Chapter 155: Anger

Dawn—Shen Miao entered the palace.
Parents sent many guards—but at the gate all waited outside.
Before leaving she wore nearly every weapon-jewel Xie had given—she never spared malice for Ming Qi halls.
Guyu, guards at the gate—a maid led her toward Kunning Palace. The maid wondered—twists, gardens, loose steps—Shen Miao needed no prompts. Once this had been her home—every tree hated—disgust flickered if one looked close.
Others didn't know.
At Kunning, the empress was still dressing—long wait—then admission.
Consort Dong absent—only the empress—formal court dress, nine-phoenix pin—pressure like a wall.
Shen Miao understood at once.
Play imperial majesty—frighten a sixteen-year-old into consent—why Luo Xueyan was kept away. Alone, formal robes, veiled threats—panic might yield.
She was no girl. This empress she had outranked in life—more sight, more frame, more pain—tiger borrowed from a cat didn't scare her. Humble smile, lowered eyes.
The empress frowned—wrong reaction—stupid or acting?—eyes on the wrist bangle. "Fine jade—let me see."
Shen Miao offered her hand. The empress lifted it—rare green water—then Shen Miao smiled. "Your Majesty—my hairpin, pearls, amber chain, and rings are lovely too."
The empress looked—and her mouth twitched. Cat's-eye pin with pearl earrings, amber with mismatched hoops—each piece costly alone—together clownish. Praise died—disdain returned—rough gold girl unchanged—reluctance to send such into Eastern Palace—even for Shen blades.
She dropped the hand. "I wished to speak. That day with your mother—you're unwed, right age—I favor you—would play matchmaker—not force—if you wish."
Shen Miao silent, head down.
The empress patted her. "Do I live well—glorious?"
Inner sneer—outward smile. "Very well, very glorious."
"Marry royalty—power shields you—any woman could shine—I was lucky. You have luck too—want such life?"
Lure bare—Shen Miao's lip twitched—humble terror—she dropped to knees. "I live well now—dare not dream higher—spare my life, Your Majesty!"
The empress blanked. Climbers everywhere—vanity in every girl—her own example should hook—slight yes and Shen house would seem eager—even robbery wants a veil.
Fear—not desire?
Irritation—is empress that terrible—or is this fool deaf to hints?
Unpromising mud.
Soft or sharp—all met humble panic—mouth sealed. At last the empress dismissed her in anger—must seek Wenhui for another path.
Displeasure spread—maids cared little—a passing eunuch was told to escort her out.
He agreed.
He led her through quiet paths—servant quarters, abandoned gardens—Shen Miao stopped. "This isn't the exit—where are you taking me?" Hand on the hidden clasp—no one knew these halls like she.
The eunuch paused. "Master Pei wishes to see you."
Pei Lang? She frowned.
She followed. Pei had been silent—she feared exposure—but Mo Qing reported him still at Prince Ding's manor—if Fu suspected, he wouldn't roam free.
Pei meant something grave.
Coincidence—royal matchmaking tugged many threads—Shen kin racing—Luo Ling's heart, Su Mingfeng's error, Feng Zixian's aid—silken web—strange knots.
Princess Rongxin entered the palace.
Frail lately—rare visits—today urgent. "No memorial—urgent talk with Brother—no announcement."
Guards dared not block—once the late emperor's darling—hard temper—let her pass.
She refused a chair—"Side path—walk slow."
Anxiety—she ignored court—heard servants gossip—only then learned Shen Miao for crown prince. For Xie Jingxing's sake—and admiration—she knew palace glitter wasn't joy—Shen Miao didn't crave rank—Eastern Palace would kill her smile.
Rongxin hurried to Wenhui—shortcut through the trees.
At a hidden pavilion—Pei emerged from corridor rooms. The eunuch kept watch.
She nodded. "Urgent business here?"
"Prince Ding sealed the manor—no letters. Crown prince marriage—Prince Ding's idea."
She raised a brow. "Guessed. Prince's brain wouldn't think of me alone."
Pei puzzled at her tone—how know princes so well?
This haunted garden—ghost stories—empty. He frowned. "Your plan?"
Surprise—Pei rarely asked personal cost.
