Having made up her mind, Luo Zhiheng howled like a wolf, "Ah! I don't want to live anymore! I'm going to jump into the well with the child in my arms!"
The door was suddenly pushed open, and the person who rushed in was already nervous. Upon hearing that he was carrying a child and going to jump into the well, he was so frightened that he stumbled and almost tripped over the threshold.
Murong Qianxue steadied herself, looked up, and saw the two blushing, embracing couple on the bed. She wasn't shy at all; instead, she asked curiously, "Luo Zhiheng, whose child are you going to take with you to jump into the well?"
Luo Zhiheng immediately stopped wailing, coughing as Murong Qianxue questioned her. She buried her face in Mu Yunhe's arms, feeling utterly humiliated. How could she forget she didn't have children? How could she bring up her second sister-in-law's line?
Feeling her cheek pressed against his chest, vibrating, and hearing a magnetic laugh above her, Luo Zhiheng lightly punched Mu Yunhe. "Is gloating fun for you? How good do you think you look when she embarrasses you?"
"What are you two doing? Why are you crying and making such a fuss?" Murong Qianxue asked curiously.
"It's nothing, it's just... Aheng is afraid that I will abandon her, my 'wife who has shared hardship,' so she's making a fuss with me here." Mu Yunhe's words were distant and cold, but the corners of his mouth were raised, and his lowered eyes held a tender care that only Luo Zhiheng deserved.
"Zaokang? Luo Zhiheng, you really are a lovesick fool. You've buried the meaning of the word under the handsome man's face, haven't you? You dare to use 'zaokang' to describe yourself? You're just crazy. I can't be bothered with you." Murong Qianxue said disdainfully with her hands on her hips, then turned and left, as if having a friend like Luo Zhiheng was too embarrassing.
Mu Yunhe's faint smile drew a glare from Luo Zhiheng, who seemed to be itching to retaliate.
"It's all your fault," she said bitterly, but inwardly she was thinking with tears streaming down her face. Why did her second sister-in-law receive sympathy, pity, and help whenever she mentioned a wife who had shared hardship? Why was she met with such scorn from Murong Qianxue when she said the same thing? Was it because she was a bad person, or because she had made a bad choice of friends?
"What have I done to you? You said it yourself! Also, I'd like to know whose child you're planning to take with you when you jump into the well?" Mu Yunhe narrowed his eyes, a mixture of mockery and clarity in them.
"Anyway, I don't have any myself. I can just jump into a well if I want to snatch a child." Luo Zhiheng was no longer in the mood to act.
Mu Yunhe was silent for a moment, then gently placed his large hand on her lower abdomen, and whispered in her ear with a hint of seduction, "Aheng, if we were to have a baby, would the baby be here?"
The palace was filled with the image of Consort Chen. Luo Zhiheng's body suddenly stiffened. She looked abruptly at Mu Yunhe, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes, but more so fear and resistance.
Just because some problems aren't brought up doesn't mean they don't exist. Luo Zhiheng wholeheartedly wants Mu Yunhe to recover. From initially trying to save his own life, to later feeling sorry for Mu Yunhe and wanting to do something for him, to now single-mindedly hoping for Mu Yunhe's well-being, it's been a slow and painful process, involving numerous trials and tribulations, to get to where we are today.
But she also knew that she had always held a belief in her heart: to leave the palace, break free from her fate, and gain freedom.
She longed for a new life; she wanted to live freely. She was an eagle of the sky, meant to soar high, unable to bear the slightest constraint or restriction, and even less inclined to endure the scheming and backstabbing of the inner court. She had considered that if Mu Yunhe died like this, she would still have hope—she could wait for Xia Beisong to come and take her away, or find a way to leave herself. But later, this thought was gradually overwhelmed by Mu Yunhe's powerful and domineering presence.
But now that I think about it, does she still want to leave the palace?
The answer is yes!
She wanted to leave; she wanted freedom; she still longed for a carefree life. But the Prince's Mansion couldn't give her these things, and neither could Mu Yunhe.
She wasn't stupid. Although she wasn't as oblivious to emotions as Mu Yunhe, she had seen what love and affection were like. The feeling between her and Mu Yunhe was very strange. She was becoming more and more dependent on Mu Yunhe and caring more and more about him. She would even feel fear and sadness when she thought about leaving Mu Yunhe.
She could feel the intense possessiveness in Mu Yunhe's eyes as he looked at her. His domineering nature, his ruthlessness, his cruelty, his tenderness—all of it belonged only to her, Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng saw this clearly, and Mu Yunhe never concealed it. So, had she fallen for this special and unique affection of Mu Yunhe?
Luo Zhiheng suddenly felt dejected, her face losing its luster. She was a female bandit; she deserved freedom. She disliked the Prince's mansion, utterly disliked it. Her marriage to Mu Yunhe was a mistake, a conspiracy. She even had a contract with Prince Mu! When the Prince returned, she left.
