Mu Yunjin was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly. He had wanted to make a good impression, but now it seemed impossible. Although he had never met Princess Yu'er, he knew she was a member of the Murong family, an outsider. He ordered the soldiers, who were on high alert, to put away their bows and arrows, and then sent someone to find Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng arrived quickly, and Yu'er, upon seeing her, instantly lost all her reserve and cheerfully called out, "Sister Heng'er!"
Luo Zhiheng was taken aback, then strode forward to greet her, exclaiming with a mixture of surprise and delight, "Yu'er? What brings you here?"
Yu'er threw herself into her arms, beaming with joy, and said, "I've come to find you! Father and Mother have given their permission. I begged them for days before they finally agreed. I knew I wouldn't be able to catch up with you, so I made them travel day and night. Luckily, they made it! Hehe."
"Really, it's so reckless and dangerous for you to come out like this. Come on, let's hurry to your aunt's; she'll definitely be very happy." Luo Zhiheng was genuinely delighted and couldn't bear to spoil Yu'er's whims any longer, so she pulled her back.
When Yu'er passed by Mu Yunjin, Mu Yunjin had already dismounted. Seeing Mu Yunjin up close, her eyes sparkled with amazement, yet her clear gaze remained calm. She then spoke without hesitation.
Mu Yunjin nodded slightly to Yu'er, who smiled faintly, her cheeks flushed.
Seeing Yu'er's appearance, Luo Zhiheng unconsciously frowned and subconsciously blocked the two's entangled gaze. For the first time in many days, she looked at Mu Yunjin with a look of inquiry and warning.
Mu Yunjin felt his heart race under Luo Zhiheng's gaze, but more than anything, he felt he had finally found an opportunity. So, the instant Luo Zhiheng passed him by, he quickly whispered something in her ear, his voice so low that only she could hear it.
"Mu Yunhe gave you your cousin's letter, right? When will you give me your reply?"
Luo Zhiheng paused, but did not hesitate, and followed Yu'er into Murong Qianxue's car.
Mu Yunjin was certain Luo Zhiheng had heard him; he refused to believe she would remain silent. He was now completely certain Mu Yunhe hadn't given the letter to Luo Zhiheng at all. Now that Luo Zhiheng knew, she would definitely cause a scene with Mu Yunhe. He was just waiting to see the show.
Yu'er's arrival was indeed a pleasant surprise, but the caravan did not linger and continued on its way. The cheerful laughter of the girls in the carriage filled the journey, adding a touch of life to the otherwise monotonous trip.
Luo Erduo huddled in the corner of the carriage, her petite body almost curled up into a circle, enclosing herself. Her fluffy, shiny black mushroom haircut sat atop her small head, and her pointed ears were nowhere to be seen. She looked like an ordinary child, thirteen or fourteen years old, at the age when she was fair-skinned and adorable.
Yu'er watched with curiosity and finally couldn't help but ask, "Who is that? She looks so cute. How can anyone sleep like that? It looks like the Persian cat that the Imperial Concubine used to keep."
Murong Qianxue glanced quickly at Luo Zhiheng. Mu Yunhe had instructed her not to tell anyone about Luo Erduo.
Luo Zhiheng wasn't nervous at all, and smiled nonchalantly, "That's a little pet my husband gave me. You can pet her if you like."
Yu'er's eyes widened in surprise: "A pet? The young prince actually gave you a person to be your pet?"
Luo Zhiheng laughed nonchalantly, "So what? He can have anything he wants." She kicked Luo's ear and said, "Get up and meet my friend."
Luo Erduo let out an impatient "woof," rolled around on the warm, fluffy carpet of the carriage, and then revealed her chubby little face. Her pointed chin and round, angry fox eyes made her look incredibly cute. She was still clenching her little paws and flapping her ears incessantly, humming softly.
"So cute!" Yu'er was immediately captivated by Luo Erduo's shameless cuteness and couldn't wait to pounce on her and hug her.
Anyone who sees Luo Erduo will not think of her as a human being. Even if she looks human, even if people think she is a person, her overly cute and wild voice will naturally make people see her as an adorable pet.
Luo Zhiheng was preoccupied with something, and seeing Yu'er playing with Luo Erduo, she got off the carriage and returned to her own.
