MFURCC -Chapter 7 A Shabby Return Gift

The person lurking outside was sneaky, though not particularly skilled at it—or perhaps simply fearless.

Following Liuzheng’s line of sight, Nanny Jiang looked over and spotted the spy.

“That is…?”

“In First Madam’s courtyard—Nanny Liu,” Liuzheng said softly. “She’s come several times today.”

Nanny Jiang immediately stood up and rushed to the doorway, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Who’s that? Broad daylight and you won’t use the front gate—sneaking around the side entrance to peep at your grandaunt? Aren’t you afraid an eagle will peck your eyes out! If you want to look, come in through the front gate openly! I’ll treat you to good wine and dishes!”

Unlike Liuzheng, who had to maintain the dignity of a noble young lady, Nanny Jiang had no such constraints. What Liuzheng could not say in her position, Nanny Jiang would say for her.

“Blind fool! Is your spine broken so you can’t stand straight? Or is your heart so crooked you can’t face the light? Dare look one more time and I’ll beat you like a rat and teach you what proper conduct means!”

Under the torrent of scolding, Nanny Liu’s face turned pale, then dark. At last, she fled.

After that, she did not dare return to spy again.

Liuzheng smiled.

Bringing her wet nurse over had indeed been the right move.

After eating some pastries, Liuzheng assigned tasks to the two of them.

Nanny Jiang would continue attending to her daily needs, while Yuliu had only one duty: keep an eye on Ruan Yunzheng’s movements.

Yuliu was clever, and her plain looks and unremarkable figure made her nearly invisible when she stood somewhere.

That very night, she brought back news.

“One of Third Miss’s maids, named Su Luo. I saw her sneaking out through the side gate of the General’s residence, so I followed quietly. Guess where she went?”

Nanny Jiang shot her a glare. “Don’t play riddles with Miss. Just say it!”

Yuliu obediently replied, “She went to the Zhuangyuan Residence. The Zhuangyuan’s wife personally came out to receive her. Oh—and Su Luo carried a bundle. Looked like a set of clothes.”

Liuzheng nodded. “Understood. Yuliu, you’ve done well.”

She ruffled Yuliu’s hair, and the girl’s face turned red.

Early the next morning, Liuzheng was preparing return gifts for the various households when Madam Song arrived, accompanied by Ruan Yunzheng.

Liuzheng greeted her with “Mother” and asked Nanny Jiang to prepare tea.

“No need!” Madam Song said coldly. “I hear you received quite a number of housewarming gifts yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“You’re just a young lady. Holding so many valuable items is like a child carrying gold—it’s unsafe. I’ll keep them for you in my storeroom. When you marry, they’ll be added to your dowry.”

Madam Song, born into a merchant family in Jiangnan, had little education—but she remembered the phrase “a child carrying gold” from what Ruan Hanmo had said during the move.

Without hesitation, Liuzheng nodded. “That’s fine. Mother is more meticulous than I am. I trust you’ll also be very attentive in preparing the return gifts.”

Madam Song’s expression stiffened. “What return gifts?”

Liuzheng met her gaze. “Colleagues who send housewarming gifts must be given return gifts. And according to the capital’s customs, the return gift must be more generous, never less. Has Mother forgotten this rule?”

Madam Song’s lips trembled.

It was indeed the rule in the capital—return gifts could only exceed the original, never fall short.

If she took Liuzheng’s gifts, wouldn’t she have to add her own silver to prepare the returns?

She hadn’t considered that. She had only wanted Liuzheng’s valuables—especially the eye-catching red coral Nanny Liu had mentioned.

Her face darkened.

Ruan Yunzheng quickly interjected, “Elder Sister, Mother hasn’t dealt much with so many distinguished households. She’s worried about making a mistake and affecting your career. Perhaps it’s better if Elder Sister handles the return gifts herself?”

Madam Song cast an approving glance at her adopted daughter.

Thank goodness for Yun’er!

Otherwise, wouldn’t she have suffered in silence?

This biological daughter truly wasn’t as considerate as the one she had raised from childhood.

Liuzheng sneered inwardly.

They wanted to take the housewarming gifts but refused to pay for the return gifts.

“Mother, I’ve just returned to the capital and won’t take office until next month. I have no money on hand. And the Emperor’s rewards were all given to Father. I can’t afford the return gifts… Please discuss it with Father and have him handle it on my behalf.”

“You—you…” Madam Song began to flare up, but Ruan Yunzheng gently pressed her hand.

Madam Song fell silent and left with a dark expression.

Liuzheng bowed slightly and instructed Pan Hong, “Send all the housewarming gifts to Mother.”

Madam Song’s steps quickened. In moments, she was gone.

A faint smile curved Liuzheng’s lips. “My mother claims to be frail and taking medicine year-round, yet judging by her pace just now, she seems quite spry. I imagine there’s nothing seriously wrong with her health.”

Nanny Jiang looked worried.

“Miss, if First Madam handles the return gifts and deliberately sends cheap, disgraceful things, it’s your reputation that suffers.”

“I am General Zhaoyong. She is merely an ordinary woman. Reputation doesn’t matter to her. If one slays ten thousand enemies but loses three thousand in return, it’s still worth it.”

“But… how could your own mother do something so absurd?”

“To her, I, the biological daughter, am not as dear as the adopted one.”

