In this paper, I re-examine yuanlai_2 'it turn out that', for which Wu (2012a) proposes a temporal semantics. Revising the temporal semantics proposed, I also argue that yuanlai_2 is evidential and simultaneously denotes alethic modality. Following Portners (2009) idea on the semantics of alethic modality, I propose the following: (ⅰ) yuanlai_2 presents a proposition which is undetermined with respect to the truth value at a time in the past of some reference time but which is true at the reference time, and (ⅱ) this temporal semantics follows from an epistemic modal base, while the ordering source is empty. The second point guarantees that yuanlai_2 is evidential (dependent on the epistemic modal base) but presents a fact, rather than an inference or conjecture, because of the empty ordering source. This proposal potentially separates evidentiality from epistemic modality.
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