Chapter 70: Burning the Ancestral Hall

East wing feast roaring—guests—gifts—joy before tables—Old Madam generous—every young miss gift—ladies smiled realer—Ren gnashed teeth.
Public money Ren held—three branches—Old Madam spend more—Ren skim less—Gui's office gifts—tight months ahead.
Feast hot—southwest hall cold—guard dress at gate—watch Fifth escape.
Hall yin cold—no sun—winter pierce—incense ash smell—tablets in smoke haze.
"Miss—" Guyu rubbed hands—"Grandmother's birthday—lock here—bullying!"
No greeting—even servants ignore—treated like erring slave.
"Why rush." Fifth at window—bare winter trees.
"How not rush!" Guyu burst—"Lock here—forced marry—parents return—you're Huang wife—even protected—life ruined!"
Jingzhe tended brazier—only warmth—cot inside—Fifth shook head—"Take bedding—sun one hour outside."
"Miss!" Guyu stomped—calm maddening—Fifth's look silenced—carried quilts out to sun.
"Rare good weather." Window light—yard only—not leaving hall.
"Miss said—" Jingzhe stopped coals—"Master Madam truly return today?"
Fifth said don't worry—birthday day parents home—absurd—no messenger—New Year far—where news—yet Jingzhe believed—new bearing—words trusted unconditional.
"Soon—" Fifth—"occupy outer guards—distance—won't leave post—but farther."
"Yes." Jingzhe—Fifth not panicked—stupid or planned—Fifth not stupid—trust despite fear.
Fifth saw her look—sighed inside.
Four maids—Guyu cleverest—Bailu steadiest—Shuangjiang most loyal—Jingzhe boldest.
Last life Jingzhe beauty seduced minister for Fu Xiuyi—beaten dead by wife—sent leverage before die—Fu won minister.
Such nerve—only Jingzhe fit—will she still help after knowing—unknown.
World-shocking deed ahead.
"Actually—" Jingzhe soft—"Mo Qing could extract you—"
Stronger than house guards—gap possible.
"Then?" Fifth—"Flee—peace? Your deeds in Old Madam's hand—I go—you how?"
Jingzhe kowtow—"Miss spares us—we die guilty—picked to serve you—not reverse—"
Fifth moved—Shen Xin chose well—never betrayed hardest days—not goods—debt and grace—cannot abandon maids.
"Rest easy—" Fifth—"none harmed. Birthday—Second Sister embroidered Guanyin for Grandmother—they forgot me—I won't." Smile—"Grand gift—if she can bear it."
……
Dozens li from Dingjing—frozen stream—horses drink—yellow withered plain—soldiers rest.
Far end—bronze-skinned middle man—mountain build—righteous brow—beard—bold at glance.
Beside—woman stroking horse—green vest short jacket—gold sparrow riding pants—wind bun—bright eyes—sharp air—silver bangles chime.
"Madam—one hour to capital." Man laughed—"Northwest harsh—capital air sweet."
"Northwest bad?" Woman glare—"I grew cold north—you wanted sweet—why marry me?"
He groaned—"Madam right—capital too sweet for rough men—northwest better—winter hunt—silver fox—robe for Madam."
"Official speak!" She smiled scold.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan—hurried home for Old Madam birthday—no advance notice—early victory surprise.
"Never saw Mother's birthday." Luo—"Always New Year gifts from emperor—rushed—fire-mouse cloak please her?"
"Why not?" Xin—"Treasure—near proof against blades—seven nights hunt—would give you—" low—disrespectful—not blood mother—bias to wife—battle cloak suits Luo more—she insisted for Old Madam.
"You miss every birthday—gifts don't show heart—last visit—rumors unfilial stepmother—" for your name—"Jiaojiao can't have unfilial father."
Silence—capital not battlefield—gossip worse—no parents home—annoying.
Luo—"I don't know inner house twists—Luo simple—precious cloak—Old Madam pleased—crowd sees—rumor dies."
"Wife wise." Xin.
"Not for you—for Jiaojiao." Sorrow—"Years away—northwest too dangerous—small child—never taught—our fault."
