Miss Truth
Chapter 214 - 136: The Most Beautiful Woman

Chapter 214: Chapter 136: The Most Beautiful Woman

Ran Yan felt both glad and disappointed at the arrival of Liu Qingsong. She had absolutely no common topic of conversation with him, and according to Liu Qingsong’s way of doing things, there were only three words that could describe him—unreliable! If she had to choose another three words, they would be "mentally ill."

"Wife," Xing Niang looked around the intersection, and when she saw Ran Yan coming, she hurriedly went to meet her. "That Zhang Langjun is crazy and acts without any manners. It’s better for wife to stay away from such a person."

"Indeed," Ran Yan rarely agreed with Xing Niang’s opinion.

Calls from Liu Qingsong faintly emanated from the woods. Xing Niang immediately said, "Wife, everything has been moved. Shall we go down the mountain now?"

"Did you take the flute and umbrella that I had left by my couch?" asked Ran Yan.

Xing Niang said, "Wan Lu was afraid of losing them, so she’s holding them in her arms."

Ran Yan nodded and followed Xing Niang down the mountain. After a few steps, she stopped, "How is Huan Kong now?"

"Ah, that child is also pitiable. She was clinging to Wan Lu just now and has now been taken to the Temple Master by her senior sister," Xing Niang sighed.

"Let’s go," Ran Yan liked Huan Kong very much, but after all, she was a nun. Ran Yan could help her temporarily but not for a lifetime.

Descending along the cobblestone path, light filtered through the bamboo forest in patches, casting its beams on the damp ground sprouting with bamboo shoots, the air fresh and invigorating.

The place was quiet and to her liking, but Ran Yan felt little attachment, as this was merely a dwelling for her, not a home.

Thinking this way, as Ran Yan reached the foot of the mountain, she suddenly understood Liu Qingsong’s feelings. Analyzing the psychology of a homebody whose daily life was filled with the internet, suddenly losing his pillar of support and comfort zone, he had to find many things to replace it, otherwise, he might be bored to death. It was no wonder he had developed such a peculiar personality.

Ran Yan got into the carriage and closed her eyes to rest. Ran’s residence... was a place even colder and more dangerous than Yingmei Temple.

...

...

Atop the turret in Yuncong Temple, a figure in a purple robe leaned against the window sill, watching the carriage from Ran’s residence slowly make its way along the forest path.

"My lord," Bai Yi greeted with hands clasped and bowed, "A letter from home arrived, asking when you will marry Lady Ran."

Xiao Song knitted his brows slightly, snorting coldly, "They sure are more anxious than I am."

Bai Yi remained silent.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Song said, "You send Ben Xiao to deliver a message to the old lady personally. Tell her I’m not interested in Lady Ran Shiqi. Also, you escort Madam Shu back to Qi State personally and say she should serve the old lady and need not come back."

Bai Yi knelt down on one knee with a thump, "I dare not!"

What a joke, Madam Shu was a double-edged sword bestowed by the Emperor—if she didn’t want to go, who would dare to force her? Not to mention the imperial bestowal, even judging by her martial skills alone, Bai Yi admitted that he was no match for Madam Shu.

"Tell Madam Shu that I’m giving her one chance to choose. If she decides to stay, I will be very pleased," Xiao Song said this, but his face did not show the slightest sign of pleasure.

With these words from Xiao Song, Bai Yi felt much more confident. In the face of the lord’s anger, most people in the Xiao residence would likely choose to hide in Qi State for a while, and Madam Shu would certainly be the first to run.

Xiao Song was almost certain that the murderer behind the "wife-killer" label was from his own family, and he had already listed several suspects. However, since it had been many years, evidence was hard to find.

If he replied to his family now, saying he did not like Ran Yan, the murderer probably wouldn’t believe it either. He had to make a fuss with the old lady who proposed the matrimonial engagement.

Xiao Song hadn’t been very concerned about this matter before; the title of "wife-killer" had helped him to see the ugly side of many women. Therefore, he seldom cared much about women, but this time, he couldn’t delay any longer! He could bring Sang Chen back to Chang’an for at most a month or two. Using his name to protect Ran Yan wasn’t the best strategy, despite it averting disaster for her and preventing the Ran family from marrying her off as they pleased. How could Xiao Song be at ease? The lady he fancied should be married into his own house as soon as possible.

After the incident with Huai Yin, Xiao Song felt deeply that he was destined to marry Ran Yan in this lifetime, regardless of whether gods or Buddhas stood in his way. To brood like Huai Yin, to die unhappy and repressed, was utterly suffocating to watch.

Only, it seemed that Ran Yan wasn’t interested in him. This was indeed the most troublesome issue... Xiao Song’s slender fingers rhythmically tapped against the pine wood of the window sill.

After much deliberation, he raised his voice and said, "Someone come!"

"My lord," a person clad in black dropped down from the beams.

"Go find Liu Qingsong." Xiao Song had barely uttered the words when he immediately regretted it, swiftly adding, "Never mind, stand down."

