Chapter 202: Departure

Shen and Xie mended—whole Prince Rui manor exhaled.
Blessing in disguise—not reconciled—sleeping same room—beyond expectation—Tang Shu happiest—daily tiger deer ox whip soup for Xie—Shen speechless.
Xie investigated Ye family—strange—Ye siblings native Great Li—lived Qinzhou—all verified. Shen unclear why—eventually thought rebirth changed much—Fu's fortune—Mei siblings' identity.
Whatever changes—one constant—Ye Mei past enemy—"Ye" family now—enemies unchanged.
Pei healing—Shen visited once—didn't enter—glanced from afar—walking drinking medicine—left. Complex feelings—Pei likely doesn't know past—she knows—can't face calmly.
Only distance.
Xie very satisfied—said more sensible—"rewarded" well—making up all unconsummated nights—Shen listless days—like ghost drained yang.
Longye surface calm—vortex inside—since royal hunt Yongle's Lu trap closing—Lu busy with court—Xie busier.
Shen not idle—letter from Ming Qi.
Luo Xueyan's family letters arrived.
Two—Luo's—all well—if wronged in Longye write home—mutual respect with Xie—asked her situation.
Other—Shen Qiu's.
Different from mother's. At marriage Shen hinted—guard against Ming Qi court—mud pit—Shen preserve self—cut royal ties—or dragged under—if needed—drop reputation—save lives first.
This letter—Ming Qi situation.
Half year since left Dingjing—Dingjing ready to blow—daily change—half year worse—still jarring.
Emperor Wenhui gravely ill.
Cough first—worsened—can't hold court—rare sessions—listless—dispersed. Palace rumors—oil spent—won't last year.
Shen laughed once—Wenhui live one year? Didn't believe—past life he died later—suspicious maybe—Ming Qi court tangled—princes unlike Longye's simplicity—one throne—many sacrifices—father nothing.
Shen Qiu wrote—Wenhui ill—suddenly turned on favorite Consort Xu Xian—demoted to Talented—whole Xu clan punished—Prince Zhou Prince Jing both stripped duties—details unclear—Xu and Zhou Jing fallen—losing succession race.
Prince Li faction—unexpectedly friendly with Prince Ding.
Li faction strong contender—Fu Xiuyi unrelated—now allied—wrong. Stranger—original Prince Li seems defer to Ding.
Handwriting messy here—Shen Qiu unsettled.
Summary—hottest in Dingjing now—once indifferent Ninth Prince Fu Xiuyi—mother Consort Dong Shufei—Emperor's constant comfort.
Ill emperor—closest favorites—guess—Crown Prince gone—throne likely to Ding.
Wave of officials defected to Fu—whatever reason—Fu future heir.
Fu Xiuyi—starting on Shen family.
Military already taken—Fu offers Shen Xin new command—new army—obvious trap—fail—caught.
Shen Qiu—Shen Xin feigns illness—refuses for now—excuse won't last—Fu won't use one method—Shen not alone—Fu also targets Feng clan—Feng Anning's house—Feng and Shen allied—other ministers—enough to survive.
Still sadness—loyal generations—now face court suspicion—poignant.
Shen folded letter—worried. Xie read together: "Very worried?"
"Fu striking Shen." Low. "Rose too fast—under year—no rival in Dingjing. Zhou Jing were arrogant—fell with Xu Xian—Prince Li subdued." Pause: "His methods not simple." Knew past life he became emperor—but this life without Shen—turned disadvantage—maybe underestimated enemy.
"Not strange." Smile: "Prepared years for succession. Zhou Jing had edge—late start. Prince Li—no maternal clan—can't compare."
"Why still target Shen?" Brow knit: "No military—no threat—like Marquis Lin'an house—won't touch Lin'an—bites Shen…" Fu won't waste time—pressing Shen now seems extra—why?
Pause: "Maybe because of you?"
"Me?" Looked at him.
"You married Great Li—Fu suspected us—thought Great Li Shen's backer. Back Longye—I watched Fu—investigating Lin'an about me—maybe knows my identity—misread Shen and me—think Shen joined Great Li—or other plans." Pause: "Fu ruthless—suspicious—sense wrong—uproot all. Shen makes him uneasy—eliminate fully."
"Cold knowledge." Eyes chill—past life end—Fu cleaned first branch for military.
"Don't worry." Pinched cheek: "People in Dingjing—protect family—can do."
"Arranged early?" Why not tell?
"Need credit? Also my family—wouldn't leave them Dingjing unprepared."
"My family"—sweet as honey—smile: "Didn't expect Feng allied with brother." Had Shen Qiu watch Feng for Anning—when closeness—Anning won't marry hollow cousin like past life.
"One thing—serious face—Fu secret contact Qin emperor."
Startled: "Borrow troops?" Remember five years hostage—Fu not married—another hostage?
"Private deal—likely cede land."
Brow furrow: "For succession? Foreign help—future entanglements—Fu wouldn't."
Eyes down: "Against Great Li."
Looked: "Attack Great Li? Mad." Ming Qi Qin together stronger—Great Li power plain—mutual ruin—peace years—why start?
"Can't tolerate thorn." Laugh: "Longye messy Lu Ye—chance—they won't miss."
Thought—"Right—day would come." Now war—not best for Great Li.
"Don't worry." Rubbed head: "Leave to me."
