Luo Zhiheng finally let out a long breath after leaving the main hall. Sitting in her family's carriage, which had already arrived, she carefully reviewed the day's events. It was something to be happy about; she had both defeated Physician Liang and successfully seized power from Consort Li. Now, it would be much easier for her to do whatever she wanted. As for offending the Li family, she sneered. She had already offended them long ago; what use was there now? She would simply face whatever tricks the Li family had up their sleeves.
With the same key point in mind, Luo Zhiheng was in a great mood and instructed, "Go to the most famous pastry shop on Yongfu Street." She wanted to buy some delicious food for her family to celebrate their success.
Carefully selecting pastries at the pastry shop, Qi Wan's favorite jujube paste, buy as much as you want, Xiao Xizi's favorite glutinous rice cake, the wet nurse's favorite osmanthus cake, Mu Yunhe... No pastries you like?
Buying things for her beloved family was always a happy and joyful thing, and she spent the money with a beaming smile. But suddenly, her smile vanished. A storyteller was performing in the teahouse across the street, occasionally eliciting shouts, gasps, and angry curses, and amidst the curses, she heard her own name!
"Speaking of Luo Zhiheng, she's actually a very scheming person! She bullied her own younger sister since childhood, and later, unable to bear seeing her sister marry before her and marry well, she actually plotted against her sister, having her impersonate her and marry the man who should have been her brother-in-law!" The storyteller spoke with great enthusiasm, his brows furrowed with intense emotion, which was one of disdain!
"Ah! Is that really true? Then Luo Zhiheng deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces. How could she bear to bully her own sister since she was a child? And then steal her sister's fiancé when she grew up?" someone said angrily.
"May I ask who that husband is?" asked one of the travelers from out of town, who was stopping over.
The storyteller immediately said, "That person is the most noble person in the world today, the only legitimate son of Prince Mu, Prince Mu Yunhe! This young man is like a god descended to earth, with an imposing presence, elegant speech and behavior, noble manners, and an appearance that is absolutely stunning! He is simply a celestial being! In addition, given the prince's illustrious status, Luo Zhiheng was naturally furious and severely injured the second young lady of the Luo family before marrying her. She only realized she had married the wrong person after the wedding ceremony, which shows how vicious and treacherous Luo Zhiheng is."
"So that's how it is. I never imagined there could be such wicked people in this world. Poor Miss Luo." The man shook his head and sighed. 14.
"It's more than just a pity! Miss Luo is kind-hearted. After Luo Zhiheng stole her good match, she wasn't satisfied and was jealous of Miss Luo's talent. She even participated in the First Talent Competition and won round after round through all sorts of despicable means. The despicable methods she used were simply outrageous! Later, when Miss Luo and Luo Zhiheng faced off, Miss Luo earnestly said that she didn't want the sisters to compete. But Luo Zhiheng was aggressive and not only refused to back down but also scolded Miss Luo. What's most hateful is that she even used this opportunity to force Miss Luo to make a bet with her, wanting to make Miss Luo lose everything! And the result was astonishing. Luo Zhiheng actually won against Miss Luo, who had been the champion for nine consecutive years! Don't you all think this is suspicious?" The young storyteller's words were very inflammatory.
Instantly, shouts erupted throughout the teahouse, all of them condemning Luo Zhiheng!
"Yes, Miss Luo has been the champion for nine consecutive years. It's impossible that she would lose to a notorious, lazy, and incompetent girl. Could there be some foul play involved?"
"And Miss Luo Er performed exceptionally well this time; every piece she sang was heavenly. There's no reason she should have lost to Luo Zhiheng." 15882382
"In other words, Luo Zhiheng won in the end, but she wouldn't have won if she hadn't used such a sensational and unconventional method. She used crooked and evil tricks, which is really shameful."
"No! I think it's possible that Miss Luo Er is too kind-hearted and couldn't bear to lose to her own sister, fearing it would upset Luo Zhiheng, so she deliberately lost to Luo Zhiheng?"
The crowd discussed it animatedly, but the last explanation was a revelation, and it suddenly felt like the answer had been found!
Although Luo Ningshuang didn't explicitly say she could withdraw from the competition during the finals, she did say she didn't want the sisters to compete and didn't want to put her older sister in a difficult position. However, Luo Zhiheng explicitly told Luo Ningshuang to withdraw voluntarily. So, Luo Ningshuang must have withdrawn voluntarily just to please her selfish older sister, Luo Zhiheng?
