Chapter 258: The Final Deal! (Bonus Chapter for 36,000 Recommendations) 4 Chapters to Make Up for Yesterday's Short Update
Updated: 2013-08-15 19:46:02 Word Count: 3377
8. The Final Deal! (Bonus Chapter for 36,000 Recommendations) Four Chapters to Make Up for Yesterday's Short Thread
Luo Zhiheng instantly understood why the Emperor had ignored Mu Qingya's madness and insanity. Mu Qingya had been so rampant that she was threatening the Emperor's life and health!
If Hu Nadi could still consider his reputation and the people's welfare in such a life-or-death situation, then he wouldn't be human, but a sage.
"What did you say? Explain yourself!" The emperor was furious and couldn't help but step down from the high platform. His steps were quick but unsteady, and he was filled with thunderous rage!
Mu Qingya's face was contorted with rage, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked at the emperor with cold, mocking eyes and said, "Enraged? Shocked? But you deserve it! You should have gone to hell. If it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't have let you live this long. I was even thinking that if you saved Nalan, I would have Nalan cure you of the poison. But alas, you didn't even want this chance to live. Nan Xiaoqing, you're destined not to survive this year. Nalan is dead, and you'll be dead soon too!"
The emperor's steps came to an abrupt halt, and he stood frozen in place.
The entire audience was shocked! Everyone present was furious!
If Mu Qingya's conspiracy involved her family, they could still treat it as a tragic and despicable story. But Mu Qingya's scheme now involves the fate of the Southern Dynasty. The ruler is the foundation of the nation, possessing unshakeable power since ancient times. How could the monarch of a country be poisoned by a curse? Has the ruler of their Southern Dynasty always lived in constant threat and danger?
The courtiers were furious!
"Mu Qingya, hand over the antidote immediately, or even if the Emperor protects you, these promises will no longer be enough to keep this vixen from harming you." The Prime Minister of the Southern Dynasty stepped forward without hesitation, angrily pointing at Mu Qingya.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, are willing to die to plead our case! This vile woman, who has brought ruin to the country and endangered your health, cannot be tolerated! We beg Your Majesty to disregard past favors and kindness. For so many years, we have never interfered in the affairs of the harem, for we understand that these are Your Majesty's private matters. But now it is different. Mu Qingya has already endangered you. The wet nurse is everyone's Emperor, the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty. You cannot afford to suffer any harm. Such an incident is chilling. To prevent future generations from following suit, we are willing to die to impeach Mu Qingya. We beg Your Majesty to execute Mu Qingya immediately as a warning to others!" The Minister knelt on the ground and spoke loudly.
The high-ranking officials knelt down and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty, please execute Mu Qingya immediately as a warning to others!"
Murong Qianchen's beautiful face was filled with grief and shock. She could no longer hold on and collapsed on the steps. If Princess Yu hadn't arrived just in time to help her, Murong Qianchen would probably have tumbled down the steps and suffered a head injury.
These are the sworn sisters he cherished and protected with all his heart? Is this the result of all her years of forbearance and compromise? She had initially believed that Mu Qingya and the Emperor were truly in love, so she willingly relinquished her own feelings and made concessions. But in the end, not only was there no true love between them, but even the most basic trust and affection were gone. Nearly twenty years of marriage—they hadn't shared life and death, but they had shared hardships. How could it have come to this? Even enemies couldn't be more despicable than this. 177.
"Kill me? Fine, thank you. Now I can be free. I can finally be with Nalan without any worries, free from all the helplessness and constraints, and no longer suffocated by hatred. I can finally see my Rui'er again. The two people I love most can finally be with me. I couldn't ask for more." Mu Qingya laughed maniacally and unrestrainedly. She spoke loudly, tears streaming down her face, so bitter.
She lowered her head, holding Nalan Daibai's body, stroking his pale, wrinkled, yet still handsome face, and slowly closed her eyes. It seemed that she had been freed, and that before her eyes, Rui'er's lovely child was in Nalan's arms, smiling at her and calling for her to hurry up and reunite with them.
"You want to die? I won't allow it!" The emperor's sinister voice, like a demon, pierced Mu Qingya's ears: "Don't you love him? Don't you want to be with him day and night? Mu Qingya, do you really think I don't know Nalan Daibai's true identity? Heartbroken? Heartbroken man at the ends of the earth? What a heartbroken man! For whom is he heartbroken? Do you think I'm a fool! Do you remember the day you brought Nalan Daibai into the palace? You said this man was a pitiful person you picked up, and you said you wanted to keep him by your side. At the time, I agreed because of your recent loss of your son. But I knew he was the man you were so attached to, so I personally watched him being castrated! Do you understand? I watched him go from a normal man to a eunuch for your sake!!"
