Does he really not care? Even knowing that someone wants to get rid of his mother, he doesn't care at all? How cruel! What right does he have to be a husband? Mu Yunhe's gaze was unpredictable, so ugly and eerie, carrying a kind of desperate and extreme despair.
I don't need your protection! I can protect my mother myself! You can give your hypocritical and indifferent love to that venomous Consort Li! As long as I, Mu Yunhe, live, one day I will show you that it's not only Consort Li's son who can make you proud and boastful. My mother's son will also stand proudly between heaven and earth! Even surpass Mu Yunjin!
His eyes, which had been lifeless and dull, now shone like obsidian. What he saw in them was not a glimmer of light, but a vitality! Although it was extreme and biased, that vitality was growing vigorously.
Because of expectations, because of hopes, because of what the machine wants to protect, he must be strong and persevere!
The next day at noon, the sun was high in the sky, yet the entire palace was filled with a chilling atmosphere. Servants hurried past, none daring to speak loudly or raise their heads. Today was the day the prince was to set off for war. However, at this moment, the prince, dressed in a golden battle robe and holding a helmet, sat imposingly in the main hall, his majestic face bearing a chilling expression unlike his usual demeanor, his gaze sharp and piercing. Kneeling on the ground in the center were the women from the prince's harem, as well as his few children.
"From the moment I depart for war, all affairs within the palace will be managed by Consort Li, while external affairs will be handled by the Head Steward. Any issues that arise should be discussed jointly by both of them, but they must not do anything to tarnish the reputation of my palace. Furthermore, the Princess Consort will assist in the deliberations of both internal and external affairs. Without the Princess Consort's permission, neither Consort Li nor the Head Steward may make decisions on their own. Anyone who disagrees will meet their end the day I return. Do you understand?"
A dignified, domineering, and cold voice, carrying an aura of bloodlust, filled everyone in the hall, causing them to be shocked and solemn. 129.
Everyone was shocked and bewildered that the prince would actually ask the princess to assist in discussing the affairs of the prince's residence. The princess had not been involved in the affairs of the prince's residence for more than ten years, so the prince's order was truly puzzling.
Consort Li's face immediately turned ugly. She knelt there with her head down, and no one could see her emotions. The malice and sneer in her eyes were equally shocking.
Why should a woman who has been completely suppressed by her, a woman who has lost all vitality and fighting spirit, share power with her? Even if she were truly willing to relinquish power, she would have to ask that woman if she dared to accept it!
Then, the prince announced that Luo Zhiheng would be in charge of all matters concerning Mu Yunhe, and no one was allowed to interfere. Anyone who disobeyed would be punished in the same way as the one above!
The expressions on everyone's faces changed. Even Consort Li couldn't help but look up at Luo Zhiheng beside her. What right did she have to make the Prince announce such a thing? What exactly did she say to the Prince in the study yesterday? Consort Li pondered, feeling somewhat surprised and uncertain.
She had originally planned to take advantage of the current leaderless situation in the Prince's mansion to eliminate Luo Zhiheng completely. Not for any other reason than that this despicable woman dared to oppose her time and again, not only refusing to listen to or respect her, but also daring to contradict her – she deserved to die. Now, however, the Prince had actually entrusted Mu Yunhe's affairs to Luo Zhiheng. Was this a sign of distrust towards her? Or was he protecting Luo Zhiheng?
But whatever the reason, things had already spiraled out of her control, and she was determined not to allow anything unexpected to happen. Moreover, Mu Yunhe had to die; she was on the verge of success. This time, her son was accompanying the prince on the campaign; although there was danger, the prince's protection ensured his safety. Once Yun Jin achieved military merit and Mu Yunhe was dead, nothing could stop Yun Jin from inheriting the title of prince.
Therefore, Mu Yunhe must die during the time the prince is away! So Luo Zhiheng absolutely cannot be allowed to manage Mu Yunhe's affairs, at least not completely.
