MFURCC -Chapter 65 Narrow Paths for Foes

Liuzheng lifted the hem of her dress and, feeling somewhat uneasy, asked Nanny Jiang and Baoqin, “Do you think this dress is too pink?”

“Not at all. This color suits your complexion perfectly,” Baoqin said.

Liuzheng had a constitution that would tan quickly under the sun but return to fair skin just as fast.

Moreover, the borderlands were harsh and cold, with half the year feeling like winter. Her wet nurse had always carefully cared for her skin, keeping it fair and radiant. There was no trace of the hardships she had endured at the frontier.

Nanny Jiang was very satisfied as well.

“Even if someone were said to be the most beautiful in the world, they couldn’t surpass this, Miss. You can go out with peace of mind.”

Liuzheng realized there was no time to change outfits, so she simply nodded and, with Nanny Jiang, stepped outside.

She had errands to send Yuliu on, so Yuliu didn’t accompany them.

It had started drizzling, and Nanny Jiang held an umbrella over her as they climbed into the sedan chair, one following the other.

Yuanshi was using her own sedan chair today, and they had agreed to meet directly by the lake.

On the way, Nanny Jiang couldn’t help but ask about Yuliu.

Liuzheng said, “I sent her to Changlong Temple on an errand.”

She didn’t say anything else.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her wet nurse—it was just unnecessary to explain every single matter to someone on her side. Otherwise, if something happened and the people on her side showed no surprise, it would raise suspicion.

She needed the wet nurse and the others to show the expressions they naturally would.

Seeing that Liuzheng didn’t elaborate, the wet nurse didn’t press further. She only needed to know that her daughter was busy with an errand, not slacking off.

“Before we left, was there any movement from the second household?” Liuzheng asked.

Nanny Jiang said, “Second Master slept late last night. He only got up shortly before we left.”

Then she spoke of Ruan Baizheng.

“This time, she’s completely locked in her room. Second Master doesn’t allow her to step out even a single step. Previously, though she was under house arrest, she could at least move around within her small courtyard.”

The layout of General Zhaoyong’s residence consisted of a large courtyard with smaller courtyards within.

For example, the Tingjutang of the third branch had its main courtyard, flanked by the small courtyards of Ruan Xuezhen and Ruan Jiazheng.

Among these, Ruan Xuezhen’s courtyard was the largest, which is why the matriarch had originally intended to split it in two, giving half to the adopted daughter Ruan Yunzheng, and create a separate gate for a distinct courtyard.

Previously, though Ruan Baizheng was under house arrest, she could still move about in her small courtyard; now, she couldn’t even leave her room.

Clearly, her words last night had indeed affected Second Master’s attitude toward Ruan Baizheng.

Once the father and daughter lost their unity, Liuzheng only needed to give a slight push, and they would collapse like a crumbling building.

“That’s perfect,” Liuzheng said.

Nanny Jiang, however, was worried.

“I’m just afraid she’ll act desperately.”

Liuzheng smiled. “I’m only afraid she won’t be desperate enough.”

When people panic, they easily lose their rationality.

That would give her the perfect opportunity to strike.

She only feared that they would do nothing, leaving her without a way to act.

The carriage made its way through the rain and soon reached the outskirts.

Though it was a rainy day, the number of people coming to admire the lotus flowers was not fewer.

Looking around, the sight was filled with oil-paper umbrellas of various colors.

Even the crowd itself had become part of the scenery.

“I didn’t expect there’d be so many people,” Nanny Jiang said, lifting the curtain of the carriage.

Liuzheng replied, “Jing Lake is already extremely beautiful. Under the rain, it has an even more enchanting charm.”

She lifted her own curtain.

She saw a woman hurrying toward the city gate, holding a child in her arms.

The woman had no umbrella, carrying the child with one arm and shielding the child’s face from the rain with her sleeve.

From Liuzheng’s angle, she could see the child’s face clearly.

The child was very lovely, with a faint red mole between the eyebrows.

But at this moment, the child’s cheeks were flushed, the brow furrowed, and the lips unusually pale.

For some reason, Liuzheng felt that the child’s face looked somewhat familiar.

Yet she couldn’t recall where she had seen it before.

“Stop.” Liuzheng spoke.

The coachman immediately pulled the reins, halting the carriage.

“Miss, what is it?” Nanny Jiang asked.

Liuzheng said, “Just now I saw a woman holding what seems to be a sick child. They have no umbrella. Give them one, and also ask if they need any help.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Nanny Jiang took an umbrella and hurried down.

Liuzheng raised her curtain a bit higher and saw the woman bowing in thanks to Nanny Jiang.

“No need to thank me. Is the child sick?”

“High fever and convulsions… We live in the suburbs, and my husband isn’t home, so I had to bring the child into the city myself. Who would’ve thought it would start raining halfway…”

Hearing this, Liuzheng stepped down from the carriage with her own umbrella and approached in a few quick steps.

“Miss,” Nanny Jiang started to repeat the woman’s words, but Liuzheng waved her hand, signaling that she had heard enough.

“The child is sick, and you’ve braved the rain all the way into the city. This will likely worsen the child’s condition. I’ll lend you the carriage. Take the child in the carriage and head into the city.”

The woman hurried to kneel in thanks, but Liuzheng helped her stand.

“I’m not talking about this for formality. The child’s treatment is important. Hurry up and get inside.”

“Yes…”

The woman was anxious and no longer delayed, getting into the carriage with the child.

After giving a word to the coachman, Liuzheng continued with Nanny Jiang toward the Wanghulou by Jing Lake.

“We’ll ride back in Sister Yuan’s carriage later.”

