Chapter 64: Unscathed

Shen Gui still in official robes—hurried from court hearing of Qing.
Ren cried harder: "Master—Qing she—"
Ren and Shen Gui—not deep love—or he would not fill rooms with concubines. Still respectful—Ren ran house smooth—wives of colleagues—capable helpmate—face always given.
"Shen Miao!" He glared—Ren taking three legitimate daughters to Wolong—against gossip—yet his Qing fell. Messenger whispered—all Fifth's doing—incredible—but someone must bear blame—not second branch—push all on first.
"You harm sisters—vile means—Eldest Brother away—I teach for him!" Loud: "Bring the family rod!"
Family rod? Chen and Shen Wan exchanged looks—never seen since Chen married—used on erring concubines—not children.
General's house—rod not ordinary. Long box—Yue curious—opened—gasp.
Horse whip—years soaked black-gloss—thick as man's wrist—solid—one lash half a life—harder—death easy.
"Good." Old Madam straight—son home—back rigid—some truth for Qing—angry—go with flow.
"Fifth erred—brother teaches for eldest—rules complete—rod lucky—kind heart—else ancestral hall—elders—expulsion." Eyes moved—expel Shen Miao—then what?
Chen cursed fool inside—expel Fifth—Shen Xin's temper—whole first branch leaves—they need first branch shadow—singing-girl origin— vulgar.
Ren paused—did not want simple expulsion—keep Fifth in house for revenge—expulsion too easy.
Amid thoughts—Shen Miao sighed—turned to Shen Gui.
He frowned—official aura—common men soft three parts—she did not move—calm—absurd illusion—she high—he servant.
Broken by her words: "Second Uncle kind indeed—Eldest Sister bedridden—no rush to see her—busy teaching for my father. You love me—even more than Eldest Sister."
Silence.
Chen sneered flash—Shen Wan frowned—Old Madam changed—Yue opened mouth—Ren bowed head—fists tight.
Of three masters—Shen Xin neglected yet loved Fifth. Shen Wan treasured Chen and Yue. Only Shen Gui.
Greedy lecher—little fatherhood—sons better—Qing neglected—daughter as ladder to power. Anger now—not pity—plan ruined—Yu may rage—Qing lost as future chip—all *profit*.
True father would visit first—not rush to punish culprit. Pity Qing.
Embarrassment flash—heart pierced—Ren looked away—surprise—one sentence split couple—Qing Ren's life—Qing Gui's tool—old court hand from a mild-faced girl—hidden weight—hard to stare down.
He swallowed shock—raged: "No remorse—today I fail son and brother!" Grabbed whip.
Yue watched—glee and nerves—will he strike—proud Fifth must bow.
"Second Uncle teaches how—whip to silence me—half dead to the estate?" Sudden.
Gui paused—Shen Wan stunned—thought act was armor—now bare fury before whole house.
"Abomination!" Old Madam first—"Accuse Second Uncle murder— heavens overturned!"
"Yes Fifth—how invert blame—where learned?" Chen oil on fire—if both branches hurt—Yue swims.
Ren kowtowed crying: "See—Fifth hates us—harmed Qing—no regret—slanders Master—arrogant—bullying with General's name—who taught a girl this—brothers should support—how repay so—"
Weak victim act—hard Ren now soft—believable—until she dragged Shen Xin.
Dragon has reverse scale—Shen Xin is Fifth's scale now.
Eyes swept Rongjing Hall—they glared—family—black white alive dead—she meat before wolves.
Eloquence—what of it—how many talkers survived the inner palace—how many fed the imperial garden?
"Second Aunt says I harmed Eldest Sister—answer a few questions?"
Ren blank—clear eyes—guilt—then allies around—what can Fifth flip?
"Ask."
"Good." Lip curl: "Second Aunt slept next to Eldest Sister—very close—if trouble—how not hear?"
Ren frozen.
"If Eldest fought—she would cry—wounds heavy—she struggled—so close—why not hear? Too tired to look? Or heard—and did not?"
"You—" palm sweat.
"Or never cried—why? No cry while violated—know the villain?"
"Nonsense!" Ren shrieked.
Men less subtle—Chen and Ren understood—fear and terror. Terrible logic—so close—if Qing cried—must hear—if heard—why not save—Ren would not hurt blood—would hurt niece—plan naked. Or Qing never cried—why—voluntary? Small—adultery rumor—fire hard to quench.
