Miss Truth-Chapter 512 - 339: Return to Chang’an

As the clan leader of a prominent family, one must be able to coordinate the growing forces of each house, remaining impartial, while also firmly controlling the family’s power to avoid it disintegrating into loose sand. This requires absolute measures.

Observing the situation within the court, it’s likely that in ten or a few years, another "Xuanwu Gate Incident" will be replayed. There will definitely be dissent within the clan, necessitating someone with enough skill to grasp the situation. All of us clan elders are already advanced in years, it’s unknown whether we will be alive by then. Among the younger generation, each is loyal but lacks cleverness, except for Xiao Song, who is an anomaly. This is one of the important reasons why the elders prefer Xiao Song to take over the position of clan leader. However, Xiao Song’s actions go against the ancestral teachings, so there are also elders who oppose him.

This matter can only be left hanging for now.

When enforcing family law, there’s no need for so many people to be present to watch. Therefore, Ran Yan, along with others, left the ancestral hall early and returned to the compound.

Just as she was about to enter, she was stopped by Liu Qingsong.

Liu Qingsong rushed up to her before he had even steadied his steps, and said, "I will head back to Chang’an first." He was carrying a large bundle on his back, obviously prepared well in advance.

"That’s good, I’m sure you’ve heard about Shilang’s situation. I can’t leave here, so please do what you can on your side." Although Ran Yan found Liu Qingsong unreliable, she never doubted his intelligence.

Liu Qingsong chuckled and said, "Of course, that’s my future brother-in-law. Give my regards to Jiulang."

"Alright, have a safe journey." Ran Yan said.

Liu Qingsong nodded and hurried off with his bundle. That was basically all his belongings left at the main house. In this family, he recognized only the Supreme Lady and Jiulang as his relatives. Now that the Supreme Lady had passed away, he had no further ties with the Xiao family.

Ran Yan watched his thin figure disappear into the distance, feeling somewhat helpless. After all, Liu Qingsong had inadvertently harmed her so many times that she should hold a grudge, but he had a way of making it difficult for anyone to stay angry at him. She couldn’t bring herself to seek revenge, yet not doing so left her feeling unsettled.

The execution at the ancestral hall was carried out swiftly; roughly after half an hour, Xiao Song returned.

"How is Chun Lai?" Ran Yan asked.

Xiao Song washed his hands and was drying them with a cloth. Without missing a beat, he said, "She won’t die, but life will be worse than death for her. It’s not that I was unmerciful. Her father was one of the stewards in the household, and because of her crime, he was also expelled from the family. It’s probable that her stepmother and brothers will not welcome her either."

Ran Yan hummingly acknowledged, everyone must bear the consequences for their choices. Right now, she had neither the desire nor the energy to consider the plights of others and was simply waiting for the court to summon Xiao Song back to Chang’an.

"Don’t worry," Xiao Song hugged her from behind, speaking softly, "The cases have piled up after the new year, and the Ministry of Justice is already short-staffed. There’s currently no one else immediately available to take over, so even if the Emperor doesn’t lift the mourning period, I must return to hand over duties."

"Mhm." Ran Yan leaned her entire back into his embrace, feeling much more at ease, "Can we rely on Liu Qingsong’s message?"

Xiao Song shook his head, "The Emperor’s will is unpredictable."

As long as the imperial decree hasn’t arrived, the possibility of change exists.

If that is the case, they could only wait patiently. After Chun Lai’s incident, people began to shift their attention back to Lady Dongyang’s poisoning in private.

Ran Yan felt that Lady Dongyang must be harboring intense resentment towards her by now. If Ran Yan had not been there to diagnose the poisoning, perhaps Lady Dongyang could have managed to conceal it with her schemes, not slipping up because she was in a rush to do something like exposing Chun Lai’s mistake.

All of it started because Ran Yan announced Lady Dongyang had been poisoned, that day... when Lady Dongyang had fainted...

Lady No.4 said anxiously, "Quick, go call the doctor!" "What’s the need for a doctor! My niece-in-law here knows Medical Skills!" Lady No.6 hurriedly turned back, waving at Ran Yan and said, "Hurry over here!"

