Mu Yunhe exuded a cold and aloof aura, possessing an inherent noble and chilling quality. Upon hearing this, he chuckled lightly, his tone laced with undisguised sarcasm and mockery. He set down his teacup, raised an eyebrow, narrowed his eyes, and spoke in a melodious tone, yet brimming with murderous intent: "For him, you won't spare me? You think you're worthy?"
Mu Yunhe's words were directed at General Wang, bold, direct, and ruthless.
Mu Yunjin's face darkened, unable to maintain its composure any longer. Mu Yunhe's arrogant and presumptuous remarks were enough to destroy the friendly relationship her father and General Wang had built. This was a valuable connection; if Mu Yunhe ruined it, it would be a significant loss for her father. Mu Yunjin couldn't understand how the usually gentle Mu Yunhe could have become so sharp, arrogant, and aloof in just a few months. Was this drastic change also the work of that shrew, Luo Zhiheng? Indeed, Luo Zhiheng couldn't be allowed to stay by Mu Yunhe's side; she was simply misleading him!
Just as Mu Yunjin was troubled by Mu Yunhe's ignorance and arrogance, she suddenly heard a thud. Mu Yunjin turned to the side, her tiger-like eyes widening in shock.
The General Zhenguo, whom Mu Yunjin greatly admired, knelt before Mu Yunhe. His face showed no dissatisfaction, but rather a hint of anxiety and shame. His voice was particularly hoarse: "General Mo dares not! How could General Mo be worthy of causing Your Excellency to suffer? At Your Excellency's word, General Mo would brave mountains of knives and seas of fire for Your Excellency."
His words, spoken with a resounding cadence and solemnity characteristic of soldiers, were completely genuine.
This sudden turn of events left Mu Yunjin speechless and utterly shocked. His hand instinctively reached out to support General Wang, and he said humbly and anxiously, "General, why is this? Yunhe is just a child; how can you kneel before him?"
General Wang was inwardly groaning. He was already apprehensive when His Majesty summoned him to see Mu Yunhe. Although he was a General Who Guards the Nation, he was only responsible for protecting the capital. After all, the Southern Song Dynasty was a prosperous and peaceful country, unlike other nations where there were wars to fight. Over time, his title of General Who Guards the Nation would become meaningless.
He was already living a life of constant worry, and the person he was here to meet was one of the most distinguished people in the world; it was impossible for him not to be nervous. He was terrified of offending this person, who had come directly from the Bai family. Having witnessed the Bai family's tragic state, General Wang held Mu Yunhe in even greater awe. But why did this priest seem so foolish? He hoped the priest would keep his mouth shut, lest he lose his life.
General Wang was filled with unease, so he subtly avoided Mu Yunjin's support and prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Your Excellency is wise, I dare not presume to be superior to you."
Mu Yunjin was completely stunned. He looked sharply at Mu Yunhe, not understanding why a general would be so afraid of Mu Yunhe.
Mu Yunhe accepted it calmly. Compared to before, Mu Yunhe now possessed a more imposing presence, a domineering aura that suggested he was above all others. Although he was slender, his imposing presence commanded respect. He didn't rush to tell General Wang to get up, and casually asked, "What brings you here?"
When General Wang heard his low and slow voice, his heart skipped a beat, and the tragedy of the Bai family suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The Bai family, a once-powerful and influential clan, deeply rooted and renowned for its ruthlessness and cruelty, were truly bandits and robbers living beneath the nobility. Such a family of assassins, whose core skills were built on constant vigilance against assassination, was utterly overthrown overnight!
Those powerful leaders died mysteriously overnight, all in their own rooms or on their concubines' beds. None of their bodies were intact; they were all decapitated, their faces contorted in horror, as if they had witnessed something terrible before their deaths. Bai Mingzhu, the pampered young lady, also died a gruesome death, her brains almost splattered out, her entire head shattered.
But the most tragic case involved the leader of the White Tiger Hall, who had a penetrating wound on his left shoulder blade, as if pierced by a sharp blade. The most chilling part was that, after a thorough examination, the coroner determined that what appeared to be a single wound actually contained no fewer than a hundred repeated abrasions.