Mu Qingya's eyes snapped open, her gaze filled with a storm of emotions—a chilling, fearful, and desperate look!
"You love him, don't you? Congratulations, Nalan Daibai loves you just as much. He was willing to give up his children and his manhood for you. Congratulations to you for personally leading him into hell! And letting him walk down that dead end so resolutely! You and he are suffering a fate worse than death in your hell, struggling desperately. I've been watching you drift further and further apart day by day, year by year, until there's no turning back!" The emperor's fierce voice carried a hint of laughter, yet it was so cold.
"Nan Xiaoqing!" Mu Qingya roared, the three words almost grinding together and being squeezed out from between her teeth.
"Are you furious? Are you shocked? There's something even more infuriating! I'll show you that no one has ever dared to threaten me for so long! And I won't let someone who has threatened me threaten me forever! The game is over, Mu Qingya, prepare yourself!" The emperor finished speaking coldly, then let out a sinister laugh, as if he didn't care at all about the poison he was using.
"What do you want to do?" Mu Qingya seemed to have a premonition of what was going to happen, and she screamed uncontrollably.
"What are you doing? You should know very well. You know me well, don't you?" The emperor sneered, then suddenly waved his hand. A large number of imperial guards rushed out from all directions, surrounding the entire area in front of the palace. The emperor waved his hand again and gave a cruel order: "Seize Nalan Daibai's corpse and, today, in front of everyone, slice it off piece by piece! Mu Qingya, this is my farewell gift to you and your beloved man. Watch closely, the power of the Thousand Layer Slash is enough to excite, isn't it? It will slice off Nalan Daibai's flesh piece by piece until the bone is exposed! This is the consequence of your betrayal and threats to me!"
"You're despicable!" Mu Qingya heard her teeth chattering.
"Despicable? When you poisoned your own brother, did you ever think you were more despicable than me? I only harmed private individuals, while you harmed your own living relatives! Compared to you, I am far more merciful." The emperor delivered a heavy retort with contempt.
Mu Qingya's face turned ashen instantly. Seeing the powerful Imperial Guards approaching rapidly, Mu Qingya finally felt fear. Nalan was dead; her strongest support was gone. She was fighting alone, but she couldn't let Nalan's body be harmed. This man had protected her his entire life, given his life for her; all she could do was try her best to protect his body.
"Ah, no! Let him go! I order you to let him go! Don't touch him, please..." Mu Qingya screamed and begged, but the Imperial Guards ruthlessly pushed her away, slowly prying apart the fingers that were gripping Nalan's hand. Ignoring her despair and pain, they roughly tore at Nalan's corpse.
"Nan Xiaoqing, what exactly do you want?" Mu Qingya roared angrily.
"Antidote!" the emperor coldly uttered.
Mu Qingya paused for a moment, then said firmly, "No!"
"Cut!" The Southern Dynasty emperor was even more ruthless. With a single word, the sharp and unique blades of the Imperial Guards fell without hesitation toward Nalan Daibai's corpse, slicing off a piece of flesh from his only remaining arm amidst Mu Qingya's terrified screams and tearful eyes!
A thousand-layer slicing knife, a meat-slicing knife, just like that!
"Ah!!" Mu Qingya screamed in agony, her head covered. Just as the second knife was about to fall, she cried out hysterically, "I have it! I'll give you the antidote!"
"Stop!" the emperor shouted, his decisive and ruthless actions at this crucial moment shocking everyone present.
"Hand him over to me, and I may spare his body. Otherwise, tear him to pieces and grind his bones to dust!" the emperor said ruthlessly. Having been threatened by Mu Qingya for so many years, he had tried various methods, but none could cure the poison. His identity prevented him from making this public, so the antidote in Mu Qingya's possession was his only way out.
Mu Qingya trembled all over. She remained silent for a long time, her hair disheveled and her face dark: "Promise me one condition, and I will give you the antidote. Don't try to threaten me anymore. I'm going all out. This is my only condition, and your only chance to live. It's fair."
The emperor paused for a moment, then said, "Tell me."
"Let me stay with Nalan for three days. After three days, bury him. The antidote is yours. I swear to you in Rui'er's name that I will keep my word," Mu Qingya said slowly.
The emperor's face was terribly gloomy. This cuckolding was truly humiliating! He had actually lost to a eunuch? But he had no other choice.
Having already lost face, one must not lose face as well. The emperor nodded and said, "Very well!"
Mu Qingya, in a disheveled state, carried Nalan's body and severed arm, refused the help of the palace servants, and stubbornly and resolutely left alone. Although she struggled to drag his body, she never gave up.
