Chapter 60

Tang Dynasty Female Forensic Doctor Chapter 61: Absolute Assassination

Miss Xing had serendipitously made all the preparations already, so after Ran Yan took a hurried bath, she immediately started getting ready (combing her hair, make up and dressing).

As usual, Miss Xing put all her full effort towards making Ran Yan look gentle and soft. Xiao Man also gave her all this time to turn Ran Yan’s lifeless face into a lovable and gentle beauty.

Ran Yan felt extremely uncomfortable after looking at herself in a mirror for a while. She had not yet grown accustomed to this borrowed face of hers and now, with this look, Ran Yan didn't even feel like the essence was her own.

Time was tight however and it was too late to change her make up now. She wouldn't have to see herself anyway so she simply resolved herself and went to the side room to look for Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yunsheng wore a dark green round-necked narrow-sleeved robe, a black official’s cap on his head and soft boots on his feet. This outfit added a hint of sturdiness to his usually gentle appearance. He actually looked like a beautiful young Master that was elegant and radiant at first glance rather than an androgynous celestial.

“Tenth Brother should wear Hu clothing more often.” Said Ran Yan after briefly admiring his looks.

Turning to look back at Ran Yan, Ran Yunsheng’s beautiful eyes failed to conceal his astonishment at her beauty. He couldn’t help joking, “Ah Yan, you should wear the veil tonight. Tenth brother is afraid that you will be kidnapped.”

Did she really look so delicate? Ran Yan frowned, nodded and said, “It would be better to wear it then.”

Ran Yunsheng's subtle praise had been lost on Ran Yan.

Ran Yunsheng thought that Ran Yan was deliberately joking and burst out laughing. Little did he know that Ran Yan’s sense of humour had always been different from other people and that she really did not like her current appearance.

As the two continued to chat, they went out and boarded the carriage together. Since Ran Yan would not bring Madam Gao's maidservants with her and Wan Lu's body hadn't fully recovered yet, it was only her and Ran Yunsheng in the carriage.

During the Double Seven Festival and the Lantern Festival women did not need to wear a veil and could freely interact as much as they liked with the young Masters, so the whole riverside was very lively.

Carrying forward the bright and sunny weather from the previous two days, the night sky was crystal clear while the half-moon hung suspended in the foreground before the smoke-like Milky Way.

The moonlight seen on the seventh day of the lunar month made it difficult to see the Milky Way. The Milky Way looked like it was fading away; allowing the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid to temporarily meet for the moment. In reality, however, the distance between them had not changed.

As the carriage travelled along, Ran Yan leant against the window and looked out. After a while, the tranquility of the night was gradually replaced by the clamour of the city streets and rows of red lanterns that lit up the river's banks came into view, winding like a endlessly long dragon.

Extraordinarily luxurious looking, brightly lit boats floated on the wide Pingjiang River; their walls engraved with flowers and windows draped with light muslin silk curtains. Amongst them, the most outstanding one was a large boat carved with a layer of patterns. The pavilions on this boat were decorated to look exactly the same as real houses. Coloured ribbons hung from the sides and 6-sided silk lanterns were hung every other step. The atmosphere was lively as people could be seen milling about on the deck, talking and laughing.

“What is that?” Ran Yan couldn’t help asking.

“That is Madam Qi’s boat. Every Double Seven it will anchor at Pingjiang’s river banks. As long as you’re a lady from an aristocratic family you can go aboard to gather and play. Does Ah Yan wish to go?” Ran Yunsheng replied.

Ran Yan shook her head. Only gossip and cat fights gathered where noble ladies met. It would be better to roam the city streets and soak in the festive atmosphere.

When the carriage stopped by the side of the road, Ran Yan put on her veil.

After alighting the carriage, the surrounding clamour became even more vivid and gave her the feeling of actually being in the thick of things[1]. Ran Yan was attracted by this lively and traditional atmosphere and so, together with Ran Yunsheng, she casually began to browse the streets.

However, between Ran Yunsheng’s overly outstanding looks and Ran Yan’s veil, it was inconvenient to squeeze into the crowd, making them only be able to walk along the empty edges and causing them to completely lose the pleasure of participating in the festivities.

Ran Yan eventually used some steps to gain a vantage point and, through the black muslin, spotted a few stalls selling masks ahead. She pulled Ran Yunsheng there and acquired a set of masks for the two to wear.

With this, it was more convenient and because many people were wearing masks on the street, the two did not stand out. “They’re selling qiaoguo[2] up ahead. Let’s go over and buy some.” Ran Yunsheng said. There were many different alluring varieties of qiaoguo, shaped into different patterns and displayed in boxes.

Actually, buying qiaoguo wasn't necessarily because of how delicious it was, but rather because it was a part of the atmosphere of the Qiqiao festival[3].

