Luo Zhiheng's lips twitched, almost biting her tongue. She roared inwardly in fury: "Luo Zhiheng, you infatuated fool! This peacock-like guy is someone you used to flirt with? What kind of taste do you have? How could you end up with such a slut?! You're blind!!"
"Heng'er, why aren't you saying anything? Is it because you know I love your hesitant expression the most that you're keeping quiet? Hehe, Heng'er is the most considerate and understanding of you." Mu Yunsheng smiled and shook Luo Zhiheng, his voice rising slightly.
The wind blew, scattering his voice far away. So much so that among the shocked crowd, an ambiguous remark began to circulate…
Luo Zhiheng felt disgusted, but she didn't show it on her face. Not knowing this man's background, she wouldn't act rashly. However, despite racking her brains and trying to recall Luo Zhiheng's incomplete memories, she still couldn't find a single piece of information related to this man. Luo Zhiheng was distressed. What was going on? Could this messy situation be blamed on her?
She subtly twisted her body, seemingly trying to avoid the man's groping hands, but Mu Yunsheng clearly noticed her intention and gently pressed her down. Luo Zhiheng suddenly realized that this man, who appeared to be severely indulgent in sexual activity, was actually incredibly strong. How could someone who indulged in excessive sexual activity possess such strange strength?
Luo Zhiheng was startled and quickly reached out and pressed hard on Mu Yunsheng's side. The press landed on Mu Yunsheng's lower back, and an instant tingling and painful sensation spread throughout his body. Mu Yunsheng couldn't help but groan, and all his strength was quickly drained away. He staggered and almost couldn't stand up.
Luo Zhiheng seized the opportunity and immediately escaped. However, she acted as if she were frightened and clueless, rushing into Mu Yunhe's arms and looking at Mu Yunsheng with a panicked expression.
Mu Yunsheng was shocked. The indescribable pain he had just experienced was unlike anything he had ever felt before. He looked at Luo Zhiheng with a sinister gaze, only to see her expression blank and panicked, as if the person who had just caused him that pain wasn't her at all. How could this be? Could he have been mistaken? Was that just an accidental, accidental mishap by Luo Zhiheng?
Luo Zhiheng is not the kind of woman with scheming mind and such ruthless methods.
Thinking of this, Mu Yunsheng chuckled and said easily, "Oh, Heng'er, what are you doing? I'm not a jackal or a ferocious beast, why are you running so fast? Is Mu Yunhe's embrace more comfortable than mine? Or are you still blaming me for rejecting your advances back then?"
A deafening roar erupted! These words sent chaos into the area in front of the burning Mu Wang Mansion.
Did Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunsheng really have a past?! Rumors or reality? Everyone's gossip-loving spirit was ignited. But upon seeing Mu Yunhe and the others, they immediately deflated. Could Mu Yunsheng be any more outrageous? How could he say such things? Saying such things in front of Mu Yunhe—wasn't this blatant provocation and asking for trouble?
Looking over here, Mu Yunhe merely narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, a slight smirk playing on his lips, appearing completely indifferent, yet his words revealed a sharp edge: "Rejecting you proves she has good taste. If the woman I set my sights on doesn't even have this much discernment, what does she have to do with being a good-for-nothing? How could I possibly be interested in her?"
If Mu Yunhe didn't care, it was a veiled criticism and insinuation that Mu Yunsheng was a good-for-nothing.
And Mu Yunsheng was indeed quite useless. Hearing this, he was not angry at all, but instead chuckled and took two steps closer, saying, "This prince is not useless. All the women who have slept with me say that I am the best in the world when it comes to sex! It's just a pity that I have never tasted the flavor of the desert goddess in my life. What a pity."
His last words were spoken in a very low voice, three parts cold laughter, six parts provocation, and one part deliberate provocation. Only the three of them could hear them.
Naturally, these words successfully angered Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng's beautiful eyes widened, and she said coldly, "Trying to eat swan meat like a toad is wishful thinking and will lead to a terrible death."
A look of sadness crossed Mu Yunsheng's excessively pale face, his naked gaze filled with greed and shamelessness towards Luo Zhiheng: "Heng'er, aren't you trying to hurt me by saying that? You used to call me 'brother.' Aren't we lovers and sweethearts? How can you be so cruel as to curse me, a prince like this?"
