MFURCC -Chapter 56 Cutting the Tongue Cord

When Fu Yunqi heard Feng Lunian’s question, he knew he had guessed correctly.

The reason Ruan Liuzheng hadn’t followed his plan—why the medicine he gave her didn’t take effect and why she instead turned against him and Feng Lunian—was that she must have realized long ago that the “Ten-Thousand-Mile Rivers and Mountains” painting had something wrong with it.

That he had been affected without knowing it meant that Liuzheng must have slipped another kind of medicine into him.

And it was very likely that Feng Lunian was affected for the same reason—he had also come into contact with that painting.

Feng Lunian’s response only confirmed this suspicion.

With this, everything suddenly made sense.

“That painting…”

Fu Yunqi almost let something slip, but he paused, took a moment to collect his words, and continued: “Ever since I received the painting she gave me, I’ve felt slightly dizzy and unsteady, though I didn’t think much of it. Now that I consider it, the painting must have been problematic!”

Feng Lunian frowned.

Recalling the carriage accident and how Ruan Liuzheng had provoked them… indeed, something seemed off.

He said, “Then what are you waiting for? Bring the painting!”

Liuzheng said, “Whether the painting has a problem can be addressed later. First, let’s take care of what we talked about!”

Fu Yunqi instinctively felt a bitter taste at the back of her tongue.

“No!” he said. “If the painting is problematic, it still proves it’s your doing! That written pledge cannot be considered valid!”

Madam Yuan said, “Aren’t you contradicting yourself?”

Old Master Fu, whose face had been gray from his son’s agreement with Liuzheng, finally had a chance to speak.

“General Ruan, if you are innocent, then the painting must also be fine. Why worry and delay even a moment longer?”

Liuzheng raised an eyebrow. “Fine, then bring the painting over! And, by the way, call a doctor.”

“My wife just fainted. It happens that we already called two doctors.”

“In that case, we’ll follow Old Master Fu’s suggestion.”

Her expression remained calm, with no hint of panic.

Old Master Fu’s heart raced.

Could it be that this time, his son was still talking nonsense?

But if they didn’t bring the painting, his son… his tongue would be cut immediately.

“Bring the painting General Ruan sent!” Old Master Fu commanded.

“Yes!”

The servant responded and quickly fetched the painting Liuzheng had given from the room where today’s birthday and congratulatory gifts were stored.

At the same time, one of the doctors attending Madam Fu was brought over.

“Sir, the painting has been brought, and the doctor has arrived.”

Everyone looked up.

Other guests had also brought paintings or calligraphy, but all were in exquisite silk boxes. Liuzheng’s painting was the only one without such packaging—just a simple hemp cord tied around the scroll.

Old Master Fu felt a surge of suspicion—the painting might really be problematic.

For the sake of his son’s tongue and future, he urgently said, “Doctor, examine it carefully. See if this painting has any issues!”

Fu Yunqi spoke even more firmly.

“This painting must have something wrong. Doctor, you need to inspect it carefully!”

The doctor, having heard some gossip, took the scroll very seriously.

However, despite flipping it over, smelling it, and inspecting it in every way, he could find no problem at all.

“Doctor, what’s the verdict? Is there something wrong with this painting? Any poison or hallucinogenic medicine?” Fu Yunqi asked.

He wanted to blurt out the medicine’s name to avoid the doctor not recognizing it.

The doctor bowed and said, “Perhaps my eyes are poor, but I see no problem with the painting.”

Fu Yunqi’s head buzzed.

He had seen Xie Huaiyuan apply the medicine to the scroll personally, and the type of medicine wasn’t rare—it was common in brothels. Any knowledgeable doctor could detect it.

“This is impossible! How could you not see any problem?”

Fu Yunqi’s cheeks flushed red with anxiety.

“I… indeed cannot see any issue. If you don’t believe me, call a more skilled doctor.”

Old Master Fu immediately decided to bring another doctor.

But even the second doctor could find nothing wrong.

Fu Yunqi became completely frantic.

Ignoring the risk of being suspected himself, he tore a corner of the painting, hoping to extract a hidden layer coated with medicine.

But when the scroll was torn, there was no hidden layer at all.

“This isn’t… this isn’t Master Xie’s work! You must have swapped it!” He pointed at Liuzheng.

Liuzheng sneered. “I haven’t touched the painting since it was handed to you. When would I have had the chance to swap it? But I am curious—why does Second Young Master Fu insist the painting is problematic?”

“I… I…”

Fu Yunqi’s face turned beet red, but he could not utter a full sentence.

Because he dared not speak!

Administering medicine to a third-rank general was a crime punishable by beheading. He could even be executed along with his entire family.

After thinking, he could only say, “Call Master Xie to verify it!”

“I think you’re just stalling and don’t want to fulfill your prior promise.”

“General Ruan, could you give me a chance to summon Master Xie?” Old Master Fu asked.

Liuzheng’s expression remained indifferent.

“Mr. Fu, I have already given him many chances. If you continue to persist like this, when will it end?”

“Your time is your time, but my time is not time?” Feng Lunian shouted.

Liuzheng said, “The incident involves you, not me. I am only being dragged into it unfairly.”