Therefore, she and Mu Yunhe have no future!
A pain seemed to flow through her chest, circling around her scabbed wound. She felt pain all over her body, had no strength left, and her face turned deathly pale.
"What's wrong, Ah Heng? Did I scare you, child?" His cool hand landed on her face, which was covered in fine sweat, and gently caressed it. Even his cold voice carried a subtle pain. He cared for her, which was self-evident.
Luo Zhiheng followed his arm into his embrace, touching the familiar warmth and scent, and suddenly realized that she had grown accustomed to his presence.
They're just children. Can they even have a child together? Two people who started with a mistake, destined to go their separate ways, where can they find a spare blank space to paint a child that's destined never to exist?
"Are you scared? Just pretend I never said that. I have Aheng, that's enough for me." The tightening embrace gradually became suffocating, but Mu Yunhe seemed oblivious. Only his increasingly cold and deep voice and address chilled Luo Zhiheng's heart.
He had always known that Mu Yunhe was sensitive and emotionally delicate. Her silence alone allowed him to keenly perceive the crucial point: was this her fortune or her misfortune? Or perhaps, was it their misfortune?
"No, I'm not scared. I'm just a little tired." Luo Zhiheng couldn't answer anything else; her low, hoarse voice carried a broken melancholy.
Why has my former confidence turned into constant confusion today?
Mu Yunhe's gloomy eyes seemed to brighten for a moment, and a sexy curve slowly appeared on his dark lips. His voice suddenly warmed and became sweet: "Well, has Aheng ever thought about having a child with me in the future? Would you look forward to it?"
Although his health is poor, he should be able to have a child, right? If so, when he passes away, he can leave Ah Heng with a child, which will prove that he truly existed and leave Ah Heng with some memories and traces of him, proving that they met.
Chapter 1 is here! There will be more updates today. Hua Sha is begging for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! My darlings, shower me with them! Hua Sha needs to be passionate!
Chapter 231: The Poison Saint Has Arrived! Let's Deal with the Poison Saint! (Bonus Chapter for 31,000 Recommendation Votes)
Updated: 2013-08-04 18:37:13 Word Count: 4426
Would she look forward to it? Luo Zhiheng didn't know. She didn't even know what her relationship with Mu Yunhe was. A wrong marriage, a predetermined ending, a process that was perfectly clear, yet Luo Zhiheng gradually became lost in the gentleness of Mu Yunhe.
She was conflicted and at a loss, saddened by the thought of leaving Mu Yunhe sooner or later, yet yearning for freedom. But in their daily interactions, she gradually forgot that she was destined to leave one day. She forgot that she and Mu Yunhe had no future, and she forgot the hope she had always held onto.
Feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted, she nestled quietly in Mu Yunhe's arms, as if asleep.
Mu Yunhe didn't ask anything more. The two of them just embraced, as if they were asleep, yet both were awake, each with their own thoughts.
As night fell, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the quiet room. The wet nurse, suppressing her excitement, said from outside the door, "Young Prince, Young Miss, the man sent by the Prince has returned! The Poison Saint has arrived!"
At that moment, Luo Zhiheng practically sprang out of Mu Yunhe's arms! Her bewildered eyes suddenly cleared, all her chaotic thoughts vanished, and her face revealed undisguised elation and eagerness.
"Mu Yunhe, did you hear that? The Poison Saint is here! He's really here! Hurry, get up, let's go see him!" Luo Zhiheng shouted, grabbing his arm, her breath unsteady.
Mu Yunhe's expression turned somber.
The Poison Saint arrived, but he wasn't happy. Accepting the Poison Saint's treatment was tantamount to accepting the World King's help, wasn't it? And he wanted absolutely no connection with the World King; if he could, he'd kill him immediately. But having failed in his assassination attempt, Mu Yunhe wouldn't rashly try again. The World King, to him, was a disgrace, a source of pain, and the greatest resentment of his life! Because the World King had deeply hurt Luo Zhiheng. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
"We'll talk about it tomorrow, sweetie, come to sleep." The gloomy voice conveyed an irresistible force, but also carried a subtle hint of vulnerability and violence.
Looking at the face devoid of any joy, Luo Zhiheng subconsciously frowned and asked, "What's wrong? The Poison Saint has arrived, and we can finally detoxify you. Why aren't you enthusiastic at all?"
Mu Yunhe closed his eyes to suppress the violent emotions that were about to surface. He said coldly, "We'll talk about it tomorrow. I'm tired now. Either you go out or come lie down. Stop talking nonsense."
