"Although the appearance of the divination priest Mu Yunhe disrupted our plans and forced us to completely abandon our years of preparations, Mu Yunhe also accelerated the old man's death. In that case, I should be grateful to Mu Yunhe. I originally thought that the divination priest was some powerful figure, but did you see it today? I was able to fight against Mu Yunhe for so long, and that was without using my full strength. It seems that Mu Yunhe is nothing special after all. Weren't your previous worries a bit of an overreaction?" Mu Yunsheng said with a hint of dissatisfaction and contempt.
"What do you know?" the man suddenly roared in a low voice, his anger rising rapidly, and the room suddenly turned cold: "Just because I believed your words, I was foolish enough to do the same thing as you today. Human thoughts are truly laughable! I did see today that Mu Yunhe cares about and values Luo Zhiheng, but I also saw the intelligence and caution of Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe."
"What do you mean?" Mu Yunsheng was also furious. If it weren't for the fact that this guy still had some use and ability, would he, the future emperor, have to be so humble and endure this guy's disrespect? He had been enduring it all along, did this guy really think he was afraid of him?
"What do you mean? It means that while you're gloating over yourself, while you're looking down on and despising others, they've already become suspicious of you because of your actions and words, and have deduced the purpose behind your behavior. You think you're playing them, you think you can manipulate them at will, but little do you know that they're already on guard against you, and have even mobilized the entire army of the capital to be on alert!" the man roared furiously.
For so many years, he had meticulously planned and nurtured this third prince, enduring humiliation and hardship for so long, all waiting for this day. At the critical moment, when everything was just one step away from success, a Cheng Yaojin, Mu Yunhe, suddenly appeared. He was inferior to Mu Yunhe in every way. How could he not be angry? What was even more hateful was that fool Mu Yunsheng. He had clearly been seen through, yet he was still gloating. What was he so proud of, you stupid human?
The man, who had never been so enraged before, was now enraged beyond measure. The temperature in the room plummeted. Suddenly, the man, exuding a sinister aura, appeared before Mu Yunsheng, grabbed him by the neck, and said through gritted teeth, "Useless trash! What use are you to me? You're a complete idiot who's good for nothing!"
Mu Yunsheng's pupils constricted. The man's sudden outburst of anger and ruthless killing intent filled him with shock and rage. But the aura of death was closing in on him. He struggled wildly and kicked the man's shin, but the man seemed oblivious to pain. He not only didn't let go but tightened his grip even more, with such force that he was practically strangling him to death.
"Your Highness, the twenty bulls you requested have arrived and are already in the courtyard," a servant's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
The man paused, then his fingers loosened, releasing Mu Yunsheng. Mu Yunsheng slumped into the chair, coughing and gasping for breath.
The room fell silent for a moment before the man finally asked, "Which foods are prepared for me?"
Mu Yunsheng's ruthlessness was almost impossible to conceal, but having witnessed the ferocity and strength of men, he understood the principle of pragmatism, so his voice softened, revealing no trace of anger: "Of course, I saw that the stored food was running low, so I had people select the best and strongest bulls from various places to be sent up. You will definitely like the blood of these bulls."14.
"Yes, thank you for your thoughtfulness," the man said casually.
Mu Yunsheng knew this meant the man wouldn't kill him. Slightly relieved, Mu Yunsheng hesitated again and asked, "Have they really figured out the true purpose of our actions? Are they that clever? We did something flawless, how did they find out?"
"Hmph, those two are both shrewd. Besides, although Mu Yunhe's soul is damaged, his perception is still amazing. He seems to have sensed something. Moreover, you shouldn't have gone in to see Mu Yunhe in the first place. There is the aura of the original body on your body. Mu Yunhe, being of the light type, is naturally sensitive to the dark type. He will suspect you as soon as he sees you. Those moves just now seemed to be restraining Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe's soul is damaged. Otherwise, he could have killed you instantly."
"Then what do we do? All our efforts are just going to be wasted like this? I'm not willing to accept it!" Mu Yunsheng said fiercely. "The old man is not dead yet, but Mu Yunhe's actions today have startled him again. I have someone secretly add some drugs to the old man's body. He only has one or two days left to live. And the Crown Prince Xi is on the battlefield and can't come back. This is my best opportunity. We absolutely cannot let Mu Yunhe ruin things at such a crucial moment."
