If Yunhe were entrusted to her, could she truly protect her? And was the Prince's mansion really that despicable? The Prince still couldn't quite believe that his women were so wicked. But it was undeniable that someone wanted to harm Yunhe, and it might even be his loyal Emperor. The Prince, in his current state of grief and resentment, had no choice but to take precautions. However, he couldn't be overtly cautious, otherwise, who knew what underhanded tactics the Emperor might employ?
Then let's just push Luo Zhiheng out. Just as she said, as long as she doesn't want to die, she must ensure that Yun He doesn't die!
Once the prince had figured it out, he said to Luo Zhiheng, "Come with me to the study."
There will be another update today! Please add to your favorites, leave comments, and vote!
081 Gift of a Treasure!
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:02:13 Word Count: 1885
Luo Zhiheng was a little distracted, still thinking about what the prince had said to the group of women when she came out of the room.
"What are you all doing here? You are not allowed to come to Yunhe's courtyard from now on. Don't disturb Yunhe's tranquility!" These were the words the prince said to the group of flamboyant women.
There was no blame, just a warning. It seems the prince doesn't believe his women are malicious. Although he forbids them from coming to Mu Yunhe's courtyard, such a futile effort is completely ineffective. Is the prince too confident, or does he simply not understand women? Mu Yunhe and his mother are obstacles to his advancement; they should be eliminated as soon as possible. His attitude is wrong.
"Luo Zhiheng." The prince sat behind his desk, his face grim, and said, "I understand what you said to me, but you say you're protecting Yun He, what gives you the right?"
Luo Zhiheng snapped out of her thoughts. She knew that the prince wanted to negotiate with her and was also testing her. She wanted to seize this opportunity to gain more favorable terms, which was exactly what she wanted.
"Because I'm afraid of death! So I will try my best to live, and find ways to live. If anyone tries to stop me from living or wants me to die, I will make them die first!" Luo Zhiheng said without any hesitation.
A ruthless glint flashed in the prince's eyes, but he also finally showed a hint of seriousness towards Luo Zhiheng! In his view, Luo Zhiheng was not someone who was unreliable, quite different from the rumored good-for-nothing who only liked handsome men. She had clear goals and was very frank about them, demonstrating that she was someone who would work hard to achieve her objectives. Moreover, she was intelligent, patient, and adaptable. Most importantly, she could see the advantages and disadvantages of the current situation and chose to protect Yun He. In that case, handing Yun He over to her openly was not a bad idea.
"Because that divine physician was sent by the Emperor, I cannot easily touch him, otherwise there will be endless troubles. You, do you know what to do?" This is the most difficult thing for the prince. He cannot touch the divine physician, otherwise it will arouse the Emperor's suspicion and dissatisfaction. He is about to lead troops into battle, and he is afraid that the Emperor will trip him up. In addition, his family members will be controlled by the Emperor.
“I think the best strategy to deal with that imposter is to remain still and use their own tactics against them,” Luo Zhiheng said.
The prince's eyes gleamed as he carefully examined Luo Zhiheng for the first time. He found her to be upright and intelligent, a stark contrast to the person who had previously made a scene at the entrance of the prince's mansion. He then realized that Luo Zhiheng was telling him that she was not an idiot and had the ability to protect Mu Yunhe and herself.
"Fine! I'll trust you this once, but you must swear an oath to me that as long as you live, you will ensure Yunhe lives. This is the condition that allows you to establish yourself in this palace. If you fail to do so, I will take your life when I return!" the prince threatened.
Luo Zhiheng made a vow without hesitation, which was expected; if she wanted to live, she had to protect Mu Yunhe.
"I will arrange everything else. Take this. Remember, this is only temporarily entrusted to you for your own safety. You must return it when I return. Holding this in this palace is equivalent to having me here. No one will dare to make things difficult for you, not even the Emperor. He won't easily touch you if he sees it. But remember, I gave it to you not so you could do whatever you want." The prince handed a long box to Luo Zhiheng and said solemnly.
Luo Zhiheng could tell that the prince was reluctant to part with this item. He looked at it with a serious and reverent expression. Luo Zhiheng was very curious about what was inside the box. Could it be the Imperial Sword? If so, she would use it to cut down anyone who dared to cause trouble!
However, Luo Zhiheng underestimated the power of this treasure. She will rely on this treasure to dominate the backyard of the Prince's mansion and intimidate the capital in the future!
Announcement: This novel will be available for purchase tomorrow. Updates will be more frequent after that, and I can finally unleash my full potential and update at a breakneck pace! The plot will also unfold much faster. Don't complain about the low word count; I wasn't having a good time writing it either, haha. Things will be better starting tomorrow! Want to see what the real heroine is like? Want to see our heroine stop hiding her true self and reveal her true nature? Want to see a heroine who crushes all the villains, arrogant, domineering, and capricious? All this will be revealed in the later episodes! I'm asking for your first subscription—the subscription on the first day of the novel's release counts as your first subscription. Thank you! Please add to your favorites, leave comments, give recommendations, and join the group!
