Prince Mu seemed to understand Mu Yunhe's expression and laughed, "You don't need to kill me yourself. Just find someone else. I will absolutely not retaliate or hold any grudge. Your resentment, my unseen eldest grandson, Luo Zhiheng's hatred, your sister's injustice, Rui'er's tragic death, and... your mother's resentful death—I am indeed deeply sinful. But even if you are unwilling and cannot kill me with your own hands, as your father, I have never done anything decent for you in my life. This one thing—not letting you bear the guilt of patricide—is my last gift to you."
Mu Yunhe stared at Prince Mu in shock, as if these incredibly reasonable words had not come from the man opposite him.
"Yunhe, perhaps you will feel uncomfortable, but I still have to say it. This is my request: after my death, please continue to protect the Mu Dynasty! You are of noble status, but your blood still flows with the blood of the Mu Dynasty. You are a person of the Mu Dynasty, and your identity is not just that of a priest. Please, for the sake of the Mu Dynasty that raised you, let go of all your resentment and sincerely treat the Mu Dynasty with sincerity, with my death as the end. This is what I, as a subject of the Mu Dynasty, beg you for before I die!"
Prince Mu gave a bitter laugh, which could be considered quite frank and open, showing no fear of death. He turned around and slowly walked away, saying, "I am in the palace. If you want to kill me, come anytime. I will definitely not make things difficult for you. This life is waiting for you to take it anytime."
"Master!" Even though Prince Mu had been gone for a long time, Mu Yunhe was still standing there stiffly and silently. Xiao Xizi called out to him with a sob in his voice.
Mu Yunhe suddenly staggered, staring blankly at the gray sky, feeling as if a huge rock was blocking his chest, making him feel suffocated.
How could things have developed to this point? The tragic situation left him trembling and completely bewildered.
Footsteps sounded again. Looking up, Mu Yunhe's gaze suddenly turned fierce as he warily stared at the woman in fine clothes approaching: "What are you doing here again!"
Her Majesty the Empress raised an eyebrow and glanced at the door behind him: "Is Luo Zhiheng awake now?"
After rescuing Luo Zhiheng, Her Majesty the Empress did not leave, nor did she become an enemy of the people in the General's Mansion. Instead, she moved into the courtyard where the Prince Shi had lived. In this open and aboveboard manner, General Tong and others were on high alert every day, and one-third of the troops in the capital were mobilized to guard the General's Mansion.
The Empress was an extremely dangerous being, and Mu Yunhe's presence made everyone feel a little more at ease. However, Mu Yunhe himself was extremely uneasy. This Empress was no good. The sudden revelation of Luo Zhiheng's identity shocked Mu Yunhe as well. After inquiring about the whole story from the wet nurse, Mu Yunhe hated the Empress even more.
He didn't know about Luo Zhiheng's mother's situation back then, but someone who believes that a child they gave birth to isn't theirs without someone saying a few things about it is either missing a screw or an idiot! She killed her own empress and daughter, and now she wants to kill Aheng? Back then, even at the height of her power, she couldn't protect her wife and daughter, so what ability does she have to protect Aheng now? No, Mu Yunhe doesn't even know if she will harm Aheng.
"You don't need to be so wary of me. All I want to do now is confirm the relationship between Luo Zhiheng and my daughter. If she really is Qin Yinheng's daughter, then she is my own granddaughter, and I would be even less likely to harm her." The Empress frowned and patiently explained to Mu Yunhe, who was radiating coldness.
“But you were about to kill her with your own hands! And you even destroyed her life-saving medicine.” Mu Yunhe retorted without hesitation.
Her Majesty the Empress's face instantly turned deathly pale. No matter how well she pretended, her changed expression betrayed her true feelings. She was genuinely worried about Luo Zhiheng's safety, and the fact that she had almost killed Luo Zhiheng with her own hands had become a thorn in the Empress's side. Even now, just thinking about that scene made her want to chop off her own hand. She was filled with unbearable regret.
"I was rash in that matter, but if Aheng knew, she would understand me. After all, I really didn't know Aheng's possible identity at the time." The Empress's explanation was extremely selfish, but also helpless. The Empress was furious, so why would she care about an insignificant commoner woman? She killed her, but who could have imagined that this commoner woman was a golden phoenix, or a treasure she should cherish? The Empress felt like she was going to vomit blood whenever she thought about the misunderstanding.
“My Ah Heng, he holds grudges very much.” Mu Yunhe said these eight words very clearly, and with extreme irony.
The Empress's heart tightened, and she narrowed her eyes, saying, "Then we won't tell her."
