As for why he had gone to such lengths to have Ma Shaokang die in this manner, it was all because of Mountain Lord's love and protection for Shanhua.
For one, he hoped Ma Shaokang's death would spur Shanhua's growth, so that she would at least no longer remain as naïve and ignorant of the world as before.
After all, Shanhua might soon be married off. Without him by her side to look after her, he would always worry that she could not adapt to the world beyond the mountain. If Ma Shaokang's death could help her mature, that would be for the best.
For another, he knew very well that although Shanhua was naïve, she was also stubborn. With such a temperament, if she discovered that Ma Shaokang's death was connected to him, she might not hate him for it, but she would certainly feel uncomfortable, and perhaps even develop a rift with him.
Thus, Mountain Lord had spent some effort and employed some means to arrange everything flawlessly. Shanhua would never learn the truth behind Ma Shaokang's death.
As for whether this would affect Shanhua's disposition and character afterward, there was no need to worry too much.
Ma Shaokang was said to be Shanhua's friend, but in truth, he had merely benefited from the fact that Shanhua had almost no friends. It was unrealistic to say there had been much affection between them; it was more the novelty of something she had never experienced before.
And in the near future, the man Meng Zhao valued, the one called Lü Yue, would fill that gap.
As for whether Shanhua and Lü Yue could be brought together, Mountain Lord did not truly care. Perhaps this man would be a good match, and with Meng Zhao's support and assistance, things would