Rui'er died, but he didn't say a word or mention it. He buried all his self-blame and guilt in his heart and bore it all alone. He imagined what the child would be like if she were still alive. Would she be able to ride a horse and shoot arrows like Mu Yunjin? Would she be able to command an army? He really wanted to give up his life for this child. In those days, he was as if he were possessed.
Having finally escaped that obsession, they were plunged into an even greater disaster.
Mother, even in his indifference, how could he erase the eternally profound warmth and affection in her heart? A mother and son, relying on each other, seeing each other as their only hope for survival, would readily give up their lives if one were missing. At that time, both mother and son knew this outcome so clearly. Therefore, Mu Yunhe strived to live, tenaciously clinging to life, even in pain, stubbornly smiling only in front of others.
His mother, still in the prime of her life, with at least twenty more years to live, died with resentment. All the misunderstandings, the commotion, the fragmented truth—the cruel reality, the chilling conspiracy—one by one, revealed that the lives of his mother, son, and grandchildren were all manipulated by the Li family. Every injury suffered by a member of the Li family was stained with their blood. 149.
If Li Fangfei is the murderer, then the Li family is an accomplice!
The hatred is hard to quell, the resentment is hard to bear!
All the unspoken words and sorrows were poured out in the arms of the woman he loved most, and in the end, it all boiled down to one sentence: "Living is so tiring."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes also reddened, and tears fell uncontrollably. At that moment, she suddenly felt the same way. She had witnessed everything Mu Yunhe had gone through. She loved this strong and resilient man. He never said it, but this one sentence, just a few words, was so full of vicissitudes and sorrow.
The confession that was on the tip of his tongue was abruptly cut off, and he could no longer utter it.
Her words were like adding fuel to the fire, making matters worse. He was already exhausted, both physically and mentally; did she really want to stab him in the heart again?
No, no, absolutely not!
Suddenly, Luo Zhiheng heard Mu Yunhe's ethereal and eerie voice in her ear: "Aheng, do you think I was destined to die? Because I escaped death, my mother and sister all left me one by one? My survival took away their fate? If I died..."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Luo Zhiheng abruptly interrupted Mu Yunhe, shoving him aside and staring at him with a strange and angry gaze. Seeing the self-reproach and disbelief on his pale face, she spoke again, her voice sharp and domineering: "Mu Yunhe, what do you want? I saved your life! I saved it, so it belongs to me. What do you mean? Do you want to commit suicide to pay for their lives? Will they come back if you do that? Or are you just selfishly trying to make yourself feel better? You keep saying you care about me, is this how you care about me?"
"Aheng! I..." Mu Yunhe seemed to be snapped back to reality by the sudden scolding. He grabbed her in a panic, but she forcefully pushed him away. Her beautiful fingernails became weapons, cutting his already thin skin, and bloodstains suddenly appeared on the back of his hand.
"Don't touch me! You selfish bastard! I, Luo Zhiheng, saved your life, so I get to decide what to do with it. If you dare to give up the life I risked so much to save, then we're done for. You can go to hell and stay far away from me!" Luo Zhiheng was extremely agitated, her eyes filled with ferocity, like a mother wolf protecting her cubs, her voice laced with malice.
She stood up, and Mu Yunhe followed suit, but his legs were so numb he almost fell. Ignoring his disheveled appearance, he hurriedly grabbed Luo Zhiheng, shouting in panic and anxiety, "I didn't mean that, Aheng, listen to me..."
"What's there to say? Or are you blaming me? Blaming me for taking it upon myself to forcibly pull you back from the brink of death? Blaming me for not saving you, so your mother and sister wouldn't be dead now? Or are you actually thinking that I, Luo Zhiheng, am the one who should die? Why did I have to be so foolish as to save you?" Luo Zhiheng interrupted him again, sounding... completely unreasonable.
Mu Yunhe stared blankly for a moment, completely bewildered as to why Luo Zhiheng had suddenly erupted. But he couldn't think about it anymore. His Aheng had lost her temper; she was on fire. He had to calm her down and put out the fire, or she would blow him up or burn him to death.
