At this moment, Luo Zhiheng is already in a frenzied state; something must be wrong! Mu Yunhe isn't coming, and Luo Zhiwu is clearly not letting her go out. What exactly is going on outside?
"Bring Luo Zhiwu here, I want to see him!" Luo Zhiheng threw down the willow branch in her hand and sat down on the stone bench next to her in a huff.
The servants, seeing this, were even more distressed. The young master was clearly avoiding you; how could they dare to approach him now? A kind-looking but elderly woman cautiously said, "Master, are you in a bad mood? Our young master isn't in the manor. He's been busy outside these past few days and rarely comes back. He hasn't returned at all these past few days. However, we will certainly inform him as soon as possible, and he will come to see you as soon as he returns."
This was the excuse Luo Zhiwu had taught them. They didn't understand what the young master was up to. Did he take a fancy to this girl? The female leader was indeed a good person; she had stayed by his side day and night, protecting him even when he was in trouble. It was truly a testament to their friendship in times of hardship. But then the young master abandoned the leader and hid in his study, refusing to come out no matter how much the leader fussed. What was going on? Did the young master intend to forcibly take this girl? That girl was certainly too special; she wouldn't be easy to abduct.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes widened in anger. How clever she was! She'd figured out the rhetoric Luo Zhiwu had taught them. Luo Zhiheng stood up angrily and paced back and forth. Luo Zhiwu was clearly using a feigned injury tactic! She was deliberately finding some elderly and frail women to obstruct her. Even though these women were physically weak and had no fighting ability, as long as they knelt down and begged, appearing pitiful, Luo Zhiheng wouldn't really leave.
It was clearly Luo Zhiwu who was exploiting her sympathy and soft heart to restrict her freedom!
The more Luo Zhiwu acted this way, the more uneasy Luo Zhiheng became, and the more afraid that something might have happened to Mu Yunhe.
She suppressed her irritation and said coldly, "I know Luo Zhiwu is in the manor. You don't need to help him hide it from me. Go tell him that today is the deadline. If he doesn't come to see me, he can forget about ever seeing me again! I mean what I say!"
The servants dared not say anything more and quickly withdrew, but remained standing guard in front of the courtyard, not daring to leave. Someone went to inform Luo Zhiwu.
Luo Zhiwu narrowed her eyes and said angrily, "Girls are all about outward appearances! You're actually threatening your brother for Mu Yunhe, you've really grown up!"
Luo Zhiwu was also very frustrated. Her younger sister's stubbornness was exactly like her father's—both were just as stubborn. If Luo Zhiheng knew what Mu Yunhe was doing, she would probably be furious. Moreover, Mu Yunhe was currently at the most crucial moment in his work, and Luo Zhiheng's appearance would likely ruin things and distract Mu Yunhe.
“Go tell her I’ll be back tomorrow at noon, and that we can talk about anything else tomorrow. Remember, tell her again half an hour later that I’m still not in the manor right now.” After much deliberation, Luo Zhiwu could only come up with this compromise.
Tomorrow, success or failure will depend on tomorrow! The message from Mu Yunhe made it clear that Luo Ningshuang had made a move. He couldn't help Mu Yunhe, nor could he cause trouble for Mu Yunhe at this crucial moment.
After receiving the news, Luo Zhiheng was so angry that she couldn't sleep all night. When she woke up the next day, she was in a bad mood and counted down the time for that bastard Luo Zhiwu to 'come back'.
Meanwhile, Mu Yunhe took Luo Ningshuang out for consultations the next day, and everything seemed the same as usual. Mu Yunhe was as gentle and considerate as ever, taking care of Luo Ningshuang, and even assigned more maids to serve her, just in case Luo Ningshuang felt unwell.
Luo Ningshuang couldn't discern anything from Mu Yunhe's expression, but upon suddenly noticing the extra maidservants, her guilty conscience made her uneasy, and she subtly smiled, "Why did you bring so many people with you today?"
