Luo Zhiheng casually escorted Murong Qianxue back to her room before finally letting out a sigh of relief. She felt that everything in the Southern Dynasty was a complete mess. The Zhuge family could no longer pursue the matter, as Zhuge Hualuan was dead, and before her death, the Zhuge family had severed ties with her, kicking her out. Therefore, she had no reason to cause them any trouble. The Zhuge family was also very quiet now; perhaps they knew the true cause of Zhuge Hualuan's death but avoided discussing it, which meant they were truly willing to let things go.
Luo Zhiheng couldn't interfere in Empress Murong Qianchen's love life, as it was a matter between the Empress and the Emperor, and as an outsider, she couldn't offer much help. She also couldn't do much to alleviate Qianxue's worries.
And then there's the death of Princess Aman of the Western Barbarian Kingdom. Now the people of the Western Barbarian Kingdom are constantly watching them in secret, which is also a hidden danger.
The Bai family, however, is Luo Zhiheng's true greatest threat. Bai Mingyue is clearly an ambitious person, and Luo Zhiheng has repeatedly embarrassed her, which will only make Bai Mingyue more determined. If Luo Zhiheng cannot eliminate Bai Mingyue while still in the Southern Dynasty, the consequences will be dire.
But how could she get rid of Bai Mingyue? Bai Mingyue's status had risen dramatically; even if she was an illegitimate child, the emperor's illegitimate child was still a royal heir. If she managed to kill Bai Mingyue, she could eliminate the threat completely, but if things were exposed, she would likely face endless trouble. She didn't want to cause herself any trouble, because she wanted to be happy with Mu Yunhe.
Time flowed by, and everything seemed to quiet down again. The King of the World began to pester the Poison Saint all day long. However, since the Poison Saint regained his true appearance, he had been weak and bedridden. He would often get angry and lose his appetite due to pain. The King of the World was so worried that he dared not leave him for even a moment, let alone help Luo Zhiheng kill Bai Mingyue.
Moreover, Luo Zhiheng couldn't kill someone without a reason. Nothing seemed to be going well. But fortunately, Mu Yunhe's health was gradually recovering. Although the process wasn't fast, his complexion improved a little each day, his skin strengthened a little each day, he smiled more often, and he was no longer so resistant to the light…
These are all improvements, things that Luo Zhiheng likes and is willing to see.
Five or six days passed by at a leisurely pace, and Luo Ningshuang, who had been quiet all along, finally made a move.
"Ask me to go out and play?" Luo Zhiheng sat there lazily, her hand gently stroking the armrest. Her expression was unreadable, and her gaze seemed to be able to see into people's hearts as she stared straight at Chun Nuan.
"Yes, the Second Miss is inviting the Eldest Miss out for a trip. She's been here for a while but hasn't explored the Southern Dynasty yet, and is quite curious. Also, the Second Miss's health has been poor, but she's only recently recovered. She also knows about the incident with the kitchen knife and feels deeply guilty towards the Eldest Miss, so she wants to invite her out to apologize." Chun Nuan was Luo Ning Shuang's trusted maid, and naturally, she was loyal to Luo Ning Shuang. She looked down on Luo Zhi Heng, but the current Luo Zhi Heng made her unable to look directly at her.
Chun Nuan was filled with anxiety, wondering if Luo Zhiheng would reject her. If she did, she wouldn't be able to explain it to Luo Ningshuang when she returned. Lately, the second young lady's personality had been very strange, and she was also very afraid of being beaten or scolded.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Luo Zhiheng remained silent, staring intently at Chun Nuan, lost in thought. Perhaps the time was too long, for Chun Nuan grew impatient and glanced up, only to be met with Luo Zhiheng's ambiguous smile. For a moment, she felt as if needles were piercing her eyes, and she quickly lowered her head, prostrating herself on the ground in humility.
Luo Zhiheng said coldly, "Your second young lady has recovered quite well. Such serious injuries, and she's recovered so quickly? But that makes sense, she's always been incredibly powerful in combat. However, I'm a little hesitant to accept her apology. After all, the scene of her wielding a kitchen knife to attack people was truly shocking. I'm afraid if I go there, I'll get attacked by her too."
Chunnuan quickly said, "Please forgive me, Eldest Miss. I'd like to speak on behalf of our Second Miss. Eldest Miss has truly misunderstood Second Miss. That day, Second Miss was out of her mind, as if possessed by something. All her words and actions were not her own. Second Miss seemed to be acting like a madwoman that day, and I was terrified watching her. But after Second Miss regained her senses, she told me everything. She was also filled with regret and guilt. She said that she had feelings at the time, but she just couldn't control her body and actions, and almost did something to harm Eldest Miss. Second Miss is now extremely remorseful. As for the other things that happened that day, Second Miss has forgotten them all. Eldest Miss, please forgive Second Miss. Second Miss can't sleep well every night now, for fear that Eldest Miss won't forgive her."