The other women who had something on their minds couldn't help but look at Luo Zhiheng, and then they all lowered their heads and remained silent.
After the prince finished his speech, it felt like all bark and no bite. Did he really think he could control these ambitious women with just that? Luo Zhiheng watched coldly, sneering inwardly. They still had to rely on themselves.
Amidst the tearful reluctance of a group of women, the prince, accompanied by the dashing Mu Yunjin, strode away, embarking on the first step of his journey.
What remained was a treacherous abyss, riddled with holes. From the moment the true dragon departed, all the beautiful women transformed into venomous snakes, their scarlet tongues flicking. Everywhere lay deadly traps, and a single misstep could mean certain death. The prince was gone, leaving his only legitimate son in this perilous abyss.
There is only one Luo Zhiheng who can fight alongside you, and only one mother who can truly care for you.
This is a huge mess! A fake divine doctor whose goal is to kill Mu Yunhe, a ruthless and ambitious concubine Li who wants to rise to power, a group of flamboyant vixens with their own agendas, and a hidden hand that may appear from time to time in the shadows.
Luo Zhiheng had no doubt that her and Mu Yunhe's future life would be colorful, thrilling, and fraught with danger!
But so what? It was precisely because of this oppressive environment that the prince, who could control her own destiny, was so restrained in her actions. Once the prince left, she could tear off the disguise, overthrow the repression, and be herself anew. Those flamboyant vixens, the scheming and vicious Consort Li, those charlatan doctors with crooked methods—bring them all on! In your godforsaken era, I'm still a domineering and arrogant female bandit!
With a cold laugh, Luo Zhiheng helped the princess turn and leave. She had no interest in watching a group of women shed tears for the bearded prince's hypocritical infatuation.
"Sister!" Consort Li's gentle voice suddenly rang out, and the princess stopped in her tracks, so Luo Zhiheng had no choice but to stop as well.
"Sister, please don't be angry. The Prince asked you to help manage the household because he didn't want me to work too hard, but it also shows how much he values you. Over the years, I've really been tired managing this household. Although there aren't any major issues, the numerous trivial matters are still exhausting. I'm so grateful that you can help me share some of the burden. From now on, we sisters will work together and never let the Prince worry about us while he's on the battlefield thousands of miles away." Consort Li's words were elegant and gentle, magnanimous and harmonious.
Those who do not know her true nature and this matter will surely be deceived.
But who among those present was a fool? This Consort Li was really trying too hard to glorify herself. Everyone knew that the prince's sudden arrangement for a consort who had been resting for many years to assist in managing the household was itself a questioning of Consort Li's abilities. Yet, Consort Li stubbornly buryed her head in the sand, using her humble appearance as a reason. It was truly laughable.
The princess stood there with an unpleasant expression, which was quite pleasing. After all, she and the prince had been husband and wife for many years, and she would definitely worry about the prince going to war. She didn't care about any power struggles or matters of the heart, but she couldn't withstand Consort Li's tone of praise that was actually criticism.
Consort Li changed the subject, speaking humbly and considerately, "Why is Sister silent? Is it because you're worried that managing the household is too tiring? If so, then you don't need to worry about it. Alas, the Prince is really something, troubling you with such a trivial matter. It only makes me uneasy. After all these years, doesn't the Prince know that I'm just destined to worry? I'll take charge of this matter myself. Don't worry about the Prince blaming you when he returns; I will handle it all."
So this was the woman's real purpose! She was actually afraid that the princess would seize power! Just like that, with a few words and her own words, she managed to remove the princess from power?
You're dreaming!
Luo Zhiheng turned around abruptly, about to speak, but the princess had already grabbed her arm. The princess's pale face was slightly tense from suppressing her emotions. The princess's eyes seemed to tell her: Don't be impulsive!
