Miss Truth
Chapter 395 - 251: True Heart

Chapter 395: Chapter 251: True Heart

Ran Yan also got out of the carriage.

Standing about ten feet away from Ran Yan, Sang Chen stopped in his tracks, looking at her across the distance. His eyes showed struggle, as he seemed to want to approach her yet also appeared somewhat afraid.

In the end, he clenched his teeth and moved towards Ran Yan.

Sang Chen had seen Ran Yan touch corpses and thought she was brave, but hearing her say she desired to "Receiving Corpse Energy" made him shiver with fear. Daring to do something and wanting to do it were completely different things.

Ran Yan watched him making small steps towards her and called out with her clear and delicate voice, sounding weak, "Wife."

So close, yet their hearts were as far apart as if separated by the ends of the earth.

Sang Chen felt that he was mustering all his courage to move forward step by step, but it felt like the distance between them never decreased. In the end, he was still afraid of her.

Ran Yan chose her words carefully. Regardless of how much Sang Chen was afraid of her, she just did not want to hurt this pure boy who had once liked her with her words, "How have you been recently?"

Sang Chen looked down and fiddled with the corner of his clothing, "Tolerable."

After a moment of silence, Ran Yan sighed inwardly. She was still not suitable for such casual conversation. So, she directly addressed the matter, "You know that the Cui family went to Suzhou to propose a betrothal on your behalf, right?"

Sang Chen suddenly looked up, staring at Ran Yan in shock, temporarily forgetting his fear. After regaining his composure, his face turned red with anger, and his clear eyes filled with rage, "They are going too far!"

If they chose to abandon him initially, why insist on his return now? And to force him back with such despicable means!

What Sang Chen thought was very simple; he had not been a part of the Cui family for a long time, and he would not be in the future—nor would he be associated with their ancestors’ graves after death.

Sang Chen was not ignorant of worldly affairs; he understood that the Cui family had abandoned him for the sake of their reputation and acknowledged him again for the same reason. That’s why he had resigned from his office and lived in seclusion early on. He had ambitions and ideals too, but chose to flee to avoid the pressure from the Cui family. However, he had returned now, for Ran Yan, so he wished to become strong enough to accept her odd and terrifying hobbies.

Yet, while Ran Yan had given him the courage to stand up to the Cui family, she could not give him the courage to get closer to her.

"I will take care of this matter..." Sang Chen said hesitantly.

"How will you handle it?" Ran Yan mainly wanted to know his stance, and if possible, discuss some strategies. She did not intend to push this matter onto him entirely, "Tell me your thoughts. After all, this is not just my business, nor is it yours alone."

"I want to reason with the Cui family," Sang Chen said earnestly.

Ran Yan was surprised to hear this response, but she couldn’t help smiling, "You really are better suited to teaching."

Seeing her smile, Sang Chen felt his fear diminish somewhat and knew she did not agree with his approach. He asked for advice with an open mind, "Then what do you suggest, Wife?"

She certainly couldn’t teach Sang Chen to do underhanded things. He was simply not adept at socializing and knew nothing of society’s "unspoken rules," which did not mean he couldn’t distinguish right from wrong. On the contrary, he had a particularly clear understanding of moral boundaries.

"Don’t act rashly. Write a letter and have it quickly delivered to the Cui family in Suzhou through a courier station. The gist of the letter should be that our marriage was already called off, merely a misunderstanding, and ask them to temporarily desist," Ran Yan instructed and then added, "Make your words gentle, and don’t stand against the Cui family. They are a prominent clan; can a small finger like yours twist a thigh like theirs? Even the wise have said that those who understand the times are the true heroes."

Sang Chen listened blankly and after Ran Yan finished, paused for a moment before saying, "It was said by Pei Songzhi."

The phrase "those who understand the times are the true heroes" originally came from "Three Kingdoms, Shu Records, Zhuge Liang’s Biography," where Pei Songzhi quotes Xi Zaochi’s "Xiangyang Records": "Among the scholars and the commoners, those who understand the times are considered heroes. In this place, there are hidden dragons and young phoenixes."

