Chapter 208: Succession Edict

"Which eye saw—I dig out that eye."
Open threat—Lu and Yongle present—treason words. Lu nearly choked—Xie forcing Hongguang recant before his face—what scoundrel!
"Now tell me again." Xie played gold ingot—casual: "What saw?"
Hongguang never such scene—never thought anyone rude before Emperor. Nervous—looked Ye Mei—closest here.
Disappointed—Ye Mei head down—avoided—more lost.
Yongle Xiande silent—Lu arrogant annoying—Xie won't lose—Lu loses—they won't speak.
Lu angry—dare not move—Yongle cares Emperor face—not open war yet—Xie different—return Longye—court suspect him—smiling agreement—soon those ministers—what end? Xie ruthless—grudges—avoid open break.
Hongguang mum—Shen calmer—stepped beside Xie—wheelchair youth: "Truly saw me push Consort down?"
Looked up—woman less fear—unnatural but bolder—hesitated—firm nod.
"Good—where were you?"
Stunned.
"Top of steps or bottom?" Gentle coaxing—like kind sister—question made him shrink neck.
Kneeling Ye Mei body trembled slightly.
No time to think—pressed: "Remember—top or bottom."
"B-bottom."
Shen soft laugh.
Lu couple furious—rage she laughs now. Xiande eyes eased—Yongle stared—Xie arms crossed—amused at Hongguang.
"Strange." Shen: "Steps long steep—why Jing fell so hard. Long steep steps—you below—how see me on top? Probably not even Jing's shadow."
Hongguang blank—young—never leaves house—Emperor already nervous—panicked.
Ye Mei slowly fists.
Shen: "Think again—mistaken—top or bottom?"
Hongguang quick: "Top—I mistaken—on top!" Repeated sure.
Ye Mei shoulders slumped—deflated.
Still smiling—eyes sharp: "Oh? Lame legs—long steps—can't climb alone—someone carried you or chair—servant should be there. Why only you saw push—not servant?"
Room silent.
Sweat drops forehead—face red—speechless—lie pierced.
Yongle cold: "Know deceiving Emperor's crime?"
Deceive Emperor—lose head—Hongguang scares easy—clever could excuse—servant fetched something—leave alone—most fight—Hongguang admits easy—inexperienced—Ye Mei veteran—lie with dry eyes easy.
Xie corner smile: "Brother—official family knowing lie—double crime—Ministry Justice—or parade?" Lazy: "Anyone bullies Prince Rui—or I live how?"
Public revenge—not kind—no Ye goodwill—no hesitation—Ye Mei pale—Lu dark.
Kill chicken warn monkey—chicken monkey clear.
Xiande sharp: "Ye Hongguang—palace lie—slander Prince Consort."
Frightened near tears—Ye Mei ignored—no familiar help—helpless.
"Young master young—mistook understandable—Consort Jing accident—eager catch killer—misunderstand possible." Shen excused Hongguang.
All surprised—he slandered her—Shen not soft to enemies—Shen second third branches Ming Qi court—never soft—forgive Hongguang—puzzling.
Xie brow furrowed.
Shen bent—level eyes—warm: "Or heard something—misunderstood me—someone taught you?"
Body jolted—close—flash panic in eyes.
Bad liar—obvious lying—Xie eyes sharp—Hongguang looked up firm: "No one taught."
No teacher—no longer insist Shen killer.
"I understand."
Xiande frowned—thought—"Jing matter—Justice Ministry. Hongguang lied—invalid—urgent—palace search assassin—Jing body bury." Finally Lu couple—"General Lu—more to say?" Tone mockery.
Lu looked Queen—breath stuck. Once hoped Jing replace Queen—Xiande no handle—years failed—Jing pillow talk—never depose—finally pregnant—critical moment—think turn—heaven unpredictable—empty basket.
Lu knew—Jing dead—late—unwilling—want compensation—today harassment—anger—not daughter grief—grandson dragon seed regret. Xie appeared—must tuck pride—Xie harsher—more vicious.
Nothing left today—reluctant: "Your servant obeys."
Yongle eyes flash killing intent.
Lu couple left—enter to exit—never looked dead Jing—not their daughter.
After left—Yongle: "You go too."
Xiande surprised glance—Ye Mei with Jing—pavilion witness—not full clear—Hongguang slandered Shen—not killers—shouldn't spare—Yongle won't pursue—Xiande puzzled—Yongle body faint sway—startled—forgot rest—"Yes—go now."
Xie frowned—silent—cold glance thanking Ye Mei—servant pushing Hongguang out—"Nothing left—your servant leaves." Never hid mood before Yongle—displeased at disposal.
Shen Xie left Jinghua—exit—met Ye siblings—Shen paused—Hongguang ordered servant stop—turned Shen—seemed words.
Xie face dark—Ye all dangerous—near Shen—dagger sleeve silent.
Youth stopped before her—Ye Mei far—nervous—wanted stop—Tieyi Congyang blocked—daren't move.
Looked up—red face—ashamed: "Sorry." Wanted more—hesitated—nothing—another look—pushed wheelchair away.
Xie brow up—unclear meaning—Shen complex watching back.
Carriage return—Shen quiet—Xie: "Mo Yu grab boy—tower prison—day two—confess who behind."
Hongguang today—no teacher—fools don't believe.
White eye: "What's to confess—besides Ye Mei?"
Ye Mei's tics—hide from others not her.
"Then why unhappy?" Pinched face: "Boy today strange—what I don't know?" Narrowed eyes.
Pushed hand: "Remember dream—I had son and daughter."
Playful pause—looked.
