Chapter 156: Pinned to the Bed

"Xie Jingxing?"
They turned—Rongxin stumbled out—Shen Miao stiffened—glanced at him—mask hid all.
Rongxin had taken the shortcut—saw a stranger pulling Shen Miao—maids left outside—feared a prince harassing her—followed to help—distance blurred words—Shen Miao near tears—then the name.
She gasped.
Tall youth turned—silver half-mask—nod.
Rongxin approached—Prince Rui of Great Li—seen at his arrival—she ignored court—yet the name—
"Shen girl—you called Prince Rui… Xie Jingxing?"
Before Shen Miao spoke—Rui said, "This king is Xie Yuan—courtesy name Jingxing—she used my courtesy name."
Breath eased—fast excuse—then fury—only kin or lovers use courtesy names—Rongxin would think—
He did it on purpose!
Rongxin looked between them—settled on Rui.
Purple like the old boy—yet stranger—cold authority—kill in the bones—not memory's rake.
Xie Jingxing died—northern field—ten thousand arrows.
Pain—she clutched her chest, bent—after Yufeng's death she mothered him—white hair on black—grief like Shen Ding's.
Shen Miao supported her—purple youth stood hands behind back—didn't move.
Bitter smile.
Rui couldn't be Xie Jingxing—alive, he'd never watch her break.
She waved. "Why are you here?"
"Empress summoned me."
Rongxin frowned at Rui. "And Prince Rui?"
Shen Miao glanced at him. "Escort lost—I lost my way—he pointed the path."
Bare lie—Rongxin saw him drag her—heard the courtesy name—bond plain.
Anger—once she thought Xie favored Shen Miao—loved the girl—meant to match them—war ended that—now another man—same courtesy name—like something stolen—Rui was foreign, dangerous—love him and life turns sharp.
"Then I thank Prince Rui for the lady." Drawing lines.
He nodded.
"My maids will lead her—no further trouble for Prince Rui." Guarding against him.
He assented and left.
Breath out—"How do you know him?"
Unexpected Rongxin—heard too much—where were Xie's sharp shadows today?
"Met by chance a few times—acquaintance."
Rongxin studied her. "Won't force confession—but he's not Ming Qi—may want something—think of parents and brother." Fear she'd be fooled.
Laugh-cry inside—misread past fixing. Rongxin pressed her heart. "Where hurt?"
"Old heart ailment—worse lately."
Shen Miao remembered last life—doctors warned against worry. "Find a physician—or folk specialist—pain is hard."
"No matter—lived enough—gain and loss—no regret—won't fuss—nothing left to miss." Voice low—Xie again.
"Young Marquis wouldn't rejoice to see you suffer."
"If he cared—he wouldn't leave so cruelly." Grief shelved—she took Shen Miao's hand. "Brother wants you for prince—I came to argue. You won't take Eastern Palace?"
Unexpected advocacy—last life flattery bought scorn—this life Xie's tie bought favor—even against Wenhui she'd speak—Shen Miao knew empress couldn't sway throne—but she'd remember. "I won't go—but don't force—heaven arranges."
Rongxin smiled. "Clear-eyed. Late—I'll send maids out."
Maids at the gate—Jingzhe and Guyu scanned her—relief—"So long—we'd have stormed in."
She laughed. "Not a dragon pool." Mind cold—palace killers—who? Death helps no crown prince—Zhou or Li likely—not Fu—too soon after Shen–Qin—he'd lurk.
Fu and Shen—one must die—she wouldn't spare.
Mo Qing signaled the carriage home.
At a busy tavern near the gate—a watcher flinched—Shen Miao lived—sword taken—gone silent.
At Shen Manor—family crowded—what did empress say? She skipped Rui—told empress words—worry deepened—days shortening—must act.
Luo Xueyan raised suitors—pick one?—Shen Miao, still raw from Rui, showed rare irritation—they thought palace shook her—sent her to rest.
Dark room—Guyu lit lamp—maids withdrew.
She combed hair—nameless fire—Rui's questions—her life his business?—matchmaking tightened—every hand pulling.
Pei's words—bitter smile—women want love—but her love for Fu was one-sided—never tasted mutuality—love steals the mind—she'd guard heart first—easier than reclaiming.
Still uneasy.
She blew out the lamp and slept.
At Rui Manor snow raged—guards shivered—white tiger punished outside—today's lord saw enemies everywhere—Ji Yushu and Gao Yang walled in the tower gaol—torture hall—sympathy for soft masters.
"Who angered him?" Nightingale whispered.
"Fifth Miss palace match—Gao and Ji delayed report—tower for them." Tiger shivered—"Same as us when he vents."
In the room Xie handed Tieyi a letter—"Change of plan—Emperor will—"
Tieyi shut up. Another envelope—"Pei Lang—investigate—Feng Zixian—Su Mingfeng—medicine for Rongxin's heart—find spring herb—send to clinic—fast."
He stood—"Accounts unfinished." Out.
Shen Manor slept—her room black.
Xie arrived—Congyang nearly fell from the tree—"Young Mistress rests."
On the sill—a jade peace drop—Congyang—"Cousin Luo Ling left it—she hasn't seen."
Xie flicked it into Congyang's chest. "Pet needs a charm." Window—inside.
She slept deep.
He stood arms folded. "Sleeping sound—bold—my words nothing."
Sat—drank her tea—moon on young face—sixteen beneath the queen's mask—day's tears tugged guilt—tucked hair—lashes flutter—blanket trembled—
Feigning sleep.
He leaned both hands beside her—voice low magnetic—
"So many favors—repay with yourself."
Eyes on hers—descent—
She shoved up—"What are you doing?"—panic edged.
He pressed her back.
Struggle—inner robe slipped—white shoulder—plum undergarment—he stared—she fury—he threw the quilt over her head.
Head out—"Insane!"
Wrapped tight—silkworm—pinned—he propped head, amused.
"Tired of fighting—why come?"
"Behave." Frown. "With me—who forces marriage on you?"
She laughed angry. "You won't stay forever—some day I wed—you can't guard every day."
"If I can?"
She paused.
"You don't care—or you want to marry?"
"Not your business—too many questions." Day's roughness lingered—queen composure gone—street-girl fuss—disgusted with herself.
Mood swings baffled him—he rolled atop—hand by her head—"Who—Luo Ling, Su Mingfeng, Feng Zixian—Pei Lang?"
Close—bamboo scent—eyes drilling—secrets exposed—
Panic—heartbeat drum—whose?
She shrank—head to bed frame—his palm guarded.
"Not your affair—we're allies—cooperate—don't manage my marriage—birth—divorce—dismissal—none of your—"
Anger at first half—laugh at "dismissal." "You want to be dismissed empress?"
"Not your—" she snapped—"allies—why manage me?"
"Proud—rejected again—stifled."
"Allies?"
Nod.
"Allies can't manage you?"
Nod.
"Fine." He dipped—pecked her lip—she froze—wicked grin—"Not allies now."
"…" Lip still warm.
"Now I can." Stood—loomed—"Marry—bear—leave—dismiss—need my consent." Cold glance at sill—vanished.
Outside Congyang burned from eavesdropping—saluted—Xie said, "Gifts—throw away." Took the peace drop—displeased—gone.