Chapter 212: Silencing

Xie back few days—Ruyang again—Lu chose Ruyang rebel base—complex—Mo Yu swept troops only—hidden Lu dogs—none spared—kill three thousand miss none—Xie personally sorts.
Xie gone—manor all Shen—Prince Rui weight—watching ministers—no slip—Shen talks wives—messages—controlled.
Lu disaster passed—rebel from Ruyang—Longye folk fine—curse traitors.
People calm—ministers still—seems normal—except Ye house.
Ye Maocai years court—Yongle enthroned weak boy—now unfathomable—like father ruthless—Ye no road.
Not stupid like Lu—not arrogant—Yongle power—Ye can't fight crown—needle sting—whole manor pays.
None want die—no willing dead end.
Escape plan—save sole heir—sacrifice rest if must—royal eyes on every move—escape hard.
Nobody expected so fast.
Shen returned censor's wife—dusk—summer gone—autumn—leaves falling—Jingzhe sweep headache—wind more leaves.
Shen yard edge—Tang Shu—soup later—busy days hard work.
"Just talk—not hard." Smile—sigh Xie at Ruyang.
Far from done—calm surface—deeper danger—Ye later—Ming Qi afar—split heart—Yongle how long—Fu Qin when strike—accident only Xie bears crown—she more problems.
No time left—planning time short.
Mo Qing hurried—strange—day night watch Ye siblings—Ye Mei Venus Ming leaving—can't succeed—Ye Mei worse than Ye Maocai.
"Emperor summoned Ye Maocai palace." Mo Qing.
Stunned: "Palace?"
Nod—Ye house chaos—servants flee—palace guards outside—inside chaos.
Murmured: "So fast…"
Expected—Xie at Ruyang—Yongle ill—faster strike—surprise Ye Maocai—rabbit holes—no breath—summon soft prison—headless snake—easy finish.
"Mo Qing Congyang Tieyi—Ye house now—watch Ye Mei Ke—follow—if leave Longye—stop bring back—life death regardless."
"All three on siblings?" Congyang from tree: "Overkill—watch Lady Ye instead?"
"Ignore her—smart woman—Ye Maocai won't let her politics—no power—just clever—Emperor didn't summon her—can't storm. Ye siblings cunning—leave too easy—she'll plan for herself—watch that."
Congyang nodded—Tieyi obeys—Mo Qing—leaving—Shen paused: "If meet crippled young master—don't harm—if others harm—help."
……
Night—Ye house chaos.
Royal "invited" Ye Maocai—resistance confirmed rumors—pack flee—weep—denial—panic.
Usually Lady Ye disciplined—life death—none calm.
Chaos—Lady Ye packing gold silver.
Saw escape plan—no her in it—birds separate—no husband—his escape route hers now—target is him.
Search bills jewelry light—can't wait.
Ye Mei Ke same.
Ke pacing—"Sister real? Manor done? No warning—maybe just court talk?"
Ye Mei packing silver—days pawned jewelry—universal bills—portable—"Still fool yourself? Court talk why blades escape—guilt flight."
"No sign before!"
"You didn't watch." Stared—"Knew early—why not tell?"
"Guess intuition—no proof—tell—you believe? Gentle—I'll handle—brother—can't sink with Ye—I'll take you escape."
Complex—unwilling—"Best stay Ye—no office—flee like dogs—better Qinzhou never came."
"Not necessarily—" bills tucked—"keep life—pack valuables—useful fleeing."
Lips moved—left slumped—obey—room pack.
Ke gone—silence—stood—shadow—out door.
To Ye Maocai study.
Door closed—Ke Lady sometimes enter—Ye Maocai cautious—real hide unlikely study—danger safe—maybe opposite.
Ke tip—beauty painting—secret inside—Ye Maocai taken—Ke no promotion—stays here.
Chaos—empty outside—easy enter—found painting—wall smooth—nothing wrong.
How Ke found?
Search again—nothing—suspect moved—angry at painting—beauty under peach cup smile—flushed—eyes cold no smile—bright—alive—chill back.