Luo Zhiheng frowned slightly. She wasn't impulsive; they were in the right, so why couldn't they stand up for themselves? Why should they endure and back down? Luo Zhiheng's logic simply couldn't comprehend the idea that even the Princess Consort was being bullied so badly, and yet she was expected to endure it as well. 15384257
At a time like this, shouldn't one hold firm to their point and confront Consort Li? Of course, Luo Zhiheng's method was barbaric and the most direct: she slapped Consort Li across the face with both hands until she shut up her foul mouth!
Her thoughts were straightforward, but the princess was an elder, Mu Yunhe's mother, and had given her so much gold and silver jewelry. Fine, she was indebted to her, so this time, she would endure it for the princess's sake. But Luo Zhiheng was grinding her teeth in frustration. Those who knew her knew not to provoke her at this moment, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
But there are those who are fearless and have no sense of propriety whatsoever. For example, one of those flamboyant and beautiful snake women, who is said to have a daughter, acts quite arrogantly in the royal palace where offspring are scarce.
She stepped forward, pointed at Luo Zhiheng, and sneered, "Why are you glaring at me? You're just a maidservant to our young prince. What's so great about that? To put it nicely, you're in charge of all the young prince's affairs. To put it bluntly, you're just a servant who has to grovel and grovel to serve our young prince! And you dare to be so disrespectful to our concubine. You'll be punished by heaven."
Instead of being angry, Luo Zhiheng laughed, her brows furrowed with a wild, eager spirit, as if she couldn't wait for the beautiful snake to scold her a few more times. The beautiful snake, much to her delight, went on and on, her words becoming increasingly outrageous, listing all of Luo Zhiheng's faults and embellishing everything from her family background to her tragic substitute marriage, using it all as a source of ridicule and sarcasm.
Good! Very good! She's already been scolded to the point of being insulted, surely the Princess won't make her endure it any longer? Luo Zhiheng's lips curled into an ambiguous yet extremely dangerous smile as she turned to look at the Princess, whose face could only be described as ashen.
Clearly, the princess hadn't expected that without the prince, these women in the palace wouldn't be able to restrain themselves at all, and would immediately escalate their behavior. Were these vicious women the virtuous and gentle women the prince spoke of? When did this palace become the domain of these foul-mouthed women?
"Don't think that just because you're with the Princess, you have a powerful backer. And don't think that marrying the young prince will guarantee you a life of comfort. Our young prince won't live past twenty. Have you prepared your coffin money? If you don't have enough for a coffin, won't you have to beg our concubine for help? So you'd better be discerning and know who you should be relying on. Without the concubine's money for medicine and supplements, how could the young prince have survived to this day? If you were really put in charge of the young prince, I'm afraid you wouldn't be far from death either." The words were becoming more and more outrageous and audacious.
This woman clearly disregarded the Princess and Luo Zhiheng, and was obviously a staunch lackey of Consort Li! Since Luo Zhiheng remained silent, she wanted to see how long the Princess could tolerate this. These women showed no fear of the Princess, who was practically invisible all year, and seized every opportunity to suppress her; their approach towards Luo Zhiheng was one of coercion and enticement.
She wanted her to relinquish her power over Mu Yunhe, yet she also told her how noble and kind Consort Li was, and even tried to entice her to "abandon darkness and embrace light" by joining Consort Li's ranks as soon as possible. Luo Zhiheng wanted to laugh out loud, point her finger at this woman's nose, and tell her: "Those who act like prostitutes while trying to maintain a virtuous image will be punished by heaven!"
"How dare you!" the princess suddenly shouted angrily. She was agitated, her face was pale, and she looked very tense.
Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone a princess of noble birth. She could tolerate these people humiliating her because she had long since relinquished her desire for fame and fortune. A tragedy caused by vying for favor had forced her to atone for over a decade, leaving her only son bedridden and even leading to the painful loss of her son. Therefore, she dared not compete for favor again.
