Luo Zhiheng ignored Luo Zhiwu, snatched the note, took the porcelain bottle, got up and sat down in front of the dressing mirror, poured out the contents of the jade bottle and applied it to the red marks on her chin.
The room was filled with the faint scent of pear blossoms. Luo Zhiwu leaned against the wall, swaying slightly, and took a deep, lustful sniff of the fragrance. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Pear Blossom Skin? He's really generous to you. It's a tribute from the Western Regions, priceless and unavailable. Only three bottles are produced every ten years: one for the Emperor, one for the Empress Dowager, and one for the High Priest. And he just gave it to you like that? Are you going to repay him with your body?"
Luo Zhiheng's lips curled into a smile, and she gave him a flirtatious wink: "Wasn't I originally his?"
Luo Zhiwu glared at her with exasperation: "You have no backbone!"
——
Upon returning to his residence, Mu Yunhe immediately began arranging for an investigation into the events of three years ago. He and Luo Zhiheng had essentially reached an unspoken agreement; he was confident that as long as Luo Zhiheng remained safe and sound, he could do whatever he wanted without worry. As for the events of three years ago, he was determined to investigate thoroughly. How could he tolerate someone daring to play tricks and orchestrate such a massive conspiracy right under his nose?
However, now that he has lost his soul power, it is naturally impossible for him to easily investigate those matters. But that's alright, he can find out eventually by investigating little by little.
He ordered his trusted bodyguards to investigate the events that began three years ago when Luo Zhiheng was abducted. Mu Yunhe pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out who this imposter in his household was. So he ordered people to find all the people who brought this imposter back three years ago and interrogate them severely.
However, some of these people were Elder Tong and others, so he couldn't act rashly. He also believed that his maternal grandfather and the others wouldn't harm him and Aheng, but it would probably be difficult to completely grasp what happened back then. The only way was for him to be able to restore his soul power, but that was impossible now unless he found someone who also knew how to use soul power.
Mu Yunhe then ordered people to immediately investigate whether there were any abnormal or strange individuals in the capital over the past three years, preferably someone similar to the demon king who had been by Mu Yunsheng's side three years ago. These people from the shadowy places could also utilize some form of soul power.
Mu Yunhe deployed his household guards and secret agents, ostensibly to protect the imposter Luo Zhiheng, but in reality, it was a form of surveillance and precaution. Mu Yunhe worried that this imposter might have accomplices. If so, he could discover them as soon as they came into contact with Luo Ningshuang, thus tracing the trail to find Luo Ningshuang's accomplices and capturing them all. Even if they didn't, he could still monitor Luo Ningshuang; he didn't believe this imposter could maintain her disguise so well forever.
After making the arrangements, Mu Yunhe sat at his desk, lost in thought. He considered every detail of the past three years, everything he had overlooked, and everything that could potentially become evidence or clues. He sat there until late at night and into the morning, without sleeping a wink.
The next morning, Mu Yunhe left home with a pale face and arrived at the General's Mansion early. This time, he announced his arrival openly, and Luo Zhiwu did not make things difficult for him, allowing him to enter smoothly. He went directly to Luo Zhiheng's room without seeing Luo Zhiwu. The room was not locked, and when he entered, Luo Zhiheng was still fast asleep, and there was still a lingering smell of alcohol in the room.
Mu Yunhe frowned, his eyes sweeping over the servants behind him with hostility, and said in a low voice, "Did she drink yesterday?"
The servant dared not conceal the truth and said, "The chief and the young master drank a few cups together."
"A few cups? More like a few jars! You may leave." Mu Yunhe snorted coldly and strode to Luo Zhiheng's bedside.
He missed her terribly last night, his mind racing with countless thoughts, but her image lingered most vividly. He came early this morning, unable to wait, and sat by her bedside, stroking her chin. It was smooth and white again, without a trace of redness. Satisfaction and a smile flickered in his eyes, but he reluctantly touched her harder, his words tinged with a mixture of reluctance and tenderness: "So delicate, can't I even touch you?"
Disturbed in her sleep, Luo Zhiheng felt itchy and waved her hand rudely, muttering a couple of things. However, she didn't immediately open her eyes as alert as usual. It seemed that she could sense the familiar person approaching even in her sleep, and she was completely at ease. Her hand unconsciously gripped the large hand on her chin. She slept soundly, her breath coming in gasps and a faint smell of alcohol.
Mu Yunhe was both amused and annoyed, and also envious. He leaned down, wanting to kiss her lips, but ultimately restrained himself, afraid of angering this little woman who was clearly even more temperamental than before. In the end, he only kissed her forehead, looked at her for a long time with lingering affection in his eyes, and stroked the mask on her face, but ultimately did not take it off to see her face.
