Miss Truth
Chapter 348 - 219: Chai Xuanyi

Chapter 348: Chapter 219: Chai Xuanyi

After exchanging a few words, the atmosphere between them eased somewhat.

Their emotions had surged in the shadows, but left as gently as a passing cloud, and in less than the time it took to finish half a cup of tea, the day was bright and beautiful again.

Xiao Song was dressed in a crimson official uniform, clearly in an official capacity, so he merely announced his identity, and the gatekeeper let a Servant lead them directly to the courtyard, rather than taking the usual route reserved for guests.

At the same time, another Servant had gone ahead of them to inform the master of the house.

As they crossed through a small courtyard, they hadn’t yet left the walkway when they caught the light fragrance of plum blossoms.

The further they proceeded, the more intense the fragrance became. When a dazzling expanse of red plum blossoms came into view, Xiao Song couldn’t help but smile at Ran Yan with a teasing glint in his eyes.

Ran Yan’s cheeks flushed with warmth, and she glowered at him resentfully. This man was truly insufferable, feigning consolation with all seriousness, yet seizing every opportunity to tease her. The implication behind his expression was more suffocating than any sarcastic remark!

Ran Yan, filled with pent-up irritation, followed the Servant through the plum blossom forest.

They had just caught a glimpse of the corner of a pavilion half-hidden in the plum grove when a melodious sound of a guqin floated towards them, its tune exuding leisure and indifference, as carefree and natural as clouds rolling and unfolding, revealing the elegance of the player, whose temperament seemed to manifest before them.

Even though Ran Yan was not well-versed in the nuances of music, she could still feel a sense of liberating freedom from the melody.

Turning a bend, they saw a hexagonal pavilion with bamboo curtains hanging low; aside from a mat and a guqin in the center, there were no other furnishings.

The person playing the guqin wore wide-sleeved green clothes, tall and slender. The half-lowered bamboo curtains concealed his face, leaving only his slender figure and pale, delicate fingers visible to Ran Yan.

"My lord, Assistant Minister Xiao has come to visit," the Servant announced from beneath the gallery, interrupting the music.

The graceful hands gently rested on the strings, yet the player did not rise to greet them. A warm, polite voice said, "Assistant Minister Xiao, please come in."

Xiao Song did not show a hint of displeasure, lifting the curtains and gesturing for Ran Yan to enter the pavilion with him.

Stepping into the pavilion, Ran Yan’s gaze immediately fell on the man’s features. Perhaps the setting had been too picturesque moments before, raising her expectations, but upon seeing him wholly, she wasn’t dazzled. Chai Xuanyi had an average appearance only, with a slightly elongated face and narrow eyes. One’s first impression upon seeing him would be that he was fairly handsome, but his aura, a mix of scholarly mien and hermit’s carefree detachment, created an indescribable charm.

Previously, when Ran Yan read about the free-spirited elegance of the Wei-Jin period in historical texts, she couldn’t quite grasp it. But at that moment, seeing Chai Xuanyi, she felt that this must indeed encapsulate the grace of the Wei-Jin era.

Chai Xuanyi also noticed Ran Yan’s gaze and lifted his head with a cordial smile, but upon seeing Ran Yan’s face, a flash of surprise crossed his features, which swiftly melted back into the smile as he nodded and bowed to her in greeting.

Ran Yan also bowed slightly in response.

The Servant swiftly laid out two mats, and Chai Xuanyi said, "Please take a seat."

"What a tasteful setting, Chai Langjun," Xiao Song remarked as he lifted his robe to sit down on the mat.

Chai Xuanyi gave a slight smile, glancing at Ran Yan before his gaze returned to Xiao Song, "Compared to Assistant Minister Xiao, I’m afraid my conduct might appear rather common."

The remark was tinged with playful teasing.

