Chapter 84: A Soft Heart

"Don't look at me—I won't bear to."
Time stopped strange—a world without sound. Full room lamps flickered—still less moving than that face. Intimate as lovers' murmur—in an instant—all killing intent.
Xie Jingxing lowered eyes—warmth beneath his palm—lashes flutter faint—fluffy butterfly wings—about to fly—caught, cannot.
"Gao Yang—out." Xie Jingxing said.
Gao Yang frowned. "Meaning?"
"Out first." Xie Jingxing calm.
Gao Yang looked at him, said nothing, took bundled cloth, left. Footsteps far—Xie Jingxing slowly released hand.
He opened palm—in lamplight something crystal flickered.
Just now Shen Miao seemed to cry.
Xie Jingxing lazy. "Just death—why cry." Wanted more—seeing her face—stopped abrupt.
Shen Miao clear-browed—last trace girlishness covered by cold—eyes clear as water—not a tear of grief. Likely trick—she was not afraid. Thought flashed—Shen Miao elbow slammed his chest—hard, accurate—another man might fall—Xie Jingxing only swayed, seized her left arm. Pulled—almost into his chest. Fast from sleeve she drew something—without hesitation stabbed his arm.
Hairpin thin—invisible if unwary—move vicious, no mercy—pin sank deep. Xie Jingxing eyes dark—hand rose and dropped—Shen Miao thrown to wall again.
Xie Jingxing on her fragile throat—slight force—neck breaks easy. Voice low, faint anger. "General's house indeed—ambush learned perfect."
Shen Miao looked at his arm—half pin outside—blood spreading—sleeve red half, clinging tight. Xie Jingxing followed her look—careless smile. "Poison fine—before that I kill you."
Eyes beautiful—careless gaze most intoxicating—half-smile would set Dingjing girls arguing. Shen Miao saw hidden indifference and chill.
What man was Xie Jingxing? Complex—Dingjing saw talent but willful, untamable—no great office. Now Shen Miao doubted—was public Xie Jingxing real? Fierce, hidden so deep—truly no ambition for throne?
Dissatisfied with her drift—he pressed close, stared. "Shen Miao—kill you today—who protects Shen house after?"
Shen Miao's eyes moved—Xie Jingxing smiled vicious. "Yuan returned—second and third branch allied—how many chances Shen Xin?" Palm tightened slowly—each word her weakness. "Fu clan watches Shen—Shen Xin's road hard—your seeks, your plots—end in my hand—revenge waits next life."
More ruthless—face more impossibly handsome—as if reading hearts—every word her deepest fear. Reborn—she sought Shen safe, revenge done—die here—all stops. Xie Jingxing no pity—true cold—princess today—break his secret with Gao Yang—no walking away. Why she gambled the pin—cautious nature—last resort only.
Past life Wanyu and Fu Ming's smiles flashed—Shen Miao eyes wide—unaware—two tears down cheeks.
Too unwilling—die here—too unwilling.
Xie Jingxing saw tears—narrowed eyes—probing—remembered her vicious strike. Women crying for sympathy—failed with him.
Yet Shen Miao only stared, silent tears. Eyes no pitiful weakness—numb weeping—suddenly heartbreaking—as if pain beyond ordinary long ago—dead end—great grief silent—tears loyal to body, flowed first.
Xie Jingxing frowned—throat hand eased slightly.
Shen Miao unaware. At last Xie Jingxing dropped hand—expression faint helplessness. Tall frame pinning small girl in corner—strange feeling—like bullying child. He knew Shen Miao and "child" never matched.
Moment later he pulled pin from arm—painful—brow creased—played with pin in hand. Shen Miao staring—sudden awkwardness. "Don't cry—I won't kill you." Pause. "Scaring you."
Shen Miao breathed inward relief—he was not scaring. Instant killing intent real—soft heart only her tears. What moved Xie Jingxing—unclear.
"How find this place?" Xie Jingxing asked.
"Saw Third Uncle's copy of Liu Yuan Night Banquet at home—tracing found chamber—curious—met you inside."
Xie Jingxing half-smiled. "Shen Wan?"
Shen Miao lied without color. "Yes."
"Little girl—I'm not Chen brothers—don't use me as borrowed knife." Lazy. Even here she stabbed Shen Wan sideways.
"Today I saw nothing, heard nothing—you don't trouble me—I won't trouble you." She looked at him. "Well water doesn't foul river."
