Chapter 17 Qin Silang

Lady Yan said, "Young Master Han is the legitimate son of the County Chief of Jinling County, who entered the State School two years ago, along with Qin Silang and Young Master Zhang, all of whom are regular patrons of our embroidery house."

Suddenly remembering something, Wan Lu quickly asked, "Could this Qin Silang be the legitimate son of Upper Assistant Qin?"

The Upper Assistant is a subordinate officer of the Inspector of Suzhou, assisting the Inspector, although without specific duties in the State hierarchy, ranked Fourth Rank, while the County Chief holds only an Eighth Rank. The superiority in both rank and status is not merely nominal, as it is said that one grade higher in office can crush a person. Even if Qin Silang indeed killed Young Master Han, whether he would be criminally charged remains questionable.

"Indeed," Lady Yan replied, somewhat tiredly massaging her temples, she continued answering Ran Yan's questions, "Young Master Han has neither wife nor concubine. It is said that there are two maids close to him, one of whom is already pregnant, due to give birth in about eight months. As for the other, I haven't heard anything."

Ran Yan thought to herself, being eight months pregnant slightly reduces the likelihood of contracting an illness, hoping that this Young Master Han accumulated some virtue for himself, leaving behind a healthy lineage.

"Heaven is impartial after all; though he died, it left a continuous lineage for his family," Wan Lu sighed.

With a provocative raise of her eyebrows and tears still fresh in her eyes, Hong Xing scoffed, "That sounds nice, but this family has only this sole scion! Qin Silang isn't so lucky, as he was just about to engage the legitimate daughter of the Ran Family. Unfortunately, with this incident, the Ran Family is likely to call off the engagement."

Perhaps knowing she had contracted this troubling illness, Hong Xing spoke with a self-mocking and self-pitying tone, a carelessness that made others feel even more disheartened.

Both Wan Lu and Ran Yan tightened inside, with Wan Lu hastily asking, "The Ran Family, is it the one in the east of Suzhou City? Which legitimate daughter?"

Hong Xing countered, "How many Ran Families are there in Suzhou City, isn't there only one legitimate daughter? Who else could it be?"

Lady Yan paused slightly, thoughtfully glancing at Ran Yan before subtly changing the subject, "Divine Doctor, I wonder about our medical condition…"

"The prescription I've written for you will do for now, at least delaying the disease. I'll prepare more medicines when I return. Furthermore, personal items like handkerchiefs and teacups should be separated from those of others, and contacts, especially physical ones, must be minimized. Please wait patiently for the medicines I prepare," Ran Yan instructed earnestly.

Lady Yan couldn't help but glance sideways at Ran Yan. She could somewhat guess Ran Yan's identity, a Noble Lady who learns her future husband often frequents brothels and has stirred up trouble but remains so composed, indeed commendable.

Lady Yan clapped her hands twice, and a Servant soon entered with a tray, placing it on the table.

"Here are fifty taels of silver, five taels in one ingot as a down payment. If I am still alive, there will surely be more reward," Lady Yan lifted the red silk on the tray, revealing ten evenly sized silver ingots.

Ran Yan indeed wanted to ask for more, but she always adhered to principles, "It was agreed, twenty taels per person, half beforehand and half afterward; now there are three people, so I'll take thirty taels. Wan Lu, take the money."

Wan Lu, still preoccupied with Qin Silang's issues, had no mind for money. As Ran Yan asked to take thirty taels, she picked six ingots from the tray.

"Then I shall take my leave for now. If there is any trouble, just send someone to the Zhou Family estate to find me," Ran Yan said as she stood up.

Lady Yan, Hong Xing, and others personally escorted Ran Yan out the back door and then had the Servant lead them out of the alley before they returned.

No sooner had the Servant left than Wan Lu could no longer contain herself, exclaiming hurriedly, "Wife, this Qin Silang has been involved in manslaughter amidst wine and revelry, not to mention the unknown diseases he might have contracted. How could your husband entrust your future to such a person!"

"Let's observe and see how things unfold; Father may not even know about this yet. After all, Qin Silang's family background isn't bad," Ran Yan, remembering the original host's memories, felt a tinge of affection when she mentioned "Father," perhaps there was some filial affection between the original host and her father.

