Chapter 154: Admiration

Next dawn a special guest—Feng Anning.
After the kidnapping she'd apologized in person—Shen house generous—couldn't blame her—yet guilt kept her away except trinkets by messenger—refused Luo Tan's invites.
Today she came herself.
Luo Tan delighted—dragged Shen Miao to the hall—her only Dingjing friend besides Shen Miao—bold meets generous—long apart, eager.
Luo Xueyan chatted with Anning—moon-white short jacket, pearl and glass hairpins—quieter than old fire.
"Anning!" Luo Tan flew over.
Beside her—a man near twenty, clear brows, crow-blue straight robe, mild bow to Shen Miao—manners complete—family resemblance.
"And this?"
Luo Xueyan awkward—girls meeting outside men broke rule—today's reason tangled joy and worry.
"My elder brother."
Shen Miao understood—Feng house had only Anning and Feng Zixian.
He stood, bowed—they returned. Luo Tan puzzled. "Not here to play?"
Anning silent—looked at Zixian.
He flushed but spoke. "Hearing Ministry Shen Qiu mention your house seeks a son-in-law—I dare recommend myself—crude visit—forgive us."
Luo Xueyan embarrassed yet pleased. Luo Tan gaped. Shen Miao blank—complex taste.
Bold—usually matchmakers or parents—rare self-offer—yet elder present—propriety kept—no gossip on her chastity.
She stayed quiet. Anning spoke—pride tucked, guilt-soft. "We heard the rumor—court fears—Eastern Palace isn't best—marry my brother—skilled civil and martial—honest—I'll help you there."
Blunt loyalty warmed Luo Xueyan. Shen Miao asked, "Your parents know?"
Anning hesitated. "Father refused— we persuaded—knife mouth, tofu heart—won't block."
She believed—Anning's straight stick proved the father.
To Zixian: "Pity me—so you marry to rescue?"
All startled.
Luo Xueyan—no maiden blush on marriage talk—too calm. Zixian hadn't expected bluntness.
He recovered. "Sister often praised you—I admire talent and character—chance brought me—hardly charity." Redder.
Luo Tan giggled. Shen Miao tired—what had Anning told him—"talent and character"?
Anning anxious. "Brother beats the prince!"
Nearly lese majesty—yet sincere care. Zixian seemed upright like his sister.
Shen Miao smiled. "A few words can't decide—unfair to me and him."
Mother sensed daughter had other plans—won't take Eastern Palace—cool on suitors—worried.
Three came—Luo Ling, Mingfeng, Zixian—each fine—Shen Miao warmed to none.
"No time!" Anning cried—decree might fall any hour.
Shen Miao raised a hand—Jingzhe ran in. "Miss—palace messenger!"
Luo Xueyan went white.
They hid Feng siblings—met the eunuch in front hall—not a decree—tomorrow Shen Miao alone—empress wishes talk.
After he left—worse than decree fear—alone in palace—decree or threats—malice plain.
Feng siblings worried; Shen Miao reassured them. Gone—Luo Tan asked—betroth soon?
"Not overnight—八字, cards, matchmaker—too much before tomorrow."
Luo Tan blinked. "You know the steps cold."
Pause—last life she'd cherished each ritual—eager for the beloved's house— a devouring tomb.
Luo Xueyan serious. "Jiaojiao—among them—who do you like?"
"Not quite like—pick best. Don't panic—after palace tomorrow—maybe more appear."
Mother alarmed—daughter indifferent to husband and future. After she left—murmured—"Still heart for Prince Ding?"
Shen Miao didn't hear. Worst case—burn with royalty—wrist-cutting resolve—did Fu dare ruin name?
Even worst—hope while alive.
She eyed the window—irritation—"Guyu—shut tight—I rest."
Crown prince side-consort rumor spread—court shunned Shen—princes heard too.
At Prince Zhou's manor Zhou and Prince Jing plotted.
"Fought Li so long—crown prince snatched the prize!" Zhou drank. "Quiet fool turned clever!"
