"Your mother will never be happy with what you're doing! Because her heart is with me, and she wants to be with me. If you stop her, you are being unfilial! I caused your mother pain before she died, but you're making sure her soul is unhappy even after she dies. Is this what you call filial piety?" Prince Mu said sarcastically.
"So Prince Mu knew everything all along? So you also knew how much my mother loved you and wanted to be with you? What were you doing before? Pretending to be reserved? If you had arrived a little earlier today, my mother wouldn't have died with her eyes wide open in disbelief! You knew everything, yet you deliberately remained silent and pretended not to know. Prince Mu, you are truly capable and patient. No wonder you could wear a green hat without batting an eye." Despite not caring about his mother, Prince Mu's actions of causing trouble after her death enraged Mu Yunhe. His composure crumbled, and Mu Yunhe, in a fit of anger, hurled sarcastic remarks without thinking.
Prince Mu's face quickly turned ashen, and he actually raised his hand and slapped Mu Yunhe across the face, shouting, "You wicked child!"
Prince Mu's slap was so sudden that Luo Zhiheng was still a little stunned when she heard a soft "smack" and Mu Yunhe accurately slapped Prince Mu's hand away.
If Mu Yunhe hadn't always been wary of Prince Mu, he wouldn't have been able to react so quickly.
Prince Mu hadn't expected Mu Yunhe to dare to retaliate. His anger flared even more, and he roared, "You want to hit your father too?"
"My mother is dead, so I'm an orphan. Where did I get a father?" Mu Yunhe said sarcastically, making Prince Mu gasp for breath in anger. 149.
"Enough nonsense. I'm here today to take your mother away. She is my queen! I'm still alive, and it's none of your business to handle her funeral arrangements." Prince Mu suddenly became fierce, strode past Mu Yunhe, and walked towards the coffin. He raised his hand to grab the coffin, but he was so angry that he didn't have the strength.
Mu Yunhe was no pushover either; with a swift movement of his arm, he forcefully shoved Prince Mu's hand away. The father and son were like mortal enemies; once they clashed, all the resentment they had accumulated over the years erupted uncontrollably.
Both father and son reached for the coffin. When Prince Mu tried to grab Mu Yunhe, he blocked him; Mu Yunhe, protecting the coffin, attacked him instead. In short, Prince Mu's attitude was remarkably firm: he was determined to take the princess away. Mu Yunhe would rather die than let her go. Thus, the struggle between father and son intensified.
Prince Mu's physique was the result of years of training, something Mu Yunhe couldn't match. Moreover, Mu Yunhe didn't know martial arts. His moves seemed useless, but when unleashed, they were deadly attacks, not to be used lightly. This made the situation increasingly worse. Prince Mu gained the upper hand and showed no mercy, striking Mu Yunhe with a palm that slammed him against the coffin. He lay there for a while before he could move.
"Yunhe!" Luo Zhiheng's pupils constricted as she drew her cane and pulled out a sharp knife, slashing at Prince Mu, whose hand was reaching for the coffin.
Forced to withdraw his hand, Prince Mu kicked over a stool, which Luo Zhiheng slashed back with her knife, shattering it. At that moment, Prince Mu charged towards the coffin again, and Luo Zhiheng was too late to stop him. Just then, Mu Yunhe rushed forward, and the two became entangled once more.
Luo Zhiheng was so angry that she stood there stunned, her eyes darting around, and she even forgot to call someone in.
A strange and complex gaze fell on Prince Mu's tense and determined face. She didn't understand what Prince Mu was doing. He clearly didn't love her, he clearly resisted her, yet he insisted on taking the body back. Was he really seeking revenge? But when he looked at the princess's body, there was no hostility on him, unlike the great resentment that Mu Yunhe felt when he saw Li Fangfei's body.
The way Prince Mu looked at the princess's corpse made Luo Zhiheng feel something strange and inexplicable. It was as if something was missing from hatred, yet more than just care. But what exactly was it?
