MFURCC -Chapter 47 Prince Su’s Night Visit

“What painting?”

“Is it convenient to go to your study?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

The two of them moved to the study to talk.

Liuzheng took out the painting, looking very solemn.

“I need a replica—fast, and it must be accurate. Can you help me, Sister Xue?”

Ruan Xuezhen looked at the scroll and suddenly asked, “Big Sister, tell me honestly—does this painting have anything to do with Fifth Brother?”

Liuzheng didn’t hide it and nodded. “It does. If you don’t want—”

“I want to!”

Before she could finish speaking, Ruan Xuezhen said, “I want to help you deal with Fifth Brother.”

Such bluntness genuinely shocked Liuzheng.

Ruan Xuezhen then recounted an incident.

It happened when Third Master and Third Madam had gone to the farm to handle the harvest, while the matriarch was at the summer villa.

“Brother Jia was playful. He went out in the rain and came back with a fever and even convulsions.”

“At that age, a high fever with convulsions could have killed him.”

“I hurriedly sent someone to fetch a doctor, but the doctor never came. Later, I found out that Fifth Brother had called the doctor over to him instead.”

“He claimed he had accidentally ingested rat poison. The doctor, on the way, was taken to him by his men.”

“Afterward, I tried getting another doctor, but for various reasons, they all delayed.”

“Fortunately, Brother Jia was blessed with good fortune and survived the night…”

At this, Ruan Xuezhen clenched her hands tightly. “Later, I discovered by chance that Fifth Brother hadn’t ingested rat poison at all. He… he did it on purpose!”

She analyzed her theory for Liuzheng.

“Big Sister, you replaced our eldest brother in the military. In the future, he would inherit your military merits. As for Fifth Brother, he was naturally weak and unfit for military service, so he could only pursue the civil path. Brother Jia too—our parents didn’t want him to suffer learning martial arts and wanted him to focus on the imperial examinations.”

“So, in the Ruan family, we have two sons destined for the civil path… but Dufeng Academy only accepts one. Therefore…”

Imperial examinations require both luck and skill.

The former top scholar had the advantage of Elder Master Ruan influencing the question selection, but he was not entirely unskilled—he was already an outstanding student at the academy.

Ruan Mingzheng studied diligently, but examinations weren’t a matter of effort alone.

He knew his own abilities, which is why his sights were always set on Dufeng Academy, not the imperial exams.

He didn’t want a competitor to snatch a place at Dufeng Academy.

Brother Jia was such a competitor.

“How old was Brother Jia then?”

“Four.”

Liuzheng’s throat tightened.

That was the second year after she had left the capital for the frontier.

She had been completely unaware of this incident.

“Did you tell our parents about this?”

Ruan Xuezhen shook her head.

“No. You know Mom’s temper—if she knew, she’d make a huge scene. But she doesn’t know how to handle it properly, so every time she fusses, we end up worse off.”

Liuzheng held Ruan Xuezhen’s hand tenderly.

She was just a child at the time. How frightened she must have been.

“So,” Ruan Xuezhen said seriously, “if it has to do with Fifth Brother, I’ll definitely help you!”

Although shy and reserved, she wasn’t cowardly.

Worried Liuzheng might misunderstand, she added, “Even if it had nothing to do with Fifth Brother, I would still help you, Big Sister.”

Though still young, she could already judge people.

She could see that Liuzheng genuinely cared for the Third Household, and so she sincerely wanted to help her.

“Thank you, Sister Xue.”

At this, Liuzheng finally explained the “secret” of the painting to Ruan Xuezhen.

After explaining, she said, “No one else should touch this painting.”

“Understood. When do you need it?”

“Tomorrow, before I set out for General Dingyuan’s mansion, around Shen hour.”

The painting was over five meters long—a massive undertaking, practically impossible for an ordinary person.

But Ruan Xuezhen said confidently, “I will finish it before Shen hour.”

She truly excelled at copying artworks and had full confidence. She immediately began to work.

Liuzheng didn’t disturb her and soon returned to Tinglan Courtyard.

That night, sitting idly, she picked up a military manual to read.

But she couldn’t concentrate on a single word.

Seeing this, Nanny Jiang simply took her aside to talk.

“Miss Six is exceptionally intelligent,” Nanny Jiang praised Ruan Xuezhen.

“She’s also pitiful,” Liuzheng said with a bitter smile. “I am pitiful too.”

Even more so than Sister Xue.

At least Third Aunt and Third Uncle cared deeply for Sister Xue.

But for her…

Liuzheng suddenly felt very weary.

At that moment, she heard a cold laugh outside the window.

Liuzheng instantly became alert. “Who’s there?!”

She stepped out quickly and saw Prince Su strolling toward her.

Under the moonlight, his face appeared faint, giving him a strangely elegant and eerie aura.

Looking around, she saw all the servants in the courtyard were unconscious.

Nanny Jiang was about to cry out, but Liuzheng covered her mouth.

“It’s Prince Su. Don’t panic. Go back inside and wait for me.”

