Chapter 101: A Life for a Life

At the stone table in West Court Shen Miao played chess with Qiu.
A rare day without sword practice—knowing Shen Miao's skill had surged, Qiu had long rubbed his hands to win one game. The ending disappointed him.
Shen Miao placed a black stone—Qiu's domineering white stones were surrounded by black, nowhere to escape. Qiu stared blankly. "Little Sister—isn't this the opening I used in our first game?"
The board looked familiar—more familiar the longer he looked—Shen Miao was step by step restoring his first game's path. Only better—this round she wielded it with ease—killing air thick.
"Return their own method upon them." Shen Miao smiled. "Elder Brother—your own thing—can you find a counter?"
Qiu shook head. "My method is against enemies—a dead road by design. Little Sister asks counter—I can't find one."
Shen Miao looked at the crisscross lines, smiled faintly.
Last life Qiu killed Sun Cainan years later and entered prison—likely Yuan's hand in what followed. Would identical method returned feel familiar to Yuan? The dead road he set for Qiu—could Yuan solve it?
Should not be able.
Qiu scratched head to move—saw a second-rank maid run in from the yard—face all terror. "Bad news Young Master, Fifth Miss—Second Young Master killed someone outside!"
"What?" Qiu frowned—a stone dropped, rolled on the ground, stopped.
Shen Miao bent, picked up the stone, looked at the maid, warm voice. "Who did he kill?"
……
Capital Magistrate's deepest cell—Yuan locked inside—hands and clothes shocking red—face bruised purple too.
First time Yuan so wretched—grappling Chuchu's paramour—somehow violent mood rose—head hot—when sober Sun Cainan was stabbed dead. Wooden tavern—the brawl woke many—Taoyuan and Chuchu's screams—murder exposed at once.
Only then Yuan's heart cooled. Today's affair—too impulsive.
Yuan proud all life—most hated dignity insulted. Banquet affair humiliating enough—but unconscious then—endured. Now all Dingjing knew he would marry Chuchu—yet she cuckolded him outside—the tavern folk pointed—Yuan could barely control rage.
Chuchu taken somewhere—because of her—likely no easy fate.
Still… Yuan found it odd—why tavern folk knew him and Chuchu? Why adultery in his room? Unease flickered—quick shake of head. That place—rendezvous with Fu Xiuyi's men—except them, none should know.
Yuan thought darkly—Fu Xiuyi's men at tavern—likely knew already.
Now fully calm—panic gone—blood on clothes and grim cell did not move his face.
A jailer approached—stopped at his bars. Yuan looked up—surprised cry. "Dong Hao!"
Dong Hao—the contact—jailer disguise—mixed in to speak.
"Listen—misunderstanding." Yuan hurried. "Ask His Highness help this once—I will repay later."
Yuan never expected Shen Gui to rescue—Shen Gui would sacrifice anything for office—would not risk for him. Only Fu Xiuyi could help—but royalty did not weigh loyalty—only prove usefulness. Yuan said: "Evidence for His Highness—still incomplete places—memorial to Emperor soon—please save me—I will finish the last stroke."
Dong Hao's eyes moved. Yuan meant evidence against Shen Xin was incomplete—Yuan kept reserve—feared Fu Xiuyi crossing river, destroying bridge—never expected prison—life talisman offered early.
Dong Hao silent—Yuan anxious. "Misunderstanding only—not hard—silver I pay—His Highness greets that side—others have done this before."
Yuan's calm largely because—it looked not so bad. Even simpler than banquet—banquet before ladies—he and Chuchu in bed—Chuchu always lost—Jing kin unreasonable—no way. Killing Sun Cainan—only Chuchu and maid saw—if they testified—escape possible. Paramour—silver soothe—Fu Xiuyi's men fabricate charge—attempted assassination on Yuan, subdued. Murder—if not great house—often covered.
Besides identity perhaps undiscovered—people knew murder—not who murdered.
Dong Hao shook head. "Yuan—you've stirred great trouble."
Yuan's rising smile stopped—did not understand.
