The Tang Dynasty’s Female Forensic Doctor

Ran Yan observed both sides from the gap in her window. The fields on both sides of the road were over two feet tall and could not give way at all. The only solution was for her to retreat back along the way she came, or for the carriage opposite to return back the way it came. 

Wanting Ran Yan to retreat, she was naturally unwilling. The road was very long, it took about 15 minutes before she arrived here. If she really retreated back and returned, it would waste another half hour. 

The people from the opposite side ran over in the rain, urgently saying, “Everyone, we are rushing back to the city. It will be the night curfew soon, if we are delayed even a little we will not be able to enter the city anymore. Please, troubling n.o.ble person to make way!” 

This last sentence was directed towards Ran Yan. 

Ran Yan was just hesitating whether to make way or not, but the driver was a little agitated, “Our family estate is at the south of the city, it’s still a long way away. It’s pitch dark and the roads are muddy. If we retreat and come back again, I’m afraid that even if we drive till midnight we still wouldn’t be able to get back home. Your stretch of road here is short, going back and forth will only take the time of two small cups of tea. If you hurry, you still can make it. I trouble you to speak to your family’s master.” 

That person standing below the carriage saw that the driver was unwilling, momentarily became agitated as well. But as he had a favour to ask, he supressed his temper forcibly, saying, “How can we still make it back into the city after delaying for two small cups of tea? Even if you’re delayed till midnight, don’t you guys still have a place to go? If we are not able to make it back into the city, we would have to sleep outdoors outside the city. Requesting for n.o.ble person to give way.” 

The city gates close in the middle of You time (5-7pm). It was about half an hour past You time now. It was indeed urgent. 
T/N: basically the city gates close at 6pm. It"s 5:30pm now. 

“Retreat!”

“Retreat!” 

Ran Yan spoke out, but spoke in unison with a man in the opposite carriage. 

That

voice was low and magnetic, containing a trace of languid overtone. The words that were not rushed yet not slow carried the imposing manner of a leader. Resembling the unrestrained rising tide, it encircled one neither too fast nor too slowly, wrapping tightly without the slightest room to evade. However, within this type of dominance, there was a faint trace of enticement. It indistinctly provoked one’s heart strings, causing one to helplessly indulge in fantasy. 

This voice… Ran Yan’s heart jumped. It was that person hunting after Su Fu. This type of unique voice, it was difficult to find one in 10 thousand. Ran Yan definitely would not mistake it. 

The two carriages sunk into silence. After two breaths, that man said, “Yun Lu, let’s retreat.” 

This sentence was light as feather, yet it had an imposing manner that made one defer to it. Yun Lu, standing outside Ran Yan’s carriage received the order and did not argue further. He immediately returned back. 

The other side’s carriage slowly turned around in the narrow road, that driver’s skills were not bad. Within a short moment, Ran Yan’s carriage started moving. 

The night turned darker and darker, they were almost unable to see anything. Lanterns hung from the two front corners of the carriage, it was barely enough to light up less than 10-feet of the surroundings. The driver ahead seemed to be unfamiliar with the road here, and did not dare to drive fast. About the time for two cups of tea pa.s.sed before they saw an open s.p.a.ce. 

The two carriages stopped side by side. According to etiquette, Ran Yan should seriously thank the other party. However, it was the desolate countryside and it was also raining. The other person was an unknown male, she could only say through the carriage walls: “Many thanks to Master…” 

“Hmph, what is the use of thanks. We were unable to enter the city because of you, shouldn’t you invite us to stay a night before leaving?” Suddenly a forceful female voice interrupted. 

Ran Yan briefly raised an eyebrow. This voice was also very distinct. She had just heard it in the daytime. It was that Miss Shu who proclaimed to have been involved with Wagang Fort. Remembering the words that she muttered previously, Ran Yan’s lips curved up. It seems like that man sitting in the carriage, was most likely that Master who “doesn’t need feeding milk”. 

Ran Yan’s impression of Miss Shu was not bad.

bad. Moreover, they had indeed gave way in the end. Knowing that they were going to spend the night in the desolate outdoors, according to emotion and reason, she should be courteous.

Through the gap in the curtains, Ran Yan looked out. The other party only had two carriages. One was a square-window luxurious carriage, the other was slightly smaller, but still was many times superior to a normal carriage. The two carriages each had a driver and a manservant. Adding to that Miss Shu and that Master, there were 6 people in total. There might be even more, but it would not exceed 10 people. Moreover, the estate had a squad of prefectural soldiers guarding it. This was the lawful Great Tang, it was not a chaotic time. Even if they had any errant thoughts, they probably wouldn’t dare to commit a crime under the watch of the authorities. 

“My estate is simple and crude. If you do not mind, please follow me back to the estate to rest for a night.” Ran Yan said according to the woman’s words.  

Miss Shu coldly snorted, “This is more like it!” 

“In that case, many thanks to Miss.” The man’s voice easily made one feel oppressed, but contrarily (to its innate tendency for oppression) it turned graceful. 

Ran Yan indifferently said a sentence of “No need to be polite.” Before telling the driver to head in front to lead the way. 

