The former capital of Qin...
You.
Three hundred li northwest of Kanyou, nestled between the great river to the south and the towering mountain ranges to the north, the ancient city had once stood as the beating heart of Qin.
Though the capital had long since been moved to Kanyou, You remained a sacred place to the royal house, a city where the traditions of Qin were preserved.
Today, its ancient streets were unlike anything seen in decades.
Every avenue was draped in banners of deep blue.
Blue...
The first national color of Qin.
The color of water.
The element revered by the State of Qin since the days of Qin Kings of old, Duke Mu.
Blue silk fluttered from rooftops, palace walls, and market stalls alike, while musicians filled the air with ceremonial hymns that echoed through the old stone streets.
Citizens poured into the city from every province.
Merchants.
Farmers.
Soldiers.
Nobles.
Even retired veterans had journeyed hundreds of li simply to witness history.
For today...
The King of Qin...
Ei Sei...
Would finally come of age.
It was a ceremony that signified far more than adulthood.
It was the moment when the young king would officially assume complete authority over Qin.
The entire kingdom held its breath.
Inside the Palace of You...
The ministers hurried through the halls, making the final preparations for the grand ceremony.
Just then, another magnificent carriage entered through the palace gates under the escort of elite royal guards.
"The Queen Mother has arrived!"
The officials immediately knelt.
The carriage door slowly opened.
Queen Mother stepped down with graceful elegance, her luxurious robes flowing behind her.
Waiting to receive her was Chancellor Shou Bun Kun.
For a brief moment...
Surprise crossed his face.
The Queen Mother smiled knowingly.
"What are you acting so surprised for, Shou Bun Kun?"
"Is it not only natural for a mother to attend her own son's coming-of-age ceremony?"
Shou Bun Kun bowed respectfully.
"...Naturally."
His expression, however, remained stern.
"The matter of Taigen..."
"And the State of Ai..."
"...has yet to be concluded between us."
The Queen Mother's smile never wavered.
"I am sure there will be plenty of time to discuss such matters in detail once the festivities have concluded."
With those words, she calmly walked into the palace.
Shou Bun Kun watched her disappear into the corridor.
His instincts warned him...
Something was amiss.
Within the royal residence...
Ei Sei stood alone before an open window overlooking the ancient city.
The cheers of the people echoed from below.
His expression remained calm.
Resolute.
Behind him, the Queen Mother quietly entered.
Mother and son looked at one another.
For several moments...
Neither spoke.
Finally, Ei Sei broke the silence.
"...It's finally time..."
"...Mother."
His eyes held neither hatred nor affection.
Only determination.
"I will bring an end..."
"...to your sufferings."
The Queen Mother simply smiled.
A smile impossible to read.
Outside the palace...
Another magnificent procession entered the city.
Unlike the royal family...
These banners bore the crest of the northeastern territories.
Citizens immediately made way.
"The Princess of the Northeast has arrived!"
Princess Ei You descended from her carriage with the grace and dignity befitting the daughter of the legendary King Sho.
Though advanced in years, her presence alone commanded the respect of nobles and soldiers alike.
Behind her followed a ceremonial retinue from the northeast, representing Duke Hyou Ren and the northeastern territories as steadfast allies of King Ei Sei
An official assigned to escort the foreign dignitaries bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, welcome to You."
Princess Ei You acknowledged him before surveying the distinguished guests already gathered within the palace courtyard.
She quietly spoke to her attendants.
"Look over there."
She gestured toward a noble dressed in magnificent crimson robes.
"That is Ei Etsu."
"A member of the Chu royal family."
Her gaze shifted again.
"And over there..."
"Zhao's Chancellor Ri Hi."
"Beyond them stood the royal delegations from Wei and Qi, while the State of Yan had dispatched Chancellor Chou to represent their kingdom."
Her attendants could not hide their surprise.
"So many dignitaries from enemy states..."
"They traveled such a long distance merely to attend Qin's celebration?"
Princess Ei You slowly shook her head.
"They did not come to celebrate."
Her sharp eyes swept across every delegation.
"They have come as the eyes of their kingdoms."
"Each has been sent to gauge the King of Qin who is about to take the stage."
"To judge his character."
"To assess his ambitions."
"And to determine..."
"...what sort of man Ei Sei truly is."
The smiles worn by the foreign envoys concealed countless calculations.
Today was not merely a coming-of-age ceremony.
It was a political battlefield.
Far away...
At Kankoku Pass...
The mightiest fortress of Qin stood silent beneath the afternoon sky.
Its colossal gates remained closed as a massive army approached from the west, marching in disciplined ranks beneath unfamiliar banners.
From atop the walls, the commander observed the approaching force.
"...A reinforcement army?"
One of his officers hurried over, carrying a bamboo scroll.
"They have presented a royal decree bearing His Majesty's seal."
The commander accepted the document and carefully examined it.
After a long moment, he nodded.
"It is genuine."
The officer looked toward the seemingly endless column of soldiers.
"So they truly are reinforcements for Kanyou?"
The commander rolled up the decree.
"The order states that, in preparation for His Majesty's coming-of-age ceremony, this army has been granted special permission to pass through Kankoku Pass and reinforce the capital's security."
He glanced once more at the royal seal.
"The King's orders are absolute."
"Open the gates."
With a deafening rumble...
The great gates of Kankoku Pass slowly parted.
Without meeting a single enemy...
Without drawing a single sword...
The mysterious army crossed Qin's greatest defensive fortress and continued westward toward Kanyou.
The soldiers stationed atop the walls silently watched them disappear into the distance.
Not one of them realized...
That they had just allowed the army of the State of Ai to enter the very heartland of Qin.
High above the pass...
Dark clouds slowly gathered.
As though Heaven itself sensed...
That while the eyes of all China were fixed upon the celebration in You...
The first move of a rebellion had already begun.