Chapter 159: Ripples

The kiss burned—silver mask ice-cold—emotion she couldn't name—crashing over her. She struggled—he locked tighter—claiming her mouth like an oath.
Winter bloom—autumn butterfly—summer spring—snowflake—none fit the strangeness. Wind in her ears—his arms iron—his lips scorching—as if one life couldn't escape.
When he released her she nearly collapsed—gasping. Past life she loved Fu Xiuyi—always one-sided. Wedding night hollow—never this close to a man.
Mortified—he steadied her—she glared.
She didn't know how she looked—eyes dewy—face scarlet—lips petal-red—inviting ruin.
Xie looked away.
Beyond shame and anger—unease. Part of her had expected this. Why she hadn't stopped—heart's reflex—she wouldn't dig deeper.
"Your marriage." Careless tone returned. "What's your plan now?"
"Plan?" Blank.
Eyes narrowed—dangerous—"Crown prince, Luo Ling, Feng Zixian, Su Mingfeng, Pei Lang—who do you want?"
She frowned—pretended to think.
"You're actually considering someone else?"
"Why can't I?"
"You kissed me—touched me—and dare cuckold me. Shen Miao—bold."
She smiled. "You don't want me to marry you?"
"Smart at last." Leisurely.
She paused—not blind to what they were. Allies—but more. Those nights—heartbeat—she'd felt something.
Didn't mean he could marry her. He was Great Li's Rui King—she Ming Qi's general's daughter. Ming Qi wouldn't allow it—Emperor Yongle wouldn't either.
Powerful as he was—favored by his emperor—great men didn't choose their own wives.
She drifted—he said, "Worry about nothing. Stay home and embroider your dowry."
"When did I agree?"
"Oh?" Thought a moment—grinned—"I don't mind making it real tonight."
She went alert—he laughed—"You look eager."
Enough—this man was rotten play—three sentences to flirt—no serious talk. "The crown prince—I have a plan."
Brows lifted. "Already?"
"Just thought of it." Emphasis: "Need your help."
"Help?" Soft smile—"Your husband helps."
Her: "……"
Near dawn when she returned to Shen Manor—Xie brought her back. Learning she'd climbed walls to come—he laughed until she nearly snapped. Still—the night changed things.
Planning against the crown prince's marriage at Rui Manor felt strange. Revenge road—always alone. Now a back strong enough to lean on—smart enough to spot holes and fix them. Good partners.
His words floated back—embroider dowry.
Careless surface—Rongxin was right—he always knew what he wanted. How much he meant it—unclear. On marriage he was absolute—no room to argue.
She sighed—Ming Qi's mess not cleared—love too luxurious. Block spear, dam water—if he dared take a foreign general's daughter, she dared marry.
Because—hand on heart—the one who could make it beat again might never come again.
Lips still stung—heat lingering—she looked down.
Denial she couldn't deny—heartbeat she couldn't crush.
Young—beautiful—decisive—wise.
Hard not to fall.
……
Ding Manor—lamps all night.
Fu Xiuyi learned Shen Miao's marriage to the crown prince paused because Rui King "casually" spoke—summoned every strategist.
"I guessed Shen Miao and Rui weren't simple. Test with the crown prince—exposed them." Cold laugh. "She moves—Rui can't sit still."
Pei Lang stood below—silent. Fu had cooled on him lately—other advisers thought Pei offended their lord—Pei knew smarter men don't freeze aides for nothing. Suspicion—maybe Shen Miao too—face not torn yet—play the part—don't break halfway.
"Mr. Pei—your view?" Today Fu asked him.
Pei's heart jumped—bowed—"Investigate Shen ties to Rui or Great Li. Shen Miao carries the army's weight—private pact would mean—"
Murmurs—envy of Pei—but his point stood. Shen Miao wasn't a peerless beauty—Rui raging for a girl made less sense than raging for Shen Xin behind her.
Fu: "Correct—but I heard something today."
They waited.
"Shen Miao spent the day at Princess Rongxin's. Rongxin keeps to her rooms—yet kept her till night—after Shen left, the princess looked wrong." Smile. "Maybe the princess knows too."
Silence—then an adviser: "Start with Rongxin—might find threads."
"Same thought." Fu looked at Pei—deliberate?—"Shen Miao has Shen Xin—but she's odd herself. Rui helps only her—there's a secret. If Rongxin joins—interesting."
"Paper can't wrap fire—I will expose them." Meaningful smile. "I'll need you all."
Assurances—Pei bowed—unease flickered.
……
Princess Manor—no peace either. Rongxin sat in Xingzhi Court all night.
Xie Jingxing alive—and Great Li's Rui King—she never imagined. Two years she'd prayed death was a dream—wake to the proud boy lazy-calling "Aunt Rong." When truth came—first feeling wasn't relief.
Purple robes—gold dragons legal on his hem—cold mask—easy greeting—Rui King's title.
Ming Qi's gravest threat.
Anger at deception became instinct—wariness. Not that she didn't love him—or years were fake. Princesses serve the throne—royal pride and suspicion rise on duty.
She wrote the emperor—half a warning—stopped—ripped the page to shreds. Too tangled to speak—afraid to see him again.
Worst puzzle—how dead became Rui. That name wasn't borrowed. Born Great Li—or bought by them? Former forgivable—latter treason.
