Chapter 160: Black-Hearted Couple

"Simple—if Qin crown prince plays along." Shen Dongling said.
Wang Bi: "How?"
She smiled—"Ming Qi courts Great Li—you said Qin wants us too. What if Qin's price for alliance is marrying Fifth Sister?"
"Won't fly. Emperor might yield for the realm—Shen Xin won't send her far." Clear enough—whole city knew he doted on Shen Miao—another province impossible—Qin years between visits.
"Exactly—but leak it—people will demand Shen Xin give her up. Huangfu Hao is Qin crown prince—presentable—she wouldn't lose. Refuse—no alliance—Great Li slips in—realm in peril. One girl for millions—Shen Xin may disagree—common folk won't."
Wang Bi thought.
She continued—"Everyone knows my uncle puts the realm before kin. Commoners press him—he'll fight officials—not ignore the people."
"Even the emperor can't ignore them—less my uncle. He won't let Great Li win—won't send Fifth Sister away. Who stops Huangfu Hao? At that moment the crown prince says she was promised to his house—problem solved."
"Hesitation—" she laughed on—"Huangfu Hao won't shame the prince. Rumors already floated—he can verify. Shen Xin prefers the prince nearby over Qin exile—and thanks the prince for stepping in."
Wang Bi's eyes bright—he heard the merit— sank into thought.
Not done—arm around his neck—"Needs Huangfu Hao and the prince in concert—prince pays—Huangfu Hao acts—rest follows."
He crushed her—kiss hard—"Married a strategist!"
She looked down shy—"Don't tease—sudden thought—flaws surely— you'll patch them."
"Already more than most." More he looked—more he liked—"I'll tell the prince your credit—our Ling'er will shine!"
Inward scorn—men hate shared glory—especially from wives—sweet talk only.
Outward—she pushed—"Don't say it was my idea—plotting my own sister—only to help you—word gets out—how do I live?"
He'd meant it lightly—if she'd agreed, greedy—this panic pleased him—glad of the bride swap—"Fine, fine—won't tell. Not evil—marry the prince—future consort—she'll thank you."
She smiled—"I think so too." Knew better—Shen Miao didn't crave rank—Shen house treasured her—wealth meaningless. Like Shen Xin—stubborn core—wrong step—she'd break herself—surface calm—inside never easy.
Sorry, she thought—in all Shen Manor the one she least wanted as enemy was Shen Miao—dangerous—Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan behind her. But times changed.
Now she had standing to fight—and remembered jealousy. She'd crushed second and third branches—Shen Yue, Shen Qing—never surpassed Shen Miao—the family Shen Dongling could never have.
Low birth risen—caution shed—warped. Poor scholar passes exams—tiny post—arrogance overnight—status fear—afraid old shame shows.
Wandering—Wang Bi: "Must plan—I'll speak to the prince."
She recovered—smiled—"Invite Fifth Sister out—I'll send the note."
"Oh? Will she come?"
As if their sisterhood were cold—again like legitimate vs bastard. She swallowed ire—"Trust me—I'll bring her."
……
Pingnan Earl Manor—Su Mingfeng had a headache.
Yesterday Princess Rongxin came—rarely out—disguised—he nearly missed her.
Such a visit meant weight—servants announced Su Mingfeng only—not Su Yu—for him alone. He received her—expected orders.
She came for news.
About Xie Jingxing.
Two years dead on the northern frontier—everyone knew he and Rongxin were close—after his death she fell ill—no one spoke his name near her.
Now she asked.
Childhood stories—secrets—finally the corpse.
Xie Jingxing died pierced by ten thousand arrows—head on the wall—flayed—army watched—no fake. Body retrieved ruined—not whole—Xie Ding fainted—Rongxin daren't look—Su Mingfeng sent his friend off.
Now—are you sure that corpse was Xie Jingxing?
Usually he'd wonder—since meeting Shen Miao in the street—tiger ring on her wrist—he'd watched Shen Manor. Rongxin's visit confirmed it—Xie Jingxing lived.
Why hide—Su Mingfeng wasn't stupid—few words to the princess—she left—he thought.
Rongxin suspected—Xie slipped—Shen Miao's bracelet—bold guess—Xie alive—in Dingjing.
Why hide from Rongxin—their bond deepest—why childhood questions—what link?
Reasons his own—find Xie first—answers follow.
Where—Dingjing large enough—hiding skilled man—hard.
Plan—tail Rongxin.
She knew more—follow her trail—pick up scraps.
He called a servant—whispered orders.
……
Shen Miao got Shen Dongling's invitation—Xie Jingxing was in her room drinking tea. Since that night he'd openly managed her affairs. Uncomfortable at first—then habit—he saw everything anyway.
He glanced at the note—"Shen Dongling?"
"Scheming again." Shen Miao—"Invites me to incense." Pause—smile—"Incense—Wang house has money."
Tea and wine—proper. Incense different—fine piece worth gold—burned once gone. Best—Jade Pear Agarwood—nail-size ten thousand gold—once a Western merchant sought imperial merchant status—fist-sized piece—harem came to see—Shen Miao marveled.