According to this calculation, this means that the wound was repeatedly pierced with a knife at least a hundred times in the same spot. What kind of deep-seated hatred could drive someone to stab the victim in this place? What kind of resentment could they have towards this particular spot? The most terrifying thing is that the wound is completely identical, with nothing more than minor repetitive trauma. And the victim's body parts were all shattered.
The Bai family massacre sent shockwaves through the entire capital, leaving everyone in a state of panic. Such a bizarre act, tantamount to annihilation, and such brazen behavior—perhaps only this person before them could pull off something so outrageous. Although there was no evidence, and although no one witnessed it firsthand, but…
It is said that the High Priest's most beloved princess was once forced by this man to stab herself, and the wound was on her left shoulder blade...
It's past midnight! Sorry it's so late, but I'm still waiting for your comments, my darlings. Reading them will give me even more motivation, hehe. Please give me your recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets. Group kisses, this is so motivating!
311. Direct sarcasm! Harmful letters!
Updated: 2013-09-07 17:09:32 Word Count: 7584
Thinking of this, General Wang felt even more pressure. Facing this high priest who could easily defeat people without bloodshed, he felt more fear than awe.
General Sui prostrated himself even more devoutly, saying, "I have come here on His Majesty's orders to protect Your Excellency and the Princess Consort. The Southern Dynasty is currently in chaos, with various unfortunate events occurring. It seems bandits have infiltrated the capital. Last night, all the direct leaders of the Bai family were killed in a gruesome manner, and we are still completely baffled. The heads of the various halls of the Bai family and their subordinates are currently at their most ferocious. His Majesty is concerned for Your Excellency's safety, which is why he sent me to protect you. Even if Your Excellency were to leave someday, I will personally escort you back to the Mu Dynasty."
General Wang felt wronged. He was, after all, a general who protected the country, yet he was assigned such a task. This task seemed ridiculous at first glance, but in reality, it revealed the emperor's high regard for and concern for Mu Yunhe.
Upon hearing this, a hint of mockery and surprise flashed in Mu Yunhe's slender eyes, before finally settling into a look of relief.
Has Nan Xiaoqing finally come to his senses and stopped insisting on keeping Aheng and him in the Southern Dynasty? Or has Nan Xiaoqing finally become afraid? Have just two upheavals made the Southern Dynasty emperor realize the consequences of offending him? That's good, it saves him the trouble of going to great lengths to warn the Southern Dynasty.
However, Nan Xiaoqing's attitude still made Mu Yunhe feel quite comfortable. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked casually, "When does your emperor want me to leave?"
From desperately trying to persuade him to stay to eagerly awaiting his departure, the Southern Dynasty emperor underwent a dramatic shift and psychological transformation. Mu Yunhe merely smiled dismissively. General Wang's words were likely authorized by the emperor, who was already afraid, viewing him as a monstrous threat, fearing he might annihilate another family. Or perhaps, Nan Xiaoqing feared the distinctive character of the Southern Dynasty—the family of painting masters—who too might become his victims? Was that why General Wang hinted that he could leave sooner? Leave at will? 17199127
General Wang was sweating profusely, and said in an even more respectful voice, "Your Excellency is wise. His Majesty has no intention of driving you away. His Majesty is only worried that Your Excellency has been away from home for too long and misses home, and is also afraid that Your Excellency may encounter some trouble on the way."
"Yes, I understand. Just do your job and leave." Mu Yunhe showed no regard for his status as a general who guards the country, treating him as if he were his own servant.
"I must take my leave." General Wang slowly rose, bowing as he retreated step by step. Only after reaching the door did he straighten up, turn around, and stride away.
The humble posture was all too obvious, and the utmost respect was self-evident. Such precious etiquette and treatment were enough to demonstrate Mu Yunhe's importance and nobility in the eyes of the Southern Dynasty's royal family.
