Luo Zhiheng opened her mouth, rolling her eyes inwardly: Your Majesty, your comprehension is too strong. Why don't you say that Pigsy and Monkey fell in love and had a son, Tang Sanzang, delivered by the maid Sha Wujing?
“Is that really the case, young master? I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless. How could a child not love his mother? It’s just that I was powerless to protect you back then, and you’ve never felt your mother’s love. But you really love me, so please don’t resent His Majesty. What happened back then is a long story.” The wet nurse said emotionally.
Luo Zhiheng remained silent, and they took her two sentences as a tacit agreement. Unconsciously, Her Majesty the Empress's feelings for Luo Zhiheng reached a new level, and she even regretted what she had done all these years. How could she have listened to that scoundrel Qin Yinxian? If she had come out to look for Qin Yinheng earlier, or even if she had had a slight suspicion that Qin Yinheng was still alive, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
The Empress liked Luo Zhiheng, and regardless of whether Luo Zhiheng was her granddaughter, she adored the child. Luo Zhiheng, through her demeanor and the strange connections they made, subtly made a very good impression on the naturally suspicious Empress.
Perhaps because she liked Luo Zhiheng's personality, the Empress softened her tone and made a plea with a hint of sadness: "Good child, will you take me to see the dowry? Please understand that I am an old man of over 130 years old. Please let me know something on my mind. No matter what the outcome is, no matter if you are my descendant or not, I will never make things difficult for you or anyone you care about."
Upon hearing the Empress's age, Luo Zhiheng almost fell off the bed. Her voice sounded like that of a 130-year-old woman who was actually a young woman... or an old monster? Wiping away her cold sweat, she finally relented and agreed to her request.
When Luo Zhiheng's fingers and blood opened the door to the secret chamber, when the dazzling golden light suddenly appeared, when the magnificent golden dowry appeared before her eyes, Luo Zhiheng saw the noble Empress beside her with a face cracked with grief and ecstasy, her eyes moist!
"These are from the Silver Moon Kingdom! They are the dowry that the Empress and I prepared for Heng'er! If I remember correctly, this box contains three sets of wedding dresses, all of which the Empress embroidered stitch by stitch for Heng'er before he was born, made by hand." Her Majesty the Empress was very excited, even staggering slightly as she rushed to the dowry, trembling as she stroked the smallest piece of gold, murmuring to herself.
Luo Zhiheng sat on the soft cushion, her pale face appearing somewhat ethereal under the golden light. Looking at the dowry, she suddenly lost the joy she had felt before about becoming a rich woman.
She had initially intended this wealth for her retirement, treating it merely as money. But today, seeing these dowry items—the extravagantly luxurious gold chests and their contents—and learning that they were all meticulously prepared by a father for his daughter, Luo Zhiheng suddenly felt an intense sense of guilt.
She felt despicable. How could she have ever had the audacity to possess other people's things? Even though she was now the owner of this body, she was still a female bandit of the Republic of China. She hadn't fulfilled her filial duties or made any contributions to the family, so what right did she have to enjoy the wealth left by the family's ancestors and mother?
Luo Zhiheng, where is your conscience? Where is your moral bottom line?
Looking down at her hands, Luo Zhiheng suddenly smiled, her eyes clear. Thankfully, she hadn't woken up too late. What wasn't hers, she wouldn't touch. If she couldn't treat it as wealth, she'd keep it as a memento. This dowry was overflowing with a father's love for his daughter, and deeply imbued with a mother's heart for her daughter!
"Zhiheng, you are my grandson, the legitimate grandson of my Silver Moon Kingdom! Your grandmother owes your mother a debt. She was forced to live among the common people, and your grandmother didn't even get to see your mother get married or see you born. Your mother was very good. She gave birth to an excellent child, an excellent child..." Her Majesty the Empress seemed to have aged many years in an instant. It was unclear whether she was speaking to Luo Zhiheng or to herself, but the regret and sorrow in her words were obvious.
