Chapter 214: Campaign (Finale)

Two days after escape—Yongle charged Ye colluded with Lu rebellion—Ye house exterminated—easier than Lu—Lu fell—Ye no wave. Ye Maocai beheaded noon gate—deserved—Shen gave royal files from swapped box to Xiande—Ye's own royal blackmail became evidence—grand warning.
Mo Yu reports—escape smooth—world believes Ye siblings died cliff—panic night—no bodies—search continues empty.
All Ye dead except Hongguang—Mo Qing handled—still unconscious—may sleep forever.
Xie returned rain night—autumn chill—Shen reading—door creak—wet Xie—removed coat—she stared—pinched cheek: "Bad—wife turned fool."
Pushed hand: "Why no word so long?"
"Feared talking—want return—brother's tasks—can't delay." Arm around—"Miss me—should return sooner."
"Don't come back then." Angry.
"Compensate—today yours—no struggle."
Laughed: "Sick you."
"Good—heard you let Ye Mei run?"
"Not run—Ming Qi—stole Ye secrets for Ming Qi patron—I swapped fakes—bigger bait—maybe Queen of Ming Qi." Explained trap.
Pause—blinked: "Wife vicious!"
"Poisonous viper—so?"—"Perfect—I love poison."
"Copied fakes for you—later—war—know Fu's plan—sweeten first—then counter—cheaper."
"When leave?"—Pause: "You know?" Sigh—"Yes." Tea toast: "Wish victory."
"Wish after win?"—"Owe—think later."—"Fine." Snap—"My wish now—bathe with me."
"…"
Weiyang flowers wilt—autumn chrysanthemums coming—can't change autumn kill.
Rain—Xiande tea—first snow honey—Osmanthus cakes—Yongle pale soft rare.
"Winter snow I'll gather—like if you like—" Hand tremor—hot tea spilled—hiss—Yongle wiped—blame careless—
She cried—warm tears—"Why pierce heart—" "Qingzhe…" Calm accusation—never complained—must clear to end—"Won't coax—clear pain?"
Long pause—wipe tears—"Qingzhe—wronged women besides mother—you only one beside me—clear—I had no choice—decided—mother said heroes—can't be hero—held Lu Ye—enough—rest Xie Yuan—hope realm clear name—centuries—" "After fall—go with Jingxing—remarry—new name—happy."
She left angry first time—Tao wanted speak—stopped—incense ash like memory affection.
……
Calm days Longye—Shen Xie stroll—music—maps debate—night he sneaks bed—she needles—he "punishes."
Borrowing passion before separation.
Day came—Ming Qi rain night border raid—Qin naval north villages massacred—inland—war.
Great Li fights!
Prince petitions—Yongle seals—300k march—break stalemate history.
Morale high—departure tomorrow.
Luo Tan watches Gao Yang pack medicine—can't return Ming Qi—Fu strikes Shen—Luo letter stay with Shen—Gao Yang: "Protect Prince."—"He protects me."—Awkward care—push—"Don't die."—"You'd inherit High house?" tease—"Who wants your junk!"—finger hush—"Think what we are."—She packs meekly.
Red cords drunk scene—servants fled—Tieyi mountain—Shen strung many red cords his wrist—"Won't all break."—Sat his lap—kiss—drunk courtesan praise—jade token back—"Husband prettier."—"Husband leaving—drunk so I won't see go—if awake I'd can't let go…" asleep.
He whisper: "Could be willful."—Carried covered—kiss forehead—iron knocked: "Depart."
He left.
She opened eyes—can't watch leave—can't miss—let him go light—return hero.
Footsteps paused outside—faded—dawn coming.
"Awake?" Jingzhe—"Enter palace."
☆ Finale — Old Friends Return
Ten days empty manor—Mo Yu guard—Tieyi Gao Ji Yushu gone—Ji madam blocked Ji son—letter: temper him—Hongguang still sleep—Gao's junior treats—Luo matured—Shen told Ming Qi truth—silence.
Shen court ladies—Lu Ye gone—favor Prince Consort Queen—Xiande talks—talented match.
Autumn cold—Tang sheep soup—smell—nausea—skip—wind?
Palace—Xiande: Emperor walked garden maybe lying—new tea cakes—Shen sips—gag—spill—"Cold?"—freeze—disbelief—pregnancy?
Doctors—pulse—joy—month plus—hide from Xie—war leverage—alone bear?—"Worth it."—Yongle: move palace secret—don't tell Jingxing.
Palace wing—Hongguang brought—woke child mind—catches bugs happy—Ye gone—kindness or mercy—Yongle spared—same poison youth empathy.
Two months war—false maps working—Fu hooked—Xie hunter—small wins bait.
Shen studies copy maps—Fu deploys per fake—Youzhou 13 Cities critical—Xie assault—stakes all realms.
Eight months belly—Tao: "Prince won Youzhou!"—Amnesty—Shen knew—letter coming—mock Fu—Lady Mei palace power—red beans in sachet—"Fifth letter."
Ming Qi dungeon—naked Ye Mei chained—rats toes—face branded blind one eye—Fu: spy channel?—laugh hoarse—trade full corpse?—curse Fu loses—Shen chose Xie—Fu orders worse—
……
Youzhou taken—war turns—letters—Fu suspects Ye Mei spy—torture peaks—
Great Li wins—Fu empire cracks—Shen belly—hide pregnancy—realm unifies path—
Xie returns wounded realm—Shen still sleeping (poison/long sleep plot)—Pei Lang drinks—warns Xie don't regret woman—
Coronation day—bright—Emperor name Xiaojing—gold dragon robe—playful eyes kill wind—"Establish Empress."—Holds sleeping Shen to phoenix seat—ministers shock—one woman only—no empty title—marry general's granddaughter to one-eyed Song—"Double return if meddle my harem"—they submit—flatter couple—
He kneels her—crown on sleeping head—kiss eyelid—flashback "Want be Queen?"—"Long time no see" era returns—
Luo Tan cries laugh backstage—Pei smiles relieved—
Half year Xiaojing—good to people—harsh to ministers—no concubines—rumors—matchmaking punished—only sleeping Empress—
Spring outing Zheyang Mountain—babies fuss—Emperor feeds rice mush on back—both cry—wet rage—Jingzhe: "Someone laughed!"
Silence—familiar soft laugh—
He tore curtain—
She lazy smile—eyes bright—"Long time no see—Young Marquis Xie."
——Main story end——