MFURCC -Chapter 85 Fawning on the Powerful and Trampling the Weak

While the Old Madam was feeling displeased because of Ruan Yunzheng and the Second Madam, Liuzheng advised her from the side.

“When people live together for a long time, there are bound to be frictions.”

“Besides, Mother truly does favor Third Sister more when it comes to food and daily treatment. On one side there’s preferential treatment; on the other, equal treatment. Naturally, there will be a sense of disparity.”

“In my opinion, when we leave tomorrow, why not take Third Sister with us?”

“That way the two of them won’t stir up trouble again, and Mother won’t have to miss Third Sister day and night.”

The Old Madam glanced at Liuzheng. “I thought you wouldn’t want her to return. I was hoping that while she isn’t in the residence, you could take the opportunity to cultivate your relationship with your mother.”

The Old Madam still hoped Liuzheng could reconcile with the First Madam.

What overnight hatred could there be between mother and daughter?

“Your mother has indeed gone a bit too far in some matters lately. But you are her biological daughter. The estrangement arose because you were away from home for so many years. Slowly, your feelings for each other will deepen again.”

Liuzheng thought to herself: That is absolutely impossible. Between her and the First Madam, it was a matter of life and death.

But outwardly she nodded obediently. “I will listen to Grandmother and try my best to ease my relationship with Mother.”

“That’s more like it.” The Old Madam smiled. “As for Yunzheng, let her stay at Changlong Temple a while longer. And your Second Aunt… having committed the grave offense of poisoning you, she is not allowed to return to the residence except during festivals.”

“Yes,” Liuzheng replied. Then she brought up Madam Pei.

“She said she would like to invite you for tea another day.”

The Old Madam remembered that daughter-in-law of the Pei family.

“When your grandfather was still alive, I often visited her home. But after her mother-in-law passed away, I never went again. If she truly sends an invitation, you shall accompany me.”

“Yes.”

Soon the Old Madam returned to listening to the scriptures, while Liuzheng followed her instructions and went once more to the Second Madam’s courtyard.

The Second Madam was kneeling before a small Buddha statue, chanting scriptures.

What she prayed for was that the Bodhisattva would bless her and allow her to return home as soon as possible.

When she heard Liuzheng had come, her expression immediately darkened.

“What is she here for again? I won’t see her!”

It was all Liuzheng’s doing that had framed her. She didn’t want to see Ruan Liuzheng’s face for even a moment!

However, her trusted maid was not by her side. The servants, hearing her words, did not stand with her.

They merely said coldly, “The Eldest Miss has come under the Old Madam’s orders. Would it be appropriate for Second Madam not to see her?”

“You—” The Second Madam glared at them furiously.

But the servant was not afraid. Instead, she lifted her chin and said, “If Second Madam does not wish to see her, I shall inform Eldest Miss. I fear the Old Madam will be displeased, though. Perhaps Second Madam should reconsider.”

The Second Madam clenched her teeth.

“You wretched maids who fawn on the powerful and trample the weak!”

Yet in the end, she relented.

“Let her in!”

The servant smiled. “That’s more like it. I’ll go invite Eldest Miss in at once.”

Soon, Liuzheng entered.

She dismissed the servants, speaking alone with the Second Madam.

“Second Aunt, do you know why I came?”

The Second Madam said coldly, “Wasn’t it the Old Madam who sent you to lecture me? You’ve caused me to have a home I cannot return to. Seeing me reduced to this state, you must be quite pleased. I simply don’t understand—why harm me? I’ve never done anything to wrong you!”

“Is that so? Perhaps Second Aunt has forgotten. At Changfu Inn, when you thought I was going to be executed by the Duke of Wei, you hurried home in a panic, causing me to be locked in the woodshed the moment I returned.”

“So you bear a grudge over that?”

Of course, it wasn’t just because of that.

In her previous life, the maid Banxia—who had given her hope and then crushed her with despair—had been recommended to Ruan Yunzheng by the Second Madam.

That had accelerated her death.

Unfortunately, back then the Second Madam had already died in a mudslide.

Allowing her to live until now in this lifetime was already Liuzheng being generous.

So she thought, but she would never reveal to the Second Madam that she had once died.

She said instead, “Second Aunt flatters me. How would I dare bear a grudge against you? As for the poisoning, the evidence is conclusive. I merely did what I ought to do.”

The Second Madam clenched her teeth tightly.

“I did not poison you!”

“Whether you did or not, I do not know. I only look at evidence. The evidence points to you, so naturally I believe it was you.”

The Second Madam frowned. “You truly did not frame me?”

Liuzheng laughed lightly. “Second Aunt, that’s amusing. For no reason at all, why would I frame you?”

The Second Madam suddenly thought of Ruan Yunzheng.

She remembered that when Liuzheng had been imprisoned, Ruan Yunzheng had visited her.

“It was Ruan Yunzheng!” the Second Madam suddenly exclaimed. “She must have framed me!”

Liuzheng said, “Second Aunt, rather than dwell on matters already settled, you might as well pray more to the Bodhisattva, asking that Fifth Brother return soon.”

The Second Madam looked at her in shock.

“Ming’er? What happened to Ming’er?”

Liuzheng countered, “Doesn’t Second Aunt find it strange? Today the whole family came—except for Second Uncle and them…”

The Second Madam grew anxious and rushed forward, grabbing Liuzheng’s sleeve.

