Gathered stones like jade,
pine trees in a row like jadeite.
The youth's beauty unparalleled,
second to none in the world[1].
Ran Yan did not know where she read this poem, but in that instant she lifted her eyes and saw him, it suddenly surged out from the depths of her memory.
A deep purple, broad-sleeved long robe made from fine silk, the collar at his chest lined with light-coloured large circular embroidery patterns[2]. Both of the corners of his arms and sleeves had a bright gold decorative design, matched with a white jade belt. This set of luxurious clothing was exceptionally well-fitting, outlining his broad shoulders and slender waist.
Under the flickering and gentle light, that face appeared especially well defined. His sword-like brows were slightly raised. A bright cold star seemed to flicker within his eyes that were as deep as the night. Under his straight and handsome nose, a pair of moist lips curved upwards slightly. He nodded politely towards Ran Yan.
The word "beauty" was perhaps not suitable enough to use on him, it merely conveyed the words "unparalleled beauty". However, the words "second to none in the world" could not be more fitting[3].
T/N: This paragraph is referring to the poem above.
Ran Yan's gaze however, fell on his purple robes. It was common knowledge that in the Tang Dynasty, there were strict rules regarding the colour of men's clothing. Only children of the royal family and high-ranking officials were allowed to wear purple. If other people wore purple clothing, it would be seen as overstepping their authority and was a punishable crime.
They said that they were rushing to enter the city before the night curfew, but a person with common sense would know that the so-called night curfew only targeted normal people. For a person like him, as long as he demonstrated his identity, he naturally would not be locked outside the city. Did he wish to conceal his identity, or was it some other reason? Ran Yan put her guard up secretly.
"My humble surname is Xiao." He said. As before, his voice touched one's heartstrings.
Ran Yan bowed slightly, "Greeting Master Xiao." However she thought internally, there were no large families with the surname Xiao in Suzhou. There were no royal families or high-ranking officials with this surname either.
They faced each other silently. However, Miss Xing and Miss Shu's dispute still had not ended. That hot tempered personality of Miss Shu surprisingly had not erupted. Ran Yan looked at them curiously, only to see Miss Xing's eyes red around the rims, her eyes filled with resentment glaring at Miss Shu. Her handkerchief was twisted tightly, she was clearly restraining herself with effort.
It would not be right for Miss Shu to get angry, but not getting angry would cause her to feel unbearably stifled. Huffing with anger, she curled her lips and looked towards the side. What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.
"Miss Xing, go and arrange the rooms." Ran Yan interrupted their silent war.
Miss Xing withdrew her gaze and made a sound of agreement before walking along the corridor towards the neighbouring courtyard. There were not many courtyards in the estate, only four small courtyards. The rest were wide expanses of flower beds, fields, lone houses. The other courtyards had already been uninhabited for a long time. At the beginning and middle of each month, they would clean them once. It was the end of the 6th month now, just before the start of the seventh month. The courtyards should be clean, there was no need to trouble too much.
Letting people stand at the veranda was also not the way to treat guests. Ran Yan said, "There aren't many people visiting the estate usually. It might take a while to tidy up. Why don't Master Xiao follow me to the tea room to sit and wait for a while.
"Alright." Master Xiao smiled faintly. His serious and solemn appearance suddenly came alive. It seemed like he was not a cold man.
Ran Yan turned around and led Master Xiao and Miss Shu towards the tea room.
This side courtyard was the closest to Ran Yan's courtyard, only separated by two doors. Ran Yan's courtyard was small and did not have extra rooms, so she normally kept bottles and jars in this tea room. However, this courtyard only had this single place to receive guests.
A trace of doubt flashed past Master Xiao's bright eyes. The Miss before him looked like a noble lady, but even things like lighting lanterns or tidying things were done with ease. If she did not often perform these tasks, it would not be possible for her to be so natural.
The whole room was faintly filled with a medicinal fragrance. The small table by the window was piled with bottles and jars of different sizes. The tools she used for autopsies were in a small box placed in the corner.
