"Your Majesty, there's no need to be nervous. Even if the result of this match is not satisfactory, there is still one last match. Zhuge Hualuan is not someone who can be easily defeated by some random person!" The Sixth Prince's eyes flashed with relief, and the proud man couldn't help but speak up to comfort him.
Clearly, he thought the same as the Prince of Shi, believing that the Emperor's bad complexion, even so gloomy, was because he also sensed the outcome of the match. The Prince of Shi was gloating because he regarded the Emperor as one of Emperor Xian's men. After all, Emperor Xian controlled the Southern Dynasty, and the Sixth Prince was in charge of the Southern Dynasty in place of Emperor Xian, so naturally he regarded the Emperor as one of his own.
Both princes took this cause-and-effect cycle for granted, but no one ever asked the emperor what he actually thought.
Dance and music are the most infectious things. Joyful and enthusiastic dances and melodious and light music are the most touching and can make people feel happy involuntarily.
The three girls danced happily amidst laughter and chatter. Not wanting Mu Yunhe to be left out in the cold, Luo Zhiheng, feeling sorry for him, led them in dancing around him, like a mini Naadam festival, where the girls danced boldly around the handsome man.
Mu Yunhe cooperated, not wanting to hold Luo Zhiheng back any longer, so he forced himself to sit up straight and tilted his head back slightly, as if focusing on the girls, but his gaze always followed Luo Zhiheng.
A heart-stirring dance love story unfolds, culminating in a happy ending and the discovery of friendship. People spontaneously imagine that the devoted and kind-hearted desert goddess will live happily ever after with the prince and her friends, singing and dancing without a care in the world!
It was a very clichéd ending, but also a very heartwarming one. People were satisfied!
The three girls held hands, and as the nanny hinted at the end of the music, they raised their hands together and jumped up joyfully, bringing the entire dance to a complete end!
Three girls landed on the desert, looked at each other and smiled. They held hands, and their clear laughter echoed across the desert!
Thunderous applause erupted from all directions like a giant wave, drowning out their laughter, but unable to drown out their enthusiasm and smiles!
Luo Zhiheng helped Mu Yunhe up, and Murong Qianxue also came to help. The two of them supported Mu Yunhe subtly, as if they were joking around, just so others wouldn't notice that Mu Yunhe was weak. Mu Yunhe was also quite strong; after he caught his breath, even the heartache he had felt earlier because of his speculation about his sister lessened considerably.
Luo Zhiheng is indeed his magic potion!
The four of them stood in the arena. Luo Zhiheng waited for a while, but the people outside the arena still couldn't control their fervent passion and cheers. Luo Zhiheng smiled happily and waited like that.
She breathed a sigh of relief. She had to be humble; she wasn't a great dancer, but her achievements were due to her intelligence. She truly understood how to leverage her strengths and compensate for her weaknesses to shine. By combining what she wasn't good at, she achieved everything she had today.
She knew she needed to be wary of Bai Mingzhu because of the Bai family's sneak attacks and assassinations, and also because the Empress had told her that Bai Mingzhu was extremely cunning and that she should be careful of her tricks during the competition. Luo Zhiheng could only think that even if Bai Mingzhu tried to cheat, she wouldn't dare kill her. The only possibility was that Bai Mingzhu was targeting her performance. If the two of them were to encounter each other, Bai Mingzhu might very well resort to underhanded tactics.
So she was wary of Bai Mingzhu from the very beginning, and she kept setting traps for Bai Mingzhu.
First, she provoked Bai Mingzhu, then she covered herself up tightly. After all, if she didn't change her clothes during her rest, she wouldn't have time to prepare herself. But if Bai Mingzhu saw her attire first, her desire to dance would be exposed. So she covered herself up very tightly and then deliberately said that she needed a zither, but she didn't specify that she wanted to play it. There is a fundamental difference between needing a zither and wanting to play it.
Thus, a subtle trap was laid, firmly ensnaring Bai Mingzhu. Even if Bai Mingzhu wanted to refute or accuse her, she had ample reasons and explanations to humiliate Bai Mingzhu, and this also cast doubt on Bai Mingzhu's character. Multiple gains in one fell swoop, and no matter what, she was the ultimate beneficiary! The Emperor was furious.