Xin sighed—pain eyes.
No cruel parents—warriors must fight—cannot take Fifth—hostage tricks common—painful separation—Dingjing safer.
Luo sadder—"Capital safe without us? Happy? Cold each New Year—our fault—whatever she does—we cannot blame."
Fifth cold to parents and Shen Qiu—daily company was Ren Chen Old Madam—"kin"—Xin indulged famous fool—never anger—their seed.
Xin pat shoulder—"One day she'll understand."
"Will she?" bitter—"Who made willful—Shen house—" stopped—glance Xin.
Xin understood—color change—sigh—hand—"Wife overthinks—Mother aunts teach—else why so close to them."
Fifth too good to aunts—jealousy makes suspicion ugly.
"Overthought." Luo—Luo house iron—youngest sister—three brothers—little rear poison—if knew—rather risk north than leave her in Shen house.
"Father Mother!" Behind—youth.
Xin dark—"People present call—"
"General Shen!" Youth corrected.
"Ignore him." Luo eye roll—"Acting."
Youth twenty—fair—wheat skin—dimples—child air—like Luo—Shen Qiu—twenty-two—ten on campaign—strict teacher—merit—fourth rank young general.
"Gifts sent—what send?" Qiu scratch head.
"Idiot—ask us—man can't decide—what battlefield!" Xin scolded.
"First grandmother birthday—" Qiu awkward—"can't report kill count—unlucky day."
Luo laughed—"Emperor's celestial silk—give Old Madam—short in capital—even palace scarce—she'll delight."
"That was for sister!" Qiu.
"Forget." Xin wave—"Never saw sister love fine silk."
Daughter loved gold gaudy—yield her joy—celestial silk wasted on taste.
Qiu drooped—"Rushed—no gift for sister—guilty."
Once close siblings—yearly meetings—Fifth worse yearly—cold—Qiu tried—no warmth.
Qiu unknown—Yue Qing Gui whispered—parents only love son—heir—daughter neglected—young Fifth believed—brother stole love—hateful—distance.
"Up." Xin dust—"One hour—must reach capital!"
……
Feast nearly open—ten tables—Old Madam name—rank ladies came—for Shen Xin not Old Madam—still grand as yearly.
Yue in pleated moon skirt—white gentle—pretty today—marriage bait—Qing Fifth taken—eyes on third branch Second Miss profit.
Men's side—Gui Wan entertain—Su Lord headache—Lin'an friend—Shen Xie feud—came anyway—envied "sick" eldest Mingfeng—avoid old foxes toasting.
"Dad." Su Minglang blink—dressed proper—round child—tug sleeve—"Walk outside."
"Don't wander." Su warned—eldest skipped—young insisted—why—Minglang fuss—mother agreed—tagalong.
Minglang sad—Old Madam feast—Fifth's grandmother—long absent Guangwen—wanted see—rash rumor—still itch—few friends—all call stupid—only Fifth kind—only friend.
Women's table—Lady Jiang tease—"Huang Lady Wei Lady—special toast—" future in-laws unspoken—all know.
Huang Lady makeup fine—smile bitter—knowing match convenience not joy—Shen righteous surface—hypocrisy—mock eyes.
Wei Lady uneasy—good clan—climb high—but old fool Fifth—after review improved—proposed—today no Fifth—rash—worry disease—ruin son—reluctance show.
Chen sneered inside—saw swap plan—Old Ren hide from others not her—good—Ren panic—Shen Xin return rage—first second bleed—Yue rises.
Ren stood toast—"I drink both ladies—" laughter louder—Feng Ning frown.
Hall—maids sent away—Fifth knelt before tablets—hourglass nearly empty—three sticks incense—bow.
Soft sound—
"Who?" Last life Qin vigil—stood—"Who?"
"Sharp little girl." Familiar—Xie Jingxing window lean—smile—leaped in.
Even calm—stunned—Xie daylight trespass—Shen Xie ice—unless Gui Wan mad.
Guards outside—how—question slipped out.
"Shen guards useless—I walked."
"Why?" Smile ignored—searched room—incense—nothing found.