"That must be it! Miss Luo is so kind and talented. Could there be such a perfect woman in the world? Heaven, why should such a good woman be treated so unfairly?" The storyteller sighed with a look of sudden realization, his heart aching and regretting.
The crowd was also swept up in the emotions, and everyone wanted nothing more than to tear Luo Zhiheng to pieces.
"No, I must hurry back and tell my wife that she can't be allowed to like Luo Zhiheng's performance anymore. It's all fake. Only a woman of noble character and kind heart like Miss Luo should be admired!" After saying this, the storyteller turned and left.
After he said that, everyone scattered, shouting that they would go home and tell their families.
In this way, before long, the talk in this teahouse today will probably spread throughout the entire capital!
Another storm is brewing, and this time, it will be another test for Luo Zhiheng.
Rumors once again overwhelmingly targeted Luo Ningshuang, attacking Luo Zhiheng. Luo Ningshuang was once again the victim, the object of sympathy. Luo Zhiheng, too, was once again condemned and infamous! Everything had somehow become a stepping stone to praise Luo Ningshuang's virtues and humility!
Luo Zhiheng would never believe there wasn't something fishy going on!
Luo Zhiheng stood a dozen steps away from the teahouse, quietly listening to the discussions inside, and watching the show in peace!
Narrowing her eyes, a ruthless smile curled at the corner of her lips. She coldly paid the money, took the pastries, and got into the carriage. She instructed the nanny to follow the storyteller and find out who he was, who he was in contact with, and what his purpose was in inciting everyone to target Luo Zhiheng. It would be best to follow the clues and catch the person behind the storyteller!
She then told the driver to turn around and head straight for the General's Mansion!
Since Luo Ningshuang is so impatient, then she might as well take back all the dowry in advance, and not let her dowry stay in the General's Mansion for even a day longer.
Luo Zhiheng closed her eyes to rest, and soon arrived at the General's Mansion. But before she could get off the carriage, the coachman's urgent voice rang out: "Your Highness, don't get off! Ah!"
"What's going on?" Luo Zhiheng called out from inside the carriage, but the only response was a strange groan and a series of clattering sounds. Sensing something was wrong, she immediately gripped the cane hidden at her waist, pressed herself against the carriage wall, and peeked out through the curtain. After just one glance, she immediately lowered the curtain, her face grim.
Outside the carriage, a large group of people were covering the driver's mouth and beating him up!
Luo Zhiheng was filled with suspicion and uncertainty when, at that moment, the person outside spoke: "Throw this person aside. See if that slut Luo Zhiheng is inside!"
"There's no mistake, this is definitely the carriage of Prince Mu's residence." Someone shouted again, and then someone walked over, grabbed the carriage curtain, and the moment that person's eyes met those of Luo Zhiheng, who was sitting calmly in the carriage, his pupils flashed with intense amazement and lewd thoughts!
Luo Zhiheng smiled gently, seemingly oblivious to the man's sinister gaze. Her smile immediately made the man before him dizzy; it took him a while to react before he turned and shouted excitedly, "It's Luo Zhiheng! Quick, grab her!"
After shouting, the man climbed onto the carriage first, flung open the curtain, and grinned as he stepped inside. But he froze after taking one step, his smile freezing on his face.
Luo Zhiheng remained seated, but now held a silver cane in her hand. She calmly pressed it against the man's bent-over throat and coldly said, "If you don't want to die, get out!"
It's past midnight! Haha, all the extra chapters have been made up, my darlings! 16,000 words today, did you enjoy it? Come leave a comment! Please give me recommendation votes, comments, monthly tickets, and group kisses!
157. A dowry is required! Mu Yunhe has been targeted!
Updated: 2013-07-07 12:30:41 Word Count: 7740
The man's throat was locked, and a chilling sensation swept through his body. He stared blankly, frozen in terror at the elegantly dressed woman before him!
Adorned in magnificent golden robes, her hairpins gleaming like golden feathers, her beauty was astonishing, yet her brows held a terrifyingly stern and ruthless air. She gripped a silver cane, its color reminiscent of human bone, exuding an aura of absolute power and command over a vast army.
Forced to retreat, the man was completely subdued by Luo Zhiheng's overwhelming aura. Outside, the people continued their tirade, cursing and urging, "Are you dreaming? Hurry up and go in and drag this slut out!"
When the man finally bent down and exited the carriage, and when the carriage curtain finally fell, Luo Zhiheng withdrew her cane and slammed it to the ground with a thud, as if holding a steel knife in front of her. She sat upright, holding the cane, waiting for the people behind her to enter.
