"Ah!" Xiao Xizi's eyes widened in 'horror', and he stammered, "Master, you mustn't! You can't hit them! The little princess will really be angry."
Mu Yunhe glared at Xiao Xizi, annoyed. "Do I have time to beat someone up? Didn't I tell you to spread the message? Hurry up and go. Remember, this message absolutely must reach Luo Zhiheng's ears."
Xiao Xizi's eyes darted around, and he immediately "understood" Mu Yunhe's meaning. He praised Mu Yunhe's brilliance and skill, and then eagerly accepted the order. As soon as he left the room, Xiao Xizi smiled and exchanged a glance with Xiao Yongzi, who was guarding outside. The two of them revealed a knowing smile.
The young princess is indeed incredibly insightful; she even foresaw the young princess's current reaction and plan. Before she left, the young princess told them that Mu Yunhe would definitely use this method to lure her back. Now, everything is exactly as the young princess predicted.
Luo Zhiheng's tactic wasn't particularly clever, but Mu Yunhe was currently only driven by lust and lacked emotional intelligence. She had anticipated Mu Yunhe's actions, and her deliberate use of this powerful move was intended to scare him, end his pointless game, and force him to admit that he had feelings for her.
This was a win-win situation, so Luo Zhiheng was naturally quite happy with it. She was indeed waiting in the inn for news from Mu Yunhe, and then she would 'angrily' return to 'demand an explanation' and, incidentally, rescue the wet nurse and the others. Of course, afterwards, she would also fall into Mu Yunhe's 'trap' and be trapped in the Prince's mansion, unable to escape.
She schemed meticulously for Mu Yunhe's sake, each move ingenious and calculated. Mu Yunhe was indeed no match for her.
As dawn approached, people were already moving about on the streets. Luo Zhiheng was sleeping soundly, but suddenly opened her eyes just as she was drifting off. Her eyes were filled with disbelief, surprise, and finally, overwhelming joy. She jumped up, changed her clothes, and hurried out.
She had only been gone for half an hour when the inn became lively. People got up and immediately began discussing what the High Priest of the Mu Prince's Mansion had done, sighing and arguing, determined to make everyone aware of Mu Yunhe's cruel torture of people the previous night. They even gathered at the inn where Luo Zhiheng was staying to talk. At this rate, even if Luo Zhiheng were deaf, she would find out.
Mu Yunhe kept asking around at home where the news had spread. He was pleased to learn it had already reached the inn where Luo Zhiheng was staying, and smiled smugly. "Trying to mess with me?" he thought. He was waiting for Luo Zhiheng to storm in, furious, and point her finger at him, yelling. Then he could mock her: "Didn't you say you'd never appear in the Mu Prince's mansion again? Why are you here? If you don't keep your word, then don't say it!"
Mu Yunhe imagined Luo Zhiheng being rendered speechless and her face changing color in anger, and all his anger and unease from the night before vanished. He sat down leisurely, sipping his tea, waiting for the fish to take the bait.
But Mu Yunhe waited for a full two hours!
The longer Mu Yunhe waited, the worse his expression became, while Xiao Xizi and Xiao Yongzi were even more bewildered. Weren't they supposed to come as soon as they heard the news? Where did the little princess go?
First update! There will be an extra update today, my darlings! Log in around 5 PM to see it. Group chat, muah! Still asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets!
Chapter 572: Luo Erduo Sees the Light of Day Again! (Bonus Chapter for 88,000 Recommendation Votes)
Updated: 2014-01-23 20:56:51 Word Count: 3617
"Xiao Xizi, how did you spread this message? Where is she?" Mu Yunhe slammed his teacup down in anger.
"I've already told someone to make sure the young princess knows! I don't know why she hasn't come yet!" Xiao Xizi was almost crying. "My lady, why haven't you come yet? Have you changed your mind?"
Mu Yunhe glared: "Send someone to check!" Xiao Xizi obeyed and left.