"Oh? So, it's my fault for not forgiving your second young lady? Your second young lady's body is truly peculiar. Fine, go back and tell her that I accept her invitation and will go on a trip with her," Luo Zhiheng said with a cold smile.
Chunnuan quickly kowtowed: "Thank you, Miss. I will go and tell the Second Miss the good news right away."
After Chunnuan left, the wet nurse coldly said, "Young master, why did you agree to her? You knew perfectly well that she had ill intentions this time and that there would be danger."
"Isn't there still the wet nurse? Besides, I'm wary of her, so I don't need to be afraid of her. How can I know how much Luo Ningshuang hates me if I don't go? Going will also give me a reason not to be lenient with her anymore. I want to see what other tricks Luo Ningshuang can pull," Luo Zhiheng sneered.
Luo Ningshuang's invitation came the next morning. Luo Zhiheng changed her usual fiery attire and wore a pink dress, with her hair styled like that of an unmarried woman. She also wore a veil, making her look like a bright and shy young girl.
As always, Luo Ningshuang was dressed in her signature style, a mournful white dress. Her face was pale, and she looked so delicate and frail that it made people want to protect her. Her eyes no longer held the madness and ruthless calculation, but were gentle and serene.
She was momentarily shocked when she looked at Luo Zhiheng, not expecting Luo Zhiheng to change her style. But no matter what, she couldn't escape her grasp today.
"Sister," Luo Ningshuang called out timidly, looking at Luo Zhiheng with some fear and trepidation. She seemed very afraid that Luo Zhiheng would punish her.
Luo Zhiheng glanced at him disdainfully from beneath her veil, but her voice was tinged with amusement: "You do look quite well today. I hope you can keep it up, or you won't be able to complete this invitation."
"Don't worry, sister. I'm here to keep you company today, even if it means risking my life. There have been so many misunderstandings between us sisters over the years, and I feel that this has seriously affected our friendship. So today, I'm going to treat you to a good time. If you come across anything you like, please don't hesitate to ask for it," Luo Ningshuang said sincerely.
Luo Zhiheng smiled knowingly and said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't stand on ceremony with you."
The two boarded the carriage. Luo Zhiheng wore a veil because she didn't want people to see that she had the same face as Luo Ningshuang; she felt ashamed. While in the carriage, she said, "You should wear a veil too. We're considered celebrities here now; going out like this could easily attract unnecessary trouble."
Luo Ningshuang's expression darkened slightly. She naturally assumed that Luo Zhiheng didn't want her to steal the spotlight, that Luo Zhiheng was afraid she would overshadow her. Fine, I'll go along with your wishes for today.
"Sister is right." Luo Ningshuang suppressed her hatred and smiled as she accepted the veil handed to her by Luo Zhiheng and put it on.
The carriage stopped on the bustling commercial street. The two got off and Luo Zhiheng strolled around as if she were really there for a visit. She would look at anything that caught her eye, and if she liked something even more or if it was easy to carry, she would buy it. But before buying, she would always look at Luo Ningshuang with a greedy and provocative gaze and ask her, "Can I buy this? It won't be very expensive anyway, and I really like it."
Luo Ningshuang had said that, as an apology, she would buy whatever Luo Zhiheng liked today and give it to her. 197.
Every time Luo Zhiheng asked this question, Luo Ningshuang felt an urge to immediately bring Zang Tianwu out and tear this scoundrel to pieces.
Robber! Bandit! Luo Zhiheng is practically a thief! This is blatant robbery! They've got their hands on her and won't let her go. This is just the beginning; the street is bustling and vibrant, stretching as far as the eye can see, and Luo Zhiheng has already bought several things. Although they're not particularly expensive, if she keeps buying like this, she'll probably be bankrupt by now. After all, she has accumulated some wealth over the years, but she hasn't brought much with her, and besides, she's not genuinely willing to spend money on Luo Zhiheng.
But in order to get Luo Zhiheng hooked and lower her guard, she had to do her best to appear sincere. She had to swallow her pride, take out her wallet, and pay the bill.
"Thanks, you're so generous." Luo Zhiheng added, determined to infuriate her further. She was too clever to resist; she could easily see through Luo Ningshuang's ulterior motives. The money was merely a numbing agent; she wanted to intoxicate her first, then carry out some kind of revenge? Since she dared to scheme against her, she should be prepared to lose both her money and her reputation. After all, Luo Ningshuang had provoked the bandit Luo Zhiheng!