Smile: "Many doubts—Second Uncle fair—send me to magistrate—open trial—I tell all—maybe name the villain."
"No!" Ren and Shen Gui together.
Ren—branches exposed—great houses would see plot against niece—Qing's name—gossip—white silk.
Gui—not Yu dragged into case—Yu almost promoted him—swap enraged Yu—case trouble—career hard.
Both blocked—who had been fierce.
"Then Second Uncle?" Eyes on thick whip—idle: "Still call the rod?"
Silence—Yue incredulous—blackmail!
As if confirming—soft laugh: "Rod or not—I am stubborn—villain's crime on my back—when Father returns—I will sue at court."
Today lash—later Shen Xin sues—say villain—who knows who named?
"Second Uncle—rod yes or no—if yes—be quick." Clear eyes smiling—mock: "So many here—I cannot escape."
Hall like bandits—next moment pin her for beating.
Gui never thought—a niece would threaten—could answer—she spoke throughout—blade sharper—nowhere dodge.
Shen Wan flash surprise—Second Brother old fox—enemies never cornered so—cornered by fourteen-year-old girl. First branch—unbreakable? Eyes dark.
"You—" Gui red-faced—anger impulse—still thought Fifth fool—beaten and scared silent—now thorn—turned tables—if not for Shen Xin—would kill her now.
Old Madam silent—son cornered—anger at Fifth—held—Fifth held Qing's name—threatened Gui—dare not move.
Cold: "Enough! Fifth—Second Uncle right—rod waived—young—yet your fault—Eldest suffered for you—kneel ancestral hall—atonement—house arrest—copy sutras daily—until Eldest well—then out."
Keep her forever.
Yue disappointed—wanted lash or expulsion—months till Shen Xin—ban lifts—same as before.
Ren unsatisfied—Fifth's words shook her—no better plan—Old Madam compromise—swallowed words.
"Oh—" voice stretched gentle—somehow winding: "I will before Buddha—'atone' well for sister."
Every line double meaning—goosebumps—Ren wept again.
"Enough—" Old Madam irritable—failed to crush Fifth—stone chest—Ren's cry worse—"Second—take wife out—Rongjing all tears—out! Fifth—hall now—no food today!"
They withdrew—Fifth did not argue—walked west yard.
Behind—eyes on her.
Shen Wan heavy: "Fifth truly grown."
"Yes." Chen smiled. "This time—opened eyes."
"Mother—" Yue soft—"Fifth frightening." Wolong calm—Qing ruined—she walked clean—when did fool cousin learn?
"Fear what?" Shen Wan patted head—kind face—dark words: "Little girl—no heaven earth—will pay."
……
As ordered—ancestral hall.
Warrior clan—tablets of generations—horseback glory—this generation hollow—fall near.
Old general's line once crowded—brothers died one war—only he lived—three sons—one martial path—surface glory—except General Shen Xin—literary house—irony.
"Miss—knees numb?" Guyu asked.
Jingzhe and Guyu followed—Fifth feared Ren's hidden hand—Wolong she sent maids away to save them—big house—keep close—Ren's reach cannot strike open.
"Damp even if not numb." Jingzhe at small window—"rain—wet floor—illness—they're absurd—not your fault—villain accuses—when Master returns—"
"Quiet." Guyu scold—"heard—Miss suffers."
Smile—uncaring.
"Today surprised—they ganged Rongjing—Miss alone—came out whole—hall bad—but better than feared."
No maids inside—did not know.
"Miss talked down a roomful—like Master now." Guyu admired.
A roomful? Amused—small Shen house—clown jumpers. When Fu Xiuyi changed heir—court for Consort Mei and Fu Sheng—Fu Ming near imprisoned—she in empress robes faced golden hall—word by word—blood in every syllable.
How thin one person's strength—queen of realm—could not keep son's due—none beside her—could not retreat—must protect.
Failed once—this time harsher means. Cruel? Ruthless? Fraud? Fine—if blade points at enemy—if foe falls—she bears sin alone—what matter?
Eyes closed—tablets before—whisper: Ancestors on horseback—if spirits live—sharpest arrow—fastest horse—let me cut foes with my hand.
