Chapter 268 - 169: Dead Ten Years Ago

Words : 1556 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 268: Chapter 169: Dead Ten Years AgoAfter the meal, Ran Yan felt sleepy, so Xiao Song ordered someone to bring the case file and sat cross-legged next to the table to review it. Stacks of case files piled high on the table. Ran Yan half-closed her eyes, her gaze settling on him. Xiao Song had just bathed and was dressed in a moon-white robe with wide sleeves. She remembered he usually wore round-necked dark purple robes and rarely wore leisurely wide-sleeved cross-collared robes, nor did he often wear such light colors. His wet hair lay scattered behind him, a few strands hanging down, complementing his stern and focused face; his face had clear contours, a prominent nose, and especially his remarkable eyes, which were like sword blades when not smiling but like the warm sun when he did. Xiao Song, with his eyes downturned, flipped through the yellowed pages of the case file, but asked, "Not sleepy?" Ran Yan decided to play possum and did not reply for a long time; however, the urge to sleep had dissipated somewhat, and lying down for so long had become somewhat boring. "If you’re not asleep, we might as well discuss the case," Xiao Song said with a smile, looking up at her. He knew how to pique her interest. Indeed, after being silent for a while, Ran Yan finally opened her eyes and asked, "Have you taken over this case?" Xiao Song curved his lips in a smile and nodded, "The murderer has given me such a good reason, how could I have the heart not to take it on." Ran Yan was stunned for a moment, not fully grasping the deeper meaning of his words. Seeing Ran Yan’s slightly perplexed expression, Xiao Song’s brow furrowed slightly. He meant that someone had hurt his person of interest, and no man should stand idly by. Was his way of confessing too indirect? Well, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Xiao Song did not dwell on this issue and instead said, "I’ve checked the case files from ten years ago, that is, all the incidents that happened in the County Government involving Zhang Xuan and Feng Zhao, who used to be prison guards, as well as all the prisoners held there." That was fast! Ran Yan raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Did you find anything?" "I’ve identified a few suspects among those detained, but I need to confirm a few things. Who was the person who tied you up?" Xiao Song asked. "He claimed to be Zhuang Yin, but I suspect that’s not his real name." Ran Yan recalled and described his features one by one, "This man had a beard, about forty years old, around six feet tall, with rough palms on his right hand and a light yellow thumb ring carved with a mythical beast, Yazi." Xiao Song tensed, "Zhuang Yin?" "Is there a problem? Could it be his real name?" Ran Yan blurted out, seeing Xiao Song’s suddenly serious demeanor. Xiao Song shook his head and said, "It seems the matter is quite complicated. I’ve seen the name Zhuang Yin in the files; he was the leader of a gang of bandits, captured ten years ago, but the records state that Zhuang Yin was sentenced to death and died ten years ago." Ten years ago, right after the turmoil at Xuanwu Gate had calmed and Emperor Taizong had just ascended the throne. At that time, there were domestic and foreign troubles, and everything was incredibly turbulent. Therefore, it was not surprising that the government soldiers stationed in various places were brave warriors who could capture mere bandit leaders. But how could a dead man reappear and kidnap Ran Yan? There were only two reasons that could explain this: either Zhuang Yin had not died for some reason, or Zhuang Yin was dead, and the person who appeared this time was pretending to be him. These two reasons could lead the investigation in two entirely different directions and must be approached with caution. Ran Yan also furrowed her brows, "That Zhuang Yin had a bandit’s air, and he was followed by dozens of well-trained men in black... If someone is impersonating him, it must certainly be another bandit!" Xiao Song put down the file in his hand, stood up, and walked over to her bed, "You’re still sick now. It’s enough that you know about these matters. You don’t have to worry too much; leave it to me." Leave it to me. Such a simple phrase, which Ran Yan had said countless times before, but no one had ever said it to her. Instead, she often heard: "Forensic Doctor Ran, I’m entrusting this matter to you." Ran Yan looked at the bright sunlight on the porch, looked up at Xiao Song, and said, "I want to go out and bask in the sun." "Alright," Xiao Song bent down to pull back her blanket and reached out to scoop her up before saying, "Pardon me." Ran Yan didn’t mind these formalities and leaned closer to him, resting her head against his broad chest, just inches away. Warmth passed through their clothes, a steady and strong heartbeat, as if it were all a dream. Ran Yan was still immersed in her sensations, but she didn’t notice the tension in Xiao Song’s body or the increasingly heavy breathing. Wan Lu and Ge Lan had been standing at the doorway listening, and were taken aback to see Xiao Song carrying Ran Yan out in his arms. Because, in the courtyard designed in a quad layout, a figure in a grey robe was sitting quietly on the north veranda. Hearing the footsteps, he turned his head, only to lock eyes with Xiao Song carrying Ran Yan out. Their gazes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Only Ran Yan remained composed as she said, "Mr. Xiao, you may put me down by the railing, thank you." Xiao Song responded with an affirmative, but he didn’t actually put down Ran Yan. Instead, he tightened his hold on her, and after standing silently for a while, he turned to Wan Lu, who was still in shock, and said, "Go fetch the bedding." "Ah? Oh!" Wan Lu snapped back to reality and hurriedly ran inside to retrieve a quilt to lay on the wooden floor. Xiao Song jestingly set her down. Sang Chen pressed his lips together, stood for a while, and then prepared to leave. Xiao Song called out to him, "Sang Suiyuan, how about a game of chess?" Sang Chen halted, turned his head in confusion, and looked at him. Sang Chen was recognized as a national master, and beating him would certainly require both skill and luck. Xiao Song and Sang Chen had only played once before, with the game ending in Xiao Song’s defeat. "I would be glad to," Sang Chen said in an elegant voice, contrasting sharply with Xiao Song’s magnetic tone. Ge Lan found a set of Go, and next to Ran Yan, she arranged a small table. Xiao Song and Sang Chen sat facing each other, with Xiao Song holding the black stones and Sang Chen the white. Ran Yan, having nothing better to do, began to watch with interest. The game had barely begun when their strategies began to emerge. Surprisingly, Xiao Song was playing a steady and solid game, prompting Ran Yan to give him a curious glance. Xiao Song, feeling her gaze, couldn’t help but smile at her, "What, has Miss Seventeen just discovered that I am a gentleman?" Sang Chen remained engrossed in the game, as he was not used to multitasking. Ran Yan gave him a disdainful look, leaned against the railing, and slowly said, "A false gentleman." Xiao Song’s smile grew brighter, revealing teeth as white as pearls, his expression clear and lightsome, "Flattered by the praise, Miss Seventeen, please wait and see." No sooner had his words fallen than a vital group of his stones was captured. Sang Chen leisurely began to remove them from the board. In Go, the empty points directly adjacent to a stone are its "liberties." A stone must have liberties to remain on the board. The act of removing an opponent’s stones without liberties from the board is called "capturing." "I’ll wait and see," Ran Yan said with a smirk, reveling in his misfortune. Xiao Song glared at her, then started to focus seriously on the game. Sang Chen’s style of play wasn’t as mild as it appeared to others; it was both fierce and accurate. Once the timing was right, he would not hesitate for even a moment. He was unambiguous in his stratagems, which commanded Ran Yan’s new respect. And Xiao Song’s moves were admirable as well. It wasn’t that his skills surpassed Sang Chen’s, but rather that someone so full of cunning schemes played the game with such composure and meticulous planning! Watching the profiles of both men, Ran Yan wondered if they had swapped souls at that moment! (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Chapter 268 - 169: Dead Ten Years Ago

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