"Why did you bring me here?" Luo Zhiheng didn't expect that Mu Yunhe had secretly brought her out to go shopping. She looked at him in confusion.
Mu Yunhe clenched his fists at his sides, trying hard not to reveal any nervousness or unease, and trying to appear normal. He smiled casually, "It's so lively here with so many people coming and going. We're just taking a stroll. Neither the General's Mansion nor my home is a good place to talk. By the way, is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll buy it for you. You've never been to the Mu Dynasty before. There are many dishes here that you don't have back home. Would you like to try some?"
Luo Zhiheng looked at Mu Yunhe with a half-smile. Her Yunhe would never lie to her, and even if he did, it would be obvious. Mu Yunhe was clearly hiding something now. Although she didn't understand his purpose, she didn't point it out. She went along with his words and said, "Are you going to do your duty as a host? Okay, you can treat me today. Anyway, I've never tried your food before. Buy me everything that's delicious."
"Okay, come with me." Mu Yunhe was both impatient and nervous as he grabbed her hand and led her forward.
He was walking a little too fast, and Luo Zhiheng couldn't keep up. She said with dissatisfaction, "Why are you walking so fast? I can't walk anymore, carry me!"
Mu Yunhe paused, glanced at the bustling street, and said in a deliberately serious tone, "What kind of behavior is this! I'll just walk slower, why are you being so delicate?"
"What did you say?" His last sentence was spoken too softly, and Luo Zhiheng could roughly guess what he meant, but she just liked to make things difficult for him.
Mu Yunhe's face flushed slightly, and he said hurriedly, "It's nothing, let's hurry up and go, or we won't be able to get any food there."
When Mu Yunhe led Luo Zhiheng to the shop they had visited together before, Luo Zhiheng subconsciously laughed and said, "You just brought me here to eat stinky tofu? Is this what you call delicious food?"
"You know stinky tofu?" Mu Yunhe suddenly looked at her, his gaze sharp and even somewhat aggressive, staring intently at her, and tightening his grip on her hand.
Luo Zhiheng was taken aback, and the smile on her lips suddenly faded. Her gaze met Mu Yunhe's for a split second, as if something exploded between them.
Luo Zhiheng was almost terrified. She saw something in his eyes that she had once longed to see—so bright and profound—but at this moment, she didn't know how to face Mu Yunhe. Human senses are always sharp; she could sense that Mu Yunhe seemed to have noticed something, but suddenly she didn't know how to face him.
If Mu Yunhe questions her or reveals everything, how will she face him? How can she confront Mu Yunhe about her past pain and humiliation? There is a three-year gap between them, filled with thorns, obstacles, and disasters, which is not something that can be easily crossed.
"Answer me!" Mu Yunhe's eyes showed deep anxiety. He pulled her into his arms, their breaths almost mingling. He wouldn't allow her to avoid or resist, his forceful presence reminiscent of the complete Mu Yunhe returning.
Luo Zhiheng instinctively resisted. If he were truly certain, why would he need to test and question her? Perhaps he was only suspicious at the moment? Then let Mu Yunhe find the answer himself. And wouldn't it be great if he could also bring up the events of that year? She really wanted to see how pathetic Luo Ningshuang would be after all her schemes were exposed.
“I know. Although there’s no such thing in the wilderness, I’ve come to the Mu Dynasty after all, haven’t I? I’ve heard about it.” Luo Zhiheng’s eyes concealed her emotions, her beautiful ruby-like eyes filled with a charming smile.
Mu Yunhe suddenly felt somewhat frustrated because he couldn't see the emotions in Luo Zhiheng's eyes at all. They ordered two boxes of stinky tofu, and the two people with excellent manners ate this tasteless food in the street. One was eating bitterness, and the other was eating nostalgia.
Mu Yunhe didn't ask Luo Zhiheng anything more. He already suspected, and was willing to believe, that this woman was Luo Zhiheng. Even if she didn't admit it, couldn't he investigate himself? If she was Luo Zhiheng, and she still hadn't said anything, then there must be some bigger conspiracy involved.
Mu Yunhe didn't want to put Luo Zhiheng in a difficult position. He wasn't in a hurry for Luo Zhiheng to admit anything. It was alright; he would take his time and investigate little by little until he found out exactly what had happened back then. Right now, her safety was the most important thing. Let everything remain as it appears.
On the way back, Mu Yunhe walked all the way with Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiheng did not resist; Mu Yunhe's openly pulling her along in front of everyone was also a form of communication.
