"A coincidence? What a coincidence indeed." Luo Zhiheng sneered. This Third Prince had a bad reputation and acted strangely. He seemed unrestrained, a womanizer, and indifferent to worldly affairs, but Luo Zhiheng always felt that this man was not simple. Moreover, he was very familiar with her, yet she did not know him. What exactly was going on between him and the former Luo Zhiheng? Luo Zhiheng dared not be careless and naturally had to be cautious.
Mu Yunsheng shouted impatiently, "Can you stop this nonsense? I saved you, and instead of being grateful, you keep nagging and doubting me? I've been so kind, yet you've taken my kindness for granted?"
"Then please explain yourself clearly. Why did you happen to appear here and save me? I don't believe you unless you give me a legitimate reason." Luo Zhiheng stood her ground. She couldn't bring trouble and danger back to Mu Yunhe. That person was very suspicious. They had such a powerful enemy behind them. What was this Mu Yunsheng all about?
"Alright, alright, I'm really scared of you. I just happened to be discussing matters with Duke Sun today, and I arrived just as you were leaving. I didn't even have a chance to greet you before I discovered you'd been kidnapped. I could have easily stayed out of it, couldn't I? What does your life or death have to do with me? But I'm thinking of our past friendship, so I reluctantly came. If you still doubt me, then you can fend for yourself here. Hmph, you'd better know where you are. The sun has already set, so be careful you don't get stuck here and get eaten by wolves." Mu Yunsheng said gloatingly.
Luo Zhiheng frowned, pondering Mu Yunsheng's words. They were logical and well-reasoned, without any loopholes, and sounded quite believable, but she still felt it was too much of a coincidence. She asked again, "What were you doing at the Sun family's place?"
Mu Yunsheng was furious and cursed, "Are you interrogating me like a criminal? Luo Zhiheng, don't push your luck. My patience has its limits."
"Don't be too presumptuous with me. As long as I'm alive, once we get out, I'll tell Mu Yunhe that it was you, Mu Yunsheng, who had me kidnapped and tried to silence me in this desolate wilderness. I think even if you had a hundred heads, it wouldn't be enough for Mu Yunhe to twist them off, let alone your father. If you dare to harm me, leave me here, or offend me, I'll report it to your father. Do you think your father will kill you, you piece of trash, to vent his anger?" Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow. Although her face was pale, she was completely calm and composed, as if she had Mu Yunsheng completely under her thumb.
"You...you...you..." Mu Yunsheng pointed at Luo Zhiheng, so angry he couldn't even utter a word. His eyes blazed with fury, and the way he both wanted to strangle her and was genuinely afraid of her was quite convincing. In the end, Mu Yunsheng gave in, saying with annoyance, "I can't beat you, but Luo Zhiheng, you remember this: you owe me a huge favor today, and you have to pay it back! Who told you to threaten me?"
What he said seemed both true and false, and Luo Zhiheng felt a chill run down her spine. Although she didn't know what he wanted from her, and although he seemed to be joking to vent his anger, Luo Zhiheng did not ignore his words. Mu Yunsheng would never know that it was at this moment that Luo Zhiheng became wary of him because of his words.
"I went to the Sun family to discuss the marriage between my family and Duke Sun."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes widened instantly: "Sun Yunyun? Who is arranging the marriage with Sun Yunyun? Did the Emperor send you to negotiate?"
Mu Yunsheng glared at her mockingly: "I've taken a liking to Sun Yunyun, so I'm going to marry her as my concubine. What, are you unhappy that I'm marrying Sun Yunyun? Hahaha, if you're unhappy, I'll be happier."
Luo Zhiheng glared at him: "What do you mean?"
Mu Yunsheng, with a roguish grin, said mockingly, "I personally witnessed you two hugging and being all lovey-dovey at the Sun family's gate. Don't try to tell me there's nothing between you two. I even overheard Sun Yunyun's confession. And you, what kind of young master are you? I'm starting to regret it. Sun Yunyun seems like an ice queen, but I never expected her to be so unrestrained in private. Is she out of her mind? You may not have everything you could want, and your breasts are small like little steamed buns, but they're still two little buns. Is Sun Yunyun blind or something? Can't she see that? How could she tell you're a young master?"
As Mu Yunsheng spoke, he kept glancing at Luo Zhiheng's chest, his disdain obvious.
Luo Zhiheng clutched her chest and angrily shouted, "What are you looking at? Be careful you don't go blind! Hurry up and untie me!"
