She spoke subtly, but no one in the room was stupid. In an instant, people's thoughts were divided, and the prince was also awakened by her words, his sharp gaze fixed on the divine physician.
But when Doctor Liang finished speaking, his eyelids twitched violently. He was caught up in Luo Zhiheng's words, not expecting that this woman, rumored to be a lovesick fool, actually had such a brain. If he refuted Luo Zhiheng now, wouldn't that be admitting that her words were wrong? Suppressing his panic, he raised his chin and snorted coldly, "My medicine is naturally good. The fact that the young prince is fine now means he hasn't drunk any water."
Consort Li's face stiffened, and a fierce determination formed in her heart. Her gaze towards Luo Zhiheng turned murderous!
How hateful! Such a great opportunity, which could have put Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe in danger, was slipped away by Luo Zhiheng with just a few words. But it doesn't matter, we have plenty of time to fight back!
A hint of doubt flashed in the prince's eyes, but he still nodded and said, "In that case, Yunhe will still have to trouble the divine physician. Luo Zhiheng, you should also take good care of Yunhe."
The prince wanted to speak to Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe kept his eyes closed and wouldn't look at him. The prince felt bitter and annoyed, so he turned and left.
As soon as the prince left, Consort Li naturally followed. Doctor Liang, on the other hand, glared at Luo Zhiheng and threatened, "You'd better behave yourself, or you'll be the first to die if the young prince does anything wrong!"
Luo Zhiheng wasn't afraid of this imposter at all, and laughed unrestrainedly, saying, "You're saying the same thing I was going to say to you!"
Doctor Liang's eyes twitched violently. He couldn't quite put his finger on what Luo Zhiheng's gaze meant, but he still felt inexplicably nervous. He snorted coldly and strode away.
Mu Yunhe dismissed the crowd, leaving only the two of them. This time, however, they dared not let their guard down. Neither of them showed the joy of escaping death and betting against fate; instead, they were filled with deep sorrow.
“We can’t tell the Prince about this just like that. He seems to have a lot of faith in Doctor Liang. Also, we have a spy among us!” Luo Zhiheng whispered.
Mu Yunhe suddenly opened his eyes, a deep sarcasm flashing in them: "He doesn't trust that imposter, he trusts the Emperor! But is the Emperor really that trustworthy?"
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077 The imperial edict is issued, and chaos ensues!
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:02:10 Word Count: 1478
Mu Yunhe's words were quite profound. Luo Zhiheng was neither stupid nor foolish, and of course she understood. The prince was supporting the palace by himself. Even though he was the emperor's younger brother from the same mother, the emperor's mind was unpredictable. Who knew who was behind the emperor?
Yet this prince seems remarkably loyal to the emperor, not even bothering to question the people sent by the emperor. So, if that swindler really was someone the emperor sent to impersonate him, what was his purpose? Would the emperor really be so foolish as to harm a frail, sickly son on the verge of death? Even if the emperor didn't act, Mu Yunhe's life was already nearing its end.
Luo Zhiheng couldn't figure out the key point, so she asked Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe just sneered and retorted sarcastically, "Why are you asking me? How much do I know about things outside?"
Luo Zhiheng was disheartened. This weekend, the Emperor, a behemoth, had also been involved, making it even more difficult to persuade the Prince to stand on their side. However, the Prince shouldn't be blindly loyal, right? Even if his son told him about it, the Prince probably wouldn't really send his son into the Emperor's clutches. But Luo Zhiheng might become the scapegoat.
The two remained silent, the atmosphere tense until the city lights came on the next day. Neither of them had a good solution, but at that moment, a piece of news struck like a bolt from the blue, completely disrupting their strange silence.
The imperial edict arrived at Prince Mu's residence, stating that war had broken out again in the west, and the east was already embroiled in fierce fighting, with Luo Zhiheng's father, a third-rank general, already leading troops into battle. Meanwhile, the western cavalry had swiftly broken through the outermost checkpoint, which was currently leaderless and without a general capable of holding the border. The court was beset by internal and external troubles, and the west was a strategically important military region, so the old emperor had no choice but to send his most trusted brother to personally confront and defend it.