Xie Ding and Xie Jingxing never close—useless to ask. Shen Miao knew—wouldn't tell—Xie shielded her—Rongxin couldn't press. One person remained—
Childhood friend—families intertwined—Xie Jingxing's closest in Ming Qi. Raised together—might have seen odd moments.
Su Mingfeng, heir of Pingnan Earl.
She sent for an invitation.
……
Days crept toward New Year.
Markets bustled—ordinary lives smooth—hawks and sparrows see different skies.
Emperor Wenhui—shaken by Rui's ambitious "small talk"—wanted Qin alliance more. Ming'an Princess's murder still unsolved—thin line between them. Wenhui's goodwill softened Huangfu Hao.
Ming Qi let Huangfu Hao command officials—even Dali Temple answered his questions. Face given—no cover-up found—Huangfu Hao guessed Ming'an offended someone powerful—no trace left.
Rui's words reached Huangfu Hao too. First he'd played hard for alliance gains—now he couldn't sit still. If Great Li wanted ore cities—and then Dingjing—all Ming Qi—Qin alone couldn't stand them. Absorb Ming Qi's arms and wealth—Great Li unstoppable—then Qin.
Qin allied with Ming Qi only to check Great Li.
Huangfu Hao reported home—Qin emperor grieved one princess—one princess vs realm—nothing. Hold Ming'an—make the pact.
Huangfu Hao visited palace often—one eager, one needy—surface harmony—Wenhui and Huangfu closer.
Wenhui meant to elevate the crown prince—marry Shen Miao—then saw Great Li's hunger—feared touching Shen house—Huangfu Hao's arrival perfect—let crown prince and Huangfu bond—owe the prince a favor.
Threads everywhere—what seemed unrelated knotted—clever men found leverage—ordinary souls got lost.
……
Wang residence—outer-court official's home.
Shen Dongling sipped tea.
Fine Ye'er Green—from southern peaks—pinch worth hundreds of silver. Grace in every gesture—Jiangnan brocade—bells chiming—pretty and pampered—a lady who'd never known want.
Who'd guess she was once an obscure Shen Manor bastard—never leaving her yard—servants didn't know her name—under Ren Wanyun, meat scarce for weeks.
Then and now—cloud and mud. Upward water—Wang house looked modest among great families—oil-rich. No one lived on salary alone. Before marrying she thought Wangs followed Prince Zhou—learned the real master was the crown prince. Such wealth—Wang Bi middleman between prince and salt smugglers—silver rivers to crown prince coffers—even scraps let them spend freely in Dingjing—salt profit infinite.
Money surprised her—Wang Bi satisfied her more. Seemed dull—sharp—crown prince's general. Shen Yue scorned him—her loss. Shen Dongling pretty—soft—always advice, never overreach—distance kept—Wang Bi cherished her. Lucky the bride swap—only son—capable—she ruled as mistress—servants respectful—Ren Wanyun dead would choke—Wan Yiniang rose with her.
Today like any day.
Wang Bi returned—pastry to maid—"Guangfu Bakery—cloud-slice cake you like."
"Thoughtful, husband." She poured tea—boneless grace—Wan Yiniang's daughter—special allure. "You're cheerful—good news?"
He hid little from her—she wasn't loose-lipped—sometimes useful. Newlywed honey—"Emperor wants Huangfu Hao close to the crown prince—Qin alliance coming. Favor to the prince—when he reigns, we rise." Grinned—"Celebrate?"
Her mind spun—delighted smile—"Truly?" Worshipful eyes—"You're remarkable—marrying you was my fortune."
Vanity fed—he laughed—"That easy to please?" Sighed—"If Shen Fifth had been matched to the crown prince—Shen army behind him—our odds higher. Qin tie helps—but troops—" Another sigh—"Strength matters most."
She leaned into him—hand on his chest—"You demand too much of yourself—already extraordinary."
What he wanted to hear—"So content?"
"A man like you is enough." Giggle—casual—"Can't Fifth Sister marry the prince now?"
"Fifth Sister?" Pause—"Right—you're sisters."
Careless words—barb—bastard vs legitimate. Greed grows with station. Once survival—mockery swallowed—now Wang's wife—every slight stung.
Face hidden in his chest—dark expression—"Can't we?"
"Not impossible." He said—"Great Li's intent unclear—everything delayed—still need Shen Xin's name. Shen Fifth's age—Shen house doesn't want the prince. Speed matters—delay and Shen Xin finds another match—prince's plan dies."
"Can't we fix the engagement first?"
"Fool." He chuckled—"Shen Xin won't give her to the prince—she won't go. Force it now—anger him—bad timing."
"So they bully with power."
Not one word for Shen Miao—thieves crying stolen.
"Fair summary." He smiled.
"Why only they get to bully—why can't the prince?"
He laughed—"The prince is virtuous—can't oppress."
"Prince can't—others can? Ordinary folk—if all Dingjing demanded Fifth Sister for the prince—isn't that the people's power bullying?"
He thought it pouting—then grew serious—looked at her—innocent in his lap—as if idle talk.
Smart—he caught the thread—"Another scheme—let's hear."
"What's in it for me?" She asked.
"Hm." Pretended thought—"If it's good—I'll get you a noble title." Marry Shen Miao to the prince—great merit—title cheap.
Satisfaction in her eyes.
"Not for title—for you. You serve the future sovereign—I can only offer my little trick." Playful—he beamed.
"Simple—if Qin crown prince plays along."