The questioning this time was beyond Ran Yan's expectations. In the large hall that was brightly lit by torches, Liu Pinrang was wearing a dark red official's uniform and a black official's cap[1]. On both sides sat a few influential officers, amongst them were Yin Wenshu and Ran Wen, it looked like they were officially investigating the case already.
"Provincial Governor, Seventeenth Miss Ran has arrived." A runner announced.
Everyone in the hall turned their head over after hearing voice. Under the waning firelight, clad in a light purple ruqun, her dark hair loosely rolled up in a bun, her features like a painting, the edges of the light purple skirt by her feet rippled open in a graceful arc, carrying a faint sense of chilly desolation as it spun in graceful spirals.
Ran Wen's ashen face recovered a little after seeing Ran Yan.
Ran Yan stood in the hall and bowed as custom, "Greeting Provincial Governor Liu."
Liu Pinrang's expression was solemn, and indifferently replied, "Rise[2]." He then turned towards the runner and said, "Bring Eighteenth Miss Ran."
In a short moment, Ran Meiyu was brought to the hall. She had only been imprisoned for less than 4 hours, but Ran Meiyu's appearance already looked haggard. Her dark red muslin skirt was somewhat wrinkled, her hair was also slightly messy. Her pair of beautiful eyes seemed like they could spout fire when looking at Ran Yan, she hated that she could not glare a thousand holes into Ran Yan. If it were not for her, how would she suffer such disgrace!
"Greeting Provincial Governor Liu!" Ran Meiyu bowed in greeting.
Liu Pinrang gave the word for her to rise and instructed for people to place mats on the floor. After all, she was a noble lady from an aristocratic family, moreover she had not been convicted yet, Liu Pinrang could not afford to overly slight her.
After waiting for both of them to sit, Liu Pinrang asked, "Seventeenth Miss Ran, a maidservant from the Yin residence said that on the 29th of July at the end of si time (9-11am), an argument broke out between Eighteen Miss Ran and you in the back garden of the Yin residence, is that true?"
Ran Yan answered honestly, "Yes."
Liu Pinrang said, "Speak in detail."
A trace of pleasure flashed cross Ran Meiyu's eyes, thinking in her heart, she feared that tomorrow the whole Suzhou would know that Ran Yan snatched her gold hairpin, when that time came, she'll see where she(RY) would place her face! There was someone to bear witness for this, she would not be able to escape the blame!
Ran Yan's expression was calm, after briefly recalling, she said in an unstartled, even voice, "That day I came out from the side hall, my maidservant was not by my side, so I went to the garden to look for her. I just arrived at the garden, Eighteenth Miss had rushed out to block my way, and asked me for the gold hairpin, and even spoke rudely. At that time I was looking urgently for my maidservant, so I pushed her aside to continue walking towards the vicinity of the Banks' roses canopy."
Ran Meiyu face was surprised, she thought that Ran Yan would try to conceal it somehow, she did not expect that Ran Yan would confidently say it aloud! Could it be that she was not afraid of ruining her reputation?
Liu Pinrang shot Ran Yan a glance out of the corner of his eyes, his complexion turned darker, he knew that the 'gold hairpin' matter that was mentioned was probably the private enmity between Misses in the residence, thus did not ask about the matter again, and turned to say, "Why was your maidservant not by your side."
"During the tea party on that day, the Young Masters requested that the location be changed to the pavilion garden that was closer to the women, Third Miss Yin suggested that she would let her maidservants hide, using poetry as clues, the Young Masters would look for them. I heard Eldest Miss Yan say that Third Miss Yin intentionally instructed two maidservants to hide in the garden, as to allow the Misses to secretly observe the unmarried Young Masters. I went to the Banks' roses canopy to look together with Eldest Miss Yan, we met Tenth Miss Qi en route, she requested to borrow my maidservant to draw a Young Master over." Ran Yan explained the situation in detail.
