Chapter 329 - 206: Scandal_2

Words : 1266 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 329: Chapter 206: Scandal_2Moreover, when Xiao Song lent a hand this time, Ran Yunsheng could think of no other reason. After saying those words, Ran Yunsheng couldn’t help but regret it a little, as if now he was making Ran Yan bear the commitment; quickly recovering, he added, "It’s just that I’ve been uneasy lately, worrying needlessly. Yan, please don’t take my words to heart." Ran Yan smiled slightly, "Brother Shi, aren’t you underestimating me? Even if you hadn’t mentioned this, wouldn’t I have thought of it myself? Don’t worry, I’ll be careful." Ran Yunsheng also smiled, feeling a sense of relief in his heart. He had indeed been frightened these days, not because he was too timid but because he had heard too many rumors about Princess Baling’s private garden. Allegedly, Princess Baling used "opium" to control and confine young men, discarding all dignity and reason at the onset of their addiction, allowing her to mock them at will. Opium, which includes both marijuana and opium itself, had entered China during Zhang Qian’s missions to the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, particularly in the cosmopolitan Great Tang, there were plenty of highborn dandies who were addicts. Ran Yunsheng couldn’t avoid interacting with such people and had even once visited a gathering of addicts. People there, when excited, were utterly mad; the scene was as decadent as could be, and he never wanted to associate with such substances in his life. Therefore, without any safety guarantees, Ran Yunsheng could even imagine his own dark future; as a normal person, how could he not be frightened! "Brother Shi, wait a moment." Ran Yan stood up and quickly went to the small side room she usually used for preparing medicine, retrieved a bottle of poison, and returned to the hall. Ran Yan handed Ran Yunsheng a cool, dark red porcelain bottle, "This is a poison I compounded myself." "Yan, you..." Ran Yunsheng was full of surprise, but soon he realized it was just ordinary deadly poison, half-jokingly he said, "Your method is good; someday I will get more poison to carry with me, even if I cannot kill anyone else, at least I can use it for suicide." Ran Yan knew he wasn’t taking it seriously, so she solemnly said, "This poison is colorless, tasteless, and can dissolve in most substances, and it will disappear automatically after being exposed to the air for two days and nights, with no signs of poisoning in the dead." Ran Yunsheng was speechless, staring at Ran Yan’s serious expression, he couldn’t just treat it as a joke. Last time on the boat when Ran Yan spoke of concocting poisons, he thought she just had an interest in it and didn’t take it to heart, but now, it seemed that Ran Yan’s expertise in this area was not superficial. "Brother Shi!" Ran Yan grasped Ran Yunsheng’s hand, saying, "Promise me you will take good care of yourself. If that Princess Baling still refuses to give up, you must not be lenient." "She is a princess; this act is but a mutual destruction. My Ran Family..." Ran Yunsheng had not finished speaking before Ran Yan interrupted, "As long as you use it correctly, no one will be able to detect this poison; I dare swear to the heavens. I just want you to be safe; even if every princess under the heavens were to die, what would it matter to me!" Ran Yunsheng was touched and didn’t scold her for her irreverent words. He gently stroked Ran Yan’s hair, his eyes misty, and smiled, "Our Yan has grown up and can even protect Brother Shi now." His eyes shimmered with moisture, and his lips hinted a smile, just like the misty rain of Jiangnan, with flowers blooming along the paths, their beauty fleeting and breathtakingly stunning. Ran Yan sighed in her heart. Even she couldn’t help but be mesmerized, let alone the Princess of Baling who adored beautiful young men! Sёarᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After speaking with Ran Yunsheng for a while, the sky had already darkened. After washing up, Ran Yan lay in bed but could not fall asleep for a long time. Xiao Song had done too much for her. It would be a lie to say she was unmoved, but who could predict the future? He didn’t have any women by his side because it wasn’t possible, but what if one day he was free from his marital obligations? Being moved was one thing, but had she really fallen for him? Ran Yan turned over and reached for a long flute beside her bed. The cold touch of it calmed her heart significantly and brought that handsome, almost ethereal face to her mind. She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but upon waking up the next day, Ran Yan found the flute in the bed, now warmed from being covered by the blankets. Dawn was just breaking, and a fire burned in the brazier, warding off any chill. Ran Yan, clad in a satin dress, stepped down from her bed and stood in front of the embroidery frame by the window. After a moment, she picked up the scissors and cut the white folded cloth into pieces, then sat in front of the brazier, stitching meticulously along the edges. By the time it was fully light, Wan Lu parted the curtains and found Ran Yan slightly bent forward in a relaxed posture, sewing something. The often trailing hem of her satin dress sprawled on the mat behind her, her bare feet, slightly reddened from the cold, contrasted against her fair skin and looked strikingly beautiful. "Wife, that’s how it should be done!" Wan Lu laughed. This posture, although somewhat casual, was much better than her usually stern demeanor whenever she held a needle and thread. By then, Ran Yan had finished sewing a handkerchief and turned to Wan Lu, "I’m going to Xiao’s residence today; help me with my hair." Wan Lu agreed and was about to fetch water but was stopped by Ran Yan, "Don’t let Mrs. Xing know about this." "Alright, I know." Wan Lu blinked but soon noticed the embroidered handkerchief and said, "Wife, are you planning to give this handkerchief to Young Master Xiao as a gift? Isn’t it a bit too humble?" Ran Yan’s expression darkened as she grabbed the handkerchief and inspected it again, "The embroidery is very good, isn’t it?" In her previous life, she had never dreamed she’d be able to embroider such a high-quality handicraft. "Young Master Xiao holds a high position and comes from a distinguished family, I think this gift seems a bit light. Perhaps you should consider something else?" Wan Lu suggested and went out to fetch water. Ran Yan thought it over. She didn’t have anything valuable to give, and as Wan Lu had pointed out, Xiao Song was from a distinguished family; what hadn’t he seen? At least what she made was heartfelt, although not valuable. With that thought, Ran Yan rummaged through a trunk and pulled out a piece of silk to wrap the handkerchief. Wan Lu entered just then and seeing Ran Yan’s actions, burst out laughing, "I’ve honestly never seen anything like this, wrapping white cloth in top-quality silk." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Chapter 329 - 206: Scandal_2

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