"You couldn't trouble me anyway." Arrogant tone hateful. "Spare you today—leak one thread—Shen house's misfortune—don't blame me."
"I won't leak." Fast answer.
See-good-take nature pleased him. Silent—suddenly asked: "Shen Miao—you feud with Fu clan?"
"Fu clan" not "throne kin"—meaning layered. Shen Miao turned, heart stirred, flat: "Young Marquis thinks as he likes."
Xie Jingxing raised brow. "So it is." Glanced at her. "Done here—you go first—stay too long, others come—I can't save you."
Shen Miao said nothing—turned left. Today's meeting clarified—Young Marquis Lin'an far from simple. Cannot use, cannot offend. If his enemy is throne—good for her. If not—never cross him.
Two steps—Xie Jingxing followed—long legs caught up—tossed small medicine bottle. "Don't say I bullied you into crying." Stride ahead—left before her.
Dim torch light—Shen Miao faint embarrassment. Just now desperate gamble. Past life returned from Qin—fighting Consort Mei—hard temperament—heard beauty advise: "Empress always solemn—Emperor may not prefer. Mei soft, coquettish. Crying child gets candy—love same—men pity fragrance—girl should be water."
She had scorned—unworthy of empress—how queen share those women's tricks. Under Xie Jingxing's killing intent she remembered "crying child gets candy."
Still a girl—innocent face—no phoenix robes—coquetry might work. Never dreamed hard Shen Miao would "rain pear blossoms" at a man—yet fierce Xie Jingxing let her go.
This clash—shameful means indeed.
Out of chamber—unknown where Xie Jingxing and Gao Yang exited—tea room empty. She left—Mo Qing still guarding. "Anyone come out just now?"
"People?" Mo Qing blank. "Inside only mistress—mistress met someone?"
"No." Shen Miao smiled faintly. "Random ask." Xie Jingxing's skill—higher regard again.
"Waited long—Brother not come—find Brother first." Shen Miao said.
Mo Qing puzzled—why change mind—had agreed wait in tea room. He would not oppose small matters—followed silently.
Leaving she glanced at closed tea room door—uncertain if they remained. Came for "the thing"—landed in Xie Jingxing's hands. No thread yet—past life Xie Jingxing should not find chamber now—this life changed his fate too? Or her short tragic past life hid truths ignored?
Unanswered till she saw Shen Qiu—evening home. Shen Qiu thought her dazed from blood-scene—ordered calming soup—Luo Xueyan scolded taking her to ill-omen place. Shen Qiu wronged—Shen Miao unaware.
Elsewhere someone defended Xie Jingxing.
"That girl too vicious." Gao Yang stared at the wound.
Xie Jingxing removed outer robe—wide inner garment—collar loose, half solid body—sleeves rolled—arm half pin buried deep visible. Xie Jingxing let Gao Yang dress wound—played with pin in other hand.
Plain silver pin—simple wave pattern—tip ground razor-sharp like hidden needle—tip curved hook—pull flesh chunk.
Like Xie Jingxing's arm torn.
"Shen Xin upright family—girl so venomous—not his daughter— switched at birth?" Gao Yang still shocked. "No mercy—into the meat." Powder on wound—Xie Jingxing frowned, sucked breath.
"Hurt and endure." Gao Yang irritable. "Third Xie—I followed you years—never saw you pity beauty. What madness today—she broke biggest secret, hurt you—you let her go. I say—" rubbed chin—"you fancy her? Still a girl—nothing to her—you mad?"
Xie Jingxing impatient. "Enough—bully little girl—I'm not that base."
"As if you never bullied girls." Gao Yang cold laugh. "Less and less I understand you." Bandaged arm carefully—sighed after. "Thing in hand—next?"
"Search more." Xie Jingxing said.
"Fu clan will know eventually." Gao Yang frowned. "Strangest—how Shen Miao knew chamber—if she's Fu's person—you're exposed."
"She feuds with Fu—wishes my hand kill for her. Found by accident—coincidence." Eyes sharp flash—accident he did not believe. Shen Miao purposeful—from Shen Qing and Prince Yu you saw it. Useless-seeming things explode at end. He guessed—move against Prince Yu maybe for "the thing."
But how knew? He and Gao Yang learned recently—great effort. She closeted girl—many limits on inquiry—yet knew secret. Secrets on her no fewer than others.
"Still careful." Gao Yang stood—gathered leftover medicine and bandage—walked out. "She knows my identity now—who knows what changes."
Xie Jingxing alone—pin toward jumping flame, thoughtful. Moment later—memory: chamber, girl wide eyes, silent tears.