The sudden arrival of this imperial edict not only filled the entire capital with a bloody atmosphere of impending storm, but also plunged a sword of Damocles into the hearts of the court officials. At this time, the entire Mu Dynasty was truly beset by internal and external troubles. Laoangdi was already very old, and due to his poor health over the years, he had been relying on medicine to keep himself alive.
The court was now in complete disarray; beneath its smooth, glossy surface, hearts were shattered. The old emperor had many sons, among whom the eldest, third, and fifth princes were the most revered and held the highest prestige. The old emperor had consistently refused to appoint a crown prince, a matter that had caused a great uproar several years prior. It was only before the new year, perhaps seeing his own decline, that the old emperor finally appointed his eldest son as crown prince.
But the affairs of state were already clearly divided. The three princes were evenly matched, and a bloody battle for the throne was inevitable. In the end, who would emerge victorious would depend on how deep and strong their hidden trump cards were. With the court in such a state, this was a sign of internal strife.
The external threat was the constant warfare, the borders perpetually stained with the stench of blood, and towns on the battlefields' edges littered with corpses, unburied and abandoned. Bandits roamed the borders, and the vast territory of the Mu Dynasty attracted the covetous eyes of surrounding dynasties. Now, with armies attacking both fortresses, the old emperor's dispatch of his most trusted sworn brothers could be interpreted as either showing concern or a deliberate act of flattery.
The emperor's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; who dares to ponder his true intentions? After all, Prince Mu is over fifty years old and has lived a life of luxury for many years. Although he has been training for many years and has never given up his archery and horsemanship skills, who can guarantee that this fifty-year-old man, who has lost the bloodshed of the battlefield, will come back alive?
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078 Request for Help (Part 1)
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:02:11 Word Count: 1611
If it weren't for the fake doctor sent by the emperor, Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe wouldn't have thought so much. But these two things happened almost one after another, and their faces were so ugly they were almost distorted. And now that the only prince who could keep order in the inner quarters was gone, wouldn't this palace fall under Consort Li's control? At that time, one of them would be sick and weak, and the other would be helpless. Wouldn't they be like meat on Consort Li's chopping board, at her mercy?
Luo Zhiheng suddenly stood up and said, "No! This matter absolutely cannot be delayed any longer. We must explain it to the Prince as soon as possible. We must seek the Prince's help. Even if the Prince leaves, we will still have at least some protection."
Mu Yunhe gave her a cold look and said, "He won't believe you."
“So you have to go and say it!” Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow and said matter-of-factly.
"I will not seek his protection!" Mu Yunhe's melancholy eyes suddenly turned cold, and his disdainful words carried an inexplicable emotion.
If he were truly qualified, he wouldn't have failed to protect his son for so many years. Mu Yunhe didn't deny that he hated his father! A man who couldn't even protect his own wife and children, allowing them to be repeatedly harmed and humiliated right under his nose, yet never caring, and instead letting other women trample on them. How could Mu Yunhe not hate him? And all these years later, all he could do was hide his emotions, preventing the prince from abusing his mother because of his hatred.
Mu Yunhe can be extremely extreme at times. Luo Zhiheng rubbed her forehead and gritted her teeth, saying, "It's a matter of life and death, what are you still being so stubborn about? Do you think it will work if I beg him instead of you? Can't you see how important you are to him? If you say something, it will be more effective than me talking myself hoarse."
Mu Yunhe closed his eyes to rest, ignoring her.
Enraged, Luo Zhiheng jumped to his bedside and boldly pinched his cheeks, which were now just skin and bones. Seeing him glaring at her fiercely, she wasn't afraid and unleashed her trump card: "This is also for your mother's sake. If the two of us die, who will protect your mother?"
