The tense nerves and furrowed brows of everyone finally relaxed at those words, and the room was instantly filled with joy. This was simply the best news they had heard in a long time.
But Luo Zhiheng asked cautiously, "Sun Yunyun said that this medicine can only guarantee Mu Yunhe's survival for less than three days. In other words, this antidote is not complete. Madam Huoyun, have you already developed the antidote?"
Lady Huoyun's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed in horror, "How could this be? I didn't see anything different about this antidote. Could it be that the blooming of this antidote flower cannot save you? I thought it was the complete antidote."
"Is this antidote really that special? Even you didn't realize it. No wonder Sun Yunyun was so confident." Luo Zhiheng's face was grim. She looked up at the direction of Mu Yunhe's room, her eyes filled with anger and worry. "Can you develop the antidote within three days? Even just deciphering its ingredients would be helpful."
Lady Huoyun lowered her head in shame and said, "Three days is too short, but I will do my best. I think I should be able to figure it out. If the Poison Saint were here, he might be able to figure it out in less than three days."
Luo Zhiheng knew this was indeed asking the impossible, and the Poison Saint, who knew the most about poisons, was nowhere to be found, which was truly worrying. At that moment, Mu Yunhe suddenly let out a painful roar, a sound he only made recently when he was in extreme pain and could no longer bear it.
Everyone's expression changed drastically.
Luo Zhiheng's heart clenched with pain. Looking at the antidotes, she finally understood Sun Yunyun's confidence. Sun Yunyun was probably so certain they couldn't develop an antidote because she knew Luo Zhiheng wouldn't want Mu Yunhe to suffer. After all, whenever Mu Yunhe had an attack, she couldn't bear to see him in pain, and only the antidote could save him. Once the antidote was taken, she would have to continue compromising with Sun Yunyun to get another one.
What a clever and insidious scheme!
With a sigh, she took the antidote. Luo Zhiheng's mouth was full of bitterness. She couldn't bear to see Mu Yunhe suffer. If it could make Mu Yunhe better, even if she compromised and suffered injustice, it would be worth it.
After taking the antidote, Mu Yunhe calmed down. In just one day, the rapidly spreading festering sores miraculously stopped. Although they didn't heal, at least they stopped growing. This gave people hope.
Just when people were full of hope, a piece of news caused an uproar in the Mu Prince's Mansion once again.
As if overnight, countless rumors began to circulate, all pointing the finger at Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng is a man. Luo Zhiheng and Sun Yunyun are truly in love. Luo Zhiheng is willing to do anything to break off his relationship with Mu Yunhe for Sun Yunyun. Luo Zhiheng finally decides to marry Sun Yunyun and never be separated from her again.
Mu Yunhe was heartbroken and fell seriously ill. The most outrageous news, however, was that Luo Zhiheng had driven Mu Yunhe to the point of being bedridden, and that Luo Zhiheng would be marrying Sun Yunyun in two days…
Rumors spread like wildfire, sending the entire capital city into a frenzy. The mere fact that Luo Zhiheng was a man was enough to terrify and leave all men and women in a state of shock and uncertainty.
Luo Zhiheng hadn't expected Sun Yunyun to act so quickly; she feared her situation would become even more difficult. There were still two days until their agreed-upon date. She hoped her plan would proceed smoothly.
585 Dreamy Melodies! Because it's you! (Final Episode 1)
Updated: 2014-02-01 13:19:17 Word Count: 8129
In the remaining two days, Luo Zhiheng stayed indoors, watching over Mu Yunhe. Mu Yunhe's complexion improved day by day. Although they often quarreled, it still made Luo Zhiheng feel very happy. While anxiously waiting for Madam Huoyun to develop the antidote, she was also making arrangements in full swing, and desperately hoping that Mu Yunhe would remember her.
But time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the last two days were over.
At dusk before the final deadline, Luo Zhiheng said to Mu Yunhe, "Would you come with me to see the mansion you built for me?"
It was a paradise, a fairyland. Back then, in the Silver Moon Kingdom, she saw Mu Yunhe sitting under those cherry blossom trees, his chin resting on his hand, through a crystal ball. That scene became her dream, a place that haunted her soul, a place she longed for. There were beautiful landscapes, her beloved man, and her home.
Mu Yunhe had no idea how anxious and tormented Luo Zhiheng was when she said those words. He also didn't know that her words might be their last moment of intimacy and remembrance. He said lazily, "What are you looking at? That's not something I truly built for you with all my heart. The entire mansion was built by my father and elder brother; it's hardly something I meticulously crafted specifically for you. Do you still want to go see it?"
