Chapter 161: Marry You

Days looked calm—who knew what moved beneath.
Ding Manor—everyone on edge—Fu Xiuyi's favored advisers treading soft. Pei Lang—once most trusted—now in the private dungeon. Whispers—spy sent by Fu's rival.
No one denied Pei's talent—envy among retainers—but two years he'd solved problems. Fu seized him overnight—truth unclear—but the night before they'd played chess and tea—lord and counselor at ease.
Sudden arrest meant prior suspicion—intimacy while doubting—Fu Xiuyi no simple man. Kill-chicken-scare-monkey or not—advisers bowed lower.
Fu wasn't comfortable either—puzzles remained.
Men watched Princess Rongxin's manor—report—Rongxin disguised—visited Pingnan Earl Manor—for Su Mingfeng. What they said—unknown—Fu smelled trouble. Rongxin rarely left—cold with Wenhui—only old tie—Princess Yuqing and Rongxin close—Yuqing dead—her son Xie Jingxing close to Rongxin too—Xie dead two years on the frontier—Pingnan and Rongxin no bond.
Fu searched every link—nothing useful. Why Su Mingfeng—not Earl Su Yu? Su Mingfeng out of office—no official use—private acquaintance? Su Mingfeng—Su Mingfeng—
The name clicked.
Su Mingfeng famous in Dingjing—not only talent—nor pity for illness ending his path—but Xie Jingxing's childhood friend. Some wondered how upright Su ran with wild Xie—families were old allies—natural.
Thread found—Su was Xie's brother—Rongxin Xie's aunt—secret visit— they'd talk Xie.
But Xie was dead—why ask now? Once no one spoke Xie near Rongxin—grief—now she asked—Xie alive?
Fu startled—then denied—death reports he'd seen—army watched—no switch possible.
Yet chasing Rui through Rongxin led to Su—and dead Xie—complex—interesting—
He stood—"To the dungeon."
Ding Manor's dungeon—hidden in the estate shrine. Imperial shrine elsewhere—this for prayer—Guanyin on the wall—lift the painting—small Laughing Buddha—twist the wooden fish beside it—stone door—corridor—dungeon.
Spies and traitors—death too easy—tortures endless—blood stink—walls hung thin leather—look closer—flayed men—faces frozen in agony—one glance—chill.
Outside prayer—inside hell—under Guanyin's eyes—worse than eighteen layers.
Fu walked in calm—admiring the skins—guide to the last cell—stop.
Prisoner hung upside down—face to beam—soaked red—robes indistinguishable—blood drip-drip—pool on stone.
Fu watched—man seemed unconscious—signal—bucket of chili water—head to toe.
Jolt—whole body shaking—pain beyond speech.
Fu smiled close—"Comfortable, sir?"
Chili burned—cleared the face—proud bones—Pei Lang.
Pei smiled—voice shaking—"Thanks to Your Highness—quite well."
"Knew you weren't ordinary—talent and spine—no wonder Shen sent you." Fu sighed—"Shen Xin's soldiers fierce—even scholars hard as bone—how does he train them—I wonder."
Pei breathed—"No tie to Shen Xin."
"Days of this—still stubborn." Fu—"Admirable—headache—special games prepared."
Pei only smiled—silent.
Fu gentle—almost nostalgic—"We served well—pleasant days—talent like rain—I admired you. I'm soft—one chance—merit wipes the slate—back as before—'sir'—my best mind—" Close—almost coaxing—"Tell me Shen's secret—why they sent you—two sentences for a life—deal?"
Pei coughed—blood—hard smile—"Your grace—no Shen tie—can't answer—heaven denies me—pity."
Fu blank—then soft laugh—clapped—brushed blood specks—"Hard bones—I admire—I wonder how long—" Wave—"Too mild—something better."
Step back—leaving—paused—"Won't speak—I can find Shen's secret myself. Shen values loyalty—you served them—will Shen Xin send anyone to pull you from this pit?"
Gone with guards.
Pei spat blood—this mild scheming prince—vicious face. Fu's last question—bitter laugh.
Shen family loyal—true—but his handler was Shen Miao—loyalty for kin and friends only—others nothing. Rescue? Unlikely—skill to raid Ding's secret hole—when she planted him she knew discovery meant horror—still did it.
Mind said she wouldn't come—heart hoped anyway. Feelings unclear—first she threatened with fireflies—he hated control—somehow became hers—worried—played the piece—owed her from a past life—life bent—torturers returned—he cleared his head—new round.
He didn't know—Rui Manor—Huo Long and Ye Ying in a tree eating melon seeds.
Ye Ying—"Boss Ji and Young Master Gao still in the tower prison—how long?"
Huo Long spat shell—"Master forgot. Running everywhere—Great Li palace letters—wants done and home."
"Ji in the tower—Fengxian pawnshop news—delay?"
Huo Long rolled eyes—"Fengxian earns silver—intel goes to master through Ink-Feather Army. Ji chases odd things—no real business—worry for nothing."
Ye Ying—"Fair—why bother."
……
Some things turn on a hair—small shift—whole track changes.
