MFURCC -Chapter 2 Disaster Looms

Ruan Residence, Dufeng Academy.

The adopted daughter, Ruan Yunzheng, hurried along with quick steps to the courtyard of the First Madam, Madam Song.

“Mother!”

Madam Song hastily set down her teacup.

“Well? Have you found your elder brother and elder sister?”

Beads of sweat dotted Ruan Yunzheng’s forehead.

She shook her head. “There’s no news of Brother… and no news of Elder Sister either. Mother, do you think something might have gone wrong?”

Madam Song clutched her handkerchief tightly.

“No! Your brother has always handled matters with care. And he took so many men with him… There’s no way anything could have gone wrong.”

“Then could it be that Elder Sister didn’t rush back as the family letter instructed? So Big Brother went to look for her?”

“Impossible! Your sister is most filial. Knowing that I was gravely ill, she would certainly hurry back at once…” As she spoke, a flicker of awkwardness crossed Madam Song’s face.

Helping her son scheme against her daughter—such words were, after all, difficult to say aloud.

But at this moment, her son was the most important.

He should have returned last night, yet there was not a single piece of news. How could she not worry?

“Send more men to the Yuguan Pass road. They must find your brother!”

“Yes!”

Ruan Yunzheng quickly withdrew again.

Madam Song’s eyelids kept twitching; an uneasy premonition weighed on her heart.

She turned and went to the small Buddhist shrine in the courtyard, pressing her palms together devoutly.

“Bodhisattva, please protect Yaoyao and Changzheng—let them return safely…”

Yaoyao was Liuzheng’s childhood name.

“Achoo—”

Outside the city gates, Liuzheng let out a loud sneeze.

Soon, the gates opened. The Grand Eunuch Liu Yi stepped down from a carriage.

Liuzheng swiftly dismounted and bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Eunuch.”

“Good, good.” Liu Yi stepped forward, holding her arms as he lowered his voice. “His Majesty has read the general’s letter. But when you stand before him, you must provide a proper explanation. If you anger the Dragon’s countenance, not even the gods could save you.”

“Many thanks, Eunuch. Liuzheng will never forget your kindness.”

Liu Yi smiled. “His Majesty has been waiting for some time. The people are also lining the long street in anticipation. General, please!”

Liuzheng nodded.

After helping Liu Yi back into the carriage, she mounted her horse with practiced ease.

“Hyah!”

…

The capital was emptied of its inhabitants—everyone crowded the long street. Who wouldn’t want to see with their own eyes the Zhaoyong Great General who had repelled the Jin army and safeguarded the nation? Was he truly, as the rumors claimed, nine feet tall and built like a bear?

Soon, the city gates swung wide. Hooves thundered across the bluestone road like rolling thunder.

The commander’s banner fluttered. At last, the onlookers glimpsed the snow-white steed at the very front.

The rider’s fitted attire outlined a sleek, agile frame—nothing like the bulky build of an ordinary man. Her gleaming silver armor shimmered under the sun; the crimson cloak behind her snapped in the wind like a blazing sunset cloud.

As the figure drew nearer, a collective gasp rose from the crowd.

“Th-that… is that… a woman?!”

Her expression was calm and indifferent, her lips naturally crimson without rouge.

Most striking were her eyes—bright as the full moon.

“That’s the Zhaoyong General? Sh-she… she’s a woman?!”

“Look at the tiger tally! It can’t be wrong!”

“What a pity—it’s a woman. I had planned to visit the Ruan family to propose marriages for the young ladies!”

“What’s there to pity? That war with the Jin has dragged on for nearly ten years. Without her guarding the frontier, we might not even have hot meals to eat!”

“Hahaha! This is perfect—my son can go propose marriage!”

“In your dreams! With her ability and beauty, even a prince would be worthy. Your son? Forget it!”

No matter whether Liuzheng was male or female, one thing was certain: the threshold of the Ruan residence would soon be worn down by visitors.

Yet there were doubters.

“A woman—how could she have such capability? There must be something fishy!”

“A woman should stay home to serve her husband and teach her children. Going to battle is a disgrace!”

The people buzzed with all kinds of talk.

In a teahouse above, two men watched Liuzheng’s figure.

“Your Highness, this gives you a headache now. The Zhaoyong General is a woman. If you want to win her over… I’m afraid you’ll have to marry her as your princess.”

Clad in black, Prince Su set down his teacup expressionlessly.

“Noise.”

Yet his gaze drifted to the figure atop the blood-sweating steed below.

Her eyes shone brighter than the sun, staring ahead at something unseen.

A faint curve touched Prince Su’s thin lips.

Ruan Liuzheng—we meet again.

Three years ago, he had concealed his identity, posing as a refugee to investigate a frontier grain case.

By chance, he joined Ruan Liuzheng’s retinue.

At the time, he had been an insignificant soldier. But during the Battle of Lushan, she had risked her life to save his.

After uncovering the truth, he staged his death and slipped away. She likely still believed he was dead.

Below, Liuzheng cast a cold glance toward Dufeng Academy.

The academy must still be waiting for her to switch identities with Ruan Changzheng and return.

Suddenly, she sensed a particularly burning gaze.

She looked up instinctively, but saw only a retreating figure in black.

For some reason, the silhouette seemed familiar.

“General?”

Her deputy’s voice pulled her back.

Snapping out of it, she gave a brief instruction before riding toward the Forbidden City amid the cheers of the crowd.

Even after her figure disappeared from sight, the people did not disperse.

By then, Liuzheng had already removed her armor and entered the hall.

