NOVPUB40: Chapter 30 Hide and Seek
40 -30 Hide and Seek
Ran Yan remained silent, but as soon as she spoke out, she cornered Qi Yuxiu, making it wrong for her to retort and just as wrong not to.
Qi Yuxiu’s pretty face turned bright red, and she glared at Ran Yan unblinkingly, as if her gaze could turn Ran Yan into a sieve if it were tangible.
The atmosphere in the Liangfeng Pavilion momentarily turned awkward.
Yan Fangfei and Yin Miaomiao managed to steer the conversation away, talking about some interesting happenings in the city, and somehow, the topic shifted to Han Shan.
Before long, they were engrossed in discussing a recent murder case in the city.
“Judge Yang passed away yesterday too,” sighed a woman dressed in a pink half-sleeve tunic, her voice warm yet filled with a sense of helpless sorrow.
This lady appeared frail and slender, her neck and collarbones as gracefully poised as those of a crane, her skin pale and delicate on her face.
The downward tilt of her brows complemented her large, round, innocent eyes, giving her a soft, fragile look that invoked pity.
Yin Miaomiao had previously introduced her as Du Xiaoqiao, the legitimate daughter of the former Suzhou Inspector, Du Yanheng.
Du Yanheng was transferred to an Official role in the capital, however, Du Xiaoqiao, due to her poor health, stayed behind in Suzhou for recuperation.
Being the legitimate offspring of the main branch of the Du family from the Jingzhao Du clan, Du Xiaoqiao naturally belonged to the high nobility, ranking twenty-first in her family.
Unfortunate was her weak constitution, for she was often entangled in sickness, and there were private rumors that the Imperial Physician from the capital had predicted she would not live past twenty-five.
“Judge Yang is dead?
He was only thirty this year, in the prime of his life.
How could he have died?” exclaimed Yin Miaomiao, surprised.
The position of Judge was similar to that of the Inspector’s left-hand man, specifically in charge of assessing various state affairs such as examinations, rituals, taxation, storage, population, and criminal justice.
It was a position of real power within the state.
For someone to hold this position at thirty meant he was young and promising, with a limitless future.
Du Xiaoqiao frowned slightly and said softly, “The Forensic Doctor couldn’t determine the cause of death, merely attributing it to a sudden onset of a hidden illness; however, I am acquainted with the matriarch of the Yang family and had met Judge Yang several times.
He was in good health and I never heard of any hidden illnesses.
Alas, it’s all destiny…”
The mood turned somber, and Yan Fangfei hastily spoke up to console Du Xiaoqiao, as others joined in with their own clamorous assurances.
Ran Yan felt a vague sense of realization dawning on her, yet she couldn’t quite grasp it at that moment.
Right then, a Maid outside said, “Ladies, the tea party has started.
The Lady requests the Maid to lead the ladies to the garden.”
“Understood.” Yin Miaomiao replied and then invited the others to step out.
Since the tea party was held in two shifts, with the Noble Ladies and the Lady in the back garden and the men in the front hall, there was no interaction between the two.
Therefore, no one brought their masks, and Ran Yan left hers in the Liangfeng Pavilion as well.
The Yin estate was large and tranquil, consisting almost entirely of winding paths meandering among flowers and rocks.
What should have been a simple stroll of a hundred steps turned into a large roundabout walk.
Luckily, the constant beauty along the path kept the walk from feeling tedious.
They rounded a false mountain barrier, wove through flowers and willow trees, passed a lush bed of peonies, and traversed a long corridor of sweet osmanthus trees in full bloom.
With white osmanthus flowers cascading down, the path was shrouded in fragrance and the petals stuck to everyone, causing playful teasing among them as they spiraled through the garden.
Progressing forward, the sound of flowing water became clearer and louder.
Yin Miaomiao, smiling as she tugged at Qi Yuxiu who was picking flowers, playfully scolded, “Quit goofing around; the Ladies must be getting anxious!”
As they cleared the osmanthus corridor and turned a corner, the view opened up dramatically in front of them.
A tall cliff with a small waterfall graced the front, with Luo Bi ferns hanging down and flowers floating in the small pond below.
A large pine Water Pavilion stood over it, where a group of finely dressed noblewomen chatted merrily.
Ran Yan sighed.
Ancient people must have known how to enjoy life more than modern people, especially with such natural, exquisite scenes that are rare in the modern world.
When the elegant group of young ladies approached, the Noble Ladies turned to look.
Many were taken aback—the recognition of Qi Sixiang as Suzhou’s foremost beauty was unquestionable, but the lady in purple, Ran Yan, could not be ignored either.
The gathering casually chose their seats, and Ran Yan took one that was neither central nor peripheral.
“Mother, guess who this is?” Yin Miaomiao knelt beside a Lady dressed in a blue jacket.
Ran Yan did not recall the Lady well, but knowing that Yin Miaomiao’s mother’s surname was Ling, she paid respect by bowing and said, “Ran Yan of the Ran family greets Lady Ling.
I hope you are well.”
