jdhmnovel Chapter 58 Lord Xiao's Doubts 2
Chapter 58 Lord Xiao's Doubts 2
Shen Lan looked at her with amusement.
She finally understood what the girl was thinking.
Did Han Rong not know that Xiao Ji had a fiancée?
With her personality, it's unlikely she'd become someone's concubine.
"Please sit down, Miss Han. Shall we have a chat?" Shen Lan said kindly.
Although Han Rong was disgusted, she was already there and didn't want to leave.
She plopped down, took a sip of the tea, and found it to be top-quality rock tea. The snacks also looked quite good, and she finally calmed down a bit.
She glanced at Shen Lan sideways and asked, "Isn't it inappropriate for a young woman like you to live here?"
"Miss Han, you misunderstand. I come to the yamen to work during the day and don't stay here."
Why did you choose to become a coroner? Is it because of a family tradition?
If Shen Lan were the daughter of a coroner, then Han Rong could mock her without restraint.
Shen Lan said, "There are 360 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. There is no high or low status. Although coroners work with the dead, they are doing good deeds to seek justice for the deceased."
Han Rong pouted, clearly looking down on it.
"Of course, the most important thing is that I am an orphan and need to make a living with a skill. It just so happens that Lord Xiao is willing to hire me."
"You really know how to perform autopsies?"
"Is it weird?"
"Of course it's strange. Why would a woman like you choose to learn autopsy instead of embroidery, tailoring, or cooking?"
Shen Lan gave an answer that Han Rong could not understand.
"Because only autopsies involve serving the dead, not the living."
"Isn't it better to serve the living?"
“Of course it’s not good. Living people have tempers, they can hit people, curse people, and even kill people…” Shen Lan’s gaze was directed at Han Rong, “while dead people don’t.”
Han Rong snorted arrogantly, "Dead people are terrifying, and they stink. Only a lowly commoner like you would do something like that."
Shen Lan remained noncommittal.
If the deceased is a loved one, then no matter how repulsive their appearance, she will not find it unpleasant.
"Miss Han is quite different from the women from aristocratic families I know; she lives a carefree and unrestrained life."
Seeing that she could go out freely, Shen Lan knew that she must be pampered at home and not restricted too much.
Han Rong said proudly, "This was obtained for me by my older sister. She said that girls are subject to various constraints after marriage, and should live freely and casually when they are at their parents' home."
Shen Lan had never heard of this Madam Liu before, and out of curiosity, she continued the conversation by asking, "Is your sister the wife of the former prefect?"
"Yes, she is now the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue."
Han Rong clearly admires her older sister.
Before Shen Lan could ask a question, she continued, "My elder sister said that once she's settled in, she'll send someone to pick me up and take me to Bianjing. I've never been to Bianjing before."
Shen Lan casually remarked, "Given Miss Han's age, she'll probably marry someone from Bianjing, right? That way, the two sisters can look after each other."
Han Rong's smile froze, as if she had just thought of something.
She glared at Shen Lan. "You don't actually think that you can win Lord Xiao's favor without me, do you?"
"What?" What does this have to do with anything?
"Hmph, you've been scheming to stay by Xiao Ji's side all this time just to get closer to him and have your cake and eat it too? But with your background, you're not even qualified to be his maid!"
Shen Lan was both annoyed and amused.
"I am a coroner, not a maid." I've never heard of a maid needing a certain status.
She kindly reminded Han Rong, "Lord Xiao is already engaged."
"I know that Lord Xiao has no feelings for his fiancée."
"So what? He can't break off the engagement and marry you."
Han Rong raised an eyebrow, revealing a confident expression, "That's not necessarily true!"
Shen Lan was really curious about where this girl got her confidence from. Xiao Ji was clearly avoiding her, obviously unwilling to get involved in this messy romance.
"You might not believe it, but my mother went to get a marriage fortune for me. Buddha said that I have a noble destiny, that I am born with a life of wealth and honor, and that my wishes will be fulfilled."
Shen Lan nodded in agreement: "Miss Han is the daughter of an official, she is destined for wealth and honor."
This kind of fortune slip can be matched by anyone, and it doesn't specify what kind of wealth or fortune it indicates.
As for getting what you want, that's just empty talk.
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you." Han Rong stood up and pushed a box to Shen Lan.
"Please pass this gift on to Lord Xiao for me. Don't keep it for yourself. I really liked the bracelet you stole last time. If you're willing to sell it, you can come to me. I guarantee you'll get a satisfactory price."
If she hadn't mentioned it, Shen Lan would have completely forgotten about the pair of bracelets.
Shen Lan shook her head and refused: "I'm sorry, that was a gift from someone else, I don't sell it."
She wants to find an opportunity to return it to Fu Qingyan.
Han Rong revealed a knowing look, "So your target is that young master. I'm sorry, I misunderstood before."
Shen Lan was completely confused.
Why is this girl's thinking completely different from hers?
"I wish you all the best." Han Rong left happily, and as soon as she left, Xiao Ji went into the backyard.
Shen Lan handed the box to him, saying, "Miss Han specifically requested this for you."
Xiao Ji didn't accept it. "I won't take it. Tell Mingyue to return it."
The names of the two servants, Qingfeng and Mingyue, perfectly suited Xiao Ji's aesthetic.
"Don't you want to open it and take a look?"
Xiao Ji noticed her curiosity and said with a wry smile, "If you like it, then open it and take a look."
Clearly, this wasn't the first time he'd received something from Han Rong, and it was also clear that he didn't intend to accept it.
With permission, Shen Lan opened the box and saw that the exquisite sandalwood box contained only a sachet with a duck embroidered on it.
Wait, a duck?
These days, nobody should know what a little yellow duck is. Could it be embroidered with mandarin ducks?
"This... Miss Han's cooking skills..."
"Laugh if you want." It's none of Xiao Ji's business anyway.
The first thing he received from Han Rong was a handkerchief, which was tucked inside the New Year's gifts sent by the Han family.
At that time, when he saw the crooked insects on the handkerchief, his expression was similar to Shen Lan's.
Oh, that year's Spring Festival was the Year of the Dragon.
Shen Lan suppressed a laugh and joked, "At least it proves that she embroidered it herself, with a heart full of sincerity. It's a pity that the flower is willing but the water is indifferent."
"Don't tease me, quickly have Mingyue send the things back." Xiao Ji rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
He had subtly mentioned this matter to Lord Han, hoping that he would discipline his daughter properly, but Lord Han pretended not to hear, which put him in a difficult position.
Shen Lan delivered the things to Mingyue and returned to find Xiao Ji standing in the courtyard in a daze. She assumed he was still worried about Han Rong.
To her surprise, as soon as she approached, the other person asked, "Miss Shen, do you know Guli Town?"
It was so sudden that Shen Lan almost lost her composure.
She stood a few meters away, her voice strained from her throat, "Why does Lord Xiao ask such a question?"
"It's nothing, I just remembered the first time I met Miss Shen, you were performing a ritual in the wilderness, that place was Guli Town, right?"
"Ah," Shen Lan uttered a definite "ah."
Her mind raced, and in just a few seconds she considered everything Xiao Ji might have noticed.
She even wondered if Xiao Ji knew a little about the truth, should she stay away from him?