375 Give me a stick, I'll stab you in the back! (Part 2)
Updated: 2013-10-08 17:03:18 Word Count: 7500
In the dim candlelight, the night wind made the candlelight flicker, casting long, alluring, and ghostly shadows. The flickering candlelight illuminated King Mu's arrogant face, which, though arrogant, was also filled with a domineering aura of anger.
He was arrogant enough, and happy enough, because he had suppressed Luo Zhiheng with his own methods. If Luo Zhiheng was unhappy about the nude photos, Mu Yunhe would certainly be unhappy too. Mu Yunhe had made him, as a father, unhappy and killed his beloved son, so he would naturally retaliate in kind!
Unfortunately, this woman was much smarter and more resilient than his Fangfei, and not easy to deal with. So he set a trap, he provoked Luo Zhiheng, and now he's even confronting Luo Zhiheng, all for the sake of making the couple unhappy.
Like Mu Yunhe, he couldn't kill Mu Yunhe either. Firstly, Mu Yunhe was still his son, and even though he was ruthless, he couldn't bring himself to kill his own son. Secondly, Mu Yunhe was different now; he would never allow himself to be killed by Mu Yunhe.
No matter how important his own affairs were, or how much he cared about Li Fangfei, nothing was more important than the fate of a nation. Mu Yunhe's current status was now tied to the rise and fall of the country, and he absolutely could not afford any mishaps.
But the anger and heartache in Prince Mu's heart could not be left unresolved. Someone had to step forward and bear the consequences. He couldn't act on his own son, but he could on Luo Zhiheng, an outsider. Making Luo Zhiheng sad would make Mu Yunhe unhappy.
Prince Mu was truly ruthless. He didn't care about Mu Yunhe; he only cared about what he longed for and cherished in his heart. Therefore, he believed he had Luo Zhiheng firmly in his grasp. Even if Luo Zhiheng brought up their agreement with Mu Yunhe, what difference would it make? He simply didn't believe there wasn't a rift between them. Thus, Prince Mu was already on the path of revenge. His arrogance stemmed from his desire to inflict unbearable pain on his enemies—even if that person was his own son!
But Prince Mu's arrogance didn't last long. He simply stared at Consort Li's memorial tablet, his eyes filled with deep sorrow and longing. Behind him, however, lay a woman who was not a weak, easily bullied lamb; she would resist, she would fight back! 17130015
With a light touch of her finger across her brow, Luo Zhiheng's gaze sharpened, her words growing increasingly nonchalant and strangely mocking: "I've always been an optimist. Since Prince Mu insists on saying it, I naturally can't stop him. Since I can't stop him, why should I waste my energy worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet? However, I still firmly believe in the relationship between Mu Yunhe and me. No one can interfere. Whether it's childhood sweethearts, innocent lovers, or lovers met later in life, these people are simply invisible and nonexistent between Mu Yunhe and me."
“Even if I, Luo Zhiheng, am a scoundrel, I know that one must have a conscience and a sense of morality. Mu Yunhe has been devoted to me wholeheartedly, and his love for me is pure and genuine. Naturally, I, Luo Zhiheng, would rather die than betray his sincere heart. Even if some fake divine doctor tries to seduce me, sneaking into my courtyard or room in the dead of night and getting into my bed, I will not hesitate to stab him to death, chop up his body, and throw it out to feed the dogs! I would never secretly meet with someone for an hour or two in the dark, without a single maid or servant in the room, just because of a few sweet words. Wouldn't that be blatantly telling everyone that there's something fishy going on in my room?”
She speaks frankly and never holds back, but it is precisely this frankness and the veiled sarcasm that makes her meaning all the more obvious.
This time, it was Prince Mu's turn to have a drastic change in expression. He abruptly turned around and shouted, "What do you mean?! Explain yourself! Who... was having a secret rendezvous with a man for an hour or two in the dead of night?!"
Prince Mu was indeed a remarkable person; he immediately discerned the hidden meaning in Luo Zhiheng's words. He also knew that someone like Luo Zhiheng wouldn't speak without reason, much less smear herself for no reason; her words must have a deeper meaning.