Consort Fei was in good health. Her brows were furrowed almost into knots. At this moment, Mu Yunhe was pushed away by Prince Mu again, who also kicked him in the shin. Mu Yunhe staggered and fell onto a chair nearby. Prince Mu strode towards the coffin. Behind him, Mu Yunhe angrily grabbed a teacup and smashed it.
Prince Mu sensed the danger and turned to dodge, but at that moment, Luo Zhiheng suddenly screamed, drew her knife, and, in the horrified gaze of Prince Mu as he turned around, pointed the knife at the princess in the coffin and plunged it in!
"No!!" Two exclamations rang out almost simultaneously, and Prince Mu even forgot to dodge the teacup, rushing straight at it without hesitation!
It's past midnight! Oh dear, that'll be 8,000 words for today. Painting is really tiring. Time to wash my face and go to bed. Love you all! Please give me recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! Group kisses! Goodnight, my darlings!
386. A test!
Updated: 2013-10-13 23:41:51 Word Count: 3441
Luo Zhiheng's attack was incredibly sudden and bizarre. Who could have imagined that she would so unexpectedly strike the princess?
In the midst of the panic, who would think about the reason behind it? Even Mu Yunhe was stunned by Luo Zhiheng's sudden action and rushed over with a loud roar, but he was not as fast as Prince Mu.
A shocking scene has unfolded!
With a shout, Prince Mu lunged forward and, without a second thought, reached out and grabbed the sharp blade. The blade was the same one used by the God of War, incredibly sharp. If he grabbed it like that, his hands would likely be crippled or severely injured.
Blood gushed out almost instantly, running down the gleaming blade, which, as was customary, slid down a few inches. Prince Mu, however, didn't utter a sound, simply crashing into the coffin, gripping the knife with both hands, panting heavily.
Mu Yunhe, standing behind him, didn't see that at that moment, Prince Mu's face was covered in a fine layer of sweat, his complexion pale, and his expression one of shock and rage. Seeing Luo Zhiheng's knife plunge near the princess's ear, almost piercing her skull, he felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of fury. He abruptly looked up, his anger blazing: "What the hell have you done?!"
Luo Zhiheng remained extremely calm, showing both shock and surprise, but also a clear understanding.
Her strange behavior was merely a test. She always felt that Prince Mu's behavior was very odd, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. However, just now, seeing Prince Mu and Mu Yunhe desperately fighting over the Princess's corpse, an extremely bold idea suddenly popped into Luo Zhiheng's mind.
Is his desperate desire for the princess's body really just about saving face? Not necessarily. Judging from Prince Mu's solemn gaze and inexplicable emotions, he clearly feels some reluctance.
Reluctant to part with her? Would he? Would this cold-blooded, ruthless man be reluctant to part with a woman he wouldn't even give a perfunctory word of? If so, Luo Zhiheng truly didn't know what to say. Was Prince Mu crazy? He was, and he wasn't.
This woman gave him the best years of her life and her whole heart, without hesitation or regret. She longed for him her entire life, clinging to that single thought, yet Prince Mu was stingy with it, unwilling to grant it to her. She didn't even get to see him one last time before she died. How could such a man possibly care about his princess?
But Prince Mu's reaction was truly perplexing. So Luo Zhiheng stabbed the Princess Consort. To her surprise, Prince Mu rushed forward without hesitation. His expression was one of genuine anxiety and anger.
What's the point of doing these things after a woman's death if you don't love her?
"Prince Mu should be saying that to himself. You're the one who's crazy. Look at your hands, they're bleeding." Luo Zhiheng looked sarcastically at the hands that were still tightly gripping the blade, which were already stained with blood.
"She's already dead, yet you still dare to be so disrespectful to her? Luo Zhiheng, who gave you the audacity, huh? How dare you do such a wicked thing!" Prince Mu roared angrily.
