《Miss Truth》


 Chapter 1 - 1 1 The Zhenguan Era of the Great Tang

    ?1: Chapter 1 The Zhenguan Era of the Great Tang 1: Chapter 1 The Zhenguan Era of the Great Tang ¡°Doctor Ran, the inspection report is already printed out, please sign it.¡±


    In the office, a refined and handsome man dressed in a white lab coat, with a fair complexion and a high-bridged nose adorned with half-framed glasses, mitigating some of his handsomeness and making him appear gentle yet competent.


    There was a pause and still no response, but the man seemed to know that the so-called Doctor Ran must be there.


    He stretched out his hand and knocked several times on the door panel and then raised his voice, ¡°Doctor Ran?¡±


    ¡°Alright, just leave it here,¡± a formulaic female voice came from amidst the piles of documents on the desk.


    ¡°Doctor Ran, Captain Li from the Criminal Investigation Team has already urged us several times, please hurry.¡± The man carefully moved some of the stacked documents on the busy desk and placed the report in his hand on top, and finally, not reassured, he pressed it down with an antique inkstone on the table.


    The man sighed; if he didn¡¯t get the signature and hand it out soon, he estimated that Captain Li would come over and kill someone.


    Remembering Captain Li¡¯s fierce demeanor, the man immediately reminded her again, ¡°Doctor Ran, I¡¯ve pressed the file down with the inkstone, please sign as soon as possible.¡±


    From the thick stack of documents, a face as delicate as a porcelain doll lifted up, with pretty brows furrowed, and said in an even tone, ¡°I know, I will personally deliver the documents tomorrow morning.¡±


    Assistant Zhang, upon getting a clear answer, relievedly responded with an acknowledgment and turned to leave.


    But inside, he was unsure whether to feel pity or admiration.


    It¡¯s often said there are three types of people: men, women, and female doctors.


    So, someone like Ran Yan, who held dual doctorate degrees, should be considered a fighter jet among doctors!


    However, that exquisitely beautiful face, perhaps due to facing corpses for too long, seemed lifeless, as if devoid of female hormones, which is why, to this date, she still remains an unapproached saint.


    In the office, Ran Yan worked late into the night before she finally took a breath of relief.


    She got up to make tea and saw the autopsy report pressed under the inkstone, then set down the cup in her hand, sat back down, and began to read the report.


    There were a total of five victims in this case, a family of five.


    Based on the examination of the wounds on the bodies, they had been tortured, including two women who had been sexually assaulted¡­


    Ran Yan frowned, her eyes moving to the last two lines.


    The fatal wound, a knife cut 1.3 cm wide and 7 cm long?


    Had someone else re-examined the bodies, or had the autopsy report been tampered with? S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan put down the report and picked up the telephone, dialing the extension.


    The drone of the dial tone echoed.


    After a long while, no one answered.


    She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was twenty-three forty.


    Except for the doorkeeper, everyone else had left for the day.


    Although she had already concluded someone had tampered with the report, there were a few self-proclaimed veterans among the forensic group who could have re-examined it, so it wasn¡¯t impossible.


    Ran Yan always adhered to her duty and had to verify it again.


    She grabbed her white lab coat from near the door, swiftly put it on, then took gloves and a mask, ready to go to the morgue.


    But as she approached the door, Ran Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned back, and placed the report on the copier to make a copy, pressing it under the inkstone and locking the original in the safe.


    After completing all this, Ran Yan then left the office again.


    As she walked, she analyzed the purpose of the person who had altered the autopsy report in secret.


    The report needed her signature before it could be treated as evidence; such obvious tampering would surely be discovered by her at a glance¡­


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Ran Yan muttered under her breath, her hand releasing the elevator button as she hastily turned and ran outside.


    If that person knew it would be discovered yet still proceeded in this manner, it was highly likely they meant to lure her back for another examination!


    That meant¡ªthe target was her!


    However, she had hardly taken two steps when a gust of wind came from behind and a sudden thud, something hard hit her on the back of the head.


    Ran Yan felt something warm trickling down from the back of her head along her neckline to her back.


    She gave up any hope of shouting for help because this was the underground morgue, which had top-notch soundproofing and insulation.


    Besides, it was late at night, so the likelihood of her being rescued was less than zero.


    Clang!


    The object that had struck Ran Yan fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.


    She instinctively wanted to turn back to see her attacker¡¯s face, but her neck was grabbed from behind.


    Ran Yan could feel it; the person wore rubber surgical gloves.


    It seemed to be a criminal professional.


    Normally, people couldn¡¯t access this morgue, which made it even more likely that the assailant was another forensic doctor from the team.

 Chapter 2 - 2 1 Great Tang Zhenguan_2

    ?2: Chapter 1 Great Tang Zhenguan_2 2: Chapter 1 Great Tang Zhenguan_2 ¡°Originally, my plan was flawless, but who would have thought you would find a clue from the wound?


    So don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± A bone-chilling voice whistled from behind.


    The voice was familiar, confirming Ran Yan¡¯s suspicion: yes, it was her assistant.


    Ran Yan gave a cold laugh, enduring the pain and the confusion in her mind as she struggled to organize her words, ¡°Assistant Zhang, you¡­


    underestimate me, Ran Yan, too much.


    I might die by your hands when I¡¯m careless, but you won¡¯t escape.¡±


    With a snap, perhaps her cervical vertebra was twisted and broken, Ran Yan could no longer feel the pain; she only remembered that before falling, she saw the ancient inkstone on the ground, shattered into pieces it was a birthday gift from her archaeologist mother.


    **


    In early June, the early morning in Suzhou City was shrouded in misty rain, with the fog dense and the scenery indistinct.


    Buildings and rooftops were scattered at various heights, occasionally their corners broke through the fog, showing black tiles and white walls, cobblestone alleys deep and shallow or far and near, forming a beautiful ink painting with the weeping willows by the riverbank.


    However, about four or five miles south of there, the atmosphere in the town was entirely different.


    At the foot of a mountain, surrounded by trees, in the middle of a flat farmland was a village with only forty households.


    Smoke curled up from the chimneys into the misty rain, with pathways connecting every home, where chickens and dogs could be heard.


    The dwellings were small and dilapidated, except for two large and exquisite houses that stood out significantly; one of them was the clan hall of the village, and the other was the Ran estate.


    The hall of the Ran estate was spacious and deep, with finely carved gates.


    The courtyard wasn¡¯t very large, and the wind could blow directly into the main house through the corridors.


    The wooden floor was somewhat damp, and the whole house was exceedingly cold, with curtains that seemed to have been soaked, hanging heavily.


    Ran Yan lay on a straw mat, her eyes wide open in disbelief at the scene before her: an antique room, she herself lying on a wooden platform that was slightly higher than the rest of the floor, surrounded by dense bamboo curtains that cordoned off the sleeping area.


    Under her were several layers of thick straw mats, and she was covered with a water-pink satin quilt, the quilt surface adorned with beautifully embroidered peonies.


    She remembered she was about to go to the morgue for an autopsy, but was¡­


    murdered!


    Moreover, she suffered broken third and fourth cervical vertebrae, which would have paralyzed her even if she had miraculously survived¡­


    Ran Yan¡¯s face was a picture of astonishment as she propped herself up, her head spinning as numerous images flashed by, in them she was an ancient woman from the Great Tang dynasty during the Zhenguan era.


    She was a legitimate daughter of a prominent family; her mother had passed away, and she had been plagued by a severe illness for the past five years¡­


    The memories shifted like a rapidly changing slideshow, an overwhelming amount of information rushed in, causing her head to split with pain; the body she¡¯d just propped up fell back onto the mat.


    After enduring the pain for a long time, which ebbed away like the tide, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but moan in relief.


    Her memories were very chaotic; even so, she grasped a portion concerning the ancient times ¡ª she was the seventeenth young lady of the Ran family, sharing her name, Ran Yan, who, due to a lingering illness that showed no signs of recovery, was sent here to Ran estate to recuperate two years ago.


    To call it recuperation was less accurate than to say it was ¡°exile to the frontier.¡±


    ¡°It must be a hoax¡­¡± Ran Yan murmured to herself.


    This clearly seemed like she was in ancient times.


    She was a complete atheist, dismissing time travel as something seen only in TV dramas!


    Thus, she diagnosed that she must have mistakenly seen a time-travel series on TV recently, which caused her brain to enter into a deep sleep and unconsciously concoct this absurd dream.


    Ran Yan kept her eyes closed for a long time but felt no trace of sleepiness; her heart was stormy, far from the calm surface.


    Years of skepticism towards anything supernatural contrasted sharply with everything before her now, the silky sensation of the fabric on her body¡­


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    She suddenly got up, supporting her weak body as she got off the bed.


    Feeling heavy-headed and dizzy, she stood still, gradually adapting to the environment for a moment before feeling slightly better.


    Ran Yan then began to carefully observe her surroundings.


    Through the bamboo curtain, she could faintly see the layers of satin curtains outside, tender white and pale pink, all exuding a delicate and soft femininity.


    The room contained only a few low wooden tables, sparsely furnished but still exuding an exceptional elegance.


    Ran Yan parted the curtains; the reality of the touch almost made her forget to breathe.


    Beyond the curtains were more tables, but at the base of the wall, there was now a large copper mirror on a low table, reflecting a blurry and delicate figure in a pale yellow gown with cascading hair down to the waist.


    Even from this distance, although only a blurred shadow was visible, Ran Yan knew it was not herself!


    She numbly looked down to see her pale yet tender hands, devoid of color, and her mind buzzed, her body swaying as she slumped to the ground.


    Ran Yan knew the human body better than anyone, based on the size of this palm as well as the features of the skin and bones, she could determine that ¡°herself¡± was currently about fifteen or sixteen years old.


    Ran Yan was still in shock when a clamor came from outside.


    The voices grew louder; amongst them was a shrill girl¡¯s voice, particularly stark, ¡°The seventeenth has been ill for so long, it is out of kindness that mother sent her here.


    Do you sincerely wish for her death?!¡±


    This girl spoke without restraint, and the emphasis she placed on the word ¡°death¡± was not out of concern but sounded more like a curse.


    A name naturally came to Ran Yan¡¯s mind: Ran Meiyu.


    ****


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 Chapter 3 - 3 2 Picking Up the Golden Hairpin

    ?3: Chapter 2: Picking Up the Golden Hairpin 3: Chapter 2: Picking Up the Golden Hairpin ¡°Wan Lu, absolutely not! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Please go and speak with the Lady, my Wife is seriously ill.


    The Doctor has said that moving her right now will certainly worsen her condition.


    I beg you, I¡¯ll kowtow to you¡­¡± the elderly woman¡¯s voice trembled and choked with pleading.


    Another girl, cold and tragic, spoke, ¡°Xing Nian, don¡¯t kneel to her!


    Can¡¯t you see that Wan Lu just hopes for something bad to happen to my Wife, so she can become a legitimate daughter?


    What¡¯s the use in pleading with her!


    If anything happens to the Wife, we might as well follow her in death rather than suffer indignities at the hands of these heartless people!¡±


    Xing Nian and Wan Lu were mentioned anew, which reflected the strangeness of this situation.


    It left Ran Yan lying dumbly on the floor, momentarily forgetting to get up.


    ¡°You!


    Someone bind this disrespectful wretch!¡±


    Footsteps, growing louder amidst the chaotic noise outside, approached as Ran Yan lay on the floor, struggling to turn her head towards the door.


    Before Ran Yan could rise, the door banged open.


    The cold and damp air from the outside rain rushed in, sending a chill through her spleen and lungs.


    The first thing she saw was a pair of delicate feet in wooden clogs and wet silk stockings, looking extremely heavy from the rain.


    The newcomer seemed shocked by the sight of Ran Yan lying on the floor, her eyes wide open, and let out a cry before retreating several steps, supported by a Maid by her side.


    It wasn¡¯t only her who was frightened; everyone present was.


    Xing Nian and Wan Lu struggled free from their constraints and hurried forward, crying out in fear, ¡°Wife!


    Wife!¡±


    ¡°Wife¡± was a term used during the Tang Dynasty to address a woman; this notion faintly emerged in Ran Yan¡¯s mind.


    She struggled to raise her head and saw two faces filled with concern in front of her¡ªone an emaciated face marred with wrinkles and white at the temples, tears streaking down, and the other, a girl around sixteen or seventeen with attractive features but hollow cheeks due to thinness, nonetheless beautiful.


    It was Xing Nian and Wan Lu who were attending to her.


    ¡°Wife!


    Have you awakened?


    How can you lie on the ground?


    What if you catch a cold again!¡± Xing Nian, both shocked and overjoyed on seeing Ran Yan move, managed to stop crying and embraced her, although tears continued to fall.


    The rough hemp clothes were somewhat prickly.


    Smelling a faint scent of soapberry, a warmth surged in Ran Yan¡¯s heart, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel repulsed by the overbearing Ran Meiyu.


    ¡°Wan Lu!


    My Wife has already awakened, she only needs some days of recuperation and she will be perfectly fine, no need to move her elsewhere,¡± Wan Lu declared loudly, her shouting audible both inside and outside the house.


    ¡°Hmph, perfectly fine?


    She¡¯s probably having a brief rally before the end!¡± Ran Meiyu¡¯s voice was sharp, as cruel as her words.


    Uncertain about where Ran Meiyu intended to move her but seeing the two protective servants sobbing beside her, Ran Yan knew it was nowhere good.


    Dream or reality, Ran Yan was not one to suffer losses.


    She coughed weakly, ¡°Help me up.¡±


    Her voice was hoarse, barely louder than a breath.


    Xing Nian snapped to attention and quickly helped Ran Yan to her feet.


    Wan Lu stood protectively in front of her, her expression fierce as if ready to perish together with anyone who dared to approach, which frightened all the attending Maids to a halt.


    Since ancient times, even the most ruthless have feared those who have nothing to lose.


    Wan Lu¡¯s determination was all she had.


    After standing up, Ran Yan clearly saw the appearance of the young girl in front of her.


    Around fifteen or sixteen years old, she wore a cinnabar red tunic dress up to her chest, covered with a semi-transparent thin silk blouse adorned with neatly stitched golden begonia flowers.


    Her hair was styled in a graceful bun, adorned with two finely crafted golden hairpins.


    She had bright eyes and white teeth, looking pretty and charming, but her haughty demeanor and her venomous words earlier left Ran Yan with no fondness for her.


    Ran Yan took a few steps forward, standing just half a step away from Ran Meiyu.


    Ran Meiyu, with a face full of disgust, covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve, as if afraid of being contaminated by illness.


    She said to her maid beside her, ¡°Wretched maid, why are you still standing there?


    Quickly pull her away!¡±


    Ran Yan gave those maids a deathly stare, which caused them to shiver with fear.


    They hesitated, likely afraid of catching a contagious disease from Ran Yan, and despite Wan Lu¡¯s blocking, the four maids couldn¡¯t bring themselves to intervene.


    It was clear that Ran Meiyu was not well-liked; otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t even her own maids sacrifice themselves for her?


    Suddenly, Ran Yan reached up and deftly plucked the golden hairpin from Ran Meiyu¡¯s hairdo.


    Her movements were not swift, but as Ran Meiyu was reluctant to face her directly, she didn¡¯t react in time, and the maids, who were a bit too far away, simply watched as Ran Yan easily took it.


    Holding the long, slender golden hairpin of about six or seven inches, Ran Yan inexplicably sighed, ¡°Truly exquisite.¡±


    ¡°Give it back to me!¡± Ran Meiyu, still quite young, forgot all caution when she saw her possession taken.


    She immediately reached out to snatch it back.


    Ran Yan seemed to have anticipated her move and had already stepped back seven or eight steps.


    Due to her frailty, her retreat was stumbling, but fortunately, Xing Niang supported her, preventing her from falling.


    Ran Meiyu¡¯s maids were not in a rush to reclaim the hairpin.


    After all, with so many of them against one, were they really afraid they couldn¡¯t get a single hairpin back?


    They also wondered whether Ran Shiqi had gone mad with illness or poverty since she had daringly stolen in public.


    How could she possibly escape?


    Once Ran Yan had steadied herself, she said indifferently, ¡°Tell me, what would others think if I were to thrust this golden hairpin into my throat?¡±


    As she spoke, the sharp end of the hairpin was already pressed against her own throat, slicing into her delicate skin like white porcelain.


    Blood sprang forth, sticking to her pale skin like beautiful coral beads.


    The pain of the hairpin piercing her skin made Ran Yan furrow her brows; indeed, none of this was a dream!


    Ran Meiyu watched Ran Yan in horror.


    She had never expected the usually timid and easy-to-bully Ran Shiqi to take such a cruel action against herself.


    Glancing at her pale yet flawless face, void of any signs of life, with slightly knitted brows and clear eyes as vacant as a dried up well, it seemed like she was looking at her but simultaneously saw right through her.


    Ran Meiyu couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the woman before her was nothing more than a walking corpse.


    Trembling, she exclaimed, ¡°Ran Shiqi, you, you¡¯ve gone mad!¡±


    ¡°Wife, you mustn¡¯t do this, you mustn¡¯t!¡± Xing Niang reached out in panic, attempting to take the hairpin from her.


    ¡°Xing Niang!¡± Ran Yan commanded, ¡°If your hand moves even an inch closer, I can¡¯t guarantee how deep this will go.¡± Her tone was so cold it left no room for doubt about the veracity of her words.


    Wan Lu was calmer than Xing Niang.


    She also noticed that her mistress¡¯s behavior was unusual today, as if she didn¡¯t truly intend to end her life yet was so resolutely decisive, completely different from usual, even the aura around her had changed.


    Therefore, when Ran Yan held the hairpin to her throat, Wan Lu didn¡¯t react immediately.


    But with the ¡°great enemy before her,¡± she couldn¡¯t afford to think further and had to stay on high alert to prevent her mistress from actually harming herself.


    Watching Ran Yan¡¯s colorless and lifeless face, Xing Niang felt a wave of despair and sorrow wash over her.


    Ever since the Lady had passed, the legitimate daughter had been left to fend for herself in the manor, barely surviving.


    In the first year, they were allotted some money for medicine, but now even that was gone.


    The stepmother covered the heavens with one hand.


    They had begged several times for some money or food but returned not only empty-handed but also beaten and injured.


    The stepmother intended to drive the legitimate daughter to death!


    Enduring such torment, it might truly be better to die and be done with it all!

 Chapter 4 - 4 3 Fierce and Stern

    ?4: Chapter 3 Fierce and Stern 4: Chapter 3 Fierce and Stern Xingniang wiped away her tears, and with a voice shaking slightly, she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t stop you.


    If Wife insists on leaving, I will simply follow and serve you.


    I have not taken good care of Wife, and it¡¯s about time I confess my failure to Lady.¡±


    ¡°This slave will follow you too!¡± Wan Lu was also deeply hurt by Xingniang¡¯s words.


    A vicious glint appeared in Ran Meiyu¡¯s eyes.


    No matter what, Ran Yan¡¯s death was not on her hands; all the maids around her could testify to that.


    So, she thought, it might be best if she just let her die!


    Ran Yan saw through her thoughts in an instant and sneered, ¡°You expect to use a personal maid to testify for you?


    They¡¯re all your people; who would believe them?


    Can you silence everyone¡¯s gossip?


    Let me tell you, Ran Meiyu, even if I were to die, I¡¯d make sure to drag your reputation down with me.


    I don¡¯t have many days left to live anyway.


    You¡¯ve come here to take the fall with me, and I couldn¡¯t be happier!¡±


    Ran Meiyu was indeed intimidated by Ran Yan¡¯s crazed demeanor.


    It was a time of peace, and as a sheltered young lady, she was naturally very afraid of bloodshed.


    Moreover, she was here today; if Ran Yan were to die, no matter what the truth was, she knew rumors would be unavoidable.


    With this in mind, Ran Meiyu began to hesitate.


    Ran Yan laughed hollowly, her appearance becoming crazier by the moment, ¡°Get out!


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    If you don¡¯t leave now, you¡¯ll never get the chance!¡±


    In her threats to Ran Meiyu, coupled with her claims of having only a few days left to live, Ran Yan made it clear that all her efforts were in vain, nothing but foolish self-inflicted trouble.


    Although Ran Meiyu was rash, she wasn¡¯t stupid.


    Hearing what Ran Yan had said, she started to weigh her options.


    It seemed all the maids around her were afraid of causing trouble and were urging her to leave quickly.


    Ran Meiyu quickly ordered her maid to hold the umbrella and hurriedly left in the rain, even forgetting to ask for her golden hairpin back.


    Exhausted, Ran Yan collapsed in Xingniang¡¯s arms, still clutching the hairpin tightly in her hand.


    From the original Ran Yan¡¯s memories, this 18th younger sister was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong, always pretending to wield power she didn¡¯t possess.


    She had some cunning but was far from matching her astute mother.


    So Ran Yan had bluffed her.


    Luckily it worked; otherwise, with the heavy rain and her current physical condition, if she were truly abandoned in some desolate wilderness, she definitely wouldn¡¯t live another day.


    When Ran Yan stabbed her throat with the hairpin, she hadn¡¯t actually hit any vital points.


    It was just a scratch that drew a bit of blood¡ªno big deal¡­


    The crucial part was¡­


    she had transmigrated!


    Her soul had traveled through time!


    How absurd!


    Seeing Ran Yan in a dazed state and her eyes slowly closing, Wan Lu¡¯s heart tightened, and she hurriedly ran out to call the doctor.


    *


    Lying there for an indeterminate time, Ran Yan woke up again, still with her eyes closed, she could feel the warm sunlight.


    ¡°Wife!¡± Wan Lu saw her stir slightly and was overwhelmed with a mixture of sorrow and joy, seeming somewhat flustered, entirely unlike the decisive and stern behavior she displayed when blocking Ran Meiyu that day.


    Ran Yan lifted her eyes to the sunshine filtering through the curtain, her mind still foggy.


    What were the chances of transmigration?


    And what were the odds of returning?


    As Ran Yan lay in a dazed state, she knew the likelihood of returning anytime soon was slim.


    Even if there were a way back in the future, her body would have been cremated long ago, and even if it wasn¡¯t, who could guarantee that a dead body¡¯s functions could be used again?


    It seemed she was destined to live out her life in the Tang Dynasty of a thousand years past.


    After taking several deep breaths, Ran Yan calmed her emotions.


    Coming back to her senses, she heard urgent calls beside her ear, ¡°Wife!


    Wife!¡±


    ¡°Wan Lu.¡± Ran Yan¡¯s voice was faint, as if a stronger wind might carry it away.


    ¡°Here, here, this slave is here!¡± Seeing Ran Yan returning to her senses, Wan Lu quickly moved closer.


    ¡°Is the sun out?¡± Ran Yan squinted at the bright sunlight streaming through the bamboo curtain, feeling some of the gloom in her heart dissipate a little.


    Wan Lu noticed that Ran Yan¡¯s complexion had improved and finally breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as she replied, ¡°Yes, after six or seven days of continuous rain, the weather has finally cleared.


    Wife has woken up too, truly a good omen.¡±


    ¡°Help me outside to sit for a bit,¡± Ran Yan recalled that she should use this kind of authoritative tone when speaking to Wan Lu, so she did just that.


    Wan Lu cheerfully obeyed, swiftly passed through the curtains, and brought over a thick brocade coat for Ran Yan to wear, then supported her to the yard.


    As soon as she stepped out of the room, a warm, moist breeze, mingled with the faint fragrance of herbs and the scent of honeysuckle, hit her face.


    The small garden was filled with various flowers and plants, well-tended by the gardener.


    In the southwest corner of the yard, a pergola had been erected, now completely covered by the vines of honeysuckle, with delicate yellow and white blossoms competing to bloom under the sunlight, thriving vigorously.


    Around the pergola was a neat little herb garden, within which grew several common medicinal herbs, with a small path paved with pebbles leading to the pergola.


    Ran Yan did not go over but chose to bask in the sun along the covered walkway connecting the annex to the main house, which followed the perimeter wall of the yard; the dampness inside the house almost made her grow moldy.


    Ran Yan leaned against a pillar and sat for a while.


    The warm sunlight slowly penetrated her cold skin, seeming to give her some strength, but she was too lazy to move.


    Squinting her eyes, she repeatedly went through the memories about the Ran family.


    She had inherited the body¡¯s memories, yet found that the original host was sorely lacking in knowledge¡ªbeyond the immediate family relations, almost everything else was a blank slate, ignorant of distant relatives, common folk¡¯s lives, or major world events, clearly having been a sheltered young lady who rarely stepped outside her chambers.


    ¡°Where are they planning to send me?¡± Out of professional habit, Ran Yan felt compelled to understand anything enshrouded in mystery.


    Wan Lu was taken aback before reacting and said indignantly, ¡°Are you talking about Lady Eighteen?


    She is forcing you to take the vows and become a nun!


    That Taoist temple is halfway up the mountain, attended by few devotees.


    If the Wife goes there, it would be, would be¡­¡±


    Like signing one¡¯s own death warrant.


    Wan Lu avoided such words out of taboo, conveying the meaning without saying it outright.


    Taoist temples in Suzhou City were not as prevalent as in Chang¡¯an, with only a small temple in West Mountain.


    Adding everyone together, there were barely more than twenty people; the atmosphere was one of asceticism.


    Sending the critically ill Ran Yan there was no different from forcing her to die.


    ¡°Hmm, no matter what, you must not be too impulsive.


    You were quite rude to Lady Eighteen yesterday, and she will inevitably bear a grudge and seek revenge,¡± Ran Yan knew that Wan Lu and Maid Xing were fiercely loyal.


    As she was new to this time and place, she would undoubtedly rely on them in the future.


    Out of a need to protect her allies, she felt obliged to caution her.


    Wan Lu sighed helplessly, her tone nevertheless filled with certainty, ¡°This whole affair was initiated by the Lady of the main house.


    She mentioned it to our master, but he did not agree.


    Lady Eighteen running here on her own to coerce, without proper justification or right, there are many in the family eagerly watching for faults in the Lady of the main house, waiting to accuse.


    If not for things being unsuitable to be made public, with Lady Eighteen¡¯s character, how would she have fled in such a panic?¡±


    ¡°The Lady of the main house¡± referred to by Wan Lu was Ran Yan¡¯s stepmother, Lady Eighteen¡¯s biological mother, while ¡°our master¡± naturally referred to the head of the Ran family, Ran Yan¡¯s father from the Tang Dynasty.


    Ran Yan said, ¡°But after all, she is the mistress.


    If she wants to deal with you, it would take no more than a few words.


    Be careful in the future not to openly antagonize her.¡±


    So not openly means it¡¯s fine to do it covertly?


    Widening her eyes, Wan Lu thought, the Wife is smart and has always understood everything in her heart but never voiced it out loud, always bearing everything with resigned acceptance, oftentimes comforting herself by saying, ¡°Just endure it a bit longer.¡± Maid Xing shared the same attitude, and the two of them frequently huddled together, crying.


    This would frustrate the hot-tempered and easily angered Wan Lu beyond measure; it was about time things improved, even if the Wife had just said something rather ambiguous.


    Wan Lu¡¯s eyes reddened as she choked out, ¡°Even if I have to die, I cannot let the Wife be bullied!


    But as for the Wife, having suffered such a grievous injustice this time, it seems you have finally grown a heart!


    You are the legitimate daughter, and even if the Lady¡¯s family has fallen on hard times, they are nonetheless of high status, a thousand, no, a hundred thousand times better than coming from some insignificant family like the Lady of the main house.


    As long as the Wife recovers, no one can do anything to you!¡±


    Ran Yan offered a faint smile; she had intended to offer advice, but instead, she received consolation.


    Although these words were meant for the original Ran Yan, she appreciated the sentiment all the same.


    ¡°The Wife¡¯s smile is so lovely!¡± Wan Lu¡¯s phoenix eyes brimmed with tears, and under the radiant sunlight, they sparkled, adding an extra touch of beauty to the slender young girl.


    She was just sixteen or seventeen, an age like a blooming flower, yet she already seemed so mature¡ªthis maturity was surely forced upon her by years of hardship.


    Ran Yan pondered this thought until her mind drifted off again.


    Wan Lu looked on with concern at her mistress, her expression blank after only a few words of conversation, wondering if there was truly something wrong.

 Chapter 5 - 5 4 Livelihood

    ?5: Chapter 4 Livelihood 5: Chapter 4 Livelihood The servant and her master sat under the porch, basking in the sun for a while before Xingniang came in with medicine from the next courtyard.


    Seeing Ran Yan sitting below, she hurried over, placed the tray on the railing, and took Ran Yan¡¯s hand, crying with joy, ¡°Wife, you¡¯re awake!


    It¡¯s good that you¡¯re awake.


    I will go and invite Divine Doctor Wu to take a look at you.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded.


    She also understood traditional Chinese medicine, especially in prescribing medicine, but she was not very skilled in taking pulses and such, so having someone else confirm was good.


    Xingniang left for a moment and then brought back a hunchbacked old man, wearing a light brown faded robe, clutching a gray cloth bag in his hand, with snow-white hair and a sparse mess piled on top of his head, secured with a wooden hairpin, which swung back and forth as he moved.


    His wooden clogs were so worn they looked as though they could fall apart at any moment.


    This forlorn appearance hardly suggested someone with exceptional medical skills.


    Ran Yan would not judge by appearances, and from what remained of her memory, this old man was a wandering doctor found by the stepmother just to appease the elders and Ah Lang, named Wu Xiuhe.


    Perhaps the stepmother hadn¡¯t expected that this wandering doctor actually had true skills, managing to extend Ran Yan¡¯s illness for two years and voluntarily staying at the estate to treat her.


    At first, the Ran family provided him with some silver taels, but now they no longer gave him any money.


    They all called Wu Xiuhe the Divine Doctor, not because his medical skills were truly exceptional, but out of gratitude.


    ¡°Divine Doctor Wu.¡± Seeing as Wu Xiu was her colleague, and he was also quite benevolent, Ran Yan rose with Wan Lu¡¯s help to greet him.


    Wu Xiuhe grunted twice, took a look at Ran Yan, and noticed her pale and bluish complexion.


    The pair of sparkling eyes she used to have now had a touch of death in them.


    He couldn¡¯t help frowning as he took Ran Yan¡¯s slender wrist between his fingers.


    ¡°The pulse is strong and steady, a sign of great recovery and well-being¡­¡± Wu Xiuhe stroked his sparse beard and spoke slowly.


    Wu Xiuhe looked at Ran Yan¡¯s face with confusion and wondered, ¡°If there are signs of great recovery, why does the complexion not reflect that?¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if Wu Xiuhe¡¯s medical skills were exceptional, he wouldn¡¯t know that it was because the soul inside Ran Yan¡¯s body had changed to another person and had not yet fully merged and adapted.


    Additionally, in her previous life, Ran Yan¡¯s complexion had always been sickly and lifeless¡ªhow much better could her appearance be!


    Wu Xiuhe wrote out a prescription and handed it to Xingniang, ¡°Now that there¡¯s an improvement, we must change the prescription accordingly.¡±


    The moment the prescription was written, Xingniang and Wan Lu looked both delighted and worried¡ªdelighted that their lady who had been bedridden was finally showing signs of improvement, but worried because they had no money left for medicine, especially since the prescription listed only top-quality tonics.


    Xingniang gave Wan Lu a secret look, signaling her not to mention this in front of their lady.


    Wan Lu tightly pursed her lips, reached out to take the prescription, and carefully placed it in the sleeve of her dress, persuading Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, you have just recovered from a serious illness, you should go back to your room and rest.


    The slave will go get the medicine.¡±


    Ran Yan was not unaware of their little movements, but she merely nodded and, with the support of Nanny Xing, entered the house.


    Wu Xiuhe glanced at Wan Lu and saw her tightly clutching the sleeve of her dress, a look of determination flashing in her eyes, and he felt an ill premonition.


    He quickly whispered, ¡°I have been attending the medical hall in the city for the past few days and have not charged money, but I have received quite a few medicinal materials.


    It would be good if you can get the monthly allowance on this trip, but there¡¯s no need to worry if you can¡¯t.¡±


    Wan Lu¡¯s eyes reddened, and with a thud, she knelt in front of Wu Xiuhe, choking down sobs as she cried, ¡°I will remember your great kindness in my heart!


    In my next life, I¡¯m willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay this grace!¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± sighed Wu Xiuhe as he extended his hand to help Wan Lu up.


    He was originally nothing more than a charlatan doctor who freeloaded for meals, yet he surprisingly developed a bit of compassion here; he had never been this benevolent in most of his life.


    They might have made a loss now, but initially, he saw that Miss Seventeen was due for a turning point and figured there might be some return in the future, which is why he exerted himself so much.


    However, this Miss Ran Shiqi was also too submissive, accepting everything that came her way and not showing any ambition at all!


    Wu Xiuhe looked up and let out a heavy sigh, shouldered his medicine chest, and turned to leave, feeling that physiognomy was not very reliable.


    His enthusiasm for helping was waning, and he thought to himself that he would help this one last time and then quickly pack up and leave.


    While Wan Lu had just stopped her tears, she saw Nanny Xing come out of the house, holding a golden hairpin, speaking in a worried, low voice, ¡°The Lady told me to sell this hairpin.¡±


    Assuming it was about selling one of the Lady¡¯s remaining pieces of jewelry, Wan Lu said anxiously, ¡°But there are only so few items left, we should keep one or two as a memento!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the Lady¡¯s heirloom.¡± Nanny Xing handed the hairpin to Wan Lu, looking uneasy, ¡°This is what the Lady obtained from Miss Eighteen yesterday¡­


    The Lady wants me to exchange it for money, but what if¡­¡±


    Feeling relieved, Wan Lu immediately took the hairpin and reassured Nanny Xing, ¡°This golden hairpin with gemstones, the ¡®Butterfly Playing Among Flowers,¡¯ is worth quite a sum.


    Selling it will be enough for us to live on for three to five months, and the Lady¡¯s medicine cost will have a solution.


    Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Nanny Xing watched Wan Lu run out in a hurry, her heart in turmoil.


    Miss Eighteen wasn¡¯t one to bear a loss easily; if something went wrong¡­


    Nanny Xing was full of worry, but considering that her own Lady hadn¡¯t had decent food for over half a year and if it weren¡¯t for the help of the Divine Doctor, even the medicine would have run out by now, she didn¡¯t attempt to stop her.


    Ran Yan lay on the couch, her mind filled with thoughts until, without knowing when, she gradually fell asleep.


    Not knowing how long she slept, when she awoke she was groggily attended by Wan Lu, who helped her eat some porridge.


    After a while, she was propped up to drink a bowl of medicine, and then she drifted back to sleep.


    For two consecutive days, Ran Yan remained in a semi-conscious state.


    Wu Xiuhe had already packed his luggage and was ready to leave, but Wan Lu clung to him, not letting go, and Nanny Xing was crying desperately.


    Wu Xiuhe¡¯s head ached from the hassle, and he reluctantly agreed to wait until Ran Yan woke up before leaving.


    Wan Lu, afraid he might change his mind, firmly took away Wu Xiuhe¡¯s medicine chest, even hugging it in her sleep, which infuriated Wu Xiuhe to the point of puffing out his cheeks and glaring, yet he found himself at a loss.


    Despite his age and thick skin, he still cared about face and couldn¡¯t possibly reach into a young girl¡¯s arms to snatch his belongings!

 Chapter 6 - 6 5 The Cost of a Dou of Rice

    ?6: Chapter 5 The Cost of a Dou of Rice 6: Chapter 5 The Cost of a Dou of Rice By the third day, Ran Yan had finally woken up.


    Ran Yan saw Wan Lu, who was holding a medicine chest, leaning against the edge of the bed, and felt a slight warmth in her heart.


    Although she had been unconscious these days, she occasionally had moments of awareness.


    It so happened that she had heard the affair where Wan Lu clung to Wu Xiuhe, refusing to let him leave.


    Now that her presence in the Great Tang was a settled matter, Ran Yan, seeing the constant looks of worry on Madam Xing and Wan Lu¡¯s faces, also felt guilty.


    She made up her mind to stop dwelling on it and live well, as that was the correct thing to do.


    Some noisy sounds faintly drifted in from outside.


    Ran Yan did not disturb Wan Lu; she silently got up, draped on her clothes, got off the bed, and went to the corridor.


    She slipped on her wooden clogs, straightened her clothes, and followed the sounds.


    Leaving the courtyard, Ran Yan discovered that the Ran estate¡¯s farmstead was more than just her little courtyard; just outside her courtyard was a large garden.


    The flower beds were overgrown with weeds, a sign they were not tended regularly.


    Alongside the path, there were several houses, with dark tiles and white walls, very ordinary and not as exquisite as her own courtyard.


    As she walked further forward, the exterior noises become crisper.


    Among the chaotic sounds, discernible fragments of conversation could be heard, all in the soft language of the Southern region.


    Even the men¡¯s voices carried a gentle tone.


    Ran Yan, who previously only spoke Mandarin, surprisingly understood the soft, sweet dialect.


    ¡°Divine Doctor Wu, you simply must accept this chicken!¡±


    ¡°Divine Doctor Wu, these are our family¡¯s radishes, please don¡¯t disdain them.¡±


    ¡­


    Suddenly, Ran Yan remembered that neither Wan Lu nor Madam Xing had spoken in the Wu dialect.


    After thinking carefully, she realized that the Ran clan could trace their lineage back to Ran Yong of the Spring and Autumn Period.


    During the Wei Jin Period, a Ran Min emerged, who later established the Ran Wei regime during the Sixteen Kingdoms era.


    Ran Yan was a descendant of Ran Yin, the son of Ran Min.


    Her clan had lived in Shanxi for many years, before relocating several times, always in the North, and had only recently moved to the Southern region as a family.


    Lost in thought, Ran Yan unconsciously arrived at the source of the commotion.


    The noise at the entrance ceased abruptly as Ran Yan appeared.


    The villagers trying to stuff things into Wu Xiuhe¡¯s hands stared at Ran Yan, forgetting even to move.


    In the sunlight, Ran Yan wore a plain flower ruqun that reached her chest, with a loosely draped satin dress over it.


    Her black hair cascaded down, her delicate but pale face stark against her dark locks, creating a distinct contrast of black and white.


    She was exceedingly beautiful, yet her appearance was like a dark marsh, inadvertently making onlookers¡¯ souls chill. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Ran Yan, Wu Xiuhe¡¯s wrinkled face brightened up.


    He ordered the gatekeeper to quickly accept the items and, after thanking each villager with a bow, turned to scrutinize Ran Yan from top to bottom, ¡°You look somewhat better.¡±


    ¡°With your skilled and benevolent care, you saved my life.


    Right now, I have nothing to offer in gratitude, but I will not forget.


    In the future, I shall repay you!¡± Ran Yan knew that Wu Xiuhe was a practical man; speaking heartrending words of thanks would not be as meaningful as giving him a sincere promise.


    Wu Xiuhe paused for a moment, then, stroking his beard, his face beamed with a smile, ¡°I have treated you with all my heart and effort for two years.


    Heaven does not disappoint those who strive, and now you have finally recovered.¡±


    If it were the former Ran Yan, she would surely have been awed by his sage-like demeanor, but that Ran Yan was no more.


    ¡°Wife!¡± Wan Lu, clutching the medicine chest, rushed out anxiously.


    Seeing Ran Yan, she breathed a sigh of relief and chided, ¡°Wife, the South is very different from the North; there are many more rules!


    Going outside looking like this might not be seen favorably by others.¡±


    Ran Yan wanted to say that she had already been seen by others, and not just by one person, but seeing Wan Lu rambling on anxiously, as if the talk would never end, she swallowed her words and bowed her head in a teachable manner.


    Seeing her look like a little bride, Wan Lu couldn¡¯t help but giggle, ¡°In the old days, a mere extra word from me, and the Wife would not want to listen, but today you are extraordinarily obedient.¡±


    Obedient?


    Ran Yan blinked her eyes; it had been over a decade since anyone had described her that way!


    Wan Lu was very pleased to see Ran Yan not as melancholic as before.


    Both of them bowed slightly to Wu Xiuhe, and Wan Lu, returning the medicine chest to him, escorted Ran Yan back to the rear courtyard.


    Once assured they were alone, Wan Lu confided, ¡°Wife, the hairpin was sold for fifteen taels of silver.


    We bought some rice and grain for less than one tael, enough to last us for the better part of a year, and spent two taels on herbs.


    They¡¯re all top-grade tonics.¡± She then made a pained expression, clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I took the initiative to buy some good medicinal herbs for Divine Doctor Wu as a gift; he likes those.¡±

 Chapter 7 - 7 5 How Much for a Dou of Rice _2

    ?7: Chapter 5 How Much for a Dou of Rice _2 7: Chapter 5 How Much for a Dou of Rice _2 Ran Yan nodded her head, ¡°This is necessary.¡±


    Ran Yan thought hard, still having no concept of fifteen pieces of silver, and sighed involuntarily.


    The original mistress really knew nothing about the ways of the world, and she couldn¡¯t continue like this to survive, so she asked, ¡°How much rice can one piece of silver buy?¡±


    Wan Lu felt distressed.


    Originally, if her mistress were still in the main residence, she would have already learned to manage household affairs, but now she didn¡¯t even know how much a dou of rice cost¡­


    Though her heart ached, Wan Lu still explained very carefully to Ran Yan, ¡°One piece of silver is one guan, which is a thousand wen.


    One dou of rice costs five wen.


    Ten dou of rice is one dan, which means one piece of silver can buy twenty dan of rice.


    This is in an average year.


    If there¡¯s a good harvest, it¡¯s common in Jiangnan Road for rice to cost only three or four wen per dou.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded.


    One dan of rice was about fifty-nine kilograms, which she knew.


    What she hadn¡¯t expected was that one piece of silver in the Great Tang could buy more than a thousand kilograms of rice!


    She also marveled that the lifestyle of the ancient nobility was truly extravagant¡ªone hairpin could be exchanged for that much rice!


    ¡°My mistress, your health isn¡¯t good, so I bought some green jing rice.


    This green rice comes from Hebei Road and isn¡¯t available locally.


    It costs forty wen per dou.¡± Wan Lu sighed.


    Most of the green rice was transported to Chang¡¯an to be sold.


    Little was sent elsewhere, as merchants preferred to curry favor with the nobles by delivering it to their houses, which made it not only expensive but also hard to get.


    Wan Lu had to nag and push hard just to secure fifty kilograms.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, what a pity,¡± Wan Lu suddenly sighed.


    Ran Yan gave her a questioning look.


    Wan Lu said, ¡°That gemstone-embedded butterfly hairpin comes in a pair, selling a single one resulted in quite the financial loss.


    If you had pulled out the other one from Miss Eighteen¡¯s head as well, we could have sold it for forty pieces!¡±


    Ran Yan burst into laughter, ¡°You really are ruthless!¡±


    ¡°Ruthless, so be it!


    It¡¯s just that holding other people¡¯s money in my hand makes me feel relieved.


    My mistress indeed demonstrated immense power, just like an Overlord!¡± Wan Lu recalled how a few days ago Ran Yan had that ¡°Mount Tai collapsing in front of her yet remaining unchanged¡± demeanor, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Ran Yan smiled as Wan Lu chattered beside her.


    They entered the courtyard and took off their wooden clogs in the corridor, walking with their socked feet on the wooden floor, a style that Japan later adopted from the Tang Dynasty.


    With her living problems resolved, Ran Yan¡¯s health also improved day by day, adding a certain joy to the small courtyard.


    Wu Xiuhe, for some reason, suddenly decided not to leave.


    With someone providing food and drink, he no longer went to the city to hold a clinic but occasionally went up the mountain to pick some herbs to enhance his private collection.


    His days were leisurely and carefree.


    The few servants in the house only looked after the manor and weren¡¯t responsible for attending to Ran Yan, so Xiang Niang and Wan Lu were always busy with chores, never having a moment of peace.


    Only Ran Yan was idle enough to grow moss.


    She was a workaholic before, but in the Great Tang, there were no corpses for her to examine.


    After her mental support had collapsed, she seemed somewhat dull.


    Even though Xiang Niang and Wan Lu offered many suggestions, reciting poetry and painting were not to Ran Yan¡¯s liking, so she still felt somewhat at a loss.


    Holding a brush, she wrote a neatly formed ¡°Quiet¡± character on the paper and began to zone out again.


    She had not only inherited the memory of the original mistress but also her skills, although how good those skills were, Ran Yan was not very clear.


    She felt the character was neat and elegant.


    In her opinion, as long as the writing was visually pleasing, that was enough; she pursued nothing else.


    ¡°Wan Lu, I want to go out for a walk,¡± Ran Yan put down the brush and looked at Wan Lu, who had finally managed to take a break.


    ¡°Divine Doctor Wu says your health has improved well; going out for a walk would be good.¡± Wan Lu was straightforward; if it was okay, then it was okay.


    She immediately got up to fetch a veil to put on Ran Yan.


    Many believe that in the Tang Dynasty, voluptuous figures were considered beautiful, and it was an open and passionate culture, but this wasn¡¯t entirely so, especially not in the early years of the Zhenguan era.


    Women still needed to cover up when going out, not casually showing their faces to outsiders.


    The veil was like a kind of broad-brimmed hat, coming with a black gauze around it, covering her whole body once put on.


    The future headscarf evolved from this veil.


    Ran Yan found it quite novel.


    It was early morning, and the heat hadn¡¯t yet arrived.


    The summer breeze carried a slight chill, which was very comfortable.


    Ran Yan stood on a small earthen hill at the edge of the village, overlooking the village, where paths crisscrossed and smoke spiraled from kitchen chimneys.


    Occasional barks of dogs filled the air, and the low houses bathed in the orange morning light seemed quiet yet lively.


    For the first time, a joy of being reborn surged in her heart.


    Ran Yan took a deep breath, feeling the purity of this world, but her mind suddenly filled with many thoughts.


    The Ran Yan who had once dominated the forensic field was dead.


    As for her murderer, she believed he would be brought to justice very soon.


    Ran Yan was meticulous; her office contained many confidential files, so she had secretly installed a camera inside the room.


    The police, while investigating, would surely detect it.


    Assistant Zhang had gone back for that document which definitely had a record, and combined with the fingerprint on the document in the safe, these two pieces of evidence would be enough for the police to classify him as a major suspect.


    Ran Yan trusted the capacity of Captain Li from the Criminal Investigation Team.


    She wouldn¡¯t be wronged¡­


    What concerned her now was her precarious situation, and she needed to think carefully about how to survive henceforth in the Great Tang.


    Become a forensic doctor?


    The elders of the Ran family would rather see her dead than agree to it, wouldn¡¯t they?


    Moreover, she wasn¡¯t clear whether women during the Zhenguan period could hold such a position.


    Even if she could become a forensic doctor, she might face the same fate as in her previous life, and no one would dare to employ her!


    Although she loved the forensic field dearly, she had to be objective about it. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being alone in the Tang Dynasty, Ran Yan suddenly longed for the warmth of a family.


    Opportunity gave her a chance to live again.


    Ran Yan felt she shouldn¡¯t tread the same old path.


    Thinking of her medical skills, she believed she could develop them, but suddenly acquiring medical skills might arouse suspicion.


    It might be better to start by apprenticing herself to Wu Xiuhe¡­


    Ran Yan thought this plan was quite reliable.


    After making up her mind, she sat again for a while, listening as village women gradually started calling their children out of their houses for a meal.


    ¡°My lady, shall we also return?¡± Wan Lu said.

 Chapter 8 - 8 6 The Drowned Child

    ?8: Chapter 6: The Drowned Child 8: Chapter 6: The Drowned Child Ran Yan nodded her head in a relaxed mood, allowing Wan Lu to support her as she slowly walked down the path.


    Occasionally, they encountered one or two village women who recognized Wan Lu.


    Seeing her supporting a woman, they knew it was Ran Shiqi¡¯s wife and courteously stepped aside to squat and salute.


    Ran Yan also politely requested them not to bow, leaving them all with a very amiable impression.


    To take the shortcut, Wan Lu and Ran Yan passed through the center of the village where they gradually encountered more people.


    In the Tang Dynasty, it was not customary to kowtow casually, even though these villagers were hired farmers on the Ran family estate.


    When they saw Ran Yan, or even the Ran family¡¯s master, a simple salute and greeting were sufficient.


    As they reached the edge of the village, they suddenly heard a commotion of noisy clamor.


    Within moments, they saw more than ten children being chased by an old man with a cane, like a flock of flapping birds, screaming and desperately running.


    The girls each had twin buns; the older ones wore skirts while the younger ones wore trousers and cross-collared clothes.


    The boys were more varied, some with twin buns like the girls, some with a single bun, and there was also a chubby toddler about five or six years old, his hair completely shaved except for a tuft at the front of his head, pouting and on the verge of crying.


    Ran Yan, seeing their mud-covered appearances and noticing bloodstains on two of their faces, guessed that it was a group of children who had fought while the adults were not looking.


    Indeed, just as she was thinking this, she heard Wan Lu teasing the last little chubby boy, ¡°Pang Xiao Lang, caught fighting again!


    Better run; if the clan leader catches you, your mother will surely punish you!¡±


    The little chubby boy burst into tears, crying woefully, yet his feet did not stop.


    His little legs churned furiously, terrified of being caught.


    Truly, he was adorably pitiful.


    Ran Yan, with a face full of mirth, said, ¡°Wan Lu, you are really naughty!¡±


    Seeing Ran Yan more cheerful than before, Wan Lu was delighted and playfully bantered, ¡°Wife, you enjoy the spectacle so cheerfully, yet you accuse your slave!¡±


    Ran Yan, who had always been like this, felt a bit embarrassed when her true sentiments were pointed out and coughed awkwardly twice.


    Before she could reply, her body was suddenly jostled aside.


    Wan Lu cried out in surprise and quickly reached out to grab her.


    They staggered a few steps but finally steadied themselves, narrowly avoiding falling into the roadside ditch.


    After steadying herself, Ran Yan looked up at the person who had bumped into her, a village woman dressed in a light brown hemp skirt, who had already run far away.


    Although she could not see her face, she noted the woman¡¯s hurried and disoriented steps, indicative of her fraught state.


    ¡°How utterly rude!¡± Wan Lu immediately got angry, ¡°Wife, let me take you back to the manor first, and then I will settle accounts with that village woman!¡±


    Ran Yan looked away and said indifferently, ¡°Let it be, seeing her hurried steps, she must have encountered some urgent matter.¡±


    ¡°What urgent matter could it be?


    Has the sky fallen that she doesn¡¯t know to apologize after bumping into someone?¡± Wan Lu said angrily. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Wan Lu¡¯s indignant expression, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but smile helplessly.


    Ran Yan realized that she had relaxed over the past few days, although completely idle, she felt livelier than before.


    Previously, when facing corpses, out of respect for the deceased, she had to treat them with utmost seriousness, without any negligence.


    A workaholic, she had over time developed an intimidating ¡°death face¡± that people respectfully but fearfully avoided.


    Perhaps this change was a good thing after all!


    Wan Lu, assisting Ran Yan, reached the edge of the village, where just past an arch bridge lay the Ran family estate.


    They had just stepped onto the staircase when a heart-wrenching cry suddenly pierced the evening calm, startling the birds at the water¡¯s edge into a fluttering escape.


    It was exactly as Wan Lu had said earlier¡ªthe sky had indeed fallen.


    ¡°Sanlang!


    Sanlang!¡±


    The woman¡¯s wails were nearby, followed quickly by the comforting words of men and women, old and young, words like ¡°grieve not too deeply¡±.


    The pain of losing a son pierces deeply, especially as Zhou Sanlang was Liu¡¯s only son, and Liu, a widow who had already lost two sons to illness, and her husband three years prior, depended solely on her only son.


    The anguish was unbearable.


    In a panic, Liu proclaimed, ¡°No, my Sanlang cannot be dead, I must go to Divine Doctor Wu!


    He will surely save my Sanlang!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Mrs.


    Liu, just wait a moment, let¡¯s take Sanlang and go to Divine Doctor Wu,¡± a man agreed.


    While it seemed that Zhou Sanlang was indeed dead, the people appeared to have an irrational belief in Wu Xiuhe, the Divine Doctor, genuinely thinking he could bring Zhou Sanlang back to life.

 Chapter 9 - 9 6 The Drowned Child_2

    ?9: Chapter 6 The Drowned Child_2 9: Chapter 6 The Drowned Child_2 Ran Yan, having heard a commotion from the crowd, then saw a group of people frantically rushing out from a small patch of woods; the one at the front was a farmer carrying a child, donned in grey narrow-necked short clothing that was sopping wet and clung to his body, revealing his sturdy frame.


    Beside him was another strong-looking young man, equally drenched.


    Following close behind were several women dressed in coarse linen long skirts, one of whom was the same woman who had bumped into Ran Yan earlier.


    The group of people, from afar, spotted Ran Yan and Wan Lu standing at the head of the bridge and they all shouted, ¡°Wife!


    Hurry, help us get Divine Doctor Wu to save a life!¡±


    Wan Lu urgently whispered to Ran Yan, ¡°Divine Doctor Wu went to West Mountain to gather herbs early this morning, he definitely won¡¯t be able to make it back now!


    What are we going to do!¡±


    ¡°No matter what, let¡¯s go back first to take a look; what if the child¡¯s life isn¡¯t meant to end!¡± Ran Yan urged. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wan Lu, considering Ran Yan¡¯s words made sense, stamped her foot anxiously, lifted her skirt hem, and turned to run towards the residence.


    Afterward, the group of people rushed past Ran Yan, who hastily grabbed a young man, his momentum causing her to stagger.


    ¡°Wife, please don¡¯t hold me back, saving a life is crucial!¡± The young man was flustered but restrained by etiquette, unable to pull away from Ran Yan.


    ¡°What can you do if you go?


    What if Divine Doctor Wu isn¡¯t there!


    You better hurry and look for a horse, and go find a Doctor nearby!


    It¡¯s better to be safe than sorry,¡± Ran Yan said coldly.


    The young man was startled for a moment, then quickly bowed his hands, ¡°Thank you for the guidance, Wife!¡±


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries, and immediately followed after speaking; distant waters won¡¯t quench nearby thirst, and if there was a glimmer of life left in that child, she couldn¡¯t stand idly by as the chance to save him slipped away.


    Having practiced forensic medicine for so long, Ran Yan had a habit of wanting to get close to a body at the sight of one.


    When encountering someone with a faint chance of survival, she was compelled to try everything to rescue them.


    After all, in criminal investigations, the living could provide much more information than the dead.


    Thus, Ran Yan¡¯s intent to save the child wasn¡¯t so much out of compassion, but mostly stemmed from an instinct of ¡°keeping someone alive¡± for information.


    The crowd stopped outside the Ran residence, looking inside anxiously; the women just held the child and wept.


    Time seemed to drag on indefinitely.


    It was only a short while, but the waiting crowd grew restless.


    The Han who brought the child forth said, ¡°Life and death are at stake, we might as well go inside to look for Divine Doctor Wu!


    If the master blames us later on, I¡¯ll take full responsibility!¡±


    If they were to forcefully enter the residence, the mere two doormen wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them.


    Everyone agreed and were about to step forward when they saw Wan Lu running out, gasping for breath, ¡°Divine Doctor Wu went to West Mountain to gather herbs early today, I¡¯ve searched the entire courtyard, and he hasn¡¯t returned!¡±


    This news was like a bolt of lightning.


    Wan Lu had barely finished speaking when the woman burst into loud sobs, ¡°The Zhou Family has only this one child, and I couldn¡¯t protect him!


    My husband oh!


    I have let you down!¡±


    The villagers fell silent, and a few village women came forward to console Madam Liu.


    Ran Yan parted the crowd silently and walked up to Madam Liu, instructing, ¡°Put the child on the ground.¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was so solemn and calm it seemed devoid of emotion, startling Madam Liu into silence.


    ¡°If you truly want to save him, listen to me,¡± Ran Yan said impatiently, crouching down and taking the child from the stunned Madam Liu.


    Through the thin black gauze of the veil, it was clear to see the child¡¯s face was swollen and purple, his belly slightly distended, and his entire body swollen from being in water, his hands clenched into a tiny fist, holding things like algae and stones.


    Ran Yan felt a chill in her heart and gently pressed the distended belly, confirming with Madam Liu, ¡°Is it that you haven¡¯t seen your child all night?¡±


    Madam Liu, upon seeing Ran Yan¡¯s serious expression, clung to her like a drowning person to a straw, desperately saying, ¡°After dinner last night, Sanlang said he was going to play at the head of the village for a while.


    When he came back in the evening, he seemed displeased, saying he was grown up and wanted to live alone in a room.


    I thought he had heard some gossip and agreed, and it was only this morning when I called him for breakfast that I found he was not in the room¡­ sob sob¡­¡±


    As she spoke, she was already weeping uncontrollably.


    Once Madam Liu spoke these words, the others also lost hope.


    Having drowned last night and soaked all night, the child already looked like this, there was no reason to hope for his survival, even Divine Doctor Wu would probably find it difficult to bring him back.


    Everyone sighed and encouraged Madam Liu to mourn with restraint.


    Tears streaked Madam Liu¡¯s face, but she fixed her gaze on Ran Yan, not speaking, yet her eyes were filled with desperate hope.


    Ran Yan lifted the black gauze of the veil and pressed the child¡¯s eyeballs with her fingers, observing the pupil¡¯s reaction.


    This was a method for distinguishing between true death and suspended death; if the pupil deformed when pressed and returned to normal when released, it indicated that the person was still not dead.


    In forensic medicine, there is a condition called ¡°suspended death,¡± also known as a faint death.


    It describes a highly suppressed state of circulatory, respiratory, and brain functions, with life functions extremely weakened.


    Clinical examination methods can no longer detect vital signs, and externally it appears as if one is dead, while actually, they are still alive.


    Through active treatment, they can be temporarily or permanently revived.


    Suspended death is common in various mechanical injuries, such as hanging, strangling, drowning, various poisonings, etc.


    Ran Yan had encountered several such cases in her work.


    Seeing that the child¡¯s pupils could still recover, Ran Yan feared he might still be alive.


    To confirm her judgment, Ran Yan tied the child¡¯s fingertips using a handkerchief.


    ¡°Go find dry soil!


    The drier, the better.


    Bring it here, it could save his life,¡± Ran Yan instructed, looking up and conveying her meaning with the most concise language.


    The crowd looked at each other perplexed, the households of Suzhou all lie by rivers, where could they find dry soil?

 Chapter 10 - 10 7 Burying in Soil to Save Lives

    ?10: Chapter 7 Burying in Soil to Save Lives 10: Chapter 7 Burying in Soil to Save Lives Ran Yan remembered when she had passed through the village, she saw many families had walls made of clay.


    The weather had cleared for several days, so those walls should all be dry by now.


    ¡°Go smash the mud walls!


    Bring the soil here,¡± Ran Yan said while rapidly clearing the water, mud, and other filth from the child¡¯s mouth and nose.


    She then took Wan Lu¡¯s handkerchief to wrap around her finger and pulled the child¡¯s tongue out of his mouth.


    The courtyard walls were merely piled up with mud from the riverbank; it was only a matter of expending some physical effort, nothing costly.


    Therefore, as soon as the villagers heard it was only about smashing walls, they immediately ran back to knock down their own walls.


    It was not that they blindly trusted Ran Yan.


    After all, the Liu family with their orphan and widowed mother were pitiable, and furthermore, Ran Yan¡¯s serious and composed demeanor gave no hint of jesting, inexplicably instilling an unquestionable hope in people.


    Wan Lu had no time to ask questions and felt intimidated by Ran Yan¡¯s unusual aura; for a moment she simply stood frozen at the side, unsure of what to do.


    The child hadn¡¯t just fallen into the water; he had been submerged for most of the day, his body stiff, breath ceased; it seemed that ordinary first aid might not suffice.


    Ran Yan took the opportunity to check the swollen, purplish-red finger that had been tied earlier, proof of ongoing blood circulation.


    Convinced of the child¡¯s vitality, she immediately began to perform cardiac massage on him.


    When people carried over dry soil on stretchers, she instructed them to lay a thick layer on the ground, then cover the child with dry soil, leaving only his mouth and eyes exposed.


    Wan Lu did not know how else to help, so she joined the others in carrying soil.


    As the villagers busied themselves, their doubts grew until finally, a young scholar in a wide-sleeved robe couldn¡¯t help but lean in and ask, ¡°Didn¡¯t they say Sanlang could still be saved?


    Why bury him in the ground?¡±


    Ran Yan lifted her head and stared at him silently for a couple of breaths, her gaze enough to send shivers down the scholar¡¯s spine.


    Truth be told, Ran Yan simply thought the scholar too foolish; if they were burying someone, how could they do it right in front of the house?


    Therefore, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain.


    What followed was a long wait.


    Liu shi was no longer crying but stared unblinkingly at her son.


    The onlookers assumed this was some kind of witchcraft ritual, and they all watched to see what would happen.


    During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, medical skills were widely applied, but in fact, medicine was still undistinguished from witchcraft.


    The renowned Medical Saint Sun Simiao even dutifully recorded some superstition-related content similar to witchcraft in his ¡°Qian Jin Yao Fang,¡± so it was normal for the villagers to have such thoughts.


    For a time, more than a dozen people held their breath in rapt attention, so quiet that not even breathing could be heard. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only the cicadas cried exhaustively as the sun steadily rose, the summer sunlight fierce and glaring, blinding and scorching.


    The Clan Leader and the elders arrived one after another, and more and more villagers gathered, yet not a single child could be seen.


    In the recent days, the weather had been continuously clear, and the courtyard walls were only damp on the surface from the night dew; the soil in the middle was quite dry.


    Plus, with the sun¡¯s rays shining down, the moisture in the child¡¯s body was gradually being absorbed by the soil.


    About half an hour later, the doctor who had been summoned from the town arrived in a flurry, wearing a wide-sleeved robe.


    He quickly pushed through the crowd, ¡°Where is the patient?¡±


    Someone hurriedly led the doctor to the mound of soil, ¡°He¡¯s still buried.¡±


    The old doctor immediately stamped his foot, ¡°Who buried him!


    A drowning victim should have the water cleared from him as quickly as possible, this is simply¡­ simply¡­¡±


    ¡°It was I,¡± Ran Yan, who had been squatting on the ground, stood up and spoke indifferently, ¡°Zhou Sanlang had been submerged in the water for an entire night, and this method is the best there is.¡±


    The old doctor¡¯s eyes widened in shock and annoyance.


    If someone had been submerged for an entire night, even three or five hours, they would be surely dead!


    Yet here they had rushed several miles to bring him here¡ªwas this not toying with them?


    However, the old doctor could understand the feelings of the deceased¡¯s relatives and sighed heavily, turning to leave.


    ¡°Senior, please wait.


    Once Sanlang wakes up, he will still require your attentive care,¡± Ran Yan paused, then turned her head to give an order, ¡°Wan Lu, go get the consultation fee.¡±


    Wan Lu was completely baffled.


    When had her lady ever used such a bizarre method to save someone?


    If he were to be revived, it would be good, but if he died, they would not escape censure for having put the man through such an ordeal.


    Filled with regret, Wan Lu couldn¡¯t believe that she had so naively trusted her lady.


    She had no choice but to continue believing as her mind rapidly went through thousands of thoughts.


    Hastily, she went back to the house to get the money.


    ¡°Alas!¡± The old doctor sighed.


    Anyway, he had said all that could be said, and there was nothing to do but wait and see how they wished to proceed.


    He would stay out of compassion and wait a while.


    Seeing the old doctor¡¯s demeanor, everyone knew that it was unlikely Zhou Sanlang would be saved.


    Of course, when Zhou Sanlang had been fished out of the water, his body was already completely stiff; not a breath of air was coming in or out.


    Their earnest efforts were partly due to Ran Yan¡¯s serious attitude, as if leaving things up to fate, and partly to wait for the Liu family to give up hope.


    ¡°Cough!¡±


    Just as everyone was growing hungry and gradually losing hope, a barely audible cough from the pile of earth suddenly reinvigorated everyone.


    ¡°Sanlang!¡± Mrs.


    Liu rushed forward, her tears falling thick and fast, ¡°My son!


    You scared me to death!¡±


    Ran Yan squatted down, gently brushed the dirt from Zhou Sanlang¡¯s face, and seeing that he had opened his eyes, she said, ¡°Lie still for a while longer, until you¡¯ve dried off.


    Then you can come out.¡±


    Zhou Sanlang was dazed and confused, but hearing this incredibly beautiful woman tell him to lie down a while longer, and feeling immense pain and weakness all over his body, he complied with her request and lay quietly.


    Mrs.


    Liu turned around and gave a formal bowing salute, without uttering a word, just bending over the ground for a long time.


    This was the most reverent form of ceremony in the Tang Dynasty.


    Any salute had to be preceded by sitting on one¡¯s knees.


    During the Han and Tang Dynasties, when formal chairs were not yet customary, people would sit on the floor¡ªa practice also known as sitting with legs folded under oneself, kneeling, or sitting upright¡ªbefore proceeding with the salutation.


    Such complexities were strictly adhered to only by those of status, and an ordinary village woman would not understand such manners, likely just kowtowing in any manner; hence, it was clear that Mrs.


    Liu was not an ordinary village woman.


    ¡°Lady, please rise,¡± Ran Yan helped Mrs.


    Liu to her feet.


    The Clan Leader of the Zhou Family village also hurried over to express his gratitude to Ran Yan.


    The villagers, momentarily stunned by the miraculous revival, realized that the Clan Leader was offering thanks, and their senses returned.


    The crowd suddenly erupted into exclamations and admiration.


    Ran Yan sighed inwardly.


    She had originally planned to ask Wu Xiuhe to be her teacher before anything else, but plans could not keep up with changes.


    Just as she had thought about it, the matter cropped up before her.


    Whether it was a blessing or a curse was yet to be seen.


    Ran Yan simply made a mental note of it and refrained from further thought.


    She bowed to the crowd and, with Wan Lu¡¯s support, returned to the estate.


    Seeing that the matter had been settled, everyone quickly helped Mrs.


    Liu dig her son out of the earth and carried him back on a wooden board.


    The old doctor stepped forward to check Zhou Sanlang¡¯s pulse.


    Though still weak, his life had truly been saved, to his great amazement.


    He immediately wrote a prescription for Zhou Sanlang and handed the consultation fee to Mrs.


    Liu, asking her to return it to the Ran residence.

 Chapter 11 - 11 8 Discipline

    ?11: Chapter 8 Discipline 11: Chapter 8 Discipline After Wan Lu returned, she excitedly embellished the story while talking to Mrs.


    Xing.


    After listening to the story, Mrs.


    Xing couldn¡¯t help but frown and gently rebuked Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, what you did was not appropriate.¡±


    Ran Yan, who was just about to start her meal, put down her chopsticks and got ready to listen carefully, but all she got in the end was a sigh from Mrs.


    Xing.


    It was truly infuriating.


    ¡°Why was it not appropriate?¡± Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Mrs.


    Xing raised her hand full of compassion, about to stroke Ran Yan¡¯s hair, when suddenly she stopped.


    She realized that the Wife no longer looked like the adorable kitten she used to be.


    Although Wan Lu said that the Wife smiled more than before, she always felt a sense of distance.


    Mrs.


    Xing dropped her hand, thinking to herself that the Wife had to grow up eventually.


    She felt both sad and relieved at once, ¡°It¡¯s not that saving people is wrong, but for the Wife to leave the grateful villagers without saying much, it¡¯s a breach of etiquette, I fear, and it might damage your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Having saved them, did they not feel grateful?


    Could they still concoct some fault in the Wife?¡± Wan Lu couldn¡¯t help but express her indignation.


    ¡°What¡¯s more, the Wife did speak politely for a sentence or two.¡±


    Mrs.


    Xing pointed at Wan Lu¡¯s head with her finger and scolded with a stern face, ¡°You girl, always so hotheaded.


    The Wife is an unwed maiden, in such a situation, to gain a good reputation is always beneficial.


    Did the Wife pay respects to that Doctor from the city?¡±


    Having said this, she turned to Ran Yan, ¡°Half a year ago, the Wife reached the age of hairpinning, and after winter passes, she will be sixteen.


    If she were still at the main house, they would have already begun discussing marriage proposals.


    But with these circumstances¡­


    Alas!


    Wife, now you are living in this remote area, not seeking fame or talent, merely wishing to be healthy.


    If you can also earn a reputation for being educated and gentle, virtuous and modest, it would better facilitate marriage talks¡­¡±


    While speaking, tears started to well up in Mrs.


    Xing¡¯s eyes.


    She quickly pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve to dry her tears before continuing, ¡°The Wife¡¯s health seems to be improving day by day, and I¡¯ve finally been able to let go of a heavy burden in my heart.


    Right now, what I worry about is that the stepmother might interfere with the Wife¡¯s marriage, especially since we¡¯ve just offended Miss Eighteen¡­¡±


    ¡°I know my mistake.¡± Ran Yan understood that Mrs.


    Xing¡¯s worries were not without reason.


    If she didn¡¯t gain a good reputation now, she feared that even as a legitimate daughter, she wouldn¡¯t be married into a good family.


    Marriage is a serious matter, and ever since Ran Yan decided to make the best of living in the Great Tang, she constantly remembered that this was ancient times.


    Many things can¡¯t be handled as one wishes; one must endure in order to obtain the future they desire.


    Mrs.


    Xing took Ran Yan¡¯s hand, gently patted it twice, and said with satisfaction, ¡°Seeing the Wife pulling herself together makes this old servant so happy.


    The Lady led a life of good deeds, and she will surely bless the Wife.¡±


    Since it was time for dinner, Mrs.


