Prince Mu froze. Accused and betrayed by his son, he didn't know what to feel, only a sense of loss and heartache. Although he had neglected his son and his mother for years, he loved this son dearly. It was only because Mu Yunhe wasn't close to him that he later quietly nurtured that familial bond.
Now, it's all his fault. He seems to have lost everything overnight.
Prince Mu suddenly laughed sadly, questioning him: "Have we severed all ties? Don't you want me anymore? Haven't I been good enough to you? Mu Yunhe, put your hand on your heart and tell me, if you hadn't been so ruthless in your dealings with Li Fangfei, if you had spoken to me, your father, with a slightly softer attitude, would I have come to this point in our confrontation? Do you know that the fire you set that day not only burned away your dark memories and your anger, but also those innocent servants and concubines, and even your own brothers!"
"If I didn't care about you, would I have remained silent and indifferent knowing that my own flesh and blood perished in that fire? You burned away half of my life's foundation, burned away my few remaining descendants, you killed your own siblings, and did I utter a single word of reproach? Where does your hatred come from? What is the cause of your resentment? Is it only because I neglected your mother? Now that I want to take her back, why are you so desperately trying to stop me? I was wrong, I deserve to lose everything, leaving only you two sons, isn't that right? Just because I was wrong, does that mean I can't get my own wife back?"
"Your own wife? Did you ever treat her as your wife? You never did! When your eyes and heart were only on Li Fangfei, did you ever know that my mother was heartbroken and weeping alone for you? When you held Li Fangfei and joined in angering my mother, did you know what kind of despair and vulnerability was hidden beneath her smile? When you accused my mother of killing Rui'er, questioning and cursing her, and angrily kicking her in the heart and lungs, did you know that my mother was already seriously injured and vomiting blood? Did you know that she felt even more guilty, terrified, and desperate than you?"
"You know nothing! You only know your own joys and sorrows, and you only care about Li Fangfei's joys and sorrows. You selfishly live in your own happiness, yet you force my mother to watch you be happy. You build your happiness on my mother's pain and despair. You didn't kill her, but you are using your most powerful weapon, your ruthlessness, to slowly erode her youth and pride, and erase her kindness and sincerity!"
"You discarded her feelings like trash, blind to her true love, tormenting her with the agony of unrequited love. You are heartless, yet you constantly remind your mother that you too are a person of feeling, but you will never give her that feeling! You let her cling to illusions, cruelly keeping her hanging on without giving her what she desires! You are the most terrifying person; ruthlessness is your weapon, you used it to kill your wife, you turned her into the very thing you despised. If I deserve to die, may I be struck by lightning!"
A deafening roar erupted, followed by a sudden flash of lightning and thunder. The thunder, like a bolt of lightning, struck the sky with a crackling sound, seemingly possessing the power to tear the heavens apart. Mu Yunhe's words fell abruptly with the thunder, his eyes brimming with crimson tears. The tall man and his dejected father, both with red eyes, had wounded each other deeply in their confrontation, yet this wound, this scar, could neither be torn open nor healed.
This time, Prince Mu was truly struck dumb. He considered himself a responsible man, as Li Fangfei had always said. Even though he now deeply resented Li Fangfei's betrayal.
He didn't want to admit that the heartless and meaningless person Mu Yunhe spoke of was himself; he couldn't believe he was so despicable. But he suddenly realized he had no way to refute it. Because he truly knew very little about his wife.
"No, you're wrong! How do you know what your mother is thinking? These are just your own guesses and nonsense. I never gave her any hope, I didn't!" At this crucial moment, Prince Mu actually used such weak words to counter the aggressive Mu Yunhe.
Mu Yunhe suddenly shouted, "Little Xizi, bring it up!"
It's another box, but this time it's much bigger and more exquisite.
Prince Mu was now terrified at the sight of what Mu Yunhe gave him, a mixture of fear and an irresistible urge to see what it was. Each time Mu Yunhe gave him something, it was as terrifying as a taboo, shattering his perfect image of Li Fangfei, and destroying his emotions and self-confidence.
So what will Mu Yunhe use to destroy him this time?
"Take it back and look at it slowly. Inside is my mother's love, full of love for you, a cold-blooded person!" Mu Yunhe's voice seemed tired, and his gaze lingered on the box with reluctance.
Prince Mu was startled. When he took the box, his expression betrayed an unconscious solemnity and anticipation. He then forgot that he had come to retrieve the princess's body and hurriedly left with the box. In any case, Mu Yunhe wouldn't bury the princess so soon, and with people guarding the place, he could rest assured.