Mu Yunhe's expression tensed instantly, and the cold skin in Luo Zhiheng's hand seemed to snap. In the blink of an eye, Mu Yunhe said coldly, "Take your hands off him and send someone to fetch him."
"How filial you are!" Luo Zhiheng jumped off the bed with a big smile. Suddenly, she turned her head and groped herself with both hands, saying with a smile, "Although you're a bit thin, you feel really nice."
"Get lost!" Mu Yunhe shouted weakly. He had actually been teased by a brat? Feeling the lingering soft touch on his cheek, the tips of his ears turned slightly red.
The moment Luo Zhiheng stepped out the door, she transformed, ordering someone to fetch the Prince. The Prince arrived remarkably quickly. Luo Zhiheng greeted him with a beaming smile, but the Prince didn't even glance at her, walking straight to Mu Yunhe. She dismissively curled her lip, only to hear the Prince's voice, even tinged with excitement, as he said, "Yunhe, you're looking for me?"
The door slammed shut!
The prince turned around and said coldly, "Why are you closing the door?"
Luo Zhiheng smiled and took a plate of pastries from the cabinet, placing it in front of Mu Yunhe. She then gave the prince a sly smile and said, "I have a big surprise for you!"
The prince frowned, but then he saw Mu Yunhe pick up a pastry with his pale hand and put it in his mouth. The prince's expression changed drastically!
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079 Request for Assistance (Part Two)
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:02:11 Word Count: 1442
"Yunhe, no!" the prince roared in shock and anger. But before he could rush over, Mu Yunhe had already put a piece of pastry in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. The prince's face turned ashen with a hint of fear. He hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Mu Yunhe's hand and shouted angrily, "Spit it out! You stupid child, are you out of your mind?"
A mocking glint flashed in Mu Yunhe's eyes, but he remained silent, picking up another piece and continuing to eat. The prince grabbed his hand, about to roar, but then heard Luo Zhiheng say calmly, "Oh dear, the young prince didn't die suddenly! Didn't Doctor Liang say that eating or drinking even a little would cause immediate death? Could it be that Doctor Liang was lying?"
The prince froze. Having long held a high position, he was naturally deep and quick-witted. The situation before him, coupled with Luo Zhiheng's words, made the furious prince instantly realize something. He lowered his hand and watched with a tense expression as Mu Yunhe ate the few remaining pastries piece by piece, watched Luo Zhiheng gently and considerately hand Mu Yunhe water, and watched Mu Yunhe drink it...
The prince remained frozen in place for a full quarter of an hour until Mu Yunhe was unharmed. Only then did color return to the prince's face, but his eyes were filled with a menacing glint: "When did you find out?"
The prince had clearly figured everything out. The fact that Mu Yunhe dared to eat and drink like this proved that they had already discovered that the divine doctor was a fake. The mockery in his son's eyes just now had pierced the prince's heart, and at this moment, even he himself felt ashamed! He never easily trusted people, but he never doubted the emperor's words. However, it was because of this lack of doubt that he almost killed his own son!
All of this proves that the miracle doctor was a fraud! He was clearly brought in by someone with ulterior motives, but the prince still refused to believe it would lead to the emperor's death. Why would the emperor want to kill his only direct descendant?
Luo Zhiheng said bluntly, "Fortunately, the young prince was quick-witted and noticed that the divine doctor was not right. Fortunately, the young prince was wise and brave enough to test him, which exposed the imposter's lies. It's obvious that we've all been fooled. This person, posing as a divine doctor whom no one knows what kind of doctor he is, came to the young prince's side with ulterior motives. We are telling the prince this now because the prince is about to leave the palace. Once you leave, the young prince will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den!"
"What did you say?" The prince stared at her with a ferocious expression.
