MFURCC -Chapter 51 Luring into a Trap

Liuzheng followed the sound and looked up.

She saw a girl in red, her eyes fixed intently on her, approaching.

Madam Yuan reminded Liuzheng from beside her, “This is Miss Du, the daughter of Director Du of the Supervisory Office—Du Panpan.”

The Supervisory Office was responsible for managing all political affairs of the Eastern Palace and for tutoring the Crown Prince.

Director Du held the official rank of Third Rank, the same as Yuan’s husband, the Minister of Justice.

Liuzheng smiled gratefully at Yuan. Though she possessed memories of the next ten years, she already knew clearly who Du Panpan was.

This Du Panpan, relying on her family’s ties to the Crown Prince, was extremely arrogant and overbearing.

After Ruan Yunzheng married into the Eastern Palace, Du Panpan even gave her a show of power.

Later, she became a concubine favored by the Crown Prince.

But the Crown Prince favored Ruan Yunzheng even more, and Du Panpan, being naive and unstrategic, fell from grace after Ruan Yunzheng repeatedly turned situations to her advantage.

Although old sayings suggest “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” the look in Du Panpan’s eyes seemed as if she wanted to devour Liuzheng. Clearly, friendship was impossible.

Liuzheng was not lacking friends anyway.

She met Du Panpan’s gaze frankly and asked, “Miss Du, may I ask what you wish to discuss?”

“I don’t dare presume to instruct you! I just have one question: since Tinglan has been under house arrest, does it have anything to do with you?”

Liuzheng understood.

Ah, so she was a close friend of Shen Tinglan.

She smiled lightly and said, “Miss Du, I don’t understand your meaning. General Shen being confined is His Majesty’s decree; how could it have anything to do with me? If Miss Du is dissatisfied with His Majesty’s decree, your father can submit a petition and request an audience.”

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Du Panpan.

The Du family was firmly in the Crown Prince’s faction; if she were dissatisfied with Emperor Jingyuan, did that imply the Crown Prince might also have grievances?

For a moment, everyone’s expressions were complicated.

Du Panpan realized this and paled instantly.

“I-I am not dissatisfied with His Majesty! Don’t slander me! I was only asking about Sister Tinglan!”

“I am not familiar with General Shen. Her house arrest has nothing to do with me. Miss Du, perhaps you should inquire elsewhere.”

Liuzheng did not reveal the reason for Shen Tinglan’s confinement.

It wasn’t to give Shen Tinglan face, but because of the Empress.

If she were to expose Shen Tinglan’s fault in front of everyone now, wouldn’t that be a direct challenge to the Empress?

Du Panpan shot her a sharp glance, snorted coldly from her nose, and turned to sit at another table.

Although she had left, she had no intention of letting it go.

When Liuzheng answered, her eyes had been evasive. Was that not proof of guilt?

Before Tinglan was confined, she had told her that Liuzheng had harmed her.

Sister Tinglan was always straightforward and fearless; her words would never be false.

Anyone who might be lying must be Liuzheng.

Du Panpan would need to find a chance to make Liuzheng suffer a humiliating defeat!

Her gaze shifted, spinning quickly until it landed on Fu Yunyi at the neighboring table.

Fu Yunyi was the younger sister of Fu Yunsheng and Fu Yunqi. In the Dingyuan General’s residence, she was adored by her two brothers and parents alike.

She and Liuzheng had some past acquaintance from the girls’ school run by Princess Zhaohua, the Crown Prince’s sister.

Du Panpan walked toward Fu Yunyi.

Her movements were noticed by Liuzheng from the corner of her eye.

Liuzheng remained composed, continuing to chat and laugh with Yuan, commenting that today’s dishes were all to her taste.

Yuan, however, was somewhat worried.

“That Miss Du is most headstrong. Even I must yield to her if we happen to meet. She calls the Crown Prince ‘Brother Crown Prince,’ and the Prince allows it. You shouldn’t have spoken to her so directly today; she is petty and might hold a grudge.”

Liuzheng smiled gratefully.

“I understand. Thank you for the warning, Sister Yuan. I’ll be careful.”

Yuan nodded.

After three rounds of wine, the men’s table had become lively.

Liuzheng raised a glass. “There are some colleagues I knew from the frontier. I’ll go toast them.”

“Go ahead.”

She nodded and stepped over.

First, she congratulated Fu Yunqi on his birthday and Fu Yunsheng on his promotion to Third Rank General.

She then drained her cup in one gulp.

Fu Yunsheng said, “General Ruan, you are truly generous!”

Fu Yunqi, the second young master, said, “When will General Ruan hold a victory feast? I want to come pay my respects too.”

Liuzheng smiled. “I just returned to the capital. With all the household affairs, I doubt I’ll host one.”

“How can that do? General Ruan is a heroine among women. So many people wish to see you! You won’t give them a chance?”

His words had a double meaning, and all eyes turned to Liuzheng.

She smiled, ignoring the implied meaning, and said, “When I have time, I will invite Second Young Master to my residence for drinks.”

