"This manor belongs to Mu Yunhe. Even if he doesn't truly love it, he is, and he is the sole heir to this manor. To put it arrogantly, whatever he wants to do to this manor and its inhabitants is perfectly justified and perfectly reasonable! Because everyone in this manor except for the prince, Mu Yunhe, and the princess is nothing more than a servant!!"
Luo Zhiheng stepped forward, her eyes narrowed, a smile on her face, yet it was all fake and cold. She pointed at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, her clear voice like popping beans, mercilessly rebuking Mu Yunjin and mocking Consort Li. Her arrogant and domineering air filled her body, so arrogant, so ruthless, so fearless of heaven and earth!
In an instant, the entire Prince's Avenue fell silent, utterly still!
She spoke many taboos, unspeakable secrets. No one would dare to say them so openly, much less reprimand a man in front of everyone. Yet Luo Zhiheng did just that, and did it as if it were perfectly natural. Although what she said was true, to bring it so clearly into the open required courage, boldness, and an unparalleled air of authority—enough to intimidate everyone and serve as a wake-up call.
Yes, no matter where you are, the only true masters of a household are the male head of the household's legal wife and her children. The illegitimate children can only be considered half masters, and those who are not favored are even worse off, becoming slaves directly. It is normal for them to be slaves. As for concubines, just as Luo Zhiheng said, they are just servants.
Tell me, you servant, how dare you refuse to let your master into the house? Do you even respect hierarchy and the law? If Mu Yunhe wanted to execute Consort Li now, it would be perfectly justified. People wouldn't think Mu Yunhe is heartless as Mu Yunjin claims; instead, they would see him as eliminating a menace. Getting rid of those utterly arrogant and lawless servants!
It is said that a powerful servant can bully his master, and now it seems that this is indeed true.
It was both shocking and incredibly real. Luo Zhiheng, with her characteristic assertiveness and clear, transparent, and fearless pronouncements, gave people a vivid lesson, awakening the almost dormant nerves in their hearts. They suddenly realized that their own homes were just as chaotic, with neither the master nor the servant acting like a master.
Before the Mu Prince's Mansion under the sky, it seems that the girl's clear, melodious, and resounding words still echo in people's hearts. While making people reflect, aren't they also a kind of contempt for Mu Yunjin?
Who could have imagined that Mu Yunjin, the renowned young hero of the capital, would be so foolish and arrogant? He even dares to defy and rebuke the eldest son? Who does he think he is? Does he really consider himself someone important?
Mu Yunjin was dumbfounded, and even his confidants were thrown into chaos and confusion by Luo Zhiheng's unstoppable and furious rebuke.
This isn't just a mouth anymore! It's a deadly weapon, capable of killing without drawing blood, destroying people in the blink of an eye!
Mu Yunjin's face turned red to her neck. She was so angry that her chest heaved violently, she was panting heavily, her head was spinning, her ears were ringing, her hands and feet were trembling, and she was having trouble breathing. She felt like she was about to die!
However, Luo Zhiheng had no intention of letting Mu Yunjin off so easily. Damn it! These shameless bastards thought they could bully her little Hehe? She, Luo Zhiheng, was still standing right there. If they wanted to get past her, she would slap them across the face. Go to hell, keep dreaming!
Luo Zhiheng lifted her skirt, climbed a few steps, and suddenly turned around. The graceful movement caused her dress to billow in a breathtaking arc. Her beautiful face was filled with grievance and anger, like a child who had been wronged and suppressed for too long, and was finally provoked and exploded.
With tears welling in her eyes, her fists clenched at her sides, and a look of grievance and sadness on her face, she appeared so fragile, pitiful, and touching.
She instantly won the sympathy and pity of countless people, and the voices condemning Mu Yunjin suddenly increased, almost cursing her as a beast, not even as good as a pig or a dog.
She, Luo Zhiheng, could also play the innocent victim. She was capable of scheming whenever she wanted. Previously, she disregarded her image and reputation, only caring about speaking her mind and being righteous; she could laugh off what others said. But now, she wouldn't be so reckless and unrestrained. Because she still had Mu Yunhe, and the current Mu Yunhe was unworthy of a wife with a reputation for being a shrew, a domineering woman. She was willing to work hard to protect her own reputation in order to uphold her husband's honor.