Eyes tracked—thief?—what worth risk—hidden story?
"Say what—you want—I help find." She offered.
Pause—interested look—"Shen girl smartest in house—don't plot on me."
"Daylight steal my house—not plot on Shen?" Annoyed—no leak—soft failed.
"Steal?" Laugh—danger peach eyes—"Mine—take back."
Flicker idea—gone too fast.
"Many guards—thought guarding thing—guarding you." Arms folded—"What crime—hall not place for young lady."
"Not your business." Hourglass last grains—patience gone—"Not found—leave—ancestors dislike roof rats."
Sarcasm—never heard—little girl—no rage—tease—"Ancestors dislike me—like descendant forced marry—lively."
"Won't marry Wei?" he asked.
"Will or won't—what of it?"
"Wei good man—you no virtuous wife—lucky ingrate—first I see." Smile dazzling—"Crush on me—refuse Wei?"
Nearly laugh—turned glare—"Think so if you like—advise—don't meddle—regret too late."
Pale thin—sharp chin—clear eyes—fire inside.
"Miss!" Jingzhe in—shield—"You—how—"
Shrug.
"Ignore him." To Jingzhe—"Done?"
"Ginkgo bought wine food—said from feast—guards eating happy—slack—not leave." Glance Xie wary.
"Good." Eyes Jingzhe—"Can I trust you?"
"Miss—loyal—your word—ten thousand deaths."
"Listen—you Guyu Bailu Shuangjiang—whatever happens—don't enter—don't find me—don't stop." Hourglass in hand—"Sand here—" mark on glass—"run out—chaos—rush east feast—before all guests—shout loud. You're bold—you know best."
"Bewildered—" saw her face—swallowed—"Understood."
"Go now—remember—see anything—don't enter."
Jingzhe bit lip—Xie—Fifth—nod—left.
Xie lazy—"Secret—what doing?"
"What doing?" Stared—peach eyes blade—thoughts naked.
"Leave if don't want dragged." Cold.
"No one drags me." Arrogant—believable.
"Want burial—fine." Turned away.
Brow knit—before understood—Fifth to incense—before tablets—next—stunned.
Grabbed neat tablets—threw brazier—wood flared—flames ate names—ghost in fire.
"Mad?" Xie—surprise.
Destroy tablets—great rebellion—expulsion—ancestors curse—rage at lock?—only worse punishment.
Cold watched char—not irreverent—living matter more—her road Shen Xin road Shen future—if spirits knew crisis lifted—they'd approve.
"Leave while can." Ignored him—armful tablets—*splash*—flames higher.
Unsatisfied—inner room—Guyu's sun quilts—dry soft cotton.
"Shen Miao!" Xie low—"Want life?"
Quilts floor—hall mostly wood—half-burned tablet lit corner—
Sky of fire—smoke billowed—Jingzhe outside red eyes—sand mark reached—guards alarmed—Jingzhe slipped—ran east—feast joy—no one noticed ragged maid—grin vicious—"Fire—hall—Fifth trapped—!"
Uproar.
Fifth ill in yard—why hall—why fire?
Ren jumped—how fire—order save—saw Jingzhe panting—heart move—
If Fifth dies in fire—Qing replaces clean—Huang apology—accident—rash child ran hall—played fire—
Stood perform—"Eat drink—small fire—child play—I'll look—" scold Xianglan—"Fetch guards!"
Strange air—Old Madam hated Fifth spoils—fake worry—"Go see Fifth!"
Fake vs real—true love would not calm—Chen Yue never left seats—Fifth's place clear—sympathy rose.
Then outside—"General Shen Madam Young Master return—open gates—welcome general—!"
"What?" Men and women stunned—Gui Wan eyes—New Year far—
Hall surrounded—guards ring—"save"—won't enter—flames fierce—who dies inside?
"Shen girl—want die?" Xie—beams burning.
"Go while you can." Unmoving—"More come—you can't leave."
"Enough nonsense—" grabbed arm—"Go!"
"Release." Struggle—eyes stubborn stone—"Can't you see—I bet my life for my road."