"I didn't mean that. I just resent my own incompetence, that I can't even stand my own family. But I won't kill myself, that's not something a man should do. I still have you. I've already missed out on so many things and people, I can't live without any attachments. You're all I have left, so naturally I'll protect you and cherish you. I won't die, and I've never even thought of letting you die. Ah Heng really misunderstood me!" Mu Yunhe was so anxious that he jumped up and down. His pale face even had a slight blush because of his anxiety. His eyes were like water, his lips were mischievous, and his expression was anxious and irritable. His expression and face finally had some of the childishness he used to have when he was being stubborn and impatient.
Luo Zhiheng felt a sense of relief; the suppressed emotions finally dissipated a little. Seeing his expression, she still sneered, unconvinced, "Mu Yunhe, stop pretending to be some kind of romantic hero in front of me. If you truly cared about me, you wouldn't have offered not a single word of comfort after I spent several nights observing mourning rites with you. Filial piety is what a daughter-in-law should do, but it doesn't mean she doesn't need comfort! You're only thinking about other things; you're almost going crazy. Your rationality has even made you forget about me!"
These words shouldn't have been spoken when Mu Yunhe was in so much pain. They sounded like accusations, yet they also revealed Luo Zhiheng's unique way of being affectionate. It depends on the person. Those who love her will always hear it; those who don't, no matter how gentle and kind she is, will only see her as an ingrate.
Mu Yunhe was undoubtedly the one who loved her. Therefore, he understood her sharp words and unreasonable behavior.
The anxiety and trepidation on her face crumbled as she choked back tears, revealing a seemingly weary tenderness.
"I know, it's my fault for making Aheng worry. I won't think about those things anymore. Since the people are gone, I can only send them off properly. Those who are alive should continue to live well." Mu Yunhe's eyes were dim, but Luo Zhiheng's scolding brought him back to his senses.
She wasn't scolding him; she was simply pulling him back. She was afraid that his hatred would lead him further astray, trapping him in this deep-seated resentment and causing him to truly abandon himself. She was so afraid and saddened, yet he only thought of himself. She was angry, but her silent rebuke brought him to his senses.
"You say you care about me, then please live well. I'm supposed to live to be a hundred. If you're not destined for that, I'll have to find someone else. After all, the road ahead is long, and it's lonely to be alone." Luo Zhiheng's strong words gradually turned somber. Her face was filled with melancholy.
Walking alone on the road of life is truly desolate, with loneliness and solitude coexisting. No matter how beautiful the scenery, it is all pale. Without anyone to share the beauty or drink with, how lonely and desolate one is.
Unable to bear the desolation on her face, Mu Yunhe felt as if his heart was being torn apart, a sharp pain shooting through him. Holding her tightly, Mu Yunhe's realization came not too late. His parents' broken marriage and their heartbreaking love made him even more afraid of repeating the same mistakes. His voice was firm and solemn: "I'm sorry, Aheng, for making you worry these past few days. From now on, I will never let you worry or be afraid again. You're not allowed to talk about finding anyone else. In this life, the next life, and for all eternity, the person who can be by your side can only be me! And it will always be me!"
Luo Zhiheng smiled slightly, but said, "You're so greedy, yet it all ended up being yours."
"You can't escape me. It's me." He said domineeringly, his gaze heavy as he glanced at his mother's coffin in the distance. Suddenly, he pulled Luo Zhiheng to kneel before the coffin, his face solemn, his voice sacred: "Mother, be my witness, through sickness and health, I want to be with Luo Zhiheng. I want no other woman but her! Mother, like you, I only want a love between the two of us. When we're old, we can still be together, loving and affectionate. Even when we can't walk anymore, I can still hold her hand, tie her hair, and adorn her with flowers. We don't ask for lasting fame or eternal glory, but only for a peaceful life together!"
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Luo Zhiheng's shocked eyes and asked in a clear voice, "Aheng, are you willing to do as I wish? To hold your hand and stay with you for eternity!"
Luo Zhiheng stared blankly at him. His face seemed to have matured overnight, becoming steady and full of masculine spirit. His words were like those of a general, firm, resolute, and unquestionable.
When he took her hand and asked, "Aheng, are you willing to do as I wish? To hold your hand and stay together forever?" Luo Zhiheng's heart pounded more fiercely than ever before, thumping so hard it almost leaped out of her chest. Her eyes welled up with tears at that moment. She gripped his hand in return, hearing her own hoarse voice, clearly trembling and trembling with sobs.
