After Wei Qingyan finished probing the mountain bandits’ Obsessive Attachment, she opened her eyes to meet the concerned gazes of several people.
Shi Yu was the first to react. “Does Miss Chang know her?”
Wei Qingyan certainly knew Yan Lan.
But at this moment, she was Chang Qingnian.
It could be a coincidence for Chang Qingnian to know the Huguo Jiangjun, but also knowing Yan Lan would be treating Shi Yu like a fool.
She calmly turned her gaze toward Yan Lan.
Yan Lan was also looking at her, certain she had never seen this woman who had stepped in to help her.
But the kindness of being rescued was real, so she curtsied to the group and said, “My name is Yan Lan. May I ask for the names of my benefactors? I will surely repay you in the future.”
The surname Yan?
Shi Yu pondered the name, then exchanged a glance with Dong Cang.
Dong Cang understood. “We merely intervened when we saw injustice. Madam need not worry about it. However, your injuries look serious. May I ask which Yan family you belong to? I can send someone to notify your family to come for you.”
The surname Yan, and someone who could make General Wei care so much—it was likely related to Yan Qing.
A flicker of sorrow crossed Yan Lan’s face. “Thank you for your kindness, but I have no family left.”
Her mother had passed away early, her father and the old general had died in battle, her eldest brother and Qingyan had also fallen in battle—now only she remained.
If not for this, how would her in-laws dare treat her so poorly?
Touching on such a painful subject, Dong Cang felt a pang of guilt.
But not doing so would arouse General Wei’s suspicion.
Unexpectedly, Jing Zhe’s voice rang out. “Are you Yan Qing’s younger sister?”
Yan Lan was momentarily stunned. “You know my brother?”
Jing Zhe stepped closer and pointed to his own face. “I’m Jing Zhe from Rongwangfu. When you brought crispy pork to Yan Qing, you gave me a packet too.”
He had only met Yan Lan once many years ago. It was only after she gave her name that he looked more carefully, though he wasn’t entirely sure. The face in his memory had been round and adorable, but now her cheeks were sunken and gaunt.
Yan Lan had no impression of Jing Zhe’s face, but she did remember bringing the crispy pork.
At the time, she was still an unmarried girl. Seeing someone beside her brother, she had handed over a packet, too shy to lift her eyes and look directly at a man’s face.
The other three hadn’t expected Jing Zhe to have met Yan Lan before, and they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
With her identity confirmed, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Dong Cang then requested, “Your Highness, since she is Yan Qing’s sister, shall we give her a ride?”
He sighed inwardly, wondering when General Wei would finally recognize his prince.
Otherwise, he and Jing Zhe might not be able to keep up their acting forever.
Yan Lan was indeed exhausted from fleeing for her life, but thinking of the humiliation she might face upon returning, she shook her head. “Thank you for your kindness…”
“I was like a brother to Yan Qing. Since you’re his sister, you’re like a sister to me too. How can I stand by and do nothing?” Jing Zhe insisted.
“Besides, these bandits died here, and there needs to be an explanation. My prince and General Wei are close friends, so he will definitely stand up for you. Don’t be afraid.”
He had heard what the bandits said earlier and guessed Yan Lan’s concerns.
But if Yan Lan was being mistreated, General Wei wouldn’t ignore it, and whatever General Wei cared about, the prince would care about too.
Moreover, since General Wei couldn’t reveal her identity at the moment, it fell to his prince to step up.
Shi Yu nodded, speaking earnestly. “This prince came to pay respects to General Wei and encountered assassins. Thanks to Madam’s rescue, it is only right to see you safely on your way.”
Yan Lan’s eyes reddened. It had been a long time since anyone had stood up for her.
She understood that Prince Rong was willing to involve himself in her troubles out of regard for Wei Qingyan. To refuse further would be ungrateful. “Thank you, Your Highness, but please wait a moment.”
Earlier, focused on fleeing for her life, she hadn’t noticed. Only after Prince Rong’s words did she see the gravesite not far away.
She had returned to the capital precisely to pay respects to her father, brother, and Qingyan.