Fengxian pawnshop—Linjiang Immortal tower study—desk corner—stack of letters—dust—bottom envelope—three characters:
Ding Manor.
……
Ding Manor stirred—crown prince manor more so. Wenhui wanted Huangfu Hao close to the crown prince—visits open—no hiding.
What they said in private—not Wenhui's to control.
Crown prince poured wine—"My proposal—what does Brother Huangfu think?"
Huangfu smiled—neither yes nor no—"Fine arithmetic—villain me—virtue you—beauty yours."
Prince laughed too—"I'd gladly see Shen Fifth your Qin princess—everyone knows impossible." Qin emperor wouldn't take a foreign minister's daughter—princess title means family power—Shen Miao helps Huangfu nothing—Shen Xin won't send her far.
Huangfu shook head—"No rush—I'm not stealing hearts—" Looked at prince—"I'm no daily do-gooder—especially with my name on it—if General Shen hates me—hard."
Prince laughed—Huangfu saw the trade—reputation worthless here—one line—Wenhui and prince owe a favor—why not—how they'll repay—Wenhui won't know—prince decides how much the marriage matters.
"Some difficulty?" Prince asked.
"Small—embarrassing." Huangfu sighed—troubled face—"Qin crown prince—common folk have troubles—so do princes. Father favors me—brothers restless—if one day we clash—" Meaningful look—"then lend a hand."
Prince stunned—cursed Huangfu sly. Succession fights everywhere—Huangfu meant—if Qin civil war—Ming Qi crown prince must help—help meant troops.
Huangfu's abacus fine.
Huangfu saw hesitation—laughed—"Hesitating? Same as what you ask of me."
Prince jolted—silent. Success—Shen Miao his—Shen army bound—succession weight gained—Huangfu helping now—same coin.
Terms less unbearable—gain outweighed cost.
Heart hardened—"Done. You help today—I won't stand idle tomorrow."
Huangfu bright—more cups—then—"You really want Shen Miao." Saw prince's look—"At tribute feast she wasn't soft—likely fierce—confidence you'll tame?"
"Nothing." Prince waved—"How fierce—still a woman—married—temper folds. First princess was fierce—now obedient. Women—patience—cats end tame."
Huangfu said no more—inward scorn. Ming'an Princess's death—mystery—he felt Shen Miao's shadow. Someone used him against Fu—Fu now distant. Shen house not ordinary—Shen Miao guided—prince strong—against her—not sure win.
None of his business—happy to watch—drink again.
……
Wang residence—Shen Miao replied.
Accepted incense invite—bringing Cousin Luo Tan.
Wang Bi pleased—"Said you sisters barely spoke—she agreed."
Dongling surprised—smiled—"Misses us—only two sisters left." Took the note—studied.
Honestly—she never expected yes. Shen Miao cautious—shouldn't come. Invite mostly to show Wang her effort—earn future credit.
Yet yes.
Mind spun—Luo Tan for martial company—guards surely—safe if she dared come.
Didn't care—target wasn't Shen Miao. She pushed Wang—"Fifth Sister coming—better pretext—invite crown prince and Huangfu Hao—say Huangfu fell for her grace at incense—natural after."
"Women think ahead." Wang arm around her—"Wife like this—what more?"
Dongling bantered—thought otherwise.
Shen Miao schemed best in Shen Manor—Ren Wanyun's war—first branch survived—only Shen Miao and Dongling sharp.
Wanted to see who wins—using Shen Miao—more fun than Shen Yue.
……
The "schemed" Shen Miao—cheek in palm—playing chess with Xie Jingxing.
He played well—she built step by step—he saw her traps—blocked everywhere—half an hour—he took many stones—still tight.
Past life she'd trained chess for Fu—near unmatched—under Xie—no fight—nemesis—first time she wanted to take moves back.
He ate more—"Tired—stop."
"Don't want to or can't?"—"Beg me—I'll teach."
She almost laughed—midnight chess—her patience rare—others would've thrown him out—"No thanks." Not aiming to be master—surprising he played so well—famed for battlefield—turns worlds—what are stones.
"Two days—your men ready?"
Incense day—first joint scheme—two crown princes—dire if spoken—she birthed a prince once—throne not sacred—Xie's brother was emperor—nephew crown prince.
Two princes—fitting prey.
"Flawless." Xie—"Carriage set—you're really going?" Frown—"You needn't."
"Why not? Outcome same—but I want them grander." Smile—"If I go—they make the trap real—then learn all wrong—funner?"
Half-smile—"That cruel?"
"Cruel?" She asked.
"Cruel." Nod—eyes bright as clear water—thin lips curve—"I like it."
Her: "……"
Since that night his words grew bold—hands still respectful. Someone crowded her life—unfamiliar—easier with him—effort for her—ease for him.
Depend too long—unease. Trust—especially a man—she hadn't learned. Bold elsewhere—love once wrecked her—second time clumsy as child—even with gentle teacher—slow and dull.
Xie watched idle—dark eyes—unknown thoughts—stones beside—girl proper in lamplight—lotus blooming.
He beautiful—night-deep gaze—looked—suddenly smiled.
"When this is done—I marry you, Shen Jiaojiao."