But their eyes were filled with a chilling murderous intent.
She raised an eyebrow slightly. Luo Zhiheng cut to the chase: "You're saying that Luo Ningshuang has already planted spies around me? Is that true? You two had better think carefully before answering me. If there's even a hint of falsehood, I won't give you a chance to retort. Your fate will be summed up in one word: death!"
"You should understand that I, Luo Zhiheng, kill without reason, solely based on my mood. And don't expect Luo Ningshuang to come back to save you. I'm not afraid to tell you, Luo Ningshuang has remained in the Southern Dynasty forever and will never return. Think it over carefully; if you say the wrong thing, there will truly be no turning back." Luo Zhiheng's psychological warfare was astonishingly swift. She stepped forward and angrily demanded, "Speak, who is that spy!"
Her imposing presence and powerful aura, coupled with the fact that she had blocked all escape routes, truly terrified the two men who were prepared to guard the secret to the death and were certain that Luo Ningshuang would return.
The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and hesitation. They didn't know if Luo Ningshuang was truly gone. They had witnessed Luo Ningshuang's abilities and naturally dared not betray or offend her easily, but they were now at Luo Zhiheng's mercy, their lives hanging by a thread...
Luo Zhiheng sneered, her resolute voice ringing out throughout the courtyard, eliciting gasps: "You won't talk, huh? Quite loyal, but you're wrong about your loyalty. I gave you a chance, and since you didn't want it, what use are you? Guards, seize these two audacious, insubordinate, and outrageous wicked women, carry them to Luo Ningshuang's courtyard, and beat them to death with sticks!"
Second update! Haha, 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!
344 The truth about childhood trauma! The dual personality of Lodoss!
Updated: 2013-09-23 14:36:03 Word Count: 7633
Luo Zhiheng's order was absolute and left no room for argument. Immediately after she finished speaking, guards rushed in, grabbed the two pale-faced old women, and carried them away.
The two men were terrified at the sight and, forgetting all loyalty, cried out, "You can't treat us like this! We've been loyal to the Luo family for decades! Your mother used us when she was alive. We've rendered great service to the Luo family. You'll be punished for what you've done!"
Another person roared, "That's right! You're killing innocent people indiscriminately! Luo Zhiheng, you'll get your comeuppance! We didn't do anything wrong, so why are you beating us to death? Why are you doing this?"
With a shrewd glint in her eyes, Luo Zhiheng sneered, "On what grounds? On what grounds do you two dare to defy your master, daring to frame her as servants? You're quite adept at bullying your master, but to try and manipulate my records? Have you lost your minds? You follow Luo Ningshuang's lead and dare to frame me? You should know that this will come at a price. You dare to play tricks on me? I'll show you what it means to die without a burial place."
"Drag them away! Give them a good beating. They mustn't die within a hundred strokes. I want them to suffer immense pain before they die a slow, agonizing death." Luo Zhiheng's anger was palpable, and even the clouds in the sky seemed to shift.
"Yes, sir." The guard shouted, his voice powerful and even more terrifying.
The two men were nearly paralyzed with fear. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, their resolve finally wavered. Even if they persisted in waiting for Luo Ningshuang's return, in the current state, if they remained loyal to her, Luo Zhiheng would undoubtedly not let them go. Whether Luo Ningshuang could even return in time was uncertain. But they knew that if they didn't tell the truth now, they would surely die. Luo Zhiheng was always unpredictable and acted entirely on a whim; they really couldn't disobey her too much.
Thinking of this, one of them finally gave in, pleading loudly with tears streaming down his face, "I was wrong! I shouldn't have been so presumptuous! Please forgive me, Miss. Please forgive me for my old age and poor eyesight. I'll tell you everything, Miss."
Once one of them spoke up, the other naturally wouldn't stand his ground, so he quickly shouted, "This old servant was wrong too! This old servant was blind to the beauty of gold inlaid with jade, this old servant was bewitched by the Second Miss! This old servant knows he was wrong, please forgive us, Miss. Whatever Miss wants to know, this old servant will tell you everything he knows. Just please, Miss, let us go."