Her return was so sudden, and she hadn't stopped the carriage before jumping in herself, so when she abruptly opened the curtain and entered, she immediately sensed an extremely strong killing intent. Her eyes darkened, and she instantly saw Mu Yunhe staring at a piece of paper with a ferocious and gloomy expression. Seemingly not expecting her to come in so suddenly, Mu Yunhe was clearly startled, and his attempt to hide the letter was all too obvious.
Luo Zhiheng seemed not to have seen the paper; she went in and sat on the other side. Then she poured herself a cup of tea and slowly drank it. 14.
Mu Yunhe panicked a little. Luo Zhiheng didn't rush into his arms as usual; instead, she sat at a distance, which made him uneasy. The letter he was clutching behind his back felt hot to the touch. He regretted showing it off for no reason.
"Why are you back? Are Princess Yu and Murong Qianxue together?" Mu Yunhe asked, trying to make conversation.
Luo Zhiheng nodded. After a long silence, Mu Yunhe became restless, his heart filled with unease, as if he had done something wrong. He tried to speak several times, but didn't know what to say or how to begin. This unease continued until Luo Zhiheng put down her teacup. He looked at her, and she slowly extended her hand to him. Mu Yunhe's heart ached so much it almost convulsed.
Did she find out after all?
She said, "Give it to me, let me see what has such power that it makes you hate it so much?"
Second update! Hooray! That's all for today's update. I'll keep working hard tomorrow! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group chat, muah!
326 The Loyal Dog is Evolving! Steal the Meat!
Updated: 2013-09-14 11:42:25 Word Count: 7765
Mu Yunhe almost wanted to grind his teeth to dust. How could he have been so careless? Now that Luo Zhiheng had discovered it, he didn't know how to handle himself. Giving it to her or not was beyond his control. Giving it might create a rift between him and Aheng, since he had opened Aheng's letters without permission. But if he didn't give it to her, he feared Aheng would harbor resentment.
"Give it to me!" Luo Zhiheng narrowed her eyes and pushed her hand forward a little more, her expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
Mu Yunhe choked back a sob, all his chill vanished, leaving only boundless grievance and anger. But in the end, he still gave her the item. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, and he gripped the paper, as thin as a cicada's wing, tightly. He gave it with such resentment and bitterness, yet he had no choice.
Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow, swiftly pulled out the letter, and unfolded it for a glance. Upon reading it, she couldn't help but chuckle, her voice tinged with a mixture of mockery, sarcasm, and, more than anything, anger.
Such poignant and tender language, expressed in such blunt terms in a letter—doesn't Xia Beisong feel any shame? Or is he so confident that he believes her will run away with him just because he's back? What an overconfident fool! Although his unwavering and persistent love moved her, he's misplaced his affections! The person he loves isn't her!
Or perhaps the soul of the person Xia Beisong loved had already vanished, and the current Luo Zhiheng's soul is aloof, capable of resonating only with Mu Yunhe's soul, and has nothing to do with Xia Beisong. Therefore, this letter means nothing to Luo Zhiheng.
She shook the letter and asked with a smile, "What are your thoughts after reading this letter?"
Seeing that she still had a smile on her face, Mu Yunhe felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, a slap that struck his most delicate heart. He felt pain, itchiness, and rage all at once. He couldn't figure out Luo Zhiheng's thoughts, and like an ant on a hot pan, he was tormented and irritable.
He blurted out, his tone impatient and irritable: "I feel very uncomfortable."
"I'm afraid that's not entirely true?" A crack suddenly appeared on Luo Zhiheng's smiling face. She raised her eyebrows and said coldly, "Is there still doubt and suspicion? You don't trust me because of this letter, do you? If I hadn't given you a promise that day, would you have continued to suspect me?"
Mu Yunhe's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with panic: "I don't distrust you! It's just that when I suddenly saw this letter that day, I did overthink things. Anyone would be unsettled upon seeing a letter about their wife's past, right? Especially since I love you. I can't stand this. I know you won't do anything excessive, but don't you find Xia Beisong's words ridiculous? Don't you think it's a provocation against me as your husband? Shouldn't I be angry?"
“I didn’t say you can’t be angry. It’s just that you’re not telling me, which means you’re already suspicious. What’s making you suspicious isn’t this letter, but the feelings between us, isn’t it? What you’re unsure about is my past foolishness, isn’t it? Do you really think I would give you up for Xia Beisong?” Luo Zhiheng’s voice was somewhat cold, but exceptionally calm.