Little did Prince Mu know that this was Mu Yunhe's most powerful attack to destroy him, a killing blow that left no trace. The greatest sorrow was a broken heart. He didn't want Prince Mu to die, but he wanted to make Prince Mu suffer worse than death. If he could, he would want to kill Prince Mu, but he didn't want to suffer divine retribution himself, and he didn't want to leave Aheng alone in the mortal world.
I'm so exhausted. How could I be so tired? As for the Li family, let's just leave Consort Li and that child behind. As for the others, who cares who they are? He's had enough of this cat-and-mouse game. So let the Li family end with this plague!
Two days later.
In the autumn of the thirty-seventh year of the Mu Dynasty's reign (Mu Jin era).
The Li family, which had dominated the Mu Dynasty for two hundred years, were direct descendants of the previous dynasty's royal family. Except for the imperial concubine in the palace, all of them perished in the Li family's royal gardens, which were practically the palace itself. Not a single one survived. They died of plague!
The sudden destruction of the Li family caused a huge uproar in the capital. On that day, the emperor tearfully issued an edict that, for the sake of the people, the Li family, along with the royal gardens and all their gold and silver treasures, had to be burned along with those people!
The fire raged for a full day and two nights, turning the entire sky crimson, leaving nothing but ashes. The sight chilled the hearts of all the officials in the capital, and their gazes toward the general's mansion were filled with apprehension, fear, and awe.
During the fire, Mu Yunhe buried his mother when the flames were at their fiercest! There was no grand ceremony, and no outsiders attended the funeral. Only Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng saw their mother off together.
The princess was buried in a beautiful, secluded place, a place no one would ever enter. It was a place that belonged only to Mu Yunhe, a place even Prince Mu didn't know about. The quiet environment was perfect for the princess's personality; she was originally indifferent to worldly affairs, but she was dragged into the mundane world and her life was wasted in bitter waiting.
The couple leaned on each other and stood quietly in front of the princess's tomb for a whole day, from dawn to noon and then to dusk.
One more update today, sweating bullets. Hua Sha's been a little unwell lately, so I can't keep up with the pace for a while. Are you all going to disappear? You guys are definitely my motivation! These past few days have been a double whammy for Hua Sha, both emotionally and physically. Are you really going to hurt my love life too? My little lovers, come out and let's date! Leave comments, votes, monthly tickets—I'm begging for everything!
391 Awakening: Secret Letters Devour the Mind, Hero's Heart Breaks! (Part 1)
Updated: 2013-10-17 21:36:00 Word Count: 3305
The wind blows, the grass grows tall and green, stretching to the horizon; the setting sun buries a beautiful woman beneath the mountain.
The wind blew gently. "Mother will be very happy here. No one can cause her any trouble or sorrow. With so many enemies keeping her company, she and her sister Rui'er will be at peace seeing everything that happened today." Mu Yunhe murmured softly, the coldness in his voice gone. His revenge over the past few days had been as cruel and swift as autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves. He had easily taken down an entire family. Without conspiracy or planning, he could still kill people.
“Yes, they will rest in peace. Yunhe, this matter is over. You promised me that you would return the happy and mischievous Yunhe to me, and you can’t break your promise…” Luo Zhiheng looked up at him, the setting sun casting a beautiful orange-red glow on her face.
Mu Yunhe felt a pang of heartache and tenderness. He kissed her forehead and slowly said, "I won't make any vows..."
These past few days, he had witnessed her silence and worry. Although she didn't speak much and no longer acted coquettishly, she remained by his side, offering him unwavering companionship—a tenderness and consideration that nothing could buy. He could feel her emotions, her heart, her love. Because he deeply felt this, because this woman was the only one left in his life, Mu Yunhe cherished and loved her even more.
"Then let's go home. We'll come to see Mother often in the future." Luo Zhiheng took his hand, her soft voice carried on the breeze into his heart, bringing a comforting warmth and sweetness.
He had grown thin; the blows of the past few days had transformed him overnight into a decisive, cold-blooded, and resilient man. No longer childish, even though she so missed the roguish, mischievous Mu Yunhe, that Yunhe was gone. She felt no resentment, no blame, no anger, because this was a step every child had to go through. Her Yunhe was growing up, and she was grateful to have been a part of this profound and unforgettable growth.
In the sunset, her face appeared even more delicate, her eyes seemingly filled with a radiant glow, hazy with the image of his figure. He stroked her cheek with his large hand, kissed her brow, and pulled her hand, intending to leave. But Luo Zhiheng suddenly stumbled, and he swiftly pulled her into his arms: "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, my legs are a little numb from standing for so long." She smiled, her nonchalant attitude masking a hint of grievance.