“Summon—Commander-in-Chief Zhaoyong General, Xuanwu General, Dingyuan General… and others, to the hall!”

Within the Golden Luan Hall, six grand pillars carved with coiling dragons towered majestically.

Civil and military officials stood in rows.

In her previous life, her military achievements had been stolen by Ruan Changzheng; thus, she had never once stepped into this hall while alive.

But as a wandering spirit, she had come here many times—she had even sat upon the Dragon Throne.

Cold and hard, it was not as comfortable as imagined.

Now that she truly stood here, she neither looked around nor wavered. With solemn expression and steady steps, she led the generals forward.

“Your humble subjects… pay respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty…”

“Rise.”

Emperor Jingyuan lifted a hand and then instructed Liuzheng to raise her head.

She followed proper decorum, not meeting his eyes, letting her gaze rest instead upon the dragon embroidered on his robe.

The emperor regarded her deeply, his face unreadable.

Several days earlier, he had received her letter of confession.

In it, she admitted that for nine years she had served in the army under her brother’s name.

She acknowledged committing the crime of deceiving the emperor and volunteered to surrender the tiger tally. Her words were earnest.

He was angered by the deception, yet he also remembered her countless victories and prudence.

Most importantly—she was a woman.

The Zhaoyong General’s fame had grown too resounding these past two years. The people praised “him”; even children sang ballads.

He had been wary.

When news of the Jin seeking peace arrived, he had already begun pondering how best to place this general. One Prince Su in the capital already troubled him; adding another powerful figure would be worse.

Yet she was a woman.

A valiant male general might threaten to overshadow the throne. A female general posed no such danger. Keeping her would instead balance the court.

Thus, much of the emperor’s wariness eased.

Still, the late confession displeased him.

After letting her rise, he said nothing, merely scrutinized her.

The officials stole glances. None had expected the famed General Ruan to be female.

Plans of alliance or schemes would now require reconsideration.

The atmosphere turned strange.

Sensing it, Liuzheng knelt once more.

“Your Majesty, though I repelled the Jin, I committed the crime of deceiving you by serving in my brother’s stead. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. But let the fault not extend to my family. My brother did not refuse service—he was born with crippled legs. If punishment must be given, let it fall upon me alone!”

The emperor remained expressionless.

The hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Sweat beaded on Liuzheng’s brow.

She knew a single word from him could decide her life or death.

She was gambling with her life.

If she won, she would be reborn.

If she lost… at least the Ruan family would never again steal the merits she had earned with her life.

She did not fear death—only failing to avenge herself.

Her fists clenched until her knuckles whitened.

Time had never moved so slowly.

At last, the emperor spoke.

“You have committed the crime of deceiving the throne. I must punish you. Very well—I fine you by confiscating the tiger tally and docking three years’ salary.”

The weight on her heart finally eased.

Only the tiger tally—her life was spared.

The confession letter Pan Zhan delivered had worked.

Mist clouded her eyes as she bowed deeply.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty!”

“No need to thank me so quickly.” The emperor’s stern face softened into a benevolent smile. “You reclaimed fifteen cities for our dynasty. If I only punish and do not reward, that would be too ungenerous.”

…

Ruan Residence.

Master Ruan returned from Dufeng Academy in the front courtyard to the rear garden hall.

Though he held no official post, he had inherited the academy founded by his father and later cultivated a top scholar, earning renown in the capital as “Master of Peaches and Plums.”

“Has Changzheng not returned?”

Since Ruan Changzheng left home, Madam Song had knocked her head countless times in the shrine.

Her forehead swollen red, her voice hoarse, she could barely speak.

It was Ruan Yunzheng who answered, “Three groups have been sent out. None have found Brother… or Eldest Sister.”

“How could this be? I just heard the army has returned. Even if Changzheng couldn’t make it back in time, he should have sent word!”

Just then, Ruan Changzheng’s voice rang from outside.

“Father! Mother!”

Ruan Yunzheng grabbed Madam Song’s sleeve in delight. “Big Brother is back!”

The couple brightened.

Their son had returned—with military merit!

But as they hurried out, they saw Ruan Changzheng still in his travel clothes, his face anxious and furious.

According to the family letter, he was to exchange clothes with Ruan Liuzheng at Yuguan Pass before the army entered the city, then accept the reward in her place.

Yet now he looked dusty and disheveled—hardly like someone returning from imperial commendation.

Master Ruan stared in shock. “Why didn’t you switch clothes with Liuzheng?”

Ruan Changzheng ground his teeth. “Father, Mother—Liuzheng disregarded the safety of our entire academy—over a hundred lives—and went into the palace to receive the reward herself!”

“That’s impossible,” Ruan Yunzheng said quickly. “Though I’ve never met Eldest Sister, Mother always said she is most filial. She wouldn’t endanger our whole family.”

“How is it impossible? I waited at Yuguan Pass as instructed, but she never appeared. I searched everywhere. Then I heard the army had already entered the city and rushed back. And I saw with my own eyes—she rode a tall horse, bearing the commander’s banner and tiger tally into the palace! Wearing a female general’s armor! The entire capital now knows the Zhaoyong General is a woman!”

Madam Song’s vision went black. If not for Yunzheng supporting her, she would have collapsed.

“Mother, are you alright?”

“I’m fine…”

Master Ruan ignored her and pressed his son urgently. “You truly saw her enter the palace? Could you have mistaken someone? Otherwise… how would she dare?!”

“I could never mistake her!” Changzheng spat bitterly. “We are twins—we look very alike. Even if she turned to ashes, I would recognize her. Father, Mother—disaster is upon the Ruan family!”