Mu Yunhe said casually, "You've been saying you're not feeling well lately, and the doctor we saw this time has a strange temper. I'm worried that we won't have enough staff to take good care of you. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Luo Ningshuang couldn't find any flaws in his words, so she could only suppress her unease, try to calm herself down, and listen carefully to the sounds outside.
Today, Mu Yunsheng will have people kidnap them and then kill Mu Yunhe.
The plan is simple, but because it happened suddenly and Mu Yunhe was definitely unprepared, the chances of success are actually greater. Although Mu Yunhe brought many maids, they are just a group of girls and will not pose a threat. Mu Yunsheng will definitely send elites to assassinate Mu Yunhe.
"Something on your mind?" Mu Yunhe suddenly spoke in an extremely gentle tone, even sitting down beside her for the first time ever, which made Luo Ningshuang even more anxious. Mu Yunhe had accompanied her on so many medical consultations, but never once had he sat with her.
"It's nothing, I just feel a bit stuffy today," Luo Ningshuang said with a stiff smile.
Mu Yunhe half-embraced her, smiling politely as he asked, "Then lean on me and rest for a while. The place we went to today was quite far, and it was deep in the mountains and forests. The road was quite rugged, and it might be very bumpy later. I'm afraid you'll get tired, so why don't you sleep for a while now?"
Mu Yunhe explained the situation on the road in detail, and Luo Ningshuang listened with great delight. The more detailed the explanation, the better Mu Yunsheng's skills became. "Let's see if you, Mu Yunhe, don't die today!"
Luo Ningshuang knew that Mu Yunsheng would be following them all day, because the gist of Mu Yunsheng's note was that he would closely monitor them and follow them when they went out for consultations, waiting for an opportunity to strike and kill Mu Yunhe with a sudden sneak attack.
Therefore, Luo Ningshuang believed that they would definitely succeed today!
Suddenly realizing that Mu Yunhe would die today, Luo Ningshuang felt a pang of reluctance. In her past life, she married Mu Yunhe, hoping to prove herself and escape the oppressive and painful family that had brought her so much pain. However, she hadn't expected that marriage would only make her feel more repressed. Unfamiliar with the environment and people of the Prince's mansion, she lived cautiously there. Moreover, because her husband was a sickly man who was certain he wouldn't live past twenty, she was practically a joke in the eyes of everyone in the Mu Prince's mansion, and anyone could bully her.
Although Mu Yunhe was always very polite to her, it was definitely not the kind of respect and love a husband has for his wife. There was always a sense of unfamiliarity and an insurmountable gap between them. Even when Mu Yunhe was too sick to take care of himself, he still had a sense of pride deep down, a pride that made Luo Ningshuang feel inferior.
She and Mu Yunhe were two separate people until the very end. In name, she was Mu Yunhe's woman, the little princess, but in reality, she was just a maid bought at a high price. Not only could she not become Mu Yunhe's legitimate and genuine wife, but she also had to serve him painstakingly.
She endured all of this, but she never expected Mu Yunhe to die in the end. He certainly didn't live past twenty! And she, at such a young age, became a widow. Later, she was even branded a jinx by the vicious women of the Prince's mansion!
After suffering endless abuse and insults in the Prince's mansion, she was kicked out and thrown out of the mansion with a letter of divorce.
From then on, the grand gates of the Prince's mansion were forever closed to her. She flew from a sparrow to a branch, but instead of becoming a phoenix, she ended up as a rat that everyone wanted to kill.
For the sake of pride, she couldn't go back to the Luo family. She couldn't stay in the capital either. She left the capital with only a bundle in her hands. Later, she married another man. Because she was somewhat beautiful and because she was a virgin, she changed her name and deceived her husband.
But her husband was also a young master from a prominent family. When he took her back to the capital, she learned that he had many wives and concubines, and she was not even considered a wife, but merely a concubine. She had two children, but one was miscarried due to the machinations of the concubines and died at a young age. Her later fate was even more tragic.
Later, she escaped but was sold to a brothel and forced to serve customers. When she finally escaped, she was already seriously ill and was raped by those beasts, ultimately dying tragically in the street. The last thing she saw was Luo Zhiheng riding a spirited horse, dressed in fine clothes, with Xia Beisong following closely behind, shouting and showering her with affection.