    Xing didn¡¯t say anything further, merely instructed Wan Lu to serve Ran Yan her meal while she went to prepare a bath.


    After the meal, following Ran Yan¡¯s usual habits, she helped her bathe and change clothes, and then brought her a book to read.


    Wan Lu stood by, holding an embroidered fan to cool Ran Yan, which left her feeling quite uncomfortable.


    After reading a piece by Ban Jieyu titled ¡°Resentment Song,¡± Ran Yan was already feeling sleepy.


    She was recently recovering from a serious illness and her body was not yet fully healed.


    After the day¡¯s taxing events, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.


    Mrs.


    Xing carried a basin of well water inside to cool the room, and seeing Ran Yan asleep, gestured for Wan Lu to come outside to talk.


    Wan Lu set down the fan, quietly covered Ran Yan with a quilt, and followed Mrs.


    Xing out.


    The two walked along the covered walkway until they stopped under a cluster of banana trees at a corner near the second gate.


    Mrs.


    Xing looked around, made sure no one was in sight, then took Wan Lu¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°When you went to the city the other day, did you hear anything about the main house?¡±


    ¡°No, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wan Lu asked, puzzled.


    Mrs.


    Xing sighed, ¡°You¡¯re clever, but sometimes you can be less observant than a bucket, not even able to hold the smallest of details.


    I fortunately overheard the servants privately discussing this matter today.¡±


    Wan Lu didn¡¯t deny it.


    She had always been carefree, and Mrs.


    Xing, though mild-mannered, was indeed smart.


    Wan Lu was open to learning, and she inquired, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to understand the ordeal with Miss Eighteen for the past few days and I felt uneasy.


    Today, I just heard from the servants that the stepmother proposed a marriage for Miss Eighteen, to a family from Langya of the Wang Clan.


    But once the clan leader of the Wangs found out that Miss Eighteen wasn¡¯t a legitimate daughter, they declined.


    How could Miss Eighteen not harbor resentment!¡± Mrs.


    Xing said.


    The Langya Wang clan was extremely prominent during the Wei Jin Period; the era when ¡®Wang and Ma shared the world¡¯ was magnificent.


    Though not as illustrious in the Tang Dynasty, their profound legacy remained formidable.


    Moreover, every gentleman in that clan was as graceful as a jade tree in the wind, suave and handsome.


    Securing a match with them was indeed no easy task!


    But such prominent clans paid utmost attention to lineage, and the Ran family couldn¡¯t compare with the Wangs.


    Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t agree if there was even the slightest mismatch.


    Wan Lu gloated, ¡°Even if Miss Eighteen was the legitimate eldest daughter, with her character, a simple inquiry in Suzhou City would be enough for the Wang family to refuse!¡±


    Mrs. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xing tapped her forehead with her hand and reprimanded in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m telling you this to remind you to be more vigilant and considerate, to better advise the Wife.


    Like today, you¡¯re always praising how the Wife did this or that, but what were you doing?¡±


    Observing Wan Lu¡¯s thin appearance, Xing Niang truly felt sorry for her and softened her voice as she spoke, ¡°When the Lady was seriously ill, only the two of us took care of her, and we simply didn¡¯t have the time to inquire about anything.


    Now that the Lady has largely recovered, and considering her age, it¡¯s time to think more about the future.


    You aren¡¯t young anymore, you should be thinking about marriage.


    If the Lady marries well, you can marry well too!¡±


    Wan Lu was grateful in her heart and hugged Xing Niang¡¯s arm, rocking it as she said, ¡°Xing Niang, I know I was wrong, I¡¯ll be more careful next time, as meticulous as threading a needle!¡±


    Xing Niang laughed off her lack of seriousness, and after a few more words, they both went back to attend to their duties.


    The Ran estate¡¯s manor remained as tranquil as ever, but in Zhou Family Village, the excitement was extraordinary as Zhou Sanlang¡¯s miraculous recovery had everyone celebrating as if it were the New Year.


    Mrs.


    Liu, who had brought Zhou Sanlang to this place years ago, was accepted by the clan since her marital family also bore the surname Zhou.


    The Clan Leader, taking pity on the orphan and widow, discussed with the elders and decided to take them in.


    Although they were not related to the villagers, people back then valued clan ties greatly, so it was not unusual for someone with the same surname to find some connection in the family tree.


    As a result, with the help of the villagers, Mrs.


    Liu was able to stay.


    And the villagers¡¯ joy was not solely due to Mrs.


    Liu¡¯s son having survived, but rather the fact that ¡°coming back to life¡± was such a miraculous event, one truly hard to come by in a lifetime.


    At the same time, Ran Shiqi, who had always been inconspicuous, became known to everyone in the village overnight, hailed as the reincarnation of a bodhisattva.


    Ran Yan, having slept for half an hour, then got up to wash.


    This was the first time she seriously looked at her current appearance.


    In the polished copper mirror, a pale and lifeless face was clearly reflected.


    Her nose was well-shaped, especially the tip, which rose with an elegant curve.


    The curve of her cherry lips was gentle, her skin was fair as cream, and one could imagine how delicate and charming the original Ran Yan must have been, evoking affection.


    Long and bright eyes, fine brows that slightly tilted upwards at the ends, capable of unparalleled charm if only her eyes moved slightly, but unfortunately, Ran Yan was too stern and rigid to utilize such expressive eyes.


    Xing Niang sneaked a glance at Ran Yan, thinking to herself that the Lady still knew how to pine for her past looks, which meant she was still the same Lady as before, only now more sensible.


    ¡°Lady, let this old servant comb your hair for you,¡± Xing Niang said, picking up the comb from the low table and kneeling beside Ran Yan, gently combing her long hair.


    In the Tang Dynasty, there were no chairs, and everyone sat on their knees.


    Ran Yan felt somewhat uncomfortable with this on a mental level, but physically, she seemed very accustomed to such a posture.


    The afternoon sun shone through the gaps of the closely woven bamboo blinds, casting fine strips of light onto the wooden floor.


    Through the blinds, one could faintly see the peony flowers that had just bloomed outside.


    ¡°Eh?¡± Ran Yan stared at the flowers outside for a while, ¡°When did the peonies bloom?¡±


    Wan Lu, carrying some clothes over, heard Ran Yan¡¯s question and answered with a smile, ¡°They bloomed today.


    They were just buds this morning, but look how much they¡¯ve opened in a day¡¯s time.¡±


    Wan Lu kneeled down in front of Ran Yan and said, ¡°The village has half an acre filled with precious peonies.


    Our Ran estate¡¯s peonies are the most famous in Suzhou City.


    If the Lady likes, you are welcome to appreciate them.¡±


    There were only a few sorrowful poetry collections in the manor¡¯s library, none of which Ran Yan wanted to read.


    Appreciating flowers and scenery¡­ Ran Yan was somewhat moved to do so.


    Xing Niang, not wishing to see Ran Yan engulfed in sorrow as before, encouraged, ¡°Appreciating flowers and sceneries is a good thing.


    If you like it, go and have a look.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded, and Wan Lu spread out the clothes she had brought over, ¡°Lady, you haven¡¯t had new clothes made in half a year.


    How about we go to the city someday soon to get some fabric, and I can make you a new outfit?¡±


    As she spoke, Wan Lu helped Ran Yan change into her clothes, a light green embroidered silk gown that cinched at the chest.


    The dresses of the time were not as bulky as those of the middle and late Tang Dynasty, giving the wearer a slender appearance.


    Indeed, with a gentle step, one would be swaying gracefully.


    After changing, Wan Lu draped a nearly transparent, patterned silk scarf over Ran Yan¡¯s arms.


    When standing, it hung naturally, serene and graceful, and when moving, it fluttered like breezy willows, elegant and soaring.


    ¡°The Lady is beautiful by nature, everything looks good on you!¡± Wan Lu exclaimed in admiration.


    Xing Niang handed over a veil, instructing, ¡°Go early and come back early.


    Today, let Doctor Wu check the Lady¡¯s pulse again for security.


    After recovering from a serious illness, you should not overexert yourself!¡±


    Wan Lu already ran to the door to prepare the shoes, poking her head out and saying, ¡°I will look after the Lady!¡±


    ¡°The Lady is usually so serene.


    I think you¡¯re the one who needs watching!¡± Xing Niang teased with a laugh.


    Ran Yan looked at the two of them interacting with each other in such a close and natural manner and felt quite relaxed and happy herself.


    She reassured herself to consider this downtime as a vacation.

 Chapter 12 - 12 9 A Smile in a Fleeting Moment

    ?12: Chapter 9 A Smile in a Fleeting Moment 12: Chapter 9 A Smile in a Fleeting Moment Silk shoes are similar to the embroidered shoes of later generations, light and pretty, much more comfortable than wooden clogs, but one must be careful on the road, as stepping on something like a stone could be very painful.


    Ran Yan felt that, in the countryside, she still needed to wear wooden clogs, and having to keep her eyes fixed on the path ahead of her toes was truly torturous.


    It was nearing the end of the hour of the Monkey, the sunset slanting, a summer breeze gently caressing, carrying with it the unique moistness of Jiangnan water towns mixed with the scent of flowers rushing towards her; Ran Yan sighed in relief, knowing she was almost there.


    ¡°Wife!¡± Wan Lu suddenly whispered in Ran Yan¡¯s ear with a sigh, ¡°Such a beautiful young lord!¡±


    Ran Yan lifted her head and followed Wan Lu¡¯s infatuated gaze, under the slightly orange sunset, a figure in a robe with moon-white wide sleeves fluttered with the wind, his black hair tied up with a few loose strands fluttering in front of his forehead, the orange light casting a halo on his flawless side profile, lips red, teeth white, his face like white jade, looking like a beautifully enchanting painting.


    The man was tall and thin, wearing a robe with wide sleeves, bearing the remnants of Wei and Jin styles; he was currently intently sniffing a white peony in front of him, his look of intoxication also irresistibly beautiful.


    Ran Yan¡¯s mouth twitched a few times, a man, liking to smell flowers!


    To smell flowers with such an expression, really¡­


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help moving her fingers, feeling an urge to dissect him.


    The man admired the flower for a while, and just as he was about to turn and leave, he paused, stooped down beside the flower bed to pick up a tree branch, digging up a wildflower from beneath the peony.


    ¡°He¡¯s digging up our family¡¯s flowers,¡± Ran Yan mercilessly interrupted Wan Lu¡¯s obsession.


    Wan Lu snapped back to reality, dissatisfied, ¡°Wife, those are just weeds and wildflowers, not planted by us.¡±


    Hearing their conversation, the man still holding the wildflower turned around, looking somewhat embarrassed, probably having heard Ran Yan¡¯s words, and stammered an explanation, ¡°I¡­


    I just felt, that this wildflower living under the brilliantly incomparable peony is quite pitiful, wanted to¡­


    wanted to relocate it.¡±


    The tender yellow flower, held in the palm of the man, framed by his handsome face, actually added a few more charms.


    Ran Yan shivered slightly, this man actually seemed so¡­


    like Tang Seng.


    Wait, he couldn¡¯t really be Tang Xuanzang, right?


    Thinking about it, it seemed the eras didn¡¯t match, and Ran Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Behind the gauzy silk screen, Ran Yan¡¯s gaze fell on his hand holding the flower.


    This person was indeed slender, but quite young, Ran Yan estimated by his physical features; he was likely only around seventeen years old.


    ¡°I am the new village Tutor, last name Sang, first name Chen, styled Sui Yuan,¡± the young man hastily bowed to Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan instinctively wanted to reply, ¡°I know,¡± with the subtext of ¡°you may go,¡± but remembering the countless reminders from Madam Xing to be gentle and virtuous, she quickly swallowed the words that had reached her lips, slightly inclining her body, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Mr.


    Sang.¡±


    Sang Chen quickly waved his hands, ¡°I dare not, I dare not!¡±


    Pausing, Sang Chen seemed to want to say something, his lips slightly moving, but he only said, ¡°I dare not disturb the Wife, I take my leave!¡±


    With that, he hurried along the narrow path, but at the turn, he stepped on something, and staggered almost falling, making his slender figure seem even more flustered and disheveled.


    Wan Lu paused, asking, ¡°Wife¡­


    what¡¯s wrong with Mr.


    Sang?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ran Yan had no interest in paying attention to Sang Chen, focusing instead on the flower field in front of her.


    A field vibrant with luscious colors, exceptionally splendid, but in Ran Yan¡¯s view, these flowers were just different in color; after a while, her enthusiasm waned compared to the thrill fascinating corpses could ignite within her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Ran Yan said.


    ¡°Wife, why do we want to leave just after arriving?¡± Wan Lu didn¡¯t understand, her own wife used to love these plants and even got herbal seeds from the Divine Doctor to plant; why did her interest suddenly wane?


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t explain, but started to secretly ponder whether she should start her own business quietly or find a way to return to the Ran Family?


    Ran Yan¡¯s identity as Ran Shiqi was inescapable; even if her own business thrived, matters of marriage, decreed by her parents and facilitated by matchmakers, if she wasn¡¯t there to oversee, they could casually betroth her, and the rest of her life would not be peaceful.


    Running away?


    That was even less realistic; a delicate woman alone in the world faced unknown dangers dozens of times greater than now, but she couldn¡¯t just go back to the Ran Family either.


    The time was not yet right. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a comprehensive analysis, Ran Yan felt that staying and secretly earning some money would give her some security, whether she chose to leave or was taken back to the Ran Family eventually.


    When she returned home, Ran Yan discussed with Xing Niang and Wan Lu about going to the town the next day.


    Coincidentally, at noon, Wan Lu had mentioned making her new clothes, and Xing Niang did not object.


    Before going to sleep, Ran Yan looked through all the belongings of the original owner and found three hairpins, a jade bracelet, four pairs of shoes, and more than ten items of clothing that were either worn-out or too small.


    Additionally, there were five poetry collections that had been leafed through extensively.


    Indeed, the life of this legitimate daughter from a noble family was truly difficult.


    Previously, Ran Yan had never worried about money, but now she experienced firsthand what it was like to be hampered without funds.


    In just seven or eight days, the fifteen silver pieces from selling hairpins had dwindled to eight.


    Not to mention a comfortable and carefree life, even splurging on a good meal was painful.


    She could only go to the town the next day to see if there were any business opportunities.


    During her time at the Medical College, her roommate, who specialized in gynecology but had poor grades, changed strategies to study how to maintain female reproductive health for achieving beauty and preserving youth, and she saw quite a success.


    That classmate often asked Ran Yan for advice, and over time, Ran Yan also learned some methods and prescriptions.


    If she could sell these prescriptions, there might be a market¡­


    But how to sell them?


    These medicines were probably only affordable for wealthy women; the original Ran Yan did know a few Noble Ladies in town, but unfortunately, they were mere acquaintances, and she couldn¡¯t simply show up and start selling medicine.


    After putting everything back in its place, Ran Yan had just sat down when she heard a knock on the door.


    Wan Lu said, ¡°Wife, the Divine Doctor Wu is back.¡±


    Ran Yan had told Wan Lu before going to sleep to inform her when Wu Xiuhe returned¡ªshe wanted to become his apprentice!


    ¡°Wan Lu, come in and help me get ready.¡± Ran Yan knew that ancient people placed great importance on etiquette.


    Although that Divine Doctor seemed unreliable, she needed to be exceedingly respectful since she was asking for his help.


    ¡°My lady, you¡¯re in too much of a rush,¡± Wan Lu said, seeing that Ran Yan was still neatly dressed, knowing she had been waiting for Wu Xiuhe, ¡°Any day is suitable for becoming an apprentice.


    Why stay up late?


    It¡¯s already the hour of Hai!¡±


    The hour of Hai had just begun, which was around nine o¡¯clock.


    In Ran Yan¡¯s view, it was not yet time to rest, and when it came to seeking an apprenticeship, earlier was better than later.


    After a quick tidying up, Ran Yan hurriedly headed to the courtyard where Wu Xiuhe stayed.


    West Mountain recently produced many Lingzhi mushrooms, and Wu Xiuhe, delighted, had lost track of time, returning later than usual.


    However, seeing the four Lingzhi mushrooms of various sizes, Wu Xiuhe could not stop smiling.


    He had just sat down when he heard the knock at the door, followed by Wan Lu¡¯s voice, ¡°Divine Doctor Wu, have you rested?¡±


    Wu Xiuhe, who was halfway through pouring tea, suddenly paused, jumped up from his mat in a rush, grabbed his medicine basket, and hurried behind the curtain.


    After putting the basket safely away, he leisurely adjusted his clothes before going to open the door.


    Wu Xiuhe was surprised to find not only Wan Lu at the door but also Ran Yan.


    He quickly assumed an expression of profound mystery yet amiability, ¡°I wonder why Lady Seventeen visits so late at night.


    What can I do for you?¡±


    Ran Yan organized her thoughts, bowed, and said, ¡°I am here to request apprenticeship.


    I should have asked for your permission and chosen an auspicious day to become an apprentice, but since you are as elusive as a dragon, I feared I might not find you tomorrow, hence my intrusion at this late hour.


    Please forgive my rudeness!¡±


    Lady, a form of self-address used by women in the Tang Dynasty to show humility or respect toward elders, was fitting as Ran Yan had waited until late at night and was very humble in her approach, showing sincere intentions.


    ¡°Wan Lu,¡± Ran Yan gestured.


    Wan Lu, appearing as if she had been stabbed, took out a handkerchief-wrapped item from her sleeve.


    ¡°Here are eight silver pieces.


    As an apprenticeship gift, it indeed falls short, but given my current circumstances¡­¡± Ran Yan spoke and then knelt outside Wu Xiuhe¡¯s door.


    Although Wu Xiuhe was only a village doctor, he had seen the world; wealthy families sometimes gave thanks with few to several or even a hundred silver pieces.


    Thus, he naturally did not regard Ran Yan¡¯s eight silver pieces very highly.

 Chapter 13 - 13 10 The Ancient Inkstone Emerges

    ?13: Chapter 10: The Ancient Inkstone Emerges 13: Chapter 10: The Ancient Inkstone Emerges Wu Xiuhe, although not particularly concerned about the eight taels of silver, definitely valued the Ran household.


    He was fairly satisfied with Ran Yan¡¯s recent behavior, and besides, his skills in Face Reading had never failed him¡­


    His thoughts shifted suddenly, and Wu Xiuhe, stroking his long beard, adopted a benevolent expression, feeling the proud satisfaction of watching a daughter mature.


    Wu Xiuhe reached out to help Ran Yan up, ¡°Get up quickly.


    Earlier, seeing how well you were growing the herbs, I knew you had a talent for medicine, let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡±


    Ran Yan followed Wu Xiuhe inside the house while Wan Lu looked at the silver in her hand, knowing it would soon belong to someone else, which made her feel increasingly distressed.


    ¡°I am a disciple of Gui Guzi, and I am the ninety-third generation¡­¡± Wu Xiuhe said solemnly as he sat down in the seat of honor, continuing, ¡°I believe fate has brought us together, so today I will accept you as the ninety-fourth generation disciple.¡±


    Wan Lu opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by a faint glance from Ran Yan; she pursed her lips tightly, though her phoenix eyes were full of doubt.


    After Wu Xiuhe rambled on, he had Ran Yan perform the ceremony to become a disciple, thus establishing their master-disciple relationship.


    ¡°I was fortunate enough today to collect a twenty-year-old Purple Ganoderma on West Mountain.


    I thought to myself, ¡®It must be the heavens worrying that I had no gift to offer.''¡± Wu Xiuhe said as he stood, went behind the curtain, and picked up a large stemless Purple Ganoderma from his medicine basket.


    After a thought, he put it back and picked the smaller one instead, returning with a joyful smile.


    ¡°This Purple Ganoderma will be my gift to you!¡± Wu Xiuhe placed the Purple Ganoderma in Ran Yan¡¯s hands, saying affectionately, ¡°Tomorrow, have Wan Lu stew it for you to strengthen your body.¡±


    Ran Yan pulled up a smile and hurriedly knelt to bow, ¡°Thank you, Master, for your loving care!¡±


    ¡°Up you get, up you get, we in the Ghost Valley Sect are always informal,¡± Wu Xiuhe said with a smile.


    Ran Yan had Wan Lu lay down the eight taels of silver, then said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, Master should rest early.


    I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡±


    They had not reached a hundred steps from the house when Wan Lu hurriedly said, ¡°Wife, the Divine Doctor Wu initially said he was a descendant of Bian Que, then he claimed to be a disciple of Hua Tuo, and now he says he is from the Ghost Valley Sect.


    Is he¡­


    is he deceiving us?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wan Lu, although not well-educated, knew that Bian Que and Hua Tuo were not the same person.


    ¡°Do you know why I accepted him as my master?¡± Ran Yan asked, while handing the Purple Ganoderma she was holding to Wan Lu.


    Wan Lu shook her head, carefully wrapping the Purple Ganoderma in a handkerchief.


    Ran Yan said lightly, ¡°Just like this Purple Ganoderma is not twenty years old, no matter what background Divine Doctor Wu actually has, I don¡¯t care; all I wanted was his reputation in the countryside.¡±


    ¡°Not twenty years old!¡± Wan Lu completely missed the main point in Ran Yan¡¯s words, and with eyes ablaze, was ready to confront Wu Xiuhe about his deception immediately.


    Ran Yan grabbed her, explaining, ¡°To put it scientifically, Lingzhi mushrooms don¡¯t age, as long as they mature, they have medicinal value.


    Moreover, very old Lingzhi, because their spores have long dispersed, lack reproductive capacity and thus have a lower medicinal value.


    The so-called thousand-year Lingzhi is just a scam.¡±


    ¡°Science¡­


    spores¡­


    reproduction?¡± Wan Lu listened blankly to the unfamiliar terms coming from Ran Yan¡¯s mouth, trying to digest them.


    Although still confused, she vaguely understood Ran Yan¡¯s point: mature Lingzhi has medicinal effects.


    Ran Yan, realizing she had misspoken, casually glossed over it, ¡°Lingzhi can be judged by size and spore¡­


    and by color and shape; all things considered, this Lingzhi, though a bit small, is quite good.¡±


    Wan Lu stared at Ran Yan for a long while before murmuring, ¡°Wife, I suddenly feel like I¡¯ve become dumber.¡±


    Ran Yan knew she shouldn¡¯t have presented herself so differently in front of Wan Lu all at once, but she needed someone by her side to adapt quickly for the next steps she had planned.


    Xing Nian was meticulous and thought deeply, while Wan Lu, although clever, tended not to think too deeply about things, which suited Ran Yan¡¯s needs perfectly.


    ¡°They say a long illness makes a good physician, and having been ill for a long time, I naturally know a bit more,¡± Ran Yan offered an explanation that hardly explained anything, then continued, ¡°Regardless of what kind of person the master is, he has helped us a lot over the years.


    Without him, I might have died from my illness long ago.


    So, Wan Lu, you must continue to respect him in the future.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Wife speaks truth,¡± Wan Lu nodded, acknowledging the reality that a bell doctor who had never met them before was treating his wife not for money but out of sheer kindness.


    It was indeed a tremendous act of benevolence¡ªhow could one then nitpick over the fact that the gift given was not the best!


    Speaking of gifts, that payment of eight liang for his apprenticeship again made Wan Lu wince, ¡°And to think I was planning to go to town tomorrow to have clothes made for Wife.


    Now, all that¡¯s left is half a guan; not even enough to buy a kezi.¡±


    A kezi was a term unique to the Tang Dynasty, much like a belly-cover, a type of intimate garment.


    The principal difference between it and a belly-cover was that it lacked the strap that hung around the neck, making it suitable for wearing with dresses that partially exposed the chest.


    Five hundred copper coins would suffice for a kezi, but to make a full set of clothing, it was far from enough.


    ¡°I primarily want to go to town tomorrow just to look around, and not solely for making clothes,¡± Ran Yan thought it best to find ways to earn money, as living off dwindling resources was no solution.


    Besides, their provisions would last only a month.


    After tending to Ran Yan for the night and stowing away the Lingzhi, Wan Lu quietly exited the room.


    Having paid respects to her mentor, Ran Yan was relieved of one worry and thus had a good night¡¯s sleep, waking refreshed and clear-headed the following day.


    After her night duties, Wan Lu hadn¡¯t been asleep long before she was roused to assist Ran Yan with her morning washing and dressing, only approaching after everything was in order.


    Xing Niang insisted not to go with them but continued to give Ran Yan and Wan Lu an earful of instructions.


    After a quick breakfast, they barely escaped Xing Niang¡¯s ¡°torture¡± and just managed to put on their shoes when a Servant called from outside the courtyard, ¡°Is Lady Seventeen present?¡±


    Wan Lu paused briefly before hurriedly going to open the door, ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±


    The Servant handed over a parcel he was carrying, ¡°This is from Mr.


    Sang, the new Tutor in the village, meant for Lady Seventeen.¡±


    Though the Servant¡¯s demeanor was without fault, the strong scent of gossip in his eyes was almost impossible to ignore; Wan Lu glared fiercely at him.


    Considering holding her tongue to avoid making life difficult in the village, she begrudgingly restrained herself and awkwardly bowed, ¡°Thank you.


    Did Mr.


    Sang have any other message?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the Servant replied.


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang is also learned in poetry and books, how could he be unaware of propriety!¡± Wan Lu muttered.


    In the North, such matters were of no consequence; women in Chang¡¯an often went out without even wearing a veil, commonly sitting with men was usual.


    But in the southern regions, it was different¡ªprivate exchanges between men and women, even if not criminal, were generally frowned upon.


    ¡°Please wait a moment; I must first consult Wife about this.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ran Yan, now veiled, emerged from the courtyard.


    ¡°It¡¯s from Mr.


    Sang,¡± Wan Lu presented the parcel to Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan paused, puzzled.


    She had met Sang Chen only once; why would he send her a gift?


    Reaching into the bundle, she exposed an inkstone and two liang of silver, with a letter placed beneath the inkstone.


    Ran Yan stared intently at the inkstone, her pupils dilating sharply.


    It was a rose-purple Chengni inkstone, with realistically carved orchids on one side.


    Aside from being new, it was identical to one she had on her desk in her previous life.


    The appearance of this inkstone shook Ran Yan¡¯s resolve to continue living in the Tang Dynasty.


    Who exactly was Sang Chen, and what did he have to do with her time travel?


    Many questions suddenly surged forward, causing the always cool and collected Ran Yan to experience a moment of disarray.


    Fortunately, her veil concealed her turmoil; neither the Servant nor Wan Lu noticed anything amiss.


    Taking several deep breaths to calm herself, Ran Yan reached for the letter below the inkstone and slowly unfolded it.

 Chapter 14 - 14 11 Study Hall

    ?14: Chapter 11 Study Hall 14: Chapter 11 Study Hall The servants in the village had never regarded Ran Yan highly.


    Not only was her character perceived as weak, but despite her destitution, she still held her gaze high as if speaking to her was an insult to her dignity.


    Even though Ran Yan was no longer favored, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Ran Family.


    Publicly, the Ran Family claimed that Ran Shiqi was recuperating from an illness on the estate.


    So, although the servants held no fondness for their mistress and never took her to heart, they did not dare to make things difficult for her¡ª at most, they treated her with disregard.


    However, the incident the other day when Zhou Sanlang was brought back from the brink of death had been witnessed with their own eyes.


    The buzz wasn¡¯t just limited to the Zhou Family village; everyone on the estate started to see Ran Yan in a new light, and naturally, their attitudes became much more respectful than before.


    After reading the letter, Ran Yan carelessly tossed the note into her bundle, ¡°Wan Lu, give him the half tael of silver as a reward.¡±


    Caught off guard, Wan Lu, despite a thousand unwilling thoughts, couldn¡¯t embarrass her mistress in front of others.


    She handed what she was holding to Madam Xing, unwound the heavy half tael of silver from her waist, and with a strained smile, presented it to the Servant, ¡°Anyone who helps my mistress will certainly not be mistreated.


    Thank you for your help this time.¡±


    The Servant was at first astonished, but upon actually feeling the half tael of silver, as though waking from a dream, he busily said, ¡°Thank you for the reward, Mistress.


    If there¡¯s anything you need in the future, just command me, and I will do my utmost.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded slightly, ¡°I appreciate it.¡±


    Though the words were uttered politely, they still surprised the Servant, who knew it was a tactful way of dismissing him.


    He quickly stuffed the money into his sleeve and bowed as he retreated.


    ¡°Hmph, what a face!¡± Wan Lu muttered under her breath.


    Neither Madam Xing nor Ran Yan continued the conversation.


    As an uncherished legitimate daughter, Ran Yan was loath to spend any reward money¡ª who would come to curry favor for no reason?


    Furthermore, the Ran Yan of the past could kindly be described as an untainted orchid in an empty valley; more bluntly, however, she was someone who valued face over all else.


    Despite living worse than the main house¡¯s Maids, she still believed she was better than everyone; she couldn¡¯t see the reality.


    Today¡¯s events had made Ran Yan realize the importance of money.


    If she must survive in the Great Tang, she would have to find a way to make money.


    Yet, the appearance of this particular inkstone had prevented her from settling her mind.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go visit Mister Sang Chen first.¡± Ran Yan grabbed the inkstone tray and hurried out the door.


    Wan Lu quickly stashed the two taels of silver and left the rest of the items for Madam Xing to deal with.


    Lifting her skirt, she ran to catch up with Ran Yan.


    Madam Xing looked at the unsealed letter¡ª its contents were brief and merely polite words of inquiry.


    It also mentioned that the two taels of silver inside the bundle was the fee for the Doctor the day before, a fee which was not accepted and returned via Madame Liu.


    Only Madame Liu couldn¡¯t leave Zhou Sanlang¡¯s side because he was still very weak, so it was entrusted to Sang Chen to bring along.


    Ran Yan suppressed the turmoil within her heart, trying her best to walk as usual.


    It was early morning, and along the interweaving riverbanks of the village, houses had backyard doors that opened along the riverbank.


    Stone steps led directly into the water, and women from each household were already on these steps, washing rice and vegetables, chatting with each other in soft dialects. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was also a black-awning boat loaded with some goods, slowly moving through the water, asking the women washing vegetables if they needed to purchase or exchange anything.


    Looking at such a tranquil and peaceful scene, the restlessness in Ran Yan¡¯s heart gradually calmed.


    Yet, her steps did not slow down.


    It was as if a forensic doctor needed to reach the crime scene in the shortest amount of time when breaking a murder case¡ª Ran Yan had grown accustomed to dealing with things in this manner.


    Wan Lu, knowing that Meng Hall was to the east of the village, assisted Ran Yan in that direction.


    A day¡¯s plan starts with the morning.


    One could already hear the clear voices of reading children before even seeing Meng Hall¡¯s schoolhouse.


    Listening to the voices, Ran Yan could tell there weren¡¯t many students¡ª only about fourteen or fifteen of varying ages.


    The younger ones¡¯ voices were blurry, cute and childish, while the older ones already had the beginnings of adolescent characteristics.


    In the village alleys, occasionally bumping into a few villagers, Sang Chen held a square inkstone hurriedly in her hand.


    Although they were full of curiosity, they all immediately stepped aside respectfully and bowed.


    Doctors, since ancient times, have been respected by people.


    Who is not afraid of aging, illness, and death?


    A person like Sang Chen, capable of ¡°bringing the dead back to life¡±, naturally evokes awe in people¡¯s hearts.


    The Meng Hall in the village was just a room two measures wide, built along the water like the houses of commoners, with no yard in front nor steps leading to the river at the back.


    Instead, there extended a water platform about three feet wide, surrounded by a newly nailed poplar fence that seemed to have been put up only a couple of days ago, judging by its color.


    The houses in the Tang Dynasty were generally low, but this Meng Hall was slightly higher than ordinary houses, and well-constructed, which showed how much the villagers valued education.


    Wan Lu peeked into the house and saw rows of children of all sizes sitting on their knees, nodding and reciting the ¡°Thousand Character Classic¡± led by Sang Chen.


    The smallest child could barely walk steadily, let alone sit with legs folded; even standing, they could only use a low table.


    However, with a serious face, they held a book that was difficult to grasp due to their small hands.


    The child knitted their tiny brows and their little mouth moved along with the loud reading, looking quite impressive¡ªdespite holding the book upside down.


    The boy whom Wan Lu had made cry that day was now sprawled out on the mat, fast asleep and drooling on his cheek, smacking his lips as if dreaming of delicious food.


    Three older children secretly poked each other with small twigs¡ªnow one poking another, now one poked in return.


    A girl occasionally stole glances at the boy who was earnestly memorizing, while another boy, puffed up with anger, reached to pull her hair¡­


    In such a small Meng Hall, it was a scene of utter chaos, yet full of liveliness.


    And Sang Chen, as if oblivious to it all, continued to shake his head and sway with eyes closed, more engrossed in his recital than anyone else.


    Wan Lu covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, whispering softly, ¡°I had no idea that the most bustling place in the village was the Meng Hall!¡±


    Sang Chen stood outside quietly waiting, watching Sang Chen¡¯s enraptured expression and feeling almost cruel to interrupt.


    Even though she was in a hurry, she always followed principles when handling matters, so she remained at the door, waiting until their morning reading was over.


    The ¡°Thousand Character Classic¡±, as the name suggests, is only a thousand characters long.


    But since the children were of various ages, some had finished learning while others knew only a few phrases.


    Thus, Sang Chen led them in reciting the entire text twice, then the first half twice again, and finally just the first few sentences.


    After the complete recitation, Sang Chen focused on explaining the first section.


    During this time, the area in front of the Meng Hall was also bustling.


    A few girls around fourteen or fifteen years old, accustomed to the route, tiptoed along the base of the wall toward the window.


    They seemed to be a group at first glance, but upon closer observation, Ran Yan noticed that their subtle actions were often filled with hostility, either ¡°accidentally¡± stepping on one another or ¡°unintentionally¡± kicking each other.


    Those girls were obviously regular onlookers.


    As they almost reached the window, they suddenly saw Ran Yan standing boldly at the entrance and were taken aback, with disdain or hostility flashing in their eyes.


    As the voices inside ceased, Ran Yan coolly withdrew her gaze, and thus Wan Lu went ahead to invite Sang Chen out.


    Wan Lu, indignant that those girls showed such disrespect to her wife, also felt a mockful sentiment stirring.


    She moved swiftly, almost as soon as Ran Yan gestured, she was already at the doorway, gently knocking and saying, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, I am Wan Lu from the Ran household.


    My wife has some important matters to discuss with you, Mr.


    Sang.


    Please, could you see us?¡±


    The girls¡¯ faces flushed red in an instant, throwing resentful glares at Wan Lu¡¯s departing figure and then scattering like a bunch of scared rabbits.


    Ran Yan watched the lively group of girls leave with a light smile.


    It seems that Mr.


    Sang is quite popular in the village!

 Chapter 15 - 15 12 Duan Inkstone

    ?15: Chapter 12: Duan Inkstone 15: Chapter 12: Duan Inkstone After a moment¡¯s pause, the door of Meng Hall was opened, and Sang Chen, in a clean, though slightly old, cloth robe, appeared.


    His clean and bright eyes, like the clear blue sky washed by water, looked towards Wan Lu with a hint of confusion.


    Wan Lu was dazed by his expression, and for a moment, she did not know what to say, her face flushed as she looked at Ran Yan as if seeking help.


    In the quietly waiting time, Ran Yan had calmed down enough and was fully prepared in her mind.


    She did not intend to waste time and directly asked, ¡°Where did you get this inkstone from?¡±


    Sang Chen¡¯s gaze shifted to the inkstone, he shyly smiled, ¡°I made it.


    Zhou Sanlang is my student, and the Wife saved him.


    It is only right for me to express my thanks, but I possess nothing of great value¡­


    how embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°You made it?¡± Ran Yan felt complicated, but not too disappointed.


    A sage from beyond this world guiding one through a perplexing situation was something likely found only in television shows; she never held much hope.


    When she had traveled through time, an inkstone had first struck her, followed by someone breaking her neck.


    It was easy to hit the back of the head with an inkstone, but finding someone who could precisely grab the first cervical vertebra and twist it fiercely and accurately in this world would probably not be easy.


    Moreover, even if it really had been twisted, who could guarantee that she would definitely be able to return?


    Ran Yan had long thought through these matters, yet when a faint opportunity appeared, she couldn¡¯t help but try to seize it.


    Seeing Ran Yan staring blankly at the inkstone, Sang Chen said with some trepidation, ¡°If the Wife does not like this inkstone, I have many more at home¡­¡±


    ¡°The inkstone is very nice, thank you, I won¡¯t disturb you further,¡± Ran Yan said with a light bow, then turned and left.


    Sang Chen¡¯s expression grew even more puzzled as these events, from beginning to end, he had not understood.


    In fact, Sang Chen wasn¡¯t the only one who didn¡¯t understand the situation.


    As Wan Lu caught up with Ran Yan, just about to ask about the inkstone, she caught a glimpse of a faintly lost expression behind the lax veil, swallowed the questions she had, took the inkstone, and asked, ¡°Will the Wife still go into the city?¡±


    Ran Yan looked at the sky, which indicated it was not yet the hour of si, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two, joining hands, returned to the front gate of the estate. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wan Lu saw that the carriage was ready and sighed in relief that the half coin spent was not in vain, otherwise if it were a normal day, how could those haughty servants be so easy to talk to.


    Ran Yan, however, paid no attention to those trivial matters, looking at the inkstone yet unable to feel at ease.


    As they were about to cross the arch bridge, Ran Yan suddenly stepped into the void, her body falling towards the water, and Wan Lu, startled, let go of the inkstone in her hand and quickly reached out to pull Ran Yan.


    Before they could regain their stance, they heard a ¡°clang¡± sound as the inkstone, tinged with rose purple, fell on the steps, breaking into pieces.


    Seeing the shards scatter all around, Ran Yan¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, the scene eerily familiar as though she could still vividly feel the pain of her neck breaking; Ran Yan¡¯s face, hidden behind the veil, turned pale.


    ¡°Wife¡­¡± After regaining their stance, Wan Lu said hesitantly.


    Ran Yan exhaled, ¡°Gather up the pieces and throw them into the river, lest they hurt someone.¡±


    Wan Lu complied, crouching down to pick up the pieces, only to find that Ran Yan was also crouching down to help.


    Looking at her serene face vaguely visible in the morning light through the black veil, Wan Lu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, noting how different the Wife was after a serious illness.


    ¡°Wife, please get up, let the Slave pick them up!¡± Wan Lu hastily insisted.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, we need to pick them up quickly, we still have to enter the city!¡± Ran Yan smiled faintly.


    The two quickly cleaned up the pieces, and by the time they returned to the gate, the coachman was already growing impatient.


    Seeing their figures, he urged, ¡°Lady Ran, please hurry, this is the only carriage on the estate, who knows when the steward might need it!¡±


    Wan Lu felt indignant for Ran Yan, to think a legitimate daughter as she was yelled at by a coachman, even though there was no ill intent in his words, it was treatment that a legitimate daughter should not have to endure.


    Ran Yan, however, felt there was nothing inappropriate, allowing Wan Lu to help her into the carriage.


    The arrangement inside the carriage was standard, with only a mat and a small table, and teal curtains, clean without any odd smells.


    Ran Yan had never met the steward of this estate, but from the setup inside the carriage, she could vaguely guess that this person was steady, rigid, and meticulous in his work.


    The carriage slowly started moving and though Ran Yan was naturally calm, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit excited.


    She had long heard of the prosperity during the ¡°Reign of Zhen Guan¡± and to witness it with her own eyes was definitely worth being reborn.


    Wan Lu also sensed Ran Yan¡¯s joy and became lively herself, reaching out to pull back the curtain and saying, ¡°Wife, our villa is less than five miles from Suzhou City, but the scenery along the way is truly wonderful!¡±


    Ran Yan removed her silk veil and looked out the window, right at the peony garden they had passed by that day, where the morning light revealed peonies showing signs of withering.


    It was early summer, and the time for peonies to begin fading had indeed come.


    The carriage rode on the path, exceptionally bumpy, leaving Ran Yan with little mood to enjoy the scenery.


    Roughly after a quarter of an hour, the ride gradually smoothed out.


    A four or five-mile journey, even if walked, does not require much time, and once the carriage entered the official road, they could quickly see the city walls.


    As the carriage slowed, the bustling sounds from outside grew louder.


    Ran Yan pulled aside the curtain, watching with great interest the crowd at the city gate, observing their clothing and hats, as well as their behavior and expressions.


    The attire in the Southern region had a strong influence from the Wei and Jin dynasties, mostly consisting of wide-sleeve robes, their movements fluid like water or drifting clouds, both gentle and unrestrained.


    They wore their hair up with scarves, and some men wore round-necked, narrow-sleeve shirts with soft boots, also adorned with scarves on their heads.


    The round-necked, narrow-sleeve shirt was influenced by nomadic attire and modified, the precursor to the renowned Tang costume and the most fashionable style of the time.


    The women¡¯s clothing styles were even more varied, with cross-collared skirts, chest-high skirts, and straight robes¡­


    However, they were all covered with a veil of gauzy silk, somewhat visible yet not as vivid as Ran Yan had imagined; most of the women wore plain clothes with darker colors, rather than brightly colored silk or satin perfumed with powders.


    If Ran Yan were to stand amidst the crowd in her attire, she could certainly be considered a noble.


    The coachman was very familiar with the roads in the city and knew Ran Yan wanted to go to East Market, so he took a shortcut.


    During the Tang Dynasty, the urban areas were organized like a chessboard, with neatly arranged blocks and intersecting roads.


    Residential areas were referred to as ¡°fangs,¡± while markets were separate commercial areas enclosed by walls, open during the day and closed at night with a curfew.


    Thus, after entering the city and passing through the residential areas, everything was very quiet, with black-tiled white walls, cobblestone alleys, and small bridges over flowing water.


    Although Suzhou City was built in the image of Chang¡¯an, it certainly had a different charm.


    After traveling a while, Ran Yan faintly heard some bustling sounds and guessed they were nearing the East Market.


    At this moment, Wan Lu happily said, ¡°Wife, we¡¯ve arrived at East Market!¡±


    To enter East Market, they passed through another city gate guarded by soldiers, but without the same level of scrutiny as entering the city, making it much quicker than the initial entry.


    After the carriage entered East Market, it stopped beside the road, and the coachman pulled back the curtain, saying, ¡°Madam Seventeen, we¡¯ve arrived.


    Steward Zhou might require the carriage at any moment, so I must return now.


    When you return, it will just cost four copper coins to hire a carriage in the city.¡±


    Once Wan Lu helped Ran Yan off the carriage, she couldn¡¯t resist looking around everywhere.


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t have small change to tip the coachman and simply said, ¡°No worries, thanks for your help.


    I will definitely thank you properly when I return.¡±


    The coachman, a Han man in his forties or fifties, sighed upon hearing this and said, ¡°You are a lady of the Ran family; serving the master is my duty, there¡¯s no need for that.¡±


    The coachman climbed back onto the carriage and drove out of the East Gate, turning his head for one last look as he reached the gate.


    Though far away, Ran Yan could clearly see something in his gaze, a sense of pity.


    Ran Yan smiled faintly, her current situation was not the worst, there was no need for anyone¡¯s pity¡ªshe was never one to submit to circumstances passively.


    Situated in the lively East Market and accompanied by the spirited Wan Lu, Ran Yan felt quite content.


    Hand in hand, the two were about to move forward when suddenly, not far ahead, the crowd began to gather, pointing and making quite a scene, particularly with more men than usual trying to crane their necks as far as they could.

 Chapter 16 - 16 13 The Condition of Fistula in Flowers

    ?16: Chapter 13: The Condition of Fistula in Flowers 16: Chapter 13: The Condition of Fistula in Flowers ¡°Wife, there¡¯s some excitement to be seen,¡± Wan Lu¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Ran Yan.


    ¡°They¡¯re looking at a woman, and what would you go to see?¡± Ran Yan asked with a smile.


    Wan Lu curiously asked, ¡°Wife, how did you know it¡¯s a woman?¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s power of observation had always been very good.


    As long as something unusual within her line of sight, she would rarely miss it, even down to a wound as small as the tip of a needle, let alone a whole living person.


    When someone had carried a litter past earlier, Ran Yan had seen it.


    A person on the litter was covered with a thin quilt from body to face, revealing only their hair and a single red silk flower.


    The quilts of summer were only a thin layer, and even when covered, the woman¡¯s exquisite figure was indisputably revealed.


    Through the thin quilt, her bosom already heaved, belying a figure that was surely breathtaking.


    Ran Yan looked up and saw that behind the crowd was a clinic.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.


    It won¡¯t hurt to take a look at this excitement,¡± Ran Yan had come out looking for business opportunities.


    She had set her goal to treat only women.


    Since she encountered this right on the street, she naturally wanted to get a closer look, perhaps this could be an opportunity.


    More and more people gathered on the street, and before Ran Yan and Wan Lu got close, the area was already three layers inside and three layers outside, completely surrounded, with many women standing far away watching the excitement but not daring to push through the crowd.


    So naturally, Ran Yan and Wan Lu could only stand far away and watch.


    There was a buzz of low whispers and discussions everywhere, but not a single useful word was heard.


    After the two had watched for a while and found it boring, they were ready to leave.


    However, a middle-aged woman in a low-necked jacket forcibly dragged an old man out.


    The woman had a thick layer of white powder on her face, was slightly plump, heaped up in a cloud-like hairstyle, and her red lips painted as big as a cherry.


    This appearance reminded Ran Yan of the portraits of Tang Dynasty ladies, which, although with some differences, roughly looked like this.


    ¡°I have said that I will not do business with prostitutes.


    Don¡¯t the brothels have doctors on call?¡± The old man was reluctant in the first place.


    Being pulled and dragged by a prostitute in public was very unbecoming, and now he was even more unwilling, his tone resolute.


    ¡°Divine Doctor Zhang, Slave has heard of your famous kindness in Suzhou City, how can you ignore someone in need of help?¡± The prostitute clung to him without letting go, tears in her beautiful eyes, looking as though they might fall at any moment, truly making a group of men¡¯s hearts break.


    However, as attractive as her face was, it was not as eye-catching as the top part of her breasts, partly exposed and trembling against the old doctor¡¯s arm, truly enviable indeed.


    Suddenly, many people spoke up to help her plead her case.


    ¡°Divine Doctor Zhang, could it be that you are looking down on us because we are prostitutes?¡± The prostitute asked persistently.


    Looking down upon them was certainly the case, but these words could not be said out loud.


    During the Tang Dynasty, social customs were liberal, and there were no legal or public objections to officials and scholars visiting prostitutes.


    It was even considered a charming and elegant tale worth emulating.


    Among the common people, extramarital affairs were not taken very seriously, and frequenting prostitutes even less so.


    Prostitutes were of the lowest social status, and it was common in many books to mention some official taking a prostitute as a concubine.


    In an era of such liberal customs as the Tang Dynasty, this was an extremely difficult feat.


    The Tang Code explicitly stated that people of different social ranks with a difference of two grades or more could not marry, and having a concubine was not allowed either.


    But there is an old saying, ¡°A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a secret affair.¡± At times, the attention that the wealthy lavished on prostitutes reached an almost inconceivable level, as if they were just shy of taking them home to offer them fame.


    Therefore, Divine Doctor Zhang naturally did not dare to admit this openly, and he repeated several times, ¡°I do not mean this, I simply am not skilled in women¡¯s diseases.


    You may ask the neighbors around; I have never treated diseases of women!¡±


    Once Divine Doctor Zhang said this, no one doubted him, because he wasn¡¯t the only one who did not treat women¡¯s diseases¡ªmany doctors hardly did.


    Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, inquiring, and palpation; most legitimate doctors were men and naturally found it inconvenient to examine women¡¯s bodies, so it was normal for them not to have experience with these diseases.


    ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no need to look at her.


    From the symptoms you¡¯ve described, I can tell it¡¯s a case of ¡®flowery fistula,¡¯ a condition known to have been dealt with by Divine Doctor Hua Tuo who once had a remedy passed down, and it was also recorded by Chao Yuanfang in the previous Sui dynasty.


    But I am not a descendant of the Divine Doctor, so naturally, I have no knowledge of the prescription.


    Please, Miss Qing Dai, stop making things difficult for this old man,¡± Divine Doctor Zhang had been dubbed ¡°Divine Doctor¡± out of respect by people because of his kind nature.


    At that time, there were many such ¡®Divine Doctors,¡¯ but not all were really capable of miraculous cures.


    Doctors in ancient times mostly followed prescriptions when dispensing medicine, treasuring any prescription they obtained as if it were a prized possession, keeping it secret and fearing that others might glimpse it.


    Those who acquired Medical Books even considered them family treasures, deeply afraid of others catching sight of them.


    As a result, doctors at that time loved to collect prescriptions, becoming a mainstream trend.


    And the so-called flower fistula, by the Song Dynasty, was known as ¡°flower willow disease,¡± which was a general term for sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis, gonorrhea, mycoplasma genitalium, and so on.


    During the Ming Dynasty, the flower willow disease was once rampant, and in modern times, the most famous is undoubtedly AIDS.


    This disease was not only difficult to treat but also prone to recurrence.


    In this current era, contracting this condition meant that one should quickly return home to prepare a coffin.


    Once the crowd heard it was flower fistula, they dispersed in a commotion.


    A few well-dressed men, who likely often sought pleasure, immediately requested treatment from Divine Doctor Zhang and insisted on seeing the prostitute that had succumbed to the disease, but they were blocked by several brawny men and sent away.


    While that commotion was going on, Qing Dai, still harboring hope, said, ¡°But the patient has already been brought here, at least take a look and prescribe some medicine.¡±


    Divine Doctor Zhang sighed heavily, about to turn back into his house, when suddenly he remembered something, paused, and discreetly led Qing Dai to the dispensary, whispering, ¡°Miss Qing Dai, the day before yesterday, I encountered a female divine doctor in Zhou Family Village five miles away.


    I witnessed her reviving a person who had been dead for more than ten hours.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Qing Dai¡¯s tear-filled eyes brightened as she asked eagerly, ¡°I will take my sister to find her right away, no matter the cost, I must save my sister.¡±


    Divine Doctor Zhang was always compassionate.


    Seeing that a brothel woman like Qing Dai was so affectionate and loyal, he kindly reminded her, ¡°I later inquired about her.


    The female divine doctor is from a prestigious family.


    You must go quietly, or it could harm her reputation and cause others difficulty¡­¡±


    It turned out that Divine Doctor Zhang, since his clinic was near the eastern gate and he was always kind-hearted, was called to Zhou Family Village that day.


    Afterwards, he had wanted to visit Ran Yan to learn more about medicine, but upon inquiring, he found out that Ran Yan was the legitimate daughter of the Ran family, and living alone to recuperate in a manor; it was not appropriate for him to go visit her.


    ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Divine Doctor!


    I will go back and make preparations right away,¡± Qing Dai said, and hurried out the door to have the patient carried away.


    Ran Yan watched them leave in a hurry and followed suit.


    Wan Lu, concerned, quickly tugged at her, lowering her voice, ¡°Wife, given your current situation, it may be unwise to associate with the brothel!¡±


    Seeing that Ran Yan paid no attention, Wan Lu firmly remembered Mrs. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xing¡¯s instructions, and diligently advised, ¡°Wife!


    Though it¡¯s not a great sin, the head of the main court is just waiting to catch you in the act, to get rid of you.


    Wife, what exactly are you planning to do?


    Just order your slaves to do it.¡±


    Ran Yan saw the group turn into a secluded alley and said flatly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk, just follow me.¡±


    Her long experience as a forensic doctor lent Ran Yan an air of authority that commanded respect once she took a matter seriously, and inexplicably, one felt that what she said was an absolute truth, her actions resulting from calm and careful deliberation.


    Wan Lu¡¯s firm determination to protect her mistress dissipated like dust, filled with a slight unease, yet she obediently shut her mouth.


    After following for a while, she became even more proactive than Ran Yan, peering around curiously¡ªit was a sight that elicited both laughter and tears from Ran Yan.


    The alleys of Suzhou City were almost all paved with blue stone, and with many canals and bridges within the city, palanquins were used instead of carriages.


    Thus, even the main street was only wide enough for four or five palanquins to pass side by side, and the alleys could only accommodate two palanquins to pass each other.


    After several turns, the alley was devoid of pedestrians.


    Ran Yan was about to catch up when she saw a group of lavishly dressed women approaching, their faces caked in makeup.


    The middle-aged woman leading them stared fiercely at Qing Dai.


    Qing Dai stiffened, standing still.


    The middle-aged woman strode forward and slapped her, her voice cold and venomous, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you two want to live or die!


    But your actions today, how could I let you off!¡±


    In a day or two, nearly the whole of Suzhou City would probably know that a certain brothel had contracted flower fistula¡ªwho would then dare to visit their establishment?


    ¡°Take them back!¡± the middle-aged woman said with spite.

 Chapter 17 - 17 14 Embroidered Brocade Pavilion

    ?17: Chapter 14 Embroidered Brocade Pavilion 17: Chapter 14 Embroidered Brocade Pavilion ¡°Yan Nian, listen to me, just now Divine Doctor Zhang has already pointed out to me another Divine Doctor who can bring the dead back to life.


    As long as I plead for her help, my little sister will certainly be alright,¡± Qing Dai cried her eyes out, her makeup mixing with her tears and streaming down her face in streaks, desperately clutching onto the middle-aged woman¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Yan Nian, as long as you give me the chance to seek out the Divine Doctor, I promise, I promise to go with Brother Zhang.¡±


    Yan Nian indeed stopped in her tracks, glanced at Qing Dai, and then immediately said, ¡°Regardless of whether Zi Xu is alive or dead, after you seek out the Divine Doctor, you must follow my arrangement.¡±


    ¡°I promise, I promise,¡± Qing Dai, afraid that Yan Nian would go back on her word, eagerly nodded again and again.


    Ran Yan suddenly remembered, that Divine Doctor Zhang was the doctor she had seen the previous day at the Zhou family estate.


    From what Qing Dai said, it seemed likely that the ¡°Divine Doctor¡± Divine Doctor Zhang referred to was her.


    No matter how open-minded the Tang Dynasty was, it never looked good for a noble daughter to deal with prostitutes.


    But Ran Yan could no longer care about that now¡ªshe needed to survive and wouldn¡¯t let others manipulate her.


    With this goal in mind, after instructing Wan Lu not to show her face, Ran Yan gritted her teeth and stepped out from the dark alley.


    The group didn¡¯t expect someone to be eavesdropping, their expressions turning stern.


    Yan Nian gave the Han men a signal with her eyes, telling them not to make any rash moves.


    After all, this wasn¡¯t a chaotic time where one could injure or kill others indiscriminately.


    Ran Yan knew this, which is why she dared to barge out directly.


    ¡°I can save her,¡± Ran Yan turned to face Qing Dai and Yan Nian, her gaze lingering on Yan Nian¡¯s face for a moment, ¡°Not only can I save her, but I can save you too.¡±


    Everyone was stunned.


    A woman had suddenly burst out from a dark alley, uttering such words out of the blue.


    ¡°Have you recently noticed the sudden appearance of abnormal growths in your private area, pain during excretion, and sometimes accompanied by bleeding?¡± Ran Yan spoke calmly and composedly, without any hesitation, making several prostitutes who had experienced the vicissitudes of life blush with shame.


    Yan Nian¡¯s heavily made-up face slightly changed color, her eyes filled with astonishment because the symptoms Ran Yan had just described had indeed occurred to her.


    She had seen the brothel¡¯s regular doctor, taken medicine, but the condition had not improved.


    ¡°Do you know Divine Doctor Zhang?¡± Qing Dai tentatively guessed Ran Yan¡¯s identity but felt it couldn¡¯t be such a coincidence.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met him once,¡± Ran Yan said, confirming Qing Dai¡¯s suspicion.


    Qing Dai was taken aback, then suddenly fell to her knees before Ran Yan, tears streaming down her face again, ¡°Heaven have mercy!


    My sister¡¯s fate is not yet sealed!


    I beg the Divine Doctor to save her, no matter the cost, Qing Dai will spare no expense.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to let me treat her, I naturally will not refuse.


    The fee is twenty taels of silver, half before the diagnosis, half after the recovery, no bargaining,¡± Ran Yan said, walking straight to the stretcher, lifting the thin covering, and revealing a face covered in red rashes, dense and shocking.


    Some of the bumps had already festered and pus was oozing out, causing even the bearers to feel wary, their hands trembling slightly, accidentally jolting the stretcher.


    Ran Yan appeared unfazed as she carefully examined the woman¡¯s condition.


    And judging from her features, this woman was clearly of no ordinary birth, with curves in all the right places, the kind that could tempt men into a blissful oblivion.


    ¡°How is it?¡± Ran Yan covered with the blanket again, then turned to ask Qing Dai, who was still kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°Willing, of course, I¡¯m willing!¡± Qing Dai was like a drowning person clutching at anything, not caring whether it was a log or a straw.


    ¡°With such a severe condition, can she truly be saved?¡± Yan Nian too was eager to know the extent of Ran Yan¡¯s medical skills, as she had also developed many rashes on her body recently.


    Seeing Zi Xu like this, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy.


    ¡°Those with this disease in its mild form ¡®diminish the prime essence, break the prime energy, and harm the prime spirit,¡¯ leading to physical and mental exhaustion.


    In severe cases, eyebrows fall out, the bridge of the nose collapses, sores develop on the skin like scabies, threatening one¡¯s life,¡± Ran Yan spoke while examining the bumps on Zi Xu¡¯s body, ¡°Although some parts are festering, it doesn¡¯t look too late.¡±


    After the examination, Ran Yan stood up, her gaze falling on Yan Nian¡¯s arm, adding, ¡°Your condition is much better.¡±


    Ran Yan said that Miss Yan¡¯s condition had significantly improved, and she wasn¡¯t just referring to the illness being less severe.


    Through the recent events, Ran Yan could almost determine that Miss Yan was probably someone like a madam, not quite a washed-up courtesan, but she had a group of even more delicate prostitutes under her.


    Thus, she was not required to entertain guests.


    Contracting this disease nearly eliminated any possibility of a cure, but as long as the medicine was used correctly and she kept herself chaste, there essentially would be no danger to her life.


    Ran Yan pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Wan Lu, come out.¡±


    From Miss Yan¡¯s behavior, Ran Yan could tell she was a person with delicate thoughts and very cautious.


    Such a person would not readily trust a stranger¡¯s empty words without holding some leverage over them.


    So Ran Yan decided to give her peace of mind.


    Moreover, Ran Yan had seen enough stories in books and on television about brothels forcing respectable women into prostitution, letting Miss Yan know that she wasn¡¯t of ordinary status also provided some measure of security.


    Wan Lu scurried to Ran Yan¡¯s side and, like a hen protecting her chick, shielded her, her eyes reddening as she said, ¡°Wife, you are being too wilful.¡±


    Just now, after Ran Yan¡¯s intimidation and coercion, she ordered Wan Lu not to come out.


    While hidden behind the wall, Wan Lu watched her mistress carry herself with an extraordinary presence, facing a group of prostitutes and seven or eight burly men without a trace of panic, even confidently claiming to be able to cure the prostitute¡¯s serious illness.


    Wan Lu was simultaneously amazed and deeply worried.


    After struggling with herself for a long time, just as she thought of what Miss Xing had taught her and was about to rush out, Ran Yan called her out.


    ¡°If you wish to know my identity, you only need to look into the Zhou Family estate,¡± Ran Yan did this to put Miss Yan at ease, for the monk may run away, but the temple can¡¯t run with him.


    Upon seeing Ran Yan¡¯s ¡°sincerity,¡± Miss Yan suddenly smiled.


    She was afraid of death but more afraid of ending up like Zi Xu before dying, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then please, Divine Doctor, proceed to examine and treat me.¡±


    ¡°I can do that, but first, I must make it clear that this disease cannot be completely cured.


    Should you have intercourse with a man again, not only is it likely to recur, but it can also be transmitted to the man.


    Furthermore, this disease can be inherited by children, so you cannot have them,¡± Ran Yan said seriously.


    Miss Yan let out a self-mocking laugh, ¡°We are all lowly born, any child we bear will be a lowly servant as well.


    Why should we bring another into the world to suffer?


    I understand the two points you¡¯ve made; please, this way.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded and followed the procession of people.


    After turning a couple of corners, they saw a courtyard gate with two red lanterns hanging in front.


    The lanterns were inscribed with three calligraphed characters: Embroidery Pavilion.


    Ran Yan had never studied the ancient brothels, but felt that since it was a brothel, it should be built in a place with lots of foot traffic.


    Why was it so quiet?


    ¡°This is the back entrance,¡± Miss Yan seemed to understand the doubt in Ran Yan¡¯s mind and offered an explanation.


    Ran Yan responded faintly and followed her into the courtyard.


    As soon as the back door opened, faint sounds of music and noise could be heard, not very clear, indicating the considerable size of the Embroidery Pavilion.


    The courtyard was lush with trees and flowers, with doors and windows peeking through the foliage, corridors winding, pavilions scattered about.


    Occasionally, through the carved walls, one could glimpse the beautiful scenery of the inner courtyard.


    The occasional murmuring noise from afar brought out the quietness of the backyard, creating a sense of ¡°the cicadas cry deeper in the silent woods.¡±


    It was also Wan Lu¡¯s first time in such a place, curious yet nervous, holding Ran Yan¡¯s hand with a slight sweat.


    Passing through a corridor veiled by green vines, they saw a main hall.


    In front of the hall, two maids clad in chest-high flowing flower dresses saw Miss Yan approaching, bowed slightly, and parted the bamboo curtain at the main entrance.


    ¡°Mama!¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Ran Yan was halfway through her step, she saw a woman dressed in disarray running over in a panic, her breasts nearly exposed as they bounced with her movement.


    Seeing Miss Yan, tears suddenly streamed down the woman¡¯s face, ¡°Mama, someone¡¯s dead!¡±

 Chapter 18 - 18 15 Pie Kills a Person 1

    ?18: Chapter 15 Pie Kills a Person (1) 18: Chapter 15 Pie Kills a Person (1) Wan Lu¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and her voice suddenly turned cold as she sternly said, ¡°Tidy up your clothes before you reply!¡±


    The disheveled courtesan trembled slightly, seemingly very afraid of Wan Lu, quickly organizing her appearance.


    Due to her nervousness, her hands kept trembling; despite her frantic movements, she failed to fasten even a single belt.


    Ran Yan watched this scene with interest, feeling a trace of curiosity towards this Wan Lu.


    Normally, when a brothel madam hears of a death in her establishment, she would rush to the scene to handle the matter.


    Yet, Wan Lu seemed to care more about the courtesans¡¯ appearance.


    ¡°There¡¯s been an incident at the brothel; I need to take a look.


    Please excuse me for now,¡± Wan Lu said, seizing the moment to politely disengage from Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan nodded slightly, ¡°No harm, I will start treating Miss Zi Xu first.¡±


    In the early Great Tang, the term ¡°Miss¡± was typically used to address courtesans, especially renowned dancers and musicians.


    For respectable ladies, they were simply called ¡°Wife,¡± or, in Ran Yan¡¯s case, by her surname followed by her order in the family, addressed as Ran Seventeenth Lady.


    Wan Lu smiled apologetically, bowed slightly, then gestured for several maids to lead them inside. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A lady from the boudoir, seemingly indifferent upon hearing about a death, as if she had heard nothing?


    Wan Lu couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Ran Yan, whose figure was obscured behind her veil, and took note.


    Once inside, Ran Yan slowed her pace, faintly hearing Wan Lu¡¯s voice outside.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    The courtesan hastily replied, ¡°Today, Lord Han came to see me, and after we had a couple of drinks, we went to bed.


    No sooner had I lain down than Qin Silang kicked the door open, dragged me out, and started fighting with Lord Han without explanation.


    I fell to the ground, and by the time I got up, I saw Lord Han foaming at the mouth with a pool of blood beneath him¡­¡±


    As her voice faded into the distance, Ran Yan turned her attention back and carefully surveyed the room.


    The room was spacious, with low tables and dark brown columns; densely woven bamboo curtains separated the spaces.


    Through the gaps in the curtains, the interior arrangement was faintly discernible¡ªa four-panel ebony screen concealed the bed, and under the window on the southern wall stood a dressing table.


    Four sturdy men had carried Zi Xu behind the screen but hesitated to transfer her onto the bed.


    Zi Xu¡¯s condition, clearly in the secondary stage of syphilis, was indeed severe.


    At this stage, the disease¡¯s contagiousness was extremely high, sometimes even through indirect contact.


    Ran Yan took no chances and instructed the maid who had led them in, ¡°Find some clean cloth for the guards to wrap around their hands.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the maid left, and the people remaining in the room exchanged looks; their concerns about the disease being highly contagious certainly weren¡¯t unwarranted.


    The two closest to Zi Xu quietly moved back half a step.


    Seeing this, Qing Dai, moved by grief and anger, couldn¡¯t hold back and stepped forward, ¡°No need to look for any cloth.


    If they don¡¯t want to carry her, I will!¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Ran Yan sharply halted her movement, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking?


    Anyone who has shared anything with Miss Zi Xu should come here for a check-up, especially those who have shared men!¡±


    Immediately, the room fell silent.


    No one was more stunned than Wan Lu herself.


    She knew her wife better than anyone else¡ªhow could she speak with such authority?


    For a moment, Wan Lu felt dazed, standing in front of a stranger rather than the woman she knew.


    The maid quickly found a piece of coarse cloth, and Ran Yan instructed them to tear it and wrap it around the guards¡¯ hands before lifting Zi Xu onto the bed.


    ¡°If you are worried, wash your hands with vinegar when you get home,¡± Ran Yan said, wrapping her own hands with two pieces of the coarse cloth as she began a meticulous examination of Zi Xu¡¯s body.


    With their task done, the guards, following Ran Yan¡¯s instruction, quickly exited the room.


    Ran Yan gently moved her hand over Zixu¡¯s pillow and temple area, easily grabbing a strand of hair that felt thin.


    The area of hair loss was indistinct, resembling insect damage¡ªindeed, it was syphilis.


    However, according to historical records, it was not until the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty that syphilis was brought over by Western merchants.


    But now it was the Zhenguan era of the Great Tang!


    How could such a persistent disease appear?


    Could it be that history had gone off track?


    Ran Yan sighed.


    She had always believed that heaven does not simply drop pies from the skies, and even if it did, sometimes they could kill a man if they were big enough¡ªone had to have the strength to catch them!


    She had been psychologically prepared from the start, and as expected, Zixu¡¯s situation looked grim.


    The twenty taels were indeed hard to earn.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but regret that she should have asked for hundreds of taels to make it worthwhile.


    ¡°How is it?¡± Qing Dai asked anxiously as she saw Ran Yan stand up straight.


    She had never seen a doctor diagnose without taking the pulse, but now, apart from Ran Yan, no one else could help them.


    Qing Dai placed all her hopes on Ran Yan.


    ¡°The situation is not good, but I can ensure she will be alright for now.¡± Ran Yan knew many ancient prescriptions for treating sexually transmitted diseases, but they were mostly ineffective for severe cases like hers, unless¡­ penicillin could be extracted¡­


    Penicillin, which could cure gonorrhea within hours and syphilis within days.


    Moreover, it had good antibacterial effects against Streptococci, including Streptococcus pyogenes and pneumococcal, as well as penicillinase-negative staphylococci.


    Simply put, if penicillin could be successfully extracted, diseases like puerperal fever and pneumonia, which were almost certainly fatal in ancient times, would be easily treatable, and incidentally, it could change medical history¡­


    Such thoughts surged uncontrollably in Ran Yan¡¯s mind, igniting the work passion that had lain dormant since her time travel.


    ¡°Divine Doctor, Divine Doctor!¡±


    Coming back to her senses, Ran Yan heard Qing Dai calling out anxiously, and couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of her mouth slightly, ¡°Call me Doctor Ran, Ran Shiqi, either is fine, but please stop calling me Divine Doctor.¡±


    In Suzhou City, there were already enough Divine Doctors, and Ran Yan didn¡¯t need to be added to that count, especially since she had never considered herself a life-saving doctor.


    Indeed, she seldom used her medical skills to save people because by the time she saw them, they were usually already corpses.


    ¡°Doctor Ran, my sister¡­¡± Qing Dai looked at Ran Yan with hopeful eyes, her makeup smeared from crying, not looking messy but rather evoking a pitiful charm.


    Ran Yan judged that Qing Dai wasn¡¯t young, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, which in ancient times could be considered middle-aged, but Qing Dai maintained an allure comparable to well-cared-for women of Ran Yan¡¯s previous world, which was truly rare.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe two types of medicine, one to be taken orally and the other to be applied externally,¡± said Ran Yan.


    Qing Dai felt a surge of relief and ordered the maid to fetch writing materials.


    In the ¡°Secrets of Divine Doctor Hua Tuo¡±, there were as many as fifteen prescriptions for this type of disease, but there are many types of sexually transmitted diseases and those prescriptions¡¯ effectiveness on syphilis could be imagined.


    If they were effective, the phrase ¡°talking about syphilis changes color¡± wouldn¡¯t exist.


    ¡°Make sure no one in the courtyard comes into contact with this place,¡± Ran Yan said evenly.


    She didn¡¯t elaborate further, as saying more might provoke panic.


    She believed even this statement would cause quite a stir, but she knew Yan Weiwei had the ability to handle it.


    After all, necessary warnings had to be given.


    Ran Yan was also glad that she had followed them today; otherwise, if syphilis had spread, the consequences would have been dire.


    A single outbreak could destroy the prosperity of the Zhenguan era, and Ran Yan could not stand idly by.


