Miss Truth
Chapter 119 - 75: Criticism

Chapter 119: Chapter 75: Criticism

The Government Official exerted his strength to help Yin Wanwan drink water, but he realized that all that came out of her mouth was fresh blood, and he quickly pried open her mouth and couldn’t help exclaiming, "Inspector, she has bitten her tongue to commit suicide."

Throughout the ordeal, Ran Yan had stood not far away, unmoved. The moment Yin Wanwan fell into the river, Ran Yan saw the blood spilling from the corner of her lips. Yin Wanwan’s love and hatred were so intense—if she really had resolved to die, how could she have left any chance for survival!

She used Zhang Fei’s fresh blood to cleanse the hatred in her heart, and perhaps only by paying back Yin Miaomiao with a life in the Pingjiang River could she feel fair and rest in peace.

Ran Yan pursed her lips and looked down at the body lying on the deck. "Wife, are you alright?" Wan Lu asked worriedly.

Ran Yan shook her head. She remembered Ran Yunsheng mentioning that Yin Wanwan was a lively and cheerful girl who often disregarded family rules and was somewhat rebellious. For such a girl to pretend to be a model of gentle and virtuous womanhood must have been a severe torment! And to live a life that was built upon her own elder sister’s life, constantly worried about being exposed...

Being exposed? Ran Yan paused for a moment, then understood. Yin Wanwan’s disguise was not perfect; perhaps Han Shan and Fan Chun had noticed something and she simply decided to kill them to silence them and frame Qin Silang.

Ran Yan took a deep breath, bid farewell to Liu Pinrang, and then left the boat with Wan Lu.

At this point in the case, Ran Yan was no longer interested in following up, just as before, she was only responsible for performing autopsies and investigating crime scenes, providing correct directions and clues for criminal investigations. If this case had not involved Wan Lu’s safety, she would definitely not have meddled further.

Leaning against the carriage, Ran Yan took out a bundle of papers from her sleeve that Wei Niang had passed to her and carefully opened it, finding three carefully folded papers inside.

—It was actually a deed to a house!

Ran Yan quickly unfolded the second paper, which was also a house deed. By the light coming through the bamboo curtain, Ran Yan could see clearly that two of the deeds were for shops in East Market of Suzhou, and one was for a house in Yangzhou City.

All three were just house deeds. In the Tang Dynasty, women did not have landownership rights, but they could own some house deeds and indenture contracts for slaves. This was probably Wei’s backup plan for herself or Cui Mei, but unfortunately, everything was destroyed, and she inadvertently benefited from it.

Thinking of that woman, ethereal as misty rain and ink painting, Ran Yan sighed softly and folded the house deeds back into her sleeve.

Ran Yan estimated she would soon be sent to Yingmei Temple to worship Buddha, so she planned to visit the Cai Xiu Hall today. Although she was not lacking money now, she believed in keeping her word. Since she had already received the deposit and treated half the illness, she could not terminate the service without good reason.

Wan Lu, who was still recovering from a serious injury, grew pale after a morning of exertion, but worried about Ran Yan going to the brothel alone, insisted on accompanying her.

It was already past noon when Ran Yan changed carriages at the Government Office and found a tavern at the mouth of East Market to have a quick meal, then hired two sedan chairs to go to Cai Xiu Hall.

At the secluded end of the alley, the back door of Cai Xiu Hall was still tightly closed. Wan Lu alighted from the sedan and went forward to knock on the door knocker.

The door creaked open from inside, and a young girl in a light blue flowing flower dress peeked out, her expression listless as she yawned and said, "Our brothel isn’t doing business this month..." She paused, then realizing the other party was the Wife, not here for pleasure, she quickly changed her tone, "This is Cai Xiu Hall, who are you looking for?"

"Please let the young lady know that our Wife is here to see Doctor Zi Xu," Wan Lu replied politely.

The young girl’s eyes widened suddenly, curious as she eyed the silent Ran Yan hidden behind a mask, her tone now much more respectful, "No need to inform; so it’s the forensic doctor. Ah Mu has already instructed, please come in."

The girl in the blue dress led Ran Yan inside and bowed slightly, "Please follow me."

Entering Cai Xiu Hall, compared to the faint sound of music and chatter last time, the courtyard was now much quieter, the summer sunshine wilting the plants in the yard, the humid air thick with the dense aroma of grass and flowers, suffocatingly tight.

Passing by the gallery, seeing several courtesans lounging in light gauze next to the lotus pond in the pavilion, idly feeding fish and chatting listlessly.

The two women gossiping spotted Ran Yan and Wan Lu on the gallery and their eyes lit up. Shaking off their boredom, they spiritedly slapped the woman next to them feeding the fish in a light green gauze dress, "Hey! Stop feeding, you’ve already overfed and killed several fish these past few days!"

The woman didn’t even look up as she retorted, "What else can I do if not feed the fish? Who can blame me if these stupid creatures keep eating whatever I feed them!"

The other two tugged at her insistently, and that woman finally sensed something amiss. She lazily followed their gaze and saw the fully masked Ran Yan, her spirits lifting as she asked in a low voice, "Who’s that?"