Liu Pinrang proceeded to say, "Coincidentally at that time it was said that something happened at the Magnolia House, thus you rushed over to the Magnolia House, and did not have time to call your maidservant. Subsequently when you returned, you met Eighteenth Miss Ran en route, is that right?"
"That's right." Ran Yan glimpsed out of the corner of her eye that Ran Wen's complexion became even more unsightly. Her current statement was too unfavourable towards Ran Meiyu.
Liu Pinrang continued questioning, "Then, at the Magnolia House and the side hall, did you see Eighteenth Miss Ran?"
Ran Yan paused slightly in her heart, and carefully recalled the situation that day, it seemed like she really did not see Ran Meiyu's figure. When she was at the side hall, she only saw Madam Gao comforting Madam Ling, but she could not discount that she might just have not noticed Ran Meiyu, thus replied, "I did not notice her."
Ran Meiyu glared at Ran Yan with a face full of hatred, "Seventeenth Ran, your heart is too vicious! On that day, I was also at the Magnolia House, you actually said you didn't see me!"
Ran Meiyu felt that at this time, regardless of whether Ran Yan really saw her or not, she(RY) had to say that she(RY) saw her(RMY), only could she(RMY) free herself from suspicion. However Ran Yan did not say so, in her heart, she determined that Ran Yan wanted to frame her. If she did not still possess a measure of rationality, she would have long rushed up and slapped Ran Yan a few times already.
Ran Yan coldly looked askance at her, "Must I have seen you?"
Ran Meiyu's complexion turned pale, with a face filled with grievances looked at Ran Wen, "A'ye!"
Ran Wen also was a little unhappy in his heart, but could not really say anything to Ran Yan, and could only comfort saying, "Meiyu, if you were at the Magnolia House, there were so many people there, there definitely would be witnesses, no need to panic."
Ran Meiyu calmed down a little, turned her head back and looked smugly at Ran Yan, but Ran Yan only lowered her eyes slightly, turning a blind eye to her provocation.
Liu Pinrang had a headache, Ran Meiyu said that her fingernail broke because Ran Yan pushed her into the shrubs by the winding path. Her fingernail came into contact with something and broke. But he had already sent people to search 4-6 hours in the day time, they still did not manage to find that half piece of fingernail that broke off. The maidservant from the Yin residence could testify that Ran Meiyu really did fell, but no one could prove where her fingernail broke.
Previously he had also sent people to question the other noble ladies, people could only testify that Ran Meiyu went to the Magnolia House, but no one saw her go to the side hall. If that was the case, she completely had enough time to kill someone.
"This official asks again, Eighteenth Miss Ran, you did not go to the side hall that day, in the end where did you go?" Liu Pinrang had asked this question many times, but Ran Meiyu kept heming and hawing, and did not directly answer, it was extremely fishy.
Ran Meiyu pouted and said, "Is this very important?"
Liu Pinrang was already hopping mad in his heart, but his face still remained solemn and said, "Of course, if you do not say, and there isn't anyone to testify where you went during this period of time, you might become the major suspect!"
Ran Meiyu's complexion turned deathly pale, she gritted her teeth and said, "I was talking for a little while to Fourth Master Yin at the cool air pavilion."
Once these words were out, veins immediately erupted on Ran Wen's forehead, hindered by fact that there were many influential people in the hall, he could not lose his temper, and could only fiercely glare at Ran Meiyu.
In the Tang Dynasty, meeting in private was not something new, privately making a pledge to be married (without parental approval) was also a legitimate marriage recognised in the Tang law. However, the problem was that that Fourth Master Yin was not born of the official wife, and was also not born of a concubine, and he was not even of the direct line of descent of the Yin clan, his father was Yin Wenshu's half-brother from the same father but different mothers. He(Fourth Master Yin[3]) originally was born of a concubine[4] and did not have much reputation, and his mother was a maidservant! Because she had given birth to him, only was she given the status of a concubine. This type of status, how could Ran Wen remain calm!
Speaking of freedom of marriage was one thing, but to genuinely carry it out, how could it be genuinely free? Especially large clans like the Ran clan.