    Penicillin needed to be extracted immediately!


    This task sounded simple; if there was a laboratory, extracting penicillin would be a matter of minutes for Ran Yan, but now it was the Great Tang, and they had nothing.


    The only consolation was that it was summer, making it not so difficult to find enough penicillium.

 Chapter 19 - 19 16 Pie Kills a Person 2

    ?19: Chapter 16 Pie Kills a Person (2) 19: Chapter 16 Pie Kills a Person (2) Ran Yan wrote down the prescription and handed it to Qing Dai, instructing, ¡°White rice flour three qian, Acorus three qian, have the pharmacy grind them into powder for application on the ulcerated area.


    Another prescription is for a medicinal decoction to be taken orally, which I will explain to you in detail later.¡±


    Having done all this, Ran Yan removed the coarse cloth from her hands and, accompanied by Wan Lu, went around the screen to the outer area.


    Syphilis was a tricky disease, requiring utmost caution.


    One should avoid close contact with patients whenever possible.


    At that moment, a maid led three women in.


    Ran Yan was still contemplating the method for extracting penicillin and did not notice someone entering.


    She simply sat down on the mat.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they say a doctor was here to treat us?


    Why don¡¯t I see anyone!¡± a beautiful woman exclaimed.


    Seeing that Ran Yan had no reaction, Wan Lu hurriedly reminded her, ¡°Wife.¡±


    ¡°This person is the doctor,¡± the maid gestured with her hand.


    The three women were immediately full of surprise.


    In the Great Tang, female physicians were not common; they only existed in the palace, serving concubines, and were rarely seen outside.


    Even if they left the palace and became respectable citizens, they would be eagerly taken into the households of the nobility.


    It was almost impossible for the common people to encounter a female physician.


    ¡°Is this some kind of trick?¡± The beautiful woman scrutinized Ran Yan with piercing eyes, as if she could see through any obstruction.


    Ran Yan refocused her attention and, through the thin veil, she impassively observed the newcomers.


    The three women were all about sixteen or seventeen, either stunning or gentle, each with their own charm¡ªunquestionably chosen for their beauty.


    However, the beautiful woman with peach blossom eyes seemed rather brash.


    As for matters outside of work, Ran Yan always lacked enthusiasm, ¡°Who will go first?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± The bright woman, irritated by Ran Yan¡¯s disregard for her words, briskly lifted her skirt and knelt across from Ran Yan, extending her hand.


    ¡°Is there any itching, swelling, or pain in the genitals, as if a foreign body suddenly appeared?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    The woman was taken aback for a moment and asked with some confusion, ¡°Do you not need to take my pulse?¡±


    Ran Yan noted the subtle change in her attitude; if not for hitting the mark with her words, given such an unyielding character, there wouldn¡¯t be the slightest concession, ¡°For the next half month, stop receiving clients.


    You must not engage in sexual intercourse or kissing with men¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that I am also infected?¡± The woman cut off Ran Yan¡¯s words, her face paling slightly as she stared intently at Ran Yan, ¡°Are you trying to take revenge for my earlier rudeness?¡±


    Ran Yan felt helpless; she hadn¡¯t said for certain that the woman was infected, but with symptoms of redness and itching, it was best not to continue sexual activity, for the consequences might not be much better than contracting the disease.


    ¡°Whether or not you are infected, according to your symptoms, you cannot continue to receive clients.


    After I inquire about the others, a thorough examination will be conducted,¡± thought Ran Yan.


    She worried that many in the brothel would have gynecological issues.


    Asking them to stop working would directly cut off their livelihood, a result that these women, who lived by selling their bodies, couldn¡¯t accept.


    Thus, she said, ¡°If you¡¯re not infected with this disease, I won¡¯t force treatment upon you.¡±


    Ran Yan might not have been a professional gynecologist, but during her five years in university, she often covered for her dormitory friends in classes.


    In fact, some professional gynecologists might not be as proficient as Ran Yan.


    ¡°Mr.


    Han has been smitten with a new love recently, is it not a good time for Sister Hong Xing to rest?¡± another girl in an aqua chest-length embroidered gown spoke with a gentle Jiangnan dialect.


    The girl in the aqua dress was extremely fair, not the startling beauty like Hong Xing, but her modest and gentle appearance, with downcast eyes and a plain white jade bracelet on her wrist, made her seem elegant.


    Even though her words were sharp, one might think she bore no malice.


    ¡°You!


    With a fickle husband like that, running off to somewhere else, I¡¯m actually better off, hmph, it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s fickle, or else today he might have died in my room, what bad luck.¡± Hong Xing¡¯s eyes, blooming with peach blossoms, had a unique charm even when she glared angrily.


    The lady in green gently lowered her gaze and gathered her hair by the temples, still embodying a soft and gentle demeanor, and said in a quiet voice, ¡°Sister Hong Xing, be careful with your words.


    Just now, as I was passing by, I heard the Forensic Doctor say that Mr.


    Han was poisoned¡­


    Sister, make sure you don¡¯t get yourself involved.¡±


    Hong Xing slapped the table fiercely and stood up abruptly, ¡°Cui Mei, what do you mean by that!¡±


    Ran Yan watched the tension rising between the two without urging them to proceed with the medical treatment, even finding the scene quite interesting.


    From the few meaningful words Cui Mei said, at least it was clear that Mr.


    Han, who they said had died, wasn¡¯t beaten to death, but appeared to have been poisoned.


    Although it wasn¡¯t any of her business, encountering a murder case in ancient times inevitably sparked her interest.


    ¡°I¡¯m a courtesan, I sell my art, not my body.


    I moved out of Zi Xu¡¯s place three months ago, so I should be in the clear, right?¡± Cui Mei ignored Hong Xing¡¯s questioning and instead turned to Ran Yan to inquire about her condition.


    If that was indeed the case, she should be fine, Ran Yan was about to respond when she suddenly noticed a sore with furrowed edges at the corner of Cui Mei¡¯s mouth, barely visible under the layer of white rice flour.


    Ran Yan hesitated slightly and asked, ¡°The sore at the corner of your mouth?¡±


    ¡°Oh, the exclusive doctor at the brothel looked at it yesterday, said it was an internal fire, and prescribed a few doses of medicine.


    It doesn¡¯t hurt now,¡± Cui Mei¡¯s voice was gentle, as soothing as the mildness of spring in Jiangnan, which made people wonder if she was a Noble Lady.


    Ran Yan took a probing look at her.


    The early skin symptoms of syphilis were red papules that would quickly break down into small red ulcers, and as the disease progressed, both the number and the area of these ulcers would increase.


    Furthermore, the most common places for these symptoms to appear, besides the genitals, were the corners of the mouth, fingers, chest, and so on.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t inquire further,¡± Ran Yan replied indifferently, then turned to ask the last courtesan.


    This young girl was named Zi Ai, with a timid appearance.


    When she answered questions, she would gaze at Ran Yan with slight panic, waiting for a response.


    After preliminary inquiries, only Zi Ai was ruled out as having any abnormalities.


    Cui Mei, with her soft demeanor, had already outright refused to let Ran Yan examine her, but Hong Xing was quite cooperative.


    Unfortunately, after the examination, Hong Xing was diagnosed with syphilis.


    ¡°Have you and Zi Xu served the same man together?¡± Ran Yan really wanted to ask who the man was, so she deliberately posed such a leading question.


    As expected, Hong Xing did not disappoint her, her voice trembling, ¡°It was Mr.


    Han.¡±


    Ran Yan frowned, thinking to herself that the sky doesn¡¯t just drop pies for no reason.


    She had just entered the city and had come across a good opportunity to earn money, but this opportunity was indeed a hot potato.


    ¡°Please save me!¡± Hong Xing suddenly threw herself at Ran Yan¡¯s feet, crying, ¡°I was disrespectful to you just now, I¡¯m as sightless as a bead, please don¡¯t take it to heart.


    I¡¯m someone who speaks my mind directly¡­¡±


    The Wife had just opened the curtain when she saw this scene and felt a chill in her heart, thinking it truly was the case of misfortunes never coming singly.


    ¡°For the time being, close the doors and recuperate.¡± The Wife composed herself and walked in steadily, then knelt in front of Ran Yan, ¡°Divine Doctor, do you have a way to treat this condition?¡±


    ¡°There is a way, but it¡¯s not suitable for everyone.


    I¡¯ve already prescribed two formulas; take them first.


    If the papules burst, then use the medicinal powder to cover them.¡± As Ran Yan spoke, she noticed the red sores on the Wife¡¯s fingers.


    When they were in the alley, her hands had red papules but hadn¡¯t broken yet.


    The rapid progression to burst sores made further examination almost unnecessary, ¡°Don¡¯t cover your hands with rice flour; use the medicinal powder instead.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hong Xing looked at the Wife¡¯s hands in surprise, but a sense of relief washed over her.


    Ever since Zi Xu fell ill, the brothel¡¯s exclusive doctor had been at a loss, and the Wife had only ordered people to cover it up.


    Zi Xu still had an elder sister, but Hong Xing had no relatives of her own.


    ¡°Who is Mr.


    Han?


    Does he have a wife or concubines?¡± Ran Yan asked.

 Chapter 20 - 20 17 Qin Silang

    ?20: Chapter 17 Qin Silang 20: Chapter 17 Qin Silang Lady Yan said, ¡°Young Master Han is the legitimate son of the County Chief of Jinling County, who entered the State School two years ago, along with Qin Silang and Young Master Zhang, all of whom are regular patrons of our embroidery house.¡±


    Suddenly remembering something, Wan Lu quickly asked, ¡°Could this Qin Silang be the legitimate son of Upper Assistant Qin?¡±


    The Upper Assistant is a subordinate officer of the Inspector of Suzhou, assisting the Inspector, although without specific duties in the State hierarchy, ranked Fourth Rank, while the County Chief holds only an Eighth Rank. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The superiority in both rank and status is not merely nominal, as it is said that one grade higher in office can crush a person.


    Even if Qin Silang indeed killed Young Master Han, whether he would be criminally charged remains questionable.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Lady Yan replied, somewhat tiredly massaging her temples, she continued answering Ran Yan¡¯s questions, ¡°Young Master Han has neither wife nor concubine.


    It is said that there are two maids close to him, one of whom is already pregnant, due to give birth in about eight months.


    As for the other, I haven¡¯t heard anything.¡±


    Ran Yan thought to herself, being eight months pregnant slightly reduces the likelihood of contracting an illness, hoping that this Young Master Han accumulated some virtue for himself, leaving behind a healthy lineage.


    ¡°Heaven is impartial after all; though he died, it left a continuous lineage for his family,¡± Wan Lu sighed.


    With a provocative raise of her eyebrows and tears still fresh in her eyes, Hong Xing scoffed, ¡°That sounds nice, but this family has only this sole scion!


    Qin Silang isn¡¯t so lucky, as he was just about to engage the legitimate daughter of the Ran Family.


    Unfortunately, with this incident, the Ran Family is likely to call off the engagement.¡±


    Perhaps knowing she had contracted this troubling illness, Hong Xing spoke with a self-mocking and self-pitying tone, a carelessness that made others feel even more disheartened.


    Both Wan Lu and Ran Yan tightened inside, with Wan Lu hastily asking, ¡°The Ran Family, is it the one in the east of Suzhou City?


    Which legitimate daughter?¡±


    Hong Xing countered, ¡°How many Ran Families are there in Suzhou City, isn¡¯t there only one legitimate daughter?


    Who else could it be?¡±


    Lady Yan paused slightly, thoughtfully glancing at Ran Yan before subtly changing the subject, ¡°Divine Doctor, I wonder about our medical condition¡­¡±


    ¡°The prescription I¡¯ve written for you will do for now, at least delaying the disease.


    I¡¯ll prepare more medicines when I return.


    Furthermore, personal items like handkerchiefs and teacups should be separated from those of others, and contacts, especially physical ones, must be minimized.


    Please wait patiently for the medicines I prepare,¡± Ran Yan instructed earnestly.


    Lady Yan couldn¡¯t help but glance sideways at Ran Yan.


    She could somewhat guess Ran Yan¡¯s identity, a Noble Lady who learns her future husband often frequents brothels and has stirred up trouble but remains so composed, indeed commendable.


    Lady Yan clapped her hands twice, and a Servant soon entered with a tray, placing it on the table.


    ¡°Here are fifty taels of silver, five taels in one ingot as a down payment.


    If I am still alive, there will surely be more reward,¡± Lady Yan lifted the red silk on the tray, revealing ten evenly sized silver ingots.


    Ran Yan indeed wanted to ask for more, but she always adhered to principles, ¡°It was agreed, twenty taels per person, half beforehand and half afterward; now there are three people, so I¡¯ll take thirty taels.


    Wan Lu, take the money.¡±


    Wan Lu, still preoccupied with Qin Silang¡¯s issues, had no mind for money.


    As Ran Yan asked to take thirty taels, she picked six ingots from the tray.


    ¡°Then I shall take my leave for now.


    If there is any trouble, just send someone to the Zhou Family estate to find me,¡± Ran Yan said as she stood up.


    Lady Yan, Hong Xing, and others personally escorted Ran Yan out the back door and then had the Servant lead them out of the alley before they returned.


    No sooner had the Servant left than Wan Lu could no longer contain herself, exclaiming hurriedly, ¡°Wife, this Qin Silang has been involved in manslaughter amidst wine and revelry, not to mention the unknown diseases he might have contracted.


    How could your husband entrust your future to such a person!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s observe and see how things unfold; Father may not even know about this yet.


    After all, Qin Silang¡¯s family background isn¡¯t bad,¡± Ran Yan, remembering the original host¡¯s memories, felt a tinge of affection when she mentioned ¡°Father,¡± perhaps there was some filial affection between the original host and her father.


    In the Tang Dynasty, ¡°Father¡± was the term used to address one¡¯s father, Ran Yan thought, maybe there was some love between the original host and her father.


    ¡°My lady speaks the truth, your husband still cherishes you, and now that you are recovered, why not return home?¡± Wan Lu anxiously grasped Ran Yan¡¯s arm, ¡°It¡¯s better than being manipulated like this!¡±


    ¡°And by going back, will my stepmother stop using my marriage to cause trouble?¡± Ran Yan had always believed in relying on herself rather than others.


    Moreover, if her father indeed valued her so highly, how could he allow the stepmother to manipulate things and send her to the estate?


    Ran Yan patted Wan Lu¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Listen to me, living on the estate allows me to earn some personal money.


    If I go back home penniless, I will still be at the mercy of my stepmother.


    Besides, I do not wish to call her ¡®mother.''¡±


    Wan Lu had been so preoccupied with Ran Yan¡¯s marital issues that she had forgotten that this trip out had netted them thirty silvers.


    If they were careful with spending, it could last two years.


    ¡°My lady¡± Wan Lu, touching the silver in her sleeve pocket, hesitated to speak.


    ¡°You want to ask how I acquired medical skills, don¡¯t you?¡± Ran Yan had already prepared an explanation, just waiting for Wan Lu to ask.


    ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have medical skills; someone taught me a few lifesaving methods in a dream.¡±


    Ran Yan looked at Wan Lu¡¯s astonished face, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°Otherwise, how could we have encountered a patient as soon as we entered the city?


    And then so easily earned thirty silvers?¡±


    All these coincidences, deliberately mentioned by Ran Yan, made Wan Lu truly believe it was divine arrangement.


    Excited, she said, ¡°Even the heavens are helping my lady!


    Does that mean there¡¯s no need to worry about marrying Qin Silang anymore?¡±


    ¡°Heaven won¡¯t side with anyone.


    My stepmother bullies me, so perhaps heaven pities me.


    But how can we depend on heaven for everything?


    The matter with Qin Silang is not yet settled.


    We should find out more before deciding,¡± said Ran Yan, devoid of any certainty.


    Having just arrived in the Great Tang and suddenly facing such an ordeal, she didn¡¯t know where to start.


    After pausing, she added, ¡°Let¡¯s walk around and gather some information about this matter, then discuss it with Mrs.


    Xing when we get back.¡±


    When the two reached the main street, it was almost noon, so they decided to find a tavern to eat lunch and then buy some necessities before returning.


    The tavern¡¯s name, ¡®Yalan House,¡¯ was quite poetic, stretching over three rooms and two floors with white walls and black tiles, the roofs adorned with intricately carved beams.


    Each carved black wooden door bore an entire engraving of orchids, matching the name of the tavern.


    Hung outside the second-floor window were flags waverly inscribed with the forceful and powerful words ¡°Yalan House,¡± reminiscent of the great Wang Xizhi, giving the tavern an even more elegant aura.


    The tale went that Taizong admired Wang Xizhi¡¯s calligraphy, inspiring imitation both high and low.


    It seemed the common folk were also greatly influenced and favored the writings of Wang Xizhi.


    As they entered the tavern, a waiter immediately came to greet them, ¡°Ladies, this way, please.¡±


    The waiter, quite observant, briefly assessed Ran Yan and Wan Lu¡¯s attire, guessing they probably wouldn¡¯t ask for a private room, and led them to a table by the window on the first floor, ¡°This spot is quite secluded, shielded by the staircase, and invisible from the outside.¡±


    ¡°My lady, why not sit in a private room instead?¡± Wan Lu felt some pity for Ran Yan, who once held the status of a noble lady and need not have exposed herself like this.


    Moving further inside, they saw only three tables, two of which were already occupied by scholars.


    Ran Yan was satisfied with the location, seeing no need to waste money on a private room, so she said, ¡°This place is quite fine, let¡¯s sit here.¡±


    Without waiting for Wan Lu to speak again, she settled herself on the mat.


    Wan Lu had no choice but to kneel and sit beside her.


    ¡°Ladies, the menu is on the wall.


    Please take a look and decide what you would like to order,¡± the waiter said.


    Through the gauzy curtain, Ran Yan noticed small bamboo plaques hanging on the wall, which listed various alcoholic drinks, juices, and dishes.


    First, she ordered two cups of black plum juice, then let Wan Lu choose a few dishes.


    The waiter had just left when peals of coquettish laughter drifted down from the second floor, occasionally accompanied by the sound of a zither, drawing the attention of several nearby scholars.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Yalan Meeting; all the talented and beautiful young ladies in the city must be upstairs.


    If one could win the favor of even one,¡± a white-robed scholar gulped down a cup of wine, smacking his lips, ¡°that would truly not be in vain.¡±

 Chapter 21 - 21 18 Enemies on a Narrow Road

    ?21: Chapter 18: Enemies on a Narrow Road 21: Chapter 18: Enemies on a Narrow Road ¡°I was fortunate enough to have attended a Yalan Meeting once, and indeed, Qi¡¯s sixth daughter is breathtaking,¡± remarked another scholar, waving his folding fan with a sigh.


    The scholar in white retracted his gaze and inquired, ¡°Is it Qi¡¯s sixth daughter, the number one beauty of Suzhou?¡±


    As soon as the words ¡®number one beauty¡¯ were spoken, several scholars immediately gathered together.


    Their conversation was nothing but praise for her appearance, and two of them even composed poems.


    The crowd cheered, and they promptly found a waiter to get paper and ink, planning to write down the poems and send them up to the Yalan Meeting that was happening upstairs.


    Perhaps they would be lucky enough to be invited!


    Ran Yan had a limited appreciation for poetry, and up to now, she could remember no more than twenty poems from the Tang Dynasty and Song period combined, including ones like ¡°hoeing millet at noon¡±.


    Thus, compared to the artistic atmosphere, Ran Yan found the black plum juice in front of her far more interesting.


    In spring, there were Fufang drinks, osmanthus drinks, and peach blossom drinks; in summer, there were milk-based drinks and black plum juice.


    Beverages in the Sui and Tang Dynasty period emphasized color, fragrance, and taste, and they were drunk according to the season, all natural and pollution-free.


    People from Chang¡¯an preferred lactic acid drinks, but those from the Southern region generally did not enjoy the peculiar taste of lactic acid drinks and tended to favor beverages like black plum juice instead.


    Ran Yan took a small sip, and the sweet and sour black plum juice refreshed her palate.


    She didn¡¯t know how it was made or preserved, but it had a slightly chilling effect, making it most suitable for summer consumption.


    The dishes were served one after another.


    Those from the Jiangzhou region tended to be light and bland, with a hint of sweetness in the saltiness.


    Ran Yan did not favor it much, and with her poor appetite in summer, she ate very little.


    Perhaps because the Yalan Lodge was often frequented by scholars, even the downstairs hall was devoid of any clamor, mostly filled with discussions on current affairs and poetic appreciation.


    ¡°Who is the author of the just-recited ¡®Beauty Preface¡¯?


    The ladies would like to invite you,¡± a clear voice rose from the staircase.


    A sudden hush fell over the hall, and all eyes turned to the woman standing beside the stairs.


    She was dressed in a pale green, flowing flower dress with double buns in her hair, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a beautiful face.


    Though she was dressed as a maid, she carried an extraordinary presence that clearly indicated her noble origin.


    The crowd exchanged glances, astonished at being invited by the Yalan Meeting¡ªit was quite an honor!


    ¡°The work is indeed mine,¡± said the scholar in white sitting next to Ran Yan as he stood up and cupped his hands in greeting, with a slight smile on his face and the air of a true literati, completely devoid of the lascivious expression he had earlier when he was admiring the beauty.


    The maid smiled faintly and nodded slightly toward him, ¡°Please follow me, my lord.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly.


    She might not understand poetry, but it is often said that writing reflects the person.


    Considering the scholar in white¡¯s demeanor, she could imagine that his poetry was either full of lavish praise or overt flattery.


    That such quality could catch the eye of the noble ladies of the Yalan Meeting spoke volumes about their level of appreciation¡­


    Perhaps it was because the poetry scene had only begun to flourish during the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty?


    Ran Yan mused to herself.


    ¡°Brother Wenjing is indeed lucky!¡± exclaimed a person seated with the scholar in white. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd sighed, some with jealousy and others with envy.


    Ran Yan was almost done eating, so she called for the waiter to settle the bill and leave.


    At this point, the people in the hall, unable to attend the Yalan Meeting, turned their attention to Ran Yan, who had just come out from an inner room.


    Especially notable was Wan Lu, who had not veiled her face, revealing a pair of phoenix eyes, a high nose, and full lips¡ªquite a beautiful sight¡ªprovoking the interest of many individuals.


    Those blatant stares made Wan Lu¡¯s temper flare, but she knew her place.


    This was not the Ran Family¡¯s estate, and she couldn¡¯t run wild here.


    With pent-up frustration, she followed Ran Yan out.


    Distracted, Wan Lu almost collided with someone at the entrance.


    Slap!


    ¡°Are you blind?¡± Before Wan Lu could apologize, the person struck her fair cheek with a slap.


    The sharp sound not only stunned Wan Lu but also left the scholars in the hall momentarily dazed.


    Yalan Lodge was a favorite gathering place for scholars.


    Those who did not understand sophistication found it too pretentious and rarely visited, and the poor could not afford it, so the atmosphere of the establishment was always harmonious.


    When they suddenly heard vulgar language, the crowd was caught off guard and had not yet adjusted to it.


    ¡°This servant failed to be cautious, please forgive me, young master!¡± Wan Lu cursed herself for her carelessness and hastily knelt down to apologize to the hot-tempered gentleman.


    There are plenty of powerful people in the city, a slap could reveal three or five of them, and even with all the courage in the world, Wan Lu wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble for Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan was walking ahead and turned back in response to the commotion, only to see a young man in a blue wide-sleeved and straight-robe brocade, with eyebrows like swords and eyes like stars.


    Even in his rage and irrational state, she had to admit that he was an exceptionally handsome man, but Ran Yan had never been one to admire beauty.


    Seeing Wan Lu¡¯s cheek swollen high, Ran Yan coldly spat out two words, ¡°Scum!¡±


    A man who hits a woman without a word, if not scum, is worse than a beast.


    ¡°What did you say!¡± The man in the brocade robe flew into a rage, grabbed Ran Yan by the collar of her clothes, and yanked her towards him.


    Wan Lu immediately panicked, sprang up from the ground, and tried to pull the man¡¯s hand away, ¡°You can take out your anger on me, but don¡¯t you dare touch my lady!¡±


    Wan Lu¡¯s strength was no match for a man¡¯s, the hand with bulging veins tightly gripped Ran Yan¡¯s clothes, unmoving.


    The people in the hall thought the man was going too far, but they all recognized him as the legitimate son of the Upper Assistant, Qin Musheng.


    The news had spread in the morning that he had beaten a man to death in the Embroidery Pavilion, yet he appeared nonchalantly at noon, which showed that he had strong backing.


    No one dared to be the second young Mr.


    Han.


    The hall was silent.


    Ran Yan snorted and pronounced each word distinctly, ¡°With only a fine exterior, but venting anger on women, if that¡¯s not scum, what is?


    Who offended you, who provoked your anger, not daring to retaliate, you only release your anger elsewhere, if that¡¯s not scum, what is?¡±


    Her words were forceful and resounding, more embarrassing than a series of loud slaps.


    Qin Musheng felt especially unlucky recently.


    He¡¯d been matched for marriage at home with a sickly girl, nearly on her deathbed.


    In the morning, he¡¯d merely beaten up the young Han boy, and who would have guessed the guy had a thin life and actually died?


    Although the Forensic Doctor later confirmed it was death by poisoning, he was still very frustrated.


    He had come out to drink some liquor to dispel his gloom but was then drenched head to toe in curses by a young lady.


    ¡°Which family¡¯s lady are you?¡± Qin Musheng was so furious he suppressed his rage and asked coldly.


    This question suddenly reminded Wan Lu, the Ran Family was one of the top families in Suzhou City, even the Inspector of Suzhou had to show them respect.


    Even if Ran Yan was not favored, she was still the legitimate daughter, so she said, ¡°We are from the Ran residence in the eastern part of the city, let go of her!¡±


    ¡°The Ran residence in the east?¡±


    Before Qin Musheng could speak, a voice from the second floor raised in pitch and asked.


    Ran Yan sighed internally, truly, misfortune never comes alone.


    Whose voice could that be, shriller than normal by an octave, if not Ran Meiyu¡¯s?


    ¡°Let me go.¡± Ran Yan¡¯s voice was indifferent yet carried a sense of oppression.


    Qin Musheng finally felt that holding a woman¡¯s clothes by the collar was against decorum and cooperatively released his grip.


    From the second floor, more than ten elegantly dressed women with covered faces slowly descended.


    One of the girls in a red chest-high dress approached Qin Musheng and Ran Yan, glanced at Wan Lu, paused slightly, then turned to Ran Yan, wondering how someone who was half-dead just a few days ago could be out and about now?


    Remembering that day, Ran Meiyu felt a surge of suffocation in her chest, and then there was the matter of her butterfly hairpin, which Ran Yan had taken to pawn.


    After other Noble Ladies found out, they ridiculed her harshly, claiming her days had become so tough that she had resorted to pawning her jewelry to get by.


    Today was an excellent opportunity, and if she couldn¡¯t turn the tables, she wouldn¡¯t live up to the name Ran Meiyu!


    ¡°Turns out it¡¯s Seventeen.


    What a fate you and Qin Silang have, speaking of the matched marriage, and here you meet.¡± Ran Meiyu meant to truly strike at Ran Yan.


    Qin Silang was a notorious rake, known throughout the city for his indulgence in pleasures, clearly not an auspicious match for a woman.


    Upon these words, both Qin Musheng and Ran Yan were taken aback, involuntarily looking at each other.

 Chapter 22 - 22 19 Beautiful Woman

    ?22: Chapter 19 Beautiful Woman 22: Chapter 19 Beautiful Woman Ran Yan¡¯s head ached, realizing there wasn¡¯t only Ran Meiyu causing trouble; there was an even bigger scoundrel here!


    Ran Meiyu was one thing, no matter how unruly she was, she and Ran Yan had a superficial relationship, so let her jump around as she pleased.


    But Qin Silang was different¡ªalways unpredictable.


    Who knew if this scoundrel might truly become her husband one day?


    Then life would become much harder.


    ¡°Miss Ran Shiqi?¡± Qin Musheng¡¯s fury was extinguished by half, and he examined Ran Yan with a playful scrutiny, ¡°I heard that the legitimate daughter of the Ran Family was a sickly person, but seeing today that she is lively and utterly spirited when cursing¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he insolently brushed away the soap gauze covering Ran Yan¡¯s face.


    Ran Yan hadn¡¯t expected such an action from him.


    She stepped back too late, the soap gauze lifting slightly to create a small gap, yet it was enough for Qin Musheng to see Ran Yan¡¯s features clearly.


    Arched eyebrows slightly furrowed, black hair like cicada¡¯s wings, the midday sun shone through the gap onto her creamy face, outlining half of her lovely visage.


    Her long eyelashes fluttered like black butterfly wings.


    The neckline of her crossed-collar garment had loosened a bit, exposing a segment of her delicate, pale neck, which shimmered dazzlingly under the brilliant light.


    It was just a moment, and the soap gauze fell back.


    That fleeting glimpse completely bewildered the well-experienced Qin Silang.


    By the time he reached out again, Ran Yan had already retreated quite a distance.


    Qin Musheng¡¯s spirits lifted, overcome with joy.


    Initially, he thought this marriage was forced upon him by the Ran Estate, trying to push a dying sickly girl onto him.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to find a beauty!


    He had seen Mei, acclaimed as Suzhou¡¯s foremost belle, but compared to his fianc¨¦e, she somewhat paled in comparison.


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t wish to linger, and she casually said to Ran Meiyu, ¡°I am leaving first; we¡¯ll meet again.¡±


    There was a warning in her words, but Ran Meiyu failed to catch it; for some unknown reason, she felt a slight tremor in her heart.


    ¡°Miss Shiqi!¡± Qin Musheng, thinking of how he had hit Wan Lu in a moment of anger without any explanation and fearing that Ran Yan would hold a grudge and refuse this marriage, hurriedly followed her and said, ¡°These days, many things have not been going well for me and I¡¯ve been irritable.


    It was wrong of me to lash out and strike your maid.¡±


    Qin Musheng apologized with a bow, his earnest expression coupled with his handsome and upright features, even Wan Lu believed his sincerity¡ªthat his actions were indeed due to his unfortunate circumstances.


    Ran Yan had encountered many hypocrites before, and just from hearing today¡¯s rumors about Qin Musheng, she knew he was someone prone to emotional excess and impulsiveness.


    Even if his apology was sincere now, who knew if in the next moment, he might act impulsively over something else and turn hostile?


    She felt unable to deal with someone like that.


    ¡°Since my lord has apologized, we naturally won¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Ran Yan thought.


    After all, if one were to kill a person in a bad mood, should they not be held responsible?


    She didn¡¯t want to entangle further with Qin Musheng.


    Ran Yan, pulling Wan Lu, hurriedly disappeared into the crowd.


    Qin Musheng was in high spirits, not dwelling on Ran Yan¡¯s scolding, and hastily went home thinking he must persuade his father to expedite this marriage!


    The appearance of Miss Shiqi alone, not to mention surpassing Mei, was a rarity in the entire Great Tang.


    It¡¯s fortunate that she had been ill and confined indoors; otherwise, how could such a beauty not be renowned?


    The two parties left hastily, leaving behind a room full of people exchanging puzzled looks.


    They couldn¡¯t help but speculate, what sort of extraordinary beauty was this Miss Shiqi that she could captivate the much-experienced Qin Silang like this!


    Among a group of noble ladies, a young girl in a light cyan silk dress murmured as she watched Ran Yan¡¯s disappearing form, ¡°Miss Shiqi¡­¡±


    Not until Jade Manor was out of sight did Ran Yan slow down, taking Wan Lu towards the doctor¡¯s clinic.


    ¡°Wife, about Qin Silang¡­¡± Wan Lu, usually calm on the estate, seemed quite unsettled today, struggling to comprehend, and with Ran Yan¡¯s recent shift from timidity to impulsiveness, she added, ¡°Wife, even if Qin Silang struck me, why confront him?


    What if the marriage actually happens¡­


    ¡°Everyone else was hitting, so what does it matter if I scolded a little?¡± Ran Yan said coldly.


    She was not acting on impulse; if the Ran Family couldn¡¯t even handle this small matter, then she would not have stayed to rely on them and would have left long ago.


    Marriage is indeed a significant affair, governed by the decree of parents and the matchmaking words, but this is the Great Tang! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Both the law and customs allow for free marriage, so there is still some room for redemption in this marriage.


    ¡°Sigh!


    If Qin Silang were not so flirtatious, given his looks and family background, who knows how many women would be willing to marry him,¡± Wan Lu lamented.


    Ran Yan glanced at her lightly, ¡°You really have a poor judgement of character.


    He¡¯s more than flirtatious; he¡¯s utterly ridiculous.¡±


    The two entered the clinic, where the resident doctor treated Wan Lu¡¯s wounds and prescribed several doses of anti-inflammatory medication before they headed to the fabric store.


    Because of all the disarray encountered today, Ran Yan still worried about extracting penicillin and was not in the mood for shopping.


    She casually chose some high-quality cotton fabric and a few pieces of silk, satin, and gauze.


    Cotton is comfortable and absorbs sweat, making it perfect for summer undergarments and home wear, while silk and gauze are generally used for shirts and skirts.


    Satin, being thick, is mostly used for jackets.


    Spending twenty silver, she neatly arranged spring and summer clothes for all three of them, the servant and maid included, and also bought two high-quality ready-made garments to show respect to her newly recognized master.


    One silver in modern times had the purchasing power of a thousand yuan, so twenty silver was indeed a shopping spree.


    Having bought a pile of items, they hired a carriage in the city and returned to the estate.


    Holding twenty silver felt insignificant, but swapping them for goods that filled a carriage brought a significant sense of accomplishment.


    Ran Yan¡¯s mood also improved slightly, thinking that if it weren¡¯t for this troublesome marriage, living a leisurely life by supporting herself with her medical skills wouldn¡¯t be too bad.


    Upon returning home, Wan Lu instructed the carriage to take them straight to the yard before calling Xing Niang to help unload the goods.


    After unloading, Xing Niang stared at the pile of silk and satin for a long while before asking Wan Lu, ¡°Did the main house allocate these items?¡±


    Xing Niang, having seen the world, knew although these items were not of the finest quality, they were quite substantial.


    The main house¡¯s mistress, despite being from a lesser background, was particularly petty, and over the past few years, she had not sent as much as they had now.


    ¡°They would never part with such, all these were earned by our lady!¡± Wan Lu¡¯s swelling had subsided significantly, and she had long forgotten the pain.


    She excitedly told Xing Niang about their mistress¡¯s talents and extraordinary demeanor, and even included Ran Yan¡¯s dream-inspired ideas.


    Unexpectedly, the usually overthinking Xing Niang did not doubt but rather believed wholeheartedly in the ¡°guidance in dreams by an Immortal,¡± which Ran Yan found somewhat hard to understand.


    However, considering that time travel was possible, the existence of Immortals was not entirely out of the question.


    ¡°If it indeed was the Immortal¡¯s guidance, it must be a good thing.


    However, once we cure those courtesans, our lady must cease contact with them.


    It would not be proper if word got out,¡± Xing Niang tearfully advised while holding Ran Yan¡¯s hand.


    The concern from Xing Niang warmed Ran Yan¡¯s heart.


    She was usually not very sentimental, but at that moment, she felt moved.


    Unsure of what to say, she simply extended her hand and gently embraced Xing Niang.


    Previously, Ran Yan was worried that Xing Niang might suspect her, but now she understood that Xing Niang and Wan Lu had depended on the original Ran Yan, leaning on each other with a close relationship.


    No matter how much Ran Yan changed, they would never doubt their mistress.


    ¡°Xing Niang, I was thoughtless before.


    From now on, I will take good care of you and Wan Lu,¡± Ran Yan said slowly.

 Chapter 23 - 23 20 Aye

    ?23: Chapter 20 Aye 23: Chapter 20 Aye After these events, Ran Yan felt much closer to Xing Niang and Wan Lu psychologically and became more comfortable around them.


    The next day, Xing Niang and Wan Lu began tailoring clothes, while Ran Yan went to learn medical skills from Wu Xiuhe.


    Wu Xiuhe received two finished garments from Ran Yan, his face blooming into a brilliant smile like a chrysanthemum, the smile lines deepening.


    However, he genuinely imparted his knowledge to Ran Yan.


    Although she already knew the medical theories he taught, she still acted as if she was sincerely learning.


    Distinguishing illnesses through pulse diagnosis was Ran Yan¡¯s weak point.


    Therefore, when Wu Xiuhe taught this aspect, she paid particular attention, even bringing back the diligence she had when studying for her doctorate.


    Wu Xiuhe also noticed Ran Yan¡¯s interest in this area and consequently focused on explaining pulse diagnosis.


    After learning medical theory in the morning and having lunch, Ran Yan began researching the extraction of penicillin.


    She also needed to find a way to make syringes; otherwise, even if she extracted the penicillin, it would be a wasted effort if it couldn¡¯t be introduced into the bloodstream.


    Making syringes wasn¡¯t difficult.


    Many people thought that Ancient Egypt was earlier in producing glass artifacts, but it was unknown to them that China had glass artifacts as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty.


    Colorless glass had been produced over a thousand years ago.


    It was only sold commercially during the Song Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty certainly had glass as well.


    Even without glass, ceramics could still serve as a substitute.


    But where could one find someone to make such fine needles at this time?


    Ran Yan¡¯s mind was a mess as she gathered all the leftover food and fruit peels at home¡ªanything that might grow mold¡ªand piled them all together in a damp place conducive to mold growth.


    She then began making distilled water and culture media.


    Ran Yan sighed, never having considered before how many by-products were needed to treat one illness.


    She now deeply felt that charging twenty taels was indeed too cheap.


    Xing Niang and Wan Lu sat under the corridor sewing clothes, watching Ran Yan as she, like a mouse, hid the collected food, then tinkered with bottles and jars, and sometimes even sighed longingly to the sky.


    The two couldn¡¯t help but exchange worried glances. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Wife?¡± Wan Lu finally couldn¡¯t hold back, leaning close to Xing Niang and whispering.


    As Xing Niang stroked the freshly-sewn hem, she guessed, ¡°It¡¯s probably¡­ the medicine the Divine Doctor mentioned, quite difficult to concoct, I guess.¡±


    Wan Lu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, smacked her forehead and said, ¡°Yesterday in town I heard something, originally Wife wanted to come back and discuss it with you, but she didn¡¯t bring it up, and I forgot as well.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xing Niang stopped her work and asked.


    Wan Lu replied, ¡°Yesterday in the town, I heard that the lord told Wife about a marriage arrangement.


    It¡¯s with Qin Silang!¡±


    Qin Silang?


    Xing Niang felt it sounded familiar, then suddenly recalled last night Wan Lu mentioned hearing something in the brothel about Qin Silang killing someone.


    Her eyebrows raised instantly and she harshly knocked on Wan Lu¡¯s head, ¡°Such a big issue and you only mention it now!


    You girl, can¡¯t you discern the weight of matters?¡±


    Rubbing her head, Wan Lu said, ¡°Wife didn¡¯t take it seriously, and I forgot about it in my excitement.¡±


    ¡°You and your master¡­ sigh!¡± Xing Niang sighed deeply, ¡°And I thought Wife had finally understood matters, but it turns out you still cause worry!


    For a woman, nothing is more important in life than marrying and having children.


    Tell me, what¡¯s Qin Silang¡¯s character like?¡±


    ¡°Wife and I met him at the tavern.


    He looks handsome, but his temper is quite explosive.


    I accidentally bumped into him, and he slapped me without a word!¡± As she spoke, Wan Lu felt a surge of anger, but since he was a noble, and considering their own master¡¯s vulnerable position, she, a mere servant, could only endure despite her temper.


    Seeing Xing Niang¡¯s face suddenly turn pale, Wan Lu quickly added, ¡°But later, when the noble ladies from the Yalan Meeting appeared, he did give the Wife some respect and came over to apologize sincerely, saying he¡¯s been perturbed recently due to many troubling affairs, which is why he accidentally hit me.¡±


    Hearing this improved the look on Xing Niang¡¯s face somewhat, ¡°Even so, Qin Silang¡¯s temperament may still be problematic.


    If they really do marry¡­ ah¡­¡±


    In the eyes of Mrs.


    Xing, Qin Silang was the legitimate son of Upper Assistant Qin, and the Qin Clan was no small name.


    Although frivolous and somewhat absurd, Upper Assistant Qin could always protect him completely.


    If Ran Yan entered the family with her temper, she was bound to suffer.


    ¡°It seems that the Wife is quite dissatisfied with Qin Silang.


    Do you think she might be troubled by this?¡± Wan Lu finally got to the point.


    Mrs.


    Xing glanced at Ran Yan, who was squatting beside a small clay stove, frowning as she tossed taro into the pot.


    Her hair was styled into a playful hanging bun, and due to slightly better nourishment these days, her cheeks were plump with baby fat, the picture of a naive and cheerful girl of fifteen or sixteen.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t have imagined that her poker face of many years was now considered cute.


    She was currently focused on making taro soup, a solution of taro and rice could serve as a culture medium for penicillin.


    She would also need to make distilled water¡­


    All these things easily accessible in modern times now had to be created in such primitive ways, which Ran Yan was unaccustomed to.


    Frowning, Ran Yan sifted through the information in her mind haphazardly.


    As she did, an image of a Chengni inkstone appeared before her¡­


    Yes, the Chengni inkstone!


    Unlike other inkstones, it was made from clay and then fired.


    Since Sang Chen could craft such complex Chengni inkstones, he might also know something about firing ceramics.


    With time pressing, Ran Yan immediately gave up on finding glass and instead decided to use ceramics to make syringes.


    Glass was not a common technology in the Great Tang, and by the time she found someone skilled in making glass, Lady Yanniang and several others might already be reduced to bones.


    ¡°Ah Yan,¡± a man¡¯s voice suddenly rang out.


    Ran Yan startled slightly, looking up towards the doorway.


    On the grassy path, a middle-aged man in wide-sleeved, luxurious clothing was quietly watching her.


    He appeared to be in his forties, with a pale, lean face and neatly trimmed, handsome beard, looking gentle and graceful.


    Ah, it¡¯s Father, Ran Yan¡¯s mind registered the information.


    Realizing he was her current father, Ran Wen, she couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize the handsome middle-aged man closely.


    Meanwhile, Mrs.


    Xing and Wan Lu were the first to recover, quickly coming down from the porch, slipping into their wooden clogs, and moving to greet him, ¡°My husband!¡±


    ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t you recognize your father?¡± After seeing Ran Yan clearly, Ran Wen¡¯s excited voice trembled.


    He had not expected that the gravely ill, frail little girl from two years ago would now be so stunning!


    Ran Yan saw the water in the pot boil, quickly removed the pot, and then greeted Ran Wen with a bow, calling, ¡°Father.¡±


    Ran Wen, seeing her adept pot-handling, was instantly enraged.


    His legitimate daughter was so proficient in such tasks!


    He coldly said to Mrs.


    Xing, ¡°What a shrew, to let the Seventeenth Mistress engage in such work!


    Were you raised just to consume resources!?¡±


    ¡°My husband¡­¡± Wan Lu hurried to explain but was grabbed by Mrs.


    Xing.


    Although Mrs.


    Xing maintained a calm demeanor, tears couldn¡¯t help falling as she said tremulously, ¡°The hardships the Wife has endured go far beyond this one instance.


    If not for Doctor Wu¡¯s continuous aid, we humble servants would have starved to death here long ago!¡±


    Wan Lu also began to tear up, ¡°My husband, please don¡¯t send the Wife to the monastery.


    She has recovered from her illness; there¡¯s no need to send her away!¡±


    Watching Ran Wen¡¯s fair face turn from pale to livid, Ran Yan pursed her lips, holding back a smile.


    Mrs.


    Xing and Wan Lu, usually looking so kind and honest, who would have thought they could deliver such a reprimand together?


    ¡°Ah Yan, is what they¡¯re saying true?¡± Ran Wen stepped closer to Ran Yan, and seeing her still dressed in clothes from two years ago, his heart was somewhat convinced.


    The fact was the stepmother had stopped sending funds for just over half a year.


    Ran Yan, needing to manufacture penicillin and fearing to spoil her clothes, had switched to old ones.


    Even if Ran Wen came a few days later, he would see the same scene.


    Thinking of the many items she had bought the day before in her room, which might be hard to explain later, Ran Yan said, ¡°Father, why bother asking your daughter?


    Even if you go back and interrogate others, it¡¯s unlikely anyone will admit it.


    Perhaps you should check privately whether any funds have been allocated recently?


    And besides, your child shouldn¡¯t say too much.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Thank you to carmel for the peach blossom fan, the red envelopes, and many review tickets, thank you Peach Girl Nini for the blessing pack, thank you Lord Kami for the review tickets, long reviews, and blessing packs, thank you Qingzi for the long reviews, review tickets, and blessing packs, thank you Chao Yun L for the long review, thank you Totoro Bottle for the long review!


    And to the sleeves that I have not had the chance to see, thank you all for the rewards!

 Chapter 24 - 24 21 The Zheng Family of Xingyang

    ?24: Chapter 21 The Zheng Family of Xingyang 24: Chapter 21 The Zheng Family of Xingyang Ran Wen slightly relaxed his expression and led Ran Yan toward the inside of the house.


    Once inside the inner hall, Ran Wen looked around, observing the furnishings.


    The items were exquisite and not at all outdated.


    Ran Yan sat down only after seeing Ran Wen taking his seat at the host position.


    Encountering this Tang Dynasty father, Ran Yan felt a complexity of emotions.


    Her father in her past life was a chemist who prided himself on his sense of humor and especially liked to tell Ran Yan jokes that most people couldn¡¯t understand.


    Even though Ran Yan always wore a poker face, her father never tired of this.


    However, the father in front of her was gentle and prudent, with a clear distinction between the senior and the junior members of the family.


    He was the polar opposite of her whimsical father in her previous life, and inexplicably at this moment, Ran Yan found herself particularly missing her parents.


    ¡°Ah Yan,¡± Ran Wen, seeing the beautiful face of Ran Yan, had a flash of amazement cross his face but immediately returned to calmness, ¡°seeing that your illness is almost healed, in a few days, I will send someone to take you home.¡±


    Ran Yan frowned subconsciously.


    Under the current circumstances, life would unquestionably become more difficult upon her return.


    She had not missed the expression on Ran Wen¡¯s face; perhaps, his scheming far surpassed his concern.


    ¡°This place is very nice, and I would like to recuperate a bit longer.


    Besides, I haven¡¯t returned home in two years, I¡¯m afraid it would trouble the Lady to make preparations.


    If it¡¯s rushed, I fear the Lady would be overtaxed.¡± Regardless, Ran Yan had to try her best to extend her stay for a while longer, for the lives of Yianniang and the others were still in her hands.


    Ran Wen, with a hint of displeasure, took a sip of the tea offered by Wan Lu, ¡°That is your mother!


    Why do you call her ¡®the Lady¡¯?¡±


    Ran Yan remained silent.


    If it were about calling her biological mother ¡®Mom¡¯, she could accept it as she was using someone else¡¯s body.


    However, she was unwilling to acknowledge that stepmother ¨C the original Ran Yan had refused to accept her as a mother, and in this regard, Ran Yan would not betray her wishes.


    Seeing Ran Yan¡¯s stubborn insistence, Ran Wen became somewhat angry but, looking at Ran Yan¡¯s exquisitely beautiful face, he suppressed his anger and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Let it be.


    Since you have this filial piety, you may stay on the estate for another half month to think things over.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t figured things out in two years; how could she possibly do so in half a month?


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but doubt if the fleeting pity she had seen in Ran Wen¡¯s eyes earlier was an illusion.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ran Yan responded.


    Half a month was enough for her to settle the affairs of the embroidery workshop.


    Ran Wen nodded, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He stood and walked toward the door; pausing at the threshold, he turned and said, ¡°The matter of skimming from your monthly allowance, I will see to it that it is thoroughly investigated.¡±


    Following proper etiquette, Ran Yan got up, stepped into the corridor, put on her wooden clogs, and personally saw Ran Wen off.


    Upon returning to the yard, Xing Niang¡¯s eyes were red as she clutched at Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, you absolutely must not call the stepmother ¡®Mother¡¯.


    She comes from a humble background and lacks virtue; she doesn¡¯t deserve to be your mother!¡±


    Hearing Xing Niang say this, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but recall and yet, she could not remember anything about her biological mother¡¯s background, only that Wan Lu had mentioned her mother¡¯s family wasn¡¯t prosperous, despite being from a prestigious clan.


    ¡°Xing Niang, was my mother a Noble Lady?¡± Ran Yan asked. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xing Niang¡¯s face changed slightly, but eventually, she clenched her teeth and said, ¡°The master forbade the slaves from discussing this with you, but seeing the master¡¯s attitude today, I¡¯m afraid he will not make decisions for the Wife¡­


    The Lady¡¯s family name is Zheng, born into the Zheng Clan of Xingyang.¡±


    ¡°The Zheng Clan of Xingyang!¡± Ran Yan thought, recalling some common knowledge.


    The Cui Clan of Boling, the Li Clan of Zhaojun, the Cui Clan of Qinghe, the Lu Clan of Fanyang, the Zheng Clan of Xingyang, the Li Clan of Longxi, and the Wang Clan of Taiyuan were collectively referred to as the ¡°Seven Great Clans and Five Surnames.¡± Alongside the Wei Clan of Jingzhao, the Pei Clan of Hedong, the Liu Clan of Hedong, the Xue Clan of Hedong, the Xiao Clan of Lanling, and the Du Clan of Jingzhao, they were all long-standing and prominent noble clans, still considered powerful families.


    Ran Yan was momentarily stunned, suddenly remembering her mother in her past life as an archaeologist, proudly presenting her with a Chengni inkstone: ¡°I bought this inkstone at a street stall in Wangfujing.


    With your mom¡¯s extensive experience in antiquities, I knew at a glance this was a treasure and promptly bought it.


    Later, I had it appraised by an expert, and it turned out the inkstone was excavated from a Zheng Clan tomb in Xingyang, dating from the early to mid-Tang Dynasty¡­


    worth at least two hundred thousand, and guess what, your mom only spent five hundred on it.


    Impressive, right?¡±


    ¡°Wife!¡± Xing Niang, with a panic-stricken face, shook the dazed Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan came back to her senses and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.


    I was just wondering, if my mother is from the Zheng Clan of Xingyang, why would Wan Lu say that my maternal family is not doing well?¡±


    At the dawn of the Tang Dynasty, the Zheng Family of Xingyang might not have been active on the historical stage, but with their noble descent, the mere phrase ¡°Zheng Family of Xingyang¡± was like a golden signboard that could crush people to death¡ªhow could there be even a slight decline?


    ¡°Wan Lu is a slave born into the Ran Family.


    Since the master has forbidden mentioning this matter at home, Wan Lu also knows very little about it.


    The Lady is the concubine-born daughter of the second branch of the Zheng Family.


    In recent years, there has been some difficulty with finances; otherwise, how could she have fallen to the point of marrying someone with a different surname!¡± Xingniang sighed.


    The five noble clans strengthened their family status through intermarriage among themselves; they considered it shameful to marry into families with different surnames.


    If a man from a different surname wished to marry one of their daughters, he had to offer a substantial bride price and had to be of exceptional character and virtue for them to even consider it.


    Thinking of this, Ran Yan also somewhat understood why Ran Wen forbade bringing up this matter at home.


    If in his prime, he had spent all his money, believing he could marry a Noble Lady and elevate his family¡¯s status, only to end up marrying a concubine-born daughter, anyone would feel like spitting blood!


    ¡°Father¡¯s vision was somewhat narrow,¡± Ran Yan commented lightly.


    A sigh from Shao Ming, the Prime Minister of the prosperous Tang Dynasty: ¡°In this life, my regret is not being able to marry a woman from the five clans!¡± At that time, the Xue Family was already among the ¡°Four Clans of Guanzhong¡± alongside the Wei, Pei, and Liu families, yet they still looked up to the ¡°Five Clans and Seven Families,¡± which speaks volumes about their status.


    Therefore, even marrying a concubine-born daughter was considered gaining a connection with the Zheng Family of Xingyang, and others would surely see one differently.


    However, Ran Wen, hung up on not having married a legitimate daughter, remarried quickly after the Lady of the Zheng Family passed away, effectively giving up his connection with the Zheng Family.


    After spending so much money and then giving up voluntarily, Ran Yan felt it wasn¡¯t really about having a narrow view; it was like having a brain filled with water.


    ¡°This marriage was personally sought by Lord Ran while he was alive,¡± Xingniang did not echo Ran Yan¡¯s assessment but her words were enough to show she did not have a high opinion of Ran Wen.


    It took Wan Lu quite a while to come back to her senses and she said, ¡°So, the Lady actually comes from such a high and prestigious family!


    If the Wife really cannot stand living in the Ran Family anymore, could she seek refuge with the Zheng Family?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easier said than done¡­¡± Xingniang replied hesitantly.


    Ran Yan understood; her mother came from a high and prestigious family, and even as a concubine-born daughter, she was still held in unattainably high regard by outsiders.


    Yet within the clan, a concubine-born daughter was just that, and it¡¯s unlikely that she was treated well, let alone the daughter of a concubine-born.


    Moreover, with noble clans having even more numerous and stringent rules, even if it were a large tree offering ample shade, Ran Yan had no intention of relying on it.


    Wan Lu was just blunt and quick with her words, and after thinking it through a bit more, she simply laughed dryly.


    Concerned about her pot of taro soup, Ran Yan quickly went over to the stove.


    As for this father from the Tang Dynasty, because there was no emotional attachment, Ran Yan did not feel any sadness, only pity for the original Ran Yan.


    ¡°It¡¯s been cooked too long,¡± Ran Yan looked at a pot of taro and turning to Xingniang, said, ¡°We won¡¯t need to cook tonight, we¡¯ll eat the taro.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Xingniang responded with a smile, seeing that Ran Yan was in a good mood.


    Ran Yan instructed Wan Lu to carry the pot, intending to go to the kitchen when suddenly the courtyard door began to bang loudly.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Wan Lu called out.


    A servant¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°It¡¯s Shao Ming.


    Mister Sang Chen has come to pay a visit to the Seventeenth Lady.¡±


    Sang Chen?


    Ran Yan raised her eyebrows slightly.


    Last time he sent a brush-inkstone set, which could barely be justified as thanking Ran Yan for saving Zhou Sanlang¡¯s life.


    What was it for this time?

 Chapter 25 - 25 22 - Can You Perform an Autopsy

    ?25: Chapter 22 ¨C Can You Perform an Autopsy?


    25: Chapter 22 ¨C Can You Perform an Autopsy?


    ¡°Invite him in,¡± Ran Yan said.


    ¡°Wife!¡± Xing¡¯s maid hastily interjected, ¡°Meeting a man in private is truly improper!¡±


    The customs of the early Tang Dynasty had gradually become more open, and private encounters between unwed men and women were already the norm.


    The maid, being a servant from the Zheng family of Xingyang and coupled with the fact that Southern customs were not as liberal as those in the North, naturally had higher expectations.


    Ran Yan straightened her clothes and said indifferently, ¡°It seems that Father intends to use me for a marriage alliance, so I naturally need not worry about marriage matters.¡±


    With a soft sigh, Xing¡¯s maid ceased her persuasion.


    Chastity was no longer the only standard by which a woman was judged.


    If, as the wife had said, her lord intended to use her for a marriage alliance, it might indeed be better to do as one pleased and pursue what one desired; otherwise, there may no longer be an opportunity to act on one¡¯s own will in the future.


    ¡°I apologize for the abrupt visit,¡± a voice as gentle as a spring breeze drifted slowly into the courtyard with the evening air.


    Ran Yan, who had just slipped off her wooden clogs, turned around in the corridor upon hearing the voice.


    Her gaze quietly rested on the awkward man.


    It was only for a moment, but as she looked away, she caught a glimpse of his face turning red, his handsome features flushed with shyness.


    Ran Yan¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, then clenched into a fist.


    She was surprised to find herself once again feeling the impulse to dissect someone.


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang, please come in,¡± Xing¡¯s maid said.


    Sang Chen handed the cloth-wrapped bundle in his hand to the Xing¡¯s maid, ¡°This is a small token of my appreciation.¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang is too kind,¡± Xing¡¯s maid replied with a faint and distant smile as she accepted the bundle and turned to lead him inside.


    Ran Yan was already seated in the host¡¯s seat when Sang Chen entered.


    She nodded slightly to him, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, please take a seat.¡±


    Sang Chen greeted her nervously, ¡°Thank you, Wife.¡±


    After he took his seat, Ran Yan raised her eyebrows slightly and observed his fidgety demeanor for a long while before speaking, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, what brings you to me?¡±


    Sang Chen felt that what he was about to request was quite a demand and was unsure how to begin.


    Just then, he heard Ran Yan directly asking him, and after a brief hesitation, he said, ¡°To be honest, I have only met the wife four times and exchanged but a few words.


    To come here seeking your help is truly presumptuous¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Ran Yan interrupted, ¡°You said four times?¡±


    Besides the flower-viewing and inquiring about the inkstone, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t recall where else she had met him.


    With shy embarrassment, Sang Chen replied, ¡°The time the Wife saved Zhou Sanlang, I spoke a few words with the Wife.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she suddenly recalled the scene from that day: She was grabbing onto a youth on a bridge, who urgently said, ¡°Wife, please don¡¯t pull on me, saving him is urgent!¡±


    While she was burying the man to save him, a foolish youth inquired, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that Sanlang still had a chance?


    Why then is he being buried on the spot?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t go into the city,¡± Ran Yan said flatly, stating a fact rather than asking a question.


    Sang Chen awkwardly explained, ¡°That day, when I reached the stables, I remembered I couldn¡¯t ride a horse, so I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the matter at hand,¡± Ran Yan said, massaging her throbbing temples.


    Sang Chen was truly off-topic; she had merely interjected and he was already galloping off with someone else¡¯s subject.


    Ran Yan wondered if she veered off further whether he might even forget his own purpose for coming here.


    Sang Chen quickly gathered his thoughts, recalling what he wanted to say before speaking, ¡°Someone requested that I write a petition, and as it happens, the deceased was a former schoolmate of mine in the State academy.


    I couldn¡¯t well refuse, but I struggled because there is no evidence.


    Writing a petition without proof, the Government would likely pay no attention.


    So, I¡¯m here¡­


    I wonder, Wife¡­


    do you conduct postmortem examinations?¡±


    Performing an autopsy, Ran Yan¡¯s fingers twitched slightly¡ªthis was a task she was more than familiar with.


    The feeling of searching for the lethal cause on a body suddenly surged into her heart, and she felt as if a place within her that had been dead suddenly revived completely.


    Even though her emotions fluctuated wildly inside, Ran Yan¡¯s face remained calm and cold.


    It was only because Sang Chen saw her not speaking for a long time that he thought she was refusing and quickly said, ¡°I am also aware that this task is imposing on someone against their will.


    After all, performing an autopsy is an insult to a wife¡¯s status.


    It¡¯s just that the government¡¯s forensic doctors won¡¯t casually help outsiders¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you a lawyer?¡± Ran Yan was quite surprised.


    Lawyers defended plaintiffs or defendants, wrote legal statements, and needed to be decisive, clear-headed, articulate, and quick-thinking to argue for the validity of their viewpoints.


    How could someone like Sang Chen, who liked to follow others¡¯ leads in conversation and spoke without focus, become a lawyer?


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®lawyer¡¯?¡± Sang Chen asked in confusion.


    Ran Yan suddenly remembered that the Tang Dynasty likely didn¡¯t have this profession, so she didn¡¯t continue the topic and quietly pondered the matter.


    It had to be said, Sang Chen was quite good at finding people.


    Ran Yan, a senior expert in the forensic field, would leave no secrets hidden on any corpse that came into her possession.


    The key was whether or not she needed to do this favor.


    Sang Chen, watching Ran Yan frown and contemplate, couldn¡¯t help but hold a sliver of hope.


    He was truly out of options; remembering Ran Yan¡¯s ability to bring the dead back to life, she must have superb medical skills, so determining the cause of death should be no problem, right?


    And if she could actually revive the dead, that would be even better¡­


    Even if Ran Yan were to be reborn ten more times, she absolutely couldn¡¯t guess the na?ve thoughts Sang Chen had at the moment.


    However, she wasn¡¯t interested in these thoughts.


    ¡°Do you know how to make ceramics?¡±


    Sang Chen didn¡¯t see how that related to an autopsy but answered honestly nonetheless, ¡°Making ceramics is a hereditary skill in my family, so naturally, I know how to do it.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded, understanding, and spoke slowly, ¡°I can help you with the autopsy, but you must agree to three conditions.


    First, do not let anyone see me; second, do not reveal my identity; and third, you must help me make something.¡±


    Considering the craftsmanship and finesse of the Fangcheng inkstone, Ran Yan guessed that Sang Chen¡¯s ceramic-making skills must also be quite exquisite.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Sang Chen¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°My classmate¡¯s family is rather wealthy.


    They also don¡¯t wish to publicize this matter, and they have already bribed the morgue¡¯s guards, so we can go there anytime. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for making something, it¡¯s not a problem.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded, ¡°You¡¯re talking about your classmate from the State Academy, could it be the Cai Xiu Hall case?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve heard of it too?¡± Sang Chen was quite surprised; he thought Ran Shiqi was a Noble Lady who didn¡¯t leave her front door and didn¡¯t step beyond the second door, and this wasn¡¯t even in the city.


    Who would have thought that she would know about a case that happened just yesterday?


    Ran Yan ignored his question and said indifferently, ¡°I will go with you to the city for the autopsy tomorrow.


    I am in urgent need of the ceramic piece I want you to make; I hope you can complete it within three days.¡±


    ¡°I will do my best¡­¡± Sang Chen looked hesitant, as making an ordinary ceramic piece ¡ª shaping, drying, glazing, firing, cooling, and depending on the type of ceramics made ¡ª even with no delays, would take anywhere from two days to half a month.


    If it were more delicate, it could take a month to get a finished product.


    ¡°Not ¡®do your best,¡¯ you must.


    I help you with the autopsy, and you make ceramics for me; consider it a deal.


    I ensure there will be no mishaps; shouldn¡¯t you also guarantee speed and quality?¡± Ran Yan didn¡¯t know how many days exactly making ceramics took; she didn¡¯t want to impose on him, but Yianni and the others¡¯ lives were hanging by a thread, especially Zi Xu.


    Delaying could mean death.


    ¡°The ceramic I want is only an odd shape, about as thick as a thumb, hollow, with an inner vessel that fits just right in the middle, no need for decoration, just able to hold water and medicine¡­


    How many days do you need to make something like this at the minimum?¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Sang Chen said, ¡°If the weather is clear and we use our family¡¯s drying secret method, it could be done in three days.¡±


    ¡°Good, I will give you a detailed drawing later,¡± Ran Yan breathed a small sigh of relief, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.


    What remained now was finding such a fine hollow needle; where could one find that?


    This half month was bound to be extremely busy, but for workaholic Ran Yan, it wasn¡¯t really anything troublesome.


    What troubled her most was the marriage arrangement between the Ran Family and the Qin Family.


    Remembering the way Ran Wen looked at her, he seemed very satisfied with her appearance.


    If this were any normal person, they would certainly think of marrying their daughter into a higher social status, and Ran Wen would probably be no exception.


    But considering how Ran Wen treated his wife, Ran Yan had no hope for this shortsighted father of hers.


    Perhaps the Qin Family offered a substantial benefit, coupled with his new wife whispering in his ear, he might just sell her off.


    Qin Silang was promiscuous by nature, fickle and prone to rage.


    Ran Yan was truly afraid she would not be able to resist killing him some day to keep her own peace.

 Chapter 26 - 26 23 Playing Dumb or Cunning as a Fox

    ?26: Chapter 23: Playing Dumb or Cunning as a Fox 26: Chapter 23: Playing Dumb or Cunning as a Fox After sending Sang Chen away, Ran Yan began to prepare the equipment needed for the autopsy tomorrow.


    Atractylodes, soap pods, strong vinegar, knives, needles and thread, gloves, face masks¡­


    She had encountered even more difficult environments when conducting autopsies in the past, and even without those handy tools, Ran Yan was still able to cope.


    Thus, she did not dwell on this matter, nor did she intend to get involved in other people¡¯s business.


    It would be enough to inform Sang Chen of the results for him to write the legal document.


    The next day, Ran Yan, accompanied by Wan Lu, met with Sang Chen in the East Market.


    Afterwards, she sent Wan Lu off to find a shop that could manufacture needle heads, while she went to the Government Office¡¯s morgue with Sang Chen.


    The morgue of the State Government Office was actually not inside the office compound, but was set up in a relatively remote place, similar to a charity burial ground.


    Ran Yan specifically changed into a hemp robe, dressing in men¡¯s clothing and wearing a mask which made her look rather awkward.


    Compared to Ran Yan¡¯s calmness, Sang Chen was far from composed, pacing back and forth near the morgue, shaking incessantly, to the point where even his facial expressions began to stiffen.


    They temporarily stopped in a dead alley.


    While Ran Yan sat on a pile of bamboo poles, she watched Sang Chen through the gauze of her mask and said coldly, ¡°If you are so afraid, why bother looking for evidence?


    You could just carelessly write a legal document to get by, couldn¡¯t you?¡±


    Sang Chen strived to control his stiff expression, turned around, and stared at Ran Yan, saying, ¡°How can wife speak like that?


    Since they sought my help, I must do my utmost.


    Even if I cannot catch the murderer, I must list all the doubts, and let the Government Office clarify them.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it was Qin Musheng who killed the man?¡± Ran Yan asked with interest, looking at Sang Chen who was shivering and speaking righteously.


    ¡°This¡­


    it is said that Qin Musheng beat Han Langjun until he was covered in blood, and the Forensic Doctor found that Han Langjun was poisoned.


    I just feel the timing of the poisoning is too coincidental.


    If it is not someone deliberately framing Qin Musheng, then it must be that Han Langjun, despite being poisoned, did not die from it.


    Rather, it was Qin Musheng¡¯s hand that killed him.


    Regardless of which scenario it is, Han Langjun died unfairly,¡± Sang Chen spoke about the doubts, and his trembling gradually subsided.


    His focused demeanor made his already extraordinary appearance even more captivating.


    Ran Yan was momentarily stunned; where was there a trace of ¡®foolishness¡¯ in this Sang Chen?


    Sang Chen paused and said, ¡°Wife, when you perform the autopsy, it would be best if you can determine whether Han Langjun died from poisoning or from being beaten.


    This way, it will be more convincing when I write the legal document.


    I hope it was not Qin Silang who killed the man, otherwise¡­


    alas!¡±


    If it really was Qin Musheng who had beaten the man to death, with the Qin family¡¯s power, it would be very difficult for the Han Family to bring Qin Musheng to justice and imprison him.


    Ran Yan recalled the few times she had seen Sang Chen; the first time he appeared very foolish, the second time he was exasperatingly immersed in the fragrance of flowers, and the third time in Meng Hall, those pure and clear eyes, as well as his obliviousness to his surroundings when engrossed in reading, all made him seem like a bookworm who had read himself silly.


    In any of these states, no one would associate him with having such a serious side, well-versed in the ways of the world.


    ¡°Wife?¡± Seeing Ran Yan remain silent for a long time, Sang Chen could not help but call out to remind her.


    ¡°Rest assured,¡± Ran Yan said lightly in response, then asked, ¡°When can the autopsy be performed?¡±


    Sang Chen spoke for a while, the nervousness in his heart easing a great deal before he poked his head out to look down the alley and then said, ¡°Wait a while longer.


    I have made an arrangement with the Han Family members; they want to be present during the autopsy.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s face darkened, and she said coldly, ¡°You never mentioned to me yesterday that the Han Family members would be watching!¡±


    ¡°This¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the Han Family is also eager for revenge.


    Wife, you can just cover your face at that time, they shouldn¡¯t mind,¡± said Sang Chen with na?ve innocence.


    They wouldn¡¯t mind?


    Even the profession of Forensic Doctor isn¡¯t very prevalent now, who wouldn¡¯t be surprised to see a female coroner at first sight!


    Ran Yan glared coldly at him, her fingers tucked in her sleeve moving slightly.


    She really couldn¡¯t restrain herself from wanting to dissect this fool!


    Sometimes stupid enough to be sold and still count the money for the seller, yet at other times not just normal but very shrewd¡ªRan Yan wanted to dissect him to see if the structure of his brain was different from that of ordinary people.


    ¡°How is the ceramic I asked for coming along?¡± If Sang Chen said it wasn¡¯t done, Ran Yan decided she would immediately walk away.


    ¡°The ceramic body has already been made, it¡¯s drying now.


    With the weather being clear these days, it should be glazed and fired by early morning tomorrow, and cool down by the hour of the Rat,¡± Sang Chen said with certainty, as if what he described was a fact.

 Chapter 27 - 27 23 Is he a fool or a wolf in sheeps clothing_2

    ?27: Chapter 23: Is he a fool or a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing_2 27: Chapter 23: Is he a fool or a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing_2 Ran Yan knew that it was due to professional confidence, everything was under control so easily.


    Although she had not anticipated it, Ran Yan was very satisfied with this result.


    ¡°The people have arrived,¡± Sang Chen withdrew his head, suddenly becoming tense again.


    He quickly walked up to Ran Yan, his face somewhat pale, and apologetically said, ¡°It¡¯s disrespectful for a lady like you to face a corpse, I¡­


    I truly feel guilty in my heart.¡±


    ¡°You are admitting it too late,¡± Ran Yan discovered another infuriating fault in Sang Chen and coldly dropped these words, picking up the suitcase beside her and stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s, let¡¯s.¡± Sang Chen nodded, gulped dryly, and followed Ran Yan out of the dead alley.


