The Tang Dynasty’s Female Forensic Doctor

Chapter 3

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Competence

Xing Niang dried her tears. Voice trembling, she said in a forced tone, “Alright, old servant will not hinder you. If Niang Zi dies, old servant will follow and serve you. Old servant did not look after you well enough and can ask madam for forgiveness.”

“Servant will also follow you!” said Wan Lu who was also greatly affected by Xing Niang’s words.

Malice flashed through Ran Mei Yu’s eyes. No matter what, she did not kill Ran Yan. Her servants present are proof, so Ran Yan can go die!

Ran Yan saw what she was thinking and coldly laughed, “You want to use your servants to prove your innocence? They are all your people, who will believe them? Can this prevent others from gossiping! Let me tell you, Ran Mei Yu, even if I die I will also ensure that your reputation is ruined. Besides, it’s not like I can live that much longer. All the better if you want to come and sacrifice yourself!”

Ran Yan’s out of the ordinary actions scared Ran Mei Yu. In this time of peace and prosperity, proper ladies were scared by violence. Even more so, if Ran Yan really dies here today when she is also present, no matter what the truth is, there will be no shortage of gossip. Realizing this, Ran Mei Yu started to hesitate.

Ran Yan involuntarily laughed, seeming even more crazy, “Leave! If you didn’t corner us, I would not have resorted to this. If you don’t leave now, you will not be given another opportunity!”

Ran Yan’s use of both the carrot and the stick, both threatening Ran Mei Yu and also saying that Ran Yan doesn’t have long left to live clearly told Ran Mei Yu that her current actions were superfluous—stupidly asking for trouble.

Although Ran Mei Yu was not dumb, hearing Ran Yan say these things bothered her. Seeming like they also wanted to avoid trouble, her servants urged her to leave quickly. Ran Mei Yu hurriedly ordered her servants to hold up her umbrella as they hastily entered into the rain. She didn’t even remember the gold hairpin.

Relaxing from the exertion, Ran Yan collapsed into Xing Niang’s arms with the hairpin still tightly held in her hands.

In the old Ran Yan’s memories this eighteenth sister is one who bullied the weak and feared the strong. She enjoyed using her connections to intimidate people. Though she was clever in trivial matters, she could not compare to the shrewdness of her mother so Ran Yan was able to scare her momentarily. Luckily this was the case. Otherwise, on this stormy day and the condition that this body was in, Ran Yan would not last a day if she was actually thrown into some desolate countryside.

The area on her throat Ran Yan pierced with the gold hairpin was not a critical point so it was just a sc.r.a.pe wound. A bit of bleeding wasn’t a big deal……the important thing is……she time traveled! Her spirit crossed time! This is absolutely ridiculous!

Seeing Ran Yan’s blank expression and slowly closing lids scared Wan Lu. Wan Lu quickly ran out to call a doctor.

Uncertain how long she was down for, Ran Yan woke again. Before she could open her eyes, she was able to feel the warm rays of sunshine.

“Niang Zi!” Wan Lu said as she saw slight movement. In the midst of both sadness and joy, at a loss of what to do, she seemed completely different from when she was determined to protect her from Ran Mei Yu.”

Feeling as dazed as before, Ran Yan looked up and saw the rays of sunlight coming through the curtains.

What were the chances of time travel? The chances of going back? In her muddleheaded state she knew that the odds that she can travel back soon were extremely unfavorable. Even if she can find a way back later, her body would likely have been cremated by then. And even if it weren’t cremated, who can guarantee that a dead body can be used again? Perhaps she is fated to spend the rest of this life in the Tang Dynasty that was over a millennium ago.

Taking a few deep breaths, Ran Yan calmed her emotions. After recovering, she heard an anxious voice besides her ear, “Niang Zi! Niang Zi!”

“Wan Lu.” Ran Yan said so weakly that if the winds were louder, her voice would have been dispersed.

“I’m here, here. Servant is here!” Wan Lu saw that Ran Yan’s consciousness return and quickly moved closer.

“The sun is out?” Ran Yan said squinting her eyes. Seeing the rays of sunshine peeking through the thin bamboo screen, the hazy feeling she felt slightly lessened.

Wan Lu let out a sigh when she saw that Ran Yan’s complexion was better and smiled as she replied, “Yes, after seven days of rain it’s finally sunny out and Miss is awake. This is really a good sign.”

“Help me sit outside.” In Ran Yan’s memories, this was the proper manner when addressing Wan Lu so she went with it.

