Chapter 18: Enemies on a Narrow Road

"I was fortunate enough to have attended a Yalan Meeting once, and indeed, Qi's sixth daughter is breathtaking," remarked another scholar, waving his folding fan with a sigh.

The scholar in white retracted his gaze and inquired, "Is it Qi's sixth daughter, the number one beauty of Suzhou?"

As soon as the words 'number one beauty' were spoken, several scholars immediately gathered together. Their conversation was nothing but praise for her appearance, and two of them even composed poems. The crowd cheered, and they promptly found a waiter to get paper and ink, planning to write down the poems and send them up to the Yalan Meeting that was happening upstairs. Perhaps they would be lucky enough to be invited!

Ran Yan had a limited appreciation for poetry, and up to now, she could remember no more than twenty poems from the Tang Dynasty and Song period combined, including ones like "hoeing millet at noon". Thus, compared to the artistic atmosphere, Ran Yan found the black plum juice in front of her far more interesting.

In spring, there were Fufang drinks, osmanthus drinks, and peach blossom drinks; in summer, there were milk-based drinks and black plum juice. Beverages in the Sui and Tang Dynasty period emphasized color, fragrance, and taste, and they were drunk according to the season, all natural and pollution-free.

People from Chang'an preferred lactic acid drinks, but those from the Southern region generally did not enjoy the peculiar taste of lactic acid drinks and tended to favor beverages like black plum juice instead.

Ran Yan took a small sip, and the sweet and sour black plum juice refreshed her palate. She didn't know how it was made or preserved, but it had a slightly chilling effect, making it most suitable for summer consumption.

The dishes were served one after another. Those from the Jiangzhou region tended to be light and bland, with a hint of sweetness in the saltiness. Ran Yan did not favor it much, and with her poor appetite in summer, she ate very little.

Perhaps because the Yalan Lodge was often frequented by scholars, even the downstairs hall was devoid of any clamor, mostly filled with discussions on current affairs and poetic appreciation.

"Who is the author of the just-recited 'Beauty Preface'? The ladies would like to invite you," a clear voice rose from the staircase.

A sudden hush fell over the hall, and all eyes turned to the woman standing beside the stairs. She was dressed in a pale green, flowing flower dress with double buns in her hair, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a beautiful face. Though she was dressed as a maid, she carried an extraordinary presence that clearly indicated her noble origin. The crowd exchanged glances, astonished at being invited by the Yalan Meeting—it was quite an honor!

"The work is indeed mine," said the scholar in white sitting next to Ran Yan as he stood up and cupped his hands in greeting, with a slight smile on his face and the air of a true literati, completely devoid of the lascivious expression he had earlier when he was admiring the beauty.

The maid smiled faintly and nodded slightly toward him, "Please follow me, my lord."

Ran Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly. She might not understand poetry, but it is often said that writing reflects the person. Considering the scholar in white's demeanor, she could imagine that his poetry was either full of lavish praise or overt flattery. That such quality could catch the eye of the noble ladies of the Yalan Meeting spoke volumes about their level of appreciation…

Perhaps it was because the poetry scene had only begun to flourish during the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty? Ran Yan mused to herself.

"Brother Wenjing is indeed lucky!" exclaimed a person seated with the scholar in white.

The crowd sighed, some with jealousy and others with envy.

Ran Yan was almost done eating, so she called for the waiter to settle the bill and leave.

At this point, the people in the hall, unable to attend the Yalan Meeting, turned their attention to Ran Yan, who had just come out from an inner room. Especially notable was Wan Lu, who had not veiled her face, revealing a pair of phoenix eyes, a high nose, and full lips—quite a beautiful sight—provoking the interest of many individuals.

Those blatant stares made Wan Lu's temper flare, but she knew her place. This was not the Ran Family's estate, and she couldn't run wild here. With pent-up frustration, she followed Ran Yan out.

Distracted, Wan Lu almost collided with someone at the entrance.

Slap!

"Are you blind?" Before Wan Lu could apologize, the person struck her fair cheek with a slap.

The sharp sound not only stunned Wan Lu but also left the scholars in the hall momentarily dazed.

Yalan Lodge was a favorite gathering place for scholars. Those who did not understand sophistication found it too pretentious and rarely visited, and the poor could not afford it, so the atmosphere of the establishment was always harmonious. When they suddenly heard vulgar language, the crowd was caught off guard and had not yet adjusted to it.