    Outside the Morgue, there were surprisingly four carriages!


    Ran Yan paused slightly, she was dressed ambiguously, not clearly as either gender, but if one was attentive, they could still discern her gender.


    Looking at over ten people slowly alighting from the four carriages, Ran Yan wished she could kill Sang Chen and then throw away his body, her voice like a chilling cold pit, ¡°You never told me there would be so many people!¡±


    Under the fierce summer sun, a drop of cold sweat actually streamed down Sang Chen¡¯s forehead.


    His handsome face turned red, and he said with insufficient confidence, ¡°I did not know there would be so many people.¡±


    Ran Yan turned back and glared at him sharply, deeply feeling that she had boarded a bandit¡¯s ship, Sang Chen was really not to be judged by common sense.


    ¡°I failed to recognize people clearly myself, I admit it this time!


    You wait and see!¡± Ran Yan enunciated every word, her low voice seemed to carry cold gusts of wind, making Sang Chen¡¯s hands and legs tremble even more.


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang!¡± Among the people who came down from the Han Family¡¯s carriage, a slightly overweight middle-aged man in luxurious clothes was elated to see Sang Chen and hurried to greet him.


    ¡°County Chief Han!¡± Sang Chen quickly saluted with a hand gesture.


    Hearing Sang Chen¡¯s address, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but take a few more looks at County Chief Han, the father of the deceased from Jinling County, dressed in a deep blue uniform without embroidery, with a beard only three or four inches long, neatly groomed but his slightly fat face wore a hint of tiredness and paleness, possessing the unique gentle and elegant air of people from Jiangnan.


    County Chief Han¡¯s gaze lightly drifted over Ran Yan, not asking further details since Sang Chen did not introduce her, then said, ¡°I appreciate Mr.


    Sang¡¯s assistance with my son¡¯s case.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, County Chief Han and I share comradeship from our school days, I couldn¡¯t just stand by idly with such an incident occurring,¡± Sang Chen responded appropriately and walked with County Chief Han towards the Morgue. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Among the dozen people in luxurious attires, there were only two women, one about fifty and the other around thirty.


    The group followed behind County Chief Han and Sang Chen, the older woman sizing up Ran Yan before, with the aid of the middle-aged woman, she followed as well.


    Ran Yan silently carried the suitcase behind them.


    The Morgue was located in the West Suburb, quite far from the market places, so there weren¡¯t many pedestrians, hence even with so many people together, there was no concern about causing an uproar.


    As soon as they entered the Morgue, a gust of cold wind blew towards them, carrying a faint smell of decaying corpses, which in summer, startlingly made one feel cold starting from the soles of the feet.


    The government officials at the Morgue all looked half-dead, the leader just glanced at County Chief Han and said, ¡°County Chief Han, please follow me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± County Chief Han¡¯s voice trembled slightly.


    The sight of an elder sending off a younger, Ran Yan could understand, but seeing Sang Chen¡¯s trembling legs from behind, somehow, her mood suddenly improved a bit.


    The official took out keys and opened the door, ¡°County Chief Han, please.¡±


    County Chief Han turned to the elderly woman and said, ¡°Mother, perhaps wait outside.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to see my Shan¡¯er,¡± the old woman said firmly, and was actually the first to enter the morgue.


    The rest of the people could only follow silently inside, Sang Chen turned as pale as a ghost, yet still anxiously glancing at Ran Yan and quietly asked, ¡°Are you, not afraid?¡±


    ¡°Afraid,¡± Ran Yan, behind her mask, replied flatly, ¡°It¡¯s summer, the corpse is probably covered in livor mortis, completely unrecognizable, that look is quite like a fierce ghost, and also, do you smell that?


    The stench of decay is already setting in.¡±


    Ran Yan watched as Sang Chen¡¯s handsome face lost all color, slightly curved her lips in comfort, ¡°You requested the autopsy, you¡¯re not planning to stay outside, are you?¡±


    Soft sobbing sounds began coming from inside the room, Sang Chen tightly pressed his lips together, struggling with his thoughts for a long time without reaching a decision.


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang, we can start the autopsy now,¡± County Chief Han¡¯s voice came from inside.


    At the sound, Sang Chen nearly fell in alarm.


    Bracing himself against the doorframe, he pulled a smile more pitiful than crying and said to Ran Yan, ¡°I, let¡¯s go in.¡±


    Entering the morgue, a colder air assaulted them, though there was no stench of decay, the place where the body was kept always had the aroma of death lingering.


    The dimly lit room was illuminated by candles; only a single coffin was placed inside, all the windows were thickly covered, and chilly ice basins were placed around the corners of the walls to slow down the decomposition of the corpse during summer.


    Sang Chen clenched his teeth and lowered his head as he walked in, thinking it would be fine as long as he didn¡¯t look too closely at the coffin.


    Ran Yan followed Sang Chen to the front of the coffin, set her suitcase down, and extracted the mask and gloves Wan Lu had made the previous day, putting them on.


    Inside, the lighting was poor, naturally, she could no longer wear the ¡®mask.¡¯ After putting on the mask, Ran Yan took off the ¡®mask.¡¯


    Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and the people from the Han Family immediately widened their eyes, her petite figure and exquisite build undeniably belonged to a young lady!


    Ran Yan seemed not to notice the surprise of the people, lifted the shroud covering the corpse, and while putting on the gloves, she observed the condition of the body.


    Ran Yan took out a newly prepared blank book and tossed it to Sang Chen, saying lightly, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, please take down some notes.¡±


    Sang Chen, with trembling hands, flipped open the book.


    His mind was a blank and he didn¡¯t know what to record, so he just followed whatever Ran Yan instructed him.


    However, just as Ran Yan was about to start the autopsy by reaching into the coffin, a voice shouted from outside, ¡°Wait!¡±

 Chapter 28 - 28 24 Analysis of the Scene

    ?28: Chapter 24 Analysis of the Scene 28: Chapter 24 Analysis of the Scene At this loud cry, everyone turned to look outside the door.


    Ran Yan also paused and lifted her gaze toward the door.


    The morgue door was half-open, with blinding light pouring in, making it only possible to see the tall figure of the newcomer, dressed in a moon-white gown with wide sleeves.


    The gown¡¯s collar and cuffs were embroidered with silver cloud patterns on dark blue brocade.


    ¡°Liulang,¡± the County Chief said.


    The man walked in slowly, followed by an old man carrying a box.


    As he moved away from the glaring light outside, Ran Yan could see his face clearly.


    The man was about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with distinct angular features, deep black eyes, and a fair and clean complexion.


    Yet, he did not have the gentle demeanor of Southern people.


    He flicked his wide sleeves, approaching the County Chief with an air as steady as Mount Tai.


    When he stood beside the County Chief, he was indeed a head taller than his brother.


    ¡°Liulang,¡± the elderly woman greeted the man with excitement, her voice thick with intense grief and trust, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re back! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shan¡¯er died unjustly; if it really was Qin Silang who killed him, you must seek justice for your nephew!¡±


    Han Liulang soothingly patted the old woman¡¯s back and said, ¡°Mother, rest assured, I¡¯ve come back specifically for this matter.¡±


    After Han Liulang finished speaking, his eyes fell on Ran Yan, displaying a hint of surprise.


    But it was fleeting, and his expression returned to its usual calm, as if no emotional ripple had ever occurred.


    He asked indifferently, ¡°Where did this forensic doctor come from?


    A young woman?¡±


    Since the Han Dynasty, the practice of autopsy reasoning for case resolution had become popular, and the role of the forensic doctor was unquestionably critical.


    However, it was always a low-status profession, generally held by the lower classes or slaves.


    Besides performing autopsies, forensic doctors were also involved in the burial of bodies.


    It was very rare for women, much less young women like Ran Yan, to take on this role.


    Seeing that Sang Chen¡¯s complexion was ashen and his gaze vacant, the County Chief took over the conversation and said, ¡°This is a forensic examiner invited by Mr.


    Sang.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± replied Han Liulang indifferently.


    Then he turned and introduced, ¡°This is Feng Sanxun, a famous forensic doctor from Suzhou, with over thirty years of experience and no mistakes in his work.¡±


    The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.


    Sang Chen was someone the County Chief had pleaded with to help draft the legal complaint, and Feng Sanxun was also a renowned expert.


    Han Liulang had specially invited him to help after learning of his nephew¡¯s murder.


    But with Sang Chen¡¯s mind blank, he could not offer any polite words.


    There was silence for two breaths, which felt like an eternity.


    The County Chief cleared his throat to break the silence, saying, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s have both experts examine the body in turn to ensure there¡¯s no mistake.


    What do you think, Mr.


    Feng?¡±


    The term ¡°Mr.¡± was usually reserved for highly respected and knowledgeable individuals.


    By addressing Feng Sanxun this way, the County Chief not only showed him ample respect but also saved face for Sang Chen.


    That said, deciding who would examine first posed another problem.


    ¡°Mr.


    Feng is the senior, so let this young lady examine first.


    Mr.


    Feng can provide guidance from the side.


    If the young lady can¡¯t determine the cause, or if Mr.


    Feng has any objections to the results, then he can perform his examination afterward.


    How does that sound?¡± intoned Han Liulang.


    For some reason, he had proposed that Ran Yan be the one to begin the autopsy.


    Everyone in the Han Family accepted this proposal, as they were more concerned with the results than the process, viewing this approach as a double assurance.


    ¡°What do you think, Mr.


    Feng?¡± Han Liulang asked.


    Bowing his head, Feng Sanxun replied calmly, ¡°That sounds very good, I have no objections.¡±


    Despite saying this, when Feng Sanxun glanced at Ran Yan, his eyes carried a clear disdain.


    Even though everyone saw it, they didn¡¯t think there was any issue.


    After all, between a young woman and an old forensic doctor with over thirty years of error-free experience, who would seem more reliable?


    Most people would naturally trust the latter.


    ¡°Please go ahead, young lady,¡± said Han Liulang, looking at Ran Yan with a hint of curiosity and amusement.


    Ran Yan just happened to be standing in the shadow of the curtain, her face covered with a mask, so no one could see her expression.


    After Han Liulang spoke, Ran Yan straightened her sleeves slightly, pulled her gloves up over her sleeves, stepped closer to the coffin, and began swiftly undressing Han Shan.


    Han Liulang and the County Chief moved closer to the coffin to observe the proceedings, partly to ensure the process¡¯s credibility and partly to prevent the forensic doctor from tampering with Han Shan¡¯s remains.


    Ran Yan deftly stripped Han Shan completely, leaving him naked, which made both men somewhat embarrassed.


    Han Liulang glanced at Ran Yan, noting her composure, as if the naked man before her was nothing more than a block of wood.

 Chapter 29 - 29 24 Analysis of the Scene_2

    ?29: Chapter 24 Analysis of the Scene_2 29: Chapter 24 Analysis of the Scene_2 However, Han Shan¡¯s current appearance also made it quite difficult for anyone to harbour other thoughts.


    Ran Yan spoke in an even tone, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, please take note.¡±


    Though her voice was not loud, it carried a kind of cold authority.


    This solemnity, even as Sang Chen¡¯s mind went blank, made him instinctively comply.


    He hastily took out the writing materials from a box beside him, opened his notebook, and prepared to record.


    Ran Yan caught a glimpse of his actions from the corner of her eye and thought he wasn¡¯t too cowardly.


    She began, ¡°The deceased was twenty years old, male, with a height of seven feet and three inches.¡±


    The County Chief was astonished by Ran Yan¡¯s remark, as Han Shan was born around the New Year and was premature, having been born at eight months.


    The Han Family, worried about gossip, had declared an additional two months, conveniently passing the New Year.


    Everyone in Suzhou City knew that Han Shan was twenty-one this year, but they did not expect Ran Yan to reveal his true age!


    ¡°The body has swelling on the inside of the right thigh that resembles a fist-sized bruise; black nails; slight bleeding from body pores; abdominal bloating; a small amount of blood expelled from the lower body; judging that he had been poisoned by either poison fruit or Gold Stone Poison.


    Additionally, there is a scratch-shaped contusion on the left upper arm, an incised wound three inches long on the right side of the neck, with the skin turned outward.


    The cut is neat, but it has not damaged the arteries or bones.


    There is a bruise on the left cheek as if it were caused by a punch; extensive bruising on the chest, with two broken ribs on the right side.


    It¡¯s unclear if the organs are damaged¡­¡± After inspecting all the injuries on the body, Ran Yan noticed from the corner of her eye that Sang Chen¡¯s face had turned ashen, and he was nearly retching, squatting beside the toolbox, trembling, forcibly continuing to record.


    Feng Sanxun was slightly surprised.


    After all, Ran Yan looked so young, yet her examination was as thorough as, or even more detailed than, that of a seasoned forensic doctor who had been working for decades.


    In fact, although Ran Yan had not been conducting autopsies for decades, the modern forensic system was well-established, and with her renowned reputation, she may have examined more bodies than a forensic doctor from antiquity who spent thirty or forty years in the profession.


    The other people present did not see the condition of the body but were able to understand it in great detail.


    The middle-aged woman, upon hearing such a report of injuries, had already cried herself into unconsciousness.


    An elderly woman was in a slightly better state but was also crying profusely, her body trembling slightly.


    As Ran Yan continued to inspect the body, she did not overlook any detail.


    When she got to the lower body, she reached out to flip over Han Shan¡¯s genitalia.


    Both Han Liulang and the County Chief were stunned, staring straight at Ran Yan as she, a young woman, examined that part of a man with no trace of embarrassment or peculiarity.


    They wondered, was this still a woman?


    Ran Yan paused for a moment and then continued, ¡°The deceased has two bayberry-shaped ulcerations on his reproductive organ.¡±


    After completing the examination, Ran Yan stood up straight and summarized to the two men, who looked somewhat uncomfortable.


    ¡°The deceased was likely a frequent visitor of pleasure quarters and had contracted a venereal disease in the early stages of infection.


    Furthermore, symptoms indicate that he was poisoned before death, eliminating the possibility of poisoning after death through ingestion.


    You might want to focus on whether the young master Han had taken any poison fruit or Gold Stone Poison recently.


    The wounds on his body are not enough to cause death, but there are suspicious points, such as the two broken ribs near the spleen.


    If the broken ribs penetrated the spleen, it could have been lethal.


    However¡­¡±


    Ran Yan gently touched the surface of the broken ribs and continued, ¡°Based on my judgment, although these two ribs are broken, they are not severely deformed and are unlikely to have damaged the spleen.


    If you would like to verify, you may proceed with a dissection.¡±


    After finishing, Ran Yan turned around and took Atractylodes and Soapberry from her medicine chest, lighting them on the ground to disinfect.


    Soon, the thick scent of the medicine began to dissipate.


    Han Liulang was the first to recover, gazing at Ran Yan with evident interest.


    Then, turning to Feng Sanxun, he asked, ¡°Mr.


    Feng, what do you think?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feng Sanxun had just managed to recover his composure, and he said with a gesture of respect, ¡°The young lady¡¯s examination was very thorough, surpassing even my own.


    However, there is one thing I do not understand.¡±


    Feng Sanxun was indeed a modest person.


    Seeing that Ran Yan truly had the skill and was extremely proficient, he immediately put aside his contempt.


    ¡°Please proceed, Mr.


    Feng,¡± Ran Yan said.


    Feng Sanxun said, ¡°I wonder how the wife determined which poison Mr.


    Han had been affected by?¡±


    Currently, most forensic doctors can only determine that a person has died from poisoning, at the most identifying arsenic poisoning, but they find it very difficult to differentiate others.


    Ran Yan returned to the front of the coffin and slightly spread Han Shan¡¯s legs, pointing to the bruising on the inner thigh, ¡°Ingesting poison fruit, especially the Gold Stone Poison, the most notable characteristic is that the pores exhibit minor bleeding, and the corpse will have one or two spots resembling the swelling and redness of a fist injury.


    Everyone, look, the bruises from fist wounds on Mr.


    Han¡¯s face and chest have already begun to discolor, but this spot is quite different.¡±


    ¡°Is this point alone enough for confirmation?¡± Perceiving the puzzlement on the faces of the three individuals in front of the coffin, Ran Yan continued her analysis, ¡°Based on the distribution of the wounds on Mr.


    Han¡¯s body, one can deduce that Mr.


    Han was not wearing any clothes at the time, and that when Qin Silang burst into the room, he first laid his hands on Mr.


    Han with considerable force, leaving marks on the arms.¡±


    ¡°Immediately after, Qin Silang punched Mr.


    Han¡¯s face and ribs.


    Mr.


    Han fought back, but being overpowered, he was pinned down to the ground by Qin Silang¡¯s elbow, which is why there is a large area of bruising on the chest.


    I deduce that it was at this point that the poisoning began to take effect,¡± she said.


    ¡°During the scuffle, it¡¯s possible that some porcelain was accidentally broken, and when Mr.


    Han fell to the ground, a shard accidentally cut his neck, causing significant bleeding.


    But such a wound to this area, if the bleeding had been promptly stopped, would not have been fatal,¡± she explained.


    Glancing at the astounded Feng Sanxun, Ran Yan said, ¡°During this process, the chances of Qin Silang injuring Mr.


    Han on the inner thigh with his fist are extremely slim, and moreover, the appearance of the wound is different from the rest of the fist injuries, which is why I determine that this spot is a reaction to the poison.¡±


    Everyone present was shocked by Ran Yan¡¯s graphic analysis, especially Han Liulang and the Suzhou County Chief who had seen Qin Silang¡¯s testimony, as it matched Ran Yan¡¯s analysis down to the last detail!


    To analyze the situation from the wounds as if one had witnessed the event firsthand, such a capability, is not only beyond Feng Sanxun but likely beyond all the forensic doctors of the Great Tang as well.


    ¡°How do you know he wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes at the time?¡± Han Liulang stared at Ran Yan, his profound gaze exerting immense pressure.


    ¡°According to common sense, when a person strikes another, they instinctively gravitate towards grabbing the clothing because it¡¯s much easier than grabbing an arm.


    The deep bruising on Mr.


    Han¡¯s arms suggests that Qin Silang was only grabbing his arms from beginning to end, until he threw him to the ground.


    Moreover, although Mr.


    Han is now dressed, there is a lot of dust on his back which wouldn¡¯t be the case if he had been wearing clothes at the time,¡± she reasoned.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The process of examining corpses and such might not be everyone¡¯s cup of tea; should you have any opinions or suggestions, please leave a message to inform me, so I can determine the direction of the content in the following passages.


    Furthermore, seeing as my word count is getting higher and higher, perhaps I should be rewarded, shouldn¡¯t I?


    Your votes and such are welcome and appreciated.


    Thank you to carmel for the reward, as well as for the evaluation votes, to book friend 10042704805792 for the reward, thanks to ymat for the reward, and thank you to Master Kami for the little golden pig, dear ones.


    I didn¡¯t realize the rating had reached 9.7 points.


    If there¡¯s anything you feel I¡¯m not doing well, please leave a message to let me know, and I will strive to improve!!


    Thank you!!!

 Chapter 30 - 30 25 Dead Rabbit

    ?30: Chapter 25 Dead Rabbit 30: Chapter 25 Dead Rabbit ¡°You mean to say that the child died of poisoning?¡±


    Among the Han Family, who had maintained silence, someone suddenly spoke up and asked.


    Ran Yan glanced at the speaker, who looked to be in his thirties, a bit overweight, and bore a striking resemblance to the County Chief of Han, although his demeanor was slightly different, with a gaze that seemed much sterner.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ran Yan replied.


    In fact, the autopsy report could have been made much more detailed, leaving no pore unexamined, but Ran Yan was invited by Sang Chen to perform the autopsy in order to write a legal document; she had no interest in meddling further.


    Although Ran Yan worked as a forensic doctor, she was by no means a paragon of justice or a messenger of light.


    Enjoying her work as a forensic doctor didn¡¯t mean she had to delve into every case to find the truth.


    She knew how to weigh the pros and cons.


    Seeing that the man seemed poised to ask more questions, Ran Yan decisively turned to the County Chief and said, ¡°County Chief, I came here at Mr.


    Sang¡¯s request to perform the autopsy so that he could draft a more realistic and credible legal document for his young master.


    As for other matters, please forgive me for not being able to assist.¡±


    The County Chief was known for his mild temperament.


    Hearing Ran Yan¡¯s clear stance, he had no choice but to accept without forcing the issue, sighing lightly, ¡°Thank you for your efforts.


    I will handle the other matters myself and ask Mr.


    Zhou to take over.¡±


    The autopsy was complete, and whatever happened next was someone else¡¯s family affair.


    Ran Yan glanced at Sang Chen, who was still huddled up and trembling, felt a bout of frustration, and promptly took off her gloves to throw them into her toolbox.


    She quickly put on her mask, grabbed Sang Chen with one hand and her toolbox with the other, and said to the Han Family, ¡°In that case, Mr.


    Sang and I shall take our leave now.¡±


    Fortunately, Sang Chen wasn¡¯t so paralyzed that he couldn¡¯t walk; he knew to follow Ran Yan¡¯s lead and head outside.


    The Han Family members, feeling downhearted, couldn¡¯t be bothered to mock him.


    The sunshine outside was warm, dispelling much of the chill in the air, and Sang Chen¡¯s pale complexion also seemed to improve slightly, as he struggled to muster some spirit.


    Seeing this, Ran Yan handed him the toolbox.


    Sang Chen, with his mind in disarray, hugged the box and followed Ran Yan out of the Morgue¡¯s entrance.


    It was only after Ran Yan raised her hand and removed the mask covering her face, spitting out a piece of ginger, and shot Sang Chen a look, that she slowly said, ¡°I should let the village girls see you in your state today.


    I wonder if they will still be smitten with you after that.¡±


    Sang Chen flushed and coughed a few times, changing the subject, ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve been holding a piece of ginger?


    What¡¯s the use of it?¡±


    What a smooth change of topic!


    Ran Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly as she replied, ¡°Ginger is yang in nature and can prevent ghosts from possessing you.


    Naturally, when coming to a place like this, one should keep a piece in their mouth.¡±


    ¡°Wha-what?¡± Sang Chen asked, his voice trembling, his pitiable gaze seeming to pierce through the muslin of Ran Yan¡¯s mask.


    Ran Yan ignored him and directly turned toward the alley where her carriage was stopped.


    After a few steps, she noticed that Sang Chen hadn¡¯t followed and heard a thump.


    She stopped, turned around, and saw Sang Chen lying stiffly on the ground with the toolbox in his arms!


    Ran Yan opened her mouth in surprise.


    She had only spoken offhandedly, yet that had been enough to faint him?


    He was meant to be a grown man, yet he had the courage of a rabbit.


    Ginger pieces can ward off filth and disinfect; directly facing a body, holding a piece of ginger can prevent the body¡¯s release of toxic gases from attacking the human body.


    That was all there was to it.


    Sang Chen didn¡¯t need to get close to the body for examination, so there was no need for him to keep ginger in his mouth.


    ¡°It seems Mr.


    Sang is not in good shape,¡± said Han Liulang, who had come out of the Morgue and immediately noticed Sang Chen fainted on the ground.


    Ran Yan was skillful enough to dissect a mouse at six years old; after seeing real bodies in university, she merely lost her appetite for a meal or two.


    The weakest among her classmates only vomited for a few days, and eventually, they could even enjoy their lunch in front of a body.


    Ordinary people often react to seeing bodies with screams, tremors, loss of control, fainting, and so on.


    Many witnesses in cases showed such reactions, and Ran Yan had seen plenty, but it was truly her first time seeing someone as cowardly as Sang Chen, who couldn¡¯t even stand the sight of a body, just the mention of it, and he already couldn¡¯t cope?


    ¡°Mr.


    Sang is a scholar; perhaps he has not experienced such scenes,¡± Han Liulang said when Ran Yan did not reply, finding an excuse for Sang Chen.


    Seeing that Han Liulang had come out alone, Ran Yan said, ¡°You seem to have something to say, Mr.


    Han Liulang, please speak.¡±


    Having mingled in official circles for a long time, Han Liulang used to weigh each word in his mind several times before speaking in a roundabout manner.


    Suddenly faced with Ran Yan¡¯s straightforward approach, he was briefly taken aback but quickly said, ¡°Since the lady is so straightforward, I won¡¯t beat around the bush.


    I saw the lady¡¯s analysis was meticulous and outstanding, so I specifically came out to ask privately, does the lady have any clues about who murdered my nephew?¡±


    Outstanding?


    Ran Yan pondered.


    Earlier, she had observed the expressions of various members of the Han Family.


    Now, that was truly fascinating, each subtle and unique, and it seemed that there was already much scheming within the Han Family.


    Ran Yan had no intention of getting involved.


    ¡°I apologize, but I have already shared everything I could discern from the examination; there is nothing more,¡± Ran Yan replied.


    She was commissioned by Sang Chen and naturally had to honor the transaction.


    Sang Chen only needed the findings for his legal document and wasn¡¯t interested in solving the case; the information she provided was sufficient.


    If she wished to keep clear of this matter, she couldn¡¯t say another word once she left the Morgue.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for the lady to apologize; it is we of the Han Family who should be grateful,¡± Han Liulang replied, his composed exterior concealing deep thoughts.


    Knowing that Ran Yan wished to stay out of this, he did not press further.


    He glanced at Sang Chen with no hint of change in his expression and asked, ¡°Does the lady need assistance?¡±


    ¡°Not necessary, thank you!¡± Ran Yan declined without hesitation.


    Han Liulang nodded, ¡°Then, lady, please proceed as you wish.¡±


    After Han Liulang turned to leave, Ran Yan quickly walked over to Sang Chen, took his pulse for a moment, and pulled out a silver needle from the toolbox, swiftly piercing it into the Guanyin acupoint.


    This needle, when plunged in, brought Sang Chen faintly back to consciousness.


    It took him a while before he could fully recover.


    Ran Yan retracted the silver needle and said coldly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Sang Chen rose to his feet, his face flushed with shame as he followed Ran Yan towards the carriage.


    Sitting inside the carriage, Ran Yan maintained a cold expression; coupled with her naturally reserved demeanor, the already snug carriage seemed to drop several degrees in temperature.


    Sang Chen sat huddled in a corner, feeling a chill in the air and hardly daring to breathe.


    Summers are prone to sudden weather changes.


    Just moments ago, the sky was clear with the sun shining brightly, then, out of nowhere, dark clouds drifted over and began to blanket the sky.


    The air slowly turned moist, and the sky grew oppressively low, yet the rain was reluctant to fall.


    Ran Yan had asked Wan Lu to wait for her at the entrance to East Market at noon.


    Checking the time, she noted two quarters of an hour had already passed; if she didn¡¯t hurry, Wan Lu might become anxious. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan was always punctual.


    She had calculated the time when she left home, ensuring that even if delayed by an hour or two, she could still return to East Market before noon.


    But that would have been if not for Sang Chen fainting repeatedly¡­


    With this thought, Ran Yan cast a cutting glance at Sang Chen through the gauze of her mask.


    Sensing her murderous look, Sang Chen shrank his neck guiltily.


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t bother with him anymore and knocked on the carriage wall, asking the coachman, ¡°How long would it take to reach East Market by the shortest route?¡±


    The carriage had been hired by Sang Chen, and the coachman was an obliging elderly man.


    Hearing Ran Yan¡¯s question, he replied, ¡°Most of the city¡¯s alleys are narrow and only wide enough for sedan chairs, so we¡¯d have to take a detour around three or four blocks.


    It would take at least half an hour to reach East Market.


    However, if the mistress is in a hurry, I can stop nearby and you can walk through the blocks on foot.


    It wouldn¡¯t take more than a quarter of an hour to arrive.¡±


    ¡°Please stop the carriage,¡± Ran Yan said, not wanting to waste time in the carriage.


    The alleys of Suzhou might appear complex, but they also followed a certain logic, and she trusted her sense of direction not to get lost easily.


    The coachman pulled over, and Sang Chen also got out of the carriage after Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, I am uneasy about you walking through the blocks alone.


    Perhaps I should accompany you.¡±


    ¡°I feel that you wandering through the blocks might be even less safe,¡± Ran Yan replied dryly.


    Her implication was clear: his performance today was more girlish than any maiden.


    If she took him along, he would likely be a burden should any real danger arise.


    Ran Yan was usually blunt, and when she occasionally resorted to such roundabout sarcasm, the person in question didn¡¯t even understand it, instead cheerfully suggesting, ¡°I would feel anxious sitting in the carriage alone as well.


    It¡¯d be better to keep you company.¡±


    Ran Yan rolled her eyes.


    She now understood that Sang Chen was not just a fool, but lived in a delusional ¡®second dimension.¡¯ The occasional sense he made was merely due to a rare crossover between his fantasy and the real world.


    In other words, a rare and fleeting illusion.


    Such a person, Ran Yan decided, was best ignored as much as possible.


    After parting ways with the coachman, the two of them followed the mossy cobblestone alleys towards the east.


    The overcast sky mirrored Ran Yan¡¯s mood, with the promised rain still holding off.


    Fortunately, her patience was quite strong, which is why she hadn¡¯t yet strangled the troublesome fellow beside her, who oscillated between wanting to say something and then blushing with a cough.


    ¡°Wife,¡± Sang Chen eventually couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    Ran Yan knew she couldn¡¯t ignore him this time.


    A single cold word slipped from her lips, ¡°Speak.¡±


    Looking around to see no one was in sight, Sang Chen whispered, ¡°When I get home, if I cut a piece of ginger to hold in my mouth, would it help?¡±


    Ran Yan stopped in her tracks, fixing Sang Chen with a steady stare until he felt uncomfortable, then she said, ¡°It would help.


    Keep it in your mouth for a month without speaking.¡±


    She paused, then added, ¡°When you sleep, you should hug a clove of garlic.


    It will ward off evil spirits.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your gracious advice,¡± Sang Chen bowed sincerely, his complexion returning to a healthier shade, seemingly taking her words to heart.


    After crossing six or seven alleys and estimating the time, they should be nearing East Market.


    Just then, the dismal sky suddenly lit up, blanketing everything in a pallid hue, followed by the rolling sound of thunder.


    The torrential rain fell without warning, pelting down mercilessly all at once.


    Ran Yan hesitated momentarily before spotting a house not far away with an overhanging eave at the front door, where she and Sang Chen sought shelter together.


    ****


    I urge everyone to throw their tickets at Sang Chen, this second-dimensional dead rabbit!!!!!!

 Chapter 31 - 31 26 Love at First Sight

    ?31: Chapter 26: Love at First Sight 31: Chapter 26: Love at First Sight The wind, intermingled with specks of rain, fell on the bluestone slabs, swiftly blossoming into myriad flowers upon impact.


    No sooner had they ducked under the eaves than the rain, like a bucket tipped over, pattered loudly, obscuring all vision beyond a meter¡¯s distance.


    Between heaven and earth, a curtain of rain was drawn, and the wind whipped it into shapes like smoke, like fog, like dust¡ªas if teasing apart the gauze of a curtain.


    ¡°Such a heavy rain!¡± Sang Chen looked up at the pouring rain outside, his face brimming with excitement, ¡°In Suzhou, we rarely see such refreshing rain!¡±


    Ran Yan silently watched her silk shoes soaking in the rainwater, her mind chaotically pondering many things, acting as if the person beside her did not exist.


    After about the time it takes to drink three or four cups of tea, the rain showed no sign of slowing.


    In such heavy rain, the eaves provided barely three feet of shelter, hardly enough to keep dry, and soon Ran Yan¡¯s clothes below her knees were soaked.


    If things continued like this, she thought it might be better to brave the rain and proceed.


    Ran Yan tugged at the soap-drenched fabric clinging to her body and turned to Sang Chen, ¡°You stay here and take shelter, I¡¯ll go find Wan Lu and buy two umbrellas on the way.¡±


    ¡°I should be the one to go for such tasks!¡± Sang Chen placed his toolbox near the gate and declared with an air of stern resolve, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    With that, he didn¡¯t wait for Ran Yan¡¯s response and dashed into the curtain of rain.


    The words that had reached Ran Yan¡¯s lips were swallowed back down.


    She had wanted to suggest lending him a mask to use as a makeshift rain hat.


    Watching his figure disappear in the rain, Ran Yan murmured to herself, ¡°He truly is like a rabbit.¡±


    In a moment, before she could even retract her gaze, another figure emerged from the direction where Sang Chen had vanished behind the veil of rain.


    Initially, Ran Yan thought it was Sang Chen, that rabbit, who might have encountered some trouble again and couldn¡¯t help frowning.


    But as the person approached within ten feet, she realized they were wielding an umbrella and it wasn¡¯t Sang Chen.


    Wearing wide sleeves and a large robe, he moved with an unhurried gait, evoking the image of a leisurely stroll in the rain.


    Although he seemed to walk slowly, he soon was nearly upon her.


    Before Ran Yan could react, the man¡¯s oil-paper umbrella was already obstructing her view.


    Instinctively, she stepped back half a step, her entire back pressed against the red gate.


    The person under the umbrella seemed not to have expected anyone at the door.


    Glancing at the water-drenched hem and silk shoes, he slightly raised his umbrella, catching a glimpse of Ran Yan.


    The man wore a black robe with a round collar, his ink-black hair partially cascading down his back, his complexion fair and smooth, his lips thin, the bridge of his nose prominent, with long eyebrows slanting into his temples.


    His handsome features were sharply defined, but it was his eyes that were most striking¡ªdeep black with hints of dark blue, as if reflecting a cold, deep pond from a millennium past.


    A mere glance from him felt like falling into an ice cave.


    Just one look had Ran Yan stunned.


    She had seen many beautiful people, but to her, beauty or ugliness was merely a matter of well-proportioned bones, muscles, and healthy skin.


    Such things held little allure for her.


    However, the man before her was perfectly crafted in every aspect; had he been a corpse, Ran Yan would not have had the heart to cut into him.


    Ran Yan collected her thoughts, forcing herself to put aside macabre considerations.


    Although at first glance, the man seemed to differ from ordinary people only in his excessive handsomeness, Ran Yan could be sure he bore foreign bloodlines; his skin and eyes could not be otherwise.


    Their gazes met for a mere instant, yet it felt like an eternity.


    The man stepped under the shelter to close his umbrella, oblivious to the presence of others, and knocked on the door with a rhythmic tap-tap-tap.


    The deep sounds were as if tapping directly onto Ran Yan¡¯s heart, each beat making her inexplicably tense.


    The door creaked open and a Servant peeked out to see the visitor and greeted him politely, ¡°Good day to you, Pharmacist Su.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± replied the man, his voice as cold as his eyes.


    He stepped inside the threshold, paused briefly, then stepped back out, extending the umbrella in front of Ran Yan.


    The umbrella was plain, unadorned with any patterns, appearing quite inauspicious.


    Yet, its purple-black handle glimmered faintly, lending a touch of nobility to the otherwise plain umbrella.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ran Yan said, accepting the umbrella without hesitation.


    The man called Pharmacist Su didn¡¯t reply and turned to enter the house.


    The Servant glanced at the back of Pharmacist Su, and after a slight ponder, said cordially to Ran Yan, ¡°Miss, would you like to come inside to take shelter?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, but thank you for the kind offer,¡± Ran Yan replied.


    Even though she modulated her voice to the warmest tone, it still sounded detached to others.


    Seeing her reaction, the Servant didn¡¯t press further, retreated into the yard, and closed the door.


    Ran Yan looked down at the oil-paper umbrella in her hands.


    The handle appeared to be made of Purple Bamboo, or perhaps, it wasn¡¯t ordinary Purple Bamboo at all¡ªthe blackness interwoven with purple reminded her of those eyes.


    She had never handled any other umbrellas from the Tang Dynasty, but she was certain that not every umbrella should be this heavy.


    Clutching the solid handle, Ran Yan felt the cool, smooth texture, as if it were communicating its value.


    Holding the umbrella in one hand, she was about to pick up the toolbox with the other when she suddenly realized she didn¡¯t know the identity of the man.


    To whom would she return the umbrella?


    Thinking this, she stretched out her hand and knocked on the door panel a few times.


    A moment later, the Servant opened the door again.


    Seeing it was still Ran Yan, he asked impatiently, ¡°Wife, do you need anything else?¡±


    ¡°May I know where to find Pharmacist Su in the future?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    The Servant frowned, looked up and down at Ran Yan¡¯s attire, saw that she was just wearing ordinary cloth clothing, and thought she must have taken a liking to Pharmacist Su¡¯s exceptional appearance, or wanted to cling to wealth.


    His voice turned colder, and he said quite rudely, ¡°It¡¯s just an umbrella.


    Pharmacist Su is the betrothed husband chosen by our Lady.


    My lady can afford as many umbrellas as needed!¡±


    With that, he slammed the door shut with a bang.


    The Lady buying umbrellas for Pharmacist Su?


    It seemed he was to be a dependent son-in-law¡­


    For some reason, Ran Yan felt a sense of regret and disappointment.


    A man with such cold eyes didn¡¯t seem like someone willing to be a dependent son-in-law.


    Ran Yan knew that the Servant had misunderstood, so she didn¡¯t bother with it anymore, opened her umbrella, picked up her toolbox, and disappeared into the rain.


    The heavy rain pitter-pattered on the umbrella, its force not slight, making the already heavy umbrella even harder to manage.


    When Ran Yan used to dissect brains, holding an electric saw in one hand for half an hour was no problem, but now she had the delicate constitution of a wealthy daughter, so much weaker than before, making her walk quite laborious.


    Clamping her teeth, Ran Yan persisted for a quarter of an hour, came out of the alley, and suddenly, the view opened up.


    Not far away was the gate to the East Market.


    From a distance, she could see Wan Lu standing under the eaves of the medical center, wearing a ginger-yellow dress with subtle flower patterns.


    ¡°Wife?¡± Even though Ran Yan was still wearing her mask, Wan Lu recognized her at a glance, rushed into the rain to take the umbrella and toolbox from Ran Yan¡¯s hands, and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Wife, where did you find such a heavy umbrella?¡±


    ¡°Some kind person lent it to me.¡± Ran Yan walked under the eaves and stretched out her hand to wring out the water-soaked hem of her dress.


    Wan Lu put away the umbrella and suddenly remembered something.


    With fury, she said, ¡°Has Mr.


    Sang gone back?


    How could he leave the Wife alone!¡±


    Ran Yan was slightly stunned.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t come over?¡±


    Since the alley comes out at the gate of the East Market, and Wan Lu was very close to the entrance under the medical center¡¯s eaves, pedestrians were scarce on the road, so Ran Yan could see her from a distance.


    Sang Chen should have had no reason not to see her, right?


    Wan Lu spoke with conviction, ¡°This Slave has been standing here for more than an hour, nearly ¡®gazing longingly through the autumn water.¡¯ If Mr.


    Sang had come by, this Slave couldn¡¯t have missed him!¡±


    Sang Chen was tall and slender, with exquisite features, even in a crowd he stood out; if Wan Lu didn¡¯t see him, he probably really hadn¡¯t come.


    ¡°Perhaps he went back first?¡± Wan Lu guessed.


    Sang Chen said he was coming to look for Wan Lu and by the way, to buy a couple of umbrellas.


    Even though he was somewhat cowardly at critical moments, Ran Yan felt he should not be so unreliable.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit.


    Have you found a place that can make the needle heads?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    As Wan Lu squatted down to help wring out the water, while wringing she said, ¡°Originally, this Slave thought what the Wife asked for was strange, and assumed it would be difficult to find.


    But, when this Slave asked at the jewelry shop, it turned out to be a common request.


    The Shopkeeper said, some families that are marrying off daughters and have modest means but want to show off a bit, would go to jewelry shops to make hollow gold thread, silver thread.


    The resulting items look good and save on materials.¡±


    ¡°How long does it take to make a needle head?¡± Ran Yan thought to herself that she mustn¡¯t underestimate the ancient cunning and craftsmanship; many exquisite crafts, even in the modern era, probably no one could make.


    Wan Lu stood up and, proud, pulled out a brocade box from her bosom, passing it to Ran Yan, ¡°The Shopkeeper originally said it would take two to three days, but when I said I was a Maid of the Ran Family, and after my relentless persuasion, the Shopkeeper personally made three for me.¡±


    Ran Yan opened the brocade box, and indeed, there were three small silver-white needle heads on the red brocade! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their size and shape, except for the needle head being slightly thicker than a modern needle head, were otherwise almost exactly as Ran Yan requested!


    ¡°This Slave told the Shopkeeper according to the Wife¡¯s instructions to make the item a bit sturdier, so the Shopkeeper melted some iron into it.


    Wife, do you think it will work?¡± Wan Lu asked.


    Ran Yan pinched one, tried it, and said with satisfaction, ¡°It works.


    Not only is it sturdy, but also the size and shape are very good.¡±


    Ran Yan closed the lid and handed it back to Wan Lu, asking her to keep it safe.


    With one big problem solved, Ran Yan¡¯s mood improved a lot.


    Even the mess that Sang Chen had caused for her today, along with his current disappearance, didn¡¯t seem to matter anymore.


    Ran Yan was discussing with Wan Lu about looking for Sang Chen when suddenly, the sound of horse hooves echoed in the street.


    A carriage rumbled past in front of Ran Yan, splashing her and Wan Lu with water.


    Seeing that Ran Yan¡¯s recently wrung-out skirt was wet again, Wan Lu immediately flared up and yelled at the carriage, ¡°Whose carriage is this!


    Splashing someone with water and just leaving!


    In the city, reckless driving demands a beating, is there no law in your eyes!¡±


    Wan Lu¡¯s voice carried strongly, and indeed, the carriage stopped, turned around, and came back.


    Ran Yan sighed to herself, hoping that if the owner of the carriage was reasonable, things could be smoothed over, but if not, today¡¯s situation might be difficult to resolve.


    ¡°Seventeen!¡± The carriage stopped, and from the window, a handsome face peeked out, looking through the curtain of rain with delight at Ran Yan.

 Chapter 32 - 32 27 Wedding Announcement

    ?32: Chapter 27: Wedding Announcement 32: Chapter 27: Wedding Announcement The man brimming with surprise wasn¡¯t anyone else, but Qin Silang, who had recently become the talk of Suzhou City.


    Qin Silang jumped down from his carriage, clad in a blue brocade robe, his demeanor graceful and striking.


    Not waiting for the servant to open the umbrella, he dashed under the eaves where Ran Yan was sheltering from the rain, and, with a beaming smile, said to Ran Yan, ¡°We truly are fated!¡±


    Facing what seemed like a flirtatious remark, Ran Yan remained silent, merely giving him a slight bow as a form of greeting.


    ¡°The carriage was speeding, and it splashed water on you, Wife.


    It truly is my fault.¡± Qin Musheng bowed deeply, his apology utterly sincere.


    Wan Lu hadn¡¯t expected it to be him, and stunned by the sudden encounter as well as the grudge of a slap from their last encounter, she felt an underlying displeasure and thus remained silent too.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± Ran Yan spoke indifferently.


    Qin Musheng, seeing the faint outlines of her face beneath the mask, and reminded of the dazzling moment from a few days earlier, felt an intense itch in his heart, almost wishing he could toss away the obstructing mask.


    However, knowing his frivolous behavior had angered Ran Yan before, he knew he had to restrain himself this time.


    With that thought, he gently said, ¡°I heard you were recuperating at the villa, and was planning to visit you.


    It¡¯s fortunate to encounter you here.


    Are you feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°Quite well, you needn¡¯t worry, Mr.


    Qin.¡± Ran Yan¡¯s tone was perfunctory.


    Qin Musheng was utterly unperturbed by Ran Yan¡¯s indifference.


    His attitude towards women was entirely determined by their appearance.


    Generally, he wouldn¡¯t trouble any lady with a bit of beauty.


    Previously, when he was infatuated with Qi Liuniang, he allowed himself to be trampled upon, so this slight coldness from a beauty like Ran Yan truly meant nothing to him.


    ¡°Yesterday, my family accepted the symbolic wild goose; our marriage is now settled.¡± Thinking of this, Qin Musheng felt elated.


    Ran Yan¡¯s coldness didn¡¯t matter; there was plenty of time to slowly train her in the future.


    The most important part of the engagement was the gifting of the wild goose.


    The male¡¯s family sends a representative with a goose as a gift to the female¡¯s family.


    As geese are migratory birds that move north and south with the seasons and mate for life¡ªnever seeking another partner if one dies¡ªthe gesture symbolizes unchanging loyalty.


    Wan Lu looked at Qin Musheng in shock.


    She knew that following the engagement, the process would lead to asking for the bride¡¯s family approval, then setting an auspicious date, and finally the wedding day would be firmly set.


    The entire process, at a normal pace, would take just one or two months!


    Wan Lu had always hoped her mistress would find a decent man, not marry such a libertine.


    The news now hitting all at once left her somewhat disoriented.


    Ran Yan¡¯s hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly.


    Her father had really just married her off so casually.


    What kind of person was Qin Musheng?


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t believe her father knew nothing about him.


    What exactly had the Qin family offered to make him so eager to sell his daughter?


    Qin Musheng, watching the graceful outline of her body beneath the mask, felt a scratching irritation in his heart, strongly resisting the urge to remove the annoying obstruction, ¡°In a few days, it¡¯s Qixi Festival. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I was hoping to invite you to join me by the Pingjiang River to enjoy the lanterns.


    Would you honor me with your company?¡±


    ¡°Recently, there have been many rumors about you around town.


    It might be best not to draw too much attention before these rumors are clarified.


    I would prefer not to become the subject of idle gossip.¡± Ran Yan tactfully declined, also probing for any useful information.


    Moreover, now was not the time to sever ties with Qin Musheng.


    Ran Yan could only endure, even though the matter seemed pressing.


    She wasn¡¯t too anxious and would sabotage the arrangement as much as possible.


    If sabotage proved impossible, she would use medicine to cause some trouble for Qin Musheng.


    In the Tang Dynasty, one could divorce after marriage, and remarried women weren¡¯t a big deal.


    But she couldn¡¯t stand that her marriage news always came from others!


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t believe the nonsense others say.


    My punches could never have killed Han Shan¡ªhe was doomed to a short life; it wasn¡¯t my fault.¡± When this topic arose, Qin Musheng felt a surge of anger, though not at all guilty, since he hadn¡¯t killed the man.


    Seeing his father¡¯s stern face recently had left him walking on eggshells, even reluctant to eat more.


    Fortunately, his father was always clear about separating personal grievances from family strategies; he was quite firm about the marriage alliance with the Ran family.


    Seeing that Ran Yan was silent like stagnant water, Qin Musheng quickly suppressed his anger and softly tended to her with warm inquiries.


    The rain outside gradually lessened, yet there was still no sign of Sang Chen.


    Ran Yan, standing with Qin Musheng, felt an excruciating anxiety.


    Thus, she said, ¡°I still have things to do.


    You¡¯d better attend to your own business; I won¡¯t hold you up any longer.


    Farewell.¡±

 Chapter 33 - 33 27 Marital News_2

    ?33: Chapter 27 Marital News_2 33: Chapter 27 Marital News_2 As she spoke, she had Wan Lu open the umbrella, and they headed toward the outside of the East Market.


    ¡°Where are you going?


    Let me take you there,¡± Qin Musheng had been pining for several days, dreaming about that astonishing moment night after night, and was not about to let go of this ideal opportunity.


    Seeing that Ran Yan ignored him, Wan Lu turned around and said, ¡°My lord, if it is for my wife¡¯s sake, please wait until this matter settles before discussing further!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Musheng really did stop in his tracks.


    Wan Lu sighed inwardly as she looked at Qin Musheng, clad in luxurious garments, standing tall and handsome in the rain.


    If he truly had affection for the wife, it was a silver lining in their misfortune.


    ¡°Wife¡­¡± Wan Lu noticed that Ran Yan¡¯s mood seemed down and wanted to offer comforting words, but Ran Yan interrupted her, ¡°Hurry and find Sang Chen.


    He still owes me money, and nothing bad can happen to him these next few days.¡±


    That debt was equivalent to several human lives!


    Seeing that Qin Musheng did not follow, Ran Yan hastened back with Wan Lu to the alley they had come from.


    Ran Yan speculated that Sang Chen had likely encountered trouble before even leaving the alley since Wan Lu had not seen him enter the East Market through the entrance.


    And since this alley faced the main gate of the East Market, the guards would not ignore any incidents.


    After searching several alleys in the rain, they still found no trace of Sang Chen.


    Wan Lu said, ¡°Wife, you are soaked through.


    Let¡¯s go back.


    This neighborhood is filled with noble houses, unlike other areas with a mix of good and bad.


    Mr.


    Sang should be fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still early.


    Let¡¯s keep looking,¡± Ran Yan felt that they couldn¡¯t afford to think like ordinary people or they were bound to be disappointed with regard to Sang Chen.


    Wan Lu pursed her lips and refrained from any further persuasion, though she cursed Sang Chen inwardly.


    She enjoyed the sight of handsome men, but to her, even the most beautiful man was less important than a single hair on Ran Yan¡¯s head.


    After a quarter of an hour, they had checked seven or eight nearby alleys with no sign of Sang Chen.


    Just when they were about to give up, a commotion rose from behind them.


    Turning around, Ran Yan saw a middle-aged Han man in his forties glaring angrily at a young man standing under an eave, speaking with evident impatience, ¡°Sir, are you asking for directions or looking for trouble!¡±


    Wan Lu took a good look at the young man, drenched like a drowned rat, and her expression brightened.


    She tugged at Ran Yan, moving forward, ¡°It¡¯s Mr.


    Sang!¡±


    ¡°I was merely asking for directions, yet this Han man, why do you spew such hurtful words!¡± Sang Chen, flushed with anger, had a hint of red spread across his fair face and neck.


    Indeed, a clay Buddha has three points of earthiness, Ran Yan thought, it seemed this docile rabbit had begun to bite!


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Seeing the Han man¡¯s eyes bulging and his muscular upper body tense, with veins on his neck throbbing as if on the verge of erupting, Ran Yan quickly interjected.


    Ran Yan¡¯s cool voice tempered the tension slightly.


    The Han man, seeing a young wife speak up, immediately started ranting as if pardoned, ¡°Is this your husband?


    Take him away quickly.


    He has been knocking on my door eight times in less than half an hour!


    From here to the East Market, you only need to turn three corners.


    He kept asking eight times, if that¡¯s not provoking what is it!¡±


    Sang Chen, who was wiping his face dry with his sleeve, immediately retorted upon hearing the man speak, ¡°Each time, I walked quite a distance before knocking to ask for directions.


    Who would have thought each time it would be your door by chance?


    Even so, is there a need to insult me?¡±


    The Han man, already impatient, furrowed his brow upon hearing Sang Chen¡¯s untenable defense, and with a flick of his sleeve, he seized Sang Chen by the lapels, ¡°Let me tell you!


    Our Hu Family might have retired from our former trade, but we are not to be trifled with!


    You look well-mannered, can¡¯t you recognize the way or at least read?


    This is Hu residence!


    The two words are written big!


    Are you blind?


    Keep up your nonsense, and watch out lest I chop you down!¡±


    Sang Chen¡¯s face turned pale, and he stammered, ¡°You, don¡¯t, don¡¯t mess around, a gentleman, a gentleman should use his mouth, not his hands!¡±


    ¡°To wash one¡¯s hands of the affair¡± has never been used in serious business, and even the righteous paths of the martial world can¡¯t avoid the need for violence.


    Hearing these words, Ran Yan quickly said, ¡°My lord, please do not be angry, he is not in his right mind, the child apologizes on your behalf, please have more patience with him.¡±


    The man looked Sang Chen up and down a few times, disgust written all over his face as he threw him aside, ¡°Enough, you¡¯re a young lady yet have to deal with such a troublesome one, it¡¯s tough indeed.


    The first day I work as a doorman and I encounter such an incident, it must be my bad luck, hurry and take him away!¡±


    With that, he turned and entered the yard, and with a bang, closed the door behind him.


    Ran Yan sighed with relief, grateful that this man was rather magnanimous, for if they had provoked such a household, getting beaten and having nowhere to seek justice would have been the outcome.


    Sang Chen bowed his head and meticulously straightened his clothes, then looked up at the plaque above the door, muttering softly, ¡°I recognize the characters, but how was I to know this Hu Family is the same Hu Family as before¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he noticed that Ran Yan beside him seemed as still as dead water, emanating a frightening aura, and he stopped talking, disheartened.


    Without a word, Ran Yan turned and left.


    She now deeply suspected that her IQ had plummeted before her time travel; otherwise, how could she make one mistake after another?


    Falling for a helper¡¯s trap and now failing to recognize people, she had agreed to trade one autopsy for Sang Chen¡¯s pottery firing once, but everything today had been frustrating, and it was all because of that damned rabbit!


    Sang Chen also knew he was at fault and followed Ran Yan and Wan Lu sheepishly, in the pouring rain.


    The clothes on his body clung tightly to his form, revealing his lean and tall figure, which seemed even more elongated.


    The three walked silently until they neared the East Market.


    They looked for several carriages, but the owners all refused to take Sang Chen because he was dripping wet and they were afraid he¡¯d soak the felt inside the carriage.


    They struggled to find a donkey cart and endured a bumpy ride back to the Zhou Family estate, by which time it was already dark.


    Xing Nanny was waiting at the entrance.


    Upon seeing Ran Yan, she burst into joyful tears, though reprimanding, ¡°Wife, you scared me to death!


    Why have you come back so late?¡±


    Wan Lu saw Xing Nanny staring at her and quickly retorted, ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for this, Mr.


    Sang lost his way, and the mistress and I looked for him for a long time!¡±


    ¡°It is my fault¡­


    Please do not blame the mistress,¡± said Sang Chen, bowing deeply.


    Xing Nanny stepped aside.


    Being a slave, she was in no position to blame Ran Yan; she was simply too worried.


    Seeing Sang Chen drenched and in disarray, Xing Nanny felt a pang of compassion and did not scold him, speaking softly instead, ¡°Mr.


    Sang, there¡¯s no need for such formalities, I was just overly worried about the mistress.


    You¡¯ve been soaked in rain and should hurry home to change your clothes, lest you catch a cold.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Then I shall take my leave,¡± said Sang Chen, casting a cautious glance at Ran Yan before turning and walking away.


    Xing Nanny had already prepared the hot ginger tea; once back inside, she immediately urged Ran Yan to bathe.


    Ran Yan refused Wan Lu¡¯s help, which was exactly what Wan Lu wanted.


    She hurriedly pulled Xing Nanny aside to seek advice, ¡°Xing Nanny, the lord, he has promised the mistress to Qin Silang!


    They¡¯ve already performed the ritual of sending the wild goose!


    If it weren¡¯t for running into Qin Silang again today, we would still be in the dark about it!¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Xing Nanny¡¯s face changed, shock and anger seizing her as she trembled, ¡°How could the lord do such a thing!


    When he came over yesterday, he didn¡¯t reveal a single word about it, he truly, truly is heartless!¡±

 Chapter 34 - 34 28 Tea Party Invitation

    ?34: Chapter 28 Tea Party Invitation 34: Chapter 28 Tea Party Invitation Madam Xing indeed knew much about human relationships and how to handle matters, but she lacked ruthlessness and schemes.


    She could manage minor setbacks, but other things were likely beyond her abilities; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have allowed the stepmother to bully them this far.


    With the marriage arranged, Madam Xing was at a loss.


    The betrothal gifts had been presented, and there were only one or two months left, what measures could she possibly take to turn the tide!


    Moreover, Ran Wen had kept this matter secret, and it was unclear what his intentions were.


    After completing her bath, Ran Yan came out of the bathing room and sent Wan Lu to tell Sang Chen that if the ceramic prototypes were not drying easily, there was no need to rush.


    After that, she checked the pile of food left from the previous day.


    Some items had already developed penicillin mold due to being placed during damp weather, and with the ongoing rainy days, the spread had increased considerably.


    In another day or two, there should be enough grown for use. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t understand why she was so unlucky, randomly picking up syphilis, an obstinate disease.


    Facing such a highly contagious disease, any doctor who was aware of the condition wouldn¡¯t stand idly by, let alone her, who had some confidence in being able to cure it.


    The syphilis incubation period was long, and Zi Xu¡¯s symptoms had reached the secondary stage.


    Although severe, it was not life-threatening for the moment.


    However, she had been symptomatic for at least three months.


    If left untreated and it progressed to the tertiary stage, that would be serious trouble.


    It couldn¡¯t kill her immediately, but living would be torture.


    Ran Yan frowned and sighed.


    Furthermore, the allergic reaction rate to penicillin in the population ranged from one to ten percent, meaning that out of a hundred people, at least one to ten would have an allergic reaction, which was a very high probability.


    Ran Yan could only pray that Madam Yan, Zi Xu, and Hong Xing were not among them.


    Traditional Chinese Medicine¡­


    in the modern era, TCM can treat syphilis, but Ran Yan had rarely paid attention to this disease in the past.


    She only vaguely remembered some herbs, which were not complete prescriptions.


    Thus, she formulated a new recipe based on medical principles for both internal and external application, hoping it would work.


    ¡°My Lady,¡± Madam Xing saw Ran Yan zoning out in the corridor and brought over a satin dress to drape over her, then knelt beside her.


    ¡°Are you worried about the wedding?¡±


    ¡°The wedding?¡± Ran Yan lifted her eyebrows slightly, only then remembering her engagement.


    Glancing at Madam Xing¡¯s worried face, she said, ¡°It¡¯s not something to fuss over.


    One must think positively.


    Qin Silang is still a young, unmarried man with a good family background.


    That¡¯s certainly better than being given to a man past fifty with a wife and children as a concubine, isn¡¯t it!¡±


    Even if Ran Yan was not favored, she was still a legitimate daughter, and to be given to someone as a concubine was equivalent to slapping one¡¯s own face.


    Madam Xing knew that Ran Yan¡¯s words were meant as comfort, so she replied with a bitter smile, ¡°If the lord is truly so heartless, we would rather seek refuge at Lady Mother¡¯s maiden home!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s always a solution to a problem.


    There¡¯s no need for worry; I will handle it,¡± Ran Yan added in her mind that if she had no choice but to marry, it would be fine if Qin Musheng agreed not to touch her.


    However, if he didn¡¯t agree, she¡¯d have to use medicine to temporarily incapacitate him and then slowly seek a way to free herself.


    But after some thought, given Qin Musheng¡¯s reputation for dalliances, the latter seemed more likely.


    ¡°You really have grown up,¡± Madam Xing sighed and lowered her gaze.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m not very useful and can¡¯t help you much.¡±


    Ran Yan knew Madam Xing hadn¡¯t finished speaking, so she didn¡¯t interrupt and listened quietly.


    Madam Xing continued, ¡°Back in Xingyang, all the maids by Lady Mother¡¯s side were assigned by Lady Lu, including me.


    Among the four of us, I was the least useful, timid and unable to bear responsibility.


    However, when Lady Mother married, Lady Lu uniquely left me to Lady Mother.


    I have witnessed all the hardships Lady Mother endured, and though I could only offer her my loyalty and protection, I couldn¡¯t provide any other help.¡±


    In the Tang Dynasty, women did not adopt their husband¡¯s surname after marriage, so it was not strange at all for the women from Xingyang Zheng and Fanyang Lu families to be married for generations and the mistress¡¯s surname to be Lu.


    ¡°So many years have passed, and I still haven¡¯t improved.


    Now, apart from loyalty and protection, I still can¡¯t provide much help to you,¡± Madam Xing said, her tears flowing down in frustration.


    Ran Yan understood; Madam Xing could clearly see the situation and knew who was kind and who was not, but she couldn¡¯t think of any solutions, which was an extremely frustrating feeling of being powerless.


    It was actually less stressful to be oblivious to everything.


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself.


    I promised to protect you.


    Now I¡¯m learning medical skills and making money, all in an effort to become stronger.


    Trust me,¡± Ran Yan¡¯s expression may be a bit lifeless, but her reassuring determination was unquestionable.


    ¡°Of course, I trust you, My Lady!¡± Madam Xing wiped her tears away and suddenly remembered something.


    She hurriedly took out an invitation and a letter from her sleeve, saying, ¡°My Lady, these were delivered from the city this morning¡ªan invitation and a letter for you to read.¡±


    Ran Yan took the items and first looked at the invitation.


    It was from the Yin Family¡¯s third daughter, Yin Miaomiao, inviting her to a tea party.


    The letter was also written by Yin Miaomiao.


    Upon reflection, Ran Yan considered her relationship with Yin Miaomiao quite good; they got along well in their usual interactions.


    The Yin Family¡¯s standing in Suzhou City was only second to the Qi, Ran, and Yan families.


    The Yin Family was known for its strict family tutoring, raising daughters who were considered the epitome of Suzhou¡¯s womanhood¡ªhumble, filial, gentle, virtuous, knowledgeable, and capable in both the halls and the kitchen.


    They were highly reputable throughout the entire Jiangnan Road.


    Naturally, Yin Miaomiao¡¯s temperament was excellent as well.


    Ran Yan set down the invitation and opened the letter, glancing casually at its content.


    As expected, it was a letter crafted by a model example, and indeed, it was very formal.


    The handwriting was beautiful, the words were fine, but because it was too conventional, it lacked any semblance of emotion.


    Ran Yan thought to herself that perhaps, after all, they did not truly hold her in their heart.


    ¡°Lady Yin has invited me to a tea meeting, should I attend?¡± Ran Yan knew that for such matters of etiquette, consulting Madam Xing was never a mistake.


    Madam Xing pondered briefly and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Wan Lu mention running into many Noble Ladies at the Yalan Meeting?


    With the Noble Lady of the Yin Family¡¯s scholarship, she is surely an integral part of the Yalan Meeting.


    She must know that my lady has recovered, and thus sent the invitation.


    It would not be good to decline.¡±


    ¡°Then I shall go,¡± Ran Yan said, though she was reserved by nature, in modern times she still had close friends, and naturally, in the Great Tang, she hoped to find one or two friends of like mind.


    Attending a tea meeting was a good opportunity.


    ¡°My Lady must be wary of Eighteenth Lady,¡± Madam Xing reminded her.


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Ran Yan replied indifferently.


    Ran Meiyu was not only sharp-tongued but also cruel-hearted.


    Fortunately, while she had some cunning, she did not possess very deep schemes; otherwise, she would indeed be frightening.


    The heavy rain gradually ceased, turning into a light drizzle, finally returning to the gentleness of Jiangnan.


    The heat of summer was also washed away considerably.


    In the evening, the lanterns hanging in the corridor swayed, revealing the verdure in the courtyard glistening from the rain.


    After a simple evening meal, Ran Yan read medical books under the corridor.


    The medical book had been given to her by Wu Xiuhe; it discussed the pulse diagnoses for various illnesses.


    In the current medical field, prescriptions were secrets closely guarded, not to mention medical books.


    Ran Yan knew that Wu Xiuhe was very committed to teaching her.


    Ran Yan sat on a round-backed armchair with a padded backrest and was covered with a thin quilt, extremely comfortable.


    The round-backed armchair was similar to the later generations¡¯ horseshoe-backed armchairs but without legs, sitting directly on the floor.


    Next to her, on a small side table, stood a Korean paper lamp made of a delicate ebony frame and shaped into a square.


    Each side depicted paintings of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, each accompanied by a small poem¡ªbright and elegant.


    Enjoying the mild breeze and gentle rain outside the corridor, she was reading with pleasure when Wan Lu led two people back.


    It was only when they approached that Ran Yan saw they were Madam Liu and her son, Zhou Sanlang.


    Zhou Sanlang¡¯s appearance had been disfigured by the blistering water the other day, and Ran Yan was too rushed in saving people to look at him carefully.


    Now that she saw him, the boy was quite handsome.


    Clad in a dark brown coarse hemp robe, about twelve or thirteen years old, he had a pointed chin, an oval face, and a pair of lively eyes that seemed as though they could speak.


    If not for the constant frown, he would seem quite endearing.


    ¡°My Lady, Sister Liu has been here many times since this morning, but you were not around,¡± Wan Lu said, putting away the umbrella and leading the mother and son onto the corridor.


    About seven or eight feet away from Ran Yan, Madam Liu tugged at Zhou Sanlang, and both knelt before Ran Yan.


    Bowing her head to the ground, Madam Liu said, ¡°My Lady is a great benefactor to me and my son.


    We have come here escaping calamity, our house is as poor as can be, and we have nothing to repay you with but ourselves.


    My Lady, you have saved Sanlang¡¯s life; from now on, we are at your disposal for any tasks!¡±


    As she spoke, Madam Liu took out two pieces of paper from her bosom and gently placed them in front of Ran Yan, ¡°These are our indenture contracts.


    We ask for no money, we only request that my Lady accept them.¡±


    Ran Yan observed Madam Liu carefully.


    The woman in front of her showed signs of aging, but she seemed not old¡ªthirty-five at most.


    Her demeanor was calm and stable.


    Although she was dressed in coarse hemp fabric, it could not conceal the temperament that distinguished her distinctly from the common village women.


    ¡°Please rise first,¡± Ran Yan said, offering her a symbolic hand to help Madam Liu up, while internally, she calculated.


    She was very short on hands, and having a few more loyal people would be good.


    As for the child, Ran Yan noticed he remained prostrate without moving until she asked them to stand.


    When he finally raised his body slightly, his beautiful lips were pressed into a thin line.


    Clearly, he was unwilling to be enslaved.


    In a mere moment, Ran Yan had thought of a strategy.


    She would take in both mother and son, but first, she had to subdue the boy.

 Chapter 35 - 35 29 Uninvited

    ?35: Chapter 29 Uninvited 35: Chapter 29 Uninvited Ran Yan sat back on her armchair, carefully picking up the two indenture contracts to examine them, all the while keeping an eye on the expressions of Lady Liu and Zhou Sanlang.


    Zhou Sanlang, seeing Ran Yan truly intended to keep the indenture contracts, had his eyes slightly reddened, his jaws clamped tightly, stubbornly holding back the tears from falling, while Lady Liu sat upright and calm, her face not betraying any hint. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For this mother and son who seemed to come from a notable background, if Ran Yan really wanted to win their hearts, she naturally could not treat them as mere slaves.


    ¡°These indenture contracts¡­¡± Ran Yan looked for a while before murmuring, pulling out one of them and returning it to Lady Liu.


    Her delicate, fair fingers pressing against the yellowed paper carried an indescribable grace yet tightly gripped the hearts of the two opposite.


    Ran Yan did not rush to explain, her calm gaze slightly cold as it fell on Zhou Sanlang, ¡°Have you read books?¡±


    Zhou Sanlang was stunned for a moment, raising his eyes to look at Ran Yan.


    The beautiful lady¡¯s face bore an unapproachable expression, not asking lightly, yet he felt a deep familiarity, the memory of that day faintly surfacing in his mind when she had said to him, ¡°If you are tired, sleep a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°Sanlang is not familiar with the rituals, I ask the Wife for forgiveness, ¡± Lady Liu, seeing her son not speaking, intervened to smooth things over and turned to scold, ¡°Sanlang, are you not going to answer the Wife?


    ¡±


    Zhou Sanlang lowered his eyes and responded in a clear voice, ¡°Previously at home, I have read the ¡®Historical Records,¡¯ ¡®Zuo Zhuan,¡¯ ¡®Classic of Filial Piety,¡¯ ¡®Analects,¡¯ ¡®Rites of Zhou,¡¯ ¡®Forest of Characters¡¯¡­¡±


    Indeed quite learned!


    Ran Yan did not know whether his reading was cursory or in-depth, but for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old, even cursory reading was quite impressive.


    Just a few days ago, she had gone to Meng Hall and there were youths reading the ¡°Thousand Character Classic¡±!


    ¡°Do you truly resign yourself to be my slave?¡± Ran Yan, already knowing the answer, still asked deliberately.


    Zhou Sanlang did not know how to respond.


    Before arriving, he had been absolutely unwilling, but after seeing Ran Yan, for some unknown reason, he felt slightly shaken.


    Ran Yan did not wait for Zhou Sanlang to reply, pushing the paper in front of him, ¡°I have only saved a life, I will not take advantage of you.


    It is enough to keep just one person.


    Since I am a woman, it would be convenient for Lady Liu to stay and serve, a mother paying the debt of her son, which I think is not too much.¡±


    Lady Liu instantly understood Ran Yan¡¯s meaning and once again performed a deep bow, ¡°Wife¡¯s great kindness, as a slave I will never forget!¡±


    The slaves were not allowed to take the imperial exams; if Ran Yan truly kept him as a slave, it would mean ruining his future prospects.


    And Lady Liu¡¯s use of ¡°slave¡± was a humble self-reference used by women of the Tang Dynasty, not implying actual servitude.


    And knowing this, yet still bringing her son, showed Lady Liu¡¯s integrity.


    ¡°Six years.¡± Ran Yan looked at Zhou Sanlang, her vermilion lips slightly parting to whisper these two words.


    Zhou Sanlang furrowed his brows, his face full of confusion.


    Ran Yan continued, ¡°I give you six years, you can choose the imperial exams, go into business, whatever livelihood.


    If you make a name for yourself, I will return your mother¡¯s indenture contract.


    If not, your mother will have to remain my Ran Shiqi¡¯s slave for life.


    You have no objections, right?¡±


    A twelve- or thirteen-year-old might seem like an innocent child by modern standards, but in ancient times, that was not considered young, and he would have already been eligible to participate in the imperial exams.


    Zhou Sanlang¡¯s tightly pressed lips gradually relaxed, responding earnestly, ¡°Agreed!¡±


    ¡°You may go back first.


    I have some things to discuss with your mother.¡± Ran Yan spoke indifferently.