A commotion broke out outside. Someone pushed the man off the carriage and climbed back up, rushing into the carriage in the same manner. This time, Luo Zhiheng did not use her cane to stop them.
With a muffled groan, the people who were still scrambling into the carriage like zombies were knocked off the carriage by the people who suddenly came back out. The crowd became wary, looking at the carriage with suspicion and uncertainty.
"Luo Zhiheng, you dare to come to the General's Mansion again? You must be here to bully Miss Luo the Second again! You vixen, we won't let you continue to bully Miss Luo the Second. You'd better get out of here right now, or don't think that just because you won the first beauty pageant, we won't dare to do anything to you. Even if you have the Little Prince backing you up, Miss Luo the Second is right. You've gone too far and will be punished by heaven!" Someone shouted from outside the carriage, arrogant and assertive, immediately concluding that Luo Zhiheng was guilty.
Luo Zhiheng licked her lips, grinning broadly. The shill Luo Ningshuang had hired was certainly dedicated. But it also made her realize she wouldn't underestimate Luo Ningshuang anymore. The meticulous and detailed planning, luring her in step by step, putting her at a disadvantage at every turn, and condemning her beforehand—if it were the impulsive Luo Zhiheng of the past, she'd probably be covered in an indelible stench by now.
"How did you know I would be here? And how did you know I came to bully your second young lady? This is my maternal home. Don't I even have the right to return to my own home?" Luo Zhiheng's calm and collected voice came from the carriage.
A group of people fell silent for a moment, then a righteous voice spoke up loudly: "Since you're already married, why have you come home time and time again? The news of you bullying Miss Luo has spread throughout the streets and alleys. Everyone knows that your victory in the First Talent Competition wasn't well-deserved, but rather Miss Luo deliberately let you win because you're her older sister. And what did you do? You actually used Miss Luo's kindness to persecute her, and you even schemed to leave her with nothing. You knew all along that Miss Luo would give up her dowry for you; you're too vicious!"
"Yes! How can such a vicious person be qualified to become the Princess Consort of the Mu Prince's Mansion? Moreover, her position is illegitimate and improper. She should be kicked out and the position of Princess Consort should be returned to Miss Luo the Second!" People began to be indignant and angrily condemned Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng remained unmoved, sitting firmly on her back. From the side, her heroic eyebrows were slightly raised like a sharp blade, already carrying a fierce aura, just waiting to be drawn and unleashed!
"Arrest her and send her to the Ministry of Justice! Miss Luo is merciful. We can't let justice prevail over the wicked anymore. Let's seek justice for Miss Luo! Even if Miss Luo can no longer marry Prince Mu, we can't let that treacherous Luo Zhiheng become a princess. She's unworthy, she has no right!" someone roared. The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and rushed towards Luo Zhiheng's carriage once again.
Luo Zhiheng narrowed her eyes. Almost the instant the carriage curtain was lifted, she struck with lightning speed, her cane flashing out. A flash of white light appeared, and the cane struck the head of the person who had entered. The person screamed and fell backward, followed by another tumble of people and horses. People who had fallen beside the carriage piled up in a heap. Before they could even stand up, the carriage curtain was slowly lifted from the inside.
Golden shoe tips appeared before everyone's eyes, and a magnificent outfit was displayed. The woman who slowly walked out with a bent back finally came into full view.
As she slowly straightened up, her cool gaze swept across her surroundings, finally taking in the situation before her. There were dozens of people gathered here, all there to protect Luo Ning Shuang?
"If I'm not qualified, then who is? You can nominate someone, and I, Luo Zhiheng, will have a match with her, how about that? But if the person you're talking about is Luo Ningshuang, then there's no need to say more. In my eyes, she has already lost miserably! She no longer has any right to compete with me." Luo Zhiheng spoke confidently, her contemptuous tone undisguised, her arrogance infuriating.
However, no one in the room refuted Luo Zhiheng's words at this moment. It was not hard to see that in their eyes, Luo Zhiheng was dazzling and radiant. Her aura and refinement were truly comparable to that of the always gentle and tender Luo Ningshuang.
Although they are twin sisters, the moment Luo Zhiheng suddenly appeared on the carriage, the difference between them was immediately obvious!
Luo Zhiheng seemed to be born to stand at a high place. Whether she looked down or raised her head, no one around her could compare to her.
"No one else has the right to interfere in the matter between me and Luo Ningshuang! But I can tell you one thing very clearly: if you dare to make any rash moves today, don't blame me, Luo Zhiheng, for killing without blinking an eye!" Her fierce gaze swept over the people in front of her. She was not afraid at all, but instead used her extremely intimidating gaze to intimidate everyone.
