Chapter 166: Imperial Match

Xu pretty—"Why not enter—wrong done—beg forgiveness—shall I plead?"
Empress—"No need."
Front court fights—rear court women. Zhou faction vs crown prince—not only throne—people behind. Prince falls—how long empress lasts—Wenhui ages—Zhou reign—her end?
Official houses filthy—harem worse—one slip—life and kin. Life on tiptoe.
Xu laughed—"Won't force—business with His Majesty—won't ruin your mood." Cover mouth—sent to announce.
Empress wanted to claw her face—Xu inside—fan flames—Wenhui listens to Xu—prince's doom worse.
Couldn't stop.
Xu entering—runner—"Consort Xu—Prince Rui outside— seeks audience."
Rui? Both startled—why now?
Xu spoiled not foolish—petty with Wenhui—major matters sober—"I'll return later."
Empress older—court clearer—heart sank—Rui early or late—now—conviction day—ill intent.
Attendant out—message—wait—queen kneeling—consort standing—purple youth walked in.
Half silver mask—easy air—empress shame—nation's mother seen wretched—Xu stared—some men strange—face unclear—nobility enough—eyes must land.
Rui passed empress—one glance—no meaning—no stop—not courtesy—lazy contempt from the bone.
Humiliation.
Study—Wenhui seated—calm surface—stable—rage moments ago not him.
Spine stiff.
Purple entered—lazy "Your Majesty"—greeting done—sat opposite casual—host and guest reversed—no respect—no awe.
Brief feeling—before this young man—he was nothing.
Flash passed—smile at Rui—"Busy days—haven't asked—comfortable stay?"
Nearness inside—Qin hostile—Great Li stir—Ming Qi trapped—soothe Great Li—bow now—talk later.
He'd grovel—citizens would sneer.
Rui lazy smile—"Thanks—well enough—heard Your Majesty hasn't."
Heart jump—face calm—bitter shake—"Failed son—laugh if you will."
"Not your fault—" Rui—"nine sons." Flat—"Qin emperor pitiful—tribute visit—prince and princess both lost— calamity."
Wenhui's smile stiff.
True—Qin demanded prince's life—balance—and face. Two kingdoms tribute—Great Li Rui unscathed—Qin prince and princess dead—targeting Qin? Or Qin too weak to protect heirs?
Humiliation—Qin emperor furious—even after prince pays—Ming Qi loathed awhile.
"Handling swiftly."
Rui smiled—"Qin emperor won't forgive easily."
Breath stuck—Wenhui subtle—avoid depth—Rui deaf or deliberate—blocking heart—no mercy—deliberate nausea.
Wanted to storm off like disobedient minister—Rui not minister—prince—more ferocious than emperor.
Stiff pivot—"Why visit today?"
Silence—finger tapping table—Wenhui's heart pulled—important timing—border cities—how refuse?
Spine sweat—silence heavy.
Finger stopped—idle—"My lifelong affair."
"What?" Blank—then flat voice—
"Brother wants me married—brought a princess home—same intent."
Understood—woman in Ming Qi? Why? Conspiracy suspected—can't show—grand smile—"Natural—hero and beauty—matchless— which lady?"
Rui stared—peach eyes smiling—Wenhui blank—youth spoke—
"Shen house—Shen Miao."
Smile died.
Rage shaking—drag him out behead—can't—face rigid.
Dry throat—"Who—?"
"Shen Xin the general's legitimate daughter." Rui—"Remember? Crown prince wanted her as side consort?"
Forced! Outrageous!
Many thoughts—uncontrolled cold laugh.
Lazy surface—indifferent—alliance ignored—pig eating tiger—reserve move here!
Shen Miao—or Shen Xin's army?
Great Li might not need it—many generals—Ming Qi—early purges—Xie house faded—only Shen holds fame—no Shen—tiger without claws—Great Li swallows clean!
Fine Rui—fine Great Li!
Forced smile—"Good eye—Shen Xin dotes—if you insist—won't send daughter far."
"Hard?" Playing thumb ring—"Unwilling—imperial decree."
Blank.
Voice continued—"Ming Qi and Great Li friendly—won't deny this favor?" Stretch—"Then I'll report border cities to brother."
Lifetime learning—"trembling with rage."
Shen house fat meat—steal it—make owner serve it!
Decree—Shen Xin loyal but resent—he ordered her away!
Refuse—look at masked man—lazy shell—sharp core—Qin alliance breaking—fight Great Li unwise.
No good answer—all loss!
Cat eyes on mouse—lazy slow—"Decided?"
Breath held—since throne—never this suffocating—who dares such insolence!
First regret—shouldn't have crushed noble houses for power—more Shen Xins—no bowing to Great Li?
No regret pill.
No answer—smile—stood—"Understood." Leaving.
"Wait!"
Stopped—smile—"Emperor's word—nation's bond."
"Ming Qi and Great Li friends—adult's joy." Smile worse than tears—"Shen girl marries Rui—fortune—we rejoice—decree today—court in days—" Pause—hard—"Cities—"
"Gift for Your Majesty." Rui left pleased.
