"No." The guard shook his head.
Mu Yunhe's face turned exceptionally pale. He was filled with doubt, completely baffled by Luo Zhiheng's words. What was she trying to tell him? Trust the Empress, but the Empress was an outsider. His sister was clearly family, a close relative, so why hadn't Aheng mentioned her at all?
Is Ah Heng telling him not to believe his sister?
But why is that? Did something unpleasant or misunderstanding happen between Ah Heng and his sister?
Mu Yunhe pondered and deduced, but he couldn't find a suitable answer. One was the gentle and kind older sister from his memories, the other the wife who was by his side—who should he believe?
——
The Grand Competition for the Most Talented Person in the World is a grand event, known to all the elites of the land. The Imperial Palace is no exception. Today, the palace maids and eunuchs, whether idle or busy, are all discussing the competition. Although they cannot go out to watch, they are certain that news of the fierce competition will spread far and wide, and they are already eagerly anticipating it.
But Luo Zhiheng, who was preparing to participate in the competition, was trapped inside the palace. Isn't that a joke?
At dawn, Luo Zhiheng, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, stretched and got up. Seeing that her wet nurse had been sitting there all night, she knew that the old monster had been watching them outside all night again. That old man! What is he up to? Could he really have taken a liking to the wet nurse? But he's a eunuch! How disgusting!
"Today we're going to fight! I wonder what the World's Number One Talent Competition is like, and what exactly will we be competing in?" Luo Zhiheng seemed quite relaxed. Seeing the nanny's worried face, Luo Zhiheng laughed and said, "Don't be like that. When I see that Imperial Concubine, I'll definitely make her punish that old man. We can leave this awful place today. What a happy thing!"
“No, Miss, what I’m worried about is today’s competition. We know nothing about it. Even though the Prince told you on the way here, you’ve never participated before, and the rules are different every year. You’ve been stuck here for three days, and now you’re going out to compete. I’m worried…” The wet nurse said cautiously with a heavy expression, “Today is truly a day with many experts. Although there won’t be many participants, these are all the true elites selected from various countries. They are all outstanding. If you… what will happen? I’m not worried about you not performing well, but I’m worried that the Prince will cause you trouble.”
Luo Zhiheng giggled: "When did you become so cautious with your words, Nanny? You mean you're worried I'll lose the competition? Don't worry, I'll do my best in the competition. No matter what the challenge is, I'll give it my all today because I'm not working hard for the King, but for Mu Yunhe and myself. Nothing can stop me."
"Besides, I never fight a battle I'm not sure I can win. If I didn't have some hidden skills, would I dare to agree to participate in the competition?" Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow triumphantly, her face full of arrogance.
The wet nurse was amused by Luo Zhiheng and asked, "So how are we leaving today? When are we leaving?"
"Now, but before we leave, we must complete all the proper etiquette to silence any gossip and prevent anyone from saying that I, Luo Zhiheng, am ignorant of etiquette, ungrateful, and dare to disobey my elder sister, the Imperial Concubine," Luo Zhiheng said, squinting her eyes.
Early in the morning, Luo Zhiheng wanted to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine. This time, instead of waiting, she had someone take her directly to the Imperial Concubine's palace. Of course, the people there wouldn't listen to her, so she used a little trick to get a lowly eunuch to take her there.
Nalan Daibai was surprised to see Luo Zhiheng appear outside the Imperial Concubine's palace. He glanced at the little eunuch with a sinister look and said to Luo Zhiheng in a sinister tone, "Greetings to the little princess. What brings you here, little princess? Her Majesty did not summon you."
Luo Zhiheng smiled innocently and said, "I know, but I've been here for over two days, and the Imperial Concubine has been unwell. I was really worried, so I came uninvited. I wonder if the Imperial Concubine is awake yet? I'm already at the door. Even if Your Highness doesn't see me, please allow me to pay my respects to her from the doorway?"
If this imperial concubine still had any sense of shame and morality, she wouldn't dare to make her sister-in-law, whom she had never met before, bow outside the door.
These past few days, Luo Zhiheng has been tolerant of the Imperial Concubine because she is Mu Yunhe's older sister. Even when the other party deliberately avoids meeting her and tries to trap her, she has endured it all. Does she think the Imperial Concubine is afraid of her? It's just that she has to compromise herself because of Mu Yunhe's feelings. If she were treated like this, she would have slapped that person across the face long ago.
But there's a limit to patience. Mu Yunhe's older sister was being too arrogant and unreasonable, so naturally she wouldn't tolerate it anymore.
