MFURCC -Chapter 1 Returning to the Capital in Triumph

Great Jin Dynasty, Ruan Residence.

Ruan Liuzheng lay on the couch, staring numbly out the window. Outside, the sun shone brightly, and from time to time came the cheerful chirping of birds.

Nine years ago, she had disguised herself as a man and taken her twin brother’s place in the army, determined to die on the battlefield. Through sheer resolve, she earned illustrious military achievements.

Now that the army had returned in triumph, this should have been the day she removed her armor, received her honors, and brought glory to her family…

Yet three days ago, she had received a letter from home saying their mother was gravely ill. She had spurred her horse and rushed back to the capital ahead of the main force.

But in a narrow lane, a rope suddenly tripped her horse. She was thrown several meters through the air.

Just as she endured the pain and tried to rise, a coarse sack dropped over her head. She instinctively twisted to dodge, but a vicious kick struck her lower back, sending her staggering into a wall.

Before she could break free, an excruciating pain pierced the back of her knees—it was a club.

Crack! Two crisp snaps rang out. Her kneecaps shattered.

Pain wracked her entire body, cold sweat instantly soaking through her clothes. The attackers moved swiftly, pressing a drugged cloth over her mouth and nose until she lost consciousness.

When she woke again, her legs were twisted at grotesque angles. The slightest movement made her vision go black with pain.

The masked assailants were long gone, leaving behind only a scene of chaos—and her completely crippled lower body.

When her brother, Ruan Changzheng, found her, she was lying on the cold ground, biting her lip. Blood flowed down her trousers and pooled on the green bricks beneath her.

Later, she heard that her brother had investigated like a madman, swearing to cut the culprits into pieces. But her broken legs could never be restored.

Who was it? Who would do this to her?

Was it an old grudge from the army? Or an enemy from her youth?

Footsteps sounded outside—the voices of her brother and mother. Ruan Liuzheng hurriedly shut her eyes.

These days, her brother and mother had been worrying themselves sick over her. She did not want them to see her like this and grieve further. Pretending to be unconscious concealed her reddened eyes.

She heard her brother lower his voice and ask gently, “How is Miss?”

The maid replied softly, “Miss is still unconscious. We’ve called to her several times, but there’s been no response.”

Ruan Changzheng nodded. “Good. You must take great care of Miss. Do not upset her. The moment she wakes, inform me at once.”

The maid repeatedly agreed.

A faint warmth stirred in Ruan Liuzheng’s heart. Despite everything, at least her family remained by her side.

She should not sink into self-pity. She needed to pull herself together…

Just as she was about to open her eyes, her mother’s voice sounded:

“Changzheng, you hired so many men to break Liuzheng’s legs. Wasn’t that too much? She is my own daughter—your own sister.”

Ruan Liuzheng turned her head in disbelief, staring outward, afraid she had misheard in her grief.

Ruan Changzheng’s voice came, cold and resolute. “Her temper is too stubborn. She thinks that bit of military merit makes her untouchable. Nine years ago she enlisted in my place. Now that the army returns in triumph, those illustrious achievements should rightfully be mine. Yet she wants to receive the honors herself. On what grounds?”

“Who does she think she is? A woman daring to disguise herself as a man, deceiving the Emperor and infiltrating the army—that’s a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans! She comes back wanting to claim the rewards and bask in glory. If her identity were exposed, our entire family would lose our heads!”

“Break her legs, and she can no longer step outside the manor, much less go before the throne for rewards. The merit was always meant for me, her elder brother. This preserves the family and secures my standing at court. As for her…”

He sneered, his tone icy. “She’s nothing but a cripple. Let her live on with the title of Ruan family’s legitimate daughter. Isn’t that enough?”

Ruan Liuzheng felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss. The blood in her veins seemed to freeze.

Never, even in her wildest thoughts, had she imagined the one who broke her legs—who crippled her—was her own brother.

He not only wanted to steal her glory but used “the family’s safety” as an excuse to shatter her legs.

This was her brother of the same father and mother. This was the family she had risked her life to protect!

Rage and humiliation surged like a tidal wave, threatening to swallow her reason whole.

Footsteps approached. Ruan Liuzheng squeezed her eyes shut, terrified her hatred would show.

Madam Song entered and gently stroked her face. “My poor child. Don’t be afraid. Mother is here. Mother will protect you.”

Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes snapped open, startling Madam Song.

“You’re awake? Don’t be afraid—it’s Mother. Are you hungry?”

Faced with such gentleness, Ruan Liuzheng wavered for a moment—but quickly understood it was all false.

If her mother truly pitied her, she would not have allowed Ruan Changzheng to treat her this way. Nor would she have written that letter feigning grave illness to lure her back early…

“Come, Mother will help you take your medicine.”

Just as Madam Song moved to lift her, a maid entered to report, “Madam, Miss Yunzheng has returned.”

Madam Song’s hand instantly withdrew, her tone brimming with delight. “Quick, have the kitchen serve the dishes at once. Yun’er has been out so long—she must be starving.”