082 Transaction! The person hasn't left, but my heart is already yearning for them!
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:15:23 Word Count: 14815
Luo Zhiheng's eyes held a calculating glint. She was willing to do anything to survive, but equally, knowing she could live, she would fight and protect her own interests to the fullest extent. She was a woman with a strong desire to control money; she loved money but wasn't greedy, and she held onto her own wealth tightly.
"Your Highness, I have no foothold in the palace. I don't own much, only my dowry and two servants. Please, Your Highness, have mercy and grant Zhiheng a favor so that she can have complete control over her dowry and my two servants." Luo Zhiheng spoke tactfully, but her attitude was clear.
She didn't trust the women in the palace. She had no power or status, but she couldn't be without money. She knew very well the importance of money in critical moments, and that money could often buy her safety.
The prince's eyes flashed with coldness and ruthlessness. After a long pause, he said, "I'm giving you a written order. If anyone dares to covet your dowry, you can treat that person as you see fit, based on this order. But if nothing like what you're thinking happens, then your dowry will all belong to Yun He when I return. Are you willing?"
Would the prince care about Luo Zhiheng's dowry? But the prince was very unhappy that he had been led by the nose by a mere maid. This girl clearly didn't trust the women in his harem; how could those women dare to covet the little princess's dowry? He thought Luo Zhiheng completely overestimated himself and underestimated his women.
Over the years, his harem has been peaceful. Although his wives and concubines are not very harmonious, they can at least treat each other with respect. There has never been anything too troublesome. Even if Consort Li has ambition and motives, the prince still does not believe that the woman who has been gentle for so many years, the woman he has doted on for so many years, would do something that would displease him.
Luo Zhiheng's repeated distrust and suspicion of the women in his harem had seriously offended his dignity and authority as a prince. He had to teach Luo Zhiheng a lesson. You care about your dowry? Then he'll make sure you lose everything!
The prince's revenge stemmed entirely from his overconfidence; he didn't believe his women could be so despicable.
Luo Zhiheng didn't really think that much about it. She just wanted to protect her property. But women are always very persistent about certain things. For example, whenever she thought about how her sisters-in-law in her past life always coveted her dowry and tried every means to get their hands on it, she felt so angry that she would probably have already divided up her dowry by now.
So although the prince's words were somewhat unequal, his word was law here, and just in case, she nodded and said, "Okay, I agree."
As for what happens in the future, we'll see. What if she's already dead before the prince returns? What good is that money then? And if they're all still alive, then to reward her for protecting your son, you can't very well touch her dowry, can you? Luo Zhiheng smiled darkly to herself.
A glint of light flashed in the prince's eyes, and he deftly wrote a handwritten edict and gave it to her. He was unaware of Luo Zhiheng's calculated plans; if he had known, he would have scolded the girl for trying to get something for nothing from him.
"Do you have any other requests?" the prince asked again, needing to make proper arrangements before leaving, especially regarding Yunhe.
Luo Zhiheng said solemnly, "Please grant me one right, Your Highness: I shall be fully responsible for the affairs of the young prince and shall not allow anyone else to interfere. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee that the young prince will live to see your triumphant return."
Luo Zhiheng's serious and upright demeanor made the prince's heart tighten as well. He needed to carefully consider whether this girl was really so reliable. He had entrusted her with that treasure so that she could better protect Mu Yunhe, but if this girl were to completely interfere in everything concerning Yunhe, could she do a good job? Would it lead to some problems?
Seemingly sensing the prince's hesitation, Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "Your Highness, besides trusting me, who is in the same boat as the young prince, do you have any other better options?"
The prince nodded, but said with a sinister tone, "There is no better choice. Fine, I will trust you this once. Remember, I entrust Yun He's life to you, and I also hold your life, as well as the lives of your entire family, in my hands. From now on, you are not fighting for your own life, but also for the life of your family. If Yun He is gone, then the day I return will be the day your entire family is executed!"
Luo Zhiheng's words were so calm and matter-of-fact, yet a faint chill crept out from between her bones, spreading throughout her body, a chilling feeling that was hard to describe.
This is the attitude of those in power. They always stand at a height that you have to look up to. Even when they are at a disadvantage, they will use their superior position and power to grasp everything tightly and control you with everything that can defeat and hold you firmly.
Perhaps it's power, perhaps it's status, perhaps it's money, perhaps it's morality, perhaps it's family ties...
Unfortunately, Luo Zhiheng was among them!
She is a good bandit raised with a conscience! She has her moral bottom line and standards of conduct. She is afraid of death, but she is definitely not a coward. She can clear all obstacles to survive, but that does not mean she will stand by and watch innocent people be implicated and die because of her.