“Mu Yunjin, we can’t get in today. It’s our own home, but we’re being turned away. Do you know how we feel? You’re standing in the queue outside too. You’re one of those being turned away as well. Don’t you feel sad? Have you ever experienced anything like this? You haven’t, because the person in charge of this entire palace is your mother, Consort Li!” Luo Zhiheng suddenly said loudly, her voice choked with sobs.
Suddenly, everyone fell silent, wanting to hear the poor girl's innermost thoughts, and even more so, wanting to know just how beautiful and ugly this beastly mother and son, who knew nothing of respect, truly were.
Mu Yunjin's lips twitched violently, and his eyes pounded. He sensed that something was seriously wrong and shouted angrily, "Luo Zhiheng, you'd better stop! Stop spreading rumors and causing trouble. What kind of state are you going to bring to the Mu Royal Palace? Where do you place my father?"
"Does doing this mean I disregard the Mu Prince's Mansion? Does doing this mean I've hurt Prince Mu? Does doing this mean I'm talking nonsense? Does telling the truth mean I should die?" Luo Zhiheng was stunned, as if she were murmuring, yet there seemed to be some kind of fear in her voice. Her tears were almost about to spill over. Suddenly, she raised her head, as if trying to wipe away the tears in her eyes, stubbornly refusing to let a single tear fall. That appearance, that figure, suddenly became tragically beautiful under the early autumn sunset.
It has left an indelible mark of poignant beauty on people's hearts, a mark that will likely never be forgotten!
She seemed to have compromised, or perhaps she had yielded to some kind of threat. Or perhaps she was too kind and genuinely afraid of ruining the reputation of the Mu family and Prince Mu, so she stopped the conversation and didn't say anything more.
But then she suddenly looked at Mu Yunjin's face, and in her gaze, between her brows, was an undeniable stubbornness and persistence. Her eyes were red, and her choked voice seemed to tremble from immense restraint, sending a chill down the spines of those who heard it. Her emotional impact was so great that her sorrow instantly swept through the entire room, making everyone feel her pain.
"Fine, I won't say it anymore. But Mu Yunjin, please remember this: the hierarchy and the law you speak of today are not child's play! I can let bygones be bygones, but if any of those past sins are committed in the future, then I, Luo Zhiheng, swear here and now that I will repay you tenfold, a hundredfold, for whatever you have done to me and Mu Yunhe. Even if it is a heinous crime, I will never tolerate it! At that time, no threat from you will be an obstacle for me to protect myself and my husband!"
Her words were resounding, her brows furrowed with pain, and her eyes flashed with sharpness and determination. With her delicate frame, she instantly amplified the power of her soul!
Even if she had to endure humiliation, she would uphold her principles and bottom line with unwavering resolve. Even if she had to bear a heavy burden, she would protect everything she wanted to protect with her vow!
Her words seemed to bring back memories of the past, the humiliations she and Mu Yunhe had suffered. Her words seemed to reveal this strong girl, sharp-tongued yet possessing an exceptionally pure and kind heart. Her words seemed to dispel the threat and coercion in Mu Yunjin's earlier remarks!
In the end, she seemed to say something about their past experiences, yet she also seemed to say nothing at all. No one knew what she and Mu Yunhe had truly gone through in this royal palace, under the control of Consort Li. Yet, her words conveyed a sense of urgency, pain, repression, forbearance, and anger. This hesitation was not her natural inclination, but rather a result of the oppression from a son of a concubine!
This understanding, brought to life instantly by Luo Zhiheng's brilliant performance, was firmly imprinted in everyone's minds. Almost instantly, Mu Yunjin incurred the wrath of the masses!
To so cruelly harm one's own brother, to so oppress one's sister-in-law, and to collude with his mother—the truly disrespectful person is none other than Mu Yunjin, and Consort Li! And these two—one audacious enough to distort the truth, the other utterly disrespectful, refusing to even open the door to their master—their crimes deserve death, their hearts are utterly deserving of condemnation!
"Let them die! You two beasts!"
"Yes, like mother, like son, he's a complete scoundrel!"
"How dare he threaten the young princess in public, right in front of us! What kind of young hero is Mu Yunjin? He has no magnanimity at all, he's even worse than my half-brother who's always indulging in debauchery!"
"Alas, what a pity, what a tragedy. Prince Mu devoted his life to loyalty and protecting his country, how could he have such a son who is all show and no substance?"
