"Um... Your Highness, the manager of the First Talent Competition is here to discuss the rewards with you." Xiao Xizi wished he could disappear; his voice was barely audible.
But Luo Zhiheng still heard it, and slowly turned her head from the bed to look at Xiao Xizi. Her disheveled hair obscured her face, but her eyes were like those of a venomous snake, frightening Xiao Xizi into backing away. She then scrambled off the bed, pinching Mu Yunhe's cheek hard and laughing wickedly, "You wait until I get back, Mu Yunhe! I'll show you how Luo Zhiheng disciplines anyone who dares to spank me!" She put on her coat and passed by Xiao Xizi, her expression even more sinister and wicked as she laughed, "And you, your accomplice! You just wait, Xiao Xizi!"
Even after Luo Zhiheng had gone quite a distance, the dumbfounded master and servant were still waiting in the same spot. After a long while, Xiao Xizi suddenly burst out with a heart-wrenching wail: "Master, save me!"
162 Special Rewards! Hope! Lucky Star! Madness!
Updated: 2013-07-09 12:19:39 Word Count: 8737
Luo Zhiheng arrived at the front hall with a grim expression. As she walked, the entire manor exuded an aura of tense readiness. Numerous strangely dressed but menacing warriors, moving in formation every three or five steps, had completely surrounded the main hall. Each warrior was fully armed, wielding weapons; the hall resembled a cordon, impenetrable to anyone within twenty meters! All the servants of the manor had also been driven far outside the perimeter of the encirclement.
This display of force made Luo Zhiheng uneasy. She became even more vigilant.
Inside the hall, Madam Wang was sitting with a richly dressed, stern-faced noblewoman, accompanied by the Princess. The atmosphere wasn't exactly pleasant, but it was much better than when Consort Li had received them.
As soon as Luo Zhiheng entered, a sharp gaze, like a knife, fell upon her face. She looked up and saw the unfamiliar noblewoman scrutinizing her with a gaze that seemed to see right through her, down to her very soul!
Luo Zhiheng became wary, but still acted with composure. After greeting the Princess, she smiled and said to Madam Wang, "Madam Wang, may I ask who this is?"
Madam Wang said with a smile, "This is the steward of our Mu Dynasty competition area. Miss Luo can call her Madam Song. She is here to talk to Miss Luo about the competition champion's reward."
Luo Zhiheng remained calm. After seeing the vast amount of gold she had received as part of her mother's dowry, she felt quite secure, knowing she was truly not short of money. Rewards no longer held any appeal for her. Instead of fawning over someone who held power and wealth, she simply said indifferently, "Greetings, Madam Song."
Madam Song's face remained calm, though a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She nodded indifferently, her words revealing an air of confident arrogance: "What reward does Miss Luo desire?"
Luo Zhiheng was startled and glanced at the princess without leaving a trace, but the princess's expression remained calm, seemingly unsurprised. She could only ask with a faint smile, "Weren't the prizes for the competition arranged in advance?"
She had always assumed that winning the championship would bring her a reward, and given the formidable power behind the First Talent Contest, the reward would undoubtedly be priceless. However, she never considered what reward she might want.
Madam Song wore a proud smile: "The prize for winning the First Talent Competition has always been... a wish!"
"A wish?" Luo Zhiheng's heart skipped a beat, and an unbelievable idea suddenly came to mind, and Madam Song then revealed the answer to her.
“Indeed! The First Talent Competition never offers fixed prizes; it all comes down to how bold and capable the champion is. The reward for the First Talent Competition has remained unchanged for a century: to grant the winner one wish. And for a century, the First Talent Competition has never broken its promise to any winner! You can have any wish, and the Talent Competition will fulfill it for you,” Madam Song said confidently.
Luo Zhiheng was completely shocked.
I've seen arrogant people, but never anyone this arrogant! But since they dare to say it, they must have the power! But what kind of force dares to make such a boast and act so arrogantly? What kind of people haven't we seen in the past hundred years? Greedy, greedy for money, power-hungry, and even more unbelievable—Luo Zhiheng could think of countless examples! And these people's desires must be beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
But the forces behind the First Talent Competition were able to help complete it!
Such strength, such domineering presence, such methods! No wonder the First Talent Competition has been so highly sought after and has remained popular for centuries. No wonder the champion's prize has always been known only to the winner! No wonder the First Talent Competition ruthlessly kills those who reveal its secrets!
