With a snap, the maid's voice was interrupted.
Luo Zhiheng waved her hand and sneered, "You've got some nerve. Since you keep saying you're working for Consort Li, then let's go see Consort Li. If you really are her person, then I won't care about you anymore. Take her to Consort Li."
Having two loyal servants escort the maid, Luo Zhiheng deliberately left the maid behind: "You protect Mu Yunhe. No matter who it is, you must not let anyone get close to him before I return, and you are not allowed to give him anything to eat or drink. If that Doctor Liang comes again, just pretend you don't know him. Just say there was an assassin just now, and you should knock Doctor Liang out as if he were an assassin. But you must be careful not to get hurt."
She drank it and smiled. Luo Zhiheng was afraid that someone would take advantage of the situation after she left, so she left a girl with superhuman strength here. With Mu Yunhe's clever mind, there shouldn't be too much of a problem.
"Don't worry, Miss, I will definitely protect your husband." The maid's face was serious and solemn, but her words made Luo Zhiheng feel a little hurt.
She didn't care about her husband, but he couldn't die, otherwise her life would be in danger.
The group arrived at Consort Li's courtyard in a grand procession. Luo Zhiheng wanted to make an example of Consort Li, to tell her not to be so smug, or she would retaliate if pushed too far.
"Oh, what wind has blown this imposing little princess here? I'm afraid my little courtyard can't even accommodate such a noble person as you." Consort Li smiled, but her voice was full of sarcasm and coldness.
She already knew that Xu Jiushen's attempt to drug him had failed because of that good-for-nothing, utterly useless scoundrel, Luo Zhiheng! They were just one step away from making Mu Yunhe never wake up again, but Luo Zhiheng ruined everything at the crucial moment, which infuriated Consort Li. And now she dared to come knocking on her door? Fine, she could teach her a lesson.
"I don't come here without a reason. Today I caught an assassin, and she kept claiming to be Consort Li's person. I just don't believe it. How could someone as magnanimous and kind as Consort Li allow such a vicious person to harm me? Consort Li, do you even know this person?" Luo Zhiheng's words immediately shut down Consort Li's words. She took the initiative and was determined to make Consort Li suffer a loss today.
Luo Zhiheng has already said so much, even if they really are her people, she can't admit it anymore, otherwise wouldn't that make her sound like a vicious woman?
"Who would be so bold as to try to assassinate you?" Consort Li exclaimed, feigning surprise.
The maid was pushed forward and saw Consort Li about to kneel down. She cried out, "Master, please save me! I didn't want to assassinate Luo Zhiheng! I was just delivering medicine to the young prince. It was Master who told me to serve the young prince there!"
This maidservant actually brought Consort Li into the picture with every word she uttered. She wasn't Consort Li's person, yet she kept begging Consort Li to save her, claiming that she was Consort Li's person. But she was being a bit too naive. Didn't she know that her few words could make Consort Li appear unrighteous and unjust?
"You audacious lowly servant! What nonsense are you spouting? I don't even know you! Why don't you shut up right now? Otherwise, even if I take pity on you, I won't be able to save you!" Consort Li's expression changed slightly, and she said sternly.
Luo Zhiheng said slowly but impolitely, "Did you hear that? Consort Li said she doesn't know you at all. You still dare to say you're Consort Li's person? I told you Consort Li would never have such a vicious and insidious servant as you. They say like master, like servant. Just by looking at you, I can tell your master is definitely not a good person either. Maybe she's even more despicable and ruthless than you! You have no sense of hierarchy, no sense of propriety, and no sense of your own status. Yet you still dare to spout such shameless nonsense."
Her veiled insults were obvious to everyone; Consort Li's expression changed, and so did the maid's. But even if they understood, what could they do? Consort Li didn't acknowledge you as her mistress, did she? Well, Luo Zhiheng hadn't insulted you. If you dared to lash out, or even show the slightest dissatisfaction, Luo Zhiheng could accuse Consort Li of having a guilty conscience.