"To hold your hand and stay together forever is my heart's desire!"
It was a solemn promise, the only and final declaration of love between the couple before their respected elders. It was a vow, a confession etched with the eternal, lingering pain of his mother's death. It would remain as profoundly etched in Mu Yunhe's mind, heart, and very being as deeply as his mother's passing! Forever profound!
This overwhelming love surged forth, providing immense support to Mu Yunhe during his most helpless and painful moments. When he lost everything, he still had Luo Zhiheng, still his lover. Thus, the guilt he felt towards his family transformed into an almost drowning love, fiercely assaulting Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng, however, was open-minded and accepting of all. But deep down, wasn't there also an emptiness that needed to be filled? He lost family ties, and only love could fill the wounds in his heart. She, too, lost family ties, yet a more profound love filled the void of her loss. They complemented each other; as he said, they were a match made in heaven, a unique and perfect fit!
Mu Yunhe pulled Luo Zhiheng and solemnly kowtowed three times before the coffin of the princess. In front of his mother, who died with resentment, they let her witness the happiness of her beloved son.
"Now, go to sleep obediently, I'll stay here for a while." Mu Yunhe's hoarse voice became even gentler as he almost half-carried Luo Zhiheng up. It was a gentleness that could drive any woman crazy, but in this life, this gentleness was destined to belong only to Luo Zhiheng.
"I'll stay with you, to see Mother off during her final days." Luo Zhiheng changed her address, no longer stiffly calling her "Princess." She acknowledged that she was Mu Yunhe's woman for life, and finally admitted that she was the Princess's daughter-in-law. The only one!
Mu Yunhe's eyes were filled with emotion, but he still insisted: "Good boy, you need to rest. Let me and Mother have some time to ourselves."
Luo Zhiheng stopped insisting and left with Qi Wan's help.
Mu Yunhe watched her leave with gentle eyes, his gaze finally settling on his mother's coffin, leaving only broken sorrow: "Mother, I will never be the kind of man you loved, nor will I be so fickle with him. I will give the woman I love my whole and only. To hell with his promiscuity and fickleness! He will pay the price for his philandering and heartlessness. Mother, if you are watching from heaven and see him suffering, please don't blame your son."
389 The Root of Evil! (Bonus Chapter for 62,000 Recommendation Votes)
Updated: 2013-10-15 21:56:27 Word Count: 5543
Li Xian'er was ordered by the emperor to marry the Grand Secretary Wang, and naturally, she would rather die than comply, vowing to resist to the death. But this was only lip service; she truly didn't want to, but death was out of the question. In her heart, she still longed for Mu Yunhe.
The Li family was in a state of panic, like ants on a hot pan. They could all sense that Mu Yunhe's revenge had begun, indicating that Consort Li would die without a burial place, and that Li Xian'er would be betrothed to a dying old man.
This matter is simply intolerable to the Li family! The Li family is related to the imperial family; going back a hundred years, the Li family was royalty, and this branch of the Li family's bloodline includes the emperor, the crown prince, and the princess! To force the princess to marry an old geezer is no longer a matter of Li Xian'er's own happiness, but rather a matter of the Li family's dignity and status! This is something that absolutely cannot be compromised.
However, Lijiaxiang Town is also in a dilemma. The Li family has inherited not only the wealth and status left by their ancestors, but also the ancestral qualities of being able to speak human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts, kneeling down to the King of Hell and immediately giving way to the enemy! 105.
When the enemy comes, they don't even fight, immediately surrendering their vast and beautiful land, only asking to be spared their own lives. This is the Li family—bullying the weak and fearing the strong, relying on their power to bully others. If they can't bully someone, they'll bend and stretch. If you're strong, they'll laugh and serve you like a bench; if you're weak, they'll treat you like trash.
The Li family was a force to be reckoned with in the Mu Dynasty, but their frustration stemmed from their encounter with Mu Yunhe! The first national treasure-level diviner unearthed in the world today.
They... are not to be trifled with!
Now it's Li Xian'er's turn, but who from the Li family will be next? No one can answer this question, so everyone is filled with anxiety. The Li family members are restless and spend the whole day in a daze. Their only hope now is to place it on Prince Mu.
The Li family has now reached the point where everyone is turning against them, and they are being turned on and killed after the fact. This situation cannot be described as merely tragic.
