Sang Chen’s face turned pale. He stood on the slope and said uneasily, “The lady must hurry back. This area is not a safe place to stay long.”
Ran Yan nodded and turned around to return to the mountain.
“Miss!” Sang Chen hurriedly called out, “I sold calligraphy and painting yesterday and earned 50. I’ll be returning the money from the kiln.”
Ran Yan lowered her gaze to look at his expectant expression, like a child waiting for praise. His eyes were as pure as the blue sky, cleansed by water. Ran Yan’s hands that were covered by her sleeves clenched tightly and she coldly spat, “Rabbit!”
Sang Chen stared at Ran Yan’s figure, who gradually disappeared from the vegetation. He looked at the grass around him in confusion and muttered, “There’s no rabbit?”
When he raised his head again, he found that Ran Yan’s figure was nowhere to be seen. He said to himself in a dejected tone, “I especially came to return the money to Miss. By the way… I’ll look at the scenery.”
A suspicious blush appeared on his fair and handsome face as he said, “Amitabha!” But the next moment, a breeze blew. He shivered all of a sudden as he looked around. He took the money and scurried toward the temple like a rabbit.
“Miss, the person who was spying on us just now seemed to be the nun of Yingmei Nunnery,” Xiao Man said with lingering fear.
Ran Yan nodded, her heart filled with hatred toward Sang Chen. He was simply a jinx. He just had to suddenly jump and shout at the worst possible moment when the nun was running away.
As she was about to walk into the courtyard, Ran Yan suddenly thought of the little nun who had been spying on them. Was it her who was stalking them this time? If it was because of the rumors in the city, she wouldn’t be so curious. What kind of intentions did she have?
Ran Yan took this matter to heart for the time being and instructed Xiao Man not to tell anyone else, not even Xing Niang or Wan Lu.
After returning to the courtyard, Xing Niang had already cleaned up all the ingredients she had bought and the stove.
“Let me do it today,” Ran Yan said to Xing Niang.
Xing Niang was taken aback. She knew exactly how many things Ran Yan knew. In the past, it was typical for her ten fingers not to touch the sun and spring water. How could they suddenly cook?
“I’ve tried to do it a few times before. He’s1Wu Xiu He fine after tasting it.” Ran Yan rolled up her sleeves and placed the clean bamboo shoots on the chopping board. She cut them at an unhurried pace, “Tenth Brother left before eating this morning. I want to cook for him.”
Xing Niang was stunned for a while before her eyes suddenly turned red again. She immediately said, “Good, good.”
Ran Yan frowned, “Why are you crying again? You have to change your temper. It’s bad for your health to cry too much.” Ran Yan cut the vegetables and raised her head to look at Xing Niang. She described herself as emaciated. Her hair was white, and her face was covered with wrinkles. She looked like she was sixty years old, but based on some details, she was only in her early fifties. At this age… Could it be menopause?
“Miss, use the knife carefully. Don’t hurt yourself.” Xing Niang wiped away her tears as she tidied up the firewood. She chanted, “Miss is so sensible, and she’s so fond of others. Hai, it’s just that you had a hard life. Now that your disposition has changed, you’re able to learn a bit of medicine. You’re from a good background. The Ran Clan’s elders are all old and refined, so they won’t be as ungrateful as Lang Jun. Even if they’re looking at Madam’s face, they’ll have to let them go. When the limelight is over, Miss will definitely suffer…”
Xing Niang was secretly surprised when she saw how Ran Yan was acting so well. However, in her eyes, as long as her Miss was fine then everything was good.
“It’s already noon, why hasn’t there been any news yet?!” Xing Niang looked at the sky outside and started getting anxious.
Ran Yan glanced at her and thought about it carefully. If Xing Niang has always been like this, how could she have received the respect of Madam Zheng? Perhaps indecisiveness was in her nature, but at least she wouldn’t shed tears. She estimated that she had really gone through menopause.
Xing Niang poked her head out to take a look from time to time. Ran Yan was almost done preparing all the ingredients and only waited for Ran Yunsheng to come back to stir-fry them in the pot.
“Miss! Miss!” Wan Lu’s voice suddenly rang in the air.
