Chapter 475: Chapter 310: But Say, Where the Heart Rests Is My Ho
Xiao Song’s decision was in line with Ran Yan’s thinking, as Li Tai was not a good choice for a backer.
Xiao Song then added, “There’s no need for you to approach the Crown Prince. I will find a way to let the Eastern Palace know that my wife’s dical skills are extraordinary. If he wishes to use this to curry favor, he will naturally co to for confirmation. That will be at least more persuasive than you recomnding yourself.”
Of course, Ran Yan was now quite famous in Chang’an, and was the subject of various gossip headlines, such as “The perfect match between the Lonely Evil Woman and Gui Jianchou,” “The most vain beauty in history, risking her life to climb the social ladder,” “A pitiful woman sacrificed in a family marriage,” and none of these were about her dical skills.
In such circumstances, even if she went to the Crown Prince and recomnded herself, the Eastern Palace would very likely not take the risk for the sake of caution.
“It’s not like the Eastern Palace will believe anything I say,” Xiao Song said with a smile, his eyes squinting like a fox. “This is human nature. The more you hide it, the more they believe you are a once-in-a-lifeti great doctor.”
This was also related to the customs of the Tang Dynasty. Being a doctor was not a particularly glorious profession at that ti. While no one looked down on doctors, they were ultimately considered ‘craftsn’—those who earned their living by their skills, not part of the orthodox Confucian path. As a daughter-in-law of a noble family, Ran Yan had to conceal her exceptional dical skills to so extent.
“I will handle the relationship with the Crown Prince. You shouldn’t have too much contact with the Eastern Palace. Their recomndation does not necessarily have to involve seeing you in person or discussing it with you. You just need to rember his act of recomnding you and find an opportunity to repay the favor,” Xiao Song instructed. After a pause, he added softly, “The Emperor is still in his pri. There is no hurry to choose, and I will support neither Li Tai nor Li Ke. If the Crown Prince truly proves incompetent, I will have to find another worthy ruler… after all, there are more legitimate heirs than just the Crown Prince and Prince Wei Li Tai.”
Ran Yan’s heart skipped a beat, indeed, the march of history was unstoppable! Empress Zhangsun only had three sons; besides the two Xiao Song ntioned, there was another who would be the future Tang Gaozong, Li Zhi. Xiao Song’s aning was clear—if Ran Yan had too frequent contact with the Eastern Palace, Xiao Song could easily be passively assigned to the Crown Prince Faction. He had no desire to choose sides at the mont, so he used a strategy to lead the Eastern Palace to actively recomnd Ran Yan.
After all, it was only a favor from the Eastern Palace, akin to recomnding a place with beautiful scenery and food. Even if soone suspected Xiao Song’s intentions, there was no evidence.
Having heard him out, Ran Yan also understood the convoluted twists and turns involved. Yet, thinking of his and Duke Song’s stances, she slightly furrowed her brow, “By getting involved with the Crown Prince in this way, wouldn’t A’weng get even angrier?”
“I have never been his favorite since childhood, and our clashes beca even more apparent after I entered official service. It was inevitable,” Xiao Song said calmly.
Their conflict wasn’t really about whom to support, but fundantally about completely opposite personal values. In Ran Yan’s words, it was a difference in life philosophy and values.
Ran Yan knew that although Xiao Song sounded carefree, in reality, it was more an attitude of resignation; what else could he do? Given his personality, he might lower his head once or twice, but he could never permanently bow to Duke Song, losing himself in the process, nor could Duke Song give an inch.
“Can’t you find a middle ground?” Ran Yan murmured. Such a strained relationship between father and son was difficult for both parties.
Xiao Song knew she was just expressing her helplessness and therefore did not continue the conversation. As a smooth operator himself, Xiao Song was capable of maintaining relationships with his colleagues in court, advancing and retreating appropriately. How could he not wish to coexist peacefully with his own father? The crux of the matter was with Duke Song himself; if only the old man was truly willing to make concessions, they wouldn’t have quarreled openly in court.
“Lady,” Wan Lu called from outside the door.
“What is it?” Ran Yan pushed away Xiao Song’s hand and sat upright on the mat before saying, “Co in and speak.”
Wan Lu heard from a servant in the mansion that the study was off-limits to all, so upon hearing the command, she hesitated for a mont before gently pushing the door open and standing outside the curtain.
“What’s the matter, speak,” Ran Yan saw that Wan Lu was reluctant to speak and after a pause, she said, “Co in.”
Wan Lu parted the curtains, her eyes swollen like walnuts, which made Ran Yan startle slightly, “What happened? Just speak, there’s no need for secrecy.”
Wan Lu sneaked a glance at Xiao Song before lowering her eyes and saying, “Ah Lang has returned to Suzhou. Sanlang said he has discussed with General Zheng, and the hocoming visit scheduled for three days later will be temporarily held at the Zheng family’s place. At that ti, Sanlang will also go over, taking it as if he were part of the family. Sanlang said this is a temporary asure, apologizing for the inconvenience to Lady and Sir, and he also asks for Sir’s understanding.”
Ran Yan was stunned for a mont, this arrangent was indeed embarrassing for her, but honestly, whether Ran Wen left or not was of no importance to her. She was more worried about Xiao Song’s opinion. She imdiately turned to look at him, only to et his gaze filled with tenderness.
He held her hand and said, “It’s alright, it doesn’t matter where we go. Wherever I am in the future, that will be your ho.”
Upon hearing these words, the feeling of being a guest in a foreign land that had always been within Ran Yan strangely cald down. A line of poetry popped into her mind, which she had morized at so unknown ti. She couldn’t recall the whole poem but still rembered the line that most suited the current scenario:
Should I ask if Lingnan is not pleasant? To which I reply, wherever my heart finds peace, there is my holand.
Ran Yan couldn’t help but hold his hand tighter, but then she thought of the other mbers of the Xiao Family and frowned slightly, “But what about Ahweng, Ahjia, and the rest? If they find out about this, won’t they have opinions?”
“Although you might not like hearing this, the truth is, a marriage alliance with the Zhengs of Xingyang would please the clan more than taking a Ran girl as a bride. Mother might not be happy about your mother being a concubine from the Zheng family, but thinking it over, since you are born legitimate, it shouldn’t be too hard to accept,” Xiao Song said.
What he said was indeed true. In fact, it was not just “sowhat” unhappy for the Dugu clan. Once Ran Yan was firmly aligned with the Zheng family, her mother’s status would inevitably be brought up for discussion, and with the Dugu clan’s proud nature, it would be like a fishbone stuck in their throat.
“As long as you don’t mind, what reason do I have to be unhappy?” Ran Yan said softly. After all, the person she was going to spend the rest of her life with was Xiao Song, not the indifferent Ran family of Suzhou. However, Ran Yan still wanted to find out why Ran Wen had done this. Could it really be because he looked down on her?
“Why did Father leave in such a hurry?” Ran Yan turned her head and asked Wan Lu.
Wan Lu, after hearing Xiao Song’s words and feeling very happy for Ran Yan, and seeing that Ran Yan also seed to be without any displeasure, responded without beating around the bush, “They said that Sister Eighteen is seriously ill, and Ah Lang is anxious in his heart, so he hurried back.”
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