Mu Yunsheng angrily untied Luo Zhiheng's ropes, while Luo Zhiheng pondered the truth of his words. If what he said was true, then everything made sense, but how could Mu Yunsheng be so powerful, defeating that strange kidnapper in an instant?
"What's wrong? You want me to carry you?" Mu Yunsheng kicked Luo Zhiheng's shin.
Luo Zhiheng got up, stretched her body, and felt she could still walk, but she had an unusual pain in her neck. She frowned slightly but didn't think much of it. She ordered Mu Yunsheng, "Although what you said sounds reasonable, I don't believe you. You're so glib, who knows which of your words are true? Now you take me home, and you must get me home safely."
Mu Yunsheng roared in fury: "Do you think I'm a servant? You dare to order me around? What do I care if you live or die?"
"You're wrong. My life or death has nothing to do with you. I'm your cousin's wife. If you don't help me, you're harming me. If you send me back safely, I'll tell Mu Yunhe that you saved me. Wouldn't that make us owe you a favor? Then you'll have a reason to ask us to repay that favor later, right?" Luo Zhiheng said coldly to Mu Yunsheng, her gaze deep.
Mu Yunsheng glanced at Luo Zhiheng once and then looked away almost imperceptibly. He seemed unable to face Luo Zhiheng's overly clear and sharp gaze, as if nothing could escape her eyes.
"Who cares about your reward? Hurry up and follow us. If we can't get down the mountain before it gets completely dark, you can just wait here to be eaten by wolves." Mu Yunsheng led the way, with Luo Zhiheng following closely behind.
Luo Zhiheng did not miss the unique emotion that flashed across Mu Yunsheng's face just now. She does not know what it means yet, but she absolutely does not believe that Mu Yunsheng is a simple person.
Not long after they left, a dark figure quietly appeared beside the thatched hut that had been burned to ashes. Under the gloomy sky, the person's eyes could be seen radiating an aura like black holes, so deep that they seemed capable of swallowing everything.
This imperial mountain... In just one afternoon, Mu Yunhe had turned the entire capital city upside down, alarming everyone. Panic gripped the streets and alleys. Large numbers of troops rode at breakneck speed, searching house to house, while soldiers chased after people outside the city walls. The search spread outwards in concentric circles from the capital, a carpet search, with the intensity of digging three feet into the ground.
The only reason for such a commotion is that Mu Yunhe's young princess has disappeared.
The Emperor, already in poor health, was shocked upon hearing this news. Hearing that Mu Yunhe had gone to such lengths for Luo Zhiheng, he fainted from shock. Mu Yunhe was now someone who commanded both fear and awe from the Emperor; any slight movement from him sent the Emperor into a state of high alert.
Prince Mu wanted to persuade Mu Yunhe, but when he thought of Luo Zhiheng's position in Mu Yunhe's heart, he had no desire to make Mu Yunhe hate him.
The sky was completely dark. Mu Yunhe, who had gone from being anxious to being frantic, could no longer bear it. Ignoring the Empress and Elder Tong's attempts to stop him, he decided to use his soul to search for Luo Zhiheng's whereabouts.
Because Mu Yunhe's soul was injured, although he appeared normal now, the damage was internal. Mu Yunhe could no longer use his soul for anything; doing so would only accelerate the soul's destruction and make him even weaker. But now Mu Yunhe couldn't care less about that. He had a premonition that the Mu Dynasty would soon experience a massive disaster. Because his soul was damaged, he couldn't accurately predict what kind of disaster it would be. He feared that Luo Zhiheng's disappearance was the beginning of this catastrophe.
Just as Mu Yunhe was about to begin his calculations, Luo Zhiheng returned. Mu Yunhe sensed her presence before he even started, abruptly opening his eyes. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the inner hall, reappearing in the courtyard. His gaze fell on Luo Zhiheng with delight for only a moment, but the instant it landed on Mu Yunsheng, Mu Yunhe's expression drastically changed! 17893539
Second update! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group chat, muah!
441 Deduction! The Real Purpose! Undercurrents! On the Eve of Disaster!
Updated: 2013-11-15 14:50:58 Word Count: 7591
Luo Zhiheng felt a gust of wind rush towards her, and she was pulled into Mu Yunhe's arms. It was as if she was flying in the dark night, and she left Mu Yunsheng's side at an incredible speed.
Swords flashed and daggers appeared in the blink of an eye, their sharp edges gleaming with a fierce and ruthless aura in the darkness, sweeping across the night and charging towards Mu Yunsheng. Luo Zhiheng was left behind by Mu Yunhe, and in the instant she turned around, she saw him wielding a long sword and charging towards Mu Yunsheng.
