Miss Truth
Chapter 359 - 226: Pei Jing_2

Chapter 359: Chapter 226: Pei Jing_2

The two spoke to Lady Luo and then stood up to head to the warm pavilion.

The warm pavilion was near the Jifang Pavilion, less than a hundred meters away when turning left outside the door, built atop an artificial hill.

"Auntie really baffles me. Clearly you are her biological daughter, yet she introduced Seventeenth Sister to Lady Shangguan first!" Ran Meiyu grumbled.

Ran Yun glanced at her lazily and said, "That’s fate for you. Who made my mother not hail from the Zheng Clan of Xingyang or any influential family listed in the ’Clan Chronicles’?"

Ran Meiyu couldn’t deny it and snorted. Since arriving in Chang’an, she had gradually understood the undeniable power of maternal clans and could somewhat comprehend why her mother employed such ruthless methods, for often one’s birth determined their fate.

When Lady Gao married into the Ran Family, she had the choice to either overthrow all who stood in her way or resign to live under the status of a woman long deceased.

In comparison to Lady Gao, Ran Meiyu, though not considered stupid, was after all spoiled from childhood. Let alone possessing the intellect, she had hardly witnessed the realpolitik of society.

As they approached the warm pavilion, they heard laughter coming from inside. Near the southern window, several well-dressed young men were stepping on a servant, craning their necks to look inside.

Ran Yun grabbed Ran Meiyu and whispered, "Let’s hurry away."

"Why?" Ran Meiyu’s voice, though slightly lowered, remained high-pitched, frightening Ran Yun into grabbing her and running back without explanation.

Ran Meiyu, sensing that something was amiss, silently ran with Ran Yun until they reached the artificial hill near the Jifang Pavilion, where she stopped her and asked breathlessly, "Why are you running? They’re just a few loafers!"

Ran Meiyu still wanted to meet more ladies from influential clans, so missing the opportunity naturally upset her.

"Do you know who that young man in blue was?" Ran Yun, seeing her upset, became impatient as well, "He is Pei Jing!"

Seeing Ran Meiyu’s confusion, Ran Yun explained in a low voice, "He is the grandson of Deputy Minister Pei Ji from the Ministry of Civil Affairs during the Wude era, whose mother is Princess Linhai and father is the Governor of Bianzhou. He is the number one idler in the Imperial College, and was once a study companion to the Crown Prince, thus he is in good favor with the Crown Prince..."

"That’s no reason to run!" Ran Meiyu rolled her eyes, thinking Ran Yun was intimidated by someone of high status.

"Would you just listen to me!" Ran Yun said irritably, "Pei Jing is notorious for collecting various beauties. Whether he is lascivious or not, I do not know, but these beauties are all meant to be presented to the Crown Prince."

Ran Meiyu was startled, then listened as Ran Yun continued, "If the Crown Prince is to select concubines or companions, everything must be done according to palace protocol. Those privately gifted are merely playthings!"

"I see... thanks to your quick thinking just now." Ran Meiyu, born beautiful and noticeable to anyone but the blind, may have had ambitions, but she had no desire to be someone’s plaything, even if it were in the hands of the Crown Prince.

Ran Yun hummed twice to indicate her acknowledgment.

But immediately thinking back, Ran Meiyu asked, "There must be quite a few who are willing, right? After all, once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, won’t he remember the old affections and bestow titles like ’Beauty’ or something?"

Ran Yun glanced at her, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then whispered, "If you say you’re inexperienced, don’t get upset. First, titles are given to those who already have a legitimate status, those who have offspring. What’s a mere favored servant worth? Affection? How much is affection per pound? By then, there’ll be plenty who are younger and more beautiful. What does a little affection matter?"

"You!" Ran Meiyu wanted to burst out in anger but felt that Ran Yun made sense, eventually swallowing her anger, "Not everyone is like you, always thinking in terms of money, so mercenary!"

Ran Yun just found it funny. She had loved making money since she was young, so she had started doing some small business early on without relying on her family’s strength. Moreover, being born in a prosperous and realistic place like Chang’an, naturally, her perspective was broader than that of most women. What she didn’t expect was that Ran Meiyu still harbored such naive and childish thoughts. She couldn’t help but mutter softly, "I wonder what the Gao Family even taught her!"

Saying this, she walked towards the Jifang Pavilion.

She had just taken a few steps when she heard a rustling noise behind her. Ran Yun was startled and quickly grabbed Ran Meiyu, "Don’t turn back!"

But it was too late. Ran Meiyu, startled by the sound, instinctively turned her head, only to see a few evergreen trees near the rockery.

Ran Yun hurried Ran Meiyu straight into the Jifang Pavilion, her palms slightly sweaty, "You didn’t turn your head just now, did you?"

"No, I didn’t." Ran Meiyu, frightened by her tense expression, immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing much, probably that group of rascals found us, trying to make us turn our heads on purpose," Ran Yun said offhandedly as she walked toward where Madame Luo was.

Ran Meiyu, somewhat confused, thought that sticking with the crowd should keep her safe. She looked around and spotted several attractive women, which somewhat settled her nerves. She followed behind Ran Yun toward a group of chatting noblewomen.

But she saw Ran Yun encircled at the center, each woman trying to speak with her. Ran Meiyu’s jealousy made her forget about the incident just moments ago.

Ran Yun fully understood that gaining favor from these noblewomen was a great opportunity for her. Since Madame Luo was keen on promoting her, she could not appear too weak, so she slightly revealed her Medical Skills, sharing some gynecological beauty knowledge she learned from her roommate in her previous life with these beauty-loving women.

In just a moment, the surrounding people were increasingly asking her to check their health for any ailments or internal illnesses that could affect their appearance. The crowd grew larger, and Ran Yun almost felt overwhelmed by the situation.

While this side was lively, a few young men in splendid robes emerged from behind the rockery outside the Jifang Pavilion. The leading young man, dressed in a treasure blue round-necked Chinese robe, slightly raised his lips with a smile in his voice, "Indeed beautiful."

His eyebrows were slender, his eyes slightly tilted upward, every smile, every move, radiated an ineffable charm. This person was none other than Pei Jing, whom Ran Yun feared as though he were a tiger. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)