When Mu Yunhe was seriously ill, Prince Mu could occasionally show a bit of kindness out of guilt and pity, which inevitably involved the feelings between father and son. For a time, Prince Mu was quite happy to find that Mu Yunhe's temperament was so similar to his own. At that time, he tried his best to repair the relationship between father and son, but to no avail. Over time, Mu Yunhe's indifference and resistance made Prince Mu lose patience and feel that he had lost face, so he naturally stopped trying.
At that time, Consort Li had many conversations with him, including the reason why Mu Yunhe was not close to him.
Consort Li said, "How can a son not be close to his father? The young prince must just be timid. Your Majesty's authority is too great; even Yun Jin is sometimes intimidated by it, let alone the young prince who is in poor health. Your Majesty, the young prince will naturally become closer to you after seeing him a few more times."
Prince Mu felt that Consort Li was truly considerate, gentle, and very sensible. Instead of taking advantage of his misfortune, she even encouraged him to visit Mu Yunhe more often. Out of guilt and affection for Consort Li, Prince Mu naturally treated Mu Yunjin even better.
Prince Mu had also gone to visit Mu Yunhe at that time, but he couldn't get Mu Yunhe close to him no matter what he did. When Mu Yunhe saw him, his eyes were filled with fear and some inexplicable emotion, which Prince Mu disliked very much. Later, Prince Mu learned that the emotion was called disgust.
Prince Mu was naturally furious! How could a father accept that his own son actually hated him? His face was humiliated and his self-esteem was hurt. Prince Mu felt that this son was hopeless, just like his mother, whom he hated.
However, Consort Li later advised him that Mu Yunhe was still young and, due to his frail health, didn't interact much with outsiders. He was so naive and innocent, understanding nothing and without any guile, naturally believing whatever anyone said. Moreover, the Princess kept such a close watch on Mu Yunhe, not allowing anyone to have much contact with him. Why was the young prince suddenly rejecting the Prince and even showing signs of dislike? Could it be that the Princess and the young prince had said something they shouldn't have?
The more Prince Mu thought about it, the more he realized Consort Li's words made sense. Perhaps it was all the Consort's doing, deliberately sowing discord between him and his son. This woman was indeed vicious, even hypocritical. If she was so unwilling to let Mu Yunhe be close to her, why did she put on such a happy and joyful act every time he visited Mu Yunhe? It was disgustingly hypocritical!
So later, Prince Mu gradually stopped paying much attention to Mu Yunhe, but he still made sure to visit him occasionally. However, as time went by, the rift between father and son deepened, and somehow it came to this point.
Neither of them was willing to back down, both stubborn and inflexible. When things spiraled out of control, even if they were bleeding and battered, neither was willing to be the first to call a halt.
Prince Mu's heart was in turmoil. Even though he was a fierce warrior on the battlefield, ruthless and bloodthirsty, he was still human after all. His son was so stubborn. In a daze, Prince Mu felt as if he saw another reflection of himself. The father and son were so alike.
If he doesn't compromise, Mu Yunhe can really use such a forceful method to hurt the person he cares about most. Prince Mu both loves and hates Mu Yunhe, but he is unwilling to compromise with his son.
He gritted his teeth and remained silent, watching helplessly as Mu Yunhe meticulously tore apart Consort Li's clothes, leaving them unrecognizable. His heart was filled with unbearable pain and rage, yet his expression gradually returned to calm. He would not allow a child to lead him by the nose; only others could submit to him.
Prince Mu thought that Mu Yunhe would at least give his father some face, or at least offer a way out, but Mu Yunhe showed no mercy. After tearing the clothes to shreds, he ordered his men to carry away Consort Li's body. The first thick rope was tied tightly to Consort Li's ankle. One could imagine that when the horse was enraged and started running, the unimaginable force would tear that fragile ankle to pieces.
Prince Mu's heart sank lower and lower, but he still stubbornly refused to speak, his eyes glaring at Mu Yunhe with almost bloodshot intensity. If looks could kill, Mu Yunhe would probably have died under his father's gaze long ago.
Even so, Mu Yunhe remained fearless and ignored Prince Mu's gaze. His cold and ruthless demeanor was perhaps even more extreme than that of Prince Mu.
