Mu Yunhe gritted his teeth in anger, feeling helpless and furious at Luo Zhiheng's reckless leap into the wolf's den. How dare she even speak now? Pinch? Pinch what! I want to pinch your tender little face! And that voice of hers, can't she even stick out her tongue? So sweet and coquettish, what's she showing off for? If you mess with me, you'll be bedridden for three days!
Mu Yunhe thought angrily, but he didn't dare to be too careless lest the Great Demon King discover that he was emotionally unstable. He was truly extremely frustrated.
Luo Zhiheng must be taken away; she can't be allowed into the manor, otherwise, she'll be in grave danger, and getting out will be difficult. Mu Yunhe was racking his brains for a solution when he suddenly felt a pair of soft little hands grip his arm. Mu Yunhe's body went numb instantly, and he immediately opened his eyes. The light in his eyes was so fierce and sharp that it could almost devour Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng seemed startled and quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly: "Was I too strong? I'm sorry."
Luo Zhiheng appeared frightened on the surface, but inside she was incredibly excited; her voice trembled with emotion. She had finally touched him! Finally, she could be so close to him again! Finally, she didn't have to worry about not being able to see him anymore! Finally, she could openly be by his side!
Mu Yunhe stared at her menacingly. He couldn't control his arousal; Aheng had only lightly touched him, not even teasing or flirting, yet he had reacted, and with a fierce and intense urge. This woman was definitely here to cause him trouble. How could he possibly be rational and calm enough to focus on dealing with the Great Demon King while facing her? Being distracted by her, thinking about her all the time—if this continued, he would die at the Great Demon King's hands sooner or later.
Luo Zhiheng must be sent away!
"Did I give you permission to touch me? Touching me without permission is a crime. Acting on your own in front of me is an even greater crime! A woman like you, who has no manners and no sense of propriety, is not worthy to stay by my side! Stop the car!" Mu Yunhe was furious, finding fault with Luo Zhiheng in every way, truly finding fault with everything about her.
Luo Zhiheng was anxious. What was Mu Yunhe doing? Was his sudden outburst of anger an attempt to drive her away? Thinking this, and worried that the ghostly spirit was still there, she had to put on an act. She quickly knelt down in terror and said, "It was my fault! I will never dare to do it again! Please spare my life, Your Majesty, and give me a chance to reform. I will definitely do my best to satisfy Your Majesty."
Mu Yunhe was speechless. If he really gave you a chance, you would be in real danger. Even if you did nothing but beat and scold me every day, I would still be happy. How could I expect you to change? He said sternly, "Who gave you permission to talk nonsense! What right do you have to speak in front of me? Did I give you permission to speak? You scoundrel, so unruly. Is this how the Prime Minister disciplined and taught you?"
Mu Yunhe was furious, his teeth clenched as he spoke of the prime minister. That foolish prime minister—weren't he and Luo Zhiheng at odds? How could he have helped Luo Zhiheng come to his side? He'd put Luo Zhiheng in such a dangerous situation; the prime minister deserved to die!
Luo Zhiheng truly didn't care whether the Prime Minister would die or not. That bastard's agreement to help was thanks to her brother. If she hadn't begged her brother, who had come to her for help, and hadn't threatened him with his life to get his consent, he would have had no choice but to beg the Prime Minister. That bastard wouldn't have agreed to help send her to the Emperor and then to Mu Yunhe. Because of this, that bastard Prime Minister had taken many treasures from her brother.
Sooner or later, she will help her brother get all those treasures back.
"Your Majesty's mood is your own business, this servant will never dare to do it again." Luo Zhiheng lowered her posture even further, almost crawling on the ground, lying at Mu Yunhe's feet. In the narrow space, she curled up, her hands almost pressing on Mu Yunhe's feet. Under her wide sleeves, she squeezed Mu Yunhe's feet hard and carefully rubbed them, threatening him while trying to please him.
Mu Yunhe nearly gasped; the sensation on his feet was incredibly intense—it was his Aheng touching him! He could feel it, damn it!!
This little vixen, daring to tease him at a time like this, and in such a way at that! Their bodies had longed for each other for so long, and even this tiny touch was magnified many times over in his mind. Mu Yunhe suppressed the urge to embrace her and kiss her fiercely, suppressed the heartache he felt for her kneeling humbly at his feet, and said ruthlessly, "Enough nonsense. Guards, throw this ill-mannered woman off the carriage and send her personally to the Prime Minister's residence. Ask the Prime Minister on my behalf whether he even knows how to send women, that he actually sent such an unruly one!"
Seeing the soldiers rush in to arrest her, Luo Zhiheng was also furious. Mu Yunhe was determined to send her away, and she didn't want to!
