amaotonovel Chapter 713 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (23)
Chapter 713 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (23)
Looking at Mu Zhou in front of her, for a moment, Luo Mengyao thought she was hallucinating.
This period was like an eternity for her; every moment was torture.
She could hardly remember her past life; it was as if it were a thing of a past life.
When she saw Mu Zhou again, it took her a long time to gradually come back to her senses.
Immediately, a surge of inexplicable hatred welled up in my heart.
Mu Zhou looked even more radiant than that day.
The gold and jade hairpins in her hair, the fox fur draped over her body, and her fair skin all testified to her pampered and privileged life.
Luo Mengyao's breathing became rapid, and her face became ferocious and terrifying.
Why?
Why should she suffer like this, while Mu Zhou can still live her life of luxury?
Luo Mengyao wasn't stupid. After she was imprisoned, based on some minor details and interrogation, she had already guessed that the person torturing her was sent by the Empress Dowager.
Everything, everything, is because of Qin Yansi.
She was filled with resentment.
It's clear that Qin Yansi's fiancée is Mu Zhou, and it's clear that she's the one who enjoys all the favors Qin Yansi has shown on the surface, even receiving all the money from the royal palace.
But in the end, why should Luo Mengyao bear all of this?
The inhuman torture had already ravaged her spirit, and now she was filled with hatred and was no longer a normal person.
Mu Zhou was naturally aware of these things.
So she listened silently to Luo Mengyao's labored cursing, but after only a couple of sentences, she ran out of strength and gasped for breath until she coughed up blood.
Mu Zhou took a step back, pinched the handkerchief and touched the tip of her nose, as if she was disgusted.
Luo Mengyao was further agitated upon seeing this, and her heart ached in waves.
Seeing that she was in so much pain that she was about to faint, Mu Zhou was about to speak.
She sighed and looked out the window at the falling snow:
"Qin Yansi is back, did you know?"
Luo Mengyao paused.
She was imprisoned and tortured every day, and had long since lost track of what was happening outside.
So he's already back.
The joy lasted only a moment, and was quickly overwhelmed by hatred.
It's all him!
It's all his fault for getting himself into this state!
Looking at the emotions in her eyes, Mu Zhou smiled with satisfaction.
It seems that no one who has experienced all this can calmly say that they were willing to accept it.
Love and affection become utterly insignificant under the torment of body and mind.
Mu Zhou briefly recounted what had happened during this period.
Finally, she was stabbed in the heart again:
Do you know what day it is in three days?
Seeing Luo Mengyao looking over, Mu Zhou said calmly:
"Three days later is the day Qin Yansi will marry his second wife."
Seeing her eyes widen in disbelief, Mu Zhou added:
"Six days later, it will be the day she takes a concubine. The one she marries is the legitimate daughter of Minister Li, the nephew of the Empress Dowager, and the two concubines are his illegitimate daughters."
Luo Mengyao quickly understood.
Qin Yansi is surrendering himself to the Empress Dowager.
He whitewashed his disobedience to military orders by currying favor with the Empress Dowager.
It turns out that she wasn't eligible for either the status of a secondary wife or a concubine.
He never considered giving her a legitimate status.
Yet she was treated this way.
Luo Mengyao couldn't help but wonder, which of his words were true and which were false?
He said he was using Mu Zhou as a shield, and that he only loved her.
But actually?
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Mu Zhou pretended to be sad and dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief:
"I thought I must know Brother Qin well, since I've known him for over ten years. But I never imagined that I would feel like a stranger to him one day."
She looked at Luo Mengyao, her smile wan and pale.
"I thought I was his shield, used to appease the Empress Dowager, and that you were the one he truly loved and wanted to protect. But seeing you like this now, I know I was wrong."
Mu Zhou shook his head, his expression forlorn.
"Seeing you injured doesn't bring me any joy, it only makes me feel sorry for you. He doesn't love anyone, he only loves himself. You and I, and even that Miss Li, are just tools he uses."
Mu Zhou's tone was light and airy, yet extremely seductive.
Most importantly, she took out a jade pendant.
Luo Mengyao recognized him instantly.
Those were Qin Yansi's mother's belongings, left to her future daughter-in-law.
She had hinted that she wanted it many times after she found out, but Qin Yansi delayed giving it to her, telling her that he would give it to her when he had avenged his great enemy and formally proposed to her.
She had always longed for this jade pendant.
Unexpectedly, the jade pendant was in Mu Zhou's hands.
This further convinced Luo Mengyao that Qin Yansi had been deceiving her with sweet words.
Mu Zhou looked at the jade pendant and said with a wry smile:
“He gave me his mother’s belongings back then, saying that he had already decided that I was a member of his Qin family and that this would never change in this lifetime. It turns out that all of this was just sweet talk.”
Hearing her words, Luo Mengyao silently clenched her fists, her chest filled with anger.
She will absolutely not let Qin Yansi off the hook!
After a long while, once his emotions had calmed down, Mu Zhou's eyes were still red, and his tone was much calmer:
"I've come to terms with it now and no longer insist on anything. Miss Luo, please try to be more open-minded too."
She told Luo Mengyao that she knew about this place because her mother had told her about it. Many people knew that Luo Mengyao was staying at Minister Li's villa, and Qin Yansi would certainly know as well.
But he didn't come; he probably didn't want to see her.
These words instantly provoked Luo Mengyao, and she almost screamed:
"Why?! Why?! I suffered all that torment, how can you expect me to let go, how can I forget it all?"
Mu Zhou frowned and advised:
"However, Qin Yansi has already taken a wife and concubine, and he has been reluctant to come and fetch you, probably because he is afraid that you will cause trouble."
Seeing her trembling with anger, Mu Zhou comforted her again:
"But you never know. He still cares about you. Maybe after he gets married, he'll bring you into his household. I just don't know what excuse he'll use to fob you off then."
Luo Mengyao sneered coldly:
"What excuse can I use? This isn't readily available. Minister Li is forcing me to marry his daughter, otherwise he won't let me go. In the end, I'll probably have to thank him."
Seeing that she had thought of this herself, Mu Zhou slowly smiled.
Before leaving, she left several bottles of medicine for Luo Mengyao:
"These are all good medicines for treating external injuries. However, you should be careful with this gray one. Although it has a good pain-relieving effect, it will make you feel weak all over and have no strength in your limbs. Even martial arts masters cannot escape the side effects. It will take about three hours to recover. You can use it before going to bed."
After Mu Zhou left, Luo Mengyao looked at the gray bottle and slowly held it in her hand.
How could she bear to use such good medicine on herself?
If she still has a chance to see Qin Yansi...
A strange smile appeared on Luo Mengyao's lips.
*
After Mu Zhou returned to the palace, he was taken directly to Su Youbai's study.
He was still reading memorials in the Hall of Diligent Advisory and had not returned.
The young eunuch led her into the study and said politely:
"Princess, please have a seat. Just give me your orders. The Emperor will be back soon."
Mu Zhou smiled:
"Thank you, father-in-law."
"Don't mention it, this is what a servant should do."
Soon, someone brought out a cup of tea and several plates of snacks.