Chapter 213: The Switch

Ye Mei and Ye Ke boarded Venus Ming's carriage—he'd bribed Ye manor servants—still spotted by palace guards outside. Carriage ahead—soldiers chasing.
Ke hung from window—hoofbeats in dark—heart tight—"Sister—caught—we're done!" Urged driver faster.
Whip—slightly faster—Ke eased—remembered: "Sister—you prepared carriage—else caught at once."
"Planned early." Wouldn't tell Ke—Venus Ming's carriage—flee with him—original plan had no Ke.
Corner street—Ye Mei looked out: "Two on one cart—easy chase—split—meet Babao Street."
"Split?" Ke nervous—"Together—company."
"Together caught—rest easy—you stay—I'll get off—driver takes you hidden route to Bajiao Street—meet—exit arranged—fine."
Ke relieved—didn't stop her—veil down—vanished night.
Driver continued with Ke.
Ke gone from street—Ye Mei watched—smile under veil—knocked hut—entered.
Dark: "All handled?"
Nod.
Ke in cart—after Ye Mei left—faster—pursuit fading—relief—no hoofbeats—bumpy—"Slow down."
Driver ignored—still flying—Ke pulled curtain—shocked.
Not city—mountain!
Rough road—worse bump—scared: "Stop! Back Babao Street!"
Ignored—kept—Ke angry—feared shout soldiers—stopped—driver stepped down—rustle.
Planned scold at Babao Street—horse stopped—front rustle—driver circled horse—pulled something—stabbed horse rump!
Horse bolted!
Ke thrown back—dazed—terror—lifted front curtain—
Last sight: bottomless abyss—tangled branches.
Wagon shattered down—no landing sound.
Night—wagon wreck at cliff edge.
Footsteps on leaves—garment scraps beside wreck.
No one heard Ke's last scream: "Sister—"
……
Shen writing furiously in study—hands automatic since locked in—never stopped wrist.
Mo Qing silent behind—maps too—each sheet dried by lantern—grave face.
Knock—panting Congyang.
"Followed siblings—split corner—Tieyi after Ye Mei—I after Ke—driver led mountain—cliff—spooked horse—cart over—Ke dead."
"Cliff?" Mo Qing: "Driver who? Grudge?"
Congyang wiped nose: "Rushed back—didn't track driver."
"Don't need—Ye Mei's man." Shen.
"Ye Mei killed Ke? Her brother? Why bring him fleeing?"
"Decoy—real brother best decoy—officers followed Ke—clothes scraps at cliff—they'll think both died in cart."
Pause—understood.
Ye Mei planned escape—feared chase—fake death—officers won't hunt dead.
Ke her scapegoat—trouble solved.
"Her own brother." Congyang sighed—woman ruthless—
"Discard long ago—used to last drop—her skill." Shen cool—past life used Ke for power—now drag—erase without blink.
Window—white pigeon—Congyang read note—"Tieyi: Ye Mei and Venus Ming at dock—water route."
Storm coming—rain at sea—hard chase tonight—"Fetch them now?"
"No." Last sheet done—dried—sealed envelope—"Congyang—Mo Yu agile—follow Ye Mei—all way to Ming Qi."
"Ming Qi?"—"Venus Ming's friend there—only Ming Qi hides her."
"Follow—watch for box or hidden goods—swap contents for this letter—undetected—best before boarding—two tail them—report back."
Mo Qing took letter—"Fast—hidden."
"Just let them Ming Qi?"—"Enemies—but not release—" cold—"send them yellow springs!"
"Go—swap before ship if possible—after harder—always two follow—letters if orders."
They left—Shen gripped table—killing intent flash.
Wanted Lady Mei dead—now different.
Heroes carve realm—Great Li Qin Ming all want share—Fu will ally Qin—Xie hard bone.
Kill enemy—but first use—dog eat dog.
No one knew Ye Mei like Shen—discard brother—won't lose deal—wants power not gold—Ye Maocai's secrets—court filth—royal or minister—secrets are weakness—could topple dynasty.
Ye Mei's brick to Ming Qi nobles—Shen gives richer brick—royal door.
Fu happy—Ye Mei seduce again—if all fake?
False maps—false intel—false rifts—Ming Qi wrong deploy—wrong divide—ruin at end.
Ant dam breaks—Ye Mei won't know—Fu may doubt—Lady Mei capable—Fu will believe her.
Shen won't kill Ye Mei now—not release tiger—want Fu's beloved walk to him—gift—send Fu to dead end.
More satisfying—helps Xie—realm shifts on small move.
……
Storm night—three returned soaked—Ye Mei Venus Ming sailed—silver box—Venus Ming ignorant—she never opened—Mo Yu swapped Shen's packet—Tieyi gave stack—Ye Maocai's leverage files—royal secrets—Xie handles later—tailers follow Ming Qi—pause here.
Shen remembered Hongguang—maids rest—she went next room.
Gao Yang: life saved—unconscious—aftermath unknown—if not brought—dead.
"Plan for Ye family?"—"Root and stem."—"Sympathy?"—"No—right—clean court—but…" looked boy—"Wrong only surname Ye—walk see—if wakes how—ask Queen favor."
"Why kind to him?"—"His face." Smile.
"Face?" Gao studied—shook fan—"Don't understand."
"Not important now—" low—"Xie campaigns Ming Qi?"
Gao startled—"Day comes—thought hide—won't fool you—Emperor bad—succession edict—handpicked for Ming Qi—not Ming Qi—Qin Ming attack—split fifty-fifty if win."
"Greedy—choke." Shen cold.
"Not mad—Lu fight cost more than looked—now Qin Ming near even Great Li—hard clash—Fu knows Emperor illness—morale crack—believe Prince—won't be easy."
"Never thought easy—war hard."
"Prince leads—Ming Qi probing border—soon declare—little time—didn't tell—afraid distract."
Pause—"Understood."
"Go with him Ming Qi?"—"Can I?"
"Why not?"
"Emperor may fall—war long—succession public—Queen can't leave realm—duty—won't let him scapegoat 'debauched emperor'—I'll guard Great Li here."