"Consort Li, you have no idea how audacious this lowly woman is. She dares to disobey me and listen to an outsider instead, even talking back to me and physically attacking me. I just don't understand. No matter how bad I am, I am still the rightful Princess Consort of the Prince's Mansion. No matter how skilled Doctor Liang is, he is still an outsider. Why does this lowly servant listen to an outsider instead of me? Consort Li, what do you think we should do with such a ruthless and insubordinate lowly servant?" Luo Zhiheng finished speaking fiercely, then looked at Consort Li with a smile.
Consort Li nearly choked on her own breath. This Luo Zhiheng's mouth was too sharp! Of course, she knew this person was someone she had sent to monitor Mu Yunhe, but the girl's tactlessness infuriated Consort Li. Although Luo Zhiheng was hateful, she clearly couldn't let it bother her. She had to get rid of this girl, otherwise, who knew what else she might say.
"So ignorant and arrogant, daring to slander his master, he should be beaten to death. This will let the other servants know that they must not be so arrogant as to bully their master!" Consort Li was vicious in her heart, but her face showed a calm and composed demeanor. With just a few words, she ended a life.
That's ruthless enough! But Luo Zhiheng isn't a saint; she won't feel sorry or guilty. If she continues to show mercy to someone who wants to kill her, then it will be Luo Zhiheng who dies!
"Since Consort Li says so, then this person will be dealt with by Consort Li. I believe Consort Li will handle it seriously. I also ask Consort Li to strictly restrain the servants. After all, you are the one in charge now, Consort Li. You have the final say, don't you?" Luo Zhiheng pushed away the matter of murder and bloodshed, extricated herself, and waited with a smile for the outcome.
Consort Li was still smiling, but her expression was slightly sinister; clearly, she had lost again. What was wrong with this Luo Zhiheng? She was strangely unpredictable; it seemed she had never won against Luo Zhiheng!
Here's the first update. There's thunder at Huasha's place, so the next update might be a while later. Please leave comments and give me recommendation votes, okay? Huasha needs your support to stay motivated! Love you all, group kisses!
097 Emotional breakdown! The power of gentleness!
Updated: 2013-06-11 12:32:52 Word Count: 4501
Fearing that the maid might say something more, Consort Li ordered her maid to be immediately gagged and taken away to be beaten to death.
This wasn't the first time Luo Zhiheng had seen a dead person; on the contrary, she had even killed someone. In that turbulent era, she was a bandit, but she was also a woman. If she didn't become strong and tough, she would only be oppressed, and no one would sympathize with or pity her.
So beneath her cheerful facade and sharp tongue, she was actually quite cold-blooded. Even though the maid before her was beaten bloodied and bruised, completely unresponsive, Luo Zhiheng felt no pity. She wanted to live too, and she wouldn't show any mercy today. The maid's death was her most powerful weapon in declaring war on Consort Li and to everyone in the entire Prince's mansion!
She was telling everyone in the coldest of ways that she would no longer be polite to anyone who dared to provoke her, and this maid was the first one! The consequence of provoking her was death!
"Beating to death" means beating until death. The maidservant stopped breathing after receiving her 120th stroke. After her death, only a pool of indistinct flesh and blood remained, along with the mocking silence of an unburied grave.
"Throw her out to feed the dogs!" Consort Li's cold voice made her servants and confidants turn pale. Consort Li then looked at Luo Zhiheng, for the first time not daring to look at Luo Zhiheng with contempt, simply because she had just noticed Luo Zhiheng's attitude. She was not at all like a young lady from a prominent family who would be panicked, nor did she show any reluctance or fear in the face of such cruelty. Her calmness was suffocating.
"Is the young princess satisfied with this result?" Consort Li asked softly with a smile.