Luo Zhiheng suddenly grabbed Mu Yunhe's leg and refused to let go, crying in a delicate voice, "Your Excellency, please, don't send me away! I really can't be sent back! Going back means certain death! You don't know what the Prime Minister is like!"
Mu Yunhe's lips twitched. He was completely caught off guard by Luo Zhiheng's sudden move. Hearing her words, he knew she was going to smear the Prime Minister. A fleeting smile appeared in Mu Yunhe's eyes as he pursed his thin lips, trying to pull his legs out of her embrace. However, she was holding him too tightly, pressing his legs firmly against her chest. This exertion only caused the softness of her breasts to rub against him. Mu Yunhe felt a tingling sensation that ran from his calves to his scalp, and Luo Zhiheng instantly became aroused.
In an instant, the two, who had been abstinent for so long, couldn't help but feel their hearts flutter. Mu Yunhe's face flushed slightly, and Luo Zhiheng even let out a soft moan.
Mu Yunhe flew into a rage and roared at the guards who rushed in, "What are you looking at? Get out!"
Ah Heng's delicate and soft appearance can only be seen by him, and Ah Heng's beautiful moans can only be heard by him!
The guard quickly scrambled out, landing safely after a tumble, still drenched in cold sweat from the ferocious expression Mu Yunhe had just displayed.
Luo Zhiheng chuckled inwardly, secretly glancing up at Mu Yunhe. That glance was truly captivating, alluring, and utterly charming, evoking a sense of pity and tenderness. Especially striking were her large, clear eyes, brimming with tears; any man who saw them would have wished he could die instantly, just to win a smile from this beauty. However, Mu Yunhe would never allow anyone else to see Luo Zhiheng like this.
Mu Yunhe, of course, couldn't resist being captivated by Luo Zhiheng's charm. He quickly steadied himself. He had been wondering why Aheng's eyes were red before, and now he was even more puzzled as to why they had turned black. However, he still hadn't seen Aheng's face and didn't know what she had gone through after being disfigured. He dared not ask, but based on his familiarity with Luo Zhiheng's soul, he could immediately sense Luo Zhiheng and confirm who his Aheng was and where she was.
"You just said the Prime Minister is...?" Mu Yunhe cleared his throat and asked coldly. He thought angrily, "Did that damned Prime Minister bully my Aheng? Is he looking for death?!"
Second update! That's all for today. I'll keep working hard tomorrow. Still asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! Give them your all, my darlings! Extra chapters are still coming! Goodnight, everyone! (Group kisses)
520 A smart bet!
Updated: 2013-12-28 19:23:00 Word Count: 7822
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's hesitant and unresponsive demeanor, Aunt Zhang, disgusted by the presence of something on Luo Zhiheng's face, dared not approach her any further. She said, "You'll be living in that small room. Don't complain, it's a single room. If you shared it with someone else, you'd have to squeeze in. Also, you'll have to get up an hour before sunrise to work and rest after dark. You'll get two meals a day, clean the yard, fetch water, and have 30% of the servants' clothes washed by you. That's all the work you'll have for now."
Luo Zhiheng almost cursed. This grandma did so much? This grandma did everything! She did practically all the work! What were you bunch of strong, pig-like old women doing? And you even assigned her a room that looked like a woodshed as her bedroom, calling it a single room! Seriously… what the hell?!
"Still not saying a word? Are you not happy about it?" Aunt Zhang suddenly raised her voice and shouted angrily.
Luo Zhiheng was truly baffled by Aunt Zhang's harassment. Aunt Zhang was targeting all the women who came to her place, meaning it wasn't just her. She was finding fault with everything she did, and her words were full of hidden meanings that were hard to understand. Could this old woman be envious and jealous of women younger than her?
"No, this servant wouldn't dare. This servant will obediently listen to you and would never dare to have any improper thoughts," Luo Zhiheng quickly replied.
Only then did Aunt Zhang seem somewhat satisfied, and she hurriedly left with the other women, as if she were quite displeased with Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng was happy to have her freedom, but once things quieted down, she couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Was Mu Yunhe really just going to abandon her here? Or was he planning to watch her get bullied by these old guys so she'd either give up or back down?
Hmph, if that's what he thinks, then he's seriously underestimating her. Now that she's here, she won't leave so easily. Don't expect her to back down in the face of such a small setback.
For the next two days, everything seemed to pass peacefully. Mu Yunhe acted as if she didn't exist in the mansion, neither visiting her nor instructing anyone to look after her. She worked there, but with her delicate skin and poor health, she couldn't do any rough work and could only use her words to deceive the old woman.
