MFURCC -Chapter 9 Banished to the Countryside

Listening Bamboo Courtyard.

Madam Song was offering incense in the small Buddhist shrine she had set up when she saw Liuzheng enter, her sword still hanging at her waist. She immediately frowned.

“How can you bring a sword into the shrine?”

“The Emperor allows me to carry a sword into the throne hall, yet Mother does not allow me to bring it into your shrine. If word of that got out, would it not displease His Majesty? Besides, I’ve grown used to keeping something for self-defense at my side while stationed at the border.”

“Now whenever I say one sentence, you counter with a hundred.”

“I am only thinking of Mother’s well-being.”

Madam Song opened her mouth to scold her, but remembering the important matter at hand, she forcibly suppressed her anger.

“Every day I pick Buddhist rice for one hour to pray for your elder brother’s protection. I’m feeling unwell today, so you will do it in my stead.”

Liuzheng nodded. “Yes. It was I who ordered Brother’s leg broken. It is only right that I personally pray for his blessing.”

Madam Song’s cheek twitched violently.

“You’re doing this on purpose to anger me?”

“How could Mother think that? I am merely feeling guilty.”

“If you truly felt guilty, you wouldn’t have acted.”

“If I hadn’t, the lives of our entire family—over a hundred people—would have been lost.”

Madam Song clutched her chest in fury. After several deep breaths, she finally suppressed her temper and flicked her sleeve as she left.

“If you don’t pick for a full hour, you are not allowed to come out!”

Liuzheng acknowledged calmly, her moon-dark eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Madam Song depart.

Something was wrong.

Given how she had spoken, the First Madam had actually restrained herself from erupting—twice.

Liuzheng’s gaze swept the shrine once before she knelt to offer incense.

Buddha, I have offered you three sticks of incense. If blood is shed in your shrine today, I ask for your understanding.

She looked up at the compassionate statue, her eyes resolute.

Nanny Liu stepped forward.

“Miss, this is the Buddhist rice…” She quickly explained the rules for picking it, speaking faster than usual.

Sensing something was amiss, Liuzheng showed no reaction. She accepted the bowl and, as instructed, evenly scattered the rice grains across the floor.

Then, with each recitation of “Amitabha,” she picked up one grain, repeating the process over and over.

After a glance, Nanny Liu soon left. At the door, she instructed two servant women, “The eldest miss is picking rice to pray for the eldest young master. Do not disturb her.”

She dismissed them.

Liuzheng heard the faint sound of a lock clicking into place.

She pretended not to notice and continued picking the rice.

About the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, she suddenly heard a crack as the western window flew open. Something leapt inside.

Before she could fully react, a massive black dog sprang forward, fangs bared, lunging straight at her face.

It moved so fast it was only a blur.

“Bang! Thud—!”

The sound of something heavy colliding, followed by a startled cry.

Not far from the shrine, Madam Song and Ruan Yunzheng stood waiting.

Hearing the commotion inside, Madam Song pressed her palms together and murmured, “Amitabha, forgive us, Buddha,” before slowly leading Ruan Yunzheng toward the shrine.

Click.

The door lock opened. Ruan Yunzheng rushed in anxiously to check the situation—only to see a huge black shadow pounce straight at her.

“Ahhh!!”

She screamed, instinctively raising her arm to shield her face.

Her face was spared—but the dog’s teeth sank deeply into her wrist.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Ruan Yunzheng fainted from the pain.

“Someone! Someone! Beat it to death! Kill it!!!” Madam Song shrieked.

Hearing the noise, the black dog turned and lunged toward Madam Song.

Nanny Liu loyally shielded her, stepping in front of her mistress—only to have one ear torn off by the dog’s savage bite.

Screams rang out one after another.

At that moment, Concubine Su was walking with Master Ruan after dinner, passing by Listening Bamboo Courtyard.

Hearing the chaos, Master Ruan hurried over.

He arrived just in time to see the black dog chewing on Nanny Liu’s ear.

Nanny Liu clutched her ear, howling in agony. Ruan Yunzheng lay unconscious nearby, her arm ripped open.