The father and son's gazes suddenly met in the air, each looking at the other with resentment and hatred. Compared to Prince Mu, the hatred in Mu Yunhe's eyes was clearly stronger and more uncontrollable.
With a thud, Consort Li's stiff corpse fell to the ground. Tragically, one of her legs was already tied to a horse. Those carrying her, caught off guard, had dropped her body. While they were tying the rope to her other leg, they had startled the horse, which suddenly bolted, dragging Consort Li's headless corpse away. Amidst gasps of horror, her body lay on the ground, a gruesome sight. 17623091
Prince Mu gasped, his heart nearly stopping in his rage. Without hesitation, he rushed forward to rescue Consort Li, but another unexpected event occurred.
The fact that Consort Li's other foot was half-tied with a rope startled another horse, which then galloped wildly, instantly pulling Consort Li in two different directions.
This wasn't a real dismemberment, but the sudden and horrifying scene was enough to send chills down everyone's spine.
Feng Huan'er's name was Xiao. Two horses, in two directions, with not particularly long ropes, instantly tightened the reins around Consort Li's body. At this moment, if the horses couldn't be stopped in time, it was possible that Consort Li's body would be torn apart by the two horses!
"Mu Yunhe! Quickly, get them to control the horses!" Prince Mu still retained some composure, even though his entire body was stiff. However, his charge was stopped by two elderly men who suddenly appeared. Prince Mu was highly skilled in martial arts, but he was no match for these old men. Prince Mu shouted orders at Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe remained unmoved.
When Mu Yunhe turned his gaze to Mu Yunhe, he smiled so strangely, as if he were watching a joke.
Prince Mu won't come to see his mother; Prince Mu won't understand his anxiety and restlessness. So he'll take the initiative and let Prince Mu understand. The one who causes him pain must also experience pain. Now you know how anxious you are? Then why can't you go see your mother?
The poor woman who had been so desperately hoping her husband would come to see her one last time was now emaciated and on the verge of death. Couldn't even this elicit a shred of pity from Prince Mu? Even as a stranger who had shared a bed with him for decades, shouldn't he have some humanity left? Why could Prince Mu be so heartless?
Seeing Prince Mu's pained expression, Mu Yunhe felt a surge of pleasure within him. It was a feeling of exhilaration, a rush of unbridled joy! This was truly exhilarating! Look, he was torturing that damned slut to his heart's content, while simultaneously making Prince Mu suffer unbearable pain and experience the taste of agony himself—a perfect balance!
So it turns out that kindness, when taken to its extreme, really is just foolishness. He and Aheng were both so foolish. With that kindness, they would have given it to a grateful beggar instead of those heartless, cold-blooded animals, Li Jianren and Prince Mu.
Mu Yunhe was furious. Seeing that Prince Mu still wouldn't budge even after all this, he sneered, "You seem to care so much about that vile woman, as if you'd lose all interest in life if she died. Why didn't you go with her then? She couldn't see your grief after she died. She's suffering humiliation and pain right now, and although she can't know it anymore, I haven't seen you try to save her. Don't you care about her? Or do you care more about yourself?"
"Mu Yunhe, don't go too far! I am still your father!" Prince Mu was enraged by Mu Yunhe's words and roared.
"Father? Haha, what a ridiculous word! Do I, Mu Yunhe, even have a father? I thought I sprang from a rock! My father is neither kind nor loving, he doesn't act like a father at all. I thought I was an unwanted wild child. And now you suddenly tell me you are my father? Tell me, does Your Highness, Prince Mu, act like a father?" Mu Yunhe suddenly burst into laughter, his mocking voice sounding both sorrowful and sarcastic.
"Even if you don't admit it, I am still your father. Mu Yunhe, aren't you afraid of divine retribution for your aggressive behavior towards your father?" Prince Mu said coldly.
"What kind of father says his child will be punished by heaven? Do you even deserve to be called a father? You are my father, but don't I have a mother too? My mother is dying, her life is almost over, and where is her husband? He won't even see her one last time! I hate that heartless man so much, I wish he could die in my mother's place! If possible, I really don't want my mother to see that cold-blooded, heartless man, but this is my mother's last wish. Others have disappointed her, but I can't let her down. I'm really afraid of being punished by heaven, I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill my filial duty to my loving and devoted mother!"
