Dufeng Academy of the Ruan Residence
At the Ruan family’s Dufeng Academy, Ruan Yunzheng, the adopted daughter, hurried over to the courtyard of Madam Song, the principal wife.
“Mother!”
Madam Song quickly set down her teacup.
“Well? Have you found your eldest brother and eldest sister yet?”
Fine beads of sweat dotted Ruan Yunzheng’s forehead.
She shook her head and said, “There’s no word from Elder Brother, let alone Elder Sister… Mother, do you think something might have gone wrong?”
Madam Song clutched her handkerchief tightly.
“Of course not! Your brother has always been steady and reliable in handling matters, and he took so many people with him… Nothing could possibly go wrong.”
“Then could it be that Elder Sister didn’t come back as mentioned in the letter? So Elder Brother went to look for her?”
“Impossible! Your sister is the most filial child there is. Knowing that I’m gravely ill, she would have rushed back immediately…” As she spoke, a faint look of embarrassment crossed Madam Song’s face.
Manipulating her own daughter for the sake of her son these were things she could never bring herself to say outright.
But right now, her son was the one who mattered most.
He was supposed to have returned last night, yet there was still no news of him. How could she not be worried?
“Send more people to Yuguan Passageway. We must find your eldest brother at all costs!”
“Yes, Mother!”
Ruan Yunzheng hurried out again.
Madam Song’s eyelids kept twitching, and a vague sense of foreboding settled heavily in her heart.
She turned and walked to the small Buddhist shrine in the courtyard, pressing her palms together devoutly.
“Buddha, please bless them… May Zhaozhao and Changzheng return safely…”
Zhaozhao was Ruan Liuzheng’s childhood courtesy name.
Ah-Choo!
Outside the city gate, Ruan Liuzheng let out a loud sneeze.
Moments later, the gates swung open. Liu Yi, the Chief Eunuch, stepped down from his carriage.
Liuzheng swiftly dismounted and bowed deeply to him.
“Greetings, Chief Eunuch.”
“Good, good.” Liu Yi stepped forward, supporting her by the arms, and lowered his voice discreetly. “His Majesty has read the General’s memorial. But when you appear before the Emperor, you’d better have a proper explanation ready. If you provoke his wrath, no one not even the immortals will be able to save you.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Chief Eunuch. I shall never forget it.”
Liu Yi smiled. “His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time, and the people have lined the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of you. General, please proceed.”
Liuzheng nodded.
After helping Liu Yi back into his carriage, she turned and mounted her horse with smooth, practiced movements.
“Hyah!”
The entire capital had turned out onto the main thoroughfare, the streets packed shoulder to shoulder. Everyone wanted to see with their own eyes the famed General Zhaoyong the one who had repelled the Jin invaders and secured peace for the nation. Was he truly as tall and imposing as legends claimed, standing nine feet high and broad as a bear?
Soon, the city gates were thrown wide open. The thunderous rhythm of hooves striking the bluestone pavement echoed through the streets.
Battle flags fluttered in the wind, and the waiting crowd finally caught sight of the striking white stallion at the head of the procession.
Upon it sat a figure clad in fitted battle attire lean and lithe, bearing none of the bulky build typical of men. Polished armor glinted dazzlingly under the sunlight, and a scarlet cape billowed behind like a bank of burning clouds across the horizon.
As the rider drew closer, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. “Wait… that… that’s a woman?!”
Her expression was calm, composed, and unruffled, her lips naturally tinted a rich crimson. But what caught the eye most were her eyes bright and clear as the full moon.
“That’s General Zhaoyong? She… she’s actually a woman?!”
“Look at the Tiger Talisman she carries! There’s no mistaking it it’s her!”
“What a pity… to think she’s a woman. I was planning to approach the Ruan family to arrange a marriage for my son with one of their young ladies!”
“Pity? We’ve been at war with the Jin for nearly ten years now. If she hadn’t guarded the border all this time, we’d have long lost even the comfort of a hot meal on our tables!”
“Haha! That settles it then my son will go propose to her directly!”
“Dream on! With her talent and beauty, even a royal prince would be a fitting match for her. Your son? Don’t get your hopes up!”
But regardless of whether General Zhaoyong was a man or a woman, one thing was certain the threshold of the Ruan residence was bound to be worn down by visitors in the days to come.
Still, doubts lingered among some.
“A woman? How could she possibly possess such skill and authority? I’m sure there’s something fishy about all this!”
“Women ought to stay at home and raise their families. Leading soldiers into battle is simply disgraceful and goes against all propriety!”
The crowd buzzed with whispers and arguments, every kind of opinion being voiced.
From a balcony overlooking the street, two men watched the approaching figure intently.
“Your Highness,” one of them spoke with a faint smirk, “this is going to be quite a headache for you. The famed General Zhaoyong is a woman after all. If you wish to win her loyalty… I’m afraid your only option is to make her your Princess Consort.”
Prince Su, dressed in dark black robes, set down his teacup, his face impassive.
“Enough nonsense.”
Yet his gaze drifted involuntarily back to the figure atop the fine steed below.
