Luo Zhiheng gripped the hairpin tightly, finally unable to dodge, but she laughed arrogantly, "You'll never humiliate me! I can't kill you, but I can kill myself!"
Before she finished speaking, the hairpin in Luo Zhiheng's hand had already landed on her jade-like neck. If it had gone in half an inch deeper, she would have died!
Chapter 533: The King Asks a Question, the Vermilion Mark Shines Brightly! (Bonus Chapter for 42,000 Comments)
Updated: 2014-01-04 22:42:32 Word Count: 3538
Even the Great Demon King was stunned by Luo Zhiheng's resolute and ruthless expression. When he came to his senses, he pounced on her like a madman.
But before he could even touch Luo Zhiheng's hand, at that critical moment, a sharp whistling sound swept through the air. The Demon King looked up, his pupils contracting as he saw countless silver needles shooting out like arrows. Startled, the Demon King hastily retreated to dodge, no longer caring about Luo Zhiheng's life or death.
The silver needles chased after the Great Demon King's figure, but only one needle pierced Luo Zhiheng's wrist. The sharp pain interrupted her self-immolation and knocked the sharp hairpin away!
As Luo Zhiheng collapsed to the ground in pain, exhausted and on the verge of collapse, a gust of wind swept in from the opposite direction, engulfing her. She had no strength to resist.
"Who are you? Put her down!" The Great Demon King dodged the silver needles and saw that Luo Zhiheng was being held in someone's arms under the cover of night. He was filled with shock and anger.
"Do you have the right to ask me that question?" A majestic voice rang out. The wind subsided, and the King, dressed in purple robes, was seen holding Luo Zhiheng in his arms, hovering in mid-air, glaring down at the Great Demon King.
When the King appeared, his aura was fully unleashed, and thousands of troops dared not resist him!
The Great Demon King's face turned pale the moment he saw the World King. What was this woman doing here?! What did she know?
Even the Great Demon King would have to think twice before dealing with Mu Yunhe, and that's only after mustering the courage to disregard the Divination Palace behind Mu Yunhe. But when it comes to the World King, he needs to be much more cautious. The World King is a very experienced person, and the Silver Moon Kingdom and the Demon Clan are evenly matched. He doesn't want to provoke the World King.
"What's wrong with Your Majesty? Do you want to meddle in my family affairs?" The Great Demon King tried to appear normal, as if he were Mu Yunhe.
But the king would no longer believe him, because the king already knew everything!
The person sent by the King to protect Luo Zhiheng was actually also monitoring her, and naturally, that person knew all the conversations between Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng.
The conversation came too suddenly. In that person's eyes, Mu Yunhe's inexplicable attempt to kill a woman of unknown origin was something they didn't need to concern themselves with, as long as the woman wasn't truly in mortal danger. But just as they were about to make their move, Mu Yunhe suddenly became deeply affectionate towards Luo Zhiheng, and what was truly terrifying was that he called her "Aheng"!
Those two words terrified everyone watching Luo Zhiheng; they rushed back to report as if they'd seen a ghost. This led to the arrival of the Prince. But the Prince arrived filled with shock and fury.
When she learned of this absurd statement, her first reaction was anger and disbelief. The fact that Aheng was still alive should have been incredibly joyous news, but it came so suddenly that it seemed somewhat unbelievable. And Mu Yunhe's attitude towards Luo Zhiheng had changed so drastically; she didn't know who to believe. But if this woman really was Luo Zhiheng, then she couldn't ignore it.
"This is no longer your family matter! She belongs to me," the King said coldly, his tone assertive and matter-of-fact.
The Great Demon King frowned, secretly on guard, but unwilling to let Luo Zhiheng go so easily, as he wasn't sure what Luo Zhiheng would say to the World King.
"This woman was bestowed upon me by the Emperor. Is Your Highness trying to force someone else to marry her? Besides, Your Highness is also a woman and has a beloved man. Why would you and your nephew-in-law try to take her away?" The Great Demon King's words were a test. He was afraid that if Your Highness really found out something, he would have to make plans early.
The king, however, refused to be evasive and said coldly, "I'm going to have this woman! If you're not happy, you can try to take her from me. If you can take her from me, she's yours. If you can't, I'll take your life too!"
The Queen's harsh words were not empty threats. She held Luo Zhiheng in her arms, her hands ignited, and she hurled the weapon at the Great Demon King with ferocious force.
The Great Demon King's expression changed. His soul was damaged and his body was injured. He was caught in a pincer movement and couldn't handle it. He quickly dodged and shouted, "King of the World, are you going to break ties with me?"