But after all, what he said was true. Conducting an investigation while accompanied by a young lady was indeed a display of elegant taste! Xiao Song neither acknowledged nor denied this; instead, he went straight to the point, "Last time, Chai Langjun remembered something, and today this official has brought an object for Chai Langjun to see if you recognize it."

As he spoke, he took out the small box, opened the lid, and presented the meticulously wrapped hairpin in front of Chai Xuanyi.

Chai Xuanyi looked at the hairpin, his brows furrowing slightly. His expression stiffened for a moment as if he remembered something, but in the end, he was filled with disappointment and sighed, "I feel that this item is very familiar, as if it’s an object I’m intimately acquainted with, yet I can’t recall where I have seen it before."

"Since that is the case, it must belong to someone close to you, Sir Chai. Perhaps the County Princess Wenxi recognizes it. May we ask her to come and identify it?" Xiao Song suggested smoothly.

Li Wanshu held a very special status; she was the only surviving bloodline of the hidden Crown Prince Li Jiancheng. It was said that when she escaped, she was accompanied by a sister named Li Wanping, but after they were separated, Li Wanping’s fate had already become unknown.

Li Shimin executed his brothers and nephews at the Xuanwu Gate, all under the guise of a coup, eliminating all of Li Jiancheng’s sons. Later, for reasons unknown, he adopted his own thirteenth son to Li Jiancheng, leaving a line of descent for him. Whether this act was out of guilt, just for show, or to display his benevolence to the people of the world, it remains unknown.

The Emperor’s will is inscrutable, so Li Wanshu’s identity was equally awkward. People didn’t dare to get too close, nor did they dare to be too negligent.

"Of course." Chai Xuanyi readily agreed and commanded the Servant to invite the Lady over.

In the meantime, Xiao Song made inquiries about his condition and briefly discussed some trivial topics.

Ran Yan could tell that Chai Xuanyi was an upright person; he seemed scholarly at first glance, but he was particularly straightforward in his speech and actions and had an optimistic personality. Despite the inconveniences caused by his amnesia, his smile remained hearty.

After a short chat, footsteps approached from outside.

Looking through the gap beneath the curtain, Ran Yan saw the hem of a cinnamon-colored skirt that, with every graceful step, swayed like layers of hibiscus petals caught in the breeze. Two Maids in pale aqua skirts followed behind her.

She stopped in front of the door, and the two Maids stepped forward to lift the curtain.

A cool fragrance drifted in with the breeze, and when Li Wanshu’s face came into view, both Xiao Song and Ran Yan showed surprise on their faces.

Li Wanshu’s gaze was indifferent. She had already stepped halfway into the pavilion when she saw Ran Yan, a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes as well.

Li Wanshu’s willowy brows, eyes like autumn waters, and a melon-seed-shaped face bore a six-tenths resemblance to Ran Yan!

"You..." Li Wanshu’s face showed a moment of excitement, which then gradually returned to calm. The only relative in this world she cared for was her long-lost sister. The sight of Ran Yan had disturbed her, but being younger than Li Wanshu by quite a few years, Ran Yan clearly couldn’t be Li Wanping.

Ran Yan looked at the face so similar to her own, puzzled. Could they have a blood relation? But Li Wanshu’s background was of imperial kin. If it weren’t for her father’s fall from grace in battle, she would have been a princess by rights.

Thinking of her maternal Clan, Ran Yan understood; possibly Li Jiancheng’s principal wife was from the Zheng family of Xingyang.

"Assistant Minister Xiao, you are well." Li Wanshu had regained her composure and bowed slightly in greeting.

After exchanging pleasantries, once she sat down, Xiao Song didn’t prolong the conversation. He immediately presented the hairpin before her and asked, "Does County Princess Wenxi recognize this item?"

Li Wanshu looked down at it for a moment and then said, "I have not seen it before."

"May I trouble the County Princess to take another close look and think again?" Xiao Song said earnestly.

Perhaps it was his usual need to intimidate criminals or subordinates, but Xiao Song inadvertently exuded a formidable aura when he was serious. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)