MFURCC -Chapter 54 She Fancies Me

“Liuzheng…” Madam Yuan grabbed Liuzheng’s sleeve. “Are you really going?”

Liuzheng glanced at the servant and said, “Although I don’t know why Master Fu and General Fu want to see me, the Fu family is in such chaos. This is precisely the time someone is needed to help. I know General Fu from our time at the frontier, so I should go and assist.”

Madam Yuan caught on and added, “If help is needed, then I’ll go with you. You’re still an unmarried young lady, and in matters like this, it might be inconvenient for you alone.”

She tugged on Liuzheng firmly, refusing to let go, insisting on accompanying her.

Liuzheng appreciated her concern and, also to prevent Madam Yuan from worrying endlessly outside, nodded in agreement.

“I’ll go with the Lady of the Dali Temple, that should be fine, right?” she asked the servant.

The servant, hearing it was the Lady of the Dali Temple, thought that her presence would make the matter handled more “properly,” and replied respectfully, “Since Madam also wishes to go, I am naturally grateful.”

“Then lead the way!”

“Yes, Madam.”

The servant immediately went ahead to guide them.

Liuzheng held Madam Yuan’s hand in hers and gently shook her head, signaling that she had prepared thoroughly and there would be no mistakes.

Yet even so, Madam Yuan still worried a little.

Her concern for Liuzheng had multiple reasons: first, she had previously misunderstood her over a return gift and felt guilty; second, after several encounters, she felt genuine affection for Liuzheng and believed their personalities matched well.

Third…

Outsiders mocked her as a “hen that cannot lay eggs,” and some even said being close to her would make it difficult to conceive.

Only Liuzheng was willing to be close and sincere.

Madam Yuan truly wanted to befriend Liuzheng and therefore did not want anything to happen to her.

Liuzheng knew that until the matter was resolved, words of reassurance would have little effect on Madam Yuan. So she simply took her forward, letting her witness firsthand that she could handle things properly—this would finally put her mind at ease.

Soon, the servant led the two of them to the east side guest room in the Fu family mansion.

Inside, the elder Master Fu sat in the main seat. Feng Lunian and Fu Yunsheng sat on either side, while Fu Yunqi knelt on the floor.

Fu Yunyi and Du Panpan stood to the left and right of the kneeling Fu Yunqi.

“General Ruan has arrived—”

Someone called from inside.

Fu Yunqi immediately turned and glared at Liuzheng.

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to bore a hole into her with his gaze.

Feng Lunian also stared straight at her, as if trying to read her thoughts.

He had been knocked out by Fu Yunsheng and hadn’t seen how many people witnessed him and Fu Yunqi…

When he woke up, everyone had dispersed, and only Fu Yunsheng recounted the situation to him.

Fu Yunsheng had deliberately left out some details, only saying that the two of them were lying together bare-chested.

Thus, his emotions weren’t as uncontrollably angry as Fu Yunqi’s.

It was only when he heard Fu Yunqi claim that Liuzheng had set them up that his expression darkened.

Set him to lie with Fu Yunqi…? He couldn’t understand what Liuzheng wanted to do.

Liuzheng, walking into the east side room with Madam Yuan, ignored all scrutinizing eyes and, according to etiquette by age, gave a slight nod to Master Fu.

The late Mr. Fu had been an official in the previous dynasty. When he passed away, Emperor Jin Yuan had just ascended the throne, and the new dynasty did not inherit Mr. Fu’s former rank. He held no actual title, so a third-rank general like Liuzheng need not pay him great respect.

“Master Fu, may I ask why you summoned me?”

Just as Master Fu was about to speak, the kneeling Fu Yunqi suddenly stood up and pointed at Liuzheng. “Did you frame me and the Cavalry General?!”

Liuzheng’s face showed shock.

“Second Young Master Fu, what are you saying? I don’t understand anything!”

Her brows furrowed slightly, a mixture of confusion and a tinge of unjustified irritation.

Master Fu immediately scolded, “You little brat! Nonsense! Shut your mouth!”

“Father, I’m not lying. She definitely framed me! Otherwise, why would I have ended up lying on the same bed with the Cavalry General?!”

Liuzheng replied calmly, “Second Young Master Fu, you acted recklessly yourself. Why blame me? I recall we never had any dealings, so why immediately slander me?”

Fu Yunqi, anticipating his next move, pointed at Liuzheng and said to the others present, “Because when I was studying at Dufeng Academy, she fell for me at first sight! But I never desired a woman of her temperament, so when her love went unrequited upon returning to the capital, she sought to ruin my reputation!”

“….” Liuzheng twitched her face, clearly speechless.

“Me? Fancied you? Second Young Master Fu, don’t flatter yourself too much. A third-rank general like me, fancying someone without any achievements? Am I blind?”

