Volume 1, Chapter 8: Playing for Keeps

"I will not give birth."

Ruan Liuzheng’s words stirred a massive commotion. The expressions of the Old Madam Lu and her parents turned grim. Lu Chenze’s eyes also darkened.

Her father demanded, "What nonsense are you spouting? You are a wife of the Lu family; how can you refuse to bear children?"

Her mother added, "You must be ill and not know what you are saying. Let Mother take you inside to rest." Her mother was terrified she would utter more treasonous words, especially with the Emperor still present.

Ruan Liuzheng said no more. Once she and Lu Chenze were divorced, everyone would naturally understand; there was no need to explain further.

Lu Chenze changed the subject. "If this official recalls correctly, the Empress’s birthday is approaching."

Ruan Yingying replied, "I did not expect Lord Lu to remember."

"I have always regarded Her Majesty as a younger sister, so of course, I remember."

How hypocritical they both were. She couldn't even be bothered to look at them.

After staying a while longer, Ruan Liuzheng said, "Your Majesty, your subject’s wife is feeling unwell. May I be excused?"

She rarely acted so impolitely.

"Very well, I grant it," Chu Yunze replied.

She was wearing a veil today, so the injuries on her face were hidden. After she left, Chu Yunze did not stay much longer. Seeing him depart, Ruan Yingying said to the others, "I shall go check on my sister. She must be ill; she seemed to be in a foul mood."

Not long after Ruan Liuzheng had returned to her room to rest, Ruan Yingying followed her in.

"Sister, you were never this rude before. Did you not play the part well enough in front of our elders? Today is truly not like you."

"Empress, why not just state your purpose? I am too exhausted to endure your games." Ruan Liuzheng ripped off her veil, revealing the clear scars on her face.

"You see, it was the Emperor who insisted on accompanying me here. He stayed at Changning Palace last night and gifted me piles of golden hairpins and jade ornaments. Sister, these were meant for you. Do you not feel resentful?"

Ruan Liuzheng replied, "And what if I am?"

"Indeed. Since you cannot defeat me, you must accept it. However, I feel this is far from enough... you are not miserable enough yet."

Ruan Liuzheng felt that the woman had truly lost her mind. A bad premonition washed over her. "What are you planning?"

"I want everyone to blame you, hate you, and leave you with nowhere to turn."

Ruan Liuzheng’s dread deepened.

The next moment, she heard Ruan Yingying scream and collapse to the floor. Blood began to pool beneath her skirts. Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

***

Lu Chenze was the first to rush in. Upon seeing the scene, his first reaction was to shove Ruan Liuzheng aside violently and scoop up Ruan Yingying.

"Get a physician, quickly!"

Ruan Liuzheng was thrown against the corner of a table, blood seeping from her forehead, but the pain was nothing compared to the chilling cold radiating from the depths of her heart.

If her guess was correct, the child in Ruan Yingying’s womb was Lu Chenze’s. She had calculated the timing perfectly to frame her. If she were charged with the murder of an imperial heir, she would surely die.

Everyone witnessed the scene. Her father’s accusations rained down upon her.

"What have you done? That is an imperial heir! Your sister came all the way from the palace to see you, and you did this! This is a capital offense!"

Her mother tried to stop him: "Don't say any more. Zheng'er surely didn't mean it. It was just a slip of the hand. Zheng'er, when your sister wakes up, go and apologize. Mother will help you."

Ruan Liuzheng could not even stand. Her legs throbbed with pain, and she felt trapped in the same nightmare as before. Even though her closest kin were by her side, her parents only cared about pinning a crime on her, showing no concern for her own injuries.

"I didn't..." she trembled.

Blood from her forehead smeared across her face. Choking back tears, she rasped, "Father, Mother, I am in so much pain."

Her mother stepped forward to wipe the blood with a handkerchief, weeping, "Zheng'er, when Yingying wakes up, you must apologize. No matter what, that is an imperial heir. If the Emperor finds out, this is a death sentence."

Ruan Liuzheng found herself unable to defend her innocence, just as she had been when accused of infidelity. But she refused to be led by the nose by Ruan Yingying any longer.

"That is Lu Chenze’s child, that is why she didn't want it! Do not dare to frame me; I did not touch a single hair on her head!"

Her father, hearing this, was driven to fury. "How dare you say such things? If word of this gets out, our entire Ruan family will perish!"

"She dared to do it and dared to frame me! If I suffer because of this, even if I die, I will drag everyone down to hell with me."

The pain in her forehead was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. Very well, if Ruan Yingying wanted to play, she would play with her life.

Her parents were clearly shocked, never having expected her to be this way. Her father was deeply disappointed. "Are you threatening us?"

Ruan Liuzheng pulled herself up by the table.

"I would not dare, I am merely stating facts. Father, Mother, do not waste your breath on me. Go and persuade the Empress; if she wishes to punish me, let her first prove that the child in her womb is the Emperor's!"

She limped away, and Ruyan rushed forward to support her.

"Young Mistress, where are you going?"

"I can no longer return to my own room. Let us go to yours."

***

"Mistress, my quarters are for servants. How can you go there?"

"It is the only place with any peace left. Ruyan, my parents want me to apologize to Ruan Yingying; they are forcing me to admit guilt. If I admit it, I am dead."

Ruyan said, "Mistress, you must never admit to it."

Ruan Liuzheng replied, "Of course I won't. Ruan Yingying truly thinks she can frame me with nothing but her mouth."

She was so angry that her head and chest ached. An inexplicable panic gripped her, as if a rope were tightening around her heart, causing both suffocation and pain.

After sleeping for a while in Ruyan’s room, her body began to burn with fever. Ruyan touched her forehead.

"Mistress, I will go call a physician. Please, wait."

Ruan Liuzheng squinted, cold sweat breaking out, her body stiffening. Ruyan sent people to find a doctor, but they ignored her, so she was forced to beg Lu Chenze.

Lu Chenze was with Ruan Yingying. Upon hearing her request, he said, "She deserves it. All the physicians are attending to the Empress today. Tell Ruan Liuzheng to endure it."

Ruyan knelt and begged, "Mistress is burning up and losing consciousness. She also has a head injury. If we wait any longer..."

Lu Chenze replied, "Did you not hear me? Tell her to endure it. Get out."

Ruyan was driven away. Desperate and not knowing what to do, she thought of the Master and Mistress and ran to beg them.

"Master, Mistress, the Young Mistress is ill—very ill. Please, find a physician to treat her."

"What did Chenze say?"

"The Young Master said the physicians must stay to tend to the Empress. But..."

"Then wait until the Empress is better. Zheng'er has always had a strong constitution; she will be fine." They clearly did not want to hear Ruan Liuzheng's name again, their faces full of impatience.

Seeing that she could not persuade them, Ruyan left in despair. She did not give up and searched the area several times, but to her horror, Lu Chenze had summoned every physician in the vicinity to attend to the Empress.

Returning to Ruan Liuzheng’s side, the Mistress saw her weeping and asked, "They won't let a physician see me?"

Ruyan wiped her tears. "Mistress, what should we do? All the physicians are with the Empress."

Ruan Liuzheng sighed, her breath shallow. "We shall just have to endure it."

Ruyan suggested, "Why don't I go beg the Emperor? He used to dote on you the most."

"He hates me to the core now. Why would he listen to me? Do not waste your efforts."