Xing Niang immediately rushed out. When she saw that Wan Lu was alone, she grabbed her hand and anxiously asked, “Has she been saved? Where’s Ran Yunsheng?”
“He’s at the back. Ge Lan’s body is weak, so she can’t walk on the mountain. Ran Yunsheng asked the palanquin carriers to bring her up.” Wan Lu’s excited voice was trembling. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts. It was obvious that she had cried before. When Wan Lu saw Ran Yan come out of the kitchen, she ran over and shook her arm. She jumped and said, “Miss, it’s Ge Lan! It’s Ge Lan!”
“Don’t get too excited. Tell me what’s going on.” Ran Yan pacified her.
Wan Lu managed to calm down. She spoke quickly, “This servant went to deliver a message to Provincial Governor Liu. He happened to be working on a case. This servant waited at the door for an hour and handed the letter to Provincial Governor Liu. He immediately sent someone to Qingyu Square. This servant was anxious and followed suit. Just as she met Ran Yunsheng and saved her, this servant saw Ge Lan…”
Wan Lu’s voice suddenly weakened and her throat twitched. “She can’t speak anymore. She’s a mute.”
Ran Yan pursed her lips tightly. Xing Niang was already sobbing.
At this moment, when she heard a faint noise outside, Ran Yan led Wan Lu and Xing Niang out to greet them. Xiao Man immediately followed after them.
A group of people came over from the bluestone path. Ran Yunsheng walked to the front, followed by four men carrying a palanquin, and six or seven women. Ran Yunsheng must have forced his way into the nunnery, making them unhappy.
When Ran Yunsheng saw Ran Yan, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face. “Fortunately, I didn’t disappoint you. Tenth Brother brought her back.”
Ran Yan smiled back, and her eyes were fixed on the palanquin. She watched as the four men lowered the palanquin. After two breaths of silence, the bamboo curtain was pried open.
The first thing Ran Yan saw was the hand that opened the curtain. It was as pale as paper, as thin as a bamboo knot. It trembled uncontrollably due to her frail body and the excitement in her heart. When the bamboo curtain was lifted, a tall woman dressed in green and grey robes walked out. Her person was like a hand, slender and thin. Her body was wrapped in a wide, thick cloth skirt, like a piece of paper, as if a breeze could blow her away.
Her black hair, which was as long as her legs, was loosely knotted behind her, accentuating her pale, almost transparent face. Ge Lan had a head of beautiful black hair, and her eyes were clear black and white. It was so bright as if it was forever in the time of Spring.
Ran Yan looked at her. It coincided with the girl in her dream. This year, Ge Lan was already eighteen years old. Other than being a little taller and much more haggard, there were no other significant changes in her. Time seemed to have pitied her, trying its best to preserve her appearance two years ago.
This woman would risk her life to protect someone. Even after two years, Ge Lan still believed in the person she wanted to protect and immediately told her about her imprisonment. Ran Yan’s heart was filled with respect and pity as she softly called out, “Ge Lan.”
Ge Lan’s eyes, which were filled with haze, couldn’t help but shed tears. She opened her mouth and let out a hoarse and intermittent whimper. Her frail body leaned against her shoulder and slid down slowly.
Ran Yan walked up and wrapped her arms around her. She gently placed her back and said softly, “Everything is over, Ge Lan.”
The Yin Family’s case has spread throughout Suzhou City. Almost everyone has heard of it. A person who was thought to have died two years ago and had suffered so much has now returned. Eventually, they met again two years later. She was both happy and sad.
Xing Niang burst into tears, but the joy in her eyes was evident.
Xiao Man looked at Ge Lan and her heart was filled with various emotions. She was both sympathetic and uncomfortable. She was supposed to be Ran Yan’s servant, but a person who had died two years ago suddenly appeared… She cut off her thoughts. Ge Lan had once “died” for Ran Yan, and Wan Lu has spent many years with Ran Yan. It was an irreplaceable relationship. She knew that she has no hope of getting into such a relationship.
“It’s a happy occasion. Don’t cry anymore. Let’s talk about it after we enter the courtyard.” Ran Yunsheng took advantage of the master and servants’ crying moment and dismissed the palanquin men and the rest. He then called Ran Yan and the others back.
The few of them put away their tears. Xiao Man supported Xing Niang, who was about to faint from crying while Wan Lu and Ran Yan helped Ge Lan into the courtyard.