She thought it'd stay in treasury—Mei Consort's birthday—Fu Xiuyi burned it for a smile. Incense was cash on fire. Invitation said Phoenix Beak—precious too—Wang salary couldn't afford it—Wang wealth real—many first-rank ministers wouldn't burn so—Shen Yue in her grave might sit up.
"Phoenix Beak isn't cheap—sisters don't meet for nostalgia."
"Targeting you?" Xie arched a brow.
"Shen Dongling isn't Shen Yue—if she plots, I won't fall easy. She's not stupid—my going helps her plan—staying costs little." Smile—"I'm surprised Wang has that much silver." At the execution she'd noticed Dongling's jewels—Wang's favor couldn't explain all—where did Wang money come from?
Xie read her look—"Wang serves the crown prince—salt smugglers—Wang Bi middleman."
Clear—salt profit—even crumbs dazzled—Dongling's confidence—Wang rich—Wang on prince's staff—Wenhui backing prince—empire future theirs—Wang rises—she as wife—glory—prosperity blinded her.
Born in worry, die in comfort—Dongling's head wouldn't stay clear—who guaranteed the prince's throne—even if he reigned—who guaranteed Wang forever—when the hounds die, the bow is broken—imperial house most ruthless.
"Wang is the prince's—Dongling's move ties to Wang—to the prince." Shen Miao to Xie—"My marriage—she wants leverage?"
Admiring look—"Clever."
"You knew?"
"Dongling's idea—Huangfu Hao and prince act together—demand you for alliance—or pact breaks—Great Li invades—leak it—people force Shen Xin to marry you to Huangfu Hao—people vs daughter—Shen Xin breaks. No one dares oppose Huangfu Hao—prince steps in—says you're promised to him—Shen Xin prefers you nearby—grateful." Shrug—"Your bastard sister isn't simple."
Shen Miao's face iron—cold laugh—"Such devotion."
Using the people against Shen Xin—family creed—fight for common folk—now those folk as weapon—other hand his daughter—pain unimaginable. She and Dongling never crossed—first strike—disgust surged.
"Crown prince marriage—no."
Xie smiled—"So eager to marry me?" Before she exploded—"Relax—no one steals from me. What I want—he can't afford."
Shameless—her face warmed—she diverted—"She schemes—I return the favor."
"Wife's will is my will." Lazy.
Her: "……"
"What do you mean—destroy Ming Qi—Great Li unifies?"
Strange look—"If I said yes—you'd help?"
"I said—we're the same on this."
Joke faded. He couldn't read her—never expected support against Ming Qi—her calm shocked—now her face said earnest.
Destroy Ming Qi?
Why?
Not greed— not love-blind to abandon her country— from first meeting she hated Fu's house—Fu pressed Shen too—but a boudoir girl—how see so far—guardian before Shen Xin and Shen Qiu—as if she'd foreseen—closer he got—more mystery—Fengxian pawnshop found nothing.
Suspicious.
Hesitant—"You… dislike Ming Qi?"
She lowered eyes—"Empires split and merge—always has—liking won't change it. Even if I hate it—it happens—fated." Candle flicker—"And I'd rather the realm in your hands than Fu's."
He stared.
"War isn't the people's fault. Ming Qi's time is ending—heavy tax—disaster—hard lives—rotten officials—fool emperor—fears merit families—eats them ugly. Great Li—people live—industries thrive." She said—"Yongle is a wise ruler—small states opened gates to welcome him—isn't that why?"
Deep look—strange feeling.
Men call women short-sighted—never met this one. The broadest woman he knew was his sister-in-law Empress Xiande—scholar's daughter—six palaces—Shen Miao sixteen—farthest place Little Spring City—two years ago called lovesick rough sack—yet her view of the realm surpassed most of Yongle's advisers.
Not a citizen of one country—history's height—calm as seasons.
Few see so clear—she sat before him. Lucky he'd found her—lucky she'd tell him.
She didn't know his thoughts—she'd heard Fu Xiuyi praise Yongle—legendary ruler—Great Li's borders weren't always today's—after the prior emperor chaos—neighbors invaded—Yongle reclaimed—swallowed neighbors—charisma—some peoples prayed for annexation—better life.
Yongle delivered.
She'd marveled—Fu feared Yongle—Fu Ming read history—debated her—memory sharp.
Xie paused—displeased—"Why remember his affairs so clearly?"
Her: "……"
"Not so noble—self-preservation. Fu's house will erase Shen sooner or later—unworthy sovereign—no duty to die loyal. Yes?"
"How know Yongle won't be another Wenhui—turn on Shen?" Xie asked.
"Yongle keeps a General Li—story like Shen house—Li family honored. Shen army smaller—less worry." At least before her death in the last life—Li family thrived.
He startled—"How know General Li?"
Her heart jumped—forgot—Shen daughter shouldn't know Great Li generals—cover—"He's famous—Ming Qi hears of him."
"Famous?" Frown—"As famous as me?"
She refused that road—"Enough—if we end Ming Qi—we can't let Qin and Ming Qi ally—that complicates Great Li. You stay in Dingjing to break them—yes?"
Smile—"Marry me, obey me—you plan well for your husband."
She ignored the improper part—"Break the alliance—method exists—if you can manage."
Grin—"Let's hear."
"Kill. Rob. Frame. Slander." Gentle smile—"Best if dead men tell no tales."