Luo Zhiheng coldly stared at them, a sneer running through her mind. Even at this point, they still dared to negotiate with her? Or was this some kind of indirect threat? Would they only reveal what Luo Ningshuang had done if she agreed to let them go and spare their lives?
How dare you!
She, Luo Zhiheng, would rather not learn from them than be threatened by them. If she were to compromise today, it wouldn't just be a compromise with one or two servants, but a compromise with Luo Ningshuang! 17419958
"Say it or don't. If you're willing to say what you want, then hurry up, otherwise, once you're dragged out of this door, even if you want to say it, I won't listen anymore. Don't blame me for not giving you a chance then." Luo Zhiheng didn't say she would let them go, but her arrogant demeanor and cold words made her quite intimidating.
The two men thought that Luo Zhiheng had finally given in, and were overjoyed. They quickly said, "Back then, I only knew that the Second Miss harbored hatred towards the Eldest Miss. The Second Miss had arranged for someone to be by the Eldest Miss's side. I overheard this not long ago, but I really don't know who it was. Please, Eldest Miss, investigate thoroughly."
After all that talking, it was as if I hadn't said anything at all.
Luo Zhiheng sneered: "Drag him out immediately. Don't let me hear that old toad croaking. It's annoying."
A smile flickered in Mu Yunhe's slender eyes as he gently squeezed her soft hand, an endless tenderness spreading between their tightly clasped hands.
"No, no, no! This old servant says that the second young lady harmed the eldest young lady in her younger days. When you two were young, this old servant saw with his own eyes that the second young lady pushed the eldest young lady into the pond. If the eldest young lady hadn't been lucky enough to be rescued quickly that day, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" someone said hurriedly, wiping away tears.
The wet nurse's eyes were sinister, and she couldn't help but shout angrily, "Are you talking about what happened when the young lady was little, during the summer? Was it really Luo Ningshuang who pushed the young lady down that year? Are you sure Luo Ningshuang did it on purpose?"
The old woman immediately replied, "Absolutely, absolutely! That year, the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom. The second young lady said she liked them and begged the eldest young lady to pick some for her. The eldest young lady, being simple-minded, was praised by the second young lady and immediately ran to the pond. The lotus flowers were quite far away, so the eldest young lady stood in the pond, reaching over the magnolia tree, holding onto it with one hand and trying to reach the lotus flowers with the other. But just then, the second young lady forcefully pushed the eldest young lady away, and that's when the eldest young lady fell into the water." 154.
The wet nurse was filled with rage. Years ago, Luo Zhiheng nearly died because of this incident. She was so young, yet she had to endure such immense suffering. She and Luo Ge had stayed by Luo Zhiheng's side constantly, fearing she wouldn't survive. Later, when she finally pulled through, they investigated the incident in retrospect, only to discover that everything seemed like an accident.
They suspected Luo Ningshuang was responsible back then, but how old was she? They couldn't imagine what she would be like in the future if she was so ruthless and vicious at that time. The matter was eventually dropped, but Luo Ge became even more fond of Luo Zhiheng. It was also around that time that Luo Ge began to completely neglect Luo Ningshuang.
If what happened back then was truly intentional on Luo Ningshuang's part, then her current lack of favor isn't entirely her fault; rather, it's somewhat of her own doing, a self-inflicted wound. After all, it was because of that incident that she truly lost her father's love.
"Is what you're saying true? Then why didn't you speak up back then? At that time, Luo Ningshuang was just an unloved child. If what you're saying is true, then you should have stood up when the general was investigating. You might have even gained the general's favor." The wet nurse's gaze was sharp, staring directly at the old woman.
The old woman was sweating profusely and said tremblingly, "What this old servant said is absolutely true. Back then, I was sweeping the courtyard and happened to be slacking off in the shade behind the pond and rockery, and I happened to see this scene clearly. But later, the second young lady took the initiative to find me. I don't know how she knew I was there. The second young lady didn't act like a child at all back then."
