MFURCC -Chapter 43 For Exorcism Use Only

“Stand at ease.”

Prince Su’s voice remained cold and steady, but for a fleeting moment, a glint betrayed him.

Only Liuzheng didn’t notice.

Whenever Liuzheng saw Prince Su’s face, she thought of Xiao Hengzi, and her heart ached.

So, she merely caught a glimpse of his silhouette, lowered her head, and stepped forward to pay her respects.

In doing so, she missed the fleeting light in his eyes.

“Sit. There’s no need to be formal.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Liuzheng sat down and immediately felt Prince Su examining her face.

She slightly lowered her head further, feeling uncomfortable, when Prince Su asked, “Judging by your complexion, you haven’t fully recovered yet?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fully well now. Regarding yesterday’s matter, I owe my safety to Your Highness’s timely intervention.”

Prince Su’s smile was half-amused, half-cynical: “I think even without me, you would have survived. General Ruan had already made arrangements, didn’t she?”

Liuzheng stiffened but quickly feigned ignorance: “I don’t understand what Your Highness means.”

She played dumb, and Prince Su didn’t call her out. He merely said, “Your General Ruan’s household is truly full of affairs. If she can’t even manage her own inner quarters, how could His Majesty and I trust you with matters of state?”

That was a serious remark.

Liuzheng quickly stood and said, “I have returned to the capital less than ten days. My household is indeed in some disorder—please forgive me, Your Highness. Once I become familiar with the people and affairs, everything will stabilize.”

Prince Su let out a faint chuckle, saying, “I find it remarkable that you could get poisoned even in your own home. Where has the courage you show on the battlefield gone? Or perhaps this female disguise of yours is holding you back?”

“…”

“Enough. I won’t meddle in your domestic affairs. But I have a task for you—do you think you can handle it?”

“I am not sure what task Your Highness refers to.”

“Earlier, did you see Fu Yunsheng?”

“I… happened to run into General Fu.”

“Fu Yunsheng told me that His Majesty plans to hand the tiger tally of the Vanguard Army to General Feng Lunian, the Cavalry General. This man was nothing more than a horse bandit in his youth. He happened to distinguish himself in a battle at the frontier and was then recruited by the court. I don’t think he is competent for such a post. If General Ruan could remove him… I can guarantee that the Vanguard Army will be returned to you afterward.”

Liuzheng was slightly surprised.

Had she really become close enough with Prince Su for him to openly express dissatisfaction with Emperor Jingyuan’s plan and ask her to meddle… without fear she’d turn around and inform the emperor?

Yet the matter involved the tiger tally of the Vanguard Army, and her heart couldn’t help but be tempted.

When she had handed over the tally originally, it had been to save her own life—she had sacrificed an arm to survive.

The Vanguard Army was a unit she had personally built, piece by piece.

In her previous life, after she died a tragic death, the army was eventually handed over to Feng Lunian.

He didn’t know how to lead troops properly, sticking to the ways of a mountain bandit. The Vanguard Army eventually became neither army nor bandits… the unit fell apart.

If she could reclaim the Vanguard Army, of course, she would be happy.

But if she accepted this task, she would truly be aboard Prince Su’s “ship,” with no turning back.

Liuzheng hesitated.

Seeing her remain silent, Prince Su raised an eyebrow and asked, “Can General Ruan not accomplish this? Then I shall find someone else!”

Biting her lip, Liuzheng said, “Your Highness misunderstands. I am merely considering how to accomplish the task without arousing the emperor’s suspicion.”

“That’s simple,” Prince Su said. “Fu Yunsheng’s younger brother is holding a birthday at General Dingyuan’s residence. I will have Fu Yunsheng summon Feng Lunian. You will also go and create some chaos. Whether you break his leg in the confusion or poison him—it’s up to you.”

“…” Liuzheng was speechless.

Prince Su’s approach was far too direct. If she actually broke Feng Lunian’s leg or poisoned him, it would be impossible to keep Emperor Jingyuan from suspecting.

This was blatant disregard for the emperor.

No wonder there were always impeachment articles against him at court.

Liuzheng carefully considered her words. “General Fu mentioned this matter to me. There are still three days until the event. I will return and carefully consider how to handle it.”

“Good. I trust you won’t disappoint me. And if you succeed, I will not disappoint you either.”

“Yes…”

“Have some tea.”

Liuzheng took a symbolic sip of tea.

Remembering her other purpose, she soon set down her cup and asked, “Your Highness, Liuzheng has just returned to the capital and is unfamiliar with the palace. Aside from Princess Zhaohua, do you have other siblings?”

Prince Su glanced at her. “I am the seventh in line. Of course, I have more siblings than just Princess Zhaohua.”

“I am asking about your full siblings…”

“None.”

“Oh…”

“Why do you ask?”

Liuzheng hesitated, then spoke the truth.

“When I was at the frontier, I once recruited a deputy general. He looks very similar to you…”

Prince Su frowned.

“So the day at the Summer Retreat, when you mistook someone, you meant this deputy general?”

“Yes.”

“Bang!”

Prince Su suddenly slammed the table.

“Ruan Liuzheng, you are audacious!”