All her resentment and hatred were completely twisted in that moment, yet she could only breathe her last with bitter resentment. It's ironic that she spent her entire life fighting with Luo Zhiheng, only to ultimately lose to him. Thankfully, fate had mercy, allowing her to return and start her life anew. She thought that knowing everyone's fate and the process, she would live a completely different life. But instead, she suffered the devastating price of disfigurement and eternal infertility!
As memories flashed before her eyes, Luo Ningshuang felt somewhat dazed. What was happening now? She was still a victor! She had finally defeated her nemesis, Luo Zhiheng. Wasn't Mu Yunhe also the culprit behind all the major disasters that followed the turning points in her past life? Her life became even more tragic after Mu Yunhe's death. And today, Mu Yunhe was finally going to die too.
She was the one truly favored by heaven; in the end, only she survived, and all those who opposed her would die! In the future, Luo Ge and Luo Zhiwu would also die! She would make those two fathers see with their own eyes that Luo Ning Shuang, the one they least favored and least loved, was the true chosen one of heaven, a blessing! Not a jinx!!
The carriage suddenly jolted, startling Luo Ningshuang from her reverie. She looked at Mu Yunhe, who was looking out. Sunlight fell on his face, making him appear even more handsome and holy. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused. This incredibly beautiful man, even at this point where she had to give him up, she still couldn't bear to part with him.
"It's alright, we've already entered the mountain path, it'll be there in about half an hour." Mu Yunhe chuckled in a low voice, seemingly oblivious to Luo Ningshuang's momentary daze and the weathered, fierce aura she exuded.
He closed his eyes to rest, seemingly oblivious to everything, as if no danger was approaching.
Luo Ningshuang clenched her fists tightly, cold sweat already breaking out. She dared not let her dry breath escape. She knew that this was a golden opportunity, and Mu Yunsheng would never let it slip by!
A loud bang echoed on the road ahead, the carriage shook violently and came to an abrupt stop, followed by the horses' uneasy neighing. Suddenly, panic broke out outside, and people cried out in alarm.
Luo Ningshuang's eyes widened suddenly, and she exclaimed in her heart: They're here!
Mu Yunhe remained calm and composed, sitting beside her. Mu Yunhe was so quiet that when she glanced at him in surprise, her pupils immediately contracted, and she felt a chill run down her spine.
Second update! Hoo hoo! A bunch of little devils, watch the mighty priest wipe you all out! Keep up the good work tomorrow! That's all for today's update. Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group kisses, my darlings!
499 Dogs fighting! It's true, blood is flowing freely!
Updated: 2013-12-16 17:09:11 Word Count: 7810
Despite the cacophony and screams outside, Mu Yunhe remained unmoved, sitting firmly in the carriage. His long, narrow phoenix eyes narrowed coldly as he glanced at Luo Ningshuang, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Don't be afraid," he said, his red lips barely moving. "He's just an old acquaintance. Seeing him will probably make you happier than seeing me, won't it? Luo Ningshuang!"
Her name had never felt so eerie. When Mu Yunhe uttered it softly, every word seemed to carry a sharp blade, coming straight at Luo Ningshuang and wounding her at close range, leaving her no ability to resist.
Luo Ningshuang felt a chill run through her from head to toe, her heart trembled wildly, and she felt a sharp pain as if her nerves were about to explode. She avoided Mu Yunhe's eyes, unable to believe that Mu Yunhe's confidence stemmed from having already seen through everything, and even less willing to believe that Mu Yunhe's composure at this moment was because all of this was already within his expectations.
Wouldn't that mean their supposedly elaborate deception plan turned out to be nothing more than a trap set by the enemy?
Luo Ningshuang simply couldn't believe that someone was so powerful, managing to lure them all out so quietly and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop? After today, would Luo Ningshuang still exist in this world?