Nalan Daibai was clearly not an idiot. By speaking like that in front of so many people, Luo Zhiheng had effectively blocked any reason the Imperial Concubine might use to avoid seeing her again. Nalan Daibai glared at Luo Zhiheng's smiling face with a sinister look, finding it utterly detestable. He wished he could suck her blood dry; her blood must be fresher than his wet nurse's!
Nalan Daibai glanced at the wet nurse's neck, secretly regretting that he hadn't been able to suck a drop of this woman's blood that day. For some reason, the smell of the wet nurse's blood gave him a feeling of excitement!
"Wait here, I'll go in and inform them."
As the eunuch entered, Luo Zhiheng's smile vanished instantly. That bastard! How dare he look at her wet nurse like that in front of her? He's a damned, insolent dog!
Soon Nalan Daibai came out and said in a sarcastic tone, "The Imperial Concubine has not gotten up yet. She is really not feeling well, so she sleeps until noon every day. Last night, the Imperial Concubine did not sleep at all. I suppose the Little Princess Consort would not have the heart to wake the Imperial Concubine who is just sleeping at this time?"
Luo Zhiheng's smile remained unchanged, but in her heart, a storm of anger was raging!
You old bastard! Do you really think I'm some kind of monkey you can mess with? You lie without even knowing how good you are. You dare to blatantly lie in front of me? Do you really think I won't do anything to you? This is the last straw! Mu Yunhe, don't blame her for not giving your own sister face. It's your own sister who has been patiently trampling on her dignity all along!
“What you say is true, sir. Since the Imperial Concubine is not feeling well, then I will not disturb her any longer. I must leave the palace today. Please explain to the Imperial Concubine that I truly wish to pay my respects, but given her health… I will come another day. Farewell!” This time, Luo Zhiheng stated directly that she was leaving, and then turned to depart.
Nalan Daibai's pupils contracted. This audacious little wretch dared to make a decision on her own? She showed no respect for the Imperial Concubine!
Nalan Daibai raised his voice and said, "Wait! What is the little princess doing? Have we neglected her in some way? Why is she leaving so suddenly? Why is she in such a hurry to leave without even seeing the Imperial Concubine? If the little princess leaves without the Imperial Concubine's permission, it will not sound good for her reputation."
They've come! She knew these guys had a backup plan.
Luo Zhiheng turned around with a grin and said, "Then Father-in-law probably doesn't know my personality. I'm a shameless person. I've never known what reputation or fame is. In the Mu Dynasty, these things are sold by the pound! How much does Luo Zhiheng's reputation cost per pound? Don't try to scare me with that, okay?"
"What kind of behavior is this?" Nalan Daibai was clearly surprised that Luo Zhiheng would suddenly change like this, and was momentarily speechless.
Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow with a smile and said loudly, "What's a bucket? Why would I need to carry a bucket? I only know how to carry knives, guns, and clubs to beat people, slash people, and kill demons! Luo Zhiheng has never been wronged in her life. If you keep whining today, even if you are a eunuch by the side of the Imperial Concubine, I won't be polite to you!"
"How dare you! How could the Mu Royal Palace want someone like you? You have no manners or upbringing at all!" Nalan Daibai, provoked to the point of losing his temper, coldly rebuked.
"How dare you! You dog, you slave! How dare you scold me, lecture me, and insult me? Even my husband has never treated me like this, what right do you, a mere slave, have? You're asking for death!" Luo Zhiheng's fair finger suddenly pointed at his nose, and she roared arrogantly. She seemed enraged, stomping her foot and shouting, "Is there no justice left? How dare a dog, a mere slave, so lawlessly criticize his master? I'm going to complain to the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty! I'm going to complain!"
Luo Zhiheng was very good at throwing tantrums and feigning madness. She deliberately provoked the eunuch and deliberately picked fights. She had been suppressed by the Imperial Concubine and this eunuch for several days. Today, before she left, she was going to make a scene. Didn't the Imperial Concubine refuse to see her? She didn't believe that she couldn't force the Imperial Concubine to come out by making such a scene!
"Shut up! The Imperial Concubine is sleeping. Can you bear the consequences if you wake her up?" Nalan Daibai scolded in a low voice.
"Take responsibility? Aren't I the Imperial Concubine's sister-in-law? Doesn't the Imperial Concubine treat me like family? That's why she hasn't seen me. If I make a mistake, will I immediately be unable to take responsibility? Will I immediately cease to be the Imperial Concubine's family?" Luo Zhiheng seized on the opportunity to question her repeatedly.