The murmurs of the crowd quickly drowned out the various noises in front of the Mu Prince's mansion. Mu Yunjin was unable to defend himself. He was so angry that he trembled all over, his vision blurred, and he felt as if a fire was about to burst out of his chest. Something tasted fishy and sweet, as if it was about to come out of his throat.
He knew it was blood!
His eyes widened in surprise. Was he about to be so angry at Luo Zhiheng that he almost vomited blood?
Mu Yunhe's anger vanished without a trace in that instant. His narrow eyes were filled with boundless tenderness and doting. There was an endless indulgence spreading over him, a heartache crashing unrestrainedly in his heart, and countless happiness almost overwhelming his eyes. Then, tears streamed down his face, like a painting of clouds in the sky.
If in this life there is always a woman who is willing to do everything for a man, even to the point of death, as long as that man is content and happy, she will be willing and without regret.
And he was undoubtedly the happy man who was willing to die for her!
No matter how much emotion, gratitude, sighs, and feelings Mu Yunhe felt towards Luo Zhiheng, in the end, only three sentences could express his wholehearted love for Luo Zhiheng: deep love, devoted love.
He wouldn't trade her for a beautiful woman, because holding her in his arms brought him happiness and contentment!
He was more valuable than gold, for with her he was already richer than a country!
He wouldn't trade the empire for her, because with her, he would possess the world!
His tender and affectionate gaze, like a painting of romance, lingered around her. As if sensing his gaze, she turned to look at him, her eyes and brows full of charming cuteness, her lips slightly pouting and her cheeks puffed out, displaying a captivating and enchanting beauty unique to Luo Zhiheng, unparalleled in the world.
She lifted her foot to walk towards him, his gaze making her heart race. The faster her heart beat, the faster she walked. When he reached out his hand, she couldn't help but lift her skirt and run. For Luo Zhiheng, etiquette was always just a formality, utterly useless.
Their hands were clasped tightly together as he pulled her into his arms. No words were needed, not even a glance; they both knew that their hearts were filled with sweetness at that moment.
Mu Yunjin was covered in bumps, sweating profusely, and filled with resentment and frustration.
Luo Zhiheng possessed that ability; she could debate with a group of scholars, using the power of language to utterly defeat her enemies without firing a single shot, leaving countless dead and wounded, and she could still be invincible, winning battles without shedding a drop of blood.
“Young Prince…” Xiao Xizi held the torch as if it were a hot potato, wishing he could throw it away immediately. He looked at Mu Yunhe with a pitiful expression, on the verge of tears.
However, Mu Yunhe was even more determined in his decision because of Luo Zhiheng's performance and skillful provocation. Actually, this was also Mu Yunjin's own fault. If Mu Yunjin hadn't accused and arrogantly used his status and the Mu family mansion to pressure him, or used threats and a fierce tone to berate Aheng, but instead spoke calmly, explained the facts, and tried to find a solution, he might have shown leniency and spared the people of the mansion.
But now, humph, it's all too late! Even if Prince Mu personally returns to stop him, it won't change his attitude!
He snatched the torch from Xiao Xizi's hand, looked down at Luo Zhiheng, and said gently, "Stand here and wait for me." 17357817
Knowing what he was going to do, Luo Zhiheng was worried about Mu Yunhe's health, but she also knew what Mu Yunhe had experienced in the twenty years in this palace. All the pain, humiliation, repression and despair had happened in this palace. And what Consort Li did today was just a fuse, summoning the ferocious beast that had been dormant in Mu Yunhe's heart. If Mu Yunhe was not allowed to vent his hatred and resentment, this trapped beast might one day become a demon.
She loves him, knows him, understands him, and sympathizes with him, so naturally she will help him. If he insists on doing something, she will simply watch with a smile; if he needs help, she will step forward without hesitation. A fire is nothing to her; Mu Yunhe is the most important thing! As for family property and money, they are nothing but external things to her. As long as she is alive, she can have everything again.
She stood there obediently. Mu Yunhe lowered his eyes and smiled, but the moment he raised them, his eyes were filled with stormy winds, extreme cold, and lurking killing intent!
"What I'm doing today isn't some childish game of burning down the palace. It's because there are too many demons and monsters in this palace. Dealing with them one by one is too troublesome and prone to creating loopholes. Since no one has answered the door after knocking for so long, it means that the palace is already empty. It must be deserted. Could it have been eaten by monsters? If so, how can I allow demons and monsters to roam freely on the land of the Mu Dynasty?"