“Let’s bathe Ge Lan first. If you have anything to say, we’ll talk about it later.” Ran Yan instructed.
When she sat down in the room, Ge Lan’s mood had calmed down. She held Ran Yan’s hand and looked at her with tears in her eyes.
Ran Yan also clenched her fists tightly. While she was happy, she remembered Ge Lan’s enunciation just now. It was not as if her tongue had been slashed, but rather, she had been poisoned.
After all, if the tongue was sliced and not handled well, one could die. Moreover, the mutilated tongue only affected her pronunciation and didn’t affect the vocal cords, so it couldn’t have been the dull sound just now. However, this meant that it could not be cured. In many legendary stories, it was said that after being mummed by poison, one could recover by taking an antidote. Ran Yan felt that it was ridiculous. Generally, this kind of poison would destroy the vocal cords, and it was very difficult to recover. The therapeutic process was long and arduous. Not every case could be cured by it.
The few of them sat there quietly for a while. They didn’t need to say anything. Their reunion was filled with joy.
Ge Lan was a smart woman. She looked around the room and knew that Ran Yan was having a hard time, especially Xing Niang. She was three times older than before.
When Ran Yan saw that she seemed to have something to say, she ordered Xiao Man to fetch some ink and Xing Niang to make a bowl of sugar water.
Ge Lan took the brush and wrote the first sentence on the paper:
“Miss is much calmer than before. This servant almost didn’t recognize her.”
Ran Yan sighed in her heart. She had already thought of a way to deal with it. “If I don’t stay calm, then how can you be worthy of sacrificing your life for me?”
A smile appeared on Ge Lan’s pale face. She looked like a lotus flower in the summer breeze. She lowered her eyes and wrote:
“This servant is very happy.”
She was happy because she was still alive. On the other hand, Ran Yan did not disappoint her. Two years later, the sentries let their guards down. She then used the old woman, who was delivering the food, to spread the news. Based on her understanding of Miss, if she was more rational, she should report the news to the government. She knew that her Miss might not be able to save her, but she still made a gamble.
Sang Chen’s face turned pale. He stood on the slope and said uneasily, “The lady must hurry back. This area is not a safe place to stay long.”
Ran Yan nodded and turned around to return to the mountain.
“Miss!” Sang Chen hurriedly called out, “I sold calligraphy and painting yesterday and earned 50. I’ll be returning the money from the kiln.”
Ran Yan lowered her gaze to look at his expectant expression, like a child waiting for praise. His eyes were as pure as the blue sky, cleansed by water. Ran Yan’s hands that were covered by her sleeves clenched tightly and she coldly spat, “Rabbit!”
Sang Chen stared at Ran Yan’s figure, who gradually disappeared from the vegetation. He looked at the grass around him in confusion and muttered, “There’s no rabbit?”
When he raised his head again, he found that Ran Yan’s figure was nowhere to be seen. He said to himself in a dejected tone, “I especially came to return the money to Miss. By the way… I’ll look at the scenery.”
A suspicious blush appeared on his fair and handsome face as he said, “Amitabha!” But the next moment, a breeze blew. He shivered all of a sudden as he looked around. He took the money and scurried toward the temple like a rabbit.
“Miss, the person who was spying on us just now seemed to be the nun of Yingmei Nunnery,” Xiao Man said with lingering fear.
Ran Yan nodded, her heart filled with hatred toward Sang Chen. He was simply a jinx. He just had to suddenly jump and shout at the worst possible moment when the nun was running away.
As she was about to walk into the courtyard, Ran Yan suddenly thought of the little nun who had been spying on them. Was it her who was stalking them this time? If it was because of the rumors in the city, she wouldn’t be so curious. What kind of intentions did she have?
Ran Yan took this matter to heart for the time being and instructed Xiao Man not to tell anyone else, not even Xing Niang or Wan Lu.
After returning to the courtyard, Xing Niang had already cleaned up all the ingredients she had bought and the stove.
“Let me do it today,” Ran Yan said to Xing Niang.
Xing Niang was taken aback. She knew exactly how many things Ran Yan knew. In the past, it was typical for her ten fingers not to touch the sun and spring water. How could they suddenly cook?
