Chapter 453: Chapter 295 Visitor
The servant from the Ran residence saw the carriage driver and imdiately dismounted, “Seventeen Lady, I finally found you, there are two matters at the house waiting for you.”
Wan Lu squeezed out of the carriage and, seeing that it was Luky from Shilang’s side, asked, “What happened?”
Luky’s face was full of joy, “Soone from the Qidian family ca and said the horoscopes have been matched, it’s a perfect union, the marriage agreent between the two families for Seventeen Lady has been settled. The Xiao Family requests an early wedding, with the date set in the middle of March.”
“Ah!” Wan Lu was overjoyed, montarily unsure of what to do, her phoenix eyes involuntarily brimming with tears, excitedly lifting the curtain, “Wife… Wife…”
Ran Yan’s lips curled slightly, and the light shone brilliantly in her usually dark eyes, but she hadn’t forgotten that Luky ntioned there were two things, “Besides this, what else is there?”
Luky hurriedly answered, “Not long after you left this morning, Lady Dugu ca to visit you at the residence, and she still hasn’t left. Shilang then ordered to quickly co find you.”
“Lady Dugu t with Brother?” Ran Yan’s eyelids twitched slightly. Dugu Lanyan was known to be close with Princess Baling! Ran Yan didn’t believe she had such charm to make Dugu Lanyan personally visit her; most likely, it was to inquire about Ran Yunsheng’s affairs.
Luky didn’t understand why Ran Yan was reacting so intensely, but he still replied, “She has not, the Lady has been entertaining her the whole ti.”
“Let’s return to the residence!” Ran Yan’s voice was cold. Originally, if Princess Baling hadn’t set her sights on Ran Yunsheng, Ran Yan wouldn’t have thought there was anything wrong with a man’s beauty, but after the incident with Chai Xuanyi and having reached out to Xiao Song, she already regarded Princess Baling as a pri enemy, ranking even above Li Ke.
Li Ke mainly wanted to lure Su Fu into a trap. Ran Yan bit him once, which could be considered payback for the previous humiliation he inflicted on her. Li Ke, although haughty, was not without integrity. If there was a suitable reason, he might not stoop to a life-and-death struggle with Ran Yan, a woman, but Princess Baling was different. Last ti at the restaurant, Ran Yan could feel it – that look in her eyes as she sought Ran Yunsheng’s shadow through her was blatantly determined to succeed.
…
The Tang Code stipulated that, except for official governnt business, none may speed on the streets unless it was for dical purposes, if there was a woman in labor in the vehicle, or if they were rushing for a funeral. Therefore, when Ran Yan’s carriage returned to the residence at the fastest allowed speed, it was already close to noon.
Liu Qingsong had woken up and fallen back asleep in the carriage, sprawled out without a care for the feelings of the two won inside, even snoring loudly.
“Hey, Liu Qingsong, don’t you ever sleep at Sang Chen’s house?” Ran Yan kicked him. Who else could sleep so soundly after waking up in the morning?
Liu Qingsong shifted his position and mumbled, “Every day Sang Chen wants to play Go with , tornting until late at night, I’m almost completely drained…”
Ran Yan gave him another fierce kick. Why not speak properly? Why use such obscene descriptions? Of course, the “drained” he referred to was his energy, but while Ran Yan might overlook it, Wan Lu blushed at his words.
Back inside the residence, upon dismounting from the carriage at the Inner Gate, Ran Yan instructed the carriage driver, “Don’t bother Doctor Liu, just park the carriage in the stables.”
The driver acknowledged and drove off.
Two maids had been waiting at the Inner Gate – upon seeing Ran Yan return, they quickly greeted her. One of them, wearing a lake-green lu skirt, whispered, “Seventeen Lady, you’re finally back. That Lady has already had the kitchen serve the al, and Lady Dugu has stayed for lunch.”
Ran Yan frowned slightly. What was this Lady Dugu up to? Having no prior acquaintance but sauntering into soone else’s house, and even when the host wasn’t present, making herself comfortable enough to stay for a al?
