Chapter 163: All Yours

Overnight—triumph turned trouble.
Wang Bi and Dongling never dreamed Huangfu Hao dead—killed by the crown prince. Details unclear—prince's men insisted—prince arrived to find Huangfu already dead—yet Huangfu's guards believed murder.
Blood misunderstanding—monstrous charge followed.
Dongling kept calm for Wang—"Must be error—clear it and fine." Inside—falling.
Outsiders saw—Wang found incense—gave prince—prince invited Huangfu—blood on Wang's hands. Even innocent—royal wrath spreads—Wang couldn't walk free.
If prince cleared—Wang proposed incense—Huangfu dead—Qin won't forgive—prince's ally gone—prince would hate Wang.
Either way—Wang the scapegoat.
Wang thought the same—face awful—steadier than Dongling—"Home first—call on prince—learn what happened."
Who killed Huangfu? Why shout the prince's name? Tangles everywhere—must know before strategy.
Driver turned cityward—Dongling suddenly—"Where's Fifth Sister?"
Wang blank.
The plot existed for Shen Miao—Dongling timed arrival together—sisterly warmth. They'd stopped—Shen Miao should appear—mountain road clear—no other carriage.
Why absent?
Wang knew Shen Miao as Dongling's cousin—Shen Xin powerful—nothing of her character. Dongling had seen Shen Miao crush second and third branches—heart sank.
If she didn't come—too convenient—foreknowledge? No one foresees—unless—Shen Miao involved?
Even she couldn't kill Qin crown prince alone—
Wang misread Dongling—"Right—if Shen Fifth were there—smoother!"
More people—shared blame—Shen Xin might soften Wenhui—alone punished—unfair—Shen Miao present saves Wang much.
"Home—maybe she returned—check prince first."
Dongling nodded—bitter inside—Shen Miao never "returned"—never meant Yifeng.
Shen Miao—more terrible than she thought.
……
Street—Luo Tan in carriage—wiped sweat—"Delayed so long—can't reach Yifeng now."
Market bustle—carriage hit an old woman—she collapsed. Shen house no small name—Shen Xin hero—reputation matters. Shen Miao and Luo Tan stayed—guards sent her to clinic—watched doctor pulse—all clear—woman woke—then left.
Praise from crowds—general's daughter humble—cares for people—rare grace.
Applause earned—time lost—noon if they went now.
Shen Miao thought—"We won't go."
"Eh?" Luo Tan planning—"Why not? You hate broken promises."
Smile—"Incense needs hour and place—Yifeng best at dawn—fresh air—clear scent—noon or afternoon—world muddled—can't catch true breath—can't make them wait—ugly." Called Mo Qing—pigeon to Yifeng—delayed—won't come.
Luo Tan regretful—no love for incense anyway—free day—dragged Shen Miao shopping.
Early still—A-Zhi and guards—fine—she agreed.
Luo Tan enthusiastic—home near evening.
Carriage at gate—servant—"Good timing—master and mistress just back."
"Dinner!" Luo Tan grabbed Shen Miao—stepped in.
Main hall—Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin talking—relief—"Jiaojiao—Tan'er—where were you?"
"Wang residence's Lady Wang invited us to Yifeng incense—carriage hit an old woman—cousin and I tended her—late—sent regrets—skipped—walked about—Father, Mother—trouble?"
"Wang residence's Lady Wang"—distance from Dongling—no kin she wanted.
Luo Xueyan missed that—deep breath—"Terrified—Qin crown prince assassinated at Yifeng—all involved arrested—Wang Bi said you were there—no one saw you—we rushed home—empty—feared worst."
Luo Tan—"Assassinated?"—"Who dares daylight kill Qin prince—guards useless—couldn't protect him?"
Unlike Luo Tan's shock—Shen Miao calm—"Relax—we didn't go. Old woman collision—many witnesses—we gave our names—busy caring her—no time for Yifeng."
Crowds don't lie—no doubling—market and pavilion same hour impossible.
Shen Xin cold snort—anger—"Wang Bi—daring to splash filth on Shen family!"
"Drag us down." Luo Xueyan—"Dongling kin—yet poison in heart—scheming family!"
Shen Miao cold laugh—"Second and third branches—when were we kin in truth?"
Silence.
Luo Tan felt weight—joked—"Lucky—we hit that old woman—or we'd be at Yifeng—assassin strong—guards failed—we'd be caught too—thank the old woman."
Shen Miao smiled—Luo Tan muttered—"Invitation never said Qin prince came—why incense—others there—casualties?"
Before answers—two dusty men—Shen Qiu and Luo Ling—Luo Tan yelped—"Cousin Qiu—Cousin Ling—what happened?"
Clothes disordered—blood smears—wretched.
Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin startled—rushed—"What?"
Shen Qiu—"Not my blood—others'."
Relief—then Luo Tan—"You caught today's assassins? Tough fight?"
Shen Xin frowned—"Qiu—is that so?"
Shen Qiu and Luo Ling exchanged odd looks—Shen Qiu dismissed servants—looked at Luo Tan and Shen Miao—Shen Miao smiled—"We won't speak—brother, say it."
Luo Tan pledged silence.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan suspicious—Luo Ling nodded—Shen Qiu sighed—"Today garrison blocked men—not Huangfu's assassins—Huangfu's guards."
"Guards?" Luo Xueyan—"Demanding answers—already chaos?" She disliked Qin—youngest kingdom—no history—arrogant top to bottom—stronger now—still obnoxious in Ming Qi.
"Not quite." Shen Qiu hesitated—"They say crown prince killed Huangfu—heading for Eastern Palace—vengeance."
"Prince killed Huangfu?" Shen Xin stood—"Impossible!"
