Old Master Tong's words were indeed very harsh. The Tong family's contributions to the Mu Dynasty are undeniable; otherwise, they could not have become a great Confucian family and a prominent noble family in the Mu Dynasty.
Prince Mu's face turned pale and then red. In all his life, very few people had dared to reprimand him like this. But he couldn't argue with the person in front of him, after all, he was the Pharaoh.
"Pharaoh Tong, you flatter me. I respect you, and my elder brother relies on you. You are extremely important to the Mu Dynasty. I have never intended to target the Tong family. This is merely a matter within my own household, and I urge you, Pharaoh Tong, not to interfere," Prince Mu said solemnly. Respect was acceptable, but he would not allow anyone to meddle in his family affairs, not even the Pharaoh.
Old Master Tong glared, then suddenly sneered, "Prince Mu, what a boastful tone! Your family affairs? Look closely, standing on that platform is my Tong family's grandson, who shares half the bloodline, and standing beside him is my Tong family's acknowledged granddaughter-in-law. What do you mean by 'your family affairs'? To put it bluntly, although Mu Yunhe shares your surname, he only carries half of your bloodline; the other half is surnamed Tong!"
Prince Mu looked up in shock, unable to believe that Elder Tong would say such a thing.
Since ancient times, children born naturally belong to the man's family. How can the woman's family claim half of the child? Even if the bloodline is true, Old Master Tong's statement and words today were clearly protecting Mu Yunhe Luo Zhiheng. Such obvious and undisguised support is unprecedented in Old Master Tong's behavior. This kind of arrogant and shameless behavior is only suitable for General Murong.
"I never knew that Pharaoh Tong would be so fond of my son. Moreover, Pharaoh Tong's words today have truly broadened my horizons. It turns out that Pharaoh Tong can also be unreasonable," Prince Mu said sarcastically, his face grim.
"You don't need to be so sarcastic. You say he's unreasonable, but have you been reasonable yourself? Don't you know who Mu Yunhe is? Even if you don't care about the Tong family, for the sake of the entire Mu Dynasty, you can't treat him like this. Don't you know who Luo Zhiheng is? Your repeated cold words make me think you're taking advantage of your age! Your two children are both of the highest status. You're their father, so you think you're something special? You can't treat good children like this. Good children deserve respect and love to show your virtue as a father."
"You have gradually ruined your own character. What image do you have left in the children's hearts? You don't care about your own reputation, do you not care about the reputation of the Mu Prince's Mansion? You are so petty with the children over a concubine. What are you thinking? Don't end up losing your wife and your children. I wonder who you will cry to then!"
Old Master Tong's words were full of advice and earnest reminder. Having lived a long life, the old man saw things clearly, and even he found Prince Mu's behavior despicable.
Prince Mu's face flushed red and then paled as he was scolded, his tolerance for Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng growing ever stronger. Before their status, how could he have caused so much trouble? He could overlook everything else, but these two were juniors; how could they so casually touch his women? Even if his women were troublesome, he should have just informed him, and he would have handled it. But these two children had dared to overstep their bounds, acting first and informing him later.
If it were someone else they killed, he would be angry, but not so irrational. But they killed Li Fangfei, the woman he loved most. How could he tolerate them?
Prince Mu's face was ashen, and he refused to budge an inch, saying firmly, "Elder Tong's words make sense, but you don't understand the intricacies of this matter. This is a matter between my sons and me, and I simply cannot indulge these two children. They actually dared to bypass me and kill my concubine; this is utterly rebellious. Do they even have any respect for me as their father? If they had even a shred of respect for me, they would never have dared to do this. And they don't even admit their mistake. Take today, for example; this rebellious son, Mu Yunhe, was even more audacious, actually digging up Consort Li's coffin!"
The more Prince Mu spoke, the angrier he became, and the more he felt sorry for Li Fangfei. He also felt that Mu Yunhe was utterly ignorant of etiquette and insane. His eyes were almost red with rage as he roared, "Digging up someone's ancestral grave is a grave crime, an outrageous act! Consort Li has only been buried for less than a day and a night, and he's already dug up her grave! This is simply..."
