Miss Truth
Chapter 143 - 91: Wife, What a Coincidence

Chapter 143: Chapter 91: Wife, What a Coincidence

Lady Yunsheng’s two maids caught sight of Ran Yun and quickly bowed to pay their respects, "We have seen the twentieth young lady."

"Er Dong, Qian Xue, where is brother?" Ran Yun asked anxiously upon seeing Ran Yunsheng’s maids.

"Shilang had some business to attend to and stepped out. Is there any urgent matter you are seeking him for, Twentieth Young Lady?" one of the maids, clad in an apricot-colored floral dress, replied.

Ran Yan shifted slightly where she leaned against the back of the round-backed chair, taking a good look at Ran Yunsheng’s two maids. The two women were dressed plainly and had average looks that were not striking. One wouldn’t think that they were the personal maids of the legitimate son of Suzhou’s wealthiest family based on their appearances alone, but they conducted themselves gracefully and unpretentiously, making Xiaoman seem even more like a maid from a lesser household.

"There is an urgent matter. What urgent matter? Where has he gone?" Ran Yun asked in rapid succession.

Seeing her state of urgency as though there was indeed a serious issue, Ran Yan spoke up, "What happened?"

Only then did Ran Yun turn her attention back to Ran Yan. She had no intention of wasting words with her, but noticing the stark difference in her composure compared to the past, Ran Yun had a change of heart and replied, "It’s that Qi Family. I had just arrived at the estate this morning when I saw the Qi Family patriarch visiting my father with the elders present. I hid behind the hall to eavesdrop, and it turns out the Qi Family wants to form a marital alliance with our family! They are interested in my brother! I don’t want my brother to marry a woman from the Qi Family!"

Ran Yun’s hatred for the Qi Family extended to all the ladies of their house due to her dislike for Qi Liuniang.

"Which lady is the Qi Family preparing to marry into our family with?" It definitely couldn’t be Qi Liuniang—that was a woman crowned the most beautiful in Suzhou, probably not someone they would willingly offer for marriage to a merchant family.

Ran Yun looked at Ran Yan’s calm and unwavering expression with slight surprise. She had never noticed just how beautiful her Seventeenth Sister was, contrasting sharply with the timid and fragile image she remembered.

"Who knows what kind of messy woman they plan to shove at my brother!" Ran Yun said angrily as she sat down in the corridor, adding bitterly, "And I don’t know why, but my father didn’t outright reject them!"

Something weighed on Ran Yan’s heart. The Ran family’s lack of objection was perhaps due to the recent blows to their reputation because of her, and they might be seeking to solidify their family’s standing further through this marriage.

"Are you truly the Seventeenth Lady?" Ran Yun could not help but ask upon seeing the darkness in Ran Yan’s eyes.

"What do you think?" Ran Yan replied, coolly bouncing the question back.

After a moment of silence between them, the gate’s bamboo door creaked open; it was Nanny Xing carrying a basket of vegetables. Upon seeing Ran Yun, she paused for a moment, then recognizing her after a breath or two, she exclaimed in surprise, "Twentieth Young Lady?"

"Nanny Xing." Ran Yun rose to offer her respects. Nanny Xing was a senior servant of Lady Zheng, and it was proper for her to show her respect.

Nanny Xing hurriedly put down the basket and came to offer a supporting hand to Ran Yun, "Please rise quickly, how could this old servant accept such a grand salute from the Twentieth Young Lady? I am unworthy."

Ran Yun treated Nanny Xing with much more courtesy, smiling sweetly as she said, "When I was in Suzhou, you took great care of me. Mother often says how grateful she is that you looked after me for a while. The Zheng family from Xingyang is not like ordinary folk."

"Not at all, the third lady flatters me too much. Twentieth Young Lady, you might not recognize my mistress anymore, I reckon?" Nanny Xing led her to remove her shoes and sat down in the corridor, saying with a sigh, "My mistress has become more reserved after recuperating from an illness for two years at our estate in South City."

"South City?" Ran Yun understood immediately. The Ran family owned many estates in Jiangnan Road and Huainan Road, including some very exquisite ones, but the one in South City was not particularly well-located nor picturesque, and would have been abandoned long ago if not for the peony garden there. Could it even be a suitable place for recuperation?

