Mu Yunhe was helpless and anxious. The King was really angry, but he couldn't speak. He could only bite the bullet and say, "Your Majesty, it's not that I did anything to Aheng, but that Aheng is really dead. You can dismiss everyone else, and I will tell you about this in detail."
Seeing the King's relentless stance, Mu Yunhe had no choice but to pick out some key points that wouldn't implicate Luo Zhiheng. Most importantly, he didn't want the person beside him to suspect Luo Zhiheng. After thinking it over, the only thing he could say was that Luo Zhiheng was already dead and that Luo Ningshuang had substituted someone else for her.
The reason he revealed this information firsthand was because he already knew about it, and this was also the reason Mu Yunsheng was brought up. The person following him also knew that he knew about this, so there was no need to hide it. By revealing it, he could make that person believe that he didn't know he was being followed, thus lowering their guard. Secondly, Mu Yunhe was worried that the King would not let the matter rest and would cause further complications, so he thought it was better to tell him himself.
The King sneered, wanting to see what other tricks Mu Yunhe had up her sleeve! She dismissed everyone, and the doors and windows of the room slammed shut. Standing before the crumbling memorial tablet, she declared with overwhelming force, "Speak! You'd better give me a convincing explanation, or else..."
The king did not finish his sentence, but the threat in his words was already obvious.
Mu Yunhe suddenly felt the cold pressure behind him disappear. Before he could even feel happy, he felt a cold sensation in front of him. It was as if something invisible and intangible suddenly appeared in front of him, with a pair of sinister and cold eyes that were almost touching his face, staring at him without missing even the slightest emotion on his face.
Mu Yunhe's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank. This person dared to appear so blatantly before him; surely there was a test involved, a test to see if he truly couldn't sense the ghost's presence? If he had shown even the slightest hint of surprise or doubt just now, this ghost would probably have strangled him by now.
Mu Yunhe said methodically, "Your Majesty is right, the Luo Zhiheng you saw is indeed not dead."
Mu Yunhe's first words brought a ray of sunshine to the King's gloomy face, but only for a moment. The King frowned and said, "What do you mean by the Luo Zhiheng I saw? Is the Luo Zhiheng we saw different?"
Mu Yunhe ignored the sarcasm in the King's mouth and nodded, saying, "That's right. The Luo Zhiheng you saw, the woman who was in a coma in my house for three years, the woman who was just announced dead, she is not the real Luo Zhiheng!"
"What did you say?!" The king stared in shock, his eyes wide.
In the following half hour, Mu Yunhe explained that Luo Zhiheng was forced to jump off a cliff and had already died, and that Luo Ningshuang had impersonated Luo Zhiheng to take her place.
He spoke in a somber voice, completely immersed in pain, longing and guilt for Luo Zhiheng, and hatred and resentment towards Luo Ningshuang. These emotions were genuine to Mu Yunhe, so he did not reveal any flaws.
The Queen was utterly unable to process this earth-shattering secret. The news was like a thunderbolt, instantly exploding in her mind, shattering her senses and understanding into countless fragments. After a long while, she shook her head in disbelief, stammering, "Impossible! How could such a bizarre thing happen in the world?"
“At first, I couldn’t believe it either, but in these three years, I really have no feelings for Luo Ningshuang at all. It’s not that I’ve grown cold towards Luo Zhiheng, but that the person is not Luo Zhiheng at all! I’ve felt guilty, and I’ve even lived with guilt every day, but I can’t control my feelings. Because she’s not Aheng, I can’t pay attention to her, and I can’t give her any more affection,” Mu Yunhe said sadly.
The Queen stared blankly at Mu Yunhe. She had witnessed firsthand the bond between Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe; the two children had grown together step by step, their love stronger than gold, truly unwavering until death. If Mu Yunhe's explanation was correct, then it would indeed explain his coldness towards Luo Zhiheng over the past three years. Because this woman was not Luo Zhiheng, Mu Yunhe felt nothing!
