"In this vast world, there are not many things one can change in life. But if one can guard one's heart, like you and Luo Zhiheng, and strive to change what one can change, even if one's life is mediocre, how can it not be a kind of enlightenment?" The words of the old man from the Tong family were full of profound meaning, like an ancient bell slowly tolling in the chaotic world, knocking open a dark corner that the King had always been troubled by.
The Prince's troubled expression gradually cleared, and his handsome face regained its former radiance. He smiled and said, "Thank you for the guidance of the Elder of the Tong family. Rest assured, I will safely deliver Luo Zhiheng to the Mu Prince's residence. However, I want to clarify something. It might hurt the feelings between this young couple, I wonder..."
"Please do as you wish," the old man from the Tong family said, and then fell silent.
The King chuckled, picked up Luo Zhiheng and put her in the carriage. He placed her on the seat and observed her disheveled appearance. He couldn't bear it at all, but the more he couldn't bear it, the happier he became: "I really look forward to Mu Yunhe's reaction when he sees you like this."
"My lord, I have already sent men to follow that man. They will surely track him to his lair." Madam Wang appeared in the carriage like a ghost.
The Prince snorted and said lazily, "Have someone keep a close eye on her. I need to know who's behind this trouble with Luo Zhiheng. My important business is imminent, and someone dares to cause me trouble at this time. Find out who it is and report back immediately. I'll deal with them personally!"
"Yes, madam!" Madam Wang looked at Luo Zhiheng's appearance, with bloodstains on her body, and her face changed: "Master! How could this happen? That person didn't even have time to do anything, did he?"
"Why are you so nervous? I'm going to watch the show later. This girl is really willing to risk her life for that sickly Mu Yunhe. I don't believe there is any true love in this world. I want to see if Mu Yunhe is worth Luo Zhiheng's sacrifice. Let Mu Yunhe see a wife who has been clearly hurt. I want to see if worldly love is really so unbreakable. I'm so curious whether this girl's virginity can break the bond between her and Mu Yunhe." The king's expectant tone sounded like that of an innocent seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, which was extremely strange.
Madam Wang's face twitched as she said dryly, "Mu Yunhe's body really can't take any more strain. Why don't you wait until he's feeling better before testing him? Otherwise, if Mu Yunhe dies from too much stimulation, Luo Zhiheng will definitely not help you win the title of the best in the world anymore."
The king's eyes were filled with evil, and he said viciously, "If that's the case, then what if I don't want the reward? The world will have one more hypocritical and fickle man. It's not worth it for Luo Zhiheng to follow such a man. Even if Mu Yunhe doesn't die, I will personally give him a death sentence. A promiscuous and hypocritical man is useless to keep alive!"
The man's eyes darted around, and Lady Wang shuddered, daring not to speak further.
"You will personally drive her back to the Mu Prince's residence. Remember not to let anyone else see her like this. Only Mu Yunhe needs to see her." After saying this, the Prince disappeared like the wind.
Helpless, Madam Wang could only obey orders. Glancing at the still unconscious and bewildered Luo Zhiheng, Madam Wang sighed. Why was this child destined for misfortune? She had run into a strange and willful devil. Their prince was an old monster with a childlike heart and a stubborn nature. Luo Zhiheng, you'd better pray for good fortune.
The carriage slowly entered the capital. The wide road was deserted, and the once bustling streets were now empty. With heavy rain approaching, the oppressive weather made it hard to breathe.
As the carriage slowly entered the main street of the Mu Prince's Mansion, the rotting carcasses of horses lay untreated in front of the mansion, while Mu Yunhe and his two companions struggled to walk forward. They had just left the mansion and hadn't yet boarded the carriage.
"Master! Look over there! A carriage is coming! Is it the Lady or the Emperor returning?" Xiao Xizi, with her sharp eyes, spotted the silhouette gradually appearing in the dust and shouted excitedly.
Mu Yunhe looked up sharply, squinting at the increasingly clear figure until he could see the driver. Only then did Mu Yunhe's clenched heart relax slightly, but before a smile could even appear in his eyes, a deafening clap of thunder crashed down, followed by a flash of lightning, striking Mu Yunhe's heart like a thunderbolt. The gale made him stagger.
My heart was suddenly thrown off its rhythm by the raging wind.
