Luo Zhiheng didn't want it, but the wet nurse quickly said, "Please take it, Miss. It is not right to refuse a gift from an elder."
Luo Zhiheng smiled and put the jade pendant on her waist: "It's a very beautiful jade pendant. Since it was bestowed by the King, I won't refuse it. Thank you, King."
The King smiled deeply: "Alright, you can go back now. Your wet nurse can stay here; it'll be convenient for Huo Yun to take care of her here as well."
Luo Zhiheng didn't say anything more and got up to leave.
As soon as she left, the smile on the King's face could no longer be maintained. There was such a deep sorrow and sadness in her eyes, and her voice was hoarse and slightly gloomy: "How did she grow up from childhood to adulthood?"
These words were naturally directed at the wet nurse, whose heart ached: "The young master lost his mother at birth and has suffered much hardship and injustice since childhood. Although the general has never allowed the young master to suffer physical pain or injustice, I know how pitiful a child without a mother is. And the second young lady has been shrewd since childhood. I can see that she is plotting to harm the young master. But the young master is simple-minded and kind-hearted, and has fallen for her tricks time and time again without even realizing it."
“This servant has always protected the young master, but the second young lady still managed to sneak into the Confucius Temple, which led to the young master becoming a notorious troublemaker and infatuated womanizer in the capital. The second young lady was behind it all.”
The wet nurse was a very insightful woman; she knew exactly what to say and when. Even though Luo Ningshuang was also the master's daughter, Luo Ningshuang had first caused the master's death and then harmed the innocent young master—these were undeniable facts. The wet nurse was speaking so casually now mainly to sow discord between Luo Ningshuang and Luo Ningshuang.
She genuinely looked down on Luo Ningshuang. Even though Luo Ningshuang was married, the despicable things Luo Ningshuang had done before still made the wet nurse hate her. She was also afraid that the Prince would favor or treat Luo Ningshuang differently because she was also her master's child. In her view, if the Prince showed even the slightest kindness to Luo Ningshuang, it would be unkind to Luo Zhiheng.
One should be absolute in one's conduct: embrace the good to the fullest and despise the bad to the fullest! There is no room for compromise or ambiguity.
Upon hearing this, the King frowned, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust, and his voice was icy: "Luo Ningshuang, as Heng'er's daughter, is a disgrace to Heng'er's noble status and a disgrace to the Silver Moon Kingdom. Such a lowly thing is best left unmentioned. I will pretend that Heng'er only had one son and one daughter. Moreover, Aheng is Heng'er's eldest daughter, so Luo Ningshuang has even less to do with it. Now that she is married, and besides, she still carries Heng'er's blood, I can overlook what she did to Aheng. But if she dares to have any wicked thoughts in the future, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Although the Prince of Shi was born of the principal wife, she was the second daughter and therefore could only be subordinate to the Emperor Xian. She felt this was unfair, but that did not mean she condoned the second daughter's right to harm the eldest daughter.
The wet nurse felt relieved and at ease. As long as the King did not side with Luo Ningshuang and did not sympathize with her, Luo Zhiheng would have more security and protection.
The Prince looked at the wet nurse with a sharp gaze that seemed to see into people's hearts: "Considering how much you have protected and defended Aheng, I can overlook your crime of impersonating Heng'er. But you need to give me a reason: what was your purpose in impersonating Heng'er before?"
The wet nurse hadn't explained things in detail to the Prince before, but seeing that he truly loved Luo Zhiheng, and considering his attitude towards Emperor Xian yesterday, she had no more reservations. She said, "I really have no choice. The young master is the heir of the master, and I swear to protect the young master's safety with my life. But before the master escaped, he was being hunted down. It is said that the Empress died in that endless pursuit, and the master has lived such a repressed life since growing up and getting married. All his hopes are placed on these children."
"Although the mistress grew up in the secular world and values her eldest son, she is, after all, a citizen of the Silver Moon Kingdom. Deep down, she values her eldest daughter more. Therefore, she requires me to protect the young mistress and not to have any contact with anyone from the Silver Moon Kingdom. I must not let the young mistress be in danger."
“I remember things from that day, and I remember very clearly that among the people who came to kill us, there was one who looked exactly like you. I know that person was either the Emperor or you. When I first met you, I really didn’t dare to take the risk, because if you were the one who chased us back then, then my young master would surely die. I would then have to betray my master’s last wish, which would be like sending my young master into the tiger’s den. I dare not.”