“I’ve tried to do it a few times before. He’s1Wu Xiu He fine after tasting it.” Ran Yan rolled up her sleeves and placed the clean bamboo shoots on the chopping board. She cut them at an unhurried pace, “Tenth Brother left before eating this morning. I want to cook for him.”
Xing Niang was stunned for a while before her eyes suddenly turned red again. She immediately said, “Good, good.”
Ran Yan frowned, “Why are you crying again? You have to change your temper. It’s bad for your health to cry too much.” Ran Yan cut the vegetables and raised her head to look at Xing Niang. She described herself as emaciated. Her hair was white, and her face was covered with wrinkles. She looked like she was sixty years old, but based on some details, she was only in her early fifties. At this age… Could it be menopause?
“Miss, use the knife carefully. Don’t hurt yourself.” Xing Niang wiped away her tears as she tidied up the firewood. She chanted, “Miss is so sensible, and she’s so fond of others. Hai, it’s just that you had a hard life. Now that your disposition has changed, you’re able to learn a bit of medicine. You’re from a good background. The Ran Clan’s elders are all old and refined, so they won’t be as ungrateful as Lang Jun. Even if they’re looking at Madam’s face, they’ll have to let them go. When the limelight is over, Miss will definitely suffer…”
Xing Niang was secretly surprised when she saw how Ran Yan was acting so well. However, in her eyes, as long as her Miss was fine then everything was good.
“It’s already noon, why hasn’t there been any news yet?!” Xing Niang looked at the sky outside and started getting anxious.
Ran Yan glanced at her and thought about it carefully. If Xing Niang has always been like this, how could she have received the respect of Madam Zheng? Perhaps indecisiveness was in her nature, but at least she wouldn’t shed tears. She estimated that she had really gone through menopause.
Xing Niang poked her head out to take a look from time to time. Ran Yan was almost done preparing all the ingredients and only waited for Ran Yunsheng to come back to stir-fry them in the pot.
“Miss! Miss!” Wan Lu’s voice suddenly rang in the air.
Xing Niang immediately rushed out. When she saw that Wan Lu was alone, she grabbed her hand and anxiously asked, “Has she been saved? Where’s Ran Yunsheng?”
“He’s at the back. Ge Lan’s body is weak, so she can’t walk on the mountain. Ran Yunsheng asked the palanquin carriers to bring her up.” Wan Lu’s excited voice was trembling. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts. It was obvious that she had cried before. When Wan Lu saw Ran Yan come out of the kitchen, she ran over and shook her arm. She jumped and said, “Miss, it’s Ge Lan! It’s Ge Lan!”
“Don’t get too excited. Tell me what’s going on.” Ran Yan pacified her.
Wan Lu managed to calm down. She spoke quickly, “This servant went to deliver a message to Provincial Governor Liu. He happened to be working on a case. This servant waited at the door for an hour and handed the letter to Provincial Governor Liu. He immediately sent someone to Qingyu Square. This servant was anxious and followed suit. Just as she met Ran Yunsheng and saved her, this servant saw Ge Lan…”
Wan Lu’s voice suddenly weakened and her throat twitched. “She can’t speak anymore. She’s a mute.”
Ran Yan pursed her lips tightly. Xing Niang was already sobbing.
At this moment, when she heard a faint noise outside, Ran Yan led Wan Lu and Xing Niang out to greet them. Xiao Man immediately followed after them.
A group of people came over from the bluestone path. Ran Yunsheng walked to the front, followed by four men carrying a palanquin, and six or seven women. Ran Yunsheng must have forced his way into the nunnery, making them unhappy.
When Ran Yunsheng saw Ran Yan, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face. “Fortunately, I didn’t disappoint you. Tenth Brother brought her back.”
Ran Yan smiled back, and her eyes were fixed on the palanquin. She watched as the four men lowered the palanquin. After two breaths of silence, the bamboo curtain was pried open.
The first thing Ran Yan saw was the hand that opened the curtain. It was as pale as paper, as thin as a bamboo knot. It trembled uncontrollably due to her frail body and the excitement in her heart. When the bamboo curtain was lifted, a tall woman dressed in green and grey robes walked out. Her person was like a hand, slender and thin. Her body was wrapped in a wide, thick cloth skirt, like a piece of paper, as if a breeze could blow her away.