    She was not truly concerned about Zhou Sanlang¡¯s future; this was just a convenient gesture.


    If in the future he really made something of himself, he might prove useful, and there was no loss in any case.


    And even if Zhou Sanlang achieved nothing later, Ran Yan had no intention to keep Lady Liu as a servant forever; she merely lacked manpower now, and Lady Liu seemed a suitable option.


    Lady Liu watched Zhou Sanlang leave, then performed another serious deep bow to Ran Yan, ¡°No thanks needed for such great kindness, as a slave I will do my utmost to serve the Wife!¡±


    Lady Liu lay prostrate on the ground, the silence stretching long.


    She felt a sudden increase in light, instinctively looked up.


    Then she saw, Ran Yan was folding the indenture contract into a strip, slipping it into a small square lamp beside her.


    When taken out, the flame had already caught the indenture contract.


    Lady Liu watched in shock, the firelight illuminating Ran Yan¡¯s calm eyes, dark as tranquil pools, until it all turned to ash, swept by the wind into the rain, before she heard her cold voice, ¡°I do not seek recompense for my kindness, but my current situation is not good, and I need a suitable person to help me.


    This indenture contract is hereby nullified, and here, Ran Shiqi asks for Lady Liu¡¯s assistance.¡±

 Chapter 36 - 36 29 Uninvited_2

    ?36: Chapter 29 Uninvited_2 36: Chapter 29 Uninvited_2 As she spoke, Ran Yan straightened her body and respectfully offered Liu a grand salute.


    Liu, startled, quickly got up to help Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, you flatter me too much.


    You are a benefactor to my son and me.


    Should you ever need help, I am bound by duty to assist!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu thought to herself that the rumors in the market were indeed unreliable.


    She had heard that Ran Shiqi was a timid and abandoned daughter with a kind heart, but seeing her today, her cold demeanor and her methods did not show the slightest bit of timidity.


    Ran Yan didn¡¯t know that her method of winning people¡¯s hearts through kindness had actually made Liu admire her more.


    Outside of work, Ran Yan didn¡¯t talk much and didn¡¯t have much to say to Liu at the moment, so she asked her to go back first and come to work again the next day.


    Throughout, Wan Lu and Xing Niang had been silently attending beside them.


    After Liu left, Wan Lu said somewhat puzzled, ¡°Wife, if you want to use her, why did you burn the indenture contract?¡±


    Xing Niang replied, ¡°This Liu is no ordinary woman.


    Her demeanor is proper, and her conversation is extraordinary.


    Seeing that she willingly became a servant to repay a life-saving debt shows that she greatly values trustworthiness.


    It would be a pity if we couldn¡¯t win her heart.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Wan Lu suddenly realized, and with sparkling eyes, said to Ran Yan, ¡°Wife, you are truly impressive!¡±


    Ran Yan merely smiled faintly.


    Liu was astute and would surely see the deeper meaning.


    However, Ran Yan had saved Zhou Sanlang and did not demand a high return, trusting that Liu understood this in her heart.


    Though Xing Niang spoke sensibly, if it were up to her to act, she certainly wouldn¡¯t know where to begin.


    Ran Yan¡¯s current actions greatly relieved her, and she wasn¡¯t particularly suspicious, after all, the original Ran Yan was smart, just timid.


    ¡°Stop dawdling here, Wife has to attend a tea ceremony tomorrow.


    Hurry up and finish the new gown!¡± Xing Niang laughingly scolded Wan Lu.


    Wan Lu jumped up, ¡°Really?


    Has someone invited Wife?


    That¡¯s wonderful, I have a half-finished underdress that I will definitely finish by tomorrow morning!¡±


    Xing Niang knew that the purple gauze skirt Wan Lu was making, made from the best fabric they bought last time, was only of medium quality.


    The tea ceremony the next day would be attended by noble ladies dressed to their utmost, each trying to outshine the others.


    ¡°The tea ceremony tomorrow is sure to be a competition of elegance, and I¡¯m afraid Wife¡¯s garment might seem modest¡­¡± Xing Niang spoke up to remind her, and at this point, there was no other solution but to prepare Ran Yan mentally.


    ¡°As long as the garment is neat and proper, there¡¯s no need for it to be overly luxurious.¡± Ran Yan replied nonchalantly while browsing through Medical Books.


    Xing Niang sighed inwardly.


    Seeing that Ran Yan wasn¡¯t planning to rest anytime soon, she went to find Wan Lu to discuss altering the skirt into a more novel design, aiming for the finest craftsmanship possible.


    Since the material was lacking, they would have to compensate in other areas!


    With the need to rise early the next day, Ran Yan read for a while before going to sleep, leaving Xing Niang and Wan Lu squatting beside her whispering.


    A night of gentle breezes and light rain is most conducive to sleep.


    The next day, just after dawn, Xing Niang roused Ran Yan from her bed, completed her washing and breakfast, and then sat her in front of the dressing mirror to be attended by Xing Niang.


    Ran Yan had slept through a whole cycle of light sleep and when she opened her eyes again, her appearance hadn¡¯t changed.


    Xing Niang was pressing on her face here and there¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even started applying makeup yet?


    ¡°Does the Wife feel more refreshed now?¡± Xing Niang asked with a smile.


    After thinking for a moment, Ran Yan realized that this was a kind of pre-makeup massage, meant to improve one¡¯s mood and complexion.


    At that moment, Wan Lu came in holding a garment, helped Ran Yan put it on, and then Xing Niang followed the style of the garment to style her hair into a low butterfly bun, which covered some of the coldness between Ran Yan¡¯s brows and added a touch of feminine charm.


    Once all dressed up, Ran Yan stood up to look in the mirror and genuinely jumped in shock.


    In the mirror, she wore a purple wide-sleeved Luo skirt, the folds of which fell to the floor like smoke and mist, the collar and cuffs bordered with gold-embroidered satin, pressing down the ethereal quality somewhat, and looking magnificent yet solemn.


    The attire of Huaxia was indeed breathtakingly beautiful!


    What stunned Ran Yan was not just looking beautiful, but that this outfit had transformed her cool, harsh demeanor into something much softer, so much so that at first glance, she hardly recognized herself.


    ¡°The Wife is naturally beautiful, and looks good in anything.¡± Overwhelmed by Ran Yan¡¯s splendor, Wan Lu finally blurted out after a long pause.


    Xing Niang¡¯s eyes and brows were smiling.


    ¡°With the Lady¡¯s fair, jade-like skin, the Wife naturally doesn¡¯t need to powder her face as others do.¡± As she spoke, she took some rouge, dabbed it lightly on her palm, and brushed it across Ran Yan¡¯s cheeks, lifting the heaviness and instantly brightening her appearance.


    ¡°Still missing something.¡± Xing Niang looked her over from head to toe, took out a few pieces of jewelry from the makeup box, and held them up to Ran Yan.


    Eventually, she chose a jade bracelet and a jade orchid hairpin.


    These were all relics of Lady Zheng¡ªthey were not many in number, but each was a treasure.


    ¡°Just with this simple adornment, the Wife already has immense charm; were you to dress up fully, you might possess a beauty capable of toppling cities and states.¡± Xing Niang placed the hairpin while she observed her in the mirror.


    This casual look was no small matter as Xing Niang suddenly turned around, having noticed a man in splendid attire, who had appeared at the doorway without them knowing.


    She fiercely reproached him, ¡°Who are you to dare to intrude into a private residence like this!¡±


    Ran Yan noticed the man at the same time as Xing Niang, but unlike her, she wasn¡¯t panicked; she turned around, frowning at the infatuated Qin Silang, and spoke indifferently, ¡°This is my boudoir; behave yourself here.¡±


    Regaining his composure, Qin Musheng still couldn¡¯t hide the astonishment in his eyes, gazing at Ran Yan, ¡°Ran Shiqi, we are already engaged, surely we needn¡¯t be so cautious?¡±


    In the Great Tang, liberal attitudes were common, and getting on a carriage before marriage wasn¡¯t considered out of the ordinary, let alone a fianc¨¦ visiting his fianc¨¦e¡¯s boudoir.


    But for Qin Musheng to arrive uninvited was indeed infuriating.


    ***


    Apologies, something came up today, hence the late update.


    This book breaks away from the solemnity typical of detective novels by combining case-solving with daily life aspects, focusing mainly on the female lead¡¯s forensic knowledge.


    Therefore, progress on the case might not be as heart-stopping as traditional detective stories, but expect numerous autopsy scenes (including potentially bloody scenes within the acceptance range of normal people).


    Just a heads-up to avoid shocking our younger readers later on.

 Chapter 37 - 37 30 The Qin Family Isnt Short of Money

    ?37: Chapter 30 The Qin Family Isn¡¯t Short of Money 37: Chapter 30 The Qin Family Isn¡¯t Short of Money ¡°Young Master Qin, our lady is getting dressed, please wait for her in the hall!¡± Xing Niang approached him and politely asked him to step aside with an outstretched hand.


    Qin Musheng reluctantly glanced at Ran Yan before following Wan Lu to the hall.


    With indignation, Wan Lu said, ¡°The gatekeepers have gone too far, how could they let a man into the Inner Courtyard!¡±


    ¡°Someone must¡¯ve given instructions, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare to be so neglectful of their duties, even if they had the courage of a lion,¡± Ran Yan adjusted her skirt in front of the mirror.


    ¡°Did the madam mention a stepmother?¡± Wan Lu exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it,¡± Ran Yan turned and walked toward the hall.


    With a puzzled face, Wan Lu followed her, wondering to herself, if it wasn¡¯t the stepmother, who could it be?


    Could it be the young master?


    Or maybe the Eighteenth Lady?


    In the hall, Qin Musheng was kneeling on the mat, occasionally looking towards the door.


    Xing Niang also knew he was the Qin Family¡¯s fourth son and Ran Yan¡¯s future husband, so regardless of what she thought inside, she looked after him with great eagerness, ¡°Young Master Qin, please wait a moment, our lady will be ready soon.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Qin Musheng responded, taking the tea that Xing Niang offered with considerable courtesy.


    Xing Niang measured him up in secret.


    He was clear-cut and handsome, his speech and manners were very appropriate, and he was polite to people.


    She thought he did not seem as disgraceful as the rumors suggested.


    Men¡¯s lust was their nature; perhaps he was merely a bit more flirtatious.


    ¡°Young Master, have you come this early in search of our lady for some urgent matter?¡± Xing Niang inquired.


    Qin Musheng, seeing that Xing Niang was a servant whom Ran Yan highly trusted, did not speak to her as he would to an ordinary slave, ¡°Isn¡¯t Seventeenth Lady attending a tea party today?


    I came specially to pick her up.¡±


    As they spoke, the bamboo curtains at the entrance were lifted, and Ran Yan, in a purple gauze, appeared, illuminated by the bright sunshine, her skin so fair and almost translucent, her dazzling radiance forbidding anyone to gaze directly.


    Qin Musheng stared at her as she approached, momentarily feeling his eyes were inadequate.


    A typical beauty always had her most beautiful aspect, like Qi Liuniang, with her lips fresh and tender as if they had been touched by morning dew, immediately captivating one¡¯s gaze.


    Yet Ran Yan seemed beautiful in every aspect.


    What was most unforgettable was the dignity that emanated from her, like the depths of a serene pool, cold but incredibly enchanting.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ran Yan had heard Qin Musheng¡¯s words.


    Since he had already arrived, even if she sent him away, the gossip that would spread had already done so; it was better to be forthright.


    Xing Niang¡¯s lips moved, but she didn¡¯t utter a word, only rising to send Ran Yan out the door. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wan Lu thought that Qin Musheng¡¯s visit might not be without benefits, at least they wouldn¡¯t need to take the humble carriage from the manor, which could become the subject of ridicule at the hands of those noble ladies at the banquet.


    Wan Lu knew those ladies all too well, who, having nothing better to do than enjoying flower viewing and social gatherings, always found pleasure in ridiculing others.


    Qin Musheng¡¯s carriage was luxurious and spacious.


    The carriage was fitted with bamboo mats and ice basins in the corners.


    The moment they climbed aboard, they could feel a cool breeze.


    ¡°Madam, it¡¯s very hot today.


    In order to preserve your makeup, why don¡¯t you put this ice basin beside you?¡± Qin Musheng personally placed the ice basin next to Ran Yan, and as he bent over, he deliberately leaned close to her, not expecting to catch a whiff of her faint, medicinal fragrance, which took him aback.


    ¡°Young Master, let the Slave take care of the ice basin,¡± Wan Lu quickly took the ice basin and squeezed herself between the two, keeping Qin Musheng at a distance.


    Ran Yan maintained an indifferent expression, acting as if there was no one else around, but she was pondering in her heart.


    Qin Musheng had clearly begun to regard himself as her husband already.


    Was it necessary to immediately use medicine to render Qin Musheng impotent?


    With that thought, Ran Yan glanced at Qin Musheng and saw his peach-blossom smile.


    She decided that after the tea party ended, she would return home to make medicine.


    Otherwise, considering his demeanor, he might become uncontrollably licentious one day, which would be extremely dangerous.


    Observing that Ran Yan had returned his gaze, Qin Musheng¡¯s smile became even more brilliant and handsome.


    He resolved to use every trick in the book to make her fall for him.


    Confident in his abilities, after all, even a woman as experienced in romance as Cui Mei had truly given herself to him, let alone a sheltered young lady!


    Both harboring their thoughts, they traveled in a seemingly peaceful coexistence.


    About a half-hour later, the carriage came to a smooth stop.


    Qin Musheng alighted first and reached out to assist Ran Yan, but Wan Lu beat him to it.


    If the future son-in-law had been someone else, Wan Lu might have been happy to stand back and let things happen, but she had her own grievances against Qin Musheng.


    Although she dared not openly express her displeasure, she certainly wouldn¡¯t make life easy for him.


    And such matters could at most be attributed to her, the Maid, lacking discretion.

 Chapter 38 - 38 30 Qin Family isnt Short of Money_2

    ?38: Chapter 30 Qin Family isn¡¯t Short of Money_2 38: Chapter 30 Qin Family isn¡¯t Short of Money_2 The Yin residence was built near the Pingjiang River, an area populated with the mansions of the elite, their vermilion gates and grand households flaunting glazed rooftiles and white walls, towering pavilions and elaborate terraces.


    The morning light lent the river a glimmering sheen, while emerald grass stretched along the embankment, willow branches swaying gently as a breeze carrying the fresh scent of yesterday¡¯s rain greeted the face.


    Ran Yan took a deep breath, lifting her gaze to the residence before her.


    A modest wooden plaque hung proudly on the tall gatehouse, its characters ¡°Yin Residence¡± boldly inscribed with vigorous, forceful strokes of silver and iron, exuding a majestic yet overly stern presence, which didn¡¯t quite match the scholarly reputation of the Yin Family.


    With limited ability to appreciate calligraphy, Ran Yan didn¡¯t dwell on this and retracted her gaze.


    They weren¡¯t early, as many carriages had already arrived at the entrance of the Yin residence. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though Qin Musheng¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t the best, he was well-liked, and the people getting off the carriages greeted him warmly.


    Whether they were there for Qin Musheng¡¯s sake or that of his father, the Upper Assistant of the Qin Family, was another matter.


    In the midst of pleasantries, many eyes were drawn to Ran Yan, who wore a mask.


    A young master in dark green, brocade attire, seemingly acquainted with Qin Musheng, rushed over as soon as he disembarked from his carriage.


    He playfully punched Qin Musheng in the chest and laughed, ¡°You rascal, you¡¯ve been off courting that lady again.


    I passed by your residence early this morning and heard from your servant that you left at dawn¡­¡±


    Ran Yan, unfamiliar with these people and uninterested in their affairs, let Wan Lu show the Yin servant their invitation so they could proceed into the estate.


    The young man in the splendid green attire saw Qin Musheng¡¯s gaze constantly drifting toward Ran Yan¡¯s retreating figure, craned his neck, and said with a whistle of desire, ¡°Tsk tsk, that figure is indeed attractive.


    Which lady¡¯s attention have you captured this time?¡±


    Qin Musheng slapped the young man sharply and said sternly, ¡°Zhang Fei, don¡¯t get any strange ideas.


    That¡¯s Ran Shiqi, my future wife.


    You mustn¡¯t harbor any improper thoughts!¡±


    Zhang Fei gave Qin Musheng a peculiar look and asked, ¡°There¡¯s been talk across town recently that the seventeenth young lady of the Ran Family is a ravishing beauty.


    Is it true that she is indeed stunning?


    You actually didn¡¯t go to pick up Qi Liuniang this morning but went to the outskirts to fetch her?¡±


    ¡°No matter how stunning, from now on, she will be mine,¡± Qin Musheng said cheerfully.


    Qi Liuniang, who thought of herself as a Fairy from the heavens and treated him with such condescension, mattered little to him now.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said and stepped inside the residence.


    Zhang Fei became even more convinced of Ran Yan¡¯s exceptional beauty.


    Usually, if Qin Musheng discovered a beauty, he would certainly call his friends to join him in stalking and admiring her.


    Even when it came to seeing Qi Liuniang, they all went together; there was never an intention to ¡°hide a beauty in the golden house¡± like this.


    ¡°Si Lang, when will you introduce your brother to your lady wife?¡± Zhang Fei asked, catching up with Qin Musheng with a grin.


    Qin Musheng¡¯s lips curled up slightly as he glanced sideways at Zhang Fei and responded, ¡°On the day of my grand wedding, you will naturally get to see her.¡±


    Zhang Fei verbally assented again and again but thought to himself that he must see her today, no matter what.


    Surely, she couldn¡¯t keep wearing the mask throughout the tea party!


    Meanwhile, Ran Yan had entered the estate and was led by a servant to the Lotus Garden.


    The garden was semi-enclosed, situated beside a pond, with not many structures, only a graceful Liangfeng Pavilion partially overhanging the water.


    Scattered with exotic rocks and artificial hills, sheltered by trees, it was a cool retreat from the summer heat.


    ¡°Wife, please rest in Liangfeng Pavilion for a while.


    Once the tea party starts, a maid will guide you there,¡± said the Servant, stopping before continuing down the path.


    Inside Liangfeng Pavilion, a crowd had already gathered.


    Ran Yan thanked the Servant and led Wan Lu that way.


    A vibrant lotus pond surrounded the delicate pavilion, with doors and windows wide open on all sides, concealed by dense bamboo curtains, through which the soft laughter of ladies occasionally filtered.


    Wan Lu lifted the curtain, and the moment Ran Yan stepped into the pavilion, all sounds ceased, and only the scent of sandalwood lingered.


    In that quiet, Ran Yan could see around sixteen or seventeen people inside¡ªeight gorgeously dressed young ladies and the rest were Maids.


    After a brief silence, a girl dressed in pale blue, light gauze, with a cross-collar skirt stood up and asked, ¡°You are¡­?¡±


    Ran Yan removed her mask and, looking at the young lady, felt a sense of familiarity and unconsciously said, ¡°Miaomiao.¡±


    ¡°Ah Yan!¡± exclaimed Yin Miaomiao, unable to hide her astonishment on her graceful face.


    The others in the room were also visibly surprised, thinking to themselves how the timid, frail invalid had transformed into such a striking figure.


    It seemed the rumors around town were not unfounded.


    In an instant, they felt a mix of envy and jealousy.

 Chapter 39 - 39 30 Qin Family Is Not Short of Money_3

    ?39: Chapter 30 Qin Family Is Not Short of Money_3 39: Chapter 30 Qin Family Is Not Short of Money_3 ¡°Ah Yan, two years have passed and you¡¯ve become so devastatingly beautiful,¡± Yin Miaomiao hurriedly approached, taking her hand and exclaimed with admiration.


    Up close, Ran Yan examined Yin Miaomiao carefully, noticing her moon-white gauze dress, petite figure, and rather pretty features.


    On her face was a gentle, soft smile, barely concealing a trace of excitement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me,¡± Ran Yan naturally responded with a faint smile.


    At this point, the others also reacted, getting up one after another to exchange pleasantries and offering their welcome.


    However, in truth, they were far from pleased by Ran Yan¡¯s appearance.


    All women love beauty, especially beautiful ones, who can hardly bear to see others more attractive than themselves.


    Yin Miaomiao appeared genuinely delighted, pulling Ran Yan to sit beside her.


    ¡°Seventeen-year-old lady has just recovered from a serious illness and is now engaged to Qin Silang, truly a cause for celebration,¡± a voice clear as a spring spoke, neither hurried nor slow, and very pleasant to hear. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan followed the voice and saw a lady in white, smiling at her.


    The white lunar gauze was like the holy light of the moon, casting her beautiful face in a slightly cool light.


    Her hair was done up in an ethereal cloud bun, adorned with just a few large, rounded pearls, a refreshingly simple adornment, unlike the splendid extravagance of the other ladies.


    ¡°Thank you, Lady Six,¡± Ran Yan recognized her as Suzhou¡¯s number one beauty, Qi Six.


    Yin Miaomiao glanced back and forth between Qi Six and Ran Yan.


    Both were cold beauties, but it seemed Ran Yan¡¯s coldness was not like that of the moon¡¯s aloofness, but more like the chilling depths of darkness.


    ¡°Qin Silang was originally quite infatuated with Lady Six!


    Seventeen-year-old lady must take good care to watch over him,¡± a round-faced young girl in a yellow jacket giggled beside Qi Six.


    Ran Yan merely glanced at her indifferently, realizing she did not remember this person from her memory and finding her deliberate provocation disagreeable, thus responding only with a nonchalant ¡°Oh.¡±


    The young girl seemed to feel slighted, her expression turning sour as she humphed, ¡°Qin Silang is quite a catch.


    Whatever us sisters ask of him, he obliges without a trace of annoyance.


    You won¡¯t be wronged marrying him, but he is known for his flirting.


    You must keep a close watch, or don¡¯t let him go offering his attentions to another¡¯s home.


    Otherwise, it won¡¯t reflect well on you, Seventeen-year-old lady.¡±


    ¡°May I know how to address this lady?¡± Ran Yan turned to Yin Miaomiao.


    Seeing that Ran Yan seemed somewhat annoyed, Yin Miaomiao quickly smoothed things over, ¡°Look at me, so happy to see you I forgot everything else.


    This is Qi Ten, her given name is Yuxiu.¡±


    Then she gestured to a girl in a cherry-red jacket, ¡°This is the eldest daughter of the Yan Family, her given name is Fangfei.¡±


    Yan Fangfei nodded gently to Ran Yan with a light smile, then introduced the other Noble Ladies in the pavilion one by one.


    In the meantime, a maid served Ran Yan tea and pastries.


    Ran Yan casually picked up the cup and took a sip.


    Qi Yuxiu was extremely annoyed by Ran Yan¡¯s blatant disregard and kept bringing the conversation back to Qin Silang, with insinuations about him being under Qi Six¡¯s skirt, and Qi Six made no attempt to stop her.


    ¡°Last month, Qin Silang heard Sister Six liked begonias and specifically had a cart sent from Yangzhou.


    He really went to great lengths.


    It¡¯s just that now he is engaged to Seventeen-year-old lady; let¡¯s hope he won¡¯t do such foolish things for Sister Six in the future,¡± Qi Yuxiu remarked with a click of her tongue.


    As soon as she spoke, expressions varied across the room, and all eyes turned to Ran Yan.


    This time, ignoring the comments was not an option.


    Ran Yan looked at Qi Yuxiu and said lightly, ¡°What man doesn¡¯t like beautiful women?


    Whether he frequents brothels or flatters beauties, it¡¯s all the same.


    He plays with other families¡¯ daughters, taking advantage and never losing out.


    Let him do as he pleases.


    If he wants to play, as long as he doesn¡¯t force himself on the common people¡¯s daughters, I support it.


    The Qin Family surely isn¡¯t short of a few coins.¡±


    Qi Six¡¯s originally proud demeanor slightly darkened.


    Qi Yuxiu raised her voice, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®playing with¡¯?


    Are you saying he is ¡®playing with¡¯ my Sister Six?¡±


    ¡°As long as women maintain their self-respect, there would be no talk of being ¡®played with.¡¯ Sister Six is likened to the moon, a noble and virtuous lady.


    I have not mentioned any names; how could Sister Ten assume it¡¯s about her and tarnish her own sister?¡± Ran Yan was truly annoyed by Qi Yuxiu¡¯s incessant quibbling.


    She was not someone to suffer in silence.


    Besides, being equals in nobility, why should she bow and scrape, degrading herself!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I¡¯ve updated four thousand words today~~ I¡¯m waiting for praise!!!!!

 Chapter 40 - 40 30 Hide and Seek

    ?40: Chapter 30 Hide and Seek 40: Chapter 30 Hide and Seek Ran Yan remained silent, but as soon as she spoke out, she cornered Qi Yuxiu, making it wrong for her to retort and just as wrong not to.


    Qi Yuxiu¡¯s pretty face turned bright red, and she glared at Ran Yan unblinkingly, as if her gaze could turn Ran Yan into a sieve if it were tangible.


    The atmosphere in the Liangfeng Pavilion momentarily turned awkward.


    Yan Fangfei and Yin Miaomiao managed to steer the conversation away, talking about some interesting happenings in the city, and somehow, the topic shifted to Han Shan.


    Before long, they were engrossed in discussing a recent murder case in the city.


    ¡°Judge Yang passed away yesterday too,¡± sighed a woman dressed in a pink half-sleeve tunic, her voice warm yet filled with a sense of helpless sorrow.


    This lady appeared frail and slender, her neck and collarbones as gracefully poised as those of a crane, her skin pale and delicate on her face.


    The downward tilt of her brows complemented her large, round, innocent eyes, giving her a soft, fragile look that invoked pity.


    Yin Miaomiao had previously introduced her as Du Xiaoqiao, the legitimate daughter of the former Suzhou Inspector, Du Yanheng.


    Du Yanheng was transferred to an Official role in the capital, however, Du Xiaoqiao, due to her poor health, stayed behind in Suzhou for recuperation.


    Being the legitimate offspring of the main branch of the Du family from the Jingzhao Du clan, Du Xiaoqiao naturally belonged to the high nobility, ranking twenty-first in her family.


    Unfortunate was her weak constitution, for she was often entangled in sickness, and there were private rumors that the Imperial Physician from the capital had predicted she would not live past twenty-five.


    ¡°Judge Yang is dead?


    He was only thirty this year, in the prime of his life.


    How could he have died?¡± exclaimed Yin Miaomiao, surprised.


    The position of Judge was similar to that of the Inspector¡¯s left-hand man, specifically in charge of assessing various state affairs such as examinations, rituals, taxation, storage, population, and criminal justice.


    It was a position of real power within the state.


    For someone to hold this position at thirty meant he was young and promising, with a limitless future.


    Du Xiaoqiao frowned slightly and said softly, ¡°The Forensic Doctor couldn¡¯t determine the cause of death, merely attributing it to a sudden onset of a hidden illness; however, I am acquainted with the matriarch of the Yang family and had met Judge Yang several times.


    He was in good health and I never heard of any hidden illnesses.


    Alas, it¡¯s all destiny¡­¡±


    The mood turned somber, and Yan Fangfei hastily spoke up to console Du Xiaoqiao, as others joined in with their own clamorous assurances.


    Ran Yan felt a vague sense of realization dawning on her, yet she couldn¡¯t quite grasp it at that moment.


    Right then, a Maid outside said, ¡°Ladies, the tea party has started.


    The Lady requests the Maid to lead the ladies to the garden.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Yin Miaomiao replied and then invited the others to step out.


    Since the tea party was held in two shifts, with the Noble Ladies and the Lady in the back garden and the men in the front hall, there was no interaction between the two.


    Therefore, no one brought their masks, and Ran Yan left hers in the Liangfeng Pavilion as well.


    The Yin estate was large and tranquil, consisting almost entirely of winding paths meandering among flowers and rocks.


    What should have been a simple stroll of a hundred steps turned into a large roundabout walk.


    Luckily, the constant beauty along the path kept the walk from feeling tedious.


    They rounded a false mountain barrier, wove through flowers and willow trees, passed a lush bed of peonies, and traversed a long corridor of sweet osmanthus trees in full bloom. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With white osmanthus flowers cascading down, the path was shrouded in fragrance and the petals stuck to everyone, causing playful teasing among them as they spiraled through the garden.


    Progressing forward, the sound of flowing water became clearer and louder.


    Yin Miaomiao, smiling as she tugged at Qi Yuxiu who was picking flowers, playfully scolded, ¡°Quit goofing around; the Ladies must be getting anxious!¡±


    As they cleared the osmanthus corridor and turned a corner, the view opened up dramatically in front of them.


    A tall cliff with a small waterfall graced the front, with Luo Bi ferns hanging down and flowers floating in the small pond below.


    A large pine Water Pavilion stood over it, where a group of finely dressed noblewomen chatted merrily.


    Ran Yan sighed.


    Ancient people must have known how to enjoy life more than modern people, especially with such natural, exquisite scenes that are rare in the modern world.


    When the elegant group of young ladies approached, the Noble Ladies turned to look.


    Many were taken aback¡ªthe recognition of Qi Sixiang as Suzhou¡¯s foremost beauty was unquestionable, but the lady in purple, Ran Yan, could not be ignored either.


    The gathering casually chose their seats, and Ran Yan took one that was neither central nor peripheral.


    ¡°Mother, guess who this is?¡± Yin Miaomiao knelt beside a Lady dressed in a blue jacket.


    Ran Yan did not recall the Lady well, but knowing that Yin Miaomiao¡¯s mother¡¯s surname was Ling, she paid respect by bowing and said, ¡°Ran Yan of the Ran family greets Lady Ling.


    I hope you are well.¡±

 Chapter 41 - 41 30 Hide and Seek_2

    ?41: Chapter 30 Hide and Seek_2 41: Chapter 30 Hide and Seek_2 ¡°Is this Ran Shiqi?¡± Lady Ling looked Ran Yan up and down in surprise, then stood up and made a gesture of support by pulling on her hand to help her up, ¡°Let auntie have a good look at you, after not seeing you for two years, Shiqi has grown so beautifully, it¡¯s captivating!¡±


    Lady Ling was still quite young, roughly around thirty-five, extremely well-preserved with delicate facial features and smartness shining through her eyes, unlike Yin Miaomiao who was purely gentle.


    ¡°Auntie flatters me,¡± Ran Yan also went along with her words and changed her address to auntie.


    ¡°It seems like Qi Six¡¯s position as the number one beauty may be in danger now!¡± someone joked half-seriously.


    Lady Ling knew that Qi Six¡¯s mother, Lady Ping, was always proud of her daughter¡¯s beauty and was not an easy person to get along with.


    Given that it was the Yin family¡¯s tea party today, despite her dislike for Lady Ping, she still felt compelled to mediate, ¡°How could it be unstable?


    Even if Shiqi is beautiful, the charm of Qi Six has not diminished in the slightest.¡±


    Without waiting for anyone to reply, she swiftly changed the subject, ¡°This year, there are many young talents coming over.


    We are going to compete in tea-making with them today, and all the unmarried ladies should seize the opportunity!¡±


    The moment Lady Ling said this, it immediately stirred up tremendous excitement among the ladies and wives present.


    What maiden does not harbor romantic feelings?


    What mother-in-law does not wish to pick a son-in-law who is talented, powerful, wealthy, and handsome?


    Thus, the discussion about Ran Yan and Qi Six¡¯s beauty was set aside for the moment as they all started to inquire about the young talents.


    Ran Yan seemed disinterested, instead, she was more curious about the tea set in front of her.


    She recalled that the original hostess was able to brew tea, taught by Mrs.


    Xing, although Ran Yan did not know how skilled she was.


    As she was absorbed in the tea set, she suddenly felt a gaze lingering on her.


    Ran Yan looked up and saw a lady across from her wearing a dark red blouse.


    It seemed the lady hadn¡¯t expected Ran Yan to be so alert as she paused briefly before shifting her gaze away indifferently.


    Ran Yan did not recognize her, but guessed that she must be Qi Six¡¯s mother, Lady Ping, because while the other ladies were asking about the young talents, she appeared somewhat disdainful, probably content in the belief that her daughter¡¯s standout beauty would surely secure a good match.


    ¡°My Lady,¡± a maid approached Lady Ling and whispered something in her ear.


    Lady Ling hesitated for a moment before announcing, ¡°They are asking to move the event from the front hall to the pavilion in the garden, which is just separated from this place by a row of Osmanthus pergolas.


    Does anyone object?¡±


    There was a moment of silence, but it was clear that there were no objections, and some unmarried ladies were already flushed with anticipation.


    ¡°Coming over is okay, but we can¡¯t agree too easily,¡± Qi Yuxiu said with a sly smile.


    The ladies urged her, ¡°Quick, tell us, do you have any interesting ideas?¡±


    Qi Yuxiu seemed to enjoy the attention from everyone, but considering that there were many Noble Ladies present, she knew how to conduct herself and suggested, ¡°How could I alone come up with an interesting method?


    Why don¡¯t we think of something together?¡±


    ¡°Poetry contest?¡± Yan Fangfei suggested.


    ¡°Poetry is too boring, plus, they are all well-versed in literature, way above us by miles, no challenge at all,¡± Qi Yuxiu immediately opposed.


    That was indeed the case, those people were full of scholarly knowledge, doing that would be no different from simply agreeing.


    If a poetry contest wouldn¡¯t work, then tea-making, chess, and painting probably wouldn¡¯t be very interesting either.


    ¡°Miaomiao, do you have any good ideas?¡± Yin Miaomiao asked.


    Ideas?


    Ran Yan thought to herself, play dissecting corpses?


    Apart from that, she couldn¡¯t think of anything else and thus replied, ¡°I have lived alone for a long time, so I¡¯m not familiar with such things, Miaomiao, please don¡¯t make it difficult for me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come up with something interesting,¡± Yin Miaomiao said warmly and gently, ¡°I¡¯ll have my six maids hide, and let them go find them.


    After all six are found, they can then move on to the garden, how about that?¡±


    Ran Yan glanced at Yin Miaomiao and thought, looks can be deceiving, this woman, who appeared so gentle and virtuous, could actually be so mischievous and childish.


    ¡°This is highly improper,¡± Lady Ling was the first to object, glaring at Yin Miaomiao, and lightly reprimanded, ¡°It¡¯s absurd.¡±


    Yan Fangfei smiled and said, ¡°Lady, please do not be angry, I think it¡¯s not a bad idea at all.


    We could write poetry as clues to give them directions, and only allow unmarried men to search, which would be interesting and not seem unrefined.¡±


    This suggestion immediately won approval from everyone.


    What they had orchestrated was essentially riddles combined with hide and seek, and Ran Yan found it quite interesting.


    When she was a child, both of her parents were busy with their careers, and Ran Yan was raised by her grandparents.


    Her grandfather was a professor at the Medical College; when others were playing hide and seek, she was already adept at dissecting frogs and white mice.


    Unfortunately, they were the ones posing the questions, there was no need to hide, and they had added the complication of poetry.


    For someone like Ran Yan with poor literary accomplishment, she really couldn¡¯t participate much.


    Luckily, the original host had some talent and wasn¡¯t at the point of not understanding poetry.


    Yin Miaomiao instructed her maids for a while, and the game of hide and seek officially began.


    After posing the questions, a group of ladies began to discuss the gentlemen who had come today.


    Ran Yan was admiring the surrounding scenery when Yan Fangfei proactively came to sit beside her, asking, ¡°Why not go over and chat?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t talked with people for a long time and don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Ran Yan replied, with a faint smile. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yan Fangfei was momentarily stunned, then smilingly said, ¡°You seem rather aloof, I had thought you were like her, but now I find you¡¯re much more approachable.¡±


    Yan Fangfei raised her eyebrows towards a direction; Ran Yan didn¡¯t need to look to know that Qi Liuniang was sitting there, ¡°It seems you don¡¯t really like her.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that I don¡¯t like her, I feel uncomfortable even at the sight of her,¡± Yan Fangfei snorted.


    Yan Fangfei gave the impression of being a well-educated and sensible lady of a prominent family, it was unexpected that she would speak so bluntly and without reservation, but Ran Yan didn¡¯t find her disagreeable.


    ¡°Just now, Miaomiao mentioned she hid two maids in the garden, everyone else has gone to peek, shall we go take a look as well?¡± Yan Fangfei suggested.


    Since Ran Yan found it dull to stay here as well, she accepted the invitation.


    Ever since Wan Lu had entered the Yin household, like the other maids, she didn¡¯t talk much and just followed Ran Yan closely.

 Chapter 42 - 42 31 Incident

    ?42: Chapter 31 Incident 42: Chapter 31 Incident Leaving the Water Pavilion with Yan Fangfei, Ran Yan felt increasingly that Yin Miaomiao¡¯s behavior today was somewhat strange.


    In Ran Yan¡¯s memory, Yin Miaomiao was a gentle and elegant woman, always perfectly proportioned in her actions, which was also the example set by the Yin family for their daughters.


    However, not having seen her for two years, today¡¯s Yin Miaomiao seemed much more lively, even suggesting a game as frivolous as ¡°hide and seek¡±¡­


    Ran Yan was so absorbed in her thoughts that she failed to see Ran Meiyu and her mother approaching.


    Yan Fangfei reached out and tugged at Ran Yan¡¯s sleeve, then leaned in slightly, ¡°Lady Gao, I hope you are well.¡±


    This was the first time Ran Yan had met the legendary stepmother, Lady Gao.


    In her thirties, Lady Gao was strikingly beautiful, radiant like a vibrant peony flower.


    With a smile in her eyes, she looked at Yan Fangfei, showing no hint of the wicked stepmother¡¯s stereotype, ¡°Lady Yan greets the great lady of the Ran family with respect.¡±


    She paused and then turned her eyes gently towards Ran Yan.


    Such an appearance made it difficult for Ran Yan to ignore her, so she leaned forward and called, ¡°Second mother, I hope you are well.¡±


    Lady Gao¡¯s expression did not change, as if she had not heard the title ¡°second mother¡± at all.


    With a face full of compassion, she took Ran Yan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Poor child, you have indeed suffered. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, great health follows hardship, and your future will surely be smooth.


    This morning, your sister and I went to the manor to pick you up, but heard that Lord Qin Silang had already taken you.


    Seeing you well, mother is relieved.¡±


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but admire her, no wonder Ran Wen was so completely charmed; she was indeed not simple.


    Ran Meiyu wore a cold expression, full of disdain for Ran Yan, yet did not dare to make a scene with Lady Gao present.


    ¡°Lady Eighteen, I¡¯m going to walk in the garden with Ah Yan, would you care to join us?¡± Yan Fangfei asked with a dignified smile.


    The names ¡®Lady Eighteen¡¯ and ¡®Ah Yan¡¯ alone revealed the closeness of their relationship.


    Ran Meiyu figured it out and was about to speak coldly when Lady Gao interrupted, ¡°Meiyu and I arrived an hour late; we must go and apologize to the other ladies.


    You two go enjoy yourselves.


    The great lady understands the sentiment of my family, Meiyu, and appreciates it.¡±


    Ran Meiyu glared fiercely at Ran Yan and left flippantly.


    Lady Gao looked at Ran Meiyu with eyes full of affection, then sighed helplessly and turned to Yan Fangfei, ¡°It¡¯s all due to my excessive spoiling.


    My little daughter is senseless; please forgive her, great lady.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, Lady, you are too modest,¡± Yan Fangfei replied with a light smile.


    After speaking, she instructed Ran Yan, ¡°Lady Seventeen, please enjoy the garden with the great lady; I will go ahead.


    You¡¯ve just recovered from a serious illness, take care.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Second Mother,¡± Ran Yan said.


    Watching Lady Gao¡¯s retreating figure, Ran Yan felt a chill inside.


    If it weren¡¯t for her memories of the original owner, she might indeed have mistaken that Wan Lu and Mistress Zheng had merely been biased against Lady Gao.


    The extent to which this woman could act was simply astonishing.


    ¡°If Lady Eighteen could possess Lady Gao¡¯s beauty, even Lady Qi Six would hardly be considered the first beauty of Suzhou,¡± Yan Fangfei remarked.


    Indeed, Ran Meiyu¡¯s looks were not even one third as striking as her mother¡¯s.


    Ran Wen was indeed lucky in love.


    His first wife, Lady Zheng, was also a beauty not inferior to Lady Gao.


    But women from great households like hers were somewhat rigid, lacking Lady Gao¡¯s charm, and thus their relationship was merely cordial.


    ¡°Ah, someone¡¯s coming!¡± Yan Fangfei whispered, tugging on Ran Yan¡¯s sleeve.


    As Ran Yan and Yan Fangfei quietly parted the osmanthus shrubs to peep through, from the neighboring bushes came a deliberately suppressed crisp laughter, which sounded somewhat like Qi Yuxiu.


    Qi Yuxiu¡¯s laughter immediately drew the attention of a young man in the garden.


    Amidst lush peonies, the young man quickly turned around, his face fair and delicate.


    Were it not for his wide-sleeved robe, he might have been mistaken for a woman.


    His slightly furrowed brows showed his displeasure.


    Following the path, the young man slowly walked towards them, and Yan Fangfei whispered, ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Although the sound had come from Qi Yuxiu, she was hidden in the bushes.


    If the young man came closer, he was sure to see Yan Fangfei and Ran Yan first.


    The matter was actually quite simple¡ªcouldn¡¯t they just call out and tell him there was no maid here that he was looking for?


    As Ran Yan was about to speak, she heard a cold, magnetic voice from afar, ¡°Jingze.¡±


    As cool as ice, all the young women under the sweet osmanthus arbor suddenly widened their eyes, staring intensely at the figure emerging from the peony bushes.


    Clad in an ordinary jade-colored wide-sleeved robe, his posture was erect, but unfortunately, the hanging branches perfectly concealed his face, revealing only the round collar of his robe and a clearly defined neck.

 Chapter 43 - 43 31 Incident_2

    ?43: Chapter 31 Incident_2 43: Chapter 31 Incident_2 Ran Yan paused slightly, this voice, it seemed familiar¡­


    ¡°Brother.¡± The youth turned his head, a mix of respect and awe audible in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading back first,¡± the cold voice declared.


    That¡¯s right!


    Ran Yan suddenly remembered, it was the Purple Bamboo Umbrella!


    It was the pharmacist from the Su family who lent her the umbrella that day.


    ¡°Brother, aren¡¯t you coming home?


    Mother¡­¡± The young man¡¯s voice was urgent, but recalling the presence of others nearby, he swallowed the rest of his words.


    The pharmacist from the Su family didn¡¯t reply, merely pausing for a moment before turning to leave.


    The wind brushed the drooping branches, fleetingly revealing half of his profile; a straight nose, lips neither thick nor thin, each curve as if chiseled with precision, devoid of any flaw.


    Su Jingze¡¯s mood seemed to worsen; he didn¡¯t bother looking for any maids and followed in the direction the pharmacist had gone, ¡°Brother, listen to me¡­¡±


    Yan Fangfei exhaled, saying with a lingering fear, ¡°That young man¡¯s brother is terrifying, his voice alone chills you to the bone.¡±


    Qi Yuxiu emerged from the bushes, ¡°Su Jingze is the legitimate youngest son of Medicine King Su¡¯s family!


    The one he¡¯s calling brother must be that legendary Su Erlang, who is said to be even more beautiful than a celestial being!¡±


    After Qi Yuxiu finished speaking excitedly, he noticed Ran Yan rolling her eyes and huffing before retracting her head back into the bushes.


    ¡°Su Erlang?


    Su Fu?¡± Yan Fangfei¡¯s expression carried a hint of regret, ¡°What a pity, even at such a close distance, I still didn¡¯t get a clear look at his face.¡±


    Su Fu¡­ S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan glanced at where he had stood, she had never seen someone be so thoroughly cold, like a hell that never saw sunlight, where even without seeing his face, one could feel the chill emanating from him.


    ¡°Su Erlang¡¯s mother was a Hu Ji,¡± Yan Fangfei said staring in the direction the Su brothers had left, with a tone of regret, ¡°They say her skin is as fair as snow, bright eyes, shining teeth, and especially her eyes, capable of ensnaring souls.


    It¡¯s such a shame, Su Erlang rarely shows himself, ah, what a rare opportunity missed.¡±


    As they spoke, Qi Yuxiu and two Noble Ladies leaped out from hiding in the bushes.


    Qi Yuxiu whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t make a sound!


    Don¡¯t make a sound!


    There¡¯s another one coming.¡± Her gaze quickly swept over Wan Lu, and she ordered, ¡°You, go and draw that person over here.¡±


    Their maids were left at the Water Pavilion, and Yan Fangfei echoed, ¡°Yes, yes, Ran Yan, lend us your maid for a moment.¡±


    Wan Lu was also eager and looked at Ran Yan, who had no choice but to say, ¡°You go, just lead him over here, and don¡¯t run around everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mistress!¡± With permission granted, Wan Lu picked up the hem of her dress and scampered out of the Muxiang flower pavilion.


    Qi Yuxiu¡¯s attitude softened a little toward Ran Yan, grateful for the loan of the maid, a typical child¡¯s mentality.


    Thus, Ran Yan¡¯s impression of Qi Yuxiu also slightly improved.


    No matter how poised Yan Fangfei was, she was after all only sixteen or seventeen, spurred on by Qi Yuxiu, she too quickly lost her composure and parted the flowers, joining Qi Yuxiu to intently watch a figure in dark green luxurious clothes in the distance.


    Glancing through a gap, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but smile; it seemed they were destined to be disappointed this time.


    That young man in the dark green luxurious clothes, she had seen him when he had entered the residence, named Zhang Fei, an acquaintance of Qin Musheng.


    Though it was only a brief glimpse, it was clear that his appearance was quite ordinary.


    He had an air of bookishness when silent and unsmiling, but the moment he laughed, he seemed rather sleazy.


    Wan Lu flashed by the young man¡¯s side, and he vaguely caught sight of a maid¡¯s silhouette, his heart leaped with joy, thinking he had struck it lucky and immediately followed in pursuit.


    Inside the sweet osmanthus flower pavilion, a minor disturbance arose; at this moment, another commotion ensued on the Water Pavilion behind.


    Lady Ling¡¯s urgent and stern voice could be faintly heard, ¡°Hurry and see what happened!¡±


    Immediately, the sound of hurried footsteps ensued, and a group of women ran out from the Water Pavilion.


    Qi Yuxiu, Yan Fangfei, and several others also turned back with surprised looks, gazing at Lady Ling who led them, pale-faced.


    Qi Yuxiu¡¯s maid hurried to her side, casting a glance at Ran Yan in the process and whispered in a lowered voice, ¡°Wife, someone has died.


    They say that Qin Silang was led by lustful intentions, wanting to assault the maid of Yin Sanniang, but the maid refused and dashed her head to death!¡±


    Qi Yuxiu¡¯s mouth gaped in surprise; she glanced at Ran Yan too, then hurriedly followed the rest.


    Yan Fangfei grabbed Ran Yan and, thinking she was stunned with fear, urged her anxiously, ¡°Why are you standing there dumbstruck?


    Your betrothed has gotten involved in another death.


    Aren¡¯t you going to check it out?¡±


    Without waiting for Ran Yan¡¯s consent, she pulled her along as they ran with the others.


    Ran Yan looked back at the garden, only to see the figure of Zhang Fei, but Wan Lu was nowhere in sight, probably hiding.


    Zhang Fei, hesitating upon seeing the group of hurried women, followed behind them after a moment.


    The location of the maid¡¯s death was the Jade Orchid Residence.


    According to Yan Fangfei, it had always been vacant with no one from the Yin family living there, usually just used to entertain guests.


    Was Qin Musheng truly so lascivious?


    Ran Yan had her doubts.


    He never used such despicable methods even on a beauty like Qi Liuniang, so why would he force himself onto a maid?


    Or perhaps, he was afraid of the Qi Family¡¯s power and thus did not dare to act?


    Many questions surfaced in her mind, but what she found most intolerable was that not only was she betrothed to a good-for-nothing playboy, he was also someone who constantly stirred up trouble!


    The group arrived swiftly at the Jade Orchid Residence, where Ran Yan saw that there were already many people in the courtyard, realizing that the Yin family must have deliberately leaked the news to get so many people to come as witnesses.


    After all, Qin Musheng was the son of Upper Assistant Qin and couldn¡¯t be easily accused.


    Seeing so many beautiful women, young men couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, wishing they had more eyes.


    The matter of Qin Musheng was only a spectacle for them, not something they took to heart.


    The focus of those gazes was on Ran Yan and Qi Liuniang.


    They were especially interested in Ran Yan, this unfamiliar beauty, and many of them guessed her identity.


    Rumors had been circulating in the city that Ran Shiqi¡¯s beauty could surpass the number one beauty of Suzhou; now it seemed she was indeed her superior!


    ¡°Shiqi!¡± Qin Musheng¡¯s face was somewhat pale.


    He was already not in a good mood, and seeing those lecherous eyes constantly staring at Ran Yan made him feel even worse.


    He quickly came over and shielded her.


    Although many people had already guessed, they couldn¡¯t help feeling emotional upon confirmation; such a fine flower spoiled by a pig!


    Ran Yan ignored him and just leaned forward to see the body.


    The maid¡¯s clothes were disheveled, sprawled on the stairs under the corridor, with fresh blood on her forehead, and fresh bloodstains also on the pillar nearby.


    It seemed she had indeed collided with the pillar in an attempt to flee from the assault, committing suicide.


    As people around were discussing animatedly, Qin Musheng¡¯s face grew uglier, veins on his forehead bulging, and he looked like he was about to explode.


    Fearing he would cause more trouble, Ran Yan grabbed his wrist and said, ¡°Calm down for now.


    If it wasn¡¯t you, the Forensic Doctor¡¯s examination will make it clear.¡±


    Qin Musheng, as if grabbing onto a lifesaver, clasped Ran Yan¡¯s hand firmly and said, ¡°Shiqi, I didn¡¯t kill her.


    I was following the clues from the poems earlier, and when I saw the shadow of a maid entering the Jade Orchid Residence, I followed her in.


    When I arrived, she was already dead on the ground.


    It has nothing to do with me!


    You believe me.¡±


    The onlookers weren¡¯t paying much attention to his words, their eyes fixating on Qin Musheng holding Ran Yan¡¯s hand, their eyes green with envy; why does he get to take advantage at such a time!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Dear classmates, I¡¯m working so hard here, I¡¯m begging for your collections, votes, clicks, and comments¡ªanything at all.


    It¡¯s nerve-wracking launching a new book, truly~~~~~~

 Chapter 44 - 44 32 Revealing the Mountain and Water

    ?44: Chapter 32: Revealing the Mountain and Water 44: Chapter 32: Revealing the Mountain and Water Ran Yan gave him a cold glance, ¡°Let go of me.¡±


    Qin Musheng had been pampered since childhood, accustomed to having things his way, and could least tolerate being wrongly accused.


    At this moment, he was merely eager to find an ally; taking advantage was secondary.


    Reminded by Ran Yan, he sheepishly released his hold.


    Although Ran Yan had not given him face, he always had infinite tolerance and magnanimity towards beautiful women.


    ¡°Nephew Qin, you said you saw a maid, but did you see her face clearly?¡± A middle-aged man in his forties parted the crowd and approached Qin Musheng.


    With a thin, clean-shaven jaw and a neatly trimmed beard, dressed in a broad-sleeved robe, he appeared quite distinguished.


    Ran Yan recognized him as the head of the Yin Family, Yin Wenshu.


    Qin Musheng thought for a moment, then shook his head, ¡°I only saw a fleeting back figure, and did not see her face.¡±


    ¡°Oh?


    Then, was there anyone with you at the time, Nephew Qin?¡± Yin Wenshu asked.


    ¡°After receiving the poems from the ladies, we went to search separately, and no one was with me.¡± Qin Musheng¡¯s face turned pale and then flushed red, full of annoyance.


    He knew he had been set up.


    Anyone with a bit of sense knew that the victim wasn¡¯t killed by Qin Musheng, yet with no one to vouch for him at the moment, escaping involvement wouldn¡¯t be so easy.


    Ran Yan carefully examined the female corpse.


    The scene, although somewhat convincing, was full of holes in her eyes.


    Without even needing an autopsy, she could refute the accusation that ¡°Qin Musheng killed the maid upon being aroused by her.¡± But did she need to speak out?


    She was unwilling to marry Qin Musheng, but having already accepted, if something truly befell Qin Musheng, the Gao Family would surely try every means to prevent the Ran Family from breaking off the engagement.


    If Qin Musheng died, so be it, but if not, this mess would ultimately land on her, irrevocably entangling her.


    By that time, would she get involved or not?


    The future was at stake, so Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but think deeply.


    Logical deduction had been popular since the Han Dynasty, but despite enduring through many dynasties, it had never truly developed and remained relatively weak.


    Most forensic doctors were still merely conducting autopsies, sometimes even unable to determine many causes of death.


    If Qin Musheng were truly convicted and executed, it would mean that Ran Yan had, in name, lost her first man ¡ª something she strongly rejected.


    Furthermore, as a forensic doctor who conversed with the deceased and sought the truth of death, she couldn¡¯t ignore such obvious framing.


    ¡°I believe the man was not killed by Qin Silang.¡± After some analysis, Ran Yan decided to voice some of the uncertainties, after all, without conducting an autopsy or dissection, it wasn¡¯t shocking. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Ran Yan¡¯s cool voice cut through, all the racket momentarily paused.


    The crowd¡¯s gaze towards her was complex, with schadenfreude, pity, and admiration, but almost everyone thought she was supporting Qin Musheng from the standpoint of a fianc¨¦e.


    Virtually no one believed Ran Yan had actually spotted any flaws, not even Qin Musheng himself.


    ¡°It is said that Qin Silang, aroused by lust, forced the maid to her death,¡± once Ran Yan began analyzing the case, she discarded all personal feelings, coming across as utterly unemotional.


    ¡°First, please everyone, look at the scene.


    The corridor is very narrow and decorated with flower pots and other items, and there is a lawn below the steps.


    The deceased¡¯s clothes were disheveled, and her face bloodstained, clearly showing signs of a fierce struggle.


    Now tell me, how could there be such intense struggling in such a narrow corridor without leaving any trace?¡±


    The crowd was stunned, looked around, and indeed, the flower pots placed in the corridor were undamaged, and even the flowers had not suffered any harm.


    There were also no traces on the lawn below that had been trampled on.


    ¡°Of course, the deceased might have rushed out from inside the house, hitting the pillar, or possibly been chased and forced into the courtyard from outside, finding no escape, then chose to end her own life,¡± Ran Yan slowly stepped towards the body, parting the crowd.


    Yin Wenshu was surprised by Ran Yan¡¯s calmness but found her statements somewhat contradictory.


    Frowning, he asked, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why then do you still believe that Nephew Qin did not force the maid to her death?¡±


    The body lay across the corridor, with only her arms resting on the step while her head extended over the edge, hanging in mid-air.


    Ran Yan¡¯s pupils narrowed slightly as she touched the deceased¡¯s neck artery, feeling an ice-cold touch, even colder than the normal temperature, clearly indicating that the maid had been dead for quite some time and must have been kept in a cold place to prevent decomposition.

 Chapter 45 - 45 32 Revelation of Mountains and Waters_2

    ?45: Chapter 32 Revelation of Mountains and Waters_2 45: Chapter 32 Revelation of Mountains and Waters_2 Among the noble ladies present, seeing Ran Yan actually reach out to touch the corpse, beyond being shocked and scared, they also harbored plenty of disgust.


    Ran Yan straightened up, pointed to the bloodstain on the pillar, pondered for a moment, and said, ¡°Because I¡¯ve realized that the bloodstains on the pillar are on the side, and are simply not caused from these two directions.¡±


    In a state of panic, most people seeking death would just dash toward the pillar robustly.


    Would they even consider whether the direction lacks enough momentum to be lethal and then choose another suitable distance and angle instead?


    What¡¯s more, if it were from the two directions Ran Yan just mentioned, the momentum would be even greater.


    Additionally, when one hits a pillar, due to the force of the impact, the body generally bounces back to some degree, and the head and the pillar shouldn¡¯t be directly opposite each other like they are now!


    If we talk about hugging the pillar to smash into it fatally, let alone whether a frail woman has the strength to kill herself instantly in such a manner, the positioning of the body is completely incorrect.


    As for the time of death of the body, Ran Yan believed that even if she didn¡¯t mention it, the forensic doctor could infer it.


    The body was stiff, neatly fallen at the intersection of the corridor and the staircase, with the head and neck rigidly dangling towards the staircase.


    The first phenomenon that appears in a dead body is not the stiffness of the corpse but the looseness of the entire body¡¯s muscles.


    If the place where the victim is currently prone was where she lay when she died, then due to the immediate looseness of the muscles after death, the head and neck of the body dangling over the stone steps of the staircase would necessarily fall to the ground because of gravity, and not remain rigidly suspended as it is now.


    That is to say, the maid had been lying flat on the ground for about five to six hours (10~12 hours) after death, and rigor mortis had spread throughout her body, suggesting that her time of death was approximately five hours earlier, and moreover, this was not the original crime scene.


    According to Ran Yan¡¯s estimation, the maid was struck on the front of the head with a blunt object such as a wooden stick.


    After the first hit, possibly due to insufficient strength from the murderer, the maid wasn¡¯t killed instantly, which led to her struggle.


    But because she was hit in the brain, her strength was clearly no match for the murderer.


    After a bout of struggling, another blow was dealt to her head, and following that, she died.


    She was then immediately moved to a flat and cold spot, where she was kept in this prone position.


    Once the body became rigid, it was difficult to bend, hence the murderer hurriedly arranged such a flawed scene.


    To be able to strike at the maid from the front, it was highly likely to be someone she was familiar with.


    Who could this person be?


    ¡°Seventeen, Lady!¡± Yan Fangfei pushed Ran Yan slightly.


    Ran Yan came back to her senses, only to realize that so many people were staring straight at her.


    Yin Wenshu coughed once and asked, ¡°Does Lady Ran Shiqi have an insight?¡±


    Ran Yan quietly glanced at Yin Wenshu, paused for a moment and said, ¡°No, doesn¡¯t what I¡¯ve just said count as a question mark?¡±


    Although Yin Wenshu was just a scholar, and relatively experienced with significant events, he was chilled to the bone by that look from Ran Yan, surprised within, he couldn¡¯t help but gave Ran Yan a few more glances.


    The expressions of the people looking at Ran Yan at this point varied; the women mostly felt fear and disgust, while the men generally had a curious mindset.


    Normally, those bold or gentle ladies would sometimes shiver even at the sight of a dead insect.


    The ladies present all stayed far away from her, each pale-faced, except Ran Yan, who was not only fearless but also extraordinarily clear-headed, indeed bold.


    If Ran Yan knew their thoughts, she would probably have scoffed.


    The ladies of noble households fought fiercely; they knew how to utilize every power at their disposal, killing people in intangible ways.


    Some might never have seen a dead body with their own eyes, but had numerous blood on their hands.


    Compared to them, who was bolder: they, or someone like Ran Yan, who regularly dealt with corpses but had never actually killed anyone?


    During the waiting period, Yin Wenshu led everyone to the front hall, with men and women each occupying a side hall.


    Qin Musheng was then invited by Yin Wenshu and a few other elders to the main hall, waiting for the government to arrive.


    The Tang Dynasty was a period that adhered strictly to the law; even if as lowly as a slave, one could only beat, but not personally kill the slave, unlike before the Wei and Jin Dynasties, where killing a household slave wasn¡¯t considered a big deal.


    After the earlier events, the ladies significantly distanced themselves from Ran Yan, even Yan Fangfei, who had been keen to befriend her, kept a certain distance, whereas Qi Yuxiu looked at her with twinkling eyes, seemingly very interested.


    Ran Yan had long been accustomed to it, even in the past, when others heard she was a forensic doctor, their expressions were mostly of these two types, only that the latter was more common than the former.


    ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t feel well.¡± Yin Miaomiao¡¯s face had been pale since she saw the corpse, and even after such a long time, there was not the slightest hint of color, but instead, her complexion looked worse.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, rushing over there without considering all of you young ladies.¡± Lady Ling reproached herself, then turned to the Maid by Yin Miaomiao¡¯s side, ¡°Help the Third Lady go back and rest.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The Maid replied and then supported Yin Miaomiao.


    Lady Ling stood up and apologized to everyone, ¡°Today¡¯s tea party was supposed to be a pleasant gathering for all the ladies, but unfortunately, this tragedy occurred, spoiling everyone¡¯s mood.


    On behalf of the Yin Family, I apologize to you all.¡±


    Lady Ling bowed deeply in apology, and several ladies quickly came forward to help her up, softly consoling her with gentle words.


    Especially Ran Yan¡¯s stepmother, Mrs.


    Gao, who spoke beautifully and hearteningly, prompting Lady Ling, who had been frowning tightly, to finally smile.


    After consoling her briefly, Lady Ling then called on the Servant to help the ladies and wives leave.


    After all, whether it was testifying or anything else, it was the men¡¯s burden; if the Government Office needed to inquire, they would naturally send someone to their respective residences. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since Wan Lu had not yet arrived, Ran Yan had no choice but to have the Maid take her to the back garden to look for her.


    Amid the drifting scent of flowers and the low-hanging vines like floating green ribbons, Ran Yan felt little interest in appreciating them.


    Qin Silang had encountered trouble today, and although he would most likely not be convicted after a thorough investigation, this was the perfect opportunity for the Ran family to broach the subject of calling off the engagement.


    Ran Yan was somewhat certain she could persuade her father, so she needed to hurry.


    ¡°Ran Shiqi, where are you rushing off to?¡± Suddenly, a high-pitched voice floated over.


    Ran Yan slightly furrowed her brow, turned her head, and unsurprisingly saw Ran Meiyu on the path to her right.


    Without any intention of dealing with her, she continued walking forward.


    Ran Meiyu, unwilling to let her go, sprinted forward in a dash, blocking Ran Yan¡¯s path, and stared at her angrily with her hand outstretched, ¡°Give me back my hairpin!¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s lips tightened slightly, and a thin layer of anger already clouded her dark eyes.


    Ran Meiyu felt a shiver in her heart but, thinking that Ran Yan couldn¡¯t really do anything to her, she boldly reached out and tugged at Ran Yan¡¯s clothing, disdainfully saying, ¡°You didn¡¯t sell my hairpin to buy this piece of junk, did you?¡±


    Ran Yan suddenly grabbed Ran Meiyu¡¯s slender wrist, pulling her forward, and with her other hand swiftly and covertly jabbed hard at the nerve on her wrist joint.


    Ran Meiyu shrieked, instantly feeling her entire arm go numb and weak.


    ¡°Let me tell you, these past two years, I haven¡¯t just been passively bullied, so you better be careful!¡± Ran Yan¡¯s voice was light, floating by her ear, but Ran Meiyu felt a chill start from the soles of her feet.


    Ran Yan pushed her into the bushes by the path, not even glancing back once as she continued with the Maid towards the fragrant osmanthus trellis.


    Ran Yan was a black belt in Taekwondo.


    Although her athletic nerve and medical talent were disproportionate, having only gained her black belt from grade three in elementary school to completing her doctorate, it was solely because she knew the human body intimately and understood how to target vulnerable spots that she managed to scrape through.


    But dealing with someone like Ran Meiyu, who was as weak as a noble lady, was more than easy.


    ****


    The backstage was somewhat problematic~~~~ finally managed to post it.

 Chapter 46 - 46 33 Flower Kill

    ?46: Chapter 33: Flower Kill 46: Chapter 33: Flower Kill To deal with someone like Ran Meiyu, one must be both swift and decisive, otherwise it¡¯s purely seeking trouble.


    Ran Yan was in a hurry to find Wan Lu, then detour to the Ran Family residence to seek her father and resolve Qin Silang¡¯s marriage proposal, with no time to waste dilly-dallying with Ran Meiyu here.


    Ran Meiyu had not expected Ran Yan to dare to treat her this way, and coupled with the numbness in her arm, she was momentarily stunned. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before even reaching the vicinity of the Osmanthus pavilion, the air was already filled with fragrance, penetrating the heart and spleen, slightly calming Ran Yan¡¯s mood.


    She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle in spite of herself; it seemed she was truly too eager to break free from Qin Musheng, to the point of becoming a bit irritable.


    Today, she took the initiative, not knowing how much was out of the forensic doctor¡¯s persistence for the truth, and how much was due to the fear that if Qin Musheng was really convicted, the Ran Family would for the sake of reputation, irreparably bungle this matter.


    Ran Yan had never been in love, yet she had harbored unrequited love for many, only each time to abandon these feelings upon discovering their intolerable flaws.


    Even so, this did not hinder her aspiration for the beauty of relationships.


    She was a person with a mild mental obsession for cleanliness, able to tolerate being with Qin Musheng, but could never accept him as her first man, whether in substance or in name.


    Even at the final moment, she would never give up; this was Ran Yan¡¯s life credo.


    Ran Yan and the Maid from the Yin residence searched the garden in different directions, intermittently calling out Wan Lu¡¯s name, but the only response was the breeze carrying the scent of flowers and the rustling of branches and leaves.


    ¡°Miss Seventeen, should we check by the Water Pavilion?


    The sound of water there is loud; maybe Miss Wan Lu can¡¯t hear us!¡± suggested the Maid.


    Although Ran Yan felt it unlikely that Wan Lu would be there, it was just a few more steps to walk, so she nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Are there usually no people in the garden?¡± Ran Yan wondered as they walked around the garden, never encountering a maid or servant.


    The Maid answered, ¡°The garden is tended on the first and fifteenth of each month, and mostly unvisited at other times, as the ladies enjoy playing here, and the house usually doesn¡¯t allow servants and other idlers in.¡±


    Entering the osmanthus pavilion, like snow, the petals twirled and fell with the wind, unparalleled in beauty.


    The osmanthus pavilion stretched out like a long corridor, basked in sunlight, the whole path shimmering in viridian and snowy hues, quite beautiful indeed.


    As they walked further, countless fine petals fell like rain, densely packed, as if it were a heavy snowfall in winter!


    Ran Yan paused slightly, feeling something was amiss.


    It wasn¡¯t yet the season for the osmanthus to fall so heavily; there hadn¡¯t been this many just moments ago¡­


    As she looked up at the flower rain, the floral scent in the air suddenly acquired a sweet, bloody tinge.


    At the same time, many scarlet hues joined the fluttering petals, mixing strikingly with the white, catching the eye.


    Ran Yan¡¯s heart tightened, and she hurried forward.


    The sound of flowing water became louder as she turned a corner, and suddenly, in a brightly lit exit surrounded by falling flowers, a pale yellow silk-robed woman was hanging from the pavilion, gently swaying in the breeze amidst the cascade of falling petals, the supports of the osmanthus pavilion creaking ominously.


    Ran Yan¡¯s mind went blank for a moment; following the Maid¡¯s shriek beside her, she came back to her senses, pale-faced, staring at the dangling young girl.


    With phoenix eyes, a high nose, full lips, and a tiny red mole near her mouth, it was unmistakably Wan Lu!


    That feeling of blood coagulating suddenly returned, the cruelest test she had faced as a forensic doctor, the time when her best friend and fellow officer from the Criminal Investigation Team lay on her operating table, discarded after being attacked and violated by several men.


    Back then, Ran Yan had remained composed, her thoughts even clearer than usual.


    After catching the criminal, she was sick for a half-month but soon returned to normal.


    Yet years later, when the wound was reopened, she suddenly felt an agonizing pain.


    ¡°Go call some people over to help!¡± Ran Yan commanded, stabilizing her emotions as the panic-stricken Maid was startled, already bereft of the ability to think, simply hearing Ran Yan¡¯s voice before staggering away, mumbling incessantly as she ran, ¡°Dead, someone¡¯s dead¡­¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s eyes reddened, looking up at the pale-faced Wan Lu, recalling her always protective stance, her eyebrows fiercely furrowed, like she was guarding her chicks.


    The image overlaid with that of her tragically deceased friend in her mind, both vibrant and lively personalities, both hating evil as if it were a personal enemy, as if the same person had died twice!

 Chapter 47 - 47 33 Flower Kill_2

    ?47: Chapter 33 Flower Kill_2 47: Chapter 33 Flower Kill_2 Ran Yan strived to rid herself of all distracting emotions and quickly surveyed the scene.


    The wooden frame for aromatic plants was not particularly high, about eight or nine feet, the ground scattered with petals and broken footprints, evidently left behind by a group of women who had passed through earlier.


    There was a toppled stool nearby, which, based on its height, could have just reached Wan Lu¡¯s feet.


    Wan Lu¡¯s hair was disheveled, her clothes loosely open, revealing her worn, patched-up undergarment, which was intact.


    Ran Yan¡¯s gaze landed on the cloth strip hanging her, which likely was Wan Lu¡¯s belt.


    This kind of situation in forensic medicine is known as mechanical asphyxiation, which refers to suffocation caused by respiratory impairments due to mechanical force.


    Strangulation, smothering, throttling, choking, and drowning can all be categorized as mechanical asphyxiation, a term more commonly applied to homicide.


    The situation of Wan Lu clearly indicated that she had been killed using the aforementioned methods and then staged to look like a suicide by hanging.


    The arrangement of the scene was significantly more meticulous than that at the Yulan Residence.


    However, the murderer seemed to have forgotten to manufacture the most crucial element¡ªmotive.


    Whether it¡¯s suicide or homicide, there needs to be a reason!


    Why would a perfectly fine person commit suicide, and more so in someone else¡¯s house?


    A trickle of fresh blood streamed down Wan Lu¡¯s leg, staining the petals red.


    Ran Yan walked around to her back, looked up, and could clearly see a large area of blood soaking through on the back of Wan Lu¡¯s neck.