"So that's why you went along with it when I mistook you for Heng'er? You wanted to drag the danger onto yourself?" The Prince spoke, his voice flat, but his gaze toward the wet nurse finally softened.
Just as she had guessed, the wet nurse had told that lie out of loyalty. In that case, Heng'er's judgment was quite good.
Zhizhong asked, "What happened?" The wet nurse nodded and confessed, "I know that lying to the Prince is the most unforgivable thing. But I really had no other choice at the time. I dared not gamble. If you were the person from back then, we would all be in danger. If you weren't, then that person would be Emperor Xian. But Emperor Xian is a more dangerous person than you. You know that Master is still alive, and I'm afraid Emperor Xian won't know for much longer either. I'm afraid of being hunted down, so I dared to lie. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
"You were loyal, what crime have you committed? But tell me, were the people who chased you down back then Emperor Xian?" The Queen's eyes were filled with hardship. She should have realized this long ago. How could things back then be so simple? The child was born to the Queen herself. How could she not know whether the child was her own or not? Just because Qin Yinheng doesn't look like the Queen or the Empress from back then, she concludes that the child isn't the Queen's. How absurd.
But what happened to the Empress Dowager back then? Why did she insist that the child wasn't hers? What secret lies behind this unrequited love?
It seems Emperor Xian was quite involved in this. Has this woman truly become so depraved?
The Queen felt as if she were being slapped hard across the face. How humiliating! The person she had been searching for avoided her like the plague, and her own sister was the mastermind behind the conspiracy and manhunt she had orchestrated years ago. How ironic! This was the utterly cruel and pitifully rare kinship that existed under the shadow of power!
Qin Yinxian, is your heart made of steel? Or has it been eaten by dogs? How could you bear to poison our gentle and loving Empress? And how could you bring yourself to kill our lovely and vulnerable Heng'er?
Silence fell over the carriage; the deep sorrow emanating from the Prince was impossible to conceal. Looking at the Prince in this state, the wet nurse saw heartache in his otherwise beautiful face. The wet nurse felt it was all worthwhile. These words allowed her to see a Prince with flesh and blood, with a conscience, a man of responsibility and discernment, a man who could be a strong support for Luo Zhiheng in the future. With him around, there would still be a constraint and a check on Emperor Xian.
"You could have recognized your young master just now, why didn't you do so?" the wet nurse asked cautiously.
The king closed his eyes wearily and said slowly, "Isn't it a kind of beauty to meet someone and not recognize them?"
The wet nurse was stunned. After carefully considering these words, she gradually understood.
Was the Prince of Shi ashamed to acknowledge his young master? That was exactly what the Prince of Shi thought. He felt that as an aunt, it was perfectly normal for her to find her sister's child and take meticulous care of him. But all of this was shattered by that bastard Qin Yinxian.
Would Luo Zhiheng, the younger sister of the murderer who killed her maternal grandfather and drove her mother to years of hardship, believe her? Would she be close to her? It seems the end will come when Luo Zhiheng learns all this. Given Luo Zhiheng's personality, she'll definitely cause a huge uproar. At that point, there won't be even a shred of affection left between her and Luo Zhiheng, let alone any familial bond.
It would be better if things remained as they are now, with Luo Zhiheng knowing nothing, while she could do her best to make amends to the two children. That would be far better than if the children knew the truth and rejected or doubted her good intentions.
——
Mu Yunhe sat quietly in the carriage, his pale, handsome face revealing an intense anger and murderous intent that he could not conceal. His eyes were bright and deep, seemingly a deep blue in the dim light of the carriage. He held a letter in his hand—or rather, a love letter?
On the paper, the words are elegant and beautiful, yet they also possess an indomitable strength. Each word seems to penetrate the paper, engraving tender words, poignant love stories, and endless longing on this yellowed page!
Xia Beisong!
These three words struck Mu Yunhe like a blow to the bone, both profound and painful. Filled with overwhelming rage, Mu Yunhe's mind churned with an unprecedented surge of jealousy, which repeatedly assaulted his almost uncontrollable rationality.
This letter recounts Xia Beisong's endless longing for Luo Zhiheng, along with some childhood memories—can these even be called reminiscences now? Is Xia Beisong summoning Luo Zhiheng's happy childhood memories? It turns out, they really were childhood sweethearts. It turns out, they truly shared deep affection and loyalty. It turns out, they truly made vows of eternal love!