Luo Zhiheng was undeniably ruthless! How could the arrogant and conceited Bai Mingzhu possibly fathom or guess her cunning and scheming? She always maintained a "those who offend me, I will exterminate them" attitude towards those who truly wanted to kill her! And Bai Mingzhu was a direct descendant of the Bai family, extremely unfriendly to her, and treacherous—well, sorry, if you don't go to hell, who will? 178.
Luo Zhiheng meticulously planned every step, even inviting General Murong to personally accompany her on the music—an extremely risky and dangerous move!
Because General Murong himself is a person of high power and authority, a leading figure among the armies under heaven, and a legendary figure who is closest to the God of War Yelü Cangsheng. His own honors and qualifications already have countless highlights and highlights. If he accompanies the music, everyone's attention will be drawn to him if he is not careful. If that happens, Luo Zhiheng will have no chance in this competition and will definitely lose!
Luo Zhiheng desperately needed music. The Empress said that General Murong, in his youth, led troops in battle and was stationed in the northern frontier for many years. There, he learned the local musical instruments and became extremely proficient. Moreover, General Murong could play quite a few pieces. Luo Zhiheng was intrigued, thinking that with such a respected figure as General Murong joining her, her performance would definitely be enhanced. However, she also had to ensure that General Murong wouldn't steal the spotlight, otherwise everything she did would be meaningless. After all, this competition was her chance to save Mu Yunhe's life, and she couldn't allow any mistakes to occur.
But Luo Zhiheng did it anyway, and even persuaded General Murong to condescend to play a supporting role. She knew the old man didn't like being in the limelight, but others didn't care; watching the general play the zither was truly unbelievable and fascinating. For Luo Zhiheng to win this competition, she herself needed to be even more outstanding and excellent. Therefore, the pressure on Luo Zhiheng for this dance was immense!
But for Mu Yunhe, she had no choice but to risk it all! With only two steps left to success, and the chance to beg the King for her life, she simply couldn't give up.
But at this moment, she knew how to remain calm and composed. In this dangerous collaboration, in this high-stakes gamble, she still won! She drew everyone's attention to herself, the protagonist. Although she made General Murong a supporting character, as long as Mu Yunhe has the chance to live well, she will consider General Murong's help today as a favor and will serve him as her own ancestor in the future!
"Goddess of the Desert!" Suddenly, an excited shout rang out from the crowd. The cheers paused for a moment, then erupted into an even more fervent roar: "Goddess of the Desert! Goddess of the Desert!!"
The people's gazes towards Luo Zhiheng were so fervent; they were still unable to shake off the spectacular performance, shouting incoherently the name they believed best suited for Luo Zhiheng.
Desert Goddess!
A dance earned him a sacred title shrouded in mystery!
Luo Zhiheng smiled with a hint of smugness and pride, and couldn't help but look at Mu Yunhe, her eyes sparkling with a dazzling light.
Mu Yunhe stood beside her, unable to resist reaching out to hook his arm around her soft waist. His gaze was focused and tender as he softly chuckled, "Goddess of the Desert? Yes, my Aheng, truly deserving of the title!"
Luo Zhiheng originally intended to show off to Mu Yunhe, but when Mu Yunhe praised her, she became a little shy. Just like in the story she was portraying, she was a little shy but stubbornly tilted her head up, not wanting to be looked down upon by her lover. That look was the most captivating and breathtaking beauty in the world!
The two exchanged glances silently, and an invisible yet palpable sweet and warm atmosphere flowed between them, making others feel beautiful and comfortable.
"Together! Together!" someone couldn't help but shout again, urging the two to be together. The crowd, completely out of control, disregarded any previous adherence to moral principles and joined in the frenzied shouting. Although they didn't know what the man in black robes looked like, seeing the two of them standing together at that moment, they naturally assumed they were lovers who should be together, and nothing could separate them!
Yu'er didn't know who the man in black was, but she clapped her hands excitedly and shouted, "Together! Goddess and prince, live happily ever after! Luo Zhiheng... Ouch!"
Murong Qianxue slapped Yu'er on the head, pointed at Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe, and said angrily, "Call her Aunt Heng, and this is Uncle."
Yu'er shouted indignantly, "Why! Why has my seniority been lowered again?"
"Because Luo Zhiheng is my friend, and I brought her here, you have to call her according to my seniority. Hurry up and call her that." Murong Qianxue said smugly, mercilessly tormenting her eldest niece who had been silently crying for many years because of this seniority.
Princess Yu was almost in tears. "Does this have to be so domineering? You're only a year or two older than me! Calling you 'Auntie' is already beneath me, and now you have to call Luo Zhiheng, who's about my age, 'Auntie'? No way!"