Preventing the revelation of secrets, even resorting to murder to end it, is probably a way for the forces behind the talent competition to protect their own kind. Anyone who knows they possess such abilities would likely be tempted and covetous, wouldn't they?
So their strength is truly formidable! In that case, the First Talent Contest is actually the most powerful shortcut to instant success! If you have the ability to win the First Talent Contest, you can instantly become incredibly wealthy or hold a high position of power. But most women probably just want a satisfactory husband!
Over the years, most of the participants in the First Talent Contest have been nobles and wealthy families, because many of them are daughters of prominent families who participate in this competition. Others may not know, but the daughters of the winning families, although they cannot reveal what the prize for the champion is, can give advice to their families and also encourage their descendants to participate. In this way, any wish may come true!
So what is the wish of the princess who once won the championship?
Shocked, Luo Zhiheng looked at the princess and saw that the princess's smile was bitter and gloomy.
"Wait!" Luo Zhiheng suddenly remembered something. She stood up abruptly and rushed to the princess's side, looking at the two people opposite her warily: "Isn't there a rule in the First Talent Competition that only the champion can know about the reward? If the champion leaks the secret or others find out, won't you hunt her down? Why are you saying this in front of my mother?"
The princess was stunned. She hadn't expected that, faced with the imminent realization of her dream, Luo Zhiheng's first thought wouldn't be her own gain or loss, but rather her safety! She felt an indescribable surge of emotion, but even more so, a sense of relief and joy. She believed that Luo Zhiheng's protection of her stemmed entirely from her affection for Mu Yunhe. Luo Zhiheng cared so much about Mu Yunhe that she also cared about her, his mother. Thinking this way, the princess felt very content.
Madam Song, who had been quite arrogant, became intrigued by Luo Zhiheng's obvious protectiveness and wariness. She said disdainfully, "Do you think we're just looking for trouble? The Princess was a champion and earned the right to make a wish. Since she already knows, and was a champion, she naturally has no reason to hide it. As long as she doesn't reveal your wish, she'll be safe. However, your worries are valid. If she does, you won't die, but she will certainly be beheaded!"
She was still as arrogant as ever. Even though the person she was talking about was the noble princess of the Mu Dynasty, she could still act arrogantly because of the power behind her as the First Consort.
Luo Zhiheng became even more curious about the forces behind this mysterious competition.
"Then please let my mother leave here." If all dangers can be eliminated at the very beginning, then Luo Zhiheng will spare no effort.
The princess was Mu Yunhe's Achilles' heel, arguably the only pillar that had sustained him for so many years. What would happen to Mu Yunhe if anything were to happen to her? Luo Zhiheng didn't even dare to think about it. At this moment, she no longer thought that Mu Yunhe couldn't die, because if he died, she would be finished. At this moment, she thought that Mu Yunhe couldn't die; she wouldn't allow Mu Yunhe's life to be plunged into darkness by any blow.
“It’s too late. No one who came in before we leave can leave. If you don’t want her to know your wish, we can give you a free favor and kill her for you first!” Madam Song said, a sharp dagger appearing in her hand.
Luo Zhiheng's face turned completely cold: "If that's the case, then I don't want this championship reward. You can leave now!"
"Heng'er, no! Don't worry, Mother will not tell anyone about your wish. Mother will carry my own wish with you until death. You don't need to worry about Mother's safety. I've kept this secret for so many years, what else can't I bear?" The princess exclaimed, afraid that Luo Zhiheng would really give up such a good opportunity because of her.
She made a wrong decision years ago, which led to a lifetime of unhappiness. But she still doesn't regret that decision, only blaming herself for being too reckless. Her daughter also participated in the First Talent Contest, but unfortunately, she was eliminated in the second round of the series. Therefore, her daughter's marriage is not what she wanted.
Her daughter-in-law miraculously won the championship, so all she, as the mother-in-law, could do was hope to help her daughter-in-law avoid making the wrong decision, and at the very least, to grant her a wish that would benefit her for life. She didn't want her to be like her, making a wish out of youthful impulsiveness and ignorance, only to spend her whole life carrying a debt she could never repay!
