Chapter 81 - 50 She is the murderer!

Chapter 81: Chapter 50 She is the murderer!Ran Yan reached out to pour herself a glass of water, lifted it to her lips, and took a sip, saying, "It was about half a month ago, Father probably thought my illness was terminal, that my life was nearing its end, so he decided on this marriage." After a pause, seeing Ran Yunsheng’s displeased expression, she comforted him instead, "If I truly were terminally ill, getting married would not matter much, as I wouldn’t have many days left. But now that I have recovered, if I am unwilling, no one can force me! The same goes for the Gao family. Brother, I can already protect myself, there is no need for worry." Ran Yunsheng cast his eyes down, hiding his eyes that resembled autumn water, and hummed softly, making his emotions indiscernible. It was as if he took a moment to calm his mood before turning his head and instructing the Servant to tell the restaurant to change the dishes they ordered. Due to Qin Silang’s disturbance, Ran Yunsheng was somewhat distracted during the meal and ate very little. However, these inconsequential matters hardly affected Ran Yan. After the meal, the two rested briefly in the private room before heading out to shop at East Market. Seeing that even the clothes and accessories Ran Yan wore were very ordinary, without even a few decent pieces of jewelry, Ran Yunsheng took her on a lavish shopping spree at East Market. Anything that Ran Yan glanced at more than once or touched, no matter the price, he bought it all without hesitation. With his generous spending and his charming appearance, which made even the sunlight seem dim when he smiled, the two of them attracted attention wherever they went. After making their rounds, two horse-drawn carriages were trailing behind them. Fortunately, Ran Yan was not someone amazed by everything she saw; otherwise, Ran Yunsheng might indeed have emptied the entire East Market. Ran Yunsheng was an extremely attentive person. Seeing Ran Yan begin to show signs of fatigue and with clouds gathering in the sky, suggesting imminent rain, he called for the carriages to take her back. The alleys of Suzhou were too narrow for carriages to pass through, so they had to exit East Market and follow the main road straight from the East Gate, then make their way around to the manor in South City. Once in the carriage, Ran Yan leaned against the window, admiring the outside scenery through the curtain. The sunset spread a red glow across the sky, a tangerine light enveloping Suzhou City. The warm hues reflected on the gray tiles and white walls, the air overly humid, mixed with the residual heat of the day, felt like being in a steaming cage, with clothes sticking uncomfortably to the skin. The vapor in the air gradually formed a mist, and the bluestone bricks seemed almost to seep water. Swallows flew low in twos and threes, skimming over the lanes. As dark clouds enveloped the sunset glow, the mist thickened, and in the hazy fog, double-layered brick and wood structures with scrolled eaves, carved window frames, horse-head firewalls, and butterfly tiles, all brimming with the rich flavors of the Jiangnan area, faintly appeared. The carriage had just left East Market when it began to drizzle. The rain was very fine, like continuous threads, softly and silently weaving a dense net, spreading a thin veil of gauze between the gray tiles and white walls, creating a scene reminiscent of a Jiangnan ink wash painting. Ran Yan parted the curtain to look, then dismissed her plan to visit Inspector Liu. She had intended to request to personally examine the corpse of Yin Family’s Maid, but due to the rain, the sky darkened earlier than usual. If the rain intensified, the paths on the lanes would become even more difficult to navigate, and she did not want too many people to know about her autopsy skills. With Ran Yunsheng present, it was also inconvenient to visit. Thus, she decided to first go to the manor to check on Wan Lu’s recovery. Tomorrow, when she came over to treat patients, she would visit Inspector Liu. "Brother, it’s getting late, and it’s raining, you should head back home first, just send a few Guards to escort me," Ran Yan said. Ran Yunsheng pondered for a moment. The journey from the east to the south of the city was not far, and the public order was also good, with no bandits around. The sky had not yet darkened completely, but it would not be as easy to walk on the way back. He then said, "Alright, it just so happens that I have some things to do tonight. After you reach the manor, have them come back and report to me." "Okay," Ran Yan replied. Ran Yunsheng knocked on the carriage wall, ordered the coachman to pull over and stop, then jumped down from the coach. From outside, he pulled aside the bamboo curtain and said to Ran Yan, "I just came back. I have many things to do. I might be very busy in the coming days; when I am free, I will come to find you." "Hmm," Ran Yan nodded. No sooner had the curtain dropped than it was swept aside again, revealing Ran Yunsheng’s radiant smile. "The Qixi festival at Pingjiang River is extraordinarily lively. By then, your elder brother will take you there to find your ideal husband!" Having said that, he playfully winked at her. In the fine drizzle, his city-illuminating smile was like a brilliant hibiscus flower, seemingly softened by the rain of Jiangnan, where warmth and passion perfectly blended together, making it hard to look away. The bamboo curtain fell, and the carriage slowly moved forward. Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ran Yan withdrew her gaze, leaned against the carriage wall, and quietly thought about the events of the past days, linking them together one by one. It began with the poisoning to death of the son of Jinling County’s County Chief, Han Shan, in a brothel, followed by the inexplicable presence of the corpse of Yin Miaomiao’s maid in the Yulan residence. Judging by the condition of the corpse, it was clear she did not die on the same day; then there was someone attempting to silence Wan Lu through murder. In between, there was also the death of Judge Yang... Regarding the death of Judge Yang, considering Inspector Liu’s excessively concerned demeanor, Ran Yan speculated he might know who the murderer was, and the murderer could pose a certain threat to him. Otherwise, how could such a dignified inspector conduct a secretive autopsy, not daring to employ a seasoned forensic doctor, but instead requesting her, a little-known wife, to cover it up. The deaths of Han Shan and the maid were clearly aimed at Qin Musheng. Inspector Liu’s actions also followed the expected behavior of an inspector of a state. Therefore, it should be two different cases. Then, was there any connection between the deaths of Han Shan and the maid, and the injury of Wan Lu? Qin Musheng suspected that it was the work of Yin Miaomiao. Could that be possible... Ran Yan couldn’t openly investigate the affairs of the Yin household, so for the moment, she could only analyze based on the known clues. If the murderer was Yin Miaomiao, setting aside the methods and timing of the crime, the first thing to determine was whether she had enough motive to kill. To know this, she feared she must understand what exactly happened to Yin Wanwan and how she died. Ran Yan was deep in thought when the carriage suddenly halted and stopped by the side of the road. Ran Yan steadied herself and knocked on the carriage wall. From outside came the coachman’s voice, "Wife, a carriage is coming from the opposite side, and it seems to be blocking the way." The road from the east to the south of the city was narrow. Generally, carriages could barely pass by with a bit of care, but Ran Yan’s carriage had a large frame, and so seemingly did the carriage from the opposite side, hence the blockage. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)