This letter contained Xia Beisong's reflections on the past, soothing of the present, and hopes for the future—all beautiful words. Each word pierced Mu Yunhe's fragile nerves, and combined, they were more terrifying than a thousand troops, because Mu Yunhe was truly on the verge of being crushed by this letter!
Xia Beisong made a promise to Luo Zhiheng! And the letter made it clear that Luo Zhiheng agreed!
What did they promise each other as Xia Beisong was about to go to the battlefield? A secret vow of marriage? Or that he would take her away when he returned victorious? Did she agree? If she didn't agree, why were those glaring words "Wait for me with peace of mind" on the letter? It was clearly a sign of confidence, an assurance that Luo Zhiheng would wait for him and leave with him when he returned!
Bang!
The object in Mu Yunhe's hand fell onto the nearby display cabinet, the impact numbing his palm and making him numb to the pain. He was like a raging lion, his eyes bloodshot, panting heavily, a hoarse, painful growl emanating from his throat, his entire being filled with a sense of despair, murderous intent, and pain.
He could accept Luo Zhiheng's past misconduct, he could accept her childhood friendship with Xia Beisong, and he could also accept any promises Luo Zhiheng had made to others. Because all of those were made before him.
He could only hate himself, hate himself for not meeting her sooner, hate himself for not being a part of her life sooner, hate himself for only finding out so late that there was someone like her in this world!
But while he wouldn't mention the past, he couldn't ignore the present! Because the promise made in the letter clearly took place after she had married him! After that, he existed. After that, she was his rightful and legal wife! After that, he had the right to be a part of her life. 14.
Even though he wouldn't live much longer then, who the hell cared? He was furious, and even more unable to swallow this insult. It wasn't betrayal, but it was worse than betrayal. Perhaps before, she would have smiled indifferently and ignored it. But now he absolutely couldn't be so indifferent. Because Luo Zhiheng was etched into his bones; even the tenderness, even the pain, could only be brought to Luo Zhiheng by him. All other men, to hell with them!
Even though he knew they weren't in love yet, Mu Yunhe just couldn't control his emotions. Anyone could play mind games with him, deceive him, but not Luo Zhiheng. Absolutely not.
He had considered the possibility that the letter might have been forged by Mu Yunjin, but then thought it impossible, because the letter bore a seal with the four large, scarlet characters "Xia Beisong's Seal" clearly engraved on it. Besides, how could Mu Yunjin possibly know so much about Xia Beisong and Luo Zhiheng's past?
Outside the carriage came the cheerful sounds of seven bowls of greetings, along with Luo Zhiheng's frustrated groans. Luo Zhiheng's voice sounded so pure and joyful that Mu Yunhe's heart ached sharply.
He should believe Ah Heng. She's wholeheartedly working hard for him; she wouldn't have any ulterior motives. Even if she did, it must have been in the past, not now. She said she loves herself.
This letter was indeed a significant blow to Mu Yunhe. But it stemmed more from his fear of Luo Zhiheng's past. Xia Beisong had been an insidious presence in Luo Zhiheng's past, a fact that deeply troubled Mu Yunhe. And their damned promise remained a thorn in his side, impossible to remove.
The carriage curtain was instantly lifted, revealing Luo Zhiheng's bright and pretty face. She lazily looked at Mu Yunhe and smiled, her smile full of joy: "The sun is so nice, do you want to get off and wait a while? We'll be setting off again soon."
At this moment, Mu Yunhe no longer had that damned letter in his hand. He sat there upright, his eyes filled with the dappled sunlight streaming in, looking both sacred and inviolable, yet with a touch of inexplicable melancholy.
His gaze towards Luo Zhiheng was still warm and gentle. He extended his hand to Luo Zhiheng and said, "Come here and sit with me for a while."
Luo Zhiheng's smile faltered. She carefully examined Mu Yunhe for a few moments, then nimbly jumped onto the carriage and snuggled into Mu Yunhe's arms affectionately. She twirled her hair and brushed it back and forth on Mu Yunhe's chin: "What's wrong? Why do you look so serious? Did I do something wrong again?"
Mu Yunhe was heartbroken, tormented by the conflict between asking directly and suppressing his emotions. He was terrified that his question would lead to something beyond his control, and if it happened, if Luo Zhiheng's answer wasn't what he expected, how would he cope? He should have confidence in himself, and he should have confidence in Luo Zhiheng, but was that confidence commensurate with the weight Luo Zhiheng held in his heart compared to his childhood sweetheart?