Humans are strange. Many times, the things we do seem right at the time, but looking back years later, we realize that our initial decisions were wrong. One wrong step leads to another, and then everything is lost! Making a wish is like gambling with your life; whether you gamble correctly is entirely up to fate!
“Mother, don’t worry about it. Since I can say I’m giving up, it means I don’t care about the weight of this reward. I lack nothing, but I really lack a mother. I’ve been without a mother since I was a child and lack maternal love. Don’t people always say that I was born of a mother but not raised by one? That’s why I’m uneducated and incompetent, and that’s why I’m notorious.”
Luo Zhiheng turned around and smiled firmly, "But things are different now. I am your daughter-in-law, which is like half a daughter to you. I don't expect Your Highness to treat me well like a father anymore, but I can rely on you. A mother is much more important to me than the desire to bring me endless wealth and glory! So, between your safety and the reward, there is no choice. I will give up the reward first."
At this moment, Luo Zhiheng's bandit-like nature slowly emerged. Bandits are the ones who value relationships; a large group of people living together year-round, intimately connected, and all being passionate individuals, naturally have rich and deep emotions.
"Good child, with your words and such a good daughter like you, my life has not been in vain. I have three children like you." The princess could no longer hold back her tears and held Luo Zhiheng's hand tightly. The soft spot in a mother-in-law's heart is a place that a daughter-in-law can never enter, but at this moment, Luo Zhiheng entered it!
"Are you really determined to give up? We'll grant you any wish. Isn't there anything you particularly want? Think it over carefully, or there'll be no going back." Madam Song's voice turned cold, no longer containing contempt or arrogance, but filled with murderous intent. 149.
Luo Zhiheng is such an oddball, utterly ungrateful and selfless. She gave up every opportunity to gain everything for her mother-in-law's safety—a feat unparalleled in the competition's history. And it happened to be Madam Song; isn't that a disgrace to her?
"Heng'er! You must think carefully, don't make a decision you'll regret. Your mother will never tell anyone, so you must think carefully about what your wish is. Even if it's something you regret later," the princess said anxiously, holding Luo Zhiheng's hand.
Luo Zhiheng calmed down. She truly lacked nothing, nor did she have any particular desires. Perhaps she did, but they were all trivial matters she could handle herself, and there was no need to use the reward from the First Talent Competition as a sledgehammer to crack a nut. If this special and unexpected reward had arrived before her golden dowry, she would have definitely chosen mountains of gold and silver. But now, she was already a wealthy woman; enough money for her to live on for the rest of her life was sufficient, and she wasn't greedy.
So what is she still lacking?
Suddenly, her eyes lit up; the light in them wasn't just ordinary, it was an intense, piercing brilliance! It was the light of hope that life could continue. Even the princess, who was watching her anxiously, felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
She turned around abruptly and asked again, "Really? Whatever my wish is, you can grant it and do it?"
The disdain in Madam Song's eyes returned. She thought Luo Zhiheng was so remarkable and principled, but she couldn't resist the temptations of the world after all. She sneered with contempt and arrogance, "Of course! As long as you dare to say it, we can definitely do it."
“Okay! Then my wish is for Mu Yunhe to live and recover his health!” Luo Zhiheng blurted out.
One sentence stunned everyone.
"Your wish isn't for yourself?" Madam Song could no longer hide her shock. The girls she had worked with never asked for a good marriage, but for wealth and honor, or for all sorts of rare antiques and unique books. They asked for all sorts of things, but they were always asking for themselves, for fame, for fortune, for a lifetime.
Today, she unexpectedly encountered someone who wasn't asking for anything for himself, and what he was asking for was something no one had ever asked for before. Saving someone's life would be a piece of cake for the First Talent Competition! However, everyone knew Mu Yunhe's situation, and Madam Song dared not answer easily.
"Don't regret it! Are you really asking for this?" This was the first time in so many years that Madam Song had repeatedly confirmed the champion's wish when offering rewards. The precedent had already been broken, and broken far too many times.
Seeing that the other party neither denied nor showed any reluctance, Luo Zhiheng felt as if she had seen a glimmer of hope. Her entire demeanor changed instantly, becoming vibrant and cheerful, making one feel as if spring had arrived: "I have no regrets! I pray that Mu Yunhe can live, that he can stay healthy until his hair turns white, and that he can still lean on his cane and smile at the sky. I want him to live; I want his young life to be as healthy and positive as that of a normal person! This is my wish. Can you do it?"