"Go back and get some sleep. I'll come back to see you tomorrow if I have time. Don't overthink things. I'll take care of everything else." He gently told her as he helped her up the steps, saying nothing aloud, yet it seemed as if a thousand words were unspoken.
Luo Zhiheng smiled sweetly and asked sarcastically, "So gentle, I'm really not used to it. It's like a husband to his wife. Are you like this with your wife too? I'm really going to be jealous."
Mu Yunhe's gaze was deep and unfathomable. His large hand, which had been resting on her waist, tightened suddenly, pulling her into his embrace. He lowered his head and lifted her face, his fingers caressing her delicate chin. His voice was soft and deep: "Is this fun? You know perfectly well that Mu Yunhe will always be loyal to Luo Zhiheng, and that Mu Yunhe will only be gentle to his Aheng. Are you sure that what I just did to you was gentle?"
Luo Zhiheng's heart leaped into her throat. In that instant, she knew that Mu Yunhe was warning her that he had discovered clues and could no longer tolerate her playing such a dangerous, self-destructive game. He seemed to say nothing, yet he had already revealed his feelings. To say she wasn't moved, to say she wasn't excited, would be a lie.
Luo Zhiheng's gaze was alluring, like scattered diamonds filling a magnificent night sky, sparkling and dazzling. She hooked her arm around Mu Yunhe's neck, tilted her head, and said in a soft, smiling voice, "Luo Zhiheng is truly blessed. Her man is embracing another woman in his arms, whispering sweet nothings, and she doesn't even know. Isn't this ignorance a blessing in itself? At least she won't be angry, right? I think what you just did to me was gentleness."
Mu Yunhe lowered his head, his lips almost brushing against the delicate tip of her masked nose, his tone carrying a chilling smile: "This is getting more and more dangerous. How long do you plan to play this game? Is it fun to torture yourself like this?"
“Yes, don’t you know that a person’s true enemy is always themselves?” Luo Zhiheng smiled charmingly, tiptoeing to bring herself to Mu Yunhe’s lips. The setting sun was just right, and in the warm afterglow, her eyes were even more gentle and charming, and her red lips were even more delicate and alluring. Every smile and frown could make Mu Yunhe’s soul leave his body: “And a person with resentment and hatred in their heart is even less willing to let go of themselves or others. Playing with fire will burn them, and will also burn others to death.”
"You think I'd let you keep playing with fire and getting burned? There's a limit to everything. Don't push things too far. I'll take care of everything. Trust me." His last words fell between their lips as he kissed her soft lips, pulling her close and holding her tightly in his arms. The kiss felt so distant yet so sweet, and the moment it touched her was an uncontrollable tremor and a deep connection between their hearts.
Mu Yunhe felt as if his heart was bleeding and roaring! That's it! Everything felt right! This was the feeling, because it was her, so the feeling finally returned to its place, like his soul had returned to its rightful place. Those intense feelings in his memory that belonged only to Luo Zhiheng finally surfaced clearly at this moment.
Mu Yunhe finally understood what it meant to have a tacit understanding and be moved by each other on a spiritual level!
Because that person was loved by both body and soul, even if the body is gone, as long as a trace of the soul remains, she can be found. She is irreplaceable, someone who wouldn't be missed even if there were identical faces, someone whose existence would eventually be uncovered no matter how many conspiracies there are.
She is Mu Yunhe's soulmate, absolutely!
Mu Yunhe kissed her wildly, their movements a passionate and desperate entanglement. He pinned her against the wall, cupped her face in his hands, and stared intently at her ragged breathing. His eyes were blurry, and in the afterglow, tears streamed down his face. Beneath the moss, she looked as delicate as a flower swaying and drowning in the wind. He almost couldn't find her. How could he have been so slow to recognize her?
The thought that she was no longer herself, the thought of their long separation, the thought that he hadn't recognized her immediately, and the thought that he had almost missed her filled Mu Yunhe with fear, terror, anxiety, and frantic panic.
"You heartless woman!" he growled, then kissed her fiercely, not letting her breathe, not giving her a chance to explain, resist, or lie.
There's no need to look at her face, no need to tear off the mask that separates them; she is Ah Heng, there's no mistake!
How could he be so stupid? Back then, Ah Heng forbade him to call that imposter Ah Heng, why didn't he realize what Ah Heng meant? But at that time, he never imagined that such a bizarre and complicated thing would happen around him. He lost his soul ability, and the conspirator in the dark must have calculated this to be able to do things around him!