A grand feast turned into a conference to expose a conspiracy! A schemer, once exposed, was destined to fall.
Zhijian's fate was sealed. The show was over, and Luo Zhiheng saw no need to stay any longer. She didn't know Mu Qingya's final fate, but it certainly wouldn't be good. Thankfully, Mu Yunhe had left first; otherwise, seeing Mu Qingya in this state would have been even more unbearable for him.
She turned around abruptly, wanting to hurry back to find Mu Yunhe. She feared that Mu Yunhe, who appeared weak but was strong inside, might not be able to remain strong at this moment. Would he be hiding in a dark corner and crying? Luo Zhiheng's steps quickened.
259 True, a farewell to the one I've chosen!
Updated: 2013-08-16 15:50:56 Word Count: 7560
Luo Zhiheng stood in front of Mu Yunhe's door, holding a bowl of hot soup, hesitating whether to go in.
"My lady, please give this to me." Xiao Xizi opened the door and said somewhat cautiously.
Luo Zhiheng's expression changed: "He still refuses to see me?"
Three days might pass in the blink of an eye for others, but for Luo Zhiheng, it felt like an eternity. For three whole days, from the day she returned from the banquet until now, Mu Yunhe refused to let anyone into the room. Luo Zhiheng had tried to enter, but was kicked out. Mu Yunhe had only said one sentence that day: "Get out."
Normally, Luo Zhiheng wouldn't take this seriously and would even joke around with him, but that day, she obediently left. She knew that Mu Yunhe couldn't accept such a huge blow. When the betrayal of a loved one is laid bare before one's eyes, a simple-minded person cannot accept it at all, and might even be crushed.
She knew that Mu Yunhe subconsciously considered her an enemy. Mu Yunhe might not want to do this, but the schemes and harms were clearly spoken by her. She could understand and tolerate Mu Yunhe's rejection and resistance towards her. She was willing to give him time to process these things. Even if he resented her or couldn't accept it now, he would eventually understand.
"Take it in and try to persuade him to order some." Luo Zhiheng handed the soup to Xiao Xizi and stood at the door for a while. When she heard that there were no other sounds in the room, she felt a little relieved. Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly heard the sound of porcelain breaking in the room, and she stopped abruptly.
"My lord, please have a bite. This was all made by the little princess herself. Please eat some, just to be considerate of her," Xiao Xizi earnestly persuaded.
A brief silence fell over the room, then suddenly erupted with Mu Yunhe's heart-wrenching cough. Startled, Luo Zhiheng turned and ran back into the room, but just as her hand touched the door, the wet nurse's voice rang out behind her.
"Young Miss, someone from the palace has arrived. Please go to the front now."
Luo Zhiheng put her hand down. Today was the three-day appointment between Mu Qingya and the Southern Dynasty Emperor. She was certain that something big would happen today. At this time, the three big shots in the palace were too busy to take care of themselves, so why would anyone think of her?
"Whose people are they?" Luo Zhiheng asked as she walked out.
"It was sent by the Imperial Concubine," the wet nurse said.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes flashed, and she soon arrived at the front hall. The person who came was the Second Chief Eunuch of Mu Qingya's side. At this moment, he was still able to leave the palace, which was probably because the emperor had given him permission.
"Speak, what is it?" Luo Zhiheng asked after taking a seat.
The eunuch, pale-faced and trembling, knelt on the ground and bowed, saying, "This servant was ordered to come and invite the young princess to the palace for a gathering. The Imperial Concubine is in very good spirits today, and we urge the young princess to do us the honor of coming."
This was Mu Qingya's servant, and it was the first time he had ever been so respectful to Luo Zhiheng. Yet, Luo Zhiheng felt no joy, only heaviness and confusion. Mu Qingya's beloved was dead. Judging from Mu Qingya's state that day, this woman had clearly collapsed. How could a collapsed woman possibly be in a good state? And how could she recover in just three days? And why did the Emperor allow Mu Qingya to come to the palace to see her?
Luo Zhiheng asked, "When are we going?"
"Now."
Her fingers tapped absently on the armrest. She suddenly stood up and walked back, saying as she went, "Wait for me here. I'll go ask the young prince what he thinks." 17.
Luo Zhiheng arrived at Mu Yunhe's room again, the second time in three days that she had pushed open his door without hesitation. As soon as she entered the room, Luo Zhiheng immediately felt a suffocating and oppressive feeling, as if she were facing death.
Darkness enveloped Mu Yunhe once more, and he retreated into his protective black circle. Betrayed by his family, he once again dared not trust anyone, rejecting the entire world, including Luo Zhiheng. When Luo Zhiheng finally managed to enter his world, she was ruthlessly shut out of his heart because of this cruel revelation. He wasn't heartless; he was simply afraid of getting hurt and unwilling to face reality.
