Miss Truth
Chapter 297 - 187: An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 297: Chapter 187: An Unexpected Encounter

The next morning, Ran Yunsheng personally saw Qi Ning Jun onto the boat, and thus, what seemed like a passionate emotion had reached its conclusion, bringing relief to everyone.

During his recuperation in Luoyang, Ran Yunsheng kept to himself all day, occasionally playing chess with Ran Yan to pass the time. Ran Yan knew he was hiding something and once inquired about it, but he merely said it was nothing.

In life, Ran Yan did not possess the spirit to "persistently probe until the end"; she felt that if Ran Yunsheng did not want to talk, he must have his reasons, so she did not continue to ask.

Ran Yan went out almost every day for a stroll, not necessarily to bustling places but just to enjoy the scenery.

Luoyang was famous not for its bustling streets but for being a gathering place of talents. Ran Yan occasionally visited taverns and tea houses where she could hear people reciting poems and discussing worldly affairs, which gave her the impression that Luoyang was profoundly cultural and intellectually reserved.

However, such a place often could not tolerate violations of conventional beliefs, and Ran Yan, wanting to develop the industry of autopsy, faced several times the difficulties, eventually leading to her loss of interest after a few days.

After recuperating for seven days, Ran Yan proposed to start their journey to Chang’an.

Ran Yunsheng had also been cooped up in the little courtyard for seven days, and seeing that Ran Yan’s injuries were no longer a concern, he naturally agreed immediately.

With this period of rest and organization, everyone was invigorated once back on the road. The temperature, dry and cold in Jushui County a few days earlier, had gradually warmed up considerably. Wan Lu, more lively than ever, excitedly pestered Ran Yunsheng’s servant with endless questions. Upon learning that the climate in Chang’an was similar to Jiangnan, she excitedly ran to tell Ran Yan.

Ran Yan remembered reading somewhere that during the Tang and Song dynasties, there was a period of several hundred years of warming during the Little Ice Age, so the climate in areas like Chang’an and Luoyang was comparable to Jiangnan, albeit slightly colder in winter.

Ran Yan and Ran Yunsheng watched her joyful demeanor and could not help but smile.

Initially, Wan Lu was full of energy, but she wilted after a day, and after three days, she could barely lift herself up on the horse at all. Thankfully, they had made several stops to attend to Ran Yan, otherwise, Wan Lu might have lost her little life.

Having ridden in a carriage for so long for the first time, Ran Yan also found it exhausting. She now realized how fortunate it was to travel by boat, as the bumpiness of the carriage ride nearly shattered her bones.

"Just hold on a little longer, Xinfeng is coming up ahead, we can rest there," Ran Yunsheng said as he handed a cup of water to Ran Yan, reassuring her.

Ran Yan, feeling weak, lifted her eyes briefly, took the teacup, sipped lightly, and asked, "How much longer to Chang’an from Xinfeng?"

"Very soon, about two to three hours," Ran Yunsheng replied, taking back the teacup when she stopped drinking.

Two to three hours... that’s about four to six hours, still a good half day’s journey! But thinking of resting in Xinfeng, Ran Yan felt much more comforted.

After about twenty-five minutes, the carriage entered Xinfeng.

Even for someone like Ran Yan who did not remember many poems, she had heard of the verse, "Xinfeng boasts fine wine, Xianyang has had its heroes for many years." The verse was no exaggeration; there was a tavern at every few steps in Xinfeng. Looking out of the window, wine flags fluttered on both sides of the street and occasionally, a spirited young man would gallop by, full of youth and vigor.

Ran Yan’s lips curved involuntarily, her fatigue dissolving slightly, and she couldn’t help exclaiming, "This is how young men should be."

The carriage slowly came to a halt, and Ran Yunsheng chuckled, "Ah Yan, at the prime of your youth, why do your words sound so world-weary? Have these past few days of travel felt like years to you?"

"Not just like years, more like a decade," came Wan Lu’s lament from outside. She asked if they were about to arrive and, unable to wait, hurriedly got out of the carriage.