Yan Lan knelt before the tomb of the Huguo Jiangjun, kowtowing three solid times. “Qingyan, I’m sorry. Yan Lan has come late. From now on, Lan-jie will be in the capital and can visit you often.
I don’t know if you’ve met my brother down there. If you have, Qingyan, please pass a message from Yan Lan to him: Lan’er is doing well. I hope Brother can rest in peace.”
The soldiers who died at Huangshaling had been buried on-site by Prince Rong. Yan Lan assumed her own brother was also buried there and, unable to visit his grave for now, spoke these words.
A murderous intent flashed in Wei Qingyan’s eyes.
Given to bandits by her husband, violated by many—how could she possibly be “doing well”?
Yan Qing and Yan Lan’s father had once been Father’s guard. Later, he followed Father to the battlefield, earned military merit, and became Father’s deputy general.
When Father was selecting guards for her, Deputy General Yan brought Yan Qing before them.
The son of a deputy general had no need to serve as her guard, but Deputy General Yan insisted. He said Father had raised him up, and he could not forget his roots.
Father trusted the Yan family and saw promise in Yan Qing, so he kept him by her side.
After Deputy General Yan died in battle, Father brought Yan Lan to Weifu as well, raising her like a daughter of the Wei family.
When Yan Lan married, she did so from Weifu.
She married the eldest son of the Linzhou Prefect, Luo Chengzhou—a match arranged by Yan Lan’s late mother.
On the day Luo Chengzhou came to the capital to fetch his bride, he promised in front of her and Yan Qing that he would treat Yan Lan well.
This was how he kept that promise.
Wei Qingyan pulled the kneeling woman to her feet. “If we don’t get into the city for treatment soon, you won’t need anyone to pass messages—you’ll see your brother yourself.”
Her words carried a barely suppressed anger.
It was unclear whether she was angry at herself or at Yan Lan, but Luo Chengzhou was already on Wei Qingyan’s list of people who must die.
Jing Zhe reacted swiftly, bringing the carriage over.
Yan Lan had pushed herself to her limit. The moment she stood, she fainted.
Wei Qingyan took her into Anyuan Houfu.
Her reason: they were both women, making care more convenient.
Shi Yu also followed into Anyuan Houfu.
His reason: Yan Lan was injured saving him. To keep up appearances, he even had Dong Cang take his name card to summon an imperial physician.
The elderly imperial physician took her pulse and prescribed medicine. “The injuries are external. With proper rest for a period, she will recover.
But years of pent-up sorrow have severely damaged her health. She must find her own peace of mind.”
Wei Qingyan thanked the physician.
Her heart sank. Lan-jie had been married only five years, yet she was already ill from depression…
By the time the imperial physician left Anyuan Houfu, Jing Zhe had also gathered the necessary information.
Luo Chengzhou had brought Yan Lan back to the capital to visit family and also to seek an official post in the capital.
But on the journey, they were ambushed by bandits.
Seeing that his guards were no match for the bandits, Luo Chengzhou offered Yan Lan to them in exchange for their safe passage.
Yan Lan, having some martial skill, naturally refused.
Luo Chengzhou took advantage of her fight with the bandits to withdraw all the guards and flee with his mother and sister.
Combined with what the bandits had said, it was likely Yan Lan was overpowered, taken to the mountains, and… it was unclear how she had managed to escape.
Pity showed on Jing Zhe’s face. “It seems the Luo family is no longer a place she can return to.”
Then she grew angry again. “That Luo fellow is utterly despicable, daring to abandon his lawful wife.”
“Who said anything about going back?” Wei Qingyan’s expression turned icy. “Where is Luo Chengzhou staying now?”
“The Minister of War’s residence,” Jing Zhe added. “Yan Lan’s mother-in-law is Madam Wu’s younger sister.”
“Wu Yuchu?” Wei Qingyan softly uttered the name.
What a remarkable coincidence.
Jing Zhe nodded. “Yes, him. Luo Chengzhou originally intended to seek Wu Yuchu’s patronage, but unexpectedly, Wu Yuchu died. Now he’s running around the capital trying to build connections.”
Wei Qingyan pondered for a moment before looking at Shi Yu. “Your Highness, how about we make a deal?”