Opened—Jingzhe blinked—paper bundle—smile: "Miss hungry—eat—some cakes left."
Not truly fasting for Old Madam. Opened—stared—"This is—"
"Found in your room at Wolong—you gave some—I tasted—never so good—couldn't finish—back to hall—no other food—these left." Shy scratch.
Fine cakes—left from Xie Jingxing's night talk—rain—handsome face—mystery.
Xie Jingxing… what man is he?
……
Caiyun Garden.
Doctor gone—sedated Qing slept.
Each view of wounds—Ren's heart cut—own doctor—silent—said wounds grave—mind unclear—long rest—madness from terror.
That night on Qing—Ren dare not think—one wall away—heard cries—thought Shen Miao—did not move—daughter ruined. Regret moves liver and gut.
Shen Gui glanced bed—headache—turned to leave.
"Stop!" Ren—"Qing like this—you go to fox concubines?"
Gui lecher—many pretty rooms—Ren tamed them—Gui knew only Ren smooths office—usually she ignored—playthings not worth fight.
Today—wrong.
"Don't be unreasonable." Irritated—niece silenced him—Yu unknown—career fear—Qing fuel—impatient: "Useless here—let me think peace—next steps."
"Think think!" Ren shrieked—lost composure—"Only think! What is Qing to you—ruined—father ignores—no Qing in your heart—what cruel father!"
Maids stunned—Ren always steady—even Wolong held for big picture—never heavy words to Gui—today shrew—unbelievable.
She did not know why—Gui's face—Fifth's hall words echo—first thought not Qing's wounds but punish Fifth—not true father—Qing tool—value gone—won't look.
Fifth's wedge—small in hall—accumulated—exploded now.
"Shrew!" Gui flattered at court—never nose-scolded—angry—could not fully break Ren—cold: "Bad mother? You took Qing to Wolong—your watch—under your eye—that night next door—true love—how not know it was Qing?"
Ren frozen.
Deepest regret—heard cries—could save—let Qing fall—Gui knife in heart—salt in wound—stood blank.
He saw silence—snorted—left—which concubine unknown.
Ren collapsed—face in hands—small sob.
Maids feared—support never seen—one night support fallen—no more spring pride.
Paper brush—"Letter to Yuan'er."
Shen Yuan—eldest son—post in Liuzhou—return Dingjing when term ends.
Third branch had Yue—second had young Yuanbai—plain Qing—Shen Yuan gifted—degree young—capable—Gui gentle with him.
"Father fails—brother remains." Glance at sleeping Qing—teeth: "Yuan pampers you—Shen Miao wretch—this time—you regret life!"
Xianglan ran for brush—Ren breathed—Caiju: "Those maids still held?"
"Four maids and Nanny Gui in woodshed—dumb drug or—"
Witnesses—Yanmei Shuibi—Qingluan Huangying—Gui.
"Yue's maids—dumb drug—return Qiushui Garden—Chen decides. Qing's two—" vicious—"sell to ninth-grade brothel—death too cheap—failed mistress—unforgivable."
Caiju shivered. Brothel not pleasure house—all flesh—ninth lowest—rough labor clients—no mercy—all day—all night—silver to madam—sickness—no medicine—mat on ground—freeze starve dogs—common.
Usually tenth-crime slaves or hated enemies—Yanmei Shuibi since childhood—this end.
"Understood—Nanny Gui—" Caiju tried. Gui long pledged Caiyun— theirs.
"Gui—" Ren cold down—"that night—I don't know—must meet her—she knows all."
……
Abandoned woodshed—rot—rain moss—eerie dark.
Many sinners held—masters and slaves—bad ends—vanish from Shen house as if never born.
Struggle—kicks—suppressed cries.
Lantern side—yellow gloom—two stout matrons throttling two maids—pouring bottles down throats—cannot spit—finally still—hands on throats in pain.
"Drag out." Matrons to boys—two maids dragged.
"These two—" other pair—"Madame said treat them well—going to *that* place—do as you like."
Boys—greed—maids—despair only.
Matrons leaving—
"Madam—what of this old servant?" Shadow from corner—clutched matron leg—"What of me?"
Nanny Gui.
"Don't fret—" matron pried hands—mock—"Madame values you—plans complete—wait."
Dark again—Gui corner—extreme fear.
No one wants die—she wants live.