Chapter 37: Bringing One Person Along

Within the hazy dream world, large and thick plane trees grew on both sides of the asphalt road leading from the medical school to the mortuary.

Entering deep autumn, this place was beautiful and romantic, resembling a scene from an idol drama[1]. However this road was forever secluded, very rarely would there be couples that dared to hold hands and loiter around the entrance to the mortuary, therefore, this was one of Ran Yan’s favourite places.

“Why choose forensic science? If someone you know is lying on the operating table, do you know what kind of feeling that is?” A magnetic voice asked.

Ran Yan lifted her head and looked at him. Sunlight filtered through the thick treetops of the plane trees, tiny speckles of light dotted on his outstandingly good looking fair face. This was Ran Yan’s first secret love, this type of secret love only lasted for one week, before turning into feelings of friendship.

He was the professor’s teaching assistant, and had once done forensic science. Afterwards because the family members of a deceased person were not satisfied with the results of his autopsy, an intense bout of revenge happened. During this bout of revenge, his only little sister fell off a building and died. Unable to bear the shock, since then he exited the forensic world and came to the medical school to become a small teaching assistant.

“It’s just my interest. I will be careful, and also stay strong.” Ran Yan looked at him and answered with a steady gaze.

……

“Miss! Miss!”

Ran Yan opened her eyes with effort, Miss Xing’s anxious expression entered her vision, obviously having called her for some time.

She had slept for a long time, twilight had already descended, oil lamps had been lit up inside the house, the lanterns in the corridors outside were also lit up.

“What is it?” Ran Yan’s voice carried a hazy trace of sleepiness, taking away her usual stiff coldness, it was incomparably indolent.

“Provincial Governor Liu is here to visit, Miss quickly get up, this old slave will comb your hair.” Miss Xing urged.

Provincial Governor Liu? Ran Yan quickly became wide awake, got up and followed Miss Xing to sit in front of the cosmetic mirror, “A simple hairstyle will do.”

Miss Xing followed Ran Yan’s intention, her ten fingers flew and very quickly coiled up a bun at the top of her head. She stuck a jade hairpin into it, it was simple and stylish without losing etiquette.

Ran Yan trusted Miss Xing’s skills, and let her do as she wanted. In her heart she thought, why was Provincial Governor Liu here so late at night? To see the condition of Wan Lu’s injuries? These kind of matters, it did not require a grand fourth rank provincial governor to make the effort to personally come all the way here, right?

After brushing, washing up and putting on makeup, she changed into an embroidered moon-white straight-collared ruqun, before heading to the living hall.

Liu Pinrang was still wearing his dark red official uniform, with a grizzled beard, sitting upright in a kneeled position at his seat, his eyes hooded in deep thought. Who knew what he was thinking about, to make his expression so unhappy.

“Provincial Governor Liu.” Ran Yan bowed slightly towards him, before sitting opposite him, “I’ve made you wait a long time, I still ask for you to forgive my neglect.”

When Liu Pinrang saw Ran Yan, a faint smile appeared on his face, “No trouble. I’ve come uninvited, Miss is not at fault.”

Ran Yan paused in her heart, when she spoke to Provincial Governor Liu this afternoon, his expression was extremely distant, yet presently he was suddenly acting so friendly, one could not help but raise their guard, “What is the matter that has brought you to come here personally?”

He heaved a sigh and said, “Seventeenth Miss is a person that doesn’t waste time[2], so this old man will not conceal it, to be quite honest, coming here today, I really do have a matter to request.”

Liu Pinrang’s expression was both sincere and benevolent, if one’s will was the slightest bit weaker, it would be easy to drop one’s guard.

Ran Yan secretly admired him, but her expression remained unchanging, “Please speak, Provincial Governor Liu.”

Liu Pin Rang was a little surprised, but soon after he let go of his worries, and directly stated his purpose of visit, “Seventeenth Miss, I’m sure you are aware of Yang Pansi’s death from a sudden onset from a hidden illness[3].”

Ran Yan nodded. She remembered, in the Yin residence’s cool-air pavilion, Du Xiaoqiao, the legitimate daughter of the previous provincial governor of Suzhou, had mentioned it. Yang Pansi had only just passed thirty, in normal times there had been no word of any hidden illnesses, but yet he died suddenly.

“I found some suspicious findings in Yang Pansi’s study at his residence, but I’ve assigned 6-7 coroners to examine the body, even the most famous Feng Sanxun could not find the cause of death either, and could only guess that it was the sudden onset of a hidden illness. Regarding this result, not only do I not believe it, even Yan Panci’s family do not believe it. They have submitted a plaint, requesting for a thorough investigation of this case…” Liu Pinrang glanced at Ran Yan, and continued saying, “Therefore, this official wishes to invite Seventeenth Miss to go and have a look, in case you would be able to obtain some result.”

Ran Yan did not even need to ask why Feng Sanxun would look for her. There was a phrase saying “paper cannot contain fire”, previously she helped in Han Shan’s autopsy, even though she never revealed her real appearance, but if a Provincial Governor like Liu Pinrang wanted to know the truth, it definitely could not be concealed.

“Alright. When is the autopsy?” Ran Yan agreed to his request with a word.

