The next morning, the sound of sentries patrolling the camp woke Lan Yan.
She opened her eyes and looked at the bedside. Jun Yelan was lying there peacefully, a slight smile on his lips. She moved lightly, folded the blanket, and tiptoed towards the tent flap.
However, as she reached for her sword, she accidentally bumped the rack. She quickly steadied it and turned, only to meet a pair of deep, dark eyes.
Jun Yelan was looking at her coldly, his expression utterly indifferent.
Lan Yan felt awkward. She stiffly raised her arm and asked, "Perhaps you should sleep a little longer? I'll go out first." Seeing Jun Yelan's lack of response, she panicked and started backing away.
It was better to leave quickly.
A hint of inquiry flickered in Jun Yelan's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged, only his fingers tightened on his sleeve.
Finally reaching the entrance, Lan Yan quickly turned around and covered her chest.
Goodness, that was too close.
She looked at the soldiers outside the tent and said, "You guard this tent well. If anything happens to the person inside, inform me immediately. Instruct the kitchen to send a portion here as well."
"Yes, General."
Lan Yan smiled, glanced back at the tent with satisfaction, and departed.
Inside the tent, Jun Yelan clenched his fist. In his eyes, Lan Yan was no different from the others, trapping him.
Lan Yan arrived at the main tent and saw Ruan Yuan. "Is everything arranged?" Since yesterday, the camp had been packing up, preparing to return.
"General, arrangements have been made. But an imperial edict arrived from the capital this morning." Ruan Yuan had waited for Lan Yan here after receiving the decree.
Lan Yan nodded, unfolded the imperial edict on the table, and frowned after reading it. "This is interesting. I haven't even returned yet, but the charges have already been laid."
She handed the edict to Ruan Yuan. It reprimanded her for not treating the prisoners well.
Ruan Yuan quickly read through it and exclaimed indignantly, "The Censorate is truly going too far. The General fought bravely on the front lines, and this time, she did nothing to the prisoners, yet she has to bear such a slander."
"Hmph," Lan Yan sneered. "Someone in the court dislikes me. Never mind, we'll see when I get back." She sat at the table, put away the edict, and then arranged a few other matters.
Ruan Yuan stood by, his expression seething. "This subordinate truly feels wronged on your behalf, General."
Lan Yan, however, smiled. Ruan Yuan was indeed loyal. She soothed him, "Deputy General Ruan, it's not worth getting angry over these people. You must be tired too. Go and rest well."
"Yes, General." Ruan Yuan then went inside, brushing past a soldier entering the tent.
The soldier looked at Lan Yan and reported, "General, the kitchen sent the food as you instructed, but that person did not eat. Should we send it again tonight?"
Lan Yan stood up. "I'll go take a look." Why wasn't Jun Yelan eating?
She returned to the tent. Jun Yelan had woken up, and the food beside him remained untouched. She reached out towards Jun Yelan's forehead and felt it, murmuring, "He's not sick."
Jun Yelan startled. Looking at the hand near his forehead, he instinctively took a step back. Why was this person approaching him again, touching him! He raised his eyes, staring at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan didn't think of anything else, her sole concern being Jun Yelan. "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your taste?"
Jun Yelan had no intention of answering, but seeing those clear, radiant eyes, so different from his own, he responded, shaking his head.
What did that mean? Lan Yan fell into thought, then looked at the food. It was some kind of meat. Jun Yelan's current state was like that of a child, so she had to approach it from a child's perspective. He probably didn't like it.
"Alright, wait for me." She curved her lips and turned to leave.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's retreating back, his eyes darkening. What was she planning? He sat on the chair, remaining in a state of alert until he saw Lan Yan return.
But Lan Yan returned with a tray. Seeing that it contained two bowls of noodles, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Lan Yan placed the noodles in front of Jun Yelan, a smile on her face. "Here, I made this just now. It's been a while since I cooked noodles, so I might be a bit rusty. Taste it and see how it is."
She picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan did not immediately take them, staring suspiciously at the noodles. Could they be poisoned? Lan Yan wouldn't go to such lengths for him. Their statuses were unequal from the start.
One was a general, the other merely a prisoner.
"If you don't eat soon, the noodles will get mushy." Lan Yan thrust the chopsticks into Jun Yelan's hand, feeling an icy coldness. Jun Yelan's hand felt like an ice cellar.
She found it strange and asked, "Your hand?"
Jun Yelan's eyes deepened. He hid his hand in his sleeve and then, with a look of innocent confusion, lowered his head to eat the noodles. After just one bite, he was stunned. The noodles were surprisingly delicious, and he couldn't help but eat a few more mouthfuls.
Seeing this, Lan Yan's lips curved upwards. "It's delicious. I'll make it for you again next time." Jun Yelan remained silent, but she wasn't in a hurry. Slow and steady.
She also lowered her head and started eating.
Jun Yelan gripped the chopsticks in his hand, concealing the darkness in his eyes, and continued to eat. He had only eaten steamed buns and rice before, never noodles.
Those people wouldn't send him such things. It was enough for them not to let him starve to death.
Thinking of this, hatred flared in his eyes, and he felt he couldn't stay here any longer. He had to explore this camp to find an opportunity to escape.
He had been imprisoned for twenty years and refused to be confined any longer.
Lan Yan was immersed in the delicious food, thinking about what kind of noodles to make tomorrow. She didn't notice Jun Yelan's change. After finishing, she saw Jun Yelan sitting upright, looking so well-behaved.
She really wanted to ruffle Jun Yelan's hair, but she held herself back. "Jun Yelan, this is your domain now. Do as you please. If you need anything, find me."
Jun Yelan looked at her as before, his expression innocent. She quickly got up and walked towards the tent flap, afraid she might not resist ruffling Jun Yelan's hair.
Lan Yan had intended to go to the main tent, but then she remembered Jun Yelan's cold hands and walked towards the army doctor's tent.
The footsteps outside the tent faded away. Jun Yelan stood up and hid behind the tent flap. He kicked over a stool, and when a soldier entered, he struck the soldier on the back of the head, making him fall to the ground.
His eyes turned cold, and he walked out, searching the entire camp. He had only been led back by Lan Yan once. He vaguely remembered the previous route, and the exit was near the area with the sick patients.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan was in the army doctor's tent, inquiring about Nie Ye's condition and receiving a prescription.
Nie Ye prepared the medicine and handed it to Lan Yan. "General, take this for seven days to regulate your body. After that, I'll check your pulse again to see if the prescription needs to be changed."
"Alright, thank you. I'll take the medicine." She walked out with the packet of medicine and saw a figure in white. "Jun Yelan?" she murmured in confusion.
Hearing the voice, Jun Yelan's steps halted, and he clenched his fist. Why was she here!
Seeing that the figure didn't move, Lan Yan confirmed her guess. She walked over, her face full of bewilderment. Wasn't Jun Yelan in the tent!