Luo Zhiheng merely raised an eyebrow and said with a beaming smile, "Since Consort Li handled it personally, how could Zhiheng dare to comment? Since Consort Li has already dealt with it fairly, I will not disturb her any further."
She had only taken a few steps when she stopped and turned back to Consort Li, asking seriously, "Consort Li, there is something else I think I should make clear to you. Before the Prince left, he clearly stated that I would be in charge of everything concerning the young prince. However, it seems that Consort Li has been in control of everything for so long. If it weren't for this maid's reminder today, I wouldn't have realized that this was wrong."
"Since the Prince has clearly instructed me to take charge of everything concerning the young prince, from now on, I will no longer trouble Consort Li to send people to the outer courtyard. The people Consort Li sent to serve the young prince before will be sent back to you immediately, so that you won't be short-handed. As for the young prince's meals and the affairs of our courtyard, there's no need for Consort Li to worry about them. You are already very tired from managing such a large family, and I would feel bad if you had to worry about us any further."
"What does Consort Li think?" Luo Zhiheng asked her again after finishing speaking, and added solemnly, "I am only doing this in accordance with the Prince's words. I think the Prince is the king in this manor. Who would dare to disobey the Prince? I'm afraid the Prince will find out soon. After all, the manor is the Prince's domain. If there is any disturbance, how could the Prince not know?"
Consort Li's face changed instantly! She was once again defeated by Luo Zhiheng's sharp tongue, and was even powerless to fight back!
She was initially furious at Luo Zhiheng's attempt to seize power, and she had many excuses to reject Luo Zhiheng's demands. However, Luo Zhiheng's last sentence was a killer move, leaving Consort Li utterly defeated in an instant.
She spoke stiffly, revealing little discomfort, and then Li Consort jokingly said with an air of composure, "Of course, the Prince's word is law. But you must take good care of the young prince. If anything happens to him because of your care, I will not let you off the hook."
"Of course, the young prince is my life. No one would not love their own life. Farewell!" Luo Zhiheng smiled, her eyes and brows full of arrogance and pride. She should have kept a low profile, but she wanted to make Consort Li so angry that she would have no way to express her bitterness.
Luo Zhiheng left without hesitation, and Consort Li was so angry that she almost fainted. This was too arrogant and showed her no respect at all.
"Luo Zhiheng, one day I'll make you pay!" Consort Li said through gritted teeth, then suddenly pointed angrily at her trusted head maid and said, "What's wrong with that lowly maid? Why was she exposed? How could she spout such nonsense!"
The head maidservant knelt down in fright, begging for mercy: "This servant doesn't know either! This is very strange. That girl used to seem reliable, how could she suddenly..."
Consort Li silenced the head maid. Although this was her courtyard, she couldn't be too careless. Now that the maid was dead, she could put that matter aside for now, but she was determined to teach Luo Zhiheng a lesson! Glancing around, Consort Li coldly asked, "Where is that girl, Hua Kai?"
"This servant does not know," the head maid said, shaking her head.
In a secluded corner on the other side, at the same spot and with the same opening, Hua Kai quickly slipped a note out. Unexpectedly, the contact outside asked, "Did you take that girl without permission?"
Hua Kai was taken aback, realizing that the person was referring to the maid who had just been beaten to death, so she cautiously replied, "Yes, it seems that Consort Li is about to calm down. I have to add fuel to the fire between her and Luo Zhiheng. I have sacrificed one of my mistress's hidden moves, but Luo Zhiheng has already made her move. This time, Consort Li will definitely not let Luo Zhiheng off the hook."
"You've done well. The master instructed us to make a fuss about Luo Zhiheng's dowry. Give Consort Li a heads-up beforehand and let her focus her attention on Luo Zhiheng's dowry," the sinister voice from outside the wall said.
Hua Kai's eyes flashed, and she answered softly, "Okay."
No one noticed what was happening from the hidden corner.
