"Hmm, hard work indeed," Ran Yan responded.

Compared to medical matters, Ge Lan seemed more interested and proficient in handling interpersonal relationships. Ran Yan was well aware of her shortcomings—sometimes, she felt more like a working machine, her best performances limited to forensic work; in other aspects, she was utterly ineffectual, akin to a Level Nine disability.

Thus, Ran Yan, while striving to improve her own skills in social interaction, also vigorously cultivated Ge Lan, often having the old butler take her out to gain experience. As a result, Ge Lan had become even more composed and efficient than when she was in Suzhou.

"I can't believe even Doctor Liu is getting married," Wan Lu exclaimed. Although the marriage had been arranged a long time ago, for some reason, Wan Lu always thought Liu Qingsong looked like someone who would end up unwanted.

Ran Yan and Ge Lan chuckled. Ge Lan had other matters to tend to and excused herself.

Wan Lu held a small bowl, feeding the children fruit puree one by one.

The fruit puree was generally made from fruits that were milder in nature and taste, but today it seemed a bit too sour. Xiao Song the elder shuddered from the sourness, yet after overcoming it, he still eagerly watched Wan Lu, waiting for her to continue feeding him.

Xiao Song the younger particularly disliked the stuff; each spoonful seemed as though it threatened his life, stubbornly refusing to take a second bite. However, Wan Lu often fed him eggs... Passing him the spoon this time, he struggled with the decision to eat or not.

The little spoon paused at Xiao Song the younger's mouth. After staring eagerly for a while, Xiao Song the older, unable to wait, crawled over and opened his mouth to eat.

Xiao Song the younger, guessing everyone loved eggs, saw the enthusiasm of his brother and immediately panicked. Wan Lu had just brought over the second spoon when he hurriedly scooped it into his mouth. Upon tasting it, his movements stiffened slightly, his eyes squinting from the sourness before he began to spit it out.

Ran Yan, while feeding Ruoruo, couldn't help but laugh at the two boys' antics.

Although Wan Lu was lively and active, she was excellent with children, managing to entertain three at a time without any issue.

"Wife, shall we take the young lord and young lady out tomorrow?" Wan Lu asked.

"No, the wedding is too chaotic, and there are firecrackers and such; it would be bad if they got scared," Ran Yan felt it unwise to suddenly introduce the children to such a noisy and unfamiliar environment, especially since recent times had been rather unsettled.

After playing with the children all day, in the evening, Ran Yan went to the front courtyard and had Ge Lan summon the stewards, instructing them about affairs inside and outside the residence. The main focus was the deployment of security measures within the residence.

Last time Xiao Song was in a crisis, and despite being a resourceful man, Ran Yan couldn't stay absolutely calm. The three children, utterly defenseless, would devastate her if something were to happen to them, so it was better to prevent potential issues.

After delegating everything, it was already dusk.

As the deadline to solve the case approached, the officials at the three departments were like ants on a hot pan. Xiao Song had sent word earlier that he would be working on the case all night and wouldn't return. After putting the children to sleep, Ran Yan bathed early and rested.

The next morning.

Ran Yan woke up and found Xiao Song still hadn't returned. After dressing and grooming, she went to check on Ran Yun at Ran residence and planned to return to Liu Qingsong's residence in the afternoon to attend the wedding.

Liu Qingsong's residence was in the same district as Ran Yan's home, just a street apart, making it an easy journey back at night.

To prevent a repeat of last time's incident, Ran Yan also brought more than twenty guards.

As Wan Lu and Ge Lan were occupied with their respective tasks, Ran Yan brought two maids who had recently been trained by Madam Xing.

The residence of the Ran family was aglow with lanterns and decorations, brimming with joy, and everyone took advantage of the cool morning to finish their preparations.

Though Ran Pingyu's wealth might not rank him at the top in Chang'an, he was still immensely wealthy, a fact evident from Ran Yun's wedding. Almost every room in the courtyard had six or eight ice chests, and even the sedans and corridors were filled with ice, replaced each hour, leaving a trail of coolness wherever one went.

Thus, marrying in the summer posed no stress at all.

Guided by a maid, Ran Yan arrived at Ran Yun's boudoir.

"Lady, Wife, Lady Xiang Liang has arrived," the maid announced at the door.

The woman who had been combing Ran Yun's hair, Luo, quickly put down her brush and came out to greet her, "Seventeen, come in quickly."

"Auntie." Ran Yan wanted to bow but was promptly steadied by Luo, "You mustn't! Now that you're a lady of a commandery, how can you bow to commoners!"

"Uncle, Auntie is my elder and has greatly favored me. The personal connection is different, and we don't discuss those formalities in private," said Ran Yan as she entered the room with Luo.

Luo smiled and gently patted Ran Yan's hand, looking her over, "Only after becoming a mother does Seventeen truly seem grown up."

Luo remembered when she first met Ran Yan. She thought her somewhat aloof, and although polite, inevitably a bit stiff in her dealings. Together with Ran Meiyu's instigations, Luo had taken a dislike to her, but the current Ran Yan seemed much softer and had become more articulate than before.

"Seventeen Sister!" Ran Yun, still in her ivory-white, thin silk dress, her black hair wet and cascading down her back, ran over barefoot.

"Silly girl, soon to be a wife yet still so irreverent!" scolded Luo lightly.

Ran Yun laughed, "It's because you spoiled me."

"Now you talk back!" Luo feigned a strike.

Ran Yun shrank back and pulled Ran Yan along, "Soon I'll be able to visit the three little ones every day. The three kids really like me!"

"Good," Ran Yan smiled faintly, "if you are willing to give up some time from earning money to be with them, I'm genuinely happy."

Ran Yun's eyes widened, "It's been a while, Seventeen Sister, and you've actually started to tease and smile! Just the other day, Qingsong was saying you had a poker face."

"Did he bother you?" Ran Yan thought, surely he did, or else she wouldn't have betrayed herself like that.

Sure enough, before Ran Yun could respond, Luo angrily said, "You met him a few days ago?"

"Yes, in our family's back garden. He recited, 'At the hour the moon climbs the willow's top, the people set their rendezvous after dusk—enhances the romance.'" Seeing Luo's face darken further, Ran Yun quickly exempted herself, "Actually, I didn't want to see him."

Luo knew her daughter well and sighed, tapping her on the head, "You! Not siding with your own husband at all, just causing little tempers! How will you manage after you're married?"

With that, Ran Yan also felt that a man as unreliable as Liu Qingsong, paired with the playful young Ran Yun, would lead to days that were probably... quite interesting. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to head to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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