"Are you going to compete or go to a brothel?" Sun Yunyun's cool voice came from behind.
Luo Zhiheng is just too pretentious; she herself has become pretentious. She's making it so obvious that she's protecting Sun Yunyun, yet it's also kind of funny. These viewers are so good at giving her screen time; she just needed some opportunity to shine, and they've delivered it to her.
Seeing the cabbage stalks and rotten eggs being thrown at him, Luo Zhiheng was furious and cursed inwardly, "What the hell are you doing?" But he had no choice but to continue to pretend to be a refined young master. He turned around abruptly with Sun Yunyun, and to Sun Yunyun's incredulous gaze, the rotten cabbage stalks and rotten eggs that should have landed on her ended up hitting Luo Zhiheng instead.
She lowered her face and whispered mysteriously in Sun Yunyun's ear, "Because... you are the woman I've set my sights on!"
Her movements were so frivolous and exaggerated, and so sudden, that even though they were all girls, Sun Yunyun still felt a chill run down her spine, as if her senses were being destroyed.
The judge said sternly, "Luo Zhiheng! Behave yourself! This is the First Talent Competition, not a place for you to play around. If you haven't had enough fun, go home and cause trouble. If you want to stay here, then compete properly. If you really can't dance, then there's no need to compete. You've lost."
Filled with resentment and anger, the young man feigned composure and said to Sun Yunyun, "Miss Sun, I am An Qingshan, my father is a first-rank official... I live at..."
Suddenly, Consort Li had a thought. If news of Mu Yunhe's impending death were to arrive during Luo Zhiheng's competition, would those who planned to treat Luo Zhiheng like a monster simply kill her instead?
"No interest," Sun Yunyun said coldly. She wanted to separate from Luo Zhiheng, but Luo Zhiheng clung to her like a leech, making Sun Yunyun's expression even colder.
Luo Zhiheng was taken aback. Why did Sun Yunyun seem so formidable? Did ancient women really dare to casually mention brothels? Luo Zhiheng instantly felt a connection with someone of similar tastes. Smiling, she leaped onto the stage and exclaimed, "I am Luo Zhiheng! I'm sure you know me without much introduction, right? My name has been on your lips for a long time, hasn't it?"
I like women, I like women...
Luo Zhiheng's bright, smiling eyes suddenly dimmed, and she chuckled self-deprecatingly, "This is the secret I wanted to tell you. Actually, I... am a man!"
Sun Yunyun was dumbfounded. Her learned mind was speechless, unable to describe how she felt at this moment. It was more terrifying than being struck by lightning, more horrifying than being kissed by a pig, and more upside down than being used by her father as a tool for a marriage alliance!
Sun Yunyun was stunned by her question: "You have an even bigger secret? No! I don't want to know!"
"Luo Zhiheng, you'd better forfeit quickly, then I'll have my servants take their men back to the manor immediately, and I won't cause you any trouble," the self-proclaimed dashing young master shouted arrogantly. Behind him followed a group of servants, armed with swords and torches, ready for battle.
Luo Zhiheng's sorrow vanished completely, and the two entered into a state of blissful oblivion. She spoke with a faint, mocking tone, "Wasn't love because my mother always wanted another daughter? My mother gave birth to me before my sister, and she was already very weak then. My father cared so much for my mother, so he frantically used this method to deceive her. He was afraid my mother would get anxious and something bad would happen to her, so he said I was a daughter, but my mother still died. Don't you know that my father disliked Luo Ningshuang and favored me when we were little? That's because I'm a 'boy,' and even more so because my father felt guilty that I, his son, had to be treated like a daughter." Luo Zhiheng's words also stirred a reaction from those closely watching her below, each one wanting to attack her en masse. How hateful! Playing people like fools? A woman with a heart of stone.
"Luo Zhiheng, what are you doing? Let go of Sun Yunjun right now!" the judge shouted.