After two days, Luo Zhiheng still couldn't win over Aunt Zhang's favor. That old woman, Nazabi, seemed somewhat wary of her, hesitant to approach Luo Zhiheng. If Luo Zhiheng got even slightly closer, Aunt Zhang would immediately yell and tell her to stay away, or even hide herself far away. It was as if Luo Zhiheng had a plague.
After being subjected to all sorts of nitpicking, Luo Zhiheng was forced into becoming a lowly maid by the fierce Aunt Zhang. She was assigned almost all the dirty and tiring work. She gritted her teeth and endured it for two days, but only for two days.
That day, a piece of clothing belonging to Mu Yunhe was delivered and asked to be washed. Luo Zhiheng was delighted and quickly took it, as washing Mu Yunhe's clothes was only natural in her mind. However, in the eyes of others, this meant she had ulterior motives, was scheming, and even wanted to climb the social ladder!
The past two days had been peaceful; at most, Luo Zhiheng had only been harassed and verbally abused, unlike the other women who had come before her, who had been physically punished or mistreated. However, Luo Zhiheng's matter-of-fact behavior immediately aroused strong dissatisfaction and high vigilance from all the women in the laundry courtyard!
Everything associated with Mu Yunhe was revered by these women. Even a dirty piece of Mu Yunhe's clothing was considered noble and inviolable. To wash Mu Yunhe's clothes was a blessing earned through three lifetimes of good deeds, something not everyone could do. Therefore, in the backyard, those who could wash Mu Yunhe's clothes were considered very noble—at least, that was their own perception.
"What are you doing? Don't you know who you are? How dare you touch your clothes!" Aunt Zhang preemptively asked angrily with a fierce look on her face.
Luo Zhiheng looked bewildered and innocently replied, "Washing clothes? Isn't that my job?"
A young woman dressed flamboyantly and provocatively, resembling a prostitute, sneered sharply, "What job? I think you just want to gain his favor by washing his clothes! I've seen plenty of women like you, and none of them ever end up dying a horrible death. You're not much to begin with, yet you dare to dream of seducing him. You're simply overestimating yourself."
Luo Zhiheng stared speechlessly at the woman whose face was smeared like a monkey's butt. She hadn't seen this person in two days; where did this cavewoman come from? She asked in a cold, harsh voice, "Who are you?"
The woman haughtily raised her head, looking down on everyone like a peacock, and said, "You are not worthy to know who I am. Give me your clothes; they are not for someone of your status to touch. Only I am qualified to wash your clothes."
Luo Zhiheng was both amused and exasperated. Mu Yunhe's clothes had become such a hot commodity? Women were even fighting over them? And some even considered washing his clothes a source of pride? Was it really necessary?
Although she felt the woman was making a mountain out of a molehill, Luo Zhiheng was still quite uncomfortable. These were her own man's clothes, yet she wasn't the one most qualified in the world to wash them; instead, another woman had the right? Having swallowed her anger for two days, Luo Zhiheng decided today to stop enduring it.
"Are you from here? Why haven't I seen you in the two days I've been here? I've been working hard here for two days, doing everything by myself. Where was the most qualified person like you then? Now you come to tell me you're the most qualified? What qualifications do you have? Qualifications to flaunt your charms!" Luo Zhiheng said sarcastically.
When it comes to being a shrew and ruthless, Luo Zhiheng dares to say she's number one, and no one dares to say they're number two!
"How dare you!" Before the woman could speak, Aunt Zhang let out a sharp shout, almost a scream. Aunt Zhang seemed very angry. She swung her thick arm and rushed over, cursing, "You shameless little bitch, how dare you insult my daughter? Do you think I'm dead? I'll teach you a lesson today!"
That monkey-butt prostitute, the primitive woman, is actually Zhang Da Niang's daughter?!
Wow, birds of a feather flock together! The power of genetics is truly amazing! They're mother and daughter, a perfect match!
Luo Zhiheng, a delicate and frail little woman, stood there facing a stout woman who could easily engulf her, charging aggressively towards her. The outcome was obvious without even needing to compare the two sides; Luo Zhiheng was destined to lose.
But Luo Zhiheng stood calmly in place. When Aunt Zhang raised her large palm-leaf fan and swung it at her, Luo Zhiheng suddenly coughed violently, as if she wanted to cough up her lungs. Aunt Zhang was so frightened that she stopped her hand just inches away from Mu Yunhe's cheek.