He looked up at the menacing sky, and a surge of despair crept into his eyes. The overwhelming terror in his chest made it impossible for him to breathe properly. Looking hopelessly at the seemingly endless distance, could he still hold on, walk that path, and see Ah Heng...?
Madam Wang alighted from the carriage and said to Mu Yunhe expressionlessly, "I've brought Miss Luo back to you. Please go and see for yourself first."
These words made Mu Yunhe's face tighten instantly. He didn't use Xiao Xizi's support, nor did he wave away his mother's anxious follow. He stumbled towards the carriage, his pace slow and heavy, but his steps were exceptionally firm.
With a deafening roar, the torrential rain poured down, instantly soaking the ground. The rainwater carved deep puddles into the sand and gravel, and each droplet formed a tiny, insignificant mudslide. But this seemingly insignificant force was enough to block Mu Yunhe's path. 147.
With a thud, Mu Yunhe's tall body fell unexpectedly into the rain and mud. He didn't even have the strength to groan. Behind him came screams and worries, all held back by Madam Wang. Mu Yunhe felt as if the fall had almost suffocated him, but his Aheng was right in front of him. The rain couldn't stop him from running towards Aheng, the gale couldn't stop him from rushing towards Aheng, nothing could stop his steps toward Aheng!
The relentless rain lashed at Mu Yunhe's body and face, and sand and pebbles might have even gotten into his eyes, otherwise the pain wouldn't have been so sharp! But he wasn't afraid, Ah Heng was just ahead. As long as he found Ah Heng, as long as he saw Ah Heng, she would soothe all his pain!
173. A feeling in the rain is deeper than the sea!
Updated: 2013-07-14 09:52:52 Word Count: 3343
Seeing Luo Zhiheng being tossed aside, the handsome prince knew that between the murderer and Luo Zhiheng, she was naturally more important. Without hesitation, he rushed towards Luo Zhiheng, angrily demanding, "Why aren't you helping?"
Silence remained in the air. Even the old man who claimed to be from the Tong family didn't speak, as if Luo Zhiheng's character was no big deal in the hands of a man. However, even if the prince was too good a person, and too trusted by you all, and you're abandoning Luo Zhiheng, could you at least not just disappear en masse? Why don't you go after that guy?
The prince was extremely annoyed. He nimbly caught Luo Zhiheng and held her soft, tender body in his arms, but his face was extremely ugly. He felt as if he was holding a hot potato. However, his gaze fell openly on Luo Zhiheng, without a trace of affection or desire in his eyes, only deep irritation.
"You bunch of bastards! If you're protecting her, why don't you come out? I'm a man, aren't you afraid I'll take advantage of her?" the prince sneered.
A hush fell over the air. Then, Old Master Tong, who had some connection with Luo Zhiheng, had to speak up: "Please trouble Your Highness to take her home. We are just protecting her in secret. Please don't tell anyone, Your Highness. Luo Zhiheng is unaware of this."
The Emperor and the Pharaohs dispatched their family's hidden elites for the sake of the cane. These old men were all bloodlines from various powerful families, but their protection of Luo Zhiheng was a last resort; their true concern was the cane itself. They had to ensure the cane's safety, and while they also needed to protect Luo Zhiheng, she was ultimately less important! This is why they were delayed in appearing and then disappeared again after Luo Zhiheng was out of danger. Their existence was not something outsiders needed to know. 15898437
As soon as the old man spoke, the handsome prince's expression immediately turned serious, and his voice was filled with coldness: "Do you know me?"
"Hahaha! The infamous Emperor Xian, though I have never seen him in person, I have heard of him many times. The Prince of Shi has the art of preserving his youth, and looks as young as twenty, but this Luo Zhiheng is about the same age as your daughter. How could you possibly harm such a young child? Others may not know, but I have heard a little about you. You are different from Emperor Xian. Emperor Xian was ruthless and heartless, while Prince Shi is dissolute and amorous. If Prince Heng were still alive..." The old man of the Tong family stopped abruptly, because a layer of frenzied killing intent began to gather around Prince Shi's body.
"If Prince Heng were still alive, he would be the gentlest and kindest person in the world. It's just a pity that royal families have always been fickle, and there is no kinship to speak of in the royal family!" Prince Shi's frivolous eyes were filled with sadness and sorrow, as well as an untouchable regret.