“That’s agreed then! I’ll toast you once more!”

He poured a full cup of wine for her.

“General Ruan, I drink to you first!”

His cup was large, but he drained it in one gulp, earning cheers from those around him.

Liuzheng raised her cup slightly, covering half her face with her sleeve, and drank as well.

The wine was slightly sweet—sweet wine.

Fu Yunqi glanced at her lips and said, “General Ruan, indeed generous!”

Liuzheng smiled. “May I borrow your wine jug to toast the other colleagues?”

Fu Yunqi hesitated briefly, then quickly smiled again.

“Here.”

He handed her the jug, and Liuzheng took it naturally, moving to the other table to toast the officers she had dealt with at the frontier.

Though her cup was small, drinking several rounds in succession could make anyone tipsy.

But Liuzheng seemed to have no limit.

Soon, she reached General Feng Lunian’s table.

She filled his cup with wine from the jug.

“General Feng, I toast you. Today’s matter was purely a misunderstanding. I trust you won’t take it to heart.”

Curious eyes watched them.

Feng Lunian, afraid Liuzheng might reveal he could not best her, quickly drained his cup and went to converse with others, eager for her to leave.

Liuzheng did not linger. After toasting a few more people, she returned to her seat.

The men praised her as a “heroine among women,” but Du Panpan at the women’s table looked utterly disdainful.

“Parading herself!”

She cursed Liuzheng.

The lady seated to Du Panpan’s right ignored it and continued eating.

Fu Yunyi, to Du Panpan’s left, glanced toward her.

Earlier she had not noticed Liuzheng. Only when Liuzheng toasted Feng Lunian had she looked.

Now that Du Panpan criticized Liuzheng, Fu Yunyi looked over.

Du Panpan caught her eye, immediately smiled, and leaned in to ask, “Yi, what do you think?”

Fu Yunyi did not comment on Liuzheng, but said, “Speaking of heroines, Sister Tinglan counts as one.”

“Of course! She grew up with us in the boudoir, yet dared to lead troops at the frontier! Before the expedition, I saw her practice with the long spear until her palms had multiple blisters!”

Fu Yunyi said, “Even a small needle prick while embroidering hurts terribly. Sister Tinglan is truly brave.”

Not a word about Liuzheng’s efforts.

These noble girls believed Liuzheng, being from a common background, was used to hardship; she only labored to secure a comfortable life.

Whereas they, already living comfortably, willingly endured hardship—that was true bravery.

They bonded instantly over admiration for Shen Tinglan.

Their past friendship from the princess’s school only made the conversation livelier.

Meanwhile, a maid brought a pot of sobering soup to Liuzheng after she sat down.

“It’s by the young master’s order. I’ve brought it for you, General.”

The girl seemed nervous.

Liuzheng said, “Thank you.”

As she reached to take it, the maid’s hand shook, and the brown sobering soup spilled onto Liuzheng’s skirt.

The white lower skirt turned brown.

“Careful!” Madam Yuan hurriedly handed a cloth to wipe it.

She also scolded the maid, “How clumsy can one be, even with just some soup?”

The maid knelt immediately.

“I deserve this! I deserve this!”

A steward came over, scolding her a few times, then said to Liuzheng, “General Ruan, my apologies. There are many guests today, so an untrained newcomer was sent… which startled you. You weren’t burned, were you?”

Liuzheng shook her head. “I’m fine.”

The soup was warm, not hot enough to burn.

Madam Yuan still worried.

“Perhaps we should find a quiet room so I can check you.”

The steward suggested, “Let the girl make amends by taking the General to check. If there’s a burn, we can treat it immediately; if not, you can change clothes. Our Third Miss has a similar size; you can borrow hers.”

Liuzheng seemed hesitant. “Would that be too troublesome?”

“Not at all. Let her make amends; otherwise, she may be expelled from the household,” said the steward.

The maid looked pitiful, pleading with her eyes.

Liuzheng nodded.

“Then accompany me to change clothes.”

Madam Yuan would accompany her too.

Liuzheng said, “Don’t worry, Sister Yuan. I wasn’t burned, just changing. I’ll be quick.”

“Very well.”

Madam Yuan nodded, reminding the maid, “This time, be careful. If you’re clumsy again, even if General Ruan forgives you, I won’t.”

“Yes!” The maid kowtowed.

Liuzheng said, “Stand. Lead the way.”

The maid responded, still clumsy.

After a few steps, Liuzheng said, “Since I’m borrowing Third Miss’s clothes, I should inform her.”

The maid immediately offered, “I’ll go!”

“No need, I’ll go myself.”

Ignoring the maid, she walked toward Fu Yunyi.

Fu Yunyi and Du Panpan were chatting animatedly.

They had gone from discussing Shen Tinglan to Princess Zhaohua’s girls’ school.

The school had been well-run, but when the princess came of age and needed to find a husband, the school was disbanded.

“They said they’d open another residence specifically for a girls’ school. If you go, I’ll go too.”

“Since you say so, I’ll definitely go.”

They were chatting happily when Liuzheng approached.