After a moment, Luo Zhiheng said softly, "I'm sorry, I've probably been too tired these past two days, and my condition has worsened. Sigh, it used to only have it on my face, but now it's on my body too. I saw this morning that the little spotted dog that's been sitting at my door seems to have it on it as well. Could it be that this thing is contagious?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang and the others' expressions changed drastically. Aunt Zhang hurriedly withdrew her hand, taking several steps back before angrily demanding of one of them, "Go and see what's wrong with that spotted dog?"
A woman rushed over to see what was happening and saw that the little spotted dog's white body was covered with many red spots, which looked quite alarming against its white fur. The woman was startled and immediately cried out, jumping back and saying tremblingly, "There's something! There really is something! It looks like a contagious disease."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang's face darkened even further. She quickly lowered her hand from Luo Zhiheng's and vigorously wiped it with her clothes, as if afraid of catching something. She roared, "You little slut, how dare you harm me! Why didn't you say you were sick?"
Luo Zhiheng said innocently, "I told you, didn't you know the day I arrived? But since I'm under your jurisdiction, why didn't you find me a doctor? You just let things continue like this. If I die, how will you explain it to your master? After all, I was bestowed by the Emperor. If I die, it will be a great disrespect to the Emperor! Tell me, in your master's eyes, are you more important, or is the Emperor more important? Would your master disobey the Emperor's orders to protect you?"
Her seemingly unintentional and delicate words were truly piercing to the heart! Every word was fraught with danger. What master would offend the emperor for the sake of a few servants? Moreover, they dared not place themselves on the same level as the emperor; that would be suicidal. Luo Zhiheng was digging a pit for them; whether they jumped in or not, they were doomed.
The men broke out in a cold sweat. They had always thought that the backyard was their domain, that they could control everything, and that with Mu Yunhe's orders, they could do whatever they wanted with the women who were sent to them. This made them even more arrogant. They never imagined that one day their arrogance would bring them to their deaths.
Several people, especially Granny Zhang, were all blustering but cowardly. Luo Zhiheng had only mentioned the consequences, and they were already frightened. Granny Zhang, however, was tough enough to scare them with her words. She sneered, "Stop trying to frighten me with these alarmist claims! I wasn't raised to be scared by you! So what if you're a woman bestowed by the Emperor? How glamorous! If you were truly glamorous, why would your master send you here? To be honest, you're nothing special. Since you're so powerful, I'll kill you too. Once you're dead, what do I have to fear? Weren't all those women stunning beauties? They were all bestowed by the Emperor, and in the end, they all died tragically."
Luo Zhiheng remained unperturbed and said, "What a sharp tongue you have! Then try touching me and see if your master kills me, or you? No, he'll wipe out your ancestors for eighteen generations!"
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's confident demeanor, the others immediately panicked. How could she remain so calm and composed, even after being pushed to this point? Was this woman different from the others? Would their master really make things difficult for them because of this woman? But if that were the case, why did their master send this woman here in the first place? And why didn't he explain anything?
"I know you don't believe me and still see me as the same kind of person as those other women. I don't care how you treat me, really. But you'd better be prepared. If Mu Yunhe comes after you, you'd better be able to handle it." Luo Zhiheng shook Mu Yunhe's clothes, her eyes behind the veil looking at each of them, carrying an invisible but immense pressure.
A chill ran through everyone, and they hesitated to speak. Only Zhang's daughter, Miss Monkey Butt, dared to speak. With the foolish spirit of the ignorant, she put her hands on her hips and cursed, "You vixen, you shameless woman, how dare you talk to my mother like that? Do you think I'll be afraid of you after a few words? Bah! Shameless slut, the master will never like you, you have no chance."
"Oh? Then let's see if your master cares about me or you. Since you think your master hates me and tacitly approves of you killing me, do you dare to make a bet with me?" Luo Zhiheng's tone remained nonchalant, but beneath her veil, her small face radiated a captivating glow.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her—a perfect opportunity to see Mu Yunhe! Mu Yunhe certainly didn't know the suffering and torment she had endured in this backyard. If Mu Yunhe knew, Luo Zhiheng believed this backyard would never be so peaceful. He wouldn't allow these vile women to bully her!
Mu Yunhe must have deliberately ignored his own messages to be unaware of this.
Hmph, you don't want to know, but she's determined to make you find out. And aren't these meddlesome and narcissistic women the perfect channels for spreading rumors?
"A bet? How? What are we betting on?" Aunt Zhang's daughter asked immediately.
"It's not difficult at all. You just need to go to your master and complain. You can exaggerate and say all sorts of bad things about me. You can even tell your master that I'm causing trouble in the backyard. We'll bet on your master's attitude towards me. If your master gets furious and wants to kill me after hearing what you say, then that's my fate. Even if I lose, you won't have to lift a finger. Your master will kill me anyway, and then you can rest easy."
