Miss Truth-Chapter 693: Extra Story Two: Sang Chen’s Story (Final)

Du Jiangli opened her eyes and through a thin layer of gauze, her first sight was not of Sang Chen, but of that purple garment.

It was only a side profile, yet it strangely felt familiar.

She stared unblinkingly, feeling an inexplicable urge to sweep aside the gauze curtain.

"You should think about it yourself," Ran Yan said, then she pushed the curtain aside and entered.

They looked each other in the eye.

Du Jiangli’s eyes widened in shock—the face before her, so familiar she couldn’t be more acquainted with it, was astonishingly... her own!

Ran Yan also seemed a bit stupefied. When she had found Du Jiangli on the mountaintop, she thought her a stranger, but now she felt an unusual warmth towards her.

Ran Yan was the first to regain her composure and asked, "Lady Du, how do you feel?"

Du Jiangli gathered her thoughts and replied, "I am all right. You are...?"

"My name is Ran Yan, my husband is Marquis of Xiangwu, Xiao Song." Ran Yan knelt by the bed, reached out to touch her forehead, and took her pulse, "It seems there’s nothing seriously wrong. A mere Sang Suiyuan couldn’t lead you to take your life. Lady Du, in the prime of your life, it is better to do something meaningful, do not waste your youth."

It turned out to be the woman Sang Chen admired.

Originally, Du Jiangli felt somewhat uncomfortable, but looking at Ran Yan’s appearance, she couldn’t feel jealous.

No matter how she saw it, it felt like looking in a mirror. For a moment, she even forgot her appearance had changed and felt that Sang Chen’s admiration for Ran Yan was essentially the same as his love for her.

Du Jiangli withdrew her thoughts and sighed, "I actually didn’t intend to jump off the cliff, but these days, I always feel dazed, dreams and reality both so vivid, it’s hard to distinguish clearly."

Du Jiangli struggled to get up, but Ran Yan stopped her.

She lay back down obediently and said with a smile, "I just had a dream where everything was resolved, and reality seemed perfected too. Suddenly everything can be let go, but... in my current plight, what else can I do?"

"Sang Chen told me everything. Since it was mutual consent, he should marry you. That would be the best way out of this awkward situation," Ran Yan said, though she wasn’t particularly traditional.

"I will go to the Du residence and ask for your hand in marriage right away," Sang Chen chimed in eagerly.

After speaking, just as he was about to turn away, he heard Du Jiangli and Ran Yan simultaneously exclaim, "Stop!"

Ran Yan looked at Du Jiangli and then fell silent. Du Jiangli said, "I have already settled matters. This escape from home has nothing to do with you. If you ask for my hand now, won’t it seem like you’re admitting it? I... I’ll go back and ask my mother to propose to you."

"Isn’t that the same?" Sang Chen was naive, but not stupid.

"I left her a letter saying I was leaving to become a nun. Once I return, I will ask for her indulgence one last time, then say, if you disagree, she can arrange my marriage in the future, but if she doesn’t give me this chance, I’ll become a nun right away." Du Jiangli felt compelled to press Mrs. Zhao one more time.

Mrs. Zhao, though strict, was very good to her children, even a bit indulgent. Moreover, if Du Jiangli truly married Sang Chen, it would only benefit the Du family. She just needed to discreetly inquire Sang Chen’s intentions; there was no need to lose face.

Mrs. Zhao had her power as an Imperial Decree stripped, but still, she was not someone ordinary people dared to mock, especially given that Du Ruhui, although long dead, had devoted his life to the Great Tang, and his pristine reputation could still shield the Du family.

"Mother." A small yellow figure ran in and dove into Ran Yan’s arms.

Ran Yan patted her head, "Where did you go? Why are you all sweaty?"

"It’s not sweat. Big brother caught frogs and put them in a bowl, and he spilled the water. Ye Ye is scolding him right now," Ruoruo’s voice was soft, yet her articulation was clear, "Mother, go save big brother."

Ran Yan frowned, "Did you encourage him to catch frogs again?"

Ruoruo cocked her head and asked timidly, "Mother, what does encourage mean?"

"Ask your father," Ran Yan massaged her forehead, then introduced to Du Jiangli, "This is my daughter."

"Your darling is very clever, very endearing," Du Jiangli smiled as she looked at Ruoruo.

"Are you sick?" Ruoruo climbed out of Ran Yan’s arms, came up to Du Jiangli, and before anyone could react, hugged her face and gave her a kiss, "Pain, pain go away."

Both Ran Yan and Du Jiangli were stunned by her action.

After a moment, Ran Yan gave Du Jiangli a slight smile and said, "I’ll step out for a bit."

Du Jiangli said, "Lady, please feel free."

Ran Yan carried Ruoruo out of the room, wondering in her heart. Ruoruo was usually shy around strangers, the only exception being her boldness towards Su Fu, which was not unusual, but Ran Yan was curious about her own feelings towards Du Jiangli and couldn’t help asking, "Ruoruo, tell mother, why did you kiss that lady?"