Miss Truth
Chapter 235 - 148 Prince Wu

Chapter 235: Chapter 148 Prince Wu

The voice of the young man in splendid attire... Ran Yan was sure she had heard it somewhere before, but where?

"My lord is..." Yunsheng had already faintly guessed his identity.

Using his fan, the young man in splendid attire pressed down on his shoulder and pushed him back into place, "Ran Shilang need not worry, I am here to ask your younger sister about a matter, and I have no ill intentions."

He cleared his throat slightly, and immediately a burly man came inside and held Ran Yunsheng firmly in place.

Ran Yun rolled her eyes; with such a forceful attitude, who could believe there was no mal intent!

"What does my lord wish to ask?" Ran Yan’s voice remained even.

"I heard that the lady can examine corpses and can even detect arsenic in the deceased’s bones... Luckily, I just happen to have a set of human bones here, and I would like to ask the lady to examine them." The young man in splendid attire’s voice had no distinctive feature, but it was gentle and unhurried, carrying a confidence of having everything under control.

Testing for arsenic in human bones! Could it be the mysterious person who had requested a corpse examination in the wilderness last time?

Ran Yan’s fingers stroked the rim of her cup as she fixed her gaze on him, "Mr. Li, if you’d like someone’s help, it would be prudent to show some courtesy. You have my elder brother restrained, and even if I reluctantly help you examine the corpse, the result you get might not necessarily be accurate."

The young man in splendid attire was startled for a moment; he had never revealed his identity from the beginning to the end and believed he had not shown the slightest flaw, so how had Ran Yan seen through him?

With those words from Ran Yan, Ran Yunsheng also confirmed the identity of the young man in splendid attire; Li, a surname of the imperial family. He had only seen the splendidly dressed young man from a distance a few times, and it wasn’t clear, and moreover, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, shouldn’t this person be celebrating in the palace?

"From where did the lady learn of this prince’s identity?" The young man in splendid attire withdrew his thoughts, sitting beside Ran Yan with interest.

Ran Yan crossed her arms, glancing at the guard outside, "Wasn’t it you who told me?"

The young man in splendid attire paused suddenly, then burst into laughter, clapping his hands, "Ha ha ha, even this prince can make a blunder!"

Although the Ran family is not ranked on the clan roster, it is not something that just anyone can manipulate, not even the major noble families dare to do so.

"Since you have guessed my background, can you also guess my name?" the young man in splendid attire leaned forward and asked.

Among Li Shimin’s sons, the most outstanding were surely Prince Wei Li Tai and Prince Wu Li Ke, but the highest in status was the Crown Prince Li Chengqian. From being impeached in the seventh year of the Zhenguan era for "fond of frolicking, greatly lacking propriety" to now, the Crown Prince had always been strictly managed by Taizong; naturally, he couldn’t possibly have come to Suzhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and while Prince Wei Li Tai had a reputation for virtue, being a paragon of reading the Classics, if he really wanted to do evil, he would not do so blatantly.

"Li Ke." Ran Yan uttered these two words, and the face of everyone in the room changed dramatically, for the name of a prince, a member of the imperial lineage, was not something anyone could simply call out? Even those prominent scholars and influential figures, at the very least, had to address him as "Prince Wu Ke."

Li Ke smiled, "Truly a remarkable woman. Since you have guessed my identity, I’m afraid it won’t be easy for you to withdraw now."

"Wan Lu, give the prince some water." Ran Yan picked up a clean, empty cup and placed it on the table.

Wan Lu hurriedly poured the water. Ran Yan gently pushed the cup towards Li Ke, "We are but crude earthenware pots, not as noble as porcelain, even if shattered completely, we cannot compare to your highness’s worth."

Ran Yan was certain Li Ke would not dare to harm them, as the Crown Prince’s behavior had lost decorum, not only deeply unsatisfying the entire court, but also greatly disappointing the Emperor. Li Ke’s lineage was actually more prestigious than the Crown Prince’s; his great-grandmothers and outer great-grandmothers were daughters of the major general Dugu Xin, one of the eight pillars of Western Wei, his great-grandfather was also one of the eight pillar states of Western Wei, his grandfather was the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty Yang Jian, his maternal grandfather was the Sui Yangdi Yang Guang, and his paternal grandfather was the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty Li Yuan, his father being Li Shimin. Li Ke single-handedly carried the bloodlines of Yang, Sui, Li, and the Dugu clan, arguably the foremost personage under the heavens. Under such circumstances, Li Ke’s porcelain was likely even more valuable than the Crown Prince.

"Isn’t that so?" Ran Yan smiled.

"Indeed." Li Ke straightened up and performed a salute, "Please, Lady Ran Seventeen, help me."

If it had been five or six years earlier, Li Ke’s attitude might have been genuine, but unfortunately, after so many years, he was no longer that straightforwardly honest Prince of Shu.

After the salutation, he suddenly raised his voice, "Come, someone please summon Lady Ran Seventeen!"

"Prince Wu comes to Suzhou on official duties, and Yuezhi’s reception is late; I hope you will excuse the delay." A magnetic voice came from outside the door, and as the door was pushed open, Xiao Song, dressed in a dark red round-necked regular attire, walked in.

Ran Yan breathed a slight sigh of relief, quietly observing the developments.

Li Ke’s gaze flickered slightly, then he smilingly said, "Assistant Minister Xiao’s arrival is truly timely."

"I heard that your highness was in Suzhou and immediately sent people to look for you, but your highness seemed to be playing hide and seek with me, really making it difficult to find! If Empress Yang learned that I had neglected your highness, she would probably be unhappy." Xiao Song smiled as he entered the room, standing three steps away from Li Ke, his gaze sweeping around the room as if he had just noticed Ran Yan and Ran Yunsheng among others, appearing slightly surprised, "It turns out to be the Ran family’s young master and lady; I thought his highness was here to enjoy the scenery alone, not expecting that he had arranged to meet someone, it was I who was presumptuous. I apologize to your highness here."

