That brief eye contact sent a chill down one's spine, evoking a terrifying sense of impending doom and impending battle. It truly froze one's blood and chilled one to the bone.
"This old man and his entire family respectfully welcome Your Highness's arrival. May Your Highness be blessed." The Li family patriarch's expression changed quickly, and he greeted Mu Yunhe with unhurried manner. He actually knelt down before Mu Yunhe with the demeanor of a centenarian. His slow movements appeared clumsy due to his age, but they also showed his respect for Mu Yunhe.
But by kneeling before Mu Yunhe in public, he was essentially trying to sow discord between Mu Yunhe and Mu Yunhe. Others might not know Mu Yunhe's noble status, which was worthy of their homage. They might think that Mu Yunhe was arrogant, disrespectful to elders and children, and lacked any sense of hierarchy, acting with disrespect because of his status as a prince.
Logically, at this point, Mu Yunhe would step forward to help the Li family patriarch up, or say something polite like "Rise." This way, the Li family patriarch wouldn't actually have to kneel, and the others behind him wouldn't have to kneel either.
But no!
Mu Yunhe didn't say a word, nor even offer a single expression. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the carriage, his tall figure, though slender, appearing even more noble due to his bearing and handsome face.
The centenarian patriarch of the Li family, unable to bear the pain and forced to kneel before Mu Yunhe, was truly forced to. Though unwilling, resentful, and humiliated, he had come this far, and without kneeling, he would be utterly humiliated. He might as well go all out; at least it would make Mu Yunhe feel that he respected him. If this could earn the Li family a good impression in Mu Yunhe's eyes, then it would be worthwhile.
Seeing that the Li family patriarch had knelt down, Mu Yunhe casually glanced at the group of Li family members who were still standing. The Li family members had inherited the ability to bend and stretch to the extreme from the king who destroyed the country. They knelt down without hesitation.
"We respectfully wish Your Highness good health!" Hundreds of people greeted him in unison, and a long line of people knelt inside and outside the gate, creating a truly grand and astonishing scene.
Mu Yunhe did not rush to tell people to get up. Instead, he turned around and said coldly in front of everyone, "Why don't you get down here?"
The Li family was taken aback, all assuming Mu Yunhe was referring to Luo Zhiheng; his tone was far from friendly. Had Luo Zhiheng fallen out of favor? Or had Luo Zhiheng's favor all along been a facade, a lie?
Soon, a lively and nimble petite figure tumbled out of the carriage, rolled on the ground, and stood up. It was a delicate and lovely little girl who said sweetly, "My ears rolled out! Master, come out quickly too."
Mu Yunhe snorted coldly, reached for the carriage again, and his voice, however, was as warm as spring flowers, no longer cold, but full of gentleness: "Come down quickly, a group of people are waiting to pay their respects to you."
"What a slap!" Mu Yunhe's words, spoken so subtly, landed loudly on the faces of the entire Li family.
They couldn't get up because Mu Yunhe hadn't told them to. However, the reason Mu Yunhe didn't want them to get up was because the people in the carriage hadn't disembarked yet; he wanted them to also pay their respects to those inside! 16934609
In this entire world, the number of people who can command the respect and kneeling of the Li family, the great royal family, can be counted on one hand. Who else has such great influence? The Li family members were furious, feeling that Mu Yunhe was slapping them in the face, but they had no choice but to accept it with a smile.
A fair, white hand reached out from inside the carriage and landed in the palm of Mu Yunhe's waiting hand. Then, the carriage curtain was instantly lifted, and a fiery red, flamboyant figure suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes. Her face was exquisite, her demeanor arrogant, her gaze haughty, and the smile on her lips seemed to tell this person that this woman was cunning and domineering.
She only took two small steps on the carriage shaft before Mu Yunhe pulled her down in his arms, cradling her in his embrace. He gently brushed away a stray strand of hair from her temple and affectionately and naturally tucked it behind her hair ornament. His fluid movements seemed practiced a thousand times over. He took it for granted, and she accepted it without hesitation. His words of great favor were truly well-deserved!
Who else could this be but Luo Zhiheng!
In front of the vast royal garden gate, the clamor of hundreds of people instantly fell silent. Pairs of eyes stared at the pair of ethereal young people standing before them, their hearts filled with indescribable emotions.
Who hasn't been young? Who hasn't had someone they loved? But what were they doing at Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng's age? The men indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring, neglecting their duties. Even with families and children, they still preferred to linger outside, flirting with other women. They too had once doted on someone, but only for a few days. They would never have done what Mu Yunhe does today, where his every move, without needing to say a word, reveals that he truly cherishes this woman named Luo Zhiheng.