As time passed, Mu Yunhe grew increasingly uneasy. Xiao Xizi returned at that moment, but her face was deathly pale, and she was utterly terrified. Seeing Xiao Xizi like this, Mu Yunhe's heart skipped a beat. He feigned composure and asked, "What happened? Where is that woman?"
Xiao Xizi knelt down with a thud, his face contorted with grief, and cried, "My lord, something terrible has happened! The little princess has disappeared!"
"What did you say?" Mu Yunhe stood up abruptly, then realized his reaction was too agitated, so he sat down again, his voice now colder and more urgent: "What exactly happened? What do you mean by 'disappeared'?"
"None of us went to watch over the young princess. We thought the news would reach her ears, but I just went to look for her, and she left early this morning, before the news could reach her." Xiao Xizi was also panicked. Wasn't it agreed that they would wait for the news? Why did she leave ahead of time? Xiao Xizi asked in a panic, "Master, could the young princess really be gone?"
Mu Yunhe's face was gloomy, as if a storm was brewing. After thinking for a long time, he finally said, "Immediately send someone to search!"
Even if she really left, he would find her and bring her back. No one could give him the cold shoulder and just leave. Although he didn't know why he still wanted to find Luo Zhiheng, he simply wanted to find her. He had always been capricious and naturally wouldn't care about the inconsistency between his words and actions.
Luo Zhiheng was currently on a desolate mountain range. She frowned as she looked at the surrounding barren mountains, unable to clearly sense anything, even though her senses had been very strong before. After careful observation, that telepathic connection reappeared, and she quickly chose a direction and headed forward.
She had walked all day until sunset, and was now extremely tired and hungry. But Luo Zhiheng didn't choose to turn back; instead, she gritted her teeth and continued on. The feeling was getting closer and closer; it must be somewhere nearby.
As the sun set and the moon rose, Luo Zhiheng finally stopped on a flat mountaintop. Her eyes darted around, searching for something. Fortunately, the moon allowed her to see everything clearly. But after searching for a while, she frowned and stopped, saying in confusion, "That's impossible. I clearly felt that I should be here, so why do I feel nothing now that I'm here?"
As far as her eyes could see, everything was desolate. Undeterred, Luo Zhiheng continued forward, passing through a patch of overgrown weeds and through a grove of trees. Suddenly, a sense of openness washed over her; beyond lay a hidden wonder—a lake. Under the moonlight, its surface shimmered, utterly serene and mysterious.
And on the other side of the lake, a solitary grave stands quietly!
Luo Zhiheng's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over, circling the lonely grave without a memorial tablet. A faint smile gradually appeared in her eyes. She drew her battle sword and began to dig. After a long period of natural weathering, the soil here was quite compacted, and it took Luo Zhiheng more than two hours to dig the grave. This lonely grave was even buried very deep.
On a moonlit night, the quiet lake was occasionally disturbed by the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, creating a rather eerie atmosphere. But Luo Zhiheng paid no heed to these sounds, diligently digging at the grave. When she finally saw the coffin lid, she wiped the sweat from her face and eagerly began to pry it open with a knife.
However, the coffin lid was extremely sturdy, and Luo Zhiheng's strength was ultimately limited. After traveling all the way and digging continuously, she sat down exhausted and fell asleep beside the coffin. Little did she know that another day and night had passed, and Mu Yunhe in the capital was searching for her frantically.
The next day at daybreak, Luo Zhiheng got up, went to the lake to drink some water and wash her face, and then started prying open the coffin again. After about half an hour, she finally managed to pry open a crack in the coffin. Strangely enough, there was no smell of revenge inside, but instead a sweet fragrance wafted out.
Luo Zhiheng smiled and patted the coffin, saying, "Hey, you're awake, right? I almost worked myself to death for you. If you're still alive, hurry up and talk, or I'm leaving."
It was still quiet inside. She was talking to the coffin so strangely. Luckily, no one was there, or they would have been scared to death.