Jing steadier. "Not only prince—Father's will. He favors prince against us—Shen blades as bolster."
"Father's senile. Sick prince—warm the army—die—gift to others." Jealous poison—yet true fear—prince plus Shen—odds rise.
"Better she wed Ninth than prince," Zhou said.
"Ninth?" Jing smiled. "Brother, he's not what you think."
"Shen–Fu–Qin links?" Zhou scoffed. "Ambition without power—paper sky."
Jing shook head. "Don't underestimate Ninth."
Zhou waved. "Enough Ninth. We can't watch Shen go to prince—grandson born—Father boosts him—our chance shrinks."
"Meaning?"
"Block the match—make hate best."
"Many ways—blood?"
"Naturally." Zhou set cup. "She wanted Ninth—won't want prince—royalty won't force—free her."
"Hard outside—double guards since kidnapping."
"Inside then." Zhou smirked. "Tomorrow she enters alone—after empress—our chance—simple."
"Palace kill—trace back."
"Two birds." Zhou grinned. "Frame Sixth Prince Li?"
Jing lit up.
Li feud stalemate—if Shen Miao died in palace—doting Shen Xin blames prince who wanted her—feud with Shen; trace to Li—Li loses too.
No troops—two rivals cut.
"Good—plan careful." Jing called strategists.
Same night Li manor schemed too.
Li smiled at brothers. "Your view?"
Xiang Wang cautious—cold at the smile—Li's soft face, hard hands. "Too risky?"
Cheng Wang rough. "Why not? Can't let prince take Shen army—sick man—grab without life to spend."
Li nodded. "Eighth right—match hurts us all—I propose kill her—end future—innocent, yes—blame prince."
No pity in tone.
"Blame Zhou?" Xiang whispered.
"Zhou's reckless—Father already dislikes—losing Shen over Zhou—he'll punish Zhou."
"Two birds—support Sixth Brother!"
Xiang silent—bound to Li—win together, fall together—hope tomorrow goes smooth.
Night ink—wind knifed faces—water froze in buckets.
In an inn Xie Jingxing stood at the window, brow locked. A snow-dusted pigeon landed—silver tube on its leg. He read, burned the slip. Tieyi entered. "Carriage ready—leave for capital at dawn."
"Hm."
Tieyi hesitated.
"Speak."
"Dingjing reports—Shen Xin seeks husbands for Fifth Miss—urgent betrothal."
Xie didn't turn—Tieyi's scalp crawled—Ji and Gao hadn't sent this—speak now or die later—he chose life.
"Su Mingfeng, Luo Ling, Feng Zixian—all called."
"Feng Zixian?" Xie turned—eyes on him. "Why?"
Tieyi chilled. "Shen hurries—palace rumor five days—prince wants side consort—Shen avoids Eastern Palace—Feng sister brought brother to help—"
"When did palace rumor start?"
"Five days ago."
"Five days to reach me?" Xie laughed cold—"I didn't know I kept waste."
Air colder than outside—the pigeon cooed and hid.
Tieyi finished through tears. "Today—palace summons—tomorrow Fifth Miss alone—empress to speak."
Flash—purple robe at the door—fox fur—"Horses."
"Dawn was—"
One glance—Tieyi silenced.
Snow and wind—some tossed sleepless—some plotted murder—some ruled from heights—some rode through night.
At Prince Ding's house Pei Lang played alone—black and white tangled—stuck mid-game. He trimmed the lamp—face clear, sorrow heavy.
Fu's move was clean—redirect disaster—win if prince, Zhou, Li, or Shen fell—all profit.
Pei Lang worried for Shen Miao.
Why worry—if she died he'd follow Fu cleanly—trusted, risen with emperor-to-be—protect Liuying better?
Still—he didn't want her to lose.
Fu doubled guards—no fly in or out—no letters—Pei burned inside.
Tomorrow she entered palace alone—he entered too—small official under Fu.
No road left—would desperation breed life?
He looked at the dead game—flipped the board.
Pieces crashed—pattern gone—nothing visible of before.