Luo Zhiheng laughed a few times, then looked at him with disdain and said, "Why is Prince Mu so angry? Anyone who didn't know better would think that Prince Mu is deeply in love with the Princess. Seeing Prince Mu's reckless behavior, I am truly moved beyond words. But Prince Mu, you are usually such a cold person, so why do you look so determined now? Seeing you protecting the Princess so disregarding your own safety, anyone who didn't know better would think that you have fallen in love with the Princess."
Prince Mu shuddered, his gaze filled with disbelief and unbearable shame as he looked at Luo Zhiheng. He found her words utterly absurd; how could he have fallen in love with the Princess Consort? No way, he truly loathed her. As if snapping back to reality, Prince Mu stared blankly at his hand still resting on the knife, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. His subconscious action at this crucial moment revealed his true inner turmoil.
"No! Stop talking nonsense!" Prince Mu suddenly shouted, his voice filled with rejection and resistance.
He would never admit to liking the princess; it was simply impossible! The person he hated most in his life was the princess, and he didn't even like the bloodline she bore. But Mu Yunhe was an exception.
"Am I talking nonsense? Why did Prince Mu get so agitated when he saw me desecrating the Princess's body? He didn't even care about his own health before acting so rashly! You can't say it was for my sake, can you? I don't believe I have that kind of ability. Besides, Your Highness's purpose in coming today is very clear, isn't it? You want to take the Princess's coffin away!" 17652218
"If you truly don't love or care about the Princess, why risk your own safety to protect her? And why are you so determined to take her away? Prince Mu, can you give me an answer?" Luo Zhiheng said with a half-smile. Her voice seemed to be teasing, yet also contained a warning and provocation.
Prince Mu was stunned. He slowly straightened up, and when he lowered his hands, they were already a bloody mess. Luo Zhiheng's words were like a blow to the head, leaving Prince Mu dizzy and disoriented, unable to think straight. He found her words utterly ridiculous; how could he possibly love such a detestable woman?
"Don't talk nonsense! I only acted subconsciously because of our years of marriage! Even raising a cat or dog for many years creates feelings. You, Luo Zhiheng, who always talks about being benevolent and righteous, actually laid a knife on your own mother-in-law today! Have you lost your conscience?" Prince Mu shouted, his obviously guilty expression revealing a hint of mania, unease, confusion, and complex emotions.
"Just take it as me talking nonsense. Why should Prince Mu lower himself to the level of an ignorant woman like me? If it's not true, it's not true. If you haven't fallen in love, you haven't fallen in love. No one can compare to you in love with anyone else, right?" Luo Zhiheng smiled inscrutably, her gaze almost thorny, as if she had already decided that Prince Mu loved the Princess Consort.
Prince Mu felt a little guilty and a little panicked, but more than anything, he was bewildered and couldn't accept what had been said to him.
Mu Yunhe was equally shocked. He hadn't expected Prince Mu to intervene so decisively to stop the attack. He hadn't understood why Luo Zhiheng had suddenly targeted his mother's corpse, but now he realized that Luo Zhiheng was deliberately testing Prince Mu? But what was she testing? Prince Mu's heart? Did this man even have a heart?
Suddenly, I found it all quite amusing. What was Luo Zhiheng asking? That Prince Mu loves the Princess? Isn't that a huge joke? Who would love someone and then trample that person into the dust?
Mu Yunhe strode forward and forcefully shoved the still-stunned Prince Mu backward. His expression was icy: "Please leave. Don't go crazy here. My mother was so afraid and in so much pain before she passed away. She's gone now, so please don't make her suffer any more. Even if you don't love her, as you said, you develop feelings for even a cat or dog after a while, let alone your mother. I don't ask you to have any mercy, but please leave this General's Mansion."
Prince Mu was stunned by Luo Zhiheng's words, his thoughts in turmoil. He no longer had the heart to continue fighting for the body. He took a deep look at the coffin and said to Mu Yunhe, "She will always be my wife, and she must be buried where I am. You can't stop me from taking her body away. I will come back."