Liuzheng immediately knelt, and Pan Hong behind her quickly followed suit.

Prince Su shouted angrily, “Do you know what you’ve just said? You are slandering the Empress Dowager!”

Liuzheng’s face paled. “I did not mean that. I merely thought you two looked too alike…”

“Where is this man? I’ll have him killed! So you won’t spout nonsense that slanders the Empress Dowager!”

“Your Highness, please calm down. I did not mean that, and this man has already died on the battlefield. No one will slander the Empress Dowager.”

Prince Su’s expression eased somewhat.

“Do not speak of this again. This person is never to be mentioned. Otherwise, not even I can guarantee your life.”

“I will remember your teachings, Your Highness.”

Liuzheng bowed her head, regretting asking the question.

Yet if she hadn’t asked, she would have remained uneasy.

Even though she was reprimanded, she had at least obtained an answer and could stop her mind from wandering.

She didn’t notice the flicker of guilt in Prince Su’s eyes.

He disguised it well, speaking entirely in the tone of a superior addressing a subordinate.

“Go. Reflect carefully, and think about how you will complete the task I have assigned you.”

Liuzheng realized she could hardly refuse being aboard Prince Su’s ship.

Not to mention, he had intervened multiple times to help her and even given her ten thousand taels of gold—she would find it very difficult to repay him.

Moreover, Prince Su looked so much like Xiao Hengzi that she felt an instinctive, blind sense of closeness toward him.

Even if he often “bares his teeth.”

Well, how the future would unfold was up to human action.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something.

She cupped her hands to Prince Su: “Your Highness, I haven’t slept well these past few days. I’ve heard that members of the royal family carry strong Yang energy. Could you grant me a calligraphic work to hang above my bed for exorcism?”

Prince Su glanced at her. “How ugly would my writing have to be for even ghosts to dislike it?”

“I didn’t mean that, Your Highness…”

“Enough. It’s just a piece of writing. Bring ink and brush!”

“Yes!”

Soon, paper, ink, and brushes were ready. Prince Su held the brush in his right hand, waved it with a grand gesture, and wrote four large characters on the paper:

“For Exorcism Use Only.”

Liuzheng: “…”

She barely managed to maintain her expression and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for the gift.”

“Go.”

“I take my leave…”

She carefully stored the “For Exorcism Use Only” scroll and withdrew.

After she left, Prince Su’s aide Li Wu approached and lowered his voice: “Your Highness, it seems General Ruan has noticed something. That’s why she specifically mentioned Xiao Hengzi and requested you to write the calligraphy…”

Prince Su chuckled lightly.

“She is indeed very clever.”

In his expression was a hint of pride.

Li Wu: “…”

Is this really a moment to feel proud?

Besides, they just look alike—suspicion would naturally arise. There’s no reason to praise her for intelligence.

Could it be that Your Highness…

Li Wu didn’t dare think further. “You should be more careful. If General Ruan finds out, who knows what might happen…”

Prince Su looked coldly at him.

“Are you instructing me on how to act?”

“I dare not…”

“Then shut up! I know exactly what I’m doing. Even if she had suspicions, after today, she won’t suspect anymore.”

He deliberately displayed his domineering side in front of Ruan Liuzheng, differentiating himself from Xiao Hengzi, who had always put her first.

Li Wu didn’t dare speak again.

Meanwhile, Liuzheng returned to Tinglan Courtyard. Pan Hong couldn’t help commenting: “Prince Su really looks like Xiao Hengzi…”

Last time, when delivering the secret letter, Pan Hong had only seen Prince Su through a screen and hadn’t seen his face.

Seeing him today, he nearly exclaimed in surprise.

Liuzheng observed the calligraphy.

Judging by the handwriting, the pressure, and stroke habits, Prince Su’s writing was completely different from Xiao Hengzi’s.

She had also deliberately observed Prince Su’s behavior today.

Although they looked alike, their little habits were entirely different.

Prince Su loved drinking tea. Xiao Hengzi never did—he only drank alcohol.

Moreover, she didn’t believe that if Xiao Hengzi were still alive, he would refuse to reunite with her.

They had once been comrades in life and death, able to trust each other with their backs.

Liuzheng put the calligraphy down, wary of letting Prince Su’s sometimes cold, sometimes warm demeanor bias her judgment.

Even though she had concluded that Prince Su could not be Xiao Hengzi, she asked Pan Hong anyway:

“Besides their looks, do you see any other similarities between them?”

Pan Hong thought carefully, then shook his head: “None. If they didn’t look almost identical, I wouldn’t have associated Prince Su with Xiao Hengzi at all. Also, Xiao Hengzi had a distinct southern accent—he was from the south. Prince Su has never been south.”

“That’s it. Xiao Hengzi is dead. We both saw it ourselves. There’s no one like him in this world anymore, and we should never mention him again.”

Liuzheng spoke as if to Pan Hong, and also as if to herself.

Xiao Hengzi had left a vivid mark on her life, but over time, it would inevitably fade.

“Yes.” Pan Hong responded, then after a moment asked, “So… in the future, are we going to work for Prince Su?”