Fearing that rebel general. Luo Zhiheng returned to her room. Fortunately, Mu Yunhe was alright, but Mu Yunhe's mood was off. After some commotion, it was lunchtime. Luo Zhiheng's meals were never good, and few people treated her like a master, but she didn't care. No matter how bad the food was here, it was still better than when she was a bandit.
She still had the food brought to her room, but this time the food whetted Luo Zhiheng's appetite. She dismissed everyone, packed the food, and delivered it to Mu Yunhe.
"Can I eat all this?" Mu Yunhe raised an eyebrow, his expression still not very pleasant. Luo Zhiheng had only ever fed him various kinds of porridge.
Luo Zhiheng said with a smile, "Sure, let's celebrate today. Do you know that I finally got the right to manage—no, protect—you from Consort Li today? In front of so many people, Consort Li didn't dare to refuse. Besides, Consort Li was in the wrong before, and I brought up the Prince, so she had to compromise. From today onwards, I can legitimately drive people out and have the final say in this courtyard. I can take care of everything for you, so we can prevent many unexpected situations. Then we can select some reliable servants and make them loyal only to us, making our courtyard watertight so that those bastards' hands can't reach you. Aren't you happy?"
She also had a bit of a fantasy about taking over the small courtyard after defeating the enemy, and felt that there was still hope for the future. She was a pretty, energetic little girl, and just looking at her made people feel good.
Mu Yunhe let go of his inferiority complex and repression, and smiled as he took the bowl. However, when he took the bowl, he couldn't hold it and it fell onto the bed. The aroma of the food wafted past Mu Yunhe's nose, but there was no smile on his face.
Is she... really that useless? Has she become so incompetent that she can't even hold a bowl?
A huge shadow instantly filled his mind, shattering Mu Yunhe's good mood without a trace. He was like a child abandoned by the light, falling into darkness in an instant. The endless darkness extinguished the previous light in his eyes, and his whole body exuded a cold, deathly aura.
Luo Zhiheng was also taken aback, but this time she did not mock or belittle Mu Yunhe. Instead, she silently cleaned up the food, brought out her portion, and instead of handing it to him, she personally scooped up a large mouthful of food with a spoon and brought it to Mu Yunhe's lips.
For Mu Yunhe, who was already trapped in self-loathing and inferiority, Luo Zhiheng's actions at this moment were a huge humiliation!
He struggled to raise his hand, but could only knock the food in front of him to the ground. His eyes were red as he glared at Luo Zhiheng with a fierce look, and he chuckled mockingly, "Do you pity me? Or are you actually mocking me for being a useless piece of trash? You can't even lift a bowl? I don't need your sympathy or pity! Get out of here!"
Finally, Mu Yunhe even let out a low growl, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, as if any louder and his voice would break, which was heartbreaking.
Luo Zhiheng withdrew her hand that had been pushed away, pursed her lips and remained silent, but stubbornly filled her mouth with another spoonful of fragrant food and brought it to his lips. Her big, watery eyes stared straight into Mu Yunhe's angry eyes, calm and obstinate.
Mu Yunhe felt inferior, but he also desperately didn't want Luo Zhiheng to see him in such a helpless state. He knew how absurd and unreasonable he was being, but he just couldn't stand Luo Zhiheng acting like he was protecting and taking care of him. Clearly, he was the man, the one protecting others, not the one being protected!
He was still being protected by a woman he looked down on!
This is an utter disgrace!
Mu Yunhe, who was stuck in a rut, was equally terrifyingly stubborn. His eyes were bloodshot, and deep within them was an untouchable vulnerability and humility brewing from his illness. He roared in a hoarse voice, "I told you to get out of here, didn't you hear me!"
"Eat your food, and I'll get out." Luo Zhiheng knew Mu Yunhe was throwing a tantrum, but she wouldn't laugh at him for it. A man who couldn't even uphold his dignity as a man had lost more than just a little bit of reason and face; he had probably also lost that untouchable hope.