Mu Yunhe, with the air of a dissolute young master, was completely unyielding and stubborn: "Sorry, I also hold grudges, and I promised Aheng that there are no secrets between us."
The implication is that he will definitely tell Ah Heng that you, this old hag, almost killed Ah Heng before!
Her Majesty the Empress suddenly became unusually irritable, desperately trying to conceal this secret. She was terrified that Luo Zhiheng was indeed Qin Yinheng's daughter, and that Luo Zhiheng would resent her if she found out. Her daughter already hated her to death; if her granddaughter also resented her, wouldn't she be devastated?
"Hmph, don't get your hopes up. Do you think you can use this to control me? Luo Zhiheng might not even be my granddaughter, and you might not even be my grandson-in-law. Do you think I'll tolerate your rudeness again and again?" The Empress said with feigned composure.
She was waiting for the final step. Once Luo Zhiheng saw the gold dowry, she could confirm Luo Zhiheng's identity, and then she would definitely take the child with her. She glanced coldly at Mu Yunhe. Although he was exceptionally talented, and his status as a diviner was incredibly alluring, Mu Yunhe had already created a rift between them, and she feared he would become an obstacle between her and Luo Zhiheng in the future. Since that was the case, she would have to find every possible way to divorce Mu Yunhe. Even if that didn't work, she would arrange numerous concubines and mistresses for Aheng.
There are countless handsome men in the Silver Moon Kingdom, and the women there are even more ruthless than those in male-dominated countries, often having multiple wives and concubines. She'll make things difficult for Mu Yunhe then! She refuses to believe she can't torment him to death. 17857165
"Since you've never been sure if Aheng is your granddaughter, then there's no need to be sure. Even if Aheng really is your granddaughter, she won't go with you. Stop dreaming. Besides, Aheng only loves one person in her life, and no one can interfere with us. Beautiful women won't do, and handsome men are no exception! I only want Aheng, and Aheng only wants me!" Mu Yunhe grinned through gritted teeth, his expression twisted and ferocious as he spoke.
Thinking such wicked thoughts in front of the diviner, and the diviner's obvious fear of the Queen, naturally led him to observe and use his own methods to find out the Queen's intentions. 'You wouldn't believe it until you see it!' The old hag actually wanted to arrange some ridiculous handsome man for Ah Heng?! Trying to break them up as a couple?!
Damn it!
Mu Yunhe appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was seething. He was replaying the insults Luo Zhiheng had hurled at him, repeatedly cursing the Empress's ancestors for 180 generations. In his rage, he even mentally stripped the Empress naked and threw her into a brothel, where a bunch of men would have their way with her!
Even though she tried to control herself well, Mu Yunhe's emotions still showed. His words, in particular, secretly alarmed Her Majesty. How could Mu Yunhe know what she was thinking? Did she still have any secrets from him?
Her Majesty the Empress gritted her teeth and laughed, "Your Excellency is far too confident. Don't forget, if Luo Zhiheng is truly a citizen of my Silver Moon Kingdom, then the blood of Silver Moon flows in her veins. Women of Silver Moon are by nature domineering, decisive, and arrogant. They are absolutely no less capable than any man, and in fact, men are often inferior to them. Daughters of Silver Moon are born to be excellent targets for seduction, and it's perfectly normal for them to have multiple lovers. I've heard that Luo Zhiheng has always had a fondness for all kinds of handsome men since she was a child? She's even boldly courted men. Aren't these all characteristics of women from Silver Moon?"
Mu Yunhe's pupils constricted, and he felt an urge to kill!
I used to think Luo Zhiheng was just being mischievous as a child, but after hearing Her Majesty the Empress's explanation today, although I know the Empress definitely had ill intentions, those things were all done by Aheng herself, and she can't deny it. So, Aheng really is from the Silver Moon Kingdom? Then does Aheng really have... a lustful element in her blood? And what about the two of them in the future...?
Unable to think any further, Mu Yunhe felt a soreness in his chest and an urge to kill. He glared fiercely at the Empress and said menacingly, "You are not welcome here. Please leave immediately, leave the General's Mansion! Aheng said she would never go with you to that damned Silver Moon Kingdom!"
At this moment, Mu Yunhe was acting like a child, impulsive and irrational. To the Empress who wanted to take Aheng away and turn her into a bad woman, Mu Yunhe only wished that she would 'die soon'!