"But now we've essentially alerted them. Those old guys are already secretly plotting against Shangjing. They completely believe Mu Yunhe's words. Shangjing is now under their tight control, like an iron barrel. Taking it will be extremely difficult. Add to that Mu Yunhe, who can fight against tens of thousands of enemies, and our chances of winning are practically zero," the man said irritably.
Mu Yunsheng stood up nervously and frustratedly, pacing back and forth, muttering that there must be a way. He suddenly stopped, his eyes turning sinister, and said, "Can you personally deal with Mu Yunhe? Isn't Mu Yunhe's soul damaged now? He shouldn't be a match for you. As long as you step in and control Mu Yunhe, we still have a chance of winning."
"If I show myself, everything will be exposed, but that's not a problem. As long as you sit on that throne, the whole world will be ours. However, I myself am not capable enough. Even if I can restrain Mu Yunhe, there are still those pharaohs and those soldiers. Can our people fight against them? Moreover, I am not confident that I can kill Mu Yunhe. As long as Mu Yunhe lives, we will be in deep trouble from now on," the man said coldly.
"Don't worry about that. I can coordinate an inside-outside attack. All you need to do is show up. I have a good way to deal with Mu Yunhe. I didn't have time to use it before, but now we can try it out." Mu Yunsheng grinned and whispered to the man.
The dark night passed, and dawn arrived.
Before leaving, Her Majesty the Empress met with Luo Zhiheng and Luo Ningshuang and instructed them, "I need to go back and deal with the news that came from over there yesterday. Will you come back with me? Even just to take a look back and see what your hometown is like."
Luo Zhiheng remained calm, and before she could speak, Luo Ningshuang exclaimed with delight, "Really? Grandmother is really willing to take me... and my sister back with me?"
"Of course, as long as you're willing," the Empress said with a faint smile, her gaze fixed on Luo Zhiheng. The Empress understood perfectly well the reactions of her two granddaughters, and her affection for Luo Zhiheng deepened. Although it was their home, and it was only natural for them to return, Luo Zhiheng's lack of vanity and her dignified and unassuming character made Her Majesty extremely fond of her.
Ke Luo Ning Shuang's reaction was rather petty and sour. That obvious expectation and beaming expression only made her seem like a crow turned phoenix overnight, and even if she were covered in phoenix feathers, she would still just look like a chicken feather.
"Yes! I'm willing to go back with Grandmother. I'm so happy to be able to go back to my mother's home." Luo Ningshuang was overjoyed, but when she saw the Empress's gaze on Luo Zhiheng, as if waiting for her answer, Luo Ningshuang's eyes darkened for a moment. She then smiled and said, "Grandmother, my sister was just frightened yesterday. I'm afraid she's not fit for a long journey. Please understand."
"Is that so, Heng'er?" the Empress asked noncommittally.
Luo Zhiheng glanced at Luo Ningshuang and said indifferently, "That's right. Besides, I don't want to leave Yunhe. No matter what my status or background is, I am now just Mu Yunhe's wife. I am already a member of the Mu family. Please understand Heng'er, Grandmother. As for Yinyue Kingdom, Heng'er can only regard it as another maternal home of Heng'er."
The Empress sighed inwardly and compromised, saying, "Since that's the case, then your grandmother won't force you. Your grandmother will be back soon. You two sisters should stay home and wait for your grandmother."
Luo Ningshuang was dumbfounded. What did this mean? Luo Zhiheng wasn't going back, and he wasn't taking her with him either? Was she just Luo Zhiheng's appendage?
"Grandmother! Does Shuang'er need to pack her things?" Luo Ning Shuang pretended not to understand the Empress's meaning and asked with an expectant look.
First update! There will be more updates today, and a climax is coming soon. This will be a huge turning point! I'll speed up the painting process. Love you all! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group chat kisses!
442 The Crown Prince is Changed! A Shocking Secret! The Emperor Passes Away! (Bonus Chapter for 33,000 Comments)
Updated: 2013-11-15 16:06:38 Word Count: 3363
The Empress's expression darkened slightly. She was returning to handle serious business—to deal with the disgraceful Emperor Xian. It was a family scandal, and she didn't want the younger generation to know. Asking if they were returning was merely a matter of courtesy; they certainly weren't suited to go back this time. However, Luo Ningshuang's lack of tact and her shallow eagerness to return and enjoy wealth and luxury instantly extinguished any remaining goodwill the Empress had towards her. She couldn't help but like Luo Zhiheng a little more.
