Miss Truth
Chapter 295 - 186: The Person in the Painting

Chapter 295: Chapter 186: The Person in the Painting

Once settled, Wan Lu immediately pulled Ran Yan and asked, "Wife, it seemed like I was knocked unconscious by Lord Xiao last night. He didn’t harm you, did he?"

She said ’seemed’ because after Xiao Song left last night, his Secret Guard had found a way to secure the door from inside; seeing this made Wan Lu uncertain whether it was a dream or reality, or perhaps the Wife already knew about it.

This morning, they hurriedly set out for Luoyang. In the presence of Mrs. Xing, Wan Lu couldn’t speak openly and had no choice but to pull Ran Yan aside and ask various questions like "Did you sleep well last night?" "Did you wake up?" "Did you have any dreams?" and so on. Later, since Ran Yan was in the same carriage with Qi Liuniang, she couldn’t ask anymore.

Ran Yan was stunned for a moment and said hesitantly, "You said... Xiao Song came last night?"

Seeing her demeanor, Wan Lu felt a chill in her heart, and her face grew paler as she anxiously said, "Wife, he, he..."

If Ran Yan had truly lost her virtue under her care, Wan Lu would indeed dash her head to death as a way to apologize.

Ran Yan didn’t notice Wan Lu’s expression and was lost in thought about the dream from last night, where she clung to someone and wouldn’t let go...and that person’s deep, gentle voice. Suddenly, her blood surged both with anger that Xiao Song had secretly entered her bedroom and with shame about her behavior in the dream. Ran Yan knew she had a habit of talking in her sleep and could converse with others during it, so what she did and said last night — could it have been real?

At that thought, Ran Yan’s face flushed with the effort of suppression.

Seeing this, Wan Lu’s face grew even paler, and her voice trembled, "Wife, were you violated by him?"

Ran Yan came to her senses, saw that Wan Lu was almost crying, and explained, "Not at all, I am just annoyed. I didn’t expect Xiao Song, who usually values propriety so much, to do such a thing."

Wan Lu exhaled in relief, collapsed onto the mat, and relaxed as if she had narrowly escaped a disaster, "It’s good that nothing happened, it’s good that nothing happened, otherwise I couldn’t forgive myself even if I died a thousand times."

Ran Yan didn’t respond, still tangled in her thoughts about whether or not it was a hug. She personally believed it definitely was, as the warmth in her dream felt too real, only to think to herself... she hadn’t realized Xiao Song’s waist was so slim.

The feelings in her dream were quite vague, and Ran Yan really didn’t know whether she was embracing his arm. She dreamed she was holding that man’s waist, but it felt less robust than what he seemed to be — not quite as imposing and well-built as he usually appeared.

Knowing that nothing untoward had occurred, Wan Lu felt relaxed, and the excitement of reaching Luoyang washed over her as she eagerly urged Ran Yan to go out and look around.

However, Ran Yan had just recovered from a serious injury and lacked physical strength; she even felt exhausted after a short ride in the carriage. Seeing this, Wan Lu didn’t continue to incite her but helped her to lie down on the couch.

In a small eastern room in Luoyang, Ran Yunsheng met with several shopkeepers of Luoyang businesses and briefly inquired about some business matters.

Just as the discussion ended, the leading shopkeeper said, "My lord, there is something I am not sure whether it is appropriate to mention."

"Please speak, Shopkeeper Lian," Ran Yunsheng, though in a gloomy mood, politely asked.

This shopkeeper, Lian, who was over forty years old, was a veteran of the Ran family and also the manager of the Ran family’s businesses in Luoyang.

Knowing Ran Yunsheng to be kind-hearted, Shopkeeper Lian no longer hesitated and said directly, "Recently, the Government in Luoyang has been secretly searching for a person. They have also shown us a portrait and asked for our cooperation in the search. I think the person in the portrait greatly resembles My Lord."

Business people meet the most people every day, so asking them for help is highly effective. However, if it were a fugitive, notices would have already been posted. Why was this search conducted in secrecy this time? Besides, the person in the portrait resembles their Young Master by about forty to fifty percent, and the Government officials specifically emphasized that this person looks even more distinguished than in the portrait. This matter was really strange.

The other few people nodded repeatedly in agreement , "Exactly."

Shopkeeper Lian took out a portrait from his sleeve and handed it to Ran Yunsheng.

Ran Yunsheng’s face turned slightly pale, but he steadied himself and opened the portrait.

The person in the portrait, fresh like sprightly willow in spring, was very handsome and bore a resemblance to him. Notably, the beautiful eyes and gracefully curved lips were strikingly similar to Ran Yunsheng’s own features.

"It does resemble me," Ran Yunsheng, keeping his emotions in check, told the shopkeepers, "I only come to Luoyang once a year, and I don’t engage in unlawful activities. It seems unlikely that the Government is looking for me. However, since I hurried over this time, instruct the others not to speak carelessly, to avoid getting involved in trouble and delaying our journey."

What Ran Yunsheng said was exactly what puzzled the shopkeepers earlier, but some of them had watched him grow up, and they knew his character well, so they were certain that he would not break the law. Since the principal himself wasn’t too concerned, they only needed to instruct the others not to meddle.