Even though Li Ke was inwardly desperate to have Xiao Song quartered as a vent for his anger, he had to maintain his composure on the surface, "Assistant Minister Xiao is too polite, the affairs that his majesty entrusted me with are already concluded, and I shall return to Chang’an tonight, there’s no need for any further hospitality from Assistant Minister Xiao."

After saying this, he turned to Ran Yan, "The matter I mentioned, please, Lady Ran Seventeen, consider it carefully. I take my leave!"

Xiao Song sighed, "No wonder his majesty has always highly valued his highness; such diligence truly sets an example for the many princes."

"Assistant Minister Xiao overpraises, this Prince dares not accept such honor," Li Ke responded with a slight nod and a bow, then walked out with large strides.

Xiao Song accompanied him to the shop’s entrance, exchanged a few more courteous remarks, and then returned.

Li Ke sat calmly in the carriage for a long while before suddenly grabbing the teacup on the table and throwing it fiercely onto the carriage floor.

With a crash, accompanied by the sound of the porcelain shattering, pedestrians outside were startled.

"Prince!" A guard leaped onto the carriage, pulled aside the curtain, and knelt on the floor to pick up the pieces of porcelain.

They all understood their prince’s temper; he had always been fiery. Even though he had restrained himself over the years, his anger had to be vented, or else the longer it was repressed, the more terrifying it would be when unleashed.

"Idiots!" Li Ke roared, "With so many people outside, you couldn’t even stop one person! Not only did you not stop him, but you also didn’t make a sound, a total disgrace! Why are you even alive? I am ashamed!"

"We are incompetent!" The guard’s response came from the bottom of his heart; they were not defeated but tricked by Xiao Song, who they genuinely believed had an appointment with their prince. This left the guards, who only believed in their swords, feeling infuriated and helpless.

Suddenly, Li Ke lifted his leg and kicked the guard out of the carriage. Hearing the thud and the screams from the street provided some relief to him.

But in just a moment, the guard climbed back up and asked from outside the curtain, "Prince, do you have any orders?"

"Get out!" Li Ke yelled furiously.

"Yes!" the guard answered and jumped off the carriage.

Having vented his anger, Li Ke felt his teeth itch with hatred. Xiao Song was a man of considerable ability, which Li Ke knew because of Duke Xiao Yu’s relation; he had always tried to win Xiao Song over. Xiao Song had always been ambiguous, yet he had never opposed him; this first retaliation had caused him both failure to accomplish his mission and a loss of face...

However angry, Li Ke knew very well that such a person was best kept neutral. If he were to choose sides, he must come to Li Ke’s side; otherwise, Li Ke would have to think of a way to get rid of him.

At the Riverside Fairy, dishes were already served, and Ran Yunsheng was hosting a banquet with drinks to thank Xiao Song for his righteous help.

"Assistant Minister Xiao, by offending Prince Wu this time, could it possibly..." Ran Yunsheng expressed his concern. Although Xiao Song seemed to have done nothing, he actually risked a great deal.

Xiao Song smiled but did not answer directly, "Li Ke is a sensible man; he knows what can be done and what cannot."

"True," Ran Yunsheng slightly relaxed and raised his glass, "Anyway, thank you for your help today, Assistant Minister Xiao."

Ran Yunsheng gave Ran Yan and Ran Yun a look, and they both raised their glasses as well, "Thank you, Lord Xiao, for the rescue."

"It’s my obligation since I’m staying at Ran’s residence," Xiao Song replied, and drank up his drink.

By the Pingjiang River, where river delicacies were abundant, Xiao Song and Ran Yunsheng, both used to social interactions, neither putting on airs nor feeling inferior, chatted very warmly.

Xiao Song was a great conversationalist, and he talked about very interesting things, even making Ran Yan, who usually did not smile, unable to stop herself from smiling.

"Do you know when you will be returning to Chang’an? If the timing is right, perhaps we could travel together?" Ran Yunsheng asked as the wine flowed.

Xiao Song glanced at Ran Yan, seemingly interested in traveling together but definitely unable to make it on time, "Tomorrow morning, after passing Jiangning, I will switch to land travel, hurrying all the way; if we travel together, I fear we can only go as far as Jiangning."

"It happens that we are also leaving tomorrow morning; how about we split up after reaching Jiangning?" Ran Yunsheng enthusiastically suggested.

"In such a case... I shall be imposing on Shilang again," Xiao Song laughed.

On the Pingjiang River, music drifted over, as melodious sounds carried by the river breeze. Ran Yan, having just poured Li Ke’s wine, walked slowly to the window and threw the cup into the river along with the wine.

Xiao Song smiled helplessly; if he had been any later, Li Ke might have been taken down by that cup of wine.

The group sat for a while, but since they had to rise early the next day to travel, everyone went back to rest early.

The party boarded the carriage, unaware on the Pingjiang River, a girl in red intensely watched Ran Yan’s departing silhouette and coldly said, "Ran Shiqi..."

If I don’t see you disgraced and your reputation shattered, then I’m not Ran Meiyu!

Ran Meiyu kept these thoughts to herself; even though she previously hated Ran Yan for occupying the legitimate daughter’s position, she had never hated her to the bone like now. Ever since Ran Yan returned, everything had changed; her beloved elder brother, the man she fancied... all were taken by Ran Yan!

"Despicable wretch!" Ran Meiyu spat hatefully. (To be continued. If you like this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)