Miss Truth
Chapter 286 - 181 Ying Luo (1)

Chapter 286: Chapter 181 Ying Luo (1)

Ran Yunsheng chatted warmly with the Mu housekeeper as they made their way to the courtyard, with Wan Lu and Ge Lan supporting Ran Yan behind them.

From the housekeeper’s words, Ran Yan learned that Lady Su loved watching plays, and there was a beautifully constructed stage in the front courtyard of the Su residence.

The architecture of the Su residence had quite the charm of a water town in Jiangnan, with winding corridors on both sides. It took seven or eight turns before faintly hearing the sound of silk and bamboo music.

In the Tang Dynasty, plays as we know them had not yet appeared. What Lady Su referred to as plays were simply dance performances with some plot but no dialogue.

At that time, dance and music were luxuries only the nobility could enjoy. Unless one kept their own dancers, it was very difficult to find musicians outside. From this point of view, Lady Su indeed took great pains for her daughter.

As they followed the Mu housekeeper into the small loft for watching the play, the room was already full of people. As soon as Ran Yunsheng entered, everyone rose to their feet, and Lady Su was the first to come forward, a proper smile on her face, "A distinguished guest graces our door. This concubine has neglected to greet you from afar. I hope Shilang will not take offense."

The same courteous words as when they first met, but each time, they felt so sincere.

Ran Yan’s eyes briefly passed over the red jade on her neck and, lowering her gaze, she slowly bowed in greeting, "I have seen Lady Su."

Lady Su quickly reached out to help her up.

The presence of Ran Yunsheng and Ran Yan brought much color to the loft, and two teenagers about seventeen or eighteen years old were stunned upon seeing Ran Yan.

Even though her beautiful face bore no superfluous expression and was plastered with an unapproachable air, it was still a pleasing sight. However, out of regard for the Su family’s face, they did not make any overt moves.

Ran Yunsheng effortlessly exchanged pleasantries with everyone, able to strike up a conversation whether familiar or not.

"Today, my daughter will perform a dance. Don’t be so caught up in conversation!" Lady Su chimed in at the right moment.

Most of the people present were elders with close relationships to the Su family. Hearing Lady Su say this, someone replied, "I heard that Min’er dances very well now. Today we shall feast our eyes!"

True noblewomen did not teach their daughters to dance. Some learned it for fun out of personal interest, following the notion that many talents are not a burden. However, no one regarded it as a skill to assess a woman’s abilities.

The group chatted inside the loft, with an eight-panel screen separating the women from the male guests, while Lady Su shuttled back and forth between them.

"I haven’t seen Ran Wife before. May I ask..." a middle-aged woman dressed in lake green with a precious pattern inquired.

Ran Yan modestly lowered her head and replied, "I am Ran Shi’s seventeenth daughter; Shilang is my cousin."

"Oh?" A flash of joy passed through the woman’s eyes, but her face remained calm as she continued unhurriedly, "Is your respected father Ran Wen, Mr. Ran?"

Although Ran Yan was reluctant to admit it, she could only respond, "Indeed, he is."

Suddenly, the expressions of several other women changed. The Ran family was considered a distinguished family in Jiangnan, but everyone seated there also came from extraordinary backgrounds. Marrying into the Ran family was a bit of a stretch, but not entirely hopeless...

"I heard before that the wives and husbands of the Ran family are all good-looking. I didn’t believe it until today when I saw it to be true!" Another woman dressed in an orange vine branch pattern satin dress laughed.

Ran Yan offered a faint smile in return, "Lady, you flatter me."

The woman in the orange satin dress didn’t allow for an interjection and immediately replied, "My maternal family is Sheng, and my husband’s family is Ding."

"Lady Sheng." Ran Yan nodded politely, formally acknowledging her.

Not wanting to be outdone, the woman in the lake green dress quickly followed, "My husband’s surname is Xu, and my maiden name is Fang." With a smile, Lady Fang said, "Ever since I married from Chang’an, I’ve seldom returned. I plan to visit my family in October after a few more years. By then, I won’t be able to withstand the long journey. I may come to trouble you then, Seventeenth Daughter. I hope you won’t mind!"

Ran Yan took it as mere politeness and replied, "I shall certainly welcome you."

Internally, she mused if Lady Fang’s family could so coincidentally be related to Fang Xuanling.

The rest introduced themselves, and after Ran Yan had formally met and greeted each one, they became acquainted. Lady Sheng and Lady Fang were particularly enthusiastic, inquiring about her life in every aspect, making her somewhat overwhelmed.

She gritted her teeth and endured for a while until Lady Sheng began to inquire, "What hobbies do you usually have, Seventeenth Daughter?"

The others also seemed very interested. Ran Yan sipped her tea and gently smiled, "I am not very skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. I simply enjoy playing with herbs and concocting poisons."