Chapter 68: Imprisonment

"Shen Miao?"
"Yes." Su surprised at tone—remembered—teasing—"Validation beauty you saved?—Some nerve—not ugly—Wei ungrateful in fortune."
Xie thinking—Su alarmed—"Hey—you're not smitten?"
Xie scoffed—cool glance—"You idle?"
"Idle—'gravely ill'—no court—cats and dogs daily—you hide with Doctor Gao Yang—hiding things?"
Childhood close—grown Xie mystery—warned Su family—yet unknown depths.
Xie tossed fruit—"Eat."
No more—Su flashed bitter smile—silent.
……
Soon after Wei chart—Ren had Xianglan fetch Shen Gui to Caiyun.
Since Qing—rift—cold as ice—Ren spoke first soft.
Maids bowed Gui—Ren at table—melancholy eyes.
"What now?" Gui still stiff—Qing matter—Ren called him heartless—shrew scream—Gui narrow—not broad—wife like shrew at nose.
"Master came." Ren lazy glance—haggard. Always sharp proud—never thus—Gui softened three parts—Ren loved Qing—worried much—first wife—face due—scolded maids—"Madam so wan—how tend her?"
Ren heard ease—heart glad—more brow—"Not them—I fret Qing—no taste no sleep—grief deep."
"Done is done—rest body—house needs you steward." Gui glance—Ren managed—gifts from public purse—books clean—Chen temp steward—less convenient—third branch gains—Gui displeased.
Ren bit lip—Gui only career—no Qing care. "Same thought—but Qing cannot leave me—I dare not trust."
"Huang house then." Gui stiff again—"Woman's view—marry good family—Huang grand—Qing main wife—you refuse."
Ren cold inside—father heartless—Dexing—Gui calls good—knew pillow cold—still chills.
Not time for that—wiped eyes—"Master right—I was narrow—rear garden small matters—your pick best—I opposed—now see—good for Qing."
Gui stunned—"You agree?" Ren treasured Qing—how easy—Dexing likes men.
"Yes." Sorrow face—"Qing's face—who good family wants—I thought—Huang best—no want—if life bitter—her fate—" sleeve cry.
Gui believed—Qing not virgin—Huang needs noble daughter for show—Dexing won't touch—comfort—best end—woman's passion empty—after that—who would take her.
Sigh—pat back—"Good you see—still my daughter—no harm—Huang friend—will care—no wrong."
Ren despised words—face relied—"Ask Huang send chart exchange."
"So fast?" Gui surprised.
"Qing's state—cannot delay—" sigh—"long hidden—out less seen—Huang cover—moreover—" hand heart—"since disaster—I fear nights."
Fear look—Gui pondered—"Reason—today letter Huang—charts—dates possible."
"All on Master." Meek.
Gui satisfied left—Ren soft today—mistake and obey—sunshine step.
Door shut—Xianglan afraid—"Madam—hide from Master—right?"
Gui thinks Qing wants Huang—not swap sisters—Qing gets Wei—Fifth gets Dexing.
Must hide—Gui risks career—Ren won't feed daughter to fire.
"Hide—heartless—my Qing for his rank—never ask me." Cold—husband cold—daughter ruined—aged overnight—kind face gone—venom—"Must succeed—even if he learns—too late."
"Hurt Second Miss?" Caiju—"After swap—Huang Wei know truth—submit?"
"Rest—" paperweight—"Huang wants name—any girl. Wei speak—accuse defiling innocent—silence them. Besides—" face fierce—"My Qing—how not better than wretch—swap is Wei's fortune!"
Shen Miao—Ren shook—maids silent bow.
Pause—"Urgent—both matches done—before eldest brother sister return."
"Master New Year—months—" Xianglan—"Fifth unruly—knows secret betrothal—riot—escape night—then?"
"Escape?" vicious—"See if she can. Hall confinement—from today—lock hall!"
Lock her living!
Maids shock—past suppression subtle—first thunder bare face.
"Wretch tricks many—only lock—time comes—wine—sedan—heaven deaf earth mute—Huang not soft—train—obey." Venom bare—"Else—Prince still waits." Proud laugh.
……
Winter colder—northwest victories—Shen Xin routed foe—brave—enemies flee—Dingjing guesses year-end rewards—Shen glory envied—earned in blood—Huns not gone—neighbors watch—throne must use Shen—later unclear—rabbit dead hounds cooked—nine princes undercurrent—none dare slight.
Dingjing gossip—Shen betrothals—mysterious—two houses—Assistant Minister Wei—Shaofu Huang—both great—fine sons—equal match—Yue still Guangwen—guess Fifth and Qing.
Qing aside—Fifth delicate—Lin'an Marquis only peer among martial—Marquis clever—capital unless imperial order—Shen Xin border year round.
Heavy father—Fifth's husband—power to in-laws—throne watches—both civil—no martial tie—Wei Huang famous moderate—not succession swamp—smoother than Fifth's Prince Ding chase.