His gaze darkened, and he thought again, "So he really wasn't a heartless man. He had never fallen in love with someone else. He had never done anything to betray her! Because she was Luo Zhiheng!"
He was wrong; how could he be so oblivious? But she was wrong too; how could she hide it from him for so long? How could she bear to? Mu Yunhe's mind was screaming, but he dared not ask those questions again. No amount of anger and resentment could outweigh his behavior during this time. It was his fault after all; how could he not have noticed for three years that the imposter was a fake?
Mu Yunhe had never kissed Luo Zhiheng so wildly before. It was as if he hated her so much that he wanted to tear her soul out, or as if he loved her so much that he wanted to be connected with her and never be separated.
Luo Zhiheng was overwhelmed by his aggressive advances, losing all her breathing and speaking power. Under his fierce assault, she was so weak that she almost collapsed, melting into a pool of spring water in his arms. The taste of his tears lingered in her mouth, mixed with her uncontrollable tears. All her stubbornness and anxiety shattered at this moment.
Just as she was about to drown in his arms, Mu Yunhe finally released her lips, looking at her misty eyes with sorrow in his eyes. He choked up and couldn't say a word. His pale face and conflicted expression looked somewhat gloomy, but his aura was powerful.
Luo Zhiheng was somewhat timid, but she glared back defiantly, her fierce demeanor revealing a clear underlying weakness.
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's posture again, Mu Yunhe instantly lost his composure, pressing her head against his chest, listening to his chaotic, rapid heartbeat, and the low, rhythmic laughter echoing in his chest. For the first time in three years, he laughed with such passion and vitality. At this moment, Mu Yunhe finally understood that it wasn't that he was numb, not that his soul was incomplete, incapable of feeling or love; it was simply because Luo Zhiheng wasn't by his side. She was back; only now was he a living, breathing, emotional being!
Mu Yunhe thought that his love life had always been tragic, because he only had Luo Zhiheng, and without her, he had nothing. But then he thought, it was precisely because he had Luo Zhiheng that he had everything, and that living had meaning and purpose. Without her, what was the point of living?
He longed to hold her like this and never let go, but he had many things to do. He needed to know what had happened three years ago, he needed to find out who the mastermind behind the conspiracy was, he needed to know who that imposter in his house really was, and he needed to know what had happened to his Ah Heng in the past three years. Also, he needed to get justice for Ah Heng.
"Go back." His voice was hoarse, but Mu Yunhe's gaze was filled with endless longing and joy as he looked at her.
He didn't ask her to confirm her identity because his heart had already confirmed it. There was no need to say it. When he had everything under control, when he had given her justice and her rightful status, he would let her return to his side openly and legitimately.
Luo Zhiheng pouted, but didn't say anything. She was actually quite annoyed. Was this man trying to seduce her? Had they gotten entangled with him without even realizing it? In broad daylight, on the main street, even though it was the back gate and there weren't many people on the street, it was still quite embarrassing.
After three years, her little buds have blossomed much more.
She snorted and pushed him away, but her body was too weak and she could barely stand. She almost fell, but Mu Yunhe caught her quickly. His clear, cold voice, still nasal, was full of laughter and doting. He naggardly said, "Don't you know you should slow down? Can't you change your carefree attitude? Are you feeling unwell? Should I take you inside?"
Luo Zhiheng bit her swollen lips and finally couldn't help but laugh, "If you take me in, how will you get out?"
Mu Yunhe knew she was teasing him about climbing over the wall, and he said with a cold and arrogant expression, "Of course, I'll come out the same way I went in. Don't worry, I'm not so weak that my limbs are weak, I still have the strength to carry you in. Even if you want to do something else, I can satisfy you."
His words sounded rather ambiguous, and even Luo Zhiheng, who was usually very thick-skinned, couldn't help but feel embarrassed. She punched him lightly and said in a spoiled tone, "Hurry up and go, hurry up and go. I don't need your fake kindness."
"Next time I come, I'll come through the main entrance, so don't be refusing to see me." Mu Yunhe was a little reluctant to leave. Seeing her roll her eyes at him with her spring-like eyes, he smiled deeply, his gaze falling on her swollen lips and red marks on her chin. He stroked them tenderly, his tone a mix of heartache and reproach: "So delicate, you get red from just a little bit of effort."
Luo Zhiheng slapped his hand away in annoyance and said domineeringly, "Get out of here. I don't want to see you again today. You're so annoying."