"No wonder," Ran Yun said, glancing at Ran Yan, pity welling up in her heart. To have just recovered from illness only to be sent to such a remote place, it was no wonder that brother was so concerned for her, given their close relationship from childhood.

The young girl’s emotions shifted quickly, with likes and dislikes often turning on a dime. Ran Yan watched as Ran Yun’s gaze softened, then offered a faint smile, "You need not worry about Shilang’s matter. I believe Uncle won’t let others manipulate him so easily. The family business Shilang will inherit one day, and his future wife will be the lady of the house. It’s not a role suited for just anyone."

As for Lady Qi, if she gave up, that would be best. But if she dared to pull any tricks, Ran Yan would definitely not be merciful.

What puzzled her, though, was that despite the open-minded customs of the Tang Dynasty where men had the right to seek pleasure and women had the right to engage in affairs, with some ladies even openly keeping male consorts, this behavior was not very apparent in the South, where some families were even more stringent with their observance of traditional rites, like the Yan family. What motivated Lady Qi to make such a request to Ran Yunsheng?

"What you said is true; I was too anxious," Ran Yun sighed softly.

Their relationship had never been very close, and even though Ran Yun’s opinion of Ran Yan had somewhat improved, Ran Yan was often reserved, and the difference in their mental ages was too great for them to have much of a conversation. After sitting for a while and exchanging a few words with Maid Xing, Ran Yun stood up to leave.

Ran Yan had Ran Yunsheng’s two maids leave with her back to the Ran residence as it was dull and boring here. Although Er Dong and Qian Xue had never shown impatience, they were quick to leave with Ran Yun.

Maid Xing picked up the bamboo basket and carried it to the corridor, picking through vegetables as she spoke, "My Lady, I saw Mr. Sang down the mountain just now."

Ran Yan had just picked up a book, and at hearing this, her eyebrows couldn’t help but raise, "What is he doing over here?"

"I asked him, and he said he was here to visit a few masters at Yuncong Temple," Maid Xing replied.

Ran Yan nodded. Sang Chen had grown up in a temple, and she remembered his master’s dharma name was Huai Jing; he probably had some connection with the monks of Yuncong Temple.

She didn’t dwell on this matter and quickly moved on, not taking it to heart.

Waiting here for news of the rescue, Ran Yan was finding it difficult to remain calm. After reading for a bit, she went up the mountain with Xiao Man to see if she could gather some herbs.

The mountains were thick with various grasses; indeed, there were quite a few medicinal herbs, and they managed to fill a basket before noon.

"My Lady," Xiao Man whispered with uncertainty, looking around, "Do you feel as if someone has been watching us?"

This sensation of being watched was intermittent, and Ran Yan had noticed it too; she had been quietly vigilant, but didn’t expect Xiao Man to sense it as well. Just as Xiao Man finished speaking, Ran Yan caught a glimpse of bushes trembling slightly to the left behind them.

"My Lady!" A clear male voice suddenly called from below the mountain.

Ran Yan’s steps involuntarily paused at the sound, and she saw a figure in monk’s robes dart out from the bushes. She picked up her skirt to chase after him, but the voice from below kept hauntingly calling, "My Lady, My Lady!"

By the time she looked back, the figure in monk’s robes had already vanished. Exasperated, Ran Yan grabbed a handful of herbs and threw them down the slope, "Stop shouting!"

Xiao Man gazed in astonishment at the charming gentleman at the bottom of the slope in a gray robe, his head topped with a few herbs, looking up pathetically at Ran Yan. With such an appearance, who else could it be but Sang Chen, that silly rabbit!

Ran Yan raised her hand to rub her forehead, forcing down her anger and softening her voice before she asked, "What are you doing here?"

As soon as Sang Chen heard Ran Yan asking, he was overjoyed, "My Lady, what a coincidence! I came here to enjoy the scenery and didn’t expect to encounter you unexpectedly."

Ran Yan looked around, speaking indifferently, "This is a desolate wilderness; what scenery are you enjoying? Be careful of bandits that may kill and dismember you." (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)