Mu Yunhe frowned, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. He suddenly turned around, slowly bent down, and said, "Come up."
Luo Zhiheng was a little shocked. What was he going to do? Had her man suddenly become enlightened?
She desperately wanted to climb up; she was truly exhausted from days of kneeling and standing, and even her sleep had been restless. But Mu Yunhe was even more tired than her, and she couldn't bear to add to his already weary body. So she smiled and gently patted his back, saying sweetly, "What are you doing? It's alright, I can walk by myself. This numbness will pass."
Mu Yunhe turned around, his handsome face so beautiful it seemed otherworldly. Although his gaze was full of tenderness, his words left no room for refusal: "Get on, I'll carry you home."
Luo Zhiheng wasn't one to let herself be wronged, but seeing that Mu Yunhe was really insistent, she couldn't bear to spoil the mood, so she quickly climbed up, her legs wrapped around his waist, his hands supporting her. The two of them were so close that her heartbeat was imprinted on his back, and she seemed a little shy and began to waver.
Mu Yunhe straightened up, glanced at his mother's lonely grave, and then slowly walked away carrying Luo Zhiheng on his back. Every step he took on the narrow, overgrown path felt exceptionally heavy. It wasn't that he couldn't walk, but his mind was heavy, and he appeared very dejected.
"After the rain, the sky clears, the seasons change, and late autumn is almost over. How about I cook you some wontons tomorrow?" Comfortable and dependent, Luo Zhiheng leaned against his back, looking at his profile, her soft lips murmuring like a cat against his ear, as if she were being affectionate.
"You can cook?" A hint of warmth finally crept into the deep voice, but it was tinged with doubt.
"No, but I can make wontons. My mother... my nanny is the best at making them." Luo Zhiheng almost let slip the truth.
Mu Yunhe was already absent-minded and didn't pay attention, nodding haphazardly.
Luo Zhiheng was afraid that he was feeling depressed, so she used her soft and sweet voice all the way. Some of her words were comforting, some were coquettish, and some were random and unrelated. But her gentle and tender voice seemed to have been sprinkled into Mu Yunhe's wounded heart, gradually filling the holes and wounds that were almost numb with pain.
She was soft, sweet, a vibrant flower blooming in his heart, ever-blooming, a forbidden place no one could tread. Only she could heal and soothe his wounds.
The two walked further and further away, the setting sun casting long shadows that slanted along with them as they walked. The grave grew ever more distant, and withered yellow leaves drifted down in solitude, burying this late autumn in sorrow.
——
"What exactly did you put in the box you gave to Prince Mu?" After taking a bath, Luo Zhiheng couldn't help but ask.
Mu Yunhe took the towel from her hand, pulled her into his arms and sat her down, patiently wiping her face. She couldn't see his expression or his gaze, but her movements stiffened for a moment before his indifferent voice rang out: "Something that will make him regret it for the rest of his life, causing him unbearable pain."
What could it be? What could make a cold-blooded and ruthless man like Prince Mu feel such deep regret and unbearable pain? Even when his beloved Consort Li died, Prince Mu didn't shed a single tear.
Luo Zhiheng's suspicions were soon confirmed. Prince Mu arrived, and it was the first time Luo Zhiheng had ever seen him so distraught. His eyes were bloodshot and moist, his face was haggard, his clothes were disheveled, and his hair was messy. He had none of the demeanor of a prince and instead looked extremely dejected.
Prince Mu arrived at the general's mansion early the next morning.
The night before, Prince Mu held the box given to him by Mu Yunhe, hesitating for a long time before finally opening it—a box supposedly filled with the Princess's love. He was somewhat surprised upon opening it, but when he saw that it was full of letters, Prince Mu was stunned.
These letters had clearly been tampered with; they were all obviously opened. Prince Mu immediately suspected that Mu Yunhe had read them! 108.
They took out an envelope with only a number on it. At that time, the characters were still in traditional Chinese and quite complicated, even the numbers. The number on this letter was nineteen.
Prince Mu didn't know what the numbers represented, but the handwriting on the letter was unmistakably that of the Princess Consort. Even Prince Mu himself was surprised; he clearly didn't care about the Princess Consort, so why was he so sensitive to her handwriting? He recognized it at a glance, and was absolutely certain.
The next moment, Prince Mu was filled with resentment towards Mu Yunhe. How dare that brat read the Princess's letter! Prince Mu was still somewhat hesitant, wondering what might be written in these letters.