Mu Yunhe smiled comfortably, opened the door and helped her inside. He watched her walk and stop, occasionally glancing back at him. He would immediately smile at her, but when she turned around, his eyes would overflow with undisguised pain. As she walked and stopped repeatedly, he kept hiding his heartache.
Only after Luo Zhiheng disappeared from sight did Mu Yunhe close the door and leave.
A gentle breeze blew through the backyard, as if no one had been there. But soon someone came and locked the back door, then quickly walked towards the front yard, preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Luo Zhiheng hadn't been this happy in the past three years; she felt so light and carefree, almost floating. She knew Mu Yunhe knew everything and was certain of her identity, though he didn't ask, they understood each other implicitly. Finally, someone knew of her existence, and Mu Yunhe had discovered it himself—how could Luo Zhiheng not be happy?
Although her brother knew her identity, it was she who told him herself.
"How long are you planning to play?" A deep, somewhat frivolous voice slowly sounded from ahead.
Luo Zhiheng looked up, the smile on her lips still lingering. But when she saw the handsome man leaning against the tree trunk, squinting at her with a roguish grin on his face, Luo Zhiwu, she instinctively laughed out loud: "What brings you here?"
"You don't welcome me?" Luo Zhiwu frowned, feigning hurt, and made as if to leave.
Luo Zhiheng quickly stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and shook it, giggling, "No, no, I see such a handsome man like you every day and I don't find it an eyesore. How could I not welcome you?"
"Hmph, I'm afraid you'd rather welcome certain heartless men?" Luo Zhiwu said sarcastically, with a hint of disappointment.
"He's not a heartless man!" Luo Zhiheng's smile vanished instantly, and she looked at Luo Zhiwu solemnly, saying, "If you hadn't heard what I said, are you sure you could have recognized me at a glance?"
Luo Zhiwu's face stiffened, a hint of frustration and defeat in her expression. Seeing this, Luo Zhiheng felt a pang of sadness and, holding Luo Zhiwu's hand in a conciliatory manner, whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm not blaming you. I just think, who would have the time to think about something so absurd? Especially since she'd been in a coma for three years, practically a living dead, with not a single clue. It's already quite remarkable that Mu Yunhe discovered it so quickly. To be precise, the first person to truly recognize me through my own actions was Mu Yunhe."
Luo Zhiwu looked at Luo Zhiheng with deep eyes. This was tantamount to Luo Zhiheng making things clear to him. It was also Luo Zhiheng's implicit acknowledgment of her identity as Luo Zhiheng. Luo Zhiwu felt relieved. Mu Yunhe, what does it matter how important you are to Heng'er? Did you see that Heng'er was the first to acknowledge her identity as her brother!
"But he still protected that imposter for so many years." Luo Zhiwu felt angry just thinking about Luo Ningshuang.
"What do you think he could have done to a living dead person in the past three years? How could he be considered a heartless man? Besides, he doesn't like her, I don't believe you can't see that. If he cared about her even a little, or treated her as if she were me, do you think you could have left him unscathed so easily?" Luo Zhiheng laughed.
"Look at you, so silly! You're overjoyed by the smallest favor." Luo Zhiwu said jealously.
"But I feel so happy. If my silly appearance is a sign of happiness, then let me continue to be happy. I have a good brother and a good husband. Who could be happier than me?" Luo Zhiheng hugged Luo Zhiwu's arm, looked up, and clearly called out the word "brother" for the first time.
Luo Zhiwu's eyes widened with excitement, and she was speechless for a moment. She opened her mouth, and finally shouted, "Let's go, let's go drink!"
Luo Zhiheng smiled as Luo Zhiwu pulled him away. This was their subtle way of recognizing each other. Luo Zhiwu was overjoyed and drank heartily until her eyes were moist. After being away from home for four years, everything had changed when she returned. She thought her beloved sister was living a life worse than death, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and she found her true pearl again!
Luo Zhiwu was in high spirits and could drink a lot without getting drunk. But after putting down her wine glass, her tongue became a little thick, and she asked a rather blunt question: "Didn't Luo Ningshuang die in the fire three years ago? Her courtyard, which she burned down back then, was renovated after I came back. Didn't you see that it's still not cleaned up? How could she become you again?"
These questions had been weighing on his mind for a long time, tormenting him to the point of madness. Too many questions made him very irritable, and today he blurted them out without thinking. As soon as he asked, Luo Zhiwu regretted it. He knew that this was his precious little sister's scar. When he saw Luo Zhiheng's downturned lips, Luo Zhiwu wanted to slap himself twice. Why was he so stupid!