Some hesitation is inevitable on the path of love. But Mu Yunhe was unwilling to be defeated or crushed by a letter, and even less willing for Mu Yunjin to join in the fun. So he chose not to ask for the time being, and to wait until he had thought it through and was ready before asking Luo Zhiheng.
He affectionately stroked her long hair, his smile more profound and filled with obvious tenderness than usual: "It's nothing, I just missed my Aheng."
"Why are you suddenly being so mushy?" Luo Zhiheng pouted in disgust, about to get out of the car, but Mu Yunhe pulled her back by the waist, imprisoning her in his arms and rubbing her hard before burying his face in her hair, letting out a particularly weary sigh. Luo Zhiheng asked sensitively, "What's wrong with you? Don't you dare not tell me, something's very wrong with you. You said there were no secrets between us."
Mu Yunhe's back stiffened, the smile on his lips unreadable, neither bitter nor sharp. His voice, however, sounded cautious and evasive: "It's nothing. I won't have any secrets from Aheng. Except for the matter concerning the Divination Palace, which concerns our lives and the fate of all living beings, something I truly cannot speak of, I will never hide anything else from Aheng. Does Aheng trust me?"
Luo Zhiheng smiled and twisted her body, hugging his neck with both hands and rubbing her face against his. Her voice softened a little: "I won't lie to you, I won't hide anything from you, I love Xiao Hehe the most, don't I?"
Mu Yunhe's gaze was deep, as if he could see into her soul: "So, Aheng, are you really not hiding anything from me? Is there anything about your past that you have to tell me?"
Perhaps it was his gaze that was too sharp and penetrating, but Luo Zhiheng suddenly felt as if he could see right through her. She also felt guilty; Mu Yunhe possessed the ability to foresee the future—could it be that he had discovered her past? Did he sense that her soul was a wandering ghost?!
Luo Zhiheng felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Her face paled, and her flickering gaze was quickly concealed by her thick eyelashes. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. Would he be disgusted and repulsed by her? Would he be afraid that she was a female ghost?
She's feeling guilty!
Mu Yunhe realized this in an instant. His heart ached even more. In his view, if Luo Zhiheng hadn't revealed anything about her past, she would have asked him what he wanted to know with a clear conscience, instead of remaining silent with her head down like this.
A wave of panic nearly overwhelmed Mu Yunhe. He possessed the ability to read minds, but he dared not use it on Luo Zhiheng. The lifespan and health of someone being observed would be affected, and he didn't want her to suffer in the slightest. Moreover, he was unwilling to use such an ability to probe her heart. He wanted what Luo Zhiheng gave willingly, not something to steal like a thief.
Ke Luozhiheng's silence undoubtedly ignited Mu Yunhe's jealousy, turning it into a raging torrent. Nothing could be more damaging than her silence.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it. Anyway, your past has already been widely discussed." Mu Yunhe's self-deceiving words sounded so fragile, but he hid it so well, and because the shattered confidence in his doting gaze was almost evaporating, Luo Zhiheng didn't see that the man she loved most had misunderstood her, and she was feeling lonely and melancholy in the darkness of sadness.
Luo Zhiheng smiled and kissed his lips, saying softly, "I admit that I have something important to hide from you. Whether you know it or not, please don't say anything or ask. I will tell you at the appropriate time. I will definitely tell you, even if the result is that you hate and abandon me, I will not hide it from you."
Mu Yunhe's dull eyes lit up instantly, his tone urgent and delighted: "Aheng, you're not lying to me?"
She enveloped his hand and placed it against her heart, her eyes shining with devotion: "Your heart is so sincere towards me, I will never betray your heart! I will never break the promise I made to you!"
So Mu Yunhe, please wait a little longer. When she has the courage to smile and tell you, "I am a ghost from another world, I am not the owner of this body," I will never deceive you again!
His incomparably handsome face, from his eyebrows to the corners of his eyes to his lips, slowly blossomed with a smile that was genuine and full of life, instantly making his face as charming and gentle as spring flowers in bloom.
He embraced her contentedly, a mixture of caution and secret delight in his voice, which, though awkward and affected, couldn't hide his joy: "Who cares about your secrets? I don't care."