Luo Zhiheng sensed something, and a hint of schadenfreude appeared on her face as she pouted and said, "You still have grievances? Where were you when I was on the verge of death? You even said you'd share my life, and this is how you share your life? I wasn't even dead yet, and you were already buried alive. You call yourself a fairy? You're just an idiot."
There was still no movement inside the coffin. Luo Zhiheng laughed loudly, "Oh, you're still crying? What are you aggrieved about? I was switched with someone back then, and you didn't recognize me. That's a disservice to your master. And you're still crying? What are you crying about? Do you have the nerve to cry? Now I've come to save you, putting aside past grievances and going to great lengths. And you still have the nerve to be stubborn with me? Hurry up and speak, or I'm really leaving."
A faint voice seemed to come from inside the coffin. Luo Zhiheng sneered, "What did you say? Can't you speak louder? I am your master. We have a telepathic connection. I may not know what you say, but what you think... nothing can escape my notice."
"Master, I was wrong! Please save me! Waaaaah, it's so uncomfortable in here!" A slightly hoarse, delicate voice suddenly came from inside the coffin. It sounded like a pleading child, but it was actually full of malice.
Luo Zhiheng patted the coffin, plopped down to the side, and said lazily, "If you want to come out, come out yourself. I'm not moving anymore, I'm exhausted."
"No, I've been sleeping in here for so long, I have no strength left. Please help me, Master! I finally found you!" the voice from the coffin lamented.
"Stop putting on airs. If you couldn't save yourself, would you still be able to contact me? I've been back for so long and you're only contacting me now. What do you mean? Did you come to me because you couldn't get out of the coffin and had no other choice? If you could get out on your own, were you planning to run away and never come back?" Luo Zhiheng asked in a sinister tone.
The person in the coffin finally became anxious and shouted, "No! I was unconscious the whole time, but that idiot Mu Yunhe thought I was dead! Our souls are clearly bound together! How could I be dead if you're not? When I came back, I felt that Luo Zhiheng was a fake, but for some reason I just couldn't sense whose soul was on that person. At that time, because my body suddenly weakened, and the imposter was still unconscious, I hesitated and thought..."
She said angrily, "How could I have known that you were not dead, but I was unconscious. Now that we can finally contact each other again, I couldn't wait to find you. Actually, a year ago I would occasionally sense you, but at that time your aura was very weak. I could not even sense you for a moment and then I could not feel you anymore, as if you had vanished into thin air or died."
"In this situation, it would be impossible for me to remain conscious. Without your breath and pulse, I have nothing, and I can't do anything. It wasn't until you came back this time, and your pulse was always there and clear, that I gradually woke up. I had to conserve my energy to contact you. Bringing you here is already my limit. Master, please save me quickly, your ears are so pitiful."
The person inside the coffin was none other than Luo Zhiheng's little pet, Luo Erduo!
Luo Zhiheng still cares about this little one, otherwise she wouldn't have rushed to save her despite everything.
After hearing her explain the whole story, Luo Zhiheng finally understood. It turned out that without a pulse, Luo Erduo wouldn't have survived. Isn't a pulseless person a sign of death? And indeed, she had no pulse four years ago because her body was too fragile, but she had only recovered in the last six months. That's why Luo Erduo had come back to life.
That's really amazing.
However, Luo Zhiheng still refused to move. The thought of Luo Erduo's sudden appearance disrupting her plans made her wish Luo Erduo would stay in the coffin. She coldly said, "Neither do you have the strength. If you can't get out, then stay in there. But I'll be going home soon. It's up to you whether you want to leave or not."
Luo Erduo became anxious upon hearing this. The little thing was rampaging around inside the coffin, making it rattle and bang. Luo Erduo probably hurt herself, as she cried and screamed. Luo Zhiheng outside laughed gleefully.
After less than fifteen minutes of fussing, cracks suddenly appeared on the coffin, followed by several snapping sounds. In the blink of an eye, the coffin shattered into pieces, and a fair-skinned figure flew out of it, lunging at Luo Zhiheng. Before Luo Zhiheng could react, she was tackled to the ground.
"Master, Master, I miss you so much!" Luo Erduo's voice was sickeningly sweet, her fox eyes bright and beautiful, looking at Luo Zhiheng with wet eyes, rubbing against her.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes were filled with laughter as she patted her little face and said fiercely, "Get up, stop acting like a brat. You ruined my plans. Now you take me back immediately. If we can't reach the capital before dark, I'll cook you up and eat you!"
Luo's ears twitched, and he quickly picked up Luo Zhiheng and disappeared in the blink of an eye. The poor little fox could only be driven around after meeting the big fox Luo Zhiheng. He was unlucky enough to be buried alive for more than four years. He finally saw the light of day again, and all his resentment vanished the moment he saw Luo Zhiheng.
When Luo Zhiheng and Luo Erduo arrived at the city gate, they were surprised to find that the entire city, both inside and outside, was under martial law. Soldiers were strictly guarding the gate, which was tightly shut.
Before Luo Zhiheng could speak, a sharp shout came from the city wall: "It's the Little Princess! Master, the Little Princess is back!"
Luo Zhiheng looked up in surprise, then felt Mu Yunhe's roar for you: "Damn woman, where did you run off to!"
573 Stay with me, let's give it a try!
Updated: 2014-01-24 22:32:23 Word Count: 4610
Luo Zhiheng looked up and saw Mu Yunhe's handsome face, which looked like it was about to explode with anger. He glared at her fiercely and then rushed down. The city gate was wide open, and he rushed out like a whirlwind. The moment he was in front of Luo Zhiheng, she felt a moment of dizziness. In her dizziness, she seemed to see her Yunhe, the man who used to worry, feel sad, and be flustered for her!
His eyebrows and eyes were etched with the marks of time and weariness; the dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot veins in his eyes spoke volumes about this man's sleepless nights.
Luo Zhiheng thought that although things could not proceed as planned because of Luo Erduo's appearance, there seemed to be an unexpected surprise. At least it made Mu Yunhe feel that he was not completely indifferent to her, even though he no longer remembered her.
With a slight smile, Luo Zhiheng's exhaustion and dishevelment seemed even more pronounced, making her appear even more vulnerable: "Are you worried about me? Or are you angry that I came back? Don't worry, I'm only back to take my wet nurse and Qiwan. As for the rest, I definitely won't show up in front of you again."
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's disheveled appearance and exhausted face, Mu Yunhe felt inexplicably depressed. Hearing her speak as if it didn't matter, Mu Yunhe's heart sank even further. He subconsciously darkened his eyes and face, and said in a sharp tone, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you for two days!"
Although his tone was harsh, it was full of grievance, as if Luo Zhiheng had done something to upset him.
Luo Zhiheng's heart softened, but she felt that Mu Yunhe deserved to be taught a lesson and she couldn't let him go unpunished. So she said with a heavy heart, "What do you want from me? Are you going to drive me away yourself? Then I won't trouble you. I will leave on my own. But you have no right to stop me from taking my people with me. Now please step aside."
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's cold and indifferent tone, no longer as indulgent and tender as before, Mu Yunhe felt uneasy and anxious. His voice grew louder and louder, a tone that was all bark and no bite: "You want to take them away, but they can't go with you now. They offended me, and I've already killed them all. You can't take their bodies, you can only take their corpses."
Luo Zhiheng turned around abruptly, looking incredulous, her lips trembling and her body swaying: "Mu Yunhe, do you know what you're saying?"
Seeing Luo Zhiheng so distressed, Mu Yunhe felt both smug and anxious. He was actually quite afraid that he might really upset Luo Zhiheng, but thinking of his own anxiety and worry over the past two days, he was filled with resentment and hardened his heart: "Of course I know what I'm talking about. You were the one who abandoned them. You could have saved them, but you left alone. What's the use of coming back to say all this now? They're dead. You killed them!"