Luo Zhiheng was speechless. It was utterly baffling. How could this man be so unreasonable? He turned on her so suddenly, without any warning. Luo Zhiheng also had a temper, and besides, she was anxious to treat Mu Yunhe's illness, so she actually got out of bed, put on her shoes, and went outside.
Mu Yunhe suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade as he stared at Luo Zhiheng's retreating figure, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Where are you going?"
Luo Zhiheng turned around and snorted, "Didn't you tell me to leave? I'll leave now, just like you wanted to!" She then rushed out, eager to see the Poison Saint. 175.
Mu Yunhe's chest heaved violently, his face turned pale, and he struggled to breathe rapidly for a long time before suppressing the anger that was about to erupt from his chest.
"You brat, why don't you listen to anything I say!" He spoke coldly, his tone a mixture of anger and helpless affection.
When Luo Zhiheng finally saw the Poison Saint she had been longing for, she almost burst into tears.
I was completely terrified!
The old man in front of me was squatting on the ground, gnawing on a meat bone without any regard for his image. His gray hair was messy and almost stuck together, his face was so dark that it was impossible to recognize him, and his clothes were tattered and covered with all sorts of strange boxes and gourds.
He didn't look like a Taoist immortal at all. I originally thought the Poison Saint was an unfathomable, aloof and difficult person, but after scanning the entire hall, apart from the Pharaoh's maids who looked blank, this old man was the only new face.
Luo Zhiheng's heart sank. Could this be the Poison Saint? She looked at the others; they were all equally shocked. Elder Tong had told her that this person was the Poison Saint, but he refused to cure Mu Yunhe's poison, immediately starting to eat and rejecting everyone. He wouldn't listen to anyone.
Luo Zhiheng snapped out of her daze. What's the point of coming if they won't give her the antidote? Since she's here, she's not leaving without it. Doesn't she listen to anyone?
She boldly walked up to the old man and squatted down. A pungent smell immediately filled her nostrils. Luo Zhiheng was sure it wasn't the smell of spoiled barley, but it was even more unpleasant. She was almost overwhelmed by the stench.
"Girl, come back quickly!" General Murong was startled by Luo Zhiheng's bold move and hurriedly called out. The others also changed color.
It turned out they were all keeping a considerable distance from the old man, seemingly afraid to approach. This wasn't out of disgust at his filth, but because of the legendary Poison Saint, whose unpredictable temper meant that a single glance from him could poison someone instantly. The act and position of posing nude were far too dangerous. The pharaohs, trembling with fear, tried to pull her back, but it was too late.
Luo Zhiheng dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction, and instead greeted her cheerfully, "Hello?"
The girl's cheerful voice startled the old man. He paused in his gnawing on the meat bone, slowly raising his head to look at Luo Zhiheng. But in that one glance, the old man stared at her, dumbfounded, rubbing his eyes violently with his greasy old hands. Pointing at her face as if he'd seen a ghost, he exclaimed, "I've seen you before!"
His first words were spoken with a strong Western Region accent, his distinct accent clearly indicating he was a foreigner. And what he said shocked everyone even more.
Luo Zhiheng was startled. When this old guy looked up, it was truly terrifying. His face was completely unrecognizable.
"Where have you seen me before, sir?" Luo Zhiheng asked with a smile. Wasn't this old man supposed to have an eccentric temper? Well, she should try to get close to him; maybe she could win his favor and get him to treat Mu Yunhe's illness properly.
The old man seemed lost in his memories, and after a long while, he suddenly burst into a rage, saying, "I can't quite remember, but I'm sure I've seen you before! What's your relationship with that bastard Qin Yinshi?"
Old man, do you have to be so outrageous?!
The way he used the coquettish "I am" almost made Luo Zhiheng vomit blood, and his "I can't remember" was both funny and exasperating. But the main event was that "bastard," which was quite something, wasn't it? This old guy is crazy but has a lot of guts. He actually dared to call the Prince by his name and even called him a bastard... Old man, you've got guts.
"Our relationship is like we made a deal. I do something for him, and he does something for me. What he has to do is find the Poison Saint and ask him to cure my husband's illness. Old man, are you the Poison Saint?" Luo Zhiheng coaxed.
The old man suddenly sneered, "I am the Poison Saint, but I only poison people to death, not save them. You've been fooled by that bastard Qin Yinshi. By the way, is your husband very handsome? You'd better hide him well. That bastard Qin Yinshi loves to steal other people's husbands. He's broken up perfectly good families. Qin Yinshi deserves to die a horrible death!"
Luo Zhiheng suddenly felt a headache coming on. She rubbed her forehead. Wasn't he really that eccentric? Could it be that the Prince had taken a liking to this old man and forcibly separated the couple? Otherwise, why would the Poison Saint hate the Prince so much?
"Does the Poison Saint know how to cure poison? My husband needs an antidote," Luo Zhiheng asked cautiously, settling for second best.