But Luo Ningshuang was far too audacious! How dare she commit such a heinous crime?! Although it was unbelievable and inconceivable, the evidence Mu Yunhe presented—the fire, the coffin, and the fact that Mu Yunsheng was brought out through Luo Ningshuang—left the King with no room for rebuttal. She had no choice but to accept, to admit, that Aheng… was truly no longer alive?!
The king's beautiful eyes instantly turned bloodshot. Looking at the memorial tablet at his feet, he felt a mix of emotions and pain. The spirit he had been holding onto collapsed in an instant. He bent down and picked up the tablet in a dejected and sorrowful manner, trying his best to maintain his composure, but it was still not as fast as the tears that fell.
509 A farcical mourning event! How laughable is this infatuation, this resolute suicide for love!
Updated: 2013-12-21 13:37:57 Word Count: 7991
Luo Zhiheng died, and all of Luo Zhiheng's relatives and friends came to pay their respects the next day. However, strangely, Mu Yunhe did not notify anyone in particular, nor did he have anyone prepare to receive the mourners. There were no white silks or funeral offerings at the priest's mansion. Apart from a small mourning hall that had been set up in the mansion, the priest's mansion seemed calm and peaceful.
Mu Yunhe did not explain his reasons for doing so. He did not want to make a big fuss about Luo Zhiheng's funeral because his Aheng was still alive. His low-key approach was also for the sake of the person behind the scenes, so that person would think that he was unwilling to handle Luo Ningshuang's funeral arrangements.
Although no guests were invited, the elderly Mr. Tong and his family still came together. Their weathered faces could not hide their sorrow. After all, they were already centenarians and had long since seen through the vanities of the world. Their regrets and sorrows outweighed their grief. However, they still couldn't help but think of Luo Zhiheng. Such a good woman had left this world. It was still heartbreaking to think about.
Murong Qianxue collapsed in tears before Luo Zhiheng's memorial tablet, questioning how Luo Zhiheng could leave like this. They had been waiting for Luo Zhiheng to wake up, filled with hope and never giving up on her, but Luo Zhiheng left so hastily, and no one could accept it.
Before leaving, Murong Qianxue told Mu Yunhe that she had sent a message to the Southern Dynasty that Yu'er would come to pay her respects to Luo Zhiheng. Murong Qianxue requested to see Luo Zhiheng's body, so Mu Yunhe had a prepared corpse placed in a coffin and brought out for people to see. This person also had a face full of scars, and his features were completely unrecognizable.
Then Prince Mu arrived, coming with Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunhe looked at the two men, his gaze turning icy cold. Even though he didn't care about the throne, everything Prince Mu had done filled Mu Yunhe with disgust, anger, and above all, heartbreak. This man was clearly his father, yet his father had betrayed him time and time again.
Why didn't Prince Mu tell his father the late emperor's last words? Perhaps he was afraid that once the emperor ascended the throne, he would target Prince Mu? Even his father didn't trust him and was wary of him; wasn't this also a tragedy for Mu Yunhe?
Mu Yunjin looked even more颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of listlessness, apathy, and apathy) than he had three years ago. His unshaven face was etched with the marks of time, but the past three years had brought him more maturity and composure. He had become more taciturn, a far cry from his former flamboyance. He lived a secluded life in the Mu Dynasty, like a shadow, and had not attended court or appeared in public for many years. His emergence now was a way of repaying Luo Zhiheng's kindness in admonishing him and helping him out.
Mu Yunhe stood expressionlessly to the side, watching Mu Yunjin bow to Luo Zhiheng's memorial tablet, while Prince Mu simply stood by and watched. Then they walked up to Mu Yunhe. Prince Mu looked even older, but his eyes were sharp, showing that he was old but not weak.
Prince Mu looked at his legitimate son. For three years, the father and son had been like strangers, without even exchanging a single word. Prince Mu knew that his son hated him, and he also felt guilty towards Mu Yunhe because of the will he had concealed back then. He truly felt speechless and didn't know what to say to Mu Yunhe.
Fortunately, the current emperor is capable of shouldering the responsibility, and the Mu Dynasty is relatively stable under his rule, which makes his conscience a little better. Because no matter who is the emperor, as long as the people can live in peace and prosperity, that is good. This doesn't mean he made a wrong decision.
Seeing the father and son speechless, Mu Yunjin's throat tightened. He didn't know what to say to Mu Yunhe. He had made too many mistakes in the past. Three years had changed him a lot, allowing him to calm down from hatred and impetuosity. Thinking about it carefully, everything was a cycle of cause and effect. His mother's later fate was not unrelated to her own misdeeds. Even though he was heartbroken, he should remain rational. After all, if his mother hadn't relentlessly pushed Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng to the brink of death, Mu Yunhe wouldn't have been driven to such a desperate moment.
The past is too painful to recall, and Mu Yunjin's three years of peaceful self-cultivation have once again caused her emotional turmoil.
Luo Zhiheng, this extraordinary woman—did he ever have feelings for her back then? Perhaps only a little, perhaps just a fleeting moment, but those inexplicable flutters were definitely there. What man wouldn't be attracted to such a unique woman?
Fortunately, he wasn't deeply involved, and later, because of Yu'er, this budding feeling faded away. However, Mu Yunjin still felt shameless for having such inappropriate feelings for his sister-in-law. Fortunately, he didn't reveal it, and fortunately, he stopped himself. Luo Zhiheng's death was truly tragic news, but his unbearable past would be completely buried with her death.
With Luo Zhiheng's death, no one is more heartbroken than Mu Yunhe. Their relationship was so profound. Mu Yunhe may wear a cold expression now, but his heart is likely already riddled with wounds. The stronger and calmer Mu Yunhe appears, the more pain he is probably experiencing inside.
Mu Yunjin's eyes were deep. Perhaps he would be a good older brother, making amends for his mother, repaying his debts for himself, or perhaps because of the many things Luo Zhiheng had said to him over the years, such as brotherly affection!
"The dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences. You still have your father..." Despite his many words, Mu Yunjin felt he couldn't comfort Mu Yunhe. He wanted to tell him that Mu Yunhe still had him as his brother; after all, they were brothers, blood relatives connected by blood. But three years had passed, and the past hurt remained. Even the strongest sibling bond couldn't necessarily heal the wounds. Mu Yunjin ultimately couldn't bring himself to call himself the brother.
Mu Yunhe was quite indifferent to Mu Yunjin's words, and even gave a cold laugh.
His laughter was full of sarcasm and disdain, and Prince Mu's expression immediately changed. Yes, did Mu Yunhe have a father? Probably not. He did, but what difference did it make? A father who wouldn't even glance at his son, a father who always sided with the enemy in court, a father who watched his son suffer endless torment and pain, yet remained indifferent—could he still be called a father?
"Now that we've finished paying our respects, let's go." With an air of indifference, whether it was aloofness or melancholy, Prince Mu finished speaking and left first.
Prince Mu also didn't want to face Mu Yunhe. Too many wounds had made the father and son unsure how to talk. Although Prince Mu was also tormented and anxious at this moment, heartbroken that his son had lost his beloved wife, he was truly not good at expressing himself. He was even more afraid that his well-intentioned concern would be seen by Mu Yunhe as a scheme and that he would be wary of him.
Mu Yunjin gave Mu Yunhe a deep look. He couldn't understand the expression on Mu Yunhe's face. There was no sadness at all, or perhaps Mu Yunhe was hiding it too well that even he couldn't see through it? Before leaving, Mu Yunjin glanced at the coffin one last time, a heavy and regretful look in his eyes, and left with heavy steps.
The whole day was noisy and chaotic. Although Mu Yunhe did not hold a grand funeral, the news that dignitaries and important officials from all sides came to pay their respects to Luo Zhiheng still spread. Guests came and went in an endless stream at the priest's residence that day. Mu Yunhe did not stay in the mourning hall all the time; he only came out when there were important guests he had to see.
As night fell and the worshippers had all left, a delicate-looking woman appeared at the gates of the priest's residence. The gatekeeper clearly recognized her and let her in.
When she stood in front of the coffin and looked at the corpse lying inside, she could no longer hold back her tears. She almost staggered and knelt down in front of the coffin, her hands gripping it tightly. She bit her lips until they bled. Her trembling hands wanted to touch the person lying peacefully inside, but in the end, they could only fall limply.
"I'm still too late. You're so cruel. You didn't see me when I woke up, and now that you've left, you don't even want to see me one last time. Do you hate me that much? I said I would just wait for you quietly. When you're free and remember me, I'll appear by your side. If you don't want me, I won't cling to you. Luo Zhiheng, you ultimately don't want me, do you? You can confide in Murong Qianxue, you can dote on and cherish Yu'er, and you can even go to great lengths for Mu Yunhe, but you're just not willing to make even the slightest sacrifice for me!"
"You left so easily. All my waiting and longing turned into a joke in an instant. You made me a woman who is looked down upon. I betrayed my family and my father. My reputation is ruined. I will never marry. I have never regretted my unrequited love for you because of a joke you made back then! But you won't even give me a word or a glance. Luo Zhiheng, if you are really so cruel, why did you provoke me in the first place?"
The mournful voice in the quiet funeral hall was filled with an indescribable stillness and loneliness. She said she had no resentment, but the unwillingness and hatred in her voice were still clearly revealed.
She was the most insignificant person in Luo Zhiheng's life, the most absurd person in Luo Zhiheng's life, and also the most persistent person in Luo Zhiheng's life.
She held fast to a joke, a casual remark; she treated her first flutter of the heart as an unwavering faith; she secretly pledged her first love to someone who might never reciprocate; she recklessly gave her entire life to someone who might never give her a future. But she never hesitated, because she firmly believed that this person was worth wasting her time waiting for!
She had prepared for the worst: that she and Luo Zhiheng had no future. So as long as she lived, she would persist in loving Luo Zhiheng, even if Luo Zhiheng didn't love her back. As long as she persisted, her love would live on! Even if she could only peek at Luo Zhiheng from a dark corner, she could be happy for a long time.
But Luo Zhiheng died, instantly ending all her hopes, longing, and waiting, and also instantly killing her heart!
"You, have you really never loved me? Luo Zhiheng, Young Master Luo, my love, do you really disdain it so much? Even in death, did you never have a trace of me in your heart?" Sun Yunyun stared at Luo Zhiheng with infatuation. Her eyes were covered by tears, filled with mist and tears, making it impossible to see the messed-up face in the coffin clearly. Her voice seemed very soft, yet it was heavy with weariness.
"She never loved you, because she could never love a woman in her life!" A cold voice came from the back room, and in an instant, Mu Yunhe's tall and thin figure walked out.
Sun Yunyun's expression changed drastically, her pale face still showing fear, as if someone had discovered her unspeakable secret and thoughts. Trembling, she looked at Mu Yunhe, then collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. Suddenly, she snapped out of her daze, her face contorted with rage, and said, "What did you say? What do you know? Why won't he fall in love with me? What did Young Master Luo say to you?"
Mu Yunhe sighed inwardly. If Luo Zhiheng knew what Sun Yunyun had done over the past three years, she would probably be consumed by guilt. Sun Yunyun was an extremely eccentric person, seemingly cold and aloof, but deep down she was fiercely independent and stubborn. Her decision to pursue Luo Zhiheng was just a joke; how many women would ruin their entire lives over a mere joke?
But Sun Yunyun did just that, and without hesitation. This undoubtedly added a heavy lock to Luo Zhiheng's conscience.
In a sense, Sun Yunyun is extremely selfish. She keeps saying that she will not add burden to Luo Zhiheng, will not disturb Luo Zhiheng, and will not force Luo Zhiheng, but her domineering behavior is no different from an invisible form of coercion.