Popular among young girls as well as middle-aged and older women in the market, Liu Qingsong was nevertheless known for his tendency to mess things up and take risks with his unconventional methods. Xiao Song suppressed his impatience, deciding it was better to proceed cautiously step by step. He preferred to have a sure win, especially since Ran Yan was one of a kind—he couldn’t afford to gamble on this matter.

The sun shone brightly outside, but after two days of rain, the roads were muddy and difficult to traverse. After entering the city through the west gate, Ran Yan and her party approached the East Market, where Ran Yunsheng ordered the carriage to continue on to their residence while he took Ran Yan and her servant to have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

"It’s well past noon, and if we wait any longer, the roads will become even harder to navigate. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, A Yan," said Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yan looked at the restaurant. Though not as exquisite and glamorous as the Tianxiang House, it had an elegant charm. Paintings and calligraphy adorned the walls, musical instruments were arranged under the south window, and an air of refinement and interest pervaded with the scent of orchids. The customers were mainly scholars and students.

Seeing Ran Yunsheng enter, the shopkeeper hurriedly came forward to greet him, bowing and saying warmly, "Ran Shilang gracing our establishment truly brings light to our humble place!"

Ran Yunsheng, with a radiant smile that seemed to brighten the room, replied, "Shopkeeper Peng is too kind. My sister enjoys tranquility, so I brought her here. Other than your place, there is no better spot in the city."

Shopkeeper Peng turned to Ran Yan, veiled by her mask, and said, "This must be Noble Lady Ran Shiqi, I’ve long admired you!"

Ran Yan slightly bowed, her cool voice emanating from behind the gauze, "You flatter me, Noble Lady Ran Shiqi at your service, Shopkeeper Peng."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shopkeeper Peng personally took them to a private room on the second floor.

The main hall buzzed with conversation, with someone whispering, "Is that Suzhou’s number one beauty Ran Shiqi? She indeed has the presence of a noble lady."

"I hear she’s exceedingly beautiful, but such a woman, I wouldn’t dare to take her home!" another person chimed in.

"Pfft! With your family fortune and reputation, you wouldn’t even deserve one of her hairs. You don’t dare, but those from the Lanling Xiao and Boling Cui families would. Why worry about something that’s beyond you?"

That person, face flushed, retorted, "How could a woman who deals with corpses compare to the pure and unsullied Qi Liuniang? I’m merely speaking objectively."

"Which noble family’s eyes aren’t sharp? Qi Liuniang has been known as Suzhou’s number one beauty for many years, and yet none of the five prominent families took interest in her. Ran Shiqi is a hero in women’s attire, many men are inferior to her. She’s not someone ordinary women can compare to, nor is she someone average folk can appreciate."

...

For a time, the students in the main hall were divided into two groups, debating with each other.

***** ******* ******

The Chapter I published yesterday must have pleased some and shocked others, but that’s not the point. Some may worry that as I continue writing "Great Tang," it might devolve into a frivolous spoof. Rest assured that I won’t lose my sense of proportion—this will remain a work with a serious main tone. Still, I want to explain why I decided on this setting.

First, this story isn’t about petty squabbles within closed doors—the female lead will do great things. The Great Tang was established through martial prowess, which was held in high esteem, and the requirements for women were not as strict as most imagine. The wife’s position was extremely high, and contrary to what many believe, a man couldn’t just take a concubine whenever he wanted—it needed the wife’s consent (there were official regulations on this). But it was, after all, a feudal society, and personal virtue, family reputation, and so on often led to the acceptance of concubines. Then there were men and women who were unfaithful outside the home, which wasn’t considered a crime during the Tang Dynasty. And there were many women like Fang Xuanling’s wife, who were formidable in their own right.

Even so, to further the cause of forensic science, there were many things inconvenient or even impossible for the female lead to handle alone. A woman like Ran Yan wouldn’t rely on her husband for everything, which meant she needed an assistant, a partner with shared goals.

Second, the character of the male lead isn’t something I came up with on a whim. If the man she transmigrated into was ambitious, Ran Yan could have only a few possible outcomes: forever conceal her identity (improbable), be conquered, be killed, or break the other party. An individual with ideals and ambition wouldn’t tolerate someone who knew them inside out, someone who could predict their every move.

A modern man as the male lead? Don’t be naïve. Just look at those harem stories on the main site—that’s raw transmigrated male psychology! Dreams of multiple wives and concubines—something Ran Yan would never agree to. As a result, the two would have to collaborate while constantly guarding against each other. Remember, Ran Yan died because of a clever assistant; she would definitely be exhausted and the story would be very oppressive.

An ancient assistant? Sure, but communication wouldn’t be as smooth as with a modern doctor. If any special terminology arose, Ran Yan would have to explain everything.

But if the transmigrated male was too weak, it would be an extra burden for Ran Yan. And if he was just a random Joe, his existence would be too insignificant.

In summary, someone like Liu Qingsong, who has an overactive imagination, no real aspirations, but isn’t weak-willed, fits the role of the vaguely lost transmigrated youth perfectly!

This is a carefully considered attempt at blending, not a random decision—please rest assured and forgive me for any frustrations. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to support it on Qidian by casting your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)