Another woman replied, "I heard Ah Mu closed the doors recently all to wait for someone. Could it be that person?"

"Who, an Oiran? A foreign courtesan?" the woman in the green gauze dress leaned in and asked.

"It’s not some foreign courtesan or Oiran! She’s a Doctor, haven’t you heard about Ran Shiqi’s matter recently? There’s only one female Doctor in Suzhou City, I guess it’s her!"

"Ran Shiqi? The same Ran Shiqi who performed an autopsy and got her engagement canceled by the Yan Family?"

"Is there another Ran Shiqi in Suzhou City? I heard she was extremely beautiful, even more so than Qi Liuniang. She was well-matched with the Yan Family, both in terms of social standing and talents. Tsk, tsk, such a pity. Why choose to humble herself by working as a forensic doctor..."

Their voices were low, but could still be faintly heard in the corridor. Wan Lu’s eyes flashed with anger as she fumed, "Wife! Let’s not treat them here anymore! They speak such unpleasant words in our presence, who knows what they say behind our backs! We shouldn’t endure this."

Wan Lu had a loud voice, and just after she finished shouting, a woman in an orange flowing flower dress stormed out from a room and pointed at the group of gossiping courtesans, bellowing, "You bunch of cheap sluts, just three days without customers and you yearn for men. Now, you chew your tongues in front of others, driving away the doctor. Be careful, or I’ll have every one of you sent to the army camp!"

Chilled by her threat, the women quickly stood up, kneeled, and apologized to Ran Yan.

The woman in the orange dress calmed down and turned to Ran Yan with an apologetic smile, "They are all vulgar women, and their words are unbearable. Please don’t take it to heart."

Ran Yan recognized the woman, it was Hong Xing whom she had met once before. She responded indifferently, "Lead the way."

Having said that, Hong Xing couldn’t afford to argue anymore without compromising her dignity. Wan Lu, albeit still angry, could only suppress it and followed Ran Yan into the house.

"It’s been a few days, is my lady well?" Hong Xing asked cheerfully.

"I’m fine." Ran Yan glanced at her face, noted the absence of sores, and knew the traditional medicine she prescribed had worked.

After passing through two arches and turning a corner, they saw the house hidden among the flowers. As they stepped inside, the strong smell of medicinal herbs hit them - it was the same room they had arranged for Zi Xu before, unchanged.

Inside, a plainly dressed woman sat straight by the window, her face even covered by a light veil indoors.

Hearing footsteps, the woman turned her head, her beautiful eyes looking puzzledly at Ran Yan.

"Zi Xu, this is the doctor who cured your illness!" Hong Xing, whose own condition hadn’t worsened, was in a great mood. She treated Ran Yan differently and instructed a nearby maid, "Go tell my mother the doctor has arrived."

The maid quickly left to deliver the message.

Only then did Zi Xu react, standing up to bow politely to Ran Yan.

Ran Yan took off her shoes and sat down opposite Zi Xu, speaking indifferently, "Sit down."

Zi Xu was slightly shocked by Ran Yan’s cold demeanor, but then sat back down.

"How’s the healing of the sores on your body in the past few days?" Ran Yan asked.

Zi Xu, who had been in a dazed state these days, was taken aback by Ran Yan’s direct approach, omitting any pleasantries.

Hong Xing quickly intervened, "Much better. Some areas have even begun to scab and fall off. Since my mother has the condition under control, she patiently waited for your arrival."

Miaomiao certainly had the patience. Did she really trust her that much, or was it overconfidence?

Ran Yan carefully examined the skin on Zi Xu’s hands and face, many of the sores having started to scab over, with some freshly revealing new skin underneath.

"The recovery is good. Now I will perform the last step of the treatment, which might hurt a bit," Ran Yan indicated for Wan Lu to place the toolkit on the table.

"No matter. As long as it cures the illness, I’m willing to endure anything," Zi Xu said somberly.

Because of this disease, her only older sister had to spend her remaining youth taking care of an old man over fifty, while she herself had transformed from a beautiful woman into an eyesore.

Ran Yan understood Zi Xu’s feelings and took a syringe out of the box, adding, "I’ll give you some tonics afterward. After recovering, your appearance should regain seventy percent of its former state."

Ran Yan glanced at Zi Xu’s somewhat sunken nose, powerless to fix this facial defect since she was a forensic doctor, not a cosmetic surgeon.

Zi Xu was overjoyed and quickly thanked her.

Ran Yan said indifferently, "No need for thanks; I am being paid for this."

Zi Xu looked dazedly as Ran Yan picked up a needle soaked in alcohol with tweezers, washed it in some solution, and skillfully fitted it into the syringe, resembling the method of rinsing tea. She wasn’t really lacking money; instead, she found Ran Yan’s personality truly peculiar. Though she seemed very detached, she understood Zi Xu’s inner thoughts and offered consolation. While caring, she maintained clear boundaries.

"Stretch out your hand." Ran Yan drew a little penicillin from a bottle, looked up at Zi Xu, and said. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)