Women of Luo Zhiheng's age are usually married, perhaps even with children. They're likely already heartbroken, suspicious, and jealous, wondering where their husbands spend the night and which woman they're with. Where would they find such favor? Let alone being held so tenderly and carefully by their husbands, their hairpins gently in their hands. After marriage, even wanting to go out is difficult; a legitimate reason is required. Going out with one's husband is even more challenging, requiring an equally compelling reason.
Thinking about it this way, it's truly pathetic. These young ladies from prominent families, who were able to marry into the Li family, were all far superior to Luo Zhiheng in every way, yet they were not as happy as Luo Zhiheng. In an instant, the people, who were initially somewhat indignant, experienced a huge emotional upheaval.
Where envy, jealousy, and hatred linger, the atmosphere is never pleasant.
However, Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng were not the type to take care of other people's feelings and the atmosphere. Mu Yunhe didn't say a word to Luo Zhiheng, but just held her hand and never let go. His cold gaze swept over the group of people, releasing a faint but sharp pressure.
The Li family patriarch was the first to sense it. He lifted his aged eyelids and glanced at her. His eyes trembled, and he felt resentment and humiliation. But out of respect for Mu Yunhe, he greeted her again and said, "Welcome, Little Princess Consort."
"Greetings to the young princess, may the young princess be blessed." The Li family members had no choice but to speak.
Luo Zhiheng smiled, her gaze fixed on Consort Li. She saw the hatred and anger in Consort Li's eyes. Even kneeling there, Consort Li seemed to be a head taller than everyone else, so incongruous and arrogant. Luo Zhiheng laughed even more happily, but turned to Mu Yunhe reproachfully, "Hurry up and make them get up. The Li family patriarch is getting old, how can we really make him kneel?"
The Li family members pricked up their ears to listen. Luo Zhiheng's tone when speaking to a man, especially in public, was incredibly rude. They wanted to see how Mu Yunhe would react—would he slap Luo Zhiheng across the face?
To everyone's surprise, Mu Yunhe simply said, "Get up, all of you."
There was no rebuttal or rebuke, nor any deliberate attempt to flatter or indulge Luo Zhiheng. This cold remark, however, gave Luo Zhiheng face. It didn't show how much he doted on her, but it subtly revealed to everyone that this was the man's indulgence and care for Luo Zhiheng.
Her words were indeed important to Mu Yunhe!
The Li family patriarch and Mr. Li exchanged a quick glance, both seeing shock and gravity in each other's eyes. Needless to say, they knew they needed to adjust their attitude towards Luo Zhiheng; they could even focus heavily on her emotions. A woman's whispered words in her ear were far more effective than a group of men's earnest advice. Moreover, Mu Yunhe was someone who appreciated beautiful women.
"Young Prince, please come into the manor quickly. The food and wine have been prepared. I know that today is a family reunion banquet, and I shouldn't have joined in without permission. But since we're having a banquet at your home, I'll consider it a welcome feast for the Young Prince and Princess. I hope the Young Prince doesn't mind us disturbing your family's gathering?" The Li family patriarch said with a smile, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Luo Zhiheng. He was startled to see Luo Zhiheng looking at him with a half-smile and quickly covered his eyes with his eyelids.
He had clashed with Luo Zhiheng before. Luo Zhiheng was sharp, incisive, and assertive, making her a formidable opponent. Because of Luo Zhiheng, the Li family was punished by the emperor for the first time, and Consort Li was forced to relinquish control of the Prince's residence. In a single courtroom battle, Luo Zhiheng, through a witty debate with numerous scholars, effortlessly and effortlessly brought the Li family to their knees.
Now that the Li family has finally escaped their predicament, Mu Yunhe has returned, and his identity makes them feel suffocated. The Li family has always been walking a tightrope, thinking they can break a steel plate with a single kick, but they foolishly didn't realize that behind every layer of that steel plate lies immense weight; their tightrope path is incredibly dangerous. Now they can only keep a low profile, not daring to provoke Mu Yunhe in the slightest. However, Luo Zhiheng is a variable; they fear she might be vengeful. It seems the Li family not only needs to win over Luo Zhiheng but also fawn over her.
Mu Yunhe's indifferent attitude revealed no emotion: "It doesn't matter."
The Li family was naturally happy, but Consort Li was not. With everyone eating and drinking together again, how could she possibly have a chance to make a move? For the first time, she felt that her family members were such a hindrance. Consort Li was displeased, but dared not show it on her face. She could only keep thinking of a solution—how could she get everyone else to leave?