She wasn't without anger, because Mu Yunhe had kept this from her. She knew Mu Yunhe's thoughts, so she felt both heartache and sadness. She believed Mu Yunhe's words were firm, but that couldn't withstand the machinations of a petty person. Luo Zhiheng was angry because Mu Yunhe should have told her about this. No matter what happened, they should face it together, instead of one person anxiously speculating in a corner. If that were the case, even the best relationship would eventually be worn down.
"Of course not! I know you wouldn't do such a thing." Mu Yunhe spoke with unwavering confidence and determination. Suddenly, a light appeared in her hesitant gaze. She saw Luo Zhiheng suddenly smile, and she was taken aback. Then, the emotions that had been troubling him for days, causing him to feel lost and confused, disappeared.
Like a happy child, he suddenly rushed to Luo Zhiheng's side, hugged her and shook her, saying, "Aheng, am I stupid? Did someone trick me?"
Yunhe's teeth chattered. "Hmph, you little tiger, you just realized you've been framed? You've been so careful to coax me these past few days, all because of this damned letter?" Luo Zhiheng slapped Mu Yunhe's fawning face with disdain, then, to Mu Yunhe's delighted gaze, tore the letter to shreds and threw them all out the car window. Her eyes shone like stars: "As long as I don't care about this letter, it means nothing."
Mu Yunhe's heart, which had been shrouded in gloom for days, suddenly felt lighter. He embraced her and kissed her passionately, but inwardly he was filled with self-reproach. How could he have been so stupid? He had always thought himself so clever, yet someone had found his weakness and utterly overwhelmed him, almost causing him to make a grave mistake.
Fortunately, Ah Heng is smart, and fortunately, Ah Heng doesn't mind his stupidity and self-righteousness. If he continues to be troubled by this, even if he truly loves Ah Heng, the mastermind behind it all might take advantage of the situation, and their relationship might be destroyed without a trace.
Mu Yunhe finally realized that the letter was a trap, a trap designed to force and harm their relationship. Luo Zhiheng's attitude had already explained everything. She didn't care about this childhood sweetheart cousin, so no matter how tender and affectionate the letter seemed, it couldn't stir up even the slightest ripple in Luo Zhiheng's heart.
As long as Luo Zhiheng doesn't care, then Xia Beisong is nothing. The mastermind behind this probably exploited his weakness of caring too much about Luo Zhiheng, which is why they came up with such a despicable method.
Mu Yunjin, you have such ruthless methods and cunning!
"Alright, now you'd better confess. What have you been thinking about me these past few days? You don't actually think I'm having an affair with Xia Beisong, do you?" Luo Zhiheng pushed him away and asked fiercely.
Mu Yunhe quickly shook his head, his expression innocent, sincere, and even ingratiating: "How could that be! I know my Aheng would never betray me. Even if he did, it's all in the past. I can overlook it all. I'm sad because I didn't experience your past. You have no idea how much I regret it. I'm so afraid that because I missed your past, I'll also lose your future. Actually, deep down, I know you won't abandon me. I'm just insecure."
People are often like this: they can't see their own good qualities, but they can see the good qualities in others, and then they compare themselves to those others. But who is the same in every way? You may not have the same strengths as others, and with such comparisons, you naturally feel inferior. Where does your self-confidence come from then?
Mu Yunhe is intelligent, but he lacks experience in interpersonal relationships and social interactions. He is a blank slate, and this blank slate can only be spun under Luo Zhiheng's brush, which is wielded with bold strokes. The two of them are one-dimensional; he only wants Luo Zhiheng to paint him with either bold strokes or light touches. He is growing rapidly in spirit, but his personality has already been formed, and how can it be changed overnight?
Mu Yunhe was very fortunate that Aheng did not despise him and was willing to transform him and evolve with him, otherwise he would have died a miserable death.
Mu Yunhe held Luo Zhiheng in his arms. This proud man was now unabashedly happy, acting like Luo Zhiheng's pet cat, almost wagging his tail to show his affection for his master.
If Mu Yunhe were to be described by an animal, it would be a dog. Loyal and reliable, with complete trust and reliance on its master, faithful without reason or explanation. It would accept anything she was willing to give, happily and without hesitation.
