After gulping down a few mouthfuls of water, she sat down contentedly by Luo Zhiheng's bedside, snuggling into her arms like a lazy cat and saying, "Sister Heng'er, I feel so happy right now. I haven't felt this happy in the past ten years. I have Auntie, I have you, I have... anyway, I have all of you by my side, loving me and caring for me. You've made me feel all kinds of love besides my mother's love. Sometimes I feel like I have no regrets in this life."
Luo Zhiheng gently patted Yu'er's back as if coaxing a child, but the smile on her lips was stiff. She didn't know what was really going on between Mu Yunjin and Yu'er, but even a fool could guess that Yu'er's current happiness was largely due to Mu Yunjin. If Mu Yunjin had ulterior motives in approaching Yu'er, then Yu'er's current happiness would be matched by her future suffering once she learned the truth.
Mu Yunjin, what exactly are you trying to do? If you really want to get revenge on them by getting close to Yu'er, isn't that a bit unreasonable? Dragging an innocent girl into this because of your own selfishness, don't you think that's too cruel?
"Sister Heng'er, why aren't you saying anything?" Yu'er curiously raised her head and was startled to see the gloom still lingering on Luo Zhiheng's face. "Did Yu'er make you angry, sister?"
"No, how could someone as adorable as Yu'er make me angry? It's just that Yu'er has been away from the Southern Dynasty for too long. If I were your mother, I would definitely miss her terribly. Doesn't Yu'er miss your mother at all?" Luo Zhiheng asked tentatively.
Yu'er's face fell, and she said sullenly, "I miss her, I miss my mother so much."
Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "That's true. You've been separated for so long, you must miss each other. How about this, Yu'er, go back to the Southern Dynasty to visit, and come back after a while."
Yu'er suddenly looked up and widened her eyes, which instantly filled with tears. Her tearful appearance was truly pitiful. She tugged at Luo Zhiheng's sleeve and asked cautiously, "Sister Heng'er, are you going to send Yu'er away? Does Sister not like Yu'er anymore?"
Luo Zhiheng wiped away Yu'er's tears and said earnestly, "No, no, what are you thinking? I was just saying that a mother worries when her son travels far away. Your mother only has you as her child. You've been gone for so long, she must be so worried. Although Yu'er is happy now, think about your mother. She might worry that you're freezing in a foreign land because of the winds in the south, and she might not be able to eat because of it. As children, we can't just think about our own happiness; we also need to think about our parents, right?"
Yu'er lowered her head in guilt and said in a low voice after a long while, "It was Yu'er who was selfish. I didn't think about the difficulties that Father and Mother were going through, but... but Yu'er also can't bear to leave my sister, my ancestor, my aunt, and my uncle. Yu'er doesn't want to leave here."
Luo Zhiheng didn't force her, but she said something that struck a chord deep: "Being unable to leave and being reluctant to part are two different things. Being unable to leave means not leaving even though you know you're reluctant, while being reluctant means leaving even though you're reluctant. You're reluctant to leave because you have too many attachments, but who can be with you for a lifetime? Parents can't, sisters can't, friends can't, children can't. In this lifetime, unless you're alone until you grow old, there's only one person who can truly accompany you for a lifetime, and that's your husband."
Yu'er stiffly raised her head, her small face turning from flushed to pale, her pupils constricting, tears falling, looking at Luo Zhiheng with confusion and fear.
Luo Zhiheng felt heartbroken by Yu'er's reaction, but she also saw through Yu'er's thoughts from it. Instantly, she felt a great resentment towards Mu Yunjin. Judging from Yu'er's appearance, Mu Yunjin probably never made any promises to Yu'er or said that he would marry her. Otherwise, Yu'er's reaction to her words should have been shyness and joy, not confusion and fear.
Mu Yunjin, you scumbag!
Luo Zhiheng couldn't bear to see Yu'er go astray, so she pinched her little face and leaned closer to her, saying solemnly, "So, Yu'er, you're reluctant to leave here, is it because you've found someone you can entrust your life to? Or perhaps, has a man confessed his feelings to you and promised to marry you?"
Yu'er gasped, all happiness and joy shattering on her face, leaving only deep fear and uncertainty. In a daze, she asked Luo Zhiheng, "Sister Heng'er, do you know something?"
Luo Zhiheng smiled sincerely and flawlessly, affectionately patting Yu'er's hair as she said, "No, I've been there, so I just think that my little sister Yu'er is so pretty and charming, there must be quite a few people who like her. With so many suitors, I'm afraid Yu'er might not understand and go astray. So I'm acting as a wise older sister to give Yu'er a lesson. Can you tell me, Yu'er, do you have someone you like?"
"No, no." Yu'er lowered her head in a panic. She subconsciously didn't want to tell Luo Zhiheng about that person, but she felt guilty and ashamed to lie to Luo Zhiheng.
"No, that's good." Luo Zhiheng dragged out her words, then suddenly laughed, "Look at you like this, it's such a small thing, why are you crying? I'm exhausted just watching you. You should go out and have some fun, I need to rest."
"Oh, then sister, you should rest well. I'll come to see you again tomorrow." Yu'er left absentmindedly.
Luo Zhiheng was far from sleepy. She lay on the bed with her eyes half-closed, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, she jumped out of bed, grabbed some casual clothes, put them on, and went out.
As soon as she reached the front yard, she saw Yu'er hurriedly leave through the gate, without anyone with her. Luo Zhiheng's eyes flickered, her brows furrowed, and she quickly followed.
Yu'er went to a private room in the teahouse, while Luo Zhiheng went to the room next door, sat down calmly, ordered tea, and waited leisurely. After finishing her second cup of tea, she heard voices coming from the next room. Luo Zhiheng put down her teacup and walked quietly to the wall. Her handsome features hardened instantly upon hearing the voices from next door.
"Why are you in such a hurry to find me? Didn't I tell you that you can only come out to see me when I look for you?" The cold voice was filled with impatience, which anyone could hear, but Yu'er seemed not to have noticed it before.
But at this moment, Yu'er was already panicked. Luo Zhiheng's words were like a knife hanging over her head, finally bringing her back to reality from her confused and delighted state of love. She finally realized how outrageous her previous mistakes had been. She had only been focused on being happy for the man who had expressed his feelings for her, forgetting to ask why he liked her and where he wanted to go with her.
Yu'er looked closely at his face, which was still the same face that had made her heart flutter that day. She bit her lip, feeling both shy and nervous. Her hands and feet went weak, and she asked in a low voice, "What do you like about me?"
Chapter 1 complete! There will be more updates today, please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group chat kisses!
430 Yun Jin's Conspiracy! A Cruel Story to Be Seen!
Updated: 2013-11-10 13:16:00 Word Count: 7674
Yu'er's soft voice, tinged with an unknown sadness, trembled slightly as it echoed in the room.
Mu Yunjin had never seen Yu'er like this before. In just over ten days, he felt he understood Yu'er very well. This girl was simple and straightforward, and she didn't think too deeply about things. She was simply happy. Such a woman was the easiest to control.
From their first meeting, Mu Yunjin sensed that Yu'er liked him, perhaps not deeply, but it was definitely love at first sight. He initially thought this relationship would be troublesome, but a series of unexpected events caught him off guard, so he had no choice but to drag Yu'er into this predicament as well.
His mother was dead, or rather, tragically killed. Whatever the reason, Mu Yunhe's final actions were too cruel, and Luo Zhiheng was an accomplice. He couldn't help but hate these two people. He wanted revenge, but he couldn't get close to them. He had no choice. He wanted to kill them; this thought almost drove him mad. No child could remain indifferent after their mother's tragic death.
He had successfully gotten close to Yu'er, so using her was just around the corner. But today, this girl, whom he had always used as a tool for revenge, actually asked him what he liked about her. What a joke! How could he possibly like her?
Mu Yunjin kept his thin lips pressed together and remained silent, just looking at her with a cold gaze devoid of any emotion.
Yu'er felt only terror. She was naive, but not stupid. Luo Zhiheng's words were like a veil suddenly lifted from her heart, leaving her anxious, fearful, and bewildered. She had thought this man's words of liking her were genuine, but why would someone who liked her have such a cold expression? Wasn't that strange?
"Why aren't you saying anything? Mu Yunjin, you came to me that day and said you liked me and asked me to give you a chance. I agreed. Maybe I was too naive to agree to be with you so easily. But I think it's better to make everything clear. What exactly do you like about me? Can you tell me?" Yu'er asked, her eyes already red.
Mu Yunjin's heart clenched slightly as he thought of his tragically deceased mother. He knew he couldn't act recklessly. He hadn't yet accomplished what he wanted to do, so he absolutely couldn't let go of Yu'er, the only person he could use.
A faint, almost gentle smile appeared on his hardened face. A woman who had never experienced love would be captivated by that smile, but a woman who knew the taste of love would understand how perfunctory and fake it was. Unfortunately, Yu'er had never experienced love, so she was unaware of the cruelty behind that smile. She was mesmerized by it, her eyes and heart captivated.
"Silly girl, do you need a reason to like someone? I like you, it's that simple."
Was this Mu Yunjin's answer? Although it sounded absurd and ridiculous, Yu'er couldn't help but feel her heart pounding. She was extremely nervous and shy. After all, she was a girl who had never experienced sweet words before. Mu Yunjin's slightest gentleness was enough to completely break down Yu'er's psychological defenses.
She lowered her head shyly and murmured, "How can someone like someone without knowing what they like about them? You're lying."
Mu Yunjin chuckled softly, "I'm not lying to you, I just like you. Seeing you makes me feel comfortable, fills me with hope, and allows me to survive in this world that fills me with despair. Yu'er, believe me, you are my only hope now, my only motivation to live. Don't let me lose you, okay?"
The sweet words were so pleasing to the ear that Yu'er couldn't discern the ambiguity and deeper meaning in them; she only felt that her heart was sweeter than if she had eaten honey.
Perhaps what her sister said was just an isolated incident, she thought.
"When will you go to the Southern Dynasty to propose marriage to my father and mother?" Yu'er asked softly.
Mu Yunjin stiffened, her eyes twitching involuntarily. She said, "You're still young, there's no rush. Let's spend some more time together and see. If you still don't dislike me by then, then we can get married."
"Really?" Yu'er looked up suddenly, her big eyes sparkling with joy and happiness.
"Really." Mu Yunjin nodded involuntarily. His hardened heart, which he thought had been consumed by hatred, was momentarily clenched with pain by her bright and gentle eyes. That fleeting pain made him completely ignore it. The flames of hatred burned endlessly within him. He even admired himself; he hated this dynasty so much, loathed it so much, and wanted to kill those people so badly, yet he could still face the girl before him so calmly.
Yu'er was overjoyed, her joy evident on her face. Suddenly, she lowered her head in dejection and said, "But I may have to return to the Southern Dynasty soon. I've been away for too long, and my father and mother must be worried. I can't stay here for long."
Her son's name was Dan Shi Zi. Mu Yun Jin's expression changed. How could she leave! What would happen to his plans if she left?
In a moment of desperation, Mu Yunjin grabbed Yu'er's wrist. This was the most outrageous thing Mu Yunjin had done in the ten days they had spent together; he had always been very proper. He asked urgently, "Why are you suddenly leaving? Stay."
Yu'er was suddenly touched by him, and seeing that even his usually calm face was so tense and his words so urgent, she thought that he cared about her and did not want her to leave, just like herself. The thought of possibly leaving Mu Yunjin made her feel so sad and her heart ached.
"Don't worry, I'm just going back to take a look. I'll try to come back as soon as possible," Yu'er reassured him, her voice sweet and tender.
"No! You can't leave!" Mu Yunjin's voice involuntarily turned gloomy.
"What are you doing? You're hurting me!" Yu'er exclaimed. Her wrist was suddenly squeezed so hard by Mu Yunjin that it hurt terribly. Tears welled up in her eyes. She cried out, "Mu Yunjin, you look so scary!"
Mu Yunjin was struck dumb. She suddenly let go of his hand, suppressing her chaotic emotions and anger. Her eyes were red with tears, and she said softly, "I can't bear to see you leave, Yu'er."
He pulled her into his arms; it was the first time he had ever held her. Her soft body and sweet scent couldn't extinguish the anger in his heart. Something must have gone wrong, otherwise Yu'er wouldn't have left without a reason.
Yu'er's body went limp as she was held in the arms of the man she loved. It was the first time she had been so intimate with a man, and Yu'er's face flushed. Her voice became even sweeter and softer: "Yes, I don't want to leave you either, but Yun Jin, I'm afraid my family will worry. So, could you propose to me sooner? That way, we can stay together forever."
Being a girl, she was still quite nervous and shy saying this.
Mu Yunjin's eyes flickered, and she gave a perfunctory reply, then said, "Yu'er, could you stay a few more days? Don't rush to leave, I... really can't bear to part with you."
Yu'er naturally agreed with great joy, her happy little face beaming with a gentle smile. However, she failed to see the gloom and ruthlessness on Mu Yunjin's face.
"Yu'er, I won't stop you from going back to see your parents, but you won't be able to see them for a long time after you leave. How about we... how about we make a secret engagement first?" Mu Yunjin said in a low voice in Yu'er's ear.
Yu'er was shocked and stared at Mu Yunjin in disbelief, her face flushed: "W-how could you two have made a private engagement?"
Mu Yunjin gently stroked her face with a smile: "It's obviously not enough for just the two of us. Even if we tell others, they might not believe us. Besides, you'll suffer if you elope with me as a concubine. I can't bear to see you suffer even the slightest bit. So our secret engagement absolutely cannot be known only to the two of us. How about we find a witness to be our witness? That way, when I come to propose marriage later, it will go much more smoothly."
Yu'er was overjoyed and naturally agreed: "But who should we ask to be the witness?"
Mu Yunjin seemed to be deep in thought, and said with a troubled expression, "I don't know either. This person must be someone who can speak well to your father and mother, and must have a place in their hearts. But it's best if she's not a family member. After all, if there are any problems between us in the future, wouldn't it hurt our relationship if this witness were caught in the middle and not in the right? Ideally, this person should be capable, shrewd, and someone we can trust. She should also have the wisdom and ability to solve problems. And most importantly, this person should ideally have a good social status. That way, we can have her as a witness when we make our vows, and it won't be shameful to talk about it later, so you won't be put in a difficult position."
"Another point is that this person should ideally also be married and very happy, with a harmonious and loving marriage. Such people are blessed to have someone like this as our witness. Our future life will surely be happy and fulfilling, and we will definitely love each other very much. But where can we find such a person?"
Yu'er pondered deeply. When it came to love and happiness, a person's image truly came to mind. That person seemed to meet all the conditions Mu Yunjin had mentioned. Most importantly, that person was a highly respected figure among her father and mother, and Yu'er herself was extremely talented and capable. More importantly, she held a noble and extraordinary status and was also Yu'er's good friend. If she could witness their happiness, that would truly be a wonderful thing.
Mu Yunjin subtly observed the expression on Yu'er's face, a cold smile flashing across his lips. He knew he had successfully led Yu'er to that point.
"Has Yu'er thought of someone suitable?" Mu Yunjin asked knowingly.
Yu'er's face flushed red as she nodded excitedly, "Yes, I've got it. What do you think, Sister Heng'er?"
Luo Zhiheng, she is wonderful in every way!
Feigning surprise, Mu Yunjin slapped her forehead and chuckled, "How could I have forgotten about her? Well, Luo Zhiheng married Mu Yunhe, and now she's living a happy life, isn't she? And with such a noble status—a descendant of the God of War—that's practically royalty in your Southern Dynasty. I'm sure with her as our witness, your father and mother won't make things too difficult for us. But you know there are some conflicts between me, Luo Zhiheng, and Mu Yunhe. Would she be willing to be our witness?"
Yu'er patted her little chest and assured her, "Sister will agree. I'll go and beg her. She loves me very much, so I won't refuse to help."
"That's the only way. Bring her to Little Sheep Mountain tomorrow. I'll wait for you there. The maple leaves there are at their most beautiful this season. Let's make our vows under such a lovely view, and we'll have a wonderful memory for the rest of our lives. But don't let her know what you're planning to do yet. Once you bring her there, we'll both plead with her together. I'm sure she'll agree," Mu Yunjin said considerately with a smile.
"You're so thoughtful, I understand," Yu'er happily agreed.
"Then let's go back. I'll take you home today." Mu Yunjin considerately helped Yu'er put on her cloak and took her hand.
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered today?" Yu'er asked shyly, tilting her head.
"You're almost my wife, what's there to worry about? Before, I was just worried about what people would say about you. Yu'er, no matter what, I hope you'll be alright." Mu Yunjin's words were slightly meaningful, but Yu'er, lost in tenderness, didn't understand and happily left with Mu Yunjin.
The room next door finally fell completely quiet. Luo Zhiheng slowly lifted her face from the wall, her cheeks already flushed. She walked expressionlessly to the table, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea. The tea had become lukewarm, and it tasted sluggish in her mouth, with a bitter taste spreading across her tongue, leaving an indescribable sense of melancholy.
"Mu Yunjin, how could you be so despicable as to scheme against Yu'er like this? Tomorrow? I'm looking forward to it!" she murmured, slamming the teacup down on the table with a bang, throwing down some silver coins, and then abruptly getting up and leaving.
After leaving the teahouse, Luo Zhiheng walked towards home. Unexpectedly, she ran into Mu Yunjin and Yu'er again. The two of them didn't take a carriage, but instead strolled down the street. Along the way, Yu'er chattered happily like a nightingale, circling around Mu Yunjin. Mu Yunjin responded calmly with a faint smile.
"Isn't this jade pendant beautiful? It's a perfect pair, shall we buy it?" Yu'er held up a pair of jade pendants to Mu Yunjin, her eyes full of hope.
Mu Yunjin didn't hesitate and paid for it. He watched as Yu'er happily tied one jade pendant to his waist, and hung the other around her waist as well. Mu Yunjin's eyes were unfathomable.
They walked and strolled along, but the road in front of them was blocked by a large crowd. Yu'er looked on curiously and saw several tall and strong men shoving a girl dressed in tattered clothes, brandishing knives and threatening the whole family. A child of two or three years old was crying loudly in fear, while the men laughed gleefully, trampling the whole family under their feet.
Yu'er was naive and used to being flamboyant in the palace. Her first meeting with Luo Zhiheng involved fighting. If it weren't for her shyness in front of Mu Yunjin, she wouldn't be such a docile girl. At this moment, however, she couldn't help but shout indignantly, "Stop! How dare you bully others like this in broad daylight! Who are you people?"
The group of men were startled, and those around them immediately moved aside to avoid being misunderstood as meddling. As a result, Yu'er was immediately exposed to the group of menacing men. Mu Yunjin wanted to stop them, but it was too late.
"Hey, this girl's pretty. Why are you meddling in other people's business? Be careful, or I'll drag you over and sell you to a brothel too!" one of the men said fiercely.
Mu Yunjin watched calmly, offering no help or support, which made Yu'er feel inexplicably uneasy. But since she had already spoken up, she couldn't back down, especially since she couldn't stand seeing someone bullying others in broad daylight.
"Outrageous! How dare you so blatantly engage in the despicable act of trafficking the poor right under the Emperor's nose! Do you have no respect for the law? Are you courting death?!" Yu'er roared, her voice full of fierce spirit. A princess's imposing aura is both innate and cultivated, and Yu'er was a master of it.
Her fearless roar and angry glare at them, coupled with her self-righteous demeanor, made it impossible for anyone to figure out her tactics.
The group exchanged glances, and one of them said, "Little girl, this is none of your business. If you know what's good for you, get out of here and stop meddling. Otherwise, no matter who you are, we brothers won't hold back."
“That’s right. This family owes our bank thirty taels of silver, and it’s been two months since they paid it back. According to the previous agreement, we have the right to take their daughter away and sell her. This is what they owe us. We are not lawbreakers. Paying back debts is a matter of course,” another person said with a smile.