MFURCC -Chapter 31 Poisoned and Coughing Blood

Madam Song wore a solemn expression.

Liuzheng smiled.

Even now, the matriarch still treated her like a fool.

Meeting the matriarch’s eyes, so different from her own, Liuzheng obediently nodded. “Your daughter understands. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“Good child.” The matriarch adjusted Liuzheng’s hairpin, feeling a pang of regret that such a beautiful hairpin was now being given to her.

It was part of her dowry.

She usually couldn’t bring herself to wear it.

If the old matriarch hadn’t returned, she would never have taken it out.

But if a single hairpin could secure Liuzheng’s cooperation, it was arguably worth it.

The brief flicker of pain in her eyes did not escape Liuzheng’s notice.

Quietly, her good mother couldn’t even bear to part with a single hairpin.

Or perhaps it wasn’t the hairpin itself—maybe it was just too troublesome to give something away.

Either way, Liuzheng no longer felt sad about such things.

She kept her smile, pretending not to notice anything.

“Let’s go.”

The matriarch was very pleased with Liuzheng’s response.

After nine years at the frontier, it was clear she had never seen the world.

One hairpin, and she was so obedient.

Had she known Liuzheng was so easily fooled, there would have been no need to be at odds with her, to scheme and calculate so much—simply buy her compliance with a trinket.

Money was not an issue for her.

Leading Liuzheng, she walked toward the front courtyard and the flower hall.

The Duke of Wei had been waiting for quite some time.

But since he was waiting for Liuzheng, he wasn’t anxious.

He chatted with the old matriarch about what had happened at the summer villa.

The old matriarch still shivered at the memory.

“If not for Yao Yao, my old bones would probably have been buried there.”

The Duke of Wei also felt a pang of sorrow.

If not for Liuzheng, his wife and daughter might have…

Thankfully, everyone was safe now.

Both wore expressions of relief—except for Ruan Yunzheng, whose face was extremely dark.

Just a little closer, and the old matriarch would have been buried at the villa.

Then the Duke of Wei wouldn’t have come to the door either.

How could Ruan Liuzheng’s luck be so good?

Master Huifan said she was under the protection of the Ziwei Star—could Liuzheng also be under some star’s protection?

It shouldn’t be… if that were the case, why would Master Huifan bother helping a merchant’s daughter like her? Helping Liuzheng alone would suffice.

After all, at this moment, compared to herself, Liuzheng could help Master Huifan more effectively.

Ruan Yunzheng took a soft breath, telling herself not to overthink.

Master Huifan can foresee the future. Since he chose her, it means no one’s fate is better than hers.

At that moment, the matriarch returned with Liuzheng.

The Duke of Wei immediately stood from his chair.

“General Ruan.”

“Duke.”

The two exchanged greetings.

The Duke of Wei was extremely grateful to her. By protocol, he needn’t have returned the courtesy.

His politeness made Liuzheng feel a little guilty.

She needed to make use of the Duke of Wei.

However, she quickly suppressed that guilt.

She was just leveraging the situation; it wouldn’t affect the Duke in any way.

“I heard from your mother that one of your sub-commanders is ill?”

Nanny Qian, standing beside the matriarch, trembled slightly, though no one noticed.

Liuzheng’s eyes flicked to Nanny Qian, and she tugged at the corner of her lips. “Yes. He was injured at the frontier, perhaps an old wound flared up. We’ve already had a doctor see him—he should recover soon.”

The matriarch didn’t know how Nanny Qian had kept her from leaving; she had only given the order, without specifying how to carry it out.

Thus, she was unaware that Pan Zhan had been drugged by Nanny Qian.

She simply assumed Liuzheng was cooperating with her previous words and relaxed even more.

On the other side, the Duke of Wei said, “The imperial physician, whom Prince Su requested for my wife, will be staying at the Duke’s mansion for some time. If needed, he can come to see him.”

Liuzheng first thanked the Duke of Wei, then replied, “It’s just an old wound; nothing serious for now. If anything is needed later, I won’t be polite.”

The Duke of Wei laughed heartily, then rested his gaze on Liuzheng’s face.

“But looking at you, I feel your complexion isn’t very good either.”

The matriarch tensed instantly.

Ruan Yunzheng pressed her lips tightly together.

Xiang He had already administered the poison. She knew that much—but when it would take effect… she couldn’t be sure.

For now, heaven willing, it would not act while the Duke of Wei was present.

As long as there were no outsiders, once the General’s residence closed its doors, everything would be manageable.

Liuzheng said, “We were rushing back, so perhaps a little tired.”

“Be sure to rest and avoid catching a cold. Have the servants prepare ginger tea; drink a cup whenever needed.”

“Thank you for your concern, Duke.”

A bitter taste rose in Liuzheng’s throat.

This man, unrelated to her by blood, cared for her so much.

In contrast, the two in the room who should have been closest to her…

Liuzheng prevented herself from sinking into emotion and diverted the topic, asking about the Duke’s wife.

The Duke of Wei replied, “All is well. If not for the physician insisting she rest, she would have come with me.”

Liuzheng said, “Then she should follow the physician’s advice. If the Duchess wishes to see me, I can visit her.”

“That would be excellent. Ran Feng and the others are at the frontier; she often says she has no one to talk to. If you go see her, she will be very happy.”

As he spoke, he took out a small Buddhist amulet.

“This is for my personal safety. I now give it to you. Though I don’t know if it will truly protect you, my staff recognize it. If you come to the Duke’s mansion, you need not send notice in advance—just show this amulet, and no one will dare stop you.”

