Miss Truth
Chapter 105 - 65: How About Marrying Me? - Part 2

Chapter 105: Chapter 65: How About Marrying Me? - Part 2

At that moment, Bai Yi pulled over in the carriage just as they reached the alley entrance. Xiao Song leaned over and flashed Ran Yan a small smile, "Lady Yan, please."

"Don’t worry, Brother Shi." Ran Yan whispered as she passed by Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yunsheng caressed her hair and said softly, "Lord Xiao’s reputation is renowned; I naturally trust him."

Xiao Song stood by the carriage, turned his head, and saw this scene. His eyebrows involuntarily furrowed, and he almost spoke impatiently but, due to considerations of status and politeness, he had to wait patiently for her to come over.

After boarding the carriage, Ran Yan looked around the interior.

Xiao Song’s carriage was quite spacious, with a table and a couch inside, the floor covered with a bamboo mat, and the décor simple yet elegant. The carriage was filled with his presence, not a specific scent but a kind of feeling.

"Lord Xiao, are you asking about the assassin?" Apart from this, Ran Yan couldn’t think of anything that would make such a distinguished Assistant Minister keep such a persistent watch over her.

"Do you know what he has done?" Although Xiao Song hadn’t intended to ask this question, since Ran Yan brought it up, he might as well discuss it.

Ran Yan remained silent.

Xiao Song looked at her and said, "Within two months, he has killed three court officials. Oh, if you count the two tonight, that makes five. Although they weren’t very important officials, the number is indeed alarming. Such a person, Lady Yan, if you know him, it would be best to sever ties."

Ran Yan’s brows gradually furrowed, and she pursed her petal-like lips, looking down in thought.

"You can conduct autopsies. If only a pile of bones is left, can you still determine the cause of death?" Xiao Song suddenly changed the topic.

Ran Yan put aside the matter concerning Su Fu, and explained, "Not necessarily. If it’s due to external forces, it can generally be determined."

"What about poison?" Xiao Song’s eyes lit up as he asked.

Mentioning her professional knowledge, Ran Yan’s expression became serious, "That depends on the type of poison. For instance, aconite, Datura, strychnine, these poisons usually aren’t instantly lethal. Once they enter the body, they begin to damage bodily functions... well, you can think of it as damaging organs or blood vessels. However, these types of poisons metabolize very quickly in the body and soon are expelled from the body through urine and other excreta. Let alone just a pile of bones, even if it’s a recently deceased fresh corpse, it won’t be easy to determine the true cause of death. These kinds of poisons can indeed be considered prime tools for committing murder."

Xiao Song chuckled, "Prime tools for committing murder? That assassin also seems very proficient in medicine. If it’s not otherwise, could I interpret that you are actually his accomplice by covering for him this way?"

"Your suspicion is also reasonable." Ran Yan said.

"Lady Yan." Xiao Song looked at her with a serene expression that didn’t seem joking at all, slightly restraining his smile, "If I asked you to marry into Chang’an, would you be willing?"

Ran Yan was taken aback, finding the development of the conversation unexpectedly bizarre, yet she still followed along, "That would depend on whom I would marry."

"What about me?" Xiao Song looked at her with a quasi-smile, genuinely curious to see how this seemingly indifferent lady would react to such an ambiguous proposition.

However, he was disappointed. Ran Yan simply sized him up, then casually said, "It needs consideration."

Xiao Song suddenly moved closer, their faces nearly touching, both were able to hear each other’s breaths. His eyes, bright as stars, fixed on the dark ones before him. The pose lasted for a long while. Xiao Song felt somewhat deflated. Never before had any lady confronted him so indifferently, and Ran Yan was clearly an exception.

Facing the handsome face enlarged before her, Ran Yan felt bewildered by how things had developed. Was it not too soon for someone she had met only twice?

"Do you favor any gentleman?" Xiao Song slowly settled back into his seat.

Ran Yan leaned back, "Are all officials from Chang’an so idle? Having so much time to discuss such matters with a stranger?"

"Regarding my earlier proposal, you might want to consider it. I have a significant case on hand, and it’s inconvenient for me to investigate personally. If you agree..."

If you could agree, you would be involved as a member of my household, and you would certainly be richly rewarded afterwards.

Xiao Song spoke halfway and then stopped, his eyes downcast, "Forget it, I don’t have a suitable position for you."

Ran Yan was the legitimate daughter of the Ran family, and in comparison to a true noble family, they were insignificant. Yet, she could still marry a decent gentleman in Suzhou City and be a proper wife. His family would never allow Ran Yan to be his primary wife. Before he married a primary wife, he couldn’t marry a concubine; if Ran Yan went, she could only be a lesser wife.

Such status, needless to ask, Xiao Song knew by looking into those cold eyes before him that she would never agree. Besides, he wasn’t exactly a decent man...

Ran Yan understood; it was business after all. Going to Chang’an and investigating the case were things she was willing to do, unfortunately, from what Xiao Song implied, the case required her to be part of his household to be involved, which she couldn’t accept.

The rest of the journey was silent. Xiao Song took Ran Yan back to the villa, then immediately returned to the city.

Watching the dust-settled carriage disappear, Ran Yan thought to herself that he wasn’t as idle as he appeared.

"Yan, how did you come to know Assistant Minister Xiao?" asked Ran Yunsheng, puzzled.

If Xiao Song was from one of the Six Ministries, he would be Fourth Rank. Ran Yan asked, "What Assistant Minister is he?"

Ran Yunsheng was even more surprised, "You don’t know? He is Xiao Song, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Justice, Fourth Rank Doctor of Right Discussion, conferred the title of Third Rank General of the Clouds. Only twenty-six and already holding a high position, he is one of the most sought-after individuals in Chang’an. Father has tried visiting him many times without success, how did you meet him?"

Ran Yan briefly explained how they met, then immediately asked, "Twenty-six and not yet married?"

She instinctively felt he wasn’t the type to have a wife. Men, regardless of age, always exhibited subtle differences between being married and unmarried. In ancient times, being twenty-six and still unmarried was indeed remarkable.

"Yan, do you..." Ran Yunsheng thought Ran Yan was interested in Xiao Song, and furrowed his handsome brows, perhaps thinking it indecent to speak outright, he switched topics, "A Taoist priest from Chang’an said he has a strong fate that overpowers his wife. Assistant Minister Xiao also mentioned before that he had two marriage engagements, one with a legitimate daughter from the Du family of Jingzhao who mysteriously died on the way to her wedding, and the other with a lady from the Lu family of Fanyang who died just three days after the wedding." (To be continued. If you like this work, please cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)