Miss Truth
Chapter 322 - 203: The Gentleman Who Accidentally Entered the Plum Grove

Chapter 322: Chapter 203: The Gentleman Who Accidentally Entered the Plum Grove

Noble Lady Ran Yan and her companions were all situated on the same attic floor, each arranged by the windows. However, the building was an octagonal structure, and with so many maids of the Cheng residence present, it was not convenient for anyone to rise and join in the excitement elsewhere. This meant that each of them was confined to their own facet, and thus, what everyone saw or noticed might vary.

The sounds of laughter and talk from the neighboring attic gradually died down.

Peeking through the gaps in the bamboo curtain at the window, Ran Yan glanced downstairs to see three elegantly dressed young men strolling through the snow. The snow was not heavy, and they didn’t bother with umbrellas, laughing and talking amongst themselves as they stopped underneath the attics, looking up as if hesitating where to position themselves.

Although no one had explicitly revealed the intricacies of the gathering, these suitors understood what was at stake, and it was said that today there were quite a few wives of lower status... For the men, aside from the position of the official wife, they could also take two concubines, and below that were attendants, followed by mistresses. Consequently, some suitors who had no intention of taking an official wife naturally turned their attention to the attic where Ran Yan and her companions were located.

Ran Yan took a quick glance and noticed that the more than ten girls inside were all young and seemingly inexperienced, likely attending such an event for the first time, many with faces blushing as they sneak glances downward.

"Ladies upstairs."

Suddenly, a loud voice called from below.

Ran Yan heard someone calling from beneath her window, but she had no interest in getting involved and pretended not to hear.

"Jianjia is verdant, white dew turns to frost. The one I long for is on the other side of the water. Tracing the river upstream is arduous and long, floating downstream as if she lies amid the water." The young man below softly recited the verse "Jianjia" from the Book of Songs.

Along the banks of the Jianjia River, the lush reeds are verdant and green, and white dew solidifies into frost in late autumn. The one I think of day and night is just across on the other side of the river. Going against the current to seek her, I find the path fraught with obstacles and length. Drifting along the flow in search, she seems to be right there in the middle of the water.

Ran Yan thought that this phrase, applied to the current situation, was clearly flirtatious. How could he long day and night for someone he’d never even met?

The maid standing beside her bowed slightly and said, "My Lady, there are writing materials atop the desk. If you wish to say something, you could write it down and throw it to the gentleman below."

All eyes turned to Ran Yan; they too had seen one or two gentlemen, but none had been so brazen.

"No need." Ran Yan calmly lifted her teacup and took a sip, as if deaf to the calls below.

After a short while, the man below seemed to lose interest and fell silent.

At that moment, the maid standing next to Ran Yan turned and went downstairs.

The snow outside began to intensify, and the men standing near each pavilion were invited to the ground floor of the attics.

Ran Yan had hoped that attending such a gathering would at least allow her to meet a few new people, but considering the current circumstances, she found herself in a rather passive position. She could hardly even speak to the other wives in the same attic, let alone think about making an early departure at this point.

Footsteps clattered from downstairs, and everyone looked over to see a maid carrying several pieces of paper up, which she handed to the ladies seated in different positions, including one to Ran Yan!

Ran Yan didn’t even glance at it and turned her head to view the snowy scene outside instead. Ran Yun urged her, "Sister Seventeen, why don’t you see what’s written?"

"If you want to see it, go ahead." Ran Yan replied.

Before she had finished speaking, a commotion suddenly arose from where the Noble Ladies were, interspersed with a clear voice, "Sir! Please wait a moment! That gentleman over there!"

"What happened?" Ran Yun asked curiously, peering out the window, but could only see the top of a plain white umbrella and someone wearing a dark round-necked robe, followed by a maid in apricot-yellow clothing calling out from behind.

In the midst of the heavy snow, that person seemed to move slowly, yet with ease, leaving the maid far behind without any intention of stopping.

The plum garden was semi-open, and it was easy for those unfamiliar with the place to enter mistakenly. Ran Yun said with a sly and suggestive smile, "It must be someone who took a wrong turn."

The one who had taken a wrong turn was now being called upon by a Noble Lady’s maid, suggesting he was someone quite outstanding.

No sooner had Ran Yun finished than a woman’s voice could be heard faintly from the next attic, commanding her guard, "Seize him!"

Suddenly, from all around the plum grove, numerous guards appeared out of nowhere, rushing forward, preparing to capture the intruder.

With no further developments for a long while, the ladies next door soon became restless and ran down from the attics. The noise grew louder.

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