“Yes,” Nanny Jiang smiled, thinking that her young lady’s kindness would surely bring good fortune in the future.

Liuzheng, however, wore a thoughtful expression.

She had the persistent feeling that she had seen this child somewhere before.

She just couldn’t remember.

Might as well stop trying, she thought, quickening her pace toward Wanghu Tower.

Wanghu Tower was a five-story restaurant.

The first two floors were for ordinary diners, while the third to fifth floors were all private rooms, with prices increasing the higher up one went.

Naturally, high-ranking officials and nobility preferred the upper floors.

The private room Madam Yuan wanted was on the fifth floor.

She had already informed Liuzheng in advance.

The carriage dropped Liuzheng off not far from Wanghu Tower, and she and her attendant reached it in no time.

As soon as they entered, diners on the first floor all turned to look at Liuzheng.

She wore a lotus-pink chest-length dress with a white gauze shawl over it. Her black hair was styled into a peach-blossom bun, with no hairpins, only a white jade cloud ornament covering each temple.

From afar, she looked like a blooming peony—noble yet not ostentatious.

For a moment, everyone was captivated.

But no one recognized Liuzheng.

On the day she returned from commanding the army, she had been in military attire, completely different from today’s look.

The manager, seeing her elegant attire, immediately recognized her status and hurried forward to greet her personally.

“Miss, have you reserved a private room?”

“Wangxue.”

Wangxue was the private room reserved by Madam Yuan.

“So it’s Madam Yuan’s guest. I’ll take you up right away,” the manager said with a smile, leading the way.

“No need. We can go up ourselves,” Liuzheng waved him off and, with Nanny Jiang, started ascending the stairs.

The diners on the first floor gradually withdrew their gaze.

The fifth floor was far beyond what ordinary folk could afford.

Liuzheng easily reached the fifth floor.

Looking back, she saw that Nanny Jiang had fallen behind.

After all, she was older, and her legs were not as quick as those of a young person.

Liuzheng was about to turn back to help Nanny Jiang up when she heard a familiar voice.

“What did you just say? Every time I come here, I sit in this private room! How can it already be reserved by someone else? Do you even know who I am? How dare you make things difficult for me! Call the manager here to speak to me!”

Liuzheng turned toward the voice and quickly recognized the speaker.

It was Du Panpan.

Yesterday at the Fu residence, Du Panpan had been startled by Feng Lunian and Fu Yunqi, and her maid had helped her leave.

Du Panpan, relying on her father’s position as the Eastern Palace Registrar, was used to being arrogant and overbearing.

Wherever she went, she believed she was superior and deserved the best of everything.

Liuzheng initially intended to ignore her but overheard Du Panpan’s words to the waiter in front of her:

“Miss, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. It’s just that Wangxue has already been reserved, and the distinguished guest is already seated inside.”

Wangxue…

Wasn’t that the room reserved by Sister Yuan?

Liuzheng halted her steps toward Nanny Jiang.

Du Panpan continued, “Someone inside? Perfect! Call him out to see me!”

“Miss… please don’t make things difficult for me,” the waiter stammered.

“You won’t call him? Fine, I’ll do it myself!”

She raised her hand to knock on the door.

But before her hand even touched it, a slender yet strong hand grabbed hers.

Du Panpan instinctively looked up and met Liuzheng’s expressionless face.

She furrowed her brows and forcefully shook Liuzheng’s hand off.

“It’s you!”

That day, she had thought it was Ruan Liuzheng mixing with that ghostly man, which led her to kick open the door.

She hadn’t expected to see such a disgusting scene, which gave her nightmares all night.

Now she had come out to get some fresh air, only to run into Ruan Liuzheng again.

She blamed Liuzheng for what had happened at the Fu residence, her gaze toward Liuzheng now even more hostile than before.

Liuzheng said coldly, “Miss Du, this restaurant isn’t yours. Since this private room has already been reserved, you should choose another one.”

“What does it have to do with you?”

“Of course it concerns me. This room was reserved by me.”

Du Panpan sneered.

What a coincidence. If Ruan Liuzheng had reserved it, then she absolutely had to have it!

“Every time I come, I sit in Wangxue. This room belongs to me! If you want to fight over it with me, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the Crown Prince?”

Liuzheng raised an eyebrow slightly. “Crown Prince? The Crown Prince’s sisters are princesses. Which princess are you, exactly?”

Du Panpan caught the mockery in Liuzheng’s tone. Her face darkened, and she cursed, “Wretch! Watch your filthy mouth! Otherwise, I’ll make the Crown Prince have you caned to death!”

“Oh?”

Liuzheng regarded Du Panpan with a half-smile.

This girl was truly both stupid and malicious.

She dared to claim that the Crown Prince would cane a Third-Rank General to death over a mere verbal spat.

If such words spread, it would be highly disadvantageous to the Crown Prince.

Just as she was about to speak, Madam Yuan pushed the door open.

She had been watching the rain from Wangxue’s balcony, so she hadn’t heard the commotion in the corridor.

Later, calculating the time, she knew Liuzheng should be arriving soon and returned to the room from the balcony.

She happened to hear Du Panpan threaten to have the Crown Prince cane Liuzheng to death.

In the past, she had tolerated Du Panpan because the girl was difficult to deal with.

She hadn’t wanted the trouble of provoking such an annoying person, nor did she want to contend with someone as bratty as Du Panpan.

But now, hearing Du Panpan speak to Liuzheng that way, she immediately walked over to Liuzheng’s side and coldly said to Du Panpan,

“Miss Du, executing an imperial officer requires the Emperor’s approval and must be justified according to the law. For you to demand the Crown Prince cane General Ruan to death just like that—do you think His Highness’ authority exceeds the Emperor’s?”