MFURCC -Chapter 82 Dogs Bite Dogs

Trust is difficult to build, but it takes only an instant to destroy.

Thus, the way Madam Deng looked at Nanny Zhou immediately turned cold.

However, she was not foolish enough to question Nanny Zhou on the spot. She only planned to settle accounts after returning to her own courtyard.

So Madam Deng did not speak at once.

It was Zheng Ding, as head of the household, who spoke first.

“Nanny Zhou, the witnesses and physical evidence are all here. What else do you have to say?”

Nanny Zhou dropped to her knees with a thud.

“Master! Master, please see clearly! This servant did not take that hairpin cover. How would I dare? Master, please investigate clearly!”

She kowtowed repeatedly.

There was no ripple in Zheng Ding’s eyes.

As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he had seen too many criminals. People who smashed their heads bloody and wept bitterly—he had seen it all.

He would not soften his heart just because Nanny Zhou belonged to the Zheng residence.

“You say you didn’t take it. Then why was the hairpin cover found in your room?”

“I don’t know! I truly don’t know! Someone must have maliciously framed me!” At this point she suddenly pointed at Chen You. “It’s him! Master! This man is lazy and gluttonous. I’ve punished him several times before—he must bear a grudge and is framing me!”

Chen You also knelt.

“Master, please discern clearly! Even if I had the guts of a bear and leopard, I wouldn’t dare speak recklessly! And exposing her brings me no benefit at all—why would I do such a thing?”

“If you succeed in framing me, you’ll earn merit. How is that not a benefit?” Nanny Zhou shot back.

Unruffled, Chen You countered, “If I were framing you, I’d first have to obtain the hairpin cover. But I work in the courtyard and have no opportunity to enter Madam’s room. Let alone her chamber—even the main hall, I’ve never stepped into. Where would I get the chance to take it and plant it in your room?”

Chen You’s argument was logical and well-supported. Zheng Ding had already concluded inwardly that Nanny Zhou had taken the hairpin cover.

However, the matter involved someone from Madam Deng’s courtyard.

He turned to Madam Deng. “Sister-in-law, this hairpin cover was likely stolen by this old servant. How do you intend to punish her? Beat her to death and throw her out, or call a broker and sell her off?”

Nanny Zhou’s face turned deathly pale.

She looked longingly at Madam Deng, firmly believing Madam Deng would protect her.

So she did not even plead for mercy.

Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Madam Deng said, “Call a broker and sell her. Such a person cannot be kept by my side—I truly cannot feel at ease.”

Two simple sentences completely cemented Nanny Zhou’s guilt.

Her head buzzed. After a while, she finally reacted and threw herself at Madam Deng’s legs.

“Madam, you can’t treat this servant like this! I’ve followed you for so many years—if not merit, at least there’s hardship!”

How could she be sold?

At her age, if taken by a broker she would only be made to do heavy labor. She was used to an easy life in the residence. In such places, she would hardly survive.

“Madam, you can’t treat me like this!”

By the end, she had even stopped calling herself “this servant.”

Madam Deng did not notice.

She had not truly intended to abandon Nanny Zhou. She only meant to put on a show—have the broker take her away first, then secretly buy her back. If the second branch asked later, she would simply claim she was unaccustomed to being without Nanny Zhou’s service.

She believed Nanny Zhou would understand.

But in her panic, how could Nanny Zhou think that far ahead?

Seeing herself abandoned by her master, resentment surged up. Since Madam cared so little for their bond, why should she protect her?

So Nanny Zhou stopped pleading. She stood up.

Under Madam Deng’s stunned gaze, she turned expressionlessly to Zheng Ding.

“Second Master, this servant has something to report.”

“What else do you want to say?” Zheng Ding said impatiently.

Madam Deng’s heart jolted.

“Nanny Zhou, what are you doing?!”

But Nanny Zhou ignored her and immediately spilled everything—how Madam Deng had ordered her to plant the hairpin cover on Liuzheng to frame her, and then use it to threaten her into speaking up for Shen Tinglan.

Madam Deng trembled with fury.

“You vile slave! You vile slave!”

She might still have been able to explain herself, but she was so enraged that all thoughts of explanation vanished. She only wanted Nanny Zhou dead.

“Men! Drag this old wretch out and beat her to death!”

The servants from Madam Deng’s courtyard immediately moved to seize Nanny Zhou.

“Stop!”

Madam Yuan stepped forward and looked at Nanny Zhou. “Is what you said true? If it is, I can spare your life and even give you silver so you may retire and return to your hometown.”

Nanny Zhou feared death—and feared even more being sold off for hard labor.

She immediately provided more details.

“Knowing you intended to invite General Ruan as a guest, this servant waited at the side gate early in the morning, so that the First Madam could ‘happen’ to encounter you…”

She turned again to Zheng Ding. “Master! I truly did not steal anything! The hairpin cover was given to me by the First Madam to frame General Ruan! I simply couldn’t bear to carry it out, so it remained in my room!”

She was clever—she neither refuted Chen You’s reasoning nor admitted she had actually attempted to act.

Because she had guessed that the hairpin cover had most likely been planted in her room by Chen You under Ruan Liuzheng’s instruction.

“Sister-in-law… how could you… how could you do such a thing?”

Zheng Ding’s eyes were filled with disappointment.

Madam Deng went mad with anger.

“She’s framing me!”