Luo Ningshuang was standing right next to her, stunned by Luo Zhiheng's sudden display of eloquence, so comprehensive and logical, as if possessed by the spirit of a top scholar. She was still in shock when Luo Zhiheng's light and narcissistic tone suddenly drifted into her ears, and all the forbearance and patience Luo Ningshuang had accumulated over two lifetimes shattered in an instant.
The young master felt goosebumps all over under Luo Zhiheng's gaze. He really didn't want to tell Luo Zhiheng what would happen if this handsome, dashing, and brilliant man fell for Luo Zhiheng, this toad. But Luo Zhiheng was too cunning! How dare she speak like that in front of the beauty he had his eye on? If he didn't speak up, wouldn't the beauty look down on him?
Sun Yunyun was stunned, feeling as if her blood had turned to ice. This was unbelievable! She kept repeating the same question: "You can't possibly be a man. Why hasn't anyone discovered this all these years? Besides, why would your family make you live as a woman? What evidence do you have that you're a man?"
Pushing aside the stunned Li Xian'er, Luo Zhiheng sat on the waiting table, ignoring the people who were still dumbfounded and hadn't come to their senses yet. While showing off her small mirror, she narcissistically sighed, "How can I be so beautiful and charming? I really am naturally beautiful and hard to hide."
But Luo Zhiheng didn't let go; she hugged the mortal even tighter. With a smile in her eyes, she looked at the pale-faced Sun Yunyun and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I will protect you!"
A cacophony of curses and roars erupted, and rotten cabbage stalks and eggs were hurled at Luo Zhiheng as if they were free. People were used to this; they hadn't prepared for Luo Zhiheng's competition a few days ago, but today was different. They'd brought all the essential weapons for dealing with bad guys—a whole sackful!
"What are you doing?" Sun Yunyun couldn't control her voice, but Luo Zhiheng was very strong. Among girls, Luo Zhiheng's height was definitely a height that women would look up to. Sun Yunyun standing in front of Luo Zhiheng was just short!
She was practically dancing around Sun Yunyun, whose movements were the kind of ancient dance where she flicked her sleeves and played with her waist. With Luo Zhiheng as a major obstacle in front of her, she couldn't perform at all, but no one stopped her, because their task was to dance together.
Consort Li's eyes gleamed with a chilling light. This insane idea filled her with joy and excitement. If she could truly use these people to kill Luo Zhiheng, she would not only get her revenge but also ensure Luo Zhiheng suffered a terrible death, saving her the trouble of doing it herself. It was a win-win-win situation.
He's so handsome it's blinding!
The final showdown among the twenty contestants will see ten eliminated, and everyone is incredibly nervous. Aside from Luo Zhiheng's constant mishaps, the competition has been consistently tense, fierce, cruel, and captivating. Every woman demonstrates her true talent, even Li Xian'er.
The young master's face turned pale and then red. He pointed at Luo Zhiheng, wanting to curse, but he couldn't utter a single word, because Sun Yunyun was already standing on the arena looking at them.
Luo Zhiheng still smiled handsomely, and said with a roguish grin, "Those things should have been given to me by them in the first place. How can I let my woman suffer with me?"
Sun Yunyun was also quite frustrated. Of all people to run into, she had to run into this guy. Although she didn't like competition, she couldn't accept losing to him. Besides, if Luo Zhiheng had won through genuine skill, she wouldn't have anything to say, but this woman's shady ways made her truly wary.
Sun Yunyun witnessed all of this, watching Luo Zhiheng transform from vulgar to disheveled. Her hand touched Luo Zhiheng's shoulder blades and clothes, which smelled slick and foul. Sun Yunyun couldn't describe her feelings, but her voice was no longer sharp: "Why did you do this?" She had never encountered such a situation before, and she felt an indescribable sense of emotion. She even wanted to forget the anger she felt when Luo Zhiheng said she had taken a liking to her!
Sun Yunyun showed no expression whatsoever as she gracefully walked onto the stage, lifting her skirt.