Thin body aside—Ming Qi courting Qin against Great Li—self-destruction—Qin rage—alliance dead—new enemy—snow on frost—prince no fool—why?
"I thought impossible too." Shen Qiu puzzled—"But guards swear—on the mountain Huangfu screamed prince's name—called him killer—they serve Huangfu—no reason to frame and free real killer."
Luo Xueyan—"Guards not with Huangfu—why hear only?"
"That's the knot." Luo Ling—"Per guards—prince invited Huangfu—prince's post—important talk—leave guards mid-slope—Huangfu alone. Prince denies that line—officials searched—post Huangfu lost—dead tell no tales—both sides stuck."
Luo Tan mumbled—"Prince and Huangfu at incense—why didn't Wang's invite mention them?"
Room froze.
All eyes on prince and Huangfu—Shen Miao forgotten—Luo Tan's words—right—why invite Shen Miao and Luo Tan—Luo Tan irrelevant—Shen Miao—Shen Xin's daughter.
Dongling knew prince and Huangfu came—why hide from Shen Miao—forgot—or deliberate—if deliberate—plan what?
Cold sweat.
Luo Xueyan—"Must ask Dongling."
"Mother—" Shen Qiu stopped—"Dongling and Wang already jailed—visiting looks like conspiracy."
Two princes at incense—one dead—one accused—Wenhui near collapse—what mess. Appease Qin—catch scapegoats—"fair justice"—Wang couple proposed incense—originators—emperor's wrath needs no reason—Wang's dream shattered—life uncertain.
Faces varied—Shen Miao calm—as if none concerned her—and truly not. "Nothing to do with us—watch how court handles it."
Shen Qiu noticed—"Sister—not surprised Huangfu died—or that prince killed him?"
Soft smile—"Why surprise? Private talk—no agreement—sharp dispute—impulse kill—possible. Ming Qi had such cases—why fuss?"
Shen Qiu speechless—her words unsettled the room—true—but what dispute worth killing—a crown prince—Wenhui mad wouldn't slash throats so clean.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan frowned—Shen Miao needn't think deep—they served court—every ripple touched their lives—Huangfu dead in Ming Qi—charge on crown prince—guards already reporting home—Qin emperor lost two children in Ming Qi—whose thunder?
Ming-Qin alliance hard to restore—Great Li's move—unknown.
Night—Shen Manor heavy—not grief for Huangfu or prince—fear of what comes.
Xie found Shen Miao at the window—dazed.
Huangfu dead—past life Huangfu and Ming'an Princess haunted her five years as Qin hostage—Ming'an vicious—Huangfu liked others to torment whoever he marked—Qin crown prince—others copied—no deep feud—malice piled anyway.
Unlike others—she never wanted their lives—Fu family hurt Shen worst—they only kicked her when down.
If they hadn't plotted again—she'd ignore them.
Dead now—she felt hollow.
Rebirth path—revenge—protect Shen house—while Fu lived—they wouldn't spare Shen—enemy too strong—lone desperation—could she reach the end?
Shadow dropped from tree—waved—she woke—Xie's playful smile—"Thinking of me that hard?"
Slap—window shut—he caught—leaped in—shoulder pinned—window closed—"Don't freeze stupid."
Congyang in the corner outside: "……"
She pried his hand—sat at table—"Handled?"
"Fine." He sat—gestured pour tea.
She poured—unwilling—pushed cup—"Qin won't discover?"
"They won't." Smile—"Not everyone clever like us."
Praise including himself—eye roll—purple youth sipping—ripple in her chest.
Today's work—theirs. Xie's people—disguise masters—voice mimicry—handwriting copy—changed Huangfu's post—time too—Huangfu and Fu Xiuyan up the mountain staggered—Xie's man as "prince"—head-down "guard" spoke in prince's voice.
Huangfu and prince acquainted—not intimate—not raised together—swap unnoticed—misunderstanding chain.
Outsiders—prince killed Huangfu—reason irrelevant—fact fixed—Qin won't forgive—alliance dead—maybe war—Wenhui sacrifices others—crown prince included.
"Why sure emperor sacrifices prince?" Xie arched brow—"His own son."
Soft smile—"Remember my second uncle?"
"Yes."
"Shen Yuan was his son too—when Shen Yuan fell—he rushed to disown. Emperor's human—royal affection thin—'greater good'—'righteous kin-slaying'—easy. Even if prince innocent—swallow the bitter fruit." Mockery—faint killing air at her eyes.
Xie watched thoughtful.
Her hatred for Fu's house—bone-deep—sometimes leaked—he wondered—wouldn't press—joked—"You know royalty well—like you lived it."
She lowered eyes—she had.
Married Fu Xiuyi—succession fight—nine princes dead maimed missing—survivors erased after enthronement—no loose ends—Fu nature.
Fu Xiuyi and Wenhui—mutual suspicion—son waits for father's death—Xu Xianfei, Dong Shufei, empress—deep palace—who talks affection is fool.
Pitiful—past life she thought hearts existed—forgot Fu killed brothers and father—could kill sons too.
Palace years ground girlhood love—what remained for Fu Xiuyi—father of Wanyu and Fu Ming—no father fails to love children.
Yet Fu sent his daughter to Xiongnu— drove his son to death.
That debt—she'd collect herself.
Pain flickered—Xie frowned—unknown trigger—slow voice—"Tell me difficulty—I'll solve."
She looked up—"As if you could." Heart clear—he could. Two princes—kill on command—prince and Wenhui know they're framed—no rebuttal—only Xie's choking hand—bold—capable—slippery—nothing impossible.
If she'd met him in past life—
She only said—"Could you remake the realm?"
Jade cup in hand—purple youth smirked—beautiful as spring crabapple—nobility in bone—eyes blade-sharp—tone teasing.
"Overturn a throne—nothing. You want it—all yours."