Chapter 158: Exposure

Post for next afternoon. Luo Xueyan packed gifts—thanks for help. Shen Qiu sent guards—A-Zhi, Mo Qing—Shen Miao un-easy—maids thought road fear.
Carriage—how to deny Rongxin if she asked about Xie—suspicion hard to kill—headache.
Jingzhe laughed at her rare gravity—reborn path smooth—why drain herself for Xie's mess—his trouble—yet cruel to make him face alone—reappearance as Rui cruel to both.
Before plan formed—they arrived—known to servants—gifts to store—led to Rongxin's chamber.
Simple cold room—sweet soup offered—new cook—try.
She sipped—disliked sweets—polite—studied Rongxin's face—better color—medicine luck—Rongxin wouldn't usually gossip herbs—alert.
Expected Xie questions—none—shifted to paused marriage—"Brother wanted you as daughter-in-law—I begged—he refused—until Rui's word—grateful though treasonous to say."
Shen Miao nodded—cautious—silence safer—Rongxin took her hand—"You and Rui seemed close—I feared fraud—yet he helped—coincidence strained—" Shen Miao denied intimacy—"Dragon and mayfly."
"You're shy—I won't tell."
Talk wandered—suitors—noon to night—no dismissal—maids wanted light—princess silent—at last tea done—"Walk the garden with me."
Dark cold—odd for host—Shen Miao saw intent—not chat alone—couldn't refuse.
"All right."
Not the lit garden—a dark side court—Xingzhi Court.
Heart dropped—she knew.
"This was Jingxing's home."
Maids left outside.
Rongxin touched toys—"Yufeng died—I hated Shen Ding's harem fire—took the boy—built this court—Shen Ding wanted him back—even through emperor—I returned him when Fang bore sons—know why?"
Shen Miao: "Heir must inherit—else cousins steal Lin'an."
"You're clear—at your age I wasn't."
"I'd send Wanyu and Fuming back too."
"Back he went—bond stayed—unlike father and son—unlike Yufeng—decisive child—traded sword for mirror he didn't want—knew want from refuse—smiled—beloved—cold to all."
Sharp stare—pressure like Xie's.
"I thought I was held—maybe I'm refuse too—yes?"
"Young Marquis cherished you."
"Don't soothe me." Cold smile. "Fake death—my sleepless grief—near yet denying—courtesy lies—is that cherish?"
Blade tone—Shen Miao sank—known—cannot admit—princess of Ming Qi—Rui of Great Li—truth from her lips—storms unknown.
"I don't understand."
Contempt—Imperial Fu face—sudden disgust—not her—blood they shared.
"Deceiving royalty?"
"Treason and deceit—nine clans—Shen Wan you saw—what lie now?"
"I said nothing."
"Stubborn?" Ice. "One word from me—annihilation—your caprice kills kin?"
Silence.
"Say it—Rui is dead Xie Jingxing?"
"No." Firm—clouds didn't touch her.
"You'll destroy Shen!"
"Need proof."
"Proof optional for me!"
Almost laughed—Fu strength—even fair Rongxin bullied when she wanted truth.
"Again—is Rui Xie Jingxing?"
"No."
Rage—copper pea—ordinary girls break—she won't.
"Guards—take Shen—"
Purple flash from rear window—unwatched yard—gold hem she knew—lazy steps before Shen Miao—to Rongxin: "She scares easy—Aunt Rong, don't frighten her."
Rongxin frozen—"Aunt Rong"—finger shaking.
Lantern flicker—thumb ring—half mask—cold smile lips—no warmth.
Shen Miao stared—he dared—palace—dead man plus Rui—spy names—how?
"You called me what?"
Hand to mask—removed—beauty sharp as pine—peach eyes laughing yet mocked—youth's arrogance buried—dangerous edge—mask back—"Long time no ill, Aunt Rong."
Long shock—stranger scan—"Rui King or Xie Jingxing?"
Distance shocked Shen Miao—expected tears—got wariness.
"Your choice."
"Medicine you sent?"
Smile silent.
"I can't take free—silver to Rui Manor—thanks."
"Unneeded."
"Why here—" polite hostile—not son—enemy tone.
"She knows nothing—ask me—don't trouble her."