"Mu Yunhe!" Luo Zhiheng suddenly shouted angrily, her expression furious. She took a step forward and roared, "Even if you don't know what the wet nurse and Qiwan mean to me, you should at least ask your father and brother. How dare you kill them? How dare you kill them!"
Luo Zhiheng seemed furious. She roared and repeated it twice, then couldn't say anything more. Her swaying body looked even more frail. She coughed heavily and then collapsed softly to the ground.
Mu Yunhe gasped in shock at the sight, but his body reacted faster and more instinctively than his brain, rushing forward to catch Luo Zhiheng. He cried out urgently, "Aheng!"
He called out the name completely subconsciously, and didn't even react after he did, while Xiao Xizi and the others beside him were overjoyed.
Mu Yunhe carried Luo Zhiheng and ran back, his face pale and ashen, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his handsome face showing dejection and fear.
The next moment, a pair of soft little hands suddenly appeared and snatched Luo Zhiheng from Mu Yunhe's arms. Mu Yunhe was stunned, and then a fierce look appeared on his face. Before he could speak, he felt a figure flash in front of him and Luo Zhiheng disappeared.
Mu Yunhe was horrified, his voice becoming shrill and unsteady: "Stop him! Stop that thing! Get Luo Zhiheng back for me!"
Someone snatched Luo Zhiheng from his grasp, and Mu Yunhe was filled with shock and anger as he gave chase. Unexpectedly, he ended up at the Marshal's Mansion, which was also the Luo family's residence. Mu Yunhe hesitated, unsure whether to go in. The thought of Marshal Luo Ge, who always gave him a hard time and harshly reprimanded him, filled Mu Yunhe with unease and discomfort.
He hated Loge! Every time, Loge would lecture him like an elder, even scolding him. Even his father had never lectured him like that. What gave Loge the right? Just because of Luo Zhiheng? But he ultimately didn't acknowledge Luo Zhiheng's identity.
The gates of the Marshal's Mansion were wide open. After much hesitation, Mu Yunhe finally decided to go in. He couldn't suppress the urge to see Luo Zhiheng, and it would be best if he could take her back with him. That way, he wouldn't have to face Luo Ge, and it would be easier to bully Luo Zhiheng.
To Mu Yunhe's surprise, he found Luo Zhiheng, but no one from the Luo family was home, nor was Luo Ge. Mu Yunhe saw the culprit who had snatched the girl from his arms—a delicate and pretty young girl. He angrily demanded, "Who are you? What did you do to Luo Zhiheng?"
Luo Erduo was extremely surprised. She circled around Mu Yunhe several times, and finally said incredulously, "Don't you recognize me? I'm Luo Xiaoli. Xiaoli, Xiaoli, Erduo, Erduo." As she spoke, she clenched her small, white hands into fists and rubbed her ears, her eyes full of confusion.
"I don't recognize you..." After a pause, Mu Yunhe suddenly realized that this person might be someone he knew before, so he said, "You know me? You didn't hurt Luo Zhiheng, did you?"
"How could I hurt my master? Are you alright, Your Excellency?" Luo Erduo looked surprised, but then she suddenly remembered the culprit who had caused her to sleep underground for four years. Her tone immediately turned vicious and sinister, and her sharp claws stood up: "Your Excellency has a bad memory. Have you forgotten me? You haven't forgotten that you buried me underground, have you?"
"Enough nonsense, I'm taking Luo Zhiheng away. Get out of my way!" Mu Yunhe didn't want to argue with her any longer and strode towards Luo Zhiheng's room. Luo Erduo didn't stop her; to be precise, she was still very afraid of Mu Yunhe.
Seeing Luo Zhiheng lying unconscious on the bed, Mu Yunhe's gaze immediately turned gloomy and fierce. He angrily asked Luo Erduo, "What exactly did you do to her?"
Luo Erduo was startled by Mu Yunhe's fierce aura and quickly waved his hands, saying, "It wasn't me. It's just that Master has been too tired these past few days, which is why he fainted. He'll be fine after a rest."