“What happened exactly? What happened to Ming’er? Tell me quickly!”

Liuzheng looked surprised.

“Second Aunt doesn’t know? Then I cannot tell you… In case you cause trouble outside, I would be the one to suffer.”

“You—I… I beg you. Just consider that Second Aunt is begging you. Tell me what happened to Ming’er. I won’t betray you. Please, tell me.”

“Second Aunt truly won’t betray me?”

“I swear!”

She swore before the small Buddha statue. Only then did Liuzheng tell her.

“Ming’er was foolish. He fell for a maid from the Fu family. The two eloped. To this day, Second Uncle has not found him.”

Boom—

It was as if thunder struck the Second Madam.

“With a maid… eloped…? Impossible! Ming’er has always been clever and cautious. He would never do something so foolish!”

Liuzheng said, “No matter how clever a person is, one can easily become foolish in matters of love. To be honest, even I was shocked.”

“That’s impossible! Ming’er’s studies are excellent… his future limitless… he might even have had a chance to marry a princess one day. How could he elope with a maid?”

“If Second Aunt doesn’t believe it, then forget it. I came to relay a message from Grandmother. She says you should conduct yourself properly and stop causing trouble. As long as you do, during festivals we will bring you back to the residence.”

But the Second Madam heard nothing except the words that Ruan Mingzheng had eloped with a maid.

As Liuzheng was about to leave, the Second Madam grabbed her wrist.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Is what you said true?”

Liuzheng replied, “This is a temple, beneath the Buddha’s gaze. How would I dare lie? However, I heard there seems to be some inside story…”

“What inside story?”

Liuzheng smiled faintly. “That may require asking Third Sister. I’ve only been back in the capital for half a month. She is more familiar with Fifth Brother than I am, isn’t she?”

With that, she shook free of the Second Madam’s hand.

“Second Madam, don’t forget what you promised—not to betray me. Otherwise, I won’t tell you any news in the future.”

“If you did not lie, I naturally won’t betray you.”

“Good. Then I’ll take my leave, Second Aunt. Remember what I said—do not cause trouble again.”

Leaving those final words behind, Liuzheng pushed the door open and went out.

As she exited, she instructed the servants under her to serve the Second Madam well and not neglect her.

Now that Liuzheng had status and reputation, no longer the bedridden living corpse of her previous life whom anyone could step on, the servants hurriedly nodded.

“Rest assured, Eldest Miss. We will certainly serve Second Madam well.”

“Take care, Eldest Miss…”

Only after Liuzheng’s figure disappeared from the courtyard did the servants straighten their backs.

Meanwhile, Ruan Yunzheng happened to see Liuzheng leaving the courtyard from the western window.

She looked puzzled.

“What is she doing here again?” she asked her maid, Su Luo.

Su Luo quickly inquired and replied, “She went to Second Madam’s courtyard. They spoke for a while, then she left.”

“What did they say?”

“This servant does not know.”

“Don’t know? Couldn’t you ask?” Ruan Yunzheng snapped irritably.

For some reason, her eyelids had been twitching constantly.

They say if the left eye twitches, it means fortune; if the right, disaster. Ever since Liuzheng arrived, both her eyelids had been twitching.

She couldn’t tell whether it was good or bad.

Seeing Ruan Yunzheng’s grim expression, Su Luo hurriedly knelt and explained.

“I asked around. When she spoke with Second Madam, she dismissed the servants. They didn’t dare eavesdrop, so they heard nothing.”

Ruan Yunzheng cursed darkly, “A bunch of useless fools!”

Su Luo dared not retort.

After venting for a while, however, Ruan Yunzheng began to worry.

She helped Su Luo up and grasped her hand. “I feel uneasy. Could it be she discovered our plan and told Second Madam?”

“Impossible,” Su Luo reassured her. “We acted meticulously and left no trace. She could not possibly know. Miss, you must not lose your composure.”

Ruan Yunzheng took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

“You’re right. She couldn’t have noticed. We must not throw ourselves into confusion.”

She and Su Luo had devised a thorough plan. Though risky, the rewards were great.

She would certainly use this opportunity to return.

She must not panic just because Liuzheng visited the Second Madam’s room once.

Ruan Yunzheng picked up the Buddha statue the First Madam had given her and began slowly reciting the Heart Sutra, calming her mind.

Meanwhile, after leaving the courtyard, Liuzheng went to the front hall where the Old Madam was.

The Old Madam, the Third Madam, and the First Branch couple were all in the Mahavira Hall listening to the scriptures.

They knelt on prayer cushions while a senior monk, accompanied by six young monks, chanted the sutras.

On the altar table were the offerings they had brought this time.

Liuzheng quietly entered and knelt beside the Old Madam.

The Old Madam looked up at her.

Lowering her voice, Liuzheng said, “I’ve spoken to Second Aunt. She promised me she won’t cause trouble again.”

The Old Madam nodded, hands pressed together, eyes closed, continuing to listen to the chanting.

Liuzheng followed her example, listening to the monk recite the scriptures.

Her mind was remarkably calm, even though she harbored a grand plan within.

In the past, she would not have been so serene. Perhaps ten years as a wandering ghost had worn away all the youthful fire in her, leaving her exceptionally tranquil.

Among the few of them, the one most unable to sit still was the Eldest Master.