Luo Zhiheng practically stepped over the people clinging to the carriage to get off, standing almost in opposition to them. She moved forward step by step, while the men retreated step by step, none daring to resist her. When the men reached the gates of the General's Mansion, they had nowhere left to go and finally had to stop.
"Luo Zhiheng, do you really think no one knows about all the bad things you've done? You didn't win this victory through your own true talent and ability, and you'll never be able to beat Miss Luo the Second!" someone shouted.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly burst into laughter, her sarcasm undisguised: "Could Luo Ningshuang be any more disgusting? To let someone praise her like that, isn't she afraid of being struck by lightning? But I also admire her self-deception. If you can't handle losing, don't play the game. Losing and then resorting to all these underhanded schemes, is that interesting? Whether I, Luo Zhiheng, am truly talented or not is none of your business. Now, all of you, get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, even if you were sent by Luo Ningshuang, I won't be polite!"
"You're talking nonsense!" someone shouted angrily. "Miss Luo is pure and kind, how could she do such a despicable thing? You, Luo Zhiheng, do this kind of thing all the time, don't you? You're just crying wolf!"
Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow and laughed sinisterly, "Pure and innocent? For a group of men like you to stand in front of the General's Mansion and protect her like this, only a fool would believe that she is pure and innocent. In the hearts of you men who are protecting Luo Ningshuang like this, haven't you ever had any fantasies? I'm afraid that among you, she is no longer pure and innocent!"
Silence fell again. Luo Zhiheng's words were sharp and bold, yet the group of men couldn't refute her. Who would dare to bring up such a thing?
Luo Zhiheng's patience ran out, and she finally stepped forward. But the group of men not only refused to move aside, but also pushed her fiercely. Luo Zhiheng also became ruthless, grabbed the man's hand, pinched it at the three-inch mark, and twisted it with force. With a crack, the man screamed in pain as Luo Zhiheng had broken his wrist.
"Then this is what will happen!" Luo Zhiheng coldly swept her eyes across the room, forcefully pushed the man away, and took another step forward.
The group of people were still stunned and hadn't reacted when they rushed towards Luo Zhiheng like madmen. Luo Zhiheng had long been prepared for a big fight. Since these people were courting death, she didn't mind going on a killing spree!
She darted among the men like a nimble snake, her attacks anything but gentle. Every move she made resulted in injury or death; her ruthless strikes were accompanied by constant screams. A group of grown men were utterly defeated by a single woman, their former bravado shattered, and they began to flee like a swarm of headless flies.
But since Luo Zhiheng had already made her move, she couldn't leave any potential threats behind. So she didn't let any of them go. She caught those who tried to escape, broke their hand bones, pulled up those who were pretending to be dead, dislocated their arms, and knocked down and crushed the ankles of those who attacked!
She moved swiftly, like a golden ray of light, and more and more people fell around her, their shrill screams carrying a powerful resentment that soared to the heavens!
Finally, her hand, like an eagle's claw, reached straight for the man's neck. This was the man who had been cursing her the most earlier. The instant her hand gripped the man's throat, a soft yet terrified voice suddenly rang out: "Sister, no! Don't hurt them!"
Luo Zhiheng's pupils flashed coldly, her sharp gaze striking Luo Ningshuang, who had suddenly appeared at the door. A mocking, ruthless smile played on her lips as she said, "Finally decided to come out? Too bad your mercy this time is too late!"
Before she finished speaking, a snapping sound rang out. Luo Zhiheng grabbed the man's jaw with one hand, dislocating his chin. She then kicked him to the ground, stepping on his head and laughing, "I've dislocated your jaw. Let's see how you curse people now. Next time, open your eyes wide and take a good look. The woman you consider innocent and kind only stood up to stop you when you were all wiped out. If you're not stupid, you should know that not everyone who wears sheep's clothing is a sheep."
"What do you mean by that, sister? How did I offend you? Didn't you already win first place? Why are you still so resentful? They are all innocent people. Why did you use such cruel methods to deal with them?" Luo Ningshuang had never spoken so loudly before, but today she seemed genuinely angry. She wasn't wearing a veil, and the expression on her face, which was almost identical to Luo Zhiheng's, was gentle and kind. There were tears in her eyes, making her look extremely pure and lovely.
