Chapter 115 – The Meeting of Love rivals
“Naturally, I’m serious! I, Xiao Song, am a man of my word.” How could Xiao Song not see what she had in mind, “Doesn’t Seventeenth Miss Ran just want me to cancel the marriage proposal? If you help Provincial Governor Liu solve the case within five days, your request won’t be a problem.” Xiao Song had some thoughts about Ran Yan, but the situation wasn’t right for him to take a wife. He didn’t like to be so inconsiderate as to be married. Why should he take an innocent woman to his house to die?
First off, the old lady had sent a team of four, and Xiao Song had already sent people to go all the way to chase and intercept them, but he didn’t expect the old lady to let Shu Niang bring dowry in person, and already secretly sneaked into Suzhou yesterday, to propose marriage.
Xiao Song was twenty-six years old this year, and after the New Year, he would be twenty-seven. Other people’s sons were already old and healthy, while he didn’t even have a woman. The old lady was anxious all day long. She hardly slept or eat and it was difficult for her to rest. Once she heard Shu Niang say that Xiao Song seemed to have some feelings for Seventeenth Miss Ran, she immediately sent someone to propose marriage and take care of her relatives!
As expected, the ginger was still old and spicy. This time it was obvious that Xiao Song had lost the battle, but things hadn’t yet come to an end, so it wasn’t too late for him to take back the initiative.
“I don’t believe you,” Ran Yan said.
Xiao Song was angry enough to want to spill blood but he had to conceal it.
He, Xiao Song, had never been so courteous! Although he had already guessed the outcome, listening to Ran Yan’s straightforward words, a sour feeling still emerged in his heart.
Ran Yan didn’t know what was in his mind, then said, “Unless after arriving at the government office, you sign an affidavit after Provincial Governor Liu’s testimony.”
Xiao Song’s face turned dark, thinking about when he last received such insults. Then he suppressed his anger and said, “Believe it or not, I won’t suffer anyway if you marry me.”
“It’s up to you whether you draw a pledge or not. Anyway, if I marry over, it’s just death. It’s no big deal.” Ran Yan dropped these words and asked him in a cold voice, “Is it possible to release my servant girl?”
Xiao Song slightly raised his hand. Bai Yi and the government soldiers saw it and released Ge Lan and Wan Lu.
This case wasn’t much related to Xiao Song, so he wasn’t so concerned about the case. He also has other thoughts. For an important matter, not to mention a step back, it was possible to take two or three steps back, and Ran Yan’s request wasn’t so excessive. The contract was a private matter, not so much that he could force it. At most, he wasn’t comfortable in his heart. Xiao Song had been in the officialdom for many years. He would weigh the pros and cons, so he compromised.
“Okay, I promise you.”
Ran Yan hadn’t taken three steps when Xiao Song called out to stop her.
Ran Yan’s eyebrows were imperceptibly raised, and she stopped in her tracks and said to Wan Lu, “Bring the medicine box I usually use.”
She sneakily glanced at the black face of Xiao Song, shrunk her neck, and quickly ran back to the Yingmei Nunnery.
Xiao Song glared at Ran Yan, his already bright eyes almost spitting out fire. Those who had no desires were fearless. Ran Yan didn’t even care about life and death. There was really no better way for him to take her. He could see that Ran Yan didn’t care about the Ran family’s interests and reputation at all. The only thing she cared about was Ran Yunsheng. He did many dirty things, but he didn’t want to use them to threaten her.
As they waited, Xiao Song didn’t intend to let Ran Yan go. “Since the agreement has been reached, can Seventeenth Miss Ran talk about her views on this case?”
“Is there only one suspect at the moment?” Since it was a public business, Ran Yan was absolutely open and wouldn’t have the slightest personal emotion.
“No, it can be said that everyone in the entire Yingmei Nunnery is suspicious. Compared with Master Jing Yuan, I am more suspicious of Master Jing Hui.” Xiao Song said.
Ran Yan was stunned for a moment. She really didn’t notice anything suspicious about Master Jing Hui, “Why?”
“Her meditation room is only two feet away from Master Jing Yuan’s meditation room, and it is said that she did a good job when it came to needlework before becoming a monk, but she has done less in recent years, but I found that this news is not true. There is still a large needle-point wound on her right index finger, which seems to have been formed recently, and Master Jing Yuan’s confession said that the shoes were made by her apprentice Huan Wu. But compared with the previous needlework, you can find obvious differences.” Xiao Song cited his findings one by one, and finally added, “Of course, that Huan Wu is also suspected, maybe she is usually hiding, and Jing Hui’s apprentice Huan Kong is also suspected. I heard that Master Jing Hui often instructs her to make needles, and the little nun is remarkable when it came to craftsmanship.”
Ran Yan looked at Xiao Song’s casual look when he investigated the scene, but she didn’t expect that he wouldn’t even let go of a needle-sized scar on the nun’s index finger.
Hearing him mention Huan Kong again, Ran Yan suddenly thought of something that happened a month ago. “Huan Kong once asked me to do an autopsy for her, but I refused.”
“Oh?” Xiao Song turned to the government soldiers behind him and said, “Invite Little Master Huan Kong to Yuncong Temple at the foot of the mountain.”
The government soldiers led the way back, and Wan Lu trotted out of Yingmei Nunnery with a toolkit.
In order to facilitate Ran Yan’s autopsy, Xiao Song ordered someone to transport the body to a remote and dilapidated meditation room in Yuncong Temple.
In order not to attract attention, Xiao Song led them in through the side door of the temple. Just before the monks’ dinner, there were quite a few monks on the main path, so they had to take a detour from the trail.
Xiao Song’s pace was quick, and Ran Yan found it very difficult to follow. She kept walking with her head sullen. It was the first time she had entered the Yuncong Temple, so she didn’t notice it when she passed the library, until Sang Chen, wearing a pale blue robe, noticed them. Sang Chen came toward him, Xiao Song stopped, and Ran Yan realized that he was already standing less than five steps away from them.