Relieved, Wan Lu responded and quickly came through the hanging screen holding a thick, embroidered, outer layer of clothing to drape over Ran Yan. After this she finally supported Ran Yan walk so she could walk into the courtyard.

Stepping outside, there was a moist, warm smell mixed with a faint smell of vegetation and honeysuckle that overwhelms one’s senses.

Almost half an acre of courtyard was filled with a variety of flowers and plants. The flowerbed was very well maintained. The southwest portion of the courtyard had a pergola filled with honeysuckle. Thriving and pleasing to the eye, yellow and white slender flowers eagerly bloomed under the sun.

Around the pergola lay a small piece of neat garden plot that cultivated a few common medicinal herbs. The middle contained a strip of cobblestone deviating from the path that led the pergola.

Basking in the sun along the walls of the main entrance leading to the side room and main room, Ran Yan did not go over to the pergola. The too-moist air inside the room made her feel as if she were almost moldy.

Leaning on a pillar she sat for a while. The warm sunshine slowly permeated her cold skin which seemed to give her some strength. Feeling too lazy to move, she closed her eyes and reflected on Ran Family history, the memory of the body she took over. She realized that the original owner was greatly lacking in experience. Other than immediate family relations she drew a blank for almost everything. Not knowing anything about the extended family, local news, or major historical events made her seem like a lady who never left the house.

“Where did they want to send me?” due to her professional habit, when encountering uncertain things, Ran Yan need to understand the situation.

After a slight pause, Wan Lu responded indignantly, “Are you talking about Shi Ba Niang? She is forcing you to become a female Toaist! That Taoist temple is situated halfway up the mountain and doesn’t much monetary support. Niang Zi going there would, would…….”

Would surely die. Avoiding these types of words, Wan Lu hinted at it but did not say it out loud.

With only a small temple on the western mountain, Suzhou city’s Doaist temples were not as prevalent as those in Chang’an (capital during Tang Dynasty). Altogether there were less than twenty inhabitants. The environment was dest.i.tute but honest. Making Ran Yan who was at death’s door go there was no different than forcing her to die.

“Yeah, but no matter what, you shouldn’t be too rash. You were rude to Shi Ba Niang yesterday so it will be hard for her not to hold a grudge and retaliate.” Ran Yan knew Wan Lu and Xing Niang were loyal and devoted. She was a newcomer and will certainly need their help in the future. Looking out for her allies, she had to remind them.

Wan Lu sighed helplessly but said with a determined tone, “This matter was originally brought up by that person in the main estate, she talked to Ah Lang about it, but Ah Lang did not agree. Because of this Shi Ba Niang came privately to coerce us. Without a justified t.i.tle, there are so many people waiting for that person at the main estate to make a mistake. With Shi Ba Niang’s temper, if she were in the right, how could she flee in such so pitifully.”

The person Wan Lu referred to as “that person from the main estate” is Ran Yan’s stepmother, Shi Ba Niang’s biological mother. And Ah Lang, naturally referred to the head of the Ran family, Ran Yan’s Tang Dynasty father.

Ran Yan said, “But she is still a master. It would only take a few words for her to hurt you. In the future, be more careful and do not offend her so openly.”

Not openly, means behind her back? Staring at Ran Yan, Wan Lu knew that Ran Yan is a smart person. In the past she kept things to herself and never mentioned it, always resigning herself to adversity. Oftentimes she would repeat: must endure, endure. Xing Niang was also this type and so they would often cry in each other’s embrace. When this happened, the bolder, quick-tempered Wan Lu would resent how they did not grow stronger. But now things will get better even though Ran Yan only hinted at retaliation.

Eyes red, choking with emotion Wan Lu said, “Servant will die before she lets others take advantage of Niang Zi! Though Niang Zi was so badly wronged this time, but at least there was growth from this situation! You are the daughter of the first wife and even though madam’s family home has not been flourishing, it is still an influential family. Hundreds and thousands of times better than the person from the main estate from a no-name family. As long as Niang Zi’s health improves, no one can harm you!”

Ran Yan smiled softly. Originally she wanted to advise others, but ended up being advised. Though some words were to console the original Ran Yan, she accepted her genuine care.

“Niang Zi’s smile is so good-looking!” Wan Lu’s eyes that still contained tears were sparkling under the sunlight, adding to this meager girl’s complexion.

Undoubtedly only sixteen or seventeen years of age, but already so knowledgeable about the world. This was most likely forced by the constant pressure she was subjected to. Thinking about this, Ran Yan’s mind drifted elsewhere.

Worriedly, Wan Lu looked at her Niang Zi uncertain whether drifting off so often in conversation was a major issue.

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