Luo Zhiheng felt a burning pain in her heart. She slowly approached him. He lay there on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his gaze dull and lifeless. He was still wearing the clothes he'd worn that day, his face pale, his cheekbones prominent. He had lost a lot of weight in just three days. He looked like a fragile porcelain doll. 16607595
Kneeling beside him, Luo Zhiheng softly called to him, "Mu Yunhe, I know you're awake, I know you don't want to face me right now, but there's something I have to ask you. She sent someone to find me; she wants me to enter the palace. Do you agree to let me go?"
Mu Yunhe's blank gaze seemed to flicker for a moment, but then returned to silence.
Luo Zhiheng was heartbroken. She carefully took his hand. Although he did not reject her, he did not reciprocate either. He was like a zombie, a corpse that existed in the world but had no soul or thought. His heart was empty, and his eyes were hollow. This resistance made her feel even worse.
"Please, just say one word to me, okay? You're not torturing yourself, you're torturing me. Even if I'm wrong, you can't just ignore me like this. I know you're hurting inside, but between your health and your family, I have no choice. Are you cursing me for being selfish and cruel in your heart? But do you know how angry I was when I finally realized the whole truth? I wanted to kill Mu Qingya because she was too ruthless."
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know Mu Qingya. Because of you, I was willing to try to understand Mu Qingya, and I hoped that we could get along peacefully, but as you can see, that’s impossible. Mu Qingya is too extreme; everything she did can’t even be described as outrageous. But I don’t hate her anymore, but I can’t say I forgive her either, because it’s a fact that she hurt you.”
"If you really want to distance yourself from me because of this, then I have nothing to say. I, Luo Zhiheng, can say with a clear conscience that I have no guilt towards you. So, Mu Yunhe, give me one answer: do you still want me?" How could Mu Yunhe possibly understand the anger and fear Luo Zhiheng felt?
She knew how things started, but not how they would end. Now, knowing Mu Yunhe's attitude, she still didn't regret revealing him. She wanted to save Mu Yunhe from his misery, even though she had temporarily pushed him into another seemingly excruciating abyss. She would find a way to pull him out. But if Mu Yunhe wouldn't even give her a chance, then what was left between them?
Mu Yunhe remained silent, like a living dead man. Although his eyes were open, he couldn't hear Luo Zhiheng's words, or perhaps he did, but he didn't know how to respond. He began to sweat profusely, his head and body drenched in cold sweat, which soon soaked his clothes. His face grew even paler, but he remained silent.
"Your Majesty, please, don't pressure the young prince anymore. He hasn't spoken a word since he returned three days ago. If you keep interrogating him like this, he can hear you, but he can't say anything, so won't that make him even more anxious?" Xiao Xizi couldn't bear to watch any longer and said anxiously.
Luo Zhiheng's pained expression slowly turned into indifference. She stood up and looked down at him, saying, "Fine, then you can stay here and be a living dead. I'm going to see your venomous sister. If I accidentally get killed by her, maybe you won't resist me anymore! Let me remain in your memories too, as a shadow you once thought was beautiful!"
Luo Zhiheng withdrew her hand and turned to leave.
Behind him, Xiao Xizi called out several times, then anxiously paced around on the ground: "Oh no, oh no! The little princess is really angry! Master, what should we do? Is the little princess really in danger?"
In her haste, Xiao Xizi didn't see that Mu Yunhe blinked a few times, his emotions gradually building up, and his brow twitching.
Luo Zhiheng arrived at the palace in a carriage, accompanied by her wet nurse. Nalan Daibai's death was entirely caused by the wet nurse, yet neither mistress nor servant felt the slightest remorse. They believed Nalan Daibai deserved to die; he could do heinous things for the one he loved, so she could kill him for the one she cared about! It was fair.
"Young Miss, do you think Mu Qingya is going to cause you trouble? Is it because of Nalan Daibai's death?" the wet nurse asked grimly.
"Hmph, hasn't she caused me enough trouble? The grudges haven't been settled yet, so what's wrong with meeting her? I'd like to know what else she can do when she's already at her wit's end." Luo Zhiheng finished speaking and turned a corner. Mu Qingya's palace was already close at hand, but it was heavily guarded!
"Young Miss, be careful. There are many people openly here, and many more experts lurking in the shadows," the nanny whispered in her ear.
"Oh? It seems the Emperor is truly afraid something might happen to Mu Qingya. That's right, if something happens to Mu Qingya, he'll die too." Luo Zhiheng sneered, looking down on the Southern Dynasty Emperor. (Zhiheng becomes a slave.)