Chapter 206: Fu Ming

"Prince and Consort close now—" Ye Ke: "Arm in arm Longye—love to bone—Shen less beautiful—how bind him?" Looked Ye Mei: "Sister—still want Prince Rui manor?"
Ye Mei vexed—no advantage before Xie Yuan—Qinzhou—men fell easy—Xie—nowhere to start—Xie doesn't notice her—look like Lu Wan'er—any Ming Qi lady—not a woman—can't conquer—not seen as woman.
Escape: "Later—Ye Maocai not raised—don't think—first learn Ye trouble—Ye falls—don't drag us—plan early exit."
"Actually…" Ye Ke hesitant: "Ye Maocai found me—want you enter palace."
Palace? Brow jump—laughed—wanton—meaningful: "Xie Yuan hard—so Royal climb?"
Not ordinary visit—emperor's woman. Cold laugh: "Palace no heirs—must be trick—enter no son—old age nothing—Emperor dies—follow burial? Ye Maocai favors court—not my life—I won't enter—kill that idea." End—vicious.
Thought palace—not never—weighs pros—Emperor no own son—his problem—no son in inner palace—how long live? High houses same—no son—death or crouch forever—not Ye Mei wants—climb—power—more than emperor's woman.
Ye Ke awkward: "Guessed you'd think—told Ye Maocai impossible."
"Oh?" Side glance—light: "Really said that?"
Dodged eyes: "Sister—don't trust me?"
Smiled—unclear meaning: "See our identity clear—Ye not real home—Ye not family—family has selfishness. I'll learn Ye trouble and plans—Ye falls—we don't sink—clean exit best."
"Sister—not that bad." Ye Ke dismissive: "If so bad—Ye seeking exit already."
Cold: "Fear Ye doesn't know doom coming."
Door—voice: "Big sister—second brother."
Ye Ke opened—servant pushing Ye Hongguang in wheelchair. Ye Maocai clever—kind to crippled son—mobile chair—stroll manor—Lady Ye dislikes concubine's son raised under his name.
Ye Hongguang likes Ye siblings—lonely house—suddenly siblings—happy—simple childlike—not typical Ye upbringing—never leaves—chess father—books—natural.
Smiled: "Third brother—matter?"
Ye Hongguang not like father or Lady—like dead concubine—fine features—smiled: "Father wants study—I brought nine-linked rings—heard sister expert—"
Took rings: "When solved—deliver personally."
"Thanks big sister!" Excited.
Smile—glanced Ye Ke—both dark in eyes.
Ye Maocai summons study—new tasks—pieces on board—Ye siblings not passive—another chess match.
……
Jing's pregnancy—next day—all Longye.
Yongle childless years—rumors—hidden illness—court never stopped fighting—Jing pregnant—meaning shifts.
Maybe not Emperor's fault—maybe deliberate—now "let" Jing pregnant—signals. Ministers stir—send daughters—neutral ones shift—Jing pregnancy—big impact.
Shen told Xie: "No heir—inner palace quiet—no fights—Jing pregnant—ministers rush daughters—race for sons—palace chaos."
Calm water—stone—most terrifying.
Xie smiled: "Must birth first."
Contraceptive soup for all—Jing accident—after—stricter—no loopholes.
"Lu too hasty." Shen chin in hand: "Palace not out—Lu spread first—whole Longye knows."
"Wear fast die fast." Xie dressing outer robe—Shen stood—fixed collar—looked down: "You carry my child—I'd spread Longye too."
Glared: "You dare another woman's child?"
"So?" Brow furrow.
Yanked collar—fierce: "Prince Rui exterminated—also all Longye."
Laughed—waist—ear intimate: "Fierce wife—exhausted—can't perform."
"Fierce?" About explode.
Bajiao outside: "Master madam—carriage ready—leave now?"
Released: "Back to this."
Leisurely wicked: "At your plucking."
Shen: "Get lost."
Entering palace—Xie busy palace lately—Lu plot with Yongle—Lu felt pressure—deployed troops—yet Jing pregnant—Emperor won't touch Lu—suspicion and faith—Lu confused—court's wish—forces moving—Xie very busy.
Shen read Pei's letter—gauge Ming Qi future—help Shen escape Fu's watch.
Today visit Xiande—Xie also palace—traveled together.
Palace—Xie to study Yongle—Shen Xiande—Tao Gugu led—carpets everywhere—more maids—strange—asked—Tao: "Consort Jing ordered—fear bump—hurt belly—more servants than usual—palace exhausted—Queen kind—won't fight—almost overturned inner palace." Tao Xiande's officer—no filter—Shen own person—Jing hatred bare—"Nothing extreme—just nagging—unpleasant."
Brow up: "Emperor attitude?"
Strange smile: "Emperor unchanged by child—Jing sulking—made fuss." Remembered: "Today Ye miss and young master entered—Ye miss visited Jing—Jinghua Palace—Consort didn't see Ye entering?"
Ye? Shen shook head—not seen—thought—Ye Mei Ke visit Jing? Lu Ye not close—why now—visit Jing—wine in mind not water—plotting? Ye Mei to Jing—Jing fool—wrong person?
Felt wrong—here for Queen—couldn't discuss—questions—imperial garden.
Xiande not Weiyang—summer ending—Longye long summer—cool edge—garden breeze good. Xiande brewing tea—invited Shen.
"Qiushan Huang—new this year—I love—try." Smiled—loves tea—like tea—lingering woman.
Sip—bitter—then long fragrance—unique good tea.
"How?"
Set cup: "Your Majesty brews excellently."
