MFURCC -Chapter 17 Madam Song Confined to the Residence

Everyone knew that Princess Huishu had always been willful and domineering.

In the past, she had even personally chosen her own husband, disregarding the commands of her parents and the words of matchmakers, causing an uproar throughout the capital.

For someone with such a temperament to refuse visitors and shut her doors—one could imagine how serious the matter must be.

At first, however, Master Ruan hadn’t thought that far. His mind was filled only with books; he was never sharp when it came to other affairs.

Now that Liuzheng had pointed it out, fear finally began to creep in.

“Madam Xin,” Master Ruan asked, unable to hold back, “what exactly has happened?”

The First Madam frowned in dissatisfaction. “Master, why are you questioning her as well? It’s just a minor matter. Why make such a fuss like Liuzheng—”

“Silence!” Master Ruan shot her a fierce glare.

Since Madam Song had taken charge of the household, he had rarely spoken to her so harshly.

At once, her face turned deathly pale—just like Madam Xin earlier.

Seeing this, Ruan Yunzheng wisely closed her mouth, no longer trying to morally pressure Liuzheng as she had moments before.

“Madam Xin, what is the reason?” Master Ruan asked again.

“I… I…” Madam Xin stammered, unable to form a proper explanation.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t speak—it was that she didn’t dare.

Once she said it aloud, the Ruans would certainly refuse to help.

She understood the Ruan family well enough.

Liuzheng spoke at this moment. “Since Sister Xin has not yet clarified the situation herself, perhaps you should return and find out the full details before speaking to me again. Without knowing the circumstances, I cannot rashly go to the Grand Princess’s residence.”

Madam Xin bit her lip and looked at her, resentment filling her eyes.

“You—”

“Does Sister Xin have further instructions?”

Madam Xin suppressed her anger with difficulty. “No. In that case, I will go back and inquire clearly.”

“Very well. Nanny Jiang, please see the madam out.”

The nanny stepped forward. “Madam Xin, this way.”

Madam Xin glanced at Liuzheng, then at Ruan Yunzheng, who wore an expression of helplessness. Her face darkened completely.

Soft tactics wouldn’t work—then she would try hard ones.

She coldly threw out, “Since Master and General Ruan refuse to help, so be it. Our Top Scholar’s residence is not without others to turn to. But in the future, should you ever seek assistance from our household, don’t blame us for being equally helpless.”

With that single sentence, Master Ruan’s previously firm resolve wavered.

The Ruan family’s Dufeng Academy depended on the Top Scholar’s support.

If next year no students came to enroll, what then?

Would the academy his father left behind be destroyed in his hands?

Seeing that Madam Xin was about to leave with a cold snort, he hurriedly stopped her.

“Wait!”

She turned back. “What further instruction does Master have?”

Her tone was icy.

Master Ruan was about to speak when Liuzheng cut in first.

“Father merely wishes Sister Xin to walk carefully, lest you trip over the threshold.”

“Yaoyao…” Master Ruan looked at her hesitantly, mild displeasure in his eyes.

Liuzheng returned him a look that said: Father, trust me.

After some internal struggle, Master Ruan hardened his heart and turned away from Madam Xin.

Seeing that her plan was about to succeed but was once again blocked by Liuzheng, she spat out fiercely, “I will remember this!”

Her heart churned with fury. With a dark expression, she left without another word.

“Master!” the First Madam cried anxiously. “We’ve completely offended the Top Scholar’s household!”

She tugged at Ruan Yunzheng’s sleeve.

Yunzheng had intended to observe further, but now she had no choice but to echo the concern. “Father, if we truly offend them, what will become of Dufeng Academy?”

Liuzheng looked at Ruan Yunzheng coldly.

“Little sister, the matter has not yet been clarified, yet you speak so readily for the Top Scholar’s household. If His Majesty brings down punishment, what we lose will not merely be Dufeng Academy—but the lives of over a hundred members of this family.”

Those words jolted Master Ruan awake.

He did not wish to risk his life to save the Top Scholar’s household.

If even the Grand Princess dared not intervene, how could he?

Still, unease lingered in his heart—and he shifted that anxiety onto Liuzheng.

“If it truly is just a minor matter and we refuse to help, Liuzheng, what then?”

Liuzheng gave a cold laugh.

When he needed her, she was “Yaoyao.” When he did not, she was “Liuzheng.” What a fine father he was.

She clasped her fists. “Father may rest assured. If that is the case, your daughter is willing to accept punishment.”

“Hmph!” Master Ruan flicked his sleeve and left.

The First Madam shot her a vicious glare. “Liuzheng, remember this—today’s matter is no small thing. If Dufeng Academy is destroyed because of you, you will pay dearly!”

“Mother, this matter—”

But the First Madam refused to hear another word. She turned and left with Ruan Yunzheng.

Silence once again fell over Tinglan Courtyard.

Nanny Jiang looked worried.

“Miss, while you were away at war, you may not know—our Dufeng Academy had nearly declined to nothing before. It was only thanks to the Top Scholar’s reputation that it regained its name. If he escapes this predicament, he will surely blame us. At that time…”

“Nanny, don’t worry. My judgment will not be wrong.”

