"What a pity that such exquisite Suzhou embroidery is stitched onto white folded cloth," Ran Yun lamented. White folded cloth, which is cotton, is quite well-made, and due to its rarity, its price is almost comparable to high-quality silk, but to the nobles accustomed to silk and satin, this material is still too humble to grace the halls of elegance.
Ran Yan was already simply dressed, in a short jacket embroidered with pea-green vine patterns and a smoke-colored silk skirt underneath, choosing warmth and convenience because she had planned to play in the snow, not to attend a banquet.
Before leaving, the maid added a black marten fur-collared cloak over her outfit.
As she seated herself in the carriage by the Inner Gate, Ran Yun said, "I’ll tell you in advance, the place we’re going to is the private garden of Cheng’s mansion. The person who invited me is the daughter of the Market Officer of the Capital, Han Kang, named Han Xun, the eldest daughter of the Han Family. The Market Officer of the Capital is a sixth rank senior official, in charge of the East Market, and has close relations with our family. Han Xun is quite spoiled, but she is not the petty type who holds grudges. Whatever she says, just don’t take it to heart."
"Alright." A brazier warmed the interior of the carriage, and Ran Yan warmed her hands by the fire, responding seriously.
Seeing that she was attentive, Ran Yun continued, "The highest-ranking person at this gathering will be the legitimate daughter of the Cheng family, named Qing’er. I’ve heard that her temper is fierce, a spitting image of her father, and she should not be offended lightly. However... with our status, it’s unlikely we’ll offend her even if we wanted to."
While they were going there to play, there were actually not many opportunities to really forge closer relationships. When taking a break, the ladies all had their own circles, and without an introduction, it would be very rude to approach them recklessly.
Ran Yan nodded, then immediately asked, "The Cheng family? Is that the Duke Cheng Zhijie?"
Cheng Zhijie, originally known as Cheng Yaojin, was forced by circumstances to rob on the roads with the Wagang Village at the end of the Sui Dynasty and later surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. He was one of the founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty. In most people’s minds, Cheng Yaojin was seen as a brute swinging a tri-pointed double-edged sword with little culture, but in fact, he came from a distinguished family, with both his grandfather and father being high-ranking officials under the Northern Qi dynasty.
Ran Yan was keen to see this celebrated figure in person and find out what his true nature was.
The carriage steadily made its way towards the east of the city. On the way, Ran Yun gave Ran Yan a detailed description of the origins and characters of some of the Noble Ladies attending the gathering, and they soon arrived at their destination.
Even before they alighted, an excited and eager voice called from outside, "Ah Yun! Ah Yun! Is that you?"
Ran Yun lifted the thick curtain and looked outside. At the entrance of Cheng’s private garden, a pear wood carved fragrance carriage stood parallel to theirs. As the powder blue curtains were drawn, a flushed face was revealed, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen. Her round face and eyes, with a button nose, weren’t particularly beautiful, but she had a radiant and energetic smile that showed her lively nature.
"Ah Xun!" Ran Yun replied with a smile.
Han Xun’s smile brightened even further, but as her gaze shifted to Ran Yan behind Ran Yun, she saw only half of her face—exquisitely beautiful yet expressionless, her dark piercing eyes enhanced by the dim light inside the carriage, which was rather intimidating. Just as Han Xun noticed her gaze, Ran Yan awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth and nodded slightly in greeting.
The young girl’s face turned pale as she pointed to the space behind Ran Yun with a trembling voice, "Ah, Ah Yun... have you... have you been bewitched?"
Not being bewitched would not attract a female ghost!
Ran Yun turned to look and saw only Ran Yan, Wan Lu, and her maid San Bao. She turned back and said, "Don’t talk nonsense, such things don’t exist!"
Han Xun scrutinized and realized that indeed there was a woman behind Ran Yun. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly covered it up, "It was my eyes playing tricks. Come on, get out of the carriage, we’re running late."
After they got out and stood firm, Han Xun pretended to notice Ran Yan for the first time and looked at her, startled once again. With the bright snow light shining upon her, that exquisitely delicate melon-seed face was as lustrous as jade, with gently curved brows, a small and perky nose, and the most beautiful part of her lovely face were her lips, full and moist, red but not gaudy, seemingly glowing with a subtle sheen as sweet as honey. The only imperfection was her deep, black eyes beneath thick, long lashes, which undermined the overall beauty, giving anyone who looked at her an involuntary chill.
"This is our main family’s seventeenth sister, known simply by the character Yan." Ran Yun introduced.