Prince Mu pointed his finger at Mu Yunhe, speechless with rage. He felt a surge of suppressed anger that made him want to kill Mu Yunhe. Looking at Mu Yunhe's proud and arrogant demeanor, and at Luo Zhiheng's cold and indifferent attitude, Prince Mu felt a burning pain in his internal organs from hatred.
At this point, it was difficult for Old Tong to speak, because in his mind, he could not accept the act of digging up the craftsman's grave.
Luo Zhiheng immediately spoke up, her voice calm: "If we don't do this, how can we possibly save face for you, Prince Mu? Everyone knows that Mu Yunhe is your son, but even a biological son can hardly see his own father. Yet this dead man can make Prince Mu so agitated. We, the living, are not even as good as the dead, and our own son is not even as good as a concubine. This reality is truly disheartening."
Luo Zhiheng drew herself into the fray. No matter what Mu Yunhe did, good or bad, she was willing to stand by him. Even this absurd and disgusting act of digging up graves today, she would stand by him without hesitation. They could share glory and bear the insults together.
"I knew it was you! It must have been you, you vixen, who instigated Mu Yunhe to do this." Prince Mu immediately turned his anger towards Luo Zhiheng, almost hating himself for not killing her.
"Enough!" Mu Yunhe, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke. He looked coldly at Prince Mu and said, "I did digging up the grave. I was just carrying out the Emperor's decree. Didn't the Li family say that no one can disobey the Emperor's decree? I'm too timid to disobey the Emperor's decree. The decree clearly states that Li Fangfei should be beheaded immediately, torn apart by four horses, and then her head should be hung on the city gate to rot!"
As soon as Mu Yunhe spoke, Prince Mu's expression changed drastically.
Mu Yunhe's anger intensified, and he said coldly, "Only one thing has been done so far, and two things are still outstanding. Today, I will do both of them. Aheng, if you dare to plead for Consort Li again, you will be punished along with her!"
Mu Yunhe was telling Prince Mu that if Luo Zhiheng hadn't pleaded for him that day, he wouldn't have agreed to spare Consort Li's body. They had already shown mercy, but Prince Mu didn't appreciate it and even blamed them, so they shouldn't blame them for turning their backs on them.
Luo Zhiheng said with a wronged expression, "Don't worry, once I've been bitten by a dog, I won't be a pushover again and give a mad dog a second chance. I was wrong to disobey the Emperor's decree in public, and now I'm being targeted. Maybe this is retribution."
The couple worked in perfect harmony, and although they hadn't discussed it beforehand, Luo Zhiheng was able to follow Mu Yunhe's train of thought perfectly. Their seamless actions directly resulted in Prince Mu trembling with anger, his chest heaving, and a metallic taste in his throat.
Chapter 1 complete! One more chapter today! I'll keep working hard! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group chat, muah!
379 The Root of King Mu's Hatred! (Bonus Chapter for 60,000 Recommendation Votes)
Updated: 2013-10-09 13:54:47 Word Count: 3369
Mu Yunhe stared at Prince Mu, a battle of wits that seemed to defy even the fiercest clashes. The tides of fortune could turn in an instant. If Prince Mu didn't seize this final opportunity, Mu Yunhe would truly show no mercy.
Whether to go see his mother or not... If you go, you can preserve Consort Li's body intact; if you don't go, then you can wait for Consort Li's remains to be destroyed!
However, Prince Mu said fiercely, "Mu Yunhe, how dare you!"
A single, uncompromising threat instantly severed the last vestige of reconciliation between father and son!
With a snap, Mu Yunhe suddenly swung his hand, and the knife he had been gripping tightly fell with the oppressive and threatening words of Prince Mu, slamming hard into the coffin lid.