The man's eyes were empty. "Emperor Xian, peerless twins. That's a lie. If I had a choice, I would rather be with Prince Heng than be placed alongside that madman Emperor Xian, forever associated with him by the world." Standing in the approaching storm, the Emperor's eyes were filled with sorrow and hatred. He looked ironically at Luo Zhiheng in his arms and murmured, "Perhaps this is the tragedy and fate of twins. One must be ruthlessly suppressed and abandoned so that the other can achieve glory and honor. How am I any different from Luo Ningshuang?"
"Of course it's different! Your status is incomparable to Luo Ningshuang's. Luo Zhiheng's nobility has nothing to do with anything else since she married Mu Yunhe. She has walked step by step to where she is today, into Mu Yunhe's life, and gained the Emperor's attention. Luo Ningshuang is self-pitying and always feels that the heavens are so unfair to her. Although I only saw her once in the finals, what I saw in her eyes was not the magnanimity and benevolence of Your Highness, but a kind of sinister ruthlessness like that of Emperor Xian."
"In this vast world, there are not many things one can change in life. But if one can guard one's heart, like you and Luo Zhiheng, and strive to change what one can change, even if one's life is mediocre, how can it not be a kind of enlightenment?" The words of the old man from the Tong family were full of profound meaning, like an ancient bell slowly tolling in the chaotic world, knocking open a dark corner that the King had always been troubled by.
The Prince's troubled expression gradually cleared, and his handsome face regained its former radiance. He smiled and said, "Thank you for the guidance of the Elder of the Tong family. Rest assured, I will safely deliver Luo Zhiheng to the Mu Prince's residence. However, I want to clarify something. It might hurt the feelings between this young couple, I wonder..."
"Please do as you wish," the old man from the Tong family said, and then fell silent.
The King chuckled, picked up Luo Zhiheng and put her in the carriage. He placed her on the seat and observed her disheveled appearance. He couldn't bear it at all, but the more he couldn't bear it, the happier he became: "I really look forward to Mu Yunhe's reaction when he sees you like this."
"My lord, I have already sent men to follow that man. They will surely track him to his lair." Madam Wang appeared in the carriage like a ghost.
The Prince snorted and said lazily, "Have someone keep a close eye on her. I need to know who's behind this trouble with Luo Zhiheng. My important business is imminent, and someone dares to cause me trouble at this time. Find out who it is and report back immediately. I'll deal with them personally!"
"Yes, madam!" Madam Wang looked at Luo Zhiheng's appearance, with bloodstains on her body, and her face changed: "Master! How could this happen? That person didn't even have time to do anything, did he?"
"Why are you so nervous? I'm going to watch the show later. This girl is really willing to risk her life for that sickly Mu Yunhe. I don't believe there is any true love in this world. I want to see if Mu Yunhe is worth Luo Zhiheng's sacrifice. Let Mu Yunhe see a wife who has been clearly hurt. I want to see if worldly love is really so unbreakable. I'm so curious whether this girl's virginity can break the bond between her and Mu Yunhe." The king's expectant tone sounded like that of an innocent seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, which was extremely strange.
Madam Wang's face twitched as she said dryly, "Mu Yunhe's body really can't take any more strain. Why don't you wait until he's feeling better before testing him? Otherwise, if Mu Yunhe dies from too much stimulation, Luo Zhiheng will definitely not help you win the title of the best in the world anymore."
The king's eyes were filled with evil, and he said viciously, "If that's the case, then what if I don't want the reward? The world will have one more hypocritical and fickle man. It's not worth it for Luo Zhiheng to follow such a man. Even if Mu Yunhe doesn't die, I will personally give him a death sentence. A promiscuous and hypocritical man is useless to keep alive!"
Madam Wang trembled and dared not speak again.
"You will personally drive her back to the Mu Prince's residence. Remember not to let anyone else see her like this. Only Mu Yunhe needs to see her." After saying this, the Prince disappeared like the wind.
Lady Wang had no choice but to obey. She glanced at the still unconscious and bewildered Luo Zhiheng and sighed. This child was destined for misfortune; she'd run into such a strange and willful devil. Their prince, on the other hand, was a stubborn old monster with a childlike heart. Luo Zhiheng, you'd better pray for good fortune. 14.