Ultimately, is it because she's too kind? Your Highness, you can't push your luck! Since you're so shamelessly putting pressure on her, why should she unconditionally protect your son for you? Even though this protection is based on her own survival.
The prince's threat, though not too strong, struck a nerve with Luo Zhiheng, hitting her moral bottom line. It revealed the true nature of Luo Zhiheng, which she had hidden because she didn't belong to this era—the core principle being that she would never suffer a loss!
She smiled, her smile as pure and beautiful as a blooming flower: "Since Your Highness has said so, then Zhiheng should not back down, otherwise others will think that Your Highness is abusing your power and taking advantage of your age. Since Your Highness has made the first offer, then in order to protect Your Highness's good reputation, Zhiheng will also make a small offer."
Prince Mu was utterly dumbfounded.
This isn't for his reputation's sake at all! It's clearly an attempt to extort him! I wonder what she'll say one day. If she dares to make excessive demands, I'll kill her immediately and then make arrangements for Yun He.
Luo Zhiheng clearly saw the murderous intent in the prince's eyes, because the prince did not hide his anger from her at all. Instead, Luo Zhiheng smiled even more innocently and harmlessly: "Actually, it's nothing serious. I just want to wait for the prince to return in triumph and give me my freedom!"
The prince's eyelids twitched, and he perked up, asking casually, "Oh? Free? You mean..."
"When the Prince returns, if Zhiheng truly lives up to the Prince's trust and protects the young Prince unharmed, then please, Your Highness, grant me permission to leave the Prince's residence. Whether you give me a letter of divorce or take pity on me and allow us to divorce, I only ask that Your Highness allow me to leave the Prince's residence." Luo Zhiheng's eyes were bright.
At this moment, she finally rediscovered a sliver of her former arrogance and exhilaration. At this moment, she finally felt a spark of vitality in her life, just like she had felt during the Republican era in which she had lived.
She knew that for so long, she had seemingly been carefree and trying to survive in this godforsaken place, but it was because she was afraid. She had thought about leaving and had even discussed with her cousin about switching places with Luo Ningshuang, but how difficult that would be? She could also see that Luo Ningshuang was unwilling to come back, and this was a critical moment. If she really left, would Luo Ningshuang be able to protect Mu Yunhe with the same conviction as her?
If Mu Yunhe dies, wouldn't that mean the death of an entire family? And she's part of that family too. Since the outcome is the same anyway, why not let this determined person stay and work hard to earn a legitimate reason to leave this place?
Her former name was Luo Zhiheng, a name that had followed her for seventeen years. She still called herself Luo Zhiheng; it was practically the only familiar thing she possessed in this world. If she and Luo Ningshuang were to switch back, she feared she would have to live her entire life under Luo Ningshuang's name, living a life of timidity and restraint. She didn't want that!
She wanted to live openly and proudly under the name Luo Zhiheng!
Leaving the Prince's mansion, leaving openly and honestly—she was so excited about this goal! She finally understood how much she missed the feeling of freedom, galloping wildly on horseback!
Her strength was returning little by little, and the dormant wildness in her blood was gradually awakening. This was a challenge. She licked her lips, feeling her blood burning, and her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, full of anticipation.
The prince was shocked, never expecting this girl to make such a request. He, like everyone else, had always believed that Luo Zhiheng had schemed and plotted to marry into the royal family, and that she must have some ulterior motive, whether it was fame, fortune, or wealth.
Yet this girl, whom he had imagined to be utterly worthless, actually asked to leave the Prince's mansion. Was it a ploy to win him over? Or did she genuinely want to leave?
The prince probed with a hint of sarcasm, "If you wanted to leave, why did you go through all that trouble to marry into this family in the first place?"
Luo Zhiheng's smile held an undeniable roguish charm, a wild and untamed quality: "Just for fun, I thought the Prince's mansion would be interesting. But all I found here is a bunch of chattering women. It's incredibly boring. If I'd known it would be like this, I would never have knocked my sister unconscious and married in myself. Now I regret it. Consider it compensation for disrupting the young prince's wedding. I'll do my best to protect him. If things succeed, please be lenient and let me go. Then, you can ask me to marry as many women as you want, it's just a matter of saying the word!"
The prince was so enraged by her completely indifferent attitude that he choked on his breath. She married into the family… was she just playing around?! Where did this idiotic woman come from? Steadying his breath, the prince tried to suppress the urge to kill this brat who was using his son like a monkey, and gritted his teeth, saying, “Fine! I agree! But this matter needs to be written down, so you don’t go back on your word and refuse to leave!”
That damned girl treats her son like dirt. Does she really think Yunhe is unwanted? When the time comes, divorce that girl and find Yunhe a hundred or eighty women to serve him. Yunhe will still be a hot commodity, while the woman who is divorced by her husband's family will only become a more infamous and unwanted discarded woman!