"She told me that as long as I didn't tell anyone about this, she would definitely give me wealth and honor in the future. She also said that even if I did tell anyone, she wouldn't be able to do anything to her. Even if the general didn't like her, she was still his biological daughter. At most, she would be punished and scolded. But if I dared to tell the general the truth, I would be in big trouble, because this is a family scandal, and the general wouldn't let any servant who knows about this scandal live. Moreover, she wouldn't let anyone who dared to stab her in the back live either."
"This old servant was terrified at the time, fearing that what the Second Miss said was true. But upon reflection, I realized that what she said made perfect sense. If I hadn't told the General, I could have kept my life and even gained the Second Miss's favor, receiving benefits for nothing. Moreover, the Second Miss is so young yet possesses such cunning and courage; this old servant felt that her future was immeasurable. Therefore, this old servant promised the Second Miss not to report this matter to the General. This old servant was bewitched back then and was deceived by the Second Miss. This old servant deserves to die a thousand deaths; please forgive me, Eldest Miss."
"You deserve to die! Your crimes are unforgivable!" The wet nurse's eyes were red with anger. She stepped forward and kicked the old woman in the chest, sending her rolling backward a great distance. The wet nurse shouted furiously, "Just for your own selfish gain? Just for your wealth and status? You would disregard the young lady's life like this? Not reporting what you know is an even greater crime! To condone Luo Ningshuang's violent acts is even more deserving of a thousand cuts! Are you bewitched? I think you're blinded by greed."
"Why is the wet nurse so angry? I'm perfectly fine now. But I've certainly seen something new today. It turns out that the most poisonous heart isn't just a woman's; girls can be just as wicked. What a cunning girl, Luo Ningshuang, so young yet so scheming. I underestimated her." Luo Zhiheng gave a cold laugh, whether self-deprecating or sarcastic, and then looked at the wet nurse, saying, "She used a combination of coercion and enticement on you, and you willingly fell into her trap? But it seems your decision was quite correct. You've come to this important position as a wet nurse by the young lady's side quite easily."
"From a janitor to a wet nurse, how many levels have they jumped? How could a janitor possibly have the opportunity and qualification to serve the master? These two wicked and evil creatures." The wet nurse was still furious. Just thinking about how Luo Zhiheng almost died more than ten years ago, and how this conspiracy and secret were only revealed to the public today, made the wet nurse feel a tight pain in her heart.
Luo Ningshuang, how cruel she is.
"Yes, but what can we do? My sister just loves using those two old geezers. It's a pity that those two betrayed her today. Judging from her ruthless nature, if Luo Ningshuang finds out that they betrayed her, she will definitely do whatever it takes to kill them. At that time, tsk tsk tsk, the scene will be extremely tragic. I can't even bear to think about it," Luo Zhiheng sighed casually.
The two men's faces turned deathly pale.
That's exactly right! Their actions today are tantamount to betraying Luo Ningshuang. Once Luo Ningshuang returns, they will surely suffer a terrible fate. They have witnessed firsthand Luo Ningshuang's methods over the years—all kinds of horrific and vicious acts. Furthermore, Luo Ningshuang is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate anyone daring to betray her.
The two men quickly broke free from the guards, crying hysterically as they pleaded, "Young Miss, we truly know we were wrong! We will definitely repent and start anew. Please give us a chance! We will serve you wholeheartedly, and we will tell you anything you wish to know!"
Luo Zhiheng laughed, laughing so hard she almost fell over, shaking Mu Yunhe's arm affectionately, and said, "Yunhe, did you hear that? They want to pledge allegiance to me? Do you think they're too stupid, or have they become foolish from spending too much time with Luo Ningshuang? Would I, Luo Zhiheng, want Luo Ningshuang's leftover trash? Or two such disloyal dogs and slaves who would betray their master so easily?"
