Chapter 211: Qin and Qi Allied

Short night—daylight more regret. Tent thick intimacy—dressing rustle.
Venus Ming stroked Ye Mei's smooth back—sated—"Mei'er—stay—not dark—why leave early?"
Ye Mei back to him—anger flash—turned—seductive eyes—smile: "Jin Brother loath to part—take me from Ye soon—Ye Maocai strict—pushing palace—if enter palace—no fate with Jin Brother lifetime."
Hearing palace—sat straight—"No!" Before tasting her—could let go—after union—can't release—other women wood.
Men want money power beauty—fine rice eaten—coarse hard—won't give Ye Mei—urgent.
Nestled—soft: "I won't either—only Jin Brother—trapped—leave fast—Ming Qi—immortal couple—free daily joy."
Beauty loyal—sweet gained—proud—bold: "Right—today prepare—water route—hidden—risky—faster."
Nod: "Five days meet here again—before—you arrange—I stall Ye house."
Agreed—cling again—Ye Mei dressed—nothing happened—Sun gate—carriage—guards fine—lift sleeve—arm red marks.
Venus Ming rough—exhausted—covered sleeve.
Never loss—today body to such man—Ye Maocai's fault—tricked onto pirate ship—else why—leaving—Ye must compensate—else humiliation for nothing.
Eyes hard.
……
Five days later—Xie returned.
Ruyang battle—Lu collapsed utterly.
Lu years recruiting—opponent same—more diligent—since Yongle enthroned—years plotting—Lu can't compare.
Yongle true power shocked restless ministers—cold water—boy suppressed by Xiaowu—Dowager helped—now beast.
Lu Zhengchun mad—Ruyang fell—knew lost—rushed room—killed wife daughters himself—including beloved Lu Wan'er—Gao Yang Ji Yushu present—Lu Wan'er wide eyes—never thought father kills her.
Xie finished Lu Zhengchun.
Lu dying laughed—roared: "Life undefeated—horse world—die by brat—unwilling!"
Xie beheaded—cool: "Ignorant."
Century Lu clan Great Li—vanished—remnants fled—Mo Yu army hunted all.
Shen hearing—sighed—clan rise fall looks simple—omens long ago—Lu arrogant—rebel—royal exterminated.
Xie: "Return heard street Letter to All Compatriots…" glance Shen—smirk: "Scholars want meet—what hero?"
Held laugh: "Don't know."
"Mo Yu find." Brow up: "Man—sworn brother—woman—"
"What?" Shen cold stare—grind knife if wrong answer.
Solemn: "Drag out behead—dares outshine my wife."
Couldn't help laugh.
Jade orchid smile—warm pretty—heart moved—stood carried to bed—struggled: "Not bathed."
"Don't move—hold while." Rolled—she on him—face in shoulder—ticklish—heard: "Ming Qi may attack."
Stunned: "What."
"Lu Zhengchun dying revealed brother's secret." Flat: "Fu Xiuyi seems knows—won't miss chance."
Lu last words to Xie: "Guess—Ming Qi emperor knows short-lived brother won't last year—when march?"
Surprised: "How Lu knew?"
"Guard family thief—palace complex—leaked maybe." "Lu wanted blackmail Emperor—changed mind—told Fu."
"Treason?" Brow furrow.
"Not quite—Lu personality—mutual ruin."
Agreed—Lu posted Xiaowu patricide—ruin royal name—didn't spread short life—kept ace—final strike.
Lu not patient—Xie provoked—thought Xie house helpless—told secret dying.
"Right—Fu won't miss." Fu grabs people events chances—dying emperor—chaos—best march. Thought: "Ming Qi not enough vs Great Li—Fu did something secretly—then move."
"Before that—finish Ye house."
"Ye?" "Net all?"
Snap: "Keep for New Year? Ye siblings I'll fix—gift you—dispose as wish."
Took his hand—red cord wrist—"Be careful."
Guess confirmed next day—Fu impatient—reckless.
Shen Qiu letter arrived.
Unlike before—daily life fine—this messy—hurried write—long delay en route.
Opened—Shen Xie skim—silence.
Fu struck.
Not Great Li—Shen family.
Wenhui gravely ill—Fu full court power—fabricated Shen crimes—siege Shen. Shen army defanged when royal took command—infiltrated spies—army ruined.
Fu hid from people—crude move Shen. Shen Xin prepared—private alliance discontented minor officials—small but not alone—Luo Lianying Luo Liantai Xiaochun with Luo army—Luo trained—more Luo than emperor—years under Shen Xin—handy—plus Xie's Dingjing men.
Shen clan finally knew Xie's identity.
Shocked—not reject now—Xie told Shen Xin before—no blame—few men—elite—espionage excellent.
Fu thought quick Shen wipe—Shen long prepared—stalemate—draining his troops.
Letter—Shen vs crown—left Dingjing—Fu chase—no gain—Shen Xin ministers debating—overthrow rotten throne.