"Know who you killed?"
Doom floated in Yuan's heart—in darkness Dong Hao spoke slowly.
"Personnel Minister's only legitimate son—Sun Tianzheng's son—Sun Cainan."
……
General's mansion gate—a crowd—clubs raised, fierce faces—even Shen guards barely held. Inside Yue hid in Chen Ruoqiu's arms, trembling. "Mother—did Second Brother really kill someone?"
Chen Ruoqiu soothed her, puzzled inwardly. Outside claimed Personnel Ministry men—Yuan killed Minister Sun's son Sun Cainan—clamoring to enter and smash—why would Yuan kill Sun Cainan?
Shen Gui and Shen Wan blocked outside—without Shen Xin's army they'd have burst in.
Wan Yiniang in her room, nervous, held Dongling's hand. "If Second Young Master killed—will they hurt us?"
"Rest easy," Dongling said. "Others target Second Brother—not us." Behind screen—book pages never turned.
"Miss!" Jingzhe bounced in. "Outside riot fierce—even Old Madam alarmed!"
Shen Miao did not lift eyes. "Oh? Old Madam how?"
"Hearing Second Young Master killed—fainted again." Jingzhe somewhat gleeful.
"Miss—will this touch us?" Gu Yu worried—they all knew why Yuan killed—Shen Miao pushed from behind.
"No matter—someone shields us. Sun Tianzheng high power—Shen house not lower. Goal is Yuan—Yuan pays with life—they have nothing to say."
"But will Second Young Master truly pay with life?" Gu Yu asked. "Second Master won't let Second Young Master die easily."
"Without Shen Yuanbai, Second Uncle would exhaust every plea," Shen Miao said. "With Shen Yuanbai—Second Uncle has retreat—lose one son to appease Sun rage—worth it in his eyes."
Among Shen Gui's three sons—Shen Gui cared least for kin. Shen Wan doted on Yue—but Shen Gui's children—legitimate Yuan, Qing, Yuanbai, or concubine-born Dongling—no true care. Children to Shen Gui—either office leverage or heirs. No wonder second branch children felt nothing for him.
Without Yuanbai—Yuan only son—Shen Gui would fight. With Yuanbai—another son—Yuan not essential. More—Sun kin easy to appease? Last life Qiu killed Sun Cainan—Sun Tianzheng's family jailed Qiu—Shen Xin spent fortune for Qiu's life. Sun Tianzheng one legitimate son—dead—how easily forgive killer?
"But only Second Young Master suffers?" Jingzhe shocking. "Cousin Miss let off? Still hiding in mansion." After affair Chuchu slipped back—hid with Jing kin in Shen house.
"How could she?" Shen Miao smiled faintly. "After all—she's the root cause."
Outside gate Shen Wan blocked awkwardly. "Everyone listen—facts unclear—please return—we will give account!"
A woman spat on Shen Wan's face, hands on hips. "Debts paid, lives paid! Our young master killed by Yuan—pay with life—unfinished!"
Shen Gui shrank—inwardly cursed Yuan bloody—outside Ministry servants plus gawking commoners. Someone shouted: "Wasn't it jealousy fight? What did the beauty look like—let us see! Wrath for beauty—how fair the beauty!"
Crowd echoed. Sun kin snapped awake—chaos—Sun Cainan left, returned corpse—grief—wanted Yuan's life—forgot Chuchu—reminder now—Sun Cainan and Yuan fought over Chuchu—Yuan killed Sun Cainan—Chuchu the femme fatale!
Sun kin at once: "Yes! Hand over that slut! She seduced our young master—shameless whore—out with her!"
Not only Sun kin—Shen Gui wished to kill Chuchu himself. Since Chuchu came—second branch misfortune chained—banquet ruined Yuan's name—now murder case. Shen Gui ordered—soon Chuchu bound out.
Shen Gui signaled Shen Wan. Shen Wan: "Don't anger—we're reasonable. Since Chuchu caused this—we hand her to you—dispose as you will!"