Mu Yunhe deliberately provoked her, his wicked expression appearing somewhat sinister due to the scars on his face. He intentionally made Luo Zhiheng anxious and angry, without telling her that he had actually put a great deal of effort into building and perfecting that mansion; every blade of grass and every tree within it bore his mark and his heart. At that time, Mu Yunhe didn't know why he had put so much effort into building that mansion; he simply felt that he had always harbored this thought in his heart—to build a perfect mansion for someone. As for who that person was, he didn't know; it was merely a matter of whim.
Looking at Mu Yunhe's nonchalant attitude, Luo Zhiheng felt a bitter taste in her mouth, but not anger. Only deeper worry and sadness. He still didn't remember her; what could she do? She had tried everything, but Mu Yunhe showed no sign of remembering. The old man always stammered that he didn't know when he would remember, and that she should let nature take its course. And she, did she really have time to continue waiting?
"Please come with me, okay?" she asked earnestly, even with a hint of pleading.
Mu Yunhe was slightly surprised. He felt that Luo Zhiheng had been acting strangely these past two days. Instead of going against him, she was being so gentle and aggrieved in her way of accommodating him. Unlike other people's accommodations, the more Luo Zhiheng accommodated and went along with him, the more uncomfortable he felt. He felt uneasy, as if something was missing in his heart, leaving him feeling empty and uncomfortable.
Mu Yunhe is now someone who cannot tolerate being wronged. Even with Luo Zhiheng's gentle and considerate protection, he is not satisfied, and even disgusted by Luo Zhiheng's seemingly masked and pretentious face. He sneered, "No way! I'm not your slave, why should I accompany you to see it? Go see it yourself if you want, I'm not going to accompany you."
Luo Zhiheng looked at him with red eyes. Even though her eyes were red, Mu Yunhe knew that Luo Zhiheng was about to cry.
A sudden, sharp pain, a dull ache, and a tingling sensation spread through her heart. Mu Yunhe frowned, abruptly turning his eyes away, concealing the annoyance and unease in his eyes. He dared not look at Luo Zhiheng again. In Luo Zhiheng's eyes, Mu Yunhe's avoidance of her gaze meant he did not want to look at her.
This side of Mu Yunhe was familiar ever since Luo Zhiheng returned. He always resisted and rejected her, treating her with such unfamiliarity and dislike, as if she were a monster. Even if he had forgotten her, there was no need to treat her like this!
Luo Zhiheng's feelings, which she had been suppressing and holding back, could no longer be calmed down and endured any longer!
"Do you hate me that much, Mu Yunhe? You hate me so much that you can't even bear to look at me? You've forgotten me, and you've forgotten to love me, so you can cruelly hurt me, right?" Despite her anger and disappointment, Luo Zhiheng's words were so calm, so coldly calm.
Mu Yunhe suddenly looked up, staring at her in astonishment. He couldn't tell what was hidden beneath her calm face, but his heart was filled with panic because of the pain and anger in Luo Zhiheng's eyes.
Mu Yunhe opened his mouth, stammering, "I didn't..."
Luo Zhiheng interrupted him, saying, "I never want to make things difficult for others, nor do I want to force anyone. But I've made exceptions for you time and time again, not for any other reason than that you are the person I love the most. But I never knew you could hate me to this extent. I thought that if I persisted a little longer, if I was a little more stubborn, if I waited for you a little longer, maybe you would wake up, maybe you would remember me, and then all my waiting would not be in vain, and we could be perfectly happy."
"But it seems I was wrong. No matter how much I wait and wait, it seems I can't get you back. You are no longer my Mu Yunhe. I am living in self-deception, each day feeling like a year, while you can so easily and ruthlessly hurt me. Is all my waiting a joke in your eyes? Mu Yunhe, am I a joke in your eyes?"
Her question was filled with such sorrow and helplessness, despair spreading and overwhelming all her senses. Tears, which she was trying to hold back, gathered little by little in her eyes, drowning out her pure and beautiful pupils.
Mu Yunhe's heart clenched suddenly, a pain spreading in concentric circles, accompanied by a deep sense of panic and helplessness. His mouth moved, his breath erratic: "I..."
He was speechless. Faced with Luo Zhiheng's heartbroken questioning, he could only remain silent!
Mu Yunhe desperately wanted to ask her if she was unwilling to wait any longer? If she had given up on him? But how could he ask? His life hung in the balance; he had to take responsibility for his recklessness and bear the brunt of the consequences. He didn't know how much longer he had to live. In his mind, there was no fear, not even now, with his body covered in festering sores, he hadn't thought of being afraid of death. But Luo Zhiheng's question terrified him.
He suddenly realized that he was so afraid that Luo Zhiheng really didn't want to wait for him anymore!
