MFURCC -Chapter 13 A Vicious Brother, a Rotting Leg

Madam Song was furious.

Her plan had originally been flawless—until the Empress Dowager suddenly invited Liuzheng into the palace, ruining everything.

And she couldn’t say a word. To complain would be to show disrespect to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess.

As if that weren’t enough, just when the Court Minister’s wife, Madam Yuan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up: “These pastries are truly delightful.”

The Grand Princess looked over. “Since you like them, I’ll have some sent to your residence later.”

Madam Yuan smiled. “How could I trouble Your Highness?”

“It’s only a few pastries.”

“Speaking of pastries,” Madam Yuan continued, “a few days ago, when I delivered a housewarming gift to General Ruan, the next day the General’s wife sent me a box of date paste cakes. I thought at first it was the General’s return gift. Luckily, the General later sent something else as well—otherwise I truly would have misunderstood.”

Madam Song’s face turned even uglier.

She had no choice but to step forward and say, “I had nothing to do and made those date paste cakes casually, only wishing for Madam to have a taste. I never expected it would nearly cause a misunderstanding.”

Madam Yuan’s smile deepened.

“Next time Madam Ruan does something, you’d best inform General Ruan first. It would be a shame to create unnecessary embarrassment.”

Madam Song’s face turned pale as paper. Through clenched teeth, she squeezed out, “Yes.”

At that moment, the Grand Princess asked lightly, “Madam, are you General Ruan’s biological mother?”

The single question made Madam Song’s pale face flush red.

“Yes.”

The Grand Princess smiled meaningfully. “I see. Sit.”

Madam Song returned to her seat, but it felt like sitting on pins and needles.

The noblewomen around her looked at her as if mocking her. Even the Top Scholar’s wife moved slightly farther away, avoiding eye contact.

Only then did Madam Song understand why, upon first entering the Grand Princess’s residence, she had felt people pointing and whispering about her.

She had never imagined it would be because of this.

She hadn’t even known that Liuzheng had later sent a proper return gift!

Her entire scheme to suppress and smear Liuzheng’s reputation had fallen apart.

Worse, she had only dragged herself into disgrace.

Once the banquet ended, her own reputation would surely plummet to the bottom.

Meanwhile, Liuzheng had been invited to sit in the seat of honor by the Grand Princess, facing the County Princess. She had received precious medicine and bolts of cloth as rewards—and had even been invited by the Empress Dowager for tea in the palace.

Liuzheng’s prestige had risen dramatically.

And just not long ago, Madam Song had felt smug, believing her plan was perfect.

At last, unable to endure it, Madam Song excused herself early, claiming she felt unwell.

The Grand Princess did not stop her, nor even ask a question—she simply had a servant escort her out.

In the carriage on the way back, Madam Song vented her fury.

“That wretched girl! I gave birth to her only to collect a debt! I should never have given birth to her!”

With Ruan Yunzheng not by her side, the two matrons accompanying her didn’t know how to soothe her. She nearly smashed the carriage apart.

Fortunately, Nanny Qi—recently promoted after Nanny Liu was sent to the estate—was quicker-witted.

“This trip wasn’t without benefit. At least we obtained the Grand Princess’s divine medicine. The Young Master’s leg can heal more quickly.”

Only then did Madam Song’s expression ease slightly.

She clasped her hands together. “Amitabha… As long as Changzheng can recover soon, our family still has hope.”

Liuzheng’s future was not her hope.

She had completely excluded Liuzheng from the family.

If in her previous life she had felt even a trace of guilt and motherly affection toward Liuzheng, now only hatred remained.

She valued face above all else. Being scrutinized with strange looks at the Princess’s residence—she simply could not bear it.

Still, Liuzheng had secured divine medicine from the Grand Princess to treat her son’s leg. That was the only thing that brought her joy.

As soon as she returned home, Madam Song told Ruan Changzheng everything.

Ruan Changzheng, wracked with pain, was delighted to hear that divine medicine could heal his leg.

But when he learned that it was because Liuzheng had mentioned him before the Grand Princess that she obtained the medicine, his expression immediately darkened.

“Crocodile tears! Fake kindness!”

“Whether it’s real or fake, once she returns, have her send the medicine over. She broke your leg—she owes you.”

“That’s right.” Ruan Changzheng nodded. “She’s not being kind. She owes me.”

He felt no gratitude toward Liuzheng—only greater resentment.

If not for her, his leg would never have been broken!

As mother and son were speaking, Ruan Yunzheng entered the room.

She had already known Madam Song’s first plan had failed when she heard her storm back in anger.

But if the first plan failed, surely the second would succeed.

Even if Ruan Liuzheng hadn’t been humiliated, at least she would bring back the scar-removal medicine.

Though the wound was on her arm, a scar would still be unsightly.

Yet when she asked about the scar medicine, Madam Song awkwardly touched her nose.

“This time… there was a mishap. I didn’t get it.”

Then she added brightly, “But your elder brother’s leg can soon be healed.”

She explained how Liuzheng had secured the medicine from the Grand Princess.

Ruan Yunzheng paused, then immediately put on a delighted expression.

“Congratulations, Elder Brother.”

Ruan Changzheng nodded. “Once my leg heals, I’ll have that bitch petition for an official post for me. Then I’ll find better medicine for you.”

Ruan Yunzheng smiled gratefully. “As long as Elder Brother keeps me in his heart, Yun’er is happy.”

But inside her sleeve, her hand clenched tightly around her handkerchief.

In the Madam’s heart, there were degrees of closeness.

She cherished her—but cherished Ruan Changzheng even more.

Yet from beginning to end, her face bore only a gentle smile, as though she didn’t mind at all.

Elsewhere, Liuzheng sipped her tea, her thoughts drifting.

