Disease rights policy

When Qiao Ran learned that Chen Jiu was going to have a meeting in Lanshan Hall tonight, she assumed that Chen Jiu meant to wait until they were finished before going to Lanshan Hall herself.

As evening fell, Muxiang led a group of maids into the room, each carrying their personal grooming items and standing in a row.

Qiao Ran was taken aback by their actions. "What are you doing?"

The fragrance of wood wafted through the air as the maids dressed and groomed the young lady. Later that evening, she would dine with the young master in the Lanshan Hall.

Qiao Ran chuckled, "No need for such formalities, it's just a meal. I'm perfectly fine as I am."

Qiao Ran was used to going out without makeup, wearing the simplest clothes, which were convenient and practical. She had never used any fancy cosmetics.

But Mu Xiang was following Chen Jiu's orders, so how could she not do as she was told? After hesitating for a moment, she pleaded, "Miss, please don't make things difficult for us. We will be ready soon."

A group of pretty girls are looking at you pleadingly. Who wouldn't feel sorry for you? Qiao Ran had no choice but to obediently sit in front of the mirror, like a puppet on a string, letting them do whatever they wanted.

After spending most of the hour, Qiao Ran looked at herself in the mirror. Her red lips and thick eyebrows, her jade hairpins swaying gracefully with her movements, and even her dress was made of the exquisite Muyun gauze from Sichuan. Large cloud-patterned peonies covered the hem of her skirt, and every step she took seemed as if she were stepping on flower petals.

"You're so beautiful, like a fairy," Mu Xiang said, supporting Qiao Ran.

Qiao Ran paced back and forth several times, "Is it really necessary to dress so extravagantly? This is, after all, your young master's villa. It's not appropriate for me to be dressed so flamboyantly, is it?"

"Young master values ​​the young lady highly, so the young lady is naturally worthy of the splendor of this villa."

Qiao Ran turned her head away uncomfortably. Mu Xiang's words made her blush, which was rare for her. She secretly thought to herself, "What tricks is Chen Jinzhou up to now?"

After waiting a while, Mu Xiang asked Qiao Ran if she could go out. There was still some distance between here and Lanshan Hall. The guards had prepared a sedan chair, and Qiao Ran was carried there.

Upon arriving at the entrance, they discovered that Xie Laoshi was personally on duty inside Lanshan Courtyard. After bowing to Qiao Ran, Xie Laoshi said, "Miss has arrived. Young Master is already waiting."

The skirt was a bit long, and Qiao Ran almost tripped and fell as she went up the steps. She managed to steady herself and quietly asked Xie Laoshi, "Who's in the hall?"

Xie Laoshi replied, "Lord Min, and Lord Wang from the Imperial City Guard and Lord He from the Censorate."

"Okay, I understand." Qiao Ran lifted her skirt and went in. Several people in the hall seemed to be arguing about something. Except for Chen Jiu, they were all dressed in official robes, so Qiao Ran could tell them apart at a glance.

Meanwhile, He Zhengyuan of the Censorate stood ramrod straight, pointing at Chen Jiu with a furious expression on his face.

Hearing the commotion at the door, everyone fell silent and turned around in unison, their gazes making Qiao Ran's scalp tingle.

Under the soft moonlight outside the courtyard, Qiao Ran stood delicately inside the door, lifting her skirt, her eyes sparkling.

The beauty seemed too dazzling, and Chen Jiu was the first to look away. With a smile on his face, he raised his voice and said, "Qiao Qiao, come in quickly."

Although Qiao Ran didn't know what had just happened in the hall, she could tell that He Zhengyuan's gaze towards Chen Jiu was full of contempt. This old scoundrel made her very uncomfortable.

As Qiao Ran entered, she glared fiercely at He Zhengyuan, who twitched his lips in anger.

Min Heyu sighed and praised, "Miss Qiao is truly a beauty of unparalleled grace."

Qiao Ran already had a good impression of Min Heyu, so as she sat down, she replied with a smile, "Thank you, Lord Min, you flatter me."

"Hmph! Vulgar and pretentious."

Qiao Ran slightly raised her eyelids to look over; there were always people who would pick a fight at the worst possible time.