Before Ruan Liuzheng could even blink, Madam Song’s figure had already disappeared.

She stared at the empty doorway. A gust of wind swept through, yet it could not dispel the chill in her eyes.

From then on, Ruan Liuzheng tried every means to contact the outside world. But whenever she was awake, Ruan Changzheng would appear, watching her finish her medicine.

“Come, Liuzheng. Drink your medicine. Don’t be willful.”

She once knocked over a bowl. He immediately ordered another prepared, sat beside her bed with a gentle smile, and insisted she drink it all.

She stared at the brown liquid. After drinking it, she would fall unconscious. She glanced at the guards outside the window—men loyal to Ruan Changzheng. Sending word out… was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

“Throw your tantrum if you must. Now drink.”

Ruan Changzheng personally watched her finish the medicine, then quietly stepped outside.

She immediately opened her eyes, thrust her fingers down her throat, and vomited the medicine onto the inner bedsheets.

From beyond the screen came Ruan Changzheng’s voice—she froze. She hadn’t expected him to still be there.

She quickly lay still and closed her eyes.

Madam Song whispered angrily, “Why must you go this far? Breaking her legs wasn’t enough—you had Yun’er spread those filthy rumors? Saying she’s entangled with men, even fabricating tales of her meeting a lover in a ruined temple…”

Ruan Changzheng pulled her away, impatience lacing his voice. “Mother, lower your voice! Do you think I want this? But Liuzheng refuses to give up. She still thinks she can rise again with those military merits—wants to expose me before the throne for claiming them! Yun’er merely passed along a few words so others believe her morally corrupt. A woman who cannot even preserve her chastity—who would believe anything she says?”

“Besides, her disguising herself in the army was already deceiving the Emperor. If she turns things around, our entire family will be executed! Only by utterly destroying her reputation—making her a woman scorned by all—will she have no standing to compete with me. Then the military merit will securely fall into my hands!”

Ruan Liuzheng bit down hard until the taste of blood filled her mouth.

Breaking her legs was to steal her merit. Ruining her reputation was to block every path to redemption!

Her mother. Her brother. Her sister. Together they crushed her glory, her dignity, her life beneath their feet.

How could she not hate?

Later, in a show of “mercy,” Madam Song sent Banxia—the maid who had served her since childhood—to care for her.

Ruan Liuzheng thought she saw hope. At last, she found a chance to confide everything.

Through clenched teeth, she said, “Take this letter to my trusted deputy, Vice General Pan Zhan. If he learns of my plight, he will surely come rescue me!”

Banxia swore to the heavens, “Miss, rest assured. I will personally deliver this letter to Vice General Pan. If I betray you, may I die without a whole corpse!”

Three days later, Banxia rushed in anxiously. “Vice General Pan has sent men to fetch you! I’ve dismissed the people outside. I’ll carry you out through the side gate.”

Overjoyed, Ruan Liuzheng clung to that final straw of hope and let Banxia carry her.

But after winding through the manor, Banxia brought her to the well in the most remote courtyard.

Before she could question it, Ruan Changzheng stepped from the shadows, face dark, holding the very letter she had sent.

He sneered. “Sister, why won’t you give up? Still trying to contact your subordinates? As long as you live, I cannot claim this merit in peace. Today, I’ll send you on your way.”

Ruan Liuzheng stared wide-eyed. The maid she once trusted had long since switched allegiance. Despair reached its peak.

With all her strength, she spat at them. “Ruan Changzheng! Even if I become a vengeful ghost, I will never let you go!”

Ruan Changzheng waved his hand expressionlessly. “Noisy. Throw her in.”

Banxia obeyed, shoving her down.

Ruan Liuzheng fell to the bottom of the well, her body smashing against jagged stones. Blood splattered everywhere.

She felt her life slipping away, her consciousness fading.

Unwilling. So unwilling!

When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the day she received the letter from home in her previous life.

“Marshal!”

Vice General Pan Zhan entered with the letter.

“It’s from your household. The messenger was urgent—said you must read it immediately.”

“Give it to me.”

Dressed in black armor, silver pauldrons gleaming as she lifted her hand, Liuzheng took the letter—and without hesitation, held it to the candle flame.

Pan Zhan froze.

“Marshal? Haven’t you been thinking of home all these years?”

Her face was devoid of warmth.

“Tell the messenger I’ve read it. I will return as soon as possible.”

“…Yes.”

“And one more thing.” She handed Pan Zhan another letter she had written herself. “After dismissing him, deliver this by fast horse to the Emperor… You must place it in His Majesty’s hands personally.”

“Yes!”

At dawn, Liuzheng fastened her red cloak at her shoulders, her fingers faintly pale from the force.

She was a heroine in her own right—resolute and fearless. Why should she serve as another’s stepping stone?

In this life, she would live again in her true identity.

Those who had deceived her, harmed her, and trampled upon her merit and life to climb higher—would pay in blood.