Instinctively wanting to stop Mu Yunhe's actions, Luo Zhiheng abruptly shut her mouth. She also wanted to see just how powerful Mu Yunsheng was, the one who had rescued her from that mysterious kidnapper, and whether he could defeat Mu Yunhe, who knew nothing of martial arts but only mysterious secret techniques. Luo Zhiheng had always been suspicious of Mu Yunsheng; she didn't quite believe that the previous person had truly been driven away by him. Now, Mu Yunhe could test Mu Yunsheng's true strength.
Upon seeing Mu Yunhe's attack, Mu Yunsheng's expression changed. He hurriedly retreated while roaring, "Luo Zhiheng, you heartless little jackal! Make Mu Yunhe stop right now! I'm your savior, not your enemy!"
Luo Zhiheng did not speak immediately. She stared intently at Mu Yunsheng, trying to find some flaw in him.
However, Mu Yunsheng kept retreating, seemingly unwilling to confront Mu Yunhe head-on. This consistent retreat only made Mu Yunhe feel more persistent and entangled. Mu Yunhe's movements became faster, his sword strikes more ferocious, and his aura colder. With a few swishes of sword flowers, he forced Mu Yunsheng to retreat to nowhere.
Left with no other choice, Mu Yunsheng finally retaliated and engaged Mu Yunhe in battle. Surprisingly, he was able to fight Mu Yunhe to a standstill. His movements seemed ordinary, but they appeared to be able to restrain Mu Yunhe. Mu Yunhe's moves were precise and powerful, but Mu Yunsheng's moves were specifically designed to counter Mu Yunhe. They would not harm Mu Yunhe, but they could also completely protect himself.
Upon seeing this, Luo Zhiheng's gaze suddenly turned cold.
There are people in the world who can withstand Mu Yunhe, but there are no mortals who can withstand Mu Yunhe!
Zhiyi Juejian is already at the forefront. Even someone like Emperor Xian could not withstand Mu Yunhe, and Her Majesty the Empress also fought Mu Yunhe to a draw, with the outcome uncertain. These people are not ordinary people; they each have their own secrets and strengths.
Mu Yunsheng had always been an idle and good-for-nothing, notorious among the adult princes for his lack of learning, incompetence, and dissolute lifestyle. Could such a good-for-nothing truly display such formidable martial arts and strength? If Mu Yunsheng were truly a good-for-nothing, how could he have concealed his abilities so well?
There are only two possibilities in this situation. One is that Mu Yunsheng has been biding his time, secretly gathering strength and waiting for the right opportunity to do something unassuming. The other is that Mu Yunsheng is misleading others to lower their guard against him, so that he can take advantage of the chaos.
Regardless of the possibility, it proves that Mu Yunsheng is no ordinary person. His cunning is beyond that of ordinary people, and it also made Luo Zhiheng realize that there must be other things behind Mu Yunsheng's rescue of her.
This person is both righteous and wicked, making it difficult to discern whether he is friend or foe. It would be better to let him off the hook now rather than anger him and cause a complete breakdown in relations.
Having made up her mind, Luo Zhiheng said unhurriedly, "Yun He, that guy did save me just now. Don't fight him. You've misunderstood."
Luo Zhiheng's simple statement, "It's a misunderstanding," left Mu Yunsheng speechless with bitterness. He could have used his rescue of Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe to claim credit, but Mu Yunhe's attack on him instead enraged him. Even if Mu Yunhe had stopped, he would have had reason and right to question him. But the "misunderstanding" excuse rendered him speechless. What could he do when she clearly said it was a misunderstanding?
Mu Yunsheng was so frustrated he almost vomited blood. He roared at Luo Zhiheng, "Hindsight is 20/20! You're just protecting your own!"
Luo Zhiheng was just being wise after the event; she only spoke up after he was almost beaten to death. She could have stopped Mu Yunhe, that madman, with just a few words, but she waited until he couldn't take it anymore before speaking. And she's so protective of Mu Yunhe. Luo Zhiheng is just too young; otherwise, she'd be a demon by now.
Mu Yunhe stopped fighting. No one could see his chest heaving violently. He had been fighting until now, and if Luo Zhiheng didn't speak, he would soon give up. His soul was aching, pulling at his body. Mu Yunhe's face was contorted with pain. He took a breath, but his expression did not improve. The look in his eyes as he looked at Mu Yunsheng was even more solemn and gloomy than when he first met Mu Yunsheng.
