Miss Truth
Chapter 220 - 140: Is this a Confession, or Flirting?

Chapter 220: Chapter 140: Is this a Confession, or Flirting?

Liu Qingsong somehow managed to steer the conversation back, but what he said about Li Bai and his relation to the Li Tang royal family was like water already spilled, impossible to retrieve. With Xiao Song’s keenness, he was bound to sense something amiss. Ran Yan looked worriedly at Liu Qingsong.

Liu Qingsong sidled up to Ran Yunsheng, shamelessly asserting, "This is a new story I’ve crafted, how about it, don’t you think this tale will be popular?"

Ran Yunsheng was taken aback and said, "Dr. Liu speaks as if it were based on solid grounds; I thought it was a true account. It turns out to be merely a story, but indeed, it is a good one. Even just this poem alone is enough to cause an uproar in the literary world."

Xiao Song, though puzzled, didn’t take it to heart, because it was typical of Liu Qingsong to speak nonsensically, often coming up with astonishing stories and poems—this time was just more brilliant.

What he was more concerned about was getting to the bottom of when Liu had privately recited poetry for Ran Yan!

Ran Wen looked at Ran Yan, growing increasingly astonished. Was this calm and indifferent girl truly his gentle and tender daughter?

Liu Qingsong had long forgotten the purpose of his visit, eagerly discussing the storybook with Ran Yunsheng and the many admirers he claimed to have in Chang’an.

As their conversation grew animated, Xiao Song, with a smile, turned to Ran Yan and said, "I have to visit Inspector Liu, would you care to join me?"

The autumn imperial examinations results were already out, and Ran Yan did not know how Zhou Sanlang had fared. She thought for a moment, then said, "Then I shall trouble Young Master Xiao to take me along."

No sooner had they finished speaking, than a crisp laughter approached from not far away.

A group of flamboyant girls waved towards the Water Pavilion from the riverbank, led by none other than Ran Meiyu, "Yan, hearing that you’ve returned, we sisters specifically came to see you."

Ran Yan was puzzled. Wasn’t Ran Meiyu at the restaurant? How could she have come back so quickly to settle accounts?

Ran Wen, who already disapproved of Ran Yan going out with Xiao Song, felt relief. Although Ran Yan wasn’t engaged, she was, after all, linked to the Cui family, and any gossip could adversely affect the marriage prospect. It was a stroke of luck that the ladies had arrived. Ran Wen said, "You sisters haven’t seen each other in a long time; you should have a good talk."

Ran Yan inwardly curled her lip. Back when she lived in the manor, even though it was a distance from the state mansion, they were still in Suzhou, yet for two years no one had bothered to seek her out for a good chat. Why should she talk just because they wanted to? However, since she had to stay here for a few days, Ran Yan did not want to needlessly provoke more enmity. Thus, she conveniently directed the question to Xiao Song, "What does Young Master Xiao think?"

"Uncle speaks sensibly," Xiao Song, with a beaming smile, saw a flash of disappointment in Ran Yan’s eyes. His tone shifted abruptly, "However, visiting Inspector Liu is also important. Since you have matters to attend to, I don’t mind waiting a bit."

Ran Yan gave a slight smile, certain that Ran Wen would not leave him waiting dryly for too long.

As soon as Xiao Song finished speaking, more than ten young girls entered the Water Pavilion.

Ran Meiyu, in flowing red, shyly glanced at Xiao Song, curtsied with a slight dip, her normally high-pitched voice noticeably lowered, "I’ve seen Young Master Xiao."

The other girls also hurriedly curtsied.

"Ladies, there’s no need for such formalities," Xiao Song said indifferently.

The group of women curtsied elegantly, their colorful skirts gently blooming around them, a sight that Ran Yan found quite delightful to watch.

Ran Meiyu, shedding her previous aggressive demeanor, said to Ran Yan with gentle warmth, "Hearing of Sister Yan’s return, I rushed over with our sisters to visit. You wouldn’t find us sisters too presumptuous, would you?"

Ran Yan was quite satisfied with her acting skills, which weren’t as obnoxiously fake as Ran Wen’s, so she graciously responded, "Not at all."

Just as things were going smoothly, a sour and lazy voice suddenly sounded from behind the crowd, "Sister Eighteen truly values sisterhood. Just now at the restaurant, upon encountering Sister Seventeen, she couldn’t even pause to greet her, hurrying back to welcome her. What devotion!"

The remark was contradictory and lacking logic, yet it was suggestive enough to stir the imagination.

The ladies, fearing that Ran Wen might mistake the statement as coming from one of them, quickly dispersed, revealing the "real culprit."

Ran Yun, her pretty face sleepy and slack, suddenly noticed Ran Wen’s stern expression and recoiled as if startled, shrinking her neck, "Uncle, the sage says that children’s words carry no harm, please don’t be angry."

Ran Wen struggled to soften his countenance, adopting a corrective tone, "You’ll turn thirteen after the Mid-Autumn Festival; you’re a grown girl now. Yun, you must be mindful of your words and behavior from now on."

Ran Yun bowed her head, her voice warm and gentle, "Yun understands. Frankly, I can be quite sensible, were it not for an older brother who likes to spoil his sister. But luckily, he always spoils Sister Eighteen the most. Just now at the restaurant, when Sister Eighteen was treating those young masters and ladies, he even paid the bill! He has never given me even half a coin."