But this matter was far too serious. Prince Mu couldn't believe it, nor did he dare to think about it too deeply. He only felt it was absurd and laughable. His first thought was to be furious and disbelieve it! His gaze towards Luo Zhiheng was so cold, as if he were looking at a dead person, a dead person who had offended him completely with his words!
Luo Zhiheng was not afraid at all, and even laughed loudly. Under the ugly face of Prince Mu, she pointed to the dark memorial tablet and said with contempt and disgust, "Your Highness, ask your beloved wife."
Prince Mu suddenly stepped forward, about to grab Luo Zhiheng's wrist, but Luo Zhiheng turned around without hesitation, dodging Prince Mu's grasp, and laughed heartily, saying, "Why is Prince Mu acting like this? Your current behavior makes it seem as if I was just talking about Prince Mu. You can rest assured, even if I, Luo Zhiheng, have a thick skin, I would never do anything so despicable as to betray Mu Yunhe."
"Although I may not be a model woman who adheres to the three obediences and four virtues, I can honestly say that I have done right by Mu Yunhe! I, Luo Zhiheng, would never have done that before, I will never do that now, and I will never again put a green hat on Mu Yunhe's head! As long as I, Luo Zhiheng, am known as Mu Yunhe's wife, I will never disgrace him! Even if someone were to climb into my bed, I would kill him with a single blow. If Mu Yunhe says the word, even if it means my death to prove my innocence, I will not hesitate!"19.
"Unlike some people, who can get close to someone with just a few words, their language frivolous and their behavior flirtatious, they're just like prostitutes from a brothel. Even if these women stand in high positions, they can't hide their seductive nature and their lowly, shameless, and wanton prostitute essence! They're dignified in public, but wanton and wanton in private. They're shy and obedient in their husbands' arms, and just as alluring and seductive in their lovers' arms. They truly have men at their fingertips."
As Luo Zhiheng spoke, she grew increasingly angry, and her words naturally became more and more sharp and frightening. Recalling the day her wet nurse discovered the sordid affair between Consort Li and that fake doctor in the dark, she recalled how, out of kindness, she had tried her best to keep it a secret to protect Prince Mu's reputation and to prevent Mu Yunhe from getting angry. Not only did she not say anything herself, but she also ordered her wet nurse not to say anything either.
She's a damn pushover. She does good deeds anonymously, not seeking recognition or remembrance, but don't treat her like a fool. She genuinely dislikes the story of the farmer and the snake, and she has no interest in being a farmer. As for this green-headed turtle-snake King Mu, let him find someone else to be the farmer if he wants. You, a dignified prince, can be so 'affectionate' that you don't even care about your dignity. Why should I, Luo Zhiheng, give you any face?
Prince Mu's face truly changed from white to blue, then to green, switching with incredible ease. He was genuinely stunned by Luo Zhiheng's words, as if struck by lightning.
Even though he didn't want to hear it or think about it, Luo Zhiheng's words "like a courtesan" still ripped open a huge hole in Prince Mu's long-buried heart!
Prince Mu could barely stand, his mind a jumbled mess, unable to think clearly. His eyes reddened as he glared fiercely at Luo Zhiheng and roared, "Explain yourself! Are you making veiled accusations? Who are you talking about?"
Just moments ago, he was so smug and arrogant, so utterly inhuman in his quest for revenge against Mu Yunhe, seemingly in complete control of everything. Now, however, he was utterly dejected, like a trapped beast. A trapped beast goes mad, wanting to devour people, but before that, it needs a little something extra—a seasoning of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors, a deadly fuse that could easily drive this beast completely insane.
Luo Zhiheng was secretly alarmed, but felt extremely happy!
You old bastard!
These were Luo Zhiheng's outrageous words. She only cursed him silently in her heart, daring not to utter another word. She was truly enraged by Prince Mu, and could no longer contain herself, so she cursed him in her heart. However, she still considered that Prince Mu was Mu Yunhe's biological father.