"Hmph, you are not qualified to mention face in front of me! If you want to kill this woman, then I will kill you first. If you let this woman go, we will pretend we never met tonight. Think it over yourself," the King said coldly.
She just couldn't understand. If this woman really was Luo Zhiheng, then why did Mu Yunhe kill Luo Zhiheng? Her guards hadn't heard everything, but what exactly had they missed? The Prince felt that Mu Yunhe was unreliable at this moment, and his manner of speaking and acting was unlike Mu Yunhe's. This woman also showed him dislike. What was there that she didn't know? And seeing Mu Yunhe treat this woman like that just now, she felt inexplicably disgusted.
Upon hearing the King's words, the Great Demon King knew that the King did not know the whole story. He quickly thought for a moment and said, "She's just a woman. Since the King likes her, I'll give her to you. However, this woman is far too insane. She actually pretended to be Aheng because I deeply love her, claiming that she is Aheng. You know that I truly love Aheng, so how could I tolerate someone impersonating her? Of course, I had to kill her. Just now, I was also momentarily blinded by greed, because I missed Aheng so much, that I was drawn into my memories by her words and mistook her for Aheng. So, the King, don't listen to this woman's words; they are all lies."
Luo Zhiheng is too badly injured to open her mouth right now, otherwise she would definitely pounce on her and bite this lying, wicked bastard to death!
The King narrowed his eyes, glanced down at Luo Zhiheng who was struggling to stay unconscious, and ultimately did not judge the Great Demon King's words, but said, "I know what I'm doing."
The King carried Luo Zhiheng away, while the Great Demon King smashed things in the courtyard in a fit of rage before staggering away.
The Prince settled Luo Zhiheng in a side room of his courtyard and arranged for Lady Huoyun to treat her. However, Luo Zhiheng's hand remained tightly gripping the Prince's clothes, preventing him from getting up to move aside. He hadn't intended to ask now, but she was so anxious, as if a hundred claws were scratching at his heart, that he couldn't help but say, seeing that Luo Zhiheng wouldn't let go, "Little girl, do you know me? Do you have something to say to me?"
Luo Zhiheng opened her mouth with difficulty, but couldn't utter a single word. All that came out of her mouth was a series of painful groans.
The king quickly said, "You don't need to speak. Just blink when I ask you a question. If it's true, blink once; if it's not, blink twice. Is that okay? Blink if you want."
Luo Zhiheng's eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly blinked.
The king was filled with unease and torment, and cautiously whispered, "Do you know me? Have you known me for a long time?"
Luo Zhiheng blinked, and the Prince's mind began to race with nervousness.
"You have an unusual relationship with Mu Yunhe, and you have a different relationship with the Luo family, don't you?" The Queen could only ask cautiously, afraid that too much hope would lead to greater disappointment, and also afraid that this woman was really a vain woman who wanted Luo Zhiheng's identity.
The King stared wide-eyed, not daring to miss a single emotion in Luo Zhiheng's eyes. She saw Luo Zhiheng blink once, and then look at her earnestly with a sorrowful and desolate gaze.
The king felt as if his heart was being torn apart!
She asked urgently, "Do you hate Luo Ningshuang? Do you wish you could kill her with your own hands?"
Luo Zhiheng blinked without hesitation.
The King's breathing quickened, and he subconsciously gripped Luo Zhiheng's hand tightly. He remained silent for a long time before finally uttering in a hoarse voice, "Then...you really are Luo Zhiheng?!"
The Queen's heart soared with her words. She had been in despair, thinking the child was dead, but then she learned that the child might still be alive and right in front of her. The Queen was filled with hope and anxiety again, and her heart was pounding in her chest.
Luo Zhiheng's tears welled up instantly. She blinked hard, and her hand gripping the Prince's clothes trembled.
This was a secret kept to herself, one she never imagined would be revealed to her most respected elder in such a passive and desperate moment. But Luo Zhiheng had no need to hide it anymore; they needed help now, and she didn't want Mu Yunhe to die! Only the King of the World would wholeheartedly and effectively help them fight against the Great Demon King!
Even with her powerful composure, the Queen could not remain calm at this moment. Her expression shifted between light and shadow, her mood unpredictable. She stared at Luo Zhiheng for a long while before suddenly tearing open Luo Zhiheng's clothes. When she saw the red cinnabar mole on Luo Zhiheng's left chest, her mind went completely blank, leaving only that one red dot on the white chest.
"Aunt..." Luo Zhiheng tried hard to utter these two words, her voice so weak it was almost inaudible.
But the Queen heard it. She snapped out of her shock and grief, staring blankly at Luo Zhiheng, her eyes widening, and suddenly roared, "Huo Yun! Quickly treat her! I want her alive! I want her safe and sound!"
