Miss Truth
Chapter 167 - 107: Find Him

Chapter 167: Chapter 107: Find Him

The two exchanged formalities, yielding to each other as they left Yingmei Temple and each boarded their carriages.

As soon as Xiao Song seated himself in the carriage, he retracted his warm smile and spoke, "Bai Yi."

At that moment, his whole being exuded the aura of someone superior, giving off a suffocatingly oppressive feeling.

Bai Yi, a robust man, could only kneel restrained by the carriage door after climbing aboard, respectfully addressing him, "My lord."

"I asked you to stop the person the old lady sent to the Ran residence to propose marriage; did you stop them?" Xiao Song’s brows involuntarily knitted together as he heard that the old lady and Shu Niang were scheming to propose marriage to the Suzhou Ran residence. Although he didn’t feel averse to the idea, how could he marry another and send her to her demise without first understanding the reason behind his notorious "husband who brings bad luck to his wives"? After all, Ran Yan was different from Lady Du and Lady Lu...

"Under your orders, my lord, I stopped Xiao’s steward in Jiangning," Bai Yi said, sweating from his forehead.

Xiao Song’s frown deepened even more, "Go and find out who has proposed to the Ran residence." He believed that Liu Pinrang wouldn’t make baseless comments.

"My lord, there’s no need to investigate this matter further; I already heard about it this morning. It was the legitimate son of the sixth household of the Cui family who proposed," Bai Yi, unable to fathom what his master was really thinking, pondered. Clearly displeased with this marriage alliance, why then did he care about to whom the lady was married?

Xiao Song’s eyes slightly narrowed, "The Cui family? Boling Cui or Qinghe Cui?"

Bai Yi replied, "Boling Cui."

There was only one legitimate son in the sixth household of the Boling Cui family, and it was the well-reputed Sang Suiyuan.

During the ninth year of the Zhenguan reign, Sang Chen had ranked as the top scholar. He had once held a position inferior to this man, even serving in the court together for a while. Therefore, Xiao Song had taken special notice of Sang Chen and knew quite a bit about him. Sang Chen was a stubborn man with bizarre thoughts, such as his insistence that he did not belong to the Boling Cui family, even if you yelled it in his ear ten thousand times, he would still act ignorant. Moreover, if asked again, it was as though he had never heard of it at all; like the twenty-plus private porcelain kilns and shops owned by his mother, which he regarded as not his own, no matter how much the shopkeepers argued before him, prostrating themselves at the front of his thatched cottage, he refused to acknowledge them...

Indifferent to fame, fortune, and wealth, others only regarded him as lofty, but Xiao Song considered him merely obstinate.

If Sang Chen was determined about Ran Yan, he likely would not change easily throughout his life. Even if Ran Yan married another, bore children, and was buried in another family’s tomb, he wasn’t likely to change his mind. In Xiao Song’s view, Sang Chen was just that kind of person.

A trace of irritation surfaced in Xiao Song’s heart, and he said in a heavy tone, "Tell Xiao’s steward to proceed with the proposal as the old lady ordered, and ensure that his conduct and speech are polite."

Bai Yi paused momentarily, because once his master made a decision, he never changed his mind. Suspecting he had misheard and momentarily forgetting his fear, he couldn’t help but ask, "Did my lord say... to go propose marriage?"

"Did you not understand!" Xiao Song said coldly.

"Yes!" Bai Yi shrank his neck and was about to leave, only to be stopped by Xiao Song again, "Never mind, no need to go."

Bai Yi froze for a while, making sure he hadn’t heard wrong before he bowed with his hands clasped and replied affirmatively, then jumped off the carriage, muttering to himself that his master had always been a stable man, decisive and firm, not one to speak without making a decision. How come this time, his mind changed so quickly! Indeed, it was true what they said: a lover’s passion diminishes heroic resolve!

In Yingmei Temple, Ran Yan was sitting cross-legged under the eaves practicing her breathing exercises, calming her mind. Yet, just moments after finishing, she felt restless again, quickly put on her shoes, turned to Wan Lu, and said, "Follow me to find Sang Chen."

This wasn’t about whether or not to marry. From the first time Ran Yan saw that young man until he proposed, she hadn’t sensed any signs that he would propose. He would just blush upon seeing her, making her think that he was naturally shy. But now, she realized she didn’t actually know what he was like with others.

Wan Lu’s eyes widened in shock. Just yesterday, she had resolved to never marry, and now she was in such a hurry!

"Wife, it’s better not to meet before the marriage," the servant had just been earnestly persuading her to marry, thinking it had an effect.

Only Ge Lan saw clearly that Ran Yan was not going to meet a lover; she clearly looked ready to execute someone. Although her face was still lifeless, the imposing aura was impossible to hide.

The servant alone couldn’t stop Ran Yan. Before she could say much, Ran Yan had already stepped out of the courtyard. The servant hurriedly urged Wan Lu and Ge Lan, "You two, quickly follow her. If you can persuade her, do so; if not, just make sure to accompany her and return early!"

Wan Lu hurriedly followed, while Ge Lan returned inside to grab her mask before putting on her shoes and running out.

Only outside the temple did she see Ran Yan’s figure. Watching Ran Yan’s brisk steps, Ge Lan pursed her lips and smiled, feeling that her mistress was quite amusing. She had never thought her mistress could be so lively.

Since fate had decided to let another soul live in her wife’s name, then this person was indeed Mrs. Ran, at least the body was still her original wife’s. Ge Lan thought, not catching up to Wan Lu and Ran Yan until the foot of the mountain, where she reached out and handed Ran Yan the mask to wear.

Ran Yan looked at this dignified and beautiful woman’s serious expression and felt a warmth in her heart. These days, she had been treating Ge Lan with medicine, but unfortunately, it hadn’t shown much effect. Acupuncture and other treatments were not Ran Yan’s forte... Ran Yan suddenly thought of Su Fu, a renowned pharmacist from Suzhou, with top-notch skills in medicine preparation, and likely excellent in medical practice too. Unfortunately, though their past encounters felt understanding, they weren’t well-acquainted, and since both were taciturn, they hadn’t talked much. After last night, their acquaintance seemed much closer, but she had forgotten to ask how she could contact him.

Thinking of these things, Ran Yan was surprised at herself. Since when had she begun to let her guard down around this man she once considered extremely dangerous?

"Wife? Wife?" Wan Lu came near and shouted a few times.

Ran Yan jumped in fright and scolded, "What are you shouting for! Can’t you speak properly?"

Wan Lu pursed her lips, "I wish to be a gentle and likeable girl, but I called you over ten times and you didn’t hear, I had no choice but to raise my voice."

"You? Gentle? I couldn’t hear before either, yet you still used to quarrel with the servant every day," Ran Yan said indifferently.

Speaking of the past, Ge Lan briefly froze, a momentary trance coming over her as if she was still the original wife. She lowered her eyes to hide the mist within them, took two breaths to calm herself, and when she raised her eyes, she had composed herself. She nudged Wan Lu and tilted her chin, signaling her to go into the temple and bring out Sang Chen.

Puffing up her cheeks, Wan Lu strode with vigor towards Yuncong Temple. She walked a few steps and then remembered something; turning her head back, she saw Ran Yan wearing the mask, her expression unseen, but Ge Lan’s barely suppressed laughter was clearly visible to her. Stamping her foot, she swayed her slender waist and mimicked the delicate steps of a trained maid. However fiery and casual Wan Lu might be, being a rigorously trained maid, she couldn’t help but look the part after a few steps. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you can support it by voting at Qidian.com with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)