She's perceptive and wouldn't rub salt into her partner's wounds under these circumstances. She can't be the female beast who helps the male lick his wounds, but she can be a confidante in a man's arms. She doesn't need to say much, just quietly accompany him, gently give and listen.
"Are you pitying me? Look at you, you schemed so hard to marry a good-for-nothing who can't even hold onto a rice bowl! Luo Zhiheng, why did you marry me? Do you regret it now? It's too late for regrets! If I die, you will be buried with me! No matter how incompetent I am, you will have to endure it! This is your own doing!" Mu Yunhe was extremely emotional, showing signs of collapse. His roar grew louder and louder, the tearing sound ripping at Luo Zhiheng's eardrums, a chilling display of ruthlessness and...sorrow.
Men's pathetic obsession with saving face.
Luo Zhiheng sighed inwardly, but her gaze remained gentle. She fearlessly reached out and placed her hand on Mu Yunhe's violently heaving chest, gently soothing him with each breath. Gone was her usual noisy and arrogant demeanor; now she truly resembled a gentle and kind lady from a respectable family: "There's no pity. I've already said it. If you're gone, I'll accept it. I'll die with you; we'll be buried together eventually. But didn't we agree not to give up until the very last moment?"
"Mu Yunhe, believe me, as long as I'm alive, I will never give up on you, so please, don't give up on yourself either, okay?"
Her eyes held a humble plea, as if the man before her was not a useless one, but her everything. Her heart and soul revolved entirely around him; she made it clear to him that only if he lived did she, Luo Zhiheng, exist. If he died now, she, Luo Zhiheng, would be buried with him!
All the rage and humility in his chest seemed to be suppressed by her blatant confession. Mu Yunhe stared blankly at Luo Zhiheng; her small face was unusually earnest, and he found her surprisingly beautiful, her face full of trust and pleading. It actually made Mu Yunhe unable to muster any more anger. The rage in his chest vanished as if deflated.
Was he needed? Was Luo Zhiheng telling him that he, too, was someone who was needed?
Mu Yunhe murmured aloud, his voice filled with disbelief and uncertain trepidation. Luo Zhiheng heard him, and her hand, which had been resting on his chest, moved to his sweat-dampened, pale cheek, gently wiping away the sweat. She answered firmly, "Yes, you are needed. Luo Zhiheng needs you, because without you, Luo Zhiheng would die. The Princess needs you, and similarly, without you, the Princess would not live. No matter what others do in this world, these two women exist and live because of you, Mu Yunhe, and that's why they can live peacefully. What would we do without you?"
"So, Mu Yunhe, let's persevere together. This desperate path, as long as we persist, we will surely find a way out." Luo Zhiheng's voice was gentle and clear, yet it carried a powerful and moving force!
Mu Yunhe stared blankly at her, the dark death aura in his eyes gradually shattering. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, his gaze clear. He was still the same Mu Yunhe who was extremely shrewd, calm, and wise!
But the way he looked at Luo Zhiheng at this moment had undergone a complete change!
Second update! Hehe, please leave comments and vote! Group chat, muah! 10,000 words updated today.
098 A shocking theft! Outrage!
Updated: 2013-06-12 12:16:03 Word Count: 7935
Mu Yunhe's gaze at Luo Zhiheng was frighteningly bright. A thought suddenly popped into his mind: A woman plays a crucial role in a man's life! Women are just as important!
A good woman stands by her husband, son, and even family through thick and thin, through life and death, never leaving their side. A good woman offers hope, not despair, to those around her when they are in despair. A good woman demonstrates her value in many important situations!
At this moment, Luo Zhiheng was undoubtedly a good woman in Mu Yunhe's heart.
Although she is cunning, sometimes infuriating, and occasionally difficult and arrogant, this ever-changing woman cannot hide the wisdom and nobility in her bones at this moment.