If Luo Zhiheng had still been here for the past three years, then Sun Yunyun's crazy actions would have been nothing more than forcing Luo Zhiheng to make a decision and drawing a hole in Luo Zhiheng's heart. Sun Yunyun would have broken Luo Zhiheng's conscience and moral bottom line.
What's infuriating is that this woman actually thought she was completely right. She waited for three years, but her one-sided love made Mu Yunhe very unhappy. Murong Qianxue tried to persuade her, but she assumed that Murong Qianxue also liked Luo Zhiheng and deliberately tried to sow discord between her and Luo Zhiheng, refusing to speak to Murong Qianxue from then on.
It has to be said, this woman is sick! And she's reached the point of being terminally ill.
Looking at Sun Yunyun's face, Mu Yunhe felt an indescribable disgust. Although he didn't want to admit it, this woman was indeed his rival in love! Having a woman as a rival in love made Mu Yunhe feel indescribably frustrated and speechless. He simply couldn't bring himself to sympathize with a female rival.
Now that this woman has come knocking on his door, Mu Yunhe no longer wants to drag things out and let her wait any longer. After all, Aheng is not dead and will find out what Sun Yunyun did sooner or later. It would only make Aheng feel bad, so it's better to let him be the villain now.
"Please stop calling my wife 'Young Master Luo'. She is not the 'Young Master Luo' you speak of. My wife, Luo Zhiheng, is a real woman! How can one woman fall in love with another woman? So you have been fantasizing and indulging in wishful thinking all along!" Mu Yunhe said in a very serious tone.
Sun Yunyun didn't show any shock, because she had heard this kind of talk many times before. But she angrily retorted, "You lied to me! I know you don't want me to be with Luo Zhiheng, so you deliberately lied to me! But what good does it do you? Luo Zhiheng is a man, why won't you let him go?"
"Why are you so convinced that Luo Zhiheng is a man?" Mu Yunhe wondered if this woman was out of her mind. Luo Zhiheng was clearly a real woman, so how could Sun Yunyun be so blind? Couldn't she see Luo Zhiheng's impressive breasts, fair skin, and radiant face?
“She told me! She said that the reason he dressed as a woman was because he was afraid of hurting his father, and that he participated in the talent competition later to spite his sister. His family dotes on him so much because he is a boy. What he said makes sense, and I believe whatever he says. Don’t try to lie to me!” Sun Yunyun said, a hint of pride in her voice.
Mu Yunhe was dumbfounded. Where did Sun Yunyun get this kind of trust? Regardless of any external factors, no matter who said what, she firmly believed in the other person. Even ordinary couples might not have such strong trust.
The thought that Luo Zhiheng had almost no trust left in him made Mu Yunhe feel a tightness in his chest, and he said in an even more unfriendly tone, "How long are you going to keep up this ridiculous self-deception? Luo Zhiheng is my wife, the woman beside me in bed. Do you think I don't know whether the woman I hold and cherish every night is a woman? Do you think I don't know better than you?"
That was a bit much, but Mu Yunhe's temper was flaring. Sun Yunyun's confidence and trust had provoked him. He was both calm and eager to get rid of Sun Yunyun; he couldn't let this woman continue to exist between him and Aheng. Although Sun Yunyun wasn't a threat, and Aheng would never fall in love with a woman, Sun Yunyun's presence was unsettling.
Sun Yunyun's pale face flushed crimson, and she pointed at Mu Yunhe, trembling, unable to utter a single word. There was no way she could help it; Mu Yunhe was a grown man, thick-skinned as he was, but Sun Yunyun was, after all, an unmarried woman, and she couldn't withstand such words from him. After a long while, Sun Yunyun finally gritted her teeth and managed to utter, "Shameless scoundrel!"
Mu Yunhe was speechless, almost spitting blood. How could he be called a shameless lecher? He swears to God, he has absolutely no interest in any woman other than Aheng!
“Miss Sun, I am grateful for your deep affection for Aheng, but your actions have seriously damaged Aheng’s reputation. It is your business if you don’t care about your own reputation, but I cannot ignore Aheng’s! Please consider it an act of kindness to let Aheng go. After all, death is the greatest tragedy, and Aheng is already dead. No matter how strong your feelings are, they should be resolved. Besides, Aheng was definitely a woman!” Mu Yunhe calmly advised Sun Yunyun.
