Miss Truth
Chapter 524 - 348: After Darkness Comes Light

Chapter 524: Chapter 348: After Darkness Comes Light

"I didn’t hide, I simply turned my own tail into someone else’s," Xiao Song said with a curve in his eyes, rolling over to face her.

"Fox," Ran Yan hummed.

Xiao Song said, "With so many bodies and blood, merely hiding would only end in exposure. Moreover, to not utilize such a great opportunity would be a pity, wouldn’t it? Some people won’t realize the pain of playing with fire until they get burned."

"So you mean to say you diverted this disaster towards Li Tai and Princess Baling?" Ran Yan rolled over to face him, "How did you hurt your leg?"

"Well, I merely caught a few assassins from Li Tai’s household, fed them Red Dust Powder, locked them up with the most handsome young man from the Princess Mansion, and then set the house on fire. However, I only burned half of the house before those people suffocated to death. My leg was accidentally injured by an assassin," Xiao Song spoke slowly, carefully watching her expressions, fearing that Ran Yan would think him too cruel.

Ran Yan’s heart skipped a beat, yet she didn’t mind his actions, only thinking about the assassins from Li Tai’s household...he was so concerned about Su Fu...

Ran Yan pursed her lips slightly and remained silent, gazing downwards.

"You want to know if Su Fu was among those people, don’t you?" Xiao Song’s tone returned to normal, looking into Ran Yan’s eyes, seeing her struggle to ask yet holding back, he felt both hateful and pitying. Ran Yan had always been straightforward; if she truly had no feelings, she wouldn’t be so hesitant.

In Ran Yan’s heart, he, Xiao Song, might be the most important, but that Su Fu was not easy to erase either.

Xiao Song sighed softly, reaching out to stroke her hair, "Don’t worry, he isn’t one of them."

Ran Yan didn’t know how to explain that she no longer felt romantic affection towards Su Fu, their interactions were scant, but she felt a strange closeness to him, not wanting to see him come to harm. He could hardly be called a friend, much less a lover...

"Husband," Ran Yan reached out and embraced him, unable to articulate her feelings, she expressed herself through her actions instead.

Xiao Song patted her back, "Rest early, I need to gather my strength for I will knock on Lady’s door in the morning."

Ever since Xiao Song was granted the title of marquis, many eyes were watching him, though not all harbored ill intentions, but if the Princess Mansion were attacked, his movements in and out of the estate at this time would raise suspicions. Thus, Xiao Song took advantage of their surveillance to create an alibi; he first sent a carriage to Ran’s estate, personally went to the city to escort Ran Pingyu and his wife out of the city, then found someone of similar stature to impersonate him to divert the surveillants’ gaze. Once Ran Yan returned, he instructed that man to knock on the estate’s door, purposely having him turned away to lead people to think of marital strife, while "he" was in plain sight all night running around to appease his wife.

A long silence followed, after which Ran Yan cautiously said, "Husband, I have no romantic feelings towards Pharmacist Su, at most he could be considered an ordinary friend, but... I also don’t want to see him die by your hand."

Xiao Song’s embrace tightened slightly, and after a long time, he said, "I can’t promise that. You saw today, Prince Wei seeks my death. I have refused Prince Wei Tai’s advances more than once. He seems like a modest gentleman, refined and gracious, but he is actually narrow-minded. If he sends Su Fu to assassinate me, would you have me resist or simply surrender to death?"

Xiao Song’s tone was calm, but his words were tinged with anger.

He had never doubted her, but he couldn’t tolerate even a speck of her heart belonging to someone else. Xiao Song’s true possessiveness starkly contrasted with the tolerance and generosity he presented outwardly.

At that moment, Ran Yan fully understood that if the issue with Su Fu wasn’t resolved, it would sooner or later become a fatal knot between them. Therefore, before the issue grew deeper, she had to make a choice.

"Thus, I only wish for your safety," Ran Yan buried her head in his chest, her voice gently spoke.

Xiao Song had a trace of a smile on his lips, "Actually, tonight, if he hadn’t intentionally revealed his flaws, perhaps I really wouldn’t have made it out unscathed. I know he didn’t do it for me, but I owe him this favor, and should there ever be a life-and-death struggle, I would not cut off his means of survival."

Xiao Song hadn’t wanted to tell Ran Yan about Su Fu’s intervention, but she wasn’t a fool and could probably guess; instead of letting her keep it in her heart since she also willingly talked about Su Fu, he laid it all out.

"Really holding a grudge," Ran Yan huffed.

Xiao Song laughed, his joy unmistakable in his laughter. He was a very particular man; among many women, he had eyes for none, but having met Ran Yan only a few times, she had attracted him to the point of no return. Even though she was now his wife, he was not satisfied with just that.

He could have just this one woman for his entire life. He could adore her in every possible way, but he wanted the same in return. He was not selfless in any regard.

With Xiao Song’s safe return, Ran Yan’s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and fatigue hit her, quickly falling asleep resting on his arm.

The night was dark, the dreams sweet.

The next morning, Ran Yan, still groggy, found that Xiao Song had already left the bed, which still held the scent of him, and so she nestled back under the covers to sleep in.

When Wan Lu came in later to wake her, everyone in the household had already had their breakfast. Ran Pingyu and Luo Shi were considerate of her poor rest the previous night, and as they were at Ran Mansion’s estate they weren’t too strict about protocol and let her sleep.

"Where is my husband?" Ran Yan asked, sitting at the vanity.

As Wan Lu combed her hair, she smiled, "My Lady wakes up and immediately asks for your husband. He came by early in the morning, saying to assure you not to be angry anymore. My Lady, please don’t be cross with your husband. Now that he is a County Marquis, I’m not sure how much salary he gets, but I do know a County Marquis can promote an official wife, and he can also marry two concubines, plus have six slaves, and countless beautiful mistresses. It’s really worrying! When I heard you were mad at him, Miss Xing was beside herself."

Wan Lu chattered on and on, with Ran Yan just continuously agreeing.

"By the way, my Lady, your husband said Ge Lan is back; she arrived in Chang’an last evening, just missing us. She probably rested for the night and will come over today." Wan Lu was excited to have her sister-like friend return.

Ran Yan was also very happy. Since the Dowager Lady’s death, it had been a long time since any good news. Troubles had been following one after the other, but now it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel.

"By the way, has the Doctor visited the shop in the East Market?" When she had a moment of relaxation, Ran Yan remembered this matter.

"He went once, but the Doctor said he didn’t understand business, so he’s waiting for Miss Er to have some free time to ask her about it," Wan Lu skillfully styled her hair into a low, simple bun. In mourning for the Dowager Lady, it was not appropriate to be too extravagant, so she just wore the peach blossom hairpin carved by Xiao Song, with a simple plain dress.

Ran Yan nodded. With Ran Yunsheng missing, Ran Yun had not been sleeping well for days and hadn’t the mind to think about these matters.

~(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket and a monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)