"I'm Prince Rui consort too." Glared—displeased.
Leisurely: "Empress to consort—feel cheated?"
"Already ate—pointless now." Snorted.
About to speak—Huixiang knocked—entered—looked Shen then Xie—troubled.
"Speak?" Shen puzzled: "Say directly—Prince here fine."
Huixiang: "Noon Master Pei wanted walk—Gao Yang said good for wound—not far—alone—usually door and back—today dark—not returned."
……
Brow furrow: "Trouble?" Pei no martial arts—no self-defense.
"Thought so." Huixiang: "But Bajiao found this on desk." Letter from sleeve—"Missing clothes and valuables—guess—left."
Pause opening letter.
Xie face shifted.
"Last words?" Shen asked Huixiang.
"Nothing—usual—said fine weather." Huixiang.
Stunned. Xie: "Read letter."
Rose to leave—Shen grabbed sleeve.
Turned—Shen: "Read together."
Pause—sat—corner smile.
Opened—Pei's writing—clean elegant—scholarly—hard imagine such refined man entangled in power past life.
Letter—long stay—trouble to manor—thanks for shelter—hope Shen keeps promise—settle Liuying's rest of life.
Followed Shen to Longye—expedient—Fu forced hide Longye—long stay inconvenient—own plan—travel while alive—see world—left without farewell.
Teacher-student once—some affection—Ding palace days—learned Fu—know Shen guarded against Fu—compiled materials—hope useful later.
After delivery—debts cleared—neither owes—maybe never meet—farewell.
Simple—deliberate distance—polite—back to Guangwen Hall teacher and student.
Other sheet—dense notes on Fu—confidants—schemes—future steps—win over—topple.
Xie skimmed casually—face grave later.
Everything on Fu—no secrets—snake's vital point—step by step lethal.
"How know so much?"
Even spy—Fu trusted—not this much—deepest hidden pieces—all listed—like longtime trusted general—future plans known.
Fingertips trembled.
Some events years later—Fu doesn't know those people now—how Pei?
Unless Pei has past-life memory—knows Fu's "future" pieces and schemes.
When did Pei know—before knew nothing.
Heart moved—she dreamed past life on Xie's birthday after assassination—Pei same?
To Huixiang: "Pei different lately?"
"Different?" Thought: "None—often staring—thinking—always quiet—maybe convalescence."
Undecided—wanted ask if Pei remembers—Pei longest with Fu—knows deepest. Stopped.
So what? If Pei remembers—like she can't face him—he can't face her.
Not fated enemies—not close partners—blood debt—paid in person—palace helpless—real sins—can't pretend—can't explain clear.
Xie saw unease: "Fetch him back?"
Awake: "No. Wants own life—let go." Better unseen departure. Gripped paper—eyes sharp.
Xie: "This says…"
"True." Shen: "Send to brother—we're not Dingjing—holding it bad—brother and father will act—Shen gains chips." Troubled: "Precious—road to Ming Qi—if robbed…"
"Mo Yu army." Casual: "Delivered letters years—never intercepted."
Relief—Xie snatched Pei's letter—tossed aside: "Late—rest."
"Not late—just dark—" Though won't fetch—ensure safety—blade for nothing—if targeted again—
Carried up—threw on bed—leaned close—ominous: "Mention Pei again—try."
Shen: "…"
……
Palace.
Imperial garden—summer lotus fine—green leaves cover pond.
Empress Xiande in pavilion—no moon but stars—cool breeze—rippling water—fine view—flower tea—summer cup—comforting.
Tao Gugu behind smiled: "Lotus good this year."
Glanced: "Changed seeds last year—flourished." Pause: "Cool in summer."
Far figure—saw them—paused—turned toward pavilion.
Consort Jing.
Unlike past arrogant brocade—today disheveled—recently bad—no care for dress—pretty face weary.
Seeing Xiande—weariness to hate at once.
"From afar wondered who enjoying—Queen Sister."
Noncommittal smile: "Tea here—Jing want cup?"
Cold sneer: "Sister has mood—sister has none."
Yongle suppressing Lu—inner palace senses emperor's mood—once favorite now tears can't move him—meaning deep.
"Your mood—I can't manage." Pour tea slow: "Tea remains."
Jing trembled angry.
Lu madam visited—Yongle struck Lu—no mercy—said she had favor—why can't pillow-talk—probe emperor—beg if needed.
Jing tried—useless. Years—Yongle doted—Xiande yielded—even arrogance—safe—never changed his mind.
Sometimes felt he saw through flattery—shame—sometimes felt real love. Lu in trouble—daughter help—Yongle cold.
Smooth life—never suffered—Lu background easy Consort—now Lu trouble—suffering—years only tantrums enemies—nothing done.
Despised Xiande—still leisurely tea—full resentment.
Yongle doesn't love Xiande—yet Queen title earns respect—unfair—without Xiande blocking—she Queen—Yongle wouldn't slight Lu—wouldn't headache now.
Poison rose.
Saw Xiande in pavilion—water-side steps for feeding fish—elegant—dangerous.
Quietly closer: "Sister brewed tea years—know principles—sister dislikes tea—bitter—uncomfortable—why brew?" "Ai!" twisted ankle—fell toward Xiande—water side—push into pond!
Xiande not fool—Jing stupid—Xiande not—on guard—stepped back—avoided.
Splash.
Jing's maid screamed.