“Master, Miss, buy a catty of qiaoguo today and get a bottle of bai[4] free!” The stall’s vendor enthusiastically called out. 

Swallowing pine seeds, consuming bai, folding lotus leaves[5]. All were traditions of the Double Seven Festival in the Tang Dynasty. It was said that bai was a type of secret recipe that used pine as a medicinal ingredient. This miraculous pill was supposedly made from dew on the seventh day of the seventh month. Consuming one pill was said to extend one’s life by 10 years, while two pills could give you another 20 years.

These legends were apocryphal at best and downright fantasy at worst so Ran Yan wasn't too interested in buying the qiaoguo at first. Still, bai really could strengthen the body and, in the end, this ancient medicine was not something she could pass up so she ultimately gave in and bought a catty of qiaoguo.

As Ran Yunsheng was paying, the crowd suddenly swelled with movement, causing Ran Yan to become unsteady on her feet.

“Quickly, the number one beauty Sixth Miss Qi has come out!” Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.

Upon hearing this news, the already jam-packed crowd became even more severe and Ran Yan was pushed out a few steps more. She inwardly scolded, "Wasn’t it just a woman, what could so great about that?"

Ran Yan lifted her gaze to see that Ran Yunsheng was getting further and further away. She quickly tried to use all her strength squeeze her way back. There wasn’t any convenient method to contact each other in this time period so if they became separated, it would be very difficult to find each other again in this crowded night market.

With great difficulty, she somehow managed to squeeze back to Ran Yunsheng’s side, but as he was wearing a narrow-sleeved Hu robe that didn’t have a cuff or lower hem to hold, Ran Yan could only grab hold of his hand.

The tidal force of the crowd was truly scary. Ran Yan was like a little boat fighting against the current. If it weren’t for her holding Ran Yunsheng’s hand, she would have probably sucked into the undertow.

Seemingly having seen her struggling, Ran Yunsheng pulled her to his side and turned his body to block the onrushing stream of people. His strength was simply astonishing but Ran Yan’s hands began to become painfully hot from his grip.

Ran Yan found herself squeezed into a corner next to a vendor’s booth. The two were so close her nose was almost touching his chest. A faint herbal medicine smell wafted her way causing Ran Yan to be startled. She swiftly lifted her head to meet the gaze of a pair of eyes as dark as night.

He wasn't Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yan lowered her head again, unable to break away since the crowd was still pushing and pulling. She only realise after a long moment that she was still holding the man’s hand. She quickly let go and apologised, “Sorry, I’ve recognised the wrong person.”

“En.” His bone chilling voice was low and carried a trace of hoarseness, as if it was lacking some zhongqi (spleen and gastric energy).

The crowd was gradually beginning to move away, allowing Ran Yan to step to the side, bow slightly and give her thanks.

The man, in turn, took a step back and gave her a slight nod. He then turned around and walked towards the small dock where boats were anchored at.

At the same time she breathed out a sigh of relief, Ran Yan felt that that person’s aura seemed familiar. It felt like that of… Su Fu.

How could there be such a coincidence? This man just so happened to also be wearing a dark green round-necked narrow-sleeved Hu robe, a black headscarf on his head and black mask on his face. The only difference from Ran Yunsheng was that the colour of his clothes were a lot darker and his mask was somewhat different. It was just that the lighting was too dim and she was in an anxious state just now, so Ran Yan had not noticed.

With the crowd now breaking up, Ran Yan started to look for Ran Yunsheng. While doing so however, her gaze accidentally swept past the river. Her eyes widened momentarily and she hurriedly ran over to the river bank.

There were many boats on the wide river, but they were about 10-20 feet apart from each other. Despite this fact, that man was nimbly manoeuvred like a northern goshawk in between those boats in a manner befitting the saying: The rabbit jumps and the hawk swoops down[6]. He had already crossed 7-8 boats all while not leaving his hands idle as he traversed to the next wooden stepping stone. By the time he landed on the 9th boat, he had put on a black coat.

As Ran Yan stared at that figure without blinking, he rushed towards a medium sized boat.

Ran Yan saw that there were two people sitting on the deck of that boat, but she couldn’t tell if they were drinking tea or playing Go. Surrounding them were a few sword-wielding strong men.

His black nocturnal clothes almost blended into the night, allowing him to cling onto the boat wall unseen, silent and motionless, as if he was a leopard lying in wait for its prey.

The two people on the deck were completely unaware of the impending crisis. They appeared to talk about something amusing and just as they burst into hearty laughter, the night robed figure noiselessly darted up onto the deck. In an instant[7], he drew near to the two people and with a flash of cold light across the river surface, the laughter coming to an abrupt stop.

The boat was immediately thrown into chaos, but that dark robed figure had already dropped down from the deck, destination unknown.