"First saw Hongguang—too like dream child—my child—thought he was dream's. Stood Ye Mei's side—helped slander—honestly hurt." Pause: "Looked carefully—not same—only resemble—seven eight parts—many differences."
After shock hurt—watched pretty youth. Fu Ming glance almost same—temper utterly different. Fu Ming early mature—Fu cold—Mei feud—Crown Prince qualities—open honest kind. This child ordinary official son—lame—some inferiority. Fu Ming won't lie—won't stand Ye Mei—won't help against her. Most—standing before him—heart calm. Mother-son bond—if Fu Ming—would feel—not this calm.
Hongguang not Fu Ming—only similar face—almost lost mind—quick recovery. No mother knows son better—no Fu Ming shadow—disappointed—also relieved—if Fu Ming Ye pawn against her—worst.
"Similar?" Xie puzzled: "So lenient?"
"Partly." Shen: "That face—can't be harsh. You know—real culprit elsewhere. Hongguang used—rarely lies—lie so badly—laugh cry. Strange—" "If Ye Mei related—why push Jing—not her style—too crude."
Smile: "Or—just accident?"
"Accident?"
Meanwhile Ye siblings on carriage home.
Hongguang uneasy—servant lifted in—beside Ye Mei. Usually soft Ye Mei silent since boarding—Hongguang uneasy—about speak—Ye Mei: "Third brother—what said to Prince Consort?"
Smiling same as usual—somehow afraid—hesitated soft: "Said sorry."
Ye Mei face shifted.
"Prince Consort seems good person." Head down small: "I slandered—she not angry—kind—didn't look down lame legs… Big sister—I lied—wronged good person—very uneasy."
"Didn't I say?" Frown: "If not—Emperor Queen suspect me—suspect me fine—whole Ye house dragged—Royal won't care right wrong—parents old—face small—body harm how?"
Never harsh before—Hongguang liked beautiful sister—first scolded—hurt—silent—Ye Mei: "How know she wronged?"
"She said not her—Emperor Queen trust her." Small: "Sister—why lie—why not let suspect you—must accuse Consort?"
Anger—almost sinister at Hongguang: "Trust her not your sister?"
Shook head: "Just think she's not that person."
Every word trust Shen—Ye Mei fury—Yongle Xiande Prince Hongguang—all trust Shen—what witchcraft—can't win against Shen.
Remembered incident—body trembled.
Didn't expect Lu Jing stupid proud—Ye Mei only Ye Maocai's orders probe Lu Jing—jealous obvious—bully bearable.
Lu Jing first rage—wanted ruin her face.
Ye Mei not loser—struggle—pushed Lu Jing down—fled in panic—Ye Maocai won't cover—only self—Longye years—no escape route—Ye backer unclear.
Luck not bad—dead end rebirth—Lu Jing dead—no proof—done—no flee.
Calmed—bribed unfavored Talented Lady—can't clear all doubt—stir muddier—Hongguang witness—threatened—if truth—whole Ye ruined—Hongguang timid—housebound—agreed.
Didn't expect Hongguang useless—Shen trapped step by step—frame useless—Lu fear of Xie Yuan—offending Prince Rui terrifying.
Prior assassination Shen—now slander—if Xie investigates—won't spare.
Today Queen Yongle spared unexpectedly—Shen didn't dig—Ye Mei more suspicious—deeper plot. Ye Maocai will know—killed Consort Jing—how punish—unclear.
Angry—afraid—depressed—Longye hostile—Qinzhou had all—Longye repeated walls—thought Ye rise—Ye own unclear—offended wrong people.
Can't stay Longye—leave Ye house—thought popped.
Glanced Hongguang—head down picking blanket fuzz—didn't see.
Eyes turned cold.
Escape Ye Longye not easy—board easy leave hard—Ye Maocai watching.
Stay—won't know how dies.
Must discuss Ye Ke.
……
Palace Jing matter delayed—return manor late—bathe eat—Shen sorting letters—Xie: "Didn't expect so."
Men reported—cleared today—Ye Mei accidental kill Lu Jing—Shen shook head: "Lu probably knows Ye Mei did it—hates secretly—won't show."
Xie on couch—watching her tidy—"Mm."
"What if Emperor finds truth—punish Ye Mei?"
"Find or not?" Careless: "Without Ye Mei accident—Ye house gone anyway—with accident—sacrifice adopted daughter—Ye Maocai won't ache." Shrug: "Jing and belly child—who cares?"
Sigh—Yongle hates Ye—no hope Lu Jing's child—won't care—maybe relieved—doesn't love Jing—but flesh—Ye gone—face son later—born weak—life suffering anyway.
Heaven chose—perhaps fated.
"Today palace—Jing trouble—Emperor came—you absent—where?" Natural ask—Xie frank—royal secrets—asks—answers.
Today—looked—silent.
Waiting—hand paused—Xie smiling—gentle—treasured thing.
Pause—corner up: "Come."
Stood—insistent—bedside—"What?"—wrist grabbed—pulled lap.
Unprepared on him—struggled up—he wouldn't—chin on head—cool: "I asked—still want be empress—remember?"
"Remember." Pause.
"Ask again."
"Don't want." Shen: "Wish simple—protect loved ones—live well. Empress fine—I don't like."
"Trouble." Troubled: "I don't like either—but must now."
"Gao head said—brother won't pass half year. Today wrote succession edict."
"Don't believe fate—but no time." Low sigh—her hand in palm.
"Know you dislike—tolerate for me? At least promise—never castaway empress."
"Only woman of Great Li Emperor—price—" ear close—hard: "This life—no retreat."