Pause—touched painted eyes—hard bump—press—click—wall recess—iron box out.
Treasure—turn leave—
Door creak—Ye Hongguang wheelchair in.
Both startled: "Big sister?"
Hongguang worried—servants panic—crippled low status—Ye Maocai gone—Lady Ye ignores—no push servant—alone.
Worried father—no one speak—wheelchair to study—father's scent—still protected son.
Saw Ye Mei.
"Big sister—why here?"
Iron box—relief seeing Hongguang—smile: "Father asked find things—return from palace—servants busy—I came."
"What?" Eyes on box: "That box?"
"Yes—third brother searching too—room yours—slow find." Step over wheelchair—
"Big sister—father never lets women in study?"
Stopped.
Clear innocent eyes—sharp now: "Why lie—why deceive me?"
"No lie—ask father when back—true or false."
Ignored—"Because box in arms? Steal? Father's—important—chaos steal—precious."
Stunned.
Weak cripple—inherited Ye Maocai clever—unworldly—smart.
Fist tight.
"Put down—pretend nothing." Hongguang.
"Third brother—father sent me—not steal."
"Not steal—father sent—wait his return—give him then."
Time with Venus Ming near—urgent: "If I won't?"
"Why not—really stolen?"
Annoyed—Hongguang odd—can't threaten—smart yet stupid hand over—stupid yet saw box—blocks key moment.
Still—Hongguang stern: "Insist—call mother—stop you."
Lady Ye?
Nothing to Emperor—head of servants here—stands with Ye Maocai—if knows—box lost.
"No!" Blurted.
"Put down."
"Third brother listen—"
"Someone!" Hongguang shouted—hand over mouth—struggle—weak—controlled—eyes paper basket—silver scissors flash.
Grab scissors—no brow—stab chest!
Pressed mouth—kicked—eyes dead stare—can't believe such evil—throat "he" only.
Cold glance: "Didn't want kill—too many words." Left.
Hongguang fell—wheelchair overturn—blood pool—crawl door—door endless despair.
Tieyi trio arrived—no Ye Mei—thought fled—study—Hongguang dying pool—alive?
Congyang: "What do?"
Mo Qing other room: "Ye siblings fleeing—Tieyi light skill follow."
Tieyi window gone.
Mo Qing startled body: "What?"
"Dunno—" Congyang nose breath—"Still breath—maybe save."
"Plotted—raise alarm."
"Servants busy—fallen phoenix worse than chicken—Lady dislikes—won't call doctor."
"Take back—" picked up light—"Madam favors boy—save or bad—Gao Yang—fate decides."
Shrug: "Your call."
Boy opened eyes—weak words:
"Mei… steal… run…"
"What mean?" Congyang puzzled.
Head loll—unconscious.
"Go—people coming—" fled.
Shen waiting—Emperor fast—plans ahead—success another matter.
Tieyi long—heart sank—Ye Mei escaped?
Jingzhe: "Back—they're back!"
Stood—Guyu outside surprised—Mo Qing: "Fetch Gao doctor."
Door—Mo Qing Congyang—carried someone—couch—stunned: "Ye Hongguang!"
"Study down—stabbed—insider—Ye siblings fleeing—Tieyi signals follow—fetching Gao."
"Who hates child?" Sad angry—Fu Ming face—cruel to child.
"Ye Mei?" Congyang.
Frown: "Explain?"
"Woke—Mei steal run—maybe Ye Mei stole—caught—silence."
"What stolen—gold?—kill child—vicious woman."
"No." Shen sudden.
Both: "What wrong."
"Wrong—all wrong." Flash—"Congyang—follow Tieyi signals—if Ye Mei leaves Longye—land water—don't stop—delay—slower slower."
"Don't stop?"
"Don't stop." Looked Hongguang—maids in—Gao cooperate.
"Mo Qing—study with me."
Obeyed—grave.
Eyes cold blade.
Ye Mei steal run?
Steal what—run where?
Shen almost clear—send her on her way.