“My Ah Heng naturally needs loyal and devoted people. This kind of person should be killed directly.” Mu Yunhe responded to Luo Zhiheng’s words with gentle kindness.
Upon hearing this, the two men were terrified and immediately kowtowed, begging for mercy: "Didn't Miss say that if we told you, you would forgive us? How could you go back on your word?"
"Tsk tsk, you two are really too old. Did I say anything like that? From beginning to end, I haven't uttered a single word of forgiveness. I did say I'd give you a chance, but you didn't want it. What could I do? Drag them away and beat them to death." Luo Zhiheng remained unchanged. Since they had already colluded with Luo Ningshuang, let them continue to do so. Zhiheng obeyed the order.
"No, no! This old servant doesn't want to die! This old servant knows who the person Second Miss placed by your side is. She seems to have a lot to do with Second Miss's personal maid, Chun Nuan. Every time Second Miss wants to frame Eldest Miss, she has Chun Nuan make the contact. That person is hiding in the Mu Prince's Mansion and was sent in by Second Miss in advance," another nanny said, struggling.
"What's her name?" Luo Zhiheng's gaze was cold and sharp, but a sense of clarity had crept into her mind.
"This old servant really doesn't know. We are not the Second Miss's true confidants; it is Miss Chunnuan who is."
"Hmph, in that case, you're even more useless. Drag you out and let everyone in the manor watch. I want them to know that Luo Zhiheng is still the young lady who can do whatever she wants in the General's Mansion! From today onwards, everyone in the General's Mansion, remember this: I, Luo Zhiheng, am the master. Anyone who doesn't want to live, anyone who's had enough, can go ahead and die. Remember, I won't show you any mercy! If you offend me in the slightest, I'll kill you without hesitation!" Luo Zhiheng's temper flared faster than turning the pages of a book, her voice sharp and decisive.
The two old women, pale as ghosts, were dragged away screaming in agony, causing a great commotion throughout the General's Mansion. At the same time, Luo Zhiheng's words also came through.
The two old women didn't survive either. If Luo Zhiheng wanted to establish her authority and intimidate the General's Mansion, she needed ruthless methods! She couldn't be soft-hearted, nor could she hesitate in the slightest. She would show no mercy to her enemies! Luo Ningshuang was gone, but she left behind a group of people loyal to her. To Luo Zhiheng, these people were all thorns in her side. Starting today, she would remove these thorns one by one.
The two men were beaten to death in Luo Ningshuang's courtyard, shocking all the servants in the General's Mansion. The wet nurse then launched a major reshuffle, replacing all the unusable people, hiring human traffickers to sell off those who needed to be sold, and buying a new batch of people. The remaining elderly people in the General's Mansion were in a state of panic.
"Have you figured out who it is?" Mu Yunhe asked in a low voice.
Mu Yunhe never expected that Luo Ningshuang could arrange people within the Mu Prince's residence. Luo Ningshuang, a lady from a prominent family, even if she had gained some fame, how could she possibly possess such cunning and scheming? Yet now he believed it, because Luo Ningshuang was indeed somewhat enigmatic.
"Who else could it be but Hua Kai? Didn't you notice that Hua Kai was always targeting me when she was in the Mu Prince's mansion? Hua Kai also frequently used Consort Li to oppose me. Besides, Hua Kai's name, when put together with Chun Nuan, doesn't it just sound like 'spring warmth and flowers bloom'?" Luo Zhiheng sneered a few times, seemingly completely understanding.
But she asked, puzzled, "It's just that Luo Ningshuang has been targeting me all along. She arranged for the flowers to bloom in the Mu Prince's mansion ahead of time. Putting aside that audacity, her preemptive nature makes me feel that she is very dangerous. Was she arranging for the flowers to bloom to target me, or was it for her own benefit?"