"This servant failed to be cautious, please forgive me, young master!" Wan Lu cursed herself for her carelessness and hastily knelt down to apologize to the hot-tempered gentleman.

There are plenty of powerful people in the city, a slap could reveal three or five of them, and even with all the courage in the world, Wan Lu wouldn't dare to cause trouble for Ran Yan.

Ran Yan was walking ahead and turned back in response to the commotion, only to see a young man in a blue wide-sleeved and straight-robe brocade, with eyebrows like swords and eyes like stars. Even in his rage and irrational state, she had to admit that he was an exceptionally handsome man, but Ran Yan had never been one to admire beauty.

Seeing Wan Lu's cheek swollen high, Ran Yan coldly spat out two words, "Scum!"

A man who hits a woman without a word, if not scum, is worse than a beast.

"What did you say!" The man in the brocade robe flew into a rage, grabbed Ran Yan by the collar of her clothes, and yanked her towards him.

Wan Lu immediately panicked, sprang up from the ground, and tried to pull the man's hand away, "You can take out your anger on me, but don't you dare touch my lady!"

Wan Lu's strength was no match for a man's, the hand with bulging veins tightly gripped Ran Yan's clothes, unmoving.

The people in the hall thought the man was going too far, but they all recognized him as the legitimate son of the Upper Assistant, Qin Musheng. The news had spread in the morning that he had beaten a man to death in the Embroidery Pavilion, yet he appeared nonchalantly at noon, which showed that he had strong backing. No one dared to be the second young Mr. Han. The hall was silent.

Ran Yan snorted and pronounced each word distinctly, "With only a fine exterior, but venting anger on women, if that's not scum, what is? Who offended you, who provoked your anger, not daring to retaliate, you only release your anger elsewhere, if that's not scum, what is?"

Her words were forceful and resounding, more embarrassing than a series of loud slaps.

Qin Musheng felt especially unlucky recently. He'd been matched for marriage at home with a sickly girl, nearly on her deathbed. In the morning, he'd merely beaten up the young Han boy, and who would have guessed the guy had a thin life and actually died? Although the Forensic Doctor later confirmed it was death by poisoning, he was still very frustrated. He had come out to drink some liquor to dispel his gloom but was then drenched head to toe in curses by a young lady.

"Which family's lady are you?" Qin Musheng was so furious he suppressed his rage and asked coldly.

This question suddenly reminded Wan Lu, the Ran Family was one of the top families in Suzhou City, even the Inspector of Suzhou had to show them respect. Even if Ran Yan was not favored, she was still the legitimate daughter, so she said, "We are from the Ran residence in the eastern part of the city, let go of her!"

"The Ran residence in the east?"

Before Qin Musheng could speak, a voice from the second floor raised in pitch and asked.

Ran Yan sighed internally, truly, misfortune never comes alone. Whose voice could that be, shriller than normal by an octave, if not Ran Meiyu's?

"Let me go." Ran Yan's voice was indifferent yet carried a sense of oppression.

Qin Musheng finally felt that holding a woman's clothes by the collar was against decorum and cooperatively released his grip.

From the second floor, more than ten elegantly dressed women with covered faces slowly descended.

One of the girls in a red chest-high dress approached Qin Musheng and Ran Yan, glanced at Wan Lu, paused slightly, then turned to Ran Yan, wondering how someone who was half-dead just a few days ago could be out and about now?

Remembering that day, Ran Meiyu felt a surge of suffocation in her chest, and then there was the matter of her butterfly hairpin, which Ran Yan had taken to pawn. After other Noble Ladies found out, they ridiculed her harshly, claiming her days had become so tough that she had resorted to pawning her jewelry to get by. Today was an excellent opportunity, and if she couldn't turn the tables, she wouldn't live up to the name Ran Meiyu!

"Turns out it's Seventeen. What a fate you and Qin Silang have, speaking of the matched marriage, and here you meet." Ran Meiyu meant to truly strike at Ran Yan.

Qin Silang was a notorious rake, known throughout the city for his indulgence in pleasures, clearly not an auspicious match for a woman.

Upon these words, both Qin Musheng and Ran Yan were taken aback, involuntarily looking at each other.