MFURCC -Chapter 3 Beaten Ruthlessly with Clubs

“…How could this be?!” Madam Song’s eyes widened. Suddenly dizzy and faint, she nearly collapsed.

“Mother!”

“Madam!”

Several people hurried to support her onto the couch.

Ruan Yunzheng administered acupuncture, and only then did Madam Song’s pale face regain a trace of color.

“Mother, do you feel any better?” Ruan Yunzheng asked.

A tear slid down Madam Song’s cheek.

“What does it matter whether I feel better or not? Deceiving the emperor is a crime punishable by death! But… Yunzheng, you are not truly a member of the Ruan family. Leave now, while you still can!”

“I won’t leave!” Ruan Yunzheng said firmly. “Even if we die, I’ll die together with Father, Mother, and Brother!”

Madam Song was deeply moved.

Her biological daughter had disregarded her life for the sake of mere military merit, yet her adopted daughter was willing to die with the whole family.

The blood-related one was worse than the adopted one!

“If I had known it would come to this, I should have drowned her at birth!” In that moment, Madam Song hated Ruan Liuzheng to the core.

She had once felt a trace of guilt toward Ruan Liuzheng, but now all that guilt had turned into hatred.

“Mother, rest well. Don’t anger yourself. I’ll fetch your medicine—you must take it on time.”

Madam Song wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but Ruan Yunzheng had already hurried out.

Even more touched, Madam Song turned to the distraught Ruan Changzheng.

“If His Majesty truly intends to execute our entire family, even if we must risk our lives, we must clear Yun’er from this!”

Ruan Changzheng came back to his senses and nodded vigorously. “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll protect Yun’er with my life!”

What they did not know was that once Ruan Yunzheng returned to her Mingyue Pavilion, she immediately began packing her belongings at top speed.

She wasn’t a fool—she had no intention of being buried with the Ruan family!

Just then, a maid announced from outside, “Third Miss, Eldest Miss has returned!”

Ruan Yunzheng’s legs went weak.

So fast!

She was just wondering whether there was still time to escape through the back gate when the maid added, “Eldest Miss returned on horseback. Dozens of chests are being carried behind her, and there’s even a carriage from the palace with some noble person inside. It doesn’t look like we’re about to be punished.”

Ruan Yunzheng’s brows tightened slightly. She kicked the bundle under her bed.

“Understood. I’ll go at once.”

Meanwhile—

The three members of the Ruan family had also learned that Ruan Liuzheng had returned. Knowing they could not escape the emperor’s grasp and had nowhere to run, they resigned themselves to awaiting death together.

Upon hearing that Ruan Liuzheng was back, they were instantly furious.

“She still dares to come back?!”

Ruan Changzheng, in particular, flew into a rage and drew the sword at his waist.

“I’ll kill her!”

His military merit—his long-cherished achievements and boundless bright future—had all been ruined by Ruan Liuzheng!

If he did not hack her into pieces, he could not vent the hatred in his heart!

Brimming with fury, Ruan Changzheng stormed out with his sword.

Yet before he could step out of the flower hall, a foot slammed into his chest, sending him flying several meters away.

A metallic taste surged up his throat, and the next second he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Who?!

Who dared kick him?!

Clutching his chest, Ruan Changzheng looked toward the doorway.

A face bearing six or seven parts resemblance to his own came into view.

The person wore a female general’s armor, a treasured sword hanging at her waist. Though a woman, her aura was sharp and commanding, awe-inspiring.

If not Ruan Liuzheng, then who?

“You wretch! You dare kick me?!”

Ignoring the pain in his chest, he scrambled to his feet and charged at her.

But in the next instant, imperial guards behind Liuzheng forced him to the ground.

“You—what are you doing?! Let me go! Wretch! What are you trying to do?!”

Ruan Changzheng’s eyes were bloodshot with fury, yet he was pinned down, unable to move.

Ruan Liuzheng’s beautiful eyes were as cold as the distant moon, devoid of warmth.

Her red lips parted slightly, uttering only one word:

“Beat him.”

The next moment, several guards stepped forward, gripping their clubs and smashing them viciously onto Ruan Changzheng’s legs.

After only a few blows, Ruan Changzheng fainted from the pain.

Liuzheng clicked her tongue inwardly.

What a waste.

In her previous life, even when her kneecaps were shattered, she had not fainted.

“My son! Stop! All of you, stop!”

Master Ruan and Madam Song finally snapped out of their shock. One threw himself over Ruan Changzheng to shield him from the blows, while the other strode quickly toward Ruan Liuzheng.

“Unfilial daughter! What are you doing? He is your own brother!”

Master Ruan wished he could slap her fiercely, but with two rows of imperial guards standing behind her, he dared not approach closer than half a meter and could only shout in anger.

“Father.” Ruan Liuzheng clasped her fist in salute.

“Father? You still know I’m your father? Call your men off!”

“Does Father truly wish to disregard the lives of over a hundred members of our family and have them stop?”

“You… what do you mean?”

Liuzheng cast a glance sideways. Her deputy, Pan Zhan, immediately presented the imperial edict with both hands.

Seeing the edict was like seeing the emperor in person.

Master Ruan instinctively knelt—then suddenly remembered why he should kneel before his own daughter, and straightened up again.

“Father.” Liuzheng pressed the edict into his hands. “See for yourself.”

His hands trembling, Master Ruan slowly unfurled it and read aloud:

“By the Mandate of Heaven… The legitimate daughter of the Ruan family, Ruan Liuzheng, because her elder brother was born disabled, nine years ago followed Our decree and went to the frontier in her brother’s name… Having pacified the border with merit, she is hereby conferred the rank of Third-Rank Zhaoyong Female General…”

Halfway through, he abruptly looked up.