"Wouldn't dare." Complex sneer.
"Good." Arm around Shen Miao—"I'll explain another day—don't drag others—Rui Manor waits." Out the window with her.
Stunned abduction—open reveal—country lines changed everything—she expected hysteria—got guarded courtesy—suspicion beat joy.
Rongxin's words returned—"Coldest of all—refuse or grasp—"
Did he label kin as refuse early—can't keep—so stranger first—no fall?
Bitter taste.
Cold wind—he left her at the gate—vanished—maids panting—no idea when she exited—secret passage?—Shen Miao grave—"Home."
Curtain back—black night—sigh.
Corner—purple watched carriage—Gao Yang folded fan—"Worth it?"
"Day always came."
"Regret?"
"Fate ended." Scorn under mask.
Gao shook head—patted shoulder.
Servants dumped baskets—"Waste silver—maybe poison—don't sell."
Heart medicine—"lucky find"—discarded—toxic suspicion.
Gao pained—Xie already gone—splendid lonely back.
At Shen Manor—parents waited—she feigned fatigue—sat alone—uneasy.
Rash exposure—unless to shield Shen house from Rongxin's wrath—he never truly hurt her—still.
Rongxin's chill hurt—like Fu to her—Shen branch cruelty—first tiger ring to Rongxin—spring herb search—some bond existed.
She wrapped red fur—whispered, "Congyang—take me to Xie Jingxing."
He gaped—"Don't know where master is."
"Rui Manor."
"Can't carry you—propriety."
She almost snapped—wall climb instead—straw stacks across neighbor yards Xie bought—lady over walls like palace steps—Congyang sweated—could fly easier—misery.
Empty Rui rear—Tieyi—"Miss—urgent?"
"See Prince Rui."
Frozen pond—purple in tree—mask on—lantern gloom—white tiger gnawing ice.
"Shh, Jiaojiao."
"Who are you calling?"
He saw her—"Why come?"
"Princess talk unfinished."
"Came because you care?"
"Think what you like."
"Think I'd grieve? Naive."
"Good if not." Calm.
"Go back—fine."
She stayed.
Tiger nuzzled her ankle.
Silence—then, "Xie Jingxing—will you destroy Ming Qi?"
No answer—purple hem gold—beast pattern—like dragon.
She leaned on tree—"If endgame is burning the realm—people are expendable—different roads—don't mourn wrong lane."
He laughed above—"Comforting me?"
"Comforting myself."
Lion licking wounds—she caught the moment.
"You have sorrows too?" Teasing—eyes not smiling—why tree and mask—hide what face can't.
"Not fewer than yours—Aunt Rong lives—worst is no one left to blame—some wrongs can't mend—like Wanyu and Fuming—never—"
"Know this day comes—why cling—did your part—rest is fate ending—no one walks one road forever—my marriage too."
"Fu, crown prince, Huangfu, Feng, Luo, Pei—none my road."
"Then no one shares your road."
"Fact." Reborn from grave—ghost walking revenge alone.
"Your comfort makes me think—you're on my road."
Wind over ice—spring memory under stone.
Soft—"Who says not?"
Shadow dropped—tiger happy at his hem.
"Am I Great Li's Rui or Lin'an's marquis?"
"Does it matter?"
"I thought not—told from birth it matters—Shen Ding weak—true heir would've died to Fang—Aunt Rong kind—I thought identity didn't matter to her—I was wrong—for the world—it always mattered—no luck."
Staring his back—"To me—not."
He laughed quiet—turned—"Know who I am?"
"Only Xie Jingxing." Chin up.
"Only?" Displeased.
"You can't fool me—from first meet to alliance end—just Xie Jingxing."
"Oh?" Step—back to tree—chin lifted—"Think me cruel?"
"Same as me."
"Not a good man." Low voice—wind in ears—heat.
"Know—I same."
Waist—pulled close—mask mystery—"Then I'll answer—destroy Ming Qi?"
"If yes—will you report me?" Wicked smile.
"No."
"Because I same."
Three "same"—his eyes changed—sparks on ice.
"Know what you say?"
Silence.
"Don't regret—my boat—no leaving." He kissed—she dodged—caught—cold mask on cheek—rough lips on hers.