"You, Prince Mu, are so great. You think you can just abandon your wife and son? Not everyone is as cold-blooded as you. There is still family affection in this world, but our family affection has been stained with a huge mark because of you! Can't people stop being so selfish? You only think about yourself, only about what you like, and completely discard what you don't like. Don't you think you're too cruel?" Mu Yunhe questioned loudly, saying both rebellious and extremely painful things.
Some people shouldn't be indulged, just like Prince Mu.
Some people can't wait, just like the princess whose life hangs in the balance.
Mu Yunhe would not have said such a thing unless absolutely necessary, but as time passed, he realized he had been away from his mother for too long and didn't know how she was doing or if she was nearing her end. His worry for his mother made him even less patient with Prince Mu.
But Prince Mu was truly determined not to go back with him, nor to see his mother. Mu Yunhe desperately wanted to chop this damned man to pieces. But if he died, his mother would surely be heartbroken.
Mu Yunhe suddenly felt incredibly sorry for her mother. Why was she so fixated on this man? What was so good about him? Cold-blooded, ruthless, cruel, and selfish, and he didn't even love her! A man, because he didn't love her, could sever all ties completely, and because he didn't love her, could be utterly heartless. Even if her mother saw him again, what good would it do? Would resolving the confusion and doubts in her heart truly allow her to die in peace? Not necessarily.
But this was the last thing his mother was determined to do in her life. Even if it meant his death, Mu Yunhe would do it for his mother!
Prince Mu was stunned by Mu Yunhe's words. He hesitated for a moment, but didn't say anything in rebuttal. His face was filled with unpredictable changes as he stared stiffly at the body of Consort Li, which was being torn apart and was almost unrecognizable. She had already been dead for several days, and her body was already stiff. With this tearing, it would be easy for her body to be ruined.
Prince Mu was torn between two options. If he didn't go to see the Princess, Mu Yunhe would definitely not let Consort Li's body go, and he couldn't bear to do that. But if he went to see the Princess, Prince Mu would also feel guilty towards Consort Li. The Princess's son and daughter-in-law had killed Consort Li, and yet he was still going to see the Princess after her death. Prince Mu felt very uncomfortable.
Just as Prince Mu was struggling, Mu Yunhe's patience finally ran out, and he loudly announced, "Immediately control the horse, tie it up, and prepare for the execution!"
Mu Yunhe was serious now, showing no mercy. He couldn't bear to look at Prince Mu.
Prince Mu also sensed Mu Yunhe's determination. Seeing that the horse was under control, Consort Li's body was bound with ropes on her arms. Then, the four of them mounted the horse together and prepared to run in four different directions to carry out the execution.
Once the horses start running, there's really no room for regret or turning back.
Almost at the very moment Mu Yunhe raised his hand to pronounce the sentence, after struggling for so long and persisting for so many days, Prince Mu finally compromised. He compromised for the sake of a dead man.
"Wait! Go see your mother, right now!"
Mu Yunhe had waited four days for these words, and every minute of those four days felt like an eternity. Today's confrontation was resolute and ruthless; neither of them was willing to let the other go. The standoff lasted only a few cups of tea, yet it felt as if a thousand years had passed.
However, Mu Yunhe's ruthlessness and drastic actions ultimately led to Prince Mu's compromise. But Mu Yunhe felt no joy; instead, he felt miserable and lost.
He dejectedly lowered his hand; they both knew each other's actions all too well. He was merely threatening Prince Mu. Even though he truly wished he could tear Li Fangfei to pieces, he could restrain himself for his mother's sake once he achieved his goal. Prince Mu agreed, naturally with the implicit condition that Li Fangfei not be harmed again!
Mu Yunhe did not speak, nor did he order anyone to carry out the execution immediately. The group of people remained on horseback, and Consort Li's headless corpse was left exposed to the scorching sun. Without Mu Yunhe's command, they did not move.
Mu Yunhe took Luo Zhiheng's hand, silently mounted her horse, and then led the way, speeding towards the General's Mansion. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to see the Princess one last time, and he wanted her to see the person she longed for before she died.