He Zhengyuan adopted a bureaucratic tone, and not satisfied with his sarcasm, he immediately questioned, "Special Envoy Chen, we are having a meeting, and you insist on having a woman sit in the hall. What is the meaning of this?"

Chen Jiu didn't rush to reply to him. Instead, he personally replaced the wine on the table with tea for Qiao Ran and said with concern, "You're still weak and shouldn't drink alcohol. Drink tea if you're thirsty. Don't be shy."

“I’ll do it myself,” Qiao Ran said, taking the teacup and pouring the tea herself. She gave Chen Jiu a playful wink. “Watch me get revenge for you.”

Ignored, He Zhengyuan lost face and slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "Did Special Envoy Chen invite us to discuss the case or to watch you indulge in your womanizing?! You have no manners whatsoever! When I return, I will definitely report Special Envoy Chen's actions in Sichuan to the Grand Chancellor and have His Majesty punish you!"

"Oh dear, why is this gentleman so angry?" Qiao Ran imitated her and slammed her hand on the table, then looked at Min Heyu and said, "Lord Min, I am ignorant. Do people in the capital not have anyone to serve them normally?"

Min Heyu echoed her, "What do you mean by this, young lady?"

Qiao Ran snorted coldly, "Anyone can see that my young master is not in good health and needs someone to be by his side at all times. It is my duty to take care of him, but it seems that this gentleman is not very satisfied?"

“Lord He,” Min Heyu said, trying to smooth things over, “When in Rome, do as the host does. We’re here to discuss serious matters. Why are you angry? Sit down and have some tea.”

Qiao Ran silently curled her lips. When it came to being unreasonable, she had never been afraid of anyone. Chen Jiu was such a weak person, yet He Zhengyuan, that old scoundrel, dared to bully him. Qiao Ran felt so sorry for him.

She said sarcastically, "I'm afraid Lord He is prone to getting a sore throat from eating alone because he doesn't have a beautiful woman by his side. So, I'll have someone go outside and invite a few ladies from Sichuan over to help Lord He relax."

Min Heyu: "..."

"You shrew!" He Zhengyuan cursed angrily, nearly overturning the table, and retorted, "Shameless!"

Qiao Ran: "Disrespectful to elders!"

He Zhengyuan stood up angrily and stomped his foot. Qiao Ran also stood up. She pretended to pick up the teapot and was about to throw it at him. He Zhengyuan was so frightened that he raised his arm to block it. Qiao Ran covered her mouth and laughed, "Lord He, I was just teasing you. You are a magnanimous person and don't hold a grudge. Have some tea."

"Special Envoy Chen! How dare you allow a woman to humiliate this old minister like this!" He Zhengyuan was furious. "I'd rather not drink this!"

After saying this, he was about to turn and leave when Xie Laoshi, who was very understanding, closed the door of Lanshan Hall with a loud bang, blocking He Zhengyuan's escape route.

He Zhengyuan froze on the spot, his expression one of wanting to devour Chen Jiu and Qiao Ran.

Chen Jiu patted Qiao Ran's waist, gesturing for her to sit down, before feigning to take charge and admonishing, "I'm truly sorry, Lord He, you are a magnanimous man, please don't take it to heart. The important matter is what matters."

He Zhengyuan turned around, his brows furrowed, and asked, "Important business? Special Envoy Chen knows we have important business. It's been three days, and you haven't found a single clue. I think there's no point in investigating anymore."

"Who said we haven't found any clues? I thought Lord He knew, and everyone was keeping quiet about it?" Chen Jiu spoke slowly and deliberately, making sure everyone in the hall heard him clearly. "So Lord He doesn't know which suspicious points we're going to discuss tonight?"

He Zhengyuan's face turned red, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether Chen Jiu was telling the truth or not. Could it be that they really saw some clues, but he didn't?

He couldn't bear to lose face for the Censorate, so he grunted and said, "I'm too lazy to bother with you."

After saying that, he sat back down dejectedly. Qiao Ran chuckled to herself and started listening intently.

Seeing that the commotion had finally subsided, Min Heyu returned to his old ways, saying, "It's normal for there to be occasional friction and differing opinions during the investigation. The most important thing is to quickly find out the truth and report to His Majesty. Don't you all agree?"

Chen Jiu: "Uncle Min is right."