Seeing the dog turn toward him, ready to attack—

A flash of cold light streaked through the air. A long sword plunged straight into the dog’s neck.

The animal twitched twice and collapsed.

Dead.

Liuzheng looked at the dog.

She recognized it.

After she had been thrown into a well to die in her previous life, Ruan Yunzheng had somehow acquired a black dog and tossed it down into the well.

The dog had devoured her.

Destroying the evidence.

That dog was the very one before her.

And now, the one being devoured had become Ruan Yunzheng—and Nanny Liu.

What a pity it hadn’t killed them outright.

Liuzheng quickly suppressed the emotions in her eyes and strode toward Master Ruan.

“Father, are you alright?”

Her sword was still dripping blood.

Master Ruan was a scholar. He had never even killed a chicken, let alone a dog.

Pale and shaken, he grabbed Liuzheng’s hand without daring to look at the carcass.

“Is it dead? That vicious dog—is it dead?”

“It’s dead. I would never let it harm you.”

He let out a long breath of relief. The way he looked at her had changed.

For the first time, he clearly realized—Liuzheng was not a delicate daughter, but a Zhaoyong female general who had crawled out from piles of corpses.

“You are a good child.”

Liuzheng curved her lips in a faint smile, then turned to Madam Song, who stood frozen in shock.

“Mother, are you alright?”

Madam Song seemed to wake from a dream and rushed to cradle Ruan Yunzheng.

“Yun’er! Are you hurt?”

Then she glared viciously at Liuzheng and blurted out, “Why are you unharmed?!”

Liuzheng looked stunned.

“What does Mother mean by that? Could it be this dog was deliberately released to bite me?”

Madam Song froze. Countless words clogged her throat.

Nanny Liu, despite her agony, spoke up, “Miss, you misunderstand. Madam is merely relieved that you are safe.”

“Of course I’m safe. It’s only a dog. I could kill ten of them. Otherwise, how could I have earned military merit for this family?”

Madam Song nearly vomited blood from rage.

It was Nanny Liu who reminded her to call a doctor. Only then did Madam Song temporarily ignore Liuzheng and hurriedly have Ruan Yunzheng carried to the main house.

After they went inside, Liuzheng approached Master Ruan and opened her palm.

Several grains of Buddhist rice lay there.

“Father, this rice smells strange—like it was soaked in meat broth. The dog must have jumped in after catching the scent.”

Master Ruan sniffed it. Indeed—it smelled of meat broth.

Recalling how he had nearly been bitten himself, his anger surged.

“Investigate! I want this thoroughly investigated!”

It would not have been difficult to uncover the truth.

But before any investigation began, Nanny Liu came out and confessed.

Kneeling on the ground, weeping miserably, she said, “I was blinded by greed and resentment. Two days ago, the wet nurse in the eldest miss’s quarters scolded me. I bore a grudge and conceived this evil thought. I deserve death! I will never dare again!”

Master Ruan pointed at her furiously. “Vile woman! Despicable! Men—beat her to death!”

Madam Song rushed out upon hearing the commotion.

“You must not! Nanny Liu came with me as part of my dowry. She has been with me since childhood. Husband, you cannot kill her!”

“She committed a capital offense!”

“Then I will die in her place!”

“What nonsense are you saying? She is only a servant!”

“To me, she is family!”

In the end, Master Ruan had no choice but to spare her life.

He ordered her to receive twenty strokes of the board, then be sent by donkey cart to a rural estate—never to return.

Though Madam Song saved her life, she could no longer keep her by her side.

That very night, she fell ill.

Ruan Yunzheng, though not in mortal danger, would likely bear a scar on her arm forever.

Listening Bamboo Courtyard was steeped in gloom.

Liuzheng had won a complete victory.

Yet when she returned to Tinglan Courtyard, she could not smile at all.

Nanny Jiang was puzzled.

“Miss, you’ve removed Nanny Liu. Why are you still unhappy?”

Liuzheng glanced at her. “Nanny, even Nanny Liu is family to the First Madam.”

Nanny Jiang lowered her head, heart aching.

She did not know how to comfort Liuzheng. She could not understand how a mother in this world could fail to love her own daughter.

