Miss Truth
Chapter 342 - 215: Xin’s Secret (2)

Chapter 342: Chapter 215: Xin’s Secret (2)

"The Crown Prince?" Ran Yan asked, puzzled.

Li Chengqian had been rather outstanding during his youth. In the early days of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin often went to battle personally, and each time he did, Li Chengqian was left to supervise the nation, and he performed quite well. If this had continued, he might have become a good monarch. Unfortunately, as he grew older, he became indulgent in pleasures and often disobeyed his superiors in secret.

"I heard he has a leg disability?" Ran Yan couldn’t remember which history book she had read it in, but it mentioned that Li Chengqian had a leg disability that made walking slightly inconvenient. He felt it affected his image and developed an inferiority complex, so he turned to indulgences to dilute his feelings of inadequacy.

It wasn’t impossible, but to say that Li Chengqian’s downfall was entirely due to a "slight leg disability," Ran Yan absolutely didn’t believe it.

"Apparently, the Crown Prince has a eunuch named An Jin who is said to be incomparably handsome and enchanting, a sight that makes one forget the mundane world. Anyone who has seen him is left enraptured and unwilling to forget..." Rong Qian had also only recently heard of this and was itching to see An Jin herself, "I think our Shilang is already the epitome of beauty, but he hasn’t been described in such a mystical way. Could such a person really exist?"

"Lady Rong has seen him so much, she might think this An Jin is similar to our brother." No matter how handsome, could he really captivate someone’s soul?

Rong Qian nodded, "That might be true."

Ran Yan knew that what she meant to say was not really about the eunuch’s looks, so she quietly waited for what was to come.

"I heard that the Crown Prince is extremely fond of An Jin. If he doesn’t see him for a day, he can neither eat nor sleep well," Rong Qian ambiguously said.

Ran Yan paused and said, "Are you suggesting he is the Crown Prince’s male favorite?"

Rong Qian’s face paled, and she quickly grabbed Ran Yan’s hand, saying, "My ancestors, can you speak so carelessly? Be careful of disaster spilling from your lips."

Though there were no outsiders present at the moment, the spread of rumors always disregarded conditions and logic. Ran Yan internally reviewed her words and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Lady Rong."

"This matter is really not well known. I have a childhood friend, we were sold from our village together as children. I was fortunate to serve in the Ran Family and even escaped my lowly birth; he had it worse, ending up as a monk in the Eastern Palace," Rong Qian joked.

To still be in touch with a childhood friend who had become a monk showed their extraordinary relationship. Although she spoke of it in such a joking tone, she had never been married. In the days Ran Yan had been in the Ran Family, she had asked a few maids, who were remarkably secretive about it, revealing it to be a sorrowful matter not to be mentioned.

In the Tang Dynasty, if a woman remained unmarried after seventeen, her parents would be punished, and the woman would be forced into an arranged marriage conducted by the government. And Rong Qian...

Ran Yan had initially been wary of her excessive enthusiasm and exaggerated praise. Now it seemed she was perhaps using it to alleviate her worries.

"Does no one in the court know of this matter?" Ran Yan wondered.

Rong Qian lowered her voice and said, "Aside from the Imperial Censorate, who in the court would have the leisure to constantly watch the Eastern Palace? Is the Crown Prince such a simple character? This small matter is still hidden. However..."

Ran Yan believed this, as Li Chengqian, every time he erred, was able to argue adeptly, silencing the group of Grand Preceptors. If this were merely cleverness, his repeated supervision of intricate state affairs, which he handled quite well, could not be simply attributed to cleverness.

Rong Qian paused, her voice dropping even lower, "There is no wall in the world that doesn’t leak. Can something hidden temporarily remain hidden forever? Moreover, I’ve heard that the Crown Prince’s behavior has become more absurd lately, and he spends every night accompanied by An Jin. This matter, I’m afraid, is on the brink of being exposed."

Ran Yan was slightly startled in her heart, unable to understand why Rong Qian would suddenly talk to her about this matter.

Moreover, did the important officials in the court really not know about this? For example, Zhangsun Wuji and Li Chengqian, with the blood of the Zhangsun Family flowing in his veins, and Li Ke being so outstanding, would likely cover up this issue to preserve his position if he knew about it.

"Hehe, just listen to these things and let them be, they are of no relation to us," seeing Ran Yan lost in thought, Rong Qian took the opportunity to change the subject, "Actually, Lady sent me here mainly to discuss the Zheng Family with Wife. After all, in a few days, we have to go and offer birthday greetings to the old Lady of the Zheng Family. Since Wife’s mother came from the Zheng Family, it is necessary to be clear about these matters to avoid any disrespect."

Understanding the importance of the backing, Ran Yan expressed her gratitude with sincerity.

Rong Qian hastily helped her up and said, "The situation with the Zheng Family, Lady Xing knows much more than I do; I only know about General Zheng’s family since I have always been in Chang’an, so I know quite a bit about these surface matters."

Ran Yan thought to herself, you are not just familiar with the surface matters, you probably know everything inside out.

"General Zheng’s main family is not in Chang’an, so we will only talk about his family members here. His principal wife, Lady Lu, is from the great room of the Lu Family in Fanyang, and she has one elder legitimate sister married to Duke Li Ji. Lady Lu is gentle but extremely strict about etiquette, so one must never be rude in her presence. General Zheng also has two concubines, one is Lady Jia, also from a noble family, and another is Lady Gongsun. Besides, there are two concubines who have borne sons..." Rong Qian spoke as if she were talking about her own family, detailing the nature and interests of each lady thoroughly.

Ran Yan felt dizzy from all the information, thankful that they only spoke about Zheng Rentai’s family; if the whole Zheng Family from Xingyang were to be discussed, it could probably take days and nights without end.

When Rong Qian finally paused, Ran Yan personally poured her a cup of water, "I’ll write it all down tonight and memorize it thoroughly."

Rong Qian thanked her and took a sip of water, nodding her head, "Wife is so conscientious, now I can rest assured. Let’s leave the rest for today, and tomorrow I will come and discuss the important twenty-seven sisters related to Lady Zheng of the Eastern Palace, since they will probably also come for the old lady’s birthday celebration."

Ran Yan’s hand trembled as she held the cup, "Twenty-seven sisters?"

Such fertility! Ran Yan thought how remarkable it was for the Ran Family to have so many children numbered into the twenties, but the Zheng Family with these twenty-seven important figures!

"Wife! "

Rong Qian was about to continue when Wan Lu reported from outside, "The Medical Director from the Imperial Medical Bureau has come to treat you. "

"Medical Director Zhou?" Rong Qian exclaimed in surprise. The Imperial Medical Bureau had two chiefs known as Medical Directors; the Ran Family did not have such great influence to invite a Medical Director from the Imperial Medical Bureau!

"Indeed. He said Assistant Minister Xiao asked him to come over," Wan Lu replied.

Rong Qian instantly understood and smiled, "Director Zhou has a close relationship with the Xiao Family, but unless the Lady of the Xiao Family is unwell, they would not bother him so lightly. It seems Wife has quite a reputation!"

Ran Yan touched her neck; such a minor injury she herself would not fuss about, but knowing Xiao Song was concerned about her, she felt a strange emotion stirring within.

He saw the kiss mark on her neck, didn’t he? Does he truly not mind? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation).