"Since that’s the case, I will go back and write the morial imdiately," He Sizheng said.
He was about to rise but was stopped by Ran Yan, "He Sizheng, wait a mont."
"Does Lady Xian Liang have more matters?" He Sizheng, slightly surprised, sat back down.
Ran Yan feigned difficulty, "I have another favor to ask of He Sizheng."
"Lady, please speak freely," He Sizheng said.
Ran Yan hesitated for a mont, pulled out a letter from her sleeve, and ordered Ge Lan to hand it over.
"This is..." He Sizheng saw the envelope was labeled "From Lady Duan Liang" and was reassured, but upon reading it, he couldn’t help but be startled, "Kidnapping Mr. Sui Yuan!"
"Exactly," Ran Yan frowned, "He Sizheng should know, before I was married, Mr. Sui Yuan had once sought marriage at Ran residence. If this were reported to the officials, it would inevitably cause a huge commotion, putting the Xiao Family in an awkward light... Moreover, I still am not sure who is the kidnapper and why I am targeted. It’s likely soone intentionally wants to disgrace . I do not know what to do, so I would ask He Sizheng to help covertly investigate this matter as soon as possible to prevent Mr. Sui Yuan from suffering innocently."
Ran Yan’s words were quite misleading; in fact, it was much more likely that soone intended to embarrass her deliberately since who would indeed kidnap Sang Suiyuan? If there were ulterior motives, wouldn’t kidnapping Ran Yan’s relatives be more effective?
He Sizheng couldn’t help thinking this way, so after a mont of contemplation, he agreed, "I will do my utmost in this matter!"
"Then I thank He Sizheng deeply," Ran Yan sighed in relief and continued, "To resolve this matter quickly, I intend to rush to the address ntioned in the letter tonight. He Sizheng, if you would follow covertly, should there be any deceit, I would be in your debt if you could save my life."
"That seems like a good plan. Lady Xian Liang, please get ready while I make the necessary arrangents," He Sizheng said as he rose and bowed.
Ran Yan hurriedly returned the gesture, "Thank you."
Ran Yan didn’t have much to prepare; she only brought various poisons, silver needles, daggers, and other items as a precaution.
After planning on their own, He Sizheng and Ran Yan promptly set out. Ran Yan left Liu Qingsong in the estate and also left him ten Secret Guards; should there be any ergency, they wouldn’t lack reinforcents.
The letter ntioned a location in the eastern suburbs, near the Princess’ Courtyard at Baling. Having been there once, Ran Yan easily found the place.
It was halfway up the mountain in a bamboo grove; the carriage stopped at the mountain’s base, and Ran Yan instructed Ge Lan and Wan Lu to wait in the carriage while she climbed up alone.
Although Ge Lan and Wan Lu tried to dissuade her, Ran Yan had made up her mind, and not even ten bulls could drag her back.
Actually, among the three of them, setting aside the master-servant relationship, Ran Yan was still the most suitable to go.
Since being imprisoned in a dark room for two years, Ge Lan’s health had not been good. It took half a year of recuperation just for a slight improvent. Although wise, she lacked physical strength; if a situation requiring fleeing arose, she might not cope well, whereas Wan Lu was quite the opposite. Even if Ran Yan’s black belt in taekwondo was achieved through opportunism, her physical strength was decent, and she moved more nimbly than the average lady.
The moonlight was frosty, and the mountain was densely shadowed by trees, making visibility poor. Knowing she had Secret Guards nearby and He Sizheng’s n tracking and protecting her, Ran Yan remained extrely vigilant.
After about the duration of two cups of tea, she faintly saw a bamboo grove and could hear the thunderous noise of a waterfall.
If it were dayti, this might be a splendid spot for viewing the scenery, but in Ran Yan’s view, the kidnappers were very clever, choosing a place where the noise was so loud and isolated. Even if a skirmish occurred during the day, it likely would not attract any attention.
Ran Yan wandered in the bamboo grove for a while and finally followed the sound to find the waterfall ntioned in the letter.
In front of the waterfall was a small clearing with a hut built next to it.
Living beside a waterfall? Aren’t they worried about tinnitus! Ran Yan stood still for a mont, carefully surveyed the surroundings, and then called out, "Is anyone there?"
After a long while, no one answered.
"I am Ran Shiqi," Ran Yan continued to call out loudly.
Ran Yan listened carefully; besides the roaring of the waterfall and the chirping of insects, there was still no other sound.
Ran Yan walked a few steps toward the hut but then halted.
The area was open; if she got too close to the hut, the Secret Guards would find it difficult to stay close for protection. Moreover, she didn’t know if there were ambushes inside the hut or the other party’s intentions. If they wanted her life, it would be too easy for her to fall into a trap.
Just as Ran Yan was planning to drag the situation out with the kidnappers, a hoarse man’s voice ca from inside, "Co in."
"Where is Sang Suiyuan? I want to hear him speak," Ran Yan said.
The hut fell silent again; after a mont, there was a loud bang and a muffled scream ca from inside—a voice rather impatiently said, "Did you hear that? Co in quickly, if you didn’t hear clearly, you can listen more."
"I heard it," Ran Yan imdiately said. That stubborn rabbit, Sang Chen, must not have wanted to speak and got himself hit.
Ran Yan thought that the muffled groan did sound like Sang Chen and tried to negotiate with the kidnapper, "I’m a woman who ca here alone; how can you still hide? Bring Sang Suiyuan out here, and we can discuss what you want."
"Stop the nonsense; if you don’t co in, I’ll destroy this pretty face!" the person inside the hut yelled.
Ran Yan’s heart raced, unable to resist moving forward two steps, and she couldn’t help but wonder: a pretty face? If it were said that the previous Sang Chen was a pretty face, that might be sowhat true, but she had just seen Sang Chen recently, and he had changed a lot in the past six months, neither in physique nor in appearance did he look weak; he just seed rather refined. Moreover, Sang Chen had always loved wandering and often ended up sunburnt from days outside; he was hardly pale.
Could it be that brutes call any scholar a pretty face? Ran Yan couldn’t exclude this possibility and slowly approached the hut while thinking of a strategy. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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