The Tang Dynasty’s Female Forensic Doctor

A six-year-old child, can they understand what "plan thoroughly before acting" means? Ran Yan didn't know. But she was aware of Lady Xiao's painstaking efforts. In any significant family, there are hardly any that enjoy peace within the inner court; for Xiao Song to become an outstanding power holder, he absolutely needed to be stable.

Ran Yan took his hand and said, "Grandmother mentioned Emperor Xiaoming on her deathbed. I imagine meeting him in the hereafter is also a cause for joy."

Xiao Song smiled slightly and said, "Grandmother was very good to me, heaven has not been meager to me either."

The marriage between Ran Yan and Xiao Song was largely facilitated by Lady Xiao herself; if not for that, with such a great difference in status between the Ran family and the Xiao family, the Dugu family would not have remained silent either.

Xiao Song's vulnerability and sentimentality were always fleeting. He was quickly able to adjust his own mindset.

One afternoon, the news of Ran Yan's pregnancy spread throughout the entire household, and even the Zheng family and the Ran family received the message.

Since it was only one month along and Ran Yan was not particularly close to the Zheng family, the next day it was only Lady Zheng Rentai who came to see Ran Yan, bringing some valuable supplements and things suitable for pregnant women. She also gave some advice and said she would prepare an experienced midwife upon returning.

Close to noon, Ran Yunsheng, Luo's, and Ran Yun also rushed over.

Ran Yunsheng's facial features had become sharper and he had matured further, his charm even surpassing his former self, prompting Ran Yan to say unabashedly, "Brother Ten, if you become any more handsome, even the immortals will feel ashamed."

"You girl, after not seeing you for many days, you have started to be spirited with words," Ran Yunsheng laughed.

Ran Pingyu maintained the identity of a merchant in Chang'an. Fearing that Xiao Song would be displeased, and apprehensive of an impeachment from the Imperial Censorate concerning Xiao Song's close ties with merchants, he seldom visited Xiao's residence to see Ran Yan, only maintaining the usual relationship of exchanging visits during the holidays.

"Sister Seventeen is the one who's become more beautiful and moving than before," Ran Yun laughed.

"Is the Marquis pleased?" Luo's asked with concern. Ever since Ran Yan had saved Ran Yunsheng the previous time, Luo's had been truly grateful to her from the bottom of her heart. She considered Lady Zheng and Ran Yan to be their family's good fortune and began to genuinely care for them.

Wan Lu said, laughing, "Our Lord is so loath to leave for the Government Office, he wishes he could stay home with Lady all day long."

"That's good, that's good!" Luo's relaxed and said, "I've heard some rumors in the neighborhood recently; everyone says that the Marquis is infatuated with his wife. I even heard it from passersby. Looking at the Marquis's face, it doesn't seem like him at all. I was worried for a while, fearing it was slander."

"It was indeed someone spreading rumors," Ran Yan hadn't seen them in a long time and was especially happy in her heart, speaking more than usual, "The one who spread the rumors is none other than Yun's betrothed."

Everyone looked at Ran Yun and burst into laughter.

A group of people gathered in the room warmed by a stove, chatting. They casually had some lunch, and without realizing it, evening had already fallen.

Luo's intended to take her leave, and Ran Yan was repeatedly trying to persuade her to stay the night when Xiao Song lifted the curtain and entered.

The room fell instantly silent, and all the servants held their breath, daring not to breathe heavily.

Wan Lu went over to receive the heavy cloak he took off and placed it on the screen in the outer room.

"We have seen the Marquis," Ran Yunsheng was the first to react.

Lady Luo and Ran Yun also immediately rose to perform their courtesies.

"We're all family here, no need for such formality, please have a seat," Xiao Song said with a warm smile.

Ran Yunsheng had met Xiao Song several times, and knew he was not as severe as the rumors suggested, but since Lady Luo and Ran Yun had met him only a few times, even though he said there was no need for formality, they were still somewhat nervous.

"Husband," Ran Yan called out softly.

Xiao Song, worried that the chill from his body might affect her, chose not to sit beside her, but asked gently, "What did you have for lunch?"

"I'll have the kitchen report to you later. Xing's mother is very strict, you can rest assured," Ran Yan now had almost no personal freedom, if she read for more than a moment, Xing's mother would kindly and earnestly persuade her to rest.

"Husband, I'd like to invite auntie to stay the night," Ran Yan knew that unless Xiao Song spoke up, Lady Luo would definitely not agree to stay.

Xiao Song looked at Lady Luo with a smile and said warmly, "Auntie, please stay. It has been snowing these days, and Ah Yan has been bored in the house with no one to talk to. Now that you have come, please stay for a while longer."

Ran Yan was certain that once Xiao Song became gentle, his handsomeness and his voice were enough to make very few women refuse.

As expected, Lady Luo was so charmed by Xiao Song addressing her as "auntie" that her mood relaxed a lot, "Since that's the case, it would be pretentious of us to decline further."

"It just happens to leave father alone at home," Ran Yun laughed.

Xiao Song turned to Ran Yunsheng and said, "I haven't seen uncle for many days, we should catch up."

Xiao Song was not pretentious; his extremely gentle manner made everyone in the room relax, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

In the past, people only knew of Xiao Song as an impartial and stern figure, always appearing with a stoic face, emitting a fearsome aura, but they never considered if it would be appropriate for him to be joking and smiling while handling cases?

Xiao Song was thriving in the political arena not only through his abilities and family background but also because of his excellent social skills. Thus, after chatting for a while, he eliminated everyone's tension.

However, the atmosphere could never be as relaxed as before, after all, Xiao Song's status was there. Just as the Emperor could be friendly towards Fang Xuanling, Fang Xuanling would still need to draft jokes dozens of times and weigh them repeatedly before daring to crack them.

After dinner, Ran Yan chatted with Lady Luo and others for a while before being ordered by Xiao Song to return to her room to rest.

Ever since that night they talked about sleeping separately, they indeed separated, but the next day Ran Yan would always find herself in Xiao Song's embrace.

"Husband, master is still at the temple, I've been planning to find an excuse to bring him to the mansion. Now that I'm pregnant, would it be good to have him come and look after me?" Ran Yan lay on her couch, seeking Xiao Song's opinion.

Xiao Song gazed resentfully at her abdomen, answering, "Of course, now that you mention it, I really should thank your master."

"Don't always look at me with that expression!" Ran Yan frowned and said.

Xiao Song knew that for the first three days of knowing about the pregnancy he was particularly excited, at night so excited that he couldn't sleep, but after three days, he began to feel resentful. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your monthly ticket, and recommendation ticket, your support is my greatest motivation.)