Miss Truth
Chapter 523 - 347: The Fragrance of Vinegar

Chapter 523: Chapter 347: The Fragrance of Vinegar

"Go to sleep earlier!" Liu Qingsong added a sentence and rubbed his waist as he returned to the room to apply medicinal ointment.

Ran Yan took off her wooden clogs in the corridor and entered the room.

Lying on the couch, she tossed and turned but couldn’t fall asleep. Worry was one reason, but it had not been long since she had grown accustomed to having someone sleeping beside her. Whenever nightmares struck, a pair of strong arms would pull her into an embrace, providing warmth.

The moon rose and then set. Ran Yan lay with her eyes open, watching the light from the lattice window silently shift positions on the floor, her heart growing more agitated.

It was around the third watch of the night when she was about to fall asleep that the window made a slight noise, and someone quietly pried it open and climbed in.

Ran Yan could hear the rustling of clothes, and soon the person lay down on the couch next to her with a cool breath, leaned in close, and gently smoothed her disheveled hair, seemingly gazing at her quietly for a while before he lay down.

Ran Yan didn’t need to look to know it was Xiao Song. She turned over and wrapped her arms around his sturdy waist.

"Haven’t you gone to sleep?" Xiao Song pulled a pillow over and placed it under her head.

Ran Yan stayed silent, just holding him tightly. After a long while, she opened her eyes and looked up straight into his dark, shining eyes, which were watching her with a faint smile.

"Yanyan, were you worried about me?" Xiao Song asked softly.

"Hmm," Ran Yan responded.

"Were you more worried about me?" Xiao Song asked uncertainly. Ran Yan was not good at hiding her emotions, and since Xiao Song had met her in the Moon Pavilion, he had noticed her expressions and knew she had been thinking about Su Fu.

Ran Yan let go of him and sat up, her voice even, "You doubt me."

"Yanyan, I have never asked you about Su Fu, I just want to know where I stand in your heart," Xiao Song looked straight at her.

"I don’t know where you stand in my heart," Ran Yan’s gaze was unwavering.

The light in Xiao Song’s eyes visibly dimmed. He slowly lay down, but then heard Ran Yan continue, "Because since I chose you, I have given you my heart—it’s you who can’t see clearly."

Ran Yan lay facing away from him and didn’t speak. She had been restless half the night because of him, and to return to this kind of questioning was inevitably infuriating.

From behind, the rustling sounds continued. Ran Yan felt warmth at her back and an arm encircled her, "Lady, don’t get upset and harm your health."

Ran Yan broke free from him, shifted slightly to the side, and Xiao Song promptly snuggled up closer, his voice tender as he called out, "Yanyan."

There was a hint of coquettishness in his tone. His charming and mellow voice, carrying a slight pleading and wheedling tone, was overwhelmingly potent against Ran Yan.

Xiao Song reached out to hold Ran Yan’s slender waist, noticing that she didn’t repel him and took that as a sign she liked his tone. He moved closer, nudged her cheek with his nose, and continued persistently, "Yanyan, don’t be angry."

"Stop it, it tickles," Ran Yan pushed him away.

Although her tone was still not the best, Xiao Song could clearly sense a change in her attitude and then simply stretched out his hand to pull her into his embrace, starting on a path of emotional appeal, "Yanyan, I’m hurt."

Ran Yan turned over, her voice tense, "Where are you injured?"

Xiao Song pointed to his thigh.

"Injured and still asking so many questions." Ran Yan got up, lit the lamp inside the room, found some medicine she had brought with her, took a clean cloth, glanced at Xiao Song whose attire consisted of only an undergarment, his hair moist as if he had just taken a bath, his injuries seemed not too severe.

She breathed a sigh of relief, expressionless, "Take off your pants."

Although Chang’an women were known to be fierce, Ran Yan was indeed among the fiercest, Xiao Song coughed dryly, "It’s nothing serious, let’s not take them off, Lady."

"If it’s nothing serious, why mention it to me?" Ran Yan knelt on the couch, holding the scissors ready to cut open his trouser leg, Xiao Song quickly stopped her, "I’ll take them off, I only came over wearing this undergarment."

Having said that, he reached down and undid his trousers.

There were no undergarments like in modern times, so once the trousers were off, only a short long garment provided modest coverage, partially revealing and hiding. Ran Yan glanced once, then swiftly diverted her attention to his leg.

Three inches above the knee on the left leg was hastily wrapped with a cloth, still oozing blood from the outside near the knee. Ran Yan gently snipped the cloth open with scissors, "Does it hurt?"

"It’s fine." Xiao Song saw the worried look on Ran Yan’s face and his lips slightly curved up. He couldn’t help but reflect, Ran Yan was not a passionate person by nature, all emotions subtly displayed. Moreover, he knew that Ran Yan had unusual feelings for Su Fu, which made him very insecure. Ultimately, though he never interfered in anything concerning Su Fu and appeared very magnanimous, he still harbored some grudges. Discovering today that Su Fu was also there, he was quite displeased.

"Were you injured by a sword or knife? What happened?" Ran Yan frowned, the wound was not deep, but it was long, and sometimes such wounds were more painful.

"I finally caught their tail." Xiao Song spoke with a smile, but his eyes were cold, "Li Tai teamed up with the Princess of Baling to set a trap for me. The Princess of Baling ordered someone to imitate my handwriting to lure Bai Yi and others into a trap, while Li Tai set an ambush on Bai Yi’s route, not only planting a bunch of evidence but also trying to capture Bai Yi alive."

Xiao Song snorted coldly, "It’s just that they are still too green. Though Li Tai’s residence has recruited many scholars, most are adept at classics and history, far inferior in devising strategies to those under Li Ke. Relying on those people to deal with me, how naïve and laughable."

It was quite close to what Ran Yan had guessed, she tightened her movements as she bandaged Xiao Song, "The Princess of Baling really spared no expense for you."

Xiao Song winced in pain, chuckled, "Are you plotting to murder your husband... Initially, she was just interested in me, then I thwarted her, ruining the virtue she painstakingly cultivated before the Emperor, so she harbored hatred in her heart, probably wishing in her dreams to bring me down, crush me underfoot, and torment me severely. She has no love for me."

Ran Yan hummed, "According to you, the Princess of Baling hangs your portrait to throw daggers at it daily to vent her anger!"

"Ha, that’s a fresh perspective. If not so, why do you think she copied so many of my reviewed documents? Knowing your enemy, one hundred battles will not be lost; she just wanted to grasp my mistakes," Xiao Song said as he put on his trousers.

Ran Yan scoffed, "But I am certain, the Princess of Baling must have feelings for you, she wants to conquer you."

"I smell aged jealousy." Xiao Song approached, sniffed near her, then whispered near her ear, "She can’t conquer me, only you can."

He took Ran Yan’s hand, guiding her to touch a hot area that had already heated up significantly. Ran Yan was surprised; she had never teased him! Furthermore, her attire was appropriately worn. Was Xiao Song thinking of such things just by seeing her?

With this thought, Xiao Song’s breath sprayed on Ran Yan’s ear and the heat under his hand made her cheeks flush, she lightly rebuked, "You’re not serious."

Xiao Song sighed, let go of her hand, and lay back on the couch. Before, without a lady, he had to endure; now that he had one, the enduring was even more painful. He should probably sleep in separate rooms, but he’d rather endure than separate.

"How well are you hiding your tail?" Ran Yan no longer teased him, lying not far from him, shifting his attention with her words. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)