Compared to Consort Li's unease and anxiety, there was another member of the Li family who was also restless.
Standing in the crowd, Li Xian'er looked at the exceptionally handsome Mu Yunhe, and felt her heart pounding restlessly, almost leaping out of her chest. Her face flushed, her heart pounded, and her eyes were filled with a captivating charm that seemed to drip with water. Her gaze openly expressed her admiration and joy as she stared intently at Mu Yunhe, hoping to receive a response from him.
Ever since she saw Mu Yunhe return that day, she couldn't control her longing for him and her feelings for him. Countless nights, she dreamed of him holding her, just as he held Luo Zhiheng; she dreamed of him kissing her, just as he kissed Luo Zhiheng in the desert; she even dreamed of him abandoning Luo Zhiheng for her sake…
Then she woke up from the dream, but even so, it was enough to make her heart flutter and savor the memory endlessly. However, each time, she would automatically continue the dream in her mind. It was that after Mu Yunhe abandoned Luo Zhiheng for her, Luo Zhiheng shamelessly refused to leave, insisting on being with Mu Yunhe and begging her for a chance, even if it meant becoming his concubine.
Then she could trample Luo Zhiheng under her feet, wantonly ravaging, humiliating, and trampling on her. She ruthlessly sold Luo Zhiheng to a brothel, where she and Mu Yunhe watched as Luo Zhiheng was possessed by countless men, turning her into a wanton, promiscuous woman, infamous throughout the land!
Every time she thought about this outcome, about Mu Yunhe belonging to her, about Luo Zhiheng no longer being her opponent, a violent surge of pleasure coursed through her body, and she was so happy she wanted to scream.
But today, is the situation so unfavorable to her again? She saw Mu Yunhe treating Luo Zhiheng with such tenderness and affection. Although his voice was still so cold, it was a kind of melodious sound that no one else could enjoy when he spoke to Luo Zhiheng. She wanted it too!
Li Xian'er's infatuated gaze briefly departed from Mu Yunhe, then immediately turned to Luo Zhiheng with a vicious and sinister look. Seeing Luo Zhiheng standing beside Mu Yunhe, receiving their worship, she felt an urge to kill Luo Zhiheng with a single sword stroke. 193.
Although her family had been in power for generations... Sensing a malicious gaze fixed on her, Luo Zhiheng withdrew her gaze from Consort Li's unwilling and anxious face, accurately locating the source of the gaze, which was right in Li Xian'er's eyes.
She clicked her tongue inwardly, then snuggled intimately into Mu Yunhe's arms, hugging his waist and whispering, "You annoying guy, you're such a womanizer. Look at Li Xian'er's resentful, hateful, and vicious gaze, it's terrifying."
Mu Yunhe didn't even glance at Li Xian'er, but a faint disdain crossed his thin lips. He gently patted Luo Zhiheng's shoulder a few times and said in a low voice, "Bear with it for a while. If you don't like her, you can deal with her later."
In his words, Li Xian'er was nothing more than a piece of extremely worthless... trash?! He could just dispose of her like that?
But Luo Zhiheng, mischievously happy, hugged him and giggled, drawing frequent glances from those around them, who all felt ashamed of Luo Zhiheng's bold and unrestrained behavior. Li Xian'er was even more furious, her face turning red.
The group finally arrived at the main hall, where there were six large tables in total. It seemed that the Li family wanted all their selfish grandsons and wives to be seated at the banquet. The Li family patriarch invited Mu Yunhe to the head seat at the main table. He had only offered a modest gesture, as Mu Yunhe, despite his noble status, was still young and it was only natural that he would not sit in the head seat.
But Mu Yunhe sat down without any qualms, even pulling Luo Zhiheng to sit with him. The expressions of the people below were not so pleasant. Luo Zhiheng didn't care about that, and greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, please sit down, no need to be polite. Although this is our first time visiting the Li family, we are relatives with Consort Li, so the Li family is not an outsider. There's no need to be reserved."
The Li family members looked extremely uncomfortable. Consort Li could no longer contain herself and stepped forward, forcing a smile through gritted teeth. "Your Highness is too kind. This is the Li family, after all. We should be the ones telling the young prince not to be so polite. I'm hosting today, but I didn't expect the patriarch and the others to be so hospitable. That's fine, we're all family, we should get closer. Your Highness, please sit next to me. These men are eating and drinking all day, we can't get a word in edgewise, can we?"