On the day Mu Yunhe clearly identified his target and announced the start of his revenge, everyone distanced themselves from the Li family. Former allies refused to see him, and former enemies used the situation to their advantage. The Li family, in dire straits, could only rely on Prince Mu, with whom they maintained a relationship because of Li Fangfei.
You, Mu Yunhe, should at least give your father face, right? If you don't, then you're being unfilial!
Prince Mu was already exhausted from a long day of maneuvering, and to make matters worse, the Emperor only gave him one sentence during their meeting...
"Don't get involved in this matter, if you still care about that tiny bit of blood ties."
Prince Mu's brows furrowed, his agitation palpable, on the verge of collapse. Li Fangfei was dead; the woman he loved most was gone. He was furious, he was heartbroken, but then the Princess Consort died. The feeling was completely different from Li Fangfei's death. Before he could even grasp what this feeling was, Mu Yunhe began a series of attacks. His first strike was a heavy blow, almost too much for Prince Mu to withstand.
Blood ties? Prince Mu laughed sarcastically. His son was even more ruthless than him. This was a move to exterminate the entire family. If he didn't protect the Li family, what face would he have left? After all, he was the one who had professed his love for Li Fangfei. He couldn't just ignore the Li family after she was gone, could he? Mu Yunjin was still around.
When Prince Mu was caught in a dilemma, he felt the Emperor’s high regard for Mu Yunhe and his full support. In his dejection, he suddenly heard news from the Li family that Li Xian’er had run away and gone to the General’s Mansion!
What is that brat doing at the general's mansion?
Prince Mu frowned in confusion and hurried back, but as soon as he reached the palace gate, he encountered the Wang family's carriage. It was so late, what were the Wang family doing in the palace? Prince Mu could not leave easily, because the person in the carriage was actually the old wife of Grand Secretary Wang.
The old woman was also resolute. She knelt down at the palace gate as soon as she got off the carriage. Judging from her trembling appearance, red and swollen eyes, and gloomy face, it was clear that she had come because of the emperor's decree to marry Grand Secretary Wang.
The Emperor could not possibly allow the wife of a meritorious official to kneel like this, especially an elderly woman. However, the old woman refused to rise, repeatedly pleading with the Emperor to retract his decree. She declared that if the Emperor insisted on Li Xian'er's marriage, the Wang family would not accept divorced women, only dead wives!
This is tantamount to using suicide to force the emperor's hand. Indeed, at his advanced age, he is facing the prospect of being divorced; a situation filled with both embarrassment and despair.
But the emperor didn't respond, so the old woman, quite ruthless, rammed her head into a nearby guard, causing her to stagger.
The emperor rebuked her, but to no avail. The old lady seemed to have gone mad, pleading incessantly, not understanding how such a calamity had befallen her.
Outside the palace gates, a fine horse galloped in, and the person on its back was none other than Xiao Xizi.
At this moment, Xiao Xizi's handsome face was filled with coldness. He pulled a wad of cloth from his bosom and threw it fiercely at the old woman who was still throwing a tantrum, shouting, "Catch this, you wretched woman! See why your family has been struck by misfortune today! My young prince is telling you, those who reap what they sow!"
Everyone was stunned, looking at the cloth that was slowly falling in front of the old lady, not understanding what terrible things this noble family of high-ranking officials had done.
The old woman tremblingly picked up the cloth. At first, her face was contorted with rage, but when she saw the words on it, her face turned deathly pale. She threw the cloth away in terror, as if she had been scared out of her wits and remained speechless for a long time.
Inside the carriage, the curtain was lifted, revealing another person inside. That person was none other than Grand Secretary Wang, the dying man who was to marry Li Xian'er. He was emaciated and coughed intermittently, his eyes filled with heartache and anxiety as he looked at his old wife on the ground.
However, his old wife suddenly burst into laughter, sobbing with tears streaming down her face, "Truly, it's all self-inflicted! Retribution, it really is retribution! Those who harm others ultimately harm themselves. I was wrong, it was all my fault!" The old lady turned to look at her husband in the carriage. She had been devoted to him her entire life, and she asked herself if she had been worthy of him, but in the end, she had made a mistake. It turned out that she was the one who ruined her husband's lifelong reputation before his death!
Emperor Li of the Immortal Dynasty Pavilion. She deserves to die.
