MFURCC -Chapter 36 Cutting Off the Hands

For a moment, the Madam cast a long, sharp glance at Liuzheng, then asked Nanny Qian, “What exactly did you find?”

Nanny Qian said, “It wasn’t me who found it, it was Nanny Jiang…”

Only then did everyone notice Nanny Jiang quietly standing just behind and to the right of Nanny Qian.

Because Nanny Qian had spoken first and drawn everyone’s attention, no one realized that Nanny Jiang—the wet nurse of Liuzheng—had come in together with her.

Back when the Old Madam had sent Nanny Qian and Nanny Shu with Prince Su and Duke Wei’s men to search, Liuzheng had called for her wet nurse to go along as well.

The wet nurse stepped forward, knelt on both knees, and then held out something with both hands.

It was a circular silver reward plaque.

The top featured a clasped lotus leaf; in the center were the five horizontal characters “Zhaoyong Female General”; at the bottom was the character “Reward,” finely engraved—clearly an imperial gift from the palace.

Ruan Yunzheng looked at it with puzzlement, then at the wet nurse, unsure of its meaning.

Yet a faintly ominous premonition crept into her mind.

Liuzheng stepped forward, took it to inspect, then asked Nanny Jiang, “This is the silver reward plaque given to me by His Majesty. Where did you find it?”

Nanny Jiang said, “I found it by chance while accompanying them to search Third Miss’s room.”

Ruan Yunzheng felt her chest tighten violently, almost unable to hide a grimacing expression.

“What nonsense! I don’t recognize this! How could it possibly be in my room?”

The Madam also said, “You old servant, don’t speak nonsense!”

“I am not speaking nonsense… Prince Su’s men can also testify on my behalf.”

One of Prince Su’s guards stepped forward: “When I followed this nanny into the room to search for Aconitum, this thing was already under the pillow. As she said it belonged to General Ruan, I let her bring it here.”

A trace of meaning flickered in Prince Su’s eyes.

He followed up according to the nanny’s words: “General Ruan, why is your item in your sister’s hands? Don’t you know imperial silver reward plaques cannot be given away casually?”

Liuzheng cupped her hands and said, “Prince, I never gave this away. On the day we returned to court, all gifts bestowed by His Majesty were, according to my father’s instructions, given to—”

“Liuzheng!” Master Ruan hurriedly interrupted, saying, “The rewards from His Majesty have always been safely kept in the storeroom by me. I never touched them. Someone must have secretly taken them; I will make sure to investigate this for you.”

Prince Su frowned.

“General Ruan, why did you have others keep your imperial gifts?”

Master Ruan’s forehead was damp with cold sweat.

He valued his reputation highly and feared Liuzheng would reveal something.

Liuzheng said, “When I first returned to the capital, I didn’t have enough attendants, so I let my father keep them temporarily.”

Master Ruan let out a long sigh of relief.

Prince Su said, “One’s own possessions are best kept personally! Otherwise, one day, they could all be stolen without your knowledge. For other things, it’s fine, but if imperial gifts were to leak out, could you explain it?”

“Yes…” Liuzheng nodded.

Master Ruan quickly assured Prince Su: “I will immediately move all items to Liuzheng’s storeroom. Her people will guard them properly; nothing like today will happen again.”

Prince Su raised an eyebrow: “We must also investigate why the silver reward plaque was not in the storeroom.”

His gaze landed squarely on Ruan Yunzheng.

Ruan Yunzheng’s temples throbbed.

“Prince, I don’t know! I’ve never seen this item!”

Feeling her defense too weak, she added, “My family is from the scholarly Jiangnan region, and our family precept is to live honestly. If I took this silver plaque, may heaven punish me!”

The Madam also spoke up: “Yun’er was raised in luxury, and has seen countless fine things from childhood. She would never take others’ belongings. I hope Prince Su can see this!”

Prince Su looked at Liuzheng.

Liuzheng said, “It’s clear someone is framing her. Third Sister, I recall you only had one personal maid, Su Luo. Could she be disgruntled and deliberately setting you up?”

“Impossible!” Ruan Yunzheng said. “She grew up with me. I have always treated her well. She wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“But you don’t like having too many attendants; the only one with access to your inner chamber would be her.”

“She would not betray me! Whoever is framing me must be someone else!”

Liuzheng said, “But people’s hearts are unpredictable. Sometimes someone may feel well-treated, yet others won’t appreciate it. It’s best to bring her in for questioning. Otherwise, the story will spread that you took my item.”

“…” Ruan Yunzheng clenched her back teeth, cheeks puffed.

She realized: Liuzheng wasn’t targeting her—it was Su Luo!

The Old Madam spoke: “Bring Su Luo in! And check the Old Master’s storeroom!”

Today, the Ruan family had completely lost face in front of Prince Su and Duke Wei.

