"Both daughters, yet why is their treatnt so vastly different!"
In just two days, even if Ran Wen didn’t care about Ran Yan’s feelings, with a slightly longer-term view, he intended to cling to the Xiao Family, the substantial tree, pushing himself harder on the road to squeeze in as well.
Ran Yan sighed internally. The original host’s timid nature was truly understandable—just by observing Ran Wen’s attitude toward Ran iyu, one knew that although he might not achieve greatness, he was at least a good husband and father. Ran Yan didn’t know what exactly the relationship between Ran Wen and the Zheng Family was that caused him to disdain her so thoroughly.
Suddenly, Ran iyu fell gravely ill, likely because Ge Lan had injected the remaining acidic dicine into Ran iyu’s spine.
It was foreseeable that Ran iyu would continue to have high fevers over the next few days. Maybe the fever could be reduced, but paralysis of the lower body was certain. If the limbs weren’t amputated soon, she would soon beco completely paralyzed and then die... The timing was uncertain, as short as ten days to a half month, or as long as several years.
Originally, to protect herself, Ran iyu foolishly tead up with Pei Jing to trap Ran Yan. Thus, Ran Yan felt no sympathy for her. The acidic substance injected into her was very minimal, only enough to potentially cause paralysis in her thirties or forties. It wasn’t that Ran Yan was compassionate but that her hatred toward Ran iyu hadn’t reached the point where she needed to see her dead... provided, Ran iyu dared not cause further trouble.
Now, upon hearing that a girl in the pri of her youth was about to endure such tornt, it was inevitable to feel pity, "Let them return to see her one last ti."
Ran Yan’s calm voice startled both Wan Lu and Xiao Song. Wan Lu thought that Ran Yan felt aggrieved and jealous, cursing Ran iyu to die, whereas Xiao Song sowhat understood that Ran Yan was never one to act without reason.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened, and lanterns were lit in the courtyard. A maid ca to announce that dinner was ready.
Xiao Song and Ran Yan walked downstairs together. The maids in the courtyard hurriedly bent down to salute them upon seeing them. Xiao Song, unusually, did not put on a terrifying face to scare anyone, appearing quite mild instead.
However, things were not so peaceful between Shu Niang and Mrs. Xing. The two of them were not cut from the sa cloth; they had been sowhat incompatible since they first t in Suzhou, and managing internal household affairs would definitely lead to friction.
Mrs. Xing was more reserved and disliked arguing with others. Thus the whole courtyard could hear Shu Niang’s loud voice yelling, "For years, there hasn’t been a single maid in Jiulang’s house, isn’t it I who have single-handedly looked after everything scrupulously? You have no right to point fingers here! You should manage what you need to manage. This kitchen, small as a palm’s size, is my domain!"
Xiao Song truly understood Shu Niang’s nature; she had grown up among bandits and later joined Wagang Village. Even after many years living in the Xiao Family, she never learned the proper manners. If the argunt continued, offensive words were bound to be said, so Xiao Song imdiately pulled Ran Yan toward the kitchen.
...
Passing through a corridor, they could gradually hear Mrs. Xing’s voice, "Are you allowed to ss things up without being corrected? You are also from the Xiao Family, don’t you know that without rules, there is no square or circle? It was alright when the master was unwed, but now that he is married, such disarray, how will it reflect on our lady? Why shouldn’t I speak up for our lady’s sake!"
"What a ridiculous rule, all made up by people who are full after a al and have nothing better to do. I haven’t shortchanged anyone’s food or drink, who can fault — if anyone does, I’ll chop them up!" Shu Niang robustly fought back, having always despised those who incessantly talked about rules.
Shu Niang was from Wagang Village, and it was well known that five of the twenty-four scholars of Lingyan Pavilion were from there. Shu Niang was uneducated, but skilled with dual swords, cutting down enemies like mowing wheat. She had also fought on battlefields, experiencing blood and gore, and could be said to have risked her life for the foundation of Great Tang. Although she was with the Xiao Family, she was not just any servant of the Xiao Family, but rather one of the prominent won of Great Tang, the distinguished second-rank Lady of Great Ning State.
Years ago, when the Xiao Family was seeking a wet nurse, Shu Nuan hurriedly went. She was a low-profile person and was not often in Chang’an. Dugu did not recognize her and thought her large breasts ant plentiful milk and found her clean and tidy, so she hired her. However, Xiao Song had already started teething by the ti the Duke accidentally revealed her true identity during a chance encounter.
Lady Xiao decided to keep her on, but the fact that the State Lady was Xiao Song’s wet nurse couldn’t be kept secret; soon all of Chang’an knew. Nevertheless, it was a mutual agreent, and the Tang Code did not forbid a State Lady from nursing another’s child. Apart from being unorthodox, it only served as a topic for light-hearted conversations. Even the Emperor made light of the matter with a joke. Who else would dare to comnt?
Shu Nuan was feisty and hated rules. If she did not occasionally have to visit the palace, her imperial decree attire would probably have grown mouldy.
Xing Nuan had long known her identity and always maintained decorum, bowing in greeting upon seeing her. But when it concerned Ran Yan’s reputation, even as a State Lady, Xing Nuan couldn’t help but speak out.
"Shu Nuan!" Xiao Song’s voice was low.
Shu Nuan knew that Xiao Song had heard her coarse words. She had caused nurous troubles due to her lack of decorum, and Xiao Song had always cleaned up after her. She knew he cared for her, which is why he often lectured her, but she just couldn’t stand listening to him. As soon as she saw Xiao Song approaching, she imdiately clutched her head feigning weakness. "Oh dear, now every ti I speak loudly my head aches, I’m not feeling well, I need to go lie down. You all chat, don’t mind ."
With that, she tried to slip away quickly.
Xiao Song spoke in a relaxed tone, "Since you’re also sick, you’d better pack up and go over to Grandmother’s place to recover."
If there was a woman Shu Nuan feared more than Empress Zhangsun, it was Lady Xiao.
Shu Nuan imdiately stopped in her tracks, cleared her throat, and adopted the deanor of an elder, "No need, my illness isn’t so severe at the mont. Xing Nuan, about that... oh, the kitchen matters, I leave them to you. I need to rest in bed for a few days."
Shu Nuan knew that Xiao Song had no intentions of making a big issue out of it, but she truly did not want to be ushered into his study for a serious admonition to "nd her ways."
Seeing her compromise, Xing Nuan naturally wouldn’t cling to her status and imdiately took over the kitchen duties. She didn’t want to draw everything to herself, but by setting so rules in the kitchen during these days and assigning everyone their duties, she knew it would be significantly better managed by the ti she handed it back to Shu Nuan.
Xiao Song sighed. Shu Nuan kept making mistakes, but her attitude in admitting them was definitely good, which even saved him the trouble of questioning her. If he continued to detain her, she would only admit her mistakes even more "sincerely."
Ran Yan smiled gently and tugged at him, "Let’s go, you’re also tired today. Have dinner and then rest early."
That phrase... how ambiguous...
"Is that an invitation?" Xiao Song whispered into her ear.
Ran Yan actually felt that Xiao Song, after his altercation with the Duke, must have been injured and possibly in bad spirits. But since the words were already out, describing them further would only make things worse. So, she simply replied calmly, "If you still have the energy." (
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