Prince Mu left, and as he went, he seemed even a little guilty, as if a monster was chasing him. Yet, his heart was unexpectedly filled with unease. He still couldn't understand his own feelings.
Mu Yunhe instantly dropped all his guard, leaning wearily against the coffin. Luo Zhiheng hugged him from behind, remaining silent. Finally, Mu Yunhe couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Why did you suddenly act like that? Do you know how dangerous that was? And you said such nonsensical things."
Luo Zhiheng sighed, "Although you might be unhappy if I tell you, I won't feel comfortable if I don't. I'm just afraid you'll be upset. That Prince Mu's behavior is very strange, and I'm basically certain of it after this test."
"Oh? So what did you find out?" Mu Yunhe seemed a little interested and asked again, "Is he like a madman?"
Luo Zhiheng's lips curved into a smile: "I've detected that Prince Mu is fond of the Princess Consort."
Mu Yunhe was horrified. He turned to look at Luo Zhiheng and saw that her face was full of certainty. Mu Yunhe felt incredulous and his smile twitched as he said, "Are you kidding me?! He denied it himself."
Luo Zhiheng shook her head and said, "There are many men who say one thing and mean another. But some people are not saying one thing and mean another; they just don't realize it yet. Prince Mu keeps saying he hates the Princess Consort, but when she died, he came to snatch her body. Don't you think he's contradicting himself?" 149.
"So what? Whether he loves her or not, Mother is gone. Whatever he does is just for show in my eyes." Suppressing his shock and disbelief, Mu Yunhe said relentlessly.
“But I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold out for the next two days. Prince Mu will definitely not give up so easily,” Luo Zhiheng said worriedly.
"Don't be afraid. If he comes again, can't we be prepared?" Mu Yunhe sneered, but he couldn't hide his thoughts any longer. He tentatively asked Luo Zhiheng, "Is there really someone who can love someone without hurting them?" Zhiheng remained silent.
Luo Zhiheng nodded: "Of course there is. It seems that Prince Mu has not seen himself clearly. Look at how lost and disoriented he was just now. I even feel that his love for the Princess is no less than that for you, Princess. This is a strange thought, but that's how I feel."
Mu Yunhe's eyes flickered incessantly. Deeply in love with his mother? That was utterly laughable; they had never seen anyone love someone like that before. But if Prince Mu truly loved his mother, could he use this to completely break the Prince Mu?
I'll just post one chapter for today. Huasha is almost asleep, it's so painful, please forgive me. Still, I'm asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets. Group kisses, goodnight, darling!
387 The Past of King Mu and Li Fangfei! Arranged Marriage
Updated: 2013-10-14 12:43:12 Word Count: 7626
The General's Mansion has been incredibly lively these past two days, with a constant stream of people coming to offer their condolences. Even disregarding Prince Mu's influence, the sheer number of people coming because of Mu Yunhe alone would be considerable. Moreover, the Princess Consort is a daughter of the Tong family, a woman of noble birth, and any shrewd person wouldn't miss this opportunity to connect with Mu Yunhe and the Tong family.
Almost everyone who came witnessed this scene: father and son confronting each other!
That father and son are now truly infamous throughout the Mu Dynasty. Not out of filial piety, but rather like enemies, their relationship is tense and confrontational. Whenever they meet, they stare at each other with red faces and thick necks, neither willing to give in. And the most ridiculous thing is that Prince Mu, who is already known outside as a heartless man who favors his concubine over his wife, has come to the General's Mansion's mourning hall to take the princess's body back with him.
People were utterly baffled. If you didn't care about them at all, and even refused to see them one last time before they died—being so cold-hearted—why are you now pretending to be so deeply affectionate? Who are you trying to impress? Don't you feel hypocritical and disgusted?