Luo Zhiheng said innocently, "No, I want to be with Mu Yunhe. I need to keep an eye on him. He's not in good health and can't drink any alcohol. Also, his stomach isn't very good, so he has to be extra careful about what he eats. If he's not careful, he might eat something that doesn't go well with his diet."
Consort Li was initially anxious about how to poison Mu Yunhe, but upon hearing Luo Zhiheng's words, her eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "In that case, the little princess must keep the little prince company. I'll go check on the dishes in the kitchen; we should quickly add a few easy-to-digest and delicious dishes."
"Alright, thank you for your hard work, Consort Li." Luo Zhiheng smiled gratefully. Under the table, Mu Yunhe held her small hand tightly, pinching it lightly as if punishing her, yet also as if playing with it with great affection.
Luo Zhiheng returned a smile, her eyes sly. It was as if she were saying, "Consort Li was so eager to scheme against us, but it was all ruined by her bunch of shameless old hags. I couldn't bear it, so I gave Consort Li a heads-up, urging her to quickly come up with a good way to deal with us. If she can't handle us, how can we continue watching this show today?"
Mu Yunhe was helpless against Luo Zhiheng's naughtiness and mischievousness, and could only glare at her as a warning.
It turns out that Luo Zhiheng deliberately let Consort Li know that Mu Yunhe was unwell and couldn't drink alcohol or eat certain foods. It all depended on how clever Consort Li was; she could figure out how to manipulate things. If she did, they would know exactly how she planned to give the disfigured Hua Kai to Mu Yunhe, and they could also eliminate Consort Li completely.
"The young prince and princess are truly a perfect match. No wonder the young prince dotes on the princess so much. Just look at how much love and care the princess shows the young prince. She truly deserves to be loved like this," the Li family patriarch remarked with a smile. He was old enough that what he said didn't matter much.
Luo Zhiheng lowered her head shyly and remained silent, but she raised an eyebrow and glanced at Xiao Xizi, who was waiting at the door. Xiao Xizi winked at her, and her smile deepened.
Mu Yunjin arrived shortly after, carried in. He was placed next to Mu Yunhe and sat down. His face was still injured, and he looked somewhat haggard, but it did not diminish his handsomeness in the slightest. Sitting down next to Mu Yunhe, he glanced at Luo Zhiheng, nodded to Mu Yunhe, and then remained silent.
Luo Zhiheng felt absolutely no remorse for Mu Yunjin's injuries. Even if she had felt a little remorse before, now that Consort Li had done these things, Luo Zhiheng only felt disgust towards the mother and son. Moreover, Luo Zhiheng felt somewhat sorry for Mu Yunhe; Consort Li was definitely not a good mother.
Having obtained that potent medicine that could heal wounds quickly, she didn't give a single drop to Mu Yunjin, as evidenced by the injuries on Mu Yunjin's face. Meanwhile, Consort Li's injuries were far more severe, yet both had almost completely healed overnight. Consort Li's selfishness would eventually harm her, while Mu Yunjin escaped a calamity because of it.
The dishes were served one after another, all of them showing care and attention. What was placed in front of Mu Yunhe were soft, delicious, and easy to digest.
Consort Li walked gracefully over, smiling broadly, and said, "Knowing that Your Highness cannot eat just anything, I specially asked the kitchen to make these. They taste delicious and are easy to digest, and they are also very good for your spleen and stomach. Your Highness should eat more of them. By the way, you can't drink alcohol, right? I had someone brew some top-quality tea. Your Highness can drink tea instead of alcohol in a while."
They seemed very attentive and hospitable, but the dishes looked a bit odd, and they didn't specify what kind of tea it was.
The Li family patriarch happily announced the start of the meal, and only began eating after the people in the highest positions had taken their bites.
"Consort Li is so thoughtful! Mu Yunhe, you must eat more; this is a token of her appreciation." Luo Zhiheng smiled and placed a piece of food on Mu Yunhe's plate. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Consort Li, just in time to see Consort Li's brow furrow slightly. Luo Zhiheng smiled inwardly, thinking, "Oh dear, it seems I added the wrong thing; it doesn't suit Consort Li's taste."
Mu Yunjin also picked up her chopsticks and reached for the few exquisite dishes, but Consort Li reacted a bit strongly by clearing her throat and saying, "Yunjin! Those were specially prepared for the young prince, there wasn't much to begin with, you should eat something else."
Mu Yunjin's face was already gloomy, and hearing his mother say this made him feel even more embarrassed and ashamed. They were already living under someone else's roof, which was humiliating enough, but his mother still had to be so humble and obsequious to Mu Yunhe Luo Zhiheng. Mu Yunjin felt that he couldn't eat his meal at all; he felt like he was about to choke on his food.
