MFURCC -Chapter 23 Is She Betrothed?

The nanny wore an aggressive expression.

Convinced she was in the right, and seeing Liuzheng remain polite and composed, she assumed Liuzheng was easy to bully and did not take her seriously at all.

Liuzheng endured patiently and continued explaining, “It has rained heavily for days. The soil on the mountain has loosened— a mudslide was bound to happen. Before we descended, our Ruan family’s summer villa was already struck by falling boulders. A livestock shed was crushed, and three horses were killed.”

“Who knows if what you’re saying is even true? I think you clearly came with the intention of harming our Madam!”

Liuzheng frowned.

This nanny’s accusations were becoming more and more outrageous.

Just as she was about to speak, the Old Madam arrived.

The Second Branch mother and daughter followed closely behind.

The Old Madam had told them to wait inside their room—but how could they sit still? They hovered not far from the doorway, secretly peeking in.

Inside the room, the Old Madam first bowed to Prince Su.

Her graying hair caught Prince Su’s eye; he quickly straightened and stepped forward to support her.

“Old Madam, there is no need for such courtesy.”

Liuzheng also hurried over to help her grandmother.

“Grandmother, why have you come?”

“I heard something happened here. I was worried about you and couldn’t resist coming to see.”

“I’m fine. Please go back quickly.”

Liuzheng did not want her grandmother to worry and urged her to leave.

But the Old Madam refused.

She walked up to the nanny.

“This nanny—what offense has my granddaughter committed to make you so angry?”

The nanny lifted her chin. “Because your granddaughter came to our estate spreading talk about a mudslide. Our Madam hurried down the mountain and, in her rush, disturbed her pregnancy.”

“My granddaughter never intended that. She was only worried you might encounter a mudslide.”

“Heh, a mudslide? The two of you speak with such detail—anyone listening would think it was true!”

The Old Madam could not help but grow angry.

“You—how can you speak so unpleasantly? I want to see your Madam and explain this to her personally.”

“Our Madam is not someone an old woman like you can see just because you want to!”

In an instant, killing intent flashed through Liuzheng’s eyes.

She could ignore the nanny’s abuse toward herself—but she could not tolerate her speaking to her grandmother like that.

“I meant well. If you won’t thank me, fine—but you dare insult my grandmother?”

“When did I insult her? And even if I did, so what? You grandmother and granddaughter sing in unison—what are you plotting? Who sent you to harm our Madam?”

Liuzheng’s hand unconsciously moved toward the sword at her waist.

Prince Su’s hand also shifted inside his sleeve, ready to release a hidden weapon—when suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, the ground trembling slightly.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the entrance.

A burly man strode in—thick brows, dark eyes, a trace of white at his temples, dressed in a dark blue round-collared robe embroidered with a soaring qilin amid clouds.

Seeing who it was, Prince Su quietly withdrew his hidden weapon.

The newcomer first saluted Prince Su, then looked toward Liuzheng.

Before he could speak, the nanny rushed forward and wailed, “Duke! You’ve finally come! Because of these villains spreading demonic rumors, Madam was agitated and nearly miscarried! You must avenge her—have them strangled at once!”

Outside, the Second Branch mother and daughter turned deathly pale and fled.

They had no intention of being implicated by Liuzheng.

…

Inside the room, the nanny had barely finished speaking when the Duke of Wei raised his hand.

“Drag her out. Beat her to death.”

The nanny’s eyes shone brighter, her gaze toward Liuzheng filled with provocation.

Liuzheng froze for a moment and instinctively shielded her grandmother, preventing anyone from approaching her.

Prince Su’s brows knit slightly as he prepared to speak—when the Duke of Wei turned to his guards and said, “What are you waiting for? Drag this insolent slave out and execute her immediately!”

“Yes!”

Two guards stepped forward, each grabbing one of the nanny’s arms and dragging her outside.

Liuzheng: “…”

The nanny snapped awake as if from a dream.

“Duke! You’re mistaken, it’s not this servant—”

Before she could finish, her mouth was covered and she was hauled away.

At that moment, Commander He strode in and knelt on one knee.

“Your Highness, this is bad! We just received word— a massive mudslide has erupted on the mountain. The two estates up there have been completely buried!”

Prince Su lifted his eyes and looked at Liuzheng.

Liuzheng let out a breath so soft it was almost imperceptible.

It had finally come.

With the mudslide delayed and the nanny’s relentless harassment, she had nearly begun to doubt her own memory—perhaps she had misheard things in her previous life while bedridden.

If that were the case, she truly would have offended the Duke of Wei’s household.

Fortunately, everything unfolded exactly as in her previous life—the mudslide occurred.

But unlike before, she had saved her grandmother and the Ruan family members at the estate, as well as the people from the Duke’s household staying there.

Liuzheng’s lashes trembled as she tightly clasped her grandmother’s hand.

Only in this moment did she truly feel that her second life had value.

She was not merely a burden, as Ruan Changzheng had claimed before she died.

Even if her mother did not love her, her father cared only for profit, and her brother wished her dead—she still had worth.

She had saved so many lives, hadn’t she?

Prince Su saw the complex emotions in her eyes but could not decipher them.