But Prince Mu's status was extremely high, and no one dared to publicly express their feelings. However, Prince Mu's reputation had greatly declined, and rumors about Li Fangfei were rampant outside. Those dark and sordid things could practically be listed among the eighteen most cruel tortures.
The news spread like wildfire, emerging from the ground overnight and reaching every corner of the city. This eerie speed meant that within a day, everyone in the capital knew what Li Fangfei had done. Whether true or false, the heinous methods, conspiracies, and numerous scandals were truly chilling. Thus, even after her death, Li Fangfei's reputation was utterly ruined. While others are remembered for their virtues, she was condemned for her infamy.
When Prince Mu heard the news, his mind was in complete disarray. Luo Zhiheng's words still echoed clearly in his mind: she said he loved the Princess.
How could this be? He clearly loathed the Princess Consort so much. But why did he keep thinking about this? If he didn't love her, why didn't he just scoff at her? Why was he getting a headache from thinking about it? Prince Mu couldn't explain his feelings. He had clearly and naturally denied Luo Zhiheng's words, yet he still kept pondering this question, perplexed. The more he thought about it, the more he felt his humanity was being torn apart.
Could his split personality be reconciled? He didn't know, but he was very clear about his purpose: the princess had to be brought back and buried in his tomb. She was his wife; no matter how much he loathed or despised her, she had to die with him!
Even at this point, Prince Mu hadn't realized that from beginning to end, in his imagined scenario of husband and wife being buried together, the unique spot beside him had always been reserved for the Princess. He had never even considered that this position, which represented status even more than official rank, would be occupied by Li Fangfei.
Now that Mu Yunhe refused to hand over the princess's body, he went to snatch it like a madman. Last night's feelings and bizarre behavior were still vivid in his mind, yet he felt a deep sense of desolation and horror. How could he do something so irrational? Didn't he not love her? Didn't he not care? Then let her die outside; if she wasn't buried in the royal mausoleum, she was essentially stripped of her royal status. Wasn't that a perfect revenge?
But why is he so fixated on this? He simply wants her back; he doesn't want the princess to be left to wander. It's as if a huge hole lies within him, and nothing can ever fill it until the princess's body returns!
Prince Mu closed his eyes tightly and sat there stiffly. The candlelight was bright, and he hadn't slept all night. As dawn broke, his mind was still racing with thoughts, all of which were related to the Princess.
When the servants reported that news of Li Fangfei had spread throughout the streets and alleys, Prince Mu suddenly felt utterly powerless. Mu Yunhe had gone mad, driven to the brink of madness by his mother's death, and was no longer accustomed to recognizing his own family. He was constantly arguing with his father, so how could he possibly show mercy to Li Fangfei?
As the servants recounted the rumors one by one with trepidation, Prince Mu's expression changed from weariness to shock, then to disbelief, and finally to uncontrollable rage.
In her quest for favor, she deliberately framed the Princess, sowing discord between her and the Prince. She even went so far as to use Mu Yunhe and the young prince to make the Prince completely despise the Princess, and cruelly sacrificed her own unborn child. She caused the death of the young prince, Rui'er, and later murdered several concubines in the Prince's residence. She embezzled public funds, and two-fifths of the money and valuables collected from various regions flowed into the Li family…
Each and every case was meticulously documented and presented in a complete and logical manner, leaving no room for doubt or suspicion of framing or lying.
Upon hearing this, Prince Mu was almost stunned. Then, like a madman, he grabbed the papers on the table and frantically flipped through them, page by page. His hands trembled violently, his eyes reddened, and his face grew paler inch by inch. When he reached the last page, the few words clearly written on it struck Prince Mu like a thunderbolt.
He once spent his life in a brothel...
A brothel? A brothel!!
Just this one sentence could completely destroy Li Fangfei and the Li family, and also destroy Prince Mu!
The dignified Prince Mu actually married a courtesan—it's a shameful thing to say. He's a prince, a member of the imperial family; how could he possibly marry a courtesan? The word "marry" is the crux of the matter.