NOVPUB57: Chapter 39: The Inspector’s Return
57 -39: The Inspector’s Return
Ran Yan’s entire body relaxed, and only then did she realize her back was soaked through.
She knew she had been a mere step away from death, and although she had died once before, sometimes the most terrifying thing was not death itself, but the agony before death.
After she had returned to the villa and settled everything, it was already midnight.
Lying in her bed, Ran Yan skipped her usual habit of pondering before sleep and fell directly into slumber.
A restful night later, when it was still barely dawn, a distant clamor reached Ran Yan’s ears.
She lay still for a while, and as the noise seemed neither to increase nor decrease, Ran Yan finally asked, “Madam Xing, what has happened?”
Liu hurried in, “My wife, this morning suddenly a lot of sick people arrived, saying they had heard that the mistress could bring the dead back to life, and they came especially to ask the mistress to save them.”
Bring the dead back to life?
Ran Yan smiled helplessly.
Perhaps the incident of her treating Wan Lu and Zhou Sanlang had spread, and the current rumor was probably exaggerated a hundredfold—they must think she possessed the ability to “resurrect the dead and mend bones.” But what was truly strange was that the witnesses of her treating Wan Lu that day were all influential nobles.
Even if they indulged in gossip, it couldn’t have spread so wildly overnight!
The matter of saving Zhou Sanlang was known to the nearby villagers, they had not come to seek help because first, there were no patients on the brink of death, and second, because of Ran Yan’s noble status, the villagers wouldn’t dare bother her with trivial matters.
Thus, the people who came must be remarkable, right?
As Ran Yan had expected, Liu said, “Wife, those people outside look respectable, I’m afraid they cannot be easily offended.”
Ran Yan massaged her temples, acknowledging that a good reputation was definitely a benefit for her, including solving the marital issues with the Qin Family.
The Ran Family was originally more powerful than the Qin Family, and the Qin Family had agreed to the marriage mainly because Ran Yan had been critically ill and not expected to live long, and secondly due to the instigation of the stepmother.
Now that Ran Yan had recovered and gained considerable reputation, and Qin Silang’s dishonorable actions had led to a loss of life, it was the perfect opportunity for the Ran Family to call off the marriage.
She believed Ran Wen would be greatly shaken by this, but she feared that if the rumors went too far, they might backfire.
If her fame outshone her actual capabilities, it might turn a good situation bad in the end.
Syphilis, marital issues, and the murderer wanting to kill Wan Lu, one after another, before one issue was resolved, another stirred up a storm in the city, suffocating her.
Ran Yan forced herself to stay calm, to keep her composure.
One urgent issue needed resolving—she had only become Wu Xiuhe’s disciple a few days ago, and suddenly she was rumored to possess exceptional medical skills.
How was she going to explain this later?
Only Madam Xing, Wan Lu, and Wu Xiuhe knew about the timing of her apprenticeship.
As long as they didn’t slip up, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
It seemed she needed to quickly ingratiate herself with her esteemed mentor.
While Ran Yan was tormented with these headaches, unaware that the person causing her distress was smiling broadly, engaging warmly with Ran Wen.
Inside the Ran Family residence, it was bustling with guests, and over ten carriages were parked at the grand entrance, everyone’s faces beaming with joy.
To an outsider, it might even seem like the Ran Family was celebrating a joyous occasion.
“This time, thanks to Lady Ran Shiqi, who resurrected a vital witness, contributing significantly to the Government Office’s case resolution, I’ve come especially to express my gratitude!” Liu Pinrang said with a laugh.
Ran Wen too was beaming with joy, cleverly masking the pride in his eyes, he politely responded, “Oh, where, where.”
The previous Inspector of Suzhou, Du Yanheng, was a direct descendant of the Capital’s Du Family, known for his inflexibility, a man of his word who could not be easily offended.
In Suzhou, no one dared to cross him.
The major clans secretly disliked Du Yanheng, but Liu Pinrang, being worldly and smooth, made things convenient without burdening them.
The relationship between the Government and the influential families reached a mutual balance of restraint, wariness, and respect, and they were very satisfied with Liu Pinrang, hence treating him even more courteously.
Seeing the Ran Family’s steward come and go repeatedly to announce visitors, Liu Pinrang joked, “It seems that today Scholar Ran Wen is very busy, he doesn’t have time to keep me for a meal, so I’d better rush back to the Government Office, to not miss lunch!
Haha!”
Ran Wen, in a great mood, “Inspector Liu, would you blame me?
That won’t do; today let’s drink three hundred cups together!”
Liu Pinrang hurriedly waved his hand, “Just joking, just joking!
This old body of mine couldn’t handle three hundred cups.
Recently there have been many cases, and there are still matters to attend to at the Government Office, so I will not stay long.”