But heavens! Looking at Prince Mu's ghostly face, his angry and horrified eyes, his calm and cold-blooded demeanor, he finally showed a trace of emotion and became like a human being. How could he be so happy?
From the moment she arrived until just now, she had been suppressed by Prince Mu, and she was almost bursting with resentment. But that's just the kind of person she is; the greater the pressure, the stronger her resistance becomes. An invisible force of life or death made Luo Zhiheng's resistance even more astonishing and explosive.
In this situation, the more ruthless Prince Mu became, the more defiant Luo Zhiheng became; she knew nothing of yielding, especially not of yielding to an enemy. Therefore, Prince Mu himself would inevitably suffer greatly, his body mangled and bloodied, due to his own stubbornness and ruthlessness.
You used my Mu Yunhe to cause me pain, you used me to make my Mu Yunhe wish he were dead. Then I'll give you a taste of your own medicine! Damn it, everyone has someone they love, you can do it and so can I! If you're making me unhappy, then let's all come at you together!
Seeing Prince Mu's inhuman, grotesque face and demeanor, Luo Zhiheng became even more relaxed and composed, far surpassing him in refinement. She laughed unrestrainedly, yet with a contemptuous sarcasm: "Your Highness, what are you saying? I was merely using a metaphor, revealing my intentions to you. I'm telling you that I, Luo Zhiheng, belong to Mu Yunhe in life and in death. Neither in life nor in death will I bring shame or stain upon Mu Yunhe."
"Isn't Your Highness happy? You've made things so difficult for me, and I'm still so dutifully expressing my feelings to you. I believe Your Highness is a wise man, and surely you despise those seductive, shameless, and despicable women, right? Those married women, instead of staying home to be good wives and mothers and keeping to their proper place, dare to seduce men and do those vile and despicable things. Not only will they themselves die a horrible death and be drowned in a pig cage, but they will also bring shame to their husband's and their own families."
"More importantly, how could she face her husband? But then again, these women aren't exactly good people, they're different from ordinary women. With their husbands away, it's inevitable that they'd feel lonely and restless. It takes two to tango. Maybe her husband spoiled her? Otherwise, what man would want to seduce a woman in the inner quarters? Tsk tsk, if that's really the case, then this man has put that green hat on himself."
"Is there anything more tragic in this world than this? Her husband treats her with sincerity, yet she stirs up trouble in the inner quarters, ruthlessly killing one of his children after another, and even murdering his beloved concubine. Tsk tsk, that's not all. Because of her husband's favor, she has no respect for hierarchy and dares to flirt with the lousy doctor they hired because of his trust. And this flirtation, passed around, inevitably ended up in the bedroom?"
The more Luo Zhiheng spoke, the more ferocious Prince Mu's face became, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. But Luo Zhiheng still refused to let Prince Mu off the hook. Her words to an old man like him were far too much and improper. But since Prince Mu himself didn't want the rules anymore, why should she adhere to them?
Moreover, no one should expect a female bandit who wields a knife all day, shouting and speaking her mind, to give anyone face or talk about rules. To a bandit, those things are just a bunch of idiots!
With a frown of disdain and disgust, Luo Zhiheng angrily said, "Your Highness, don't you think this kind of woman deserves to die? But it's not enough that she did all these things; she even has the audacity to sleep with other men. Her husband treats her so well! He loves her so much, spoils her, and trusts her so much. Even the legal wife is driven away, ignored whether she's dying or not. He entrusted her with a huge family, letting her decide everything, and she's still not satisfied. What else does she want? That man's flesh and blood? No, wait, she already took that man's flesh and blood. All those innocent children who died tragically—weren't they all his flesh and blood?"
"What a tragedy! But there's something even more horrible! That man was completely unmoved even after knowing all this. He still believed that vixen. I wonder if he'd been kicked in the head by a donkey, or if he'd been brainwashed by that vixen? Otherwise, how could he be so blind to right and wrong, so unable to distinguish good from bad? Those who truly loved him, those who chased after him, he discarded like trash. Those who toyed with him, used him, and cheated on him, he chased after them. And even after they died, he still made things difficult for his own son because of that despicable woman. Tsk tsk tsk, truly, the world is full of wonders!"