Luo Zhiheng spoke softly with a smile. Seeing that Zhang Da Niang's daughter looked tempted but hesitant as she looked at Zhang Da Niang, while Zhang Da Niang looked wary and thoughtful, Luo Zhiheng quickly turned to Hou Pigu and said enticingly, "Use this opportunity to show your face to your master. Who knows, your master might take a second look at you because of your meritorious report. And that would be incredible! Your master might be captivated by your stunning beauty and replace those beauties sent in by the emperor, keeping you by his side forever. This is an excellent opportunity to get close to Mu Yunhe and gain his approval and favor. Don't miss this chance!"
These words were incredibly tempting, and they struck a chord with the monkey's heart. Her biggest worry lately had been how to attract her master's attention and how to make him like her. She was completely devoted to her master, and she vowed to marry no one but him in this lifetime.
Luo Zhiheng's words were simply irresistible to her, and she was about to agree when Aunt Zhang stopped her. Monkey Butt complained, "Mom, why won't you let me say yes?"
Aunt Zhang glared at her daughter and asked Luo Zhiheng with a serious expression, "You only said what would happen if you lost, but what if you won? If the master really cares about you, how will you treat us?"
Old ginger is indeed spicier!
Luo Zhiheng sneered, "You have so little confidence in yourselves? Then why were you so confident and acting all high and mighty in front of me just now? As if your master couldn't walk without you."
Aunt Zhang's face darkened, and her daughter shouted anxiously, "That's right, Mother! Why won't you agree? We're sure to win this time! That woman is covered in all sorts of weird things; the master will definitely hate her. Why should we be afraid of her? Even if the master doesn't deal with her, we don't need to be afraid of her. She's still in your hands. What kind of trouble can she possibly cause?"
Aunt Zhang remained silent, and naturally, no one else dared to speak. Aunt Zhang thought, "That's right, it's better to take this opportunity to test the master's heart, so as to avoid future troubles. Besides, it can also give my daughter a good opportunity."
After making up her mind, Aunt Zhang said with a long face, "You wouldn't be betting with us just to show off in front of the master, would you? That's a very risky move. Since the master sent you here, it means he doesn't care about you. If you're thinking of doing this, you're bound to lose."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected this fierce old woman to have such a mind. Of course, she wouldn't admit it and said sarcastically, "If you're scared, just say so. Don't whine and say other things."
“Who says we’re scared? Let’s gamble!” Aunt Zhang couldn’t stand being provoked. She rolled her eyes and said, “But we can’t just go and complain to the master like this. If you didn’t do anything, the master will find out we’re in the wrong when he investigates. If you dare to harm us, we’ll drag you down with us even if we die.”
"Of course I won't make things difficult for you, just wait." Luo Zhiheng chuckled inwardly. The bigger the commotion, the better. Only when things escalate will Mu Yunhe realize the seriousness of the situation and dare not leave her in the care of these ravenous old women. That way, she will have a chance to leave.
Picking up a pair of scissors, Luo Zhiheng grabbed Mu Yunhe's gorgeous clothes and snipped them away, turning the once beautiful garment into a mess. Those around them stared in disbelief, their faces turning pale. When Monkey Buttocks saw his carefully cherished clothes ruined, his eyes reddened, and he was about to rush forward, but was stopped by Aunt Zhang.
"Don't move! Don't you want to see your master? Don't you want to be your master anymore? Just watch, the more she cuts, the greater her sin. The more you report her, the better it will be for you," Aunt Zhang whispered to her daughter.
Luo Zhiheng smiled, extremely happy, knowing she was about to see Mu Yunhe. After cutting up the other clean pieces of Mu Yunhe's clothing, Luo Zhiheng clapped her hands and said, "Alright, now you can go and complain."
The little monkey immediately dashed off with a mix of excitement and shyness, only to be pulled back by her mother who gave her a thorough dressing-down before she finally ran off again. Luo Zhiheng sat smilingly to the side, waiting for news.
Meanwhile, Mu Yunhe hadn't been in a good mood for the past few days and dared not relax for a moment. The Great Demon King had been pressing him relentlessly these past two days, keeping Mu Yunhe awake almost all day long, his eyes bloodshot. He was just an ordinary person now, and no one could endure such a state. Moreover, he was still thinking about Luo Zhiheng.
Although he deliberately tried not to think about her or hear news of her, how could he truly let go? His only consolation was that the Great Demon King hadn't noticed anything amiss with Aheng; he hadn't sensed Aheng's soul, nor that she was Ruilin. This left Mu Yunhe both puzzled and relieved.
As long as Luo Zhiheng isn't involved, everything is fine.