"Burning it down is to rid the people of a scourge! What I'm burning down today isn't the Mu King's Mansion, but a den of monsters that plagues the world. There's not a single person inside, so I'm not indiscriminately killing innocent people. If one day there are those who spread lies and try to smear me, saying that I'm heartless and insane, I ask everyone present to be my witness. I will be eternally grateful."
The cool, aloof voice was calm as Mu Yunhe spoke to the crowd as if it were a casual conversation. The crowd was flattered and quickly echoed his words, all agreeing that Mu Yunhe's words made sense. "They knocked on the door and gave you so much time; since they didn't open the door or answer, then naturally no one is home. Burn it down, and no one can say anything about it."
Mu Yunhe stepped forward and kicked over a bucket of oil, which instantly covered the firewood in front of the door. Standing at the bottom of the steps, Mu Yunhe threw the torch at the firewood without hesitation.
With a whoosh, a huge tongue of fire appeared almost instantly, and a towering wall of flames erupted beneath the walls of the Mu Prince's Mansion, engulfing the imposing mansion in the blink of an eye! In an instant, the flames soared into the sky, unstoppable!
First update! Sorry for the late update today. One more update to go, Hua Sha will keep working hard. Love you all! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets!
Chapter 334: Consort Li's Wishful Thinking! Devouring Everything! Bonus Chapter for 52,000 Recommended Votes
Updated: 2013-09-18 18:28:58 Word Count: 3525
Mu Yunhe watched the towering fire with a cold eye, not even showing a trace of expression. The scorching fire almost engulfed him. Even though he was standing on the steps, three or four meters away from the gate of the palace, he was still in danger of being burned because the fire was too strong.
Strangely, those flames could have easily devoured Mu Yunhe, but they seemed to have a human nature. Any flames that encountered Mu Yunhe would split in two before his body and immediately disperse to both sides, without even a spark harming him. Not even a single hair of his remained unharmed!
This miraculous scene left the onlookers wide-eyed in shock, each one incredulous, staring at Mu Yunhe's tall, imposing, and mysterious figure with the eyes of someone looking at a deity, their hearts trembling with fear and utter terror!
No one doubted that Mu Yunhe would actually set fire to the Mu Royal Palace, but no one expected him to be so ruthless. The fire suddenly erupted, as if igniting people's hearts as well, burning away their reason and bottom line, and also burning away their contempt and scrutiny of Mu Yunhe.
"No!" Mu Yunjin roared hoarsely, a cry that nearly exhausted all his strength. His pupils constricted, stunned by Mu Yunhe's unprecedented strength and rebelliousness, but also filled with fear and despair at being unable to save his mother. His throat, which had been suppressing the urge, finally gave way. A heavy cough rang out, followed by the spitting out of him blood, and then he collapsed heavily onto the stretcher, unconscious. Or rather, oblivious to whether he would live or die.
Mu Yunhe remained completely indifferent. Mu Yunjin's life or death had been irrelevant to him ever since Mu Yunjin dared to speak disrespectfully to him and Luo Zhiheng. A person who deserved to die would only be repulsive if she lived.
With another whoosh, sparks flew everywhere, flames soared into the sky, and the entire Mu King's Mansion instantly became a small inferno. Huge plumes of smoke billowed out, and the flames frantically devoured everything in their path, leaving nothing behind—truly striving to leave nothing but utter destruction.
But so far, the Mu Prince's mansion remains quiet, as if no one is there.
At this moment, in the very center courtyard of the Mu Prince's mansion, a large number of people had gathered. If the Princess Consort were here, she would automatically... Standing in this courtyard were all the people of the Mu Prince's mansion, from the gatekeepers to the servants to the maids, and even the Mu Prince's women. Everyone in the entire Mu Prince's mansion had gathered here.
Their bodies were light, serious, and tense, as if they were undergoing some terrible ordeal. But even so, they did not resist at all. In the afternoon sun and in the still sweltering heat of late summer, their backs were soaked with sweat and tears streamed down their faces, whether from the heat or fear, it was hard to tell.