Overwhelmed with grief, Sun Yunyun leaned against the coffin and sobbed. Was her life truly a joke? Was her love really so insignificant in these people's eyes? Had all her understanding and the emotions she had given truly been wasted?
I'm not reconciled! I'm truly unwilling to accept this!
Sun Yunyun was once a favored daughter of heaven, looking down on all the good men in the world, truly never caring about or paying them any attention. But then this person who moved her heart appeared, and she rushed over without a second thought. How did she become someone no one wanted? In her heart, for the first time, she felt resentment towards Luo Zhiheng, a faint resentment, yet filled with intense pain!
“I don’t believe Luo Zhiheng is a woman. Luo Zhiheng said he loves me and that he would marry me. He said that after he leaves you and regains his freedom, he will take me far away and restore his true identity. It’s no use for you to lie to me. I believe him, I just believe him!” Sun Yunyun became more and more agitated as she spoke, and finally she roared.
Some lies are like that; when a lie becomes too convincing, and over time it seeps into your very being like blood, then it becomes the truth. You hypnotize yourself again and again, indulging in fantasies, and the lie, cloaked in a beautiful guise, transforms into your most beautiful and anticipated dream.
Loving Luo Zhiheng and marrying Luo Zhiheng has become Sun Yunyun's dream! A crazy dream!
Sun Yunyun's eyes shone intensely, her emotions surging wildly. She looked at the person in the coffin, Luo Zhiheng, so disheveled and miserable—a sight she had never seen before—and her heart ached. She hadn't come here today with any intention of leaving alive!
Now that Luo Zhiheng is gone, what's the point of her living? She said back then that she would rather die than not be with Luo Zhiheng! She meant what she said!
Luo Zhiheng, in the depths of hell in the King of Hell's palace, you can't abandon me this time!
Sun Yunyun stood up stiffly, bent down and entered the coffin, looking affectionately at the hideous dead face, and whispered gently but resolutely, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to accompany you!"
Mu Yunhe was already quite taken aback by her behavior, and with his exceptional hearing, he naturally caught her indistinct murmurs. His expression immediately changed, and he shouted angrily, "Don't do anything reckless!"
But his words came a step too late for Sun Yunyun's actions. A dagger was drawn from Sun Yunyun's sleeve, which she grabbed, raised high, and plunged into her own abdomen! Her movements were swift and decisive!
Mu Yunhe, his face ashen, rushed over, grabbed her arm, pulled her back, and kicked her wrist, knocking the knife away. He then threw Sun Yunyun aside, kicking the dagger far away. Only then did he turn around sternly and rebuke, "What are you doing! If you want to die, go somewhere else. I truly cannot bear the thought of your Duke's daughter dying in my house!"
"Why are you stopping me? You bastard, I'm going to die for Young Master Luo! I'm going to die with him!" Sun Yunyun slumped to the ground in a disheveled state, looking up and roaring angrily.
She hadn't died, but she was furious, her eyes flashing with madness, her face streaked with tears. The heartache and disappointment of not getting what she wanted, the sorrow and despair of losing what she had—all the joys and sorrows, the loves and hates that Sun Yunyun had experienced in her early twenties had utterly defeated her stubborn and fierce character at this moment, and she finally broke down!
The past three years haven't been without pressure. Living alone, I endured all the pressure and fear, just to hold onto the love in my heart. But it's all gone now! Sun Yunyun broke down in tears.
Mu Yunhe felt as if something had struck his heart hard. He thought of Luo Zhiheng. Three years ago, when Luo Zhiheng was forced to jump off the cliff, what would he have done if he had been by her side?
I'll die with her!
The answer came to him almost instantly. Yes, he was willing to die with Luo Zhiheng; if they couldn't be together in life, they would be together in death. Simply because he loved her, loved her so much that he would give up everything and follow her even in death.