He remembered a question Luo Zhiheng had asked him when she first returned: "Do you care about Luo Zhiheng's face or her as a person? If it weren't for her face, would you still love Luo Zhiheng?"
At that time, Mu Yunhe did not understand the meaning of those words, nor could he have thought too deeply about them. But now he finally understood what she meant. He was afraid that Aheng had already shown clues by his side at that time. He blamed himself for being too careless and slow.
At the time, the imposter had a flawless face right beside him, and Mu Yunhe couldn't fathom that it was a fake, no matter how hard he tried. But of course, he loved Luo Zhiheng as a person. What use was a face identical to Luo Zhiheng's? If he only cared about looks, there were countless beautiful women like Luo Zhiheng. Why should he be devoted to only Luo Zhiheng?
Because that imposter wasn't Luo Zhiheng, he felt nothing for her. Even looking at that face from his memory every day didn't stir any emotion in him.
He kissed her again, then got up and left. He couldn't waste any more time. Although the events of three years ago were difficult to investigate and many clues were nowhere to be found, he had to act as quickly as possible. Only in this way could he find out the truth as soon as possible, give Aheng an explanation, and allow Aheng to return to his side legitimately as soon as possible.
As soon as Mu Yunhe stepped out of Luo Zhiheng's courtyard, he heard Luo Zhiwu say sarcastically, "Not going through the back door anymore?"
Mu Yunhe turned around and saw Luo Zhiwu squatting on the ground on the other side, idly destroying the blooming flowers. She didn't even glance at him.
You killed Luo Zhiwu today, and I'm afraid you'll regret it later.
Luo Zhiheng's words from that night echoed in his mind, and Mu Yunhe instantly felt an urge to grab that naughty girl and give her a good beating! She clearly knew everything all along, yet she watched him disrespect Luo Zhiwu because of her. This was his brother-in-law; it wouldn't be good to kill him or offend him.
These days, they never let people in the door before yesterday, so they must have really offended their brother-in-law.
Mu Yunhe didn't stand on ceremony. Although he was expressionless, he still bowed to Luo Zhiwu solemnly and said, "I was wrong the day before yesterday. Please forgive my rashness, elder brother."
Luo Zhiwu was stunned. He had never imagined that Mu Yunhe would bow and apologize to him. It was rather illogical for a high-ranking official to bow so readily to someone. Luo Zhiwu stopped destroying the flowers, dusted off his robe, and said coolly, "Please don't. I am not worthy of such a grand gesture from Your Excellency. If you are willing, I would accept it even if it killed me."
Mu Yunhe pursed his thin lips and bowed again, this time with even greater solemnity: "It was my fault. Please forgive me this once, brother, for my ignorance. Please forgive me for realizing my mistake not too late, and for not having completely disappointed Aheng."
For Mu Yunhe to go this far was not just a matter of losing face or dignity, but a matter of national humiliation and loss of sovereignty. He was a figure who commanded immense respect and whose every emperor treated with deference. Even if he no longer possessed divine powers, his colossal status still held sway. For him to perform such a grand ceremony and act so humbly towards a mere general was truly remarkable.
So if you, Luo Zhiwu, continue to be so ungrateful and arrogant, then there's something wrong with you, Luo Zhiwu. Aheng won't be angry with Mu Yunhe anymore once he knows. If Aheng gets angry and doesn't forgive you, you'll have to bear the consequences of his bad temper yourself. Mu Yunhe thought gleefully.
Luo Zhiwu wasn't stupid. Seeing Mu Yunhe's posture, she secretly gasped in surprise. Mu Yunhe was so cunning! He seemed magnanimous in admitting his mistake, but he adopted a certain attitude, as if he wouldn't lose a single ounce of flesh. Even his apology was so confident and assertive that it was impossible to refuse. Otherwise, even if Luo Zhiwu were to be unforgiving, what if Aheng, that girl who lost all sense of propriety around her husband, found out? Wouldn't she cause a ruckus?
Luo Zhiwu sneered, "Stop bowing and apologizing. My family has too much influence; don't hurt your back and tongue. Since you've already made a mistake, I'm not petty. Let bygones be bygones. Treat your wife well from now on. She has a brother who would risk his life for her. If you dare to hurt her again, next time your 'big brother' will kill you, not a beast."
Mu Yunhe's expression was unreadable as he calmly said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of killing the beasts. Just focus on protecting what you're supposed to protect, brother. I'll handle the rest."