His silence left Luo Zhiheng suddenly devoid of the courage to continue facing him. No one could understand her anxiety, her bewilderment, and her anger. The person before her was no longer Mu Yunhe, so she had to face all the problems alone.
Luo Zhiheng turned away sadly and walked out of the room with heavy steps.
Mu Yunhe stared blankly at her back, a sharp pain suddenly rising in his mind. He clenched his teeth and stared wide-eyed, as if countless resentments were bursting forth in his mind. He thought she would turn around, even if Luo Zhiheng looked at him again, he thought that the words he was holding in his mouth would burst out.
Perhaps he was just shy, afraid, and needed a little courage. Only Luo Zhiheng could offer that comfort and reassurance. But Luo Zhiheng never looked back at him, not even pausing for a moment. Therefore, Mu Yunhe never had the chance to say his words.
Wait for me a moment, I'll try my best to remember you...
Luo Zhiheng wandered aimlessly through the Prince's mansion when she encountered Mu Yunjin. The two stood facing each other, a hint of worry on Mu Yunjin's resolute face. Luo Zhiheng gave a pale smile and said, "When will he finally remember me? Will he really wait until we're both beyond repair?"
Mu Yunjin's expression tightened: "No. Only you can make him remember the past. Although my father and I might lose the person we love most after he remembers, we would rather Yunhe be happy than have our feelings for him. And you are the source of his happiness."
"But you know I don't have time to wait any longer. Tomorrow is the deadline. Lady Huoyun still hasn't figured out the antidote. Do you think I can escape this tragic fate?" Luo Zhiheng sneered, regarding tomorrow's absurd and ridiculous wedding as a disaster.
Time was of the essence; they feared they truly had no time left. Mu Yunjin remained silent, her tone cold and hard.
Luo Zhiheng said dejectedly, "Can you take me to see that dream?"
Mu Yunjin was taken aback, as if she had thought of something, and slowly nodded.
——
Luo Zhiheng stood in the center of this dreamlike mansion, still unable to recover from the shock and amazement she had felt upon entering and along the way.
The mansion is extremely large, with every house having glazed tile walls that gleam with gold, and the floors also paved with glazed tiles. The flowers, plants, and trees are all exquisitely crafted, the layout is meticulous, the rockeries and gardens are arranged in a harmonious manner, and the carved beams and painted rafters are absolutely stunning.
As Luo Zhiheng traveled along the way, he noticed that this mansion did not have the side halls and rooms where the wives and concubines lived. Apart from the guest rooms, there were only two courtyards that belonged to the master.
One was nameless, the other was called Luoxinlou.
The two courtyards are adjacent, intertwined, their intimacy palpable, like a husband nestled among his wife, protecting her, so close and intimate. And Luoxin Tower…
Luo Zhiheng chewed on those words, and tears welled up in her eyes. Mu Yunhe, has your heart been left in this courtyard? Is this courtyard going to house your most beloved woman? Your heart is here, and this place was once surely inhabited by Luo Zhiheng, but who will live here from now on?
“I don’t know why Yunhe would use such a word. When I asked him about it back then, he just said it was whatever came to mind, he just wrote it down. I’m afraid he still had you in his heart back then, but he just couldn’t remember you,” Mu Yunjin said softly from the side.
Luo Zhiheng remained silent, pushing open the courtyard gate. A rich, vibrant scene unfolded before her. A profusion of pink and white petals danced and fell, carpeting the ground. Amidst the blossoming trees stood a bamboo house, its exterior encased in a glazed, glass-like wall. The courtyard was exquisite, with the gentle sound of flowing water and the pervasive fragrance of flowers. It was simply breathtaking.
"It's even more beautiful than what I saw in the crystal ball. He put a lot of effort into it." Luo Zhiheng laughed freely, but tears kept falling.
“It’s all prepared for the woman he loves most, how could he not put his heart into it? Don’t overthink it, this belongs to you. Even if Yunhe can’t remember it now, you will be happy one day,” Mu Yunjin said.
Luo Zhiheng remained silent for a long time, standing outside the courtyard, not taking a step forward. She was afraid that once she entered this dreamlike and beautiful scene, she would never want to leave. She was afraid that she would have thoughts of possessing it. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and she dared not allow herself to be distracted.
As the sun slowly sank into the west, the beautiful sunset, a deep crimson like blood, bathed the originally elegant and refreshing courtyard in a blood-red hue, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Luo Zhiheng seemed frozen in a painting, completely captivated and unable to tear herself away.
"Didn't you say you wanted to come and take a look? Why aren't you going in?" A hoarse voice suddenly came from behind, making Luo Zhiheng stiffen. She was startled awake from the painting, but didn't turn around. The person behind her waited for a while, then said impatiently, "What's wrong with you? Hurry up and go in."
Luo Zhiheng turned around, not even glancing at the person behind her, and walked away.