Dogs biting dogs—both left with mouths full of fur. Madam Deng lunged at Nanny Zhou, punching and kicking her wildly.

It was Zheng Ding who ordered people to separate them.

“Men!”

He ordered Madam Deng taken back to her courtyard. Without his permission, she was not to step outside.

“You’re going to confine me? Aren’t you afraid people will say you mistreat your elder sister-in-law? Mistreat your elder brother’s widow?”

Zheng Ding was not mistreating her.

On the contrary, he was protecting her.

Framing a court official was a grave crime.

But he had no mood to explain.

Madam Deng was dragged away. Zheng Ding rewarded Chen You, gave Nanny Zhou silver, and allowed her to retire to her hometown—never to return to the capital for the rest of her life.

The matter was thus settled.

Zheng Ding apologized to Liuzheng with deep shame.

“My wife invited you as a guest, yet such an ugly incident occurred…”

Liuzheng waved it off, indicating she understood.

“When Sister Yuan visited my residence, she also witnessed quite an ugly scene. Every family has its own scripture that is hard to recite. Mine is even uglier and harder to recite. Lord Zheng need not feel ashamed—I understand.”

Zheng Ding looked at her deeply.

This look was different from before, when he had merely assessed her appearance. It was as if he were looking at her soul.

For no clear reason, he felt genuine admiration for her.

“Today’s events—this was your handiwork, wasn’t it?”

Only Zheng Ding and his wife, and Liuzheng with her servants, were present in the room.

So Liuzheng did not deny it.

“Yes.”

She calmly explained how she had pretended to have a stomachache, sent Nanny Jiang to bribe Chen You, and had him place the hairpin cover in Nanny Zhou’s room.

“When Nanny Zhou slipped the hairpin cover onto my head, I had already noticed. That’s why everything followed as it did.”

Zheng Ding asked curiously, “How did you know the master and servant would turn against each other?”

“Sister-in-law Deng… appears rather strict with her servants,” Liuzheng answered tactfully.

In truth, she meant Madam Deng was vicious, selfish, and heartless.

Zheng Ding understood.

And he could not refute it.

Because it was true.

His sister-in-law had caused trouble several times. If she were not his elder brother’s widow, he would have expelled her long ago.

“My sister-in-law… since my brother’s death, she has indeed done many foolish things. I just never imagined she would set her sights on you.”

He was puzzled why Madam Deng targeted Liuzheng and voiced his confusion.

For some reason, he felt Liuzheng knew the answer.

Sure enough, she said, “It was Her Majesty the Empress’s intention.”

Zheng Ding’s eyes widened slightly.

But he quickly understood.

Shen Tinglan was from the Empress’s maternal family, and his sister-in-law was close to the Empress.

“Why did Her Majesty not speak to His Majesty directly?”

“Because His Majesty likely refused.”

Zheng Ding felt heavy-hearted.

Once the Empress was involved, the matter became troublesome.

“I will keep an eye on my sister-in-law and not allow her to enter the palace again.”

“That would be best.”

At last Madam Yuan spoke up. “Husband, I wish… for Sister-in-law to live separately. With her in the house, I am always uneasy.”

Zheng Ding did not answer, only said, “I will consider it.”

With his elder brother recently deceased, proposing a household division would invite gossip.

As for their family matters, Liuzheng did not involve herself.

“I’ve already overstayed. I shall take my leave.”

Zheng Ding nodded and had Madam Yuan escort her out.

On the way, Madam Yuan sighed repeatedly—guilty and angry.

“How could she be so vicious?”

“They say people are born inherently good. I don’t believe that. Some are born rotten.”

For example, Ruan Changzheng. For example, Ruan Yunzheng.

Before leaving the residence, Madam Yuan could not help asking, “Yao Yao, may I tell my husband about the bracelet?”

“It’s up to you.”

Before the hairpin cover incident, Liuzheng would not have recommended it.

She could see Zheng Ding respected his sister-in-law greatly.

But after today’s events, she could also see that something in his heart had shifted.

“I understand. I’ll find the right moment to tell him.”

“Mm.”

At the gates, Liuzheng bid farewell and slowly walked back toward the General’s Residence.

Along the way, she pondered one thing.

The Empress was exerting so much effort—sooner or later, Shen Tinglan would be released.

Even without Liuzheng’s help, the Empress would find another way.

If Shen Tinglan were truly to be released, what should she do?

Submit a memorial recommending her?

His Majesty might not rescind the decree—and doing so would mean openly becoming the Empress’s enemy.

After much thought, Liuzheng decided to focus first on strengthening herself.

Not only must she settle matters within the Ruan residence, she must also secure her footing in court.

Thus, the Qiqiao Festival palace banquet was especially crucial.

She absolutely could not stand among the inner court ladies, celebrating with the Empress.

She must stand as a court official in the outer court—beside high-ranking officials and His Majesty.

Only then, if Shen Tinglan were released, would she hold the power of discourse rather than remain passive.

Fortunately, she had already made preparations.

Tomorrow night, on the eve of Qiqiao Festival, something would occur.

“Young Miss…”

Nanny Jiang’s voice broke her thoughts. Only then did Liuzheng realize she had nearly walked past her destination.

She turned and returned to Tinglan Courtyard in the General’s Residence.

After changing into more convenient clothing, she boarded a carriage and headed to Changlong Temple to meet the Old Madam.