Miss Truth
Chapter 281 - 177: Skin Whiter Than Snow

Chapter 281: Chapter 177: Skin Whiter Than Snow

The room was enveloped in silence, everyone shivered as they listened to the horrifying conversation between the two people. Liu Qingsong’s palms were sweating, thinking that he had not yet disposed of last night’s thorns and wondering if he should again ask for forgiveness today.

Ran Yan had not realized that she no longer thought about Qin Yunlin.

"Don’t overthink it. Once you’ve recuperated, you can set out for Chang’an," Xiao Song said, then nodded slightly to Ran Yunsheng as a form of greeting, "I have other matters, I must take my leave now."

"Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Xiao," Ran Yunsheng bowed in return. He knew Xiao Song had been up all night working on a case and had probably only just fallen asleep before being awoken.

Ran Yunsheng stood up to see him out, but then the voice of Servant Wan Lu came from outside, "My lord, Lady Su is visiting."

Ran Yunsheng paused, then said, "Please invite Lady Su in."

"Yes!" Wan Lu hurried off.

Seeing that Ran Yunsheng had a guest, Xiao Song said, "Shilang, attend to your matters; there’s no need for a formal send-off."

Ran Yunsheng apologized with a bow, Xiao Song exchanged a few polite words with a smile, then left Ran Yan’s room.

Just as he stepped outside, from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a figure in a gray robe standing at the bend in the corridor. A moment ago, he had been standing elegantly like an orchid or jade tree, but as Xiao Song’s gaze shifted, the gray figure darted back into his own room—if not for the sound of the door slamming, one might have thought it was an illusion.

Xiao Song knew Sang Chen was naturally not afraid of him. He chuckled to himself, not knowing what Ran Yan had said to scare Sang Suiyuan, Mr. Sang, out of his wits, making him dart about like a startled rabbit at the sight of people.

After a brief pause, Xiao Song turned right toward the corridor, and as he approached the Inner Gate, he saw a woman in a splendid treasure-blue satin dress, led by a servant, making her way around the screen and down the steps.

The woman appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, wearing a treasure-blue satin dress embroidered with peacocks and peonies. The patterning on her dress was sparse at the top but grew denser toward the hem and wide sleeves. The large clusters of peonies and long-tailed white peacocks seemed to come alive with her subtle movements, creating an indescribably beautiful effect. Around her neck hung a string of red jade beads, and the ensemble, neither too elaborate nor too plain, complemented her pale and elegant face, exuding an indescribable grace and poise.

Four maids in green followed her, and behind them, about a dozen servants carrying gifts, showing her generosity was quite substantial.

Xiao Song’s gaze was intense and hard to ignore; Lady Su was naturally aware of it. She stopped, turned towards Xiao Song, her eyes briefly swept over his purple round-necked attire, then she bowed to him.

Xiao Song nodded in acknowledgment and did not approach her for a chat but directly walked past the screen and exited. He heard the conversation between Ran Yunsheng and Lady Su behind the screen and slightly slowed his steps.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lady Su’s soft yet firm voice flowed smoothly, "Really, it’s such a sin, I live alone and seldom go out. Just a few days ago, I heard from my servants that your sister was ill. It took me until today to visit. Please don’t be offended, Shilang."

"Not at all, Lady Su is too kind..." Ran Yunsheng tactfully responded, leading her into the hall.

Businesses in Jushui County with ties to the Ran family had all sent gifts, but since Ran Yan was a female and was recuperating in seclusion without seeing guests, it would have been inappropriate for their families to visit without invitation. Hence, they simply sent gifts without visiting in person. The Su family had a considerable business relationship with the Ran family, and being more familiar with each other, and led by a woman, it was reasonable for her to personally bring gifts and visit.

Xiao Song quickened his pace to leave.

Ran Yunsheng sat with Lady Su in the hall for a while. Lady Su asked a few questions like whether they had invited a doctor from Luoyang, but did not dwell too much on the subject.

After Ran Yan had taken her medicine and cleaned up simply, Ran Yunsheng led Lady Su to her bedroom.

It was said to be a visit, but it was merely a greeting. Mrs. Su, not one for many words, took her seat on the mat near the bed, exchanged brief pleasantries, and did not digress. "I heard that Lady Ran is ill. There’s nothing much I can do to help, but if you need any herbs, just send someone to the Su residence to inform us," she said.

"Thank you, Lady Su," Ran Yan, leaning against the backrest, softly replied.

Today, Mrs. Su wore a treasure-blue satin dress that further highlighted her skin, which was pale as snow, making her appear two or three years younger than she had looked the other day. She smiled lightly and asked, "How are you feeling now, Lady Ran?"

"Thank you for your concern, Lady. I am much better now," Ran Yan didn’t want to elaborate and could only look straight and tell a white lie. After all, her actual condition was written all over her face. It was merely polite inquiry to which Ran Yan responded perfunctorily.

"Your complexion doesn’t look very good, but you are young, after all. You should recover quickly," Mrs. Su said in a gentle voice.

Ran Yan paused for a moment because, despite Mrs. Su’s light tone, there was a clear concern that seemed genuine.

"I guessed that you might not have brought many medicinal herbs with you on your journey, so I had someone bring over a stalk of century-old ginseng from our residence," Mrs. Su said. Seeing Ran Yunsheng about to refuse, she quickly interrupted with a smile, "Shilang, please, don’t be polite with me. The journey from Luoyang to Chang’an is not short. Lady Ran needs to build up her strength for the travel. Otherwise, the fatigue from the journey might be too much to bear."

Ran Yunsheng found the argument reasonable and did not decline, promptly bowing to express his thanks.

Seeing that Ran Yan soon showed signs of fatigue, Mrs. Su prepared to leave and said, "In six days, it will be Min’er’s tenth birthday. I have invited a famous opera troupe from Luoyang. If Lady Ran feels better then, you might consider coming over for some distraction."

"Alright, thank you, Lady Su." Ran Yan found Mrs. Su’s warm yet brisk manner pleasing and straightforwardly accepted the invitation.

"I will not disturb Lady Ran any further. I take my leave," Mrs. Su gracefully stood up, exchanged a few more words about resting well, and left Ran Yan’s room with Ran Yunsheng’s company.

Wan Lu watched the two leave, then turned to Ran Yan and asked, "Wife, are you tired? Would you like to lie down?"

"Not tired; just open the window to let some air in." Ran Yan felt that if she lay down any longer, she would indeed turn into a corpse.

"Just a little bit then. Wife, you just took your medicine; I fear the fever hasn’t subsided yet." Wan Lu indeed opened just a tiny crack in the lattice window, barely enough to fit a small finger through.

Ran Yan felt helpless; such a small opening made little difference from it being closed.

"Lady Su really is gracious! She doesn’t look like a merchant’s wife at all," Mrs. Xing remarked.

Mrs. Su’s demeanor, even among prominent families, was in no way inferior. At first glance, one would not notice her facial features, but would feel the influence of her presence.

Wan Lu also seemed to have a very good impression of her, asking, "Lady Su must be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, right?"

"She is precisely twenty-eight this year." Ran Yan, having taken her medicine, felt less faint and somewhat better.

"Ah!" Wan Lu, with her phoenix-shaped eyes wide open, clicked her tongue, "They say one white can mask three flaws. Lady Su’s skin is whiter than snow, making her look much younger."

"Being half-Barbarian naturally gives her a fair complexion," Ran Yunsheng added as he returned from outside.

A Barbarian, and a Mrs. Su? Ran Yan couldn’t help but think of someone. (To be continued. If you like this piece, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)