Luo Ningshuang is an unblemished, peerless spirit, pure and clear as water, making the world feel fresher to anyone who sees her. But Luo Zhiheng often appears cynical and irreverent, both righteous and wicked. Even with the exact same face, Luo Zhiheng's roguish and ever-changing temperament is something no one can imitate.
When the two sisters are placed together, the difference in their abilities immediately becomes apparent.
But Luo Zhiheng loathed Luo Ningshuang. She said sarcastically, "Don't put on your act of great compassion in front of me. Don't you find it tiring? I earned my championship myself, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. And you, Luo Ningshuang, should know very well that if I hear any more ambiguous words from you accusing me of being modest in my victory, do you believe I'll break your jaw?"
Luo Ningshuang's pupils constricted, and her expression became even more aggrieved: "Yes, I know I was wrong, but sister, why did you do such a thing in front of the General's Mansion? What did they do to offend you? What you did will also affect Father and Brother."
Seeing the man sprawled on the ground, clutching his wounds and screaming in agony, Luo Ningshuang was horrified. She had been far too careless! She thought that bringing these men would be enough to embarrass Luo Zhiheng, even forcing her to divorce Mu Yunhe. But she was too optimistic, and she never expected Luo Zhiheng to be so powerful! A group of grown men couldn't even touch Luo Zhiheng; instead, Luo Zhiheng dislocated their arms and legs!
They're a bunch of cowards! If she had known, she should have hired a group of people with martial arts skills to deal with Luo Zhiheng!
Despite her inner resentment, Luo Ningshuang's face showed only sympathy and pity. She seemed unable to bear looking at the group of people any longer, and tears were about to fall from her eyes: "Sister, you should apologize to these people. I'll have someone give them some money. It's better than them spreading rumors about you."
Luo Zhiheng almost vomited! Doesn't Luo Ningshuang find it disgusting to act so hypocritically and fake?
"Enough with the nonsense. I only came here for that bet, and now you've lost. You signed the bet willingly, and it's all written down in black and white. Hand over my dowry now," Luo Zhiheng said bluntly. Wasn't Luo Ningshuang's constant scheming just an attempt to steal the dowry? She was determined to take it all back, leaving Luo Ningshuang with nothing. 14.
Luo Ningshuang's face darkened: "Sister, why are you pressuring me like this? We're sisters! When have I ever broken a promise to you? I promised to give you my dowry, and I will. Did you cause such a scene at our doorstep today just to get your dowry back?"
"You're wrong! It's true I'm here to take back my dowry, but I'm taking back what belongs to me. Those things have nothing to do with you, and you can't use words like 'give it to me' to talk to me. You don't have that right! Those are things my mother left me," Luo Zhiheng rebuked mercilessly.
A surge of intense hatred welled up in Luo Ningshuang's heart. What Luo Zhiheng said was true, and she was denied the right to the dowry simply because she was the daughter. How could she accept this? But what could she do now? She had originally thought that she could get these people to stop Luo Zhiheng, thus keeping Luo Zhiheng busy and preventing her from focusing on the dowry. This would give her time to come up with a solution, at least a clever substitution to replace the dowry. But before she could even make any choices, Luo Zhiheng arrived.
Damn it! Luo Zhiheng should die! She was too kind when she was a child, she didn't kill her directly! If Luo Zhiheng had died when she was a child, there wouldn't be so much trouble now.
"What? You're not going to go back on your word, are you? Regretting it? Trying to stop me from getting what's mine back? Luo Ningshuang, if you dare not return it to me today, do you believe I'll drag you before the Emperor? With this bet in my hand, you're guaranteed to lose! Your kind, gentle, and benevolent reputation will be tarnished." Luo Zhiheng threw out a harsh remark, then deliberately provoked, "Oh, you don't know, do you? This morning I just went to the palace to see the Emperor, and she really likes me."
"What?" Luo Ning Shuang was genuinely shocked!
She is a reborn person, and in this life she has been scheming at every step, yet she has never met the Emperor. Luo Zhiheng also didn't meet the Emperor at this time in her previous life. How come she has such a great opportunity in this life? Has Luo Zhiheng's other fates also been changed? What other changes will occur in Luo Zhiheng's fate in the future?
No! Absolutely not! Luo Zhiheng's fate must be controlled by Luo Ningshuang! She's already ruined Luo Zhiheng's reputation, hasn't she? She's already prevented Luo Zhiheng from marrying Xia Beisong, hasn't she? She's already made Luo Zhiheng suffer the consequences of being a slut forced to marry a good-for-nothing and take the blame for being a jinx, hasn't she? So she can definitely make Luo Zhiheng's life miserable!