There was nothing left to lose.

Su Luo stood in the outer courtyard, unaware of what was happening in the hall.

She was grabbed in, confused, and looked up at Ruan Yunzheng.

Ruan Yunzheng tried to signal her not to speak recklessly, but Liuzheng stepped in front of her.

Turning to her, she said: “Sister, this matter involves you. I’ll ask the questions.”

Ruan Yunzheng clenched her fists: “Ask, then.”

Liuzheng came before Su Luo, opened her palm, revealing the silver plaque.

“Su Luo, do you recognize this?”

Su Luo was about to speak, but Liuzheng continued: “During the search, we found this under your mistress’s pillow. But it is a gift from His Majesty. Your mistress could not have stolen it. Therefore, we suspect someone is framing her. Besides her, the only other person who could enter the inner chamber is you. Did you intentionally frame your mistress?”

“No! I didn’t…”

Liuzheng smiled: “If it wasn’t you, then who? If we can’t find the real culprit, it must be your mistress… stealing imperial property is a grave crime. The punishment is to have both hands cut off.”

Su Luo’s heart jolted.

She was loyal and only cared for Ruan Yunzheng.

Hearing that her mistress might have her hands cut off, her mind went blank.

She could not let her mistress suffer!

Especially for a shameful theft.

Her mistress was to become Crown Princess, eventually Empress! She could not lose her hands!

Su Luo gritted her teeth, made up her mind, bowed deeply, and said: “Mistress… it was I who took it. I saw the silver plaque, so I acted wrongly… But at the time of your poisoning, all the servants had to go to the front courtyard. I feared being discovered, so I put it under Third Miss’s pillow…”

Liuzheng narrowed her eyes and said: “Think carefully. The consequence of theft is having both hands cut off.”

“I… I confess! I am willing to accept punishment!”

Truly… a loyal servant.

“Now that it’s clear, let the punishment be carried out as it should,” Liuzheng said.

Ruan Yunzheng was furious.

Liuzheng was clearly using her to scare Su Luo into confessing.

“Elder sister! Isn’t your questioning improper?”

“But she already admitted it herself.”

“She only… only…”

Before Ruan Yunzheng could finish, someone came to report back about the storeroom:

“The records in the storeroom show that Su Luo did indeed enter.”

Ruan Yunzheng said: “She was retrieving items for me. I had no storeroom after moving here. My belongings were kept with Father. Father, speak!”

Master Ruan was exasperated.

He said, “Both witnesses and evidence are present. What else is there to say? Take this girl down and cut off her hands immediately!”

In Great Jin, a thief could be punished without reporting to authorities.

Su Luo closed her eyes, resolved to die in place of Ruan Yunzheng.

Cutting off hands… no one had ever survived such torture.

“No…” Ruan Yunzheng’s face changed drastically. She stood in front of Su Luo, refusing anyone to approach.

“Yun’er! What are you doing?! Why protect this maid?”

The Madam was puzzled.

This matter had nothing to do with Ruan Yunzheng; letting go of the maid would have sufficed.

Her adopted daughter was kind-hearted to a fault.

Unbeknownst to her, Su Luo was the messenger between Ruan Yunzheng and Master Huifan.

She was a cousin to the jailer who guarded Master Huifan.

Without Su Luo, Ruan Yunzheng would have trouble receiving messages from Master Huifan.

Moreover, her conversations with Master Huifan could not be entrusted to anyone untrustworthy.

Su Luo grew up with her and was her most trusted confidante.

There was no one else more suitable for this task.

Ruan Yunzheng did not care about Su Luo’s life—but cultivating such a capable confidante again would be too difficult.

She had to protect Su Luo.

Thinking quickly, Ruan Yunzheng bit her lip and said: “Su Luo did not steal! It was I who had her take it!”

Everyone looked at Ruan Yunzheng, expressions varying.

Even Liuzheng was somewhat surprised.

The Ruan Yunzheng she remembered would never risk her own reputation to protect a subordinate.

Moreover, Liuzheng clearly remembered that in her previous life, after Ruan Yunzheng became Crown Princess, her first act was to eliminate Su Luo, and then Master Huifan.

And now, Ruan Yunzheng was willing to protect this maid at the cost of her own reputation?

Something was off.

When things are abnormal, there’s a reason.

Liuzheng knew the Madam would protect Ruan Yunzheng at all costs, so she had no intention of smearing Ruan Yunzheng.

Her plan was to first remove Su Luo, Ruan Yunzheng’s left and right hand.

But now, the maid could not die.

Liuzheng needed to extract something from her.

Su Luo must possess something Ruan Yunzheng could never abandon, which explained her desperate protection.

Liuzheng had to obtain that thing.

She looked at Ruan Yunzheng.

“Are you serious, Sister? Did you really take my silver reward plaque? Do you know what happens when you admit it…”