist. She even laughed. "Your Highness, did you wait for me to come back on purpose?"
Jun Yelan's ears turned red, and his gaze flickered away. "No. I was just thinking about something else and forgot for a moment."
"Oh." Lan Yan chuckled, not exposing Jun Yelan's little secret. She suddenly stood up, but in her haste, she almost bumped her forehead into Jun Yelan's.
The expected pain didn't come. She looked up and saw that she had bumped into Jun Yelan's hand.
Jun Yelan had used his hand to shield Lan Yan's forehead, a reflexive action. He didn't want Lan Yan to get hurt. His gaze moved downwards, meeting Lan Yan's eyes, which were filled with burgeoning affection.
Lan Yan, being stared at so intensely, froze on the spot, her breathing slowing down.
The sunlight outside streamed in, falling perfectly on both of them.
After an unknown amount of time, Lan Yan felt a pain in her calf. She stood up, having squatted for too long. "Your Highness, I'm going to rest now," she said, walking towards the bed without daring to look back at Jun Yelan.
Her mind was filled with the image of Jun Yelan looking at her just moments before.
Jun Yelan habitually looked towards Lan Yan. Upon hearing her familiar breathing, his eyes darkened, and he went to the adjacent room to see Xia Lian.
"Have you found out?"
Xia Lian knelt on the ground and replied, "It was someone from the First Prince's faction."
"Heh." Jun Yelan let out a light laugh. "It seems he felt humiliated at the Duke of Lan's manor last time and devised such a wicked scheme. He wants to harm Lan Yan, so naturally, I must return him a grand gift."
"Take your men to the First Prince's manor and deliver today's spoils of war to his bed."
Xia Lian respectfully exclaimed, "Yes, Your Highness." The First Prince was in for a lot of trouble now.
After speaking, Jun Yelan saw that she hadn't left yet and asked coldly, "Is there anything else?"
"Your Highness, you've become somewhat different towards the Princess Consort." Xia Lian had been serving by his side and could tell. Seeing Jun Yelan's expression turn cold, she quickly added, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort is a very good person."
She hoped the Princess Consort and the Prince could end up together.
Jun Yelan glanced at Xia Lian, finding it rare for Xia Lian to speak up for someone else. "This Prince knows. You may withdraw." He knew better than anyone what Lan Yan was like.
Xia Lian then withdrew, leading her men to the First Prince's manor. They carried parts of the trafficker's bodies they had killed that day and placed them on the bed where the First Prince was sleeping soundly.
They also tapped the side of the bed before quickly leaving, before the First Prince could wake up in alarm.
The First Prince heard the noise and dazedly opened his eyes, only to be met with a pair of lifeless eyes. His throat felt choked, and he couldn't make a sound. His body began to tremble, and a foul stench emanated from beneath him.
After a long while, when he could finally move, he turned his head to look at the other side of the bed, where there was more of the same. "Ahhhhh!" He scrambled madly towards the edge of the bed, tumbling onto the floor, and crawled desperately towards the door.
"Someone, help me!" His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
When the manor's staff arrived, they saw the First Prince sprawled by the door. The room was empty. They all believed the First Prince had been possessed by an evil spirit. This manor was too terrifying!
The next morning, Lan Yan heard about the First Prince's ordeal and laughed until her stomach hurt. She said, "This is what you call retribution. I'm so grateful to whoever helped me get revenge."
Jun Yelan, who had helped her, was sitting opposite her, watching her laugh. Next time, he could make the First Prince even more miserable, and Lan Yan would be even happier.
Lan Yan laughed for a good while before finally stopping. "It's a shame I didn't see it happen live, but hearing the retelling is also very satisfying. I did think it was strange how he just fainted for no reason."
"And back then, I couldn't find Your Highness, I was so worried." What if some ruffians had attacked Jun Yelan? She wouldn't have even had time to protect him.
Jun Yelan recalled his own feelings at that time, experiencing an unprecedented panic. He said, "From now on, you must protect yourself first. My safety can come later."
"I'll try my best," Lan Yan replied. Jun Yelan was her mission target. If Jun Yelan were to meet with an accident, she wouldn't exist in this world anymore.
Jun Yelan still felt uneasy. It seemed he would have to arrange for some guards to be by Lan Yan's side from now on.
Just then, Xia Lian came to report, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, Princess An has arrived."
Lan Yan remembered what Princess An had said before and turned to Jun Yelan. "Your Highness, do you wish to see her?" Although Jun Yelan was now willing to go out, he might not be willing to meet old acquaintances.
Each meeting would remind him of his current state.
Jun Yelan nodded. He was doing it for Lan Yan's sake.
Princess An, waiting at the entrance, was overjoyed to hear that she could enter. "My brother, the Prince, has finally woken up. It seems the Princess Consort is indeed wonderful!"
She walked into the courtyard and shouted loudly, "Brother Prince, Princess Consort, hello! I've brought you some good news."