Liu Pinrang let the astonishment in his eyes flash past and immediately said, “Seventeenth Miss does not plan to bring up any conditions (for your help)? Not just Suzhou, even if it were the Jiangnan province, there isn’t anything that this official can’t make happen.”

Ran Yan said indifferently, “I am a house-bound[4] Miss, my only worries are about small matters, how could I dare trouble Provincial Governor? I only have some medical skills, since I am able to help the authorities, naturally I must not shirk it.”

Some things, did not need to be said openly. The matter that she was worried about, the whole of Suzhou knew about it, marrying a hedonistic playboy like Fourth Master Qin, who would not worry?

Liu Pinrang understood clearly in his heart, in his eyes this was indeed a small matter. Ran Wen had soft ears[5], one just needed to instigate with one or two sentences at the right moment, then his determination would definitely be swayed.

“This official does not wish for this matter to be known to others, the autopsy will be conducted tonight at the prefecture office’s mortuary, would that be alright?” said Liu Pinrang.

Tonight? A young Miss leaving the house in the middle of the night with men, no matter if anything dangerous would happen or not, if word got out it would not be a good thing.

Liu Pinrang seemed like he knew of Ran Yan’s misgivings, “Please be at ease, this official can guarantee that word this excursion would not spread out, you do not need to worry about your reputation being damaged.”

“Then I give my thanks to Provincial Governor, but I still want to bring a person along with me.” The corner of Ran Yan’s lips curved, her deep black eyes twinkled. In an instant, it was as if the whole house was lighted up.

Whether Provincial Governor Liu was a good officer or not, at the moment she had no way to judge, but according to her judgement right now, he would not pull any despicable moves. Moreover, Ran Yan’s identity was of the legitimate daughter of the Ran clan, even if he had any errant thoughts, he still needed to reconsider carefully, thus Ran Yan was not worried that he was trying to trick her.

However, not feeling worried was one thing, but before Ran Yan left, she still prepared to carry on her person many poisons, silver needles, daggers and such objects for self-defence. If she was able to have an extra layer of security, she would never pass it up.

Liu Pinrang was very impressed with Ran Yan directness and efficacy, as well as her courage. Before this, there was still some worry in his heart that a little Miss would be frightened by a corpse, but now he was a lot more at ease.

After everything was prepared adequately, that person that Ran Yan had said she wanted to bring, was currently standing in the estate with a startled expression. If it were not for that, his jade-like posture standing straight and tall in a grey robe, would be extremely charming.

“This big brother… do you know why Provincial Governor Liu wants to see me?” After standing for a long time, Sang Chen moved towards the runner at the side, and asked in a low voice.

That small-eyed thick-lipped runner that was shorter than Sang Chen by a head, glanced indifferently at him, before continuing to look straight ahead, completely ignoring him.

Sang Chen’s stared at the runner resentfully and stuck his hand in his pocket to feel around, but only found five cents[6]. He knew that these runners would never leak the slightest bit of information if they did not see any concrete benefit, but with just 5 cents, he was afraid that they would not even look at it, however this was his rations for 7-8 days.

Thus, he could only dismiss the notion of bribing the runners, and continue glaring miserably and vengefully at that runner.

After persisting for a few minutes, the runner that seemed as if he was in a trance suddenly flung a sharp knife-like glare and said coldly, “There are quite a few other brothers there, why do you keep glaring at me! If you still continue looking I’ll castrate you!”

“Ha! I think even if you don’t castrate him, this little guy probably won’t be able to straighten up.” The runner beside said mockingly.

Even though Sang Chen did not directly glare at them, but they still felt goosebumps from it, let alone being glared at directly.

Sang Chen’s face turned red, and said furiously, “Confucius said, a gentleman never fails to be respectful and treat others with courtesy, all men are brothers[7]! He also said, if one doesn’t learn manners, one cannot establish oneself in society[8]. A respectful and sincere attitude, and appropriate etiquette, is what a gentleman should have, I merely enquired once or twice, it’s fine if you do not wish to answer, but how could you say such words to insult others?”

The group of runners stared blankly while listening. Even though they did not understand (everything SC said), but “Confucius said” these two words they still could understand. They had never studied before, but towards a sage’s instructions, they did not dare to ridicule it at will, thus kept their mouths shut resentfully, and continued standing guard as still as a wooden block.

Ran Yan had just came out with Provincial Governor Liu, and saw the scene of Sang Chen straightening his neck and lecturing the runners. The corners of her lips lifted slightly. In her heart she thought, this foolish illness of his, if it was not directed at her, it looked rather amusing.

T/N: So sorry for not updating for so long >.< I’ve just been having such long days (early starts and ending late) that I couldn’t find the motivation to do anything once I’m back home T_T It didn’t help that I accidentally lost half my progress in translating this chapter cause I forgot to save and my computer restarted itself. I couldn’t even recover the document T_T

[1] 偶像剧: idol drama – TV series starring famous, young and good looking celebrities. Known for being cheesy and romantic.

[2] 快人快语: literally fast person fast speech.

[3] Might be euphemism for venereal disease

[4] 闺中: within the boudoir/lady’s chamber

[5] 耳根子极软: credulous, gullible

[6] 五文钱: classifier for coins

[7]君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内皆兄弟也

[8]不学礼，无以立