MFURCC -Chapter 30 Poor Performance

The Duke of Wei said, “I see. My two sons have also been stationed at the border for many years. My wife often sheds tears over the letters they send home.”

He spoke with a tone that suggested he completely understood Madam Song’s decision to adopt Ruan Yunzheng.

But Ruan Yunzheng’s expression had grown considerably colder.

Although he was straightforward by nature, he was no fool.

Madam Ruan was a woman of dignity. For someone of her status to publicly point out that Ruan Yunzheng was not Liuzheng’s biological sister but merely an adopted one clearly indicated her displeasure with Ruan Yunzheng.

Thus, he acknowledged Madam Song’s act of adopting a daughter, yet he did not offer Ruan Yunzheng much favor.

Ruan Yunzheng sensed Duke Wei’s coldness, and her face instantly paled and flushed in turns.

She returned to her seat, but her hands, hidden within her sleeves, clutched her handkerchief tightly.

That damn old lady… why say something like that in front of Duke Wei?

She did it on purpose!

She didn’t want Ruan Yunzheng to overshadow Liuzheng, so she deliberately spoke that way.

It was infuriating and ridiculous at the same time.

She had never intended to take anything from Ruan Yunzheng, nor did she wish to curry favor with Duke Wei.

Her future lay far higher and further away—why should she flatter Duke Wei?

Three years from now, she would become the Crown Princess. When Duke Wei met her again, he would be the one kneeling and bowing to her.

That old hag had seriously underestimated her and was bullying her!

Ruan Yunzheng was furious.

Yet, she did not have much energy to dwell on her anger.

Liuzheng’s situation was truly what made her anxious and uneasy.

Meanwhile, Madam Song, accompanied by Nanny Qi, returned to the inner courtyard. Seeing no one around, she raised her hand and slapped Nanny Qi hard.

The blow loosened Nanny Qi’s teeth, and her face twitched in pain.

Yet she dared not utter a single complaint and immediately knelt down.

“Madam, have mercy…”

“You fool!” Madam Song ground her teeth as she scolded. “I went through all that trouble to make sure everyone kept their mouths shut, and yet, I nearly slipped up because of you!”

Duke Wei had come to offer thanks, not to seek an apology from Liuzheng.

If he knew that Liuzheng had been locked away, not only would Madam Ruan give her trouble, but Duke Wei himself would hold her accountable.

“How did I end up bringing up such a fool?” Madam Song regretted deeply.

Nanny Qi kowtowed repeatedly.

“It’s all my fault, Madam, all my fault! I didn’t know guests had come to the residence, and I had no idea Madam Ruan was in the Flower Hall…”

“That’s enough! I don’t want to hear your nonsense! Tell me, what were you rushing to say earlier?”

Nanny Qi suddenly remembered the matter at hand.

She hurriedly explained, “It was the eldest young lady… she said her stomach pain was unbearable. At first, we didn’t pay much attention, thinking she only wanted to sneak out, so we ignored her. But then she suddenly went quiet. We thought something was wrong, so we opened the door and saw her vomit once, her lips pale… I didn’t know what to do, so I came to report to you…”

She had been too anxious, afraid that someone might die.

After all, Liuzheng was a general.

If a general died under her care, it wouldn’t just be the Ruan family asking questions—the Emperor and Empress Dowager themselves would come seeking answers.

She could not bear that responsibility.

So, without checking who else was in the Flower Hall, she hurried to Madam Song, rushing into the hall in panic.

Who would have thought… who could have thought…

After Nanny Qi’s explanation, Madam Song’s anger slightly subsided, realizing there was indeed a reason behind it, and she no longer wanted Nanny Qi dead as she had initially.

“Why would she suddenly vomit for no reason?”

Madam Song asked while heading toward the firewood room, inquiring further.

“I don’t know, Madam, which is why I hurried to ask you… should we call a physician?”

“What did she have for her evening meal?”

“Only a bowl of porridge and two small dishes. Xianghe brought it, saying it was ordered by the Third Miss, which is why I allowed her to eat it.”

“Yun’er?” Madam Song furrowed her brows slightly.

“Yes.”

Madam Song paused in thought. “If Yun’er sent it through Xianghe, then it’s not a problem with the food. It must be due to another reason.”

Madam Song trusted Ruan Yunzheng deeply.

Without her instructions, Ruan Yunzheng would not do unnecessary things.

Suddenly, Nanny Qi had a thought. “I heard that when the eldest young lady went to see Madam Ruan, she rode for three days and got rained on for three days. Perhaps she caught a chill because of that.”

A chill could sometimes cause high fever, along with vomiting and diarrhea.

“That must be it. Quickly have the kitchen brew some ginger tea. Duke Wei wants to see her—we cannot let her meet him while sick, lest he suspect something.”

Nanny Qi still wondered why Madam Song insisted she appear energetic to meet Duke Wei.

Wasn’t Duke Wei eager to have the eldest young lady eliminated?

But seeing Madam Song’s anxious demeanor, Nanny Qi dared not ask further and hurried to prepare the ginger tea.

Madam Song also arrived at the door of the firewood room.

Two young servants were still guarding it. Seeing her, they hurriedly saluted.

“Madam.”

“Open the door.”

“Yes.”

The servants quickly unlocked it.

The room was quiet.

If she hadn’t seen Liuzheng standing by the small window inside, Madam Song would have thought she had escaped.

Madam Song lifted her skirts and stepped inside.

Liuzheng did not turn her head but quietly looked outside through the small window.

