In contrast to Mu Yunhe's poor spirits, Luo Zhiheng was in high spirits and beaming with joy! The moment she stepped out of the room, her face changed immediately, a smile curving her lips and her eyes full of mischievous glint.
Hmm, I knew you, this old-fashioned, mean, abstinent, and repressed slut, wouldn't let me sleep with you. Luckily, I'm smart. I've retreated to advance. If I don't sleep with you, I can sleep with someone else. It's you, Mu Yunhe, who kicked me out. It's not that I broke the rules of the Prince's Mansion and crawled out myself to refuse to share a room with you. That way, people won't dare to use this as a fault to gossip about me in the future, right?
Luo Zhiheng was a woman of foresight, planning every step carefully. She wanted to hold absolute power and control the situation, so she always left herself a backup plan. She personally set a small trap, intending to provoke Mu Yunhe according to his personality. Even if she couldn't sleep with him, she could still make the enraged Mu Yunhe kick her out. And things unfolded exactly as Luo Zhiheng had planned.
She clenched her fist inwardly. To remain invincible, she needed to control all the advantageous resources. Not everything belonged to others; all the benefits were hers! Being kicked out was the result Luo Zhiheng herself wanted, so it wouldn't put Mu Yunhe in a difficult position. After all, Mu Yunhe was the young prince, and if he deliberately prevented Luo Zhiheng from sleeping in the room, no one would dare to say anything.
After carefully reviewing the situation and finding no loopholes, Luo Zhiheng rushed towards the maid's room with a beaming smile. As the young princess, she still had some privileges. At least in this small courtyard, she used her position to arrange the best single rooms and the most comfortable beds for her wet nurse and maid, each bed big enough for three people to sleep comfortably.
This seemingly insignificant arrangement reveals just how cautious and deep-thinking Luo Zhiheng is, even at such a young age.
She rushed into the maid's room and snuggled into the warm, soft, and comfortable bed. Luo Zhiheng immediately closed her eyes contentedly. This would be her most comfortable sleep since arriving in this strange place.
When the servants came out, the young princess was already gone. None of them saw Luo Zhiheng enter the maid's room, but when they saw that the courtyard gate was open, they all trembled. Could the princess have really gone to feed the dogs by herself? The servants immediately summoned other servants and went out with lanterns to look for Luo Zhiheng.
They walked quickly and soon spotted a figure hurrying forward. They rushed over and saw that it wasn't Luo Zhiheng, but their maid, Huakai. One of them angrily said, "Huakai! Why are you sneaking out so late instead of sleeping? Where are you going? Did you open the gate to the courtyard? Have you seen the little princess?"
The maidservant named Hua Kai was the one who had accused Luo Zhiheng that day; she was one of Consort Li's people. She appeared slightly flustered, but quickly regained her composure and smiled, "Gentlemen, I... I saw the young princess running ahead. I was wondering why she was out in the middle of the night. I was worried, so I quickly followed to protect her. Oh dear, it's all your fault! The young princess was walking so fast; you held me back, and now we definitely can't catch up."
Hua Kai looked annoyed and nervous, but she was also puzzled. When she came out, Luo Zhiheng hadn't even left the young prince's room yet. How did she know where Luo Zhiheng was? Could it be that Luo Zhiheng really went to feed the dogs by herself? That would be great, as it would save her master some trouble.
"What? The little princess left so quickly? Why didn't you say so earlier? Hurry up and chase after her!" In her anxiety, Xiao Xizi hurriedly sent people to chase after her, and no one cared about the blooming flowers anymore.
Seeing everyone hurrying away, Hua Kai waited a while, and when no one was around, she immediately ran to the right. Under a corner, she took a stone from inside the wall and made a sound like a night hawk's cry. The same sound came from outside. Hua Kai then passed a small note through the hole in the bucket, plugged the hole with the stone, straightened her clothes, and quickly ran in the other direction—the direction of Consort Li's courtyard. 15366764
Luo Zhiheng had disappeared, and more and more people in the Prince's mansion were searching for her, but as dawn approached, they still hadn't found her. Everyone panicked completely and rushed to the Princess Consort to report as soon as day broke. The Princess Consort was still asleep at this time, and when Hu Mama heard that Luo Zhiheng was missing, she turned pale with fright.