She withdrew from the battle, content to protect only her son! These women attacked Luo Zhiheng, yet she remained calm and unhurried. But why did they attack her Yun He so viciously? That child, innocent and carefree, terminally ill, such a lovely and fragile child—how could they use such vicious words and such contemptuous tones to mock and belittle him?
The woman's words were like piercing the princess's weak tubes; the pain was real, excruciating! The princess trembled with rage, pointing her finger at the woman's nose and shouting, "Yun He will get better! You're not allowed to curse him!"
Luo Zhiheng watched coldly from the sidelines. Trying to reason with these vicious women, Your Highness, would be a sure defeat! Dealing with these women requires speed, ruthlessness, and the ability to control them! A moment's hesitation, and you're doomed! And suppressing evil forces through arguments is an art, just like in warfare or banditry—it requires striking while the iron is hot, then weakening, and finally exhausting.
If the princess in this palace cannot absolutely support her every word and action, that would be a major obstacle. The princess must be made to understand the power of impatience so that she will always stand by her side and no longer be restricted by forbearance. Therefore, necessary humiliation and harm are what the princess must experience.
Only in this way will the princess feel gratified when she starts cursing!
The woman was taken aback at first, seemingly not expecting that someone who was usually so good-tempered would actually roar. However, she immediately became more sarcastic, even directly challenging the princess: "Your Highness, you're mistaken. It's not just me saying that the young prince won't live past twenty; the whole capital knows. The divine physician diagnosed him, so it can't be false. Why are you deceiving yourself, sister? But you don't need to be too sad. Our royal family still has Young Master Yun Jin. From now on, he will be as filial to you as your own son. You're so lucky to have such an excellent son."
As the woman spoke, she glanced at Consort Li. Seeing Consort Li's gentle smile, she knew that Consort Li liked what she said, and that a reward was sure to follow. The woman was happy, but suddenly she heard several exclamations.
"Your Highness!" Hu Mama and Luo Zhiheng exclaimed in surprise. The princess was swaying precariously, but fortunately Hu Mama caught her in time.
Immediately following was a crisp, loud slap, which quickly silenced the previously noisy and chaotic lobby.
The woman who had been speaking eloquently just moments before now had her face turned to the side, half of her face seemingly numb. She was still somewhat dazed when, upon looking up and seeing Luo Zhiheng, whom she had just berated and insulted, unable to utter a single word, she immediately flew into a rage.
"You wretch! How dare you hit me! I am your elder, your mother-in-law, you wretched woman who was born of a mother but not raised by one!" Her voice was shrill and her attitude arrogant as she reached out to hit Luo Zhiheng.
Would she let Luo Zhiheng, a viper, get near her? She didn't want to be covered in sores.
Her rosy lips pouted slightly, revealing a mischievous yet infuriating charm, her eyes sparkling and dazzling like shooting stars. Just as the woman's sharp nails were about to scratch her cheek, Luo Zhiheng swiftly kicked out, striking the woman squarely in the abdomen. With a thud, the woman was sent sprawling to the ground with a muffled groan.
"Ah!" The entire audience screamed. The canary-like women had never seen such a fierce fight before. They retreated in shock, their faces pale. Where was the attitude of those who had just cheered for this drowning dog?
"Luo Zhiheng, what are you doing!" Consort Li was stunned for a moment, then shouted angrily with a grim expression.
Luo Zhiheng merely raised an eyebrow, glancing at Consort Li with a half-smile, before stepping forward to stand before the woman. The woman scrambled to her feet in fright, watching Luo Zhiheng warily. For every step Luo Zhiheng took forward, the woman immediately took a step back, their back-and-forth pressing in on each other. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense due to their brief standoff.
"You're my mother-in-law? What's your status? You're just one of the prince's concubines. I'd like to ask Consort Li, if this concubine dares to call herself my mother-in-law, then is her status the same as the princess? Consort Li, is this woman the princess?" Luo Zhiheng asked Consort Li, pointing at the woman with a swollen face.