The Poison Saint roared, "How dare you look down on me, the Poison Saint? I can cure all the poisons in the world, but I won't cure your husband. Anyone who's with Qin Yinshi is no good."
Luo Zhiheng suppressed the urge to swing her knife and forced a smile, saying, "We have nothing to do with the Prince, it's just that many people can't see the poison in my husband..." Luo Zhiheng suddenly stopped, because she noticed that the Poison Saint was quite emotional, looking at her agitatedly with a defiant expression. A thought struck Luo Zhiheng, and her tone changed, becoming arrogant: "Yes, that Prince Shi... bastard, he actually dared to deceive me! I really shouldn't have believed him! He clearly promised me that he would find the Poison Saint to cure my husband's poison, but instead he brought in an old madman, an old madman who knows nothing but boasting! That Prince Shi is a big liar, I must settle accounts with him! I will never entrust my husband to a good-for-nothing old madman!"
Her sudden change in attitude, so arrogant and audacious, startled the Pharaohs. Elder Tong even suppressed a low growl and said, "Luo Zhiheng, have you gone mad?"
In their eyes, Luo Zhiheng at this moment was tantamount to cutting off Mu Yunhe's retreat. If Mu Yunhe offended the World King Poison Saint, he would be completely finished!
To everyone's shock, Poison Saint not only didn't get angry after hearing Luo Zhiheng's words, but instead burst into laughter: "Yes, yes, yes, Qin Yinshi is a two-faced beast! She's a big liar! Deceiving and playing with feelings, she's a piece of scum! Let's settle accounts with Qin Yinshi and beat that bastard to death!"
Luo Zhiheng stood up, looking down at the Poison Saint with disdain, without saying a word, her gaze only filled with sarcasm.
Her gaze provoked the Poison Saint, reminding him of the hidden meaning in Luo Zhiheng's words. His expression changed, and he suddenly stood up, angrily shouting, "You brat, how dare you look down on me? I'm not an old madman, and I'm not bragging! I can detoxify, and no poison can stump me! But I just won't detoxify your husband, so don't try to provoke me."
"Not stupid at all, she even knows how to provoke people." Luo Zhiheng laughed contemptuously: "If you're so capable, why don't you try to cure my husband's poison? Are you able to cure all ten or so kinds of poisons in my husband's body? If you're not capable, don't brag here, who would believe you?"
"More than a dozen kinds of poison? That's impossible! How could one person have so many poisons in their body? If they did, they would be dead long ago. I won't fall for it!" The Poison Saint snorted like an old child, but his eyes were filled with curiosity.
Luo Zhiheng suppressed the flickering hope in her heart, her face growing increasingly contemptuous and mocking: "What do you know? You think a dozen or so poisons will kill you? My husband has been carrying these dozen or so poisons for over a decade. Even the best imperial physicians in the dynasty are helpless, and Lady Huoyun is also at a loss. It seems that only that mysterious, unseen divine physician in the world can cure my husband. Everyone else is useless!"
The Poison Saint seemed to have been set ablaze, leaping up and roaring angrily, "Divine Doctor? What a load of rubbish! He's nothing but my defeated foe, probably hiding in some corner crying his eyes out now. Hmph, don't compare me to those lowly defeated men, and don't call me trash! I'll show you what a true master of poison looks like. Take me to see your husband."
Luo Zhiheng replied lazily, "No need. I won't let my husband see a crazy, slovenly old good-for-nothing. When the Prince comes out, I'll make him give me an explanation. He deceived me and sent an old madman to deal with me. He can't cure my husband's poison. I won't let him get away with this."
"What nonsense! I am the Poison Saint, there is no poison I cannot cure. Take me to see that poison master right now. I'll show you what it means to turn the rotten into the miraculous." The Poison Saint was furious, jumping around Luo Zhiheng, scratching his ears and cheeks in frustration, wishing he could immediately demonstrate his superb detoxification skills.
However, Luo Zhiheng looked at him with a distrustful, resistant, and mocking gaze, which provoked the Poison Saint to blush. As if he had made a great decision, he said loudly with great pain and frustration, "You don't believe me? Fine, I swear, if I can't cure your husband's poison, I will marry the Prince!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent!
Marry...King Sejong!!
A man actually wants to marry me?! But that's not so strange, since it's true the King likes men. What's truly bizarre is this old man's overconfidence. What gives this filthy old man the confidence and courage to compete for the King's favor with his concubines? Only a blind King would want you…
The three pharaohs silently lowered their heads and curled their lips into a smirk, trying their best to suppress their laughter, for this concerned Mu Yunhe's life or death.
Luo Zhiheng steadied her pounding heart and said in a trembling voice, "If you can't cure Mu Yunhe's poison, you're a coward."