Before long, the princess found out, and the entire palace was in an uproar the moment dawn broke!
Two pieces of news spread like wildfire through the Prince's mansion. First, the young princess attempted to assault the young prince in the middle of the night, but was caught red-handed by the servants. Enraged at almost being violated, the young prince ordered her thrown out to be fed to the dogs. Second, the young princess had disappeared overnight!
It might really have been eaten by a dog!
Both of these news items were shocking and bombshell news. While people marveled at Luo Zhiheng's audacity and lust, they also despised her shamelessness, debauchery, and promiscuity. Apart from the Princess's family, no one sympathized with or pitied Luo Zhiheng. Some even thought it was only a matter of time.
Everyone in the Prince's Mansion knows how handsome Mu Yunhe is, and everyone in the capital knows how lecherous Luo Zhiheng is. If these two are put together, it would be a miracle if nothing happened!
Chapter 1 is here, and there's a second chapter coming today! Begging for votes and comments, my darlings! *kissing emojis*
089 The concubine is furious! A corpse!
Updated: 2013-06-07 13:15:31 Word Count: 3441
The princess was so angry that her hands trembled as she listened to the news that the maids and servants were reporting, which could no longer be suppressed. This matter concerned her son's reputation and character. If people really concluded that Mu Yunhe had forced his wife to death, wouldn't Mu Yunhe be criticized behind his back in the future? Moreover, she also liked Luo Zhiheng from the bottom of her heart.
The princess knocked over her teacup and said angrily, "How dare those gossipy maids talk about and mock my daughter-in-law? Send down the order: anyone who dares to discuss this matter again will be dragged away and beaten to death! Send another order: find her, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find the little princess! I want the little princess to be safe and sound!"
Madam Hu and the servants stared blankly at the decisive woman before them. This was the first time the mistress of the house had displayed her power after years of silence. And it was at this moment that everyone suddenly realized that even if the sleeping lion seemed harmless, it was still a ferocious beast! No matter how gentle or unfavored the princess was, she was still a princess on the royal register, and she held the power of life and death over the royal palace!
However, at this crucial moment, a voice, laced with hidden sarcasm and a hint of mockery, rang out. It was the arrogant voice of the one who had blocked the search for someone to take control of the situation: "Oh! Sister, you're quite the big shot here. I didn't even know when the Prince handed over the power to transfer personnel in this palace from me to you."
The princess suddenly looked up, her usually gentle eyes now sharp and piercing as she watched Consort Li, adorned with jewels and beaming with smiles, gracefully approaching with the support of servants. A sharp pain, as if pierced by needles, gripped the princess's heart. 15397188
This woman should have died long ago! With Consort Li in the Prince's mansion, she and Yunhe would never have a peaceful day. She knew this for a long time, but she had long since given up the desire to compete, which is why she put herself in a stalemate after making concessions step by step.
Because of her trust, her trusted nanny, whom she had always relied on, betrayed her and was bribed by Consort Li. From then on, she dared not trust anyone anymore. If it weren't for Hu Mama's unwavering support and protection over the years, the princess wouldn't even have a single person she could confide in.
Because of her sins, she relinquished all her pride and jealousy, willingly becoming the strongest support for her pitiful son. She distanced herself from fame and fortune, and became indifferent to emotions, practically retiring from the royal palace. This vast palace was never short of women, but Consort Li held absolute power, and she remained silent, letting her do as she pleased. All she wanted was for her Yunhe to be healthy and live a long life; that would be enough for her.
Now, she has been driven to the brink of despair, and her life is threatened once again. If Luo Zhiheng really disappears, Mu Yunhe's reputation will inevitably be affected. If Luo Zhiheng really dies, she will definitely be sad, but after all, they haven't known each other for long, and she doesn't easily open her heart to others. It will all pass eventually.
But Yun He is different. He is unhealthy, and no woman is willing to marry him. Once Luo Zhiheng dies, Yun He will be burdened with the stigma of being a jinx to his wives. Right now, there are already people in the Prince's mansion using this matter to smear and slander Yun He. She cannot allow Yun He's reputation to be burdened with this stigma.
Therefore, Luo Zhiheng has no choice but to live! For her son's sake, Luo Zhiheng must ensure that he lives a peaceful, stable, and healthy life!