...

Ran Yan suddenly remembered, it was exactly Lady No.6 who had requested her to provide treatment that day. This should have been a trivial matter, but... Lady No.6, after all, was Li Ke’s mother-in-law. If she was to say this was not a trap, Ran Yan wouldn’t believe it!

Unwittingly used by others! Ran Yan sighed. The deeper the Inner Courtyard was involved in political affairs, the more dangerous it became. Thankfully, this time she had only been used as a pawn. But what if they had been after her life?

This place was too complicated; Ran Yan didn’t want to stay there a moment longer.

Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait too long. On the third day, finally, an imperial edict came, summoning Xiao Song to rush to Chang’an immediately and to reduce his mourning period to thirty-six days in place of a year because of an emergency, while the Duke of Song was temporarily relieved of his duties as Inspector of Qi State in order to observe mourning for the Dowager Duchess.

It wasn’t the first time for such an urgency in mourning rights to occur. Xiao Song’s relationship with the Dowager Duchess, though close, wasn’t that of a son. So, having his mourning period shortened wasn’t too excessive.

The next day, Ran Yan followed Xiao Song back to Chang’an.

Ran Yan abandoned the carriage and chose to ride a horse alongside Xiao Song. She was skilled in horseback riding, but had never traveled long distances on horseback. After half a day, her thighs had lost a layer of skin, yet with Ran Yunsheng weighing heavily on her mind, she gritted her teeth and persevered. She didn’t mention a word to Xiao Song until, during a rest stop, the blood had already dripped down along the hem of her trousers to the ground, and only then did Xiao Song order her to stop.

Upon returning to Chang’an, twenty-two full days had passed since Ran Yunsheng went missing.

Ran Yan hurried back to Anshan Square, feeling stifled with urgency. Upon entering the residence from the main gate to the Inner Courtyard, no one dared to speak in normal tones.

"Is that Ayan?"

As soon as Ran Yan reached the front of the main hall, a person came to meet her.

Ran Yan paused, then recognized that it was Ran Pingyu! In the brief time since their last meeting, Ran Pingyu had lost so much weight that his cheeks were hollowed and, because of the rapid weight loss, the skin on his cheeks was loose with wrinkles. His temples had turned significantly grayer, making him appear over a decade older.

"Third Uncle!" Ran Yan’s heart turned sour as she approached.

Ran Pingyu couldn’t help but wipe his face, trying to appear more vigorous, "You’ve come in such a rush, have you eaten?"

"Let’s not talk about that. Third Uncle, where is Liu Qingsong?" Ran Yan sincerely hoped that Liu Qingsong would be reliable this time and get things done.

Ran Pingyu entered the room with Ran Yan and sighed, "He’s out with A Yun. He had just returned and found a way to scout around the Princess’ Courtyard. However, due to the strict guards, he was unable to search thoroughly. There are many gentlemen inside, and it’s unclear if Shilang is among them..."

Ran Pingyu’s voice choked up momentarily. After a brief pause filled with a trembling sigh, he explained, "But fortunately, about half a month ago, the guards from the Xiao residence came and said that the Emperor had received a denunciation from the Imperial Censorate, accusing the Princess of Barling of abducting civilians, severely injuring several people, and participating in opium trade in secret. The evidence was very detailed. The Emperor was enraged and placed the Princess of Barling under house arrest. The Three Departments are verifying the evidence, but so far, there hasn’t been a result."

Ran Yan nodded, thinking to herself that it’s no wonder Xiao Song was so sure the Emperor would summon him back. The Ministry of Criminal Justice was particularly busy at this time. With its chief officer ill and attending matters and its deputy absent, coupled with this complicated case, they were even more shorthanded.

Moreover, the Three Departments’ joint trial would be chaired by the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and with no suitable acting officer, it wasn’t appropriate for a high-ranking Third Rank minister to run the trial.

"Your Third Aunt hasn’t eaten in several days, go see her," Ran Pingyu said. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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