Consort Li's face darkened further. This lowly woman actually dared to ask her such a question. This Lady Wang was her loyal supporter; if she said anything unfavorable to Lady Wang, it would surely damage their relationship. But if she remained silent, it would be tantamount to acknowledging Lady Wang as the Princess Consort. Hmph, how could a lowly concubine compare to the noble Princess Consort?
“Of course not. There is only one Princess Consort. How can a concubine like her be compared to the Princess Consort?” Consort Li’s answer left everyone speechless, but it was exactly what Luo Zhiheng had expected.
With her slender fingers lightly scratching her brow, Luo Zhiheng laughed carefree: "Since that's the case, what makes you think you're my mother-in-law? You even dared to curse me to die young before! Do you even know my status? I am Mu Yunhe's wife. Whether you acknowledge it or not, I am the rightful princess consort of this palace. Even if I'm not favored, I am still a proper mistress! And you, a concubine, are supposed to greet your mistress with respect. What gives you the right to yell at me like that?"
Wang's face paled even further. She hadn't expected Luo Zhiheng to be so succinct in her words. If she were to continue, she would be in danger. Wang looked pleadingly at Consort Li, but Consort Li remained unmoved.
"Tell me another story about the money the young prince spent on medicine and supplements. Who gave him that money? I'm sorry, I really didn't hear you clearly just now. Could you say it again?" Luo Zhiheng tilted her ear, looking on with a pleading expression.
Wang, accustomed to her arrogant nature, was not easily provoked and raised her neck even higher, shouting, "That money was given by Consort Li. Without Consort Li's money to buy medicine, the young prince would have already..."
Before she could finish speaking, another slap came flying at her face. She couldn't dodge in time and was struck squarely. Madam Wang wanted to curse, but Luo Zhiheng preemptively struck, her sharp voice almost accompanying the slap: "Nonsense! Consort Li is a woman, the dignified consort of Prince Mu, always pampered and spoiled. She can't work or go out to earn money. How could she possibly have the money to buy medicine and tonics for the young prince? Even if Consort Li has income from her dowry shop, that's her money. She has a son to raise and needs to save for his future wife. Why should she give so much money to the young prince? Has Consort Li been kicked in the head by a donkey? Or is Consort Li an idiot?"
She really dared to speak her mind. Her series of questions and sharp words turned everyone's faces into a purplish-red, while Consort Li's face turned ashen.
"You, you actually dare to insult me..." Wang stared wide-eyed at Luo Zhiheng, but Luo Zhiheng cleverly changed the subject again.
"Of course not! Consort Li is such a gentle and charming woman, a virtuous helpmate to the Prince, managing the Prince's residence with impeccable order. She is a great contributor to the Prince's household! How could you use such vicious words to slander Consort Li?" Luo Zhiheng asked angrily, praising Consort Li to the skies. But then, her tone shifted, and her words changed...
"But precisely because Consort Li is such a selfless and loving person, she would never blur the lines between public and private matters! The money used to buy medicine and tonics for the young prince is clearly public funds, the prince's money. And the prince's money is, after all, the young prince's father. Isn't it only natural for a son to spend his father's money? Isn't this money under Consort Li's control? How can you slander Consort Li by accusing her of appropriating public funds and hypocritically announcing that it's her money to subsidize the young prince? Even if it is a subsidy, wouldn't our princess be the biological mother? Why would she need an outsider? Your irresponsible words are so unfair to Consort Li!"
Who couldn't hear the sarcasm and mockery in Luo Zhiheng's words? Everyone could hear it, which is why everyone's faces were a kaleidoscope of colors. Luo Zhiheng glanced at them and a smile flashed across her face, more colorful than the palette used by that gentleman when he painted.
No one expected that Luo Zhiheng would dare to indirectly attack Consort Li. This woman is not simple. On the surface, she broke off relations and tore off her face with Consort Li, but she did not hesitate to take action in secret. When she made a move, she had a bloodthirsty demeanor that could intimidate the crowd and kill in all directions.