What brilliant and outstanding execution.

Ran Yan sucked in a breath of cold air. If she had not constantly paid attention to Su Fu, she probably would have been the same as those people at the market street, completely oblivious that someone had actually dared to kill so near an unending stream of potential witnesses.

She didn’t know how Su Fu had escaped, but when Ran Yan’s gaze found him again, he had already flung his black clothes and long sword into the river. He was now back in the dark green round-necked Hu robe, standing by the river like a normal person enjoying the scenery. At their current distance, Ran Yan saw him cough a few times and take out a handkerchief. He raised his mask a little before wiping his mouth and shifting his gaze to stare at that boat briefly, as if to make sure that job had definitely been done. Only then did he throw the red stained handkerchief into the river and turned around to leave.

He walked a few steps before suddenly turning his head to look towards Ran Yan’s direction. Only after pausing for two breaths did he turn back and leave again.

As she was far away, Ran Yan could not see his eyes clearly and had no real way of guessing his expression under the mask, but she could still feel his killing intent. A killing intent that was aimed solely at her! Ran Yan speculated that perhaps, after assassinating those two people, he did not have energy to quietly kill her amongst the crowd thanks to his previously injured heart meridian, and so he had spared her life for now.

Right as she was finishing off this train of thought, she heard a searching voice calling out from not too far away behind her, “Ah Yan!”

Because Ran Yan's face was concealed by her mask, Ran Yunsheng had not yet managed to spot her and was broadcasting his voice from beside a lantern riddle store[8].

After calming her mind down, Ran Yan called back in answer. “Tenth Brother.”

“Where did you go?” Ran Yunsheng still had a trace of anxiousness. He had only turned his back on her for a second to pay the vendor, but Ran Yan was already no longer there. He knew that she had probably been washed away by the tide of people and had therefore quickly chased after the crowd. It was at this time that Su Fu had coincidentally pulled Ran Yan to his side and covered her completely. The result was that Ran Yunsheng had ran down almost the entire length of the street but still did not see her. Luckily, he had turned back to look for her.

Ran Yan smiled embarrassedly, “I was swept up by the crowd. Perhaps someone blocked me from your view.”

Ran Yunsheng nodded and sighed, “For everyone to actually go crazy to this extent for a Sixth Miss Qi when our family’s Ah Yan is multiple times more beautiful than her...”

“Don’t make fun of me. Let’s find a place to rest for a while.” Ran Yan had just witness two people meet a sudden and violent end, for the moment she did not have the mood to continue strolling.

Ran Yunsheng was also tired from his search for her, but unexpectedly said, “Then let’s go on the boat!”

“Boat?” Ran Yan looked at him doubtfully. 

Ran Yunsheng’s eyes were glistering and bright, “This year, I’ve specially made a boat for Ah Yan. Even though it cannot compare to the Qi family’s size and ornateness, it is personally decorated by me. It’s definitely more comfortable."

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Translator's notes: At long last, the chapter is out. T_T 

Thank you so much for all your kind comments. I was really happy to hear that people are appreciating the footnotes I've put each chapter.. to be honest I thought that most people would just skip reading them..

Also, regarding the socially conscious commentary, they're written by my editor alliterativeart. They've also left another editor's note below!

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Editor: alliterativeart

[Ed. Note] Honestly, I have no clue why she's not immediately contacting the authorities to report what she saw. I suppose 'snitches get stitches' was the law of the streets even back then, or perhaps the allure of a random boat was too distracting... But seriously, report crimes if you witness them please. [/Ed. Note]

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[1] 这才有了一种置身其中的感觉: not sure how to translate this accurately

[2] 巧果: Qiaoguo (Fried Thin Pastes) is in different shapes with the materials mostly being oil, flour, sugar and honey. Generally, Qiaoguo are made into a fusiform shape and deep-fried into a golden color. link 

[3] 乞巧节: Part of the Double Seventh Festival. Also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival." In the past, girls would conduct a ceremony to beg the Weaving Girl for wisdom, dexterity and a satisfying marriage in the future.

[4] 柏: bai actually just means cedar/cypress/conifers, but in this context it seems to refer to a medicinal pill made from songbai (松柏) aka pine/cypress/conifers. 

[5] 饵松实、服柏、折荷叶: Not sure if I translated this accurately, I can’t find an elaboration of what these traditions mean, so I can only translate it literally. 

[6] 兔起鹘落: idiom – the moment the rabbit jumps, the hawk immediately swoops down to capture it. Meaning very agile and nimble movements. 

[7]迅雷不及掩耳: The thunder came too fast, one doesn’t have time to even cover their ears. Meaning something happened suddenly and catching one off guard. 

[8] 灯谜棚: riddles are written on lanterns and people pay a fee to guess the answer. You win a prize if you guess correctly.