Mu Yunjin stared at Mu Yunhe in shock and horror, as if utterly stunned. He watched his usually detached younger brother calmly sip his tea, sitting there serenely, surrounded by what seemed like swirling clouds, making him appear almost ethereal, a beauty that seemed unreal, an exquisite beauty. The sheer presence and aura emanating from him caused Mu Yunjin, a veteran of battlefields and accustomed to seeing important envoys, to narrow her eyes, no longer daring to underestimate him.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Mu Yunjin's voice was tinged with anger and uncertainty. He felt that his younger brother should have something to say to him, but he didn't. Moreover, Mu Yunhe's drastic change, the stark contrast between his past and present self, made Mu Yunjin feel horrified.
"What do you want to know?" Mu Yunhe put down his teacup, looked up, his gaze cool and ambiguous, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Several months later, the brothers met again, but their positions seemed to have changed drastically.
The Mu Yunjin who was once proud and confident, with an extraordinary temperament and a bright future, who always looked down on him with compassionate eyes, is no longer there.
This is because at this moment, Mu Yunhe is no longer the Mu Yunhe of the past who was uncompetitive, gentle, and decadent!
Born noble and of pure blood, he was a true prince, the future master of the Mu Royal Palace. Naturally, he should have been aloof and extraordinary. But fate played a cruel trick, granting him a chance to be reborn after experiencing hell, a chance to soar through the heavens once more. This reborn Mu Yunhe is powerful, invincible, domineering, and unstoppable!
So, what does Mu Yunjin, this arrogant eldest son who has been so domineering for so many years, have to show off in front of Mu Yunhe? The only difference between the two before was a healthy body. Now that Mu Yunhe is healthy, what does Mu Yunjin have to compare with Mu Yunhe? What can he use to compete with Mu Yunhe?
Mu Yunhe was now eager to return to the palace and see how Consort Li would react to him not being dead but returning alive and well.
Mu Yunjin felt a strange, unspoken emotion stirring within him. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but it made him incredibly restless. His unease was palpable in his eyes. He leaned closer to Mu Yunhe and said in a deep, earnest voice, "Yunhe, I'm your brother! Although we're not from the same mother, I've never felt you were inferior to me in any way. I care deeply for you, my younger brother. You should know that Father doesn't have many children, and the younger ones in the palace haven't grown up. Only the two of us brothers are of similar age. Shouldn't we be the closest of brothers?"
“I know I didn’t care about you much in the past, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about you. On the contrary, it was because I knew you were my own brother that when I was working hard outside, I always thought about building up my own business and leaving that business to you, so that your future would be secure.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunhe looked directly at Mu Yunjin, his cold and sarcastic gaze clearly expressing his opinion. His laughter left Mu Yunjin bewildered and inexplicably embarrassed. Mu Yunhe's deep voice, with a hint of childishness, said, "Aheng, do you think I should laugh or cry now?"
Mu Yunjin frowned, already sensing that something was amiss. Why was that unlucky, rude shrew, Mu Yunhe, doing this all of a sudden?
"I think you shouldn't laugh or cry, but rather give your kind-hearted brother a good beating to see if that will open his mind. That would be better than him saying these ridiculous things. It's one thing to say it to your face, but if he said these things in front of outsiders, wouldn't people laugh their heads off? Would they say that my Mu Wang Mansion has no manners?" Luo Zhiheng's cold and sarcastic voice came from the doorway.
Upon suddenly hearing Luo Zhiheng's voice, Mu Yunjin frowned in annoyance. Hearing her nitpicking, he turned around abruptly, but his figure froze for a moment before he said angrily, "Luo Zhiheng! Why are you so persistent? Do you have to disturb my conversation with my brother? And what did you mean by what you just said? If you don't explain yourself today, you'd better watch out or I won't let you off the hook."
Luo Zhiheng had changed into a flamboyant and fiery red gauze dress. The style was new, bold, and innovative. Her long hair was styled up, adorned with several pearl hairpins, the pure white pearls further highlighting the luster of her jet-black hair. Her skin was already fair and smooth, her pupils dark and bright, as beautiful as the finest obsidian. The red dress accentuated her radiant complexion.
At this moment, she leaned lazily against the door frame, her expression domineering, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, exuding a cheerful and vigorous air unlike that of a typical young lady.