The empress's hand, which was reaching for the dowry, suddenly stopped. She looked up, her eyes red, and said resolutely, "Zhiheng, come back to our country with me!"
422 Adorably charming the Empress Dowager! A mysterious person sneaks in at night to plot something!
Updated: 2013-11-05 13:14:44 Word Count: 7727
Her Majesty the Empress's words came abruptly but were exceptionally resolute. Her gaze toward Luo Zhiheng was filled with deep remorse and joy. Perhaps it was truly a matter of blood ties, but even the Empress herself had to admit that she loved Luo Zhiheng too much, almost causing the child's death. Although the Empress's regret and fear came late, they were also exceptionally intense.
With her daughter gone, her lover gone, and only this bloodline remaining, the Empress, given her personality, would absolutely not allow Luo Zhiheng to continue living among the common people.
The Empress also had her own thoughts about Qin Yinheng's other two children. Luo Zhiwu, after all, was a boy who had lived in the secular world for so long, was already accustomed to everything, and had deeply ingrained plans to marry and have children. Sending Luo Zhiwu back to Silver Moon Kingdom was not a good idea. Of course, if Luo Zhiwu was willing to return, she would be more than happy to oblige.
However, Luo Ningshuang...
Regardless of the truth behind this child, the fact that her birth led to the death of her daughter meant the Empress loathed the child. However, in the Silver Moon Kingdom, a girl was equivalent to a boy in the human world—the offspring who continued the family bloodline, the foundation. Therefore, even though she disliked Luo Ningshuang, and even though her investigation revealed many strange behaviors related to Luo Ningshuang, the Empress still wanted to see Luo Ningshuang and even bring her back to the kingdom.
But this child doesn't seem to be as weak and easily bullied, kind and innocent as she appears. Luo Zhiheng's childhood experiences seem to have been arranged and designed. Young Luo Ningshuang had no one to protect her and was not favored. On the surface, she seemed to live a very lowly life, but in reality, she lived a smooth and successful life. This child has a calmness and intelligence that is different from ordinary people. At a young age, she knew how to keep a low profile and protect herself. There were many people around her who were manipulated by people with bad intentions. She herself is not simple.
But what puzzled the Empress was how Luo Ningshuang, a powerless and penniless girl, could wield such power and influence. How could she command so many people to speak well of her and treat her kindly? Many of Luo Ningshuang's actions were strange, as if she were manipulating something.
The Empress had doubts in her heart, so she was even more determined to see Luo Ningshuang. She needed to find out what kind of existence this child really was, what kind of person she was beneath her seemingly calm exterior, and what she had done in secret that even the spies of the Silver Moon Kingdom couldn't find out?
Of course, Her Majesty the Empress confirmed one thing: Luo Ningshuang had hurt Luo Zhiheng when she was young.
The childhood of these two twin sisters was filled with scheming, jealousy, intrigue, and struggle. Luo Ningshuang was in control of everything, while Luo Zhiheng was the arrogant yet extremely naive victim, usually used as a pawn. The good reputation belonged to Luo Ningshuang, and the bad reputation belonged to Luo Zhiheng.
Her Majesty the Empress unexpectedly thought of her twin daughters, the two women who were known to the world as the "Emperors of the World." Hadn't they also experienced everything that Luo Zhiheng and Luo Ningshuang had gone through? Both were born of the same mother, both were twins, and both were just one step away from having everything, but missed out on everything simply because they were born later.
So, did her King Shi also experience sorrow? Did he also feel anger? Did he also resent the unfairness of fate? Perhaps he did, but Qin Yinshi never did anything against her conscience, never schemed against her twin sister like Luo Ningshuang did. On the contrary, Qin Yinxian has been suppressing King Shi for so many years.
The King is very good, truly very good. Only then did the Empress realize that her daughters and granddaughters, whom she had always neglected, were actually the most outstanding, far better than Qin Yinxian, who, having gained everything, began to scheme to eliminate dissidents and even kill her own family.