The servants were standing, but there were two rows of women standing in the room. Regardless of what they were thinking, they were all respectful and obsequious on the surface. They looked at the woman who was high above them as if she were their master in the palace. They did nothing but flatter and fawn, and dared not overstep or disobey in the slightest.
In the vast courtyard, only one person was sitting, and he sat there with an air of self-assurance, relaxed and at ease.
This person was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had bright makeup, clearly having dressed up carefully. She had a charming demeanor, and her eyes were half-closed, as if she were asleep. However, her constantly trembling eyelashes told everyone that she was not asleep, but just pretending to be asleep, or perhaps she was just faking it.
However, everyone here was afraid to disturb the woman, who was pretending to be asleep, and had to carefully flatter her and play along. No one could move an inch unless she spoke. Now, the entire palace, except for this courtyard, was practically empty!
Who else could command the entire Prince Mu's mansion to mobilize and dare not resist, besides Consort Li?
Princess Consort was invited to the Southern Dynasty by Mu Qingya's people. With her departure, the Mu Prince's Mansion naturally fell back into the hands of Consort Li. Consort Li had only recently been deposed, and her influence still lingered, while Princess Consort had left soon after her ascension, leaving nothing behind. The excellent situation that Luo Zhiheng had created before her departure also crumbled completely due to Princess Consort's incompetence and Consort Li's scheming.
This is what they mean by "it's not the theft itself that's scary, it's the thief's eye on it." Now that the Prince's mansion is in power, any threat to power, wealth, or even the smallest details of personnel matters has probably been arranged perfectly by Consort Li, and no one else can interfere anymore.
Yun Nami is three. The courtyard where Consort Li has gathered everyone is the Princess's courtyard. She has her reasons for doing so; she's using this opportunity to extricate herself. If anyone dares to question or accuse her of disrespect, she'll tell them she's doing this to tidy up the Princess's courtyard. One person's strength isn't enough; many hands make light work. Furthermore, by holding a meeting in the Princess's courtyard, she wants them to understand the Princess's importance and behave accordingly, thus increasing their respect for her.
Her good intentions stemmed from her deep respect for the Princess and the young prince. Was she wrong to do so? If she neglected the servants' entry and return because she wanted them to respect the Princess and the young prince, it was merely a coincidence, not her fault. Surely, the Princess is magnanimous and the young prince is broad-minded; they would never blame her, would they?
This was the reason Consort Li had devised, a reason that seemed flawless and perfectly reasonable to her. How perfect! In her view, as long as she said this, no one would dare accuse her of being disrespectful or deliberately trying to intimidate the Princess and others. On the contrary, she would receive praise and compliments for doing so.
Consort Li couldn't hide the cold smile on her lips. She certainly wasn't asleep; in fact, she was quite excited. She was waiting for the Princess and Mu Yunhe to return, waiting for them to come back, waiting for them to realize they couldn't get in, that no one would open the door no matter how much they knocked. She wondered what kind of interesting expressions would appear on their faces then? It would surely be quite a sight, but unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to see it.
But it doesn't matter. She'll see their expressions when they come in, and even if they don't, she can still provoke them into complete disarray. Now, she just needs to wait patiently. 1.
Tong Shi, Mu Yunhe, you two stumbling blocks! Today, she'll teach you a lesson about being intimidated and humiliated, and she'll show you what it means to suffer in silence, to swallow bitterness like a mute! Who told you to offend her? Who told you to be the last obstacle to her becoming a princess? Who told you to be the enemy of her only son's ascension to the throne? You deserve to die, you are hateful, you deserve to be killed!
But now that you're back, she'll let you know that she's no longer the Consort Li who can tolerate you two stumbling blocks.
And Luo Zhiheng too!
This time, she will utterly disgrace Luo Zhiheng, leaving her completely ruined! She will also make sure that this despicable Luo Zhiheng is forever banished from the Mu Prince's Mansion! Moreover, she will make Luo Zhiheng bow her proud head before her! And it's not just Luo Zhiheng, but also that great slut Tong Shi and that bastard Mu Yunhe! These three people, if they don't bow their heads to her today, won't be allowed to enter the gates of the Mu Prince's Mansion!
This house is her domain; her word is law!
Consort Li's thoughts were brilliant, her calculations meticulously planned. In her mind, she could almost picture those three despicable people she loathed kneeling before her, performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows, crawling towards her. Thinking of this, Consort Li couldn't help but laugh out loud.