Miss Truth-Chapter 496 - 327: Chun Lai

Wan Lu said, "It is said that after the Lady has paid homage to the ancestral temple, she should recognize the intimate family members of the Xiao clan."

Xiao Song frowned, "Shouldn’t it be Mother who introduces me?"

Wan Lu also had this doubt, which is why she had already asked the maid, "The old Lady went with the Duke to thank the guests."

During the mourning period, one must cut off or at least reduce social interactions, thus at this time many people would come upon hearing the news of a death. One reason is to mourn the deceased, and the other is to bid a brief farewell.

"Wan Lu, ask the maid to wait for me at the Inner Gate. I’ll change my clothes," Ran Yan said as she turned to enter the house, but Xiao Song caught her arm, "Don’t go."

Ran Yan looked at his deeply furrowed brows and couldn’t help but want to laugh, "Xiao Yuezhi, I’ve noticed that you are becoming more and more childish."

In fact, most men have a childish side; it’s just that Xiao Song usually appears so serious that his childish moments seem particularly striking by contrast.

"Anyway, I forbid you to go." In his own home, Xiao Song dared not let Ran Yan out of his sight.

"Stop being stubborn, I’m not some delicate, frail woman. I can take care of myself," Ran Yan said, holding his hand to comfort him.

This relationship cannot be unacknowledged. If she were to offend all the close family members of the Xiao clan, how would Xiao Song face his brothers in the clan in the future? There were still many social interactions to deal with, and if she couldn’t even handle his own family, how would she deal with outsiders in the future? Although she didn’t like this, having chosen to become his wife, she must take on the responsibilities that come with it.

Xiao Song was tightly pursing his lips, gripping her hand without relaxing a bit, clearly being stubborn.

After a standoff, Ran Yan finally said softly, "Trust me, my husband."

Xiao Song turned his head to the side and looked at the blooming begonias in the yard, his grip gradually loosening after a long while.

Ran Yan quickly went inside, found a clean, plain dress to change into. Wan Lu brought water for her to freshen up, arranged her hair, and then they both left the room.

"Wife, is your husband still feeling awkward?" Wan Lu asked uneasily once they reached the Inner Gate.

Ran Yan smiled lightly, "He knows what he’s doing better than anyone. There’s no need to worry."

"Slave Chun Lai, I have seen the Ninth Lady," said the waiting maid upon seeing Ran Yan come out, and she quickly knelt to pay her respects.

Ran Yan glanced at her; she was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, sturdy in build, and radiated a sense of honesty. Her appearance was such that she would go unnoticed in a crowd, but when she smiled, revealing a row of white, neat teeth and eyes as curved as the new moon, it was as though flowers were blooming in spring — true to her name, Chun Lai.

"No need for excessive courtesy." Ran Yan felt an inexplicable closeness to honest people, and she became a bit softer as a result.

Chun Lai was dressed in coarse hemp and a plain white blouse skirt, her hair in maiden braids. Apart from a ribbon tying her hair, she had no decorations, and her old shoes clearly indicated she was not a high-ranking maid.

"Which courtyard do you belong to?" Ran Yan was somewhat suspicious. If the Lady of Dongyang sent a lower maid to summon her, it could either mean they looked down on her, were attempting some trick, or perhaps the Lady of Dongyang was simply too frugal.

Chun Lai inclined her head slightly, responding respectfully, "Replying to Lady Jiulang, I am the primary Lady’s personal maid."

The Tang Dynasty’s naming conventions could be rather inconvenient. For instance, Duke Song ranked seventh within his clan and was called ’Qi Lang,’ whereas Xiao Song was the next generation’s ninth rank, thus called ’Jiulang.’ To those unaware, they might seem like brothers. Similarly, there were several primary Ladies in different generations within the Xiao clan. Ran Yan had always considered Lady Dongyang as someone with strong desires for power who hid it very well, but now it seemed perhaps a bit too deeply hidden.

Thinking about matters related to Lady Dongyang on her way, she quickly arrived at the clan’s hall, where many women had already gathered, most dressed in plain clothes, along with numerous women in gray, black, and brown dresses.

"Ladies, Lady Jiulang has arrived," Chun Lai appeared very honest and straightforward, conducting herself with composure and generosity, without a hint of affectation.

"Come in," the voice of Lady Dongyang, seated in the place of honor, was detached.

As Ran Yan crossed the threshold, she was met with numerous gazes. Initially uncomfortable with such attention, she had now grown quite accustomed to it.

Not recognizing anyone else, Ran Yan went straight to where Lady Dongyang and the Clan Leader’s wife were seated not far ahead and slightly crouched down, "Greetings to Great-Aunt and Fourth Aunt."

Lady Dongyang, clad in a pure-white cross-collared ruqun, sat dignified in the primary seat, her eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes conveying the depth of autumn waters, seeming out of place in such a setting, "No need for excessive formality," she said, her gaze shifting slightly to a woman around sixty in plain clothes, "Sister-in-law, please show your niece-in-law around to meet everyone."

Hearing a woman in her thirties addressing someone in her sixties as "Sister-in-law" felt even more awkward to Ran Yan than a group of young women calling her "Auntie."

The Lady in plain clothes had a kind face, certainly more amiable upon first sight than the Du Gongs, with an appropriately subtle smile, "We had a brief encounter in Chang’an; do you remember me?"

It was a question that put Ran Yan in an awkward position—if she truly recognized or remembered the woman, she would have already greeted her accordingly. Why wait to be asked? In the chaos of Chang’an, Ran Yan had met many people in haste and had no recollection of this particular Lady. On her way to Lanling, the journey was spent rushing through the nights, with hardly a chance to leave the carriage, let alone leisure time, Ran Yan fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"Our meeting in Chang’an was fleeting, and just now I dared not acknowledge you for fear of addressing you incorrectly and causing a laughingstock. I hope Sixth Aunt will not take offence," Ran Yan bowed slightly.

It wasn’t that Ran Yan truly recognized her, but in the clan, aside from the direct and Clan Leader’s wives who held significant status, the sixth house had the most flourishing offspring, with Sixth Lady’s children and grandchildren holding official positions in the court. Therefore, her voice carried weight in the clan, as could be deduced from her seating position and the way Xiao Song talked about each wife’s character on ordinary days—this was Ran Yan’s guess.

Sixth Lady seemed to be someone who, though appearing amicable and low-profile, was actually quite proud at heart.

Seeing that Ran Yan did indeed recognize her, Sixth Lady’s smile grew a bit warmer, "Truly a dear child who touches one’s heart. Please, have a seat first, then we’ll talk."

Duke Song’s brothers had only outnumbered him by five or six. From the previous generation, aside from the Dugu family, only these three remained. Next, it was time to pay respects to the various brothers and sisters-in-law.

The atmosphere appeared to be quite harmonious, but the stiffness in Ran Yan’s face discouraged many from pursuing further conversation with her after the initial greetings.

"Lady Jiulang, please have some tea," a maid placed a cup of tea in front of Ran Yan.

Just as Ran Yan was about to lift the cup, someone asked, "I hear that Lady Jiulang has a reputation as a ’famous doctor’ in Suzhou, is it true or not?"

Ran Yan paused, setting down her cup, "It’s just that a long illness makes one a doctor; I don’t deserve the title ’famous doctor.’"(To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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