    Ran Yan¡¯s eyes subtly trembled, her heart involuntarily rising with a glimmer of hope.


    The blood was still flowing profusely¡ªWan Lu might not have been hanging for long, and it was even more likely that blood was still circulating.


    Realizing this, Ran Yan started to feel an anxious urgency.


    If Wan Lu was still alive, every moment she remained hanging increased her peril, and alone, Ran Yan could not guarantee a rescue without error.


    As to why Wan Lu¡¯s neck was injured, Ran Yan didn¡¯t have the mind to guess; she figured it wasn¡¯t too late to investigate after getting the person down.


    Time seemed to pass exceedingly slowly, Ran Yan¡¯s composure increasingly wavering, yet she maintained a fraction of rationality knowing that attempting a rescue alone would more likely fail.


    Thus, she agonized inwardly while also calculating the probability of Wan Lu¡¯s survival based on various signs.


    Finally, disordered footsteps sounded in the jasmine pergola, and a group of people hurried over, including Government Officials, constables, and some aristocrats who hadn¡¯t left.


    Leading them was an elder in a scarlet official uniform and Yin Wenshu.


    ¡°Come over here and help!¡± Ran Yan couldn¡¯t care less about formalities at this point, the priority was saving lives.


    She randomly grabbed a constable, ¡°carry her down¡­¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!


    The officials haven¡¯t inspected the scene yet.


    How can we disturb the body!¡± The elder in the scarlet uniform, already displeased, and convinced of Ran Yan¡¯s superficial views, could not help but shout in anger. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Pinrang, who had struggled for decades and only recently been appointed as the Inspector of Suzhou, was facing a major case within his first year.


    It was grave enough that a murder had occurred at the Yin estate, and now, not even an hour later, another death was reported¡ªnaturally, he couldn¡¯t neglect it.


    ¡°I am a doctor; she isn¡¯t dead yet.


    If she can be saved, won¡¯t that be more valuable!¡± Ran Yan spoke calmly.


    The last time she encountered a dead friend, it was beyond saving, so she had to desperately search the body for clues to aid the criminal investigation.


    This time, however, the opportunity was right before her eyes, and she was determined to snatch Wan Lu back from the clutches of death!


    ¡°Please don¡¯t hesitate any longer!


    Life is slipping away!¡± Ran Yan knew that if she couldn¡¯t persuade this high official, the constables would dare not act on their own.


    Liu Pinrang frowned silently as he watched her, his small eyes radiating fear and fury.


    Ran Yan met his gaze, showing no sign of weakness.


    For a moment, the pergola filled with an invisible tension.


    They locked eyes for about five seconds, but everyone felt it was closer to an hour.


    ¡°Fine!


    I approve.¡± Liu Pinrang, inexperienced in background, but having climbed to his position by astute judgment of character, saw in Ran Yan¡¯s eyes a sincerity and determination he¡¯d never encountered, which inexplicably gained his trust.


    ¡°Inspector Liu!¡± Yin Wenshu immediately objected, seeing it as madness to trust so readily a young maiden barely of age!


    The others were visibly shocked, while a few elders remained thoughtful, neither voicing objection nor showing approval.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Ran Yan was already prepared for further persuasion but didn¡¯t expect Liu Pinrang to agree so quickly.


    She promptly thanked him and turned to a nearby constable, ¡°Lift that stool up, stand on it, and be careful not to touch her body.


    Then carefully hold her and have another person slowly untie the knot.


    Don¡¯t move, and wait for my command.¡±

 Chapter 48 - 48 33 Flower Assassin_3

    ?48: Chapter 33 Flower Assassin_3 48: Chapter 33 Flower Assassin_3 ¡°You do as she said,¡± Liu Pinrang ordered, disregarding Yin Wenshu¡¯s objection.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Two constables responded in unison, then hurriedly set to work as Ran Yan had instructed.


    After speaking, he turned to Yin Wenshu and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the maid is not from the Yin residence.


    Which family¡¯s maid would be so desperate as to go to someone else¡¯s residence to commit suicide?


    This is obviously a homicide!


    As for the crime scene, it only occupies a small space, there should be no major problem.¡±


    ¡°But this goes against protocol, and besides, the maid has been hanging for a long time, she¡¯s probably long since dead.


    This incident occurred in my residence, how can Inspector Liu not investigate carefully for clues, instead listening to the nonsense of a young woman!¡± Yin Wenshu¡¯s face turned ashen.


    Those present were more inclined to agree with Yin Wenshu¡¯s viewpoint, and they started persuading Liu Pinrang to reconsider.


    No, no, that¡¯s not right!


    Upon hearing Yin Wenshu¡¯s words, Ran Yan was the first to object inwardly.


    Observing the bloodstains at the scene and the wounds on Wan Lu¡¯s neck, it was clear that she had not been hanging for long, at most, not more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.


    But she had no time to pay heed to their argument.


    Her naturally beautiful face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, her delicate lips tightly pressed into a line, her dark eyes unblinkingly fixed on the actions of the two government officials.


    Dressed in a purple gown, Ran Yan stood with her head raised in the breeze, her dress fluttering lightly, white petals falling around her like rain.


    The dazzling sunlight streamed in from the entrance, casting a misty halo around her body, causing many of the men present to be momentarily stunned.


    Even Liu Pinrang, a man used to rough seas, could not help but marvel. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The woman before him was certainly beautiful, but what was more outstanding was the radiance she exuded when serious, from the inside out, which made people feel unworthy by comparison.


    For a moment, the noisy voices gradually subsided.


    ¡°Right, don¡¯t rush, slowly lower her down, someone else catch her,¡± Ran Yan, still focused on the constables¡¯ actions, instructed.


    ¡°Then lay her gently flat on the ground.¡±


    After doing all this, Ran Yan immediately stepped forward to check Wan Lu¡¯s condition.


    Her confident words to Liu Pinrang had actually not been said with complete certainty in her heart.


    But when she saw the marks on Wan Lu¡¯s neck, she let out a small sigh of relief.


    The strangulation marks were not obvious; it was the carotid artery that had been damaged, and the blood flow had weakened significantly.


    A thought flashed through Ran Yan¡¯s mind as she remembered the bloodstained petals she had seen in the air when she rushed over.


    It was likely that when the carotid artery was compressed, the blood had sprayed out in a spatter, staining the flowers above.


    Glancing up at the ceiling of the shed, Ran Yan indeed noticed some elongated bloodstains.


    She became more convinced that Wan Lu had not been hanging for long.


    She reached out to touch Wan Lu¡¯s chest and neck, finding that her heartbeat was extremely weak, and the warmth in her body was gradually fading¡­


    If Wan Lu¡¯s injury had not been to an artery, she might have entered a state of suspended animation, but with the excessive blood loss, the already faint signs of life were becoming more and more at risk as blood continued to drain!


    Quickly, Ran Yan pulled out a long, thin object, wrapped in white silk, from her hair bun.


    Unfurling it in her palm, it turned out to be over a dozen silver needles!


    All present couldn¡¯t help but look surprised; a young woman was actually hiding silver needles in her hair!


    While the others were still astonished, Ran Yan had already swiftly inserted the silver needles into acupoints near the artery.


    Acupuncture couldn¡¯t stop the bleeding immediately, but it could slow down the flow of blood, preventing immediate death from excessive blood loss.


    Subsequently, Ran Yan sat at Wan Lu¡¯s head, her legs astride as she braced against Wan Lu¡¯s shoulders, an extremely indecorous position.


    Yet, most of the people were more captivated by her unusual method of treatment than concerned with her actions.


    Ran Yan quickly undid Wan Lu¡¯s hair, grabbing it in her hand and bracing her feet against her shoulders, causing Wan Lu¡¯s head to lift.


    She instructed, ¡°I need two people to come massage her throat and chest, and another to stretch and massage her hands and feet.¡±


    Once Wan Lu¡¯s head was lifted, the blood from her neck began to flow even more fiercely.


    Ran Yan¡¯s face turned a bit pale, as this continued delay could not only fail to save Wan Lu but risk her bleeding to death!


    ¡°Please help me find some Sanqi powder!¡± Ran Yan said.


    Yin Wenshu, although full of resentment, still instructed the Servant, ¡°Go and find Sanqi powder!


    Check if our medicine room has any.¡±


    Large familial residences always kept a private medicine room.


    Perhaps the supplies were not all-encompassing, but they would have a stock of commonly used medicines, ready for emergencies.


    As Ran Yan continued to support Wan Lu¡¯s neck, she directed the two constables in massaging techniques.


    Both men, hardened by turbulent experiences, were familiar with basic emergency treatment and got to work quickly.


    This was why Ran Yan had summoned the constables, rather than any government official, to assist her.

 Chapter 49 - 49 34 Inspector Liu

    ?49: Chapter 34 Inspector Liu 49: Chapter 34 Inspector Liu Soon, the servants of the Yin estate brought some sanqi powder, which Ran Yan ordered to be applied directly to the wound on Wan Lu¡¯s neck.


    Although the wound had reached a major artery, it was not very large, and after the sanqi powder was applied, the bleeding slowly stopped.


    The treatment had been going on for an hour, and despite the restlessness of the dignitaries standing to the side, Ran Yan dared not slacken even a little, continuously directing two constables to perform massages.


    At first, the dignitaries were somewhat curious, but as time passed and Ran Yan kept repeating those few actions, they grew tired of watching.


    Consequently, their gazes gradually shifted onto Ran Yan herself.


    Fine petals of the wooden incense flower fluttered down.


    In a purple dress, the beautiful woman, with her snow-white cheeks beaded with bright sweat droplets that shone translucid in the light coming from the exit, flushed slightly red, lips tightly pursed, and dark eyes seemingly isolated from the world.


    For her, nothing else existed but saving the person before her.


    Therefore, even though Ran Yan¡¯s actions were quite unseemly, and even though they had already anticipated an outcome, none stepped forward to stop her.


    Qin Musheng stared intently at Ran Yan.


    This aspect of her fascinated him deeply, as if something in the depths of his heart was slightly touched, sending a tingling sensation throughout his body.


    He had never felt this strange sensation towards any other woman before, but he knew he had never wanted someone so much as he did now.


    ¡°She¡¯s breathing!¡± the constable massaging Wan Lu¡¯s neck and throat exclaimed in surprise.


    He was only following orders from Inspector Liu, without any real expectation of saving a life.


    Who would have thought that this beautiful young wife would actually succeed?


    ¡°Really?¡± Inspector Liu and the other groggy dignitaries crowded forward, especially Yin Wenshu, who widened his eyes and came to the front.


    When he saw Wan Lu¡¯s steady breathing, the expression on his face was one of disbelief.


    Actually, Wan Lu had been breathing all along, albeit very oppressively and faintly.


    After such treatment, she started to exhale air from her mouth and gradually resumed normal respiration.


    Ran Yan breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the two constables, ¡°Thank you both.¡± Then she turned to Liu Pinrang and said, ¡°Thank you, Inspector Liu, for your trust.¡±


    ¡°Lady Seventeen,¡± Qin Musheng said, seeing Ran Yan appear somewhat weary and feeling a pang of distress.


    He quickly stepped forward to support her.


    ¡°No need,¡± Ran Yan stopped his hand from reaching out to her.


    Looking down at Wan Lu, who had yet to regain consciousness on the ground, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.


    Someone had actually dared to attack her!


    If she gave up on pursuing the perpetrator this time to keep herself hidden, how would she face Wan Lu in the future!


    ¡°Inspector Liu, may I have a word with you?¡± Ran Yan looked straight at Liu Pinrang.


    Liu Pinrang, gazing into her deep eyes, felt growing astonishment.


    This young lady, who seemed barely of age, had a calmness that made her seem cold.


    In her gaze, there was no typical modesty or reservation of a woman, nor arrogance, just a straightforward look into one¡¯s eyes, as if she could see through all the secrets hidden in their heart.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Liu Pinrang agreed once more to Ran Yan¡¯s request.


    This time, the crowd did not object much, although they looked at Ran Yan with diverse expressions.


    Liu Pinrang turned to the crowd and said, ¡°I will be away for a moment.


    Please forgive me for any neglect.¡±


    ¡°Please do as you wish, Inspector Liu,¡± the crowd replied politely.


    Liu Pinrang glanced at the surroundings, walked around Wan Lu, who lay on the ground, and headed towards the Water Pavilion.


    The Water Pavilion still had the half-finished tea banquet spread on the table, and the small waterfall, like a white ribbon, cascaded down into the pool, creating waves on the water¡¯s surface.


    ¡°Lady, what do you wish to discuss?¡± Liu Pinrang stood at the railing and turned his head to ask.


    Ran Yan held a certain admiration for this unremarkable-looking older man wearing a Fourth Rank official uniform.


    Faced with the situation earlier, not everyone could make such a decisive decision as he had.


    ¡°Wan Lu has lost too much blood.


    Though she has been saved, it will take some time before she awakens.


    Therefore, as her mistress, I feel it is my responsibility to tell Inspector Liu everything I have witnessed,¡± Ran Yan weighed her words internally.


    She was not planning to pretend to be naive and innocent anymore, but she was also not planning to fully expose herself.


    In a strange environment, it is wise for a smart person to hide their strength.


    ¡°See?


    What did you see?¡± Liu Pinrang¡¯s small eyes were level and steady, without a ripple of fluctuation, neither showing interest nor conveying disregard.


    Ran Yan was unfazed and calmly stated, ¡°The person who murdered Wan Lu was a woman.¡±


    Liu Pinrang did not continue to ask questions; he just looked at her, waiting for her to continue, his mind filled with doubt.


    How had she come to the conclusion that the murderer was a woman?


    Understanding his question, Ran Yan pursed her lips slightly as if making some kind of decision, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°While I was attempting to save Wan Lu, I noticed marks on her neck from being strangled by a hand.


    However, since the murderer did not use enough force, it only resulted in suffocation for Wan Lu.


    Furthermore, the murderer had long, sharp fingernails which, during the strangling, pierced Wan Lu¡¯s neck and damaged the major artery.


    In the murderer¡¯s panic, she did not notice and immediately hung Wan Lu¡¯s body from the canopy.


    Moreover, I believe the person who killed Wan Lu and the one who killed Yin Wenshu¡¯s maid are the same.¡±


    Even with Liu Pinrang¡¯s composure, as if ¡°Mount Tai might collapse before him without his face showing any change,¡± Ran Yan¡¯s words still managed to surprise him, ¡°Even so, how can you be sure that the murderer is definitely a woman?¡±


    The corners of Ran Yan¡¯s lips lifted slightly, revealing a cold smile.


    She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a handkerchief, and spread it on her palm, ¡°I found this on the wound on Wan Lu¡¯s neck.¡±


    In the sunlight, a red crescent-shaped object lay on the snow-white brocade handkerchief, ¡°This is a fingernail stained with rouge.¡±


    Liu Pinrang extended his hand to take it and examined it closely, holding it before his eyes.


    This fingernail was not only coated with rouge, but the protruding crescent part had been trimmed very smoothly.


    It was clear that the owner of this nail fragment was not just a woman, but a woman of high status!


    Maids, due to their need to perform manual labor, would not find long fingernails convenient; their fingernails are usually not long, and most certainly not painted with rouge.


    Liu Pinrang nodded, naturally wrapped up the fingernail, and tucked it into his sleeve.


    Ran Yan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly.


    After all, that was a young lady¡¯s handkerchief; how could this old man so shamelessly take advantage of that?¡±


    ¡°Just now, I took the opportunity to examine Wan Lu¡¯s head; there is a swollen area on the back of her head, as if she had been struck with a wooden object or something similar,¡± Ran Yan continued, bringing back her focus.


    ¡°Following your analysis, does that mean all the ladies and wives present today who have rouge on their hands are suspects?¡± Liu Pinrang no longer reacted with astonishment to Ran Yan¡¯s analysis, but rather felt like he was discussing the case with a colleague instead.


    However, no one in the official circles would speak as directly and straightforwardly as she did.


    Ran Yan reminded him, ¡°Perhaps we can narrow down the suspects.


    This person was able to find a high stool and place it at the scene in a very short time, which clearly indicates extensive familiarity with the Yin household.


    Even if she is not a member of the Yin household, she must be a regular visitor.


    Moreover, the rouge is commonly made from a mixture of hibiscus and alum, and even with the same color of flowers, the resultant shade can vary slightly due to differences in the timing and proportions.


    Rouge is difficult to remove, but it can be reapplied.


    The shortest time it would take to recolor is one and a half hours¡­


    so Inspector Liu must act quickly.¡±


    This analysis had indeed narrowed down the range considerably.


    There was another point Ran Yan did not mention: if the murderer did not even have the strength to strangle Wan Lu, it would be difficult to hang her quickly, which suggested that the murderer must have had an accomplice.


    Ran Yan knew that, even if she did not mention this, she could not hide it from Inspector Liu.


    Yet, Ran Yan still couldn¡¯t understand the murderer¡¯s motive.


    Why kill Yin Wenshu¡¯s maid and frame Qin Musheng?


    And why kill Wan Lu in haste?


    Even if Wan Lu had offended some lady or wife, at most she would be disciplined, not murdered to silence her, unless¡­


    Wan Lu had come to know some secrets she shouldn¡¯t have during this time.


    Liu Pinrang saw Ran Yan¡¯s eyes darken with slight shifts and did not interrupt her thoughts, amusing himself by enjoying the scenery instead.


    After a while, he suddenly said, ¡°The Yin Family¡¯s back garden is indeed tranquil.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Indeed, tranquil enough to be an excellent place to kill someone and silence them.


    The sound of water was loud here, so even if some unusual noises were made, they wouldn¡¯t be readily noticed.


    ¡°Which family¡¯s wife are you?¡± Liu Pinrang couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful; if this young lady were born a man, she could have been a great assistant.


    ¡°Ran Family¡¯s seventeenth lady,¡± Ran Yan replied indifferently.

 Chapter 50 - 50 35 Heavy Doubts

    ?50: Chapter 35 Heavy Doubts 50: Chapter 35 Heavy Doubts The government official carried Wan Lu in, inspected the surroundings, and then stood guard outside, leading the constables who were the very two that had helped with the treatment earlier today.


    Ran Yan instructed Xing¡¯s wife and Liu¡¯s wife to go and settle Wan Lu, warning them not to let anything go wrong, then she turned and entered the room.


    Sang Chen stood cluelessly in the courtyard, clutching a cloth bundle in his arms, unsure of what to do.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Ran Yan stood at the entrance of the hall, her expression unwelcoming.


    She had thought Sang Chen would follow her in, but unexpectedly, the man showed no initiative whatsoever.


    Sang Chen suddenly seemed to have found his anchor, running over to her with joy radiating from him.


    Ran Yan huffed coldly, her face still stern, but upon seeing his beaming smile, the clouds in her heart dissipated a bit.


    Sang Chen was a strange person, at times appearing to understand the ways of the world, not seeming like someone ignorant of its darker realities.


    Yet every time they met, he displayed the same innocent demeanor of one harmless to humans or animals, his eyes always pure, without a trace of impurity.


    As she looked into Sang Chen¡¯s eyes, her mind suddenly conjured up another pair of eyes¡ªdark, cold, and seeming never to have been touched by sunlight.


    ¡°My lady, wife,¡± Sang Chen¡¯s face turned red under Ran Yan¡¯s unblinking stare, as if his ears could even drip blood, ¡°this is a token of, of my appreciation.¡±


    Sang Chen nervously swallowed and hurried to set the bundle down on the low table in front of Ran Yan.


    The dark blue wrapping had two sweaty marks from where he had clutched it, and the corners of Ran Yan¡¯s lips twitched upward slightly.


    She reached out to open the bundle.


    However, upon seeing what was inside, her just-softened expression turned dark once again.


    ¡°Do not send this kind of thing again!¡±


    Ran Yan stared coldly at the orchid-scented inkstone in front of her, feeling an impulse to smash it on Sang Chen¡¯s head, which she suspected was filled with who knows what.


    Three visits and three gifts of orchid-scented inkstones; Ran Yan had smashed the previous two, and if she was to live in the Great Tang, she must do so with dedication, not leaving herself even the faintest of vain hopes.


    Yet Sang Chen, as if to spite her, kept bringing the same gift, leaving Ran Yan no choice but to be angry.


    Sang Chen¡¯s face paled, ¡°Others like it a lot, I thought the wife would too¡­¡±


    Ran Yan gave him a cool glance, her attention then drawn to the porcelain syringe in the bundle.


    The syringe was white with a fine crackle glaze, smooth like a mirror, and so thin-walled that it was barely less convenient than a glass syringe.


    The plunger was of the same material, marked with a clear scale, so that even though the syringe was opaque, one could judge the amount of medicine by the scale.


    The sleek and lovely syringe lay quietly on the dark blue coarse cloth, looking all the more like an exquisite piece of art.


    Ran Yan casually picked up a pair and inserted the plunger into the syringe¡ªit fit perfectly!


    She then placed the rest of them one by one, and they all fit without the slightest error.


    Her expression softened, and looking at Sang Chen, she became somewhat milder, ¡°Very good, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, wife has also helped me.


    Yesterday, I submitted the complaint to Han County Chief, who said that it was well-reasoned and would surely lead the Inspector to thoroughly investigate the case,¡± Sang Chen said, relieved to see an improvement in Ran Yan¡¯s mood.


    After he said this, the room fell silent again.


    Sang Chen sneaked a peek at Ran Yan only to meet her dark and heavy gaze, his heart beating uncontrollably, flushing his face once more.


    ¡°Has there been any progress on Han Langjun¡¯s case?¡± Ran Yan knew that Han County Chief had been looking for evidence in private, and since both this case and Qin Silang were related, there might be a connection.


    Sang Chen didn¡¯t dare to look at her, hung his head, and said, ¡°Based on the wife¡¯s autopsy results, Han County Chief believes that the murderer is most likely from Cai Xiu Hall or the Han Family.


    Cai Xiu Hall is closed for rest, and since this isn¡¯t Jinling County, he can¡¯t find any information.


    He now suspects a personal maid of Han Langjun, but hasn¡¯t found any evidence yet.¡±


    ¡°Why does he suspect that maid?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    Sang Chen replied, ¡°The maid was bought by Han Langjun from the countryside and was forced to change from a free woman to a servant.


    It is said that she had a childhood sweetheart back in the countryside¡­


    Han County Chief suspects that she harbored resentment and thus poisoned him.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded.


    It seemed the Han Family was no good either, bullying men and women, with Han Shan spoiling a marriage for his own desire.


    Though Ran Yan was interested in solving the case, she knew this was Great Tang, where some matters were not for her to concern herself with, and it was best not to interfere.


    But was it really as Han County Chief suspected?


    Ran Yan thought otherwise.


    S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 51 - 51 35 Layers of Suspicion_2

    ?51: Chapter 35: Layers of Suspicion_2 51: Chapter 35: Layers of Suspicion_2 ¡°Wife,¡± Sang Chen called out cautiously.


    Ran Yan slightly raised her eyebrows to encourage him to continue.


    She had come to understand Sang Chen somewhat by now.


    Whenever he used that tone of voice, it usually meant nothing good.


    ¡°Today, a woman from the neighboring village, Mrs.


    Wang, asked me to write a lawsuit for her.


    She says her husband was harmed by someone.


    I would like to ask for your¡­,¡± Sang Chen trailed off, feeling embarrassed to ask more of Ran Yan.


    After all, she was of high birth and a wife, and he felt it inappropriate to keep asking her to face corpses.


    Sang Chen¡¯s shy demeanor didn¡¯t disgust Ran Yan.


    On the contrary, she found it far more appealing than when he acted foolishly.


    ¡°Last time was a transaction.


    What about this time?


    What do you plan to offer me in return?¡± For some reason, Ran Yan felt like teasing him when she saw him like this.


    Sang Chen was momentarily lost for words.


    As a poor tutor, what could he offer to repay her kindness?


    After a moment of thought, all he could do was to say awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯ve been too presumptuous.


    I¡¯m penniless and have nothing to offer¡­¡±


    Ran Yan had barely recovered her health recently and felt somewhat fatigued after the day¡¯s events.


    She slightly leaned on the armchair bed, her eyes downcast in thought.


    Sang Chen was not a bookworm, and despite his foolish appearance, he was very efficient and did quality work in her eyes.


    He seemed like someone she could trust, and he could be useful to her in the future.


    Helping him a few times was not a big deal.


    She only feared that he might make a habit of asking for her help¡­


    ¡°Wife, since the syringe is useful, I will send the rest over later,¡± Sang Chen said as he got up and awkwardly added, ¡°Then I shall take my leave.¡±


    When Ran Yan didn¡¯t respond for a long time, Sang Chen worried that his request was overreaching and had upset her.


    As he reached the threshold of the hall, he heard the cool voice from behind him say, ¡°I will consider it.¡±


    Sang Chen was momentarily stunned, then he joyfully bowed to Ran Yan, saying, ¡°Thank you, Wife!¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me just yet; I haven¡¯t agreed to anything,¡± Ran Yan said calmly.


    Her words didn¡¯t dampen Sang Chen¡¯s spirits.


    He didn¡¯t even know why he had impulsively sought Ran Yan¡¯s help.


    He could have written the lawsuit on his own, after all¡ªhe had written many before.


    Except for Han Shan¡¯s case, there had never been a need to examine a corpse, and this time was no exception.


    After Sang Chen left, Maid Xing came out of Wan Lu¡¯s room and saw Ran Yan massaging her head, so she went over to help her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ran Yan said habitually.


    Maid Xing said with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities between you and this old servant, Wife.¡±


    After a long silent massage, Maid Xing couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Wife, Mr.


    Sang is so attentive; it¡¯s likely he has feelings for you.


    But you are already betrothed.


    It¡¯s best not to get too close to him.


    If your future mother-in-law finds out, it may bring you trouble.¡±


    Ran Yan was reminded by this that she still needed to visit the Ran Family to discuss her marriage arrangements.


    However, considering that Qin Silang had just been implicated in an incident and the Qin Family was likely worried about him, the Ran Family would probably reconsider as well.


    Therefore, there was no immediate need to visit them.


    ¡°Did Mrs.


    Liu come?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    Maid Xing looked admiring when she mentioned Mrs.


    Liu, ¡°Yes, she has good manners and her Suzhou embroidery is truly beautiful.


    Would you like to see her, Wife?¡±


    ¡°Not right now.


    You go and ask the Tutor to come have a look at Wan Lu¡¯s injury,¡± Ran Yan said.


    Maid Xing agreed and left the hall.


    Ran Yan dragged her tired body to where the penicillin cultures were stored.


    She took out the pieces of fruit and pasta covered with thick layers of mold, gently scraped it into the culture medium, and let it sit.


    In seven days, she would be able to extract the penicillin.


    Ran Yan had told Miaomiao that if her condition worsened, she could send someone to find her at the villa.


    Several days had passed with no one coming to seek her out, indicating that the prescription she provided was effective and could likely hold off the disease for a while longer. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After finishing everything, Ran Yan lay down on the couch.


    Half-asleep, thoughts of all the recent events that didn¡¯t add up kept surfacing in her mind.


    The deaths of Han Shan and Yin Miaomiao¡¯s maid seemed like someone was intentionally targeting Qin Silang.


    It was highly possible that the same person was behind both.


    The attempt on Wan Lu¡¯s life could also be related to this case.


    First, there was Zi Xu, who showed indifference unlike that expected of a madam upon hearing of a death in Cai Xiu Hall.


    She was more concerned with the courtesans¡¯ attire than with their lives.


    Then there was Cui Mei at Cai Xiu Hall, who insisted she was a virgin courtesan despite contracting syphilis.


    The lesion was at the corner of her mouth, and judging by its appearance, the onset of her disease was no more than five days after Han Shan¡¯s.


    The likelihood of her contracting it from Han Shan was much lower than from Zi Xu.


    Could it be a case of same-sex relations?


    Or perhaps it was transmitted through objects like teacups?


    If it was the latter, why did she hide it?


    After that was the case at the Yin Family, where the maid from Jade Orchid Residence had been dead for over five hours.


    Whoever killed her was either from the Yin Family or closely connected and had free access to their household.


    The maid¡¯s body showed no signs of livor mortis where exposed.


    Without a detailed examination, it was hard to determine the exact time of death.


    Then there was Yin Miaomiao.


    Her maid had been missing for over five hours¡ªdidn¡¯t she notice?


    And during the tea party, she suggested playing hide and seek.


    It¡¯s conceivable that if Yin Miaomiao wasn¡¯t the perpetrator, she was at least an accomplice.


    Ran Meiyu had also been in the vicinity at that time, and Ran Yan recalled she was wearing red rouge¡­


    As Ran Yan drifted off, these chaotic thoughts mingled in her mind, oblivious to the fact that her heroic performance that day had already become the talk of Suzhou City among the elite.


    Especially the part where she brought Wan Lu ¡°back from the dead.¡±


    Ran Wen quickly received news as well, and just as Ran Yan had anticipated, he started to have second thoughts, contemplating that his daughter might be suitable for an even more prestigious match.


    Marrying her off to the Upper Assistant¡¯s son seemed like a waste¡­


    **


    Tomorrow, I must travel a long distance to attend a friend¡¯s wedding.


    The update may come later.


    As a perennial single lady, such occasions are particularly disheartening.


    I hope you¡¯ll forgive me this one time, for this reason.

 Chapter 52 - 52 36 Bring Someone Along

    ?52: Chapter 36: Bring Someone Along 52: Chapter 36: Bring Someone Along In the hazy dream, the asphalt road leading to the Morgue at the Medical College was flanked by thick French plane trees.


    When deep autumn set in, this place became as beautiful and romantic as a scene from an idol drama.


    Yet, the road was always serene, with few couples daring to wander hand in hand in front of the Morgue.


    Therefore, it was one of Ran Yan¡¯s favorite spots.


    ¡°Why choose forensic medicine?


    Do you know what it feels like to have someone familiar lying on the operating table?¡± a magnetic voice asked.


    Ran Yan looked up at him, the sunlight filtering through the dense crown of French plane trees, dappling his handsome and fair face.


    He was the first person Ran Yan had ever had a secret crush on, a sentiment that lasted only a week before turning into friendship.


    He was a professor¡¯s assistant, and he had once been a forensic doctor.


    Later, when a deceased¡¯s family was dissatisfied with his autopsy result and retaliated fiercely, his only sister died from falling out of a building during this revenge.


    Unable to bear the blow, he withdrew from the forensic field and took up a modest position as an assistant at the Medical College.


    ¡°Just a matter of interest.


    I¡¯ll be careful, and I¡¯ll be strong,¡± Ran Yan said, looking at him with a resolute gaze.


    ¡­


    ¡°Wife!


    Wife!¡±


    Ran Yan struggled to open her eyes and immediately saw Xing Niang¡¯s anxious expression, indicating she had been calling for her for quite some time.


    She had slept for a while; dusk had already fallen, a lamp was lit inside the room, and the lanterns on the outside corridor were also ignited.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ran Yan¡¯s voice, still hazy with sleepiness, was less cold and more languid than usual.


    ¡°Inspector Liu has come to visit.


    Wife, please get up quickly. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This old servant will comb your hair,¡± Xing Niang urged.


    Inspector Liu?


    Ran Yan quickly shook off her sleepiness, and sat in front of her dressing mirror with Xing Niang saying, ¡°A simple style will do.¡±


    Heeding Ran Yan¡¯s wishes, Xing Niang¡¯s fingers moved swiftly, and in no time, a cone-shaped bun was secured by a jade hairpin atop her head¡ªsimple yet elegant without compromising decorum.


    Trusting Xing Niang¡¯s skills, Ran Yan let her proceed while pondering over why Inspector Liu would come so late.


    To check on Wan Lu¡¯s injury?


    Such a matter surely didn¡¯t warrant the personal visit of an Inspector of the Fourth Rank.


    After grooming and changing into a moon-white embroidered ruqun, Ran Yan headed toward the hall.


    Liu Pinrang was still in his crimson official uniform, his graying beard perfectly groomed, sitting formally on the mat with his gaze lowered in thought, appearing somewhat displeased.


    ¡°Inspector Liu,¡± Ran Yan greeted with a slight bow before taking a seat opposite him, ¡°Forgive my inattention for having kept the Inspector waiting.¡±


    Liu Pinrang¡¯s face brightened with a smile upon seeing Ran Yan, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.


    This official came uninvited; you can¡¯t be blamed, Madam.¡±


    Ran Yan tensed inside.


    During their conversation earlier that day, Liu Pinrang had seemed distant.


    Suddenly taking on a friendly tone now made one naturally cautious, ¡°Why have you come in person, if I may ask?¡±


    He sighed and said, ¡°Madam Ran is frank, so I will not beat around the bush.


    To be honest, my visit today is indeed to ask a favor.¡±


    Liu Pinrang wore both sincerity and kindness on his face, which could disarm anyone with a weaker resolve.


    Ran Yan inwardly admired him but maintained her usual imperturbable expression, ¡°Please speak, Inspector Liu.¡±


    Liu Pinrang was slightly surprised but quickly set his mind at ease and stated his purpose, ¡°Madam Ran must be aware of Judge Yang¡¯s sudden death due to a hidden illness.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded her acknowledgment; she remembered Du Xiaoqiao¡ª the legitimate daughter of the former Inspector of Suzhou¡ªmentioning it in the Liangfeng Pavilion within the Yin residence.


    Judge Yang, just past thirty, had never been known to have any health issues but had suddenly passed away.


    ¡°I found some suspicious points in Judge Yang¡¯s study, but after dispatching six or seven forensic doctors to examine the body, even the most famous Feng Sanxun couldn¡¯t determine the cause of death, only speculating that it was a sudden onset of a hidden ailment.


    Regarding this outcome, not only do I not believe it, but even Judge Yang¡¯s relatives don¡¯t believe it either.


    They filed a complaint, demanding a thorough investigation into this case¡­¡± Liu Pinrang glanced at Ran Yan and continued, ¡°Thus, I would like to invite you, Miss Seventeen, to take a look and see if you can find any results.¡±


    There was no need for Ran Yan to ask why Feng Sanxun would come to her; there¡¯s a saying that ¡°paper can¡¯t wrap fire.¡± Although she didn¡¯t reveal her true face when she helped Han Shan with an autopsy the last time, she knew that an Inspector like Liu Pinrang, who wanted to know the truth, could certainly find out.


    ¡°Alright.


    When will the autopsy be conducted?¡± Ran Yan readily agreed to his request.


    Surprise flashed across Liu Pinrang¡¯s eyes before he quickly continued, ¡°Miss Seventeen doesn¡¯t plan to propose any conditions?


    Let alone in Suzhou, even on Jiangnan Road, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t accomplish.¡±


    Ran Yan said indifferently, ¡°As a lady confined to my chambers, what I worry about are but trifles, how dare I trouble the Inspector?


    Since my medical skills can be of help to the government, of course, I should not shirk my duties.¡±


    Some things needn¡¯t be explicitly stated.


    The matter that troubled her was known to all of Suzhou City.


    Marrying a debauchee like Qin Silang, who wouldn¡¯t worry?


    Liu Pinrang understood her predicament; to him, this was indeed a minor issue.


    Ran Wen was a man easily swayed by what he heard, and with just a little incitement at a critical moment, he would surely waver in his decision.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want this matter to be known to others.


    Let¡¯s go to the Government Office¡¯s morgue for the autopsy tonight; would that be suitable?¡± Liu Pinrang said.


    Tonight?


    A woman going out with a man in the middle of the night, whether or not it was dangerous, would not sound good if word got out.


    Liu Pinrang seemed to be aware of Ran Yan¡¯s concerns, ¡°You can rest assured, I can guarantee that this outing will not be leaked and there¡¯s no need to worry about damage to your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Then I must thank you, Inspector Liu.


    However, I would like to bring someone with me.¡± Said Ran Yan, her lips curving into a smile that brought ripples to her dark, shimmering eyes.


    In that moment, it seemed as if the whole room lit up.


    Whether Inspector Liu was a good official was yet to be determined, but based on current judgments, he wasn¡¯t likely to do anything sordid.


    Moreover, being the legitimate daughter of the Ran family, he would have to think twice before harboring any improper ideas, so Ran Yan was not worried about any deceit in this matter.


    However, worry or not, before setting off, Ran Yan still placed many items of self-defense such as poison, silver needles, and daggers on herself.


    She never neglected to take any extra precautions.


    Liu Pinrang greatly admired Ran Yan¡¯s decisiveness and courage.


    Initially, he was worried that she might be frightened by the corpse, but now he was quite reassured.


    With everything ready, the person Ran Yan had specifically named to bring was standing in the country house with a shocked expression on his face.


    If it weren¡¯t for that, with his tall figure draped in a gray robe, he would seem quite distinguished.


    ¡°This older brother¡­


    I¡¯m not sure why Inspector Liu wants to see me?¡± After standing awkwardly for a while, Sang Chen shifted towards a Government Official standing by and asked in a lowered voice.


    The small-eyed, thick-lipped official who was a head shorter than Sang Chen gave him a sidelong glance and continued to look ahead, clearly having no intention of engaging with him.


    Sang Chen, with a look of aggrieved complaint, reached into the pocket of his sleeve and felt around¡ªthere were only five coins.


    He knew that these officials wouldn¡¯t divulge anything without seeing some tangible benefit, but with only five coins, he feared they wouldn¡¯t even consider it, though that was his sustenance for seven or eight days¡­


    Therefore, he had no choice but to abandon the idea of bribing the official and continued to stare at him with a sorrowful and tragic gaze.


    After persevering for about a quarter of an hour, the official who seemed to be in a meditative trance suddenly tossed a glowering look and said coldly, ¡°There are several brothers over there, why do you keep staring at me!


    Keep looking, and I might just castrate you!¡±


    ¡°Ha!


    I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for you to do that, this kid looks like he can¡¯t stand up straight anyway,¡± another official nearby scoffed.


    Even without meeting Sang Chen¡¯s mournful gaze directly, they felt a chill down their spine, let alone being stared at directly!


    Sang Chen¡¯s face turned red with anger as he recited, ¡°Confucius said, ¡®A gentleman respects others without fault, is courteous to all, and sees all within the four seas as his brothers!¡¯ He also said, ¡®Without courtesy, one cannot stand.¡¯ To interact with people in a respectful and courteous manner is the way of a gentleman.


    I was merely asking a question¡ªif you do not wish to answer, that is fine, but how can you utter such insults?¡±


    The officials were taken aback as they didn¡¯t understand his words, but they recognized ¡°Confucius said,¡± and while they hadn¡¯t received an education, they didn¡¯t dare mock the teachings of a sage.


    Subsequently, they grudgingly closed their mouths and continued to guard like wooden figures.


    As Ran Yan followed Inspector Liu outside, she saw Sang Chen lecturing the officials with his neck stiffened, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.


    She thought to herself, this man, if he¡¯s not being a nuisance to her, is rather amusing to watch.

 Chapter 53 - 53 37 Late Night Autopsy

    ?53: Chapter 37: Late Night Autopsy 53: Chapter 37: Late Night Autopsy ¡°Inspector Liu heard that Mr.


    Sang Chen was very experienced in conducting autopsies and drafting legal documents, so he invited Mr.


    Sang to join him on official duties.


    Let¡¯s go,¡± Ran Yan said with a smirk, watching as Sang Chen¡¯s face turned paler by the second, and she stuffed a toolbox into his arms.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr.


    Sang,¡± Liu Pinrang assessed Sang Chen with a glance, noticing his trembling legs, and could not help but wonder, as Sang Chen seemed like a scholar who only knew how to study, not an expert in autopsies and legal documentation.


    The government officials chuckled among themselves upon seeing Sang Chen in such a state.


    Once they left the estate, there was already a carriage waiting, which showed Liu Pinrang¡¯s certainty in getting her agreement.


    Ran Yan was relieved she had agreed promptly, even if she couldn¡¯t avoid owing a favor, she didn¡¯t want to leave Liu Pinrang, the stingy old man, brooding over it.


    In the carriage, Ran Yan shared all her suspicions with Liu Pinrang to help solve the case faster.


    ¡°Yin Miaomiao?


    On the day of the incident, I remember she was with you all, so she shouldn¡¯t have had time to commit the crime,¡± Liu Pinrang expressed dubiously.


    Ran Yan recalled, ¡°That day, Yan Fangfei told me that Yin Miaomiao had intentionally had her two maids hide in the garden so that the wives could secretly watch the young gentlemen through the fragrance pavilion, and afterwards, everyone dispersed.


    At that time, I only saw Yan Fangfei, Qi Shiniang, and two other wives; I did not see Yin Miaomiao.¡±


    Liu Pinrang nodded, stroking his grizzled beard in satisfaction, ¡°I trust that you will certainly be able to help me, as I never misjudge people.¡±


    Liu Pinrang, relying on his ability to judge people, had gained recognition repeatedly.


    He could discern who would flatter and who were incorrupt and righteous, deciding his behavior based on their characters¡ªhis judgments never failed, thus he never doubted his own insight.


    ¡°Thank you for your trust, Inspector,¡± said Ran Yan with a faint smile, but her mind wandered back to the first time she met Yin Miaomiao, who had stood up to shake her hand and even poured her a cup of tea¡­


    Ran Yan¡¯s thoughts lingered on the hand that held the cup¡ªclean, fair, with well-trimmed nails showing a natural rosy tint, not tainted with rouge.


    It wasn¡¯t her who wanted to kill Wan Lu.


    Ran Yan always found it odd, but couldn¡¯t immediately tie up the loose ends, so she chose not to dwell on it for now. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The carriage stopped in front of the morgue, with the moon hanging in the sky, but the moonlight was not very bright, and everything was shrouded in a layer of night, with dense tree shadows.


    A breeze passed, casting eerie, claw-like tree shadows on the ground, making the morgue look ghastly and terrifying.


    Liu Pinrang ordered someone to open the side gate and led the way inside.


    Sang Chen hesitated at the door, still undecided, but everyone else had already entered.


    A gust of cool air blew by, and without a second thought, Sang Chen rushed inside like a scared rabbit, approaching Ran Yan and stammering, ¡°Wife, did you, did you bring any ginger slices?


    Could you perhaps give me a few later?¡±


    The morgue at the government office was not a charity mortuary, so not just any corpse was kept there.


    Therefore, there weren¡¯t many bodies, but even so, everyone was a bit uneasy, silently focusing and having no mood to mock Sang Chen.


    They also resented Inspector Liu for his old age, not fearing to scare himself by coming to such a sinister place at midnight instead of during broad daylight.


    Liu Pinrang had seen many bodies before, but it was his first time visiting the morgue at midnight.


    If he hadn¡¯t suspected that Judge Yang¡¯s death was related to certain powers, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered to drag his old bones here to suffer.


    Liu Pinrang caught a glimpse of Ran Yan¡¯s calm face and felt admiration and a bit of curiosity, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid, Seventeenth Lady?¡±


    Ran Yan paused for a moment before responding, ¡°Living people are often more frightening than dead ones, aren¡¯t they?


    By comparison, I¡¯m more afraid of the living.¡±


    ¡°Well said,¡± Liu Pinrang, who had experienced the ups and downs of the official world for over forty years, had seen plenty of deceit¡ªthough he had come to terms with these matters himself, how could a young woman possibly have such an insight?


    Liu Pinrang instructed the officials to light every torch in the room, illuminating a dark room with bright light.


    Inside, there were two coffins without lids.


    One, which had previously held Han Shan¡¯s body, was now empty, presumably taken by the Han Family for burial.


    In the other coffin lay a middle-aged man about eight feet tall, burly, with arched eyebrows and high nose bridge.


    Even though his face was now bluish and swollen and his body was marked with numerous patches of corpse spots, one could still tell he had been a man of striking appearance when alive.

 Chapter 54 - 54 37 Late Night Autopsy_2

    ?54: Chapter 37 Late Night Autopsy_2 54: Chapter 37 Late Night Autopsy_2 ¡°This is Judge Yang, young and talented, he was also an Advanced Scholar during the Zhenguan era¡¯s tenth year, ah!


    Such a pity¡­¡± Liu Pinrang, born to a humble family, found it incredibly challenging to make a mark in an era dominated by powerful clans.


    Therefore, he held a special affection for Judge Yang, who also lacked a family background, differing from the usual feelings one subordinate might have for another.


    ¡°Did Judge Yang have any chronic ailments?¡± Ran Yan briefly examined the body before taking the toolbox from Sang Chen, placing it on the ground.


    She first took out Atractylodes and Gleditsia sinensis and ignited them on the ground, then put a slice of ginger in her mouth.


    After hesitating for a moment, she handed a slice to Liu Pinrang, threw the cloth bag with ginger slices and a blank notebook to the pale-faced Sang Chen, and then put on a new mask and gloves to prepare for the autopsy.


    Suppressing his surprise, Liu Pinrang answered, ¡°Indeed, although he was a scholar, he enjoyed practicing martial arts to keep fit and healthy.


    I¡¯ve never heard of him suffering from any illnesses.¡±


    After speaking, Liu Pinrang also placed a piece of ginger in his mouth.


    Ran Yan hummed in agreement.


    The absence of any disease does not necessarily confirm homicide.


    Many sudden diseases can cause death, such as acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or even death from sexual excitement, any of which can lead to sudden death.


    ¡°Does Inspector Liu wish to watch the proceedings?¡± Ran Yan¡¯s speech was not affected even though she had ginger in her mouth.


    ¡°Good.¡± When Liu Pinrang was County Chief, he would personally inspect every homicide case, not just rely on the Forensic Doctor, hence he had developed a strong nerve over time, which is why he dared to come here in the middle of the night.


    Ran Yan quickly undressed the deceased, whose rigor mortis was gradually dissipating, revealing dark red livor mortis underneath, indicating that death had occurred more than two days ago.


    With his clothes removed, it was evident that Judge Yang had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his pectoral muscles well-defined, and his abdomen slightly swollen from post-mortem gases, but faintly showing six-pack abs.


    In his thirties, the prime of life, to die suddenly overnight was truly regrettable.


    Ran Yan glanced at Sang Chen, who was hiding beside a Government Official with a pen in hand, ready to take notes.


    Turning back, she began the examination starting with the deceased¡¯s head, observing the teeth occlusion, wear, and taking into account several other conditions, she concluded, ¡°The deceased was between thirty and thirty-five years old, with a height of six feet seven inches.


    There are no visible marks on the face or the head, no external injuries on the body¡¯s chest, abdomen, legs, or back, and the livor mortis is a dark red color, concentrated on the back of the head, top, back, lower back, buttocks on both sides, and the posterior sides of the limbs, with some parts turning green.


    I estimate the time of death to be the 27th of June during the Hai hour.¡±


    After a thorough examination, she found no external injuries or signs of poisoning.


    Ran Yan focused on the head and neck of the deceased and other areas of the body susceptible to injury.


    Liu Pinrang grew increasingly curious about Ran Yan as he saw her solemn and meticulous inspection of the daunting corpse, her eyes, the only part of her visible, being profound and calm.


    She did not overlook any detail, even examining the nails and the gaps between them, and the hair.


    Ran Yan¡¯s gaze settled on the index finger of his left hand, which was stained with a black mark the size of a soybean on the fingertip, with a little also present under the nail.


    She turned around to take some strong vinegar from the toolbox, dabbed a bit of it onto a piece of broken cotton cloth, and gently wiped away the black stain from the fingertip.


    Looking up, she inquired, ¡°Was Judge Yang¡¯s place of death the study room?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, he was leaning over the desk, with recent official documents in front of him,¡± Liu Pinrang replied.


    ¡°What was the condition of the desk?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    ¡°The desk?¡± Liu Pinrang, upon being reminded, immediately replied, ¡°That¡¯s where the suspicious point lies.


    Judge Yang was holding a pen, and there were some ink stains on the desk surface, yet the official documents had no signature.


    None of the documents on the desk were signed, as if he had just started to work on them before falling ill.


    However, all the Forensic Doctors judged that his time of death was between the Hai and Zi hours.


    And according to his wife, Lady Wang, Judge Yang went into the study after dinner and instructed that no one should disturb him.


    With such a long stretch of time, why wasn¡¯t even a single document reviewed?¡±


    Judge Yang¡¯s left hand¡¯s ring finger knuckle and index finger had calluses that were particularly noticeable, while his right hand did not, which indicates that these spots were rubbed by holding a writing brush.


    Moreover, his left arm was slightly more robust than his right arm, clearly showing that he was left-handed.


    ¡°The deceased¡¯s left ring finger and index finger have evident calluses, and the left arm is slightly thicker.


    It¡¯s inferred that he normally used his left hand.


    A small amount of ink stains can be found on the pulp and in the seams of the nails of the left index finger.¡± As Ran Yan spoke, she ruled out the possibility of ¡°sexual excitement death¡± in her mind.


    The so-called sexual excitement death, also known as sex-induced sudden death, refers to the act of reaching the peak of arousal during sexual intercourse, resulting in an abrupt cessation of the heartbeat.


    It usually occurs in the elderly, or occasionally in those who ingest aphrodisiacs or stimulants.


    Judge Yang¡¯s conjunctiva did not have petechiae, which also ruled out mechanical asphyxiation.


    So, how did he actually die?


    Was it indeed acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or perhaps the rupture of a hidden tumor?


    Or was he murdered by some covert method?


    Striving to miss no detail, Ran Yan carefully inspected again and eventually turned over Judge Yang¡¯s penis to see a small laceration and strip-like subcutaneous bleeding on his scrotum.


    To get a better look, Ran Yan called over a government official holding a torch and then leaned into the coffin herself, getting closer to see clearly.


    Liu Pinrang opened his mouth wide in surprise, almost dropping the slice of ginger from his mouth, his aged face slightly flushed with blood.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s indeed possible that Judge Yang died from homicide,¡± Ran Yan concluded, straightening up.


    ¡°Oh?


    Have you found the cause of death?¡± Liu Pinrang quickly hid his embarrassment and asked earnestly.


    ¡°The cause of death is still not found,¡± Ran Yan replied, observing Liu Pinrang¡¯s puzzled look, she pointed to the small wound and continued, ¡°However, it does confirm that Judge Yang was violently assaulted before his death, receiving a devastating groin kick.


    If one doesn¡¯t search carefully, this injury is hard to detect.¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Liu Pinrang made a great effort to disregard the fact that he was discussing the private parts of a man with a young lady, maintaining a relatively composed state of mind, ¡°If it was a groin kick, why would there only be this little injury?¡±


    ¡°This area is extremely sensitive to pain and stimulation.


    If the force wasn¡¯t very strong, or if the assailant controlled the force well, it wouldn¡¯t leave a significant injury but could cause unbearable pain for the victim, and in severe cases, could even lead to fainting.¡± Ran Yan explained.


    In forensic medicine, fainting from a groin kick is termed pain-induced shock or neurogenic shock; she simply used vernacular that the ancient people could understand. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And all of these were Ran Yan¡¯s judgments based on experience, with ninety-nine percent certainty.


    But to be one hundred percent certain of the result, she would indeed open up the scrotum to find out for sure.


    However, ancient people were highly superstitious, and even autopsy was hard to accept, let alone damaging the most important part of a man?


    Ran Yan was always rigorous and cautious in her corpse examinations.


    Unable to hold back, she quietly suggested, ¡°If it is cut open, the result can be evaluated more directly¡­


    ¡±


    She was immediately interrupted by Liu Pinrang before she could finish, ¡°No, that is not permissible!¡±


    Knowing the outcome, Ran Yan did not insist further, continuing, ¡°For now, this is all I can determine.


    If we want to know more detailed information, an autopsy should be conducted, which would certainly reveal the cause of death.¡±


    A person doesn¡¯t die without a reason, and if there is a cause of death, it will definitely show on the body; that is a principle.

 Chapter 55 - 55 38 Ambush in the Dense Forest

    ?55: Chapter 38: Ambush in the Dense Forest 55: Chapter 38: Ambush in the Dense Forest ¡°An autopsy?!¡± Liu Pinrang could no longer maintain his composure, his voice suddenly shot up.


    Just when Ran Yan thought she would be met with firm rejection, he actually pondered for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this matter further.¡±


    Ran Yan was slightly startled.


    Could the cause of Judge Yan¡¯s death be so important to him?


    On the surface, Yang¡¯s death was just the sudden onset of a hidden disease.


    Five or six forensic doctors had come to this conclusion.


    Even if he were to declare the same, would anyone suspect anything?


    Yet he was already so anxious that he had asked for her, a woman.


    Ran Yan did not believe Liu Pinrang was an upright official.


    In the world of officials, those who are truly upright and incorruptible, yet without any background, simply cannot last long, much less become a Fourth Rank Inspector!


    Once Ran Yan understood what Liu Pinrang meant, she arranged the corpse¡¯s clothing properly, and after everything was taken care of, the group quickly left the Morgue.


    For Liu Pinrang, being able to determine that Violence had been used against Judge Yan while he was alive was already a significant breakthrough.


    ¡°Alas!


    Everything has changed since the Empress passed away!¡± Liu Pinrang, who had been silent all along, suddenly let out a sigh out of nowhere, then gave Ran Yan a ¡°you know what I mean¡± look.


    Ran Yan¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily; she had to admit she didn¡¯t understand at all.


    What did ¡°everything¡± include?


    What exactly was different?


    The original owner¡¯s memory of current affairs was almost nonexistent.


    She only knew that it was the eleventh year of the Zhenguan era, but beyond that, she had no understanding of the big picture in politics.


    Fortunately, Ran Yan herself had a decent understanding of history.


    She knew the Empress had passed away in June of the tenth year of the Zhenguan era.


    Ran Yan held a great deal of respect for this unparalleled Empress.


    Although she never thought she would be fortunate enough to meet the Emperor and Empress who lived deep within the palace, Ran Yan still felt a bit of regret when she heard of the Empress¡¯s death.


    Liu Pinrang did not say anything more, and as the group took a shortcut to the West City Gate, the moonlight was gradually engulfed by a mass of dark clouds, with torches casting a faint glow around the city gate.


    ¡°My team of men will escort you back to the estate; you can rest assured,¡± Liu Pinrang said, seeing that the sky was turning ominous, thus spoke to comfort Ran Yan and Sang Chen. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Liu Pinrang stepped out of the carriage to make sure everything was in order, he stood by the carriage, lifting the curtain as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve only recently taken over as the Inspector of Suzhou, and many people still can¡¯t fully trust me.


    Only the West City Gate is guaranteed to be safe.


    It¡¯s a bit longer to go from there to South City, but you¡¯ll just have to endure the inconvenience.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, he then said to Ran Yan, ¡°I will promptly repay you for this favor.


    Farewell for now.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Inspector Liu,¡± Ran Yan said with a slight bow of her head.


    The side gate creaked open, Liu Pinrang let the curtain fall, and the carriage began to move slowly.


    In the carriage, only Sang Chen and Ran Yan were left.


    Sang Chen¡¯s face was pale, still not having recovered from the shock.


    Ran Yan was fairly satisfied with Sang Chen¡¯s performance today.


    Although he was still a coward, at least he didn¡¯t faint, which was already good progress.


    ¡°You did quite well today,¡± she said.


    Ran Yan was never stingy with words of praise.


    Sang Chen¡¯s eyes brightened, and instantly his spirits soared, his complexion also swiftly recovering a good deal, ¡°You should see me in a new light every three days!


    I¡¯m no longer the man I used to be!¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s finger twitched, and she immediately turned her head away, choosing not to look at him any longer.


    What was there to be proud of in such a thing?


    In the dimly lit warm orange light, the refined and beautiful profile of Ran Yan¡¯s face was cast in a soft warmth, unlike her usual unapproachable demeanor.


    Her slender neck stretched into the neckline of her moon-white garment, with her delicate collarbone faintly visible.


    Seeing such a sight, Sang Chen¡¯s heart suddenly started thumping wildly.


    After struggling internally for a long time, he finally said weakly, ¡°Wife, I have something to say, but I¡¯m not sure if I should.¡±


    ¡°Then think it over before you speak,¡± Ran Yan said indifferently.


    Sang Chen was momentarily choked up, opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.


    After a short while, even Ran Yan began to feel slightly breathless with anticipation, becoming a bit irritated, ¡°Speak up!¡±


    Sang Chen felt a thrill of joy, just as he was about to speak, the carriage suddenly came to a halt, and the curtain was swiftly swept aside as a figure in black, like a gust of wind, entered the carriage bringing with them a cold aura.


    The newcomer, with a masked face, cast a glance as sharp as lightning, and before Ran Yan and Sang Chen could react, a sword emitting a chilling light was already placed against her neck.


    All the words that Sang Chen had were stuck in his throat as he looked in horror at the intruder.


    ¡°Miss Ran!¡± called out a government soldier urgently from outside.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want her to die, then keep moving!¡± the voice was cold and magnetic, imbued with a bloodthirsty tone.


    The government soldiers outside were at a loss for what to do.


    The Team Leader, too, felt a chill in his heart.


    This person, who had effortlessly charged into their escorted carriage under the watchful eyes of their team, leaving them as if non-existent, was clearly indicating that any form of attack would end badly.

 Chapter 56 - 56 38 Jungle Ambush_2

    ?56: Chapter 38 Jungle Ambush_2 56: Chapter 38 Jungle Ambush_2 Ran Yan also felt the same way.


    The Tang Dynasty had implemented a system of government soldiers, with each unit composed of as many as fifty men.


    If this person could enter so effortlessly, then whom was he avoiding?


    These thoughts flashed through her mind, but her voice remained even as she said, ¡°Continue walking.¡±


    Although her voice was cold too, it was different from the cold and murderous aura of the man in black; instead, it had a stabilizing power that could calm hearts.


    The government soldiers outside heard Ran Yan¡¯s command and hesitated briefly before continuing to march forward, led by the Team Leader.


    The black-clothed stranger, however, didn¡¯t relax even slightly.


    The long sword in his hand still rested appropriately against Ran Yan¡¯s neck.


    The blade, capable of cutting hair in two with a blow, hadn¡¯t made even a small cut in her skin, indicating that this person¡¯s self-control had reached a nearly pathological level.


    ¡°You¡¯re injured,¡± Ran Yan, sensitive to the faint smell of blood, glanced at a wet spot on his chest, ¡°You¡¯ve injured your heart vessels.¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± the man in black¡¯s voice sounded somewhat weak, his temper not particularly volatile.


    ¡°You, don¡¯t mess around!¡± Sang Chen barely came back to his senses and trembled as he tried to persuade, ¡°Confucius said¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Ran Yan and the black-clothed stranger said in unison, their voices low and harsh.


    Ran Yan rolled her eyes inwardly.


    The black-clothed man had already asked for silence, yet this fool was barging into the proverbial blade.


    If he angered the man, and he killed this damned rabbit, it wouldn¡¯t matter much.


    But if he killed her too, wouldn¡¯t that be a wrongful death?


    The black-clothed man seemed to feel that Ran Yan was relatively sensible, or perhaps he was wary of her playing tricks.


    He leaned closer to her ear and said, ¡°Don¡¯t try anything cunning.


    Even though I¡¯m seriously injured now, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to kill a mere unit of men.


    If you cooperate, once we¡¯re past this woods, I¡¯ll leave and won¡¯t harm a hair on your heads.¡±


    Close enough to feel the warmth of his breath and his slightly labored breathing, the situation became somewhat ambiguous for a moment.


    Seeing this, Sang Chen¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°A gentleman should not take advantage of the weak or seize upon someone¡¯s peril.


    You must not impose upon the wife!¡±


    Whoosh!


    A flash of cold light, and with a reflex, Ran Yan let out a gasp, but before the sound could escape, the man in black covered her mouth.


    Sang Chen froze, looking at the dagger planted in his own shoulder, and the blood that flowed out swiftly and spread a large red patch on his gray robe.


    His face turned progressively paler, his body trembled more violently, and finally, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    Ran Yan breathed a sigh of relief; the dagger had not hit any vital spots.


    He probably just fainted at the sight of blood.


    The warmth of Ran Yan¡¯s breath sprayed onto the palm of the man in black, like electricity coursing through his body, causing a numbing sensation.


    Only then did he notice the tender feel beneath his hand, and a tingling sensation surged directly to his heart.


    The man in black quickly withdrew his hand, and at the same moment, Ran Yan also averted her gaze to look at him.


    Their eyes met, and Ran Yan suddenly noticed a hint of dark blue in his deep black pupils, cold and profound like a hell that never saw sunlight, a high nose bridge, and long eyebrows that reached into his temples.


    In her memory, there was only one person with such eyes and brows.


    Pharmacist Su, Su Fu.


    Ran Yan silently recited in her mind.


    ¡°Gentlemen!


    Have you seen a man in black pass by here?¡± someone suddenly asked from outside the carriage.


    Su Fu tensed up all over, and the long sword he held against Ran Yan tightened slightly.


    Ran Yan glanced at him and spoke out, ¡°Team Leader, what¡¯s happened?¡±


    A faint and cold voice drifted from the carriage, blending into the warm, moist summer night breeze, bringing a refreshing coolness.


    The brawny man who was inquiring paused slightly, his gaze involuntarily drawn towards the carriage.


    The Team Leader knew that Ran Shiqi must have been threatened to speak up as a warning, he immediately cupped his hands in respectful greeting and said, ¡°The night grows deeper, and we are in haste to travel, having seen no one pass by.¡±


    ¡°May I know who sits inside the carriage?¡± the persistent brawny man asked, feeling certain that the person had to be nearby, and if not found elsewhere, was very likely inside the carriage.


    ¡°I apologize, but this is official business for the Government Office, and I cannot disclose that to you, sir,¡± the Team Leader said, showing his token.


    ¡°Bai Yi, withdraw,¡± a man from inside the gorgeous carriage parked at the edge of the woods called out.


    His voice was low and lazy, with an air of authority that seemed to sweep down from the heavens, making an otherwise ordinary sentence seem undeniably¡­


    sexy.


    Even from a distance of about 70 to 80 feet, the voice was still clear enough to reach Ran Yan¡¯s ears, as if a feather was gently stirring in the bottom of her heart, irresistibly drawing her to want to see his face.


    The brawny man named Bai Yi, having received the order, retreated with a look of reluctance back to the vicinity of the carriage and mounted his horse.


    Hearing the rumbling sound of the carriage growing more distant, Su Fu spoke in a low, cold voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ran Yan relayed the message to the Team Leader, but inside, she was on high alert, thinking of ways to restrain Su Fu. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because he had once offered her his umbrella, Ran Yan did not have an unfavorable impression of him.


    Yet, she could sense his coldness, his decisive and ruthless moves.


    Who could guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t kill to silence someone?


    ¡°Are you a doctor?¡± Su Fu sheathed his sword and leaned against the carriage wall, exhausted.


    He wore black clothes, obscuring the true color of blood, but the wet spots sticking to his body revealed his well-proportioned, robust physique.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ran Yan said as she looked at the blood seeping onto the floorboards from his body, adding, ¡°You¡¯ve been wounded in a vital spot.


    Without treatment, you may bleed to death.¡±


    Su Fu pulled out a cyan-colored porcelain bottle from nowhere, struggled to undress, and shed his garments halfway.


    He uncorked the bottle and casually sprinkled the powder within onto his wound.


    Though only half of his upper body was exposed, one could still discern the perfection of his physique, the pallid skin that glowed faintly under the soft light, and the bewitching beauty of the chrism soaked in blood adorning his chest.


    ¡°Do you need any help?¡± Ran Yan asked indifferently.


    Su Fu paused briefly before continuing to empty the bottle.


    With swift and deft movements, he bandaged the wound with his undershirt and then redressed in his outer clothing, all without a single word.


    Seeing him close his eyes to rest, Ran Yan subtly edged closer to Sang Chen.


    She had just shifted a bit when she was immediately caught by a piercing cold gaze.


    Ran Yan was shocked at his sharpness.


    Su Fu seemed slightly surprised as well.


    Usually, women would tremble in fright under his glare, but the beautiful wife in front of him instead moved more openly to her companion¡¯s side.


    She swiftly pulled out the dagger from the man¡¯s body, quickly applied medicine, and wrapped the wound.


    The carriage gradually left the western part of the city and entered South City.


    The woods thinned, and the view became unobstructed.


    Only when there were no obstacles in sight for five miles did Su Fu make sure there were no ambushes or tails following them.


    He then clenched his sword tightly, his deep and dark eyes sweeping over Ran Yan¡¯s face, with a hint of killing intent seeping out.


    Ran Yan tightened her grip nervously and with a slight shiver, shook a vial of poison into the palm of her hand from the fold of her wide sleeve.


    Sensing her movement, Su Fu glanced over and swiftly leaped out of the carriage.


    **


    Thanks to carmel for the lollipops and red envelope, thanks to Chao Yun for the red envelope and the long review, thanks to the noisy crowd for their red envelopes.


    Big hugs to everyone, and thank you to friends who have consistently voted for the sleeve!


    The critical moment has finally arrived, so please, everyone, pay attention!


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 Chapter 57 - 57 39 The Inspectors Return

    ?57: Chapter 39: The Inspector¡¯s Return 57: Chapter 39: The Inspector¡¯s Return Ran Yan¡¯s entire body relaxed, and only then did she realize her back was soaked through.


    She knew she had been a mere step away from death, and although she had died once before, sometimes the most terrifying thing was not death itself, but the agony before death.


    After she had returned to the villa and settled everything, it was already midnight.


    Lying in her bed, Ran Yan skipped her usual habit of pondering before sleep and fell directly into slumber.


    A restful night later, when it was still barely dawn, a distant clamor reached Ran Yan¡¯s ears.


    She lay still for a while, and as the noise seemed neither to increase nor decrease, Ran Yan finally asked, ¡°Madam Xing, what has happened?¡±


    Liu hurried in, ¡°My wife, this morning suddenly a lot of sick people arrived, saying they had heard that the mistress could bring the dead back to life, and they came especially to ask the mistress to save them.¡±


    Bring the dead back to life?


    Ran Yan smiled helplessly.


    Perhaps the incident of her treating Wan Lu and Zhou Sanlang had spread, and the current rumor was probably exaggerated a hundredfold¡ªthey must think she possessed the ability to ¡°resurrect the dead and mend bones.¡± But what was truly strange was that the witnesses of her treating Wan Lu that day were all influential nobles.


    Even if they indulged in gossip, it couldn¡¯t have spread so wildly overnight!


    The matter of saving Zhou Sanlang was known to the nearby villagers, they had not come to seek help because first, there were no patients on the brink of death, and second, because of Ran Yan¡¯s noble status, the villagers wouldn¡¯t dare bother her with trivial matters.


    Thus, the people who came must be remarkable, right?


    As Ran Yan had expected, Liu said, ¡°Wife, those people outside look respectable, I¡¯m afraid they cannot be easily offended.¡±


    Ran Yan massaged her temples, acknowledging that a good reputation was definitely a benefit for her, including solving the marital issues with the Qin Family.


    The Ran Family was originally more powerful than the Qin Family, and the Qin Family had agreed to the marriage mainly because Ran Yan had been critically ill and not expected to live long, and secondly due to the instigation of the stepmother.


    Now that Ran Yan had recovered and gained considerable reputation, and Qin Silang¡¯s dishonorable actions had led to a loss of life, it was the perfect opportunity for the Ran Family to call off the marriage.


    She believed Ran Wen would be greatly shaken by this, but she feared that if the rumors went too far, they might backfire.


    If her fame outshone her actual capabilities, it might turn a good situation bad in the end.


    Syphilis, marital issues, and the murderer wanting to kill Wan Lu, one after another, before one issue was resolved, another stirred up a storm in the city, suffocating her.


    Ran Yan forced herself to stay calm, to keep her composure.


    One urgent issue needed resolving¡ªshe had only become Wu Xiuhe¡¯s disciple a few days ago, and suddenly she was rumored to possess exceptional medical skills.


    How was she going to explain this later?


    Only Madam Xing, Wan Lu, and Wu Xiuhe knew about the timing of her apprenticeship.


    As long as they didn¡¯t slip up, there shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem.


    It seemed she needed to quickly ingratiate herself with her esteemed mentor.


    While Ran Yan was tormented with these headaches, unaware that the person causing her distress was smiling broadly, engaging warmly with Ran Wen.


    Inside the Ran Family residence, it was bustling with guests, and over ten carriages were parked at the grand entrance, everyone¡¯s faces beaming with joy.


    To an outsider, it might even seem like the Ran Family was celebrating a joyous occasion.


    ¡°This time, thanks to Lady Ran Shiqi, who resurrected a vital witness, contributing significantly to the Government Office¡¯s case resolution, I¡¯ve come especially to express my gratitude!¡± Liu Pinrang said with a laugh.


    Ran Wen too was beaming with joy, cleverly masking the pride in his eyes, he politely responded, ¡°Oh, where, where.¡±


    The previous Inspector of Suzhou, Du Yanheng, was a direct descendant of the Capital¡¯s Du Family, known for his inflexibility, a man of his word who could not be easily offended.


    In Suzhou, no one dared to cross him.


    The major clans secretly disliked Du Yanheng, but Liu Pinrang, being worldly and smooth, made things convenient without burdening them.


    The relationship between the Government and the influential families reached a mutual balance of restraint, wariness, and respect, and they were very satisfied with Liu Pinrang, hence treating him even more courteously.


    Seeing the Ran Family¡¯s steward come and go repeatedly to announce visitors, Liu Pinrang joked, ¡°It seems that today Scholar Ran Wen is very busy, he doesn¡¯t have time to keep me for a meal, so I¡¯d better rush back to the Government Office, to not miss lunch!


    Haha!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Wen, in a great mood, ¡°Inspector Liu, would you blame me?


    That won¡¯t do; today let¡¯s drink three hundred cups together!¡±


    Liu Pinrang hurriedly waved his hand, ¡°Just joking, just joking!