Consort Li was the landlady of the Prince's mansion; her word was law, and no one dared to disobey her. No one had ever dared to trespass on her territory, but now Luo Zhiheng had done so, and not only that, but she had put Consort Li at risk of serious injury. If Consort Li didn't retaliate today, her revenge tomorrow would surely be fierce and decisive!
Therefore, Luo Zhiheng will definitely die without a burial place!
Even so, because of this invisible and bloodless battle, Luo Zhiheng could die with honor. No one had ever rendered them all speechless, and their words were truly harsh and sharp, deafeningly so!
Wang Shi's face was ashen, Consort Li's face was livid, and the Princess's expression was stiff. Everything seemed to have fallen into a dead end because of Luo Zhiheng's twisted logic. Who could solve it?
Second update! More updates to come, please subscribe, vote, and leave comments! Your comments are my motivation! *kiss*
084 A decisive victory versus a stalemate: who has the better strategy?
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:15:26 Word Count: 14725
Without a doubt, no one but Luo Zhiheng can solve this problem!
Luo Zhiheng was determined to give her a hard time. She had already been quite stifled in this world, always having to be careful in her behavior. This old lady had simply reached her limit and wouldn't tolerate it any longer. Challenging her bottom line would come at a price.
You women, since you've provoked her, you have to play by her rules. She'll wipe out all the rules without exception and reshuffle the deck. She'll show you with her actions that she's going to be the queen of this backyard. You either submit or you sacrifice yourselves. There's no third option!
That's her domineering philosophy, that's her flamboyant personality, that's her ruthless methods—anyone who disagrees will be eliminated! Here, at this moment, she decides all the rules. This place will slowly detach itself from the path of conspiracy, resolving problems in her own way. Might makes right!
Luo Zhiheng returned to the princess's side, whose face was blank. She affectionately and obediently took the princess's arm, blinked, and looked innocent and carefree. It was as if the arrogant, domineering, and eloquent person who had spouted so many fallacies wasn't her, but possessed by a ghost. She smiled at Consort Li and said, "Consort Li, you are still in charge of this household. Although your status is that of a consort, you still have the right to deal with these scoundrels who speak rudely and slander good people. This person who hurt you must be severely punished! Otherwise, next time she might not just slander you, but perhaps… sell you out!"
Consort Li clenched her fists and said with a forced smile, "Then I really have to thank you for helping me get justice."
Luo Zhiheng blushed like a little rabbit, shyly lowered her head, and intimately approached the princess, saying modestly and apologetically, "Not at all, Consort Li, you're too kind. It's our duty as members of the royal family to rid the people of evil, especially since this person was trying to frame you. Of course, I had to stand up for you. Don't worry, if there are people like this again, I will definitely help them out of injustice. Moreover, I will be ruthless each time, making sure that anyone who tries to harm others will be terrified."
This isn't modesty at all! It's downright infuriating!
Consort Li felt so angry and frustrated that her lungs were about to burst. She felt like her chest was about to explode, and she felt like she was choking on blood. She couldn't go up or down. Looking at Luo Zhiheng, she felt like she might rush up and slap her twice!
The thing she cared about most was brought up as a joke by Luo Zhiheng. Inside the Prince's mansion, her confidants all knew very well that she had already treated that money as her own. That money came and went in her hands. If it wasn't her money, whose money was it? She always took it for granted that all that money was hers, and Mu Yunhe was using her money, squandering it lavishly, without ever giving back or showing any gratitude. Mu Yunhe and his mother were both heartless bastards!
Even now, as Luo Zhiheng ripped off her self-deceiving mask with laughter and curses, Consort Li truly felt the pain. This pain made her determined not to allow anyone to trample on her rights. She would not allow anyone to seize her power, nor would she allow anyone to challenge her authority. And the money in her hands was hers, and she would hold onto it even more tightly, not allowing anyone else to covet a single drop.