He did not understand—if the mudslide had proven her right, why did such intense sorrow appear in her gaze?

His own chest felt inexplicably heavy, his breathing slightly labored.

He pressed a hand lightly to his chest, disliking the sensation.

At that moment, the Duke of Wei stepped toward Liuzheng.

She instinctively straightened her back. Though aging, the Duke—who had earned countless military merits in his youth—still carried an aura of killing intent.

Her hand drifted toward the sword at her waist.

She was not certain whether he still blamed her.

Yet in the next instant, the nearly fifty-year-old pillar of the state suddenly dropped to both knees before her.

“Wei Hu thanks Miss for saving our lives!”

After a brief shock, Liuzheng quickly helped him up.

If Wei Ranfeng saw this scene, he would likely make a fuss.

“Duke, I cannot bear such a grand gesture. Please rise—you are overwhelming me.”

The Duke finally stood but gave her a deep bow.

Liuzheng quickly stepped aside to avoid it.

“Miss, your great kindness will never be forgotten by our Duke’s household. May I ask which family you belong to? Once my wife recovers, we will personally visit to express our gratitude.”

Prince Su spoke at that moment. “Duke, do you not recognize her?”

The Duke looked at Liuzheng carefully.

Bright eyes, white teeth—a striking young woman.

If her family matched theirs in status, she would be a fine match for his son.

Wait… this young woman—

He narrowed his eyes.

“You—you are General Zhaoyong?”

“Liuzheng greets the Duke.” She finally had the chance to bow and introduced her grandmother.

The Duke recognized the Old Madam.

Back in the previous dynasty, when Old Master Ruan’s resignation had caused an uproar, he had been young and hot-blooded, nearly resigning in solidarity—until his elders dragged him back and beat him soundly.

He had always admired the Ruan elders.

“Old Madam, are you well? You must have been frightened just now.”

“Not at all. How is the Duchess now?”

“I just came from seeing her. She has fallen asleep. The imperial physician says she is unharmed and only needs rest.”

“Amitabha. May the Buddha bless her,” the Old Madam murmured with palms pressed together.

The Duke shook his head. “Old Madam, it was not the Buddha. It was General Ruan who saved my wife. Without her… my wife might already…”

He did not dare finish the sentence.

Though married for many years, they were as affectionate as newlyweds. If anything had happened to her, he might not have wished to live either.

Looking at Liuzheng again, his eyes shone like the bright moon.

She was their benefactor—their lucky star!

If he could have his son marry her, wouldn’t that fortune enter the Duke’s household?

With that thought, he could not help asking, “Forgive my bluntness—may I ask if General Ruan is already betrothed?”

Liuzheng was startled and about to answer when Prince Su, long ignored, spoke coolly, “Duke, I have something to ask you.”

He glanced at Liuzheng.

Understanding the cue, she led her grandmother out.

Soon the room fell quiet.

The Duke clasped his fists toward Prince Su. “Your Highness, I heard it was you who promptly brought men up the mountain—otherwise…”

Prince Su interrupted him, unwilling to hear another round of gratitude.

“Cousin-uncle, how did you arrive so quickly?”

This place was three days’ journey from the capital.

Prince Su called him cousin-uncle, though the Duke did not dare assume such familiarity.

Lowering his head respectfully, he replied, “With the continuous rain, I felt uneasy and set out. On the way, I encountered men from the estate saying trouble had occurred, so I hurried here at full speed…”

When he left his wife’s room earlier, he had wanted to execute whoever had spread those so-called mudslide rumors.

But before he even reached the stairs, a guard reported the mudslide had indeed erupted.

The entire summer estate was buried.

He had been shocked and terrified—and upon hearing that the “benefactor” was here with Prince Su, he rushed over.

In the corridor, he overheard the nanny insulting the benefactor and her grandmother.

Thus, the moment he entered, he ordered her execution.

Prince Su nodded in understanding.

Then he asked suddenly, “Duke, what did you mean just now by asking whether General Ruan is betrothed?”

At the mention of Liuzheng, the Duke’s eyes lit up again.

“Your Highness, have you forgotten? Ranfeng is still unmarried. His younger brother Ranshuo already has someone in his heart, yet as the elder brother, he remains single. It doesn’t matter how he lives—but he shouldn’t delay his brother’s marriage, should he?”

In Great Jin, a man had to marry in order of seniority. If the elder brother remained unmarried, the younger brothers could not wed first.

Of course, this rule did not apply to women.

Prince Su’s lips curled faintly.

“Duke, you think only of that, but have you forgotten? General Ruan is no ordinary woman. It may not be easy to have her remain at home as a wife and mother.”

The Duke did not mind in the least.

He himself had earned his title on the battlefield; he only held women like Liuzheng in higher regard.

“There’s no need for her to stay home. As long as she can keep Ranfeng in line, I will be forever grateful.”

The last trace of a smile faded from Prince Su’s face.

“Then has the Duke considered this—behind General Ruan stands not only her military merit, but the Chang Sui Army. Though she returned the military tally to His Majesty, the Chang Sui Army is still willing to answer her call. Now that the Crown Prince is confined to the Eastern Palace, if you rashly propose that Ranfeng marry her, I fear it may arouse His Majesty’s suspicion.”