Luo Ningshuang's smile was so stiff that she gradually became like a little follower, trailing behind the lively Luo Zhiheng. She was responsible for paying the bills, while her maid was responsible for carrying Luo Zhiheng's things! What kind of situation was this? It was simply outrageous!
"Wow! What is this? It's so big!" Luo Zhiheng suddenly stopped in front of an antique shop. Antiques are usually bought for appreciation rather than collection, unless they are extremely ancient and precious artifacts. What Luo Zhiheng saw was actually a very exquisite and beautiful peacock vase, its craftsmanship remarkably superb, and most importantly, the vase was actually carved with lifelike feather shapes. It was located in the most prominent position in the antique shop, easily visible at a glance.
This isn't porcelain; it looks more like wood. What's special about it is its size and realism. Calling it a vase is actually a bit inaccurate.
"How much is this?" Luo Zhiheng liked it at first sight because the colors were so vibrant and the painting was so beautiful. Any woman would like it.
The shopkeeper quickly smiled and said, "Young lady, you have a good eye. This is the shop's prized possession. It was unearthed a hundred years ago during the war between the four kingdoms. It is said to be the beloved item of the God of War's wife. Each screen of this peacock's tail has characters, but no one here can recognize these characters. It is said to be a kind of celestial script. However, there are indeed the four characters 'Yelü Cangsheng' on it, and the characters are delicate and beautiful. It is obviously written by a woman."
Yelü Cangsheng again? Has she heard too many stories about Yelü Cangsheng? Luo Zhiheng asked with a smile, "Just tell me how much it costs." Her goal was to make Luo Ningshuang bleed money, and also to make her like it; she absolutely had to buy it and make Luo Ningshuang unhappy.
"Miss, you're so generous! This is our shop's prized possession. If you'd like to buy it, it'll be five hundred taels of silver," the shopkeeper continued with a smile. He didn't actually expect the young woman to buy it, but girls like pretty things, so maybe she would?
"Okay, I'll take it." Luo Zhiheng said readily, without even blinking. She knew very well that this price was outrageous, but the one being ripped off wasn't her, but Luo Ningshuang.
"Oh my! This young lady is so generous! We can deliver such a large item to your residence. Would you like it delivered? We'll arrange for someone to deliver it to your residence immediately after you pay," the shopkeeper said with a beaming smile.
Luo Zhiheng turned to look at Luo Ningshuang's obviously pale face, which even her veil couldn't hide, and laughed shamelessly and silently. "How about it, feeling bad now? That's the advantage of being a robber. You feel great when you steal from others, but you feel really frustrated when you're robbed."
When you took the liberty of touching her jewelry in the General's Mansion, Luo Ningshuang, did you ever think that one day she would also touch your things?
"My dear sister, I really love this thing! Come and see if you like it!" Luo Zhiheng looked at Luo Ningshuang with an innocent yet urging gaze, her meaning all too clear: Hurry up and pay, you sucker.
Luo Ningshuang's lips twitched; her heart ached terribly, and she wished she could tear Luo Zhiheng to pieces. How could there be such a shameless person? And how exactly did she manage to be driven to this point by Luo Zhiheng?
"Sister, this thing is big, heavy, and useless. There's no point in buying it. Why don't you look at something else? Five hundred taels of silver can buy a lot of things." Luo Ningshuang was really unwilling to spend any more money, so she smiled tactfully.
The shopkeeper immediately objected: "Young lady, you're mistaken. Everything has its use. This treasure of mine is the shop's prized possession. If it weren't for your straightforwardness today, I might not have sold it."
"Then why did you sell it? Since it's the store's prized possession, you should keep it!" Luo Ningshuang wasn't so polite to the shopkeeper; she sneered.
The shopkeeper was taken aback and said with slight anger, "This young lady, seeing you dressed in white, I thought you could be so pure and kind. I didn't expect you to be so sharp-tongued. In all my years of running this shop, this is truly the first time I've seen an unmarried young lady speak to a man so without any restraint."
Luo Ningshuang retorted angrily, "Who do you think you are? How dare you criticize me!"
"Enough! What do you want? Just say it straight, whether you're going to buy it or not. If you're not going to buy it, I'll buy it myself. But your invitation ends here for today!" Luo Zhiheng impatiently interrupted Luo Ningshuang's continued venting.
Luo Ningshuang was speechless at Luo Zhiheng's words. Her goal today was to completely ruin Luo Zhiheng's reputation. Spending money was merely to appease Luo Zhiheng; her real purpose was to make her tired after shopping. She was so close to success; once she succeeded, she could completely eliminate Luo Zhiheng, and all the dowry would be hers. Why should she waste this opportunity for a mere five hundred taels?