"No! She's my friend too. I won't call her by your family name. I'll call her Luo Zhiheng, Luo Zhiheng! Don't even think about taking advantage of me, you mean auntie!" Yu'er said angrily, but as she spoke, she looked like she was about to run away, covering her forehead with her hands, as if afraid that her auntie would slap her again. She looked adorable.
"How dare you defy your aunt!" Murong Qianxue roared fiercely, chasing after her to hit her.
Luo Zhiheng burst into laughter at the two clowns, and even Mu Yunhe couldn't help but chuckle. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of his charming smile beneath his hooded, chapped lips, and unconsciously smiled even more affectionately at him. Mu Yunhe silently pulled her closer.
The judges, completely stunned and amazed, stood up. Standing in their seats, their faces flushed and eyes gleaming with excitement, they were at a loss for words to describe the visual feast they had witnessed!
Never before in this century-old competition, in any of its regional divisions, or even across the entire country, has such a vibrant and celebratory scene unfolded, nor has such a breathtaking performance been ever witnessed. Looking at the jubilant crowds from all directions, the judges already knew their answer.
However, no one is impulsive. They hadn't forgotten the piece Bai Mingzhu had performed earlier. Logically speaking, Bai Mingzhu's performance was more professional, and she played the piece quite well, but compared to Luo Zhiheng's performance, it paled in comparison.
Luo Zhiheng's strength lay in her innovation, her uniqueness, and her refusal to follow conventions. Even more impressive was the personal support of a veteran general commanding a million soldiers! And even more remarkable was the accompaniment of a renowned musician! Noble ladies from the Mu Dynasty danced for her, and the Empress's eldest daughter from the Southern Dynasty, Princess Yu, danced with her—a truly astonishing lineup! Her performance ignited the passion of almost everyone in the audience. This moment would undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of the Silver Moon Kingdom.
However, the only thing that made the judges hesitant about Bai Mingzhu's performance was that she played a piece composed by the Qin Saint, and she played it quite well. Moreover, the Qin Saint was present today, and for the people of Silver Moon Kingdom, the Qin Saint was a powerful figure who could not be ignored. How could they easily reject Bai Mingzhu? Would rejecting Bai Mingzhu make the Qin Saint feel that they had rejected the Qin Saint's original composition?
It can be said that Bai Mingzhu and Luo Zhiheng both played the celebrity card today, making it difficult to draw a conclusion easily.
"You've given birth to a fine son and married a fine wife," the Chess Master said to Old Master Tong with a wistful smile, his eyes full of envy. He couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if Luo Zhiheng had married one of his grandsons.
"Yes, he's the most smug one. Look at him, his mouth is practically stretched to his ears with a grin," the Painting Saint said sourly. His gaze towards Luo Zhiheng was incredibly conflicted. This girl is truly bizarre; she turns a painting into a masterpiece, and even a dance can be turned into a story. Is there anything she can't do? At such a young age, is she some kind of prodigy?
Old Master Tong actually wanted to smile more reservedly, but he couldn't help it; his sons were just too promising, so he couldn't be reserved even if he wanted to. So he abandoned all pretense of reserve and laughed heartily, "You flatter me! Yunhe is truly blessed by heaven, just as his wife just sang, 'Thank and praise the gods in heaven!' As for Heng'er, he's quite good! Hahahaha!"
Old Tong couldn't hold back any longer; the exhilarating feeling welled up inside him. He burst into laughter again as soon as he finished speaking, drawing glares and disdain from the others. Naturally, there was also envy and jealousy.
"Quiet down! Quiet down!" The chief judge, overly excited, felt compelled to step in and calm things down, seeing the still-enthusiastic atmosphere, but no one paid him any attention. He glanced at Madam Song. To his surprise, Madam Song was smiling at Luo Zhiheng, but traces of tears were clearly visible on her face. The chief judge sighed; Luo Zhiheng was too ruthless. She had stirred up so many painful memories.
But Madam Song had a good sense of time. She also felt that people had been reveling for too long, so she took her place on the referee's platform and used her inner strength to amplify her voice far and wide: "Quiet!!"
The hundreds of thousands of people standing outside the desert fence finally managed to reduce the noise, but it was still quite loud. Even in quieter conditions, it probably wouldn't return to the resounding impact of Luo Zhiheng's dance and song.
