Chapter 551: Chapter 364: Dark Tides Surge – Part 2
She had carefully planned for half a year and finally, there was a stir in Suzhou again, catching a figurative yellow bird in the tail—an unsealed and undestroyed letter, though the handwriting differed from Li Tai’s, the seal on it was indeed genuine!
It must have been that Lady Dongyang failed to discreetly acquire the letter, and having exposed herself, she brought about her own deadly peril.
Ran Yan read until the fifth page before there was a brief account from Xiao Song, rely stating that the undercurrents in Chang’an were turbulent and the matters complex—he shared these secrets, hoping that Ran Yan would act accordingly.
No words of sentint were found, yet from these thick secrets, Ran Yan could clearly feel his concerns and anxiety from thousands of miles away. If the wrong person got hold of this letter, Xiao Song’s situation would indeed be worriso, but he risked it nonetheless, concerned that his wife in Chang’an might face danger.
What words of love could weigh more than such deep affection?
Ge Lan, observing Ran Yan’s expression, knew the letter contained no sweet nothings between husband and wife and promptly brought a fire basin close to Ran Yan.
Ran Yan gently touched the few pages and tossed them into the basin. A gust of heat flared as the flas leapt out of the basin.
“Wife, did your husband not write any words of love?” Wan Lu saw Ran Yan’s grave face and felt that perhaps Xiao Song had not included any tender words.
“Indeed,” Ran Yan muttered, “He indeed did not speak words of love.”
As Wan Lu thought of how to console her, she heard Ran Yan continue, “Separated by vast mountains and rivers, sweet words would only add to the sorrow; it’s better not spoken.”
Xiao Song must have thought the sa.
Ran Yan lowered her gaze to see Ge Lan extinguishing the fire basin, feeling a sense of emptiness.
“Lady.” A maid called from outside.
Wan Lu opened the door, “What is it?”
“This is a letter that soone delivered to the gatehouse,” the maid handed over a letter with both hands.
Wan Lu received it and asked, “Do you know who sent it?”
The maid replied, “Unknown. The ssenger was a middle-aged woman. The gatekeeper asked, but she refused to disclose her identity, rely saying that the lady would understand upon seeing the letter. Seeing that the ssenger was but a servant, yet with a deanor not lacking in grace, the gatekeeper didn’t dare delay and sent to deliver it.”
“Understood, you may go,” Wan Lu said. After the maid had left, she turned around, walked past the screen, and handed the letter to Ran Yan.
Ran Yan was also puzzled: who would send her a letter at this ti?
Upon opening the letter, there was only one piece of paper inside. After reading its contents, Ran Yan’s expression shifted slightly, and she sowhat urgently said to Wan Lu, “Go, call Doctor Liu here!”
Seeing Ran Yan’s expression, Wan Lu did not dare take it lightly and hurriedly ran downstairs.
Ran Yan handed the letter to Ge Lan.
“Could it be a trap? Who would abduct Mr. Sang without reason and co to our residence to extort us?” Ge Lan could not help but speculate after reading.
“In Chang’an, not many know about my acquaintance with Sang Chen,” Ran Yan forced herself to calm down, but her hands rubbing at her temples trembled imperceptibly.
Over the years, Ran Yan had dreamt countless tis that she had a chance to prevent sothing before Qin Yunlin’s incident occurred, and also dread countless tis of images of Qin Yunlin being humiliated, which had beco an emotional affliction. She could remain calm at any ti, but if such an incident arose, she would imdiately lose her judgnt, so she decisively handed the matter over to Ge Lan and Liu Qingsong, hoping they could provide a level-headed opinion.
“Ran Yan!” Liu Qingsong rushed upstairs, holding a bundle in his arms, gasping for breath and spread it out before Ran Yan.
Upon revealing a cloth robe, Ran Yan, having just seen Sang Chen that morning, recognized it as his clothing given the recent news.
Seeing the grim expression on Ran Yan’s face, Ge Lan quickly advised, “Lady, please be calm. This garnt is quite ordinary and easily replicated!”
“Who can guarantee it’s truly not his!” Ran Yan clutched at the garnt, her eyes full of fierceness.
Indeed, Ran Yan did not like Sang Chen or enjoy his company, but beyond being one of the first people she interacted with deeply upon arriving in Great Tang, his pure, clear-water-like nature earned her respect and kindled a desire to protect that purity from being spoiled.
Never before had Ran Yan so desired Xiao Song by her side, like the ti when Ran Yunsheng had gone missing. Although she still acted impulsively, she hadn’t lost her ability to discern; he could soothe her emotions.
“We need to think this through more carefully. I’ve already sent soone to Sang Chen’s residence to look for him; let’s wait for news,” Liu Qingsong, at a crucial mont, managed to assu a serious deanor.
Ran Yan looked at his solemn face and exhaled softly, “Don’t worry. Although I may have lost my bearings now, my intellect hasn’t declined.”
With Xiao Song around, she would indulge in a bit of impulsiveness, knowing he was calm and, since he allowed it, he must have been confident of managing the aftermath. But now, she had to tread carefully.
The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs interrupted the silence; the visitor stopped at the door and respectfully announced, “Lady, Lady Dongyang has co to visit.”
“Eh?” Liu Qingsong’s face filled with astonishnt, “Isn’t she bedridden with a severe illness? Instead of staying properly in Lanling, why co to Chang’an?”
Ran Yan closed her eyes and took a deep breath before stating, “Please invite Lady Dongyang to the hall.”
“Ran Yan, you must hold yourself together, no matter what she says,” even without knowing the contents Xiao Song ntioned, Liu Qingsong could sniff out a hint of conspiracy, “I’ll wait here for news about Sang Chen.”
“Ge Lan, you and Doctor Liu wait here too,” Ran Yan rose to her feet, her voice grave.
Seeing Liu Qingsong looking sowhat uneasy, she said, “Don’t worry, I’ve prepared myself to face her.”
With that, she led Wan Lu out of the pharmacy. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welco to cast your recomndation and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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