After dismissing Wang Yuan, Shi Lan relaxed her straight back.

Outside the door, Tan Yue, clutching her backside, staggered in, saying, "Young Madam."

Shi Lan turned to look at Tan Yue, who was crying uncontrollably, and sighed, "Silly girl, since you knew you couldn't stop her, why did you still rush in like that?"

Tan Yue's eyes were red, and she pursed her lips, stubbornly saying, "As soon as Wang Yuan came in, she led those rough soldiers and forced her way in. You were sleeping, how could I let her come in like that?"

Shi Lan's heart softened, and she took out a handkerchief with disgust to wipe her muddy face. "In the end, she still came in. You, don't be so stubborn. She is half a mistress, and you are a servant. She has Zhu Yan backing her up, and I can only borrow the power of the warlord. If she really wants to kill you, I may not be able to save you every time."

Tan Yue pouted and kept her head down, remaining silent.

Shi Lan looked up at her, shook her head and sighed, "Alright, go back and lie down. I'll go and get a doctor to take a look at you when it's light."

Tan Yue rubbed her sore bottom, looked at Shi Lan's helpless facepalm, and smiled knowing that Shi Lan didn't really blame her. She quickly agreed and turned to leave.

At dawn, Shi Lan sent someone to invite a doctor to examine Tan Yue's injuries. Only after learning that there was nothing seriously wrong did she feel relieved.

Around noon, Zhu Boyan rushed back after hearing the news. After searching, he found that nothing was missing, and the Zhu family compound finally quieted down.

As evening approached, the sun slanted across the rooftops. Shi Lan put on a light blue-green blouse with altered waistline and hem, and styled her hair into a slightly alluring side bun. She then carefully applied makeup to her fair face in front of the clear, bright mirror.

Half an hour later, Shi Lan looked at the woman in the mirror who was dignified yet charming, elegant yet gentle, and smiled slightly.

Zhu Boyan enjoys a lively home, and whenever he's home, he'll have his beloved son, Zhu Yan, join him for dinner.

As the sun began to set further west, Shi Lan strolled slowly into the small garden outside the courtyard, just in time for her usual mealtime.

Xianglan Garden is located at the westernmost part of the entire compound. To get to the main courtyard, one must pass through this small garden. Shi Lan moved gracefully, craning her neck to look at the mimosa flowers blooming on the branches, her fair and slender fingers gently touching the emerald green branches.

At the end of the covered walkway, Zhu Yan walked over with a pigeon-toed gait.

From afar, one could only see a timid figure in a green dress, her slender waist like a ribbon, and a fine silk embroidered with jewel-shaped flowers hanging down to the ground from her pert buttocks. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the soft hem of her dress, and a feeling of being detached from the world and independent welled up in one's heart.

Zhu Yan stopped in his tracks and murmured, "Who is that?"

His trusted confidant, who was standing nearby, glanced up and quickly searched his mind, managing to identify who it was in an instant.

"Young master, shall I go and ask?" Shunliu asked respectfully.

Zhu Yan waved his hand, his eyes fixed on the beautiful figure. "No need. You may leave."

Shunliu bowed respectfully and quietly retreated.

Zhu Yan put on what he thought was a dashing smile and walked down the corridor with an air of superiority. "Does Miss also enjoy this night of pleasure?"

Shi Lan raised an eyebrow, turned her back to Zhu Yan, and nodded slightly.

Seeing that she hadn't rejected him, Zhu Yan was secretly pleased. "Miss, we share the same interests. I also like this flower. I was the one who insisted on planting this tree in the first place." He looked at Shi Lan's upright back and her slender waist swaying like a willow in the wind, his fingers twitching unconsciously. He spoke more casually, "If Miss likes it, I will have someone dig it up and deliver it to your residence tomorrow."

Shi Lan curled her lips and sneered inwardly. Since he liked the mimosa flower, he should know that the flower symbolizes the union of two families. He was already married, so how could he have a union with someone else?

Shi Lan adjusted her expression, tilted her head, and slowly turned around, her dark eyes looking softly at Zhu Yan. "You're going to give me this tree?"

Zhu Yan's gaze fell on Shi Lan's exquisite and elegant face, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue immediately stuck in his throat.

Shi Lan pursed her lips, making her rosy lips curl into an upward arc, and her pert nose wrinkled playfully. "Is my husband going back on his word?"

Zhu Yan stared blankly at Shi Lan, who was both unfamiliar and familiar. It felt as if a small hand had grown in his heart, gently scratching him, making him feel a tingling itch from the inside out.

Shi Lan gave him a disgruntled sideways glance, snorted softly, and turned to walk back, saying, "I knew it."

Seeing that the beauty was about to leave, Zhu Yan finally came to his senses and hurriedly reached out to pull her back. "Of course I keep my word. Tomorrow, no, wait a minute, I will send someone to move this tree to our courtyard and place it under the eaves of the bedroom, so that you can see it when you open the window."

Zhu Yan coaxed Shi Lan in a low voice, unaware that he had followed Shi Lan to Qinglan Courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Shi Lan raised her chin, seemingly aloof but actually playfully tossing her head, "Who knows who you're showing this to?"

Zhu Yan smiled and made a move to put his arm around Shi Lan, but Shi Lan dodged and he missed.

"Who could I possibly show this to? The mimosa is a flower that symbolizes the union of two families. Who else but your family deserves to be in this relationship? I knew it was you all along, and I was just teasing you," Zhu Yan paused, quickly smoothing over her earlier words, and then followed Shi Lan into the house with a grin.

Shi Lan turned her head, a look of suspicion on her face, "Really?"

Zhu Yan quickly put on a serious expression and said, "Really?"

Shi Lan sat at the table and rolled her eyes at him. "I don't believe it. If you really considered me your lawfully wedded wife, you wouldn't have sent people to break into my yard last night."

Zhu Yan paused, her eyes darting around. She thought it best not to anger Shi Lan at this moment. "Don't be angry. I only found out about this this morning. Aunt Yuan has been disrespectful to her superiors, and I've already punished her by confining her to her room for ten days to reflect on her actions. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against her."

Shi Lan rolled her eyes and pouted her lips, "Really?"

But his eyes clearly showed disbelief.

Zhu Yan looked at her unusually charming appearance, and the little hand in his heart reappeared, a surge of heat rushing downwards.

“Of course it’s true,” Zhu Yan said shamelessly as he moved closer to Shi Lan, his hand wandering up her slender, warm waist.

Shi Lan glanced at him with a charming smile and pointed to the sky, which was not yet completely dark. "Don't be like that, it's still early."

Zhu Yan looked up at the sky, got up and closed the door tightly, then eagerly came over, "There's no such thing as early or late, Father has been looking forward to holding a grandson for a long time."

"Oh, is that so?" Shi Lan said softly, her slender fingers hooking the knot on Zhu Yan's neck. She swayed her supple waist and pulled him to the bedside, then gave him a sudden push.

Zhu Yan was startled and slumped to the side of the bed.

Shi Lan smiled charmingly, her slender body leaped slightly, her delicate arms rose into an arc, her tiny feet, barely a handful, lifted slightly, and her waist swayed gently. A series of crisp bell sounds filled the entire room along with her graceful dance.

Seeing this, Zhu Yan smiled and leaned against the headboard, watching Shi Lan dance gracefully. He was so engrossed in watching her that he was completely mesmerized.