Chuchu screamed—no room to resist. Sun kin dragged pig-bound Chuchu—dozens of slaps—Chuchu fainted.
"Don't bully us!" Guansheng and Jing parents rushed out, furious. Sun kin sneered: "No wonder small Suzhou folk—shallow eyes, corrupt morals. Betrothed yet seducing men—unfinished—you won't fare well either!"
Jing kin angry and afraid—Sun arrogant—In Dingjing besides Shen house no backing—Shen house already hostile—would not help—lucky not to kick while down.
Gate chaos until dusk—Sun kin dragged half-dead Chuchu away—leading woman cold laughed. "Today only beginning—Shen kin wait—Master memorialized Emperor—no taking life and walking free—life for life—none fare well!"
Shen Gui watched Sun leave wreckage—nearly breathless. Last words—Sun Tianzheng memorialized Emperor—more shock—Sun Tianzheng one son—Sun Cainan dead—fish die net breaks—even Yuan dead might not appease Sun rage.
Qiu returned West Court, wiped sweat, complained to Shen Miao. "Sun kin too rude—nearly smashed gate—my soldiers couldn't hold."
"Grief of losing son," Shen Miao comforted. "Must vent."
"Father and Mother won't intervene," Qiu muttered. "But Yuan never impulsive—even Chuchu met Sun Cainan secretly—why kill in rage?"
"Who knows?" Shen Miao idle. "Maybe Sun Cainan fated to die—whoever held the knife."
……
Sun mansion hall—all concubines kneeling—center white cloth over corpse—stains of dried blood on cloth.
Madam Sun fainted learning Sun Cainan dead—woke near collapse—would not listen. Sun Tianzheng past sixty—eyes bloodshot—cheeks trembling.
A wandering priest once said—no son in fate. Sun Tianzheng early years countless concubines—no sons. Sun Cainan hard-won from Madam Sun—for Sun Tianzheng—late son. Pampered from youth—Sun Cainan lecherous playful. Sun Tianzheng high power—feared censors—warned Sun Cainan not flaunt—play women—take as concubines first. Sun Cainan never entered office—pleasure within mansion—few knew him—officials less acquaintance.
Who knew death by Yuan's hand—priest's words fulfilled—Sun Tianzheng truly sonless.
"Yuan…" Sun Tianzheng gritted. "I want his life!"
"Master," a favored concubine wiped tears, "servants brought that woman back—after all she led our young master—Master plans—"
Sun Tianzheng sneered. "Don't kill yet—leave breath—give to Madam."
Concubine shivered—Madam Sun's methods all had tasted—now with son's grief—Chuchu—unimaginable horrors only.
"Shen house can only touch Yuan—Jing plain folk think clean escape?" Sun Tianzheng crack—crushed cup—glass cut hand—blood dripped—unfelt—hated. "I want entire Jing family—buried with my son!"
Yuan killing Minister's only son—capital debated. Prince Ding mansion—Dong Hao stood, bowed to seat above.
Fu Xiuyi stroked cup rim, pondered. "Tomorrow memorial to Father on Shen house—Yuan in prison today."
"Yuan's evidence incomplete, Highness—extract words by method?"
"Need not," Fu Xiuyi waved. "What Yuan gave—enough. Even if I wish more complete—cannot intervene in this."
"Highness means abandon Yuan?" Dong Hao asked.
"Another would be fine—but of all people, Sun Tianzheng. Sun Tianzheng is Prince Zhou's man. Prince Zhou will intervene—I act—alert Prince Zhou. Yuan's disaster—too large." Fu Xiuyi shook head.
Dong Hao silent. "If Yuan fish-die-net-break—implicate Highness?"
"Yuan always keeps reserve—you're right to guard." Fu Xiuyi looked at cup. "So not help Yuan—urge Ministry of Justice execute fast. Kill in prison invites suspicion—find way feed him something."
Dong Hao assented. Asked: "Highness still memorial tomorrow?"