Inside the carriage behind, a man was wearing deep purple Chinese traditional clothing. He was half leaning on the couch, one hand propping up his head on one side. The other slender hand with distinct joints[2] held a bamboo strip, using it to fiddle with the lamp-wick in the palace lantern[3] before him. His dark hair was half draped over his shoulders and scattered, covering most of his face. His broad-sleeved robes spread out around him, complicated dark patterns winding around its borders. 

The four-sided palace lantern flickered between brightness and darkness a few times, while the lamp wick was picked apart from the place it was stuck to. The inside of the carriage suddenly became brighter by a few degrees again, reflecting his stunning bright eyes hidden behind his dark hair. 

The man put down the bamboo strip and took up the folding fan on the low table, but did not fan himself. Instead he held onto the handle of the fan tightly, a scathing killing intent suddenly emerged within the

within the carriage. It only lasted for a brief moment, before returning to calmness.  

The Ran residence’s driver was very familiar with the surrounding roads, thus even traveling in the raining night, it still went smoothly. 

After half an hour, the carriage finally stopped at the estate’s entrance. The driver greeted the gatekeeper. The main doors opened and the carriages were driven into the estate.

Miss Xing had long been worriedly waiting on the veranda of the side courtyard. Seeing a few carriages enter, she felt a little doubtful. For a moment she could not determine which carriage Ran Yan was sitting in. She held up an umbrella and carried a lantern towards the carriages. 

The Ran residence’s driver knew Miss Xing. Seeing her walk over, he called out, “Miss is here.”

Miss Xing handed the lantern over to the driver and reached out to help Ran Yan out of the carriage. They walked under the veranda, before Miss Xing asked while helping to dry the rain on her body, “Tenth Master also came? Why are there so many carriages?”

“No, Tenth Older Brother bought two carriages of things for me, I brought them back with him. The other two carriages are guests I met on the way. I will explain later, help me greet the guests first and arrange for a place for them to stay.” Ran Yan said.

Miss Shu jumped down from the carriage holding an umbrella. She walked in front of the luxurious carriage and said, “Master, please come out.” 

Ran Yan wore her veil, paying attention to that carriage. She wanted to know, what kind of appearance did a person possessing that type of voice have?

The carriage swayed slightly. A person wearing a deep purple long robe jumped down from the carriage. Miss Shu immediately raised the umbrella above his head. The man’s figure was tall and slender, Miss Shu only reached his shoulder, thus the umbrella was not raised high, and just about covered most of his face. The lighting was dim and Ran Yan was also separated by a veil, thus naturally could not see his appearance clearly.

The two people reached the veranda. Miss Shu shot a glance at Ran Yan, acting as if there was no one there, she muttered to herself, “Up to the Luoyang and Kaifeng regions[4], I saw that those with draperies[5] said that they felt suffocated[6]. I never thought that southern women would still wear veils!” 

A trace of unhappiness flashed Missunhappiness flashed Miss Xing’s eyes. Her tone of voice could not be said to be rude, but it definitely wasn’t friendly either, “This old servant did not know that there are n.o.ble guests arriving, and did not make preparations. Asking the n.o.ble guest to forgive any areas of neglect.” 

Miss Shu was a little dissatisfied with Miss Xing’s att.i.tude. She kept the umbrella in her heads and shook it out violently, skilfully causing the water to all fall on Miss Xing’s body, but not a single drop touched Ran Yan or that man. 

The obstruction removed, Ran Yan lifted her eyes to take measure of the tall man in purple robes[7] before her.

T/N: The reemergence of a potential ML! Sorry to leave you guys on such a cliff hanger :P 

If you"ve not read it already, here is the link to the author"s note regarding the authenticity of the medical knowledge contained in the novel and the sources she"s used. 

Translated by lost-talez.livejournal.com

[1]二闻其声: lit. two/second listen the voice. As far as I can tell, it’s referring to 闻其声而知其人 – which means “to hear the voice and know the person” (to recognise a person based on their voice). The author probably used the word 二(two) to indicate that she recognised two voices or that it was RY"s second time hearing this voice. I just simplified it to “Familiar Voice”. 

[2]骨节分明: having distinct joints might sound like a weird way to describe someone"s hands but it"s just the way girls have smoother fingers and guys tend to have these larger joints? – refer to picture for an example — you can see each knuckle really well etc

PS. if anyone recognises who these hands belong to I might just post a chapter early lol

[3]宫灯: Chinese palace lantern – it usually has 6 or 8 sides, each side made from thin silk or gla.s.s, decorated with colourful paintings, ta.s.sels hanging below. 

[4]Luoyang and Kaifeng are prefectural cities in Henan – they are located north-west of Suzhou. 

[5]带帷幔:Not sure if Miss Shu meant that literally — that people with curtains in their homes/carriages felt suffocated, or if she’s just calling the veils "draperies" and saying that people in the colder north region already feel suffocated wearing veils. 

[6]沉闷: there"s no good translation for this word in English, it’s like this heavy suffocating feeling. Oppressive (of weather) / heavy / depressed / not happy / (of sound) dull / m.u.f.fled. 

[7]紫袍: purple qipao gown, the sign of an official position