He sensed an evil aura emanating from Mu Yunsheng! An evil aura even more intense than when they first met. And this evil aura was mixed with a considerable amount of malevolence. Dark and cruel, it was the aura only a demon possessed. Mu Yunsheng smiled radiantly on the surface, but in Mu Yunhe's eyes, this man was utterly corrupt at his core.
It was a shell, almost completely devoured by darkness, leaving not even a trace of bone. How could Mu Yunsheng possess such an evil soul?!
Mu Yunhe was secretly alarmed. Just now, the righteous heart of the diviner had almost made him unable to restrain his duty to exorcise demons. If Luo Zhiheng hadn't spoken up just now, the situation today would definitely have gotten out of control. His physical condition was not ideal at the moment. If he forcibly dealt with Mu Yunsheng, the result would only be a lose-lose situation. It was not worth it and not feasible.
Therefore, he had to endure it.
"Aheng?" Mu Yunhe returned to Luo Zhiheng's side, holding her hand tightly, his anxiety turning into questioning and worry.
He silently asked Luo Zhiheng if she understood, then shook his head and smiled, "It's alright, I'll tell you slowly when we get home. You should have people withdraw everything quickly. This commotion has already alarmed the people and made them uneasy."
"Okay, I'll have them withdraw immediately." Mu Yunhe gave the order and then picked up Luo Zhiheng, intending to leave.
Mu Yunsheng's eyes flashed, his face darkening slightly. His displeased voice rang out behind them: "I say, do you two have to be so shameless? I am your savior, the savior of your beloved woman, and you just leave like this without even a thank you? And you almost killed me just now, Mu Yunhe. I am still your cousin, you should call me brother. Don't you really respect your brother?"
Mu Yunhe looked down at Luo Zhiheng, his gaze questioning whether it was truly Mu Yunsheng who had saved her.
Luo Zhiheng still suspected there was a trick involved, but she acted flawlessly in front of everyone, smiling and saying, "Yes, you saved me, and I thank you. But I never thought I deserved that His Highness the Third Prince had such good skills. Not only did he rescue me from that bandit, but he also fought with Mu Yunhe for so long. I really admire him. It's unbelievable that our Mu Dynasty's good-for-nothing prince has become such a dazzling and unparalleled master."
Mu Yunsheng's pupils contracted, unseen in the darkness. He said with a forced smile, "Sharp tongue! If something like this happens again, even if I happen to be there, I absolutely won't save you. Luo Zhiheng, don't be so arrogant. When I refuse to help you in the future, don't cry, and don't say anything pretentious like 'your husband is my cousin.' I didn't originally intend to do anything to you two, but now I need to be careful. I saved you, Luo Zhiheng, so you two owe me a huge favor, which you'll have to repay later."
After Mu Yunsheng finished speaking, he left with a dashing back view, but his words made Mu Yunhe frown.
"That line again. What is his purpose? What favor does he want me to repay?" Luo Zhiheng muttered to herself.
"He's not joking, he really wants us to repay a favor. To be precise, he made me owe him a favor by saving you. He's asking me for a favor!" Mu Yunhe said definitively.
Luo Zhiheng was alarmed. She wasn't afraid of being asked for favors, since she could only give so much. But asking Mu Yunhe for favors was a different story. Mu Yunhe's status was undeniable; the entire world had to defer to him. Even the Emperor was wary of Mu Yunhe. Mu Yunsheng, on the other hand, seemed to disregard Mu Yunhe, but he was subtly telling Mu Yunhe that he owed him a huge favor.
Is this favor easy to repay? Mu Yunhe's abilities are limited to a great deal and large-scale projects.
"Have I caused you any trouble?" Luo Zhiheng felt uneasy. Mu Yunhe's solemn expression told her that Mu Yunsheng had ulterior motives, and it was even possible that he did it intentionally.
If that's the case, is it possible that today's kidnapping was orchestrated by Mu Yunsheng himself, with the aim of making them owe him a huge favor so that Mu Yunsheng could do something despicable in the future?
"I'll never let go of this trouble you for the rest of my life." He kissed her forehead forcefully and whispered in her ear. When his gaze fell on the deep, bloody teeth mark on Luo Zhiheng's neck, his pupils contracted, and he asked in furious astonishment, "What happened? What bit you?"
Luo Zhiheng's lips twitched: "It wasn't something that bit me, it was a person. The person who kidnapped me, a very strange and terrifying person."
Mu Yunhe traced the teeth mark with his thumb, his gaze sinister: "What did that person look like?"
