Chapter 5

*Misunderstanding*
A while later Zhu Yu came in.
Sweet talk had won Helan a few days’ grace—gifts—odd jobs—debt payable soon.
Almost job placement.
Fist pump at Helan’s back: “Thank you! When my sister recovers—we’ll thank you properly!”
Bai Shuzhou opened her eyes—Zhu Yu arms full of bottles—the fierce pretty mom had been charmed too.
Zhu Yu was always like that.
Harmless face—listen—spin webs—schemes—pity—anything for the goal.
She had been fooled too.
Zhu Yu turned—pale blue eyes on her—her own brightening: “You’re awake!”
Rushed the bed—wanted to hug—the only familiar person here—remembered her image—sniffed—tears down—hands behind back.
“How do you feel—any pain?”
Bai Shuzhou blank—narrow eyes cold—light voice: “Why not ‘sis’ anymore?”
Born gifted—voice like ice chips on teeth.
Zhu Yu tilted head—didn’t get it—smile first—bird in chest flying—
Can I?
Really?
Bird hit the wall.
Blue eyes flat—cold—closed—every lash rejection.
Oh—the fake identity—“Safer outside—harder to find us—”
Silent—peek—“And you wanted divorce anyway—”
Original clung to princess—refused—cooling period—inhuman.
Wife-wife might offend—original’s crimes—marriage was shackles and amnesty.
She cheered divorce—freedom for Bai Shuzhou.
Original unworthy—later fox prime minister—childhood general—none worthy.
She was moon—watched by all.
Bad love—potholes on the road up.
First wife—first whetstone.
Zhu Yu wouldn’t repeat—wouldn’t die—Bai Shuzhou need not suffer to grow.
Sleeping face—finger on temple—twitched at “divorce”—thin mock smile—
So eager in a new place?
“Someone wants to hurt you—” gulp—“not me!”
“Sorry for before—I swear—I’m not with those nobles—they fired missiles with you on board—”
Smart—she knew.
Low whisper like a cupped phone—“How reach your people? Traitors in army and court—don’t fear—I’ll get you home.”
Warm breath on ear—Bai Shuzhou frowned—inward.
Border visit—Zhu Yu’s officers pushed—rut—bugs—too neat—eyes on them—beneficiaries silent—flesh torn.
Too many precedents—every word distrust—split spoils—new play.
Empress sister right—outside dangerous—no sincerity—only trade.
She was a chip in the game.
Eyes dim—move pulled wound—lip bite—swallow pain.
Ears up—pills—hesitate—clinic meds harsh—hormones—fine for her body—not for princess.
Alpha healing fast—arm wounds fading.
Bai Shuzhou pale—blue veins under skin—breath suppressed.
“Wash you first—then treat?”
Ruins—power wouldn’t come—afraid she’d die.
“……”
Watch pills pocketed—thief-like—Bai Shuzhou almost laughed.
Eyes shut—wind could blow her away—butterfly bones—no answer—voice soft:
“Silence means yes—say if it hurts—I’ll be careful.”
Scrubbed basin—hot water—new pink kitten towel—too childish for Heming.
Knuckle-tested—face first.
Warm wipe—lashes flutter.
Porcelain—dust off—hut brighter—blue eyes open—jewels of the world.
Clothes off—cracks on porcelain—deep—ugly.
Omegas soft—bruise easy.
Hers worse—blade cuts—surgery scars—ache in rain.
3S at first test—childhood apex for others—her start.
Then great illness—dragon wings broken—never fly—disease lingered.
Ballet then—lost sky—dance on land.
Now legs—maybe never stage again.
Fingers trembling over scars—knife—blood—pain.
She rarely spoke—one night a corner—old Zhu Yu kissed scars—“Beautiful.”
Thumb on pink lines—“Roses grow here?”
Tiny shiver—Zhu Yu gentler—“Sorry—I’ll try to heal you.”
She fixed clocks—phones—maybe transmigration was to heal her.
Unwrap—knees red mess—twisted—dancer’s legs—
“Sorry—so sorry—hurts—”
Blank eyes—red nose reflection—light in palms—firefly weak—
She pushed her off—bugs bit her—
Fake tears now—disgusting show.
No hate-wave—no pain in legs—gone.
Control of body—practice—dance—one push from Zhu Yu.
Always destroyed what she loved.
Power from mind—if not rut-link—would she beg pheromones?
Silence—“Satisfied?”
Head up—hope—“What?”
“Now I’m crippled—” straight eyes—“like you.”
Empire beast-shift—Federation tech—two paths.
Zhu Yu mixed—no beast form—disability in empire.
Again—“Satisfied?”
Mouth open close—“Sorry.”
Mechanical sorry—eyes shut disgust.
Zhu Yu silent—light thick—pouring into wounds—lemon-squeeze spirit—lips white.
Skin closing—chill inside her—black hole eating power.
Serious injury—
Bite—more—not enough—
Empty tank— swaying.
“Enough!”
Wrist seized—light cut—“Enjoy self-pity?”
“Your death here helps me nothing.”
Puppy slump—towel in basin—scrub—out.
Eyes shut—pillow—breath—nails in palm slowly open.
Sister will find her fast.
Comm crushed under her shoe—wrist red still.
Clatter outside—finger twitch—grip.
So soon—mad again—of course—
Outside—
Yard cleared—junk sorted—things falling—ducked screws—
Scrap—but she repairs—treasure in trash—
Helan is good!
Noise stopped—footsteps gone—dark.
Alone—newspaper walls—wind outline.
Dusk—hear heartbeat.
Window—reach for lamp—
Edge of bed—dead legs—once danced—no feeling when she hit them.
Almost—just almost—
Fingers miss switch.
Can’t even light a lamp.
Pride broke—shoulders shake—tears on quilt—wiped.
When so fragile?
One quilt—can’t soil it.
Face in arms—sob—rational.
Click.
Light—warm yellow room.
Zhu Yu at door—sob stopped—breath.
Set things down—“Don’t look at me.”
Proud thin voice—might shatter.
Nod hard—crab sideways out—door shut.
Quiet—lift head—water—hot rice—
Blue chipped vase—wildflowers.
Within reach.