Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the residence, Ran Yun hesitated to speak several times but eventually asked, "Brother, are you troubled by something?"
Ran Yunsheng sighed. He really hadn’t disguised himself well enough. "Yes, I got into some trouble in Luoyang."
Ran Yan straightened up as well. She clearly remembered that when Ran Yunsheng returned from Luoyang with medicine during their time in Jushui County, his expression had been somewhat off. She couldn’t help blurting out, "Has some person of power taken a fancy to you? A husband or a wife?"
Anxious, Ran Yun didn’t notice the phrasing Ran Yan used. Seeing Ran Yunsheng hesitating, she pressed urgently, "Brother, please tell us, a husband or a wife? Which family’s?"
After asking, Ran Yun was stunned. Ran Yunsheng’s face turned crimson with embarrassment and annoyance, "I am the husband! The other party is naturally a wife!"
Ran Yan felt no embarrassment because Ran Yunsheng’s appearance indeed made it easy for one to misunderstand. Besides, what was there to hide if a lady took a liking to him? Could it be that the lady was of high status but extremely ugly? Or perhaps she had a terrible personality?
Ran Yan thought that if Ran Yunsheng could tolerate her own cold and unyielding personality, what couldn’t he tolerate?
"It’s... Princess Baling," Ran Yunsheng said dejectedly.
Ran Yun’s mouth fell open, and her complexion turned a bit pale.
"Princess Baling? She..." Ran Yan recalled carefully. Princess Baling was her initial title, and later she was known as Princess Beijin. In history, this princess was married to Chai Lingwu and later became involved in Princess Gaoyang’s conspiracy case, leading to her being sentenced to death. Her husband committed suicide, and even after his death, his body was mutilated, and Princess Beijin was not granted the honor of being buried in the imperial mausoleum.
Ran Yun took a moment to calm her emotions, "Princess Baling has a peculiar hobby, which is to collect beautiful boys. It is said that she built a private residence outside the palace, where she keeps a hundred handsome men."
The more Ran Yan listened, the more tightly her brows knitted, "Why would she dare to be so unrestrained?"
Emperor Taizong, apart from doting on Princess Jinyang the most, also favored Princess Changle, Princess Chengyang, Princess Gaoyang, and Princess Xincheng. However, he had never been heard of having a Princess Baling, and the title "Baling" sounded like a very remote place, obviously not of high status.
Besides, during the Zhenguan years, there were not just one or two courtiers like Wei Zheng who dared to offer frank advice. Even Princess Gaoyang, who had the most scandals, did not dare to make big moves in the early days.
Ran Yunsheng explained, "Princess Baling’s mother was Talented Person Cui from the Cui family of Qing He, with a massive family background supporting her. Talented Person Cui died early in the Zhenguan years, rumored to be poisoned. Due to the inability to provide an explanation to the Cui family, His Majesty turned a blind eye to Princess Baling’s actions."
"Imprisoning men, such licentious behavior, how can it be tolerated by the court?" Ran Yan said coldly.
"Court officials have submitted petitions, but it is said that those men entered the private residence willingly to serve, and furthermore, Princess Baling still remains unblemished. Thus, the court overlooks it as her preference for collecting beautiful boys to serve as servants, not a grave mistake. But I’ve heard the inside story is not so simple," Ran Yunsheng said, furrowing his handsome brows. Having been in the business world for some time, he had heard various secrets, such as about Princess Baling, who never engaged physically with the men but had a penchant for playing with their bodies and watching them engage with maids, a scene of depravity beyond words and not suitable to discuss with Ran Yun and Ran Yan.
From Ran Yunsheng’s expression, Ran Yan also sensed the gravity of the situation and suspected that the beautiful men collected by Princess Baling were not there voluntarily, as it appeared, otherwise, Ran Yunsheng would not be so worried.
"Brother, do not worry. Based on what you said, Princess Baling seems to be resourceful and clever. Uncle has been in Chang’an for more than just a couple of days, and he won’t let others manipulate him easily. We should discuss this with him sooner," Ran Yan comforted.
Ran Yun agreed repeatedly, "Yes, that’s right."
Although these words were said, the reality was not optimistic. How could Princess Baling be so foolish as to openly act? Most likely, she would kidnap people quietly and imprison them. Ran Yan added, "Brother, you better not go out these days, let Uncle take care of business affairs."
Ran Yunsheng nodded, yet he couldn’t help but smile wryly in his heart. He wasn’t necessarily safe at home either. There were strict regulations on the number of guards and servants one could have, and even though the Ran household had classified some guards as servants, they might not be able to fend off a true master’s sneak attack.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was oppressive, and even Ran Yun, who usually loved to make sarcastic remarks, sensed the seriousness of the situation and refrained from joking as usual.