The wet nurse was excited. She had memories of the Silver Moon Kingdom and always felt that it was a regret that she could never return to her hometown. But unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. The young prince had inadvertently offended the empress, which gave them the unexpected joy of being able to recognize their ancestors and return to their homeland in glory.
"Little master, please nod! We can finally go home!"
Luo Zhiheng, however, showed no joy. Instead, she frowned slightly, realizing that what she had imagined had indeed happened. This empress seemed to be the kind of person who wouldn't easily give up once she made up her mind.
“You said before that you wouldn’t make things difficult for me, regardless of whether I am Qin Yinheng’s daughter or not,” Luo Zhiheng said, frowning.
The Empress walked up to Luo Zhiheng and slowly knelt down. This was the first time the Empress had the opportunity and energy to seriously look at Luo Zhiheng, and it was also the first time the Empress had truly seen the child's face. After seeing her, Her Majesty the Empress smiled gently, feeling a little awkward, wanting to touch her face but not daring to. Her eyes held a faint smile mixed with endless longing and surprise.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly remembered that the seemingly beautiful and dignified young woman in front of her was actually over 130 years old...
Seeing an old man treated so awkwardly and cautiously, Luo Zhiheng, a usually fierce bandit, felt a rare pang of pity.
Slowly taking the Empress's hand and placing it on her face, Luo Zhiheng didn't mind acting cute and obedient as long as it made her feel comfortable. She smiled innocently and said, "So you've confirmed my identity now, haven't you?"
The Empress's brows furrowed with obvious excitement and elation, her hand resting on Luo Zhiheng's jade-like face even trembling. She nodded vigorously, her voice joyful: "It's confirmed! It's all my fault for being careless before. Why didn't I take a good look at your face? Although I don't know what you looked like when you were little, I'm very familiar with your features. You really do look very similar to your maternal grandfather, but you have much more of a gentle charm than him. If you said you weren't his bloodline, who would believe it?"
Luo Zhiheng's maternal grandfather was the son of a military family in the Silver Moon Kingdom. His appearance was not particularly charming; in the Silver Moon Kingdom, he could only be considered above average in terms of looks. However, it was such a man who was chosen by Her Majesty the Empress to be her empress, and that man was once the object of admiration for countless women in the Silver Moon Kingdom.
In the Silver Moon Kingdom for thousands of years, only that man had ever been to the battlefield; only that man possessed an irresistible charm that captivated all who looked at him; and only that man could wear a smile despite his scarred body. He was delicate by nature, yet he shouldered the burden of his family for his mother.
Luo Zhiheng winked mischievously, feigning melancholy: "Wouldn't it make you grieve every day if you had to face this face all the time? Wouldn't that be my fault?"
"How could that be? Seeing you warms my heart. It only makes me happier to see the face I've been longing for day and night." The Empress shook her head and smiled.
“Your Majesty, the young master looked exactly like the princess when he was little,” the wet nurse said softly from the side.
A seemingly casual remark caused the Empress's expression to change drastically. She looked up at her wet nurse in shock, her eyes filled with deep fear and hesitation, which quickly transformed into profound mockery and despair. When she looked at Luo Zhiheng, her gaze seemed to pass through her, directed at someone else entirely. She murmured sadly, "I should have realized this sooner. Someone who doesn't resemble me could resemble someone else. Heng'er's appearance doesn't resemble either me or the Empress. She was too young then; how could she have truly discerned anything? Only today, seeing Zhiheng's face, have I suddenly realized... If only I hadn't been so foolish back then..."
Luo Zhiheng had no idea what had happened back then, but the deep sorrow on the wet nurse's body and the profound guilt and self-blame in the Empress's eyes made Luo Zhiheng feel very depressed.
She smiled and comforted him, "Let bygones be bygones. Those who are still alive should look forward. I think if Mother were still alive, she would not blame you. Fate has arranged things this way, and no one can be blamed. Moreover, the fact that Mother was able to have my brother and then give birth to me and Luo Ningshuang so many years later shows that Mother and Father had a very good relationship. It seems that Mother was happy and content all these years in the countryside. To be able to live a simple yet happy life is the most beautiful blessing from God, something that many people can only dream of in their entire lives."