"No need this time. I'll take you sisters back next time I return. Just stay here peacefully and don't cause trouble for your sister and brother-in-law." The Empress stood up, gave this instruction, and left.
Luo Ningshuang gritted her teeth in hatred, while Luo Zhiheng laughed hysterically, her sneers adding to Luo Ningshuang's utter humiliation. Luo Ningshuang glared fiercely at Luo Zhiheng: "What are you so smug about? Even if my grandmother doesn't take me back, I'm still a granddaughter of the Silver Moon Kingdom, just like you!"
Luo Zhiheng laughed loudly, "Yes, what a pity. Some people have different fates. You have the body of a noble young lady, but you still have to take lives. Stay put and behave yourself. If you dare to be disobedient in the slightest, I'll make you..." She slashed her neck with her hand, making a snapping sound, and said in a sinister tone, "Crack!"
Luo Zhiheng left laughing, leaving Luo Ningshuang in the hall, her teeth chattering with rage, her eyes filled with the image of tearing Luo Zhiheng to pieces.
Luo Zhiheng, don't be so smug, we'll see!
——
Inside the palace, the imperial physicians were frantically trying to find a solution, like ants on a hot plate. All the imperial physicians had gathered in the emperor's bedroom, and each of them looked pale.
This situation has persisted for several days, and the emperor's health is deteriorating without any sign of improvement. The ministers are panicking. Fortunately, Prince Mu is there to keep things under control. The emperor's failure to issue an edict to bring the crown prince back has left the ministers unsure of his intentions.
At this moment, Prince Mu was beside the Emperor, his face grave as he watched the Emperor's increasingly prolonged coma. He was unsure whether he should take it upon himself to bring the Crown Prince back. The Emperor was in such a state that he could die at any moment. If the Crown Prince did not return, it would be a matter of filial piety, and would also cause discontent among the court officials. Moreover, if the Crown Prince could return before the Emperor's death, his succession would be more secure.
Prince Mu's emotions were complex. The person before him was his own brother, who had protected and loved him since childhood. There was no jealousy between them, only mutual support. He respected his brother deeply, and he didn't want him to die, but the Emperor's condition left him no room for self-deception. His brother's death affected not only him but also the entire Mu Dynasty's people; he couldn't selfishly only consider the present.
"Cough cough..." Just as I was thinking, the Emperor's hoarse cough came from the bed.
Prince Mu immediately stepped forward, anxiously taking the Emperor's hand and saying, "Your Majesty? How are you feeling? I'll have the imperial physicians come in right away."
"No!" The Emperor grabbed Prince Mu's hand and said urgently, "Listen to me, I can feel that my time is running out. I have something to tell you."
Prince Mu's eyes instantly reddened, and he nodded with a forced smile, saying, "Your Majesty is blessed with good fortune; you will surely recover."
"I know my own body. Listen carefully to what I have to say, I am going to change the crown prince." The emperor spoke with great difficulty but with utmost solemnity.
Prince Mu felt a chill run down his spine and his blood run cold. His eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "What did you say?!"
Changing the Crown Prince?! The Emperor actually wants to change the Crown Prince before he dies? Prince Mu was shocked and incredulous. For so many years, he had firmly supported His Highness the Crown Prince, simply because that child was the next emperor that both he and his brother favored. There was no one more suitable to be emperor than the Crown Prince.
Wise, decisive, never hesitant, confident in trusting those you employ and not employing those you don't trust, and receptive to honest advice—such a person is suitable to be a monarch who controls a dynasty.
"Your Majesty, have you lost your mind? How could you depose Chang'er?" Prince Mu said in a low voice, shocked and angry. 144.
A glimmer of clarity appeared in the emperor's cloudy eyes. He smiled as he looked at his younger brother, who had been loyal to him all his life. His withered hand gripped Prince Mu's hand tightly as he said with difficulty, "Chang'er was originally the only choice for emperor, but when a better, more suitable candidate came along, I had no choice but to selfishly change the crown prince! This empire belongs to the Mu family. As long as the empire can continue stably, I don't care whether the person who ultimately inherits the throne is my own flesh and blood, as long as that person still bears the surname Mu. Besides, he is also my own flesh and blood."