A woman becomes strong when she becomes a mother! Even the weakest woman can become a fearsome figure for the sake of her child.
The princess slowly stood up, her face calm and composed, just like the stunningly beautiful eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion many years ago. However, after all these years, she had learned to hide her emotions and said to Consort Li, "This is my family matter, and Consort Li is not welcome."
A hint of mockery and ruthlessness flashed in Consort Li's eyes. A smile spread wildly across the corners of her eyes, deepening her fine lines. Her words were as sharp and arrogant as ever: "Yes, the disappearance of the young princess is indeed a matter of the princess's household affairs. But when the princess deals with household affairs, can she at least consult me, the head of the household? You've been making a big fuss in the palace, and the people you've been using are all under my control. These personnel changes are originally under my jurisdiction. The princess is overstepping her bounds. Can't I, the dignified head of the household, even inquire about this?"
As long as she wasn't in front of the Prince, Consort Li was always this arrogant, making everyone want to kick her to death. Of course, the current Princess didn't have that power. If Luo Zhiheng were here…
The princess recalled how Luo Zhiheng confronted Consort Li. Back then, Consort Li was completely overwhelmed by Luo Zhiheng and had no chance to fight back! It seems that there really is a counter to every kind of thing. She just wondered if this precious Luo Zhiheng could suppress Consort Li and make her feel so suppressed.
The princess wished she could tear Consort Li's hypocritical face to shreds. Hearing her constantly refer to herself as the mistress of the house was like a slap in the face to the princess, a clear indication that she didn't respect her. Was Consort Li out of her mind, or did she genuinely believe she was close to becoming princess, or did she think the position was already hers?
Suppressing her anger, the Princess Consort pulled back the equally furious Hu Mama, her gaze sharp and unyielding. "Now is not the time to concern ourselves with power. Luo Zhiheng is the young prince's lawfully wedded wife, the rightful mistress of this palace. Now that she's gone, the people of the palace should naturally do everything in their power to find her. Your obstruction is entirely justified. Aren't you afraid that I, the Princess Consort, will report you to the Emperor? In that case, it will be unclear who is overstepping their bounds in this palace! Consort Li, do you... want to try?"
Consort Li's expression changed, and the sinister glint in her eyes was almost impossible to conceal. This was the first time in so many years that the Princess had confronted her directly! Was it really because of that Luo Zhiheng? Hmph, probably not. In the end, wasn't it all for that sickly man?
But do you think she's afraid of you? You know you need to find the Emperor, do you think she'll just sit and wait to die?
"Sister, you have quite the imposing presence! It's frightening! I wonder when you'll be going to the palace to meet the Emperor? Please take me with you then. I haven't seen my beloved Consort in the palace for so long, and I miss her dearly." Consort Li said slowly with a confident and arrogant expression. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, sister. My Consort is currently pregnant, already seven months along. The imperial physician has determined it's a boy. Because this is the Emperor's late-in-life son, he's taking it very seriously. He said he won't announce it yet, fearing he might lose this child, and will only announce it to the world when the baby is nine months along."
The princess's face turned deathly pale, her expression a mixture of shock, disbelief, and darkness, and her body trembled uncontrollably!
She knew all too well how earth-shattering the Imperial Concubine's pregnancy was at this time. The Emperor was already in a weakened state, relying on medication to sustain his health for so many years, yet a concubine was still able to become pregnant?! Moreover, such a significant event as the Imperial Concubine's pregnancy could not possibly be concealed. Could there be some other hidden story behind this?
But the princess is certain of one thing: Consort Li's older sister is definitely not a kind person either!
Seeing the Princess's changing expression, Consort Li became smug. A soon-to-be prince, especially the Emperor's late-life son, naturally enjoyed unspeakable privilege and affection. She believed that with her sister, the Imperial Concubine, pregnant, she could suppress the Princess's arrogant demeanor. In her eyes, even a dragon had to bow before her, and a snake had to coil up. The Princess wouldn't have a chance to rise again!
In short, she was determined not to let the princess have a good time today, to avenge Luo Zhiheng for humiliating her and stealing her things a few days ago. As for Luo Zhiheng's life or death, laughable, who would care? It would be best if she were dead, so that Mu Yunhe's reputation would be irreparably damaged, which would be more beneficial to her son, Mu Yunjin!