Just as they sat down in the room, two servants entered carrying buttermilk and Chinese plum drinks. These two drinks were often drank in the summer. Buttermilk was a thick liquid left over from making cheese from cow or goat's milk. It carried a sour taste and was good at quenching thirst. However, Northerners were usually unaccustomed to this weird taste.
The maidservants placed the a cup each of the two types of drinks in front of each person. Miss Shu unhesitatingly selected the buttermilk.
"You know medical skills?" Master Xiao seemed to be uninterested in the drinks. His gaze withdrew from those bottles and jars and looked towards Ran Yan.
His handsome face carried a trace of smile, making one feel respected yet not obsequious. Even Ran Yan this cold person could not ignore it and said, "Somewhat."
Ran Yan's attitude could not be said to be friendly, but it was not cold either. But due to her constantly wearing a veil, Miss Shu felt that this was an insult to their family's Master. She glared at her with an ill-look.
The sharp gaze made Ran Yan feel like if her next action was not up to expectations, a knife might be flung in front of her. However, Ran Yan did not care because Miss Shu's temperament was suppressed by a lot compared to during the daytime earlier. It was obvious that as long as Master Xiao was present, she did not dare act rashly.
"Seventeenth Miss Ran, I wish to speak to you alone for a bit." Master Xiao suddenly said.
Ran Yan's knitted her brows, momentarily having a feeling like she had been tricked. Since they entered the estate, they had remained seated in the carriage, it was impossible that they saw the nameplate of the estate. Since this person knew that this was the Ran clan's estate and also knew that she was Seventeenth Miss Ran, did he plan this from the beginning? Getting stuck on the road earlier was also within his calculations?
His voice carried a type of oppressive energy. The maidservants in the room kept quiet in fear. When Miss Shu ordered them out, not a single one of them even sought Ran Yan's permission and quietly followed Miss Shu out of the room.
A guest had completely seized control of her own family's authority. This made Ran Yan even unhappier in her heart. Her voice also chilled by a few degrees, "Answer me first. The matter of getting stuck on the road, was it deliberately caused by you?"
A smile suddenly burst forth on Master Xiao's face, brightening up the whole room in a split second, "If I answer yes, will you immediately drive me out?"
Ran Yan did not answer, her silence an agreement.
Master Xiao continued, "Unfortunately, this is not the case. That day in the forest, you heard my voice, did you not? When we met on the road, did you recognise my voice?"
Ran Yan stared at his expression silently. On that exceptionally handsome face, it did not look serious, but it did not seem joking. Since she was able to recognise his voice, then it was possible that he recognised hers.
The only thing was, Ran Yan knew that her voice was not special. It was not soft and gentle, nor was it rough and husky. There were many voices similar to hers among normal people. It was not a highly recognisable voice.
"You say that it is a coincidence?" Ran Yan maintained a sceptical attitude.
"No, I've come specially to visit you." Master Xiao sat up straight and solemnly greeted Ran Yan with clasped hands, "I am Xiao Song."
Ran Yan's anger cooled slightly. If this was really the case, it was possible that he came to visit her but did not catch her at home. When he rushed back to the city and his carriage coincidentally became stuck with hers, he recognised her voice, thus took advantage of the situation by giving way and then was able to justifiably "stay a night".
Really cunning, Ran Yan thought secretly.
"I am under orders to investigate Official Yang's case. I wish to understand a few things. Requesting Miss to report matters as they are." Xiao Song collected his countenance. A frightening aura involuntarily revealed itself.
Ran Yan said slowly, "What do you wish to know?"
Xiao Song's cold star-like eyes flashed slightly, a myriad of undecipherable expressions, "Does Miss know that person's identity?"
Thinking of those bottomless dark eyes that carried a bleakness that could not be understood by anyone, she did not know if it was because this bleakness moved her or if she did not wish to provoke trouble, Ran Yan chose to hide the truth, "I don't know."
"Has anyone told you that when you lie, your tone must be confident?" Xiao Song actually managed to see through her lie with a glance.
