Miss Truth
Chapter 341 - 214: Xin’s Secret (1)

Chapter 341: Chapter 214: Xin’s Secret (1)

After thanking everyone, Xiao Song looked at Ran Pingyu and then said, "I have a few words to speak with the Seventeenth Lady, if I may..."

Ran Pingyu hesitated for a moment, then seeing that Ran Yan had no objections, he said, "Go ahead."

With the exception of Ran Yan’s personal maid, everyone in the room withdrew.

Xiao Song weighed his words carefully and said, "I don’t know what your relationship with Su Fu is, nor am I trying to interfere, but that man... he was destined to live a life of bloodshed from the moment he was born. Now that you’re involved, it’s impossible to come out of it unscathed. For your own sake and those around you, it would be best to avoid any association with him. Today it is Li Ke; tomorrow it could possibly be Li Tai."

Xiao Song furrowed his brows slightly. As someone involved in the court’s turbulent undercurrents, he was naturally very aware of such matters.

"I understand," Ran Yan said calmly, knowing that what Xiao Song was saying was not slander against Su Fu, but merely the harsh truth.

Xiao Song nodded slightly, "Rest well."

"Oh yes," Ran Yan called out, stopping Xiao Song as he was about to rise, and said, "When I was hiding in a forest east of the city, I crawled into a tree large enough for three people to embrace. It was hollow inside, and I discovered a human head there—it might be part of the body you’ve been searching for."

"Oh?" Xiao Song was also surprised. He had people search the woods for two days without any results; it turned out the body had been hidden in a tree hollow. "Is it the woods near the Cheng residence?"

"It was too dark, and I couldn’t make out the direction, but from what Su Fu said, it seems it was there," said Ran Yan.

Xiao Song gave an imperceptible curl of his lips, his tone light and breezy, "I’ll send someone to check it out tomorrow."

Having said that, he stood up and left with an easy grace.

Ran Yan was puzzled, unsure why he had suddenly changed his demeanor. Watching his tall figure, she opened her mouth in realization when it came into clear view.

Wan Lu and Ge Lan also blushed and turned their heads away.

It turned out that Xiao Song was completely soaked through and had sat motionless for a long time. His wet clothes clung tightly to his body, clearly outlining his wasp waist and narrow hips.

After that figure disappeared from the doorway, Ran Yan couldn’t help but laugh. She remembered the embarrassing stories of his childhood that Xiao Song had told her. She had thought then that he had made them up to entertain her, but now she knew that they were probably true. She hadn’t expected that Xiao Song, the "Ghost Who Saddens Upon Sight" in Chang’an, could have such a comical side.

Amused, a warm feeling grew in a corner of Ran Yan’s heart. The more she knew Xiao Song, the more she felt the real him was very different from what he appeared to be on the surface.

The night wore on.

There was a puddle of blood left in the original room, which Xing Niang felt was an ill omen, so they cleaned up another bedroom for Ran Yan to stay in temporarily.

After washing up, Xiao Song had had less than half an hour of rest, and it was already deep into the night. So, he dressed quickly and returned to his residence to change into his court attire.

Since the city gates only opened at dawn, he had no choice but to climb over the walls once again.

At the second watch of dawn, Xiao Song, dressed in his crimson court attire and looking fresh and alert, stood in the Imperial Palace. No one could tell that he had only rested for half an hour and climbed over walls of two districts.

This day’s early court session dealt only with trivial matters. Emperor Li Shimin issued only two imperial edicts. The first was to relieve Prince Wu, Li Ke, of his position as Governor of Anzhou for his excessive hunting, which had set a bad precedent. The second was to order Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji to revise the Tang Code.

Li Ke had been relieved of his post for excessive hunting? Could it really be just as simple as him indulging in his pleasures unrestrained? Impossible! Li Ke was a valiant prince who had opened up supply routes for the Great Tang in his youth, taking on responsibilities for the nation and earning unanimous praise from the court. Every astute person in the court harbored the same suspicion about this matter.

