MFURCC -Chapter 15 The Mastermind Behind the Private Salt Trade

Nurse Jiang was furious—furious on Liuzheng’s behalf.

Yet no matter how angry she was, she remained mindful of listening ears beyond the walls. She lowered her voice and cursed under her breath.

Liuzheng handed her a cup of tea.

“Nanny, don’t be angry. Anger harms the body. This herbal tea is quite good—there’s honeysuckle in it. Come, have some. It will cool your temper.”

Nanny Jiang couldn’t understand it. The young lady was confined to her courtyard—how could she still have the leisure to drink tea?

“Miss, this servant does not possess your composure. I truly am furious!”

The adopted daughter had neither merit nor achievement, yet she was given a side room carved out specially for her.

The biological daughter had survived near death, earned illustrious military glory for the Ruan family—yet simply because she refused to go to the Top Scholar’s residence to apologize, she was punished with cold dishes and cold rice.

What kind of parents were these?

Liuzheng remained perfectly calm.

“Rest assured. We will soon vent this grievance.”

Nanny Jiang froze, then asked eagerly, “Miss, you have a way to get us out of this predicament?”

“Yes.”

“What way?”

“Wait.”

“?”

“After court adjourns, Father will personally invite me out of the courtyard.”

In her previous life, something major had happened at court on this very day.

That major event involved Prince Su.

And in this life, Liuzheng had taken part in it.

…

Inside the Forbidden City, Emperor Jingyuan was enraged.

His face was dark and livid as he paced back and forth before the dragon throne, hands clasped behind his back.

The high ministers below scarcely dared to breathe.

Crown Prince Su Changluan knelt on the ground, sweat beading at his temples. Beside him, the Top Scholar and several officials trembled uncontrollably.

Only Prince Su stood quietly to one side, as if none of this concerned him.

Under the daylight filtering in from outside, his handsome features remained utterly devoid of warmth.

The emperor’s fury stemmed from the private salt case.

He had ordered Prince Su to investigate, giving him three days to uncover the truth.

The Crown Prince had not been worried. In such a short time, Prince Su would never be able to trace it back to him.

When Prince Su returned empty-handed and was punished by the emperor, he would use the opportunity to wipe everything clean and destroy all evidence.

But to his shock, Prince Su had indeed uncovered everything—thoroughly and clearly.

At last, Emperor Jingyuan stopped pacing and coldly swept his gaze over the two kneeling men.

“Crown Prince, you failed to discipline your subordinates, allowing them to engage in private salt trafficking. Do you acknowledge your guilt?”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Prince Su’s memorial had not mentioned his name even once—yet every line pointed toward him.

And now, the emperor was merely accusing him of “poor supervision.” He was being spared.

He hurriedly kowtowed.

“Your son acknowledges his guilt! I beg Father Emperor to grant me another chance. In the future, I will strictly discipline those beneath me and never neglect my duties again!”

“From today onward, you are confined to the Eastern Palace for one month. You are not to step outside unless summoned. Do you object?”

“Your son dares not object. I accept the punishment!”

Emperor Jingyuan snorted coldly.

It was not that he didn’t know—the Crown Prince was not guilty of poor supervision. He was the mastermind behind the private salt trade.

But he was the Crown Prince, born of the Empress—the foundation of the nation.

And the other princes were all mediocre.

The emperor had no intention of deposing him, so he suppressed his anger and lightly let the matter pass from the Crown Prince.

However, he dealt harshly with the other officials implicated in the salt trade. One was sentenced to execution; several others were exiled to Ninguta, their families reduced to commoners.

The Top Scholar was among those exiled to Ninguta.

His face was pale as paper, yet he dared not utter a single word.

The emperor’s protection of the Crown Prince was obvious. If he spoke up now and implicated the prince, his punishment would not stop at exile—it might mean extermination of his entire clan.

The others thought the same.

None wished to bring disaster upon their families. All admitted guilt and accepted punishment.

Thus the morning court ended under the emperor’s wrath.

The Crown Prince passed by Prince Su.

He glanced sideways at the man only four years his senior—yet whose presence completely overwhelmed him—and gave a slight bow.

“Sixth Imperial Uncle is truly capable. Changluan can only gaze at your dust from afar.”

Prince Su looked back at him. His gaze felt almost tangible, carrying unmistakable pressure.

“It’s late. Shouldn’t the Crown Prince return to the Eastern Palace to begin his confinement?”

Veins throbbed at the Crown Prince’s forehead, his chest rising sharply with restrained fury.

But in the end, he suppressed it and strode away with a flick of his sleeve.

Heir Shen He’an stepped forward and stood beside Prince Su, watching the Crown Prince’s retreating figure.

“This time, you owe that female General Zhaoyong a great favor. If not for her, we’d still be running around Yueyang City like headless flies.”

Prince Su ignored him and walked ahead expressionlessly.

Shen He’an was long used to being ignored and knew Prince Su was cold-faced but warm-hearted.

“How about I help you build a bridge? We could host a banquet at Minghe Tower to thank her?”

Only then did Prince Su glance at him.

“What? You want all of the capital to know she sent a secret letter exposing the Crown Prince’s faction?”

The secret letter Liuzheng had given him contained only one name.

That name was the Top Scholar’s uncle.

Following that clue, they had traced everything back to the Crown Prince.

If the prince’s faction learned this, Liuzheng would become a target.

Shen He’an’s eyes widened. He waved his hands quickly. “No, no—that’s not what I meant.”