"If Hua Kai marries into the Prince's mansion, then being by Consort Li's side will definitely be a great help to her. At the very least, with their cooperation, they can control the place and manipulate it at will. Quickly establishing a foothold will be a piece of cake. This may be the reason why she agreed to marry you in the first place."
"But why didn't she marry him later? Did she arrange for Hua Kai to be in the Prince's mansion from the beginning, just waiting to lure me into a trap, then ruin me and ensnare me? If so, then Hua Kai must have been prepared for me from the start. They were still working together from the inside, only this time they wanted to completely destroy me. But if that's the case, then all this scheming, step by step, almost perfectly, is terrifying. Moreover, how could Luo Ning Shuang have predicted that I would really fall into her trap as she thought?"
Luo Zhiheng frowned, feeling that everything seemed ridiculous and unreal. If Luo Ningshuang really had such an ability, then it gave her the feeling that Luo Ningshuang also seemed to know the future, which made her similar to Mu Yunhe.
Suddenly, Luo Zhiheng's eyes lit up, but her heart sank. She looked at Mu Yunhe hesitantly: "Could it be that this Luo Ningshuang is also a fortune teller? Otherwise, how could she have predicted these things so accurately? In your Divination Palace, are there any senior or junior sisters?"
"Impossible!" Mu Yunhe said decisively, but his brows were furrowed with worry. "I don't know how many people are in the Divination Palace, but my master only has me as his disciple, and the priests will never allow the indiscriminate killing or harming of the innocent. You are an innocent person. If Luo Ningshuang were also related to the Divination Palace, she would have been struck by lightning and died a horrible death long ago after committing so many heinous acts. How could she still be alive?"
“However, there is something strange about it. I can’t predict Luo Ningshuang’s fate. Something seems to have gone wrong with her destiny.” Mu Yunhe’s voice began to grow deep. He had already discovered this, but he hadn’t told Luo Zhiheng at all. Moreover, with his current strength, he really couldn’t figure out what was going on with Luo Ningshuang’s fate, so he tried to keep Luo Ningshuang in the Southern Dynasty.
Just as he said, he too could not do anything heinous or indiscriminately kill innocent people; the constraints imposed by the priests were the greatest. He could not kill Luo Ningshuang until he was certain that she was utterly wicked.
Luo Zhiheng sneered, "Never mind. The fire at the Mu Prince's mansion killed and injured countless people, but Consort Li survived. I remember she brought someone out yesterday, didn't she? Who was that person? She looks unrecognizable. If Hua Kai is dead, so be it. But if she's not, hmph, I won't let her go."
"Are you so sure that Hua Kai is the spy? Why don't you send someone to investigate first? Wet nurse can't be overworked right now, and we can't ask the Prince for her. I can't use the secret guards around me either. I don't trust the people my father left behind," Mu Yunhe said coldly.
Luo Zhiheng immediately went to find the Prince and explained the situation. The Prince's face darkened as if it were still water. He immediately sent people to thoroughly investigate the matter of Hua Kai.
Taking advantage of this time, Luo Zhiheng welcomed General Tong, along with that vixen Luo Erduo!
The moment Luo Zhiheng saw Luo Erduo, she flew into a rage and rushed forward, kicking Luo Erduo in the stomach, sending her flying. Not satisfied with that, she rushed over and started kicking Luo Erduo's cute little face repeatedly, yelling as she hit her, "You'll die at the feet of a handsome man, even as a ghost you'll still be romantic? This time I'll make sure you die at the feet of a beautiful woman, you'll never forget it!"
"Ah ah..." Luo Erduo was very weak and didn't know how to resist. She just kept screaming. Even though Luo Zhiheng beat her and made her roll on the ground, she still didn't dare to utter a word.
"You dare to covet my man? Have you lost your mind? You vixen, I'll show you what I'm capable of!" Luo Zhiheng roared angrily. She remembered Mu Yunhe's injuries and how much blood he had lost. Mu Yunhe's frail body had to endure so much pain. Her heart ached and she trembled with heartache, so she stomped even harder.