As he spoke, he looked at Mu Yunhe with a pitying and pathetic expression and said, "Seeing her treat this prince like this, don't you feel the same way? Heng'er is such a heartless girl, she's really hateful. She treats this prince like this now, and she'll treat you the same way if she takes a fancy to another man in the future. Women are indeed fickle."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Luo Zhiheng was furious. She had run into a mad dog for no reason and been bitten by it, and she couldn't even say anything after being bitten. This was not something Luo Zhiheng could tolerate. She didn't care who the person in front of her was anymore and opened her mouth angrily: "If you're crazy, or your skin is too tight, you can just tell me, and I can help you loosen your muscles."
Luo Zhiheng swiftly pulled out her cane and confronted Mu Yunsheng without any hesitation. Her face was as cold as ice, and her eyes were almost spitting fire, revealing her anger.
"Oh dear, how could Heng'er be so heartless? We're about to become neighbors. They say a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. I was just joking with you because I felt sorry for you and you just lost your home. Don't get angry. Quickly put that thing away, it's creepy to look at." Mu Yunsheng hurriedly said, genuinely afraid of the cane in Luo Zhiheng's hand.
Luo Zhiheng didn't miss the fleeting greed and amazement in Mu Yunsheng's eyes. She knew that this man wasn't afraid of the cane, but rather wanted it. He was a two-faced man; his brazen behavior and words were likely just a facade.
Thinking this, Luo Zhiheng suddenly looked at Mu Yunhe. From the moment she was humiliated and verbally harassed by Mu Yunsheng, Mu Yunhe only said one sentence and did not offer much protection. Why was that?
Everyone who came followed Mu. Mu Yunhe simply looked at Mu Yunsheng quietly, a strange expression flashing across his face. Even though Luo Zhiheng was watching closely, she still thought she was seeing things.
Immediately, Mu Yunhe coldly said, "Stop your glib tongue. You'll regret it if you anger me."
Mu Yunsheng's eyes flashed, and his nonchalant attitude not only subsided but became even more unrestrained. His gaze lingered unabashedly on Luo Zhiheng, even focusing on her chest. He chuckled wickedly, "What are you saying, little brother? They say women are like clothes, but brothers are limbs. You share the same blood as me, so it's unreasonable to favor a piece of clothing that can be washed at any time over a limb, right? Besides, I'm really not afraid of anyone."
The two seemed to have fallen out because of the Third Prince's last words. In an instant, their eyes met, and there was a feeling of electric shocks and intense collisions in their gazes.
Meanwhile, Mu Yunjin, watching Mu Yunsheng, that bastard, looking at Luo Zhiheng with such eyes, felt an inexplicable displeasure. Even more hateful was Mu Yunhe, who kept saying he loved Luo Zhiheng and cared about her, yet when it came to protecting her, he didn't utter a single word. He was utterly cowardly, not a man at all.
When Consort Li saw the Emperor's third son appear and immediately flirt with Luo Zhiheng, her heart sank. How could Mu Yunsheng be having an affair with Luo Zhiheng? If that was the case, how could Mu Yunsheng still help them? Consort Li's anxiety intensified, fueling her anger and unease. She felt even more disgusted with Luo Zhiheng, considering her a shameless womanizer who would sleep with anyone!
"Ahem, Your Highness, Third Prince, could you please punish Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng quickly? They are utterly wicked, committing such unforgivable acts. I believe His Majesty will see through this and will not let them off, right?" Consort Li looked at Mu Yunsheng hopefully, her voice tinged with rage.
Mu Yunsheng withdrew his gaze, looking at Consort Li's roguish yet wicked smile. He took out a scroll from his sleeve and said, "The answer is right here. Consort Li, are you saying that the Emperor's punishment of Mu Yunhe and the others is wise, and that not punishing them is foolish? Is that what you mean?"
How could Consort Li dare to answer so easily? Although that was her meaning, she couldn't say it like that. Faced with this dilemma, Consort Li even began to hate Mu Yunsheng, feeling that he was just making trouble for no reason. What was the point of delaying such a matter?
"Is that what you mean?" Mu Yunsheng had no intention of letting go of Consort Li's thoughts. He pushed the scroll forward again and said with a wicked smile.
Consort Li was at a loss for words and instantly tensed up. Mu Yunjin, however, glared at her and said angrily, "Mu Yunsheng, that's enough! My mother is your elder, after all. What are you trying to do by acting like this? Since the Emperor sent you to deliver the decree, just do your job properly. Why are you making such a fuss?"
A leopard can't change its spots!