He opened the letter, and the handwriting on it brought tears to his eyes. It read, "Husband." Husband—that's what the princess had called him at the beginning of their marriage. He didn't know why, but he couldn't bear to hear her call him that; it made his bones feel weak, and he instinctively tried to avoid it, sternly ordering her never to call him that again. From that moment on, he truly never heard the princess call him "husband" again.
Psychologically, you must have felt uncomfortable. You didn't realize it then, but now that you think about it, was it resentment? Or regret?
This letter is filled with the princess's longing and affection for him. It's a shy woman pouring out her heart, a heartfelt expression that cannot be revealed. Her words are tinged with shyness and trepidation, yet also with the joy and sweetness of becoming a wife for the first time. 17690096
It only described the time he spent in her room right after they got married. He never knew that his gaze, which he hadn't even noticed himself, could make her happy for so long.
It was so long ago that even Prince Mu couldn't remember the details, but the wedding night and the princess from that year were still vivid in his mind.
Prince Mu never knew that in the Princess's eyes, he was handsome and dashing. Seeing the wording, he could almost picture the Princess's beautiful face back then, a smiling newcomer who always doted on him. The letter made no mention of his coldness or faults, so Prince Mu himself forgot how he had neglected her in the past. In this letter, he even felt that beneath such sweet words, the newlyweds were truly in love.
He eagerly took out the second letter, which contained the number forty-seven.
He won't let me call him husband!
Upon opening it, a few trembling words appeared starkly and alarmingly before my eyes!
Prince Mu felt his heart clench with pain along with those twisted words, his eyes stinging. His fantasies and self-perceived mutual affection shattered in an instant. Yes, he wouldn't allow her to call him "husband." At that time, he despised her and felt she was unworthy to call him that.
The letter revealed the bitterness, fear, anxiety, helplessness, and grievances of a young woman. Yes, they had only just married, and she was already facing a cold and cruel husband. She was only sixteen years old, wasn't she? How could a young girl bear such a burden? Prince Mu's heart trembled along with these feelings of grievance and fear.
He wasn't a soft-hearted person; on the battlefield, he was ruthless and unyielding, and no enemy could survive his clutches. But today, for some reason, just a few words were enough to give him a feeling of despair and suffocation.
So he didn't have the courage to open the next letter.
392 Awakening: Secret Letters Win Hearts, Hero Awakens! (Part 2)
Updated: 2013-10-18 18:12:01 Word Count: 5542
But lacking the courage, he couldn't resist the urge to pry into the princess's past private feelings. In the end, he picked up another letter. The letter was numbered ninety-three, and it contained the princess's grievances. That day, he had scolded the princess for Li Fangfei's sake. The princess's grievances and injustices were silenced by his favoritism and hardness.
Prince Mu felt his eyes well up with tears. He could almost imagine the grief the princess must have felt when she wrote those words. Her new husband had completely distrusted her and so brazenly hurt and slandered her. He imagined that at that moment, in addition to the pain and heaviness, she must have felt utterly disappointed in him.
Each letter seemed like a whisper from his soul, urging him to hurry, to understand the princess's feelings over the years. Then, each letter was filled with words that grew heavier, more oppressive, and more desperate.
The princess's joys and sorrows changed little by little with her growth, the birth of Mu Qingya, and then the birth of Mu Yunhe. From injury to pain, to despair, to grief, to being deeply hurt, and finally to numbness. Her love was like a small boat bearing the weight of a raging storm; falling in love with Prince Mu sealed her fate!
In the end, her love was destroyed by his ruthlessness.
These were the Princess's heartfelt words throughout her life, all recorded, each chapter bearing the marks of her wounds. He hadn't noticed them before, but now, seeing them so suddenly, Prince Mu's heart ached. His mind was almost completely overwhelmed. This was the first time in so many years that his heart was so filled with the Princess's image.
He was almost unable to speak, overwhelmed by the pain and despair. It was as if his emotions were rising and falling with the princess's handwriting. Her last letter was from several years ago. Had she already given up on him back then? Had she stopped loving him? That's why they saw each other less and less afterward.
It seemed as if something important had slipped away before his eyes. He was in so much pain he could hardly breathe. He thought of her lack of love, her despair and her giving up. Prince Mu felt his blood run cold. Just how much harm had he inflicted on that woman? Enough to wear away all her love and hate?
At the bottom of the box lay a letter, its old paper bearing a handwriting quite different from the others. It was still the princess's handwriting, but now it was delicate, serene, and lively.
How much worse could the blow be? Prince Mu took out this last letter, the serial number on which was clearly a "1".