Ran Yan had indeed rarely told lies. However, this small probability was actually exposed with one sentence[4]. She could not help feeling the resentment and humiliation of being caught. She said coldly, "Since you know that I was lying, it indicates that I am not willing to answer you. Since you can see through my lie, then can't you think a layer deeper? Once I make up my mind, I definitely will not change it."
Xiao Song raised his brows, a smile appeared in his eyes. He originally planned to force her to say it, but changed his mind at the last moment, and directly skipped this topic, "Since you know medicine, you should know where that murderer was injured? Did it endanger his life?"
Fighting in the dark that day, he only knew that that person was struck by a concealed weapon, but did not know if it hit a vital part.
"He injured his heart meridian." Ran Yan answered honestly. However, even if he injured his heart meridian, it was not necessarily able to threaten his life. Ran Yan had brought back the medicine bottle he used and discarded. She researched the constituents of the powder, until now she was only able to identify 7-8 types of medicinal ingredients. It was clear that Su Fu had an impressive grasp of medicinal herbs and was definitely well versed medical knowledge. At the very least, his medical skills were definitely better than hers.
Xiao Song looked at her thoughtfully, but did not continue questioning further. He knew that the information that he would be able to obtain from her was probably only this much.
At this time, Miss Xing's accusing voice travelled from outside the door, "How can you leave Miss alone with your family's Master. How is this appropriate?"
The trembling voice indicated that she definitely was about to cry.
Miss Shu hrmph irritably, "What is the big fuss about, there are so many noble ladies in Chang'an wishing to be alone with our Master but are unable to have the opportunity."
"You are also part of a noble household, how can you be so lacking in decorum. Let me enter!" Miss Xing wanted to rush in angrily.
Ran Yan turned her head to take measure of Xiao Song. She said in an even voice, "You're so popular, this humble one really feels deeply honoured."
Her words were thus so, but Xiao Song did not see any trace of feeling honoured in her. On the contrary, there was a flat tone, letting one feel like she was angry.
"Miss Shu, we must not be rude." Xiao Song spoke out.
Miss Shu heard his words, thus did not continue blocking. Miss Xing rushed in with hurried steps. Seeing that Ran Yan and Xiao Song were sitting knelt opposite each other, only did she breath a sigh of relief. Previously, Miss Xing had only cared about arguing with Miss Shu, it was only at this moment that she had the time to carefully look at Xiao Song. With one look, she felt a little remorseful that she had impetuously rushed in and disturbed them.
Miss Xing could be said to have met many people. Xiao Song's steady and graceful aura at his young age was definitely formed by occupying a lofty position for a long time. Under this aura, his handsome face was merely gliding the lily. Furthermore, the deep purple robe he was wearing was a clear symbol of his status.
"Master Xiao, this old servant has already tidied up the courtyard. Will you go and rest now, or will you still continue conversing with my family's Miss?" Miss Xing did not have the slightest trace of a sheep in wolf's clothing that she had when facing Miss Shu. Her face carried a kindly smile, her tone of voice gently asked Xiao Song.
Ran Yan mouth gaped slightly. This display was a little too obvious, wasn't it? Ran Yan helplessly pulled her up and said, "Master Xiao still has to be on the road early tomorrow morning and needs to rest early. We shan't disturb him further."
[1]积石如玉，列松如翠。郎艳独绝，世无其二。: poem written in the Song Dynasty describing the beautiful appearance of a male person
[2]大团花: Large circular embroidery patterns are used in the clothes of high ranking officials (3rd rank and above) and royalty. See picture below for example patters.
[3]艳之一字用在他身上或许不合衬，只在于一个"独绝"，世无其二他却是当得起。: this whole paragraph is a little paraphrased. It basically meant that saying that he was an unparalleled beauty was not really true, as he is much more than just a beautiful appearance. However, it would be fitting to say that there is no one else like him in the world.
[4]冉颜的确很少撒谎，但这少少的概率，居然还被人一语戳破: no idea what the author is trying to say