With a slam, the Empress slammed the door shut. Though locked out, she wasn't annoyed. She thought to herself with amusement, "That little Aheng's past 'glorious achievements' and 'womanizing' really do reflect the fierce and assertive style of women from the Silver Moon Kingdom." Every detail she'd gathered about Luo Zhiheng over the past few days had convinced Her Majesty that Luo Zhiheng was quite remarkable.
If they find Luo Zhiheng, they will definitely be able to find Luo Ningshuang, and her brother Luo Zhiwu.
As for the other two children, the Empress considered Luo Zhiwu dispensable, since she was a boy and, in the Silver Moon Kingdom, would eventually marry a minister, making her less important than a girl. The Empress had initially favored the other girl, Luo Ningshuang, as she might become her granddaughter.
However, the results of the investigation caused Her Majesty the Empress to frown deeply.
This child is nothing like a member of the Silver Moon royal family. Tsk tsk, sickly since childhood? The royal daughters of Silver Moon are all skilled in both literature and martial arts from a young age, capable of riding horses and fighting battles. They are nothing like Luo Ningshuang, who would be blown away by the wind. Moreover, Luo Ningshuang has been a pampered young lady all her life, lacking any of the demeanor and bearing of a woman from Silver Moon, and she certainly doesn't have Luo Zhiheng's bold courage to flirt with men. It's no wonder that Her Majesty the Empress disliked Luo Ningshuang even before they met.
Luo Ningshuang is currently suffering in the Southern Dynasty, desperately trying to escape this wretched place. Her Majesty the Empress has also intervened, sending people to bring Luo Ningshuang back for a visit. After all, she might be her granddaughter, and the Empress is unhappy knowing that Luo Ningshuang is not doing well.
If Luo Ningshuang knew that the brilliant method she had meticulously planned to destroy Luo Zhiheng back then had actually made Luo Zhiheng favored by Her Majesty the Empress, she would probably vomit blood and regret her actions immensely.
At this moment, Luo Ningshuang had not yet met the person sent by the Empress. Just when she was in the most dire straits and on the verge of collapse, an unexpected person appeared in front of her.
——
Even though Mu Yunhe was in great pain, he couldn't sleep. He stared intently at Luo Zhiheng's face for an hour, and finally, under his clingy gaze, Luo Zhiheng gradually woke up.
Upon opening her eyes, Luo Zhiheng saw Mu Yunhe's face and immediately smiled broadly, saying sweetly, "Yunhe."
Mu Yunhe covered her eyes with his large hand, ignoring her strange cries for him. He carefully lay down beside her, not touching her wounds, yet she could still feel the warmth and anger in his body: "Aheng, I have a question for you, and you must answer me honestly. If you dare to lie, I will, I will..."
He talked to me for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution.
Luo Zhiheng, feeling refreshed after a nap, joked, "What can you do? You can't bite me, can you?"
"Be serious!" Mu Yunhe glared, then paused, realizing that Luo Zhiheng couldn't see his anger. He lowered his hand, almost pressing his handsome face against hers, and repeated very seriously, "Be serious!"
Luo Zhiheng blinked and pouted innocently, "Why are you being so serious?"
A bitter and apprehensive look crossed Mu Yunhe's handsome face. He said softly, "If you don't answer me properly, my heart will ache, it will hurt a lot! And I'll be so scared!"
A sentence suddenly flashed through Luo Zhiheng's mind: "Aheng, wake up, don't sleep like this, I'm so scared, I'm so scared..."
Were those the words Mu Yunhe spoke when she was unconscious? A sudden, unbelievable tenderness welled up inside her, a bittersweet feeling spreading through her. She pouted, deliberately trying to please him with a cute, drawn-out voice, and said, "Okay, go ahead, I'll answer whatever you ask."
Mu Yunhe took a deep breath and asked, "Am I the first man you've ever liked?"
He held her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined without any gap. His nervousness and care were clearly conveyed to Luo Zhiheng through his trembling, sweaty hands. Luo Zhiheng pursed her lips and looked at him silently for a long time, to the point that Mu Yunhe felt a sense of despair for a moment. Every second of her silence felt like a sharp blade piercing his heart, which he had already given her without reservation.
Tilting her head, Luo Zhiheng puffed out her cheeks and answered seriously, "It seems... no."
Mu Yunhe's expression changed drastically, and his already dull eyes turned gloomy in an instant.
Seeing his angry, tense, furious, and heartbroken expression, Luo Zhiheng suddenly laughed. However, the laughter aggravated her wounds. She took a breath and, before Mu Yunhe could become enraged and kill her, she quickly and laboriously wrapped her arms around his neck, saying solemnly and charmingly, "It's not liking, it's love. Mu Yunhe is the first man I've ever loved. I love him so much, so much that even if your father wanted to kill me, I still wouldn't hold a grudge against you."