“What do we do now? We can’t let them think you’re too stingy to even send proper return gifts!”

Liuzheng patted Nanny Jiang’s hand gently. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

She then looked at Pan Hong. “You may go.”

“Yes!”

At the Listening Bamboo Courtyard, although Madam Song obtained the coveted red coral, she was still so angry she smashed two teacups.

“Is she really my daughter? Trapping her own mother like this!”

After soothing her for a while, Ruan Yunzheng said, “Mother, since Elder Sister is openly harming you, why not give her a small lesson? It’ll teach her some proper manners.”

Madam Song raised her eyes. “What sort of lesson?”

Ruan Yunzheng whispered in her ear.

Madam Song clapped happily. “Good idea! She’s far too arrogant—it’s time she learned a lesson!”

After noon, the households in Wuyi Lane received return gifts from the Zhaoyong General’s residence.

The first to receive one was Madam Yuan, wife of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Looking at what the servants presented, her mouth twitched.

“This… this jujube cake… is the General’s return gift?”

“Yes… The servant delivering it said to thank you for the painting you sent. General Zhaoyong liked it very much.”

Madam Yuan smashed a teacup in fury.

“My ‘Bathing Horses’ painting is an authentic work by Zhao Mengfu! And she dares to fob me off with street-sold jujube cake? If she’s going to send this, she might as well not send anything!”

Had there been no return gift, she wouldn’t have been angry—she would have simply assumed the newly returned female general was short of funds and invited her for tea instead.

The wife of the Vice Minister of War received the same jujube cake and trembled with anger, calling Ruan Liuzheng “petty” and “unpresentable.”

The Duke’s residence, the Marquis’s residence—all received jujube cake.

Liuzheng’s reputation plummeted instantly.

All the households in Wuyi Lane looked down on her.

The news quickly reached Liuzheng.

She had ordered Pan Hong to monitor developments.

After hearing his report, Nanny Jiang paced anxiously. “What do we do? Doesn’t First Madam realize she’s not only humiliating you, but herself as well?”

“I am General Zhaoyong. She is merely a common woman. Her reputation is not important.”

“But how could your own mother—?”

“To her, I matter less than the daughter she raised.”

“So what now? We can’t let them think you’re too stingy for proper return gifts!”

Liuzheng smiled faintly. “Don’t worry.”

Half an hour later, Madam Yuan received word from the gatekeeper.

“Madam, someone from the General’s residence seeks an audience.”

She scoffed. “Still have the nerve to come? Tell him to get lost!”

But just as the servant was about to leave, she changed her mind. “Wait. Let him in. I want to see what tricks this female general is playing.”

Soon Pan Hong was led into the reception hall. A screen separated them.

“I, Pan Hong, pay my respects to Madam Yuan.”

Behind the screen, she sneered. “You’ve already been here once. What now? Since you’re here, take that jujube cake back. I don’t like it.”

Pan Hong looked startled. “What jujube cake? I don’t know what you mean, Madam.”

She blinked. “Wasn’t jujube cake sent as a return gift an hour ago?”

He paused slightly before replying, “Madam must have misunderstood. The jujube cake was not the General’s return gift. It was likely made personally by the First Madam of the household for you to taste.”

He then presented a scroll with both hands.

“The General knows of your love for paintings and has specially sent this as a return gift. Please do not disdain it.”

Her anger had already faded upon learning the cake wasn’t the official gift. At the mention of another gift, she gestured for her maid to retrieve it.

When she unrolled the painting, her eyes lit up.

“This—this is Liang Kai’s Immortal in Splashed Ink! He is my favorite painter!”

Forgetting propriety, she stepped out from behind the screen.

“Why hasn’t anyone served tea to Vice General Pan?” she scolded the maids.

“No need, Madam. I’ve already taken up enough of your time. When our General is free, she will personally pay her respects.”

Madam Yuan nodded. “Very well. I shall thank her in person then.”

After Pan Hong left, she caressed the painting lovingly and regretted having scolded Liuzheng earlier.

“It seems my eyes were pecked out by an eagle, to think I mistook General Ruan for petty.”

Her senior maid, returning from escorting Pan Hong, said, “Madam, you did not misjudge her. I suspect the First Madam of the Ruan household deliberately sent the jujube cake.”

Recalling Pan Hong’s astonishment earlier, enlightenment dawned upon her.

“Are there truly mothers who harm their own daughters?”

“I’ve heard that after General Ruan went to war in place of her brother, First Madam adopted a daughter from a collateral branch. She dotes on her dearly—even giving her the General’s former courtyard.”

“Is that true?”

“A distant relative of mine works in the Ruan household. That’s what he said.”

Madam Yuan sighed. “How pitiful.”

“At least Heaven has eyes. Not only did General Ruan return alive, she earned great military merit.”

Madam Yuan nodded. “I’ll speak to my husband tonight. He should support General Ruan more in court.”

“You are kind-hearted, Madam.”

“As women, we understand each other’s hardships. Without support, how could a woman stand firm in court?”

“With your help, General Ruan will surely have smooth sailing ahead.”

Madam Yuan felt even more pleased.

When those in high positions learn of another’s hardship, they are naturally inclined to display their benevolence.

Meanwhile, Pan Hong continued on to other residences, delivering the carefully prepared return gifts one by one.