Luo Zhiheng glanced at them, then stepped forward and gracefully curtsied to those around her. Her manners were elegant and proper, as if she were greeting the people around her, which was met with even more enthusiastic cheers. At this moment, Luo Zhiheng's name became a symbol, an idol worshipped by everyone, and her reputation and fame instantly rose to a level that inspired admiration.
Isn't this ironic? Luo Ningshuang was reborn, and for eighteen years she schemed, suppressing, trampling on, and vilifying Luo Zhiheng, ruining her reputation and making her universally despised. At the same time, she spared no effort to elevate her own status and reputation, promoting her own good name. After eighteen years of hard work, she still couldn't make her name known internationally or achieve global fame!
However, Luo Zhiheng remained unknown for eighteen years, but once she rose to prominence, she became unstoppable and incredibly powerful! Her success was far more astonishing and effortless than Luo Ningshuang's eighteen years of painstaking scheming!
Luo Ningshuang nearly choked on a mouthful of blood. She was so angry she felt like she was going to die! She wondered, what was wrong with Luo Zhiheng? How could she be like an unkillable cockroach? The stronger the enemy, the stronger Luo Zhiheng became, each counterattack more powerful and forceful than the last, making Luo Ningshuang feel increasingly pressured and terrified.
In Luo Ningshuang's opinion, Luo Zhiheng's performance was terrible. She just jumped around haphazardly and uttered so many disgusting, shameless, and indecent words and phrases. What's most hateful is that she openly seduced Mu Yunhe—she was a model of shamelessness! How could such a woman, with such a performance, receive so much love and admiration? These people must be blind!
Luo Ningshuang wanted nothing more than to rush up and yell at these people, telling them to stop being so naive and fooled by Luo Zhiheng. Open your eyes and take a good look! Luo Zhiheng was flaunting her charms like a lowly courtesan, shameless and disrespectful. How could you all be applauding her?
And Mu Yunhe, are you an idiot? Luo Zhiheng is such a despicable woman, shamelessly writhing her body in front of so many people, how can you still be bewitched by her? What are you doing? What's so good about this woman that she makes you go crazy with her and do such a vile thing!
You two actually dared to kiss each other in public, it's simply... it's... Luo Ningshuang couldn't think of anything else to say, but her face was extremely ugly. Just thinking about Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe kissing, thinking about what they would do even more intimately, and seeing them embracing each other sweetly now, Luo Ningshuang felt a burning pain in her chest.
In her past life, Mu Yunhe had never treated her like this! In her past life, she was also Mu Yunhe's wife, a lawfully wedded wife. Why didn't Mu Yunhe treat her like this back then? There was no tenderness or affection whatsoever, not even a single touch! And what's most hateful is that Mu Yunhe in her past life was already terminally ill, bedridden, and would have died soon. How is Mu Yunhe still alive now?
What went wrong? What exactly went wrong?! Why are things happening now different from in my past life? Why didn't the person who was supposed to die die, and instead became more enthusiastic? What's going on?!
puff!
Luo Ningshuang's mind was a complete mess, and she couldn't understand anything. Provoked by Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe, she finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, but she quickly covered it with a handkerchief, not daring to make a sound.
This is the second time! This is the second time Luo Zhiheng has made her so angry she almost vomited blood! That bitch! She will definitely not let Luo Zhiheng get away with this!
"Girl!" Chunnuan cried out in alarm.
The princes and their entourage instinctively turned to look, only to see Luo Ning Shuang, her face pale, half-covering her face, her large eyes still holding a barely concealed, sinister glint—a sight the prince had caught completely. The emperor, of course, also saw her. 16478465
In an instant, the two of them felt disgusted with Luo Ning Shuang. Her frail and weak appearance was so unlike the healthy and energetic Luo Zhi Heng that it was simply unlikable!
The emperor withdrew his gaze, the Prince turned away without a trace of emotion, and the other princes looked on thoughtfully.
These two sisters are truly worlds apart. Although they don't like Luo Zhiheng either, they admire her talent. If Luo Zhiheng is so outstanding, then isn't Luo Ningshuang, who has been the champion of the Mu Dynasty's Talent Competition for nine consecutive years, even more impressive?
A prince joked, "Your Majesty is truly remarkable, taking in these two beautiful sisters, each with exceptional talents. It's truly enviable."