"Zhiheng is right. But I will absolutely not let your mother's matter go unpunished. Your grandfather died tragically, and your mother must have suffered a lot over the years. And you, because of my recklessness, almost died at my hands. These were all man-made, and I cannot fail to give you an explanation. It is called magnanimity to be understanding towards the living, but it is selfishness not to give an explanation to the dead. I will not disregard the truth to protect that beast Qin Yinxian!" The Empress spoke resolutely. This was the first time she had spoken of Qin Yinxian in front of Luo Zhiheng, even calling him a beast, showing that the anger she had been suppressing was finally out of control.
Luo Zhiheng was secretly pleased. Qin Yinxian... wasn't he just a beast? Fine, she'd deal with the beast; she'd love to watch.
"So you must come back with me, and you must watch with your own eyes as I avenge your grandfather, mother, and you!" The Empress's words caused Luo Zhiheng to become conflicted again.
"Can I not go back? I feel very happy and content here. My friends and family are here. Although Silver Moon Kingdom is my ancestral home, it is a foreign place to me. Even if I go there, I won't find any sense of belonging. Grandmother, can you understand your grandson?" Luo Zhiheng's soft voice trembled slightly at the end, her bright eyes filled with grievance and longing. She grasped the Empress's hands and clasped them together in her palms, unleashing her trump card.
Mu Yunhe once said that Aheng's coquettishness is unmatched. Even the most hard-hearted person would surrender upon seeing Aheng's coquettishness. Aheng is a female demon who specializes in bewitching people's hearts.
The empress was of extremely high status, and because of her long years of sadness and melancholy, she appeared cold and ruthless. No one dared to get close to her, and no one dared to act coquettishly or say no in front of her. Therefore, the empress never experienced what true family affection was like.
Others might not dare, but Luo Zhiheng did. She dared to commit murder and robbery, and she came from the Republic of China, an era far more progressive and open than feudal society, where the Empress was treated as an elder rather than an emperor, and she spoke softly and acted freely.
The Empress's heart softened inexplicably. Although her attitude had become much gentler due to her emotional outburst, her imposing presence remained. Yet, this coquettish Luo Zhiheng truly made one want to cherish her to the bone. A little flustered, a little startled, Luo Zhiheng was a strange creature—soft, sweet, and rare. Her ancient heart finally began to realize, "This is my granddaughter, a little child of my grandchild generation." Thinking of this, the Empress dared not unleash her domineering aura any longer, for fear of disturbing this soft, hard-won little one.
And what did this child call her? Grandmother!
"Heng'er, do you acknowledge me now?" The Empress's beautiful face seemed to want to smile, but her expression was stiff, almost like she was about to cry.
Luo Zhiheng nodded obediently, her large, misty eyes and pale face made her cheeks look plump and tender from smiling, like a fragile porcelain doll, incredibly cute and precious.
The Empress's heart was a jumbled mess of tenderness; you'll never understand the heart of an old woman. Originally, he intended to mislead the Empress, to persuade her not to force herself to go to the Silver Moon Kingdom. Little did he know that beneath the Empress's strong, dignified, and domineering exterior lay a soft heart yearning for family. Luo Zhiheng's feigned cuteness instantly melted the Empress's heart, touching upon a previously unknown, vulnerable side. In the Empress's mind, the little girl instantly transformed from a potential heir to the throne into a soft, vulnerable child needing protection.
There was a difference of more than 110 years between them, and to the Empress, Luo Zhiheng was just an innocent little child.
"Your Majesty will not force you. Heng'er, you can do whatever you want, as long as you are happy. Your Majesty will not stop you. However, there is one thing: you must go back with Your Majesty. At the very least, we must announce your identity. I want everyone to know that my little grandson has returned. I want all my people to know you, their future master!" The Empress gripped Luo Zhiheng's hand tightly, her words resounding.