Ran Yunsheng’s smile was radiant, "This is our family’s tavern in Xinfeng, the shopkeeper is a delightful person; perhaps you can have a good chat with her!"

Ran Yan also became somewhat interested. Ran Yunsheng spoke in a manner as gentle as his disposition, never harshly criticizing others, nor overly praising them. Those whom he spoke so highly of must indeed be interesting.

After dismounting from the carriage, Ran Yan saw several waiters at the entrance. As Ran Yunsheng walked inside, he asked, "Where is your shopkeeper?"

One of the waiters, who seemed somewhat more alert, smartly replied, "Sir, Lord Zhong owed half a coin and wanted to use a poem to settle the debt, but the shopkeeper refused. Since then, Lord Zhong hasn’t come by, and the shopkeeper went out to collect debts after lunch."

"Hmm," Ran Yunsheng nodded and then turned to Ran Yan, "Shopkeeper Rong used to be mother’s personal maid. She later took care of Ran Yun for a while. Ran Yun didn’t learn much else, but she certainly picked up her penny-pinching ways completely."

Ran Yan pursed her lips in a smile—it turned out that Ran Yun’s temperament had its origins!

As the group was about to enter the back yard from the hall, the hall suddenly quieted down. Only the steady sound of footsteps descending the stairs, "thump," "thump," "thump," could be heard. After a long silence, a waiter regained his composure, his voice somewhat restrained, "Farewell, sir..."

The group couldn’t help but stop their laughter and look back into the hall.

When Ran Yan saw the person coming down the stairs, she was momentarily taken aback. The man was dressed in a gray round-neck robe, with hair as smooth as satin, skin white as lard, and a high nose over his thin lips. His long eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his features were as distinct as if carved from marble. His eyes, jet black with a hint of deep blue, seemed like an ancient cold pool.

He seemed to feel Ran Yan’s overtly direct gaze and gave a faint glance this way. Upon seeing her, he too was slightly stunned.

"We meet again." Ran Yan had a light smile on her face, as if they had just seen each other yesterday.

Su Fu’s thin lips slightly curved, and his already stunning appearance shone even more brightly.

Xingniang and the others gaped, eyes filled with astonishment. Ran Yunsheng and Ran Yan, walking side by side, did not notice their changed expressions and wondered when Ran Yan had met such an outstanding person.

"I am Su Ziqi," he told her, still using his original name.

Ran Yunsheng heard this with some confusion and was about to ask for more details, but, as if Su Fu had the Mind Reading Technique, he clasped his hands toward Ran Yunsheng, "I am Su Fu, styled Ziqi, from Suzhou."

Su Fu was always a man of few words, so speaking this much was already quite considerate.

"Sir Su, are you perhaps heading to Chang’an?" Ran Yunsheng asked. Ran Yunsheng was always accurate in judging people. On first seeing Su Fu, he felt an unusual, chilling coldness about him that instinctively signaled danger.

"Indeed, I am settling in Chang’an," replied Su Fu succinctly, before turning to Ran Yan, "I have matters to attend to, I must take my leave."

Ran Yan nodded, suddenly remembering that she still didn’t know how to find him, "Where are you staying?"

"I have just arrived in Chang’an and don’t yet know, but the Ran family’s household is not small." The Ran family’s estate was significant, and it would be easy for him to find them. With that, Su Fu bowed to Ran Yunsheng and Ran Yan and took his leave.

Ran Yunsheng watched Su Fu’s footsteps, which did not stir a speck of dust, and frowned slightly, turning to Ran Yan, "The Su family, are they perhaps the Medicine King Su family?"

"Yes," Ran Yan replied.

Having just dealt with Su Luan’s affair, and now encountering Su Fu, Ran Yunsheng had always felt that the Medicine King Su Family was a family full of conflict and its members should not be closely associated with. Nonetheless, he felt it inappropriate to interfere with Ran Yan’s personal connections.

After much thought, Ran Yunsheng still cautioned Ran Yan, "The Su family’s actions are strange, Ah Yan, you should be careful."

(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)