She went out and made Liuzheng a bowl of her favorite Changchun noodles.

But Liuzheng found it tasteless.

Watching the black dog—meant to bite her—turn instead upon Ruan Yunzheng and Nanny Liu after she subdued it had indeed brought her satisfaction.

And yet… she was not happy.

Nanny Jiang tried to cheer her up.

“By my reckoning, the Old Madam should arrive in three days.”

A trip to the summer estate took three days round-trip. Packing would delay one more. Within a week, she would be home.

At that, a trace of a smile appeared on Liuzheng’s face.

“It’s been nine years since I last saw Grandmother. I wonder how her health is.”

“The Old Madam eats both meat and vegetables without restriction and has always had a good appetite. They say those who eat well live long lives. She must be in excellent health.”

Liuzheng’s mood eased.

Late that night, Pan Hong returned with two pieces of news.

First, on the road back to the capital, he encountered Uncle Jiang—the husband of Liuzheng’s wet nurse.

He had once served as an accountant in the Ruan household. Liuzheng had asked her nurse to send word for him to return and work for her.

Second, Prince Su, Su Heng, had read Liuzheng’s secret letter and sent back a message through Pan Hong.

It was supposedly one sentence.

In truth, only two words:

“Many thanks.”

Prince Su had stood behind a screen. Pan Hong never even saw his face—only heard those two words.

Liuzheng knew then that he had understood the contents of her letter.

A faint smile curved her lips.

“This Prince Su doesn’t talk much?”

In her previous life, after she had been devoured by a black dog, she had learned that Prince Su also kept a black dog by his side. The very thought filled her with terror. She had always avoided his quarters and knew nothing about him.

Pan Hong replied, “Yes. From the moment I entered until he finished reading the letter, he only spoke those two words.”

He added, “This man must not be underestimated.”

“How can you tell?”

“It’s just… a feeling.”

He did not know how to explain it.

Intuition needs no reason.

Pan Hong had not even seen Prince Su’s face—yet cold sweat had soaked his back.

Seeing his expression, Liuzheng did not press further.

“Understood. You’ve traveled day and night. Go rest.”

“Yes!”

After he left, Liuzheng went to see Uncle Jiang.

The family of three were talking under candlelight.

Though they had been apart only days, it felt like much longer.

Liuzheng did not wish to disturb them and turned to leave, but her nanny spotted her.

“Miss?”

She opened the door.

“Am I interrupting?” Liuzheng smiled.

“Not at all. Please come in.”

She stepped inside.

Uncle Jiang immediately struggled to kneel.

“Eldest Miss!” His voice was choked with emotion.

She helped him up, her gaze falling to his leg.

“What did the doctor say about your leg?”

“It’s… ruined.”

“I’ll have my people examine it another day.”

“No need…” He avoided her eyes. “Several doctors have already said it cannot be healed. Miss, please don’t waste the effort.”

She sensed he was hiding something—but not out of ill intent.

She nodded. “Then focus on recuperating. Don’t do heavy labor again.”

“Yes.”

After some conversation, she left.

The next day, however, she summoned Uncle Jiang alone.

Leaning on his cane, he attempted to kneel again but was quickly supported by her.

“No need for formalities. Please sit.”

“Yes.”

The moment he sat, she asked, “Uncle Jiang, your leg wasn’t injured from a fall, was it?”

He froze and abruptly stood—only to nearly collapse as his right leg gave way.

A large, calloused hand steadied him.

Pan Hong.

“Thank you…” Uncle Jiang murmured, not daring to raise his head.

Liuzheng said calmly, “Nanny and Yuliu are not here. Uncle Jiang, you may speak freely.”

After a long pause, he finally confessed through clenched teeth:

“My leg… was not injured from a fall.”

The day their family was driven out of the Ruan residence by the First Madam, they set off by donkey cart.

That night, when he stepped outside the inn to relieve himself, several men in black dragged him away and smashed his kneecap.

Before leaving, they warned him never to return to the Ruan residence—or he would be killed.

“I was afraid they’d be frightened, so I said I fell. I did not mean to deceive you, Miss. Please forgive me…”

Liuzheng had already guessed whose handiwork this was.