Liuzheng quickly waved her hand.

“Since this is something the Duke carries with him, how could I possibly accept it?”

In the Jin Dynasty, nobles typically did not give personal, intimate items as gifts.

Such items symbolized the person themselves; if the recipient took it and misused it for ill purposes, it could have serious consequences.

Especially considering the Duke of Wei’s status—it was far from ordinary.

Carrying this Buddhist amulet, Liuzheng would even have a chance to succeed if she went to coordinate with the Duke of Wei’s soldiers.

Yet the Duke had no intention of taking the amulet back once he handed it over.

Liuzheng had saved the lives of his wife and daughter—what was such a small token compared to that?

Moreover, he even hoped that Liuzheng would one day become his daughter-in-law.

The Duke of Wei said, “Since I’ve given it to you, it’s yours. I even feel the gift is too modest. If you find it insufficient, accept it for now, and I will find something better later.”

Liuzheng had no choice but to take it.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I would never use it for anything that might harm the Wei household.”

“I know. I trust you.”

If he didn’t trust her, he wouldn’t have given it in the first place.

The amulet rested in Liuzheng’s palm, still carrying a trace of warmth.

She recalled that the Empress Dowager had also given her a “safe amulet.”

Both items needed to be carefully kept.

The madam nearby was full of jealousy.

The Duke of Wei had given Liuzheng a personal amulet. No wonder he insisted on seeing her personally before handing it over, rather than sending it through someone else.

He truly was generous!

As for Ruan Yunzheng, the hand gripping the handkerchief in her sleeve nearly tore it apart.

What merit did Ruan Liuzheng have?

She had merely reminded someone at the Duke’s summer villa on the way to pick up the old madam. That was all!

The Duke of Wei must have lost his senses to give Ruan Liuzheng something so precious.

Master Ruan, however, was very pleased.

Not because he truly felt happy for Liuzheng, but because, deep down, he believed that whatever belonged to Liuzheng also belonged to him.

Only the old madam genuinely felt joy for Liuzheng.

Liuzheng carefully put away the jade amulet and thanked him once more.

The Duke of Wei hastened to tell her not to stand on ceremony, then said, “I’ve taken up your time long enough; I’ll take my leave. When you have the time, you must come visit the Wei household.”

Liuzheng nodded. The old madam and Master Ruan also rose to see him off.

But the moment the Duke of Wei turned away, a sudden metallic-sweet taste rose in her throat.

A mouthful of blood shot out.

“Yao Yao!”

The old madam’s eyes widened, and she quickly caught her.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Liuzheng tried to speak, only to cough up another mouthful of blood.

The old madam’s hand, supporting Liuzheng, trembled noticeably.

“Go fetch the doctor!”

Hearing the commotion, the Duke of Wei turned back and, seeing Liuzheng coughing blood, immediately shouted to the stunned madam, “What are you waiting for? Call the doctor!”

The madam was a step slow to react.

“Go get Doctor Chen from the mansion.”

The Duke of Wei stepped forward. “General Ruan, were you injured? Where does it hurt?”

Before Liuzheng could answer, he remembered something and instructed the young servant at the door, “Go inside and fetch Imperial Physician Jiang!”

“Yes, sir!”

The servant ran off swiftly.

Ruan Yunzheng instinctively stepped back, letting the crowd hide the paleness of her face.

Ruan Liuzheng’s poison had taken effect.

The Duke of Wei had nearly left, yet now the poison was surfacing.

Why couldn’t Heaven grant her even a little protection?

Wasn’t she under the protection of the Ziwei Star?

No—she could not panic.

Ruan Yunzheng pinched the flesh between her thumb and index finger hard, forcing herself to calm down.

She hadn’t acted personally—she had sent Xianghe.

That girl wouldn’t dare betray her, nor would she neglect her mother’s safety.

She would be safe.

So she absolutely must not lose her composure.

Ruan Yunzheng soon regained her calm.

She stepped forward and gently inquired about Liuzheng’s condition.

“Big sister, are you alright?”

Liuzheng was already seated with support on the Grand Tutor’s chair. Her complexion was deathly pale, like a sheet of paper.

Yet the corners of her lips were stained with blood.

It looked like a rose blooming on her face.

She met Ruan Yunzheng’s gaze.

There was no trace of guilt on Ruan Yunzheng’s face, only concern.

Had Xianghe not warned her in advance, Liuzheng might have thought this was someone else’s doing, unrelated to Ruan Yunzheng.

“I… I’m alright,” Liuzheng said.

The old madam, seeing how haggard she looked, almost burst into tears.

“The doctor will be here soon. Don’t be afraid.”

She continued to gently stroke Liuzheng’s back.

The madam beside them was anxious as if on fire, and Master Ruan’s expression was complicated.

They feared that Liuzheng might reveal that the two of them had locked her in the firewood room.

But Liuzheng said, “Grandmother, you needn’t worry. It must be an old illness I developed while at the frontier.”

At this, the couple exhaled in relief.

The old madam, however, noticed a subtle clue. But with the Duke of Wei present and Liuzheng’s condition unstable, she held back and didn’t question further.

Soon, military doctor Chen arrived.

Liuzheng had always arranged for him to be stationed in the mansion, ostensibly to care for Ruan Changzheng.

Thus, he arrived quickly. Without further instructions, he took a handkerchief to cover Liuzheng’s wrist and began checking her pulse.