Chapter 174: Cards on the Table

Uninvited guest at Rui Manor—
Long sword—battle-hardened—wind-scoured face—door—unfriendly air—
"Bring me Prince Rui."
Arrogant—but Rui servants arrogant too—polite—"No invitation—no audience."
Rage rising—voice inside—"General Shen?"—Tieyi—glare guard—"General—forgive—this way."
Guard wide-eyed—why now—
Shen Xin full of days—sleepless suspicion—should fade—grew worse—
Not meddler—but daughter's life—must know—came himself—
Rude guard—worse mood—
Tieyi cheerful—wedding prep everywhere—honor Shen Miao—face saved—eased—
Decorations true—heavy in heart—comfort—
Study door—Tieyi stop—"Can't enter—announced—General go in."
Private talk—good no servants—why let him alone—unafraid—Qiu spar showed skill—
Steady face—step—white fluff darted—small white tiger—milk roar—
Nearly drew blade—
Tieyi carried off—breath—inside.
Rui reading—lazy slouch—casual pages—
Frown—"Prince Rui?"
Unlike Luo Xueyan—"Jingxing" easy for her—not for him—men need evidence not intuition—
Look up—book aside—obscure military tome—veterans' read—twenty-two—pose or depth—
Before visit—idle royal brother—after Qiu—not simple—
Maybe man's intuition—
"General—play war chess." Not familiar nicknames—distance.
"Can't chess."
"War board." White jar him—black self—"Nation the board—paths borders—pieces soldiers—one battle?"
Military spark—young opponent—irritated—"Deal!"
Unlike appearance—old ruthless—no thinking time—random yet clever—
Shen good—constantly losing—felt pre-read—
End—loss—
"You lost."
"Again!"
"Same outcome."
"Meaning?"
"You lose."
Never spoken so except Luo Xueyan—rage rising—light—"General didn't come for chess—" Grin—"What?"
Words stuck—
Provoke then pivot—like young Xie Ding—honest Shen spun by rogue—
Xie Ding—today's purpose—anger gone—eyes on Rui—"Qiu spar—dagger throat—where learned?"
Smile—"Slow on purpose—thought you saw—repeat?"
Heart jolt—deliberate!
Admit—suspicion—"You know name—how learn?"
"Long ago—" Lazy—"General saw before?"
Saw before?
Brain thunder—years ago street—Xie Jingxing on someone—better than Xie Ding—
"General saw before?"—Rui never in Ming Qi—no one else used it—
Storm—show shock or not—calm side—sleepless confirmed—
"Are you Xie Jingxing?"
Mask off.
Gasp—
Shen vs Lin'an enemies—know them best—Xie Ding's nemesis son—secret admiration—wild but true—
Face remembered—mature now—shadow remains—puzzles answered—
"Explain—" Elder tone—absurd—like helping Xie Ding discipline son?
Smile—poured tea—"Father-in-law drink—slow listen."
Half hour—secret never imagined—Great Li prince—bold in Ming Qi—exposure risk—
After—rage regret doubt—fastest decision—"This identity—Jiaojiao can't marry you!"
"Why?"
"Not tribute only—" Sharp—"Great Li won't stop—someday swords—she between you and realm—rather resist decree—I won't trap her!"
"Overthink—" Easy—"She knows—sees clearer—think Shen house vs Ming Qi."
Frown—"Meaning?"
Snap finger—board—white nearly eaten—black full—easy slaughter—"That game—I as Ming Qi throne vs you—notice?"
Head up—"Nonsense!"
"We both know—" Smile gone—sharp cruel—"Throne vs Shen house—you saw—without Jiaojiao scheming—safe how? Not saint—won't watch girl shield you ignorant—bad guy alone—I won't."
Beard bristling—"Jiaojiao what—explain!"
"Northwest busy—world on shoulders—missed daughter—second third branch—Prince Yu bed—Wolong Temple drug—Shen Yuan death—Ren Wanyun mad—Shen Gui Wan—Jing—Shen family ok—throne never spared your head—"
"Little Spring retreat—Su Yu coincidence—escape heaven—"
Stiff—"Ancestral hall fire—Jiaojiao lit—warn ambition—risked life—still protect her?"
Lightning—
Suspected pieces—no proof—army busy—forgot—
Never told—hearing from Xie—mute—
"Second third down—her plot—don't blame ruthlessness—else graves tall—" Mock words sharp breath—"Good general for world—not for her—why alone like debt—bad father—lucky daughter—"
"Throne enemy too—she won't torn—" Cold—"Know your daughter?"
Chair—no face—
"Opposite—shared nights—saved her—crises—" Flat—"Why can't I marry?"
Exhaustion—Xie Jingxing's Shen unfamiliar—events unknown—loving yet never knew—what did he do—
Stared at board long—eyes sore—soft—
"Tell me all—"
"Everything about Jiaojiao—"
……
Pei woke—strange room—fine maids—medicine—memory—fire—black mask—alive—
Who why—maids—Rui Manor—
Shen Rui bond maybe—didn't abandon—moved—
Door—young man medicine box—pulse—
"Imperial Physician Gao!"
Jerk—pain—"Don't—" Press wound—
Imperial favorite—smooth tongue—handsome—favored consorts—
Palace doctor—outside patient—Rui borrow emperor?—no—other doctors exist—
Private tie Rui—
Shocking—smile—"Why here?"
Pulse—"Rui summoned—stable—Fu tortured legs—tendons—need needles or crippled—"
Kneecaps next without fire—
Relief—
"Fu cruel—" Needles pants up—"surface mild—"
Imperial servant—disrespect name—strange—
Without looking—"Wonder my tie to Rui?"
Pause—"Will you tell?"
"Honest—I am Rui's man."
Shock—open secret—spy poison emperor?—bought?
"Why tell me?"
"Fire—no bones—Fu knows rescued—blame you—only Rui shelter—same boat—" Grin—"Grasshopper?"
Bound without consent—
"Your fire?"
"Of course."
Gasp—Fu's rage—only Rui dares—
"Rui saved me?"
"Who else—who dares—"
"Why—someone asked?"
Meaningful look—needle knee—"Yes—our princess consort asked."
"Consort?"—"Why—"
"Teacher-student bond—" Kind—"She was your student."
"She is—"
"Shen Miao."