NOVPUB42: Chapter 31 Incident
42 -31 Incident
Leaving the Water Pavilion with Yan Fangfei, Ran Yan felt increasingly that Yin Miaomiao’s behavior today was somewhat strange.
In Ran Yan’s memory, Yin Miaomiao was a gentle and elegant woman, always perfectly proportioned in her actions, which was also the example set by the Yin family for their daughters.
However, not having seen her for two years, today’s Yin Miaomiao seemed much more lively, even suggesting a game as frivolous as “hide and seek”…
Ran Yan was so absorbed in her thoughts that she failed to see Ran Meiyu and her mother approaching.
Yan Fangfei reached out and tugged at Ran Yan’s sleeve, then leaned in slightly, “Lady Gao, I hope you are well.”
This was the first time Ran Yan had met the legendary stepmother, Lady Gao.
In her thirties, Lady Gao was strikingly beautiful, radiant like a vibrant peony flower.
With a smile in her eyes, she looked at Yan Fangfei, showing no hint of the wicked stepmother’s stereotype, “Lady Yan greets the great lady of the Ran family with respect.”
She paused and then turned her eyes gently towards Ran Yan.
Such an appearance made it difficult for Ran Yan to ignore her, so she leaned forward and called, “Second mother, I hope you are well.”
Lady Gao’s expression did not change, as if she had not heard the title “second mother” at all.
With a face full of compassion, she took Ran Yan’s hand and said, “Poor child, you have indeed suffered.
However, great health follows hardship, and your future will surely be smooth.
This morning, your sister and I went to the manor to pick you up, but heard that Lord Qin Silang had already taken you.
Seeing you well, mother is relieved.”
Ran Yan couldn’t help but admire her, no wonder Ran Wen was so completely charmed; she was indeed not simple.
Ran Meiyu wore a cold expression, full of disdain for Ran Yan, yet did not dare to make a scene with Lady Gao present.
“Lady Eighteen, I’m going to walk in the garden with Ah Yan, would you care to join us?” Yan Fangfei asked with a dignified smile.
The names ‘Lady Eighteen’ and ‘Ah Yan’ alone revealed the closeness of their relationship.
Ran Meiyu figured it out and was about to speak coldly when Lady Gao interrupted, “Meiyu and I arrived an hour late; we must go and apologize to the other ladies.
You two go enjoy yourselves.
The great lady understands the sentiment of my family, Meiyu, and appreciates it.”
Ran Meiyu glared fiercely at Ran Yan and left flippantly.
Lady Gao looked at Ran Meiyu with eyes full of affection, then sighed helplessly and turned to Yan Fangfei, “It’s all due to my excessive spoiling.
My little daughter is senseless; please forgive her, great lady.”
“Not at all, Lady, you are too modest,” Yan Fangfei replied with a light smile.
After speaking, she instructed Ran Yan, “Lady Seventeen, please enjoy the garden with the great lady; I will go ahead.
You’ve just recovered from a serious illness, take care.”
“Thank you for your concern, Second Mother,” Ran Yan said.
Watching Lady Gao’s retreating figure, Ran Yan felt a chill inside.
If it weren’t for her memories of the original owner, she might indeed have mistaken that Wan Lu and Mistress Zheng had merely been biased against Lady Gao.
The extent to which this woman could act was simply astonishing.
“If Lady Eighteen could possess Lady Gao’s beauty, even Lady Qi Six would hardly be considered the first beauty of Suzhou,” Yan Fangfei remarked.
Indeed, Ran Meiyu’s looks were not even one third as striking as her mother’s.
Ran Wen was indeed lucky in love.
His first wife, Lady Zheng, was also a beauty not inferior to Lady Gao.
But women from great households like hers were somewhat rigid, lacking Lady Gao’s charm, and thus their relationship was merely cordial.
“Ah, someone’s coming!” Yan Fangfei whispered, tugging on Ran Yan’s sleeve.
As Ran Yan and Yan Fangfei quietly parted the osmanthus shrubs to peep through, from the neighboring bushes came a deliberately suppressed crisp laughter, which sounded somewhat like Qi Yuxiu.
Qi Yuxiu’s laughter immediately drew the attention of a young man in the garden.
Amidst lush peonies, the young man quickly turned around, his face fair and delicate.
Were it not for his wide-sleeved robe, he might have been mistaken for a woman.
His slightly furrowed brows showed his displeasure.
Following the path, the young man slowly walked towards them, and Yan Fangfei whispered, “What should we do?”
Although the sound had come from Qi Yuxiu, she was hidden in the bushes.
If the young man came closer, he was sure to see Yan Fangfei and Ran Yan first.
The matter was actually quite simple—couldn’t they just call out and tell him there was no maid here that he was looking for?
As Ran Yan was about to speak, she heard a cold, magnetic voice from afar, “Jingze.”
As cool as ice, all the young women under the sweet osmanthus arbor suddenly widened their eyes, staring intensely at the figure emerging from the peony bushes.
Clad in an ordinary jade-colored wide-sleeved robe, his posture was erect, but unfortunately, the hanging branches perfectly concealed his face, revealing only the round collar of his robe and a clearly defined neck.