Outcome unclear—Shen knew—generations loyal—Old General loyal heart—rebel already treason—success who throne—new prince all vicious—self king? Shen Xin never.
End—one thing.
Not in Dingjing—Fu men everywhere—disadvantage—retreated Hangu Pass area—villages around—many Qin people.
Letter ended.
Long silence—"Fu moved—Qin at Hangu—likely allied—or Fu planning."
Xie nodded—"Worry father?"
"Worry useless—far away—can't control all variables—parents brother not weak—no blind loyalty—chance."
Smirk: "Same actually."
Brow furrow: "Meaning."
Pinched face: "Qin Qi ally—attack Great Li soon—border first—father-in-law and us same side."
"Father won't crown new king—won't seize throne—swallow Ming Qi—destroy Qin—three realms one—no choice."
Heart moved—expected—past life Great Li took Qin—Dingjing—Ming Qi—one emperor.
"Can you?" "Secret to Fu—he'll spread—Longye chaos—you bear much—hard road—Great Li wins end—process brutal."
Glance: "Girl—told you—don't doubt man 'can or not.'"
Stunned—banter now—speechless.
"Watch."
……
Lu fall shocked Longye—Letter made people cheer—traitors deserve royal ruthlessness. Ministers new layout—Lu side—fence-sitters—anti-Lu—new schemes—right side glad—wrong uneasy.
Yongle not soft petting consorts—heart hard—Xiaowu's son—ruthless when needed—favorite Jing—no mercy for Lu—child—years patience for strike—fearsome—ministers behave.
Ye like ants on hot pan.
None expected sudden strike—Lu fell so fast—Ye Maocai clever—regrets late woo when royal wanted—lost chance.
Lost—Yongle already hitting Ye power.
Ye civil not military like Lu—auxiliary—ties hunted—collapsed with Lu.
Lu roots troops fell—Ye worse—Ye Maocai desperate—Yongle won't spare—exterminate—angry Lu boasts—too late.
Ye Maocai plans escape—send Ye Hongguang out—less care Ye Mei Ke—sole heir must continue line.
Ye Maocai busy—Ye Mei too.
Returned Sun house—Venus Ming again—agreed leave in three days—Ye Maocai loose guard—doesn't care where—Ye Mei not happy—more tense—Ye Maocai drowning—only self—Ye house critical moment.
Lu matter—doesn't understand details—feels Ye Maocai afraid—same fate as Lu.
Late return—Ye Ke in room waiting—looking around.
Days no Ke—planning Ming Qi with Venus Ming—no place for Ke in escape—useless drag—selfish—discarded.
"Sister—where—so late?"
"Sun miss handkerchief—embroidered—delivered today."
Ke complained: "Chancellor daughter—Sun miss orders you?"
Ignored—sat—Ke anxious—ask: "These days—father took you colleagues?"
"Don't mention—only start—now busy—pushes me—bored—sister push palace—father stalling—favor Emperor—father flatters me—career helps you too?"
Cold laugh hidden—smile: "Siblings—I help you." Pause: "You're closer father—see anything special?"
"Special?" Blank.
Different ask—smile: "Precious things—secrets—heard anything?"
Stared—"Sister—what plotting?"
Ke ambitious—less clever—small tricks—greedy—indecisive—Ye Mei fooled him easy.
Sigh: "We're not real Ye blood—father searching real kin privately—if found—what become of us?"
Lie fluent—Ke stunned—believed—stammer: "Really—searching real Ye?"
Nod.
Twisted—anger jealousy—"Use us then kick—why?"
"Unwilling—" Ye Mei: "Me fine—you different—cripple can't fight—Ye house yours—can't watch given away."
Nine to twelve fire—"Right—can't!"
"Find Ye Maocai weakness—chancellor secrets—leverage."
Deep agreement—thought—deflated—"Father not close—no secrets—but—" eyes bright—"study wall beauty painting—touched—stopped harsh—guessed special."
"Then?"
"Said useful after I'm official—then give—only think that—seems true—counts?"
Joy flash: "Counts."
"I'll steal!" Stood.
"No!" Blocked—suspicious eyes—"My plan—I threaten—for you—if you threaten—he resents—yin yang. I steal—he thinks you ignorant—still his man."
Slap thigh—"Sister thorough!" Grateful: "Brother rise—won't forget sister grace—repay."
Smile—glance Ke—kind: "I wait your good 'repay.'"
Door closed—face dark.
Ye house months—no gain—used by Ye Maocai—body to Venus Ming—bad deal—never bad deals.
Ye doomed—must jump ship before sink.
Before sink—take compensation.
Venus Ming to Ming Qi—someday Ming Qi power peak—cloud rain—that life.
Chancellor secrets—Great Li related—every state wants foreign secrets.
Ye Maocai's blood—knock Ming Qi nobles—compensate loss.
Lost—freedom—forced body—stupid brother.