Her black hair, which was as long as her legs, was loosely knotted behind her, accentuating her pale, almost transparent face. Ge Lan had a head of beautiful black hair, and her eyes were clear black and white. It was so bright as if it was forever in the time of Spring.
Ran Yan looked at her. It coincided with the girl in her dream. This year, Ge Lan was already eighteen years old. Other than being a little taller and much more haggard, there were no other significant changes in her. Time seemed to have pitied her, trying its best to preserve her appearance two years ago.
This woman would risk her life to protect someone. Even after two years, Ge Lan still believed in the person she wanted to protect and immediately told her about her imprisonment. Ran Yan’s heart was filled with respect and pity as she softly called out, “Ge Lan.”
Ge Lan’s eyes, which were filled with haze, couldn’t help but shed tears. She opened her mouth and let out a hoarse and intermittent whimper. Her frail body leaned against her shoulder and slid down slowly.
Ran Yan walked up and wrapped her arms around her. She gently placed her back and said softly, “Everything is over, Ge Lan.”
The Yin Family’s case has spread throughout Suzhou City. Almost everyone has heard of it. A person who was thought to have died two years ago and had suffered so much has now returned. Eventually, they met again two years later. She was both happy and sad.
Xing Niang burst into tears, but the joy in her eyes was evident.
Xiao Man looked at Ge Lan and her heart was filled with various emotions. She was both sympathetic and uncomfortable. She was supposed to be Ran Yan’s servant, but a person who had died two years ago suddenly appeared… She cut off her thoughts. Ge Lan had once “died” for Ran Yan, and Wan Lu has spent many years with Ran Yan. It was an irreplaceable relationship. She knew that she has no hope of getting into such a relationship.
“It’s a happy occasion. Don’t cry anymore. Let’s talk about it after we enter the courtyard.” Ran Yunsheng took advantage of the master and servants’ crying moment and dismissed the palanquin men and the rest. He then called Ran Yan and the others back.
The few of them put away their tears. Xiao Man supported Xing Niang, who was about to faint from crying while Wan Lu and Ran Yan helped Ge Lan into the courtyard.
“Let’s bathe Ge Lan first. If you have anything to say, we’ll talk about it later.” Ran Yan instructed.
When she sat down in the room, Ge Lan’s mood had calmed down. She held Ran Yan’s hand and looked at her with tears in her eyes.
Ran Yan also clenched her fists tightly. While she was happy, she remembered Ge Lan’s enunciation just now. It was not as if her tongue had been slashed, but rather, she had been poisoned.
After all, if the tongue was sliced and not handled well, one could die. Moreover, the mutilated tongue only affected her pronunciation and didn’t affect the vocal cords, so it couldn’t have been the dull sound just now. However, this meant that it could not be cured. In many legendary stories, it was said that after being mummed by poison, one could recover by taking an antidote. Ran Yan felt that it was ridiculous. Generally, this kind of poison would destroy the vocal cords, and it was very difficult to recover. The therapeutic process was long and arduous. Not every case could be cured by it.
The few of them sat there quietly for a while. They didn’t need to say anything. Their reunion was filled with joy.
Ge Lan was a smart woman. She looked around the room and knew that Ran Yan was having a hard time, especially Xing Niang. She was three times older than before.
When Ran Yan saw that she seemed to have something to say, she ordered Xiao Man to fetch some ink and Xing Niang to make a bowl of sugar water.
Ge Lan took the brush and wrote the first sentence on the paper:
“Miss is much calmer than before. This servant almost didn’t recognize her.”
Ran Yan sighed in her heart. She had already thought of a way to deal with it. “If I don’t stay calm, then how can you be worthy of sacrificing your life for me?”
A smile appeared on Ge Lan’s pale face. She looked like a lotus flower in the summer breeze. She lowered her eyes and wrote:
“This servant is very happy.”
She was happy because she was still alive. On the other hand, Ran Yan did not disappoint her. Two years later, the sentries let their guards down. She then used the old woman, who was delivering the food, to spread the news. Based on her understanding of Miss, if she was more rational, she should report the news to the government. She knew that her Miss might not be able to save her, but she still made a gamble.