Luo Zhiheng sat in front of Mu Yunhe, her back pressed against his chest, yet she could clearly feel his rapidly beating heart. He was so nervous, his hands were icy cold, and his magnificent robes were soaked with sweat. He was afraid. He was gambling, gambling everything, to finally win back Prince Mu.
Today's contest was brutal, with both father and son suffering heavy losses.
Mu Yunhe was especially silent today, which pained Luo Zhiheng greatly, but she could only stay quietly by his side, not saying much. This only made him more agitated.
The wind howled past my ears, stinging my cheeks. I felt so sad, and indescribable emotions welled up in the wind, a sense of desolation and sorrow.
As if eager to return home, Mu Yunhe kept speeding up, his hoarse whirring voice ringing in his ears, one note after another, as if he were racing against time, so urgent and frantic.
Luo Zhiheng reached out and grasped his fist, which was clenched almost like a rock, trying to make him relax a little, and together they held the reins. But for some reason, the road seemed so long, as if it would never end. They were already rushing home at breakneck speed, but time still felt incredibly slow, as if something was passing by rapidly, and no matter how hard they tried to hurry, they still couldn't catch up.
That feeling was extremely heart-wrenching.
If Luo Zhiheng could sense it, how much more so would Mu Yunhe?
She glanced back briefly and didn't see Prince Mu following, but there was definitely the sound of horses' hooves behind them. They were just moving too fast, leaving the unhurried person far behind.
Luo Zhiheng only hoped that the person could hurry up, and that her family could hold on a little longer.
Finally arriving at the doorstep, the general's mansion was still quiet. The cold and deserted entrance hall was a common sight for third-rank nobles. But today, the coldness gave one a chill that went straight to the bone. As I looked at it, my eyes started to sting and my whole body felt cold.
Mu Yunhe quickly dismounted. Although he was eager to return home, he still helped Luo Zhiheng down, took her hand, and strode forward. Along the way, the flowers, trees, and grass became shadows, and Luo Zhiheng had to jog to barely keep up with Mu Yunhe's pace.
As they passed through the front hall, Luo Zhiheng quickly instructed the maid beside her, "Go to the door and greet him. Prince Mu has arrived. Take him to the Princess's room immediately, hurry."
The maidservant obeyed and immediately ran out.
As we entered the backyard, we saw a number of people standing in front of a courtyard, seemingly doing nothing. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that it was General Murong leading a group of people cutting white cloth…
Luo Zhiheng instantly felt as if Mu Yunhe's grip on her hand was about to crush it, but at this moment, who would care about such things? Her heart stopped beating uncontrollably for a moment, Luo Zhiheng felt her throat tighten, and she was almost pulled off balance. She grabbed Mu Yunhe's wrist with her other hand and said in a deliberately gentle tone, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Those self-deceiving words were shattered and left with nothing but dust by the oncoming Xiao Xizi.
Little Xizi rushed over with red eyes, then kowtowed to the ground, his voice choked with sobs and immense sorrow, crying out, "Young Prince, the Princess Consort... has reached her end!"
Luo Zhiheng was stunned. The end of the term? What is the end of the term? Is the person already... dead? However, the next moment, when she heard Xiao Xizi urging Mu Yunhe to hurry in and see the princess one last time, Luo Zhiheng suddenly understood that the end of the term meant that the end of the term was approaching, a sign that she was about to die but still had a breath left.
"The Princess kept talking about you, about the Princess, about the little prince, and she just couldn't take her last breath. Little Prince, please go and see her, the Princess is waiting for you." Xiao Xizi's voice was hoarse from crying. Yes, Xiao Xizi was a child the Princess brought back. He had grown up by the Princess's side since he was little. The Princess loved him and treated him almost like her own child.
Mu Yunhe stood frozen on the spot like a statue, the color draining from his face instantly, leaving him almost transparently pale, but his eyes were bloodshot.
"Yunhe! Don't be like this. Let's go see the Princess. If anything happens to you, the Princess won't be able to rest in peace." Luo Zhiheng was terrified. At this moment, she suddenly realized how selfish she had been, caring about no one. She had done so much only because she cared about Mu Yunhe. She didn't care what others did. Even when Prince Mu threatened her, she remained calm and composed. But when Mu Yunhe acted strangely, she panicked instantly.