Madam Song could clearly see her profile.

Liuzheng’s eyes closely resembled her grandmother’s when she was young.

But her face shape—especially her profile—was actually very similar to the Matriarch’s.

Both of them had the classic oval face.

Looking at this profile, which was so much like her own, the Matriarch’s heart trembled slightly.

She was human, after all; her heart was made of flesh too.

Seeing Liuzheng in such a haggard state, she felt a pang of pity.

If Liuzheng hadn’t blocked Changzheng’s path and stolen his due credit, the Matriarch admitted to herself that she would have treated her well.

She would have cared for her even more than she did for Yun’er.

After all, Yun’er was just an adopted daughter, but Liuzheng was flesh from her own body.

Yet Liuzheng had blocked Ruan Changzheng’s way.

So whatever she had done to Liuzheng, Liuzheng shouldn’t blame her.

At that moment, Liuzheng turned her face toward her.

“Mother, why aren’t you speaking?”

She looked at the Matriarch with a cold gaze, as if she were a stranger.

The Matriarch’s heart ached again.

She thought that if Liuzheng was willing, in the future, to actively pave the way for Changzheng and return to him everything that should have been his, she would still accept her again.

She would treat her kindly, without holding grudges.

She would even find her a good marriage, so that she would never have to worry about food or clothing.

The Matriarch’s gaze softened slightly.

She took a few steps forward and, breaking her usual habit, held Liuzheng’s hand.

“I heard from Madam Qi that you vomited once?”

“Yes.”

Liuzheng withdrew her hand from the Matriarch’s and said, “The food sent by the servants might not have been very clean.”

The Matriarch said, “It probably wasn’t the food. I heard that when you went to see your grandmother, you got caught in the rain. That’s likely the cause.”

Liuzheng didn’t respond to that and instead asked, “Mother, why did you suddenly come to see me?”

“It was Duke Wei. He came to see you… to present a gift.”

The Matriarch said this with a trace of complaint: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Duke Wei wasn’t angry at all.”

Liuzheng’s eyes fell on the Matriarch’s face, a half-smile playing on her lips.

“I explained—to both Father and Mother. Have you forgotten? You didn’t listen to me at all and locked me up instead.”

The Matriarch awkwardly averted her gaze.

“I know you blame me, but I had no choice. I was also deceived by the Second Madam’s people at the time. If I had known, how could I have locked you up? You are flesh from my own body. Keeping you in the woodshed made me uncomfortable too.”

She reached out her hand again, trying to hold Liuzheng’s hand.

This time, Liuzheng didn’t let her touch her and quickly avoided the Matriarch’s hand. She said, “Mother… if I understand correctly, you care more about my younger sister, right?”

The Matriarch said, “How could that be? You are my biological daughter. I am not confused in my mind.”

“Then, if one day you had to choose between me and Yun’er, who would you pick?”

“Of course, I’d pick you.”

The Matriarch answered without hesitation.

Yet even she couldn’t tell how much of that answer was genuine and how much was forced.

She had never really thought about such a question.

Liuzheng smiled.

“Then I will remember your words, Mother.”

“My dear child, don’t overthink. You and your brother are the most important people in my heart.”

She added, “Now that everything is clear, it was all just a misunderstanding. Come with me. It’s damp and stuffy in here; don’t let yourself get sick. I’ll take you to wash up, and then we’ll go see Duke Wei together. He and your grandmother are still waiting.”

Liuzheng nodded. “Alright.”

She stepped out, and the Matriarch hurried after her.

“Let’s go to my courtyard to wash up; it’s closer to the main kitchen.”

Liuzheng’s Tinglan Courtyard was now crowded with her people.

The Matriarch worried that if Liuzheng saw them, she might think too much and refuse to cooperate.

Fortunately, Liuzheng had no objections and nodded again: “Alright.”

Mother and daughter walked one after the other to the Matriarch’s Tingzhu Courtyard.

The ginger tea was ready.

After days of heavy rain, the main kitchen had kept the ginger tea hot.

The Matriarch first let Liuzheng drink the tea and then ordered her maid to help her wash up.

The clothes had been sent from Tinglan Courtyard—a simple water-colored silk robe with begonia prints, elegant and beautiful.

Due to time constraints, her hair was simply tied up in a casual bun.

The Matriarch took out her own golden hairpin and gave it to Liuzheng.

“This is for you.”

Without the slightest stinginess.

Liuzheng looked deeply at the Matriarch, knowing that her generosity wasn’t genuine affection but a fear that Duke Wei would notice she wasn’t favored in the inner residence.

In her previous life, she had been deceived for so long by the Madam’s fake care. She had been tricked deeply. In this life, if she were deceived again, she would truly deserve to be harmed.

Before leaving, Liuzheng said, “Mother, I still don’t feel well.”

Madam Song said, “Endure it a little. Once Duke Wei leaves, I’ll get a doctor for you.”

Liuzheng sneered inwardly.

If she truly cared for her daughter, she would have refused Duke Wei first and let her see a doctor immediately.

What could be more important than her daughter’s health?

Thus, the Matriarch’s performance was clumsy and easily seen through.

In her previous life, she had imagined too much, believing the Matriarch genuinely cared for her, and that was why she had been deceived.

“Let’s go,” Madam Song said. “Remember, never expose family scandals. Your father and I misunderstood you; don’t mention it in front of guests. Your grandmother is old; don’t tell her either, lest she worry. You wouldn’t want your grandmother to lose sleep over you, would you?”