"Your Majesty!" Prince Mu's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean the crown prince you're going to appoint is Yun He?!"
The emperor suddenly raised his head and said forcefully, "Yes! I will make Yunhe the crown prince. After I die, you will ascend the throne. If you are willing, you can continue to rule until you die, and then pass the throne to Yunhe. If you are not willing, then let Yunhe become emperor directly! The Mu Dynasty cannot fall into the hands of others. I know, I know all of this. Not all of my sons are good. Some of them have wolfish ambitions. I will not have the chance to deal with them."
"Yun He, only Yun He can firmly safeguard our land! Only Yun He can make people surrender without a fight, and deter them from invading! Yun He is the ruler of the Mu Dynasty, and the world will only bow down in submission! There will be no more war in the world. Yun He will surely love his people like his own children, and he will make the Mu Dynasty an even stronger nation. At that time, the country will be peaceful and prosperous, the army will be strong, and even unifying the world will not be difficult for Yun He!" 17893576
"Our lifelong wish remains unfulfilled, but I know that in Yunhe's hands, it would be a piece of cake. I do not aspire to a day when all sides submit and the world pays homage, but I only wish that a hundred years from now, when I descend to the netherworld and meet the ancestors of the Mu family, I can say with a clear conscience that I did not destroy this empire, and that the Mu family will be remembered for generations to come!"
"Your Majesty, summon the Grand Ministers and the Pharaohs immediately. You go and draft the decree. I... I want to announce this decree in front of the Grand Ministers. This is my last decree. I want to see everyone submit to Mu Yunhe before I can leave in peace." The Emperor spoke intermittently, his breathing becoming heavy, and he seemed dizzy again.
Upon hearing these words, Prince Mu was terrified.
He still lacked his elder brother's magnanimity. His elder brother was even willing to depose his own son and let a virtuous person become emperor for the sake of the common people, but he couldn't even let go of his so-called face and continued to be at odds with his son.
Mu Yunhe did not come to seek revenge, but he lived in self-blame and regret all the time. The more he did this, the more he missed the deceased princess. He seemed to be a heartless person. Although he missed her so much that his heart was about to break, he did not shed a single tear.
The Emperor was forced to remain silent. "Your Majesty's righteousness is admirable, but Your Majesty need not do this. Chang'er is wise and resourceful, virtuous and talented. The ministers have long since risen and fallen; why create further complications at such a crucial moment? I have also seen through Yunhe; he is not a person who covets fame and fortune. He has the country and its people in his heart, and he is loyal to our Mu Dynasty. Even if he does not become emperor, he will still protect the Mu Dynasty. Then, he and his brothers will be like us brothers, protecting our homeland together. Isn't that wonderful?" Prince Mu did not want his brother to make such a great sacrifice before his death.
The emperor smiled with relief, but his expression remained resolute: "Brother, this is your brother's last wish. You cannot disobey this decree!"
Prince Mu froze, finally giving in. He walked heavily outside and ordered his men to summon the ministers and pharaohs into the palace.
Just as Prince Mu was leaving, a graceful figure appeared in front of the emperor's bed, looking down at the old emperor's almost unrecognizable face.
The emperor slowly opened his eyes, and it took him a long time to see the person in front of him clearly. He said in a hoarse voice, "Is it the Imperial Concubine?"
"It is indeed your concubine, Your Majesty." Consort Li, whose entire family had been wiped out and who was now the only one left, looked at the Emperor with a cold expression, slowly leaned down, and gently stroked the Emperor's face. The fragrance emanating from her hands and body was intoxicating.
The Emperor felt a tightness in his chest when he smelled the fragrance, and his breathing became increasingly rapid. He said with difficulty, "What are you doing here? Uh, get out of the way."
"Your Majesty, I don't want to. These are our last moments together, so I must spend them with you. But I have some good news to tell you. If I don't tell you, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to tell you after you're gone." Consort Li's smile was somewhat distorted as she whispered in the Emperor's ear, enunciating each word clearly: "Our son, your beloved son born in your old age, he is not actually your son."
Every word Consort Li uttered was like a finger, tightly gripping the emperor's throat. The emperor's eyes widened slowly, staring at her in disbelief, a hoarse sound escaping his throat. Suddenly, he gripped Consort Li's wrist tightly, as if he wanted to strangle her.