After Mu Yunhe finished speaking, he left, his back straight and aloof, exuding an air of arrogance.
Luo Zhiwu gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing as she stared at Mu Yunhe's retreating figure. After a long while, she finally managed to utter, "He's got some nerve, damn it!"
As Mu Yunhe passed by the burned-down courtyard, someone carrying timber walked by and entered the courtyard, which was unrecognizable from the outside. Mu Yunhe glanced casually at the open gate, then stopped, his gaze unfathomable as he looked at the burned-out houses inside. He then strode back to the official's residence, summoned his guards, and coldly ordered: "Immediately investigate the fire at the General's Mansion three years ago during the palace coup. How many people died in the fire? Verify the bodies, find the coroner who performed the autopsy, and exhume every single person who was present at the time, if they are still alive!"
493 Exhumation and Autopsy! (Part 1)
Updated: 2013-12-13 20:12:40 Word Count: 4566
Under Mu Yunhe's swift and decisive action, the results were immediate. Within three days, a series of documents, files, and related investigation results were displayed in his study.
Seated at his desk, Mu Yunhe's face was stern. He picked up the first document and didn't touch it for the next two hours, carefully and slowly reading through each document, pondering and reflecting as he went. After reading them, he didn't find anything wrong with them. The only unusual thing was the cliff where they had found Luo Zhiheng three years ago.
According to the records, they found Luo Zhiheng because of the connection between Luo Erduo and Luo Zhiheng. It was Luo Erduo who led them to the top of the cliff; otherwise, they would not have been able to find Luo Zhiheng in such a short time.
But Mu Yunhe was puzzled. Luo Erduo was a pet that he had given to Aheng. This little thing was quite intelligent. Although it was neither human nor beast, it was definitely a very useful spiritual creature. She and Aheng had a contract, so it was only natural that she could sense Aheng.
But if Luo Erduo confirmed that Aheng was there, then the person they brought back should indeed be Aheng. But why is it a different person? Not long after Aheng was brought back, Luo Erduo was on the verge of death. At that time, he thought it was the imposter who was dying. Later, the imposter fell into a coma, and the imperial physicians were helpless. Luo Erduo fell into a complete coma and eventually stopped breathing. Mu Yunhe then stopped being so suspicious.
Although it was strange that Luo Zhiheng was still alive while Luo Erduo had stopped breathing and her heartbeat, who would care too much about a dead person? They hastily buried Luo Erduo, and the world lost another person who could discover that Luo Zhiheng was an imposter.
A deep gloom and coldness welled up in Mu Yunhe's eyes. He couldn't be sure if Luo Erduo's matter was also the work of that person behind the scenes. If so, then the ruthlessness and comprehensiveness of that person's planning were enough to make Mu Yunhe completely wary and vigilant.
This conspiracy has gone unpunished for three years, and it's time for it to come to an end.
Mu Yunhe couldn't find anything illogical in the documents, so he turned his attention to the documents on the cliff.
Luo Erduo personally led a group to find the person, confirmed the location, and indeed found Luo Zhiheng. Mu Yunhe can now be very certain of one thing: his Aheng did indeed stay on that cliff, or Aheng should have been on the cliff when Luo Erduo arrived.
But how exactly did the other party manage to deceive Luo Erduo and Aheng's connection and switch Aheng? The information and Elder Tong's account indicate that at that time, besides the dead, the only other person on the cliff was Luo Zhiheng. Could it be that Aheng was switched on the way back?
No, that's not right! This imposter Luo Zhiheng has been by my side for three years, and I haven't seen through her disguise, have I? Or perhaps this imposter has something special about her that can block the flow of soul energy? Only then could I have known that even the imposter Luo Erduo couldn't immediately distinguish her from the real one. By the time she could, Luo Erduo had already died for some unknown reason.
Yes! That must be it. Mu Yunhe's eyes suddenly lit up with a cold, sharp light. He continued thinking, and although he could no longer use his soul power, he still had a strong sense of the real Luo Zhiheng when she appeared. The fact that he hadn't sensed this imposter at all proved that.
The person behind this has something that can conceal their soul's aura?! Who exactly is this person? They must be someone of great importance! But what is the purpose of orchestrating such a massive conspiracy? Was the three-year silence merely due to the imposter's coma? What is their ultimate goal? Now that the imposter has awakened, will the person behind it all remain silent?
Mu Yunhe couldn't figure it out and fell into deep thought. His brows were furrowed, his long fingers tapped the table, and his gaze was fixed on the clouds outside the window, his mind wandering far away.
A knock on the door pulled Mu Yunhe back to his senses. He let Xiao Xizi in, who placed a secret report on his desk and respectfully withdrew.
Mu Yunhe unfolded the document, his body, which had been lazily leaning back in his chair, suddenly straightened up and leaned forward. His eyes were fixed on the message on the document. After a while, he put down the report, his fingers tracing the paper, his phoenix eyes narrowed as he pondered.
The secret report contained information about the Luo family from three years ago. Too much time had passed, and all traces had vanished. The only way to determine if the body identified as Luo Ningshuang among those corpses was indeed her was to exhume it and perform an autopsy. But three years had passed; the body had long since turned to bones, and opening it would be futile.
Mu Yunhe was unwilling to accept this. The secret report was the same as the one from three years ago, stating that Luo Ningshuang had died three years ago in the fire, along with her husband and Chunnuan. However, Mu Yunhe had seen Luo Ningshuang's destroyed courtyard a few days ago, and inexplicably had a strong feeling that he suspected the fire from three years ago. His divine sense and intuition were still intact; since he had suspicions, he couldn't let this clue go.
What a coincidence! Three years ago, Mu Yunsheng launched a palace coup, the Empress left, and in the midst of the chaos, Luo Ningshuang set herself and the people she hated on fire.
He was absolutely certain that Luo Ningshuang was someone who cherished her life, let alone having just acquired such a noble status. With Her Majesty the Empress recognizing her as a relative, how could Luo Ningshuang possibly be willing to die? Moreover, the person Luo Ningshuang hated most was probably not Bai Mingyue and Chunnuan, but Aheng, right? Aheng was still alive, so she was even less likely to be willing to die.
Moreover, what Mu Yunhe least trusted was the imposter's face. The face was exactly the same; for three years, while he hadn't been with her every day, he had been by her side, taking care of her. If it were a disguise or some other secret technique to change her face, it wouldn't be without flaws. That face was the real person's original face. And if that person wasn't Luo Zhiheng herself, then in the entire world, besides her twin sister Luo Ningshuang, Mu Yunhe truly couldn't think of anyone else who could have the same face as Luo Zhiheng.
Thus, Mu Yunhe became even more suspicious of the fire three years ago and the imposter's identity. If this imposter really was that vile Luo Ningshuang...
Mu Yunhe's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes revealing a ferocious and ruthless glint.
"Little Xizi, come in!" Mu Yunhe's eyes darted around, and he had already made up his mind. He called out to the person.
Xiao Xizi rushed in, only to hear Mu Yunhe's cold voice instruct: "Immediately have people prepare, and immediately send someone to inform the Luo family that I, in my capacity as a diviner, need to use the coffin of Luo Ningshuang, the second daughter of the Luo family. Remember, do not make a fuss about this; you only need to inform Luo Zhiwu. Then, dig out Luo Ningshuang's coffin!"
Little Ossizi was horrified upon hearing this. "Master, are you going to desecrate someone's corpse and scatter their ashes after they've died? The person's already dead, and you're already touching their coffin...isn't that inappropriate?" Little Ossizi's heart trembled wildly; all her composure vanished, replaced by anxiety and apprehension. "You can't just kick someone when they've served their purpose! Luo Zhiwu just saved your beloved wife, and now you want to touch her coffin..."
That's incredibly disrespectful!
Mu Yunhe ignored Xiao Xizi's suspicious thoughts and continued to instruct, "And find the most experienced coroner to come with me to open the coffin and examine the body!"
The moment the words "exhume and autopsy" were uttered, Xiao Xizi's heart pounded in his chest. Were they really going to subject the corpse to such torment?!
"Master, um...the person's dead, isn't this a bit much?" Master, you're offending a dead man! Xiao Xizi was almost in tears; three years of maturity had been shattered by his master's terrifying actions. Xiao Xizi wanted to cling to Xiao Yongzi's coattails, but could he really let that blockhead Xiao Yongzi do such a despicable and terrifying thing?
Mu Yunhe raised a phoenix eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "Go or die!"
"Yes, sir, I'll go right away." Xiao Xizi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly obeyed and went to carry out the order. The boss's power was immense.
Mu Yunhe's actions were merely to inform Luo Zhiwu. After all, they were to be buried in the Luo family ancestral tomb. Although Luo Ningshuang was already married and could not enter the ancestral tomb, she was buried beside it. Disturbing the ancestors would be disrespectful, and it would be inappropriate not to inform them. His use of his divine official status also carried a certain degree of suppression—not just of Luo Zhiwu, but of all the officials secretly observing. This was to prevent those foolish individuals from causing trouble at this crucial moment.
Ah Heng is still in the General's Mansion. We can't let people turn their attention and attacks towards the General's Mansion at this time.