So what was his true intention behind creating this spectacle? Was it to come back to Chang’an, or to feign weakness? Maybe it was to show the Emperor that he harbored no ambition for the throne? Or could it be a strategic retreat?

Xiao Song was more inclined to believe the latter.

Before the palace lay a vast expanse of snow, and Xiao Song squinted his eyes, a momentary chilling intent flickering in his black pupils.

Anshan Square.

In the Ran residence at He Ya Inn, Wan Lu huddled inside the house, shivering all over, "Woo—the sun is so bright, yet it feels even colder than when it snows!"

Mrs. Xing laughed, "It’s the coldest when the snow melts."

"Sister Seventeen," Ran Yun burst into the room, upon seeing Ran Yan lying pale on the couch, she exclaimed in surprise, "You don’t look very well!"

To protect Ran Yan’s reputation, Ran Pingyu and his wife had kept this matter a secret from both Ran Yun and Ran Meiyu, with only the trusty old servants of the household mobilized. However, there are no walls in the world that can keep a secret. Ran Yun might be unaware, but Ran Meiyu, who was keen on finding faults in Ran Yan, had already faintly caught wind of the inside story.

Thus, upon seeing Ran Yun come over, she followed, seizing the opportunity to strike relentlessly, "I think someone’s been too indulgent in pleasures."

Ran Yun immediately retorted, "I mean, would it kill you to say something nice for once?"

"That depends on who I’m talking to," Ran Meiyu replied dismissively, but with a sneer added, "I’ve never bad-mouthed you, and here you are, getting worked up before the lady herself has spoken. No wonder Sister Eighteen looks down on you."

"You!" Ran Yun was so choked up that she couldn’t speak, so she decided not to stoop to her level and said to Ran Yan, "I wanted to ask you to come with me to the embroidery workshop to see how the embroideries are coming along, but seeing you like this, you won’t be able to go out. I’ll just go to Linglang Pavilion myself."

"Alright, be careful on the road," Ran Yan said.

Ran Yun glared at Ran Meiyu resentfully and turned away to leave.

Truth be told, Ran Meiyu wasn’t exactly bent on picking on Ran Yan, but staying idle in the house bored her much. Ever since Ran Yun took only Ran Yan to the Noble Ladies’ gathering, she realized that one must win others’ favor on their turf.

When she saw Ran Yun leave, she could no longer bother with Ran Yan and set out after her despite her reluctance.

The two had arrived quickly and left just as swiftly. Ran Yan let out a sigh of contentment, set down the Medical Books, and pondered over treatment strategies for Qi Syndrome.

"Wife, Lady Rong Qian has arrived," Wan Lu announced.

Ran Yan went to greet her in the outer room, but Rong Qian pulled her into an embrace, "You’re still sick; you shouldn’t have come out to meet me."

The two walked hand in hand to the inner chamber, where Rong Qian, with a delighted smile, said, "The Lady sent me to take care of you for a while. I took a liking to you the moment I saw your appearance and demeanor, and now it seems my wish has come true!"

"Auntie Rong, you’re too kind," Ran Yan replied modestly.

Rong Qian helped her up and glanced casually over the couch and table, then turned and asked, "What were you doing, Wife?"

"I was just bored, so I started looking at some Medical Books," Ran Yan, knowing Rong Qian was very well-informed about all manner of things in Chang’an, suggested, "Now that you’re here, why don’t you keep me company and chat? Tell me some interesting stories about Chang’an."

"You’ve asked the right person. While I dare not claim to know everything about the court affairs or family secrets, I can assure you I’m aware of most of them," Rong Qian laughed heartily.

Ran Yan gestured for her to take a seat on the mat, saying, "I wouldn’t understand the great matters of the court even if you told them."

By implication, she was inviting Rong Qian to discuss the family secrets. As for court affairs, Ran Yan could figure out a thing or two from history books of the later ages, and Ran Yunsheng could also inform her about these matters, but he might not gossip with her.

"Then let me start by telling you about the Crown Prince." Rong Qian began with a royal secret. Seeing Ran Yan’s slightly shocked expression pleased her greatly. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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