Chapter 72: Shen Qiu

Dingjing roiled—Shen Xin triumphant return—emperor's feast rewards—Xin top rank—promotion likely Shen Qiu.
Same day—Old Madam birthday—hall fire—Fifth trapped—Shen kin cold—Xin saw—inner war coming.
Gossip—some laugh—some ants in hot pan.
West boudoir—Fifth rose—Xin Luo at court—military guards on west yard—plain warning to Shen kin.
Yesterday rush—doctors—Fifth rested—no talk yet.
"Better?" Jingzhe worried—arm bandage—acid—"Faster yesterday—no scar—"
Deep burn—scar permanent—girls hate any mark—Jingzhe guilty.
"Fine." Smile—"Yesterday well—rush in would ruin plan."
Jingzhe bowed—understood gamble—show Shen parents true face—girl's age should play zither—every step life—knife edge.
"Miss says—I do." Jingzhe mumbled.
Relief—Jingzhe boldest—use again—train others—not boudoir girl but empress—need heart—worse ahead.
"Laughter outside—"Sister!"
Qiu entered—no armor—green martial dress—heroic—wheat skin—dimples—child spark—"Any discomfort?"
Eyes shut—last life flood.
Qiu tried hard despite her cold—then ruined girl forced marriage—military errors—fall broke leg—wife cuckolded—killed lover—was Minister of Personnel's only son—Xin spent fortune—Qiu still dead winter pond—bloated corpse.
Married Fu Xiuyi—succession critical—rushed home—Qiu's face—Fu sent Xin campaign again.
Winter sun—pond corpse—pale swollen—youth's pleading smile—sword in chest—bend gasping.
"Sister!" Qiu caught her—"Doctor!"
Hand on his arm—stood—"No—weak only."
"Still see doctor—" Qiu worried.
"Fine." To maids—"Leave."
Firm—Qiu paused.
"What wrong—" softened—"Fire scared parents—why locked in hall?"
Shake head—smile—"Year apart—brother well?"
"Ah?" Scratch head—"Fine—merit coming—pick gifts—" bright—"Fire-mouse cloak—blade proof—wouldn't burn yesterday—"
Stiff—she hugged his arms—head on chest.
Awkward joy—long since close—must be great wrong.
"Someone bully you—I'll half-kill—"
Almost laugh—Consort Mei's brother aided Fu Xiuyi—Qiu dead then—long since had a mountain behind her—lost alone to Consort Mei.
Slow release—his caring eyes.
"Sister why stare—face dirty?"
"Why not at palace?" Soft.
"Only parents summoned." "Tell me fire—"
"Would you believe?" Smile—"If not—why speak?"
"Of course—" grab arm—"You're my sister—"
"Tell you—promise—don't tell parents—or I ignore you forever."
"Why—" pause—"Prince Ding related?"
"No." Absurd guess. "Before you returned—Second Aunt took three legitimate girls to Wolong Temple—I swapped rooms with Eldest Sister—she was violated—Second branch thinks she suffered for me—I refused confess—confinement sutras."
Cold sweat—almost Fifth—anger—why punish Fifth?
"Outrage!" Qing never liked him—mocked illiterate soldier.
"Also—Assistant Minister Wei proposed me—Shaofu Huang proposed Eldest Sister—"
Stunned—letters never mentioned—outrageous.
"Wei Qian fine—Huang Dexing closet—Second Aunt wanted swap—I refused—said flee wedding—locked hall—guards you saw—not save—prevent escape."
Face shifting—fist table—red eyes—"True?"
"No need lie." Smile—"Fire suspicious—I died—swap clean."
"Too far!" Turn—she pulled—"Where?"
"Theory—blood for blood?"
"Evidence? Yell or kill all?"
Sober—"What mean?"
"Why not tell parents—straight nature—father impulsive—easy revenge—then what? Shen great house—eyes everywhere—father acts—censors write—numbers win—three branches Old Madam—can we win?"
Amazed—cruel analysis—not boudoir age—"Sister—"
"You ask why changed—" down eyes—"This is how I lived."
"Experience changes none—Brother—you hate them?"
Pause—teeth—"Hate."
"Why?"
"How they treated you."
Shake head—"Not that."
"Hate—we gave true hearts—worse than enemies—for profit they'd kill us—not family—stranger is feud—kin is sin."
Qiu moved—sigh—wish protect him—hero forever—fear pond repeats—wall of hate—hate safer than love.
"Sister wants—"
Relief—not fool—"I hate—they can't all die if parents act—fratricide law—I gamble life not theirs—slow cut—big fish not hooked."
"How?"
Smile slow—"Slow. Slow. Come."
Long talk—Qiu jokes army—she deflects—not time—strike must kill even if slow.
Fatigue—Qiu leaves—"Rest—parents dark—return later."
Nod.
Door—pause—"Criminal caught for Qing? Private search?"
Eyes curve—"Slippery—escaped."
"So." Cloud face—"I'll go." Outside smile gone—yin—orders—"Two to Wolong—Magistrate office news—" fist—"What happened this year—"
Inside to Guyu—"Silver Chuntao—Chen doctor—nourish Eldest Sister belly—" scar satisfied—"Play needs unborn nephew."
"Why not tell Young Master all—Prince Yu—" Jingzhe—"He'd protect—"
"He'll search—already—Wolong monks swapped—no trace—even Father—"
"Heaven—buried forever?"
"No fair path—many paths—" Fair binds weak—strong are fair—inner palace lesson—kindness crushed.