This was one of the very few times Mu Yunjin had seen Luo Zhiheng in such a quiet state. Turning around abruptly, he was taken aback to see the elfin-like girl bathed in sunlight. Yesterday, Luo Zhiheng was quite different; her greasy and disheveled appearance was nothing like the adorable and lovely girl she looked today. However, it was only a momentary lapse in judgment. Mu Yunjin was not about to hold back when speaking to a beautiful shrew.
A shrew is a shrew; she can't reason with anyone.
Then he said disdainfully, "Dressing up so extravagantly can't hide the fact that you're a shrew. Using such despicable tricks to bewitch Yunhe, you truly deserve to be punished!"
Luo Zhiheng was a female bandit. Growing up in a den of arrogant bandits, she was fearless in the face of ruthlessness. The bandits were all incredibly ruthless, each more adept at threatening others than the last. Compared to these sons of officials, Luo Zhiheng dared to claim she was the epitome of ruthlessness; no one else dared to claim the same.
Feigning a frail and delicate appearance, she clutched her slender waist and trembled with fear, but said sarcastically, "I'm so scared. If you were to be rude to me, wouldn't I be miserable? But since you asked me to explain, I'll explain it to you clearly. It's better than you always shamelessly and ignorantly trying to glorify yourself and disgust us."
Her fingers were slender and fair, elegant and beautiful as an orchid when she slightly curled them. Her voice was clear and resonant as she said, "Mu Yunjin, listen to me carefully. Your status is merely that of a son of a concubine in the Mu Royal Family. Even if you have rendered great service to the Mu Dynasty, even if you are renowned throughout the world, even if you possess extraordinary abilities! But none of these can erase the fact that you are born of a concubine!"
She pointed at Mu Yunhe, who was tilting his head and smiling at her. A smile played on her lips, and her eyebrows instantly lit up with excitement. Her sharp voice softened slightly: "And even if Mu Yunhe is physically weak, unknown to the world, forgotten, and has accomplished nothing, he is still the legitimate son of the royal family. He is the rightful and undisputed heir of the Mu Royal Family!"
"What exactly are you trying to say? I know exactly what you're talking about." Mu Yunjin suddenly felt that Luo Zhiheng was spouting nonsense. Of course, he knew that Mu Yunhe was the heir to the Mu Dynasty. He glanced to the side and saw Luo Zhiheng exchanging flirtatious glances with Mu Yunhe. He suddenly found it offensive and snorted coldly, "Shameless."
Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiheng burst into laughter and said, "Then why did you say such things? As if everything you have or will have in the future is something you, Mu Yunjin, didn't want and gave to Mu Yunhe as charity? Since you know that Mu Yunhe is the rightful heir of the Prince's Mansion, then you should know that everything in the Mu Prince's Mansion, even if Mu Yunhe doesn't make any contribution, should belong to him, not you!!"
"But you just dared to say that in your struggles outside, you abandoned everything at home, leaving everything to Mu Yunhe so that Mu Yunhe would have security in the future? Hahaha!" Luo Zhiheng laughed loudly, her mocking and charming smile almost stretching to her ears: "Are you out of your mind? Everything originally belonged to Mu Yunhe, why would you need to leave it? Besides, even if you did leave it, it was the prince leaving it to his legitimate son, it was the prince's guarantee for Mu Yunhe, what does it have to do with your one or two taels of silver? Can you stop being so shameless and ignorant of your place, shamelessly trying to make yourself look good? I feel ashamed just listening to it."
Mu Yunhe had been watching her with a loving, indulgent, yet slightly helpless gaze. Seeing her little tail sticking up high whenever she was pleased with herself, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart and grew to love the lively and spirited Aheng even more. But he solemnly reprimanded her, "Aheng, don't be rude."
But there wasn't a trace of dissatisfaction or blame in his voice.
Mu Yunjin's face flushed red instantly, and she froze on the spot for a moment. 1.
He wasn't dull-witted; on the contrary, he was quite intelligent. But he never wanted to think much about matters of the inner quarters. His mother had arranged everything for him since he was a child, so he never had to worry about anything. It wasn't that he didn't know that everything in the Mu Prince's Mansion belonged to Mu Yunhe; it's just that his mind had been warped.