"I...I don't know what you're talking about." Luo Ningshuang's voice trembled. She was too scared to look up, but Mu Yunhe's gaze was fixed on her as if it were real, and she felt uncomfortable all over.
"Don't know? No problem, you'll soon find out what I'm talking about. Shall we get out of the carriage and enjoy the view together?" Mu Yunhe's smile turned sinister. He grabbed Luo Ningshuang's wrist and dragged her out of the carriage with a forceful and unyielding attitude. Standing on the carriage, he looked at the chaotic scene outside. In the sunlight, he smiled wickedly and coldly: "What a grand spectacle. I am truly flattered."
Outside, over twenty men in black had swiftly subdued Mu Yunhe's men and were approaching his carriage, knives drawn. This situation only highlighted Mu Yunhe's vulnerability and weakness. The disparity in strength between the two sides was stark: Mu Yunhe's forces were almost entirely wiped out, while the enemy remained unscathed. Mu Yunhe's capture was only a matter of time.
Upon seeing this scene, Luo Ningshuang's tense heart instantly relaxed. With two groups in front, she was on Holly's side, but now Mu Yunsheng's people had clearly taken control of Mu Yunhe. Mu Yunhe did not have the abilities of a priest, so he was naturally not reliable. In this way, she no longer needed to be afraid or hide. Moreover, she should quickly state her position and stand on Mu Yunsheng's side to seek support.
"Mu Yunhe, if you give up resisting now, everyone will be saved trouble. If you continue to resist, you will only die in the end. If you obediently surrender, I can beg him to leave you with a complete corpse." Luo Ningshuang finally tore off her hypocritical mask, no longer weakly begging for people's pity, but speaking with the coldness of condescendingly bestowing charity upon Mu Yunhe.
Mu Yunhe laughed and gripped Luo Ningshuang's wrist tightly, saying, "Why don't you keep pretending? Didn't you just say you didn't know what I was talking about? Aren't you afraid that you've given yourself away too early? This is all a play I directed and acted out myself, with the purpose of luring you into a trap and testing the military situation?"
Mu Yunhe's words caused Luo Ningshuang's expression to change drastically, but it was not visible because her face was covered in bandages. However, her eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.
She was also startled by Mu Yunhe's words, but then she thought it was unlikely. After all, Mu Yunsheng had contacted her, and the code for that contact wouldn't be wrong. Mu Yunhe certainly wouldn't know it either. If he had already confirmed that she was an imposter, why would he test her? He could have just killed her.
"Hmph, what are you trying to say? Do you think you can scare me with your words? I firmly believe he will come, and you are nothing but a stumbling block in his path. A diviner priest who has lost all his power, what do you think you are? Only he is the dragon among men. If it weren't for you and that vile Luo Zhiheng interfering, he would already be the emperor. Mu Yunhe, you should repent for your sins and stop being so stubborn." Luo Ningshuang sneered, speaking with righteous indignation, but in reality, she had completely exposed Mu Yunsheng, the mastermind behind everything.
Mu Yunsheng hasn't shown up yet, which makes Luo Ningshuang very uneasy. She feels compelled to add fuel to the fire and force him to appear. Don't expect her to be used as cannon fodder; we're all in this together. If she dies, no one else will escape.
"Hahaha, three years have passed, and your mouth has become much more eloquent than it was three years ago. You're almost as eloquent as the deceased Luo Zhiheng." A slightly gloomy voice suddenly rang out, and everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the person riding out of the woods. The person was wearing a hood so that his face could not be seen, but from his voice and build, it could be seen that he was a man.
Upon hearing the voice and seeing the person, Luo Ningshuang immediately smiled, feeling relieved. She then playfully scolded, "What are you saying? Am I wrong? You are truly a dragon among men. If it weren't for the interference of petty people, wouldn't the world be yours? You've been lying low for three years, waiting for this day, haven't you?"
"That's not wrong either." The person seemed to agree with Luo Ningshuang's words, his voice filled with pleasure, but he didn't say anything more.
Mu Yunhe maintained his composure throughout. Even Luo Ningshuang's sudden change of expression and the strange appearance of the man failed to alter his emotions in the slightest. He even looked at the man in black with a smile in his eyes, his slender fingers lightly brushing his brow, and said in a teasing voice, "Is this an old flame meeting? Should I go into the carriage first and give you some time to recognize each other, so as to ease your longing?"
"It's been three years since I last saw you, and my cousin has become much more witty. That's a good thing," the man said, his tone particularly familiar.
Mu Yunhe didn't mince words and said, "It's been three years since we last met. How have you been, cousin?"
Seeing that Mu Yunhe showed no sign of panic or shock, Mu Yunsheng and Luo Ningshuang were no longer calm.
They believed their actions were flawless, perfect, and beyond anyone else's comprehension. Even Mu Yunhe would likely be astonished upon seeing Mu Yunsheng. But what was going on? Mu Yunhe remained calm and composed, seemingly confident and methodical, even offering a casual greeting that instantly revealed the newcomer's identity. Even if Mu Yunsheng had spoken first, Mu Yunhe might not have been able to guess it so immediately.
Mu Yunsheng no longer concealed his identity, removing his hood to reveal his handsome face. He looked at Mu Yunhe with admiration in his eyes: "Cousin, you truly live up to your reputation as a diviner. Your composure and stamina in the face of danger are enough to earn your respect. We are cousins, no different from blood brothers. If Yunhe doesn't mind calling me 'brother' directly, what's wrong with that?"
"Are you really okay? If I prevent you from ascending to the throne, will you still consider me your brother?" Mu Yunhe said sarcastically.
"Mu Yunhe, don't be so presumptuous! That's your cousin, the son of Emperor Xian. He's your elder and his status is higher than yours." Luo Ningshuang quickly defended Mu Yunsheng. In her opinion, Mu Yunhe was doomed today. She had to stand on Mu Yunsheng's side and stand firmly with him in order to better protect herself.
"How dare you speak to my cousin like that? A woman shouldn't interrupt a man's conversation," Mu Yunsheng reprimanded rudely, as if Luo Ningshuang were his woman.
Mu Yunhe raised an eyebrow and sneered, "I really didn't know that Mu Yunsheng and the princess of another country had become so close. This woman is notorious for her shamelessness. She even managed to seduce a prince of the Mu Dynasty into her devoted subject?"
Luo Ningshuang's face flushed red, from anger and embarrassment. But nothing was visible on her face, and she shouldn't be ashamed. This was a life-or-death moment; she wouldn't waste time arguing with Mu Yunhe.
"Mu Yunhe, let me go! What right do you have to hold me like this?" Luo Ningshuang desperately wanted to break free from Mu Yunhe's grasp; she felt suffocated just standing next to him.
"Does my cousin like her? Then you can rest assured. As long as you ask, I will give her to you. How about that? I can also find the most famous doctors in the world to treat her face and guarantee that I can give you a face exactly like Luo Zhiheng's." Mu Yunsheng said indifferently, promising Luo Ningshuang like a commodity without even discussing it, taking Luo Ningshuang as his possession as a matter of course.
"I truly dislike such filthy things that are even worse than prostitutes! Only someone like you would deign to look at such lowly trash. But unfortunately, I cannot hand this slut over to you, because her hands are stained with my Aheng's blood. She must pay for my Aheng's life!" Mu Yunhe said viciously.
"Oh, that's a real shame. From now on, there will never be another face in this world that resembles Luo Zhiheng. I thought that you had protected this woman for three years. Even if you knew she wasn't Luo Zhiheng, you must have some feelings for her, right? At the very least, you kept her as a memento because of her face that was exactly like Luo Zhiheng's. You shouldn't have killed her." Mu Yunsheng said with a nonchalant smile, his casual attitude showing no sign of valuing Luo Ningshuang.
"I love Aheng. That face once held many beautiful memories for me. But even if it were a different face, as long as the person is still Aheng, even if she's an ugly monster, I would still love her! I have always loved Aheng as a person, Aheng's soul!" Mu Yunhe's anger was further fueled by Mu Yunsheng's nonchalant words. He couldn't tolerate anyone saying anything bad about Aheng, and he certainly wouldn't allow anyone to compare Aheng with this vile woman.