Suppressing her resentment, Luo Ningshuang forced a smile and said, "Sister, don't be angry. I just felt that this thing was too expensive and was worried that you would be cheated."
"Young lady, please be more polite. Our shop is a long-established business, and we treat everyone fairly, young and old," the shopkeeper said with displeasure.
"Alright, hurry up and pay," Luo Zhiheng urged, secretly overjoyed. It really was a very happy thing to torment the enemy. Seeing Luo Ningshuang reluctantly pull out the silver notes, she was slightly surprised. Quite wealthy, managing to produce such a large sum as five hundred taels in an instant. It seemed she hadn't exploited her enough.
"Send the items to the Prince's Palace and say they were ordered by the Little Princess," Luo Zhiheng said to the beaming shopkeeper, whose face immediately turned pale.
The King's Palace, the Little Queen... neither of these titles is something he can afford to offend.
Luo Zhiheng continued sightseeing, while Luo Ningshuang, her face pale, glared at her back with a vicious look. Finally, it was noon, and Luo Zhiheng felt tired. Luo Ningshuang immediately said considerately, "Sister, I know a very good restaurant. Chunnuan just found out about it. I see you're tired too. How about we go there to rest and have something to eat?"
They're here already? I couldn't resist coming.
Luo Zhiheng smiled mysteriously and said innocently, "That's right, I was already tired but you didn't say so earlier. Hurry up and lead the way, let's go eat." (Zhiyan Buweixue)
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Luo Zhiheng immediately felt a strange sensation. It was as if a pair of eyes were watching her from the shadows. But despite her subtle glances, she couldn't find anything.
"Chunnuan, go check on the waiter. Why is he so slow? It's taking so long to serve a pot of tea," Luo Ningshuang suddenly said. Chunnuan now had a reason to leave.
Luo Zhiheng watched Chun Nuan leave, a mocking and cold smile playing on her lips beneath her veil. Couldn't wait any longer? Already going out to make her move? Did she still think of her as the naive and foolish Luo Zhiheng of the past? Did she think that if anything happened in the restaurant, it wouldn't concern her, Luo Ning Shuang? How naive of her to think that way.
Just as Luo Zhiheng had predicted, the pot of tea was brought in by Chunnuan, along with two teacups. One was placed in front of Luo Zhiheng, and the other in front of Luo Ningshuang. Chunnuan poured tea for Luo Zhiheng first, and then for Luo Ningshuang.
Luo Zhiheng watched coldly from beginning to end. If there was something wrong with this pot of tea, then there might be something wrong with the tea and the teacup.
"Sister, please try this. Shuang'er knows you like Biluochun tea, so I specially ordered it for you." Luo Ning Shuang lowered her posture and used the same trick she used to deal with Luo Zhi Heng, but she didn't know that this approach would not move or bewitch Luo Zhi Heng now.
"You're so thoughtful. But this tea is a bit hot, let it cool down first," Luo Zhiheng said matter-of-factly, revealing her spoiled young lady temperament.
Although Luo Ningshuang was anxious, she didn't have any doubts. Luo Zhiheng was as spoiled as ever.
"I'm starving! Hurry up and check why the food isn't here yet!" Luo Zhiheng snapped at Chun Nuan. Chun Nuan glanced at Luo Ningshuang before leaving.
Luo Zhiheng casually fiddled with the things she had just bought, seemingly finding them rather unappealing. She took out a gold fork, glanced at it, and then suddenly threw it at Luo Ningshuang, yelling, "What a piece of junk! It looked pretty good before, but now it looks like trash. Here you go."
Caught off guard, Luo Ningshuang was struck head-on by the golden fork. She immediately raised her hand to protect her face, and the fork hit her hand, causing it to fall to the ground. Before she could even feel angry at Luo Zhiheng's words and actions, Luo Zhiheng's displeased voice rang out: "What do you mean? Are you looking down on what I gave you, or are you protesting against me? How dare you throw my things on the ground, Luo Ningshuang, have you gone too far!"
"No, sister! I just didn't notice. I'll pick it up right away." Luo Ningshuang suppressed her rage, which made her want to devour Luo Zhiheng whole, and quickly bent down to pick it up.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly lost her temper for no reason, throwing all the boxes and items at Luo Ningshuang. They scattered all over the ground with a clatter. She angrily said, "What are you looking at? How dare you throw my things! I order you to pick all of these up right now, and pick them up quickly, or don't expect me to stay here and eat with you any longer. You still want me to forgive you? Bah!"