Prince Su said nothing more.

After they mounted their horses, he added casually, “Isn’t Madam Hou’s fiftieth birthday approaching?”

“Yes, my mother’s birthday is in five days…”

Halfway through speaking, Shen He’an smacked his forehead.

“I understand! I’ll be sure to send an invitation to the Zhaoyong General’s residence.”

Prince Su did not respond. He flicked his whip and galloped away, soon returning to the princely residence in Wuyi Alley.

After dismounting, he happened to see a young lady stepping gracefully down from a carriage at the Zhaoyong General’s residence opposite.

He instinctively looked over.

She wore a long spring-brocade jacket with front lapels, paired with a mother-of-pearl white skirt trimmed with gold thread. Her hair was piled high, adorned with a golden hairpin dangling pearl tassels, making her already pretty face even more striking.

Yet she was not the heroic female general who had ridden a white horse the day the army returned in triumph.

A fleeting glimmer in Prince Su’s eyes vanished quickly—but it was caught by the young lady.

She was none other than Ruan Yunzheng.

It was her first time seeing Prince Su, and she could not hide her amazement.

She had never imagined that the rumored arrogant and ruthless Prince Su would be so handsome.

She had thought him a crude brute—but he looked every bit the refined noble son, his appearance no less than the Crown Prince’s.

Noticing that fleeting light in his eyes, her cheeks flushed pink, and she lowered her gaze shyly.

When she steadied her breathing and looked again, the figure in dark robes had already disappeared, replaced only by the slowly closing vermilion gates of the princely residence.

“Third Miss, what is it?” Su Luo put away the carriage step stool.

She had not seen Prince Su—only noticed her mistress staring absentmindedly at the tightly shut gates across the street.

Ruan Yunzheng shook her head. Only when they were alone did she ask softly, “Su Luo, what do you think of Prince Su?”

Su Luo was startled. “Why does Miss ask about Prince Su?”

“Just answer.”

“I’ve heard Prince Su is arrogant and domineering—he doesn’t even place His Majesty in his eyes. He attends morning court whenever he pleases… I’ve also heard he once had a princess consort, but just three days after their wedding, she was found drowned in a well inside the residence… It’s truly frightening!”

Ruan Yunzheng smiled faintly. “I don’t think so.”

The way he had looked at her clearly held a gentle light.

“Why does Miss say so?”

“Just a feeling.” She did not elaborate, nor did she mention that tender glance.

It was her little secret with Prince Su.

Though it was a pity—fate dictated she would marry the Crown Prince and become the most honored woman in the realm.

Still, it was pleasant to imagine.

What woman did not wish to be admired by all men, like the moon surrounded by stars?

Ruan Yunzheng tucked this small secret deep into her heart, deciding to share it with no one.

The mistress and servant soon went to Tingzhu Courtyard to find the First Madam.

Learning that both the First Madam and the Master were at Haoyue Courtyard accompanying Ruan Changzheng, they turned and headed there instead.

Rain was expected today, so Master Ruan did not need to go to the academy. The husband and wife personally applied the miraculous medicine from the Grand Princess’s residence to Ruan Changzheng.

He was afraid of the medicine, terrified his flesh would rot again.

But with his father present, he did not wish to appear weak. He endured the pain as they applied it.

By the time they finished, he was drenched in sweat as if he had just emerged from water.

The First Madam instructed the maids to change his clothes and turned away to wipe her tears.

“Mother, don’t cry,” Ruan Changzheng said through the pain. “I’ll be fine. Once I’m healed, I can accompany you to watch the sunrise at West Mountain again.”

Once before, mother and son had gone to West Mountain to watch the sunrise. That day had been the happiest day the First Madam had experienced in over a decade.

Her eyes reddened as she nodded. In her heart, her hatred toward Liuzheng deepened further.

“When the time comes, Father can come too, right?” Ruan Changzheng suggested.

He had learned from his mother that since moving to the General’s residence, Ruan Hanmo spent every night in Concubine Su’s chambers.

He wished to mend his parents’ relationship.

Master Ruan gave his son face and nodded. “Good. When your leg heals, our whole family will go to West Mountain.”

At that moment, Ruan Yunzheng entered.

“Father, Mother—you’re going to West Mountain?”

“Yes. And you as well, Yun’er,” said the First Madam.

No one mentioned Liuzheng.

Ruan Yunzheng had overheard most of it at the doorway; her question had been deliberate.

She smiled sweetly. “Wherever you go, I’ll go with you.”

Her words reminded them of the day the army returned—when the adopted daughter had declared she would live and die with them.

Even Master Ruan’s expression softened.

“How is Madam Xin?” he asked.

He did not know that Madam Xin was not angry with Liuzheng—but with the First Madam, whose foolish handling of matters had offended the Grand Princess. For the time being, she did not wish to associate with her.

But Ruan Yunzheng excelled at soothing others. With just a few words, she had coaxed Madam Xin into smiling again.

“I had to comfort Sister Xin for quite a while before she smiled again. But at least she’s appeased.”

Master Ruan let out a breath of relief.

The Dufeng Academy’s many students relied not only on the late Old Master’s lingering reputation, but largely on the living signboard that was the Top Scholar.

If Madam Xin whispered into the Top Scholar’s ear and he cut ties with them, next year’s enrollment would surely plummet.

“You’ve done well,” Master Ruan praised. “You should be rewarded. What would you like?”