Guangwen—Yi Peilan to Yue—"Sisters really marry—no Guangwen?"
Since Wolong—Fifth Qing never out—Fifth confined—Qing rest.
Yue smiled—"Mother secret—probably."
"Lucky—" Jiang Xiaoxuan—"especially Fifth—Wei or Huang—fine—why not you?"
Yue faux anger—"Want years home—no marriage thoughts—" knot inside—Fifth two years younger—betrothed—she left—Qing ruined—fine—but Fifth good match—jealousy.
Cannot bear Fifth well—once beneath her—Wei validated Fifth—Chen talked her off the corner.
"Bai Wei tapped forehead—"Plan now—" chin point—"him?"
Cai Lin—Yue looked—Cai turned—uncomfortable—away.
Yue eyes red—lip bite.
Once devoted boy avoids snake—proud Yue—humiliation.
Cai dodged her blame—worry—since validation fear Shen Miao—natural prey instinct—Xie seemed shield her—Cai bully not Xie—won't provoke—Yue never glanced that day—heart cooled.
Yue awkward—Yi changed—"Half month Old Madam birthday—pick gift."
Old Madam birthday grand—near imperial—shallow—face from scale—many officials—Gui Wan pleased—colleague bonds.
Good families invited—Mid-autumn scale.
"Bai Wei remembered—Yue—what gift?"
Capital talent Yue yearly face for Old Madam—Qing expensive—Yue unique craft—Fifth laughable gifts.
"Embroidered portrait only." Humble.
"Curious—" Jiang wicked—"Fifth Sister gift—busy wedding dress—forgot birthday?"
Feng Ning on desk—cold snort—left table.
Pei Lang heard packing—betrothal news—strange feeling—beast eyes—so young—rear garden cage—will she?
Meanwhile Fifth in hall—lined chess pieces.
Hall wind yin cold—grey stone—knees freeze—soft pads useless—Fifth ordered herb brew corners—warmth—no chronic damp.
Maids doubted—worked—asked secret—Fifth said heard—knew from Qin hostage years—cold poor silver—cheap tricks—hall nothing.
"Still chess!" Jingzhe stomped feet.
Pieces in row—board lost pattern—black black white white—no formation.
"Chuntao through Mo Qing—" Jingzhe—"Second Madam swap your match with First Miss—Huang heir closet—what do—still chess?"
Thought good match—Rongjing refusal—hall lock—Chuntao heard—house agreed behind Fifth—west yard ignorant—all but Fifth know she marries.
Wei fine—Dexing closet—lifetime widow—maids near mad—Mo Qing offered escape.
River man—escape easy—truth lost after—Fifth never planned flee—refused.
"If not—Mo Qing tell Master—hidden from him—marry before return—cooked rice—" Guyu urged—Fifth has mind—silence—maids anxious.
"What message." Flat. "West yard Ren's people—fly cannot out—I flee—remaining yard—some parents left for me—not merciful—but not abandon—believe me—one step—Ren kills whole yard silence witnesses."
Maids stunned.
"Message not simple—guards day night—want lock me—underestimate Second Aunt."
Ren's mind small—but mother fierce for Qing—bet everything—swap maybe without Gui—success joy—fail no footing in second branch.
"But give up?" Jingzhe—"Die before closet marriage!"
"See this game?" Pointed board.
Black white two rows—clear—strange.
"No chess—don't understand." Guyu careful.
"What see?"
Jingzhe bold—"White black—rows—clear."
"Yes." Eyes bright—"All chips on table—you know mine—I know yours—winner by skill."
Maids blank.
"Ren thinks she knows all my pieces—not so—" black piece beside white—"one last move."
"Old Madam birthday next month?"
"Yes—Chuntao heard—Second Madam announce match at feast."
"All before Father returns." Smile.
"Yes—months to New Year—too late." Guyu worried.
"Is it?"
Shen Xin withdraws—should be New Year. Ming Qi year 68—great northwest victory—enemy surrender early—army home months early.
Coincidence—or filial—Old Madam birthday—Shen Xin always away—often called unfilial—year 68 seventieth—Shen Xin early return.
That day sudden home—Old Madam feasting—Fifth absent—why—hid in Prince Ding house—Shen Xin wanted family joy—learned daughter shame—turned Ding for her—Fu Xiuyi's false warmth—ignored father—even death threat marry prince.
Karma past life—Shen Xin dusty road—unfilial daughter—house into abyss no return.
This life not same—no flee to Yu—no Fu Xiuyi skin—if Shen Xin sees different daughter—some last-life sin paid?
"Father always respected Old Madam." Flat.
"Yes." Jingzhe.
Singing girl—actress—perfect kind mother—old general alive—no fault—warriors heavy grace—Shen Xin owed early kindness—could not see poison under public skin.
"Second Aunt did me favor—" smile—eyes blazing—"Good—tear it before the world."