From a young age, his mother had always told him that everything in the Mu Prince's Mansion belonged to him, that he was the rightful heir, that Mu Yunhe was nothing, that Mu Yunhe wouldn't live long, and that everything Mu Yunhe received was only what Mu Yunjin didn't want. The Mu Prince's Mansion was his, the title of Prince would be his, and all the properties of the mansion would be his.
It had been like this since childhood. Over the years, with the guidance and assimilation of such a self-righteous and entitled mother, how could Mu Yunjin be any better? He also felt that all of this was his due to his sympathy for Mu Yunjin's misery. However, since Mu Yunhe was so miserable, it wouldn't hurt to share some with him.
And he was used to being a powerful figure. But as he grew older, he realized that he was perfectly capable and didn't need to rely on the family business. He wanted to start his own business, and what difference would it make if the family's assets were left to Mu Yunhe? Anyway, it was something he didn't want.
He had always treated Mu Yunhe with pity and charity, even blindly believing that he was giving Mu Yunhe his own things, without ever realizing that those things originally belonged to Mu Yunhe...
Perhaps he had considered it, but over the years, his mother's words had become deeply ingrained, and he had long considered everything in the Mu Prince's Mansion to be his. Moreover, he had been highly sought after over the years, a rising star in the capital, with a noble status, and his arrogance had already taken root. He was capable, and because of Mu Yunhe's seclusion and frail health, everyone had always treated him as the young prince of the Mu Prince's Mansion, which undoubtedly fueled his vanity.
In his heart, he had always been the future head of the Mu Prince's Mansion, only lacking the title of a young prince...
Looking back now, it's utterly laughable. He took everything so for granted. Just moments ago, he had kindly wanted to use this business to comfort Mu Yunhe, who was now alive, hoping to gain Mu Yunhe's trust and closeness, and thus find out what abilities Mu Yunhe possessed that made a general so fearful and respectful?
But now, Luo Zhiheng's words had a sudden realization for him, but instead of clarity, they brought him anger! A feeling of being slapped hard across the face washed over him, making him hate Luo Zhiheng even more!
Even if this family fortune isn't his, he's still his father's son, and Mu Yunhe naturally can't enjoy it all alone. If Mu Yunhe dies, wouldn't the estate still be his? Is Luo Zhiheng showing off in front of him now? Does she think he'll be upset about not getting the estate? No, he won't! Luo Zhiheng's actions will only embarrass him!
"Even so, that's a matter between us brothers. What does it have to do with you? Why are you pointing fingers here? Could it be that you've been plotting against my Mu family's assets for a long time?" Mu Yunjin mocked without any politeness. He pinned a fabricated charge on Luo Zhiheng without any humility, instead waiting leisurely to see Luo Zhiheng's panicked appearance.
But his little tricks were clearly a waste of time and effort when used on Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng wasn't fooled. Instead, she smiled sweetly and said, "What kind of fortune could your Mu Royal Mansion possibly have? Maybe it's already an empty shell. There's a shrewish, bloodsucking villain in there. Sooner or later, it'll just be a shell, and your people might even starve to death. Do you think I care about such a dilapidated thing?"
Luo Zhiheng had seen some of the Mu Prince's mansion's account books. When she took back control of the Mu Prince's mansion's finances from Consort Li, she didn't quite understand them, but she could see the appalling deficits in the account books. If one shop wasn't profitable, that was a deficit; if a whole pair wasn't profitable, then something was amiss. Consort Li had probably done quite a bit of manipulation. In the Mu Prince's mansion, she was a small-time rich woman; she probably couldn't even compare to Consort Li, Mu Yunjin's own mother.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly stroked her chin, looking like a cat that wanted to steal stars. She was thinking that when she went back this time, she must squeeze some money out of Consort Li to spend. If Consort Li dared not give it to her, she would draw a few more turtles and send them to Consort Li.