Huo Yun hurriedly came in and carefully got to work.
The King's eyes were fixed on Luo Zhiheng, as if the child would vanish again in the blink of an eye. Luo Zhiheng knew the King had accepted this unbelievable fact, and that she was finally safe; her tense nerves finally relaxed. But she still dared not faint, clutching the King's clothes tightly, and said with difficulty, "Mu Yunhe is untrustworthy, don't kill him!"
After saying this, Luo Zhiheng finally fell into a deep coma. The King, however, was filled with doubt and confusion.
What does Heng'er mean by that? If Mu Yunhe is untrustworthy, why can't we kill him?
Bonus chapter complete! Hooray, 10,000 words updated! Still asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! It's late, goodnight everyone, mwah!
534 Charge out! The King's scheme!
Updated: 2014-01-05 20:39:14 Word Count: 6797
Luo Zhiheng's injuries were severe, and she remained unconscious for three days. During those three days, she was in a daze, unable to wake up, and her incoherent and fragmented speech was incoherent. The Prince was very worried about her and stayed by her side every step of the way. However, the Prince did not neglect Mu Yunhe. Although she could not personally inquire about Mu Yunhe's affairs, she still ordered people to keep a close watch on Mu Yunhe's movements.
Heng'er only said that Mu Yunhe should not be touched, but did not say that he should not be monitored.
However, the King of the World remained unaware of what Mu Yunhe had done over the past three days. Mu Yunhe knew that the King of the World's men were monitoring him, yet he pretended not to know they were the King of the World's men and killed them all. This was nothing short of a provocation and threat to the King of the World.
The King could not know what Mu Yunhe was doing, so he could only protect Luo Zhiheng and wait for her to wake up. Therefore, he decided to hold back for the time being.
Luo Zhiheng finally woke up at noon on the fourth day.
"How are you feeling?" The Prince's face was a little pale. He held Luo Zhiheng's hand tightly, but then suddenly remembered something and quickly let go, asking anxiously, "Did I hurt you?"
The thought of Lady Huoyun's diagnosis filled the Prince with a chill and terror. Lady Huoyun had said that Luo Zhiheng had extensive fractures throughout her body, with some even more severe damage, and that her bones were brittle and extremely fragile! This made Luo Zhiheng even more vulnerable to injury and death.
These words completely unsettled the Queen. How could her little niece have become like this? Luo Zhiheng was perfectly healthy before. Now, Luo Zhiheng's condition was even more dangerous. She didn't dare close her eyes, nor did she dare leave the room, fearing that Luo Zhiheng might leave this world at any moment.
Luo Zhiheng looked around blankly for a while before her eyes finally focused. She recognized the King and called out anxiously, "Where is Aunt Yunhe?"
The King was filled with rage: "Even at a time like this, you're still thinking about him! Do you know what he's been doing these past few days? He's been leaving early and returning late, not caring about his injuries at all. He doesn't care about himself, and he doesn't care about you either! Heng'er, what's going on between you and Mu Yunhe? Why has he suddenly become so strange? He doesn't care about you at all, he hasn't even come to see you once, and he even said you were a fake. I thought that in this world, Mu Yunhe was the one who should least forget you."
Luo Zhiheng, however, said with a cold and sharp look in her eyes, "Aunt, you've misunderstood Yun He. This person isn't Yun He at all! How can you expect someone who isn't Yun He to care about me?"
The King asked in surprise, "What exactly does this mean? I've also noticed that Mu Yunhe's behavior is strange. He's so seriously injured, yet he hasn't seen him seek a doctor. He seems to be perfectly fine."
"He's a devil who has taken over Yunhe's body!" Luo Zhiheng said hatefully, then slowly recounted to the King the whole story of how the great demon king had taken over Mu Yunhe's body.
The King was shocked and stood up abruptly, staring blankly at Luo Zhiheng. After a long while, he said in a dry voice, "It's actually a soul swap?! There really is such a technique and such a thing in this world?"
“A soul swap might be better than this, but the problem is that the devil stole Mu Yunhe’s body. Mu Yunhe is now without a body, and his soul doesn’t even know where it resides. This devil is extremely dangerous; he’s ambitious, and what he wants is probably the whole world. If he really succeeds one day, I don’t think his appetite will be satisfied. I’m afraid the Silver Moon Kingdom will also become his target,” Luo Zhiheng said with concern.
"Hmph, he's dreaming!" The King sneered. "Our Silver Moon Kingdom is not a place that others can easily find and enter. He'll never be able to enter the Silver Moon Kingdom without a guide. Heng'er, don't worry. I'm very worried about Mu Yunhe. His body has been possessed by a demon, which I'm afraid will have a very negative impact on him. Heng'er, do you have any plans?"