The Imperial Concubine could walk on clouds. Nalan, who was never good with words, was immediately stumped by Luo Zhiheng's question. According to Nalan's nature, he should have grabbed Luo Zhiheng by the neck and drained her blood to see how arrogant she could still be. But now he couldn't. His remaining rationality told him that if he really harmed Luo Zhiheng today, it would cause trouble for the Imperial Concubine.
"Why are you silent now? Or do you know you can't replace the Imperial Concubine? You audacious servant, kneel down! How dare you block my way! Do you know I have very important matters to attend to today? Even if you are the Imperial Concubine's servant, you have no right to restrict my freedom! The Imperial Concubine and I are equals; she is Prince Mu Yunhe's elder sister. What right do you, a mere servant, have to boss me around? You're really overestimating your own status!"
"I, Luo Zhiheng, can leave whenever I want. Even the emperor of the Southern Dynasty would only let me go. How dare you, a mere slave, obstruct me time and time again! If it weren't for the fact that you are my husband's older sister's slave, do you think I would give you any face? I would have killed you with a knife long ago! What are you being so arrogant in front of me? Do you think you're so great? You bastard!" Luo Zhiheng shouted loudly and fluently, every word of which was extremely impolite.
She made it very clear: if it weren't for the fact that the Imperial Concubine was Mu Yunhe's older sister, Luo Zhiheng really wouldn't have paid any attention to her! Don't think too highly of yourself!
Luo Zhiheng's words were a veiled insult. She arrogantly and loudly shouted, deliberately making sure the woman in the room could hear her clearly. Luo Zhiheng wasn't someone to be trifled with; you can't just do whatever you want with her. Maybe in your next life!
"I'm telling you now, I'm leaving. I have very important things to do today. I didn't come to the Southern Dynasty to see the Imperial Concubine. I have my own business to attend to, and the Imperial Concubine can't unreasonably restrict my freedom, no matter what! The Imperial Concubine must be a reasonable person. Do you think we would have a fool like you who overestimates himself and is completely out of his mind? If you dare to obstruct me again, I'll go directly to your emperor and ask him to cut off your head!" Luo Zhiheng roared viciously, her eyes flashing with cold light.
Nalan Daibai's chest heaved violently with anger, his face truly gloomy. But seeing Luo Zhiheng turn and leave, he couldn't let her go. He ordered the palace servants to surround Luo Zhiheng, and said viciously, "I can't control what you do, but this is the Southern Dynasty, this is the Imperial Concubine's palace, the Imperial Concubine is the master, and what she says goes. She hasn't told you to leave, so you can't go!"
Luo Zhiheng turned around, her gaze turning coldly to Nalan Daibai, and said, word by word, "What a loyal servant! So this is your way of treating guests? I understand now. I've seen it all. Now I can be impolite without worry!"
Suddenly, Luo Zhiheng lifted her robe, as if to draw a weapon, and assumed a stance as if preparing to attack. The palace servants surrounding her instinctively took a step back. Nalan Daibai also became fully alert! He remembered that Consort Li had mentioned in her letter that Luo Zhiheng knew martial arts.
Could Luo Zhiheng really dare to run rampant and kill people in the palace?! She's really asking for it!
However, to everyone's astonishment and disbelief, Luo Zhiheng held her breath and suddenly opened her mouth, letting out a loud scream that pierced through the clouds, deafeningly clear!
"ah!!!"
The sound was like a demonic whisper, piercing the eardrums with pain! The palace servants covered their ears and retreated hastily. Nalan Daibai's face was ashen and his body stiffened, clearly not expecting Luo Zhiheng to pull such a stunt.
First update! There will be more updates and bonus chapters today, so please vote, leave comments, and give me your monthly tickets! Give Huasha passion and motivation, my darlings! Huasha needs your support! Love you all!
197. A crying child gets things done! The dead eunuch gets beaten!
Updated: 2013-07-22 14:20:52 Word Count: 3340
Luo Zhiheng's voice was sharp, continuous, and loud, a roar that lasted for a long time before she took a breath and then shouted again. Such a loud voice could probably wake even a dead pig. Let alone the Imperial Concubine, who was all alone.
"Enough!" Nalan Daibai shouted angrily.
Luo Zhiheng not only didn't stop, but screamed and cried, "Help! I've been kidnapped! They won't let me leave! A bunch of bandits! Those damned eunuchs are so arrogant! The eunuchs of the Southern Dynasty are all wicked villains, there's no law! I'm going to cry myself to death! I'm so miserable, someone save me! I'm so pitiful, like a little cabbage turning yellow in the field, even eunuchs dare to bully me because I have no mother..."
