Miss Truth
Chapter 384 - 243 Mrs. Xiao Takes Action_2

Chapter 384: Chapter 243 Mrs. Xiao Takes Action_2

"What can I do even if I know?" the old lady chuckled, "After so much difficulty, my grandson has finally met a wife whose horoscope matches his, and he fancies her too. Isn’t this a marriage made in heaven? How can we let the Cui family snatch her away first?"

A woman padded her back with cushions and smiled, her lips pursed, "You are still so stubborn. I wonder how smoothly things are going on Shu Niang’s end. Once the marriage certificate is set, you’ll be able to rest easy."

"Isn’t that the truth? Jiulang doesn’t even have a concubine at home... Speaking of which, I don’t care much for the children born to concubines! I hope that Jiulang’s wife gives birth to a daughter on her first try, I just love baby girls." The old lady sighed after speaking, "I don’t even know if I’ll live to see that day."

"You always speak such disheartening words. Lady, you’re taking herbal soup every other day, and your health is even better than hers now," scolded the woman playfully. After speaking, she began to discuss with her whether Xiao Song’s daughter would look like him, "I heard from Shu Niang that Ran Shiqi is a great beauty."

Upon hearing this, the old lady became enthused, her interest in Buddha forgotten, and she began excitedly thinking of names for her great-granddaughter.

While they were having a lively discussion here, Lady Dugu’s heart was not at ease. They say that a daughter-in-law will eventually become the mother-in-law, but even at sixty, she was still under her own mother-in-law’s thumb. This morning she had been blocked by the old lady’s remark and the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved and angry she felt. She tentatively broached the topic to Xiao Yu, with caution, "Husband, Yue’er’s marriage..."

"What mother said is right," Xiao Yu interrupted her as she spoke hesitantly, "Prince Wu Ke’s lineage is noble and rare, but isn’t he still Prince Wu Ke?"

Xiao Yu’s words were quite clear. Li Ke’s great-grandmother and maternal grandmother were both from the Dugu family, his great-grandfather was Duke of Tang, Li Hu, and his maternal great-grandfather was Yang Jian, the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty. His grandfather was Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan. One person bore the bloodlines of the grand Yang Sui, Li Tang, and the Dugu family, truly the foremost in the world. Yet what of it? Lineage did not allow Li Ke to surpass Li Chengqian and Li Tai. What did Li Chengqian and Li Tai rely on? Wasn’t it because their mother was the Empress from the main wife?

If one were to compare, Empress Zhangsun’s background was not as impressive as Consort Yang’s. So, family pedigree is one thing, but the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate is also important.

Xiao Song was already twenty-six, soon to turn twenty-seven after the new year. Even if he kept the position of the main wife vacant, preventing Ran Yan from bearing children, what if in ten or twenty years, no suitable daughter from a noble family matched Xiao Song’s status? Would it not then end Xiao Song’s line of descent?

"This concubine understands," Lady Dugu had no other choice. Who asked for her third son to be so unfortunate, cursed with a fate that clashed with his wives? Moreover, her husband now agreed with this, and it was not good for her to continue opposing. She consoled herself, thankful that the Ran family wasn’t commoners; otherwise, she really wouldn’t know where to put her face.

The couple walked back to the main courtyard side by side, where Lady Dugu personally prepared travel gear for the old lady. Though Qi State was close to Chang’an, the old lady was, after all, of great age.

The sky was overcast, and gradually snowflakes began to drift down.

Chang’an City too was shrouded in dark clouds as sleet started to fall sparsely.

Ran Yan continued her work on facial reconstruction in Xiao Song’s residence, while Xiao Song went to the Government Office to attend to his duties.

Knowing that Xiao Song would return for lunch, Ran Yan cleaned her hands with herbal medicine and personally went to the kitchen to make lunch as midday approached. Not knowing Xiao Song’s preferences, she prepared four dishes and one soup of common fare.

While she was serving the soup, the kitchen door was pushed open. Xiao Song had heard about her cooking from the Servant and, pleased as he was, he did not hold much hope. But as soon as he entered, he was struck by the aroma of the food.

"It’s ready," Ran Yan placed the bowl of soup on the tray and untied her apron.

Xiao Song watched her movements, his heart soft and warm, a great portion of his fatigue swept away.

"Why did you think to cook yourself?" Xiao Song stepped forward and took Ran Yan’s hand.

Ran Yan frowned but didn’t pull away, "Liu Qingsong is not here, and there is no one in the kitchen. Should I starve?"

Xiao Song coughed dryly, smiling, "I’m not particular about these things. How about I bring Liu Qingsong back? You’re supposed to see patients with him in the Square, right? It would be convenient for you if he were here."

"He told you that?" Ran Yan was somewhat angry. Liu Qingsong was such a gossip! But then she looked at Xiao Song suspiciously, wondering whether he had subjected Liu Qingsong to harsh interrogation.

The two walked into the hall, and Xiao Song reluctantly let go of Ran Yan’s hand, each sitting down in their respective places.

Xiao Song’s dining manners were casual yet indescribably elegant, and he made no noise, evidently related to his good upbringing from an aristocratic family.

Ran Yan’s eating gestures were not particularly elegant, but they weren’t impolite either.

Ever since Duke Song had taken over as Inspector of Qi State, Xiao Song had seldom dined at home. He had found this residence in Pingkang Square two years earlier and had been living here independently. Since then, if he wasn’t eating at the Government Office, he was dining out with others. Xiao Song didn’t feel much about it, but compared to today, why did the past seem so desolate?

Ran Yan saw Xiao Song put down his eating utensils, and Ge Lan brought water for him to rinse his mouth.

The room was quiet, a stove burning, and ice pellets softly tinkling as they fell on the roof tiles, sounding particularly peaceful and calm.

"Do you want to rest for a while?" Xiao Song asked.

Ran Yan shook her head and asked, "Is it possible to solve the case before the end of the year?"

"It’s hard to say. The other three persons—alive, we see them not; dead, their bodies we find not." Xiao Song rubbed his temples and said with downcast eyes, "However, I found out that Dou Chengfeng had been secretly involved with a widowed lady. I got this news only after repeatedly deceiving Dou Chengfeng’s elder brother. As soon as I learned of that lady’s identity, I had government soldiers guard her residence. I’ll make time to check it out this afternoon. I refuse to believe that a fully grown man can go to the outskirts and leave no trace behind."

Ran Yan looked at the faint shadows under his eyes, "You should take a short nap. You can think more clearly when you’re rested. I’ll come to wake you up later."

Xiao Song looked up calmly at her, his smile ineffably serene and gentle, unlike any other time.

"Okay," he responded softly, stood up, walked to Ran Yan, and bent down to gently kiss her hairline. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)