"What arrogant words! Are you implying that the Mu Royal Mansion can't keep you? If that's the case, then what are you still doing clinging to Yun He's side? You might as well get out of here and find someone else!" Mu Yun Jin shouted angrily. For some reason, whenever he encountered Luo Zhi Heng, his self-control, his composure, and his demeanor all vanished without a trace! He was left only with a belly full of inexplicable anger and disgust.
"Enough!" Mu Yunhe slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his eyes blazing with anger. "Do I need to warn you again? Luo Zhiheng is my wife! She is my wife! Her fate is not for anyone else to decide. Also, although we both have the blood of our father flowing through our veins, we are not siblings. Don't say things like 'brother' or 'sister'; it just sounds hypocritical."
"This Mu Royal Mansion belongs to me, and no one can take it away. Aheng is the future mistress of the Mu Royal Mansion, and that is an indisputable fact that no one can refute. As long as I live, everything in the Mu Royal Mansion will belong to Aheng. Even if I die, the Mu Royal Mansion will still belong to me and Aheng's child. It is not up to anyone else to use what belongs to me to claim it as their own. You'd better watch yourself!"
After Mu Yunhe finished speaking, he strode towards Luo Zhiheng. His steps were cold and sharp, with a hint of thunderous force. His black hair flew as he moved, and his eyes were deep. In the instant he brushed past the stiff Mu Yunjin, their eyes met, and it was as if electric sparks collided between them, with unseen sparks flying and intense.
Mu Yunhe's gentle and refined appearance suddenly turned sinister and profound.
Mu Yunjin's resolute and cold face also shattered in an instant.
This war between the two brothers, fought without bloodshed, came inexplicably and ended absurdly. But both of them knew that there was hatred between them.
No matter how eloquently Mu Yunjin spoke, Mu Yunhe didn't believe her. Because Mu Yunjin wasn't truly such a slow-witted person. The tragic memories and painful recollections of her childhood were unforgettable for Mu Yunhe. And she dared not forget what Mu Yunjin and his mother had done to her and her son.
A slight sneer curled at the corner of his lips, and the two instantly parted ways. Mu Yunhe's back was free and easy, his upright back, tall figure, and uniquely arrogant aura all fiercely stimulated Mu Yunjin's nerves, and once again told Mu Yunjin that this person, this sickly person whom he had always despised and ignored, had truly risen.
He came back to life! It wasn't a lie, it wasn't deception, it wasn't acting, and it certainly wasn't a dream!
Therefore, the Mu Royal Palace will also be reshuffled due to Mu Yunhe's continued life. Everything that had been balanced for many years and was thought to be settled will be restored. The upheaval will not only affect the relations between countries, but also the Mu Royal Palace.
"You've been running amok all day long. Who's allowed you to be so arrogant and domineering?" Mu Yunhe stood in front of Luo Zhiheng, naturally taking her fair and tender hand in his. The soft lines of his broad palm intertwined, exuding an irresistible sweetness.
His words were full of affection, his eyes brimming with praise and indulgence. This only made Luo Zhiheng feel more secure and happy, knowing she had someone to rely on. She turned and her joyful voice rang out, sounding like a scream to the stiff-bodied Mu Yunjin.
"Of course it's because you spoiled her! Mu Yunhe is the best, he loves Aheng the most! So you spoil Aheng, and Aheng can do whatever she wants. Our courtyard in the Mu Prince's Mansion is really unlucky, I don't like it at all." Luo Zhiheng hugged Mu Yunhe's neck and deliberately raised her eyebrows to look at Mu Yunjin, whose face was ugly.
She knew very well that the more indecent her behavior appeared, the more Mu Yunjin would dislike her and feel uncomfortable. Her enemy's displeasure made her happy, so she had to be even more indecent.
Mu Yunhe was well aware of her little tricks, and chuckled, "What's so difficult about that? If you don't like it, just tear it down and rebuild it."
Mu Yunjin's brow twitched, staring in shock at the back of Mu Yunhe's head. She couldn't believe Mu Yunhe could utter such flippant words. Large-scale construction projects were incredibly costly and exhausting. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence should know that his residence was the most precious place in the entire Prince's mansion, and it had only been renovated less than seven years ago!