"No." Fu Xiuyi rubbed brow. "Shock coming—memorial now less loud—wait." Eyes opened. "Better investigate—who Yuan recently crossed."
Dong Hao startled. "Highness means—someone behind plotting?"
"Yuan never impulsive—this impulse kills Sun Tianzheng's only son—too coincidental? Chuchu adultery—why meet Yuan exactly—strange."
"Yuan isn't one to be calculated against." Dong Hao said. "Control even after—someone knows Yuan very well."
"Drive Yuan this far," Fu Xiuyi said, "cannot keep. I cultivate a piece—not to be used into waste." Eyes darkened. He was not so calm—Yuan years of careful cultivation—not only clever—Shen kin—Yuan's position eased future work. Now abandon chariot save horse—confidant useless forever.
Worse—crude brutal method—a woman.
"Subordinate will investigate thoroughly." Dong Hao said. "Fortunate—before incident Yuan gave things to Highness."
Fu Xiuyi: "Pity must wait."
Fengxian Pawnshop upstairs—Ji Yushu clapped, grinning ear to ear. "Brilliant—Miss Shen strikes rare but stunning. Tomorrow Shen Xin doomed—today Yuan in prison—timing perfect."
"Coincidence only." Gao Yang rolled eyes. "Shen Miao likely doesn't know yet."
"Know or not—I won our bet." Ji Yushu proud. "Silver notes to pawnshop—give Hongling."
Gao Yang silent, still said: "Yuan never thought to fall to such vile trick."
Wife adultery—fight paramour—accidental kill—sounds dishonorable—paramour, unfaithful woman, cuckold—all joke fodder. Yuan talented, patient—just returned—Fu Xiuyi's favor—would have risen—who knew such wretched end.
Looks like joke—consequence severe—because victim was Sun Tianzheng's only son.
"Sun Tianzheng memorializes tomorrow—Gao Yang—will Yuan pay with life?" Ji Yushu asked.
"What do you think of Shen Miao?" Gao Yang asked unrelated question.
"What has that to do with Miss Shen?" Ji Yushu puzzled.
"Shen Miao's traps—once stepped in—who exits unscathed? From Prince Yu you should know—never one move. Looks at Yuan—actually not."
"More moves?" Ji Yushu asked. "At most Yuan dies—what else?"
"I think Yuan is only one." Gao Yang shook head, face grave. "If she strikes—not merely one person."
Ji Yushu silent, serious. "What deep grudge between Miss Shen and Shen kin—such hand—chilling—must be reason. Did Shen family do unforgivable things?"
Such cruelty step by step—hidden cause—Fengxian found nothing—merely spoiling her into rough block—seems thin.
Gao Yang shook head. "Don't know—but she acts too bold. Yuan in prison—Yuan is Prince Ding's man—Prince Ding loses—will notice her. Men sent said—Prince Ding's people investigating."
"Miss Shen vs Prince Ding—bad." Ji Yushu worried. "Prince Ding deep, tricks strange—if discovers Miss Shen—who knows after."
"Don't worry." Gao Yang said. "I think Shen Miao knows Prince Ding well—perhaps all considered—including being known. Rather worry yourselves—" looked at Ji Yushu, "person Third Brother Xie wanted found—found yet?"
"Cough." Ji Yushu touched nose. "I'll send men at once."
……
"Didn't expect Shen house so chaotic—New Year opening such drama—how later?"
"Ah—princes both love common girl—fight over her—one dead one hurt—opera plot only."
"I say—that common girl plain—how two princes blind for her—better the two princes together."
"Huolong—what strange novels lately?"
Black-robed woman flipped long hair—charming. "Am I wrong? Fight for a man—need beauty like mine."
"Very lively." Sudden voice—Dark Department men squatting, playing—silenced—stood as if facing enemy—looked at visitor.
Purple-robed youth handsome—night made him colder. Glanced at crowd. "Why stop?"
Heads down, silent.
Xie Jingxing turned away—far off stopped—self-mocking smile. "Little girl has methods."
He lowered eyes to starless sky, whispered: "I have no time left."