"Let fate run."
"You can't marry the prince."
"Marry or not—" cold—"I won't live badly—I walk my road. Many roads—not one, Master Pei."
"I don't mean—" sigh—"Eastern Palace lets you walk—but marriage as price—too cruel—not worth it."
She stilled. Pei calling marriage cruel—
Last life Wanyu to the Xiongnu—she begged—Pei said one princess for peace was good.
The man of grand strategy put the grand second.
Pei didn't see her face. "Rumor emptied Dingjing suitors."
"So?"
"If not—marry me."
Air stiff—no surprise, no blush—ice. "What did you say?"
Cold water on him—benefit logic—under her clear eyes secret want felt naked—shame.
He looked away. "Not Eastern Palace—you need another exit—marry me—maybe delay."
"Why help?" soft mockery. "We trade on Liuying—master and servant—I blackmail you—my fall suits you—Fu's path beats mine—unless this is real?"
He had no answer.
She smiled. "Even me marrying you—worst path—what identity—how explain to Ding—you won't burn your piece for me."
"Besides—husband and match don't matter to me—eat and sleep together—else strangers. Who I wed—forced or not—I don't hang happiness there."
Pei shook head—she's young—stubborn—will regret—yet her face was earnest—weary disgust—she meant it.
How could a woman not care for a lifetime companion?
He stared.
A sneer behind them. "What a romance."
Two masked blacks—swords—lunged.
Pei yanked her aside. "Who are you?"
"Blame yourself for blocking others!" One on Pei—one on her—kill strokes.
Bad place—bangle needs closeness—then stones hit both knees—they fell.
Flash—palace guards—reverse blades into their chests.
Too fast. The new pair bowed to Shen Miao.
Pei opened mouth—a figure dropped from the roof—purple robe, silver mask—peach eyes like blades.
Prince Rui.
"Prince Rui—" Pei murmured—Rui's men—who sent the killers?—caution—polite bow—"Thank you for aid."
Rui silent—one cold glance—back chill.
Shen Miao frowned—Rui seized her arm and marched. Pei cried, "Your Highness—"
Two guards blocked him.
Shen Miao stumbled after—looked back calm. "Go home, Master Pei—I have business with Prince Rui."
Rui moved faster.
Pei watched emptiness—corpses remained—he couldn't stay—hollow inside.
Arm aching—Rui silent, long strides—she tripped chasing.
At last she snapped. "Let go!"
Empty corridor—he released—she nearly fell—rage surged. "Are you mad?"
More exposed garden—she turned to leave—he pulled her back—pinned to the wall—hands trapped—cold stare through half mask.
Jaw perfect—lips tight—no lazy smile—fury. "Shen Miao—is this all you've got?"
She glared.
He gripped her chin—forced eye contact—predator height—she hated downward eyes—struggled—useless—knee between her legs—stillness—intimate shame.
"What do you want?"
"Luo Ling, Su Mingfeng, Feng Zixian—and now Pei Lang. Heroes everywhere—I underestimated you."
Silence.
Grip tightened—pain—brow knit.
He gritted. "Marry anyone—don't care about force—you want Eastern Palace?"
He had heard Pei—always watching—sudden shame-anger—ugly side seen.
She laughed cold. "Eastern Palace? I want to be empress—prince dies—I'll climb over consort—future Empress Shen—what's wrong with that?"
Vicious—his face darker.
He smiled ice. "That prince won't sit the throne."
She didn't know his rage—pinned, humiliated—impulse spilled weeks of passive hurt.
Hand on chin—knee lock—hands bound—angry beauty—another him—cold, rigid—heart-chill—not the careless mask.
"Even if he doesn't—none of your business." She lifted chin. "Why question me—we're not that close—who I marry isn't yours."
He smiled slowly.
"Clever bargaining—borrow my blade to kill—very capable. Now—only this?" He pulled her chin near. "Hm?"
Eyes stung—she hated his pose—trapped—mist in vision.
"Don't cry!" he barked.
Tears hung—shame—two lives—almost weeping at his words—chaos—pride and no escape—she glared. "Xie Jingxing—enough!"
"Xie Jingxing?" A cry from the shrubs.