Chapter 169: Protective

Su Mingfeng followed the bearded guard—inward—Rui servants scrutinizing—uncomfortable.
No turning back—offended Rui already—if wrong—apologize—Ming Qi soil—Rui would spare a minor official face.
Then anxiety—Rui ignored Wenhui—why care for Pingnan heir—Su house out of office—Wenhui won't offend Rui for him.
Su Minglang second son—line wouldn't end—
But if Rui punished whole clan?
Cold sweat—didn't notice arrival until—"Su Young Master—here."
Rear garden—pond—winter wind biting—lantern light on branches—stone table—two figures—man and woman—unclear.
Looked at beard—"His Highness waits ahead—excuse me." Gone.
Watching back—Rui servants arrogant—master's style—disrespect guests—Wenhui disrespected—servants same.
Dingjing this bold—only ever Lin'an Marquis young master Xie Jingxing—
Heart jump—walked to the two.
Near—white fluff under table—thought cat—turned—"Awoo"—sharp teeth—
Tiger.
Tiger in manor—small still—Rui peculiar.
Then less like Xie.
Table—Rui back to him—first saw the woman.
Clear brows—dignified—familiar gaze—"Miss Shen!"
Shen Miao!
"Miss Shen—why here?" Couldn't help.
"Su Young Master meddles wide." Idle displeasure—"My princess consort in her own house—wrong?"
"Own house"—tea almost stuck—smile nod—"Su Gongzi."
Eyes to Rui's back.
Lazy sit—spine unexpectedly straight—lantern light—collar gold thread flowing.
"Your Highness Rui."
Rui silent—Su steadied—Shen here—less fear—she's Rui consort now—seem close—if Rui killed—Shen wouldn't watch for old Xie's sake.
Strange comfort—courage—"I came to ask one thing."
"Speak."
Simple words—more unease—"Your Highness resembles an old friend—lost years—I dare—" Heart hardened—"I dare beg—remove the mask—end my doubt!"
Head down—waiting.
Silence—voice—flat careless—low beautiful—each word thousand jin—
"Your friend—is he called Xie Jingxing?"
Heart leap—almost joy—forced calm—Rui months in Ming Qi—Xie famous hero—childhood friend—maybe someone told Rui.
"Yes!"
"Xie Jingxing is dead—" No emotion—"You said lost?"
"World says he died north—I saw the corpse—" Bitter laugh—"I refused to believe. Your Highness—I know this is rude—some things—must finish regardless." No hide—Rui seemed reasonable—not unreasonable—maybe mercy.
White tiger whined—Rui stood.
Turned—half mask cold in wind—half head taller—
Xie half head taller too.
Young gallant days—height contests—Su begged mother extra rice—beat Xie—Xie scorned—"Second Su Minglang?"
Time blur—unchanged yet—seas changed.
Shen almost spoke—"Want my face?"
Nod.
Hand on silver mask—slow removal.
Slanted brows—peach eyes—nose carved—lazy smile yesterday—slightly changed—wild youth to mature wicked beauty.
Still him.
Xie smirk—disdain—"Stunned?"
Eyes acid—fist shoulder—old habit—"Bastard—years of hiding—even me—no loyalty!"
Shen startled.
So easy—mask off for Su—like Rongxin.
Precious bonds—identity shift—not all forgive—testing risks unbearable pain.
She wouldn't be so bold—no courage for unknown.
Xie always knew want and refuse—no hesitation left.
"You—Rui King—" Patting chest—"Thought if Rui killed me—dead tonight—" Excitement—"Alive now."
Xie looked—"Two years—dumber."
Wave—"Knew you weren't dead—pest lives forever—ten thousand years!" Sigh—"Without Princess Rongxin—and Miss Shen's tiger ring—still fooled—won't see me?" Angry—untrusted.
Shrug—"Correct."
Furious—but used to bullying—no real rage—puzzled—"Miss Shen knew early—" Grin at Shen—"Felt wrong—wish fulfilled—hidden deep."
Shen: "……"
"What point?" Impatient—"Your sister-in-law and I have talk."
Both shocked—"sister-in-law"—Su looked at Shen—"Alive two years—no word—Princess Rongxin suspects—why not tell her—your father—"
"Su Mingfeng—" Cut—"I am Great Li's Rui King."
Quiet yard.
Shen sighed inward—this step always came.
Xie's identity—no ally in Dingjing—"treason"—truth irrelevant—result and deception only.
Rongxin loved as son—wariness and lies. Su joy at rebirth—then daylight truth.
Humanity naked—cruel—painful.
"You're saying—north battlefield—expedient—Rui noble—can't last—must—"
"I am Great Li's Rui King."
Chatter stopped.
Wind—leaves—tiger in nest—starless night—lantern dim.
Eyes uncertain—"Meaning?"