Madam Song was so shocked she couldn't speak. After exchanging a glance with Madam Wang, she asked Luo Zhiheng, "Once I grant you this wish, you won't have a chance to back out."
"That's right. We don't know Mu Yunhe's condition. We can easily promise you wealth and honor, and if you want a good marriage, we can even arrange for you to remarry a healthy man who is learned and talented. But if you choose to use this great opportunity, which could even change your fate, to extend Mu Yunhe's life, which might be salvageable, then you will have to bear the consequences yourself. We will not make any promises to you! The chances of your wish coming true are only about 10% out of 20!"
"Perhaps it will be a complete failure. When Mu Yunhe dies, you'll have nothing left. All this palace can give you might be an empty title of former princess. Maybe even less. And at that time, you might only be twenty years old, still very young. You might be suppressed and bullied, all sorts of unfair treatment will befall you. You might even be buried with Mu Yunhe! If you still insist on giving Mu Yunhe this hope that can save you from the palace and your tragic fate, you might end up with nothing." Madam Wang laid out the facts clearly, without exaggeration, but the reality was truly cruel and despairing. 15895541
The entire room was tense and oppressive because of Madam Wang's words. All three women looked at Luo Zhiheng, their gazes filled with different emotions: the Princess's shock, fear, and anticipation; Madam Wang's probing, admiration, and consideration; and Madam Song's contempt, disbelief, and waiting.
But when Luo Zhiheng spoke again, everyone's eyes and faces showed only one expression: shock!
“There’s nothing to think about! Our future is uncertain. If I hadn’t met Mu Yunhe, what would his life or death have to do with me? But now he’s not just my husband, but also a loyal friend. When I was powerless to save his life, I still had to fight for it. Now that I have hope of saving his life, I will rush forward without hesitation! Grab him! Hand him to him!” Her tone was fast and sharp, with a strong rhythm that was deafening.
“If he can’t seize this opportunity, I’ll seize it with him! No matter what happens to us in the future, I’m certain I want him to live, to live well.” She smiled faintly, her face radiant with joy, and said with a firm and cheerful tone, “This opportunity is just icing on the cake for me, but for Mu Yunhe, it could be a life-saving medicine. I’m giving up an opportunity, but what I might gain is the life of someone I care about. It’s worth it! There’s nothing more worthwhile than this!!”
"That's my wish!!" she declared firmly, with no intention of changing her mind!
"Heng'er!!" The most shocked of all was the Princess. She had tried everything, but she never imagined that Luo Zhiheng would grant this wish to Mu Yunhe; she actually begged for a chance for Mu Yunhe to be born!! Every word Luo Zhiheng spoke was like a knife stabbing into her heart, but each cut didn't draw blood of pain, but rather the scalding blood she hadn't felt in so long!
Mu Yunhe's survival is not only Luo Zhiheng's hope, but also her mother's hope!
Even as a mother, she hadn't considered the possibility of making a wish to the forces behind the competition. But this was simply the inertia of human nature's selfishness; people only think of themselves when faced with interests, especially a young girl like Luo Zhiheng. Faced with an opportunity to have everything in an instant, she didn't hesitate to give it up, and then didn't hesitate to give that opportunity to someone else.
This is a spirit of selflessness, which is rare and precious, and deserves respect.
And who can say Luo Zhiheng is foolish? Perhaps this is true wisdom! Giving and receiving are always intertwined; you can only gain by giving up! Such a simple philosophy of life, but how many people truly understand it, grasp it, possess it, and put it into practice?
She was composed yet mischievous, fiery-tempered yet always methodical, cunning yet possessing a kind heart. This multifaceted girl stirred up a turbulent storm of fate that would shatter a dynasty. Zhi was terrified.
Even a proud woman like Madam Song couldn't help but be moved at this moment.
Madam Wang, of course, was beaming with delight, her eyes filled with smiles and admiration.
"Alright, since you've confirmed you won't change it, then sign it. We, the First Talent Competition, will accept your wish. However, I can't guarantee whether we can save Mu Yunhe, but since the First Talent Competition has agreed, we will absolutely do our best!" Madam Song suddenly said in a teasing tone, "What an unexpected turn of events. But life is full of surprises, isn't it? Just like your competition back then, you gave it your all, but did you ever imagine the final result would be like this? You must have had many fantasies, right? But in the end, they all became paving the way for Mu Yunhe's health."