As several people made their way into the hall, a maid clad in a lake-green Luo skirt continued, “In addition to Lady Dugu, there’s also a Lady Cheng. I’ve heard she’s the legitimate daughter of Duke Lu, though I’m not sure if it’s true.”
“Thank you.” Ran Yan was also quite responsive. This maid was a trusted person by Lady Luo’s side, nad Hu Yan. She hinted with every sentence, and how could Ran Yan not catch on?
“Lady Luo instructed to wait for Seventeenth Miss, I’m rely fulfilling my duties,” Hu Yan cleverly credited half of the rit to Lady Luo.
When Ran Yan arrived at the entrance of the hall, she slowed her steps. After the maid had announced her, she walked in composedly.
Inside the room, Lady Luo, wearing a full smile, was chatting with a pretty and adorable young lady. Seated beside her on a mat was a sowhat spirited noble lady, probably around seventeen years old. Her eyes were upturned, her nose bridge straight, her lips thin and red, her hair dark like glossy silk. The woman was quietly sipping her tea, her fingers more prominent at the knuckles than the average woman’s, her fingernails cut very short, but very clean.
Ran Yan rembered her. This was Cheng Qing’er, whom she had once seen in the Cheng family’s eastern plum garden.
“Seventeeth Miss is back,” Lady Luo said, her smile undiminished, though she truly breathed a sigh of relief internally. She had a pile of matters she couldn’t attend to and had to accompany the two noble ladies in their random chatter. Throughout, Dugu Lanyan had subtly inquired a few tis about Ran Yunsheng, and although Lady Luo usually enjoyed speaking of her son, ever since she learned about the Princess of Baling, her guard was extrely high. Therefore, she skillfully avoided it each ti, and couldn’t help but suspect the intentions of these two visitors.
If a noble lady didn’t mind that Ran Yunsheng ca from a rchant family and was willing to marry down, Lady Luo would naturally agree without hesitation, but even though she thought highly of her son as unparalleled on earth and rare in heaven, she was not naive to this degree.
“Lady Dugu, Lady Cheng,” Ran Yan greeted with a slight bow.
Dugu Lanyan, who was quite lively and not too arrogant, said cheerfully, “Seventeen Miss need not be so formal. Ah Qing and I are here unannounced today to visit you, and you must not bla us.”
Ran Yan kneeled and sat down on the vacant mat beside Lady Luo, showing no intention of responding. Seeing that the conversation was about to stall, Lady Luo promptly interjected, “With such esteed guests gracing us with their presence, Seventeenth Miss has every reason to be delighted. However, she’s always been aloof by nature, so please don’t take any neglect to heart.”
“How could we?” laughed Dugu Lanyan lightly.
Finally able to excuse herself, Lady Luo said, “I’ll go see how the kitchen is preparing the al, you all chat for a bit.” As she rose to her feet, Lady Luo subtly nudged Ran Yan with her elbow, signaling her to converse well with the guests.
After watching Lady Luo exchange pleasantries with Dugu Lanyan and Cheng Qing’er and leave the hall, Ran Yan went straight to the point, “What brings you two to see ?”
Apparently not expecting Ran Yan to be so direct, Cheng Qing’er finally shifted her gaze onto her.
As Dugu Lanyan was about to answer, Cheng Qing’er interrupted, “We’re not here for you, but to deliver a ssage from the Princess of Baling, Ran Shilang… the Princess has taken a fancy to him.”
Dugu Lanyan looked at Cheng Qing’er in surprise, her expression slightly displeased, and she pursed her lips without continuing the conversation.
“Oh, is there anything else?” Ran Yan poured herself a cup of water and began to drink on her own, with an air as if she were seeing the guests out.
Cheng Qing’er laughed instead of getting angry, “Indeed quite interesting. No wonder Assistant Minister Xiao insists on marrying you.”
Ran Yan kept her expression unchanged, but inside she was sowhat puzzled. How did Cheng Qing’er know about Xiao Song’s insistence on marrying her? (
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