Ran Meiyu sneaked a glimpse at Ran Wen's deep anger, her complexion turned even more ashen.
Ran Wen worried about how to stop this this matter. There were so many people here, his daughter had revealed this type of matter under questioning, where would he place his face?
"Since that is the case, this official will send a messenger to ask Fourth Master Yin. Everyone please rest in the side hall for the time being." Liu Pinrang got up, and ordered people to bring Ran Meiyu back to the side room to guard her. He then led everyone else out.
Those in front were all men, Ran Yan walked behind. Just as she did not know where to go, a middle aged man wearing a light green official robes walked over suddenly and said in a low voice, "Miss Ran, Provincial Governor Liu had separate instructions, please follow me."
Ran Yan looked at him calmly, lowered her eyes and followed him towards the side door.
"This humble one is Yu Bohao, in charge of this province's island prison." Yu Bohao was skinny and small, his features were quite regular, his skin fair, he had a kind of deep air of a scholar, his manner of talking was very amiable, one totally could not tell that he was an official[5] in charge of a province's prison.
Ran Yan's steps paused, she bowed slightly and said, "So it is actually Official Yu, I've lost my manners."
Yu Bohao could not help looking at Ran Yan twice. From beginning to end this little Miss had the same expression, he could not make out any waver, there was no fear or arrogance. When her pair of eyes looked at people it emitted a faint coldness. He was a little surprised. This type of appearance, this type of bearing, why did it remain unknown all this while?
"Please." Yu Bohao continued to lead Ran Yan towards the back of the government office, and reached a quiet side courtyard. He entered the courtyard before saying, "Miss Ran wait a little, Provincial Governor will arrive in a moment."
Ran Yan was suspicious in her heart. Provincial Governor Liu mysteriously brought her alone to this place, what was the reason? Everything that needed to be asked had been asked, although she had demonstrated some talent in investigating cases in front of him, but it was just the most ordinary analysis, if one's mind was a little more meticulous, it would not be difficult to think of it. She did not feel that Provincial Governor Liu would look for her to investigate the case.
Yu Bohao was constantly secretly observing Ran Yan's expression, and saw that she kept her eyes downcast staring at her feet, her expression was even more calm and cold than before. The surroundings were lit by a few lanterns, their light flickering between darkness and light fell on her face, she was extremely beautiful, and also had a measure of lifelessness around her.
Yu Bohao was in charge of the prison, and often had dealings with coroners, and frequently had to personally be present to watch the coroner examine the body. These coroners had similar expressions when examining the corpses as the one Ran Yan currently had, solemn and cold. Whereas Feng Sanxun that type of old coroner, had examined countless corpses, only then did this type of "dead person face" indistinctly form on his face.
Yu Bohao suspected that Ran Yan had previously had the profession of a coroner, moreover had ample experience, but that did not make sense, the girl before him was clearly just fifteen or sixteen years old, moreover she was the legitimate daughter of the Ran clan…
As he was thinking, Liu Pinrang walked over at a fast pace, when he saw Ran Yan, a wisp of a smile burst forth on his old face, "Ah, Seventeenth Miss! Enter with me quickly."
Liu Pinrang dispensed with conventional greetings, and quickly entered a building.
Yu Bohao also invited Ran Yan to enter. He was curious, Liu Pinrang looked for this little Miss, could matters be really accomplished? Would she not be frightened till her legs turned soft when she saw the corpse! He did not reveal anything on his face, but his still maintained a doubtful attitude.
Ran Yan entered the building, and felt a gust of cold wind in her face, carefully looking, there were many ice basins placed in the four corners of this building, and exactly in the centre was a board of wood. The board was covered with plain cloth, in the centre the shape of a body bulged out, it was obviously a corpse.
