Chapter 150: Phoenix Fate

Luo Xueyan jumped—unmarried men weren't like girls past bloom; Mingfeng's quality allowed pickiness. She soothed—Shen Qiu too waited; rush matches harm all.
"Exactly," Su Mrs gripped her hand. "But Mingfeng is a closed jar—I never know his mind."
Luo Xueyan wanted off this track. "Your finches—how to keep them?"
Su Mrs ignored the cage. "Let me speak of my worthless son."
"…"
"He loved one painting as a boy—nothing else pleased him—even when his father gave it away, he pined years."
Luo Xueyan waited.
"Same with a girl—one heart, no substitute."
"Ah—a sweetheart—which family's lucky daughter?"
Su Mrs clapped. "Yours!"
Luo Xueyan went pale-green-white.
So the birds were props—praise was bait—matchmaking.
Su Mrs nervous—Shen was great; many would wed them; today's Shen Miao was poised, not the coarse rumor—perfect mistress—if Shen agreed.
Luo Xueyan cooled. "You came for this?"
"I know it's abrupt—mothers understand."
"Why now—secret pledge?" She feared private vows.
"Mingliang said Mingfeng quietly loves Fifth Miss—I didn't believe—came to see—now I understand. Beautiful, temper, bearing—only Shen could raise her. I adore her too—so I spoke plain."
Flattery softened Luo Xueyan—but marriage wasn't one sentence. Shen's status needed balanced kin; Mingfeng's illness had delayed office—was he frail? And did Shen Miao love him back? Luo Xueyan wanted her daughter's joy—not parents' decree alone.
"Her match can't be settled today," she smiled. "Thank your house—ritual needs time—please understand a mother's caution."
Not refusal—Su Mrs left satisfied.
Alone Luo Xueyan's face darkened. They had thought Shen Miao young—Su's visit said otherwise. Time to list Dingjing's youths—discuss with Shen Xin—send matchmakers.
At Su Manor the earl skipped fishing—massaged his wife's shoulders. "Well?"
"Neither yes nor no—they'll think—today was bold—Shen isn't ordinary."
"Think?" he sulked. "Why not yes? Who beats Mingfeng? Marrying him is fortune—wait, how is Fifth Miss?"
He'd seen her at banquet—strong-willed; wives judge wives.
Su Mrs sipped tea. "Mingfeng chose well—better than most maids. Looks, manner—Shen Xin's teaching—palace air. Perhaps too strong for him—good—firm mistress steadies a house."
The earl wondered—why such praise?
Mingfeng entered; Mingliang grabbed his sleeve. "Don't barge—Mother's securing your marriage."
"What marriage?"
"Shen Fifth Sister—matchmaking today."
"Shen house—for me?" His voice cracked.
Mingliang envied him—"Future sister-in-law won't tolerate sloth."
Word spread despite secrecy. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan seriously listed suitors—parties for Shen Miao, Shen Qiu to watch peers.
Rui Manor couldn't miss it.
Ji Yushu waved Congyang's copy. "Su proposed—move! Fight Mingfeng!"
Gao Yang worried—Su Mrs knew every matron—good name—Shen might accept.
Xie scanned the letter, head aching—steady Mingfeng, jumpy parents—disaster pending.
Ji fanned flames. "Brother in name, traitor in heart—cut him off!"
Gao Yang said fix it—time in Ming Qi was short—Shen already hunting husbands.
Xie's face chilled.
Ji brightened. "Ghost dream! You're dead—warn Mingfeng Fifth Miss is yours for ghost marriage—"
Xie walked away. Gao Yang: "Fool."
In the study Xie sat frowning. Tieyi ventured, "Master—Master Guan Zhen today at Putuo…"
The wandering monk—origin disputed—treated as Buddha's heir—accurate once foretold Great Liang's flood. Yongle offered imperial tutor; refused. Two years ago Yongle wanted Shen Miao read for Xie—monk gone—now here.
At Putuo the master knew him unnamed. Prophecy: Broken Army and Purple Star—ferocious dragon crouching on heaven—one life moves the board. Break as Lin'an heir "dead"; stand as Rui Prince. Ferocious dragon.
Xie asked calamity.
"No calamity for the dragon—he helps others cross theirs."
Then silence—heaven's secret.
Tieyi sighed—vague—his lord a bodhisattva? Who'd dare?
"Send this letter to Great Liang." Xie's look was iron.
Shen Miao couldn't sleep.
Congyang's verbatim replay—Su Mrs's visit was matchmaking. Absurd—Mingfeng's "deep love"—few meetings—street eyes held no warmth.
Plot for the tiger ring? Marry her to pry truth—too costly for a ring; Dali Temple should blush.
Guyu brought dark clothes for tomorrow's Putuo trip—Luo Xueyan wanted plain colors. Early rest—long road.
Shen Miao sighed. Luo Tan thrilled—Shen Miao flat.
Putuo on the north slope—famous incense, famous Bonding Tree—red cords on pouches tossed upward; if they stick, Yue Lao hears.
Last life she'd bought a hundred for Fu Xiuyi—Shen Qing and Shen Yue leaked it—city mockery. She hated that tree.
Knowing Su's talk, she saw Luo Xueyan's real aim—not incense but cords. She almost feigned illness—too obvious—and Luo Tan's joy and Luo Xueyan's softness made her agree, uneasy still.
Nightmares—barrels of cords, all vanishing—then purple robe in the tree, arms full of her ribbons, peach eyes cutting.
"Who will you marry?"
Xie's face—she woke, ashamed, sleepless.
Dawn—Jingzhe noted dark circles. At the hall—Luo Tan ready—and Shen Qiu and Luo Ling too.
"Young ones all go—Buddha's blessing," Luo Xueyan said.
Shen Xin rose. "I'll come."
"Don't." She glared—Shen Qiu puzzled; Shen Miao understood—matchmaking for the boys too. But Bonding Tree was for women—would cords make Shen Qiu and Luo Ling… she shivered.
They rode faster than usual—under two hours. Forest, cloud, distant sutras—temple like immortal realm.
"Grand," Luo Tan breathed.
Luo Xueyan sent the men to stable horses; girls and guards entered. Luo Tan spotted the red tree. "Buy cords!"
Shen Miao trailed, helpless. In a hall doorway her skirt tugged—a taoist in rags, lottery tube, whisk—comic at a Buddhist gate.
"Miss—dark forehead—blood disaster—green eyes—peach calamity—fortune?"
"Madman!" Jingzhe snapped.
Shen Miao pulled free—
"Phoenix fate is fine—caged for life—what a pity."
Her step stopped. "What did you say?"
The man turned away, humming a tune.