Consort Li retreated to the side with a grim expression. Although she wished she could kill Luo Zhiheng, she also knew that Luo Zhiheng's words today, as well as Li Xian'er's hurtful remarks, would probably soon reach the emperor's ears. Under such circumstances, it was indeed in Luo Zhiheng's favor both emotionally and logically.
"What if I say I won't let go?" Suddenly, Luo Zhiheng narrowed her big eyes. When she narrowed her eyes like that, she gave off a charming and wicked feeling. Her eyes were full of smiles and doting light, like a romantic young master teasing his beloved girl.
She was very impolite, and she has never been one to be polite to everyone.
Sun Yunyun sensed that something was amiss, and a strange feeling was creeping up on her. With a cold face, she asked in a low voice, "Why did you tell me?"
Luo Zhiheng continued to dance around the stage with Sun Yunjun. Although Sun Yunjun kept kicking her, Luo Zhiheng smiled. The dance seemed to have no rules and didn't even match the music, but Luo Zhiheng, who was in charge, suddenly changed her whole demeanor. The woman in her arms immediately felt a sense of being petite and protected. The aura that Luo Zhiheng exuded was melancholic, noble, and unparalleled gentlemanly.
"Then would you be willing to continue keeping my even bigger secrets for me?" she asked, her voice deep and captivating, a deliberately lowered, magnetic bass-low tone.
Luo Ningshuang's face was grim, but this couldn't be seen because of her veil. She glanced at Luo Zhiheng with a dark and complicated expression. It didn't matter; whether Luo Zhiheng won or was eliminated in today's series of matches, she was confident she could handle Luo Zhiheng. She wouldn't let Luo Zhiheng have the limelight all to herself again.
Under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of people, Luo Zhiheng remained calm and composed. She showed no trace of the demeanor of a well-bred lady. Sitting there with an air of authority and confidence, she possessed both feminine charm and masculine spirit. Her straight back seemed to reflect her indomitable will, and the air still echoed with the domineering words she had just spoken. Everyone looking at her was on high alert.
The entire room quickly fell silent, leaving only pairs of large, angry eyes staring at her, as if they wanted to crush her with their eyelids.
Suddenly, she grabbed Sun Yunyun's arm and forcefully pulled her into her arms. One hand was already on Sun Yunyun's waist, and the other hand was forcibly holding Sun Yunyun's hand. The movement was smooth and graceful. With two spins, she completely disrupted Sun Yunyun's dance steps and posture.
Sun Yunyun's face flushed red, and she gritted her teeth as she angrily said, "Don't talk nonsense! Who is your woman? How can a woman say such things?"
"What?!" Sun Yunjun exclaimed, or rather, screamed. Her voice was terrified and shrill.
After this happened several times, Luo Zhiheng protected Sun Yunyun from smashing things, and the speed at which the crowd threw objects slowed down and decreased. They realized what was going on. They didn't want to hurt Sun Yunyun, and Luo Zhiheng's actions clearly showed that she didn't want to hurt her either. So the crowd was shocked and confused. What exactly was Luo Zhiheng doing? Wasn't she trying to harm Sun Yunyun? Why was she protecting her?
"Next up, Luo Zhiheng will face off against Sun Yunyun, the eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion. Please draw lots to select your performance." The steward announced loudly on stage.
Sun Yunyun felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She felt as if everyone had gone deaf and blinded, as if thunder roared and the earth shook. Her mind was filled with Luo Zhiheng's light, airy words repeating endlessly…
Whether it was fate or not, Luo Zhiheng and Luo Ningshuang never faced each other as opponents. After Luo Ningshuang went on stage, she was chosen to perform a dance. A magnificent and beautiful dance was met with thunderous applause and cheers, and without a doubt, her opponent was eliminated.
Luo Zhiheng waved her hand good-naturedly and said loudly with a great air, "Hey, hey, hey, what are you all arguing about? What does it matter to you if I can't dance? Quiet down, or I'll come knocking on your doors one by one when I get home tonight."