Miss Truth
Chapter 223 - 141 Cloud Hairpin_2

Chapter 223: Chapter 141 Cloud Hairpin_2

"However, Wife has injuries, so she can come back early to rest, and no one will say anything," Mrs. Xing said.

Ran Yan responded faintly, but she ran through the tasks she needed to accomplish before leaving Suzhou in her mind, planning to handle them tomorrow during the day. To her, these optional social interactions could be dealt with dismissively; they were not a big deal.

After her bath, Ge Lan and Wan Lu had already prepared her clothes, a light purple cross-collared shirt with gold and silver thread embroidered peonies, a twelve-panel fairy skirt in assorted colors, and embroidered peony brocade shoes. It was an extremely conservative attire, a legacy of the Sui Dynasty.

After wringing out her hair, Xiao Man combed it into a simple and elegant Chao Yun near scent bun.

’Wife need not apply makeup, right?’ asked Wan Lu, looking at Ran Yan’s flawless face, feeling that makeup was unnecessary, and constantly worrying about it smearing; it seemed better to go without.

Xiao Man tactfully suggested, "Wife’s complexion is too pale, a touch of rouge would make it look better."

The reality was: Ran Yan had a deadpan face, frightfully lifeless and could scare people.

Wan Lu nodded and said, "That’s also true. There are sure to be many Noble Ladies attending the banquet today, all dolled up in the contemporaneous makeup styles. If our Wife is too plain, it wouldn’t be proper."

Ran Yan had no chance to intervene. It wasn’t that she had a problem with aesthetics; she simply didn’t know what attire was used in the Tang Dynasty, and the original host’s memories rarely included this kind of content. Fortunately, the maids knew her preferences well and wouldn’t apply makeup that would make her afraid to go out.

’Wife, Noble Lady Ershiniang is here,’ the Maid at the door announced.

Ran Yan was almost ready and said, ’Please, let her in.’

’No need to ask, I’m already here,’ burst in Ran Yun holding two sandalwood boxes, looking upset, yet carefully placing the two boxes on the table, ’These two sets of jewelry were gifts from brother, but since I ran the errands, I should charge a fee. Pick one, and the other will be my running errand fee.’

Ran Yan wasn’t particularly bothered by Ran Yun’s attitude, finding her much more adorable compared to other ladies in the house, ’Brother Shilang has already given me plenty before, enough is fine; what more do I need? You keep them.’

’How could that be!’ Ran Yun stared fiercely and righteously said, ’I’m not the kind to take advantage!’

Wan Lu lowered her head, desperately trying not to laugh.

’Here, this is for you,’ Ran Yun opened both boxes, one containing a complete set of jade inlaid with silver head ornaments modeled after orchids, crystal clear emerald with a layer of luster, breathtaking; the other box held two white jade hairpins, semi-transparent, each delicately carved with cloud patterns, exquisite and subtly elegant.

Ran Yun pushed the white jade hairpin towards Ran Yan, ’I’m not taking advantage; although there are only two white jade hairpins in here, they are much more expensive than the complete set. This top-quality sheep fat jade is rare and scarcely found in the world.’

Ran Yan closed the jade box, hugged it to her chest, and appraised Ran Yun thoroughly, nodding maturely, ’You are indeed more pleasing to the eye than Qi Liuniang. However, your outfit cannot match up to her all-white ensemble!’

Ran Yun gritted her teeth and repeated ’all-white’ several times.

In many costume dramas, the female protagonist wears all-white, floating about like a fairy, but this was not common nor well-received in ancient times. The ancients favored rich colors, and it was not unusual for a single garment to feature five or six different colors layered upon each other. Poor families needed to work, mostly wearing dark clothes; who would wear all white and get it muddy? Even if one wore plain clothes, they would turn gray within days.

Qi Liuniang was indeed an exception, or perhaps she could genuinely embody the purity of white.

"Do not let down your brother’s kindness, otherwise, he will beat me." Ran Yun hugged the box and scurried out, but in no time, she poked her head back in, "Make sure not to tell my brother that I received any benefit, I trust your character!"

After finishing, she withdrew her head and ran off without a trace.

"It’s really unfair of Noble Lady to do this," Wan Lu frowned and said.

Ran Yan knew that Wan Lu was sensible, otherwise with her temperament, who would allow people to take things out of their own pocket, so she smiled and said, "What’s so unfair about it? Whatever Shilang gives away is from his family’s property, even if Noble Lady took it all, there’s nothing to be said. Since you understand the reasoning, you should not complain about others."

"Understood, the slave just can’t hold her tongue," Wan Lu replied with a smile.

Ran Yan picked up a cloud hairpin and examined it carefully, finding herself liking it more the more she looked. The jade’s quality was excellent and felt very comfortable in hand.

"Wife, why not wear this one? Since Shilang sent it tonight, it must be for adding splendor to your banquet evening," Wan Lu cautiously took another hairpin from the sandalwood box and pinned it into Ran Yan’s hair.

Ran Yan found these two hairpins precisely to her liking, so she tacitly approved.

After the finishing touches were applied, almost half an hour had passed, and maids from the front courtyard had already come to hurry her.

Ge Lan picked a plain silk garment embroidered with peonies using gold threads and hung it over Ran Yan’s arm, accompanying her to the banquet hall along with Wan Lu.

Two young maids led the way, lanterns in hand, navigating through the small paths of the garden. Kitchens on both sides were filled with various chrysanthemums, emitting a faint fragrance.

Upon reaching the front courtyard, a man was briskly crossing at the fork in the road, Ran Yan’s vision was obstructed by a rockery, and she nearly collided with it.

"Wife, are you alright?" a clear voice came.

Ran Yan raised her head to see a youth in pale blue noble attire, his features elegant and handsome—it was Qin Silang!

He had grown slightly thinner, and when he saw Ran Yan’s face, he paused briefly, then hastily stepped back, "I have startled Ran Shiqi, I beg your pardon," he bowed in greeting.

"I was walking too hastily, it’s of no concern," Ran Yan returned the gesture.

In the bright moonlight, Qin Musheng’s gaze was deep, his dark eyes filled with complicated emotions—admiration, pain, and perhaps regret. His lips moved as if he had many things to say but when they reached his lips, they turned into a soft whisper, "Wife, you look very beautiful tonight."

When was Ran Shiqi not beautiful? Qin Musheng felt he had spoken redundantly and immediately said, "I was just about to leave, and the wife must be hurrying to the banquet hall, I won’t keep you any longer, goodbye!"

Ran Yan watched him flee, and with a barely discernible sigh, she headed in the opposite direction towards the banquet hall.

If there was one woman that Qin Musheng truly missed in his life, it was surely Yin Wanwan, not Ran Yan. That gracefully charming woman, who transformed from a pure and clear girl into a devil with bloody hands, her heart towards Qin Musheng never changed no matter her outward appearance. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote with monthly and recommendation tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation.)