"It's my fault, I won't drag you down, I won't drag you down!" the old woman shouted hoarsely. This time, to everyone's shock, she resolutely slammed into the stone pillar in front of her, and blood flowed freely instantly!
Everyone was shocked, but Wang Ge Lao looked at his wife and was powerless to help. He couldn't catch his breath and collapsed, passing away peacefully.
Prince Mu stepped forward with a start, hesitated for a moment, picked up the cloth, unfolded it, and saw several lines of text clearly visible on it.
In the summer of the twenty-third year of Mu Jin, at Xuan Cui Tower, Li Fangfei and Wang Li met briefly. Wang Li said: "To remove the fuel from under the cauldron and cut the weeds at the root, if you want to get it, you must first give it up!"
When Prince Mu saw this sentence, he was initially puzzled. Li Fangfei, isn't that Li Fangfei? This matter is actually related to Li Fangfei? Right, isn't Grand Secretary Wang's wife a member of a collateral branch of the Li family? They are blood relatives.
Was this Wang Li Shi (王李氏) advising Li Fangfei?!
To eliminate something completely, one must first remove its roots; to gain something, one must first give it up.
We must first give it up!
Suddenly, Prince Mu was struck dumb, his pupils contracted, and his tired face changed drastically. His hand gripping the cloth tightened, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. He felt his head pounding, and in that instant, something exploded in his mind. After a fog, the traces and patterns gradually became clear. He didn't want to see them clearly, but these sixteen words of wisdom were something he couldn't escape.
It is now the thirty-seventh year of Mu Jin. Fourteen years ago, in the summer, Rui'er died, Mu Yunhe fell seriously ill, the princess was imprisoned, and Li Fangfei lost her child.
Mu Yunhe said that Li Fangfei framed the princess that year, that Li Fangfei killed Rui'er, and that Li Fangfei brought unrest to his family, causing them to be separated forever. But he never believed her, because he knew Li Fangfei. This woman had guts, but not much brains; otherwise, she wouldn't have been used as a pawn by the Li family without even realizing it. But the higher one climbs, the more desolate and cautious one feels, and the more one must suspect and guard against many people. Only Li Fangfei's unwavering naiveté over the past ten years allowed him to see through her at a glance, without needing to be wary. Therefore, he continued to indulge Li Fangfei.
I don't believe Li Fangfei could come up with such a seemingly meticulous and vicious plan. The Li family might offer Li Fangfei advice, but they wouldn't be unaware that he claimed to know about their underhanded dealings. Even a brainless person like the Li family wouldn't think of something that would harm his two children and grandson like this.
But who would have thought that it was the upright and honest wife of Grand Secretary Wang who came up with the idea? If that's really the case, then what happened back then must be true. It really was Li Fangfei who was so cruel as to harm even her own child in order to win favor and remove the obstacle of the princess!
This thought sent a chill down Prince Mu's spine, nearly causing him to lose his footing. He was completely dazed. Could the person he had always trusted really do something so cruel? Could they really bear to harm his child?
The timing was so perfect, everything seemed so mysterious. To gain something, you must first give it up…
That year, Li Fangfei lost her unborn child, and the princess completely fell out of favor. Li Fangfei gained the power she desired, along with years of favor, but lost the child she had longed for. To gain, to lose…
Prince Mu could no longer stand. He swayed, and those around him quickly supported him, but he still felt a bone-chilling coldness from head to toe. He knew an undeniable fact, he accepted it, but he still couldn't truly believe it. To believe it would be to affirm his blindness all these years, to admit his poor judgment of people.
He just couldn't understand why Li Fangfei would do this. He only loved her; he had never shown any kindness to the princess, never a shred of tenderness. He spent far more time with Li Fangfei than with the princess. So why would Li Fangfei be so heartless and cruel? Why would she resort to such methods to vie for favor and eliminate rivals?
Even more ruthless was Mu Yunhe. His good son! It turned out that his elaborate scheme to marry Li Xian'er to Grand Secretary Wang was not what it seemed. It was Grand Secretary Wang's wife's wicked plot that had ruined his mother, killed his nephew, and caused his elder sister a lifetime of misfortune. Therefore, when Mu Yunhe sought revenge, he uprooted them all, sparing no one. The root of evil must pay the price.