The group of people were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped to their crotches!
"What's going on? Who's roaring?" A dignified voice suddenly rang out. Immediately afterward, hurried footsteps approached from behind Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng recognized the voice. Without turning around, she jumped and twisted like a child, crying out, "Waaah, you hateful bad person, this awful place! I don't want to stay here! You let me come but then you won't see me! I'm being bullied by her slave and she doesn't care about me! I'm going to complain! I'm going to complain! I don't want to stay here, I want to go home! Whoever stops me is a bad person!"
The Emperor stood behind Luo Zhiheng, utterly dumbfounded. He had many children, but none of them dared to be so presumptuous and absurd. Although Yu'er was pampered by the Empress, she was still very polite and knew her place. How could she be like this, crying and screaming like a little madwoman?
"Let's talk this out. What's troubling you? Is it Princess Consort Mu?" the Emperor began, unable to reprimand her, and could only speak patiently. The Emperor was speechless. Just two days ago, he thought she was a gentle and polite young lady, but how had things changed so drastically today?
Luo Zhiheng seemed completely oblivious to the voices behind her, continuing to cry and wail, "This is outrageous! I, Luo Zhiheng, have never been treated like this before! Even if I am the daughter of a minor noble family, I am still Mu Yunhe's wife, his rightful wife! How dare he be bullied by a dead eunuch! I don't want to live anymore! I'd rather die in the Southern Dynasty's palace! My husband will definitely avenge me!"
The emperor's expression changed, and he raised his voice, saying, "What exactly happened? Who bullied Princess Mu? Give me an explanation! Otherwise, I will have you slaves dragged out and beheaded."
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" The palace servants were so frightened that they all knelt down.
Luo Zhiheng seemed to suddenly notice the Emperor's presence, turning around in surprise, a few crocodile tears still clinging to her face. She cried out in a pitiful voice, "Waaah, finally someone's here! Your Majesty, you must stand up for me! That damned eunuch won't let me leave! I've already spoken to the Imperial Concubine and asked her to convey my desire to leave! I have my own things to do! Why are you binding me here? Have I committed a crime? Or offended someone? Why are you restricting my freedom? How can the Southern Dynasty royal family be like this? It's terrifying!"
The emperor looked quite displeased. No one would be happy to be talked about like that, especially since the emperor still had a lot to lose face.
The emperor roared. "What exactly happened? Speak!" The entire area outside the imperial concubine's palace fell silent.
"Your Majesty, please don't listen to just what the young princess says. The matter isn't as she claims. The young princess has been here for two days, but the Imperial Concubine has had no time to see her. Today, before the Imperial Concubine was even fully awake, the young princess arrived and said she wanted to leave, without waiting for the Imperial Concubine's permission. That's why I stopped her. I was only thinking of her; if word got out, it would be a disgrace to the Mu Prince's household. People would say the young princess is unruly," Nalan Daibai said hoarsely. In his opinion, he was too lenient, not even embellishing the story.
"You still dare to speak?" Luo Zhiheng suddenly rushed forward and kicked the eunuch hard in the shoulder, causing Nalan, who was kneeling there, to fall to the ground. Her kick was fast, fierce, and heavy, which shocked and angered Nalan. For a moment, he could not contain his anger and glared at Luo Zhiheng with a sinister look.
Luo Zhiheng has the emperor backing her now, so she's fearless. Today, she's going to use her power to bully someone—no, not a person, but a vampire monster!
"What are you looking at? Do you want to eat me? Did I tell you that I had important things to do today? Did I say that the Imperial Concubine is understanding and will be considerate? Did I say that I came to the Southern Dynasty because I have my own business and can't stay in the palace forever, and that I will come to see the Imperial Concubine again after I finish my business? Did I say that?" Luo Zhiheng asked loudly, hands on her hips, her face full of anger and arrogance.
She didn't give the eunuch a chance to speak and continued to roar, "I've told you everything! But what have you done? You don't understand my difficulties at all. Otherwise, you wouldn't see me. Why are you just keeping me waiting like this? Is this meaningful? How about this, tell me what you really mean. What do you want me to do? I'll do anything I can, okay? Please don't restrict my freedom. I want to leave this palace, please don't stop me!"
The eunuch's face was grim; he wanted nothing more than to rush forward and crush Luo Zhiheng to pieces. But he also glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor absolutely could not allow Luo Zhiheng's words to create a rift between him and the Imperial Concubine, or he would tear that vile woman, Luo Zhiheng, to pieces!