It wasn't a momentary impulse; she truly and without hesitation decided that Luo Zhiheng was the heir to her throne!
The wet nurse was so excited that tears streamed down her face. Luo Zhiheng had a silly, innocent smile on her face, but inside she was crying her eyes out. She didn't want to be an old monster like the Empress Shi Wang, who was over a hundred years old and still sitting on the throne, turning herself into a suspicious and ruthless old man. How miserable that would be!
Unfortunately, Luo Zhiheng's inner cries could only remain in her heart. From that day on, there was always this scene in the General's Mansion: the Empress, whom they had previously regarded as a first-degree fear, would be smiling all day long, carrying all kinds of soups and broths in and out of Luo Zhiheng's room, shamelessly saying, "My dear granddaughter, come and try this. This is a certain tonic soup that your royal grandmother specially made for you. You must drink it all to get better."
The cooks in the kitchen were under immense pressure. Her Majesty the Empress was merely supervising, providing a few recipes for the royal cooks from the Silver Moon Kingdom to prepare the food. How did it become that Her Majesty the Empress herself had personally made it? And how could she be so brazen…
Her Majesty the Empress went from being terrified to being a beautiful sight. The murderous aura in the General's Mansion vanished, and for a time, harmony prevailed. Finally, the sun shone.
Yu'er sneaked in, peeking through the door with her little head. When Luo Zhiheng noticed her, she tilted her head and laughed, "A thief came to my house, and he only steals my smiles. As soon as I see the little thief, I can't stop laughing."
Yu'er was taken aback for a moment, then ran in with a big smile, shaking Luo Zhiheng's hand and saying, "What kind of poem is this? It sounds simple and easy to understand. Sister Heng'er specially wrote a poem to praise Yu'er. Yu'er is so happy."
Luo Zhiheng said calmly, "Don't try to evade the question. You've done this so many times, sneaking around like this. Tell me, what's going on?"
Yu'er glanced mysteriously at the door and whispered in Luo Zhiheng's ear, "Your imperial grandmother couldn't stand the public pressure today, so she finally personally prepared a tonic for you. Cough cough, she just burned down the small kitchen. Sister Heng'er, Yu'er is so envious of you. You have a good grandmother. Although she looks scary when she's angry, and she's as stern as Father Emperor when she meets people, she's really good to you. Even though she's a grandmother who came later in life, it's still so enviable."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes lit up with laughter as she pinched Yu'er's chubby little face and said, "Yu'er is my little sister, and my grandmother is also Yu'er's. When Grandmother brings the tonics later, Yu'er can eat them together." 11.
"No way! If you want to eat your tonics, you'll have to eat Her Majesty the Empress's majesty first, or you'll vomit blood. Sister Heng'er, can Yu'er go out and play? Yu'er doesn't know what the Mu Dynasty is really like yet. I've been here for so long and encountered so many things, I've been constantly on edge. Yu'er wants to go out for a walk." Yu'er looked at Luo Zhiheng cautiously, but dared not look her directly in the eye, giving the impression that she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Luo Zhiheng, seemingly oblivious, asked, "Didn't you go there before? Where's Qianxue?"
"Yes, I have been there. Yu'er just wanted to take a few people out to experience it. I didn't want my aunt to come along. You know, my aunt nags me even more than my mother does," Yu'er said angrily.
Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "You can go, but you must bring enough people. If you encounter any problems that you can't solve, just give the young prince's name and come back as soon as possible."
Yu'er laughed with delight, and excitedly jumped up and ran away.
Luo Zhiheng raised an eyebrow and summoned the wet nurse: "You stay with Princess Yu'er and protect her secretly without her noticing."
The wet nurse was in excellent spirits. The young master was out of danger, and Her Majesty the Empress doted on him so much. The wet nurse was overjoyed and looked several years younger. She smiled and followed the others out.
The Emperor's Decree, Huang Ran Yi. Southern Dynasty, Bai Mingyue Royal Palace.