Luo Ningshuang felt extremely humiliated and deeply resented Luo Zhiheng's insults. She fantasized that once Luo Zhiheng drank that cup of tea, everything would reverse, and she would have all the initiative in her hands. She could then repay Luo Zhiheng with even greater humiliation! So, she would endure, wait a little longer. As long as Luo Zhiheng didn't leave, as long as she drank that cup of tea, then she could deal with Luo Zhiheng! 17070219
To appease Luo Zhiheng, Luo Ningshuang quickly crouched down to pick up the scattered items, her back to Luo Zhiheng as she swiftly gathered them. Luo Zhiheng, her eyes dark, quickly switched their teacups, placing Luo Ningshuang's cup in front of her and giving her his own.
She gave a silent, cold laugh, then leisurely sat down in her seat, watching Luo Ningshuang quickly pick up the things.
"I've picked them all up, sister," Luo Ningshuang said cautiously, sitting opposite Luo Zhiheng with a sincere smile. "Sister, the tea has gone cold. It won't taste good if it gets any colder. Please try it."
Luo Zhiheng lazily removed her veil, her gaze deep, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Seeing that you're quite sincere and performed well today, I'll forgive you for your past transgressions. Come on, let's drink tea instead of wine, and wipe the slate clean of past grievances. Cheers!"
Luo Ningshuang, if you are unharmed after drinking this cup of tea, then I can truly consider our grudges wiped clean. But if you still harbor the intention to harm me, then this cup of tea will be the end of our sisterly bond!
Luo Ningshuang sneered inwardly upon hearing Luo Zhiheng's words. She'd fallen for it after all. As long as Luo Zhiheng was willing to submit, there was nothing she couldn't do. "Luo Zhiheng, do you really think I want to make peace with you? Drink this cup, and from now on you'll live a life worse than a pig or a dog. Do you know how much I'm looking forward to it?"
Luo Ningshuang's hand trembled slightly as she picked up the teacup. Her smile was genuine for the first time as she said, "Thank you, sister, cheers!"
They collided with a crisp sound, creating unseen, intense sparks. Was it a gentle hand that resolved the feud between the sisters, or a wicked demon that pushed them into an abyss of endless conflict?
Luo Ningshuang drank the tea in one gulp without hesitation, but her eyes never left Luo Zhiheng's movements. Her eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty pleasure and anticipation.
Under Luo Ningshuang's gaze, Luo Zhiheng brought the teacup to her lips and slowly drank the tea meant for Luo Ningshuang. Wasn't her eyes filled with a broken despair?
Luo Ningshuang drank the tea without hesitation, indicating that she was completely confident that the tea in front of her was absolutely safe. Her willingness to drink it also proved that the teapot was fine; if there was a problem, it was the teacup! But Luo Ningshuang's expression at that moment made Luo Zhiheng's heart sink.
"Sister, that's wonderful! We'll still be best friends from now on." Luo Ningshuang was speechless with excitement as she watched Luo Zhiheng finish all her tea. She excitedly grabbed Luo Zhiheng's hand and squeezed it slightly.
Honestly, I can't wait for the moment Luo Zhiheng falls down! My dear sister, everything will be over soon, and you will no longer be a stumbling block in my life.
After the food was served, Luo Ningshuang asked Chunnuan to stand guard outside the door. Luo Zhiheng didn't eat anything on the table, so Luo Ningshuang asked, "Why aren't you eating, sister?"
"I feel a little unwell and can't eat," Luo Zhiheng replied.
A glint flashed in Luo Ningshuang's eyes, but the smile on her lips was unreadable. She said, "Then, sister, you should rest for a while. There's no rush to leave."
Luo Zhiheng's heart nearly sank to the bottom. She stared at Luo Ningshuang without blinking. She didn't want to believe that her own sister would drug her, but Luo Ningshuang didn't ask to leave, as if she was waiting for something. Wasn't she waiting for something too? She also wanted to see what Luo Ningshuang was waiting for.
Time passed slowly, and the two sisters remained silent, looking at each other. Luo Zhiheng's gaze was cool, but Luo Ningshuang gradually became restless. Her face flushed slightly, and she tugged at her collar, as if she were feeling stuffy and short of breath. She was starting to feel hot and uneasy, but her reaction wasn't too strong yet.
And so Luo Zhiheng's heart finally sank to the bottom!
Chapter 1 is here! I'll try my best for Chapter 2! Please vote, leave comments, and give me your monthly tickets! Group chat, muah! Tomorrow's the 28th, my darlings, get your monthly tickets ready! Hehe, love you all!