"You almost killed Mu Yunhe! You beast! Mu Yunhe saved you, how could you be so insane? I'm your master, I feed you, I protect you, I avenge you, and you still dare to betray me. You stole my man, bullied my man, and even dared to hurt him. I'll cripple you!"
Extreme anger breeds hatred.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly drew her cane from her waist, her jeweled aura unstoppable. With a whoosh, she pointed the knife at him, sneering, "You like this knife of mine, don't you? Today, I'll use it to send you to the Western Paradise!"
"Ahhh!!" Luo Erduo's eyes widened in terror as she screamed wildly, her voice hoarse, but she still couldn't utter a single word. Just as Luo Zhiheng's battle blade was about to fall on her chest, Luo Erduo suddenly burst into tears, wailing and sobbing, tears streaming down her face.
Luo Zhiheng hesitated for a moment with her knife.
General Tong was dumbfounded! He had never seen such a formidable woman before; today was truly an eye-opener. Luo Zhiheng was more than just formidable; she was several levels above the rumored shrew. However, because she kept mentioning Mu Yunhe in every word, it was clear how much she cared about him. General Tong felt relieved and didn't dislike Luo Zhiheng as much anymore.
At least this kid is honest and down-to-earth. He's just a bit too fierce.
“Let’s calm down first. This person has taken some muscle relaxant and can’t move now, but for some reason, she can’t even speak. She doesn’t seem like a heinous person. Does she have some kind of chronic illness or have she been poisoned? Otherwise, why would she suddenly attack you?” General Tong said quickly while Luo Zhiheng hesitated.
"She's not a heinous criminal? No, she's not even human! This wretched creature! Killing her is not enough to quell my anger." Luo Zhiheng was panting, but she finally put the knife down.
He kicked Luo in the face, which was swollen and red, and shouted angrily, "Tell me, what exactly happened to you?"
Luo Erduo blinked pitifully, then cautiously looked at Mu Yunhe. She had regained her senses and knew what she had done. Now she was terrified, afraid that Luo Zhiheng would kill her with a knife, and even more afraid that Mu Yunhe would kill her in a fit of rage. But she also felt so wronged. Mu Yunhe knew her true nature and characteristics perfectly well, yet he still dared to be intimate with her in front of her—it was utterly hateful.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly stepped in front of Mu Yunhe, blocking Luo Erduo's view, her voice furious: "Don't look at him! How dare you peek at him in front of me? Are you trying to flirt with him? What? You think Mu Yunhe will save you?"
"Ahem, Ah Heng, I think she might be begging me to explain to you." Mu Yunhe coughed awkwardly, pulled her close, and whispered a few words in her ear. Luo Zhiheng's face flushed red instantly. She gently pushed him away.
He asked with a hint of disbelief, "Really? If it's true, that's just too unbelievable!"
"I wouldn't lie to you. So this whole thing is my fault. I was careless and momentarily lost in my feelings, forgetting about her..." Mu Yunhe said with a half-smile.
"Enough!" Luo Zhiheng interrupted him, her heart pounding.
It turns out that Luo Erduo's uncontrollable arousal was caused by stimulation. Fox spirits are naturally lustful, making them unable to resist the slightest teasing from the opposite sex. At such times, they become wanton women, and an aphrodisiac-like substance frantically accumulates in their bodies, causing them to become uncontrollably aroused.
This explains why Mu Yunhe was also drugged when Luo Erduo tickled him. The potent drug from her body entered Mu Yunhe's body. And Luo Erduo is irrational when she's in heat. Her growing ears proves she's reverted to her true nature, revealing her sinful and lewd side.
So, Luo Erduo is a shapeshifter? A dual personality? When his ears are gone, he's obedient, cute, innocent, and a complete idiot. When his ears grow back, he's terrifying, irrational, lewd, and unrestrained?
Chapter 1 is here! There will be one more chapter today. Thank you all for your generous donations! I will work even harder. I'm still asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets!