However, Luo Zhiheng was prepared and had been on guard. Seeing this, she calmly dodged away, but Mu Yunjin was determined to win and struck Luo Zhiheng's back with a palm.
"Sister, be careful!" Yu'er exclaimed repeatedly.
Unable to turn back, Luo Zhiheng could only run forward frantically. However, her pace was no match for Mu Yunjin's, and due to her injury, she couldn't run fast. Mu Yunjin quickly caught up with her. Seeing that Luo Zhiheng was about to be caught by Mu Yunjin, Yu'er was terrified. Luo Zhiheng was also running with great difficulty, yet Mu Yunjin continued to pursue her relentlessly. In the critical moment, Luo Zhiheng suddenly stopped, turned around sharply, and with a flick of her hand, sprinkled a handful of grayish-white powder onto the unsuspecting Mu Yunjin's face.
"Ah!" Mu Yunjin groaned, stopping all her movements. She subconsciously rubbed her eyes, but suddenly cried out in pain, afraid to move again. She raised her head, her face ashen, and roared at Luo Zhiheng, "Luo Zhiheng, what did you do to me? What is this thing?"
Luo Zhiheng calmly took a few steps back, her face a little pale but her spirits high. Hearing this, she clapped her hands and said unhurriedly, "It's nothing, just a little bit of lime powder. Don't rub it too hard, or you'll go blind. Don't blame me for not warning you."
"You! You truly are the most poisonous woman!" Mu Yunjin roared in exasperation.
Luo Zhiheng sneered: "The most poisonous heart is a woman's? Who are you talking about? It's you, isn't it? Am I as vicious as you? Am I as despicable as you? At least I wouldn't do anything that goes against my conscience or people's hearts, but what have you done? Hmph, using someone who was sincere to you just to get revenge on me. Who do you think is more vicious and despicable between the two of us?"
Mu Yunjin fell silent.
Yu'er scrambled to her feet, grabbing Luo Zhiheng's arm anxiously and asking, "Sister, how are you? Are you alright?"
Luo Zhiheng was very happy that Yu'er could still care about her at such a time. She really couldn't be angry with Yu'er, who was completely unaware of the situation, so she shook her head and smiled, "It's okay, don't worry."
Yu'er lowered her head, her face pale. After a long while, she looked at Mu Yunjin, her eyes filled with deep worry, her hurt evident on her face. She hesitated for a moment before asking, as if she couldn't help herself, "Sister, his face..."
"Yu'er, you still care about him?" Luo Zhiheng was somewhat angry.
Yu'er nodded persistently: "Is there some misunderstanding? Mu Yunjin, what's wrong with you? Were you lying about what you said yesterday? Why did you attack my sister just now? Is there something you can't tell me? Just tell me you were forced to do it, and I won't blame you."
Mu Yunjin clenched her fists, but remained silent for a long time.
Tears welled up in Yu'er's eyes. She took a few deep breaths and walked towards Mu Yunjin, saying softly, "Are your eyes hurting? Let me get you some water to wash them."
Luo Zhiheng couldn't stand it anymore. She didn't want to hurt Yu'er, but Yu'er's behavior was clearly self-deception. If Mu Yunjin were a good man to entrust her life to, she would cheer and celebrate without hesitation, but Mu Yunjin was not!
Luo Zhiheng growled in exasperation, "Yu'er! What's wrong with you? Can't you see Mu Yunjin's true colors by now? Can't you see that he's using you? He hates me and Mu Yunhe, but he can't bring himself to do it, so he's using you to lure me out. Don't you understand?"
Yu'er seemed not to have heard Luo Zhiheng's words, and hurriedly took her handkerchief and walked towards the river.
Luo Zhiheng sighed helplessly and shouted impatiently, "You can't use water! If you use water, his eyes will be ruined."
Yu'er froze abruptly, and when she turned to look at Luo Zhiheng, tears streamed down her face. She stood there, looking wronged and helpless, like a pitiful doll.
Mu Yunjin couldn't see what Yu'er looked like, but he could hear her crying, her soft sobs making him even more anxious. He unconsciously tensed up. His eyes felt as if they were being burned.
Luo Zhiheng felt a headache coming on. How could this simple-minded but stubborn girl be so fixated on Mu Yunjin? She rolled her eyes and said angrily, "He won't die, don't worry about him. Come here, Yu'er, I have something to say to you."
Yu'er silently walked to Mu Yunjin's side, then carefully took Mu Yunjin's hand and said to Luo Zhiheng, "Sister, I believe in Yunjin. I think he must have some unspeakable reason for treating you that way. Please forgive him, okay?"
Luo Zhiheng was stunned.
Mu Yunjin froze, his mind a turmoil of emotions. Perhaps when he decided to use Yu'er, this naive scheme was doomed to fail, because Mu Yunjin wasn't someone who could truly be ruthless enough to harm his family. But he was genuinely angry and didn't know how to vent his anger, which led him to such an extreme reaction.
Yu'er herself was a calm and pure person. After spending just over ten days with Yu'er, Mu Yunjin felt a sense of peace. The brief moments he spent with Yu'er each day were the most peaceful moments for Mu Yunjin, without irritability, heartache, or despair.
It's impossible not to be moved that Yu'er still so firmly said she believed in him.
But Luo Zhiheng thought Yu'er had gone completely mad. Pointing her finger at Yu'er's nose, she breathed heavily and said, "Silly girl, didn't you see what he just did and what he said? I don't want you to be sad, but this is a fact right in front of you, and you can't deceive yourself. He doesn't love you, he's using you, Yu'er, what do you still like about such a scumbag?"
Yu'er hurriedly shook her head, grabbing Mu Yunjin's hand and asking in a tearful voice, "That's not how it is. Yunjin, tell your sister that you like me. You were just acting on impulse, or maybe there's some misunderstanding? Yunjin, say something! Speak up!"
"Since you don't believe me, let me tell you what Mu Yunjin is really thinking. Your so-called liking is just an illusion Mu Yunjin gave you. He doesn't love you, he doesn't even like you. He's just using you. He understands our relationship, so he tries every means to get close to you. He knows you have feelings for him, so he doesn't hesitate to use your feelings to deceive you. Then he uses all sorts of lies and conspiracies to bring me out, and then take advantage of my illness to kill me and avenge his mother."
"He did it flawlessly and efficiently. There's only one fool among you who was used and deceived by him, just like now. I'm afraid you're no longer of any use to him. Mu Yunjin's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, Yu'er. Do you understand now? Open your eyes and take a good look." Luo Zhiheng said sternly.
Yu'er's face was deathly pale. She shook her head, crying. The light in her eyes was shattering, her hope was dashed, and her beautiful fantasies were crumbling. She went from being pure and transparent to being riddled with wounds in an instant. Yet, she still clung to the last glimmer of hope and asked Mu Yunjin, "Yunjin, it's not what my sister said, is it?"
Their feelings for each other had not yet deepened to the point of being inseparable forever, but Yu'er was simple-minded and stubborn, and once she set her mind on something, she would not easily give up. She had fallen in love with Mu Yunjin at first sight, and in just over ten days, Yu'er had tasted the sweetness of love, so naturally she was unwilling to let go.
Perhaps she knew the filth and depravity involved, but her courage faltered at this moment. She couldn't describe the feeling, but she really didn't want to let go, because letting go would inevitably destroy the love she cherished.
Mu Yunjin remained stiff and motionless, her lips seemingly burned and solidified by the lime. She spoke slowly and stiffly, each word shattering Yu'er's last hope: "It's just as she said. I was merely using you. How ridiculous, a princess of a nation, so foolish, manipulated by me. How utterly boring."
Yu'er's pupils contracted, and she slowly released Mu Yunjin's hand, staring at him in disbelief. She bit her lip hard, holding back her tears, and after a long while, she asked in a hoarse voice, "Did you ever like me even a little bit? Even if it was just for a moment?"
Mu Yunjin coldly replied, "No!"
Yu'er closed her eyes, letting tears slide down her face. She looked lifeless and dejected amidst the maple leaves. She walked towards Luo Zhiheng and passed by her without stopping.
Looking at Yu'er's dejected figure, Luo Zhiheng's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Mu Yunjin: "You are truly the most despicable, shameless, and vile man I have ever met!"
Mu Yunjin's voice was cold and hard, with a slight tremor that Luo Zhiheng couldn't detect: "You are the most despicable, cruel, and heartless woman I have ever met! Isn't she your good friend? How could you bear to expose me to my face? You are the one who pushed her from happiness to pain."
"You two-faced beast, not exposing you would only harm Yu'er. If you have a problem, just come at me. Why drag innocent Yu'er into this? Is it really hereditary? Your mother was selfish and ruthless. Did you inherit her viciousness and cruelty?" Luo Zhiheng said sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Mu Yunjin suddenly roared, her emotions running high. "No matter how many faults my mother had, you shouldn't have chopped her up and fed her to the dogs! No matter how wrong she was, she was still my mother. Did you have any conscience when you did this? What kind of person would be so cruel as to chop someone up and feed her to the dogs? Luo Zhiheng, shouldn't you die? Mu Yunhe, shouldn't you die?"
"We all deserve to die, but your mother deserves to live, right? Your mother is an elder, so we, the younger generation, should all be polite to her and indulge her, right? What about the Princess Consort? Isn't the Princess Consort an elder too? Does the Princess Consort deserve to die just because she made a mistake? Have you ever respected the Princess Consort? Have you ever properly honored the Princess Consort? Logically and emotionally speaking, the Princess Consort is your legitimate mother, yet you neglect her for a concubine who is equivalent to a mistress. Is that acceptable?" Luo Zhiheng questioned angrily.
Mu Yunjin paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said, "But the princess died peacefully, while my mother died so tragically."
Luo Zhiheng rubbed her forehead. Mu Yunjin had completely gone down a dead end. If that was the case, then what else was there to say?
"Since that's what you think, then I have nothing more to say. But I'm warning you, because you are Mu Yunhe's own brother, we won't kill you all, but you'd better behave yourself. If you do anything disrespectful again, believe me, I can make sure you disappear from this world completely. Since you miss your mother so much, why don't you go and be with her?" Luo Zhiheng's sinister and sarcastic words severely provoked Mu Yunjin.
"Don't be arrogant. Even if I can't kill you all, I'll still make you suffer," Mu Yunjin said viciously.
"Are you going to keep targeting the people around me? Mu Yunjin, can you be any more childish? Are you still the same Mu Yunjin you used to be?" Luo Zhiheng laughed through gritted teeth.
Mu Yunjin's voice was hoarse: "The past is dead, killed by you and Mu Yunhe. Luo Zhiheng, I did hate you before, and I really wanted to kill you, but later I felt that you weren't so bad. But you showed me your cruel side. You could watch my mother being hanged. Do you know the pain I feel as her son? She was my own mother. How could I not be sad? How could I not resent you? You stand on the side of justice and truth, so what you did is perfectly justified. Does that mean we have to stand on the side that deserves to die? Luo Zhiheng, are you being fair?"
Mu Yunjin didn't say that the budding feelings he had for Luo Zhiheng were still fresh in his mind. He thought he might have liked Luo Zhiheng back then, but before he could even feel alarmed or afraid that this abnormal feeling was wrong or immoral, Luo Zhiheng shattered it with her own hands.
He has no son. How can he still like the executioner who killed his mother? How can he still cherish the memory of an accomplice who participated in the dismemberment and feeding of his mother to the dogs?
No one could understand Mu Yunjin's bitterness. All his misfortunes stemmed from having a mother who committed countless evil deeds. However, he had no choice in choosing his mother, and as a son, he could not remain indifferent to his mother's tragic death.
All his hopes for Luo Zhiheng vanished like bubbles. Shattered, Mu Yunjin loathed himself even more. In his extreme darkness, he only thought of revenge. Using Yu'er was initially ruthless, but with each encounter, Mu Yunjin felt increasingly dark, ugly, and despicable. But there was no turning back; he had no other choice. Only today, with Yu'er's tears and departure, did Mu Yunjin suddenly feel a pang of heartache. But he no longer had the energy to investigate the source or name of that pain.
Luo Zhiheng fell silent. Yes, these things were unfair to Mu Yunjin, and they shouldn't have taken their anger out on Mu Yunjin because of Li Fangfei. But Mu Yunjin herself had problems, and now she was shifting the blame onto others. This made Luo Zhiheng think very poorly of Mu Yunjin's character.
Mu Yunhe and Mu Yunjin are brothers, of the same lineage but from different mothers, yet their differences are worlds apart.
Luo Zhiheng had never intended to kill Mu Yunjin. After learning the true nature of Prince Mu's ruthlessness, and knowing that it was caused by drugs, she no longer felt so disgusted and repulsed by the father and son.
"Regardless of who was right or wrong, those things are in the past, so why are you still holding onto them? I won't hurt you because you are Mu Yunhe's brother. Mu Yunhe may not say it, but he values this brotherhood. The fact that you two can be brothers is more important than anything else. I won't tell Mu Yunhe about this either. I just hope you can see the error of your ways and stop making mistakes. You've already hurt Yu'er. Not everyone can be as devoted to you as Yu'er. At least your mother, she couldn't do anything for you like Yu'er did."
"Mu Yunjin, you have a heart too. Can't you feel Yu'er's sincerity towards you? Ask yourself honestly, is it worth hurting the lovely and warm-hearted Yu'er for the sake of your mother? Does your wicked mother deserve to exchange Yu'er's sincere feelings for her?" Luo Zhiheng earnestly advised.
She didn't want Yu'er and Mu Yunjin to be together, but she wanted Mu Yunjin to wake up and stop going crazy.
Mu Yunjin remained silent. His failed plot, due to his own lack of resolve for revenge and the unexpected appearance of Yu'er, had brought his plan to an abrupt end. He wasn't deaf to Luo Zhiheng's words; he simply felt embarrassed.
Luo Zhiheng neither tried to persuade him nor made things difficult for him. It was better to leave him alone to think things through quietly.
Sensing that Luo Zhiheng was about to leave, Mu Yunjin blurted out in her haste, "You found out about my affair with Yu'er a long time ago, and you secretly warned her, didn't you?"
Stopping in her tracks, Luo Zhiheng said, "Yes. I know you have ulterior motives. I warned Yu'er, but that girl is so stubborn. She just can't figure out your purpose and simply thinks you're in love with her. I can't be too direct, but I can't bear to see her sink deeper and deeper, so..."
Mu Yunjin continued Luo Zhiheng's words, "So you made your move! Your words had an effect on Yu'er, making her uneasy. That's why Yu'er came to ask me what I liked about her, and even said she was going to leave the Mu Dynasty. If Yu'er really leaves, my plan can't be implemented. You calculated this and Yu'er's actions, so you used Yu'er to force me to make a move as soon as possible. I made a mistake in my haste and fell into your trap, but you were quick to act and kept me firmly under control."
"Luo Zhiheng, your relentless pursuit and meticulous planning have left no room for error. You are actually more ruthless than me and more adept at winning hearts and minds. You turned my plans of many days into nothing but a joke in the blink of an eye, and you also made Yu'er realize my true colors as soon as possible, allowing her to extricate herself from the situation and become disappointed in me. You are the truly formidable one. You destroyed the relationship that Yu'er and I had built up over ten days without lifting a finger. I cannot outwit you in terms of intelligence, and I admit defeat."