Luo Zhiheng was fortunate to meet a man who was powerful yet as innocent as paper. She was fortunate to be able to personally create a man who was loyal to her and loved her only, according to her preferences and personality. She was truly blessed.
The controversy surrounding this piece of paper was completely shattered by Luo Zhiheng's indifferent attitude. Mu Yunhe then acted like a jealous child, relentlessly questioning Luo Zhiheng about her past. But how could Luo Zhiheng possibly reveal anything about her past? The infatuated Luo Zhiheng of the past was long dead, and her original self was a bandit in the past—what was there to say?
When asked, Luo Zhiheng glared fiercely at Mu Yunhe. Mu Yunhe wasn't afraid and hugged her affectionately, kissing and cuddling her until Luo Zhiheng was panting and limp. He pressed on, asking, "Have you and Xia Beisong ever held hands?"
Luo Zhiheng rolled her eyes: "I think so."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her waist, let out a soft cry, and looked up fiercely. She saw Mu Yunhe's face instantly darken as he pressed, "Why did you hold his hand? Which hand did he hold?"
Luo Zhiheng found it amusing and said haphazardly, "Left hand, I guess, it's like it's leading me to ride a horse."
Mu Yunhe was frustrated. He had never ridden a horse before, and he rarely even rode in a carriage. He had been in poor health, and riding a horse would only hasten his death. Now it seemed he had to learn to ride. Aheng was so mischievous and had such a tomboyish personality; riding a horse and shooting arrows would be a piece of cake for her. What if he couldn't keep up with her and one day she left him behind?
Mu Yunhe's thinking was still quite progressive and forward-thinking. He hugged her tighter and continued to press her for answers. The more he asked, the more frustrated he became. Finally, he asked in a sinister and sour tone, "What exactly is the agreement between you and Xia Beisong? It's clearly written in the letter that you should wait for him to come back."
She remembered nothing else from the letter, but she knew about the agreement, because it was something she and Xia Beisong had made. Luo Zhiheng hesitated, finding it difficult to speak. With so much going on recently, she had forgotten everything if Mu Yunhe hadn't asked. How should she tell him now?
"What? You're having trouble bringing it up? Is this agreement something you're hiding?" Mu Yunhe said fiercely.
Luo Zhiheng patted him lightly, and after considering it for a moment, she said, "Actually, it's nothing. You know, when we first got married, we hated each other, right? You didn't like me, and I hated you too. Back then, you even scolded me and said some very hurtful things. You even said it was good that I married you, that we were a perfect match, one of us a lovesick fool and the other a sickly one, neither of us were liked by anyone. That way, you wouldn't have ruined that famous Miss Luo Er in the capital."
Luo Zhiheng was ruthless and intelligent. She was quite worried that Mu Yunhe would be angry and cause a scene after hearing about his agreement with Xia Beisong. So she wanted to make Mu Yunhe feel guilty and in the wrong first, so that when she brought it up later, Mu Yunhe wouldn't dare to blame her too much because he felt guilty. Of course, if it weren't to keep Mu Yunhe in check, she wouldn't bring up the past, and she wouldn't bother mentioning Luo Ningshuang.
Mu Yunhe's face turned extremely awkward. Sure enough, the innocent and naive Luo Zhiheng had willingly fallen into his trap. Mu Yunhe felt deeply ashamed by Luo Zhiheng's words, realizing how blind he had been that day. How could he have judged Luo Zhiheng as bad based on hearsay, and even worse, not harming Luo Ningshuang? Now, he thought, heaven had been too kind to him, sparing Luo Ningshuang from harming him. Although Luo Zhiheng was also a little troublemaker, he loved this little troublemaker and willingly let her cause him harm.
"Who knew it would turn out like this..." Mu Yunhe was filled with regret, and he dared not speak confidently. He lowered his head guiltily, and his face turned red.
Luo Zhiheng chuckled inwardly, but outwardly feigned sadness as she said, "Back then, I was framed and forced to marry you. I was filled with resentment, and you treated me badly, even praising the wicked woman who framed me. I almost hated you to death, so how could I want to stay by your side? Of course, I wanted to escape. But I married into the Mu family in front of everyone, and the surname Mu was already imprinted on my name. How could I dare to run away? Besides, I didn't have the ability to escape. So when Xia Beisong came to find me, it was like grasping at a lifeline. Of course, I would agree to whatever he said."