Luo Zhiheng also laughed, looking relaxed and happy.
So it seems life really is full of surprises and unexpected twists! If she had given up and hadn't persevered during the competition, how could she have achieved this unexpected and fortunate result? Therefore, she needs to be even more persistent in the future. Who knows, one of the things she gave up might just be a shortcut to success?
Madam Song took out a gilded invitation card. The two thin, paper-like gold sheets were engraved with exquisite and beautiful patterns. She placed it on the table and opened it, revealing several gold characters inside. There were only a few words on it.
A wish, a person making a wish. And then, a large blank space.
Madam Song took out a small box, which revealed a golden, viscous liquid. She then took out a golden brush, dipped it in the liquid (which resembled ink), and handed it to Luo Zhiheng: "Write down your wish and your name."
"These are the rules of the Silver Moon Kingdom, and also your guarantee. Once you sign, it means the Silver Moon Kingdom has the right to help you. Then you just wait for your wish to be fulfilled," Madam Wang explained.
Luo Zhiheng was shocked by the way this country did things. However, she carefully wrote down her wish and name. She wrote it fairly and solemnly, finishing the last stroke with her neat and beautiful small regular script, which she had almost forgotten in her previous life.
This is the hope that can bring Mu Yunhe a new life and a full recovery!
Wish: May Mu Yunhe recover his health and live a long and healthy life. Wish made by: Luo Zhiheng.
Madam Song took out a seal and stamped it all over Luo Zhiheng's name. The already thin gold paper collapsed, leaving behind four powerful and complex characters: Silver Moon Kingdom Ruler!
This proves that this was something the Silver Moon Kingdom Lord permitted and promised. From another perspective, it also demonstrates the Silver Moon Kingdom Lord's immense strength, capital, and arrogance in dominating the world.
The wish was sealed, and before leaving, Madam Song looked at Luo Zhiheng with a hint of a smile: "Remember not to reveal your wish to anyone, including your loyal friend! I hope we'll have a chance to meet again. Although I'm not sure if your talent is truly that great, your heart is very strong!"
The people from the First Talent Competition disappeared as quickly as a receding tide, leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the room.
The princess seemed to be dreaming, and then suddenly knelt down before Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng was startled and quickly hid to the side before running over to help her up: "Mother, what are you doing? Get up quickly!"
"No! You deserve my bow. Today, I am not bowing to Mu Yunhe's wife, nor to my daughter-in-law. I am bowing to my savior! Heng'er, before you came, I had already given up hope. Mu Yunhe was waiting to die, and so was I. We, mother and son, counted down the days. He was a lonely figure in the darkness, and I was a wandering soul in the daytime. We never spoke of it, but we both understood that death was approaching every day, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the next moment!"
The princess was extremely excited, and her emotions were genuine. She hadn't felt this excited in many years. It was Luo Zhiheng's selfless act today that revived her resigned heart. She held Luo Zhiheng's hand tightly and said, "No matter what Mu Yunhe's future holds, you are our savior today."
Luo Zhiheng said very seriously, "Mother! Please get up! This isn't thanking me, it's shortening my lifespan! Although I sometimes act foolishly, I still respect the elderly and children. Since I married into the Prince's Mansion and married Mu Yunhe, I'd rather believe it's fate. Heaven must have its own good purpose in this. We may still be living in hardship and suffering, and this environment frequently torments us, making us feel anxious, frustrated, and desperate. But as long as we don't give up and continue to strive in accordance with fate, there will always be hope! Isn't it said that there's always a way out? Heaven loves us so much, there's no reason why we shouldn't love ourselves. So everything I've done is simply in accordance with fate. If you're going to kneel before me like this, you might as well kneel before the heavens."
The princess was stunned. Stunned, she was helped up by Luo Zhiheng. Suddenly, she knelt down facing the door and burst into tears. Perhaps she was crying because the repression and despair of so many years had finally found a way out and been released. Perhaps she was crying because of the humble feeling that filled her chest with emotion at that moment.
Luo Zhiheng's words made her suddenly realize how insignificant she was. What were status, fame, and fortune? They were all just the ugliest fig leaves covering up pride. True humility meant discarding all these external things and being able to calmly face the ups and downs of life.