In the Tang Dynasty, "Father" was the term used to address one's father, Ran Yan thought, maybe there was some love between the original host and her father.

"My lady speaks the truth, your husband still cherishes you, and now that you are recovered, why not return home?" Wan Lu anxiously grasped Ran Yan's arm, "It's better than being manipulated like this!"

"And by going back, will my stepmother stop using my marriage to cause trouble?" Ran Yan had always believed in relying on herself rather than others. Moreover, if her father indeed valued her so highly, how could he allow the stepmother to manipulate things and send her to the estate?

Ran Yan patted Wan Lu's hand and said, "Listen to me, living on the estate allows me to earn some personal money. If I go back home penniless, I will still be at the mercy of my stepmother. Besides, I do not wish to call her 'mother.'"

Wan Lu had been so preoccupied with Ran Yan's marital issues that she had forgotten that this trip out had netted them thirty silvers. If they were careful with spending, it could last two years.

"My lady" Wan Lu, touching the silver in her sleeve pocket, hesitated to speak.

"You want to ask how I acquired medical skills, don't you?" Ran Yan had already prepared an explanation, just waiting for Wan Lu to ask. "Actually, I don't have medical skills; someone taught me a few lifesaving methods in a dream."

Ran Yan looked at Wan Lu's astonished face, leaned in, and whispered, "Otherwise, how could we have encountered a patient as soon as we entered the city? And then so easily earned thirty silvers?"

All these coincidences, deliberately mentioned by Ran Yan, made Wan Lu truly believe it was divine arrangement. Excited, she said, "Even the heavens are helping my lady! Does that mean there's no need to worry about marrying Qin Silang anymore?"

"Heaven won't side with anyone. My stepmother bullies me, so perhaps heaven pities me. But how can we depend on heaven for everything? The matter with Qin Silang is not yet settled. We should find out more before deciding," said Ran Yan, devoid of any certainty. Having just arrived in the Great Tang and suddenly facing such an ordeal, she didn't know where to start. After pausing, she added, "Let's walk around and gather some information about this matter, then discuss it with Mrs. Xing when we get back."

When the two reached the main street, it was almost noon, so they decided to find a tavern to eat lunch and then buy some necessities before returning.

The tavern's name, 'Yalan House,' was quite poetic, stretching over three rooms and two floors with white walls and black tiles, the roofs adorned with intricately carved beams. Each carved black wooden door bore an entire engraving of orchids, matching the name of the tavern.

Hung outside the second-floor window were flags waverly inscribed with the forceful and powerful words "Yalan House," reminiscent of the great Wang Xizhi, giving the tavern an even more elegant aura. The tale went that Taizong admired Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, inspiring imitation both high and low. It seemed the common folk were also greatly influenced and favored the writings of Wang Xizhi.

As they entered the tavern, a waiter immediately came to greet them, "Ladies, this way, please."

The waiter, quite observant, briefly assessed Ran Yan and Wan Lu's attire, guessing they probably wouldn't ask for a private room, and led them to a table by the window on the first floor, "This spot is quite secluded, shielded by the staircase, and invisible from the outside."

"My lady, why not sit in a private room instead?" Wan Lu felt some pity for Ran Yan, who once held the status of a noble lady and need not have exposed herself like this.

Moving further inside, they saw only three tables, two of which were already occupied by scholars. Ran Yan was satisfied with the location, seeing no need to waste money on a private room, so she said, "This place is quite fine, let's sit here."

Without waiting for Wan Lu to speak again, she settled herself on the mat. Wan Lu had no choice but to kneel and sit beside her.

"Ladies, the menu is on the wall. Please take a look and decide what you would like to order," the waiter said.

Through the gauzy curtain, Ran Yan noticed small bamboo plaques hanging on the wall, which listed various alcoholic drinks, juices, and dishes. First, she ordered two cups of black plum juice, then let Wan Lu choose a few dishes.

The waiter had just left when peals of coquettish laughter drifted down from the second floor, occasionally accompanied by the sound of a zither, drawing the attention of several nearby scholars.

"It's the Yalan Meeting; all the talented and beautiful young ladies in the city must be upstairs. If one could win the favor of even one," a white-robed scholar gulped down a cup of wine, smacking his lips, "that would truly not be in vain."