Luo Zhiheng said with a worried expression, "I don't have any plans yet. I just think that I won't live alone without Mu Yunhe. But as long as Mu Yunhe is still here and there is hope of survival, I won't give up on myself! Aunt, do you have any way to expel the soul from Mu Yunhe's body?"
The King said with a troubled expression, "This is inherently an inconceivable thing. Although the people of Silver Moon Kingdom are much more advanced than ordinary people, we are not gods after all. We have only heard of but never seen soul swapping, so there is even less we can do it for you. But perhaps your royal grandmother has a way?"
Luo Zhiheng's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "That's right, how could I have forgotten about the Empress Dowager? Aunt, could you please write a letter for me to tell the Empress Dowager about this and ask her to come and help?"
The Prince smiled affectionately and gently stroked Luo Zhiheng's little face, saying, "Silly child, how could your aunt not tell your grandmother such wonderful news that you are still alive? You have no idea how much your grandmother has suffered because of you these past few years. Before, there was an imposter to keep you going, even though she was unconscious, at least there was hope. But then Mu Yunhe fabricated a story that you had faked your death, which fooled us all. After your grandmother received the news, she couldn't bear it and fell ill. I sent the news back to your grandmother three days ago. Knowing that you are still alive, she will definitely come as fast as she can."
Luo Zhiheng truly felt that it was indeed wonderful to have a relative who was experienced in everything by her side. She held the Prince's hand with affection and gratitude and said, "Thank you, Aunt."
“Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? I am your own aunt, and you will be the one to carry on my legacy. Before I died, I was worried that I would have no one to carry on my family. But now, thank goodness, you are still alive. There is no better news than this. Tell your aunt, how have you been these past few years? Where have you been? Have you suffered?” the King said with heartache.
Luo Zhiheng told the Prince about some things that didn't seem too difficult. She wanted to only tell him the good news and not the bad, but those three years of hers were full of disasters and pain. Every story she told made the Prince feel heartbroken and angry, and his eyes turned red.
"So that's how it is! So that's how your bones became so fragile! And your face... was it replaced after Luo Ningshuang returned?" The King felt an indescribable heartache and bitterness, and he was also in a daze as he looked at Luo Zhiheng's face under the veil.
Previously, when administering medicine was inconvenient, she had removed the veil. Even though she considered herself a beauty and had seen countless beauties, she was still stunned by such a face. She simply couldn't find the words to describe that beautiful face that made even jealousy impossible. Later, fearing that this face would attract trouble, she never allowed anyone to touch Luo Zhiheng's veil, and she personally took care of Luo Zhiheng. This was the first time in the King's long life that he had served someone so meticulously and willingly.
"Well, I don't like this face, and I don't want to show it to people. It didn't matter before, but now it's causing endless trouble. You saw how the Great Demon King treated me that day. Even someone as arrogant as him couldn't help but be tempted by this face. I really can't appear in front of people anymore." Luo Zhiheng said with a self-deprecating laugh.
"Don't be afraid. Although you are too beautiful, it won't seem too out of place when you return to Silver Moon Kingdom. After this matter is settled, you can go home with your aunt. Your royal grandmother will definitely be very happy. As for Mu Yunhe, he will certainly not want you to be in danger in the mortal world. You can go back together and do whatever you want in your aunt's mansion. Your aunt will protect you and will definitely not let you be troubled by this face." The king affectionately pinched her small face and spoke softly in a rare tone.
The majestic and domineering King Shi looked like a loving mother, and Luo Zhiheng felt her eyes sting. She couldn't help but choke up and said, "Aunt, you are so good to me."
"You are my heir, the one who will take care of me in my old age and see me off when I die. If I don't take advantage of this opportunity to please you so that you will treat me better in the future, wouldn't I be the one who suffers?" the King said jokingly, his eyes reddening.
Even the most heartless person can't be cold-hearted when their child is lost and then found again, right? Besides, she has always liked Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng nodded and solemnly said, "I will take care of my aunt in her old age and see her off when she passes away, as long as I am still alive!"
The King gently patted Luo Zhiheng's head and said, "Don't talk nonsense. You will definitely live well. Your aunt will do everything in her power to protect you. This official's residence is not safe now, but leaving here may not be safe either, and might even alert the enemy. Fortunately, I haven't let anyone spread the news that you have woken up. We'll remain still and see what that great demon king is up to. We'll wait for your imperial grandmother to arrive. I estimate she should be here in the next couple of days! Once she arrives, I think those demons won't dare to be too arrogant."