"Your Majesty, please don't listen to her. The Imperial Concubine misses her younger brother dearly, but the young prince is not coming to see her because of the Empress's interference. However, the Imperial Concubine knows that the young prince will definitely come to see her, so she thought of letting the young princess wait here so that she wouldn't have to go back and forth. Your Majesty, you must believe what I say." Nalan Daibai actively defended the Imperial Concubine.
"You could at least let me go back first, or see me first. What's the point of dragging this out? If she's really that unwell, are the imperial physicians of the Southern Dynasty just sitting around doing nothing? It's been two days and the Imperial Concubine's illness still hasn't been cured!" Luo Zhiheng said sarcastically. 16022305
The Southern Dynasty emperor's face was ashen, and he angrily rebuked Nalan Daibai: "Shut up, you scoundrel! Who do you think you are? How dare you be so disrespectful to the little princess? Don't think that just because the Imperial Concubine values you, you can act with impunity in the palace! Guards, give this servant a good beating until he knows he's wrong!"
"Your Majesty?" Nalan Daibai stared at the Emperor in shock, his eyes and face filled with disbelief and anger. How dare he hit him?! This damned Emperor dared to hit him!
"Beat him!" The emperor roared, his eyes wide. He immediately rushed forward, grabbed the eunuch Nalan, and pinned him to the ground. Two strong eunuchs then began to beat him mercilessly.
Nalan Daibai gritted his teeth without saying a word, but his sinister gaze was fixed on Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng wasn't afraid. She had made a scene just to teach this damned eunuch a lesson. She wanted to vent her anger before leaving. Now, she stopped arguing and just watched the eunuch get beaten, feeling extremely satisfied. She had finally gotten revenge for her wet nurse.
"Please excuse my rudeness, Princess Consort. The Imperial Consort has a special status and is not in good health. I have favored her for many years, and she is comfortable with this person. That is why I allowed such a person to take care of her." The Emperor said calmly, as if what had just happened was just a farce.
Luo Zhiheng knew when to stop, so she quickly wiped away her tears and said obediently and gently, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your favor towards the Imperial Concubine. But how can such a lowly servant be used by the Imperial Concubine's side? It is truly a disgrace to the Imperial Concubine."
The emperor smiled faintly, then suddenly looked at the eunuch and said, "You said that the Imperial Concubine wanted to see her brother, but the Empress sent people to stop her? Is that true?"
“Absolutely true!” Nalan Daibai, who had been keeping quiet all along, answered through gritted teeth.
Luo Zhiheng admired the eunuch's loyalty to the Imperial Concubine; he didn't beg for mercy, and even while being flogged, he defended her. However, he was also slandering the Empress, and Luo Zhiheng couldn't ignore it. 158.
Luo Zhiheng said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please hear me out. Actually, it wasn't the Empress who wanted to stop me; it was I who asked the Empress for help. Because I'm going to participate in the World's Number One Talent Competition today, it wouldn't be appropriate for the Noble Consort to bring the young prince to the palace yesterday. If I'm not here, it's not good for the young prince to be here either, and I'm worried that the back-and-forth travel won't be good for his health. So I asked the Empress to help tell the young prince to go back and wait for me."
"Oh, is that so?" The emperor smiled meaningfully, then suddenly said, "You're leaving today to participate in the competition? By the way, you're the champion of this year's competition in the Mu Dynasty. That really shows that the Consort's people were wrong. The Consort is also confused. This competition is a big deal. Even if she wanted to get closer to you, she wouldn't mind spending a day or two. I'll send someone to take you directly to the competition venue."
"Then thank you, Your Majesty." Luo Zhiheng smiled and pointed at Nalan Daibai, saying, "This person is too wicked. If hitting him a few more times doesn't kill him, then hit him a few more times. I think the Imperial Concubine is sleeping very soundly; she hasn't woken up yet. Hitting her a few more times probably won't disturb her sleep."
The emperor smiled and nodded slightly, seemingly indulging Luo Zhiheng's impolite request. However, a doubt arose in his heart: Was Mu Qingya really asleep? Luo Zhiheng's voice could be heard throughout the entire palace, so how could the imperial concubine, who was so close, not hear it?
Luo Zhiheng's words caused Nalan Daibai's gloomy face to turn deathly pale, a helpless and cold despair filling his eyes. One blow after another fell on his buttocks, excruciating pain, gradually turning his flesh into a bloody mess!
In the end, she probably didn't care whether he lived or died!