Her eyes shone brighter than the sunlight overhead, her gaze fixed steadily ahead, as if seeing something far beyond the crowds and the city gates.
Almost imperceptibly, the corners of Prince Su’s lips curved upward.
Ruan Liuzheng… they had met again.
Three years ago, he had concealed his identity, posing as a refugee while investigating a case of grain corruption at the border. By chance, he had been conscripted into the very army Liuzheng commanded.
Back then, he had been nothing more than an ordinary, nameless foot soldier, while she during the bloody Battle of Deer Mountain had risked her own life to save his.
After uncovering the truth behind the corruption case, he had faked his own death and slipped away. For all she knew, the soldier who owed her his life had perished long ago…
Down on the street, Liuzheng’s gaze turned cold as it swept toward the direction of Dufeng Academy.
The people there were most likely still waiting for her to switch places with Ruan Changzheng and return in his stead, just as planned.
Suddenly, she felt the weight of a gaze burning intensely upon her.
Instinctively, she lifted her head, but caught only the fleeting sight of a dark-cloaked figure disappearing from view.
For some inexplicable reason, that silhouette felt strangely familiar.
“General?”
The voice of her deputy pulled her back from her thoughts.
She shook her head slightly, gave a few quiet instructions to the officer beside her, and then continued onward toward the Imperial Palace, amidst the cheers and acclamation of the people.
Long after her figure had vanished from sight, the crowds remained, still buzzing with excitement and speculation.
Meanwhile, Liuzheng had already removed her armor and entered the Great Hall of the Golden Carriage.
“Announcing Commander-in-Chief General Zhaoyong, together with Generals Xuanwu and Dingyuan… enter the Hall!”
Inside the magnificent hall, six towering pillars carved with golden winding dragons rose toward the high ceiling. Civil and military officials lined both sides in solemn formation.
In her previous life, the military honors and achievements she had earned had all been stolen by Ruan Changzheng. As a result, she had never once set foot inside this hall while she was alive.
But as a wandering spirit after death, she had returned here many times had even sat upon the Dragon Throne itself. It had been cold, hard, and far less grand or comfortable than people imagined.
Now that she stood here in the flesh, she did not glance about in awe or curiosity. Her expression remained solemn, her steps steady and measured as she led her officers forward.
“Your subjects… pay homage to His Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire!”
“Rise.”
Emperor Jingyuan raised a hand in acknowledgment, then commanded Liuzheng to lift her head.
She observed the proper etiquette, never looking directly into the Emperor’s eyes, keeping her gaze respectfully fixed upon the imperial dragon robes on his chest.
Emperor Jingyuan’s face bore little expression as he regarded her closely.
Several days earlier, he had received Liuzheng’s written confession. In it, she admitted that for nine long years she had served in the army in her elder brother’s name, hiding her true identity as a woman. She acknowledged her crime of deceiving the throne a sin for which she claimed there could be no pardon and voluntarily offered to return the Tiger Talisman and resign her command, her tone humble and sincere.
He had been furious at the deception, yet he could not overlook her achievements: she had repelled the Jin armies time and again, won countless battles, and always knew exactly how to conduct herself, never overstepping her bounds.
Most importantly, she was a woman which meant she posed no real threat to his authority.
In recent years, General Zhaoyong’s fame had grown too great; the people praised her endlessly, and even children sang rhymes celebrating her victories. For a long time, the Emperor had regarded her with deep suspicion and unease.
When news arrived that the Jin were seeking peace, he had already begun worrying about how to handle such a powerful and popular general. Prince Su was already enough of a political headache; to have another formidable figure like General Zhaoyong in the capital would only make matters worse.
But never had he imagined that the renowned commander was actually a woman! With a male general of such prestige and power, there was always the risk that he might one day become too powerful to control. With a female general, however, there was no such concern. Keeping her in service could even serve as a useful balance of power within the imperial court.
And so, the wariness and suspicion in Emperor Jingyuan’s eyes had faded considerably.
Still, the fact that she had concealed her gender for nearly a decade, revealing the truth only days before, rankled him deeply, leaving a lingering sense of having been deceived.
And so, after ordering her to rise, he remained silent for a long while, simply studying her carefully.
The officials in attendance whispered amongst themselves, all equally stunned. Who could have guessed that the legendary, battle-hardened General Ruan was actually a woman?
Now that her identity was known, all their previous plans whether to win her over as an ally or to undermine her influence would have to be reconsidered from scratch.
For a moment, the air in the hall grew thick with tension and unspoken calculations.
Sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, Liuzheng knelt down once more, bowing her head low in voluntary submission.
“Your Majesty, though I have driven back the invaders and defended our borders, I committed the grave crime of impersonating a man and deceiving the throne. I beg Your Majesty to pass judgment and punish me as the law demands. However, I humbly ask that my family be spared any blame or retribution. My elder brother did not refuse military service out of cowardice or disloyalty he was born with a disability that leaves him unable to walk. If I must be punished, let the punishment fall solely upon me!”
Emperor Jingyuan’s expression remained unreadable.
Silence settled over the great hall so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling to the ground would have been clearly heard.