First update is here. Damn power outage, ouch! I'm late today, but there's still quality and quantity. Second update will be here soon. I'll work hard now. Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets!
Chapter 325: Yu'er is here! A letter has been found! (Bonus chapter for 50,000 recommended votes)
Updated: 2013-09-13 16:44:31 Word Count: 3335
Although Aheng said she would have to wait, she didn't try to hide anything and frankly admitted that she had a secret. This frankness from Aheng excited and delighted Mu Yunhe. He felt that he and Aheng had taken another step forward. Suddenly, Mu Yunhe's confidence returned, and he no longer cared about Xia Beisong.
However, there was a past between Aheng and Xia Beisong, which they couldn't let go of. Mu Yunhe secretly harbored resentment towards Xia Beisong, and once Xia Beisong returned to the Mu Dynasty, Mu Yunhe would immediately oppose this man.
The following days were peaceful. Emperor Xian had been thoroughly tormented by Mu Yunhe, and even if he wanted to stir up trouble again, he would have to wait a long time. Prince Shi had also calmed down, spending his days with Lou Yun and not saying much to Luo Zhiheng.
Ever since Mu Yunjin gave that letter to Mu Yunhe, she had been waiting for Mu Yunhe to lose his temper or for him to have a falling out with Luo Zhiheng, but seven or eight days had passed and it seemed that nothing had happened between them.
Mu Yunjin was very agitated lately because not only was there no news, but Luo Zhiheng also rarely got off the carriage anymore. She ate, drank, and slept in the carriage, and even when she went to the bathroom, someone accompanied her. He saw Luo Zhiheng very infrequently. He attributed his anxiety to his worry at not being able to see Luo Zhiheng looking so distraught.
Mu Yunjin has recently been frequently glancing at Luo Zhiheng's carriage, a behavior he can't help but find trouble, which greatly bothers him. He secretly resents Luo Zhiheng for being a jinx, managing to stir his heart and make him so unsettled. But he hasn't considered that there might be other reasons. He now wants to be close to Luo Zhiheng and doesn't want her to be alone with Mu Yunhe.
But they are a legally married couple. What right does he have to separate them? Should he tell Mu Yunhe that Luo Zhiheng is poisonous, that he needs to stay away from her, that she's a fraud? Given Mu Yunhe's henpecked nature, such words would likely have no effect. But how can he get close to Luo Zhiheng? How can he create a rift between them? He doesn't believe that letter won't provoke Mu Yunhe. Logically, Mu Yunhe should be furious after reading that letter. How can he remain silent?
As they drew ever closer to the Mu Dynasty, Mu Yunjin grew increasingly agitated. He felt that once back in the Mu Dynasty, there was very little he could do, and he had to take advantage of the moment to create a rift between Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe.
And on this day, he was finally given that opportunity.
A smaller convoy, carrying an army, suddenly appeared in front of their caravan. The crowd was extremely tense, each thinking that more pursuers had arrived. The king immediately issued orders, and everyone went on high alert.
This time, Mu Yunjin personally took to the field. He had been completely ineffective in the previous melee, watching Mu Yunhe perform all by himself. Although the battle was spectacular, Mu Yunhe stole the show because of Mu Yunjin's absence. Therefore, Mu Yunjin wanted to regain face and prestige in today's battle. However, only he knew that subconsciously, he wanted to show Luo Zhiheng that he was no less capable than Mu Yunhe.
"Who goes there? Stop immediately, or don't blame this general for being impolite." Mu Yunjin rode forward and challenged him, his voice authoritative. Having spent many years on the battlefield, experiencing bloodshed and slaughter, he naturally possessed an indescribable charm and confidence. In addition, his already handsome appearance was made even more striking and majestic by the sunlight.
The convoy suddenly stopped. The soldiers showed no sign of force or resistance; instead, they parted to the sides, and a beautiful young woman stepped out from the slowly opening curtain of the magnificent carriage. The girl wore a pink dress, a hairpin, and pearl earrings, adorned with jewels. Her calm demeanor made her appear even more extraordinary.
The young girl looked at the young general on horseback and was instantly captivated by his striking appearance. In the sunlight, his handsome features made her heart flutter slightly. Her face flushed slightly, and she nodded, her voice clear and sweet. "General, you misunderstand," she said. "I am Princess Yu'er of the Southern Dynasty. I've come to see my aunt and my sister Heng'er."
The person who came was actually Yu'er!