"It's a pity that these two sisters can't perform together. Otherwise, we could see whether the younger sister, a nine-time champion with a legendary reputation, is more powerful, or the older sister, who is always criticized for being incompetent. But it's so strange, if the younger sister is so powerful, why is it the older sister who is participating in the Grand Tournament?" another prince couldn't help but tease him with curiosity.
The Sixth Prince said coolly, "The two sisters naturally have their own strengths, but as far as I know, when the very talented Luo Ningshuang participated in the Mu Dynasty competition for nine consecutive years, Luo Zhiheng had never participated in a single one. But as soon as Luo Zhiheng participated this time, her famous younger sister was immediately eliminated. This is truly intriguing. Moreover, judging from Luo Zhiheng's talent, she is quite remarkable."
The princes, deeply resentful, vented their anger towards the Prince on Luo Zhiheng's talented sister. Their intention was to provoke and disgust the Prince, accusing him of being blind to his worth for nearly ten years. However, upon hearing these words, Luo Ningshuang felt a surge of rage, like a thunderclap coursing through her limbs. Unable to contain herself any longer, she coughed up another mouthful of blood, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed completely!
The princes' expressions changed, and they all looked at Prince Shi cautiously. Although Prince Shi's face was calm, his eyes were cold, and he said indifferently, "Useless thing, take her away! Find her a doctor. After all, Luo Zhiheng has just been through a lot, and I can't watch her own sister die here."
Luo Ning Shuang, who hadn't completely fainted, heard this and realized that she was only saved because of Luo Zhi Heng. She was so angry that she fainted completely.
First update! There will be more updates and bonus chapters today!! Keep it up, my darlings! Bonus chapters are almost here at 1200 monthly votes, and I'll add one immediately when Hua Sha reaches that. Bonus chapters at 1600 and 2000 monthly votes. Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly votes! Love you all!
215 The bandit's domineering presence is off the charts! Two consecutive victories! (Calling for monthly votes)
Updated: 2013-07-29 15:29:41 Word Count: 3400
The judges engaged in a heated discussion, and the result was not to be announced lightly. They looked at the Qin Sheng with hesitant expressions. Finally, the chief judge spoke to the Qin Sheng personally.
He was a top judge in the Grand Competition, a very impressive figure, but unfortunately, in front of the Qin Saint, he had to suppress his arrogance and carefully flatter him.
The judges felt a chill run down their spines when they saw the sadness that Qin Sheng couldn't hide on his face. They knew this was no easy task, but they had no choice but to bite the bullet and carefully and tactfully conveyed the judges' thoughts to Qin Sheng. Qin Sheng glared at them, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
The chief judge, feeling as if granted a pardon, quickly returned to the judges' table and loudly announced, "This was truly a magnificent performance. Both contestants were excellent, and we really had no choice but to judge. Fortunately, both performances featured the participation of the Qin Saint, so the judges have unanimously decided to invite the Qin Saint to personally provide feedback and select the winner this time."
As soon as these words were spoken, people rallied to support them.
Bai Mingzhu, who was already dumbfounded, felt an even greater chill run down her spine this time.
Knowing that the Qin Sage was there, she deliberately played a piece composed by him, hoping to gain his favor and thus improve her chances. She was also confident that she could defeat Luo Zhiheng. However, Luo Zhiheng's series of amazing performances left her feeling numb and uncertain.
Furthermore, the Qin Saint unexpectedly joined Luo Zhiheng's camp, personally accompanying her on the music. This clearly demonstrates that even if the Qin Saint didn't have any romantic feelings for Luo Zhiheng, he certainly had high hopes for her! This made Bai Mingzhu feel uneasy; if the Qin Saint were to make the judgment, she might be in grave danger.
In the silence, Bai Mingzhu could no longer hold back and stood up. It turned out that she had been kneeling there the whole time, and the emperor had not told her to get up.
"I disagree! This is a talent show, but Luo Zhiheng's performance, which is supposed to be dance but isn't even a proper dance, is a mess and completely against the rules. How can it be considered a talent show? The competition should disqualify Luo Zhiheng! She doesn't respect the competition rules and the judges, and uses this improper method to mislead everyone!" Bai Mingzhu's words were hurtful, completely disregarding the consequences.
Almost everyone was speechless. Her denial wasn't just against Luo Zhiheng alone, but also against all those who had been moved by Luo Zhiheng's touching story. No one wanted to be blamed for no reason, and in an instant, even those who supported Bai Mingzhu couldn't help but feel disgusted with her.