Mu Yunhe stared and listened blankly like a fool. Her breath was warm, her tone was soft, and her breath was fragrant, sweet and enveloping him like a net. His pale face instantly regained color, turning a faint pink. The corners of his mouth curled up reservedly, and his eyes shone with an uncontrollable light, but he pretended to be fierce and said, "Is it fun to tease me? Do you need a beating?"
Luo Zhiheng glared at him, then weakly grabbed his ears and scolded, "You got a good deal from me and you're still acting innocent? I'm the progenitor, how dare you mess with me?"
Mu Yunhe's slender eyes narrowed with laughter, their bright light bursting out and scattering onto Luo Zhiheng's small face. The two of them laughed together like fools.
"Why are you suddenly asking me this question so seriously? Did something happen? It's okay, I'm alive again. Tell me what's wrong, and I'll get revenge for you." Luo Zhiheng stroked Mu Yunhe's head with a roguish look, as if she were petting a dog.
Mu Yunhe's face darkened on one side. He pinched her cheek and said fiercely, "Why didn't you keep yourself pure before? You dared to flirt with other women all day long. You have a bad reputation. Which woman with a bit of beauty in the capital hasn't been touched by you? How can I be at ease now? Luo Zhiheng, how could your life be so extravagant in the past? If we had met earlier, I would have taken you in long ago and let's see if you would still be causing trouble for others."
Luo Zhiheng chuckled: "Oh my, you're quite magnanimous, with a heart that can save all living beings! But why do I smell a sour odor in the air? Grandpa, are you jealous? Oh my, this aged vinegar tastes different, it's so sour!"
Chapter 1 complete. One more chapter to go today. Keep up the good work! Please vote, leave comments, and join the monthly ticket group! Mwah!
419 Grandparents and grandchildren meet! (Bonus chapter for Alliance Leader 520)
Updated: 2013-11-03 20:53:56 Word Count: 3428
Mu Yunhe was momentarily dazed, watching Luo Zhiheng talk and laugh like this, still able to banter with him as before. He suddenly felt as if he were in another world. Then, a faint, elusive fear rose in his heart; he really had almost lost her.
"Aheng, you can't be like before, lying in bed like a doll, ignoring me and not laughing or joking anymore. I'm really scared. You promised we'd always be together, you'd always be with me." Mu Yunhe buried his face in Luo Zhiheng's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek, and complained childishly.
A deep melancholy filled Luo Zhiheng's eyes; this time, she had truly frightened Mu Yunhe. He would tremble with unease whenever he was with her. In the blink of an eye, however, her eyes crinkled with laughter. She patted his bouncy bottom and teased, "Don't worry, I'm yours in life and in death. I can't escape. I'm sticking with you." Yunheng remained silent.
Mu Yunhe shifted his body awkwardly, looking up at her. He possessed a powerful inner strength and a beautiful exterior, ruthless and domineering, yet he held a unique and pure heart towards Luo Zhiheng. This was Mu Yunhe; he could be ruthless to everyone, but not to Luo Zhiheng.
"Don't get yourself into trouble. Can you take responsibility for the consequences of seducing me?" Mu Yunhe said through gritted teeth, grabbing Luo Zhiheng's flailing hand and biting it hard.
Luo Zhiheng chuckled at his teasing, but after a while she suddenly asked, "Why are you suddenly asking me about my past?"
"Because the old witch used your past infatuation with a girl to provoke me..." Mu Yunhe blurted out without thinking, but he froze halfway through, looking nervously at Luo Zhiheng's narrowed eyes and ambiguous smile. Mu Yunhe quickly lowered his eyes as if he had done something wrong, not daring to look at her.
Luo Zhiheng gritted her teeth and said slowly, "Speak up, what old witch? Why are you bringing up the past to provoke me? A hero doesn't dwell on past glories! I haven't even mentioned my past achievements yet, so what right does this old witch have to talk about them?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunhe's face contorted with rage as he said, "Glory? You consider what you did back then as glorious?"
Luo Zhiheng laughed loudly, lightly lifting Mu Yunhe's chin, and said flirtatiously, "I love seeing you so distracted and jealous of me. Don't worry, what happened back then is in the past. I only love you now, and I don't remember anything from the past."
Of course she didn't remember. The past didn't belong to her, Luo Zhiheng, but to the previous Luo Zhiheng; it had nothing to do with her. From the very beginning, her body and soul belonged to Mu Yunhe.