"Hmph, since it's the Emperor's late-life son who forbids us to talk about it, aren't you afraid that the Emperor will be furious and blame you for saying it now?" The Princess Consort sneered, trying to calm herself down.
Consort Li, however, was not afraid at all: "Isn't the princess one of our own? So I told the princess that if it were to leak out... then the princess would have to share the responsibility that I cannot bear."
What a ruthless and cruel person!
The princess almost ground her teeth to powder. Consort Li's move was ruthless, killing without drawing blood! If anything were to happen to the Imperial Noble Consort's pregnancy, Consort Li might implicate her, and she would definitely not benefit from it. This woman has such a vicious mind!
Just as the two were engaged in a heated exchange, a young eunuch rushed in, his face deathly pale, and knelt down with a thud, stammering, "Your Highness, Consort Li, something terrible has happened! A corpse has been found in Xiliangting Lake!"
Rumble!
The princess felt dizzy for a moment, and her body swayed. Mama Hu quickly supported her and helped her fall down, but the princess's face was already deathly pale.
Consort Li was extremely gloating. When Hua Kai came to report this matter to her last night, she only took it as a joke. Later, during the day, when the princess started a large-scale search for people, Consort Li took the opportunity to spread the news, which not only ruined Luo Zhiheng's reputation but also arbitrarily smeared Mu Yunhe, and made things even worse for the princess.
In all these years, I've never felt so good. Looking at the princess's pale face, Consort Li thought viciously, "It would be best if she just died right now, then I could quickly become the princess."
"Quick, take me there!" The princess, having caught her breath, immediately went to the lakeside, and Consort Li, of course, also wanted to see the excitement.
When everyone arrived at the lakeside, the body was being pulled from the water. It was surrounded by maids, servants, and eunuchs, who all stepped back to pay their respects upon seeing the princess and her entourage. 12.
The princess barely looked at the man; her voice trembled as she asked the servant, "This is...?"
"Wow, it's so lively here." A clear and melodious voice drifted on the summer breeze.
Everyone turned around in surprise, and the moment they saw Luo Zhiheng, dressed in a fiery red gauze and radiant with joy, they felt dizzy and were stunned.
Consort Li's shrill voice couldn't help but utter, "You're still alive? Then who is that corpse?"
Second update! 10,000 words guaranteed for today's update, hehe. Hua Sha is begging for recommendation votes and comments, my dears! These are all my motivation to keep updating! Love you all, please give me your love, my darlings, mwah!
090 The Battle Over the Corpses! Consort Li may not care, but I, Luo Zhiheng, will!
Updated: 2013-06-08 12:40:33 Word Count: 8866
When Consort Li said this, Hua Kai, who was standing to the side, twitched her eyelids violently, but then regained her composure.
Anyone would be unhappy if someone wished to die, and Luo Zhiheng was no exception. But she smiled brightly, took a few steps forward, glanced at the already rotting corpse, and said casually, "Consort Li's words are strange. I was sleeping peacefully in my courtyard and just woke up. Why are you cursing me to die first thing in the morning? Besides, I haven't been in the Prince's mansion for long. You're asking me who she is? Who am I supposed to ask?"
Consort Li did not immediately refute. She had been wary of Luo Zhiheng since last night. Of course, she was not afraid of Luo Zhiheng. As always, Consort Li looked down on Luo Zhiheng and never took her seriously. The reason she was wary of her was because Luo Zhiheng was too shameless. No matter what you said, she could always put on a smiling face. It was this smiling tiger who had snatched something from her yesterday.
Consort Li was a vengeful woman, narrow-minded and petty. No one dared to take anything from her. Yesterday's incident with Luo Zhiheng had already incurred Consort Li's wrath. With both old and new grudges, Consort Li was plotting how to kill Luo Zhiheng. Now that this corpse had appeared, she could make good use of it, preferably by connecting Luo Zhiheng to the corpse...
The princess had already walked to Luo Zhiheng's side, and took her hand with concern, saying, "Where have you been, child? Don't you know that the Prince's mansion has been looking for you all night? You can't do this again, it makes everyone worry."
