Miss Truth
Chapter 287 - 181 Ying Luo (1)_2

Chapter 287: Chapter 181 Ying Luo (1)_2

Everyone was stunned when Lady Fang laughed, "Shi Qi Niang is just joking, yet you take her seriously."

The others echoed her laughter, but they truly felt that Ran Yan wasn’t joking at all.

Ran Yan glanced up at the stage opposite and noticed that the dancers seemed almost ready, so she didn’t speak any more frightening words and shifted the topic, "It looks like it’s about to start."

But when everyone turned their heads, what they saw was a scene of disarray, feeling that Ran Yan had intentionally changed the subject. Just as they were about to speak, they heard Lady Su’s gentle voice, "We are all friends and family here; the preparation is a bit casual, please don’t think I’ve neglected you!"

Ran Yan gave her a look, feeling that today Lady Su, besides being elegant, seemed to have an added touch of vivacity.

As the maid clapped her hands below the stage, a stream of cheerful guqin music began to play.

The pavilion was adorned with crystal bead curtains, and one could only watch the play through the curtains. The scattering reflections were very beautiful, yet there was always an impulse to pull them aside.

The play was a legendary tale called "Ancient Mirror," somewhat similar to the stories from "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio." It was told through dance and could be appreciated by both refined and common tastes. However, Ran Yan truly didn’t have an artistic cell, and having never heard of "Ancient Mirror," she found herself completely lost halfway through the plot.

About a quarter of an hour later, the play finally concluded. Ran Yan barely perceptibly sighed with relief; comparatively, she would rather watch little girls twisting and turning.

After resting for a short while, a lively tune began playing again, and the bamboo curtain on the opposite side rolled up. Ran Yan saw a petite girl in red, her water sleeves flowing, waist flexible like willows. Ran Yan was slightly taken aback; the first time she saw Su Min’er, she thought her an lively and adorable girl. However, now she seemed to possess an age-inappropriate maturity.

Ran Yan unconsciously glanced at Lady Su, who was dressed in a jewel-blue luxurious garment today, except the pattern on her clothes depicted white cranes among clouds. Her lips curved slightly, eyes full of doting love.

Su Luan’s appearance compared to Su Fu seemed too ordinary, their features greatly dissimilar. The only similarity was their elongated eyebrows.

Lady Su seemed to notice Ran Yan’s gaze, turned her head slightly, and gave her a shallow smile before continuing to concentrate on Su Min’er’s graceful dance.

Ran Yan’s attention returned to the stage, where the bead curtain gently swayed and the water sleeves slowly fell. The young masters behind the screen cheered enthusiastically.

Lady Su beckoned towards Su Min’er across, and the girl’s smile shimmered bright and translucent like morning dew, eyes curving like crescent moons as she hopped off the stage and came over.

Ran Yan had come today specifically for Lady Su. The other day, a fleeting glance made her notice something unusual about the red jade hanging around Lady Su’s neck, prompting her to check it out.

Having gotten her answer, Ran Yan found herself disinterested in the things around her, feeling somewhat bored.

The sound of "thump thump thump" came from the wooden stairs of the loft. Soon, Su Min’er’s rosy face appeared; she darted into Lady Su’s arms like a joyful little bird, "Mother, did I dance well?"

"Yes, yes!" Lady Su exclaimed twice, then had Su Min’er greet everyone.

As Su Min’er called out "uncle" and "uncle," it was clear that everyone present was an acquaintance. When she came to greet Ran Yunsheng, she suddenly paused, stared at him for a moment, and muttered, "My lord looks like an immortal."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter. Someone teased her, "Min’er, how about you marry Lord Ran when you grow up?"

Su Min’er immediately blushed and couldn’t help but steal glances at Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yan suddenly understood why Lady Su had invited them to such a private gathering. It turned out this was her idea, but Yunsheng was nearly twenty, wasn’t Su Min’er a bit too young?

In response to such a joking probe, Yunsheng joked back, "If I wait another six or seven years, I’ll have become an old man."

Lady Su’s expression darkened momentarily, but she quickly concealed it.

After the play, it was already noon, and the Su residence had prepared a feast, inviting everyone to dine.

Normally, such feasts with dance and music were held in the evening, but since the Su residence had no male master, it was inconvenient to keep guests overnight, so they moved the time to the morning, which also lessened the fun somewhat.

However, Ran Yan knew that Su Min’er had received the best birthday gift, Yunsheng. Even if he did not belong to her, meeting him on this day was a wonderful thing.

"Yunsheng, let’s go back," Ran Yan whispered to Yunsheng as the banquet neared its end.

Yunsheng too intended to leave, so he straightened his clothes, sat up straight, and said to Lady Su, "Lady Su, I have some matters to attend to and cannot stay long, so I must take my leave."

"Thank you for gracing my daughter’s birthday with your presence today, Sir. I am deeply grateful," Lady Su said, slightly bowing.

Yunsheng hurriedly stopped her, "The Ran and Su families have always had good relations. It’s only right to celebrate Lady Su’s birthday. Please, don’t be so formal."

Lady Su exchanged a few more pleasantries and then instructed the steward to see the guests out.

Yunsheng stood up and bid farewell to everyone, with Ran Yan following behind him, bowing to each in turn.

**

After leaving the Su residence, Ran Yan looked at Yunsheng’s gloomy expression and couldn’t help saying, "Yunsheng, if you refused, then you refused. Why the unhappy face?"

Leaning on the carriage, Yunsheng gave a wry smile and said, "It’s nothing, just feeling a bit absurd and a bit pitying."

Yunsheng leaned against the carriage and slowly closed his eyes, his brows unconsciously furrowing.

He had been restless recently, and Ran Yan did not disturb him further.

When they reached the gate of their temporary residence, they got out of the carriage and saw Huan Kong waiting at the entrance.

"Lord Ran, a lady has been looking for you," Huan Kong hastened to tell Yunsheng when he saw him.

Yunsheng was startled at first, his face suddenly turning pale.

Ran Yan was very surprised and asked Huan Kong, "Do you know her identity?"

Huan Kong looked up and thought for a while, "She knows Lady Xing and fainted as soon as she saw her." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)