The carriage slowly entered the capital. The wide road was deserted, and the once bustling streets were now empty. With heavy rain approaching, the oppressive weather made it hard to breathe.
As the carriage slowly entered the main street of the Mu Prince's Mansion, the rotting carcasses of horses lay untreated in front of the mansion, while Mu Yunhe and his two companions struggled to walk forward. They had just left the mansion and hadn't yet boarded the carriage.
"Master! Look over there! A carriage is coming! Is it the Lady or the Emperor returning?" Xiao Xizi, with her sharp eyes, spotted the silhouette gradually appearing in the dust and shouted excitedly.
Mu Yunhe looked up sharply, squinting at the increasingly clear figure until he could see the driver. Only then did Mu Yunhe's clenched heart relax slightly, but before a smile could even appear in his eyes, a deafening clap of thunder crashed down, followed by a flash of lightning, striking Mu Yunhe's heart like a thunderbolt. The gale made him stagger.
My heart was suddenly thrown off its rhythm by the raging wind.
He looked up at the menacing sky, and a surge of despair crept into his eyes. The overwhelming terror in his chest made it impossible for him to breathe properly. Looking hopelessly at the seemingly endless distance, could he still hold on, walk that path, and see Ah Heng...?
Madam Wang alighted from the carriage and said to Mu Yunhe expressionlessly, "I've brought Miss Luo back to you. Please go and see for yourself first."
These words made Mu Yunhe's face tighten instantly. He didn't use Xiao Xizi's support, nor did he wave away his mother's anxious follow. He stumbled towards the carriage, his pace slow and heavy, but his steps were exceptionally firm.
With a deafening roar, the torrential rain poured down, instantly soaking the ground. The rainwater carved deep puddles into the sand and gravel, and each droplet formed a tiny, insignificant mudslide. But this seemingly insignificant force was enough to block Mu Yunhe's path.
With a thud, Mu Yunhe's tall body fell unexpectedly into the rain and mud. He didn't even have the strength to groan. Behind him came screams and worries, all held back by Madam Wang. Mu Yunhe felt as if the fall had almost suffocated him, but his Aheng was right in front of him. The rain couldn't stop him from running towards Aheng, the gale couldn't stop him from rushing towards Aheng, nothing could stop his steps toward Aheng!
The relentless rain lashed at Mu Yunhe's body and face, and sand and pebbles might have even gotten into his eyes, otherwise the pain wouldn't have been so sharp! But he wasn't afraid, Ah Heng was just ahead. As long as he found Ah Heng, as long as he saw Ah Heng, she would soothe all his pain!
Bonus chapter is here! Hooray! I'll keep working hard on Huasha tomorrow. Please leave lots of comments, my darlings! I'm begging for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets! Group kisses!
174 The Iron-Blooded King Who Grows Stronger for Love!
Updated: 2013-07-14 12:02:16 Word Count: 3376
Mu Yunhe didn't let the doctor examine Luo Zhiheng; there was no need for an examination, because his Aheng was perfectly fine. Despite his frail body, he personally washed, dressed, and combed Luo Zhiheng's hair, doing everything himself and not allowing anyone else near his Aheng.
In the quiet room, the candlelight flickered occasionally in the gentle breeze. The sky had completely darkened, and this night would be a long, dark one. The wind and rain continued to fall, but they could no longer harm Mu Yunhe in the slightest.
"Master, Lady Huoyun has come to bring you medicine." Xiao Xizi said cautiously from outside. He had seen Mu Yunhe vomit blood clearly before, and wondered how the young prince's health was.
"Tell her to get lost!" Mu Yunhe said coldly.
Lady Huoyun stood at the door, exchanging a glance with Lady Song. Both equally proud, they were speechless. Who could blame them for their master treating the young couple so cruelly? Mu Yunhe now hated everyone in their Silver Moon Kingdom. (The last sentence, "云有都火好," is a Chinese idiom meaning "clouds have all the fire," and doesn't directly relate to the preceding text.)
"Master, please let me in. Your knee wound needs bandaging, even if it's just for the sake of the little princess. Otherwise, she'll be heartbroken to see your hand when she wakes up," Xiao Xizi said desperately.