Mu Yunhe was so angry he wanted to flip Luo Zhiheng over and give her a good spanking.
Does that brat really think he's a clueless idiot? Does he think he can't see through her little tricks? And she dares to act so pitiful! When has he ever praised that scoundrel Luo Ningshuang? At most, he'd compare the two of them, but anyone would have done that back then.
But Luo Zhiheng's words sounded so pitiful, and the two of them really didn't get along at that time. Now, thinking back, he felt extremely scared and extremely fortunate. He was scared that he would have lost Aheng, but fortunate that Aheng was still by his side! So, even though Mu Yunhe knew that Luo Zhiheng was exaggerating and trying to escape punishment, he dared not say anything, hanging his head like a submissive wife, listening to his wife's scolding with his eyes lowered.
"You can't deny that you treated me badly back then, can you? Your home was a complete mess, and those women were all fiercer than tigers. How could I not be scared? Given that, how could I, a delicate and pitiful woman with no one to love me, not want to escape from there?" Luo Zhiheng said hesitantly.
Mu Yunhe couldn't hold back any longer. After holding his breath for a long time, he finally opened his eyes wide and asked in a low voice, "So what exactly is your agreement with him?"
"He said he would switch me with Luo Ningshuang, and I believed him before anyone else found out. But later, I don't know what happened, everyone knew that I wasn't Luo Ningshuang, and I was married to you. It was like a done deal, there was no turning back, and I had no choice but to follow you. Later, he said he could take me away, but he had to go to lead troops into battle, so he said he would find a way to take me away when he came back."
Luo Zhiheng shrugged and said with a mocking look, "That's how it is. It's not really an agreement. I didn't expect anything from him. If I had really waited for him, I'd probably be a pile of bones by now. His return is just to avenge me."
Mu Yunhe sneered three times upon hearing this: "He has quite the nerve! He dares to think of stealing my woman? Very well! I can't wait for him to come back soon, then, hmph."
Sensing his anger, Luo Zhiheng smiled sweetly and said, "Don't be angry, it's all in the past now, isn't it? I didn't take his words to heart either. Besides, we're in love now, and no one can separate us."
Luo Zhiheng's sudden attack was followed by a sweet treat; she coaxed Mu Yunhe in a soft voice, leaving him speechless with bitterness and unable to vent his anger. He was truly miserable. Yet, deep down, he couldn't help but feel pleased by her intelligence and quick wit.
Although she pushed him out first, her attitude made him extremely happy.
"So, are you still thinking about leaving me?" He squeezed her small waist hard, his tone was sinister, but his eyes were the most innocent and tender.
Luo Zhiheng yelped and hugged him tightly, meowing twice, and said happily, "I won't leave. How could I leave you? Such a powerful man, and so handsome, seeing you makes me feel so happy. I love Xiao Hehe the most, and no one can separate me from Xiao Hehe."
Although his words were a bit blunt, Mu Yunhe was still overjoyed and couldn't stop smiling. He then asked, "What will you do if your childhood sweetheart comes back and questions you about this agreement?"
Luo Zhiheng bit her finger and smiled innocently, "Don't I still have Mu Yunhe? Little Hehe will help me solve all my difficulties, right? Besides, to hell with childhood sweethearts, that happened hundreds of years ago, I don't even remember them."
Mu Yunhe was happy, and the two of them cuddled for a while longer. The carriage had already been set up for rest, but outside came Luo Erduo's pitiful wails. Luo Zhiheng frowned, had to straighten her clothes, and pushed Mu Yunhe away to get out of the carriage.
As soon as she stepped off the carriage, she saw a petite, flushed figure rush towards her, crashing headfirst into her arms, almost making her vomit blood. She roared in fury, "What the hell?"
"Master!!" The soft voice trembled with tears, filled with endless grievance yet so loud. The little one in her arms looked up, and Luo Erduo's foxy little face, once adorable, transformed into red-rimmed eyes, streaked with tears, her little mouth pouting as she sobbed uncontrollably, yet still managed to utter a few words: "Little Tanuki still hurts, they bullied Little Tanuki. Doesn't Master love Little Tanuki anymore? Ahhhh?"