An ordinary person would surely have been intimidated by the prince's domineering aura. But Luo Zhiheng remained unfazed and said, "Your Highness should know very well that even in your own palace, people dare to lay hands on the young prince. If you were to leave, would the young prince still have a place to stand? The palace would no longer be a palace, but a tiger's den! If the princess were in charge of the household, she could protect the young prince to some extent, but the problem is that Consort Li is in charge. She is only one step away from becoming the princess, and she also has an outstanding son. May I ask Your Highness, in such circumstances, isn't the young prince a thorn in everyone's side?"
The prince's expression was no longer ferocious. Although what she said was true, how could he not be angry to be told what to do about the women in his harem by a junior, especially one who was notorious and was indirectly criticizing him for not speaking up in managing his household?
"What do you mean?" the prince said coldly. If she couldn't give him a clear answer today, he would use her worthless life to quell his anger!
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080 Courage!
Updated: 2013-06-06 20:02:12 Word Count: 1725
Luo Zhiheng pretended not to see the prince's anger and smiled generously: "You may not care about my life or death, but can you not care about your wife and children? Aren't you afraid that when you leave and come back, the mistress of this manor will be replaced, and your legitimate son will die young?"
"How dare you!" the prince roared, grabbing her neck and saying in a sinister tone, "How dare you! Believe me, I'll strangle you."
Luo Zhiheng raised her neck with difficulty, her eyes filled with mockery, and said, "I believe you! But you can't let me die. Not only that, you also have to protect me from dying!"
The prince laughed in fury: "I've never seen anyone so arrogant even when facing death. What are you? How dare you expect me to protect you?"
Luo Zhiheng's eyes welled up with tears, but she still said confidently, "It's because I don't want to die! And the premise of my survival is that Mu Yunhe must also live well, so Mu Yunhe is now my responsibility, and I will protect him. But if you leave, then I, who protects Mu Yunhe, will definitely become a thorn in the side of those people. I am helpless and alone, and I will not be able to fight against so many people. I will definitely not have a good outcome. If I die, you don't need to have any illusions. Without me, the only one protecting Mu Yunhe, he will definitely die quickly! So, are you still willing to let me die?"
Her words were clear and logical, yet full of provocation. The prince couldn't deny that, despite his advanced age and years of scheming, he had to applaud Luo Zhiheng's words at this moment. Every sentence was ruthless, striking right at the prince's core.
Yes, if Luo Zhiheng hadn't spoken up, he would still have believed that his authority was supreme, and that no one in the family would dare to cause trouble. If he had left like that, he would definitely not have seen his only legitimate son when he returned. With that fake divine doctor around, using such insidious methods to persecute and harm his legitimate son, Luo Zhiheng attributed all the credit to Mu Yunhe. But the prince wasn't stupid. If it weren't for this clever girl by Mu Yunhe's side, his son, who had long since lost all hope, wouldn't have had any intention of resisting even if he discovered the problem!
When the women in the backyard and the political conspiracies all turn their attention to his son, will Mu Yunhe still be alive? The prince finally understood the problem he had never wanted to think about before, and felt a chill run through him! The hand that was gripping Luo Zhiheng's neck also fell down dejectedly.
"Yunhe, what do you say?" the prince asked. Now that the problem has been discovered, it cannot be tolerated any longer. Before he leaves, he must provide his son with an absolutely safe environment.
Mu Yunhe lowered his eyes, his voice indifferent: "What she said is exactly what I wanted to say."
This cold attitude almost tore at the prince's heart. He had neglected this son for too long, so it was no wonder he harbored resentment. The prince pondered for a long time, and was about to speak when he heard a commotion outside. A group of women were chattering and arguing at the door. The prince's face turned cold, and the voice leading the argument was none other than Consort Li.
Is this woman really that ambitious?
The prince turned his gaze to Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng showed no hatred or fear on her face, but instead smiled at him with a generous and open expression, her eyes honest and straightforward. However, there was a hint of confident mockery on her face, as if she had expected those women to come. Was she really the infamous, idiotic woman from the rumors?