"No hobbies—only this." Laugh: "Bitter—young girls dislike—somehow thought you'd like—feel we're alike."
Humble—Xiande careless laugh: "Enough—that night back—Jingxing told palace matters?"
Pause: "Some."
"Curious—Jingxing spoils wife—tells all." Smile: "Feelings after—what logic in situation?"
Testing Shen—didn't dare vague—thought: "Lu end sealed—Jing's child can't reverse—Emperor and Prince decided—rest natural."
"That child?" Sip tea: "Keep or not?"
Pause: "Keep or not—no impact on grand scheme—decision—Your Majesty's heart."
"My heart—" sigh: "Thorn stuck—pull thorn—not cruel enough." Self-mock: "Queen seat—not fit me—habit one thing—fit another."
Shen silent—anything wrong now.
Turned: "Consort—you can be Prince Rui mistress—undoubted—if heavier burden—more complex—can you?"
Heart jumped—words within words—hint—before wouldn't think—Xie told Yongle illness—won't pass thirty-five—other plans—immediately guessed their plan.
Steadied: "Future uncertain—I'll stay beside Prince—whatever he does—I assist."
Looked while—shook head sigh: "No ambition—good—also bad." "Jingxing not Emperor—lucky you. But understand—certain height—many things beyond will—dislike—can't show dislike—must—world's logic."
Her own feeling? Calm: "I won't. World's logic first spoken—also doubted. Can't hold heart—height meaningless. Beyond will—insufficient effort to change surroundings."
Xiande dazed long—deep look—complex—admire—self-mock: "Maybe—you're right—half my life passed—change—no time." Listless—more weathered than last—not face—still elegant—eyes old woman.
Because Jing? Thought—asked: "Heard Ye siblings entered—saw Jing?"
"Lu bred bad dragon consort—Longye insects stir. Ye visited palace—today meant me—saw wine not water—let them go. Ye saw Lu Jing pregnant—other plans—probe Jing." Long gaze: "Ye's found daughter—extreme beauty—smart—ambitious—fits inner palace survival."
Eyes stalled: "Ye Mei want palace?"
Past life Lady Mei became Ming Qi Empress—now Great Li identity—future changed too—Yongle's woman—Great Li Empress? Absurd—laughable.
"Probably." Careless: "Longye inner palace dead letter—Ye Mei fight here—wrong account. Emperor not taking women now."
"Other methods?" Shen asked. Ye Mei ruthless—climb any means—past life taught—Ye Mei return empty—impossible—don't underestimate—don't blunder.
Strange look: "Dislike Ye miss much." Relieved: "True—Ye Mei crooked heart—I see—years in palace—greedy eyes—guard natural—hunt rumor—you jealous targeting Ye—I guessed not simple—today confirmed."
"Indeed dislike her."
"Because Jingxing?" Rare blink—tease: "Rest—Jingxing smart—won't like smarter—greedy ambitious less."
Shen: "…" Like I'm stupid.
"Jingxing and Emperor—Ye minimal involvement—I guess your reason—I dislike Ye anyway—civil clan—no scholar spine—smooth hypocrite—disloyal heart—whole house crooked paths—" pause: "Ye young master not bad—talked—childlike pure—pity crippled—disrespected in house."
Heard crippled Ye heir—didn't know character—Queen's words—sigh—good man—bad luck.
"Soon Longye tense—Prince Rui watched—Jingxing out—manor gaps—nowhere safe—be careful."
Solemn: "Understood."
Against Lu Ye—storm in Longye—Prince Consort—target.
……
Pat hand: "Start learning now."
Agreed—Tao and maid—Tao: "Consort Hui and Consort Ning fighting at Flower Pavilion—unbridgeable—Your Majesty look?"
Jing pregnant—other women restless—no heirs before—favor irrelevant—now one rises—all want—selfish—more friction—ministers send daughters—palace no longer calm—troubles often—annoying.
Face displeased—good temper—daily trouble—weary.
"Your Majesty go." Shen: "Ignore me." No interest in spectacle—Longye inner palace—not her business—can't help—Xiande stood—"I'll Flower Pavilion—Consort rest tea—or stroll garden—not far."
Bajiao Huixiang martial—safe—palace guards.
Agreed—Xiande Tao left—Shen cup—Queen's words in mind.
Words within words—if Yongle short-lived—after him—who sits? Before Jing pregnant—not Yongle's child heir—Yongle toxin—child weak—can't rule—royal blood qualified—only Xie Jingxing.
Past life Xie emperor? At her death Ming Qi fell—Yongle still lived—Xie took realm by force.
This life Xie emperor? Then she empress—never one-woman inner palace—told Xiande firm—won't tolerate other women—if true—only "you heartless I leave"—cut with Xie.
Bond hard-won—two lives—don't want sever.
Frustrated—stood—pond breeze—Bajiao Huixiang followed.
Garden dense trees—winding paths—every turn new view—elegant.
No mood—pond—cool face—calm.
While—back stone table—Queen should return—glance woods—
That glance.
Stopped dead!
Stared—blood hot cold—head rush—unsteady—Bajiao Huixiang look—nothing.
Pushed brush—ran path.
"Madam!" Maids chased.
Ran fast—hair clothes branches—unnoticed—hands shaking—lips white—eyes wide—never relax.
Saw! Branches—youth's face—shy smile—familiar—Fu Ming!
Her son—Fu Ming!
Can't wrong—can't wrong—ran—garden paths everywhere—dense trees—youth gone—illusion?
Dead end—dark lake corner—rockery—long pavilion.
Couldn't find youth—maids behind—standing lost—spirit gone.
No move—suddenly—woman's short scream—heavy fall.
Splash!