Miss Truth-Chapter 82 - 51: Hearing Its Sound Twice

Ran Yan observed through the crack in the window; the road was more than two feet higher than the fields on either side, making it impossible to make way. The only solution was for her to retreat along the way she came, or for the carriage on the opposite side to do the same.

Ran Yan naturally did not want to retreat! The road was long, and it took about a quarter of an hour to get to this point. If she turned back, it would waste another half an hour there and back.

A person from the other side ran over in the rain, saying urgently, "Everyone, we are in a hurry to return to the city. Night curfew is near, and if we delay even a little while longer, we won’t be able to enter the city. Please, could you do us a favor?"

The latter half of the statement was addressed to Ran Yan.

Ran Yan hesitated whether to make way or not, but the coachman became somewhat anxious, "Our family’s estate is in South City, still a long way off. With no lights and muddy roads, if we turn back and then return, we might not make it home until midnight! The stretch of road you’ve come from is short; a round trip is just the time for two cups of tea. Please, could you talk to your master about this?"

The person standing below the carriage, seeing the coachman reluctant, suddenly became anxious too, yet suppressed his irritation as he was in need, saying, "How could we catch up and enter the city in time if it’s delayed by the time of two cups of tea? Even if it’s midnight, don’t you still have a place to go? If we can’t make it into the city, we would have to spend the night outdoors in the rain. Please, do us a favor."

The city gates close at the hour of You, and by now, it must be at least a quarter past You; time was indeed urgent.

"Let’s turn back!"

"Let’s turn back!"

Ran Yan spoke out, but coincidentally, a man in the carriage opposite said it simultaneously.

His voice was low and magnetic, slightly lazy, nonchalant, carrying the aura of a superior, like a tide that gradually rose, surrounding someone relentlessly without rush. Despite his authority, there was an intriguing charm about him that subtly stirred the heart, irresistibly leading one’s thoughts astray.

That voice... Ran Yan’s heart skipped a beat—it was the man who had been pursuing Su Fu, that unique voice, so rare among millions, Ran Yan could not possibly mistake it.

Both sides fell silent. After a moment, that man said, "Yun Lu, let’s turn back."

With a clear and commanding tone, although it was a simple statement, it carried an authority that made it hard to disobey. Upon receiving the order, Yun Lu, standing outside Ran Yan’s carriage, stopped arguing and immediately retreated.

The other carriage slowly turned around on the narrow road. The coachman was skilled, and soon Ran Yan’s carriage began to move.

As the night grew darker, visibility worsened. Lanterns hung at the front two corners of the carriage provided barely enough light to illuminate an area less than three meters around them. The coachman in front seemed unfamiliar with the road and dared not drive too fast. It took about the time of two cups of tea before they barely reached an open stretch of road.

The two carriages stopped side by side, and according to etiquette, Ran Yan ought to have sincerely thanked the others, but given the remote, rainy countryside and the unknown identity of the man, she could only speak across the carriage wall, "Thank you, sir..."

"Hmph, what’s the use of thanks? We couldn’t enter the city because of you. Shouldn’t you invite us to stay overnight before leaving?" Suddenly, a brash woman’s voice interjected.

Ran Yan slightly raised her eyebrows; this voice also had its distinct characteristics, freshly heard that day, undoubtedly belonging to that woman who claimed to have been through Wagang Village, Shu Niang. Remembering the murmured words, Ran Yan curved her lips. It appeared likely that the man inside the carriage was indeed the "sir who no longer needed her nursing."

Ran Yan had a good impression of Shu Niang and they had after all given way, knowing they would have to spend the night in the rain, both sensibly and morally, she should be polite.

Peering through the crack in the window, Ran Yan saw the other party had only two carriages: one was a luxurious carriage with barred windows, the other was somewhat smaller yet still several times more elegant than an ordinary carriage. Each carriage had a coachman and a servant outside, along with Shu Niang and that sir, totaling six people, perhaps more, but no more than ten. Yet her estate was guarded by a troop of government soldiers, and this being the well-regulated Great Tang, not a time of chaos, even if they had any ill intentions, they wouldn’t dare commit crimes right under the government’s nose.

"Our humble manor is modest, but if you all don’t mind, please follow us back to rest for the night," Ran Yan followed up on her invitation.

Shu Nian scoffed, "That’s more like it!"

"In that case, thank you, Wife," the man’s voice was oppressively deep, yet it was exceedingly graceful.

Ran Yan said indifferently, "You’re welcome," before instructing the coachman to lead the way.

In the carriage behind, adorned in deep purple finery, a figure half-reclined, one hand cradling his head while the other, slender and well-jointed, manipulated a bamboo strip, adjusting the wick in the palace lantern before him, his ink-black hair loosely draped, mostly concealing his face, his broad-sleeved robe unfolded around him, with intricate patterns entwined at the edges.

The palace lantern flickered several times, clarifying the candlewick at the glued spots, suddenly brightening the carriage interior and revealing his extraordinarily bright eyes, half-hidden behind his dark hair.

The man set down the bamboo strip, picked up a folding fan from the table, but did not fan himself; instead, he gripped the fan’s handle tightly, and a sudden deadly aura filled the carriage, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

The Ran estate’s coachman was familiar with the nearby roads; even on a rainy night, the journey went smoothly.

Half an hour later, the carriage finally stopped at the courtyard gate. The coachman greeted the gatekeeper, the gate was opened, and several carriages drove into the estate.

Xing Nian, who had been anxiously waiting under the side courtyard’s corridor, saw the carriages approaching and wondered, unable to tell which one Ran Yan was in. She picked up her umbrella, holding a lantern, and walked towards them.

The Ran estate’s coachman recognized Xing Nian and called out to her, "Wife is here."

Xing Nian handed the lantern to the coachman and helped Ran Yan out of the carriage. As they walked under the corridor, Xing Nian helped wipe the rain off her while asking, "Did Shilang come too? Why so many carriages?"

"Not him, Shige bought me two carriages of goods which I brought back. The other two carriages are guests we met on the way. I’ll explain it to you later; first, please help me entertain the guests and arrange their accommodations," Ran Yan replied.

Shu Nian jumped down from the carriage, holding an umbrella, and walked towards the luxurious carriage, saying "My lord, please get off."

Ran Yan donned her mask, keeping an eye on that carriage, eager to see what someone with such a voice looked like.

The carriage swayed slightly, and a figure in a deep purple robe leapt down. Shu Nian promptly positioned the umbrella over his head. The man was tall,, Shu Nian only reaching around his shoulder, so the umbrella was not held high, just enough to cover much of his face. The light was dim and Ran Yan, peering through her mask, could not see his features clearly.

The two of them reached the corridor, and Shu Nian, casting a glance at Ran Yan, muttered to herself, "In Luoyang and Kaifeng, I’ve seen women wearing curtains and called them boring, yet Southern women apparently need to wear masks when they go out!"

A flicker of displeasure crossed Xing Nian’s eyes; her tone was not rude, yet definitely not warm, "Old servant here was unaware of esteemed guests’ arrival and was unprepared. For any negligence, I beg your understanding."

Shu Nian, dissatisfied with Xing Nian’s demeanor, closed her umbrella and shook it vigorously, skillfully scattering all the water onto Xing Nian without touching Ran Yan or the man.

With the screen removed, Ran Yan raised her eyes to assess the tall man in the purple robe across from her. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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