Madam Yuan added, “Second Young Master Fu, don’t slander her out of thin air. Liuzheng went to the frontier eight or nine years ago. Back then, she was just a child—how could she understand romantic matters? Either your mouth speaks nonsense, or whatever you say goes. I’d even say you’re delusional, imagining that Liuzheng fancies you.”

Hearing this, Master Fu’s face was slightly embarrassed but could not deny that Liuzheng was correct.

At that time, Liuzheng was too young to understand such matters.

Moreover, considering Liuzheng’s military merits now, her future was limitless; there was no possibility of her marrying at this point.

Even if she did want to marry, which noble in the capital wouldn’t seek her hand?

Not to mention his second son—Liuzheng could likely ignore his eldest son as well.

They were generals of equal rank.

The more Master Fu thought, the less his face mattered, and he once again ordered Fu Yunqi to shut up.

“Are you not embarrassed enough? Do you want me to have you slapped?!”

Fu Yunqi exclaimed, “Father! I really am not lying! I have proof!”

“I see you won’t listen to reason. Bring him here—slap him!”

“Wait!” Feng Lunian stood up. “Old Master, if Second Young Master Fu claims he has evidence, then let him show it. I also want to clarify who is truly trying to frame me.”

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed directly on Liuzheng.

Liuzheng seemed completely unaware, showing no fear, no panic, her face calm and untroubled.

Even Feng Lunian was shaken.

Could it be that Ruan Liuzheng is truly uninvolved?

Then why is Fu Yunqi so certain she is behind this?

Feng Lunian put aside his doubts and continued to Master Fu, “Since I’m also implicated, I feel compelled to speak. I want to see the truth. Old Master won’t blame me, right?”

“Of course not…”

Though he said this, he still glanced at Liuzheng.

Liuzheng smiled. “I am upright and honest, unafraid of any schemer’s plots.”

“Who are you calling a schemer?!” Fu Yunqi snapped.

Fu Yunsheng interjected, “Second Brother, is now the time for this? Didn’t you say you had evidence? Show it! If you truly have evidence, I, as your elder brother, would never let you be wronged. But if you cannot produce it, I will remain impartial.”

“Wait and see!” Fu Yunqi shouted, calling his attendant. “Bring the things Miss Ruan privately gave me.”

“Yes!” The attendant responded, pulling an item from his bosom.

It was a pale smoky-blue handkerchief.

Fu Yunqi grabbed it, spreading it out for everyone to see.

“Look! She insisted on giving this to me in secret! I refused, but she shoved it at me! And it even has her name embroidered on it—look!”

Master Fu rose from his chair and walked over to examine the embroidery carefully. Though the stitching was uneven, he could still recognize Liuzheng’s name.

Observing Liuzheng’s expression, his own changed.

His second son was foolish in matters of romance, and Feng Lunian was notorious for frequenting taverns. So he had never believed what his second son said about Liuzheng.

Until this moment.

Seeing Master Fu’s clear reaction, Fu Yunsheng and Feng Lunian also came closer.

Feng Lunian sneered and said, “General Ruan, what do you have to say now?”

Fu Yunsheng asked, “General Ruan, is this your handkerchief?”

Liuzheng took it. “Let me see.”

She examined it thoroughly, then shook her head. “This is not my handkerchief.”

“You lie! This is yours! It even has your name embroidered!” Fu Yunqi shouted. “Don’t try to deny it!”

“Just because my name is on it, does that make it mine?” Liuzheng said with amusement. “Should I carve my name on everything, does it all become mine? If I carve my name on the plaque at General Dingyuan’s mansion, does that make the mansion mine?”

“This cannot possibly be Liuzheng’s handkerchief!” Madam Yuan also spoke up.

“Madam Yuan, you’re close to her, so your words are not trustworthy. If you truly care for her, you should let her tell the truth rather than continue to hide it,” Fu Yunqi retorted.

Madam Yuan said, “It’s not because I’m close to Liuzheng that I speak this way. She also gave me a handkerchief before.”

She took one from her bosom—the handkerchief Liuzheng had given her.

As she unfolded it, the embroidery immediately caught everyone’s eye.

A cluster of lotus flowers with a lifelike dragonfly resting on top.

And it also had Liuzheng’s name embroidered.

“Compare the two. You can immediately see the stitching is completely different. Second Young Master Fu’s handkerchief is coarse; you can’t even tell what’s embroidered. Mine is clearly more delicate—the dragonfly is vivid, and the embroidery is precise and neat.”

Everyone leaned in and saw that it was indeed true.

Fu Yunsheng drew a conclusion: “These two handkerchiefs are definitely not from the same person. Yunqi, you should not commit a mistake and then slander General Ruan.”

Fu Yunqi refused to believe it and snatched the handkerchief from Madam Yuan, comparing it carefully with the one he had.

Even he could not claim that both handkerchiefs were made by the same person.

He was dumbfounded, muttering frantically, “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

The handkerchief he had was stolen from Liuzheng’s courtyard by his own hands!

It could not possibly be wrong!