Mu Yunhe's expression brightened, but pressed by Luo Zhiheng, he had no choice but to say casually, "She's not anyone important, just the mother of the King of the World."
Luo Zhiheng was startled: "The empress of that country that holds the 'World's Greatest Talent Contest'?! What's she doing here? Is she here to see the King?"
"No, she's here to cause trouble, but that person is really annoying and very troublesome. She was very rude to me before and said she would kill me. Does Aheng want to see her?" Mu Yunhe spared no effort in trying to sow discord among the Empress, determined not to let her have her way.
Luo Zhiheng shook her head, her expression indifferent. "A boring old woman, why would I see her? But the fact that she can make things difficult for you is befitting of the King's mother. She's just as arrogant and domineering as I am." Recalling her first meeting with the King, Luo Zhiheng added with a cold snort, "Just as repulsive!"
Mu Yunhe felt comfortable and hugged Luo Zhiheng, humming sweetly, "I don't want to be bored anymore, Aheng, go to sleep obediently and give me a kiss. I've suffered a lot these past two days."
Old witch, you've made me unhappy, so why shouldn't I make you unhappy too? You want to reunite with Aheng, but I'll make sure it's not so easy for you. I can't wait to see Aheng see you and see the look of disgust on his face. Will you be heartbroken?
Two more days passed. Mu Yunhe would work hard to repair his soul while Luo Zhiheng was asleep, and Luo Zhiheng also recovered quickly after these few days of recuperation. Finally, today, she was approved by Madam Huoyun to be seen by others.
So, Mr. Tong and the others took turns coming in to see Luo Zhiheng. Their faces were filled with genuine concern and worry, which deeply moved Luo Zhiheng. During her most difficult time, so many loyal friends were there to help and support her. Regardless of the reasons, these people were truly worthy of being called friends.
Yu'er sat by her bedside with tears in her eyes, rambling on and on. Murong Qianxue kept interrupting her, but she couldn't stop Yu'er's incoherent speech. Luo Zhiheng listened with a smile, as if she really just took it as a joke. But Murong Qianxue always felt that Luo Zhiheng would never be so silly.
Sure enough, after sending Yu'er away, Luo Zhiheng spoke up: "While I was injured and unconscious, was Sun Yunjun there?"
Murong Qianxue immediately laughed gleefully: "You attracted this woman yourself. I bet she'll come over tonight as soon as she finds out you're presentable. You're just a pretty face with a nose and eyes, nothing more than anyone else, so how did you become such a heartthrob? And with both men and women. Look at the men and women who like you, tsk tsk, they're all so devoted to you."
Luo Zhiheng did not hide the truth about Murong Qianxue and Sun Yunyun. Sun Yunyun's behavior this time also surprised and troubled Luo Zhiheng: "Who knew that at the time it was just for fun, and it was only out of necessity to win the competition? I never thought it would leave such a big hidden danger for the future. Although Sun Yunyun is a bit cold, she is not a bad person. It's my fault for lying to her back then. I really didn't expect that she would take my claim that I was a man seriously."
"You can't blame anyone else for this. Your husband, the high priest, is very shrewd. How could he tolerate Sun Yunyun? If he hadn't been so busy lately, still looking after you, and seeing that Sun Yunyun is well-behaved and treats you well, he probably would have already taken action to eliminate this person who has his eyes on you. What do you plan to do?" Murong Qianxue laughed for a while, then realized that this was a problem.
Sun Yunyun is the daughter of a Duke, a woman of noble birth. Although Luo Zhiheng isn't afraid of Sun Yunyun, she still needs to handle the situation carefully. Besides, Sun Yunyun isn't a bad person and genuinely cares for Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng seems unable to bring herself to be ruthless towards Sun Yunyun, but if the Duke finds out what Luo Zhiheng and Sun Yunyun said and truly believes Luo Zhiheng is a man, then such rumors will be detrimental to Luo Zhiheng. 17857282
"Let me think about it. In any case, I can't be too harsh on Sun Yunyun. After all, she's innocent." Luo Zhiheng smiled bitterly, then suddenly asked, "Is there an old witch in the General's Mansion?"
Murong Qianxue's expression changed. The ancestors had repeatedly warned her not to reveal this matter. Luo Zhiheng's other identity was far too valuable; who would dare speak of it lightly? Moreover, they didn't know Luo Zhiheng's views on that identity. They didn't want Luo Zhiheng to leave the Mu Dynasty. Losing Luo Zhiheng would be a loss for the Mu Dynasty, but if she left, she would inevitably take Mu Yunhe with her, which wouldn't just be a loss, but a disaster.