"That fire back then was actually a well-orchestrated show she directed and acted in, a preparation for this show. She didn't die. Even if someone discovers her conspiracy today and tries to investigate, three years have passed, and there's no way to find out. Besides, Luo Ningshuang died in the fire three years ago, and many people can testify to that, right? Who would have thought that Luo Ningshuang, who died back then, is still alive and playing the role of her older sister Luo Zhiheng three years later?" Luo Zhiheng said with a mocking smile, her eyes extremely gloomy.
Luo Zhiwu was stunned, his face turning ashen. He slammed his fist on the table in anger, "Unbelievable! What a cunning doctor! She used all the intelligence the Luo family gave her for these lowly schemes? To plot against her own sister, she's truly capable! A beast, a real beast!!"
"Unbelievable, isn't it? If I were to tell you something so absurd, would you believe me? You'd probably think I'm crazy, right? Even if I had evidence, Luo Ningshuang is full of schemes and tricks; she wouldn't hesitate to devise a way to frame me and make excuses. It can only be said that Luo Ningshuang's scheme was perfectly timed, executed, and executed. If Mu Yunhe were still alive, Luo Ningshuang would have been crippled long ago, and I would have been found by Mu Yunhe long ago. It's all fate; I can't blame anyone else." Luo Zhiheng smiled, her voice devoid of anger.
She didn't tell Luo Zhiwu everything, not because she didn't trust her, but because some things still needed to be considered carefully. Luo Ningshuang kept saying that she was reborn, which made Luo Zhiheng very wary. After all, she had died and ended up in Luo Zhiheng's body. Who knew what secrets and tricks Luo Ningshuang had up her sleeve?
"Judging from Mu Yunhe's expression, does he know all this?" Luo Zhiwu's eyes brightened.
“I understand, but not completely. He will probably investigate the events of that year with all his might. Mu Yunhe is a man who cannot tolerate any injustice. Once he suspects something, he will definitely find out the truth. So I don’t need to rush. Let Mu Yunhe find out the truth of what happened back then. Luo Ningshuang’s good days are coming to an end.”
Luo Zhiwu asked, puzzled, "Then why didn't you tell Mu Yunhe? Wouldn't it have been faster to deal with Luo Ningshuang if you had told him?"
“Mu Yunhe wouldn’t want me to tell him. We’ve missed so many years; his anger and resentment haven’t even had a chance to be vented. He’ll only seek the truth himself. Of course I’ll tell him if he asks, but he knows I know everything yet he doesn’t ask, so he must have his reasons. I won’t interfere with his thoughts. Besides, some things are always more real and easier to believe when you find the truth yourself.” Luo Zhiheng finished her drink, a smile appearing in her eyes. Mu Yunhe’s expression when he left reappeared before her eyes—so gentle and tender. It could easily soothe some of the pain in her heart.
"You're grinning like an idiot. You think Mu Yunhe is so great! You trust him so much and keep tormenting him. Do you love him or hate him?" Luo Zhiwu patted Luo Zhiheng's head gently, with boundless doting and indulgence.
“Of course I have both love and hate. Although I know his difficulties and that he was kept in the dark, I still resent his absence for the past three years. Brother, do you know how many times I thought of killing Mu Yunhe with a single sword during those three years?” Luo Zhiheng leaned closer to Luo Zhiwu and said in a chilling tone.
Before Luo Zhiwu could speak, a servant cautiously said from outside, "Young Master, His Excellency the High Priest has sent someone with something, saying it's for the Chief."
Luo Zhiwu raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Luo Zhiheng's chin and lips, and laughed loudly, "Bring it in."
The servant put down the box, head bowed, and backed away. Luo Zhiheng eagerly opened the box; inside lay a delicate, warm white jade porcelain bottle. Picking it up, she found a note underneath. Unfolding it, she saw a line of small, elegant handwriting…
Apply twice a day, morning and evening, as instructed.
A charming smile bloomed on Luo Zhiheng's lips, her eyes and brows radiating a pampered air. The note was suddenly snatched away by Luo Zhiwu, who shamelessly read it aloud in a scoundrel's tone, then swaggered around, saying, "Goodness? Tsk tsk, is he trying to coax a child? He's obviously a lecher, even using a jade bottle to pass a message, trying to provoke 'my woman,' doesn't he want a beating?"
492 A forceful apology! A love that knows no bounds! (Bonus chapter for 38,000 comments)
Updated: 2013-12-12 23:16:39 Word Count: 3469