Ran Yan was taken aback for a moment, as she didn’t know who Pei Songzhi was. She frowned and said, "Isn’t Pei Songzhi a sage?"

"Sort of," Sang Chen nodded. But generally, when quoting someone else, shouldn’t you mention their name?

Ran Yan really wanted to strangle him; she was discussing serious matters, while this rabbit’s focus had hopped somewhere else. She took a deep breath and said evenly, "Anyway, just do as I said."

If Sang Chen were unwilling, then the Cui family, wishing to win him over, would think carefully and not force someone upon him. Even if they mistakenly thought that Sang Chen was just averse to their interference and spoke deliberately so, they would consider whether provoking him was worth it.

Having previously seen him cautiously keep his distance and having heard his angry words upon learning of this matter, Ran Yan naturally assumed that Sang Chen truly did not wish to marry her. But now, staring at his expression, she noticed his tightly pursed lips and the hurt in his eyes.

"I’m sorry, I..." Ran Yan didn’t know what to say, although she needed to speak her mind regardless of noticing his feelings beforehand.

Sang Chen hummed a barely audible "Hmm," "I will write according to the wife’s wishes."

Ran Yan smiled and wanted to pat his shoulder to offer comfort, "Sang Chen, we can still be friends."

Being unsuited as partners but friends was also very good. Ran Yan was willing to provide support as a friend, to give him a bit of negligible security.

Sang Chen froze for a moment, then his mouth stretched into a delighted smile.

This moment’s Sang Chen did not understand his own heart. All he felt was that being near her location was very soothing, yet frightening. This complex and contradictory emotion, in his otherwise pure and blank emotional world, left him momentarily unable to react. He had no idea that his yearning for her far exceeded the boundary of friendship.

If one day he understood his own feelings, he might find his happiness at this moment truly foolish.

Even Sang Chen himself was unaware of his feelings, so naturally, Ran Yan had no idea either. She was quite frustrated with how obtuse Sang Chen was, yet she also admired his pure heart. This admiration, however, was unrelated to romantic feelings. Convincing him, her face revealed a trace of relieved smile, "Let’s go back."

"I live at the southwest corner of Jingshan Square," Sang Chen did not forget to mention his address, though he also did not know its significance.

Ran Yan nodded with a slight smile.

Sang Chen brushed away the gloomy mood of these past days, basked in sunshine, even while dark clouds loomed low in the sky, threatening to snow. He got along well with Liu Qingsong, and since Liu Qingsong had escaped Xiao Song’s clutches, he had taken refuge in his house. Although he still felt fear towards Ran Yan, her seemingly fearless demeanor was still deeply attractive to him.

Ran Yan watched his ebullient back, her lips wearing a barely there smile. Convincing Sang Chen had lifted a weight off her shoulders.

Ran Yan turned to get into the carriage when she noticed approaching footsteps. Following the sound with a glance, her movements abruptly halted.

On the thinly snow-covered ground, a young man in a round-neck, scarlet official uniform looked at her, his smile faintly laced with murderous intent.

Ran Yan’s gaze swept over his struggling neck, then she turned to face him, nodding slightly as a greeting, "Your Highness, Prince Wu."

"Lady Ran Shiqi," Li Ke called her out letter by letter, his voice light yet fraught with grinding teeth. His eyes moved over Ran Yan, shifting subtly behind her while his smile suddenly grew broader, "Truly intriguing, no wonder some guard her so closely."

Xiao Song had assigned Secret Guards, and Su Fu had also kept watch over her. Li Ke’s words were ambiguous, but Ran Yan keenly noticed his shifting gaze and instinctively looked behind her.

***

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Title: Imperial Red Gate Author: Yeyu Jinghe

Introduction: Noble Lady of the imperial household, life as fleeting as duckweed (to be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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