Miss Truth

Just moments after Xiao Song finished speaking, Ran Yan saw a staggering person enter the shrine.

"Let’s go," Xiao Song took her hand.

As they just entered the small pine forest, a figure flashed before Xiao Song like lightning.

"What is it?" Xiao Song’s expression slightly condensed.

Ran Yan also recognized this person as Ben Xiao, a capable guard beside Xiao Song. He was more agile in handling affairs than Bai Yi, so he remained in Chang’an to take orders. However, his sudden appearance here certainly meant that something major had happened.

"Ran Shilang has disappeared, and he has been missing for seven days. The Ran residence has searched everywhere to no avail. Lord Ran has just come to our house for help. I took the initiative to send people to search, but there is no trace at all. I suspect Princess Baling," Ben Xiao said, hinting at suspicion but with a certain tone in his voice. It was unlike Ran Yunsheng to disappear without a reason, letting no one at home know, who else would dare to kidnap a "good family man"!

Xiao Song clearly felt Ran Yan tense up, so he embraced her shoulders without any hesitation, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "I’ll write a letter. Take my letter and hurry back. Go to the study in the house and find a blue brocade bag. Deliver everything in it along with the letter to the Imperial Censor, Ma Zhou."

"Yes," Ben Xiao sighed slightly with relief. Xiao Song had once brought Ran Yunsheng into his residence for protection, causing rumors amongst the townfolk. Naturally, Ben Xiao did not dare to take this lightly. These past few days had been vexing, but he wouldn’t dare to search the Princess’ Courtyard. Now that Xiao Song was taking over, the tension in his body suddenly eased significantly.

"Shilang...," Ran Yan wished she could return immediately. The moment Ben Xiao spoke the news, her mind flashed with many images: Chai Xuanyi who wanted to die because of opium, Dou Chengfeng who lost himself in opium, and the body of Qin Yunlin lying on the operating table. Ran Yunsheng’s every frown and smile, suddenly, being trapped in an icy abyss, she uncontrollably began to tremble slightly.

Noticing her change, Xiao Song held her in his arms and comforted her by stroking her back gently, "Don’t be afraid, Yanyan. I have collected many of Princess Baling’s compromising materials before. Once this item is delivered, the Emperor will not ignore it. Princess Baling will at least not be free to enter and exit the palace gate. I estimate that we can return to Chang’an in two days or so. Ran Shilang will be fine, trust me."

She dreaded the corpses of those close to her. This had always been a sore spot in Ran Yan’s heart, one that could not be touched. Qin Yunlin’s incident was a nightmare; perhaps she should not have insisted on leading that autopsy initially, then it would not have become a personal demon.