Luo Zhiheng chuckled inwardly, but her face remained very obedient. She said shyly, "Mother, I was sleeping in my room. I didn't know anyone was looking for me. The maid in the courtyard told me just now. I was afraid you would worry, so I rushed over to tell you without even changing my clothes. I'm sorry for making you worry. I deserve to die."
The princess's gaze was reproachful, but her tone was gentle: "Let it go this time, it wasn't your fault. Good child, if you feel wronged again, don't hide away and be sad by yourself. You can come and tell your mother anytime, and your mother will definitely stand up for you. You know what happened this time. First, Yunhe was wrong. He shouldn't have kicked you out. It's only natural for husband and wife to share a bed. It's just that Yunhe is used to being alone. I'll talk to him about it later. You can go back to your room to sleep tonight."
The princess had good intentions. With Luo Zhiheng safe and sound, the princess's heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled down. Although the rumors were unpleasant, at least Mu Yunhe would no longer be accused of being a jinx to his wives. In fact, the princess was also dissatisfied with Luo Zhiheng's willfulness, but after all, she was her daughter-in-law, and it also concerned Mu Yunhe's reputation. In front of so many people, she couldn't say much.
Luo Zhiheng nodded with a smile, obediently holding the princess's arm. The princess was very moved by the princess's willingness to send people to search for her after she went missing, even though she had no power, and was willing to risk going against Consort Li to find her.
Of course, she was also furious that Consort Li was deliberately obstructing people from finding her! Consort Li's intentions were as clear as day; she just wanted to see Luo Zhiheng suffer and wished for her death. The more you wished for her death, the more she would live on, just to infuriate you!
However, this Consort Li really needs to be taught a lesson. We need to think of a way to make a scene with her and teach her a lesson so that she knows that Luo Zhiheng is not someone to be trifled with.
Luo Zhiheng was scheming, and Consort Li was also scheming to deal with Luo Zhiheng. She glanced at the corpse and felt disgusted. There hadn't been any deaths in the Prince's mansion recently; perhaps some unknown maid didn't want the one who fell into the water to die. Her eyes darted around, and Consort Li pointed at the corpse, saying, "This corpse is actually related to the Little Princess. If it weren't for searching for the Little Princess, these people wouldn't have been searching for it in this water. In the end, this corpse should thank the Little Princess for bringing it back to the light of day."
That's a really far-fetched argument. They're just trying to find a way to smear her.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes darted around, and suddenly she pointed at the corpse with a deathly pale face and screamed, "Ah! She, she's not dead! She just opened her eyes and looked at Consort Li!"
Her sudden high-decibel scream immediately triggered a chain reaction. The maids and servants who had been bravely surrounding her screamed in fright when they heard Luo Zhiheng's scream, and quickly retreated. It was unclear whether they had actually seen the already rotting corpse open its eyes or were simply terrified.
The concubine did not wish for it. The scene instantly descended into chaos, filled with screams.
Consort Li's face stiffened for a moment because of Luo Zhiheng's words. For some reason, she felt a chill run down her spine and subconsciously glanced at the corpse. This glance made Consort Li feel cold all over. In a daze, she felt that the clothes on the corpse looked very familiar.
Who is this?!
Consort Li was jolted awake. Her hands were definitely not clean. She couldn't even remember how many women, children, and servants had died at her hands. Could this be one of them? 12.
Thinking of this, Consort Li shuddered violently, and her face turned slightly pale. She looked at her trusted head maid. She hadn't dealt with that many people in recent years, but it wasn't like she hadn't done it. Usually, she had her head maid handle it directly. Could this be the person she had executed?
Consort Li's head maid also turned pale. She understood the meaning behind Consort Li's gaze and quickly blinked, indicating that this had absolutely nothing to do with them. She and a reliable old woman had disposed of the bodies themselves; they definitely hadn't put them in the pool.
Consort Li still trusted the head maid, and seeing this, she felt relieved. She then became arrogant and domineering again, coldly saying, "Little Princess, you'd better not talk nonsense. A person who is already dead and whose body is rotting, how can he open his eyes? The Prince values peace and tranquility the most. If the Little Princess continues to talk nonsense, then I, as the mistress of the household, may have to punish you for spreading rumors and inciting unrest. Don't blame me for not showing mercy to you juniors then."