The room fell silent for a long while before Mu Yunhe's voice rang out: "Come in."
Xiao Xizi rushed in and quickly applied medicine to Mu Yunhe's leg. When he opened the trouser leg, Xiao Xizi gasped in shock.
Mu Yunhe's knee struck the sharp edge of the stone steps with such force that the flesh was almost torn off, and the bone was visible! No wonder he had bled so much earlier.
While applying the medicine, Xiao Xizi cried and wiped away his tears haphazardly. He was very careful, but he still couldn't quite grasp the right measure. Mu Yunhe, however, seemed oblivious, lying there half-reclined, holding the still unconscious Luo Zhiheng tightly in his arms, his eyes never leaving her for a moment. It was as if this leg no longer belonged to him, or perhaps, his heart was entirely with Luo Zhiheng.
"Master, the hot ginger soup is ready. Shall I bring it to you? Your Highness and Madam have both been caught in the rain. Why don't you both have a bowl?" Xiao Xizi had learned her lesson; she knew that now, anything involving Luo Zhiheng would make Mu Yunhe consider the pros and cons more carefully, instead of simply refusing. 14.
As expected, Mu Yunhe nodded in agreement. Xiao Xizi hurriedly went to get the ginger soup, only to be ruthlessly kicked out by Mu Yunhe. He squatted outside the door, secretly wiping away tears.
"Aheng, Aheng?" He called softly, but Luo Zhiheng still didn't respond. Having had her pressure points pressed to sleep, she absolutely wouldn't wake up until the appointed time. Mu Yunhe didn't know this; he assumed Luo Zhiheng was being tortured and wouldn't wake up for a long time, which only fueled his hatred for himself and his resentment towards that damned prince.
Mu Yunhe struggled to feed Luo Zhiheng half a bowl of ginger soup, spilling the rest. But he was satisfied. He then held Luo Zhiheng tightly in his arms, a guarded posture, as if afraid of losing her again.
The night was far from peaceful. Consort Li and the other women were unwilling to remain imprisoned; they were curious about what had happened. Hua Kai was excited because Luo Zhiheng might indeed have been violated. She couldn't wait to relay this news to her mistress, but she couldn't leave the house. Consort Li's courtyard was heavily guarded; the Prince's Imperial Guards were formidable. 15898437
Hua Kai herself was unwilling to take the risk, but she instigated Consort Li. Consort Li was also unwilling, and felt that Mu Yunhe was nothing special, just a sickly man. Would he really dare to go on a killing spree? She did not take Mu Yunhe seriously at all, and sent her maid out to check the news. However, she did not go out through the main gate, but through the side gate.
That night, many people were curious, some couldn't help but inquire, and quite a few didn't take Mu Yunhe seriously. Even though it was still pouring rain after nightfall, there were still quite a few people out and about in the Rainwater Prince's Mansion.
The Prince's mansion was large, but the Imperial Guards were not numerous enough to guard every area. However, the movement of people was quickly discovered, and it wasn't just one or two. Someone reported this to the young prince's courtyard. Remembering his master's instructions, Xiao Xizi personally led the Imperial Guards to arrest those who had wandered around without permission. Regardless of whose people they were, they were all gagged, tied up, and taken to the gate of the young prince's courtyard to await Mu Yunhe's judgment.
This group of people who didn't take Mu Yunhe seriously only felt fear when they felt the fierce-looking Imperial Guards around them and the cold steel blades in their hands! But it was too late.
The heavy rain, like rapidly falling projectiles, pelted the Imperial Guards' steel armor with a chilling clang. In the cold, rainy night, Mu Yunhe's hoarse voice rang out calmly, splashing a trail of blood!
"Disobey me, and you will be killed without mercy!!"
The servants who had come out to investigate panicked. They wanted to shout out whose men they were, but they didn't have the chance.
The Imperial Guards standing behind them acted as executioners tonight, their blades flashing and slashing, and one after another, fine heads rolled away with their scalding blood! The heavy rain quickly washed away the blood on the ground; more than a dozen lives had been lost amidst Mu Yunhe's weak words!
Today, Mu Yunhe is no longer the carefree young prince he once was. Tonight, Mu Yunhe reveals his ruthless and iron-fisted side, showing everyone that anyone who dares to disobey or defy him will be killed without mercy!