Luo Zhiheng remained calm and composed, slowly turning around with a steady voice: "You're not stupid either, you thought of all this in such a short time. But I also thank you. Your heartless words just now made Yu'er completely give up on you, which proves that you're not so hopelessly bad. At least your conscience is still red. I thank you for not continuing to use Yu'er."
"So, as a reward, you're letting me go this time?" Mu Yunjin asked dejectedly.
"It can't be said that it's all because of Yu'er. As I just said, it's also because of Mu Yunhe. You are brothers. No matter who your mother is, you have the same father. Brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons go to war together! You are the closest of relatives, even if your bones are broken, your tendons are still connected. You can be loyal and devoted to your soldiers and share life and death with them, so why can't you be the same to your own brother? Mu Yunhe has been lonely and isolated since he was a child. Your mother did many things that you don't know about, which led to Mu Yunhe's closed-off and withdrawn personality."
"Mu Yunjin, ask yourself honestly, your mother treated a child like this, almost ruining him. Do you think your mother still deserves sympathy and pity? Put yourself in her shoes. If you had suffered all these things, if the princess had treated you like this, if you had endured the same physical and psychological pain and torment that Mu Yunhe had endured for so many years, without friends, without a loving father, without knowing what the outside world was like, just counting down the days until death, do you think you could have faced it so calmly? Could you have done better than Mu Yunhe?"
"Even later, Mu Yunhe didn't actually lay a hand on your mother, but what did your mother do? She provoked him first, refusing him entry. How is that any different from slapping Princess Mu Yunhe in the face? No matter how noble her ancestors were, today she is just one of Prince Mu's many concubines. She is just a concubine! What right does she have to openly slap Princess Mu Yunhe in the face in front of the whole world? If you had suffered such treatment that day, wouldn't you have been furious?"
"Grudges and old hatreds, Mu Yunhe's overreaction is understandable, and your mother's fate is her own fault, so she can't blame anyone else. Think about it carefully, is all of this really Mu Yunhe's fault? You know Mu Yunhe's identity as a diviner, but you don't know how demanding Heaven is on him for that identity. If Mu Yunhe did anything against the laws of Heaven, or killed innocent people, he would be punished by Heaven! But look at him, he killed so many people, yet he is still unharmed. Mu Yunjin, with your intelligence, can't you figure out why?"
Luo Zhiheng's words were truly heartfelt. Mu Yunjin was a good person at heart, but he was too arrogant and conceited. If he could be persuaded to change his ways and correct his mindset, his future achievements would be immeasurable. Luo Zhiheng was unwilling to selfishly watch Mu Yunjin fend for himself. Retaining such a talented person would benefit the people and the entire world in the future.
The quicklime made Mu Yunjin's eyes red. He stared intently at Luo Zhiheng, his heart pounding with passion as he listened to Luo Zhiheng's gentle and crisp voice.
Seeing that he had calmed down, Luo Zhiheng smiled proudly and said with confidence and honor, "Because Mu Yunhe did what he was clear in his conscience, because what he did did not violate his morals. Because he did not kill innocent people indiscriminately! So even God is exceptionally kind to him!"
Her words resonated powerfully, echoing through the maple forest where the autumn wind was just beginning to blow. Her pride didn't stem from herself; she was simply proud to have such a husband—that was an honor.
Looking at Luo Zhiheng, Mu Yunjin saw a dazzling confidence and arrogance, a haughty and domineering air, yet also a gentle and humble demeanor. Mu Yunjin wasn't ungrateful; he could sense the admonition and intention in Luo Zhiheng's words. Luo Zhiheng could have simply left him to his own devices without saying anything, but she did.