Bai Mingyue, who had been tricked by Mu Yunhe into having no descendants, still survived. However, perhaps out of divine mercy, on their wedding night, he took advantage of Luo Ningshuang's maid, Chunnuan, and raped her right in front of Luo Ningshuang. That time, he became the victim, and Luo Ningshuang was forced into a life of forced widowhood, subjected to daily abuse and beatings by Bai Mingyue, living in a living hell of despair and rage. But at this moment, Chunnuan fainted.
No one would have cared at first, but since Chunnuan was now a concubine, Bai Mingyue deliberately elevated Chunnuan's status to make Luo Ningshuang unhappy. Chunnuan's maid still invited a doctor, and the result was an unexpected and dramatic surprise.
Chunnuan is pregnant!
The concubine of a man who was essentially a eunuch was pregnant!
The news somehow spread like wildfire, causing a sensation throughout the Southern Dynasty. It was as sensational as when Bai Mingyue was castrated and made a eunuch. Could a eunuch impregnate a woman? Of course not, but the eunuch's matchmaker was pregnant, and for at least two months.
Bai Mingyue was shocked upon hearing the news, his face contorting in various expressions. His first thought was, "That shameless slut dared to cheat on me!"
But when he heard the month Chunnuan was pregnant, he was stunned. Sitting on the soft couch with his fingers raised, he did some calculations and his eyes suddenly brightened.
Oh dear, judging from the timing of her pregnancy, it must have been around the time she got married. It's impossible for Chun Nuan to have cheated on him before, since Bai Mingyue deflowered her. It's even less likely afterward. Chun Nuan was with him almost every day. He never hit Chun Nuan, but he made her watch him abuse Luo Ning Shuang every day. The two of them were practically the best partners, one abusing and the other watching. They were practically inseparable.
With that in mind, wasn't this child hers? Bai Mingyue's ecstatic joy was only natural. She had thought she was childless for life, but fate had smiled upon her, and things had taken a turn for the better. Thus, Chunnuan naturally became the darling of the Prince's mansion, and Bai Mingyue finally returned to normal after a few months.
He doted on Chunnuan all day long, protecting her belly like a grandson. This was Bai Mingyue's only offspring in this life, and he had to protect it, he had to protect it!
Chun Nuan had come to hate Luo Ning Shuang. She had been raped by Bai Ming Yue, and Luo Ning Shuang not only didn't help or save her, but even watched and laughed. Chun Nuan, who had been loyal for so many years, was utterly heartbroken. She thought her life was over, but then she suddenly became pregnant. Overjoyed, Chun Nuan thought that having a child to rely on in her old age would be good. This child would be Bai Ming Yue's only child, and regardless of gender, it would prove that Bai Ming Yue had once been with a man, and would only treat the child exceptionally well. With this child, her future would be limitless.
Thinking about it this way, Chunnuan was all smiles and taking care of her pregnancy. But how could Luo Ningshuang bear to see Chunnuan doing well? In Luo Ningshuang's mind, Chunnuan was a traitor who dared to betray her, watching her being abused and beaten every day without helping. Luo Ningshuang wished she could kill Chunnuan.
Now that Chunnuan has a child, and it's that beast Bai Mingyue's child, it's obvious how much Luo Ningshuang hates him.
But ever since Chunnuan became pregnant, Bai Mingyue has stopped abusing her so much. Instead, she spends all her time fussing over that wretched girl. Luo Ningshuang finally had a few days of peace and quiet without being beaten or scolded, so naturally she wouldn't go looking for trouble. She was supposed to have a couple of quiet days to recover properly, but who knew that one night, a mysterious person would suddenly appear in her room.
Luo Ningshuang knew everything about her past life, but she couldn't understand why things had deviated so drastically in this one. She dared not be careless again. Zang Tianwu wasn't by her side, and she couldn't find him anyway; otherwise, she would have already had him kill Bai Mingyue and Chunnuan, those two vile women, and then taken her away. Without any protection, Luo Ningshuang became unusually docile, only watching the newcomer with terror.