Enraged, Mu Yunhe shoved Luo Ningshuang off the carriage, coldly saying, "She's not worthy to be compared to Aheng at all. My Aheng, though mischievous and unruly, is pure and virtuous. What is she, Luo Ningshuang? A lowly, promiscuous thing!"
Mu Yunsheng clapped his hands and laughed, surprisingly agreeing, "Good, good for you! My cousin is indeed a devoted lover. It's no wonder Luo Zhiheng died. With a devoted lover like my cousin who has always missed her and remained loyal to her, her life as a woman was worthwhile. But can my cousin really endure the pain of unrequited love? You can't deny that in the past three years, if it weren't for this imposter by your side, you would probably have fallen ill from lovesickness because of missing Luo Zhiheng."
Mu Yunsheng's unhurried attitude and sudden appearance clearly indicated that he had ulterior motives. But if Mu Yunsheng wasn't in a hurry, Mu Yunhe was even less so. He coldly laughed, "I truly wish this vile woman hadn't been by my side for the past three years. That way, I wouldn't have been misled, I could have continued searching for Aheng, and I wouldn't have had to be separated from Aheng for so many years. This vile woman has done too many wrong things to me and Aheng; I will settle accounts with her one by one."
"I think my cousin still hasn't heard me clearly. Your Aheng died three years ago. It's true that this woman killed your Aheng, but even without her infatuation in these three years, you would never have been able to get close to Luo Zhiheng and be with her. Tsk tsk, what a pity for your deep affection." Mu Yunsheng said maliciously.
His first purpose was to curry favor with Mu Yunhe, seemingly offering guidance but actually using Luo Ningshuang as a stepping stone to play the good guy in front of Mu Yunhe. His second purpose was far more despicable: to provoke Mu Yunhe and, moreover, to throw him into a state of mental turmoil. Only then could he seize the opportunity to kill Mu Yunhe.
Mu Yunhe was indeed grief-stricken. He knew nothing about what Luo Zhiheng had gone through before the incident three years ago. Today, he was determined to find out! Hearing that Luo Zhiheng was forced to her death by Luo Ningshuang, Mu Yunhe knew there must be more to the story. Although Luo Zhiheng was still alive, Mu Yunhe wanted to know the humiliation and suffering she had endured back then!
"What did you say? Tell me everything that happened back then! I want to know what that bastard did to Aheng!" Mu Yunhe was filled with uncontrollable rage, his cold gaze like a sharp sword, radiating a chilling aura.
Mu Yunsheng seemed to be thinking. He glanced at Luo Ningshuang, then looked at Mu Yunhe with difficulty: "How should I put it? I also regret what happened back then. I tried everything to help you save Luo Zhiheng, but Luo Zhiheng was too ruthless, and Luo Ningshuang was relentlessly pressing me. I really had no choice. Now that I have to reveal this secret that I have kept for three years, I really don't know how to start."
Mu Yunhe narrowed his eyes. He naturally knew that Mu Yunsheng was about to state his conditions, and said bluntly, "Let's not beat around the bush. You don't need to play games with me. Your appearance today wasn't a coincidence. I'm afraid you've been observing me in secret for a long time, haven't you? Today, you've outmaneuvered me and stopped me from recording like this. Now you have the numbers and the power, while I have no chance of winning. You hold the power of discourse. Tell me what you want, but on the condition that I find the whole story of Aheng's murder! If you dare to give me a false truth, I will fight to the death rather than let you go!"
Mu Yunsheng laughed loudly, "Good! As expected of a man of the Mu family, so clean and efficient! Since you've said so, then I, as your older brother, won't beat around the bush anymore. I only need you to do one thing. If you promise me, I will tell you exactly how Luo Zhiheng died back then, without missing a single word. What do you say? Do you agree?"
Mu Yunhe pretended to think for a moment before struggling to say, "Tell me what you want me to agree to first."