As if he were going head-to-head with Prince Mu, Mu Yunhe's sword strikes were swift and swift, and in just a few strokes, he had slashed a large hole in the ornate coffin lid.
"Mu Yunhe!!" Prince Mu's eyes were bloodshot as he rushed forward and grabbed Mu Yunhe's wrist with a claw.
In the blink of an eye, a flash of light appeared, and with a whoosh, Luo Zhiheng's sharp blade was already drawn. She blocked Prince Mu's movement with one stroke, and then with a flick of her wrist, she forced Prince Mu to take a few steps back.
In the blink of an eye, Luo Zhiheng stood between the father and son. Mu Yunhe, filled with rage, was chopping at the coffin. Prince Mu glared at Mu Yunhe with hatred. Luo Zhiheng was on high alert, not allowing Prince Mu to cross the line.
"Get out of my way!" Prince Mu roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Luo Zhiheng, however, did not back down at all, and said coldly, "I can get out of your way, but you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
"Fine! Well done, Luo Zhiheng! Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!" Prince Mu's rage was accompanied by thunderous fury. He lifted his robe and drew a soft sword from his side. The sharp blade swept across with merciless ruthlessness and domineering killing intent, aiming straight for Luo Zhiheng's throat.
Luo Zhiheng, however, showed no fear; the sword in her hand seemed excited by the prospect of facing a formidable opponent. With a flick of her wrist, she advanced instead of retreating, instantly clashing with Prince Mu's blade. 1.
Ding ding ding—
Amidst a series of flashing swords and sounds of battle, sparks flew from their clashing blades. Neither of them yielded, neither showed mercy, and they faced each other head-on. Between the clashing blades, a faint mournful cry echoed, conveying a powerful and overwhelming force.
Her long hair flew wildly, and she held knives in both hands, pressing closer with each step. Prince Mu, equally disregarding his status, held a sword in one hand and struck Luo Zhiheng's shoulder with his other palm.
Everyone was stunned by Prince Mu's move. A daughter-in-law fighting with her father-in-law was already bizarre enough. Those who didn't know the situation simply thought Luo Zhiheng was being unreasonable, daring to fight her father-in-law.
But when Prince Mu made his move, everyone's expressions turned strange. A father-in-law hitting his daughter-in-law? This wasn't just unbelievable, it was downright ridiculous. They could say the daughter-in-law was young and immature, but the father-in-law wasn't young anymore; surely he couldn't be immature too? And for him to fight back at this point only meant he was just as immature. Two immature people together, one old and one young, how could the younger one stand out? If the older one was sensible, would he fight with the younger one?
It's obvious that the older one is disrespectful to his elders!
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, but Luo Zhiheng had no time to dwell on it. Prince Mu's palm strike was fierce and powerful; he had used ruthless force. Prince Mu, a seasoned dancer, possessed internal strength, something Luo Zhiheng lacked. A heavy blow would be disastrous for her. Luo Zhiheng twisted her waist, barely dodging Prince Mu's attack. But then Prince Mu's sword swept in, giving Luo Zhiheng no chance to breathe.
Luo Zhiheng lost her footing and, with quick reflexes, immediately dodged to the side. Her foot snapped with a crack, clearly indicating a sprain. A sharp gust of wind swept past her ear, and her cheek burned with pain. A strand of hair fell from her eyes. Luo Zhiheng's expression changed slightly. 17623099
Prince Mu severed a lock of her hair with a single sword stroke! Had she dodged even a moment later, wouldn't her face have been disfigured?!
"Damn it!" Luo Zhiheng muttered under her breath, completely enraged.
Ignoring the pain in her ankle, she wielded her battle sword with ferocious power. Meanwhile, Prince Mu, having slashed through Luo Zhiheng, charged towards Mu Yunhe, clearly intending to stop him. However, Luo Zhiheng countered with a slash of her own. The battle sword, a relic of the God of War, possessed extraordinary power, its strike seemingly capable of cleaving mountains and rivers. The visible blade light rushed towards them, and even someone like Prince Mu had to temporarily evade its edge, his pupils constricting.
