Ran Yunsheng was more important to Mrs. Luo than her own life. Now that his life hung in the balance, with no knowledge of the suffering he must be enduring, each passing day tortured her heart, nearly withering it away.
Following Ran Pingyu, Ran Yan entered the bedroom. As soon as she stepped through the door, she was hit by a strong dicinal sll. Sniffing slightly, she realized it was only calming and nourishing herbs, which eased her worries sowhat.
Inside the inner chamber, three and a half of the curtains around the bed were rolled up. Mrs. Luo lay pale on the bed, surrounded by several ice basins, with a few maids kneeling before it, keeping watch.
Hearing footsteps, Mrs. Luo barely opened her eyes and upon recognizing the visitor as Ran Yan, her eyes brightened as she struggled to sit up.
Two maids hurriedly ca forward to support her.
Ran Yan had just knelt down before the bed when Mrs. Luo grabbed her hand, "Seventeen, where is Assistant Minister Xiao?"
"He has been summoned to the palace by His Majesty. It’s probably about the Princess of Baling’s situation. Aunt, don’t worry, my husband won’t let Brother Ten co to harm," Ran Yan said, knowing how much Mrs. Luo trusted Xiao Song, so she spoke reassuringly to comfort her.
"That’s good, that’s good," Mrs. Luo sighed with relief, her eyes reddening uncontrollably as she sobbed, "Our Yunsheng has always been such an easy child to raise, intelligent and thoughtful. We never yearned for great wealth or high status, but why won’t the heavens spare him!"
Ran Yan was silent for a mont and then comforted her, "The Princess of Baling is confined, and it was because the Imperial Censor Ma Zhou submitted a morial impeaching her. Recently, there have been continuous battles on the border with Korea, and there are many affairs in court. The illness of Princess Jinyang has been relapsing, and the Emperor is in poor spirits. With Princess Baling getting into trouble, His Majesty’s anger is not likely to subside anyti soon. I suspect the security at the other courtyard will be relaxed soon, and then I will ask my husband to send soone in to find Brother Ten."
These words served to comfort herself as well.
Mrs. Luo, finding her words to make sense, began to believe them sowhat, and hurriedly said, "Do you know when we can search the other courtyard?"
"We’ll need to plan this carefully. My husband has just returned, and I don’t know what matter His Majesty has summoned him for. If the case is to be thoroughly investigated by the Three Departnts, he could openly search the other courtyard. But if His Majesty wishes not to delve too deeply, we can take advantage of the Princess of Baling’s confinent to search secretly, although we wouldn’t be able to move until tomorrow at the earliest." Ran Yan truly intended to do this, for she couldn’t bear the thought of Ran Yunsheng being imprisoned like a plaything.
Though Ran Yan had analyzed the situation clearly, Mrs. Luo’s tears still flowed uncontrollably, "What a tragedy! Er Dong is pregnant, and now Yunsheng has encountered this disaster."
Ran Yan was startled, "Er Dong is pregnant? How long has it been?"
"It’s been over six months now. That girl Er Dong didn’t even realize she was pregnant for the first two or three months. With Brother Ten’s situation, it’s been tough on her too," Mrs. Luo said.
Seeing her look sowhat more spirited than before, Ran Yan then added, "You must rest and recover. Don’t break down before Brother Ten returns."
Mrs. Luo nodded. She hadn’t eaten properly for many days and felt weak after talking for a while. Ran Yan left to let her rest properly.
"Ah Yan," Ran Pingyu couldn’t help but remind her, "I’ve heard from our main family that after iyu’s death, the Gao family doesn’t believe she died of illness and has been frantically searching. I’m worried they might take their anger out on you."
Regardless of whether this was Ran Yan’s doing, given the Gao family’s hatred for her, they could very well vent their anger on her. This was indeed a matter of concern.
One problem after another erged, one following closely on the heels of the last, piling up together and leaving Ran Yan feeling extrely fatigued.
All the way here, Ran Yan felt an ache all over her body, and the pain at the wound on her leg was burning like fire, causing her to sweat profusely. Especially when the sweat soaked into the wound, the stinging pain caused her muscles to spasm numbly.
She then took a temporary rest back at He Ya Inn, where she cleansed her body with clear water. Eventually feeling sowhat dry and refreshed, she ate a little porridge before laying down on the couch to rest.
After dozing off for who knows how long, Ran Yan was suddenly aware of a familiar masculine scent at the tip of her nose, which made her feel sowhat bewildered. She lifted her head to look at Xiao Song and saw he was reading official docunts, his back to her, so she asked, "What hour is it now?"
Xiao Song put down his pen and turned around, massaging his temples, "It’s already the third watch of the night."
"You have also been traveling day and night. Why are you still up so late? You’re not made of iron," Ran Yan said with a frown.
Xiao Song stretched out his hand to pull her out from under the brocade quilt and, holding her, said, "There’s so much backlogged work that I have to work late sooner or later. By the way, I have so good news to tell you."
"Hmm?" Ran Yan leaned lazily against his shoulder, "Let’s hear it. I’m in dire need of so good news to lift my spirits right now."
Xiao Song paused for a mont and then laughed, "I never realized before that my lady could make jokes."
Ran Yan was not joking; she was rely stating the truth.
"Today, the Emperor conferred upon the title of County Marquis of Xiangwu, and the imperial decree will co down tomorrow. Your decree as Imperial Decree should co with it," Xiao Song said with a light smile.
Ran Yan’s mind cleared up a great deal upon hearing this, but instead of being pleased, she frowned and said, "Strange, why would the Emperor confer you a title for no reason?"
And it was a Third Rank Marquis at that. Xiao Song hadn’t done anything lately for the country or the people that was exceptionally good. An unusual blessing may not be a blessing after all.
Xiao Song stroked Ran Yan’s smooth hair and said, "Indeed, the Emperor seed to imply that he wanted to take the position of Junior Protector of the Crown Prince."
The three teachers of the Eastern Palace were the Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Protector, all serving as the Crown Prince’s teachers. The Grand Preceptor was responsible for teaching literature, the Grand Tutor for martial arts, and the Grand Protector for the Crown Prince’s safety. The Junior Preceptor, Junior Tutor, and Junior Protector were their respective deputies.
In reality, these positions were not necessarily about teaching the Crown Prince or ensuring his safety; sotis, they were rely honorary titles.
"Are you saying that the Emperor is building power for the Crown Prince?" Ran Yan rembered that around this ti in history, Emperor Li Shimin’s balance was gradually tilting towards Li Tai and Li Ke. How could he still support the Crown Prince so strongly? Had history deviated? Or was it as Xiao Song said, that the Emperor’s intentions were unpredictable?
"You could say that, but it’s definitely not good news. The Emperor’s mind is still undecided to this day, and the recent behavior of the Crown Prince has been truly disappointing and lacking in virtue. His status could be altered by a single thought from the Emperor," Xiao Song said, supporting his forehead with a wry smile, "To live with prudence and to retreat from danger are easy to say, but extrely difficult to do."
A blessing in disguise can truly be calamitous. Indeed, a profound adage.
"What about the matter with the Princess of Baling?" Ran Yan briefly put aside that topic and quickly asked about the most pressing issue.
"The Emperor has already cald down a lot by now, showing no emotion at all, and I can’t guess what his plans for the matter might be. While the Princess of Baling is under house arrest, we’ll stir things up at the Princess’ Courtyard tomorrow," Xiao Song said.
Stirring things up may be easy, but neither Xiao Song nor Ran Yan were overly optimistic; the Princess of Baling was so set on having Ran Yunsheng—would she hide him sowhere easy to find? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please co to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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