Upon receiving the news, Luo Zhiwu was shocked and hurriedly went to Luo Zhiheng's room. As soon as she entered, she sneered, "That Mu Yunhe is quite capable. He actually used his status as a priest to pressure me and make me let him pass, so he can act arrogantly and domineeringly on my Luo family's ancestral graves!"
Luo Zhiheng was completely bewildered, her face pale, but her voice remained calm: "What happened?"
Luo Zhiwu briefly explained what Xiao Xizi had told her. Luo Zhiheng was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Do you really think Mu Yunhe is such a reckless and bullying person?"
"Of course! That brat has no good intentions, does he? If he wants to know something, he should just ask you directly. Why is he being so coy? He insists on investigating himself, making such a big fuss. With his status, he's bound to attract a lot of attention wherever he goes. If I agree, in just a few hours, everyone in the capital will know that Mu Yunhe led his men to dig up ancestral graves! I, Luo Zhiwu, a dignified seven-foot man, will be pointed at and cursed by everyone as a spineless coward!" Luo Zhiwu was furious.
He was just an ancient person. Even if he was enlightened and magnanimous, how could anyone casually disturb the resting place of their ancestors? Wouldn't that be like defecating on the neck of the Luo family, disrespecting the Luo family? No matter what Mu Yunhe meant, digging up graves was unacceptable!
Luo Zhiheng suppressed the urge to rub her forehead. On one hand, she was happy that Mu Yunhe had found out about Luo Ningshuang so quickly, but on the other hand, she was troubled by Luo Zhiwu's attitude. She hesitated and said, "Mu Yunhe meant no harm. He just wanted to confirm whether Luo Ningshuang was really dead. He even sent someone to tell you that he wouldn't touch the ancestor's grave. Does that mean we can't even touch the grave where Luo Ningshuang is buried next to it?"
Luo Zhiwu said grimly, "I don't care how much trouble you all cause, as long as you're alright, I'll do whatever my brother wants! But the ancestral resting place should be peaceful and serene; that's the greatest respect we can show our ancestors. I'm not their father, I can't make those decisions! But even if their father were here today, the ancestors' purpose cannot be disturbed by others. Even if Luo Ningshuang deserves to die, it's fine to torment the living, why bother disturbing a grave that was originally a fake?"
Luo Zhiheng fell silent. Mu Yunhe was investigating the truth of what happened back then, hoping to give her justice and a proper identity. She was both hopeful and moved, but Luo Zhiwu's emotions at this moment left Luo Zhiheng at a loss for what to do. She didn't want to put her brother in a difficult position.
Luo Zhiheng lifted her foot and walked outside. Seeing this, Luo Zhiwu's head, which had been burning with anger, instantly cleared up. Seeing her sister walking out, she rushed up and pulled her back, saying with some annoyance, "Where are you going? Can't I even say a few words to him? You just keep protecting him, let's see how well you can protect him."
Luo Zhiheng calmly said, "You're right. I can't always protect him, nor can I always torment him. Since he wants to know what happened back then, I'll just tell him myself. He doesn't need to make a fuss anymore. As for whether others believe it or not, that's not something I can control. I have a clear conscience, and I don't need Mu Yunhe to find some truth or evidence to prove my identity. At worst, once things are settled, Mu Yunhe and I will elope and disappear from the world."
Luo Zhiwu's expression changed repeatedly, and she gripped Luo Zhiheng's arm tighter and tighter. After thinking for a long time, she finally sighed, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I let you live a life where people question your identity? What's yours should be yours, and those who stole from you should naturally return it. Evil people should naturally be punished. It was my oversight, so don't feel wronged. I have to give an explanation to the Ancestor."
Luo Zhiwu ultimately felt sorry for her younger sister. The thought that if this matter wasn't investigated, and Guan Luo Zhiheng blurted out a so-called truth, even if those closest to her believed it, without evidence, how many people in the world would trust her? Such an absurd matter would likely only breed more suspicion. No secret can stay hidden forever; if Mu Yunhe didn't take a firm stance and investigate thoroughly, revealing the truth to the world, her sister's future would be spent living under constant doubt and suspicion.
How could he bear to see his sister live such an unhappy life?
At this point, Luo Zhiwu reluctantly nodded in agreement, but stated that she needed to first offer sacrifices to her ancestors before starting construction. Although Luo Ningshuang's grave was not located in the ancestral cemetery, it was still within its boundaries, where many of the Luo family's children who had died young and the women of the Luo family were also buried! Moving earth would disturb the souls of the children and ancestors, which was ultimately disrespectful.