With a deafening crash, the descending blade of light completely severed Prince Mu and Mu Yunhe, its sharp edge splitting the guillotine in two. The guillotine, now shattered, wobbled precariously and toppled to either side.
Prince Mu stood on the other side, watching as Consort Li's coffin was about to roll down the other half. Prince Mu was so anxious that he was about to rush over.
This time, Luo Zhiheng showed no mercy either. Standing on the side of the guillotine, she cleaved her blade towards Prince Mu's face. Anyone who dared to disfigure her would be repaid tenfold!
Prince Mu was stunned by Luo Zhiheng's knife. He couldn't help but dodge. He immediately turned his waist and flew away from the guillotine that was about to collapse.
Meanwhile, Luo Zhiheng forced Prince Mu back, grabbed the seemingly crazed Mu Yunhe, and quickly jumped off the guillotine, which was about to collapse.
The scene instantly descended into chaos, completely out of control. People screamed and scrambled for cover. With two thunderous crashes, the massive guillotine collapsed completely, splitting in two. Dust billowed up, and Consort Li's coffin tumbled to the ground, its lid smashed open, cracking even wider.
Before the dust had even settled, the sounds of chopping and hacking echoed through the air again. People's expressions changed; they were all terrified by this bizarre scene.
"Mu Yunhe, you are outrageous! You are too arrogant! Even if your status is different now, do you think you can stand up for your actions today? If we report you to the Emperor, you will still be in deep trouble!" Prince Mu was also terrified, frightened by Mu Yunhe's crazy and persistent behavior.
He knew perfectly well that Mu Yunhe was using this method to force him, to pressure him into speaking first, compromising, and going to see his mother. But the more Mu Yunhe acted this way, the less he would compromise. He was a prince of the Mu Dynasty; how could he compromise with his own son? Moreover, he wouldn't betray Li Fangfei again. He had wronged Li Fangfei his entire life; their vows of eternal love were still vivid in his mind. How could he possibly go to see the princess?
In Prince Mu's eyes, the princess was a sinner! A sinner so heinous that she could not be forgiven!
If it weren't for the appearance of the princess, he and Li Fangfei, this couple in love, could have become a couple. His only princess, the woman he chose in his heart, has always been Li Fangfei!
Everything was going well; he was on track to marry Li Fangfei. But then the princess appeared. And not only that, she won first place in the First Talent Contest! That prize originally belonged to Li Fangfei; if she won, she would gain the emperor's approval and marry him. But because of the princess, everything was impossible. Not only impossible, but he was also forced to marry a woman he didn't love.
And this woman was precisely the one he had always considered an enemy, sharing a common hatred with Li Fangfei. During the talent competition, Tong Shi was always Li Fangfei's formidable rival. The two of them devised many ways to deal with Tong Shi, and he even tried to create an accident to prevent Tong Shi from participating in the finals. However, the Emperor discovered their intentions and stopped them.
So the moment Tong Shi won, she became a thorn in Prince Mu's side, piercing his heart and causing him so much pain that he wished he could get rid of her immediately!
Because not only did Lady Tong turn his promise to Li Fangfei into a joke and a pipe dream, but the Emperor also forced it upon him. At that time, he and Li Fangfei were deeply in love, at the height of their affection. To break his promise in front of the woman he loved would be a loss of face. The young Prince Mu was arrogant and flamboyant, and always kept his word, but this time it was destined to fail.
Tong Shi practically slapped Prince Mu across the face. Whether intentional or unintentional, she undoubtedly incurred Prince Mu's hatred. Because of this hatred, he couldn't love her, couldn't accept her. Even after being forced to marry her, he still treated her with cold indifference.
Lady Tong ascended to the throne of Princess Consort, but on the very day of her triumphant victory, she lost a lifetime of happiness. Her husband, with his cold and hardened heart, harbored resentment and displeasure from the start. Lady Tong, unaware of the reasons, naturally found everything she did wrong. From the beginning, Prince Mu's heart was biased; the scales of their marriage were never balanced, and the Princess Consort was destined to lose completely!