Alone—Wenhui collapsed—sweat—face crimson.
Anger shame humiliation hate—woven—powerless.
World's worst—emperor—son of heaven—admitting impotence.
Gao Gong silent—witnessed—terrified.
"Paper and brush."
Gao scrambled.
Eyes heavy—cities paused—for marriage—how long stable—Shen Miao in Great Li—hostage—Shen Xin untrustworthy.
Once feared merit—Shen loyal generations—now pawn wasted—Ming Qi harder—need Qin again—together resist.
Qin still furious Ming'an and Huangfu—must show sincerity.
Prince must die.
Eyes closed.
……
Unexpected—conviction scroll fast—no time to think—prince "suicide" in cell.
Suicide or not—clear—save face—not beheaded like commoner—foreign prince charge—royal dignity gone.
People fooled—officials know—suicide convenient—pretty lie on filth.
News—empress scene—then grave illness—Kunning Palace—seclusion.
Harem uneasy—real illness or prince fallen—no support—seat unstable—lost son—hate Wenhui—guard or confine—only they know.
Empress falls—next mistress—Xu best—favored—two sons—Zhou Jing vs Li—Li lacks favored mother—Zhou Jing heaven earth man.
Careful now—no handles—don't be pawn.
Huangfu affair—queen and prince worst—linked punished—Wang house worst.
Wang proposed incense—wife along—Huangfu blood—can't escape.
Not that convicted them.
Anonymous tip—salt smuggling—whole clan—Wang and Dongling beheaded—men exiled—women camp followers frontier.
Wenhui venting—deliberate cruelty—emperor mind unreadable—ministers obey.
Shen Miao heard Jingzhe's report—tea—Luo Tan eating snowflake candy.
Congyang brought—Great Li royal chef—only palace eats—Luo Tan delighted—where bought—Shen Miao mumbled.
"Qin prince affair—big." Luo Tan chewing—"So many buried—one prince not enough—" Quiet—walls have ears.
Shen Miao smiled—silent—shocked Wenhui's ruthlessness.
Like father like son—Fu eradicated Shen house—ignored Fu Ming and Wanyu—how could anyone—Wenhui same.
Fu family—kin love friendship—all weak—throne only—sacrifice son—other women bear more.
Fu nature—faithless bone.
Luo Tan counted candy—"Aunt Uncle ate—Cousin Qiu ate—only Cousin Ling left—save for him?" Looked at Shen Miao.
She nodded—no stinginess over sweets.
"If only you remembered the shop." Luo Tan sighed—"Ate all Little Spring—most Dingjing pastries—never this good—tomorrow I'll search—find that shop!"
Silent—imperial kitchen—turn Dingjing upside—no shop—regretted saying "shop"—should've said stall.
"Cousin Ling loves pastries—he'll like it." Pause—"He's odd lately."
"How?" Daily focus elsewhere—missed changes.
"Besides army—stays in yard drilling—wasn't so hard on himself—talking—low spirits—like struck down—Little Cousin—you're smart—know why?"
"Not following him—how know?" Comfort—"New Year—army busy—passes."
Luo Tan nodded—Shen Qiu and Luo Ling entered—"Cousins—snowflake candy!"
Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao—she smiled at Shen Qiu—his eyes dim—sat aside.
Shen Qiu grabbed candy—"Leisure today?"
Banter—servant—Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan back.
"Dinner time."
They entered—even careless Luo Tan felt wrong.
Shen Xin iron face—awful—Luo Xueyan angry—usually hid from children—both open-tempered—rarely this furious.
Servants fled heads down.
Cousins puzzled—silent—Shen Qiu wanted ask—father's kill-face—held tongue.
Shen Miao spoke—smile—"Parents unhappy—trouble outside?"
Both looked—Shen Xin—regret rage choke—Luo Xueyan—guilt lost.
Heart dropped—understood—about her.
Luo Xueyan deep breath—smile—"Court matters—Jiaojiao hungry—eat."
Smile forced—even Luo Tan grave.
Serious enough—bold Shen parents hide—this bad?
Silent—neither yes nor no—watching them—won't believe excuse.
Shen Qiu dazed—years ago Shen Miao—spoiled—distant from them—close second third—stood silent demanding from Shen Xin—stubborn.
Surface changed—bone habits same.
"Jiaojiao—obey." Rare stern—past life she'd cry.
Luo Ling worried.
Unmoved—calm—"Why hide truth? If I can't solve—share burden—if I can—better. Hiding separates us. Not a child—like brother—Shen family."
Shen Xin's lips moved—silent.
Clear river eyes—hard to lie—"Besides—this concerns me—yes?"
Luo Xueyan jolted—Luo Tan and Luo Ling startled—Shen Qiu confused.
Shen Xin stared—long sigh—bitter—"Court today—imperial decree."
Hard—"Betrothal—for you—"
Pause—
"To Prince Rui."