Miss Truth
Chapter 330 - 207: Unable to Restrain Feelings (1)

Chapter 330: Chapter 207: Unable to Restrain Feelings (1)

Ran Yan glared at Wan Lu, straightening herself to let her comb her hair while she continued folding the handkerchief.

After she had tied a butterfly knot on it very seriously, she suddenly felt she was making too much of an effort and rapidly undone it, thinking it might seem too important...

Ran Yan lowered her eyes to the single layer of white folded cloth on the vanity, feeling indeed as Wan Lu had said, that the gift was too modest. With that thought, she diligently wrapped it again.

After several repetitions, Wan Lu could no longer hold back, "My Lady, you need to decide whether to pack it or not. Please, make up your mind; watching this is exhausting for your slave."

Ran Yan paused in her actions, suddenly realizing she was being too indecisive, and immediately set the wrapped handkerchief aside.

Just as her hair was neatly combed, Ge Lan and Mistress Xing brought in some clothes and other items.

Mistress Xing had just asked Wan Lu about the Lady’s itinerary. Seeing Wan Lu’s hesitation, she guessed part of it but said nothing, helping Ran Yan organize a set of matching clothes to wear.

After breakfast, Ran Yan first went to the front yard to inform Ran Pingyu of her whereabouts, then led Wan Lu and Ge Lan to the carriage along the Inner Gate.

As they were about to leave, Mistress Xing instructed, "Lady, when you reach Pingkang Square, enter from the north door facing the main street, near the southeast corner close to East Market, where many courtesans reside. It’s best for our lady to keep away from that area."

Ran Yan was quite moved in her heart. Mistress Xing was like a mother, prattling on in objection, merely out of concern. But when opposition was futile, she still made it a point to remind her.

Pingkang Square was only separated from the Imperial City by the main street, sandwiched north to south with Chongren Square.

The local government offices in the capital were called the Proclamation Office, with twenty-five in Chongren Square and fifteen in Pingkang Square.

Every year, thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of examinees would gather in the Capital to participate in the selection, making these squares, "since they are radiated by a single street, thus overwhelming both markets with constant shouting day and night, and relentless lights, unmatched by any other square in the capital," hence, it was no surprise that private courtesans congregated near the southeast corner close to East Market.

The area near the north side of the Imperial City was instead lined with large estates. The Secretary of Surveillance, Chu Suliang, also lived in Pingkang Square, a few houses apart from Xiao Song’s residence.

"Why would Master Xiao choose to live in this square?" Wan Lu couldn’t help wondering once she heard that private brothels were clustered in Pingkang Square, for with Xiao Song’s family background and official position, choosing another location would have been easy.

Could it be for the convenience of visiting courtesans? Ran Yan thought for a moment and then dismissed it. Chu Suliang couldn’t possibly have moved here for convenience in his affairs either.

Xiao Song’s residence was easy to find. The carriage entered through the north gate of Pingkang Square and went straight down the main road to the west.

As soon as Ran Yan stepped out of the carriage at the entrance, she saw the gatekeeper widen his eyes in disbelief, exclaiming, "A young lady!"

He poked the nearby servant urgently, "Look quickly! It’s actually a beautiful young lady!"

The few servants turned their heads to look, just as dumbfounded, not so much dazzled by Ran Yan’s beauty but merely astonished at her gender. Over the years, the rumors outside had bizarrely claimed their master "destroys wives" to such an extent that even a female mosquito would meet its end in his residence; such absurd stories were nevertheless believed by everyone! Any lady would normally keep her distance.

Cautiously, the gatekeeper approached and asked softly, "Young Lady, this is the residence of Xiao Yuezhi, the Assistant Minister. Are you sure you haven’t come to the wrong place?"

"Indeed, we’re here for Assistant Minister Xiao, you’re not mistaken," Wan Lu replied.

The gatekeeper spoke softly and slowly, as if afraid to frighten her, "Please come inside and have a seat."

Ran Yan nodded her thanks and followed him to a tearoom next to the gatehouse.

This was the normal procedure for receiving guests: generally, guests would be invited to sit in the gatehouse to wait while the servants notified the master. If the guest was of equal status and particularly welcomed, the master would come out to greet them personally.

Ran Yan sat down in the tearoom, a Servant came over to serve tea, and after serving, bowed and said, "My master has gone to court and will not return until the evening. If you have urgent matters, you may speak with Doctor Liu or leave a message, and I will deliver it."

"Please inform Doctor Liu," Ran Yan said.

After the Servant left, Wan Lu whispered, "My Lady, I feel the looks from everyone in the residence are rather strange."

It wasn’t strange, but rather their astonishment was undisguisedly evident in their eyes.

After a long wait, just as Ran Yan began to think that the residence was too big and it might take some time to get there, nearly half an hour later, her impatience was growing. She was about to ask Wan Lu to call the Servant over so she could leave a message and depart, when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside.

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