Consort Li, however, laughed heartily, showing no fear whatsoever, but rather a wild, unbridled joy. Facing the Emperor, she revealed another shocking secret: "Not only is he not your son, and shouldn't call you Father, he should call you Emperor, Grandfather! He is your own grandson!!"
The emperor gasped sharply, his pupils contracted dramatically, his face flushed crimson, and he opened his mouth wide: "Who...who..."
"You want to know whose child it is? It's definitely not that fake doctor I was having an affair with." These words were undoubtedly a fatal blow, inadvertently telling the emperor that he had been cuckolded, and not just once.
The emperor suddenly opened his mouth wide but could no longer catch his breath. His eyes widened, his face filled with rage and resentment. He died of anger, his glorious and wealthy life abruptly ending!
It's past midnight! Hehe, Huasha thought the climax wouldn't happen for another two days. It'll start tomorrow! My darlings, please cheer for Huasha! Please give me recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! Group kisses!
443 The beginning of chaos and destruction!
Updated: 2013-11-16 22:58:42 Word Count: 3525
Consort Li's purpose in coming was to hasten the Emperor's death, to hasten his passing. This room contained a secret passage, extremely well-hidden, known only to a select few, including herself and the Third Prince. The Third Prince was currently in the secret passage; they had originally intended to hear what was happening to the Emperor, but little did they know that he would suddenly amend his will, declaring Mu Yunhe the Crown Prince!
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince nearly ground his teeth to powder. He was the Emperor's biological son and the most cunning and talented of all the Emperor's adult princes. Although the Emperor could not see the formidable nature hidden beneath his unrestrained exterior, he would eventually have the opportunity to show the Emperor that he, Mu Yunsheng, was capable of ruling a country.
However, the Emperor had never considered him as his successor. Besides Crown Prince Mu Yunchang, there was only Mu Yunhe; these were the only people on the Emperor's mind. Mu Yunsheng was furious, a mixture of shock and rage. He wished the Emperor would suddenly pass away, so there would be no issue of a will.
Mu Yunsheng was also furious. Hearing that Prince Mu had left, in his panic and anger, Mu Yunsheng made a ruthless decision: he would summon Consort Li to anger the Emperor to death! Once the Emperor was dead, the so-called matter of changing the Crown Prince would be unbelievable. Even if Prince Mu and the ministers said it, what difference would it make? Who would believe it?
The Emperor is perfectly healthy, and the Crown Prince is still alive. Would he really appoint a member of the imperial clan as Emperor? If Prince Mu dared to speak out, someone would have a legitimate reason to suspect him of having ulterior motives and plotting to usurp the throne. Therefore, Mu Yun Sheng was certain that Prince Mu would not reveal this matter. And since the Emperor died before the written edict was issued, the matter was left unresolved.
When Consort Li saw that the Emperor was not moving, but his eyes were fixed on her, she was so frightened that she almost screamed. She retreated repeatedly, her face turning pale, unsure whether the Emperor was dead.
Consort Li was so frightened that she rushed to the exit of the secret passage. Behind a cabinet, the person on the opposite side whispered in terror, "H-it seems like he's dead!"
The person inside immediately brightened up and jumped out; it was none other than the tall and imposing Third Prince, Mu Yunsheng. He strode quickly into the inner hall, and upon seeing the emperor's狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face, his eyelids twitched instinctively. He then steadied himself and approached the emperor, checking his pulse and breathing. Confirming there were no vital signs, the Third Prince gave a cold smile, his face devoid of any pity or remorse. Instead, he let out a long, triumphant sigh: "Finally dead! You old bastard, you have no idea how much of a hindrance you were! I can finally get rid of you, you old codger!"
Seeing that Mu Yunsheng treated his own father with such disrespect, Consort Li grew even paler. She anxiously tugged at Mu Yunsheng's sleeve, saying, "Third Prince, what should we do? The Emperor is dead; the world is going to be in chaos! The Crown Prince hasn't returned yet. I'm so afraid; will we be discovered?"
Mu Yunsheng gave the emperor one last disdainful look, then gently comforted Consort Li, saying, "Just go back to the palace and take good care of our child. Leave the rest to me. I will definitely lead my men into the palace and take that position openly and honestly, giving you and the child a peaceful life."