    This old body of mine couldn¡¯t handle three hundred cups.


    Recently there have been many cases, and there are still matters to attend to at the Government Office, so I will not stay long.¡±

 Chapter 58 - 58 39 s Inspectors Reward_2

    ?58: 39 Chapters Inspector¡¯s Reward_2 58: 39 Chapters Inspector¡¯s Reward_2 ¡°If that is so, I cannot insist on keeping you here.


    Another day, we will surely entertain Inspector Liu with fine wine and a grand banquet,¡± Ran Wen said as he saw Liu Pinrang getting up.


    He casually made the remarks and then led him out of the main hall.


    Liu Pinrang and Ran Wen left the hall and walked along the corridor toward the exit.


    Near the gate, Liu Pinrang paused and said, ¡°There is something I perhaps should not say, but¡­


    although Qin Si is a competent subordinate of mine, his son¡­¡±


    Halting mid-sentence, he waved his hand with a resigned smile, ¡°Let it go, children have their own fortunes, and it is not for this old man to interfere too much!¡±


    In Liu Pinrang¡¯s words, there was no mention of the marriage between the Qin and Ran families, but his meaning was already crystal clear.


    And after all, since he did not explicitly say anything, even if the marriage were to fall through later, it would not be his concern. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Wen¡¯s heart had already been wavering, and with Liu Pinrang¡¯s words, he felt even more that Ran Yan marrying Qin Silang would be an underutilization of her talents.


    After seeing Liu Pinrang off, Ran Wen hurried back to the side hall, where a group of guests had already gathered.


    He felt uneasy; although the Ran family was accustomed to constant visitors, he wondered why so many people had come today all at once.


    As soon as Ran Wen entered the side hall, he immediately felt the tense atmosphere.


    The guests, who had been sitting upright, got up to greet him as soon as they saw him.


    While exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Ran Wen looked around the hall and noticed several elegantly dressed women, among whom two were matchmakers from Suzhou City, well-known for their good reputation.


    A plan began to form in his mind.


    Once everyone had taken their seats again, Ran Wen also sat in the host¡¯s seat and, with a slight smile, asked, ¡°What has brought everyone here today?¡±


    Before anyone could respond, a woman dressed in gold and red with butterfly patterns interrupted, ¡°Master Ran, my name is Madame Zhuang.


    I am a matchmaker invited by the Yan family to propose a marriage on behalf of the second master of the Yan family.¡± With a beaming smile, she glanced around the room, ¡°I suppose everyone¡¯s intentions are the same.


    Such matters really cannot be ranked by status or distinction.


    I took the liberty of speaking first, please forgive me, everyone!¡±


    The others felt a bit stifled.


    Even if status and distinction were to be considered, she was representing the Yan family of Suzhou, who would dare call her lowly?


    Furthermore, the match she was arranging involved the Second Master of the Yan family, well-known for being the legitimate son of the Yan family.


    He graduated as an Advanced Scholar the same year as Yang Si, at the age of nineteen he became the Secretary of Wucheng County, truly distinguished and with limitless prospects.


    ¡°The Second Master of the Yan family is enormously talented, with limitless prospects, handsome beyond compare, and the Yan family matches well with the Ran family in status.


    This is truly a match made in heaven, and I enjoy helping people secure such matches, which is why Master Yan entrusted me with this proposal for Miss Ran Seventeen,¡± Madame Zhuang said with perfectly moderated joy across her face, just enough to infect others but not so much as to appear frivolous.


    Being a matchmaker in the Tang Dynasty was a legitimate profession, not all matchmakers dressed gaudily in an unseemly manner.


    Indeed, those with status not only dressed richly and appropriately but also conducted themselves with elegance and manners.


    The kind with faces full of makeup, waving their handkerchiefs around, were simply not part of the esteemed circle.


    Madame Zhuang was not only a qualified matchmaker but also the most famous and well-reputed one in Suzhou City.


    After Madame Zhuang spoke up, there was a moment of silence from everyone.


    Indeed, it was a favorable marriage proposal.


    Even though the other families were also of good standing, they still lacked a bit of confidence compared to the Yan family.


    Ran Wen grew even happier.


    He was thankful that the marriage contract with the Qin family hadn¡¯t been exchanged yet.


    It wasn¡¯t too late to call off the marriage now.


    After all, offending an Upper Assistant wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    He had thought Madame Zheng had left him nothing more than weeds, but it turned out to be a treasure!


    Since the others had come, they couldn¡¯t just leave like that.


    They began to state their cases one after another.


    Ran Wen was in high spirits, and his manners grew even more gracious, ¡°I am deeply grateful for your fond regard for my daughter, but I cannot be the sole decision-maker in matters of her marriage.


    I still need to ask for my daughter¡¯s wishes.


    Today, I am unable to provide everyone with an answer, and I apologize for this disappointment.¡±


    The room filled with silent grumbles.


    They hadn¡¯t heard him say any of this when arranging the union with the Qin family!


    But outwardly, they had to show approval and then indirectly mentioned the merits of their own sons.


    Liu Pinrang returned to the Government Office, a trace of a smile flashed across his crumpled old face, and he muttered, ¡°Wife, this favor, I have now returned.¡±


    He didn¡¯t actually make any substantial moves, merely pushed the spread of rumors a bit, gently instigated a few families to propose marriage to the Ran Family.


    Although Qin Si held a high official position, none of these well-rooted families truly feared him, and since the engagement was known only among a few, they could all feign ignorance.


    In his eyes, a dignified Inspector, it was nothing more than a trivial matter.


    If Ran Yan didn¡¯t want to marry Qin Silang, he would simply stir things up a bit, returning the favor to the little wife.


    As for who she ultimately married, what did it have to do with him?


    Liu Pinrang¡¯s casual meddling turned out to be a huge bother for Ran Yan, who spent the morning thoroughly questioning the seven or eight people who came for her medical consultation.


    They were all sent to seek medical help, none of the sick had come personally, but based on the symptoms discussed, surprisingly, each case was a complicated and difficult disease!


    Ran Yan had no choice but to prioritize their treatment based on the severity and urgency, arranging to treat only two a day starting from tomorrow.


    And today, Ran Yan specifically made time to coax her own master.


    Wu Xiuhe usually liked to collect precious herbs, and besides that, he enjoyed drinking and fine dining.


    Ran Yan was penniless and, unable to procure rare medicines or fine wines momentarily, planned to cook a few dishes herself.


    Fearing Xing¡¯s wife might become suspicious, she simply said she was going to pay respect to her master, and sent her and the Liu family to take care of Wan Lu, while instructing the Servant Shao Ming to move the items to Wu Xiuhe¡¯s courtyard kitchen and help with lighting the fire.


    There was a vast peony garden near this villa, where the Ran family used to visit for leisure or to escape the summer heat, so every courtyard had a small kitchen equipped with all the necessary utensils.


    Wu Xiuhe, sitting under the porch sun-drying herbs, didn¡¯t take Ran Yan¡¯s intention to cook to heart.


    What could a delicate wife possibly make?


    He secretly decided that if the presentation was poor, he definitely wouldn¡¯t eat.


    As for Ran Yan¡¯s behavior these past days and the stories about her circulating outside, Wu Xiuhe had listened to every word, but in his eyes, this was a very normal change, as he had once calculated her fate using the Liu Ren Skill¡­


    Wu Xiuhe scratched his messy hair, wondering, what did he tell his disciple last time?


    Was it what school he belonged to?


    Or did he say he was a disciple of Bian Que?


    Or perhaps, that he was a disciple of Hua Tuo?


    Stroking his beard and pondering for a long while, Wu Xiuhe finally felt that maybe he had said he was a disciple of Zhang Jingzhong!


    ***


    Thanks to Carmel for the Thanksgiving gift, all kinds of tiger touches~~~~


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 Chapter 59 - 59 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits

    ?59: Chapter 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits 59: Chapter 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits Shao Ming squatting in front of the stove was adding firewood, but his eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the flurry of knife shadows in Ran Yan¡¯s hands.


    Coupled with Ran Yan¡¯s cold and stern face, Shao Ming felt a tingling on his scalp and thought to himself, ¡°Is it really necessary to be so serious about just cooking a meal?¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s culinary skills were complex, covering Shandong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Su cuisine, and Western food; she had a rough understanding of each and a few specialties in all.


    To her, cooking was like performing a dissection¡ªmastering every aspect with precision would undoubtedly yield results.


    Seeing a crystal-clear, jade-like flower take shape in Ran Yan¡¯s hands, Shao Ming was so astonished that he even forgot to add wood to the fire.


    ¡°Add some wood,¡± Ran Yan reminded him, as milk soup Eight Treasures stuffed chicken was still simmering in the pot, and the fire could not be allowed to die out.


    Shao Ming snapped back to attention and hastily stoked the fire.


    As the saying goes, one¡¯s heart softens towards those who provide a meal.


    Determined, Ran Yan resolved to deploy her full arsenal of skills to conquer her thrifty master¡¯s taste buds.


    Thus, she poured tremendous effort into her cooking, ensuring novelty, aroma, and flavor in every dish.


    Wu Xiuhe was squatting on the porch, squinting while basking in the sun, when suddenly he caught a whiff of an enticing fragrance.


    His eyes flicked open slightly, and he looked towards the small kitchen.


    Inside, the resounding chop-chop sounds mingled with the tantalizing aroma, prompting Wu Xiuhe to swallow hard.


    After waiting for quite some time without any indication that food would be served, Wu Xiuhe¡¯s rumbling stomach begrudgingly protested.


    After much hesitation, he tiptoed into his wooden clogs and stealthily approached.


    Wu Xiuhe peered in through the window, deeply inhaling the delicious scent and swallowing again and again, peeking through the crevices.


    After watching for a long time but not being able to see the stove area, he grew anxious and was about to poke a hole in the paper window with his saliva when the door suddenly creaked open.


    Caught off guard while still in the act of poking the window, Wu Xiuhe faced the other party, and without a blush or skipped heartbeat, he hid his hands behind his back, cleared his throat twice, and said, ¡°The sun is quite strong on the porch; I came here to avoid the sunlight.¡±


    ¡°Master, please have your meal,¡± said Ran Yan with a silent chuckle, feeling reassured that her choice to cook had been the right move.


    No matter how eager Wu Xiuhe was on the inside, he still needed to maintain his dignity.


    Straightening his wrinkled robe, he sauntered into the hall.


    Shao Ming followed Ran Yan with a tray into the room.


    Once Wu Xiuhe was seated at the table, Ran Yan personally brought dish after dish to the table. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In a refined off-white porcelain plate lay a cluster of jade-like flowers, cradled by several ¡°leaves¡± of vivid green.


    The petals were intricately detailed and nearly transparent, clearly revealing the light green veins within.


    Beside this cluster of flowers, the orange-red crispy prawns seemed especially tempting.


    Ran Yan announced, ¡°These are oil-blanched prawns.¡±


    Another dish gleamed golden, its red-brown gravy shining and emanating a rich, meaty fragrance.


    Ran Yan added, ¡°This is ginger-flavored chicken.¡±


    ¡°This one is Wen Si tofu soup.¡± Another pristine white shallow bowl appeared, with strands of fine white, like flowers that bloom in an instant, spreading from the center to the edges amidst the translucent, egg-yellow soup adorned with bamboo shoots and mushrooms, clear and beautiful.


    Next was a white bowl, its lid lifted to reveal glistening, red, translucent meat wafting a strong and tempting aroma, ¡°This is¡­


    Braised Pork Belly.¡± In fact, it was prepared using the method for Dongpo Pork, but since the esteemed Su Dongpo had not yet been born, Ran Yan changed the name accordingly.


    The milk soup Eight Treasures stuffed chicken that followed was much plainer, but the thick soup greatly stirred the appetite.


    There were also a few refreshing appetizers.


    Despite the variety of dishes, each portion was small.


    For instance, the Braised Pork Belly amounted to just two pieces the size of a small egg in a petite bowl, and the oil-blanched prawns were carefully selected to include six evenly-sized, attractive pieces.


    Whether it was due to the ingredients of the Tang Dynasty all being organic, the effect achieved by the dishes far exceeded Ran Yan¡¯s own expectations.


    ¡°Master, greasy food is not suitable for the summer, so the portions prepared are rather small.


    I¡¯m also not sure what flavors you prefer; would you like to taste first?¡± Ran Yan offered Wu Xiuhe a pair of chopsticks, ignoring his ravenous stare.


    Wu Xiuhe took the chopsticks and immediately picked up a piece of the shiny red Dongpo Pork from the pale white bowl.


    Ran Yan mentally noted that her bargain master indeed loved pork.


    The Dongpo Pork was fatty without being greasy, crispy and flavorful, melting in the mouth and nearly causing Wu Xiuhe to swallow his tongue.


    After one bite, his mouth filled with even more saliva, nearly drooling, but to preserve his dignity as an elder, he reluctantly took one more glance at the pork before reaching for the ginger-flavored chicken.

 Chapter 60 - 60 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits_2

    ?60: Chapter 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits_2 60: Chapter 40 Yin Miaomiao Visits_2 The chicken nuggets had been deboned, and each piece was cut to the exact same size, the muscles tender without being mushy, and the rich ginger flavor blended perfectly with the aroma of the chicken.


    Wu Xiuhe nibbled away, thinking to himself that he hadn¡¯t taken on the wrong apprentice at all.


    With these culinary skills alone, they could sweep through the whole of Suzhou¡ªit was truly like striking gold!


    Shao Ming had just been allowed to sample each dish in the kitchen, but upon seeing the food on the table, he still secretly swallowed his saliva.


    Ran Yan was about to pass a small bowl of tofu soup to Wu Xiuhe when she heard Xingniang calling from outside, ¡°Wife!¡±


    Ran Yan glanced at Wu Xiuhe and said, ¡°Master, please enjoy your meal slowly, I¡¯ll step out for a moment.¡±


    This was precisely what Wu Xiuhe was hoping for.


    With Ran Yan out of the way, he planned to simply ditch the chopsticks and grab the food with his hands¡ªno need for such tediousness!


    He felt a burning impatience inside him.


    After Ran Yan had left, Wu Xiuhe looked at Shao Ming indifferently and said, ¡°You may leave as well.¡±


    Shao Ming bowed and exited, thinking to himself that there were still some dishes left in the kitchen¡ªhe needed to quickly pack them up and take them home for his sister and mother to try!


    Once out of the hall, Ran Yan saw Xingniang standing at the entrance of the courtyard, fidgeting, which showed she was somewhat anxious.


    ¡°Xingniang?¡± Ran Yan called out.


    ¡°Wife.¡± Xingniang stepped forward, her eyes hastily scanning over Ran Yan¡¯s casual attire, and said, ¡°Noble Lady Yin has come for a visit and is waiting in the hall.


    Wife, please dress quickly and change your clothes¡ªdo not neglect the proprieties.¡±


    Ran Yan, realizing she probably smelled of kitchen fumes, did not object.


    Turning to see Shao Ming coming out, she instructed, ¡°Please go back and tell Master that I will return to the compound for a while, and will come to see him again in the evening.¡±


    Shao Ming had originally thought that Ran Yan would be as proud as other noble ladies, but upon interacting with her, he felt that although she looked severe, her temperament was quite good.


    He developed a favorable impression of her and promptly responded to her order, ¡°Rest assured, Wife, I will tell him right away.¡±


    After returning to the compound, Ran Yan first went to her bedroom to wash her face and changed into a comfortable outfit.


    Her jet-black hair was lightly bundled into an untidy topknot, exuding a touch of laziness.


    Xingniang probably thought that only a gentle and dignified demeanor was considered proper, and thus all of Ran Yan¡¯s attire aimed tirelessly to conceal her intrinsic cold and stern aura.


    Ran Yan never opposed it.


    She wasn¡¯t the type to follow rules rigidly; in the past, she hadn¡¯t had the time to dress up, but now with the opportunity, a change was welcome.


    Once she was ready, Ran Yan entered the hall to see Yin Miaomiao sitting cross-legged on the mat, wearing a dusky green gauze skirt that rose to her chest.


    Her black hair was coiled into an exquisite cone-shaped bun, adorned with a few silver begonia flowers.


    Her fair skin shone like the finest mutton-fat jade, her pointed chin connecting to a slender neck.


    A moderate amount of creamy skin was revealed at her chest, and several loose strands of hair, teased by the summer breeze, playfully tickled her cheeks.


    Yin Miaomiao, sensing someone¡¯s arrival, lifted her head slightly, smoothing a few stray hairs by her temples and, with a gentle smile at Ran Yan, put down her cup and elegantly rose to greet her, ¡°Ah Yan.¡±


    This was indeed a woman of exquisite and refined elegance!


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but admire her internally; indeed, it was said that the daughters of the Yin Family were exemplary, but they weren¡¯t overly rigid.


    Ran Yan smiled faintly, looking at her misty, dew-drop-like autumn pupil, fearing her own lack of gentleness might startle her, so she spoke softly, ¡°How is Miaomiao feeling?


    Is there still any discomfort?¡±


    ¡°I was just severely frightened that day, and felt a bit uneasy in my heart, but there¡¯s really nothing much.


    I¡¯m feeling a lot better now,¡± Yin Miaomiao replied in a voice as soft as hers.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but think of the time on the water pavilion when she had proposed playing hide and seek with a beaming smile.


    It seemed somewhat at odds with her current demeanor, but it also wasn¡¯t impossible that the lively and crowded atmosphere that day had simply put her in a good mood.


    Ran Yan¡¯s gaze briefly swept across her faintly pink fingernails before she asked, ¡°Miaomiao, have you come to see me today because there is something you needed?¡±


    Yin Miaomiao replied with a light smile, ¡°Can¡¯t I come to see you if there¡¯s nothing wrong?¡± Then, as if she had remembered something, she lowered her eyes and said mournfully, ¡°Ayan, don¡¯t blame me, you know that us daughters of the Yin Family even have restrictions on making friends.


    After your Uncle Ran sent you to the villa, he acted as if he had forgotten you were his daughter.


    The whole of Suzhou City took that to mean you had been abandoned by the Ran family, and naturally¡­


    I couldn¡¯t come to see you either.¡±


    Ran Yan was taken aback; she hadn¡¯t expected Yin Miaomiao to speak so directly.


    Under the strict upbringing of the Yin Family, for Yin Miaomiao to speak so openly could either mean she truly cherished their friendship, it could be a tactic to win her favor, or it might be a sign of a rebellious attitude against the family¡¯s severity. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t tell which one it was.


    ¡°The world is just like that, I don¡¯t blame anyone,¡± Ran Yan thought to herself.


    The main reason for the dire straits that had befallen the original body¡¯s owner was mostly due to her overly timid nature; it was not reasonable to resent fate or other people for that.


    ¡°Ayan, you¡¯ve changed from before, and you¡¯ll certainly be able to live a better life in the future,¡± Yin Miaomiao said sincerely.


    Since Ran Yan sensed her sincerity, she decided not to dwell on it and replied with a smile, ¡°I hope your auspicious words prove true.¡±


    Xingniang brought in two plates of pastries.


    It wasn¡¯t common to entertain guests on the villa, and Xingniang had only prepared a couple of selections.


    Fortunately, she had made a pot that morning, otherwise, they would have only been able to offer tea to their guest.


    ¡°Ayan, is your maid alright now?¡± Yin Miaomiao inquired.


    While keeping an eye on Yin Miaomiao¡¯s expressions, Ran Yan replied, ¡°Her condition has stabilized, and there¡¯s no danger to her life.


    She even woke up once last night¡­


    but I don¡¯t know who she has offended that someone wanted to kill her.¡±


    Yin Miaomiao let out a sigh, ¡°Such an incident occurred in the Yin Family, with two people attacked out of the blue.


    The household has been on tenterhooks these past few days, it¡¯s quite frightening.


    It¡¯s a relief that Miss Wan Lu is fine; otherwise, I truly wouldn¡¯t know how to explain it to you.¡±


    ¡°Miaomiao, there¡¯s no need to blame yourself,¡± Ran Yan sipped her tea and then raised her head, seemingly casually, to ask, ¡°Were your maids with you all the time during the tea party that day?¡±


    Yin Miaomiao¡¯s complexion turned a bit pale at the mention of that day, and she said, ¡°Two days before the event, Wei Madam was assisting my mother with the preparations for the tea party.


    She said that they were short of knowledgeable helpers, so she borrowed one of the maids by my side for a few days.


    I hadn¡¯t expected¡­¡±


    ¡°Wei Madam?¡± Ran Yan reviewed her memories but found that she didn¡¯t recall this person.


    Yin Miaomiao nodded, ¡°Yes, she is a concubine that Father took two years ago.


    Since Mother has been in poor health, Father has had her help manage some of the household¡¯s trivial affairs.¡±


    Wei Madam¡­


    At the tea party that day, Ran Yan did not notice this person.


    As she was mulling over this, she heard Shao Ming¡¯s urgent cry, ¡°Wife!


    Wife!


    Something terrible has happened!¡±


    Ran Yan gave Yin Miaomiao an apologetic smile and got up to walk to the corridor, where she saw Shao Ming rushing over like a whirlwind, ¡°Wife, Divine Doctor Wu has choked, I tried slapping his back for a while, but the situation is getting worse; his face is even turning blue!¡±


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 Chapter 61 - 61 41 Trouble Arises

    ?61: Chapter 41 Trouble Arises 61: Chapter 41 Trouble Arises Ran Yan hurried to Wu Xiuhe¡¯s courtyard, but found him just catching his breath.


    His face still pale with a shade of blue from the choking, when he saw Ran Yan approaching, his old face turned slightly red as he coughed and said, ¡°Seventeen Ah!


    Err¡­


    coming in such a rush, do you have something to discuss with me?¡±


    ¡°Divine Doctor Wu, just now¡­¡± Shao Ming was afraid Ran Yan would think he was lying, so he hurried to explain but was silenced by a sharp glare from Wu Xiuhe.


    Ran Yan let out a sigh and said, ¡°As long as you¡¯re alright, I have guests waiting for me, so I¡¯ll head back first.¡±


    Wu Xiuhe waved his hand and said, ¡°Go ahead, it¡¯s all this boy¡¯s making a fuss over nothing; I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Ran Yan gestured for Shao Ming to leave with her.


    As they exited the gate, she asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Earlier, when you told me to inform Divine Doctor Wu that you would visit him in the evening, I headed back.


    When I arrived at the door, I saw Divine Doctor Wu clutching a piece of braised pork.


    As soon as he caught sight of me, he stuffed a big chunk into his mouth and then couldn¡¯t swallow it.


    When I saw him choking and in discomfort, I went over to help pat his back, but Divine Doctor Wu stubbornly refused to spit it out and insisted on swallowing.


    I realized the situation was dire, so I rushed to find you.¡± Shao Ming felt wronged, and the image of Wu Xiuhe as an ethereal immortal crumbled in his mind.


    Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort of laughter.


    Her cheap master was too amusing.


    He was obviously rough around the edges, pretending to be all saintly and dignified, and now his cover was blown!


    At Ran Yan¡¯s laughter, as if spring blossoms were blooming, she was stunningly beautiful.


    Shao Ming felt dazzled, with only her smirking eyes remaining clear in his sight, everything else around her instantly faded.


    Yin Miaomiao stood on the porch admiring the flowers.


    Seeing Ran Yan come in, she smiled lightly and said, ¡°Ayan, all the other peonies have wilted, but yours is still in full bloom!¡±


    ¡°Yes, perhaps it¡¯s a different variety,¡± Ran Yan replied, uncertain how to interact with Yin Miaomiao.


    Though Ran Yan appeared serious and cold, in private she was quite casual with friends and could talk about anything: clothes, men, perfumes.


    However, her relationship with Yin Miaomiao seemed far from intimate confidantes, which made her feel constrained.


    After a short pause, Yin Miaomiao said, ¡°For Qixi, we¡¯ll be cruising on Pingjiang River and admiring the lanterns; you should come along too, everyone is very curious about you.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s reputation soared overnight, surpassing even Suzhou¡¯s number one beauty, Qi Liuniang.


    Whether it was out of curiosity or with the intention to make friends, numerous Noble Ladies asked Yin Miaomiao to invite Ran Yan to the boat ride.


    Yin Miaomiao came down from the porch and gestured for Ran Yan to walk towards the pavilion, and they walked side by side.


    With a gentle voice, Yin Miaomiao said, ¡°You probably aren¡¯t aware, but this morning, eleven families visited the Ran residence with marriage proposals.


    These eleven families all have some background, including the Yan family.


    Half of Suzhou City¡¯s prominent families wish to marry you, a situation not even Qi Liuniang ever faced. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Naturally, they are curious about you.


    Plus, with your medical skills, you¡¯re an unparalleled sensation for a time.


    Some people might be unhappy and cause you trouble, so if you don¡¯t want to go, you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    Yin Miaomiao was straightforward, unlike other Noble Ladies who beat around the bush.


    Ran Yan appreciated her frankness and thus spoke with more sincerity, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go in my heart, but, maybe I have to, regardless of my preferences.¡±


    That¡¯s how it was for daughters of prominent families: even if they didn¡¯t want to attend certain invitations, for family interests or some other reason, they had to go and even appear happy.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Yin Miaomiao remarked with a smile.


    With some candidness shared between them, the conversation became less stiff.


    Yin Miaomiao pulled Ran Yan to sit in a gazebo covered in honeysuckle and whispered, ¡°This morning, the Yan family hired Suzhou City¡¯s most famous matchmaker for the proposal.


    Guess who they talked about?¡±


    Ran Yan thought it over.


    Yan Fangfei was the legitimate daughter of the Yan Family; setting aside the concubines and collateral branches, Yan Fangfei had a younger brother below her, and two older brothers.


    One married a legitimate daughter of the Wang family and already had a son and daughter, while the other served as Secretary in Wucheng County and was said to be promising, ¡°Is it Second Master Yan?¡±


    ¡°Wow!


    You guessed it right!¡± Yin Miaomiao¡¯s eyes curved in amusement, ¡°Could it be that you¡¯ve been thinking about Second Master Yan?¡±


    Ran Yan felt slightly relieved; with this, Ran Wen would surely cancel the engagement.


    Secretary Shao¡¯s family was far inferior to the Yan family.


    Ran Yan was sure that Ran Wen cared more about power and wealth than empty fame; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so fixated on the high dowry spent on marrying a legitimate daughter of the Zheng family.

 Chapter 62 - 62 41 Trouble Arises_2

    ?62: Chapter 41 Trouble Arises_2 62: Chapter 41 Trouble Arises_2 Yin Miaomiao waved her hand in front of Ran Yan¡¯s face, ¡°To think you¡¯d start pining in front of me?¡±


    ¡°Where did you get that idea?


    I don¡¯t have any impression of Yan Erlang.¡± Ran Yan lied.


    She had just recalled that the original host¡¯s memory was half occupied by this person; it seemed she indeed had feelings for Yan Erlang.


    Yin Miaomiao chuckled and said, ¡°What is there to be embarrassed about?


    With your talent and beauty, even being matched with Yan Erlang would be beneath you¡ªbut after all, your mother is from the Zheng family of Xingyang!¡±


    Ran Yan thought to herself that this was the crux of the matter.


    The Yan Family probably only valued this point. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Wen didn¡¯t know better and abandoned the golden signboard of the Zheng family of Xingyang, but the blood of the Zheng family flowed in Ran Yan¡¯s veins, an undeniable fact.


    Whoever married Ran Yan just had to send her to the Zheng family upon returning home to climb this connection.


    Previously, when Ran Yan¡¯s illness was beyond cure and the Ran Family neglected her, no one paid any attention.


    But now that she had recovered, even if she lacked talent and beauty, the Yan Family would likely propose marriage.


    The two chatted for a while, becoming quite friendly, almost as if they had become best friends.


    After rambling on in the pavilion for a while, Xingniang came to call them for a meal.


    Yin Miaomiao hesitated only a moment before deciding to stay, asking Xingniang to summon her maid from the second gate.


    Ran Yan asked with curiosity, ¡°Don¡¯t your maids serve you closely?¡±


    Yin Miaomiao paused, then said, ¡°They used to, like everyone else, but ever since the incident with Fan Chun, seeing anyone makes me feel stifled, so I avoid it when I can.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded and looked toward the door.


    The young girl that entered with Xingniang appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a light yellow gown and with her hair done up in twin buns.


    Her eyes were downcast demonstrating a calm demeanor.


    Upon entering, she bowed in the direction where Ran Yan sat and said respectfully, ¡°I have seen Lady Seventeen.¡±


    Ran Yan acknowledged her and let the girl attend to her mistress.


    Throughout, the girl didn¡¯t say or do anything superfluous.


    Indeed, the domestic discipline of the Yan household lived up to its reputation.


    Yin Miaomiao¡¯s every move was impeccable.


    Ran Yan noticed that even the number of times she chewed on each side was the exact same twenty-eight times!


    Although Ran Yan thought dining etiquette was important, such rigid standards were enough to intimidate anyone and take away most of the pleasure of eating.


    They had just finished a silent meal when Xingniang heard footsteps outside the courtyard, guessing that someone from the main residence might have come.


    She quickly served tea and helped Ran Yan and Yin Miaomiao rinse their mouths.


    Indeed, shortly after, Gao¡¯s led a group of maids and servants in.


    Gao¡¯s was still stunningly beautiful, in a dark red embroidered dress, her hair piled up in high cloud-shaped buns, her eyes always held a hint of a smile.


    Pretending or genuinely unaware of Yin Miaomiao¡¯s presence, she showed slight surprise, then immediately greeted warmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Miss Three from the Yan Family to visit today.


    I came over without notice, I hope I didn¡¯t disturb you?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, Miaomiao was just leaving.¡± Yin Miaomiao quickly stood up to greet her.


    Ran Yan watched their warm exchange and slowly stood, bowing to Gao¡¯s, ¡°I have seen Lady Two.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t stand on formalities,¡± replied Gao¡¯s with a smiling face, gesturing slightly to assist Ran Yan and instructing the following maids and servants to put things aside.


    ¡°I intended to come over this morning, but your father said there were government soldiers standing guard, and we couldn¡¯t move around freely.


    After seeking permission from Inspector Liu, I was allowed in.¡±


    Gao¡¯s warmly beckoned Yin Miaomiao, ¡°No need to all stand¡ªplease, take a seat, Miss Three!


    The house is busy; I have a few instructions and then I must return.¡±


    Yin Miaomiao was about to leave, but with Gao¡¯s saying so, she found it difficult to delay and also indecent to eavesdrop on the Ran Family¡¯s affairs, so she excused herself to look at the flowers in the outside pavilion.


    Gao¡¯s did not stop her.


    After kneeling down, Gao¡¯s said to Ran Yan, ¡°I¡¯ve come to bring you some clothes and other items, along with these seven slaves.


    You didn¡¯t want them before, and I didn¡¯t want to force them on you in case they upset you.


    But now that you¡¯ve recovered, your father has decided to bring you back to the residence in eight days, and we can¡¯t be so careless with maids anymore.¡±


    The previous Ran Yan would not have dared to accept them; already gravely ill, how could she risk having people sent by Gao¡¯s at her side?


    Did she despise her life or was she too complacent?


    ¡°I¡¯ll try out these few first, and if they don¡¯t suit me, I hope you¡¯ll help me replace them once I¡¯m back at the residence,¡± replied Ran Yan indifferently.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Gao¡¯s agreed readily, without any sign of displeasure.


    ¡°Since you are heading back in only a few days, I didn¡¯t bring too much.


    Bear with it for a while and I will take great care in arranging your room.¡±


    Having suffered for two years, what did a few more days matter?


    That¡¯s what Ran Yan thought, but she couldn¡¯t retort rudely.


    As the saying goes, you don¡¯t slap a smiling face, especially since offending Gao¡¯s wouldn¡¯t do any good besides a momentary verbal victory.


    She forced a smile, ¡°Then I will have to trouble you, Lady Two.¡±


    ¡°With your words, any amount of hard work will put my mind at ease,¡± said Gao¡¯s, her eyes and brows radiant with a soft smile.


    After completing her instructions, Gao¡¯s stood up and said, ¡°Well then, I shall leave.


    Go entertain Miss Three from the Yan Family.


    No need to see me out.¡±


    As Gao¡¯s walked out of the hall, she crossed paths with Xingniang bringing in tea.


    Gao¡¯s eyes glanced fleetingly over the tea set in Xingniang¡¯s hands, her full lips curving slightly as she responded to Xingniang¡¯s greetings and left with her maids.


    Gao¡¯s went around to the pavilion to bid Yin Miaomiao farewell but was interrupted by a commotion outside, followed by a woman¡¯s urgent cry, ¡°Lady!


    Lady!


    Something big has happened!


    There¡¯s a serious issue in the house!¡±


    Gao¡¯s ignored the formalities and walked towards the door with a frown.


    Yin Miaomiao and Ran Yan were also startled and looked at each other before following.


    By the door, they saw government soldiers stopping a young girl in pink.


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 Chapter 63 - 63 42 Suspect

    ?63: Chapter 42 Suspect 63: Chapter 42 Suspect The girl in pink was deathly pale, and upon seeing Lady Gao, she struggled and said, ¡°Lady!


    Judge Yu brought people to our manor and took away Eighteenth Lady, claiming that she is a murder suspect!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Even with Lady Gao¡¯s ability to feign calm, hearing that her daughter had become a suspect caused her to lose her composure, and she demanded harshly, ¡°Explain clearly!


    What happened?¡±


    The maid was so frightened that her neck shrank back as she explained, ¡°Judge Yu said that they found half a nail painted with cinnabar on Wan Lu¡¯s wound, and coincidentally, Eighteenth Lady¡¯s nail broke at Yin¡¯s residence¡­


    And there is testimony that on that day, Eighteenth Lady and Seventeenth Lady had an altercation in the garden of Yin¡¯s residence, which led Judge Yu to identify the Wife as the suspect.¡±


    Indeed, Ran Yan¡¯s maids had no quarrels or grievances with anyone in the Yin residence; even if there were conflicts, it wouldn¡¯t warrant murder.


    However, Eighteenth Lady and Ran Yan never got along, so if she acted out of rage, the reasoning for committing murder might actually make sense.


    Lady Gao¡¯s suspicions gradually subsided in her heart, and her expression eased as she turned to Ran Yan and calmly asked, ¡°Did you really have an altercation with your sister that day?¡±


    Ran Yan replied truthfully, ¡°Yes.¡±


    There was no need for Ran Yan to elaborate, as Lady Gao would surely soon be well-informed about the specific circumstances, especially since a maid from the Yin residence was a witness at that time.


    ¡°Lady Yin, please forgive me,¡± Lady Gao said to Yin Miaomiao with an apologetic smile.


    Yin Miaomiao offered her gentle words of comfort, ¡°Lady, rest assured.


    We all know what kind of person Eighteenth Lady is; she would not commit such an act.


    I believe Inspector Liu and Judge Yu are both capable of fair judgment.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your reassuring words, Third Lady,¡± Lady Gao replied, seemingly truly relieved, and after bidding farewell to Yin Miaomiao and Ran Yan, she left with a group of servants.


    Yin Miaomiao also said her goodbyes to Ran Yan, instructing her before leaving, ¡°If you plan to go to the Pingjiang River on the day of Qixi, please send someone to my manor in advance to let me know, so we can go together.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ran Yan promised, escorting her out of the villa.


    On the way back, Ran Yan couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ran Meiyu really had the time and motive to kill Wan Lu.


    After carefully considering the wounds on Wan Lu¡¯s body, Ran Yan deduced that she must have first been struck from behind, and since the object used was not sharp and the assailant did not exert much force, Wan Lu might have only felt dizzy and temporarily lost the ability to resist.


    For some unknown reason, the murderer abandoned the original weapon and attempted to strangle her with their hands, but accidentally broke their own nail in the process.


    This sequence of events could have occurred before Ran Yan arrived at the garden.


    If Ran Yan¡¯s earlier deduction that there was more than one assailant was correct, then if it were indeed Ran Meiyu, she might have deliberately come out to delay Ran Yan after discovering her entering the back garden.


    What about the motive for murder?


    From what Ran Yan remembered, Ran Meiyu was not known for her kindness, but she had many ways to vent her frustration on Wan Lu¡ªwhy choose murder?


    ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for Eighteenth Lady to want to kill Wan Lu,¡± Mrs.


    Xing said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Ran Yan inquired.


    Discussing Ran Meiyu, Mrs.


    Xing¡¯s face showed disgust, ¡°Eighteenth Lady is young but has a malicious mind. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How many times has she harmed you in the past?


    Wan Lu was impulsive and had offended her many times; who knows what grudges she held in her heart!¡±


    Ran Yan offered a faint smile; she remembered those incidents, although they didn¡¯t happen to her, so she could not empathize.


    Mrs.


    Xing had suffered a lot and utterly detested Ran Meiyu, sincerely praying that this time Ran Meiyu would not be released.


    ¡°Maybe she just wanted to teach Wan Lu a lesson and went too far,¡± Mrs.


    Xing muttered.


    Ran Yan was taken aback¡ªMrs.


    Xing¡¯s suggestion was very possible.


    Thinking that she had accidentally killed someone, Ran Meiyu became panicked and created an illogical suicide scene.


    ¡°Has Wan Lu woken up?¡± Ran Yan asked as everything could be easily resolved once Wan Lu regained consciousness.


    ¡°She woke up groggily for a moment last night, and her eyes were open for a while this morning, but she didn¡¯t respond when the old servant called her,¡± Mrs.


    Xing said with concern.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t respond?¡± Ran Yan frowned; the brain, being the control center of the human body, was easily damaged.


    If Wan Lu became slow-witted or suffered from amnesia¡­


    With these thoughts, Ran Yan hastened toward Wan Lu¡¯s room.


    Seeing her worried expression, Mrs.


    Xing didn¡¯t ask any further questions and followed her in.


    Wan Lu was awake, her eyes half-open, staring blankly as she allowed Madam Liu to feed her medicine.


    She was able to swallow the medicine actively, although it was evident she was in pain while doing so.


    Ran Yan knew it was inevitable that her throat was injured after being strangled and then hung up.

 Chapter 64 - 64 42 Suspect_2

    ?64: Chapter 42 Suspect_2 64: Chapter 42 Suspect_2 ¡°Wan Lu,¡± Ran Yan took the medicine bowl and sat in front of the couch to personally feed her the medicine, ¡°after taking the medicine, it won¡¯t hurt as much in three to five days.¡±


    Wan Lu¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze shifted to Ran Yan.


    Her pale and chapped lips trembled slightly, but she could not speak.


    Tears suddenly slid down from her phoenix eyes.


    A weight finally lifted from Ran Yan¡¯s heart.


    It seemed that Wan Lu¡¯s intelligence had not been too greatly affected, and her memory seemed largely intact as well ¡ª that was enough.


    Privately, Ran Yan hoped that Wan Lu would forget that cruel scene.


    She had experienced death herself and knew that such fear could become a nightmare for life.


    Although she often dealt with corpses and was more composed towards life and death than most, she still woke up in a cold sweat from her nightmares.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry.


    You haven¡¯t been able to eat these past few days.


    What will you do if you cry yourself out of strength?¡± Ran Yan spoke the truth¡ªWan Lu hadn¡¯t eaten in a day and a night, and she had drunk very little water.


    If she continued to cry like that, she would soon go into shock.


    Madam Xing also chimed in, ¡°Exactly, wait till you¡¯re better.


    Then you can cry however you want, and I promise not to laugh at you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Wan Lu¡¯s pale face.


    Ran Yan had added many calming ingredients to the medicine, and soon after taking it, Wan Lu fell asleep.


    ¡°Wife, how is Wan Lu?¡± Madam Xing asked as she came out.


    Ran Yan replied, ¡°She¡¯s fine.


    It¡¯s just that her throat is so sore she can¡¯t swallow anything.


    Go and see if there are any supplements among the things Mrs.


    Gao sent over, and stew them into a broth to feed her.¡±


    ¡°This old servant thanks the wife on behalf of Wan Lu!¡± Madam Xing bowed in gratitude.


    Ran Yan paused, her expression unreadable, and spoke evenly, ¡°Madam Xing, don¡¯t say such things in the future.


    It hurts to hear them.¡±


    ¡°Wife?¡± Madam Xing looked puzzled at Ran Yan¡ªit was just a common courtesy, and she couldn¡¯t understand what she had done wrong.


    Ran Yan¡¯s tone softened, ¡°You have shared hardships with me, and our relationship is more than just that of master and servant.


    If I have food, you will not be deprived.


    It¡¯s only right.


    In this world, I only have you all to rely on, to trust.


    To me, you and Wan Lu are like my mother and sisters.


    To make such clear distinctions between us, doesn¡¯t it hurt me?¡±


    Madam Xing¡¯s eyes reddened, and tears started falling uncontrollably again.


    She quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe them.


    Stabilizing her emotions, she sighed, ¡°The wife truly is kind-hearted and righteous.


    You will surely find a good destination in life, and the lady will surely bless you.¡±


    Ran Yan smiled faintly but did not respond.


    Madam Xing always brought up the topic of ¡®destiny,¡¯ and Ran Yan had grown calloused from hearing it so much.


    If she indulged even a sentence or two, it would undoubtedly lead to endless nagging.


    ¡°Lady Ran.¡±


    Just as Ran Yan was about to take off her wooden clogs to go onto the porch, she heard someone calling her.


    Turning her head, she saw it was Team Leader Yang Yong, sent by Inspector Liu.


    Yang Yong said, ¡°The inspector requests Lady Ran to come over for questioning.¡±


    Madam Xing frowned, ¡°It¡¯s already late; can¡¯t it wait till tomorrow?¡±


    Madam Xing was very displeased with Inspector Liu, who had repeatedly summoned her mistress for questioning late at night.


    If word got out, who knew what people would think!


    As an inspector of the state, he was supposed to be full of propriety; how could he be so lacking in manners?


    Yang Yong stated bluntly, ¡°Solving cases requires swiftness; that¡¯s the rule.¡±


    As twilight deepened and borrowed the dim light, Ran Yan looked at Yang Yong carefully for the first time ¡ª his square, resolute face, his nose sharp as a hanging gallbladder, and his eyebrows like two swords poised above the arches ¡ª his visage exuded integrity, and one could tell at a glance that he harbored no sinister intentions.


    ¡°Since it is the rule, I shall go.¡± Ran Yan was worried that the government soldiers might relax their vigilance, having assumed they had already caught the perpetrator, she paused, then added, ¡°Team Leader Yang, leave more people to guard the witness.


    If there is another person responsible, and their first attempt to kill was unsuccessful, they will likely strike again.¡±


    Yang Yong glanced at Ran Yan and replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xing Niang fetched a satin dress for Ran Yan to wear, and after giving her several instructions, she only felt somewhat relieved when she insisted that Shao Ming accompany her and finally saw her off on the government office carriage.


    Ever since Ran Yan had generously rewarded him with half a qian of money, Shao Ming was visibly more pleasant and agreeable toward her.


    As their interactions increased, he also found her to be a fair master.


    Moreover, knowing that Ran Yan was to be fetched back to the residence, he became even more eager to ingratiate himself, given that guarding this manor offered him no future prospects.


    ¡°Shao Ming,¡± Ran Yan calculated that there was still some time before reaching the city, and she decided to use this opportunity to tend to some business.


    Sitting next to the coachman, Shao Ming promptly responded to Ran Yan¡¯s voice, asking, ¡°Do you need something, Wife?¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± said Ran Yan.


    Shao Ming, perplexed, still opened the curtain and entered the carriage, not daring to come closer, only awkwardly kneeling near the carriage door.


    ¡°Would you be willing to follow me?¡± Ran Yan went straight to the point, but she soon added a clarifying remark to avoid misunderstanding, ¡°To work for me.¡±


    Ran Yan had investigated Shao Ming¡¯s background; his family lived in Shao Village, five miles south of Zhou Family¡¯s forest, and consisted of only his elderly mother and a younger sister.


    Like other servants, he might flaunt high or tread low, yet he took good care of his mother and sister and had a kind heart.


    After deliberately interacting more over these days, she found him decent in all respects and took the opportunity to win him over.


    Ran Yan understood her current advantages, and as soon as she spoke, he was likely to agree. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shao Ming was overjoyed, having harbored such intentions already, and he quickly agreed without hesitation, ¡°I am willing, certainly willing.¡±


    ¡°You must think it over carefully,¡± Ran Yan looked at him solemnly, emphasizing each word, ¡°If you follow me, there are two things you must achieve: loyalty and thorough dedication!¡±


    Shao Ming felt a chill under Ran Yan¡¯s intense gaze, but he knew this was not the moment to back down and assured firmly, ¡°Shao Ming swears to be loyal to Lady Ran Shiqi for life, to work with dedication and never to regret it!¡±


    Ran Yan nodded in satisfaction; Shao Ming was clever, understanding he had to be loyal to her, not the Ran Family, ¡°Remember today¡¯s words well and adhere to them.


    I will surely not treat you unfairly.


    However, if you ever betray me one day, I will find ways to make you neither able to live nor die.¡±


    Shao Ming shuddered, repeatedly affirming his agreement.


    Ran Yan placed him on a ¡°probation period¡±; a few days of interaction and knowing his clear family background couldn¡¯t prove much, it still required verification over time, and she set the period for six months.


    The coachman outside was one specially appointed by the government office.


    Naturally, he was aware of such maneuvers to win people over within the household, and having heard a bit about Ran Yan¡¯s affairs, he thought as Shao Ming emerged from the carriage, ¡°Lady Ran Shiqi does seem to have a good eye for people.¡±


    The city enforced a curfew, but the government office¡¯s work was clearly exempt from this restriction.


    Accompanied by government soldiers showing their token, they quickly gained entry into the city.


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 Chapter 65 - 65 43 A Diversion for Others

    ?65: Chapter 43 A Diversion for Others 65: Chapter 43 A Diversion for Others This interrogation was beyond Ran Yan¡¯s expectation.


    In the brightly lit main hall, Liu Pinrang, clad in a scarlet official uniform and a black hat, sat flanked by several dignitaries.


    Among them were Yin Wenshu and Ran Wen, giving the impression of a public trial. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Inspector, Noble Lady Ran Shiqi has been brought here,¡± announced a Government Official.


    Everyone in the hall turned their heads at the sound.


    Under the dim light, a figure in a light purple robe with her ink-black hair loosely tied into a bun, her features like a painting, approached with the hem of her dress unfurling at her feet in a graceful arc, exuding a faint coolness.


    Ran Wen¡¯s iron-gray face eased slightly upon seeing Ran Yan.


    Ran Yan stood in the center of the hall and bowed respectfully, ¡°I greet Inspector Liu.¡±


    Liu Pinrang¡¯s expression was solemn as he briefly replied, ¡°You need not be formal,¡± and then turned to the Government Official, ¡°Bring in Noble Lady Ran Shiba.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t long before Ran Meiyu was led into the hall.


    Having been detained for less than two hours, Ran Meiyu appeared disheveled.


    Her scarlet gauze dress was wrinkled, her hair bun slightly undone, and her beautiful eyes almost spat fire when she saw Ran Yan, wishing she could glare holes into her.


    If it weren¡¯t for her, how could she have suffered such humiliation!


    ¡°I greet Inspector Liu!¡± Ran Meiyu bowed in greeting.


    Liu Pinrang acknowledged with a gesture to dispense with formalities, then had mats laid out in the hall.


    After all, they were ladies of high birth, and since they had not been convicted, Liu Pinrang couldn¡¯t afford to treat them too poorly.


    Once both were seated, Liu Pinrang asked, ¡°Noble Lady Ran Shiqi, a Maid from the Yin family reported that on the twenty-ninth day of the sixth month, towards the end of the hour of si, you had a dispute with Noble Lady Ran Shiba in Yin¡¯s backyard garden.


    Is this true?¡±


    Ran Yan answered truthfully, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Liu Pinrang instructed, ¡°Please, elaborate.¡±


    A glint of triumph flashed in Ran Meiyu¡¯s eyes.


    She thought to herself that by tomorrow, practically all of Suzhou would know how Ran Yan snatched her golden hairpin.


    She¡¯d see where Ran Yan could put her face then!


    There were witnesses to the incident, and she expected that Ran Yan wouldn¡¯t be able to deny it!


    Ran Yan, with a calm expression, briefly recalled the events, then spoke without any agitation in her voice, ¡°That day, as I left the side hall, my Maid was not by my side, so I turned towards the garden to look for her.


    Just as I arrived in the garden, Ran Shiba suddenly appeared to block my way, demanding the golden hairpin and speaking rudely to me.


    I was in a hurry to find the Maid, so I pushed past her and continued towards the vicinity of the sweet osmanthus arbor.¡±


    Surprise showed on Ran Meiyu¡¯s face.


    She had thought that Ran Yan would at least try to cover up the incident somewhat, but Ran Yan had straightforwardly admitted it!


    Was she not afraid of ruining her reputation?


    Liu Pinrang glanced briefly at Ran Wen, whose expression darkened further, realizing that the contested ¡°golden hairpin¡± might be the result of a private grudge amongst the ladies of the house.


    Therefore, he did not pursue the matter further and instead asked, ¡°Why was your Maid not by your side?¡±


    ¡°That day, during the tea party, the gentlemen requested to move to a pavilion in the garden closer to the ladies.


    Yin Sanniang then suggested a game where her Maids would hide and leave poems as clues for the gentlemen to find them.


    I heard Yan Daniao say that Yin Sanniang intentionally had two Maids hide in the garden so the ladies could secretly watch the unmarried gentlemen.


    So, I joined Yan Daniao in heading towards the sweet osmanthus arbor to watch.


    On the way, I met Qi Shiniang, who asked to borrow my Maid to lure a gentleman over,¡± Ran Yan explained the detailed situation.


    Liu Pinrang then said, ¡°Coincidentally, that was when the incident at Yulan Residence happened, so you rushed there and didn¡¯t have time to call for your Maid.


    Afterwards, on your way back, you encountered Ran Shiba.


    Is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Ran Yan replied, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Ran Wen¡¯s expression was turning uglier.


    Her confession was too detrimental to Ran Meiyu.


    Liu Pinrang continued his questioning, ¡°Then, at Yulan Residence and the side hall, did you see Ran Shiba?¡±


    Ran Yan paused for a moment, carefully recalling the events of that day.


    She truly didn¡¯t remember seeing Ran Meiyu.


    Except when she was in the side hall, she saw Mrs.


    Gao comforting Mrs.


    Ling, but it was also possible she hadn¡¯t noticed Ran Meiyu.


    So she answered, ¡°I did not pay attention.¡±


    Ran Meiyu stared at Ran Yan with anger, ¡°Ran Shiqi, your heart is too cruel!


    I was at Yulan Residence that day, and yet you say this!¡±


    Ran Meiyu felt that, during such a situation, whether or not Ran Yan had really seen her, she ought to say she did to clear herself of suspicion.


    Since Ran Yan did not say so, she was convinced in her heart that Ran Yan wanted to frame her.


    Had she not retained a fraction of her reason, she would have already rushed forward to slap Ran Yan several times.


    Ran Yan gave her a cold look, ¡°Must I have seen you?¡±


    Ran Meiyu¡¯s face turned pale, and she looked at Ran Wen with a face full of grievance, ¡°Father!¡±


    Ran Wen was somewhat displeased but could not fault Ran Yan for anything, so he comforted, ¡°Meiyu, if you were at Yulan Residence, with so many people there, surely someone will testify for you.


    There¡¯s no need to panic.¡±

 Chapter 66 - 66 43 Concealing the Truth_2

    ?66: Chapter 43 Concealing the Truth_2 66: Chapter 43 Concealing the Truth_2 Noble Lady Ran Meiyu felt slightly relieved and turned her head to glance smugly at Ran Yan, who merely lowered her gaze slightly, ignoring her provocation.


    Liu Pinrang was very vexed.


    Ran Meiyu claimed that her fingernail had broken because she was pushed by Ran Yan into the flowerbed beside the winding path and did not know what it had hit against when it snapped.


    However, despite having someone search for over two or three hours during the day, they had not found the broken half of the fingernail.


    Yin¡¯s household maids could attest to Ran Meiyu¡¯s fall, but no one could prove where exactly her nail had broken.


    Previously, he had also had someone inquire among other Noble Ladies.


    Some could testify that Ran Meiyu had been to the Yulan Residence, but no one saw her go to the side hall, thus she had the time to commit the murder.


    ¡°I will ask you once more, Lady Ran Eighteen, if you did not go to the side hall that day, where exactly did you go?¡± Liu Pinrang asked this question many times, but Ran Meiyu had always been evasive, neglecting to give a straight answer, which was quite suspicious.


    With pursed lips, Ran Meiyu said, ¡°Is this really important?¡±


    Liu Pinrang was already frustrated internally, but maintained a serious demeanor as he said, ¡°Of course it¡¯s important.


    If you don¡¯t tell us and no one can prove where you were during that time, you will become a prime suspect!¡±


    Ran Meiyu¡¯s face turned pale.


    Biting her lip, she said, ¡°I spoke with Yin Si Lang for a while in the Liangfeng Pavilion.¡±


    At this statement, Ran Wen¡¯s forehead vein bulged instantly, but due to many prominent figures present in the hall, it was not convenient for him to show anger, so he just glared fiercely at Ran Meiyu.


    In the Tang Dynasty, private meetings were not uncommon, and making a lifelong commitment privately was also recognized as a legal marriage by the Tang Code.


    However, the issue was that Yin Si Lang was not of legitimate birth, nor was he born from a concubine with status; he wasn¡¯t even from Yin¡¯s direct line.


    His father was a half-brother of Yin Wenshu¡¯s from the same father but different mother, inherently of low birth, with no reputation to speak of, and his mother was a maid who had been given the status of a concubine only because she had given birth to him.


    This status made it impossible for Ran Wen to remain calm! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Freedom in marriage is one thing to speak of, but how could there be any real freedom in practice?


    Especially for a major clan like the Ran family.


    Catching a glimpse of Ran Wen¡¯s simmering anger, Ran Meiyu¡¯s complexion grew even paler.


    It wasn¡¯t just this matter that upset Ran Wen.


    With so many people present, having his daughter be questioned about such an issue, where could he possibly place his face?


    ¡°Since that is the case, I will send someone to question Yin Si Lang right away.


    Everyone, please wait in the side hall for a while.¡± Liu Pinrang stood up, ordered someone to escort Ran Meiyu back to her room under guard, and lead the others out.


    Walking behind a group of men, Ran Yan was uncertain of where to go when a middle-aged man dressed in light green official uniform approached and said in a low voice, ¡°Madam Ran, the Inspector has other instructions for you.


    Please come with me.¡±


    Ran Yan looked at him indifferently and, lowering her gaze, followed him to a side door.


    ¡°I am Yu Bohao, in charge of the criminal justice in this state.¡± Yu Bohao was skinny, short, and his features were decently shaped.


    With pale skin and a strong scholarly aura, he seemed amiable and didn¡¯t at all resemble someone in charge of a state¡¯s criminal justice and a Judge.


    Ran Yan paused, then gave a slight bow and said, ¡°So you are Judge Yu.


    My apologies.¡±


    Yu Bohao couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Ran Yan, who maintained the same expression from beginning to end, showing no sign of turbidity.


    She displayed neither fear nor arrogance; her eyes held a faint coldness when she looked at people.


    He was somewhat surprised, for with such beauty and bearing, how had she remained unknown?


    ¡°Please.¡± Yu Bohao continued to lead Ran Yan towards the back of the Government Office, into a quiet courtyard.


    Once inside, he said, ¡°Lady Ran, please wait here.


    The Inspector will be with you shortly.¡±


    Ran Yan was puzzled.


    Why had Inspector Liu secretly brought her here alone?


    All the necessary questions had already been asked, and although she had shown some analytical ability in front of him, it was just basic analysis.


    Anyone with slightly meticulous thinking could have reached the same conclusions.


    She didn¡¯t believe Inspector Liu would want to discuss the case with her.


    Yu Bohao kept observing Ran Yan¡¯s expressions.


    Seeing her continuously looking down at her toes with an even calmer and colder demeanor than before, several lanterns were lit around them.


    The flickering light, bright one moment and dim the next, fell on her face.


    She was extremely beautiful, but there was also a hint of morbid stillness in her appearance.


    Yu Bohao, in charge of the criminal justice, often dealt with forensic doctors and even had to examine bodies on-site with them.


    Those forensic doctors probably had the same expression as Ran Yan had when facing corpses, serious and cold.


    Only someone like Forensic Doctor Feng Sanxun, who had examined countless bodies with his own hands, would gradually develop this kind of ¡°dead person¡¯s face.¡±

 Chapter 67 - 67 43 Concealing the truth_3

    ?67: Chapter 43 Concealing the truth_3 67: Chapter 43 Concealing the truth_3 Yu Bohao suspected that Ran Yan had previously worked as a forensic doctor and had extensive experience, but this did not seem to make sense, as the young girl before him was clearly only fifteen or sixteen years old, and moreover, she was the legitimate daughter of the Ran family¡­


    While he was pondering, Liu Pinrang hurriedly entered, and upon seeing Ran Yan, his old face broke into a smile, ¡°Miss Seventeen!


    Come with me.¡±


    Liu Pinrang also skipped the pleasantries and hurried into a room.


    Yu Bohao also invited Ran Yan to follow; he was curious¡ªcould Inspector Liu¡¯s summoning of such a young lady really pay off?


    Surely she wouldn¡¯t become weak-kneed at the sight of a corpse!


    Although his face showed no sign, he held a skeptical attitude internally. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Ran Yan entered the room, she felt a gust of cold air hit her.


    Upon close inspection, she saw many ice basins placed in the corners of the room, and in the center, there was a wooden board covered with a plain cloth, obviously hiding a body underneath.


    She estimated that the body was about eight feet long and robust.


    Ran Yan suddenly recalled the corpse she examined at midnight last time¡ªJudge Yang.


    Inspector Liu seemed to be very concerned about the cause of Judge Yang¡¯s death, as if the death of the County Chief¡¯s son, the death of a maid in a noble family, and a Noble Lady becoming a suspect were all less significant than the death of Judge Yang.


    ¡°Everything has been prepared for you,¡± said Inspector Liu as he personally picked up a small wooden box from the corner, opened it, and took out a pair of gloves, a mask, soap pod, Atractylodes, and various knives, ¡°These are the items I previously saw in your box, specially made to order.


    Come, help this old man examine this body.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s eyebrows twitched.


    ¡°An autopsy?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Liu Pinrang pushed the gloves into Ran Yan¡¯s hands.


    His smile slightly lessened, saying, ¡°Are you satisfied with me repaying your favor?


    Your marriage arrangement with Qin Silang will soon be sorted¡­¡±


    Liu Pinrang¡¯s implication was clear: Helping him would not be a loss!


    It would have been better not to mention that, but once brought up, Ran Yan¡¯s face darkened.


    She swiftly donned the gloves and mask and said evenly, ¡°Thank you, Inspector Liu, but you¡¯ve overpaid this favor.


    Consider this autopsy a gift, as I seek nothing more.¡±


    Ran Yan really didn¡¯t dare let Liu Pinrang reciprocate with anything else, as it could provoke more trouble than she could handle.


    But she couldn¡¯t refuse to help either; if the old man held a grudge, that would be even worse!


    So, she simply went ahead with the examination without another word.


    Liu Pinrang coughed twice, feeling he had gained a little advantage, so he did not mind Ran Yan¡¯s attitude.


    In truth, if he did not need to mislead others, he would not have gone through such trouble to create this diversion; he could have directly asked Feng Sanxun to perform the autopsy, knowing both Ran Yan¡¯s capabilities and her low-profile status.


    **


    Thanks to carmel for the huge red envelope, and thanks to Peachy Girl for the lollipops!!


    Big hugs!


    Also, when checking the comments, I found many friends mentioning that my updates have become less frequent.


    I update over 3000+ words daily, sometimes nearly 4000, while many authors not yet on a shelf usually update two to three thousand words daily with occasional additional chapters.


    I¡¯ve just been spreading the additional updates across each chapter.


    Compared to some authors who update 10,000 words daily, my updates are indeed less frequent, and indeed, because of just finishing a previous book, I¡¯ve been a bit lazy.


    In December, this book will switch to two updates daily, at least 4000+, usually over 5000+.


    I keep all your tips, votes, long comments, and messages in mind and will strive to explode with even more exciting plots for everyone who likes Full Tang.


    Please continue to support me!!!


    Qidian Chinese Website www.qidian.com welcomes readers to visit for the newest, fastest, and hottest serialized works exclusively at Qidian Original!

 Chapter 68 - 68 44 The First Autopsy in Great Tang

    ?68: Chapter 44 The First Autopsy in Great Tang 68: Chapter 44 The First Autopsy in Great Tang Ran Yan lifted the plain cloth and saw the corpse of Judge Yang, heaving a slight sigh.


    The man, who had retained a semblance of his past valor just the day before, was now swollen beyond recognition.


    The summer heat was intense, especially in the humid climate of Jiangnan, so preserving the body to this extent must have required a great deal of effort.


    Ran Yan took out bidentate achyranthes and Atractylodes, lit them, and drizzled strong vinegar over the body, yet she did not immediately begin the autopsy; instead, she quietly waited for a moment.


    Yu Bohao watched Ran Yan with amazement, as if what laid before her wasn¡¯t a dreadful corpse but rather something fascinating.


    How many wives in this world would be attracted to a corpse?


    His gaze shifted to Judge Yang¡¯s body; his stomach churned violently, nearly causing him to vomit.


    From this pile of decaying flesh, it was completely impossible to imagine this had once been a dignified and handsome Han man.


    Ran Yan, hearing Yu Bohao¡¯s retching, looked up and said, ¡°Judge Yu, are you sure you want to continue watching?¡±


    Yu Bohao¡¯s brow furrowed, unwilling to be looked down upon by a young lady, he immediately composed himself and said, ¡°Of course.¡± He then asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you started yet?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I already begun?¡± Ran Yan arranged her gloves and started to examine the neck of the corpse, ¡°The wounds on a body show differently at various times.


    An injury that was not apparent at the start might become visible after the body has decomposed, like this bruise here.¡±


    Yu Bohao and Liu Pinrang, despite the discomfort in their stomachs, looked towards where Ran Yan was pointing.


    Indeed, there was a faint trace that could easily be mistaken for postmortem lividity if not observed closely.


    Ran Yan took out a small autopsy knife.


    The blade was short, the handle long enough for an adult to grip with room to spare, and the blade itself was just two inches, thin and sharp.


    It was several times better than those she had commissioned.


    She couldn¡¯t help but admire Liu Pinrang¡¯s small but shrewd eyes.


    He hadn¡¯t appeared to be looking closely that day, yet he was able to have a set of autopsy knives made!


    Dispelling distracting thoughts, Ran Yan made an incision in the skin of the neck, revealing the tissue beneath.


    Cutting into the subcutaneous tissue of the neck revealed no bleeding.


    Typically, if someone was strangled to death, even if no bruising was evident on the neck, the muscles there would honestly reflect it, showing a stove-like hemorrhage.


    Ran Yan held the autopsy knife, methodically delving from the superficial muscle layer of the neck into the deeper muscle layers.


    The exposed flesh made Yu Bohao¡¯s stomach roil, the sensation reaching up to his throat, but he forcibly held back his urge to vomit, all the while trying to distract himself by focusing all his attention on Ran Yan.


    Her delicate features were set in a serious expression, her deep black eyes reflecting the flickering light of the surrounding oil lamps, giving the impression that they danced with a fleeting excitement.


    The autopsy knife had reached almost to the hyoid bone, yet no bleeding in the muscles or between the muscles had been found.


    Ran Yan paused slightly.


    Could it be that the bruise on the neck was indeed postmortem discoloration?


    Doubting herself for a moment, yet trusting her judgment, she kept cutting down following the bruise, not stopping until she had peeled back to the deeper layer of the neck, revealing the hyoid bone and a hint of something else.


    ¡°Bring the lamp closer,¡± said Ran Yan.


    Yu Bohao quickly brought over an oil lamp.


    The lamps here were typical of the Tang Dynasty, made of copper and floor-standing, with a tree-like structure atop which were placed a dozen to twenty lamp pans each, illuminating the area brightly.


    ¡°There is a small amount of bleeding on the strap muscles of the hyoid, but there¡¯s no fracture of the bone.


    It suggests that the killer¡¯s force wasn¡¯t sufficient to have strangled Judge Yang to death,¡± Ran Yan mused.


    A bruise on the side of the neck did not necessarily mean that the killer had strangled him from the front; it could also be that the killer had grasped the cervical spine from behind, just as¡­


    she had died in her previous life.


    With that thought, Ran Yan¡¯s surgical knife quickly stripped the muscles away, exposing the ghastly white vertebrae, but the situation puzzled her.


    There was no fracture in the cervical bones, and even the muscles surrounding them had no signs of injury.


    The current evidence only proved that the deceased had been grabbed by the neck while he was still alive. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was just a grab, not the cause of death.


    Ran Yan fell silent.


    She remembered from the last examination that Judge Yang had been attacked in the lower body.


    The killer had struck quickly and accurately at a man¡¯s most vulnerable part from the front, rendering Judge Yang instantly incapable of resistance and even unable to cry out for help.


    Afterward, the killer gripped his neck, delivering the fatal blow somewhere on the body with no hesitation since there were no signs of struggle on Judge Yang¡¯s body, implying the process must have occurred within thirty seconds.

 Chapter 69 - 69 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_2

    ?69: Chapter 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_2 69: Chapter 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_2 Thirty seconds, a mere instant to kill a robust man, shows that the killer is a professional assassin, or at least a habitual offender.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not the cause of death, then what was he doing holding the victim¡¯s neck?¡± Ran Yan murmured to herself.


    Following that, she reached out to touch the corpse¡¯s head, switched her scalpel for a larger one, and deftly shaved off a piece of hair from the center of the scalp.


    With the hair no longer obstructing the view, the weakest spot on the body was exposed, revealing a mung bean-sized blood spot, distinctly visible.


    Ran Yan felt a surge of excitement.


    She used the tip of her knife to pry open the congealed blood clot and cut a small piece of skin attached to the skull, finally discovering traces of metal.


    ¡°Inspector Liu, please look, this is the cause of death,¡± Ran Yan said as she used the scalpel to clear the surrounding obstructions, presenting the faintly revealed metal to the two of them.


    Liu Pinrang, fighting back his discomfort, glanced down briefly before quickly turning his head away, ¡°Explain it to me in detail.¡±


    ¡°Judging by the wounds on the victim¡¯s body, he was kicked in the groin from the front, instantly losing his ability to move.


    He was in extreme pain, and the body¡¯s subconscious response is to curl up and lower his head.


    He must have been grabbed by the back of his neck, forced to lift his head, and then stabbed in the Baihui acupoint with a silver needle.


    This series of actions took place within about five breaths,¡± Ran Yan paused, then continued, ¡°Judge Yang didn¡¯t die instantly, he lived for at least another half hour because a small drop of blood on his head had clotted, and a dead person¡¯s blood does not clot.


    The person who administered the needle was very strong and extremely fast, the silver needle deeply penetrated the brain, and if one wants to retrieve it, one would likely have to open the skull.¡±


    ¡°Open¡­


    open the skull?¡± Yu Bohao said with a trembling voice, looking at Ran Yan with some fear.


    To distract himself, he had been observing her.


    He found viewing a corpse nauseating, but Ran Yan¡¯s cold gaze truly sent chills down his spine, and with talk now of opening the skull, he really wanted to know what other horrifying things this young lady could do.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Liu Pinrang, at this moment, had his mind occupied with other matters and was slightly less fearful.


    To him, as long as it was established that Judge Yang was murdered by someone else, that was sufficient.


    The rest, he would investigate in secret.


    Once it¡¯s clear whose agent Judge Yang was in the capital, then the killer would also become evident.


    Liu Pinrang admitted to himself that he was not capable of questioning the killer directly but guessing the intentions and understanding the undercurrents would allow him to know how to steer away from these shadowy conflicts and protect himself at critical moments.


    Ran Yan glanced at Liu Pinrang and said no more.


    Understanding that she had no say in the matter, she then repositioned the dissected muscles, extracted needle and thread from the box, reversed the handle of the knife to press down on the dissected skin, and skillfully began sewing the incision with tweezers gripping the needle. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, Ran Yan took off her gloves and wiped away the nearby bloodstains.


    In no time, the grisly dissected area had returned to its original state, leaving only dense stitches.


    Yu Bohao and Liu Pinrang looked at her in astonishment, realizing that the entire dissection process had not involved the kind of bloodshed they had imagined.


    Instead of seeming haphazard, her incisions were orderly, and the dissected areas were cleanly visible with very little bleeding.


    A dead body¡¯s blood no longer flows; as long as one avoids the major arteries, the amount of blood that spills is far less than one might imagine.


    As a qualified forensic doctor, mastering this is essential, and Ran Yan was indeed an expert.


    Ran Yan covered the body with a plain cloth, stood up and said, ¡°The needle inserted into the head, by my judgement, is a common acupuncture silver needle.


    The killer must be highly knowledgeable in medical science, controlling the force of the insertion exceedingly well¡­¡±


    At this point, Ran Yan¡¯s mind flashed with a pair of dark eyes.


    She paused, then said, ¡°That¡¯s all I can offer, I hope it is helpful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your efforts.


    I have urgent matters to attend to and must leave immediately,¡± Liu Pinrang left behind Ran, and the Yin families, amidst a room full of nobility.


    He had to hurry.


    ¡°Please feel free, Inspector Liu,¡± Ran Yan said.