"How?"—"Parents protect—girl limits—"
"Father rage hits Prince Yu house—retreat only deter—neither my wish."
Smile beast in sun—"Harm me—I exterminate whole house."
Jingzhe fear—couldn't speak—year changed—overnight.
Fifth narrowed eyes—pieces set—Qing pawn—Prince Yu chariot—throne white stones—she holds heaven's will.
……
Lin'an—flowers despite winter—Princess Yuqing loved gardens—Xie Ding kept all—never bleak—people empty.
Changwu Changchao drill spears—shame since validation—injuries—Xie heavy hand—Fang heartache—Xie Ding scolded—hate.
"Xin in court—reward Qiu—" Shen Xie feud—rivals—Qiu best among youths.
"Fear not—" Changwu—" brute—court ignorant—Shen bowstring snap—" stop—Changchao agree—neutral fools—one less foe."
Hint—they serve a faction secretly.
"Real enemy home—" Changchao jade courtyard Xie lives—"Bastard arrogant—"
Validation memory—"Scoundrel" privately—public reverence—Xie Ding favors heir—jealous decade—suddenly quiet—Xie Ding pleased—they tense.
"Someday underfoot—princess fell—son worse—" "Court banquet cling Prince Ding—" spear straw.
Xie in dim flowered room—letter burned—"Situation changed."
Gao tea—"Not already—"
"Break to build—die to live?"
"Not your style—" "Met madman—bet worth it."
"Fifth Miss?" "Bold rash—Xin will storm."
"Thing not Shen—new plan—Shen too variable—"
"Variable?" "Fu attitude—Shen biggest swing—smart one in house—fate cruel—" map center Dingjing finger swipe—regime float.
Crush Gao's scar medicine bottle—like Fifth's fire ended false peace—his turn break balance—map open—center Dingjing.
……
Evening Xin Luo home—palace rewards cart—Luo sent boxes to west yard not public purse—east jealous—Rongjing smashing—military ignores—done fast.
Fifth reading law politics—poetry discarded.
"Jiaojiao!" Xin Luo Qiu—court clothes—Qiu grimace.
Bow—"Father Mother Brother."
Warm surprise—old impatient cold— faint distance parents feel—guilt from last life drag—cannot play fourteen—shame.
Luo grabbed hands—"Body alright?"
"Fine." Smile.
"Palace treasures tomorrow pick—" Xin careful—absurd tenderness.
"Thanks—lock in our storehouse—pick someday."
Shock—old she'd let Yue Qing pick first—closeness to second third—today keep own—clear shift.
"Tell us anything—" Luo—"none dare bully."
"Nothing."
"Hall fire why alone—"
"Erred—locked—fire sudden—" Qiu silent—promise.
"What error—"
"Insulted Second Uncle before grandmother."
"What?" Luo—not scold Fifth—"Man fights girl—shame!"
"Why insult—"
"Unwilling marry—"
"Marry who—we don't know!"
"Wei Qian—chart exchanged—I refused—public clash."
Xin pondered—Wei good match seriously—
"What thinking!" Luo roar—"Emperor himself—no if she refuses—hidden plot!"
Xin frown—good match why hide—
Qiu silent—swap secret—Fifth's look terrifies him.
"Crush on someone—" Xin hesitant—letters Prince Ding—
"No beloved—heard Wei has beloved—why third wheel—" old soul words—no Prince Ding—
"You liked Prince Ding—" Luo—
"Noble beyond me—childish—never again."
No flicker—truly gone.
Xin bluster—Luo cough stop him.
"Young—not rush—hero husband will come." Fifth smile—no marriage this life—cannot say.
No shy—parents lost—can't coax fool.
Qiu laughed parents awkward—then dark—one night cannot change girl so—something happened.
"Father—return feast soon?"
Last life Xin traded Qiu promotion for Princess Consort title—laughing stock—bound Shen to Fu ship.
"Want something—" Xin—
"Nothing—if reward—" clear eyes—"Ask stay capital half year—with me. How?"
Stunned—never asked stay—emotional—"Yes!" Luo thrilled—Qiu pout—boring capital—but protect sister good.
Leave—Fifth to window.
Guyu—"Chuntao says belly fine—Ren Gui fight Qing marriage—swap dead—Huang chart trouble—" cold smile—"Snake will strike—return feast—grab Ren's throat—surprise Prince Yu."
Outside Luo Xin dark—"Arrange marriage how—"
"I ask Old Madam—Wei clarify—fishy."
"Year of suffering—question maids—Gui gone—stay half year—clean demons or no life!" glare Xin.
Guards on Miss—Qiu dazed—Wolong clean—truth hidden—sister unfathomable.
"Investigate house—report tomorrow—" Qiu bitter—can't tell.
……
Caiyun wreck—Gui stormed out—blame Ren if trouble—Xin saw fire—precious Fifth—Gui afraid—Ren wants break Huang betrothal—oil on fire—must marry Qing Huang.
"Beast!" Ren trembling—Gui sells daughter for rank—swap secret if Xin knew—kill her—hard harm Fifth now.
"Rest—for return feast—" Ren vicious smile—"Letter to Prince Yu arrived—Qing falls—wretch won't escape—let them fight Prince—someone will finish her!"
……
Prince Yu hall—Persian dancers—girl child naked bruised massaging leg—letter slap—"Shen Xin… Shen Miao—dared fool this king."
Forgot after play—Elegant thought wrong—Gui hid—letter recalled—humiliation—play interest became kill—Xin guards capital—kill her—or Xin too—chin cruel.