Not man who pities beauty—not other feeling for Shen Miao—in that instant inexplicable reluctance—broke his calm habit—now somewhat regret. Medicated arm numb, sore—she did not soften—had he not dodged fast—face might have taken pin.
Perhaps tears were tactic too. He knew—girl cunning, sharp—sudden move, strange power. Sudden weakness—survival.
He opened hand—silver pin glint small—remembered palm over eyes—fluffy lash touch—butterfly about to dance—that instant vulnerability—strange sympathy not his.
"Little poison woman," Xie Jingxing suddenly laughed—lamplight—handsome brow overwhelming—playful curve lips—murmured: "Should not have softened."
……
Shen house east yard—uproar now.
Rongjing Hall—Old Madam Shen face dark, Shen Gui: "So Qing cannot come out?"
Shen Gui shook head. "Mansion wiped one night—only Qing left. Either way implicated—case continues."
"Such matter—will Emperor blame us?" Old Madam worried. "What's wrong with Qing—truly unrelated?" Words doubting Qing.
Ren Wanyun exploded—flung to Old Madam's feet kneeling—startled old woman—Ren weeping: "Old Madam—Qing you raised—her character you know—how could she? Qing has no skill for such killers. Prince Yu's enemies—Qing lucky to live—we failed her already—cannot abandon her!"
Years as daughter-in-law—Ren knew Old Madam selfish, weather-vane. Some affection for Qing—when self-preservation—discard without blink. Ren sometimes thought Shen Gui's heartlessness—Old Madam's blood—selfish same.
Old Madam angrier after Ren's speech. "Eldest daughter-in-law—strange talk. Where did we fail Qing? Did I force her secret affair with Prince Yu? Force shameless pregnancy? I taught her every rule!"
Songstress birth—market words ugly—Ren bold—Old Madam's merciless speech knocked her flat. "Mother—how speak so of Qing—your granddaughter!"
Chen Ruoqiu mediated. "Second Sister-in-law—less—Mother worried for Qing—that's anger. All know among three legitimate girls Mother loved Qing most."
Most loved—now discarded like rags—Old Madam's selfishness contemptible. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan showed contempt—silent—watching the play.
Yuan glanced at Chen Ruoqiu—dark—Chen paused, wary. Yuan helped Ren up, to Old Madam: "Grandmother don't fret—not worst yet. Sister only suspected—not convicted. Unrelated—truth will clear. I'll investigate—won't let her wronged."
Old Madam softened. Among grandchildren—favorite little Shen Yuanbai—proudest this capable young Yuan. Yuan always pleased her—she nodded. "Then investigate well. If Qing innocent—I don't want her wronged." To Ren cold laugh. "Your mother seems mad—if unclear in head—stay indoors—less trouble for me."
Ren anger and hate—face flushed red—Old Madam's dislike growing—public humiliation before all—Chen Ruoqiu's mocking eyes now.
Back in Caiyun Court with Yuan—Ren caught breath—grabbed Yuan's arm. "Yuan—save your sister. Qing has no such power—how killer?"
"Mother don't worry." Yuan comforted. "Sister wronged—fear no investigation. Suspected because real killer not found—find killer—sister cleared."
Ren clutched lifeline—eyes lit. "When find killer? Sister locked how long? When?"
Yuan watched Ren—haggard—long no powder—skin old dull—hair messy—nothing of once meticulous rich lady. Always cared for appearance and wealth—now slovenly—another person.
All because once a girl called rough block.
Yuan headache—clever himself—return brought this mess. Ren's status fallen—Qing unmarried pregnant—now massacre case.
Suddenly remembered wedding day talk with Shen Miao: "No one can tell—fortune turns—perhaps no road ahead."
Now Qing truly no road—or road extremely hard. Sole survivor of massacre—Yuan saw clear—sparing her life was not mercy or pity. One life left—death warrant for Qing.
Died as massacre collateral versus died as murderer—very different outcomes.
Killer deliberately trapped Qing— but Qing only a girl—who so cruel to girl. Shen Miao? How drive such killers. That force—hard to arrange.
Yuan gaze heavy—whether Shen Miao or not—investigate to end. Target Qing—maybe target second branch. Qing's plight hard—not hopeless—must pull behind-scene hand—repay thousandfold.
Yuan thought so—but as Shen Miao said—no one can tell. Fortune turns overnight—perhaps no road ahead.
His road—next day—sealed dead end.