Nanny Jiang regained her senses. Confirming it was Prince Su, she was slightly suspicious but obeyed and returned to the house.

Liuzheng stepped forward and bowed.

“Liuzheng greets Your Grace!”

Prince Su didn’t tell her to rise, merely gazing at her.

“General Ruan, why are the people in your courtyard so useless? If someone broke in, they wouldn’t even know you were killed.”

Liuzheng was troubled as well.

“I haven’t officially assumed my post yet. Though I hold rank, I’m just an ordinary woman. It’s difficult to station military personnel inside the residence.”

“What about your deputy?”

“He’s a man…”

The Pan brothers could not enter the inner courtyard at night—lest they disturb the women of the household.

The matriarch had mentioned this to her for her reputation’s sake.

Liuzheng was frustrated by her female status, but there was no solution.

Women had many restrictions in the world, especially in the Ruan household’s complex situation.

Prince Su was silent for a moment, then said, “I have two subordinates. Though they are women, their skills are excellent. I can lend them to you.”

Liuzheng hesitated.

Though convenient, any action she took in the future would now be visible to Prince Su.

But the theft of the handkerchief had been a warning.

After some deliberation, Liuzheng decisively cupped her fists.

“Liuzheng thanks Your Grace!”

Only then did Prince Su say, “Rise!”

“…At this moment, Liuzheng even wondered—if she hadn’t accepted those two female subordinates, would he have refused to let her rise?”

“Do you know why I’ve brought you here?”

Liuzheng shook her head. “I do not know, Your Grace.”

It surely wasn’t just to test her courtyard’s defenses, right?

Prince Su said, “I’ve just received news from the palace. Three days from now is the Qiqiao Festival, and His Majesty will host a banquet for the ministers. Your name is not on the list.”

Liuzheng frowned. “Why?”

Though she hadn’t yet taken up her post at the Ministry of War, she was still a third-rank general.

Prince Su said, “It’s Empress Cihui. She requested you from the Emperor.”

“Requested me… what does that mean?”

“She believes that though you are a third-rank general, you are a woman, so she proposed to His Majesty that you celebrate the festival in the palace with the inner court ladies. She also mentioned she has never met you and wants to chat with you.”

“…”

Liuzheng’s expression darkened.

The Empress’s apparent favor was actually suppression.

This was her first official appearance in the palace since returning to the capital, yet the Empress denied her that opportunity.

Being a woman had already made the court underestimate her, and now her standing among the ministers would be at its lowest.

“General Ruan, have you offended the Empress?”

Liuzheng thought carefully, then shook her head. “No.”

She had never even met the Empress—only once in the palace to see the Empress Dowager.

Could it be because of that visit?

But that time was for Princess Huishu’s birthday banquet, completely unrelated to the Empress.

She couldn’t figure out the reason.

“Regardless, this time you must appear. Since the Empress personally intervened, I cannot help you. You must rely on yourself. Understood?”

“Understood…”

“Fine. The two people I mentioned will arrive once they return to the capital. Figure out how to accommodate them.”

“I will prepare in advance.”

Coincidentally, her grandmother needed a hairdressing maid; she could use this as an excuse to bring the two women in.

Prince Su asked again, “Have you thought of a way to deal with Feng Lunian?”

“I will give Your Grace a satisfactory answer.”

Prince Su raised his elegant brows slightly.

“Then I look forward to your good news.”

“I won’t disappoint Your Grace.”

Prince Su said no more, leaving behind a small vial, and with a tap of his foot, disappeared into the night.

Liuzheng stepped forward, picked up the vial, and found it resembled a snuff bottle.

She smelled it—sharp and refreshing—and immediately understood what it was.

Returning inside, she handed it to Nanny Jiang.

“Let them smell it; they’ll regain consciousness shortly. Don’t alarm anyone else; do it naturally.”

“Yes!”

Nanny Jiang went out.

Moments later, a group of people slowly woke, only to immediately hear Nanny Jiang scolding them.

“What were you on night duty for? Asleep?”

Any lingering drowsiness vanished instantly.

“Grandma, forgive us…”

“Fine! Miss has already rested. I won’t scold you this time, so as not to wake her. Next time, I’ll be stricter!”

“Yes…”

The group straightened up and dared not nod off again.

Nanny Jiang returned to the room.

“Miss, they suspected nothing.”

Liuzheng nodded and sighed.

The people she had recruited were indeed clumsy.

Since the matriarch still managed household affairs, she couldn’t replace everyone in the courtyard; she would have to wait for the right opportunity.

To secure the outside, the inside must be stable first. She didn’t want to dwell on internal matters, but until these obstacles were cleared, she couldn’t attend to anything else.

She could only patiently play along with them.

Liuzheng considered herself patient enough.

Yet she remained puzzled about the Qiqiao Festival.

She couldn’t figure out when she had offended the Empress.

Unable to reach a conclusion, Liuzheng went to the study.

She prepared her ink and brushes, and began mapping out the complex relationships among all the high-ranking officials in the capital.

Soon, she traced a clear thread.