"Forget it, they hurt you first, and you truly have no obligation to humility yourself before them." Ran Yunsheng sighed.

"On such a joyful day, why sigh, Tenth Brother? I don't mind. With third uncle, aunt, you, and A-Yun, I am content," Ran Yan smiled.

Ran Yan had intended to ask Ran Pingyu if he wanted to withdraw from the merchant class, and if so, to have Xiao Song use his connections to help him enter the official class. However, now deeply entrapped in the abyss of a power struggle, coupled with Liu Pinrang's dying words, Ran Yan felt somewhat weary.

Moreover, it was not a good time to enter the official class, so she temporarily refrained from asking.

"My lord, Lady Xian Liang."

A maid ran over from a small path.

Both stopped walking, and Ran Yunsheng asked, "What's the matter?"

The maid bowed slightly and said, "Just now, a messenger from Xiao Residence said that a government official has come to summon Lady Xian Liang regarding a matter of the Three Divisions, requesting Lady to make a trip to the Ministry of Justice."

Ran Yan paused slightly; the Three Divisions recently were only handling the Crown Prince's case. Seeing that the deadline was near, their urgent summoning most likely concerned an autopsy or was it confirming testimonies?

Ran Yunsheng said, "This urgency must mean something important. You go ahead, there's no need to bid farewell to mother and A-Yun, I'll inform them later."

"Alright." Ran Yan nodded, then followed the maid towards the Inner Gate.

The Xiao Residence's servant was waiting there, and upon seeing Ran Yan, he quickly bowed, "My Lady."

"Did they say what I am needed for at the Ministry of Justice?" Ran Yan asked.

"It was not mentioned. The messenger only said that everything is prepared for My Lady, please follow directly to the palace," the servant replied.

As the carriage pulled up before the Inner Gate, Ran Yan said farewell to Ran Yunsheng, and upon entering the carriage, she suddenly remembered something she wanted to mention earlier. Lifting the curtain, she said, "Tenth Brother, things are unstable lately, please arrange for more guards for A-Yun's wedding procession. Are the household staff sufficient?"

"We have enough," Ran Yunsheng replied.

Having a certain social status determined how many guards one could employ, and since Ran Yunsheng did not mention the number, it was likely exceeding the limits allowed by the Tang Code.

For major merchants, this was a common practice. As long as everything was handled properly, it was not considered a big deal, for they had wealth that needed protection.

Ran Yan felt at ease after getting a response.

Hurriedly returning to the residence, the Ministry of Justice official was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. Upon seeing Ran Yan, he immediately said, "Lady Xian Liang, no need to change into official dress, just head directly to the Ministry of Justice and not to the back palace. Just now, another has died in the palace, and another is severely injured. The Three Divisions have specially sent me to request you come and examine."

Ran Yan hesitated for a moment, then said, "May I take a look at your fish token?"

The fish token is an "identity card" for court officials, inscribed with the official's name, the government office they serve in, their rank, salary, and the treatments they enjoy when traveling. It is carried on their person and must be checked when entering and exiting the palace gates.

The official was startled for a moment, but quickly realized; in these troubled times, and Xiao Song being the official in charge of the case, it was possible that the killer would target his family. Ran Yan's cautiousness made sense, so he hastily took out his fish token.

Ran Yan examined it briefly; she had seen Xiao Song's fish token before, which was silver, while this official's was bronze and much smaller. The size of the fish token corresponded to the official's rank, and Ran Yan could tell this was a genuine token and handed it back to him, "I apologize, recently it's like seeing shadows everywhere."

"It is right for Lady Xian Liang to be cautious," the official said.

"Let's go," Ran Yan said.

"Alright," the official hurried out the door, led the horse by the reins, mounted it, and waited for Ran Yan to board the carriage before leading the way with a whip crack.

Xiao Residence's guards followed, escorting Ran Yan to the palace gate before turning back.

The official couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his brow and thought to himself that being careful was correct, but Lady Xian Liang seemed excessively cautious! He took out his fish token at the palace gate and pulled a government-issued pass from his sleeve, allowing Ran Yan to enter the palace, even without wearing an official's wife's dress.

The carriage entered the palace gates, taking a shortcut towards the Ministry of Justice.

They sped along, initially over the smooth stone pavement, which was slightly better, but after turning a corner, the ride became bumpy, with the carriage rattling loudly.

Due to the severe jostling, Ran Yan busied herself with steadying her body, yet as they traveled, she suddenly felt something was amiss.

What was wrong?

Ran Yan calmed herself and reflected. The sounds of horseshoes and carriage wheels were intermingling in her ears. Suddenly, she was startled—there were fewer horseshoe sounds!

The official had been riding alongside, but was now missing! And since turning the corner, it had not been long, with no sounds of horseshoes departing heard!

Ran Yan gently lifted the curtain and looked out, seeing no one, she then cautiously peeked out the window behind her.

In her shaking view, she saw the horse stopped three yards back, the official lay on the path, blood spreading from beneath him. A chill ran through her, and she looked around; they were on a thickly forested lane, surrounded by dense vegetation, with no guards or people in sight from front to back.

Should she cry out for help? Given that the assailant lay in wait, they clearly understood the defense arrangements within the palace. Even if she yelled, it's likely that no one would hear her for quite some time.

As Ran Yan was considering her options, the carriage curtain was suddenly drawn back, and a handsome face peered inside, smiling slightly at her, "Long time no see, Lady Xian Liang."

His sudden smile, and those eyes, as if holding spring water, captivating, like scoops of clear water… (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote with your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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