So now that the princess is dying, it's a relief for Prince Mu. It's as if the invisible shackles that have been binding him, and the promise he never made to Li Fangfei in his lifetime, will dissipate because of the princess's death. Then, he can decide that Li Fangfei will be buried with him after her death.
With such a stubborn mindset, how could Prince Mu possibly go to see the Princess? He knew perfectly well that the Princess loved him deeply. If he went there and the Princess recovered, wouldn't he be shooting himself in the foot?
Yunlong Bone is like a dragon. Mu Yunhe paused upon hearing Prince Mu's words, but the next moment, he snatched Luo Zhiheng's knife and slashed it down at the coffin lid. With a bang, the coffin lid shattered into pieces!
Looking at the pieced-together body in the coffin, Mu Yunhe's eyes were bloodshot. The more you care, the more he wants to destroy!
Mu Yunhe's voice, chillingly cold, echoed through the dust: "Bring the horses here! Continue the execution according to the imperial decree! Tear that vile woman Li Fangfei apart with four horses! Anyone who obstructs will be punished for disobeying the imperial decree and executed without mercy!"
Prince Mu shuddered, his face contorted in a grimace. Mu Yunhe's "no mercy" was directed at him!
Second update! That's all for today's update. I'll keep working hard tomorrow! Love you all! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group kisses!
380's final compromise came too late!
Updated: 2013-10-10 11:45:56 Word Count: 7598
A sudden gust of wind arose, the sky shifted and changed, and everyone fell silent in the face of the thunderous roar.
Four soldiers, their faces solemn, led in strong, tall horses, each with a rope as thick as a baby's fist, the clanging of which was particularly jarring in the wind.
Li Fangfei's body was carried out of the coffin, and surprisingly, she was dressed in the attire of a princess. Upon seeing this, Mu Yunhe narrowed his phoenix eyes, raised his battle sword, and pierced the lapel. With a soft tearing sound, Mu Yunhe ripped the magnificent garment. After a few more cuts, Li Fangfei's clothes were almost unrecognizable.
Prince Mu was now furious; Mu Yunhe's actions were like a slap in the face. As a prince, he shouldn't be so angry, arguing with a junior. He knew his behavior had been off these past few days; even in dissatisfaction and anger, he should have kept his emotions hidden.
However, Prince Mu had no time for pretense or maneuvering when facing Mu Yunhe. While Prince Mu was undeniably wise on the battlefield, in his personal life, he preferred a strict father and obedient son. In his eyes, even if Mu Yunhe possessed a great status, he was still his son and could not surpass him. Mu Yunhe's disobedience, even his arrogance and unbridled behavior, showed no respect for his father and disregarded him as a father figure. Naturally, this only intensified Prince Mu's chauvinistic tendencies.
He was never a beloved son; he was born to a woman he utterly despised. He received little care and attention, and was treated like a stranger. How could Prince Mu possibly remain rational in his treatment of him?
A child born to a woman you don't love will inevitably be unsatisfactory! Prince Mu harbored another thought: he loved Li Fangfei, therefore everything about her was good, perfect, and her son was good, impeccable. And since Li Fangfei's son was his son, he was naturally even better. No one could surpass this son.
Because his judgment was correct, his ideas were correct, his son was naturally the best. But now, Mu Yunhe had inexplicably acquired such an identity, so high and mighty, so noble, which was hard for Prince Mu, who had always thought Mu Yunhe was a good-for-nothing, to accept.
If he admitted that Mu Yunhe was good, capable, and not useless, it would be tantamount to admitting his own blindness and his failure to recognize talent over the years. Wouldn't that prove his incompetence? Of course, Prince Mu would not admit this, so it could only mean that Mu Yunhe was bad and had flaws.
Anyway, I just don't like it.