The nanny still wished to speak, but recalling how Liuzheng had turned every danger into safety since her return, she swallowed her words.

Meanwhile, after returning to Tingzhu Courtyard, Master Ruan ordered Steward Qu to investigate.

“Find out exactly what has happened at the Top Scholar’s residence.”

“Yes, Master!”

Steward Qu hurried out.

He had barely left when the First Madam entered, anxiety written all over her face.

“Master, are you truly going to listen to that rebellious girl and ignore Madam Xin?”

Master Ruan frowned. “I am not ignoring her. But Liuzheng is right—we must first clarify the situation. Our family has only just begun to recover; we cannot take risks.”

The First Madam couldn’t help but retort, “I say Liuzheng is simply timid! If the military merit had gone to Chang’er instead, he would never behave like this! A woman is timid by nature—hardly fit for great matters.”

She conveniently forgot that she herself was a woman.

Master Ruan sighed. “What use is there in saying such things now?”

“Master,” she leaned closer, lowering her voice, “once Chang’er’s leg heals, why not have Liuzheng enter the palace and request an audience? She can claim that as a weak woman she cannot shoulder such responsibility and voluntarily transfer her military merit to her elder brother…”

“Military merit is not something to pass around like a trinket. It would invite ridicule.”

“If the merit cannot be transferred, the official post can. Isn’t she to assume office at the Ministry of War in a month? The physician said that with the miracle doctor’s treatment, Chang’er’s leg will recover within a month. Our family cannot rely on a woman as its pillar…”

This time, Master Ruan wavered.

Indeed, how could the backbone of the household be a woman?

A daughter would eventually marry out.

The benefits Liuzheng brought would become another family’s.

But a son was different.

After a pause, Master Ruan said, “I fear Liuzheng may not agree.”

“If we don’t ask, how would we know? She’s not young anymore—it’s time to consider marriage prospects.”

“Very well.”

The First Madam’s face lit up. “Then I shall go to her courtyard shortly and speak to her. If she refuses, we’ll think of another way.”

Just then, Steward Qu rushed in.

“Master, bad news!”

The First Madam glared. “Why are you shouting like that?”

Master Ruan cut her off. “Enough. I sent him.”

Turning to Steward Qu, he asked, “What did you find?”

“I hadn’t even left Wu Alley when I saw officers heading toward the Top Scholar’s residence. I bribed one of them and learned that the household is accused of illegally selling private salt. They’ve been arrested and will be exiled to Ningguta.”

“What?!”

The teacup slipped from Master Ruan’s hand and shattered on the floor.

The First Madam’s face turned ghastly.

Steward Qu continued, “They carried official documents from the Ministry of Justice to confiscate the property. The Top Scholar committed a grave crime and will be exiled to Ningguta. His Majesty, in mercy, did not implicate the entire clan—only stripped the household members of their status and reduced them to commoners.”

Cold sweat drenched Master Ruan’s forehead.

“No wonder… no wonder even the Grand Princess refused to see Madam Xin. Selling private salt—that’s a capital offense! If we had listened to Liuzheng earlier and brought her to the Princess’s residence, we would not only have offended Princess Huishu—we might have been implicated in the salt case ourselves…”

The First Madam collapsed into her chair, pale.

“How could this happen…”

She had never imagined the crime would be so severe.

Master Ruan glared at her.

“And you still ask how? From now on, in any matter, we listen to Liuzheng! Though she is a daughter, her foresight far surpasses yours! Had I truly followed your suggestion, the Ruan family would have faced catastrophe!”

The First Madam dared not reply.

It was true.

The court had always strictly prohibited the private sale of salt.

“In the coming days, you and Yun’er are not to leave the house. Reflect properly at home! If anyone asks, say that our family had little interaction with the Top Scholar’s residence. And as for what we discussed earlier—never bring it up again!”

With that, Master Ruan left, heading toward Concubine Su’s courtyard.

At the doorway, Ruan Yunzheng had overheard everything. She stepped forward to greet him.

“Father…”

He did not even glance at her and walked past.

Her face turned slightly pale.

Biting her lip, she entered the room.

Seeing the First Madam slumped weakly in her chair, she quickly offered a cup of hot tea.

“Mother, drink some tea to calm yourself.”

The First Madam forced herself to drink. As warmth returned to her cold limbs, she finally managed to speak.

“I never imagined Madam Xin would conceal something so grave. She nearly dragged our family into disaster!”

Ruan Yunzheng said gently, “Mother, we cannot entirely blame Sister Xin. She must have been terrified and at a loss. Still… Elder Sister was also at fault. She must have heard rumors beforehand—that’s why she was so resolute in refusing help. If she had spoken plainly earlier, Father would not have lashed out at you.”

The First Madam considered it—and found it reasonable.

“She cannot foresee the future. She must have learned the news in advance yet kept it from us—watching us make fools of ourselves! She has never regarded me, her own mother, with any respect!”