Luo Zhiheng shook her head and said, "I didn't see his face clearly, but I felt that his behavior was very strange and his voice was very scary. His body was very cold. As soon as he got close to me, I felt like I was frozen. My whole body was so cold that my blood couldn't flow. It was terrifying."
“Cold? Gloomy! Could it be him?” Mu Yunhe murmured with a furrowed brow, his gaze somewhat dark and unfathomable, carrying a hint of mania. He gripped Luo Zhiheng’s arm tightly and said, “Don’t go out and wander around lately. You must stay where I can see you.”
"Okay, don't be nervous."
"Did Mu Yunsheng save you? How did he save you?" Mu Yunhe suddenly asked.
"He suddenly rushed out and threw something that looked like gunpowder, which chased the person away." Luo Zhiheng told Mu Yunhe about the reason, process, and coincidence of Mu Yunsheng saving her, and then said, "I think what he said was too coincidental, and too perfect, without a single flaw. I always feel that something is not right."
Mu Yunhe sneered, "Isn't that a bit odd? If the person who kidnapped you really came from that place, then what ability does Mu Yunsheng have to save you? And Mu Yunsheng's words clearly indicate that he had prepared the reason in advance. Moreover, I feel that there is something wrong with Mu Yunsheng's soul; he is definitely connected to the person who kidnapped you. We really owe this favor unjustly, being tricked into owing a favor. Mu Yunsheng must be planning something big."
Luo Zhiheng was shocked: "Is that really the case? I had thought about it before, but I didn't dare to be sure without evidence. According to you, Mu Yunsheng did this because he knew that what he wanted to do would be suppressed by you or because he was afraid of you, so he arranged this scene in advance, with the purpose of making the two of us feel indebted to him because of this matter, so that after he makes a request to us, you can let him off the hook or help him? Is that it?"
Mu Yunhe said solemnly, "It's probably pretty close. We're just speculating right now, so we can only hold our positions and see what Mu Yunsheng is up to. Also, there's going to be a major disaster soon. I can sense it, but I don't know exactly when or what it will happen. You absolutely mustn't leave me lately. And it would be best to inform Elder Tong and the others so they can prepare. Right now, we know nothing, so we can only be on high alert and respond to any eventuality with composure."
Luo Zhiheng was also shocked and said, "We should inform them ourselves. I'm afraid someone else might leak the news."
That very evening, Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng visited the homes of several pharaohs and told them the news. They all deeply believed in the words of Mu Yunhe, the diviner, and their expressions became solemn upon hearing the news. At such a time, they could not leave their homes; it would be safer if the pharaohs had their homes under their protection.
The pharaohs secretly mobilized their troops and quickly took full control of the entire capital city. The Chess Saint was guarding the palace, but Her Majesty the Empress was in a hurry to return to deal with the matter of Emperor Xian. Because the Prince of Shi had been gone for too long and had not returned, the Empress was also worried. She left the Qin Saint in the General's Mansion to protect Luo Zhiheng and the others.
Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng did not tell Her Majesty the Empress about the impending disaster that was about to befall the Mu Dynasty. The Empress left in a hurry and did not even give instructions on how to arrange things for Luo Ningshuang.
In just one night, the seemingly calm capital city was actually seething with undercurrents.
A dark shadow arrived silently and departed just as silently. Mu Yunhe, standing by the window, suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing as he stared at the eastern night sky, his expression shifting. 17893539
In the Third Prince's residence, the Third Prince, Mu Yunsheng, was leisurely sipping tea, in a very pleasant mood. Suddenly, the entire room was plunged into darkness, the candles were blown out by the wind, the door opened and closed, and the room instantly became quiet.
Mu Yunsheng sneered inwardly, his voice gentle: "Could you please stop making it so dark every time you come? You can see everything in the dark, but I can't."
Seeing no response, Mu Yunsheng wasn't annoyed. In fact, he said in a good mood, "How did things go today? Pretty good, right? My idea was pretty good, wasn't it? Look at Luo Zhiheng's silly appearance, what else can she do besides being sharp-tongued? Did you see Mu Yunhe's reaction? He really wants to turn the entire capital upside down. Just based on Mu Yunhe's feelings for Luo Zhiheng, when that day comes, the two of them definitely won't make things too difficult for me. I am their savior."
"Are you smug? Proud?" A gloomy voice suddenly rang out, filled with sarcasm and disdain. The man's voice was exactly the same as the man's voice in the thatched hut.
Mu Yunsheng's expression turned cold, and his voice deepened: "Of course I'm happy. The plan has been a success, and we've taken another step closer to victory. Shouldn't I be happy?"