“What does ‘born disabled’ mean?”

Madam Song also caught those words and stared at Liuzheng. “When was your elder brother ever disabled?!”

“Mother, please mind your words.” Liuzheng dismissed the guards, leaving only Pan Zhan before speaking. “Father, Mother, do you remember the family letter you sent?”

“Of course! You were supposed to meet your brother at Yuguan Pass!”

“Then does Mother know why I did not go?”

“Because you were selfish and refused to give up the military merit!”

Liuzheng’s eyes reddened, her expression filled with grievance.

“I risked my life for the Ruan family at the frontier, yet Mother thinks of me this way?”

Madam Song faltered, her anger lessening somewhat. “Then why didn’t you go to Yuguan Pass?”

“Because that letter was discovered by His Majesty’s men. From it, His Majesty learned that I am a woman and flew into a thunderous rage! I entered the palace not to receive rewards, but to plead guilty! If His Majesty already knew I was female, would Mother still have had Brother enter the palace in my stead? If so, what awaited him would not merely be broken legs—but certain death!”

Her words were forceful and convincing. Madam Song froze, her anger halved.

Ruan Yunzheng, who had been eavesdropping outside, rushed in with hurried steps.

Feigning shock and distress at the scene, she ran to Ruan Changzheng’s side.

“Elder Brother! What happened? Mother, why has he fainted?”

Madam Song suddenly regained clarity.

She cast a cold look at Ruan Liuzheng.

“Even so, you needn’t say your brother was born disabled—or have his legs broken to make your lie convincing!”

Liuzheng gave a bitter smile. “Mother, if I did not say Brother’s legs were disabled, should I tell the truth—that he was too afraid of death to go to war?”

Madam Song stiffened.

Master Ruan awkwardly rubbed his nose.

“Father, Mother,” Liuzheng sighed, “His Majesty knows the truth. Sending imperial guards to break Brother’s legs is to preserve our family’s lives. If you continue to obstruct them, you may anger the dragon’s wrath again.”

After a struggle, Master Ruan asked, “Can’t they just pretend?”

“Yes,” Madam Song added, “he is your own brother!”

Liuzheng smiled bitterly. “The imperial guards are not my men. Whether they can pretend is not up to me. But you need not worry too much—I have already summoned a physician. Once the guards leave, his bones will be set. In the future, we’ll simply say his leg ailment has recovered. Presumably, His Majesty won’t pursue it too closely.”

Madam Song still looked hesitant and reluctant, but Master Ruan made a swift decision.

“We’ll do as you say!”

“It cannot be!” Ruan Yunzheng said anxiously. “What if Brother’s legs cannot be healed and he’s left crippled?”

Liuzheng’s gaze sharpened, a cutting look sweeping over her.

“Who are you? At such a critical moment, you dare obstruct? Do you wish to doom the hundred members of the Ruan family?”

Master Ruan frowned in disapproval.

Even Madam Song showed faint displeasure.

When one believes death is certain, one may display the greatest kindness.

But when one learns there is still a path to survival, anyone who blocks that path becomes a thorn in the flesh.

Ruan Yunzheng froze.

She had only intended to showcase her kindness… Who would have thought a single sentence from Ruan Liuzheng would pin such a charge on her?

“Yun’er didn’t mean that,” Madam Song finally spoke up for her adopted daughter. “She is your sister. After you left, I felt lonely and adopted her from a branch family.”

“So she was merely something to amuse Mother.”

Liuzheng smiled lightly, but that smile stabbed painfully at Ruan Yunzheng.

Under her sleeve, Ruan Yunzheng twisted her handkerchief tightly.

She was not some plaything. She was recorded in the family register—the legitimate Third Miss of the Ruan family!

She had only wanted Father and Mother to see that even if Ruan Liuzheng returned with military merit, she was not as filial and kind as herself. Who knew it would instead displease them?

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be…

A crack appeared in Ruan Yunzheng’s usually composed expression.

Liuzheng caught sight of her pale face from the corner of her eye and sneered inwardly.

In her previous life, after Ruan Yunzheng and Ruan Changzheng had harmed her to death, she withdrew beautifully from the scene, praised by all as virtuous and exemplary.

In this life, let’s see how she tears off that mask!

“If you don’t know how to speak, then don’t speak in the future.”

Ruan Yunzheng’s face turned even paler.

Liuzheng ignored her and called the imperial guards back in.

“Proceed.”

They stepped forward at once, raising their clubs and striking viciously.

Ruan Changzheng was beaten awake from his faint.

“Ah—!”

He screamed, catching sight of Ruan Liuzheng from the corner of his eye, and began cursing madly.

“Wretch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

Liuzheng spoke expressionlessly.

“Elder Brother, because you were afraid of death, you had me disguise myself as a man to deceive the emperor and enlist in your stead. That is a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans!”

“Fortunately, His Majesty has shown grace and given our family a way to live. Otherwise, we would all lose our heads because of you!”

“Endure it. This concerns the safety of the entire clan. Breaking your legs will save all our lives!”

In her previous life, Ruan Changzheng had used “the safety of the clan” as a grand excuse to seize her military merit, shatter her legs, and ruin her innocence.

Now, she returned every word to him.

“Ruan Liuzheng! You wretch!!”

He screamed in agony—

Completely forgetting that this “wretch” was his own sister.

If she was a wretch, then what was he?

Not a ripple showed in Liuzheng’s eyes. The sharp glint within was well concealed as she said calmly: “Continue beating him.”

The clubs fell mercilessly once more.