Fine beads of sweat formed on Liuzheng’s forehead. She knew full well that a single word from the Emperor could mean her life or death.
She was gambling everything on this plea.
If she won, she would finally have the chance to live freely, as herself.
If she lost… at the very least, the honors and glory she had earned with her blood and sweat would never again belong to Ruan Changzheng.
She was not afraid to die what truly terrified her was the thought of dying before she could right the wrongs done to her.
Her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, her knuckles turning white from the strain.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly, each second feeling like an eternity.
At last, Emperor Jingyuan spoke.
“You have indeed committed a serious crime in deceiving the throne and for that, you shall be punished. You are hereby stripped of your military command and must return the Tiger Talisman. In addition, your official salary will be suspended for three years.”
Only then did Liuzheng feel the heavy stone in her chest finally lift.
He was taking away her command, yes but he was not taking her life.
The carefully worded confession she had sent through her trusted aide had worked exactly as she had hoped.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears of relief and gratitude. She bowed her head all the way down to the floor. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Do not thank me just yet.” A faint smile appeared on Emperor Jingyuan’s stern face, softening his features like a benevolent elder. “In the past nine years, you have recaptured fifteen cities from the enemy and safeguarded millions of lives. If I were only to punish you and give no reward, I would be acting without mercy or justice.”
Back at the Ruan Residence
Master Ruan had returned from the family’s private academy to the main inner hall. Though he himself held no official rank or title, his reputation as the heir to the academy founded by his father one that had produced a top-ranked imperial scholar was well-known throughout the capital. Many even respectfully called him “The Master of a Thousand Students.”
“Has Changzheng not returned yet?” he asked anxiously.
Ever since Ruan Changzheng had left home days earlier, Madam Song had been praying ceaselessly at the family shrine, kowtowing until her forehead was red and swollen, her voice hoarse and strained.
It was Ruan Yunzheng, standing beside her, who answered. “We have sent three separate groups of searchers, Father… but there is still no trace of Elder Brother… or Elder Sister.”
“How can this be?” Master Ruan frowned deeply. “Just now, I heard the sounds of celebration in the streets the army has already returned to the city. Even if Changzheng had no time to come straight home, he should have at least sent word by now!”
No sooner had he spoken than the sound of footsteps and a familiar voice echoed from outside.
“Father! Mother!”
Ruan Yunzheng’s face lit up with joy, and she tugged excitedly at Madam Song’s sleeve. “It’s Elder Brother! He’s back!”
Both parents were flooded with relief and delight. Their son was back bringing with him all the military honors and glory that rightfully belonged to the Ruan family!
But as the three of them hurried out of the hall to greet him, the smiles froze on their faces.
Ruan Changzheng stood before them, still wearing the plain clothes he had set out in, his face pale and twisted with rage and frustration.
According to the plan laid out in the family letter, he was supposed to have met Liuzheng at Yuguan Passageway just before the army entered the city. There, they were to exchange clothes and identities he would take her place as the victorious general and enter the palace to receive honors, while she would return quietly to the academy as his sickly younger sister.
But here he stood disheveled, dusty, and furious looking nothing like a hero returning in triumph.
Master Ruan stared at him in shock. “Why didn’t you change places with Liuzheng as agreed?”
Ruan Changzheng ground his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. “Father, Mother… she did it! Liuzheng ignored the safety of everyone in this academy over a hundred lives and went straight to the palace to claim the rewards and honors herself!”
“That cannot be true,” Ruan Yunzheng spoke up quickly, her voice shaking slightly. “I have never met Elder Sister myself, but Mother has always told me how dutiful and devoted she is. She would never risk the safety of our whole family or act against our wishes like that!”
“Wouldn’t she?!” Ruan Changzheng roared, his face dark with fury. “I waited exactly where the letter said I should at Yuguan Passageway for hours and hours, but she never showed up! I thought perhaps she had been delayed somewhere, so I searched everywhere I could… until I heard people shouting in the streets that the army had already entered the city. I rushed back as fast as I could, and what did I see? I saw her riding tall at the head of the procession, carrying the battle flag and the Tiger Talisman, leading the troops straight to the palace! And she wasn’t even pretending to be me anymore she was wearing a woman’s battle armor, bold as anything! By now, the whole city knows General Zhaoyong is a woman, and that woman is her!”
Madam Song’s vision swam, and her knees buckled. If Ruan Yunzheng hadn’t been quick to catch her, she would have collapsed onto the stone floor right then and there.
“Mother! Are you all right?” Ruan Yunzheng asked, supporting her carefully.
“I… I am fine…” Madam Song whispered weakly.
But Master Ruan paid her no attention. He stepped forward, gripping his son’s arm tight, his face pale with dread.
“Changzheng… are you absolutely certain it was her? Could you have been mistaken? How could she dare do such a thing… knowing full well what it means for all of us?”
“I could not be mistaken!” Ruan Changzheng spat the words out bitterly. “She is my twin we look almost exactly alike. Even if she were burned to ash, I would still know it was her! Father… Mother… do you realize what this means? Disaster is about to fall upon our entire family!”