MFURCC -Chapter 33 Cornered Dog Leaps Over the Wall

Ruan Yunzheng spun around sharply.

Prince Su had arrived?

How could he possibly come?

Ruan Yunzheng’s mind went back to that day at the general’s residence gate, to the look Prince Su had given her.

There had been a light in his eyes.

A flicker of joy stirred in Ruan Yunzheng’s heart, but she quickly lowered her gaze.

There was too much happening in the mansion right now. A Wei Duke hadn’t even been driven away yet, and now Prince Su had come.

Too many outsiders arriving wasn’t in her favor.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Meanwhile, Madam and Master both looked visibly displeased.

Those who were supposed to come didn’t, but those who shouldn’t seemed to arrive as if they had made prior arrangements.

The matriarch was also momentarily surprised but quickly said, “Please, Your Highness, have some tea in the flower hall.”

Even though family matters were ongoing, and Liuzheng was poisoned, it would have been rude to turn Prince Su away.

Besides, at the Changfu Inn the other day, the matriarch could tell that Prince Su wasn’t the type to flaunt himself everywhere.

“Very well…”

Soon, the servants led Prince Su inside.

Accompanying him was the heir, Shen He’an, holding a delicate jade pillow in his arms.

Everyone in the room quickly paid their respects.

Ruan Yunzheng’s gaze went directly to Prince Su’s face.

Prince Su seemed to notice and looked in her direction.

Her cheeks tinged slightly pink, but before she could make any move, she saw his gaze sweep past her and land on Liuzheng.

Ruan Yunzheng’s face went pale instantly.

Why was he looking at Liuzheng?

“No need for formalities,” Prince Su said, his eyes traveling past Ruan Yunzheng’s shoulder, resting on Liuzheng’s lips.

Her lips were pale, her complexion awful.

Prince Su’s brows furrowed slightly.

How had just a few days changed her so much?

Where was her battlefield prowess?

At this moment, the matriarch spoke, “Your Highness, please sit.”

Only then did Prince Su shift his gaze and nod at her.

Shen He’an, however, couldn’t restrain himself and asked, “General Ruan, what happened? Why do your face look so terrible?”

Now it was impossible to hide. The matriarch had no choice but to say, “Liuzheng has been poisoned.”

Prince Su’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

Shen He’an, ever straightforward, immediately asked, “What kind of poison? How did it happen? Is she any better now?”

“She’s much better. The Duke of Wei arranged for a court physician. The poison has mostly been neutralized.”

Prince Su’s brow furrowed even deeper.

That Wei Duke—why was he stirring up trouble again?

Did he still intend to bring Liuzheng into the Duke’s mansion, to marry her to Wei Ranfeng?

But right now, the most urgent matter was the poisoning.

“I came to offer my thanks,” Prince Su said, “but I didn’t expect to encounter this. Since your people have failed, I will find the person responsible for poisoning.”

Liuzheng was stunned.

She had asked Pan Hong to summon Prince Su.

When she was captured, she told Pan Hong to hide first, observe the situation, and wait until the right moment to escalate matters and request Prince Su’s help.

She did this to make the incident public but couldn’t speak for herself.

In Dajin, filial piety could crush a person.

If she spoke of her grievances herself, outsiders might sympathize, but some would say she was unfilial.

One’s body and hair are inherited from parents; she had been imprisoned but not dead—how could she blame her parents?

In short, no matter what she said, it would be criticized.

Thus, she needed Prince Su to speak on her behalf. She couldn’t say herself that Madam and Master had imprisoned her.

The arrival of the Duke of Wei was unexpected.

But what shocked Liuzheng even more was that she only wanted Prince Su to help spread the news, yet he immediately offered to help find the poisoner.

Earlier at the Changfu Inn, Prince Su had been disdainful toward her.

Now, suddenly taking the initiative, Liuzheng was a little worried.

She hadn’t yet decided whether to align herself with Prince Su.

This was not a trivial matter—choosing the wrong side could cost more than her own life.

Yet Prince Su’s actions now forced her hand.

Before she could think of a way to politely refuse, Ruan Yunzheng spoke up.

“Your Highness, this is a family matter. It can be handled by grandmother and parents. How could we trouble you?”

Liuzheng was surprised.

Ruan Yunzheng was usually cautious, often using the matriarch as a shield while staying behind the scenes.

The Green Luo Skirt incident at the Princess’s residence had been similar.

Even though Ruan Yunzheng was bitten by a vicious dog, the wound wasn’t serious, and she could have attended the banquet herself.

But she didn’t.

She used the dog bite as an excuse to send the matriarch instead.

If successful, Ruan Yunzheng would be credited; if not, the matriarch would bear the blame.

What was happening today?

A cornered dog leaping over the wall?

Liuzheng, observing Ruan Yunzheng’s expression, didn’t worry too much.

She was puzzled but couldn’t find an answer.

The matriarch also added, “Yes, this is a family matter; we dare not trouble Your Highness.”

Master stayed silent, shrinking to the side.

He had already decided that if the imprisonment of Liuzheng was exposed, he would blame Madam Song entirely.