Mu Yunhe seemed to suddenly wake up, let go of Luo Zhiheng's hand and ran forward, but his body was so stiff that he fell straight down after just one step.
Luo Zhiheng's pupils constricted in shock. Her hands moved faster than her brain to grab Mu Yunhe's arm, but Mu Yunhe was so heavy that he pulled Luo Zhiheng forward, causing her to stumble. Fortunately, Xiao Xizi was kneeling in front of her and quickly caught Mu Yunhe, otherwise they would have fallen flat on their faces.
Mu Yunhe steadied himself and stiffly took a step. Luo Zhiheng pursed her lips and watched as his legs went weak and he moved forward step by step with difficulty. He was always in danger of falling when he tried to take the second step before he could even get a firm footing.
But soon, Mu Yunhe walked much more freely and quickly, pushing through the crowd and rushing into the room. The room was filled with the smell of medicine. The King was in charge, and even the Poison Saint had been mobilized. He and Lady Huoyun stood by the bed, busy with something. The Poison Saint pinched the princess's chin, and Lady Huoyun put a pill into her mouth. The Poison Saint didn't know how he had made the princess swallow it. The Poison Saint's eyes lit up, and he was about to laugh when he saw the princess suddenly tilt her head back slightly. The pill had gone in, but she just spat it out.
Then Poison Saint and Lady Fire Cloud shook their heads together, both with regret on their faces. Poison Saint blurted out, "Alas, we tried our best, but unfortunately, we were powerless to help..."
First update! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! There's one more update today! Hua Sha will keep working hard! The final voting day for the romance novel finals is today! My darlings, please vote for our "Shrew" today! Ten votes each! "Shrew" is number 21! Group kisses!
Chapter 381: The final compromise, but a step too late! (Bonus chapter for 27,500 comments)
Updated: 2013-10-10 13:20:34 Word Count: 3339
Upon hearing the Poison Saint's words, Mu Yunhe almost lost his footing as he stepped over the threshold, nearly crashing into the doorframe. The noise startled those inside. The King, seeing Mu Yunhe's deathly pale face, frowned and gave the Poison Saint an unpleasant glance, inwardly blaming the Poison Saint for his foul mouth.
The room fell silent. The princess's face seemed to change a thousand times as she turned, her expression as persistent as it had been a few days ago when she had been hoping for Prince Mu's arrival. Pale, haggard, and emaciated.
The moment those dry eyes saw Mu Yunhe, they seemed to be filled with the brightness of a sweet spring, and an unnatural blush appeared on their faces.
Seeing this, even Luo Zhiheng's strong heart couldn't help but tremble with a bittersweet feeling. She knew it was called a final burst of energy before death. It was a person's beauty before death, lingering in the last moment of their life, until they closed their eyes and stopped breathing; that red glow might still be there.
Mu Yunhe's eyes were bloodshot as he held his breath and walked inside, with everyone making way for him. The Poison Saint also stood obediently beside the World King, somewhat timidly intimidated by Mu Yunhe's aura of bloodlust.
Mu Yunhe had many thoughts swirling in his mind, but he didn't know how to begin. He hadn't experienced the death of a loved one, yet it felt as if he had. In the past twenty years of his life, death had been a constant companion, so he knew how terrifying and painful it was. He didn't want his mother to experience that darkness and suffering, but he was powerless to help.
All he could do was fulfill his mother's last wish, regardless of the cost. But when he arrived with that person, his mother was already nearing her end, with no way to turn back. The Poison Saint sighed, and that was his sentence of death!
Mu Yunhe was utterly devastated!
The word "mother" lingered on his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Mu Yunhe held his breath, as if if he spoke, his mother would truly be gone. He could no longer control the overwhelming bitterness and the tears welling up in his eyes.
But before he reached the princess's bedside, before he could even call out "Mother," the princess suddenly smiled at him. It was a strange smile, not the kind she would give to her son. 17623099
Gentle and serene, yet with an obvious tension and shyness. It was as if she had suddenly returned to her teenage years. Such an expression on the withered princess was indescribably eerie and terrifying, but because it was directed at Mu Yunhe, Luo Zhiheng almost instantly thought of a possibility.