“Yes, you’re questioning Liuzheng for no reason. She is the most innocent! Why should she continue to be subjected to your suspicion?”

Feng Lunian was momentarily speechless, then waved his sleeve. “Since it’s come to this, let’s just bring Master Xie here! Let’s see if the painting has been swapped! If it hasn’t, then this matter is entirely Second Young Master Fu’s fault!”

After all, whether it was Liuzheng or Second Young Master Fu, someone had to take the blame. Otherwise, if the emperor heard about it, he would be in trouble too.

The culprit had to be found before the morning court session tomorrow!

“General Ruan, shall I go fetch him?” Fu Yunsheng asked Liuzheng.

Liuzheng lightly frowned.

“Then it’s agreed: if the painting hasn’t been swapped, it’s all Second Young Master Fu talking nonsense. He must fulfill his promise!”

“All right.” Fu Yunsheng nodded and went to see Old Master Fu for confirmation.

Old Master Fu waved his hand. “Go ahead!”

There was no other way.

Soon, Fu Yunsheng brought Xie Huaiyuan over.

He trembled, trying to maintain a calm exterior.

“Master Xie, please look—this painting, is it your Ten-Thousand-Mile Rivers and Mountains that you gave General Ruan?”

Xie Huaiyuan didn’t know the situation, but feeling guilty and nervous, he quickly glanced at the painting and nodded: “It is indeed my painting!”

Fu Yunqi immediately said, “No! This is not your painting!!”

Xie Huaiyuan froze.

Why wasn’t it following the plan?

The plan had been: even if he was found out, he could insist the painting was fine—just claim it was his own.

Why now make him deny it?

“Look carefully! Is this your painting or not?” Fu Yunqi shouted.

Xie Huaiyuan had no choice but to examine it seriously.

Sure enough, it was his painting. Even the details were identical.

But… he noticed the torn corner. The hidden layer was missing.

Hesitating, Xie Huaiyuan faltered. Meanwhile, Fu Yunqi immediately demanded: “Is this your painting or not?”

Liuzheng spoke coldly: “Master Xie, you only have one head—speak honestly.”

Xie Huaiyuan felt a chill down his spine.

He already sensed something was wrong.

But he had already admitted it was his painting. If he now reversed himself… all suspicion would fall on him.

He had only taken silver to do a job, never intending to harm anyone!

After much hesitation, he decided he didn’t want to be dragged in, and grit his teeth: “It’s my painting. My own painting. How could I be mistaken?”

Fu Yunqi flew into a rage. That man had taken so much silver, yet at the crucial moment, refused to help!

“Bastard! You—”

“Enough!” Liuzheng interrupted. “All the evidence you presented is false. Now you must fulfill your promise. The pledge you signed bears your fingerprints. Everyone saw it. It’s real—there’s no trick.”

“No! No! It’s not like that!”

Fu Yunqi’s mental defenses were on the verge of collapse. He could no longer think clearly.

Liuzheng stepped closer.

“If it’s not like that, then how is it? The truth—you know it yourself!”

Fu Yunqi looked into Liuzheng’s piercing eyes and felt only fear.

She knew everything!

Because she knew everything, she had been prepared.

Now, what could he say?

Rather than admit he was trying to destroy Liuzheng’s innocence, he might as well admit being involved with Feng Lunian.

The latter was only scandalous, while the former was a capital crime.

But if he admitted being involved with Feng Lunian, his tongue cord would be cut.

He would become mute!

No matter what he chose, it was bad for him!

“N-No…” he retreated step by step, his face paler than the wall.

Liuzheng took out the written pledge.

“Fulfill your promise, Second Young Master Fu!”

She seemed like a ghost from hell.

“No!” Fu Yunqi shook his head frantically and tried to run.

Liuzheng wouldn’t give him the chance. Using her agility, before he could reach the door, she grabbed him back.

Then she raised her hand, delivering a chopping strike to render him unconscious.

“Old Master Fu, Fu General—will you act, or shall I?” Liuzheng asked.

Old Master Fu’s eyes reddened.

He suddenly fell to his knees before Liuzheng.

“General Ruan, I beg you—spare him this time for my sake!”

Liuzheng frowned, sidestepping his kneeling.

“Old Master Fu, what are you doing? If he successfully slanders me, would you spare me then?”

“…” Old Master Fu’s expression stiffened.

Of course not!

He would use Liuzheng to avenge his son’s humiliation today.

Liuzheng looked at him coldly and sneered: “Exactly! Since you are unwilling to act, I will!”

She stretched out her hand. “Bring the knife!”

“No! You can’t do it!”

Old Master Fu, realizing he could no longer protect his son, braced himself and said, “Yunsheng, you do it! Be very careful—don’t cause serious harm!”

He dared not hand Fu Yunqi over to Liuzheng.

If Liuzheng struck too hard and he died, what would happen?

Even if mute, Fu Yunqi could be kept alive.

But if he died, everything was lost.

“Very well, I will do it!” Fu Yunsheng said.

Liuzheng had no objections.

Fu Yunsheng took the dagger handed by a servant, placed it at the mouth of the unconscious Fu Yunqi, and aimed the tip at his tongue cord…