Initially, he had opposed imprisoning Liuzheng, but Madam Song had nagged him until he was frightened.

It was all Madam Song’s bad idea, not his.

As for the poisoning, he knew nothing and would not be implicated.

The matriarch, however, didn’t speak. She was considering whether to let Prince Su intervene.

She was sharp; she already suspected that Liuzheng’s poisoning likely involved the main branch of the family.

Logic told her not to involve Prince Su or the Duke of Wei.

But seeing Liuzheng’s pale face, she also wanted to understand what had really happened.

If they investigated internally, and the main branch was involved, the culprits might cover for each other, making it hard to find the truth.

Prince Su spoke coldly, “General Ruan is an official of the court and a meritorious minister. Being poisoned is a serious matter—a state affair—not what you call a family matter. I have the right to investigate. Not only I, but the Emperor, if informed, will also intervene.”

Ruan Yunzheng’s face turned red instantly.

She was surprised and annoyed.

Wasn’t Prince Su usually reserved toward her…?

Why did her words have no effect now?

In the midst of this inner turmoil, the matriarch finally made up her mind and spoke.

“If Your Highness is willing to help, all the better. I was worried about where to start investigating.”

“Mother…” Madam looked anxiously at her.

The matriarch ignored her, making a bow to Prince Su: “Please help us find the real culprit.”

Prince Su immediately assisted her to stand.

“No need for formalities, matriarch. Since General Ruan will join the Ministry of War, she is half my subordinate. If she is in trouble, I will not ignore it.”

Shen He’an added, “Matriarch, don’t be so polite. I have plenty of free time and was just wondering what to do!”

Shen He’an had happened to be at the prince’s mansion, hoping to get a rare dagger from Prince Su.

Unexpectedly, Pan Hong came to request help, saying Liuzheng had been imprisoned.

He loved watching chaos and immediately came along.

Now, although Liuzheng wasn’t locked up, there was even more excitement to witness.

Prince Su shot him a glare.

Shen He’an cleared his throat, suppressing his excitement.

Seeing her grandmother speak, Liuzheng knew there was no avoiding Prince Su and had to accept the favor.

A favor didn’t have to be repaid by her personally.

Returning something would do.

Wasn’t Prince Su already sending a jade pillow?

Thinking this way, Liuzheng felt no pressure.

The investigation began quickly.

All the servants in the mansion were called to the front yard of the flower hall.

Seeing the courtyard filled with people, Shen He’an was surprised.

Master Ruan had retired years ago and opened the Dufeng Academy. Though he had a steady income, how could he still afford so many servants?

Wasn’t Ruan Master known for living frugally?

Where did the money come from to support all these servants?

Prince Su was unsurprised.

He had already investigated the Ruan family thoroughly.

The Ruan family’s wealth came from Madam’s dowry; she was the daughter of a wealthy merchant family.

Also, Ruan Yunzheng.

Her original family had been rich silk merchants; her parents had passed, leaving her as the only heir.

With the silk trade flourishing, she could request any amount she wanted from Jiangnan.

With these two, the Ruan household would never lack money.

Thus, Ruan Yunzheng, as an adopted daughter, held a high position in the Ruan mansion.

Before Liuzheng returned, she even outranked the legitimate daughters and sons of the second and third branches.

Among the gathered people, some were stubborn, but others were cowardly.

Even before the questioning began, confessions came.

The ones who confessed were the two burly servants who had imprisoned Liuzheng.

Though physically imposing, they were timid and immediately named Madam and Master.

“As soon as the eldest miss returned, Madam and Master locked her in the wood storage, saying it was to protect the Duke’s wife’s unborn child, fearing the Duke would punish them otherwise…”

“If the Duke really came to demand answers, Master and Madam would have handed her over.”

Madam and Master’s faces darkened inch by inch.

These people were utterly useless!

Prince Su hadn’t even asked much, yet they confessed everything.

But it wasn’t entirely their fault.

They could distinguish between Madam, Prince Su, and their respective ranks.

The highest official they’d ever seen was a demoted top scholar.

With Prince Su’s status revealed, they were already half-dead with fear—how could they dare lie?

Moreover, in such a large household, if they didn’t speak, someone else would. Better to confess early and perhaps lessen their punishment.

After all, others might only be guilty of hiding the truth, but they were responsible for guarding the eldest miss.

If they didn’t confess early and someone else revealed the truth, they’d suffer the most.

Soon, the two servants fully confessed.

In the courtyard, the matriarch shook with anger.

“You… you two actually locked Liuzheng in the wood storage?! Do you know what her status is now? Have you forgotten?! Even if she weren’t a general, just an ordinary girl, you shouldn’t treat your own flesh and blood this way!”

Liuzheng sat in the flower hall chair, her expression neutral, eyes vacant.

It was a quiet kind of sorrow.

Prince Su looked at her, his chest tight.

She… must feel so wronged.

Yet not a single tear?

Had she dried them up inside?

At this moment, Prince Su wished he could tell her the truth—that he was Xiaohengzi.

He hadn’t lost his memory; it wasn’t just a resemblance—he really was her Xiaohengzi.

He could protect her.

No one could bully her.