She was a magnanimous woman, truly capable of forgiving those who had wronged her. Yet, her magnanimity made Mu Yunjin feel ashamed and inferior. She wasn't overly compassionate; her wise words and guidance stemmed more from her understanding of her husband's feelings. To put it bluntly, Luo Zhiheng helped Mu Yunhe escape the vortex of extreme pain for his own sake.
"If you make a mistake once, someone will give you a chance to repent. If you make a mistake a hundred times and continue to make the same mistake, you may still have a chance to repent, but the person who was willing to give you that chance may no longer be there. You may not even have the chance to apologize to that person, even if you die." She said these words lightly, but they were like a knife that pierced Mu Yunjin's heart.
Mu Yunjin's pupils constricted, and she suddenly felt an unbearable pain in her eyes.
Luo Zhiheng smiled calmly, turned and left, her voice drifting on the wind: "Think it over carefully. Your revenge against me is nothing more than wanting to take even harsher revenge on Mu Yunhe. But do you think that with Mu Yunhe's extraordinary abilities, he wouldn't know what you've done today? But you're still alive, you're still alive..." 122.
You're still alive...
What a profound statement! Those two were both very perceptive; they knew Mu Yunjin's intentions perfectly well, yet they neither exposed him nor struck back. Were they simply waiting for him to be so openly and honestly taught a lesson? "You're still alive?" Yes, Mu Yunjin, you're still alive. Mu Yunhe cherishes Luo Zhiheng like his own life, yet even knowing he intended to harm her, he still didn't act. He's still alive; this is Mu Yunhe's forgiveness towards his brother. 17885948
Perhaps this is the final act of forgiveness!
First update today! I'll try my best to make up for the extra chapter I missed the day before yesterday. Love you all! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group kisses!
433 Seeing this object brings back memories! (Bonus chapter for 31,500 comments)
Updated: 2013-11-11 15:58:04 Word Count: 3305
If Luo Zhiheng were to die by his own hand today, he would have no future. Or perhaps Mu Yunhe is right here, and he would be killed by Mu Yunhe before he could even kill Luo Zhiheng.
A chill ran down Mu Yunjin's spine, and his body, which had been still, slumped down instantly. His legs buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground, his head bowed, his eyes moist. When the quicklime rubbed against his eyes, they turned completely red and painful. Mu Yunjin endured the pain, his forehead veins bulging. He went from muttering to laughing loudly, "Mother, I'm sorry, I tried my best, but he is still my brother."
Mu Yunjin laughed wildly, then collapsed onto the grass. He couldn't bear to look at the blood-red sky, covering his eyes with his large hands. He murmured hoarsely, "Brothers? We were brothers..."
Go back to your own world. Whether a hatred can be let go doesn't depend on the depth of the hatred, but only on whether the people involved are willing to let go. Taking a step back opens up a whole new world. Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe retreated again and again, hoping that Mu Yunjin could realize his mistake in time and not make the same mistake again.
——
With someone specifically following Yu'er, Luo Zhiheng wasn't in a hurry. At this moment, Yu'er should have some peace and quiet on her own. Luo Zhiheng walked unhurriedly through the bustling streets. The people's faces displayed a variety of expressions, but none showed fear. They lived peacefully, their joys and sorrows flowing freely. This was a peaceful and prosperous country.
It was rare for her to be in such a good mood to wander aimlessly through the streets. Looking at the various snacks on the street, Luo Zhiheng couldn't help but be stunned. She had always been in a hurry, busy with all sorts of things. Even when she passed by this street, she hadn't paid much attention to what was on it. Now, smelling the various aromas in the air, she felt tempted and her mouth watered. Unconsciously, she revealed her childlike side.
Licking her lips and looking around with shining eyes, Luo Zhiheng would always linger over anything she liked before deciding whether to try it. However, she wasn't feeling well and couldn't eat just anything, but the delicious-smelling fried food not far ahead made her mouth water, and she simply couldn't resist.