"Yo yo yo! Look who this is! Oh my, isn't this the famous young hero Mu Yunjin? Oh dear! What happened to General Mu Yunhe? How come he's so seriously injured? Did he almost die for his country? Oh my, this should be publicized properly, he's amazing! Look at how well the bandages are wrapped!" Mu Yunsheng excitedly rushed to Mu Yunjin's side and chattered on and on.
Mu Yunjin's face flushed red and then turned pale as she glared fiercely at Mu Yunsheng, who had clearly done it on purpose. At the same time, she cursed Luo Zhiheng inwardly for being a bastard for beating him like this.
"Don't talk nonsense! Yun Jin has made great contributions to the country, and his injury is an honor. But you, having received an assignment from the Emperor, not only do you not handle it properly, but you're also making endless fuss here. What exactly are you trying to do?" Consort Li shielded Mu Yun Jin, loudly rebuking him in dissatisfaction.
She felt she had the right to reprimand Mu Yunsheng. So what if he was the emperor's son? He wasn't the future emperor or crown prince.
"Hahaha, good, good. I was originally going to help you out, but it seems I won't need to now. Consort Li's sharp tongue is just as rumored; she's really stirring up trouble in the entire Mu Prince's residence. Don't worry, I will report this matter truthfully when I get back." Mu Yunsheng laughed as he spoke words that made Consort Li's face turn pale.
Seeing Consort Li's dumbfounded and stunned gaze, Mu Yunsheng opened the imperial edict and shouted, "Everyone kneel! The imperial edict has arrived! By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."
After a long and rambling speech, the Emperor's main point was that Mu Yunhe had endured a long and arduous journey, and that his return was marked by anger, fright, and further grievance. Furthermore, the Emperor had already intended to demolish and rebuild the Mu Prince's residence, but hadn't found a suitable opportunity and was waiting for Mu Yunhe, the male head of the household, to return so he could discuss the matter further.
But Mu Yunhe, upon returning, immediately destroyed the house completely, truly a model of understanding and empathy for the emperor. This greatly pleased Emperor Hu, who was overjoyed. He bestowed upon Mu Yunhe numerous gold, silver, jewels, and various other items, and also specially gifted Luo Zhiheng many treasures.
The later generation also mentioned that the Emperor had funded the reconstruction of the Mu Prince's Mansion entirely, and had specially arranged accommodations for Mu Yunhe and the others, instructing them to go immediately, rest well, and not worry about anything. The arranged accommodations were on Prince's Street, where adult princes resided. The first house at the very end of that street was the Crown Prince's Mansion!
The emperor arranged for Mu Yunhe and others to reside in the Crown Prince's residence.
The implications here are quite different, and worthy of deep reflection. Mu Yunhe is currently a highly sought-after figure throughout the land, someone everyone tries their best to offend and yet dares not offend. Who wouldn't want Mu Yunhe's favor and attention? Having these is tantamount to having a chance to save one's life. Even now, with the Mu Dynasty's rule still somewhat unstable, the Emperor has placed Mu Yunhe in the Crown Prince's residence. Could this also be interpreted as the Emperor's favor and high regard for the Crown Prince?
If Mu Yunhe were to remember their past relationship and the kindness of this temporary stay, he might very well protect the Crown Prince during his ascension to the throne, and even on his future path to the throne. This would be an immense favor and a hidden opportunity. The people present couldn't help but become solemn, each lost in their own thoughts.
The emperor's decree arranging for Mu Yunhe to stay at the Crown Prince's residence seemed merely incidental, making the bestowed rewards appear extremely abrupt.
Mu Yunhe burned down the vast estate of the Mu Prince's Mansion. Even if Mu Yunhe's reasons were overly justifiable, his actions were still reckless and arrogant. Yet, the emperor not only didn't utter a word of reproach, but instead praised him highly. He even found such a high-sounding reason for Mu Yunhe. This indulgence and favoritism reached an outrageous level. There were also a plethora of rewards, all of which clearly demonstrated the emperor's attitude.
Mu Yunhe is not to be offended, even if he committed murder and arson. The Emperor's attitude will only be one: to protect him to the very end!
Mu Yunsheng pushed the imperial edict forward again, smiling broadly, and said, "Accept the edict, my good brother. Now we'll be neighbors, which will make it much easier to get close to each other. Isn't that wonderful? One is my former lover, and the other is my brother. We'll be living together again, making us a true family. Don't you agree?"
Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng were specifically instructed by the Emperor not to kneel. Therefore, they could clearly see the lewdness and excitement in Mu Yunsheng's eyes. Mu Yunsheng's expression suggested he was genuinely happy that they would be living in the Crown Prince's residence. However, both Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe knew that this wasn't true.
Mu Yunhe had Xiao Xizi take the imperial edict from Mu Yunsheng before slowly saying, "I accept everything else, but let's forget about living in the Crown Prince's residence. Before the Mu Prince's residence is rebuilt, I and the little princess will find another place to live, so Your Majesty doesn't need to worry about that."
Mu Yunsheng asked with surprise and dissatisfaction, "Why is that? What a great opportunity! We could have gotten intimate, why didn't you come? Do you look down on me?"
Luo Zhiheng sneered, "It's not that we're looking down on you, you're not worthy of our looking down on you." 17385193
"Oh, how heartbroken I am to hear you say that?" Mu Yunsheng shamelessly leaned forward again, trying to hug Luo Zhiheng once more.
This time, however, he missed his target. Luo Zhiheng turned around, and Mu Yunhe rushed forward, his clean hand grasping Mu Yunsheng's excessively pale hand. With a snap, he actually broke Mu Yunsheng's wrist.
"Ah!" Mu Yunsheng screamed and fell to the ground, rolling around on the ground without any image or dignity, looking as pathetic as could be.
Everyone gasped, completely dumbfounded.
Mu Yunhe's flat voice, tinged with a hint of mockery and murderous intent, said, "I've tolerated your insolence only because you carry an imperial edict; I'm giving the Emperor face. I haven't killed you because you don't deserve to die yet. Stay away from Luo Zhiheng. If you dare touch her again, I don't care if you deserve to die; next time, I'll crush your head! I've warned you: angering me will have consequences you can't bear!"
His words were vicious, yet they came out with an elegant and charming quality, which was equally terrifying.
Luo Zhiheng smiled, knowing that Mu Yunhe's silence must have a reason. She smiled and took his arm, saying, "Shall we go stay at my house? My wet nurse is at the General's Mansion, and so is the Prince. Why don't you come and see the place where I grew up for eighteen years?"
The mention of the King of the World filled Mu Yunhe with instinctive aversion, but he desperately wanted to be in a place where Luo Zhiheng's presence and aura were everywhere, so he nodded and led Luo Zhiheng into the carriage and drove away. People automatically made way, prostrating themselves on the ground, not daring to even raise their heads.
Outside the fire, Mu Yunsheng's screams abruptly stopped. He glanced at the departing carriage, a sinister smile creeping across his lips. Then, to the astonishment of the crowd, he stood up, swaying his limp body, and roared, "Damn it, hurry up and take this prince to see the imperial physician!"
Consort Li and Mu Yunjin remained where they were, completely unable to accept this scene. Why was no one blaming Mu Yunhe when he had clearly done something wrong? Were these people all crazy? Why couldn't they distinguish right from wrong?
Consort Li's face was filled with gloom, her hatred almost bursting from her eyes, which startled Mu Yunjin's already somber expression. Perhaps sensing her son's gaze, Consort Li immediately softened her expression, saying with heartache and fear, "Yunjin, what are we going to do? Mu Yunhe and the others have gone to live in the General's Mansion, and we can't go to the Crown Prince's Mansion either. Now I'm penniless, where can we go?"
Consort Li's face was covered in wounds, but she hadn't felt the pain because she was so angry and frantic. Now that she was crying, it really hurt so much that she almost fainted.
Seeing her mother's condition and the blood on her face, Mu Yunjin said with heartache, "Let's go back to our maternal grandparents' place first, and then we can discuss this further. Let one of my trusted confidants lead us there."
Consort Li's eyes lit up, and she quickly ordered people to carry her and Mu Yunjin. However, before she could even move, she felt a heavy weight on her feet. Turning around, she saw that the disfigured Hua Kai was still tightly gripping her leg, staring at her with eyes like a vengeful ghost. Consort Li's scalp tingled instantly.
Chapter 1 complete! One more chapter today! I'll keep working hard! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group chat, muah!
338 Money-grubber! Ears are pounding! (Bonus chapter for 53,000 votes)
Updated: 2013-09-20 19:08:45 Word Count: 3461
Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe sat in the carriage on their way to the General's Mansion, both of them silent. Luo Erduo quietly wiggled her little bottom beside them, straining towards the door all the way, while secretly glancing at them with a look of fear on her face.
Luo Erduo thought that there was a depressing atmosphere in the carriage, both sad and suffocating. Her master and husband seemed unhappy. There was danger.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly spoke up: "I don't remember this Third Prince. If I had anything with this man in the past, that's all in the past. I'm sorry if you're unhappy."
Her voice sounded calm, but Luo Zhiheng was tense. Mu Yunhe had been silent since getting into the carriage. There were no questions, no anger, and no emotional outbursts. This was very unlike Mu Yunhe's personality. Moreover, she dared not say she didn't know the Third Prince, because the previous Luo Zhiheng might very well have known him. If Mu Yunhe discovered something and instead accused her of lying and deliberately concealing something, that would be disastrous.
Mu Yunhe opened his eyes and looked at her, his gaze filled with a smile, a hint of helplessness, and even more so with a gritted teeth: "You know I don't care about how others treat you, but how you treat others. As long as you remain steadfast and stay by my side, no matter what others say, I will just consider it nonsense and will not believe a word of it. There aren't many people in this world I can trust, and you are one of them."
Luo Zhiheng was shocked to hear Mu Yunhe say such things. She had never imagined that Mu Yunhe would value her so much, to the point that he would believe whatever she said. Yet, she felt so sweet and joyful inside.
Luo Zhiheng left, completely disregarding the Third Prince's absurdity. She snuggled into his arms and laughed, "You had such a sullen face the whole way. I thought you were angry."
Mu Yunhe pinched her cheek, his voice turning somewhat somber: "I was just thinking about that Mu Yunsheng. He always gives me a strange feeling. Although I don't know Mu Yunsheng personally, I've heard a lot about him over the years. He's supposedly a debauched, lawless, and extremely lewd person. But the feeling he gave me today is completely different from what I've heard."
"You mean he's pretending and hiding himself?" Luo Zhiheng blurted out. Seeing Mu Yunhe's approving look, she smiled and said, "I also noticed that Mu Yunsheng is quite unusual. Did you notice? When he got out of the carriage, his gaze went straight to me. And he had a very strong purpose; his target was to attack me. Not only that, he seems carefree, but every move he makes is very provocative. I feel like he's deliberately acting."
"Clever," Mu Yunhe praised, then said, "That's it. He planned it all out from the beginning. He knew you were my weakness, so he deliberately acted intimately with you, making it seem like you and him were having an affair. He was deliberately provoking me, wanting me to fight him for your sake, but I didn't. So he changed his tactics."
"I held back because I could see the calculation in his eyes. Although he hid it well, what did he think he could hide in front of me? Later, he deliberately provoked you, trying to make me angry through your anger and humiliation, so that I would then attack him. In theory, he did these two steps well, but they were too abrupt. I don't believe he was without purpose. Later, I found out what his purpose really was."
"What is it?" Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow.
“He doesn’t want us to stay at the Crown Prince’s residence.” Mu Yunhe’s voice was languid, but carried a hint of sarcasm.
Luo Zhiheng was surprised: "Why? Is he afraid that our entry into the Crown Prince's residence will pose a danger to him? But isn't he a lazy prince? How could he have such foresight? No! He can pretend to be a muddle-headed and incompetent good-for-nothing, so naturally he can also endure hardship and hide another astonishing existence!"
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's pale face, Mu Yunhe quickly patted her back and comforted her, "Don't worry. No matter what his purpose is, or what his true colors are, he has already been exposed in front of others today, so we can't let him continue to be arrogant. Whether he exposed himself to us intentionally or accidentally, remember to stay away from this person."
Is he in danger?
"Yes, it's very dangerous. At the very least, I can't see when his life will end." Mu Yunhe's voice sounded particularly heavy. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
"What does that mean?" Luo Zhiheng sat up straight, sensing that something was wrong.
Mu Yunhe's expression was gloomy as he frowned and said, "Mu Yunsheng's fate seems to be obscured by something I can't see. This is definitely not normal. Moreover, I sensed an unusual aura on Mu Yunsheng, something that shouldn't belong to the mortal world. I'm afraid Mu Yunsheng has become involved with some evil sects. We should be careful in the future. However, if necessary, I will take action to eliminate Mu Yunsheng in advance."
Luo Zhiheng nodded, then snuggled into his arms, playing with his fingers and said sullenly, "Actually, I think you were a bit impulsive today. You know I hid a lot of good things in your house. If I had sent someone to sneak in and take them out beforehand, we wouldn't have lost anything. The treasures in your storeroom... they were all mine, but unfortunately they're all gone. We lost a lot."