"True identity—Great Li Rui King—not Lin'an Earl Xie Ding's son." Flat—"Not expedient."
"Impossible!"—"Decades together—childhood—Rui King—how didn't I know?"
"Xie heir died at birth—real heir dead—" Xie—"Not me."
Staring—words tangled—"Swapped in—raised in Dingjing—not Ming Qi—Yongle's brother—prince—impossible—"
Stopped at Xie's face—cold only—Xie serious—no repeat—impatient—true.
True.
Chest stuffed cotton—joy gone—empty—strange anger.
"When know?"
"Since memory." Answer.
Two steps back.
"Since memory—knew Great Li early?"
Neither confirm nor deny.
Shen sighed—why so honest—harder betrayal—sometimes lies easier.
She'd likely be honest too—no deceiving kin.
As expected—complex face—shock doubt—betrayal anger—cold laugh—"Back for what—Ming Qi weak—meddle Great Li ambition?"
Harsh—even Shen looked—outsider sees clearest—secrets crush—hurt those nearest.
"So what?" Xie didn't soothe—admitted calm.
Shen almost spoke—held—watch the play.
Su angrier—roared—"Traitor—ingrate wolf! Thought cold to Xie Ding—Princess Yuqing—cut ties early—not his son—enjoyed Lin'an everything—concubine sons less—Rongxin kin—you lied—grief for your death—brother—you hid years—friendship had motive—"
"Hate Ming Qi—Dingjing—nurturing place—birth debt less than raising—you took all—burn from within—Great Li rich—strong horses—wealth abandoned Ming Qi—heartless—unworthy subject—son—brother—back to Great Li!"
"Enough!" Shen stood—cut him.
Too cruel.
Looked at Xie—no mask—no rage—no smile—flat at Su—as if not him—or didn't care.
Ripples in her chest.
To Su—mock smile—"Righteous justice—rushing to judge—your ingrate—same as his."
Xie startled.
Su angry at her too—"What?"
"Calling ingrate." Palace years fighting Mei Consort—learned barbs—not master—enough.
Smile proper—contrast Su's rudeness—voice soft—rain—merciless.
"Judge others—look at yourself first. Rui ingrate—using you—I ask—how much Xie helped Pingnan?"
"From office—social dues—Xie's silver—wanted martial arts—Xie hired masters—emperor crushed Pingnan—Xie warned—early retreat—else no Pingnan Manor—grave grass tall."
"Using you—friendship plot?—Dingjing knows Su Mingfeng—Xie's childhood friend—weak body—none bullied you—your gate—or untouchable friend—simple—roads paved—help for Su house—if that's use—I wish someone used me—yes?"
Smiling—rain on plantain—cold drops—"Took benefits—turn accuse—not ingrate?—I say you—heartless—unworthy brother—enjoyed everything from the man you scold—guilty?"
Su no verbal duel with women—words true—face purple-red—rage and flashbacks.
Xie was good—else wouldn't remember years—arrogant—wild—yet helped—bullies beaten—even imperial kin—none dared touch Su.
Much done—never credit—even vicious—bad remembered—good faded.
Shen finished—relief—scene stung—some shame—not regret.
Used Su? No—past life Su clan executed—none buried—only Xie stood—honored them—even as Xie Ding fell—Lin'an crumbling—about to march north.
Loyal hero—follow heart—Fu Ming's words—child eyes truest—she believed.
If this man "unworthy brother"—she'd rage for him—title changes all eyes—Rui glory—hidden weight—who bears smiling?
Didn't see—Xie surprised—then pleased eyes on her.
Su looked at Xie—speechless.
Complex sad—friend alive—should joy—none left.
Glance—"I owe you nothing."
"Even if owed—repaid."—"Lin'an too prominent—emperor crushes—Xie army millions—filial succession—emperor sleepless—closer—faster death—I want years—saved the earldom for Xie Ding."
"Raising for stable house—worth it?" Grin ask.
Speechless.
"Else Xie Ding dies—false charge—filth—fall—now son dead—line cut—house remains—emperor spares—still honorable house." Mock smile—"Yuqing Princess nominal mother—only dignity left—for Xie Ding—for Lin'an name."
Shen watched profile—careless tone—years unspoken in heart.
Xie honest—and not—states facts—hides heart—no grievance—no fear—world thinks he plays—nothing defeats him—yet arranging all—saving house—bears "unfilial" "wild" "disrespect" "disobedient."
Su frozen.
"Great Li—not golden ease you think." Ice on tree—"You'd cry to mother in a day."
Throat blocked.
"No free lunch—gain—pay. Su Mingfeng—your ease—don't guess me—more than you imagine."
Soft sigh—still smiling—peach eyes curved—lashes down—gentle beauty from painting—eyes no smile.
Winter wind cold.
"Most—Ming Qi gave no nurturing—only erasure." He said.