Chapter 103 - 64 Assistant Minister

Chapter 103: Chapter 64 Assistant MinisterAfter Yin Miaomiao and her servant left, Ran Yan and Qin Musheng paused for a moment before also leaving the willow grove. "Elder Brother Shi, what was my relationship with Miaomiao in the past?" Ran Yan always found it strange. If their relationship had been good, why were they now mere acquaintances? And if it hadn’t been, why did she dream about her repeatedly? "Yin San Niang?" Ran Yunsheng said in surprise, "Ah Yan, don’t you remember?" "Hmm, I’ve forgotten some things," Ran Yan replied. Ran Yunsheng furrowed his handsome brows and slowly said, "If you’ve forgotten, then let it be forgotten." "But I want to know now. Elder Brother Shi, please tell me." Ran Yan stopped in her tracks, her lips pressed tightly together, her dark eyes filled with intransigent stubbornness. Looking at her for a while, Ran Yunsheng sighed, "I don’t know about your relationship with Yin San Niang, but I know you got along well with Yin Si Niang. She often invited you to go out and play. I’ve been in Chang’an and only heard recently that she passed away due to a serious illness. Ah Yan, the dead cannot be brought back to life, and besides, she has been gone for two years. You should mourn." Ran Yunsheng raised his hand to gently stroke her head, his eyes full of pity. Just a few days ago, when he had first seen Ran Yan, he had doubted why his usually frail sister had changed so drastically. But after some inquiries over the past few days, he understood how much suffering she had been through, which made him feel even more compassion for her. "Tell me about Wanwan. I won’t be heartbroken anymore, but I want to hear about her," Ran Yan said. After reflecting for a moment, Ran Yunsheng said, "The Yin family is very strict. I didn’t see her much either. From what I remember, Yin Si Niang was a girl who loved to laugh, very lively and playful, often sneaking out of her house to invite you to play together." Ran Yan listened and painted a picture of Yin Wanwan in her mind. "I remember you told me before that if she snuck out like this, she would be punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall when she returned. Nevertheless, she continued to sneak out, sometimes even skipping school," Ran Yunsheng carefully recounted what he knew. Every large family clan had their own teachings. In the Tang Dynasty, the saying "women with no talent is a virtue" did not exist. Women needed to be literate, so underage children from the clans, regardless of gender, usually attended family schools. The two of them chatted as they walked toward where the carriage was parked. Ran Yunsheng had very little contact with the women of the Yin family, having seen them only a couple of times and always from a distance. He knew very little about Yin Wanwan, and even less about the cause of her death than Xing Niang, who also spoke vaguely about it. Turning into the alley, Ran Yunsheng was about to help Ran Yan into the carriage when a magnetic voice suddenly echoed from a dark shadow, "Lady Ran." Ran Yan paused in her movement and turned her head towards the source of the voice. Out from the shadows of the buildings, a figure in dark brown foreign attire slowly emerged. His appearance was attractive, his expression pleasant, and his already three-dimensional features became even more profound due to the play of light and shadow. He wore a smile that was faint yet elegant and nodded politely to Ran Yan, "What a coincidence to meet in a bustling place like this." Such a voice, such an appearance— who else could it be but Xiao Song? Ran Yan scrutinized this dead-end alley, frowning. Encountering someone here was an even smaller chance than transmigration. She asked directly, "Lord Xiao, what do you seek from me?" "Since Lady Ran is so straightforward, I won’t beat around the bush either." Xiao Song looked at Ran Yunsheng, "Could Lord Ran perhaps do me the courtesy of allowing me a few words alone with your sister?" Ran Yunsheng looked at the man with composure and surprise, "Assistant Minister Xiao!" It appeared to be an official. Ran Yan guessed that Ran Pingyu in Chang’an was just a merchant. It was possible for a merchant to know many officials, but not necessarily the other way around; thus, it was likely that Ran Yunsheng and Xiao Song were barely acquainted. "Ah Yan?" Ran Yunsheng turned towards Ran Yan as if her shaking her head would be enough for him to offend Xiao Song rather than leave her alone. "Elder Brother Shi, drive the carriage to the corner first. I will come there shortly," Ran Yan said, not wanting to put Ran Yunsheng in a difficult position. Ran Yunsheng nodded, made a bow to Xiao Song, and turned to board the carriage. Watching the carriage rumble away from the alley entrance, Ran Yan spoke, "Lord Xiao has something to say." "To kill a man every ten steps, to travel a thousand miles without leaving a trace." Xiao Song suddenly recited a line from "Heroic Wanderer," his eyes sparkling like stars, growing even brighter. "It describes it perfectly. The poetry stirs the soul so much that even Shangguan Yi himself would admit inferiority. However, what inspired you to compose this poem?" Shangguan Yi was skilled in poetry, greatly favored by Emperor Taizong. Not everyone might know of him, but his granddaughter Shangguan Wan’er was a notable female official beside Empress Wu Zetian. However, the current Shangguan Yi was only twenty-nine years old. "I can’t compose poetry. What I said was merely borrowing someone else’s verses for the sake of escape," Ran Yan knew he definitely wanted to inquire about the assassination tonight. Although she pretended not to understand his words, she was secretly deliberating in her heart whether to confess Su Fu’s matter. If she told the truth, would that ice-cold man kill her in a fit of rage? If she didn’t tell, would he feel insecure and kill to silence her? In fact, when Ran Yan had recited "Heroic Wanderer," she had also considered exposing Su Fu. Such a person was indeed terrifying, but she hesitated. If she truly angered Su Fu, she feared even the government might not be able to protect her completely, so she had to be cautious about this matter. "Hmm, you don’t want to tell me the truth," Xiao Song narrowed his eyes and said with a faint smile, "Your words are certain enough, but your expression is too hesitant." Ran Yan glared at him coldly. This man could always see through her thoughts at a glance, which was extremely displeasing. Xiao Song’s smile broadened slightly as he stepped forward, closing in on Ran Yan. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "Actually, you in rouge color are truly captivating." His voice, low and rich, carried an unintentional seductive quality that made it hard for one not to blush. "Your lie isn’t very convincing," Ran Yan turned her head away, huffing. "How so?" Xiao Song looked at her with interest, as if he had already forgotten his initial purpose. "Just now on the river, I was feeling completely uncomfortable and angry. Anyone who finds that attractive is either lying or blind. Which are you?" Ran Yan had always scorned those affected beauties, including her appearance at that moment. Beauty is for the one who enjoys it, and it’s only truly moving when it comes from the heart. She had experienced such contrivance once and would definitely not attempt it a second time. "If Lord Xiao has no further business, I will take my leave," Ran Yan said, bowing slightly as she prepared to depart. As she reached the alley entrance, she suddenly noticed a group of aristocratic young men and Noble Ladies approaching from the market. Among them was that Zhang Fei, who said with curiosity, "She was clearly seen coming up from the west bank. How could she disappear in the blink of an eye? Could she have already gone back?" "Eh, isn’t that the Ran residence’s carriage?" Someone with keen eyes spotted Ran Yunsheng’s carriage stopped at the street corner. Ran Yan felt annoyed, as if she had stirred up a hornet’s nest, relentlessly targeted. This feeling was absolutely terrible! "You seem to have encountered some trouble," Xiao Song said, appearing beside her, his face wearing a smile, with no intention of intervening, resembling someone who came to enjoy the commotion. This was like adding fuel to the fire, truly testing Ran Yan’s sanity. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.) 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