Roughly estimating, that corpse was about 8 feet long, his physique tall and sturdy. Ran Yan suddenly recalled the corpse that she had examined in the middle of the night previously - Official Yang (aka Yang Pansi). Provincial Governor seemed to care a lot about Official Yang's cause of death. It seemed like the death of a County Deputy's son, the death of a servant in an aristocratic family, a noble lady becoming a suspect, all these were not as important as Official Yang's death.
"I've prepared the things for you already." Provincial Governor Liu personally lifted a compact wooden case from the corner. After opening it, he brought out a pair of gloves, a face mask, as well as Chinese honey locust, cangzhu, and cutting instruments of different sizes, "These are things that I saw previously in your box, and ordered people to specially make it. Quickly help this old man examine this corpse."
Ran Yan furrowed her brows, "Dissection?"
"Correct." Liu Pinrang stuffed the gloves in Ran Yan's hands, the smile on his face gradually faded, and said, "Are you satisfied with the favour I returned to you? Your marriage with Fourth Master Qin will soon be dissolved…"
Liu Pinrang's unspoken words were: You will not suffer any loss if you help me!
It was still fine if he did not mention this, but mentioning this, Ran Yan's complexion darkened, she swiftly wore the gloves and mask, her voice calmly said, "Many thanks to Provincial Governor Liu, the favour you returned was too big, this time round take this autopsy as a gift, Seventeenth does not have any requests."
Ran Yan really did not dare let Liu Pinrang return any favours anymore, otherwise who knew how many situations that she could not handle was he able to instigate, but she couldn't not help, if this old man carried a grudge, then it would be even worse! Therefore she might as well examine the body without saying anything else.
Liu Pinrang coughed twice, in his heart he felt like he had somewhat taken advantage (of RY), and thus did not mind Ran Yan's attitude. Actually if it were not because he wished to pull wool over the eyes of others, he would not have to go to all the trouble of creating this complicated plan[6], and would directly find Feng Sanxun to conduct the autopsy. It was firstly because he had witnessed Ran Yan's skills and secondly because her identity would not attract attention.
**
In December, this story was change to two updates daily, at least 4000+ words, mostly 5000+ words. Everyone's rewards, votes, reviews and comments, Xiuzi remembers in my heart, and will explode with hard work, and bring to everyone even more interesting story lines. Asking that friends who like TDFFD continue supporting Xiuzi!!!
T/N: Almost forgot to post this chapter today >.< Ah, the author really is amazing how does she manage to consistently update one chapter daily??? I'm already struggling to consistently update once a week.
Still using the new editor because I like the way it looks, it feels like a better reading experience? But I just realised that the footnote links don't work in this new editor! T_T Also I was right, there is a lag in the new editor, when I hold the backspace key down, it continues deleting a few more characters after I lift up. D:
Should I just switch back to the old editor? sigh
IMPORTANT NOTICE: I've changed the name of Yang Panci (the guy who died around the same time as Young Master Han) to Official Yang. Similar to the translation error regarding Official Qin (aka Qin Shangzuo), I've mistaken the official position of pansi as Official Yang's name.. T_T sorry for the mistake guys...[1] 幞头: futou The early futou was just a close-fitting piece of cloth wrapped around the head. Later on a kerchief was put under the turban padded with wood, silk, grass or leather to form the shape of hair buns. After the mid Tang Dynasty, the cap finally took shape, still given the name futou. The two corners of the futou are round or wide, tipping slightly upwards. See pic below of different futou styles.
[2] 免礼: it actually means you may dispense with courtesy (curtsying/bowing etc), but that's really long, and I wanted to keep the feeling of brevity.
[3] T_T the lack of pronouns/names in this paragraph killed me. I'm assume the author means Fourth Master Yin in this sentence, but it could also refer to his father.
[4] The term used here is 庶出 shu born, meaning that he is born of a concubine. Its counterpart is di born aka born of the official wife aka the legitimate son/daughter.
[5] 判司: pansi. Same governmental position as Official Yang (the dead official who I mistakenly translated as Yan Panci).
[6] 迷魂阵: stratagem to trap sb / to bewitch and trap
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