    She turned to Yu Bohao, ¡°Please attend to Lady Seventeen for me.¡±


    Liu Pinrang strode out, Ran Yan straightened her clothes, and left the room with Yu Bohao.


    ¡°Has Lady Seventeen previously worked in the forensic field?¡± Yu Bohao knew very well that it was rude to ask such a question of a noble lady with her background, but he couldn¡¯t help himself.


    Ran Yan¡¯s heart tightened, knowing that her performance had aroused the suspicions of this criminal judge, but she didn¡¯t look for excuses, simply stating, ¡°No, I just know some medical skills.¡±

 Chapter 70 - 70 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_3

    ?70: Chapter 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_3 70: Chapter 44 The First Dissection in the Great Tang_3 ¡°Your autopsy technique¡­¡± His skill was so proficient, his speed rapid, and his incisions precise.


    In just a moment, from dissection to restoring the body, how could such work be achieved without extensive experience?


    Ran Yan quietly glanced at him, pondered for a long while, and then lightly uttered five words, ¡°It¡¯s probably a talent.¡±


    Yu Bohao¡¯s mouth twitched.


    He had heard of people born with great strength, born with wisdom, or with extraordinary memory, but he had never heard of someone born with the ability to dissect bodies!


    However, he could find no other explanation, and so he could only half-believe it.


    ¡°How did you determine that the wound was on the head?


    Merely based on that little bruise on the neck?¡± Yu Bohao persisted in his questioning, driven by both his psychological approach to criminal investigation and his doubts, he couldn¡¯t help but dig deeper.


    Ran Yan wasn¡¯t particularly resistant to his attitude; there had been many who, even after forensic conclusions were definitively stated, still refused to believe and persisted in demanding explanations.


    In comparison, Yu Bohao was relatively reasonable.


    ¡°This requires some imagination.


    If someone grabs the neck of the deceased, but not to kill him, then why?¡± After removing her mask, Ran Yan¡¯s beautiful face was revealed, but it was not particularly stunning.


    Her expression lacked any emotional fluctuation; if she did not speak, she would appear as a perfect plaster sculpture.


    ¡°To control his movements,¡± Yu Bohao said, and after thinking a bit, he added, ¡°The servants in the Yang mansion did not hear any noise, given the situation at the time, it was probably to facilitate the attack.¡±


    Ran Yan continued, ¡°Controlling his movements was indeed to kill him.


    It¡¯s known that Judge Yang practiced martial arts, if I were the murderer, I would choose to kill him instantly, giving him no chance to resist.


    During this short time, there¡¯s absolutely no need to forcibly lift his head.¡±


    Based on the injuries on the body, determining the position in which the victim was injured and the process of the injury is an essential course for a forensic doctor.


    The current forensic doctor did not possess such qualities.


    Therefore, Yu Bohao had no choice but to believe it was a certain talent.


    ¡°Does Inspector Liu need to question further?


    If there¡¯s nothing else, may I leave first?¡± Ran Yan asked.


    Yu Bohao said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit, I believe the results will come out soon.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ran Meiyu had been with the other wives from the beginning of their entrance to the Yin mansion, then they all went to Jade Orchid Pavilion.


    Later, if she indeed met privately with Yin Silang, she would not have had time to commit the crime, leaving the broken armor piece to someone else.


    Liu Pingrang did not inquire about Ran Meiyu until the evening, which suggested that he had questioned other noble ladies and suspects earlier.


    If none of them were involved, then who wanted to kill Wan Lu?


    And who had a grudge against Qin Musheng, going to great lengths to frame him?


    Ran Yan sighed softly, hoping Wan Lu could quickly provide some useful information.


    **


    Uh, I¡¯m not sure if describing the autopsy to this degree will be acceptable to most people.


    I didn¡¯t specifically describe the wounds or the state of decay, so it should still be considered clean, after all, this isn¡¯t a horror novel.


    (Or should I say, is this not stimulating enough, do I need more detailed and twisted descriptions?)


    Also, thanks to Kami-sama for the peach blossom fan, and thanks to the reader 100427204805792 for the peach blossom fan, various hugs, much love~~~ Seeing that reader 100427204805792 voted for four more chapters, it¡¯s so touching, I really want it (longing).


    I¡¯m not expecting to get the top votes, but due to the recent enthusiasm from you all, I must respond.


    There will be additional chapters tomorrow, as for how many, I dare not promise, but the added chapters will be around before eleven AM.


    Finally, I recommend two excellent works.


    1.


    Work: Returning to the Farm


    Author: Zi Linglong including Smoke


    Description: A battle, a struggle, nothing is better than returning to the farm and weaving simple clothes


    2.


    Work: Late Night Talks in the Red Chamber


    Author: Night Rain Startles the Lotus


    Description: When Dai Yu had a protective older brother¡­


    At Qidian Chinese Website www.qidian.com, we welcome all readers to enjoy the newest, fastest, and hottest serial works only on Qidian Original!

 Chapter 71 - 71 45 Shilang Yunsheng Additional Update

    ?71: Chapter 45 Shilang Yunsheng (Additional Update) 71: Chapter 45 Shilang Yunsheng (Additional Update) Yu Bohao took Ran Yan to a tearoom near the side hall, but Ran Yan felt the fresh air outside was good and chose not to enter.


    Standing quietly in the corridor for a while, Yu Bohao suddenly asked, ¡°You once said Judge Yang lived for a while after being struck by the needle.


    Is it possible he left behind some evidence during that time?¡±


    Ran Yan glanced at him and slowly said, ¡°When the brain suffers a fatal injury, one basically loses the ability to move.


    To say he was alive is to say that only his body was still living; that time was simply the irreversible ebbing of life.¡±


    Ran Yan looked up at the night sky of the Great Tang, and thinking of her own time travel, she couldn¡¯t help adding another sentence, ¡°However, there are exceptions to everything.


    Judge Yu may want to check the crime scene.¡±


    Yu Bohao nodded.


    ¡°I still have some official duties to attend to.


    Should Seventeen Miss have any needs, she can send a Government Official to summon me.¡±


    ¡°Please do as you see fit.¡± Ran Yan gave a slight nod and then continued to admire the night sky.


    The stars twinkled brilliantly, and a ribbon-like Milky Way could be clearly seen streaking across the sky.


    Ran Yan hadn¡¯t looked up at the stars for a long time.


    For an extended period, her world had been filled with human flesh and blood under the stark light of an operation lamp, an endless cycle of work that consisted of nothing but autopsies.


    She tried to use this to grind away the fear and hate in her heart, but in every nightmare, she could still see her friend¡¯s final struggles.


    As a forensic doctor, every scar on a corpse told her of the horrendous circumstances at the time of death.


    She could imagine every resistance her friend had made and the violations and violence that had been inflicted upon her.


    These scenes replayed in her dreams as if they were real, and yet she was powerless to stop them.


    After standing quietly for a long time, people began to trickle out from the side hall.


    Ran Meiyu looked pale as she followed behind Ran Wen, evidently having been released without charges.


    Ran Wen saw Ran Yan¡¯s figure and changed direction to walk toward her.


    Accompanying him were Ran Meiyu and two other elegantly dressed men.


    ¡°Ayan.¡± Ran Wen¡¯s voice sounded somewhat weary.


    Ran Yan stepped down from the porch and slightly bowed to him, ¡°Father.¡±


    ¡°Are you truly Seventeen Miss?¡± A middle-aged man beside him asked in surprise, ¡°You were a frail and unrecognizable girl two years ago, and now you¡¯ve grown into such beauty!


    They say a girl changes at eighteen, and indeed it¡¯s true!¡±


    Ran Yan looked at the man; he was dressed in an extremely lavish, dark brown brocade robe with a hat on his head and a jade pendant hanging from his waist¡ªa portly gentleman with a refined demeanor, who bore a slight resemblance to Ran Wen.


    He was likely some uncle, but she had no recollection of such a person in her memory.


    ¡°Haha, Ayan doesn¡¯t recognize Third Uncle anymore?


    It¡¯s understandable; two years ago, your Third Uncle was as dashing as your father, but I¡¯ve put on some weight in recent years,¡± the portly man laughed. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Third Uncle?


    Ran Yan immediately matched the name with the person, Ran Wen¡¯s half-brother, Ran Pingyu.


    Ran Pingyu was especially business-savvy, the richest man in Suzhou, yet he resided in Chang¡¯an.


    He held a certain stature within the clan because he undertook all of the Ran family¡¯s expenses.


    In Ran Yan¡¯s memories, he was the only person in the Ran Clan who truly cared for her.


    ¡°Third Uncle.¡± Ran Yan said, her voice warmed slightly.


    Ran Pingyu moved closer to meticulously look at Ran Yan a few times, laughing heartily, ¡°I¡¯m always away on business, and as soon as I returned, I heard you were sent to recuperate on a farm, making me wonder if there was some hidden story.


    Now that I see you well, I¡¯m reassured.¡±


    Ran Pingyu was a cunning man; if he truly believed there was nothing amiss, he would not have carelessly made a comment that could upset his elder brother.


    His words with ulterior motives made Ran Wen¡¯s expression darken.


    Ran Yan averted her eyes; at this point, she wondered if it was the cleverness of Lady Gao or if the original Ran Yan was simply too weak!


    Looking at Ran Pingyu¡¯s affectionate smile, she sighed inwardly¡ªthe original Ran Yan had long since passed away.


    Ran Wen had no fondness for his half-brother.


    What was so great about contributing some money?


    The clan elders actually looked at him with favor!


    Were the merchants of Chang¡¯an not still merchants?


    Just as lowly and greedy!


    If it hadn¡¯t been for their father depleting the family wealth just to marry a concubine from the Zheng Family of Xingyang, there wouldn¡¯t have been an opportunity for him to ingratiate himself!


    Suppressing his roiling anger, Ran Wen spoke indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The Ran Clan of yesteryear had declined, possessing nothing but wealth.


    The old clan head had managed with difficulty to climb his way into a marriage with the Zheng Family of Xingyang.


    Money could be earned back, but once a clan¡¯s reputation was tarnished, it was much more challenging to restore it a hundredfold!


    However, this was a truth that the shortsighted Ran Wen would never understand.


    The group left the Government Office in silence.


    A young man in luxurious attire who came with Ran Pingyu leaned towards Ran Yan and whispered, ¡°Ayan, do you still remember Shilang?¡±

 Chapter 72 - 72 45 Shilang Yunsheng Additional Update_2

    ?72: Chapter 45 Shilang Yunsheng (Additional Update)_2 72: Chapter 45 Shilang Yunsheng (Additional Update)_2 Ran Shilang was the legitimate son of Ran Pingyu, named Yunsheng.


    At about seventeen or eighteen years old, he had rosy lips and white teeth, a complexion like spring flowers and the moon, with a refreshed and bright appearance.


    His elegance was startling, clear and spirited like the early orioles of spring.


    Ran Yan was momentarily taken aback, as she hadn¡¯t realized there was such a strikingly beautiful man beside her while he remained silent, with his head slightly lowered.


    ¡°Of course, I remember.


    When I was little, Shilang often brought me fun things to play with,¡± Ran Yan murmured, lowering her head.


    The moment Ran Yunsheng broke into a smile, revealing his pearly white teeth, he was so stunningly beautiful, he drew the envious gazes of the Zhou family¡¯s offspring.


    Ran Yunsheng quickened his pace and said to Ran Wen, ¡°Uncle, I haven¡¯t seen Ayan for two years and have missed her dearly.


    How about I escort her back to the manor?¡±


    People are always indulgent toward beautiful things.


    Even though Ran Wen did not favor his half-brother and particularly disliked Ran Yunsheng¡¯s overly effeminate and gorgeous appearance, he still couldn¡¯t resist the charm of his slight smile.


    Ran Wen, dazzled by Ran Yunsheng¡¯s smile, lowered his gaze slightly and said, ¡°Go ahead, be careful on the road.¡±


    Ran Meiyu glared at Ran Yan viciously, wishing she could tear her limb from limb.


    Women envy beauties, and even though Ran Yunsheng was their brother, it didn¡¯t hinder their possessiveness.


    But with Ran Wen in a foul mood at the moment, she didn¡¯t dare to act out.


    After conversing briefly with Ran Pingyu, Ran Yunsheng took Ran Yan to another carriage.


    When the government official called for Shao Ming, the carriage began to move slowly.


    ¡°You must be tired, Ayan,¡± Ran Yunsheng said, noticing a faint weariness between Ran Yan¡¯s brows, and he felt a twinge of pity.


    He had been staying in Chang¡¯an and only returned once every two or three years.


    He was completely unaware of any illness befalling Ran Yan until his return, when he learned she had been sent to the manor to recuperate.


    He knew there must be some trickery involved; their father knew, and he could guess a thing or two as well.


    Ran Yan had a good impression of this gentle and beautiful elder brother, who had also been very kind to her in her memories.


    She thus let a slight smile appear and said, ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡±


    Seeing her smile, Ran Yunsheng¡¯s heart eased a bit, ¡°You always write so briefly in your letters, never mentioning your situation. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I thought you were resentful because I didn¡¯t come to see you last year during the holidays.¡±


    ¡°Letters?¡± Ran Yan paused, ¡°I haven¡¯t received a single letter in the past two years.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Shock then anger filled Ran Yunsheng¡¯s beautiful face, ¡°The Gao family has gone too far!¡±


    Seeing his cheeks flush with rage, as brilliant as clouds at sunset, beautiful beyond measure, Ran Yan finally understood what it meant to call someone a beauty.


    Each smile, each frown, every expression of joy or anger was a unique scene of beauty that one couldn¡¯t look away from.


    This was true beauty.


    ¡°Shilang, has anyone ever told you that you¡¯re so beautiful it¡¯s criminal?¡± Ran Yan said.


    If she hadn¡¯t included ¡°Shilang,¡± it would¡¯ve come off as sheer flirtation.


    While Ran Yunsheng was initially furious, he burst out laughing upon hearing her say that.


    Despite her seemingly jesting words, Ran Yan¡¯s serious and earnest tone made her question even more comedic.


    But in all honesty, Ran Yan wasn¡¯t joking in the slightest; she truly believed that being so attractive, regardless of gender, was dangerous.


    After laughing, Ran Yunsheng appeared somewhat helpless, ¡°I know this appearance isn¡¯t good, plenty of people say unpleasant things behind my back, but I don¡¯t mind.


    Ayan, you don¡¯t despise my looks, do you?¡±


    Who could really despise them?


    Although Ran Yan wasn¡¯t particularly fond of such features, she had to admit that all the posturing flower-boys would seem like nothing but dirt compared to him.


    Ran Yunsheng was obviously unaware of his own striking beauty, which, ironically, made him somewhat self-conscious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard people say that a man with feminine features is extremely blessed.


    Isn¡¯t Guanyin Bodhisattva an example of that?¡± Ran Yan never thought she would find herself comforting someone with divine figures.


    Ran Yunsheng¡¯s smile brightened his countenance, like a moon breaking through the dark night, radiating a compelling luminescence, thawing even Ran Yan¡¯s usually expressionless face into a more animated look.


    Throughout the journey, Ran Yunsheng told Ran Yan many interesting stories of Chang¡¯an.


    It was only then that she caught a glimpse of the grandeur of the Great Tang, a majestic era of China¡¯s history that marked the beginning of a brilliant golden age, fostering countless heroes of a flourishing era.


    The beauty of Hu Ji is like a flower; she rides with such elegance and flair.


    Ran Yan really wanted to experience that for herself.


    Ran Yunsheng brought Ran Yan to the villa, saying he would come to find her and go out to have fun together the next day, leaving the carriage behind.


    He rode back to the city with a few government soldiers.


    As she arrived at the courtyard entrance, Ran Yan immediately noticed the crowd within.


    Wu Xiuhe was half-reclined under the corridor, squinting his eyes, while Sang Chen paced back and forth by the courtyard gate.


    Mrs.


    Xing was sitting in front of Wan Lu¡¯s room, sewing by the light of a lantern, a maid was preparing medicine, and the rest were standing around in the yard.


    Suddenly, Ran Yan remembered that the Gao family had sent over seven servants today.


    ¡°Wife!¡± Sang Chen was the first to see Ran Yan.


    He rushed over and said, ¡°Wife, are you alright?¡±


    Although the question seemed redundant, his concern was genuine, so she didn¡¯t take him to task, ¡°I¡¯m fine, how are your injuries?¡±


    ¡°Thanks to Divine Doctor Wu, they are much better now.¡± Sang Chen¡¯s handsome face was adorned with a shy and bashful smile.


    As he caught Mrs.


    Xing approaching with a hostile expression, he quickly changed the subject, ¡°I came to deliver ceramics for the wife.


    Upon hearing that the wife went to the government office, I was worried and decided to wait until the wife returned.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern.


    How much did the ceramics cost in total?


    Later, I¡¯ll ask Mrs.


    Xing to settle the bill with you.¡± Ran Yan pondered that such exquisite ceramics must be quite valuable.


    It was fair to take advantage of Sang Chen¡¯s labor as a trade, but she certainly couldn¡¯t let him cover the expenses.


    Sang Chen blinked, his face full of confusion, ¡°I know a private kiln owner in town, and he didn¡¯t ask for money.¡± He paused for a moment, humbly seeking advice, ¡°Wife, do you know how much it costs to rent a high-quality kiln for one time?¡±


    Mrs.


    Xing gave him a look and interjected, ¡°A high-quality kiln that¡¯s one zhang in both length and width, roughly costs twenty silver taels for one day.¡±


    Sang Chen¡¯s face stiffened, and he stuttered, ¡°I¡­


    I will write more legal documents¡­¡±


    One legal document for ten qian, and one silver tael equaled one thousand qian.


    How many would he need to write to cover twenty taels?


    And that¡¯s not even accounting for those he¡¯d give away as favors, like the time he only charged half a basket of radishes for Mrs.


    Wang¡¯s document.


    ¡°Since the wife is unharmed, I shall take my leave first.¡± Sang Chen quietly calculated, said a slow farewell to Ran Yan, then drifted away like a ghost toward the courtyard gate.


    Wu Xiuhe also dropped a line and casually strolled back into the compound with his hands behind his back.


    In the Great Tang, where she had no relatives or acquaintances, the concern of so many warmed Ran Yan¡¯s heart.


    Looking at the maids in the courtyard, she felt more at ease, ¡°Mrs.


    Xing, assign them tasks.


    Observe for a while, then select a few reliable ones to serve by my side.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s voice was loud and she did not deliberately avoid the new maids.


    Dealing with so much, Ran Yan was a bit tired, so she quickly washed up and rested on the bed.


    Perhaps because she met many old acquaintances today, her dreams stirred up many deep memories of the original owner of the body.


    Everyone¡¯s features were crystal clear, yet from beginning to end, only one girl named ¡°Wan¡± had a blurred face, seemingly just over ten years old, with a clear voice trembling as she said to her, ¡°Yan, it hurts so much¡­


    Yan, it really hurts¡­¡±


    Ran Yan held her hand, comforting her, ¡°Wan, don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid!¡±


    As she spoke, Ran Yan¡¯s hand suddenly grasped at nothing, and she was surrounded by water.


    A gracefully shaped woman with her face covered by a plain veil floated in the water; her black hair spread out like seaweed.


    Bright reddish-pink rosy silk gown bloomed like a translucent flower in the water, while around her rang the agonizing screams of despair and fury¡­


    Welcome to Qidian Chinese Website, www.qidian.com!


    Book friends are invited to read the latest, fastest, and hottest serial works exclusively on Qidian Original!

 Chapter 73 - 73 46 Who is Yin Wanwan

    ?73: Chapter 46: Who is Yin Wanwan?


    73: Chapter 46: Who is Yin Wanwan?


    ¡°Wan Lu!¡± Ran Yan suddenly sat up from the couch, the night wind brushed past, her forehead and back were cool, already soaked with sweat.


    ¡°Wife, did you have a nightmare again?¡± Xing Niang heard the noise, hurriedly carried the lamp from the outer room, pushed open the bamboo curtain, and saw Ran Yan sitting with the covers, then placed the lamp on a low table beside her, and knelt down next to her.


    Under the dim light, Xing Niang saw the glistening sweat on Ran Yan¡¯s forehead, took out a handkerchief, and wiped it for her, ¡°Wife, ever since you recovered from your illness, you have been waking up frightened every night, you should go to the temple to burn incense.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Xing Niang, do you know who Wan Lu is?¡± Ran Yan frowned and asked.


    She guessed it was something she had tried hard to forget in her previous memories, or perhaps this body suffered selective amnesia.


    Xing Niang¡¯s expression darkened, she sighed and said, ¡°I know this has become a heartache for you, Lady, you had already forgotten all about it, why think of it again?¡±


    Ran Yan pursed her lips and stared steadily at Xing Niang.


    Seeing her resolute expression, Xing Niang knew she could not conceal it any longer and said, ¡°Wanwan was the fourth lady of the Yin residence, close friends with you.


    Later, she fell ill with a severe sickness and passed away, which left you heartbroken for many months, and your health gradually deteriorated as well.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Ran Yan could not recall having a close female friend named Yin Wanwan no matter what.


    Some mentally fragile people, after experiencing terrifying or sad incidents, unwittingly block out those memories, also known as selective amnesia.


    If the situation was as simple as Xing Niang described, why would such a condition arise?


    Considering the images she saw in her dreams, Ran Yan felt that the bigger reason for choosing to forget was fear.


    Xing Niang remained silent for a moment before saying, ¡°I remember, that day was just a few days before the Lady¡¯s memorial day.


    I stayed in the residence with Wan Lu to prepare for the Lady¡¯s memorial day, while you went to the Yin residence with Ge Lan.


    However, when you returned, Ge Lan was nowhere to be seen, and you were unconscious.


    I truly don¡¯t know what happened.¡±


    ¡°Ge Lan¡­¡± Ran Yan murmured the name.


    Could the woman she saw drown in her dream be Ge Lan?


    With this suspicion in mind, Ran Yan asked, ¡°Do you remember what color clothes Ge Lan wore that day?


    Or what colors she usually liked to wear?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about that, perhaps Wan Lu would know.


    However, Wife, don¡¯t you usually prefer them to wear the colors that match their names?


    Ge Lan most often wore blue,¡± Xing Niang said worriedly, looking at Ran Yan, then added, ¡°Lady, it¡¯s still early, try not to think about it anymore, sleep a little longer.


    Whatever the issue, we can think it over carefully after sunrise.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded and laid back down on the couch.


    Fearing that she might have another nightmare, Xing Niang placed the lamp on a low table by the window and drew a gauzy curtain, creating a space bathed in soft light.


    For seven years, Ran Yan had invariably awoken from nightmares every night, but she had never before dreamt such disjointed images¡ªa scarlet dress, a face bound by plain fabric, desperate cries¡­


    Was it Yin Wanwan?!


    Ran Yan was shocked.


    If that woman was Yin Wanwan, then everything made sense.


    Perhaps the original Ran Yan had inadvertently witnessed Yin Wanwan¡¯s violent death, which had shocked her into unconsciousness, and thus upon awakening, her subconscious rejected that memory.


    Then her previous dreams, seeing the girl, and later the woman drowned, were indeed of the same person at different times.


    Yin Wanwan said she was in pain¡ªwhere was it hurting?


    Was it really a severe illness?


    And finally, the echoing shriek, vague in articulation yet clearly conveying her emotions¡ªdespair, fear, unwillingness.


    Did these emotions suggest she died wrongfully, and was murdered?


    Ran Yan pondered wildly, linking head and tail as best she could, but there were still many inconsistencies, such as why Ge Lan had disappeared?


    After Ge Lan disappeared, what was the situation in Ran residence?


    If the drowned woman was truly Yin Wanwan, then what caused her death?


    Long-forgotten memories do not just emerge without reason.


    Generally, this kind of amnesia might be triggered by familiar people or events, perhaps it was the recent re-entry into Yin residence that stirred up these memories.


    After much tossing and turning, the morning sun gradually rose outside the window, casting rays through the slits of the lattice, Ran Yan felt no trace of sleepiness and got up to open the window.


    The cool early morning air mingled with a faint smell of water plants hit her face, moist and fresh¡ªa distinct scent of the Jiangnan water town.


    Ran Yan did some breathing exercises for a while, watching the dawn spread across the eastern horizon, and soon streaks of sunlight broke through the clouds.

 Chapter 74 - 74 46 Who is Yin Wanwan_2

    ?74: Chapter 46 Who is Yin Wanwan_2 74: Chapter 46 Who is Yin Wanwan_2 Ran Yan lowered her head, extinguished the lamp, stretched lazily, and hearing footsteps, turned around to see Xing Niang lifting the curtain.


    Xing Niang caught sight of Ran Yan, and paused slightly, ¡°Wife, why are you up?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I agree yesterday to appointments with two patients?


    Today, I have to go into the city to treat them,¡± Ran Yan settled in front of the makeup mirror.


    Xing Niang had no objections to Ran Yan treating and saving people; it wasn¡¯t as though she expected Ran Yan to earn much Silver.


    By earning a good reputation, she could marry into a good family in the future, and if Ran Wen intended to make a marital alliance, he would certainly aim high.


    The more prestigious Ran Yan¡¯s reputation was, the better the prospects of whom she might marry.


    If Ran Wen was influenced by greed or Go¡¯s instigations to match her with a particularly unsuitable partner, the elders of the Ran family would never agree.


    After all, even if Ran Wen could discard his dignity, the Ran family couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Ah, as for treating people, if you can heal them, then heal them; if not, just hand them over to Divine Doctor Wu.


    After all, he is your mentor, and with this matter on his shoulders, others will have nothing to say,¡± Xing Niang advised.


    Ran Yan smiled and nodded.


    ¡°I will ask the Maids to come and attend to the Wife¡¯s washing up.


    Keep your eyes peeled and choose a couple to compliment you,¡± Xing Niang said, rising and heading toward the door.


    It wasn¡¯t long before she led four Maids in.


    Each of them wore light orange chest-high printed dresses and tied a white belt with a bow at the chest, their hair styled in simple maid¡¯s buns.


    These Maids¡¯ clothes were far better than what Wan Lu wore, which saddened Ran Yan, and after letting them attend to her washing up, she then turned to Xing Niang and said, ¡°You see the fabrics that were delivered yesterday?


    Pick out the ones you like and cut yourself and Wan Lu a few dresses.


    After all, I will have a lot of such things when I return to the main residence.¡±


    After inspecting the Maids, Ran Yan withdrew her gaze, and the Maids also stole glances at her.


    With the Lady present yesterday, they had not dared to lift their eyes due to her authority, and last night had been too dark, catching only a glimpse of her back.


    Only now did they truly see that the woman before them had hair as smooth as satin cascading down her back, brows like smoke curling into her temples, and a pair of dark eyes, deep and impenetrable, with a faint coldness at the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.


    Her lashes, feather-like and gently drooping to cover her deep gaze, cast shadows on her almost translucent white skin, inadvertently revealing a touch of delicate beauty.


    Her body as tranquil as jade, her skin as pristine as jade.


    They all were somewhat stunned for a moment, having thought that the beauty of the Lady was already the epitome, yet there existed such an ice and snow-like beauty.


    Xing Niang knelt behind Ran Yan and took an ox-horn comb to do her hair, ¡°The fabric that the Wife bought last time hasn¡¯t been used up yet.


    There¡¯s no need to make other clothes in a hurry, but the Liu family is still dressed in coarse cloth, they should be given some fabric.¡±


    ¡°It was my oversight.


    You pick a good piece for them, and two ordinary ones.


    Also, provide them with anything else they need,¡± Ran Yan said indifferently.


    The Maids behind her were brought back from their amazement, only to hear this Wife speak in light, indifferent tones, showing not much care, yet her generosity was immense.


    The silks and gauzes sent from the main residence were all top-quality, with some fabrics costing hundreds of Silver Coins a piece.


    Although it was impossible for the servants to wear fabrics that fine, even the least expensive were worth thirty or forty Silver Coins!


    The balance in the hearts of the Maids tilted slightly.


    The Lady had clearly stated before that Mistress Seventeen was inattentive and extremely delicate.


    Yet from last night until now, whether she was inattentive had yet to be seen, but her eyes and brows¡ªwhere was there even a hint of delicacy?


    Xing Niang asked further, ¡°Will the Wife still ride in the carriage from the estate today?¡±


    Lady Xing always felt that it was beneath her mistress to ride in such a carriage.


    It wasn¡¯t because she was afraid of losing face¡ªafter all, if the main residence didn¡¯t allocate a carriage, it was the Ran household that would lose face¡ªbut rather because the difference in comfort between a good carriage and an ordinary one was huge.


    ¡°Yesterday, Shilang drove me back, and his carriage is still at the manor, saying he would come to find me for an outing this morning,¡± Ran Yan said.


    Lady Xing paused her movements, her face alight with joy, ¡°Shilang is back?¡±


    A few maids also felt a stir in their hearts.


    Ran Shilang, that was a big gold master!


    And it was said he was as handsome as an Immortal.


    If they could get on his good side, even his casual generosity would be enough for their families to live on for generations.


    With their looks, they had no chance of becoming Ran Shilang¡¯s concubines, but since they were on good terms with the seventeenth lady and they were siblings, pleasing the seventeenth lady was just as good!


    Lady Gao probably never dreamed that the few spies she had placed were so easily swayed by a single mention of Ran Shilang.


    After getting dressed and having a simple breakfast, Ran Yunsheng seemed to have timed his visit perfectly, as just after Ran Yan put down her chopsticks, Shao Ming announced his arrival. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lady Xing went out to greet him, while Ran Yan remained seated upright by the table, taking a cup of tea from the maid and rinsing her mouth.


    It was the maids, however, who couldn¡¯t hold back their curiosity, peeking out to catch a glimpse of Ran Yunsheng.


    His status as a gold master and his handsome features were both sources of intrigue.


    Ran Yan also took the opportunity to discreetly observe the four maids.


    They were all quite attractive, with two of them even surpassing Wan Lu in looks, yet they all seemed somewhat impetuous, none able to keep a calm demeanor.


    That wasn¡¯t to say they were unusable.


    Those who couldn¡¯t hide their thoughts were the ones Ran Yan felt more at ease with.


    By choosing one or two with potential and nurturing them, they were more reassuring than those who were deeply scheming from the beginning.


    As everyone in the room had their own thoughts, laughter approached from outside, and as the light at the doorway dimmed, they saw a figure dressed in a saffron-colored robe with wide sleeves, a white waistband embroidered with silver thread around the waist, and a face as bright as the mid-autumn moon and complexion like the flowers of early spring, with hair neatly arranged and brows and eyes like a painting.


    Ran Yunsheng, seeing that Ran Yan hadn¡¯t moved an inch from her seat, pretended to be displeased and said, ¡°Ah Yan, you didn¡¯t even think to greet Shilang.¡±


    Ran Yunsheng¡¯s warmth and amiability always made Ran Yan relax unconsciously, a slight smile curving her lips, ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence that you¡¯ve arrived, as I¡¯ve just finished eating.


    Surely I shouldn¡¯t run outside with a mouthful of grease, right?¡±


    Ran Yunsheng smiled brightly, then changed the subject, ¡°Do you have any place you want to go today?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ran Yan gave Ran Yunsheng a glance, his astonishingly handsome appearance was certainly not suitable for accompanying her to treat patients, ¡°Yesterday, two patients made appointments to see me today.


    Let¡¯s head to the city first, it won¡¯t take very long.


    If you have other matters, feel free to attend to them first.¡±


    Ran Yunsheng asked, surprised, ¡°You know medical skills?¡±


    **


    (I know this is a bit late, and I¡¯m truly sorry.


    Feel free to throw your votes, as I stand tall and brace for the storm of votes.)

 Chapter 75 - 75 47 Outpatient Visit

    ?75: Chapter 47 Outpatient Visit 75: Chapter 47 Outpatient Visit ¡°I know a bit,¡± Ran Yan said, her voice light as a feather.


    She wasn¡¯t accustomed to lying to others; fabricating a story could deceive for a while, but more often than not, the more she spoke, the more loopholes there would be.


    Seeing Ran Yan¡¯s reluctance to speak further, Ran Yunsheng did not continue to press her.


    Instead, he simply said, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything important to do myself.


    I¡¯ll find a tavern in the city to sit in and wait for you to return.¡±


    After discussing their plans, they boarded the carriage.


    The two patients Ran Yan was to see today were both prominent figures with considerable social standing in Suzhou City, although their status was not quite on par with the Qi, Ran, and Yan families.


    However, their influence was such that even these families would not dare to offend them lightly.


    Ran Yan spoke very little, and unless necessary, she would not initiate conversation.


    Thus, during the journey, it was mostly Ran Yunsheng talking while she occasionally chimed in.


    Ran Yunsheng also realized that his sister had changed greatly from before.


    Although she had always been quiet, she used to be soft and frail, always following behind him and eagerly seeking his support¡ªthe epitome of a ¡°delicate bird relying on others.¡± But now, the indifference that lingered between her brows, the subtle sense of detachment, it was as if she had become a completely different person.


    This change caused a vague ache in Ran Yunsheng¡¯s heart; in his view, his sister must have suffered greatly to have slowly become like this, so he spent the whole journey telling jokes, trying to cheer her up.


    Upon reaching the city, Ran Yunsheng alighted in front of a tavern named Heavenly Fragrance Tower, while Ran Yan changed her route to visit the Lu Family, which was farther from the East Market.


    The Lu Family was said to be a collateral branch of the Fan Yang Lu clan, which, during the former Sui Dynasty, boasted the title of ¡°a family with three princesses.¡± Members of the Imperial family sought to marry into the Lu clan, and the Imperial family would take daughters from the Fan Yang Lu clan as imperial consorts.


    This family was no inferior to the Zheng family of Xingyang, and even though the Suzhou branch of the Lu Family was just a side branch, they were still quite remarkable.


    The patient who had fallen ill was the Lady of the Lu Household; after hearing the symptoms described by the butler the day before, Ran Yan could almost determine the problem and prescribe the right treatment.


    However, the Lady was born into the direct line of the Cui clan from Qing He.


    Compared to the Fan Yang Lu clan, the Suzhou Lu Family had even closer ties with the Cui clan. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Lady was the link between the two families, and until they were allied with another Lady from the Cui clan, it was paramount that nothing untoward happened to her.


    To show adequate respect, Ran Yan decided to make the house call for another diagnosis.


    The illnesses afflicting those seeking medical attention were all peculiar but not life-threatening.


    Nevertheless, the people of the Lu Family were all in disarray.


    Just yesterday, the head of the family, Lu Hongchao, had come to request her service personally, and if she didn¡¯t treat them first, it was likely the Lu family would hold a grudge against her.


    Ran Yan¡¯s carriage had just stopped in front of the main gate of the Lu residence when someone immediately came to greet her, ¡°Is this Ran Shiqi?¡±


    Ran Yan, wearing her mask, looked through the gauzy fabric and saw the steward from the Lu estate who had visited their manor the day before.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ran Yan replied with a slight nod.


    The steward, who looked somewhat anxious, relaxed and joyfully said, ¡°Wife has had a long journey; you should rest for a moment first¡­¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ran Yan cut off his pleasantries decisively but then remembering the countless reminders from Xing Niang to be gentle, she added, ¡°The condition of the Lady is urgent.¡±


    Because Ran Yan had declined assistance to get there, the steward had been standing at the door waiting from before dawn until now, his heart filled with both impatience and irritation.


    However, Ran Yan¡¯s forthright attitude engendered a certain degree of goodwill in him, so he quickly expressed his thanks and led her through the gate.


    Inside, there was already a sedan chair waiting; the steward invited Ran Yan to sit in it.


    Since chairs and stools with legs were not yet common in the Tang Dynasty, the sedan was different from those of later eras, low to the ground and only large enough for one person to sit cross-legged or kneel.


    This was Ran Yan¡¯s first time riding in such a sedan, and she felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    She thought to herself that the Lu family really knew how to put on airs, even using a sedan inside the house.


    After a while, though, Ran Yan understood the need for the sedan.


    The Lu family compound was vast, with the whole clan dwelling together, divided into several large courtyards connected to each other, and the quarters of the Lady of the Lu Family were at the very end.


    If one were to walk there, it would take at least a quarter of an hour.


    The sedan bearers moved swiftly, yet Ran Yan¡¯s ride inside was remarkably stable.


    By the time Ran Yan arrived at the Lady¡¯s quarters, all the people of the Lu Family were already gathered, filling the large room almost to the brim with around thirty to forty people¡ªseemingly only the immediate descendants.


    Seeing Ran Yan enter with her mask on, everyone rose to greet her.


    Looking at the large family gathering, Ran Yan truly had no interest in greeting each one individually.


    After paying her respects to the head of the family, she directly said, ¡°Let¡¯s prioritize the medical consultation.


    The Lady¡¯s health is most important.¡±

 Chapter 76 - 76 47 Outpatient Visit_2

    ?76: Chapter 47 Outpatient Visit_2 76: Chapter 47 Outpatient Visit_2 Lady Lu¡¯s face was neither cold nor warm.


    Hearing what Ran Yan had said, she indifferently stated, ¡°Wife, follow me.¡±


    Lady Lu was a direct descendant of the prestigious Qi family, and the blood aunt of Qi Liuniang.


    Coming from a noble background and given that Ran Yan had recently become more prominent, surpassing Qi Liuniang, she naturally disliked her and even looked down upon her internally.


    Wasn¡¯t she just imitating Liuniang¡¯s icy demeanor?


    Liuniang¡¯s fame as an ice beauty wasn¡¯t new¡ªit was a unique aura emanating from her very bones, not something just anyone could feign!


    As for medical skills, Lady Qi was even more disdainful.


    Such a young age, a blind cat finding a dead rat, saving two people, and then hailed as highly skilled in medicine?


    If her medical skills were truly so remarkable, why had they not been recognized earlier?


    Ultimately, Lady Qi was convinced that Ran Yan, unwilling to be neglected by the Ran Family, was flaunting her expertise in medicine merely to attract the Ran Family¡¯s attention.


    Lu Hongchao felt dissatisfied with his wife¡¯s attitude but could not express his anger, for she had the backing of a powerful family.


    Lady Qi¡¯s attitude was just lukewarm and did nothing excessive, hence Ran Yan did not take it to heart and followed them to the Lady¡¯s bedroom.


    The bedroom was small, with only a few of the decision-makers and their wives entering.


    The room was filled with a faint sour stench mixed with the scent of herbal medicine and sandalwood, making it increasingly unbearable.


    Several ladies held their breath, glancing sideways at Ran Yan.


    The smell of a rotting corpse, let alone such a minor odor, was naturally nothing to Ran Yan, her eyes not showing even a slight change of color.


    ¡°Could someone explain the situation in more detail?¡± asked Ran Yan.


    Lu Hongchao immediately answered, ¡°Mother has been vomiting continuously for over a month, often with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and high fever.


    After taking medicine, the fever subsides, but a few days after stopping the medicine, the fever returns.


    Neither acupuncture nor medication has been able to stop the vomiting and diarrhea.


    The other day, her eyes suddenly started bleeding, blood-red in color.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded and said, ¡°I will take a look at Lady.¡±


    Lu Hongchao was naturally very agreeable, but since Ran Yan was an unmarried wife, it was naturally inappropriate for him to accompany her inside, so he gestured to Lady Qi.


    Lady Qi, whether out of dislike for Ran Yan or because she found the smell of the inner chamber unpleasant, slightly frowned but still pulled back the curtain, sparingly uttering one word, ¡°Please.¡±


    Ran Yan entered the inner chamber, followed by Lady Qi and a few other female relatives.


    Ran Yan took off her mask and handed it to the Maid beside her, sitting down next to the bed with a disregard for others.


    The old Lady Cui¡¯s complexion was colorless and withered, her hair full of silver threads.


    Although she was still conscious, her expression was listless.


    Seeing someone enter, she merely slightly moved her eyelids and then half-closed her eyes, which were covered in blood.


    Ever since Ran Yan had taken off her mask, Lady Qi had been staring at her, sizing her up several times, a flash of amazement passing through her eyes.


    All this time, Lady Qi had only heard about Ran Yan from Qi Liuniang, how she imitated Liuniang¡¯s haughty coldness.


    Upon meeting her today, she was not as expected; she had a chilling effect similar to Qi Liuniang, who seemed like an untouchable goddess high above, whereas Ran Yan resembled the dark night that wraps around one, not easily judged as superior or inferior.


    ¡°Go prepare some hot water and a handkerchief,¡± Ran Yan said while putting her hand on Lady¡¯s pulse.


    Lady Qi slightly raised her hand, signaling the Maid behind her to go and prepare.


    ¡°Lady, I will treat you later, which can relieve your vomiting and abdominal pain.


    However, it will require you to undress, please forgive me,¡± Ran Yan first sought the opinion of Old Lady Cui.


    Old Lady Cui weakly lifted her eyelids, a glimmer of hope arising in her dull eyes.


    Had it not been for her late husband¡¯s dying request, Old Lady Cui would have long sought a dose of poison to end it all.


    Suffering from vomiting and retching for over a month, even a robust young person couldn¡¯t bear it, let alone an old woman!


    Ran Yan saw Old Lady Cui¡¯s gaze and pressed several acupuncture points with appropriate force.


    Suddenly, the maid prepared hot water and brought it over.


    Ran Yan rolled up her sleeves, moistened the handkerchief in the hot water, wrung it out, and applied it to Old Lady Cui¡¯s eyes, speaking in a soothing voice, ¡°This should relieve your eye ailment, please rest for a while.¡±


    Ran Yan instructed the Maid to change the handkerchief for the Lady whenever necessary.


    Using this time, she took some paper and a pen, wrote down two prescriptions, and handed them to Lady Qi, ¡°The Lady has inherent deficiencies, with a weak spleen and stomach.


    Slight dietary missteps can trigger vomiting and diarrhea.


    For the next couple of days, cease solid food intake and consume only liquid food, such as rice soup, lotus root starch, and almond cream, six or seven times a day.


    Do not consume oily foods, meat, or overly sour or sweet foods until the diarrhea stops.¡±


    Lady Qi was slightly surprised.


    Usually, when doctors examined patients, they would use a lot of professional jargon which was hard to understand, but Ran Yan¡¯s explanations were extremely simple and easy to grasp.


    People outside the curtain clearly heard Ran Yan¡¯s words.


    Lu Hongchao, unable to see inside, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is there a prescription?¡±


    No one inside answered right away, but moments later, a Maid handed out Ran Yan¡¯s prescriptions.


    Lu Hongchao, having some knowledge of medical principles, felt upon examining them that although he had never seen these prescriptions before, they were incredibly ordinary and of a mild nature with nothing aggressive, which made him wonder, could this really work?


    As if aware of his concerns, Ran Yan spoke out, ¡°The Lady is overly frail.


    I will use scrape therapy later to alleviate her vomiting and diarrhea, then use one prescription to reduce fever, followed by another to stabilize her condition.¡±


    ¡°Scrape therapy?¡±


    The crowd looked at each other; they had never heard of this term before.


    However, each doctor has their closely guarded prescriptions and treatments, so they refrained from asking further.


    Lu Hongchao further inquired, ¡°What about the eye ailment?¡±


    ¡°Excessive vomiting caused subconjunctival hemorrhage, which typically heals on its own.


    A warm compress can alleviate the symptoms, and if it doesn¡¯t heal after the vomiting stops, I will prescribe another medicine,¡± explained Ran Yan.


    In traditional medicine, terms were often shrouded in mystery, but she specifically mentioned ¡°subconjunctival hemorrhage¡± so that even if people didn¡¯t understand, as long as they knew it was not serious, they wouldn¡¯t inquire further.


    As expected, no one raised any objections.


    Ran Yan began to prepare for the scrape therapy.


    As it required the Lady to undress, only Lady Qi stayed behind, and the rest were asked to leave the area beyond the curtain.


    Two Maids assisted the Lady in removing her clothes.


    Ran Yan was about to get up with oil in hand from the medicine box when she overheard a lady whispering outside the curtain, ¡°Is this Ran Shiqi?


    She doesn¡¯t seem like it.


    Back at my mother¡¯s home, I often saw her playing with Yin Si Niang, and she was never like this back then.¡±


    The voice was very low, but the room was quite silent.


    Ran Yan, with her excellent hearing, caught every word clearly. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yin Si Niang, Yin Wanwan?

 Chapter 77 - 77 48 The Gift One More Update

    ?77: Chapter 48: The Gift (One More Update) 77: Chapter 48: The Gift (One More Update) Ran Yan set aside all distractions and began to massage the old lady with grease.


    The so-called grease was actually plant oil mixed with several herbs by Ran Yan to relax the mind and body, its primary purpose being to avoid too much dryness and damage to the skin during scraping therapy.


    The scraping board used was a horn comb Ran Yan had casually taken from the dressing table that morning.


    The back of the comb was round and arched, very similar to a scraping board.


    Given the challenging conditions, she economized where she could.


    Ignoring the peculiar looks from Lady Qi beside her, Ran Yan began the scraping therapy.


    She scraped from the top downwards on the back.


    It was customary to first scrape the Governor Vessel along the midline of the back and then the Bladder Meridian and the Jiaji Acupoint on both sides.


    To avoid damaging the spine, Ran Yan used the supplemental method; she was gentle when scraping along the midline of the back.


    On the sides of the back, she used the edges of the scraping board to press between the spinous processes, choosing the supplementing and reducing techniques based on the old lady¡¯s body constitution and condition.


    The old lady¡¯s back slowly showed red sha marks against the backdrop of her pale skin, a sight somewhat alarming.


    Lady Qi quickly asked, ¡°Why is she injured?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not an injury, this is called ¡®releasing sha,¡¯ and it¡¯s a sign of detoxification.¡± After finishing the scraping on her back, Ran Yan turned and asked the old lady¡¯s two personal servants, ¡°When did the old lady have breakfast?¡±


    One of the older servants answered, ¡°She has been vomiting severely.


    She managed to eat half a bowl of rice porridge at the end of the ¡®Mao¡¯ hour and took her medicine half an hour ago, eating nothing else since.¡±


    Ran Yan nodded, stopped the scraping, and began to press and massage acupoints such as Jiuwei, Zhongwan, Guan Yuan, and Qugou in succession.


    About forty minutes later, the treatment finally ended.


    ¡°Use a warm towel to wipe down the old lady¡¯s body and change her into dry clothes.


    She should not bathe, be exposed to cold wind, and ensure the room is well ventilated to keep fresh for the next six hours,¡± Ran Yan instructed.


    Just as she was about to rise, her hand was suddenly grasped by the old lady.


    Everyone in the room was a bit surprised.


    The old lady had been so weak that she could barely open her eyes, and now, just after the treatment, she could lift her hand!


    They thought, this Ran Shiqi indeed lives up to her reputation.


    Realizing this, Lady Qi felt an even greater aversion to Ran Yan.


    ¡°Are you Ran Shiqi?¡± the old lady asked weakly, her enunciation still very clear despite her frailty.


    The people outside the curtain also heard her voice, and they were instantly overjoyed.


    The illness had tormented the old lady for a month, as well as them.


    Originally, when Lu Hongchao planned to have Ran Yan treat the old lady, they did not object, yet, in their hearts, they merely adopted the attitude of trying it as a last resort, not expecting it to actually work.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± answered Ran Yan.


    The old lady opened her eyes, exhaled, and after giving Ran Yan a quick glance, sighed, ¡°You are beautiful and skilled in medical arts.¡±


    Ran Yan did not quite grasp if there was a deeper meaning to Old Lady Cui¡¯s words, taking them as mere general praise and replied, ¡°You flatter me, Lady.¡± She then added, ¡°Your gastrointestinal system is weak; it might be good to slightly alter your dietary preferences.


    Actually, Southern cuisine isn¡¯t bad either.¡±


    The Cui family from Qing He was from the North, and Ran Yan guessed that the old lady was not used to the light and bland flavors of Suzhou cuisine, thus maintaining her previous eating habits.


    But now that she was older, her digestive system could not handle it.


    The old lady responded helplessly, ¡°Clear soups are tasteless and uninspiring!¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s heart stirred slightly.


    Winning the favor of Lady Lu was all to her advantage; now was an excellent opportunity, so why not seize it? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She then said, ¡°After you recover, I will write down a few recipes for the chefs at your estate that will suit your taste and won¡¯t cause you any discomfort.¡±


    Lady Lu was slightly surprised and didn¡¯t take it too seriously.


    In these times, there were few noblewomen who knew their way around the kitchen, and even if they could cook, they could hardly be better than professional chefs.


    She smiled faintly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you with that.¡±


    Seeing that Lady Lu¡¯s fatigue was increasing, Ran Yan stood up to take her leave.


    It was then that the servants lifted the thin quilt to help Lady Lu wipe her body and changed her into dry clothes before opening the windows to ventilate the room.


    The air inside the room circulated, and though a wave of summer heat entered, the atmosphere became much fresher.


    Lady Lu slept comfortably on her couch.


    Seeing this, Lady Qi also withdrew.


    The Ran family¡¯s influence was much greater than that of the Lu family, and since Ran Pingyu was Suzhou¡¯s richest man, using silver coins to compensate Ran Yan would be beneath the dignity of both families.


    Thus, Lu Hongchao had prepared two appropriate gifts early in the morning and handed them to her as soon as she came out.


    Lady Lu¡¯s condition had improved, and Lu Hongchao looked somewhat relieved, ¡°Thank you, Seventeenth Lady, for treating my mother this time.


    These two items are a gesture from the Lu family; I hope you won¡¯t find them lacking.¡±


    Both gifts were packed in exquisite gift boxes.


    One was square and not very tall; its appearance alone suggested it might contain one or two books.


    The other box was elongated, about a foot tall.


    Ran Yan subtly sniffed and immediately detected a strong ginseng scent.


    It must be a high-quality wild ginseng.


    Ran Yan handed it back, ¡°The gift is too generous, and I am ashamed to accept it.


    Please take back the ginseng, Uncle Lu.


    I will take this book and return it after reading it for a few days.¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s sniff was very natural and discreet, not meant to show off but because openly scrutinizing the contents in front of others would appear unsophisticated.


    Considering future interactions, she was mindful that excessively valuable gifts should not be casually accepted.


    Everyone in the Lu family was surprised and couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at the face hidden behind the mask, especially the unmarried young men among their grandsons.


    Earlier, Lady Lu¡¯s comment, ¡°She is beautiful, and her medical skills are excellent,¡± might seem like plain praise to outsiders, but they knew Lady Lu had taken a liking to Seventeen Lady, who might very well become their wife, so they paid extra attention.


    For major families, marriages are seldom about romance; as long as one looks pleasant and has an acceptable temperament, that is often enough.


    But Ran Yan had recently become a hot topic in Suzhou City, rumored to be as beautiful as Lady Qi the Sixth.


    Since there was no talk of feelings, a more beautiful appearance was definitely an advantage.


    Lu Hongchao said, ¡°As Seventeen Lady has cured my mother, I feel profoundly grateful.


    It is only right to send some gifts, and you should not refuse.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I will accept them without further ceremony,¡± Ran Yan said, no longer making any fuss, and took the book while placing the box containing the ginseng on a nearby table.


    ¡°I will accept the book, but this ginseng is of such fine quality that it¡¯s almost priceless in the market.


    Lady Lu is frail, so consider this ginseng my tribute to her.


    Please do not decline, Uncle Lu.¡±


    A medical book was already quite valuable, especially if it was a rare or secret edition, which could be worth a fortune.


    Ran Yan felt that curing a mere gastroenteritis, severe as it might have been for Lady Lu, didn¡¯t merit such a costly consultation fee.


    Transactions ought to be fair and even if they weren¡¯t, they shouldn¡¯t be too imbalanced.


    This was the way she always conducted herself.


    Lu Hongchao inwardly praised Ran Yan for her tactfulness.


    After exchanging a few more polite remarks, Ran Yan went into detail about the precautions and the method for decocting the medicine, then stood up to leave, heading towards a residence near East Market.


    **


    The chapter notification arrived; it¡¯s going live tomorrow, so let me give you a little extra benefit tonight by adding another chapter.


    I hope that after going live, you all will continue to support the full Tang dynasty and the series.


    Thank you, everyone!

 Chapter 78 - 78 49 Fierce Woman Second Update

    ?78: Chapter 49: Fierce Woman (Second Update) 78: Chapter 49: Fierce Woman (Second Update) After spending time traveling and exchanging pleasantries, Ran Yan left the Zhang residence late in the morning and immediately rushed to the Tianxiang Tower.


    Upstairs in a private room, Ran Yunsheng was reading a book, his slender fingers holding the yellowed scroll while a servant sat by his side, attending to him.


    Upon hearing footsteps, he set the book down and saw Ran Yan entering, guided by the waiter, looking travel-worn.


    He looked up with an indulgently affectionate smile and said, ¡°What¡¯s the rush?


    I¡¯m not busy either, waiting a bit longer wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    ¡°Wasting someone else¡¯s time is shameful,¡± Ran Yan sat down cross-legged at a seat, feeling naturally relaxed in front of Ran Yunsheng who always had the caring and gentle image of the boy next door, though this ¡®brother¡¯ did look rather ethereally beautiful.


    Seeing fine beads of sweat on Ran Yan¡¯s pale forehead and the tip of her nose, Ran Yunsheng pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe them for her.


    Ran Yan tensed up, quickly grabbed the handkerchief and began wiping herself down; she felt that such intimate gestures were only appropriate between lovers, hence she felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    She also secretly thought that she was becoming more timid, blaming it on Sang Chen, that dead rabbit.


    They say one is known by the company one keeps; surely, it must have been his influence.


    Ran Yunsheng¡¯s gaze lingered on Ran Yan¡¯s translucent, blush-tinted ears, gradually becoming absent-minded.


    When did that timid girl who used to follow behind him grow into a beauty capable of toppling nations?


    After being apart for two years, she didn¡¯t rely on him as much anymore.


    Unexplainably, Ran Yunsheng felt a faint sense of loss.


    The room fell silent for a moment until the waiter¡¯s knock interrupted their respective reflections, ¡°The dishes ordered by the gentleman are ready, when should we serve them?¡±


    Ran Yunsheng gathered his thoughts and replied, ¡°Bring them up now.¡±


    ¡°After two years apart, I don¡¯t know if your preferences have changed, so I ordered some dishes based on your past favorites,¡± Ran Yunsheng said, leaning against the window sill, his handsome face softened with a gentle smile, bright daylight filtering through the fine bamboo curtain casting a beautiful glow on his elegantly curved jawline, making it appear as if made of exquisite jade.¡±


    The waiter bringing the dishes momentarily stood transfixed.


    In terms of facial features, Ran Yan was not inferior to Ran Yunsheng but because of her cold demeanor, she didn¡¯t catch people¡¯s eye at first glance.


    Ran Yunsheng slightly furrowed his brows, and the servant at his side was about to prompt the waiter when suddenly a commotion erupted downstairs.


    The waiter abruptly came to his senses, respectfully set down the food, and quickly exited.


    Ran Yunsheng walked to the front window and lifted the bamboo curtain to look down into the lobby.


    Hearing the cries, scolding, the sound of shattering ceramics, and the noise of tables and chairs being smashed to the ground downstairs, as well as the bustling discussions among the crowd reminiscent of a busy morning market, Ran Yan also became curious and gathered closer.


    Peering through the gap in the lifted bamboo curtain, they saw a middle-aged woman in a gray silk bodice with one hand on her hip and one foot on a scrawny man lying on the ground, shouting, ¡°You tell me, where exactly did I hurt you!


    You rascal, trying to con money out of me!


    Has your brain been smashed, or are your dog eyes blind?¡±


    Since the woman¡¯s back was to Ran Yan, only her attire and robust figure were visible.


    The scrawny man underneath her foot cried as he trembled all over and accused, ¡°Just now at the entrance of the shop, you kicked me onto the stairs.


    My back and hips are still hurting.


    I merely asked for some money to see a doctor; there¡¯s no need to beat someone to death for that.


    I have an elderly mother and a child at home; what would they do if I were to die!¡±


    He burst into heart-wrenching sobs.


    The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion; having just witnessed the woman¡¯s fierce chase and entry, the residual fear lingered, and many believed the man¡¯s story.


    The woman¡¯s eyebrows shot up and she bent down to grab the man¡¯s clothes.


    The onlookers hadn¡¯t even reacted when suddenly they heard a few ¡°ripping¡± sounds as she tore the man¡¯s clothes from back to front, revealing smooth, unblemished buttocks.


    The lobby fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter, pointing at the exposed buttocks, some mischievously whistling.


    By then, everyone realized the man had been trying to swindle money.


    Typically, Southern women are reserved and gentle; harassed thus, they would not confront but quietly part with their money.


    However, this unfortunate swindler had encountered a tough opponent.


    The middle-aged woman sinisterly said, ¡°Where else are you hurt?


    Let me check thoroughly for you?¡±


    Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 79 - 79 49 Fierce Woman Second Update_2

    ?79: Chapter 49: Fierce Woman (Second Update)_2 79: Chapter 49: Fierce Woman (Second Update)_2 The slender man¡¯s face turned ashen as he struggled to escape, but the woman¡¯s foot pinned him down, rendering him immovable.


    Ran Yan watched the brash woman, cracked a slight smile, and was about to retreat when suddenly there was a loud crash in the great hall, a porcelain bowl shattered before a middle-aged man, spilling liquor all over the floor, ¡°What are you looking at, go home and look at your mother!¡±


    The man¡¯s gaze had been inappropriately wandering over her ample chest and hips from the very beginning, and, infuriated, the woman showed a hint of outlaw spirit.


    Upon hearing such face-losing words, the middle-aged man immediately stood up, seething with anger.


    Confronting a burly man seven feet tall, the middle-aged woman showed no fear, and with a swift motion, she pulled two one-foot-long blades from her sleeves and thrust them into the table before the burly man, silencing all the noise in the hall instantly.


    The tension was palpable, ready to explode at the slightest touch.


    The shape of a Tang Dynasty blade is similar to a sword, slender and straight with a sharp tip, very much like the Japanese katana.


    The middle-aged man¡¯s face paled at the sight of the buzzing blades on the table.


    During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, martial prowess was highly esteemed, and nobles and the privileged could carry swords to show off their identity or elegance, while blades could only be wielded by the officials of the court.


    ¡°Shu Niang!¡±


    Just when the atmosphere was at its most oppressive, a Servant in grey suddenly burst through the door, followed by seven or eight sturdy men, each with a long sword at his waist, exuding a fearsome aura.


    The Servant saw the mess inside the room and the two blades stuck in the table, wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief with one hand, and with the other, he tried to pull the woman away, ¡°Shu Niang, it¡¯s time to go back!¡±


    Shu Niang violently shook him off, her voice filled with rage, ¡°Don¡¯t pull me, wait till I castrate the one who dared to stealthily ogle me!


    Back when I was mixing it up in Wagang Village swinging blades, he was still in his mother¡¯s arms, sucking on milk!


    When I was out there killing people, he was still fiddling with his balls in his drawers!


    Dares to take advantage of me, if I don¡¯t castrate him, it would dishonor my reputation!¡±


    Wagang Village¡­


    The middle-aged man stood frozen, not apologizing, thinking Shu Niang was provoking him, not realizing he had already been scared stiff.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!


    Please, for the love of God, the master is looking for you!¡± the Servant shouted while pulling Shu Niang out with all his might.


    Upon hearing the word ¡°master,¡± Shu Niang¡¯s expression softened, as if she feared him.


    Reluctantly, she followed the Servant out, muttering, ¡°He¡¯s in his twenties now, doesn¡¯t need to be breastfed, what does he want with me all the time¡­¡±


    The Servant¡¯s face darkened, as he said anxiously, ¡°Sinful, sinful, you can say that to the master¡¯s face when you get back, I didn¡¯t hear anything¡­


    not a single word!¡±


    Ran Yan heard every word and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud; this Shu Niang was indeed quite amusing.


    ¡°Judging by her age, she seems to be in her thirties, from the founding of the Tang Dynasty after the Sui Dynasty to the Zhenguan period, at least twenty-six or seven years have passed.


    Could she really be from Wagang Village?¡± Ran Yunsheng wondered.


    Ran Yan did not reply; Shu Niang had maintained her physique quite well, and her exact age was not evident.


    However, her ambidexterity suggested a habitual use of dual blades.


    The aura of murderous intent she emitted in that brief moment of brandishing the knife was spine-chilling, and although it was fleeting, Ran Yan felt a disconcerting sense of blood in the air.


    The men who had come in with the Servant were busily getting things in order inside the hall: those who needed to collect swords did so, and those who needed to pay damages did that.


    It was obvious they were accustomed to cleaning up such messes, handling everything with ease.


    Seeing Ran Yan¡¯s bright, floral smile, Ran Yunsheng¡¯s mood became even more cheerful.


    He had just finished retracting the bamboo curtain when someone knocked at the door.


    Ran Yunsheng signaled the Servant to open the door and then returned to his place to sit down next to Ran Yan.


    As soon as the door to the private room opened, a handsome man dressed in light blue finery charged towards Ran Yan and anxiously asked, ¡°Seventeenth Lady, do you really want to call off the engagement?¡±


    Ran Yan was startled by the sudden intrusion but, upon a clearer look, recognized it was Qin Silang.


    He appeared much more haggard than he had been a few days ago, reeking of alcohol, no longer exuding his usual clean and handsome charm.


    His eyes were fixed on her threateningly, as if should she answer ¡®yes¡¯, he¡¯d be ready to perish along with her in that very moment.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Ran Yunsheng¡¯s expression turned cold.


    With a slight gesture of his hand, four robust men appeared from nowhere, their presence no less imposing than Shu Niang¡¯s group had been earlier.


    Qin Musheng turned to Ran Yunsheng, and upon seeing his handsome face, paused for a moment, taken aback, only to then confront him with a burst of anger, ¡°Are you calling off our engagement for this hermaphrodite demon?¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s displeasure flared up instantly as she replied coldly, ¡°Watch your words!


    In what way is my brother hermaphroditic or demonic?


    Qin Silang, please think before you speak!¡±


    Ran Yunsheng tasted bitterness in his mouth but felt an aching, warm sensation in his heart.


    In the past, when people spoke ill of him to his face, he had chosen to ignore it, but today, his sister, whom he had always protected, stood up for him.


    ¡°Ran Shilang?¡± Qin Musheng paused, his tipsiness abruptly clearing up upon realizing Ran Yan¡¯s unfriendly gaze.


    He quickly stammered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­


    jealousy clouded my judgment just now, and I misspoke.


    Ayan, I didn¡¯t mean it intentionally.¡±


    Everyone in Suzhou City knew what kind of person Qin Musheng was.


    Though prone to temper tantrums, he always showed infinite tolerance towards beautiful women.


    He was willing to go to great lengths to please a beauty, squandering a fortune to pursue Qi Liuniang and even trampling on his own dignity to do so.


    When the Noble Ladies made fun of him, he never lost his temper.


    Ran Yan had summed up his philosophy: As long as it¡¯s a beautiful woman, everything can be forgiven.


    Ran Yan had been repulsed by him from the start, originally begrudgingly giving him a chance because of the betrothal.


    Now that the Ran Family seemed to have called off the engagement, she would be a fool not to sever all ties immediately.


    ¡°The engagement was decided by my father, and I did not oppose it.


    Now that he has called it off, I still won¡¯t oppose it.¡± Ran Yan made her stance very clear: if you have any issues, go to Ran Wen; it has nothing to do with me.


    This statement also clarified the whole situation for Ran Yunsheng, whose immediate anger flared up.


    Qin Silang had been frequenting brothels since he was fourteen or fifteen, and had tangled with plenty of good women in his early years¡ªhe probably even had a son raised in secret by now. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With the status of the Ran Family and Seventeenth Lady¡¯s talents and beauty, she could be matched with any fine gentleman; there was absolutely no need to waste her on such a person!


    Without a doubt, this must have been that Gao Shi¡¯s idea!


    ¡°Qin Silang, now that my uncle has called off the engagement, please stop pestering Ayan.


    It¡¯s unseemly,¡± Ran Yunsheng said, his usually gentle voice sounding rather cold and harsh.


    Qin Musheng scoffed, seething with resentment, ¡°Looked down upon?


    Who in Suzhou City doesn¡¯t look down on me now?


    If it weren¡¯t for my father still holding the position of an Upper Assistant, they would likely step on my head!


    It¡¯s all the damn Yin Family¡¯s scheme, Yin Miaomiao hates me; it must have been her doing!¡±


    Qin Musheng attributed others¡¯ contempt entirely to scheming.


    On the surface, indeed, since the death of Han Shan, everyone had been avoiding him like a plague.


    However, little did they realize the disdain had long been rooted deep in their hearts; it was all brought about by his own wrongdoings.


    Ran Yan only focused on the last part, frowning slightly, ¡°Miaomiao hates you, why?¡±

 Chapter 80 - 80 50

    ?80: Chapter 50 She is the murderer!


    80: Chapter 50 She is the murderer! sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Musheng realized he had misspoken, his face slightly changing color, and he stammered without giving an answer.


    Seeing his expression, Ran Yan decided not to press further, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me about the canceled engagement¡ªI don¡¯t know and I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Yan¡­¡± Qin Musheng¡¯s face turned a bit pale as he looked at Ran Yan¡¯s beautiful and indifferent features, feeling a twinge of pain in his heart, ¡°I genuinely like you.


    I admit to behaving recklessly in the past, but I will never do so again.


    Yan, please don¡¯t cancel our engagement¡­¡±


    Ran Yan believed he was speaking sincerely at that moment.


    There are people so earnest when they are sincere, but you never know if they¡¯ll change their mind the next second.


    Perhaps he would eventually meet someone who could truly capture his heart.


    Just like ¡°crying wolf,¡± it was impossible to discern when he was truthful and when he wasn¡¯t.


    Naturally, Ran Yan wouldn¡¯t gamble her future on such feelings, nor did she have the determination to reform a troubled youth.


    Seeing that Ran Yan was no longer paying him any attention, Qin Musheng thought it was because of Yin Miaomiao¡¯s affair, and he hastily said, ¡°Yin Miaomiao assumes that her sister lost her virtue to me, but I swear I never touched Yin Wanwan!¡±


    Ran Yan¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly, and she asked coldly, ¡°Do you know how Wanwan died?¡±


    Qin Musheng was in no mood to discuss these matters and replied offhand, ¡°Didn¡¯t she contract a serious illness?


    Yan¡­¡±


    Ran Yunsheng saw that Ran Yan seemed to be growing impatient and interrupted, ¡°Qin Silang, I don¡¯t want to resort to violence.


    If the engagement is already off, it means that you were not fated to be together.


    If you persist in your harassment, don¡¯t blame me for not showing you any mercy.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Qin Musheng¡¯s face turned livid.


    He had patience for beautiful women, but that didn¡¯t mean he was patient with everyone.


    In an instant, he grabbed Ran Yan, intending to drag her outside, ¡°Come with me to plead with Uncle Ran.


    He will surely change his mind!¡±


    Ran Yunsheng¡¯s face changed, and he barked, ¡°Stop him!¡±


    The four burly men blocking the door moved to cut off his path.


    Qin Musheng, unexpectedly skillful for a dandy, threw a fierce punch at the abdomen of the closest man.


    Caught off guard, one of the men was struck and staggered back, his sturdy back hitting the door frame with a loud ¡°bang¡±.


    The other three men immediately lunged forward, but wary of hurting Ran Yan standing at Qin Musheng¡¯s side, they dared not strike too hard.


    They feared accidentally hitting her delicate, flower-like face, and they couldn¡¯t subdue him right away.


    Ran Yan, who had eaten little for breakfast and expended much energy while treating the elder Lady Cui, felt uneasy being tugged and pulled on an empty stomach.


    She summoned all her strength, grabbed with one hand, and clutched his upper arm with the other¡ªonly to hear a ¡°crack¡± sound.


    Qin Musheng¡¯s right arm suddenly hung limply, swaying on his body, the intense pain causing him to reflexively release his hold.


    The men took advantage and firmly pinned him down.


    Ran Yan stepped back a few paces, watching the chaos die down with a cold gaze.


    Once everything settled, she approached with an icy expression, grabbed Qin Musheng¡¯s arm, tugged it slightly, and then sharply pushed it back into place.


    Everyone inside the room stared at the unflinching Ran Yan in disbelief.


    The grating, bone-grinding sounds of ¡°crack¡± ¡°crack¡± made everyone feel as if their own arms hurt.


    They thought to themselves how they never expected the frail-looking lady to possess martial arts skills, let alone such ruthlessness¡ªto dislocate and reset an arm without even blinking an eye.


    In fact, the little skill Ran Yan possessed was no match for Qin Musheng.


    It was only because he thought he had caught a little lamb and had completely let down his guard that she managed to easily dislocate his arm.


    The intense pain in his right arm, burrowing deep into his heart, revealed a look of defeat and despair in Qin Musheng¡¯s eyes.


    The Ran Yan he saw was as usual, with her deep dark eyes slightly cold, lacking the mocking and disdainful look of other Noble Ladies.


    It was this that suddenly made him feel inferior.


    ¡°Whether you believe it or not, the person framing me must be Yin Miaomiao, and she¡¯s likely the one who tried to kill your maid as well,¡± Qin Musheng said, leaning on the door frame and slowly standing up.


    As Qin Musheng was the legitimate son of Upper Assistant Qin, the guards didn¡¯t dare to do much to him, provided he didn¡¯t instigate trouble himself, and they stood around on alert.


    ¡°I won¡¯t give up,¡± Qin Musheng dropped these words and turned to leave the elegant room.


    Ran Yunsheng¡¯s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly as he withdrew his gaze and looked at Ran Yan, ¡°When was the engagement arranged?¡±