Earlier, Yuliu had told her that Su Luo, the maid serving Ruan Yunzheng, had slipped out the side gate and gone secretly to the Top Scholar’s residence, delivering a set of clothing. Liuzheng had immediately sensed something amiss.

Ruan Yunzheng and the Top Scholar’s wife were close friends—that was no secret. Why the secrecy?

She had pressed Yuliu further and learned the outfit was green. Then she recalled that Princess Huishu favored wearing green luo robes.

Afterward, Madam Song personally invited her to attend the banquet at the Grand Princess’s residence.

She understood then.

So the day before, she had sent Pan Hong into the palace to present a relic to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was devout in her faith. She would surely accept the relic. Moreover, Liuzheng had once saved Wei Ran Feng—no matter what, the Empress Dowager would have to show favor.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager summoned her today.

When she had been a ghost, she had known the Empress Dowager kept a black cat.

Before leaving home, she had brushed catnip juice along her skirt hem and scattered fish bits along the way.

The black cat followed the scent and pounced wildly at her feet…

That gave her a legitimate excuse to change out of the green robe—winning the Grand Princess’s favor and leaving Madam Song with no grounds to blame her afterward.

The matter sounded simple, but its execution had been winding and delicate. A single mistake would have ruined everything.

It seemed minor, yet offending Princess Huishu would have brought endless trouble in the future.

And she needed the Empress Dowager’s support to elevate her status before the Grand Princess and the noblewomen present.

Liuzheng thought to herself: The inner courtyard was no easier than the battlefield.

The birthday banquet ended two hours later. Liuzheng returned home by carriage beneath the evening glow.

Stepping down from the carriage, she glanced at the sky.

The sunset was even redder now.

Like fresh blood.

She frowned slightly.

But thinking of her grandmother’s arrival the next evening, her brow relaxed.

Back at Tinglan Courtyard, she instructed the wet nurse to store away one bolt of cloth gifted by the Grand Princess and use the other to make summer garments. She then summoned Military Physician Chen.

They spoke quietly.

Soon, Doctor Chen left carrying a thumb-length porcelain bottle.

Not long after he departed, Nanny Qi from Madam Song’s side arrived.

She spoke bluntly, “The Madam asks that you send the divine leg-healing medicine bestowed by the Grand Princess to Haoyue Courtyard.”

Liuzheng handed over a porcelain bottle.

“I was just about to send it. Your timing is perfect—please take it back for me.”

Nanny Qi gave a perfunctory bow and left with the medicine.

Liuzheng watched her go, her smile gentle.

Afterward, the wet nurse asked anxiously, “Will it be discovered?”

“No.”

She had split the Grand Princess’s medicine into two halves.

One half she had given to Uncle Jiang in the accounting office. Into the other half, Doctor Chen had added a certain herb.

The herb was colorless and odorless—even the imperial physicians could not detect it.

Military doctors were no less skilled than palace physicians; they were forged on battlefields littered with corpses.

And the herb was not poison. It merely promoted blood circulation—yet it clashed with the Grand Princess’s divine medicine. Even silver needles could not test for toxicity.

The physician Madam Song hired would certainly not notice.

That night, a scream pierced the sky, startling sparrows from the trees.

Soon, someone pounded at the gate of Tinglan Courtyard.

“Ruan Liuzheng! Come out here!”

It was Madam Song’s voice.

All dignity and composure were gone; her face twisted like a vengeful ghost.

But Liuzheng was the true ghost—and she felt no fear. She told the wet nurse to open the gate.

Madam Song stormed into Liuzheng’s chamber.

Liuzheng clutched her outer robe and asked in confusion, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

“You dare ask? Is there something wrong with the medicine you gave your brother?!”

Liuzheng looked shocked. “What does Mother mean? This medicine was personally bestowed by the Grand Princess. If word spreads, the Grand Princess may not spare our entire family.”

Madam Song was startled.

For the Grand Princess to kill someone required only a word.

Lowering her voice, she said, “If there’s no problem, why is your brother’s flesh rotting? The injured area—everything has decayed!”

Liuzheng looked even more astonished.

“The Grand Princess’s medicine has such severe side effects? Then perhaps we shouldn’t use it for now. Slow recuperation will also heal it. At least the physician said that with slow recovery, it would take two or three years.”

With a single phrase—“side effects”—she eased Madam Song’s suspicion slightly.

Still, Madam Song pressed, “You’re certain you didn’t switch the medicine?”

Liuzheng opened her mouth, hesitated, then said softly, “Does Mother truly think of me this way? If I didn’t want Elder Brother’s leg to heal quickly, why would I have mentioned him before the Grand Princess at all?”

Her words were watertight.

“Perhaps you resent him for scolding you.”

“Elder Brother still hasn’t understood? He’s still scolding me?” Liuzheng looked heartbroken, swaying as if about to faint.

The wet nurse hurried to support her.

“Miss, take care of your health!”

With reddened eyes, she said to Madam Song, “Madam, when Miss returned today, she was so happy to tell this servant that the Young Master’s leg could finally heal faster. Yet now Madam comes to question her without knowing the full story. Even this servant… feels disheartened.”

Madam Song looked at Liuzheng’s pale, sorrowful face, then at the wet nurse’s tearful eyes. At last, she suppressed her anger.

“It was Mother who misunderstood you. Rest early. Tomorrow I’ll have the main kitchen prepare something good for you.”

“Mother, take care,” Liuzheng said with a bow, a single tear falling perfectly down her cheek.

Madam Song felt somewhat guilty and said nothing more before leaving.

Yet after returning, Ruan Yunzheng’s few words rekindled her suspicion.

After hesitating a moment, she said, “Spend heavily if needed—invite a physician from Huichun Hall.”