The prince sneered repeatedly, while Luo Zhiheng smiled excitedly with her eyes narrowed. These two people with such contrasting emotions were setting a deep pit for their son's and husband's future relationship, thus harming both of them!
Luo Zhiheng carefully folded and put away the two pieces of paper with utmost care, then picked up the treasure and was about to take her leave, but the prince said, "Don't let Yunhe know about this. I don't know how you got Yunhe on your side, but Yunhe is in a good state now. At least he's not so self-destructive anymore. Don't let your foolish actions interfere with our deal."
Although she felt that Mu Yunhe would be very happy to know that he would be free when his father returned from the war, and it wouldn't hurt to tell him, since the prince had already been so tolerant and generous, she might as well agree.
"Your Highness, please rest assured. You can discuss this matter with the young prince yourself when you return from the battle. As for other security matters, please take care of them. I will take my leave now." Luo Zhiheng said solemnly, then picked up her things and left.
Behind him, the prince's eyes gleamed, and he said in a deep voice, "Tiger, leave ten guards in the Tiger Regiment to protect Yun He's safety. During my absence, they must obey Yun He's every command. However, for now, don't let Yun He know of your existence. Don't act rashly. Keep a close eye on Luo Zhiheng's actions. As long as it doesn't harm Yun He, don't stop her. If you discover that Luo Zhiheng is acting strangely, kill her without mercy!"
A low, hoarse voice echoed in the air: "Understood!"
"And that miracle doctor... let's see what Luo Zhiheng plans to do first. If she can't deal with that miracle doctor, then you should secretly get rid of him, making sure not to leave any evidence. Also, be careful with the Emperor, don't let him extend his reach to Yun He," the prince added.
"Understood!"
Luo Zhiheng walked back quickly, keeping a low profile and avoiding letting anyone see the box in her arms. She walked with her head down, looking somewhat flustered. The maids and servants along the way looked at her with schadenfreude. At first, she didn't quite understand, but as they watched, she realized that these people probably thought she had been reprimanded by the prince. 129.
As soon as she arrived in the courtyard, her wet nurse came to greet her, grabbing her hand and looking very nervous: "Young Miss..."
Seeing her hesitant expression, Luo Zhiheng knew that she was worried about the other people in the courtyard, so she pulled her into the room and closed the door under Mu Yunhe's strange gaze, making the room even darker.
"What happened to the wet nurse?" Luo Zhiheng asked, putting down the box.
The wet nurse glanced at Mu Yunhe on the bed. Although she couldn't see Mu Yunhe's gaze clearly, she still found it difficult to speak. What if her words ruined the relationship between the young lady and the young master? For the sake of the young lady's reputation, she dared not speak in front of the young prince.
Luo Zhiheng found it strange and laughed, "Nanny, just tell me. I have nothing to hide in front of the young prince."
Her frankness made Mu Yunhe, who was pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, curl the corners of his mouth into a smile that was hard to tell whether it was mockery or happiness, hidden in the darkness.
The wet nurse anxiously tugged at Luo Zhiheng's sleeve and led her to the corner furthest from Mu Yunhe, whispering in her ear, "Young Miss, the young master is here. He's waiting for you under the wall in the backyard. He seems to have something urgent to discuss. Are you going to see him?"
The nanny knew about Xia Beisong's feelings for Luo Zhiheng, but while the young lady was quick to react to handsome men, she seemed completely indifferent to Xia Beisong, failing to see his affection for her. Previously, they had been happy for the young lady to be with Xia Beisong, but now that she was married, it was inappropriate for her to associate with her cousin, especially such private interactions. If discovered and publicized by someone with ulterior motives, it would be a capital offense that could ruin the young lady's reputation forever. Therefore, the nanny did not want the young lady to see Xia Beisong.
Luo Zhiheng was unaware of her nanny's thoughts. Upon hearing that it was Xia Beisong, she immediately perked up, realizing she needed to conspire with him. So she hurriedly said, "Okay, I'll go see my cousin right away."
She spoke so carelessly, clearly not intending to hide anything from Mu Yunhe. The wet nurse's expression changed; she couldn't see Mu Yunhe's face clearly, but she was equally terrified, because no man would want his wife to meet with another man. Even if that man was her cousin, even if they didn't love their wives. Heaven help me, please don't let my son-in-law be angry!
Mu Yunhe did hear it, but he didn't react at all. Seeing Luo Zhiheng drag her wet nurse away without even saying goodbye, Mu Yunhe opened his eyes and coldly said, "Little Xizi."
Xiao Xizi rushed in and, with eyes honed in the darkness for over a decade, accurately sensed that the young prince's mood was off. So, Xiao Xizi nervously stood a meter or two away from the bed, bowed, and asked, "What are your orders, Master?"