Chapter 175: Secrets

This New Year in Ming Qi—half happy half not.
Happy—family together. Not—after New Year Shen Miao marries Great Li. Days close—Shen house frantic—dowry guards maids route to Great Li.
Shen Xin's dowry less than Xie's gifts—still rich. No shops or land—useless abroad—little furniture—rare jewels—mostly silver. Foreign land—silver essential.
Parents' silver enough—Qiu pulled her aside—thick bank notes—"Tonghui bills—work in Great Li—" Shy—"Brother has little—don't disdain."
Wrinkled notes—warmth—Qiu young—feeds soldiers—small salary—merit rewards—saved for marriage—gave her—"Parents enough—why—"
"Parents parents—brother brother—different!" Shoved notes—fled—plan return via Mo Qing—
Shen Xin entered—"Jiaojiao—study—talk alone."
Luo Xueyan followed—"I'll advise too—"
"Later—father and daughter first."
Snorted—thought secret silver—
Study—guards outside—pastry tea—deep sigh—"Days till wedding—Mo Qing goes with you—" Pause—"Rui is Yongle's brother—powerful—royal mess beneath surface—don't swallow wrong—bullied tell Rui—you cost gold and silver—he must shield—don't carry alone—"
She agreed.
"If Rui can't—parents remain—I picked Shen army men—not Mo Qing level—not weak—disguised as dowry guards—don't lose."
Earnest—she asked—"Father Mother—never thought leaving Ming Qi?"
Blank stare—
Out now—"Married Great Li—emperor will distrust—still generals now—not forever—hard to guess throne—rather follow me—drop troops—might confiscate anyway—"
Before—confusion—after Xie's long talk—understood—bitter—daughter warned so often—why ignored—family creed loyalty—or never believed her—
"Throne won't let Shen leave easily—also use Shen to leash you."
She blank—always guarded tongue—not foolish loyalty—lifetime creed hard to overturn—yet he sounded clear—
"Your worry—I know—can't leave."
"Determined—means exist—" Sharp at end—"Throne leashes both ways—fine—lose wife lose army—"
He laughed—"Seemed too soft—not general's daughter—now like me—hero's spine—good!" Tea—"Clever—plan easy—then what?"
"Then?"
"Jiaojiao—" Sudden—"Throne sees Shen as nail—even strong Ming Qi—fish on board someday—" Sigh—"We stand straight—death ok—but not your mother brother you—nor ancestors' name sullied—"
Heart pounding—guessed—disbelieved—
"This loyal hound—I quit."
Head up—"Father—"
"Don't persuade—" Bright—"Loyal not to wolves—won't gamble whole clan—As you see—all Shen to Great Li—war comes—rebels traitors—help tyrant—absurd blame we won't—"
"Stay Dingjing—you alone abroad—float weed—no blame—Shen here can't collude Great Li—clean names—"
Shake head—"Shen army fights Great Li for Ming Qi?"
"No—" Smile—"Before that throne strikes Shen—If not—I can make him—" Tea—"Throne suspicious—rumors—long grudged—will move—" Mockery—years war—life given—whisper undo all—
One doubt—eliminate threat—
"That day—" Eyes dark—"Throne unjust to Shen—Shen rises!"
No stain—won't die for throne's sake—let people see throne struck first—
General's fame vs throne—battle for hearts—
Shen counterstrike to heaven.
Not that—wrong style—
Shen frank—battle only—she alone schemed—afraid they'd call her vicious—
Now Shen Xin plots—couldn't alone—Xie—first thought—
Looked—speechless—
Saw her tangle—pat head—"Thought you stayed small—grew alone Dingjing—too old young bad—now glad—" Smile—"Without us—you protect yourself—"
"Can't—write Great Li—I'm Shen daughter—I'll try—"
"Men's work—girl playing boy?" Laugh—"Best girl—marry Rui still loss—"
Nose acid—leaving family real—
"Rui cunning cruel—keeps word—will shield—like him—no fear—like what you like—"
"Know."
Long look—"Years—promise—find you—"
Soft smile—"I'll wait."
……
After talk—closer—watched father drill—Qiu jealous—"Stick to father not me—"
Shared secret—father knows her best—no filter—warn throne—palace years knowledge—father amazed—credit Xie—warier—don't be sold—
Asked Xie—neither admit nor deny—Ming Qi plan—agents in Dingjing—Shen safe—relieved—
Eve of wedding—
Tomorrow city procession—gate out—Great Li—
Packed—Pei too—Fu will dig—hide in wedding train—
Thought Pei need persuasion for Firefly—letter—agreed quick—Xie threaten?—probably indifferent to Pei's life—
Sleepless—not only Shen house—
Princess Manor—
Rongxin pacing—servants dismissed—suspicion—
Found Rui is Xie—never visited—spies everywhere—expose identity—
Old feeling—wariness—can't forget lonely years he stayed—
Love hate mixed—hard to cut clean—
Tomorrow Shen marries—Xie leaves—return when—swords—flatten Dingjing?
Aunt once—princess always—choose—
Pen ink—stopped—one letter—unknown fate for Xie—accusation danger—choice made—past ash—
Pain both—once nearly died for his news—now push him toward death—
Teeth—wrote fast—
……
Pingnan Manor—parents at closed study—
First love—lost—crown prince blocked—then Rui—
Even Shen Xin obeyed decree—Pingnan hopeless—
"Wait years—forget—" Husband—
"Easy say—long feeling—hard—" Leave—
"You don't hurt—" Wife glared—
Su Minglang passed with copybooks—
"Bright!"
Parents—"Brother hit hard—go talk—"
Close brothers—Minglang protected—
"Cheer with cards writing—"
Old voice—"Stop pining over Shen sister?"
"……"
Lamp—"Brother talk—go away—won't drown—"
Thanks—
Entered—Mingfeng restless—
Chair close—"Like her—fight—"
"?"
"Man acts—I'll support—snatch bride—better than stranger king—"
Laugh—"Her husband not my business—"
"Why sad?"
"Never liked—"
"You spied Shen house—"
"Not love—" Pause—complex—
"Strange—"
"Remember Xie Jingxing?"
"Brother Xie—best friend—gone far—don't mention—back?"
"No—" "Best friend?"
"Yes—mean mouth bullied me—good to family—you said Lin'an's youngest—Xie your big brother—"
Silent—
"Fight?"
Stood—"Out—stay—"
Night hides—Princess Pingnan undercurrents—storm brewing—
Ding Manor—Fu Xiuyi high seat—
Haggard—dungeon fire—smashed room—no Pei corpse—rescuer burned—
Bold in his house—destroyed secrets—dig three feet—thought Shen—nothing—trail dead—
Tomorrow wedding—Shen Rui to Great Li—secret lost—unwilling—
Scout entered—"Princess Manor Pingnan moving—"
Eyes bright—"How?"
Whisper—
Shock—joy—
"Heaven helps—tail both—miss nothing—"
Gone—smile—
"Rui princess Pingnan Shen—" Cold—"What dirty secret—"