Mu Yunhe frantically reached out to grab her, but before he could touch her, he abruptly pulled his hand back. His hurried movements made him appear even more tense and panicked. He took two unsteady steps and blocked her path, roaring, "Where are you going! What are you doing? Didn't you say you wanted me to come with you? Why are you leaving now that I'm here?"
Seeing that Luo Zhiheng kept her head down and didn't speak, Mu Yunhe felt even more flustered. He awkwardly lowered his voice and didn't dare to shout: "I'll go in with you. I'm here now, aren't I? Let's go in and take a look. There are lots of good things inside. You'll definitely like them."
Luo Zhiheng looked up and said calmly, "So what if I like it? It's not mine after all, so I might as well not look at it."
Mu Yunhe was terrified by her cold tone. His already pale face paled even more, almost to the point of being transparent. His narrow eyes widened in shock, and he roared with a mixture of grievance and exasperation, "Who said it wasn't yours? I never said that! What are you thinking? If you're not afraid of infecting you, I'll drag you inside!"
Even so, Mu Yunhe was still very careful not to actually touch Luo Zhiheng's hand. He carefully gripped Luo Zhiheng's sleeve, and as if worried, he grabbed her belt, muttering, "This way, nothing should happen. When you get home, you should quickly change your clothes and burn them."
Luo Zhiheng suddenly grabbed his festering hand. Mu Yunhe's pupils constricted in fright. He tried to shake her off forcefully, roaring, "Are you crazy? Let go of me right now, you'll get infected!"
Luo Zhiheng, unusually willful, hugged Mu Yunhe and said, "I'm not afraid! If I die with you, I'll definitely be happier than I am now! Mu Yunhe, you clearly care about me, so why can't you remember me?"
Mu Yunhe's body stiffened, but he didn't have the strength to push Luo Zhiheng away. His eyes turned red with anxiety: "Let me go quickly, be good."
"Why are you so afraid of me dying? Yunhe, tell me you still love me. Even though you don't remember me, you still have feelings for me, right? Yunhe?" Luo Zhiheng hugged him tenderly, really wanting to hold him like this forever, without caring about anything else.
A blush crept onto Mu Yunhe's pale face. He mumbled an "Mmm" and said, feigning composure, "Let's go in. Didn't you want to take a look?"
"No need, I'm afraid I won't want to come out once I go in." Luo Zhiheng shook her head haphazardly.
Mu Yunhe chuckled: "Then don't come out. Just stay here and leave when you've had enough of staying upstairs."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes held both laughter and tears: "I wish I could, but it's probably impossible now. I don't even know if I'll be alive tomorrow."
Mu Yunhe's smile froze, and he suddenly gripped her shoulders tightly, saying, "What do you mean?"
Luo Zhiheng looked up and smiled, "If one day I leave you, will you be very sad?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? You really don't have the patience to wait for me anymore, do you? Luo Zhiheng, I knew you were an impatient person. It's only been a short time and you're already unwilling to wait for me. You're despicable!" Mu Yunhe shouted, unable to bear Luo Zhiheng's attempt to run away at the last minute. Even if he were to die, he couldn't bear the possibility of Luo Zhiheng leaving him.
Luo Zhiheng nestled into his arms and whispered, "It's not like that. Even if you hate me, I won't leave you, but I have more important things to do now. Mu Yunhe will try his best to live well, and please hang in there. When you're feeling down, when you feel like giving up, just think of me. As long as we both hold on, maybe there's still hope."
"What exactly are you talking about? Are you hiding something from me?" Mu Yunhe's serious expression amused Luo Zhiheng.
She suddenly changed her mind, grabbed Mu Yunhe's hand tightly, and pulled him into the courtyard: "I suddenly want to see what this place looks like. Maybe it's so beautiful that I'll be reluctant to leave. Even if I can't hold on any longer, thinking about this home might help me persevere."
Mu Yunhe frowned, but said nothing, and accompanied her inside.
Surrounded by a sea of flowers, with Mu Yunhe by her side, Luo Zhiheng thought that even if tomorrow were a fierce battle, she could persevere for the sake of this beautiful future and life.
Mu Yunjin said that Mu Yunhe's happiness and hope came from her, and only now did she realize that her courage also came from Mu Yunhe.
"How about I demonstrate a sword dance for you?" Luo Zhiheng asked with a smile, looking up at her.
Mu Yunhe was puzzled by her sudden change from such a gloomy mood to a light and cheerful one, but he was also delighted that she could be happy. He couldn't help but smile and teased her, "Can someone with such a small frame like you even lift a knife?"
"You look down on me?" Luo Zhiheng puffed out her cheeks and laughed as she drew her battle sword from her waist.