Miss Truth
Chapter 519 - 344: Brother-in-law, Anyone Who Doesn’t Want a Piece of You Isn’t Human

Chapter 519: Chapter 344: Brother-in-law, Anyone Who Doesn’t Want a Piece of You Isn’t Human

Ran Yan frowned as she pondered, when she suddenly heard a commotion from the side of the mountain. This was followed by the sounds of weapons clashing.

Ran Yan’s heart turned cold, and she and Liu Qingsong hurriedly raced toward that direction.

In such a critical moment, the steps of Liu Qingsong and Ran Yan were unexpectedly in perfect sync. Without needing to remind each other, they both moved stealthily through the bushes, stopping at the nearest point to the fight and peered out through gaps in the tree leaves.

One of the guards from the Xiao residence was fighting with a stranger. Both were shrouded in tree shadows and dressed in black, with only occasional glimpses of the cold gleam of their weapons.

While observing, a figure in a white robe suddenly burst from under the shadows of the trees. Ran Yan didn’t need to see the person’s face clearly to exclaim, though the cry was stuck in her throat.

The person’s robe was disheveled, with clothing torn and barely covering the body. Blood stained the person’s entire back and both pale legs. Loose hair revealed a devastatingly beautiful face. The warmth and elegance that he always carried were now completely shattered, his moist eyes filled with panic and disarray.

Seeing this, Ran Yan’s heart clenched tightly, no longer caring about staying hidden. She sprang up and ran wildly toward Ran Yunsheng.

"Jiuge, Jiuge," Ran Yan called, her tense voice trembling slightly.

Hearing her voice, Ran Yunsheng abruptly stopped, and on seeing Ran Yan, his expression became even more disheveled. Yet, he did not hide away, but grabbed Ran Yan’s hand and said in a rushed tone, "Ayan, I killed someone!"

It wasn’t that Ran Yunsheng lacked courage. The Tang Code was relatively comprehensive, and during the mid to late prosperous period of the Zhenguan era, how many decent folk would dare to stain their hands with blood? Though Ran Yan did not know the specifics of what had happened, this wasn’t the time for explanations, so she said to calm him, "They all deserved to die. The Emperor has already put Princess Baling under house arrest, and these guards are her private recruits. Some are bandits without household registration, killing them is like killing nobody at all!"

Princess Baling intended to have them stay near Chang’an and would naturally not overlook the loophole of harboring people without household registration. She must have arranged their identities properly, but Ran Yunsheng’s mind was not too sharp at the moment. Nonetheless, Ran Yan’s comforting words had some effect.

Ran Yan carefully examined Ran Yunsheng’s wounds and applied Powder for Anesthesia to several of the larger injuries. "Jiuge, where else are you injured?"

"I might have a cut on my back," Ran Yunsheng said uncertainly. He was now numb all over and could not feel the pain.

"Let’s get out of here first," Ran Yan said, holding Ran Yunsheng’s hand as they returned to the house.

After lighting the Corner Lamps, Ran Yan proceeded to inspect Ran Yunsheng’s entire body. Indeed, there was a six to seven-inch long cut on his back. Seeing Liu Qingsong enter, she asked him to fetch some clean water.

"Miss Ran, seriously? I’m a stranger here, where would you have me find clean water?" Liu Qingsong complained. It wasn’t that he was unwilling to help, but in this homestead, guards could pop up anywhere, and him wandering aimlessly could mean that he wouldn’t make it back at all, let alone with water.

"I know where there is water." Ran Yunsheng had been too busy running to feel the pain earlier, but now his body was sweating all over from the pain of the numerous wounds not yet treated with the anesthesia powder. He took a deep breath and said, "Next to this room is a cleansing room. There’s water in there."

Liu Qingsong looked at the half-naked Ran Yunsheng lying on the mat, with an impeccable face and a body neither too thin like his own nor overly muscular. Even he, as a man, felt a feast for the eyes, so before leaving, he couldn’t resist saying, "Um, big brother-in-law, with your looks, if someone doesn’t want to lay a finger on you, they’re really not human..."

Among those untempted, Ran Yan was the first to come to mind. Although nominally they were siblings, only Liu Qingsong and Ran Yan herself knew that wasn’t the case.

Liu Qingsong finished speaking and dashed out in a streak.

Ran Yunsheng’s face was flushed with embarrassment. Reminded by Liu Qingsong, Ran Yunsheng realized that he was almost naked in front of Ran Yan, his face turning a bright red in an instant.

The sounds of fighting outside were drawing closer, sending a shiver through Ran Yan’s heart. She quickly gave him the Powder for Anesthesia and asked, "Tenth Brother, what happened just now? Did Princess Baling do anything to you...?"

Ran Yan looked at him with concern.

"After I was kidnapped by a group of people, I was held here. Princess Baling came to see me a few times but only to talk. She didn’t do anything," Ran Yunsheng’s brow furrowed slightly as he continued, "However, in the past few days, I’ve noticed the guards watching me strangely. Just one hour ago, three guards tied me up and took me out. I thought it was Princess Baling again, but it turned out to be... turned out to be..."

"Was it those guards who harbored lewd intentions and wanted to disgrace you?" Ran Yan finished his sentence when he couldn’t continue.

Ran Yunsheng nodded, "There were five of them, and I was overpowered. In desperation, I used the poison you gave me; three of them died on the spot, and I took the chance to escape. The remaining two chased after me relentlessly. I ran out to the back hill and, by chance, ran into someone head-on. I thought I was going to die right there and was preparing to take my own life when that person started fighting with my pursuers. I quickly took the opportunity to flee, and that’s when I ran into you."

Ran Yunsheng’s appearance was the type that many married women liked; many had covertly asked him to be their lover, but no man had ever shown such interest before, so he was still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was almost violated by men.

Liu Qingsong hurried in with water, saying anxiously, "We have to move fast, it seems like the front courtyard has noticed something unusual in the back. More guards keep coming over; we need to evacuate quickly."

"Let’s leave now. We can bandage the wound later." Ran Yunsheng didn’t want to stay there for another moment; these past days were like a nightmare to him.

"That’s a good idea," Ran Yan said briskly, standing up and reaching out to untie Liu Qingsong’s clothes.

Liu Qingsong clung tightly to his belt, struggling half-heartedly, "Madam Ran, what are you doing? Jiulang will cast me aside if he finds out!"

Ran Yan expressionlessly peeled off his outer garment and handed it to Ran Yunsheng, then stretched out her hand to tug at his trousers.

"I’m saying you can’t be doing this; if I’m stripped, what am I to do!" Liu Qingsong struggled to sit up, but Ran Yan flicked open a short knife from her sleeve and pressed it against his groin, "Try moving again!"

Never one to hesitate when putting a knife to flesh, Ran Yan saw Liu Qingsong freeze immediately, daring not to move a muscle, "Madam Ran, our family line has been unbroken for nine generations, and I haven’t had the chance to pass on the torch yet; you can’t be shaky-handed now!"

"I never tremble, but if you shake yourself, don’t blame me," Ran Yan said as she quickly stripped off his trousers and handed them to Ran Yunsheng.

"Master!" the guards outside called out in surprise.

A wave of relief washed over Ran Yan as she saw a tall figure walk in. Seeing Ran Yan squatting on the ground with bloodied hands, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, he quickly stepped forward and asked, "Where are you hurt?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to vote with your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)