Putting down his chopsticks abruptly, Mu Yunjin gave Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng a dark look and said in a deep voice, "You two eat, I'm full. Take me back."
"You haven't even eaten yet, how can you be full? Don't be angry, Consort Li meant well. There's so much food that Mu Yunhe definitely can't finish it all. You should try some too and see just how wonderful the food that Consort Li has carefully prepared is." Luo Zhiheng warmly greeted Mu Yunjin, and as she spoke, she looked at Consort Li with a teasing gaze.
For some reason, Consort Li was startled, feeling as if Luo Zhiheng had seen through her. She quickly looked away and suddenly thought it was good that Mu Yunjin left, at least she wouldn't have to worry about him being in danger.
“Yun Jin is not in good health either, with all these injuries. It’s my fault as his mother. Since the child has no appetite, let’s send him back to rest. Once he’s better, let him have a good time with you. What do you think, Your Highness?” Consort Li looked at Mu Yunhe with a pleading gaze.
She genuinely wanted Mu Yunjin to leave. They say even tigers don't eat their cubs, but this Consort Li still has a conscience, protecting her son. But is her son her son, and someone else's son a bastard? Does he deserve to die? Does he deserve to be harmed just because she doesn't like him?
A surge of anger suddenly welled up in Luo Zhiheng's heart. The more Consort Li valued her son, the more she wanted Consort Li to taste the excruciating pain! If she didn't know pain, she would never know how bitter other people's pain was!
“Since that’s the case, then let’s not force him. Let’s take him back to rest quickly.” Luo Zhiheng said. She spoke on behalf of Mu Yunhe, which was Mu Yunhe’s permission. An invisible sense of her having a voice enveloped the Li family, making them even more cautious about Luo Zhiheng.
"Alright, alright, good child. Those dishes need to be eaten quickly, they won't taste good if they get cold. Try them all, they all taste very good," Consort Li said with a smile.
Luo Zhiheng's eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing a mocking sneer in her eyes. "So clever, are you trying to pull a fast one using food incompatibilities? No problem, I'll play along!"
One more update today! Ugh, sitting here makes my butt feel so uncomfortable, sigh. Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! And remember to support me in the final voting for the competition! Love you all!
Chapter 353: Furious, he flips the table! (Bonus chapter for 24,500 comments)
Updated: 2013-09-27 17:54:49 Word Count: 3400
3. Furious, he flipped the table! (Bonus chapter for 24,500 comments)
"This thing is quite exquisite, it looks like a sweet potato, am I right?" Luo Zhiheng placed a thin slice of syrup on Mu Yunhe's plate and smiled.
"The young princess is clever." Consort Li's eyes lit up, and her smile even became more sincere. However, a hint of bloodlust lurked in her eyes.
Did you get it right this time? So, what things are incompatible with sweet potatoes when eaten together?
A cold, mocking glint appeared in Luo Zhiheng's eyes as her chopsticks slowly moved along the dishes, seemingly carefully selecting what to serve Mu Yunhe. Her hand never stopped as it passed over each dish; her gaze was clear and smiling as she gently glanced at Consort Li out of the corner of her eye, revealing no flaws or hesitation, only the pure, joyful caution of serving food to the man she loved.
Luo Zhiheng's gaze was focused on every detail of Consort Li's facial expression. She wanted to find answers from Consort Li; she wanted to know what Consort Li intended to use to harm Mu Yunhe.
As her chopsticks moved over each dish, Consort Li's expression was clearly tense and eager. She even forgot about Luo Zhiheng's expression and gaze, focusing all her attention on Luo Zhiheng's hands, her eyes following the food around. Suddenly, when she saw Luo Zhiheng's chopsticks stop on what looked like peanuts, Consort Li bit her lip, her face filled with urgency.
Luo Zhiheng raised the corner of her mouth and served Mu Yunhe many more of this dish.
It's more fun to play slowly. We need to increase Consort Li's psychological pressure until she can't handle it anymore, then she'll have more openings to exploit. Consort Li's expressions have already told Luo Zhiheng which dishes Mu Yunhe can eat. As long as Consort Li's expression isn't too hasty or anxious, it proves that Mu Yunhe will be fine eating those dishes. Naturally, Luo Zhiheng will choose more of these kinds of dishes for Mu Yunhe.
"Try it, this is a token of Consort Li's goodwill," Luo Zhiheng said with a smile. But in reality, she was just stalling for time. She couldn't relax completely. She wouldn't allow Mu Yunhe to eat anything unclean if she wasn't careful.