Luo Zhiheng watched Mu Yunhe's unpredictable face with a mocking expression. Since she had already offended him, she would simply stop considering Prince Mu her father from now on. This wound would never heal. Even if Mu Yunhe reconciled with his father later, Luo Zhiheng despised Prince Mu's behavior and would naturally never speak to him again. She would never force herself to feign a smile at someone she utterly loathed.
She is not hypocritical to others, nor is she hypocritical to herself.
Since repairing the relationship was impossible, saying a word was pointless, so she contemptuously retorted, "Prince Mu, tell me, isn't such a man pathetic? So much passion, so much love, and just like that, with a snap, he was utterly trampled into nothing by a woman who wasn't even worth it. I think that woman died too easily! Such a vile woman should be dismembered, executed, sliced a thousand times, then refined, and finally, her bones ground to dust!"
It was as if a thunderbolt suddenly struck down from the mountaintop, majestic and desolate yet carrying endless ferocity and ruthlessness. Prince Mu seemed to be struck by this thunderbolt, his upright back bent down instantly, his straight legs went weak and he staggered, and his pale face was covered with sweat.
His eyes were still fixed on Luo Zhiheng, but the intimidating light in them suddenly dissipated, becoming dim and lifeless. Stunned, a strand of hair fell from his head, making his usually hardened and cold-blooded appearance appear utterly dejected.
Luo Zhiheng felt a surge of anger and utter disdain. Prince Mu's despondency wasn't due to anyone else, but rather to that utterly despicable Consort Li?! It was simply... utterly ridiculous and utterly annoying!
This man is beyond saving; he doesn't deserve any pity.
However, these words also revealed Luo Zhiheng's ruthlessness and decisiveness. When dealing with enemies, once she decides someone is her enemy, then sorry, no matter who you are, don't expect her to show mercy or give you any leeway.
If she injures you by three points, she will surely make you suffer seven. Prince Mu struck her with a club, a brutal blow to the head, showing no mercy whatsoever, disregarding neither her life nor Mu Yunhe's feelings. Her return strike to Prince Mu was doubled, equally ruthless, a single, decisive blow, striking the enemy's weak point, leaving him breathless.
Ironically, what Prince Mu said to Luo Zhiheng today was also a tactic. He wanted to use this method to disrupt Luo Zhiheng's formation. He knew Luo Zhiheng was clever, and that Mu Yunhe had been spared from disaster many times because of her. Therefore, if he wanted to deal with his noble son, he had to eliminate the guardian spirit by his son's side.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. As soon as he made his move, Luo Zhiheng countered. He had carefully laid out his scheme after much deliberation, and he thought everything was going smoothly and that everything was under his control. The nude photos were already in his hands, and he had just gained some confidence when, unexpectedly, Luo Zhiheng did a somersault and flipped over nimbly, creating not a small wave, but a raging storm!
Instead of throwing his formation into chaos, Luo Zhiheng caught him completely off guard and injured him with her words.
Mei Feng used demonic manipulation. This was a secret, a major secret concerning his reputation, royal dignity, and even his status! Whether true or not, it would affect him. If it was false, so be it, but if it was true, it would be a disaster for him!
Prince Mu was caught off guard by this big secret, this question about his lover's loyalty. He was stunned and speechless for a moment. But that was all. Prince Mu also felt heartache and his mind was in a mess.
Seeing Prince Mu's attitude, Luo Zhiheng felt even more disdainful, not even deigning to glance at him. She snorted coldly, turned, and left, no longer wanting to linger.
She came with a heart full of sympathy and a willingness to set aside her pride, determined to bring Prince Mu back to meet the Princess. She even thought that if she could fulfill the old man's dying wish and relieve Mu Yunhe from his suffering and dilemma, what difficulty would it be for her, a junior, to kneel down and beg Prince Mu?
But now it seems unnecessary. Luo Zhiheng's legs can kneel to heaven, earth, and her parents, and now she must kneel to the emperor, but she will never kneel to a foolish, ignorant, cold-blooded bastard who can't distinguish between humans and animals!
I'd rather die standing than die in humiliation!
"Stop!" Prince Mu wouldn't let Luo Zhiheng leave so easily. He finally raised his head, his scarlet eyes filled with rage and ferocity: "You've wronged Fangfei!"
Luo Zhiheng almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
She whirled around, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. She stared at Prince Mu incredulously: "Innocent? Is Li Fangfei really that perfect in your eyes? You truly have no doubts about her? I remember now, when I made our pact, I told you to be wary of Consort Li. You said then that Consort Li wouldn't do anything to betray you. You trusted her so much; it's just a pity you entrusted your sincere heart to the wrong person."
"The person you're talking about can't be Fangfei! I have people in the palace. Even if they weren't tasked with watching Fangfei, things in the palace can't be kept from them. I've never received any rumors about Fangfei. She's a good woman, I wouldn't misjudge her! Absolutely not!" Prince Mu simply stood there, his back slowly straightening, as if the big hat on his head disappeared because of his upright posture. He spoke with certainty, it was unclear whether he was reassuring himself or warning Luo Zhiheng.
But none of that matters anymore. Prince Mu is stubborn and unrepentant. She, Luo Zhiheng, isn't some cuddly little girl. Why should she care whether he lives or dies?
"Your Highness, think what you want. But secrets don't stay hidden forever. For your sake, as Mu Yunhe's father, I'll give you a heads-up: that fake doctor who tried to harm Mu Yunhe is still in the Ministry of Justice's prison. The Emperor didn't kill him, and Mu Yunhe didn't kill him either. He's alive, and so are all the secrets. What's the point of arguing with me here, Your Highness? Why not go find the answers and the truth?" Luo Zhiheng seemed to be reminding Prince Mu, but in reality, she was using him to find the truth herself, delivering a blow to his arrogance and completely crushing his pride.
Most importantly, she could also take care of that fake doctor. She hadn't forgotten that scoundrel. The reason she hadn't killed the fake doctor was because he was likely connected to the Li family, and his relationship with Consort Li was far from simple—it couldn't be explained in a few words, much less something that Consort Li could seduce with a single seductive glance.
The fake doctor came from the palace, and Luo Zhiheng even suspected that he was connected to the concubine from the Li family. Since they were no longer in the capital, they couldn't let the fake doctor die easily. Now that they were back, the matter of the fake doctor needed to be thoroughly resolved. Ideally, Prince Mu's trip would uncover the fake doctor's true motives for harming Mu Yunhe.
Prince Mu's eyes shifted several times, a dark glint of murderous intent even appearing in them. Everything Luo Zhiheng had said tonight had exceeded his expectations. He had never imagined that a woman would dare to betray him, and he couldn't believe that the timid Li Fangfei would do something so outrageous.
When Luo Zhiheng first spoke, he thought it was all nonsense. But now, he didn't know whether to believe her or not. He was just filled with anger that he couldn't vent. These things hadn't been verified yet, and once they got out, it would be difficult to overturn the case. The best way to completely extinguish this matter and prevent it from spreading was to nip the source of the information in the bud.
How could Luo Zhiheng not know what Prince Mu was thinking? She sneered confidently and arrogantly, "It's already dawn, and Mu Yunhe has opened his eyes. If he opens his eyes and finds I'm not here, he'll probably be looking for me right now. He's incredibly clever, and he'll surely figure out where I am soon enough. When he comes, Your Highness, remember to tell him properly that just because your hands are stained with my blood, it might cause you and your son to become sworn enemies, irreconcilable and locked in a life-or-death struggle!"
"You're so confident! You really believe that Mu Yunhe would abandon his father for you?" Prince Mu's teeth were practically chattering, and his expression, as if he wanted to tear Luo Zhiheng to pieces, was the bloodthirsty ruthlessness honed on the battlefield, which was truly chilling.
But Luo Zhiheng wasn't afraid of him. You've been tempered on the battlefield, and she's crawled out of piles of corpses. You've seen blood, and so has she. You've killed people, but hasn't she chopped off a ghost's head?
With a smile in her eyes and undiminished momentum, she met Prince Mu's imposing figure with just one sentence, leaving him stunned on the spot: "Isn't Prince Mu also at odds with his own son for the sake of a woman?"
"Your woman is a concubine, yet you go to such lengths to protect her. Mu Yunhe is your own son; he inherited your infatuation, and even surpasses you in some ways. He's truly devoted to me. Besides, I'm his rightful wife. You can rest assured, if I die, no matter who he is, Mu Yunhe will kill me without hesitation!"
She spoke so casually, as if what she said was a matter of course, without any suspense. It actually shocked Prince Mu.
First update! Hooray, one more update today! Hua Sha will keep working hard, love you all, my darlings. Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Don't forget to vote in the grand finale poll, my darlings! The shrew's number is the 21st!
377 is here to support me! (Bonus chapter for 27,000 comments)
Updated: 2013-10-08 18:15:09 Word Count: 3507
"I'm so sorry to have bothered Your Highness today. I was really afraid that Mu Yunhe would come and see or hear things he shouldn't have, and then set fire to this Mu Prince's villa. Wouldn't that be a huge loss for Your Highness? I'll take my leave now!" Luo Zhiheng glanced coldly at the memorial tablet, said with utter disdain, and turned to leave.
"I will never set foot in the General's Mansion! I will never see her!" Prince Mu's sinister voice rang out, truly ruthless and cruelly vengeful. It was no longer just about retaliating against Mu Yunhe; this time, it was also about retaliating against her for saying so many things that had made Prince Mu lose face.
This time, Luo Zhiheng didn't even pause for a moment, walking straight out of the filthy room. Her cold voice drifted further and further away: "The General's Mansion can't accommodate a deity like you. I only hope that Prince Mu will never set foot in the General's Mansion again. I don't want to burn down any filthy place!"
Prince Mu's face was contorted with rage, his expression dark and ugly, and he trembled all over. After a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and hissed, "Luo Zhiheng, you're ruthless!"
She was truly ruthless, arriving arrogantly and leaving defiantly. Even when driven to the brink by Prince Mu, she remained calm and composed, delivering a devastating blow with a flick of her wrist, leaving him reeling and nearly vomiting blood. In the end, this fierce tiger was defeated by a mere young girl. Luo Zhiheng's retaliatory strike had pierced Prince Mu's lungs! The pain was excruciating!
Prince Mu's expression was inscrutable, his gaze complex and pained as he looked at the dark memorial tablet: "Fangfei, you wouldn't do anything to betray me, would you..."
His expression flickered between light and shadow. A cold wind swirled through the mourning hall, lifting the large, somber character for "mourning." Only the candlelight flickered, but no one answered his question. Whether it was true or not, only the deceased Consort Li knew.
—— ——
When Luo Zhiheng rode home, Elder Tong arrived, as did General Murong, who brought Murong Qianxue and Yu'er with him.
Luo Zhiheng had no choice but to greet them. Yu'er was still chattering happily, completely unaware that her family had just suffered a misfortune and was now in trouble, possibly facing a funeral.
Everyone with eyes could see this, but Yu'er seemed oblivious to it all. Besides, she was new to the place and didn't know anyone. Murong Qianxue tried to scold Yu'er several times, but Luo Zhiheng stopped her each time. She felt incredibly fortunate to be able to hear joyful sounds now.
"I'm really unavailable today. I don't have time to drink with you all several times over, but since you all have time, why don't you stay at my residence for a few days? It would be a pleasure to show my humble general's mansion, a place of third-class nobility. Don't worry, I'll certainly treat you to the finest wine and food. I'll even have Qin Sheng join you." Luo Zhiheng felt apologetic. The Princess Consort was already keeping her incredibly busy, and now she had to go and explain things to Mu Yunhe. But since her friends had come, there was no reason to turn them away. She was hospitable, as long as the person was worthy of it.