The former capital of You had become the heart of Qin.
Blue banners, the sacred color of the western kingdom, fluttered proudly from every rooftop.
The streets were packed beyond measure as nobles, ministers, generals, and commoners alike gathered to witness a moment generation had awaited.
Within the royal shrine, incense drifted through the air as solemn drums echoed across the ancient halls.
The ceremony had begun.
Standing before the shrine of Qin's ancestors, dressed in magnificent royal robes, was Ei Sei.
His expression was calm.
His gaze unwavering.
For years he had fought through assassination attempts, civil war, betrayal, and countless conspiracies.
Everything had led to this day.
The Royal Announcer stepped forward.
His voice rang across the shrine and through the silent crowd.
"Here stands His Highness Ei Sei before the Royal Shrine... the sacred home of the rulers of the mighty State of Qin."
Every eye remained fixed upon the young king.
"He now seeks the blessing and approval of his venerable ancestors on this fateful day... where he shall officially ascend the throne."
The announcer slowly raised his hands.
"At long last..."
"...this long-awaited day has come."
"Surely both the ancestral spirits..."
"...and every citizen of Qin rejoice with boundless happiness."
His voice thundered across the capital.
"Here and now..."
"We celebrate the birth..."
"OF THE THIRTY-FIRST KING OF QIN!!"
"HIS MAJESTY….EI SEI!!"
For a heartbeat...
Silence.
Then….
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
The cheers erupted like a tidal wave.
The entire capital shook beneath the roar of hundreds of thousands.
Long live the King!
Long live Qin!
The people's cries echoed endlessly beneath the blue heavens.
At last...
Qin once again possessed a true king.
Among the assembled nobles stood the Queen Mother.
Unlike the jubilant masses surrounding her...
Her expression slowly darkened.
...Things are going too well.
She narrowed her eyes.
What is it...?
What doesn't seem right...?
Her thoughts drifted back to the moment she had first arrived in You.
That's right...
The attitude of Ei Sei's faction has been strange ever since I arrived.
Even while occupied with the coronation...
...they have paid far too little attention to me.
Her eyes slowly moved across the gathered officials.
Then finally stopped upon one figure.
Princess Ei You.
Representative of the Hyou Ren faction, the greatest ally standing behind Ei Sei.
The Queen Mother's eyes narrowed.
Wasn't she supposed to be furious over the matter involving my children?
Then why...
Why does everyone appear so calm?
An uneasy feeling settled in her chest.
Something...
Something was terribly wrong.
Suddenly….
A palace official burst into the shrine.
His breathing was ragged.
He immediately fell to one knee.
"Pardon this interruption!"
His voice trembled.
"But we have an urgent report!"
The joyous atmosphere disappeared instantly.
Everyone turned.
The official continued.
"An army numbering approximately thirty thousand..."
"...belonging to what we believe to be the State of Ai..."
"...has bypassed Kankoku Pass..."
"...and is now advancing directly toward Kanyou!"
The hall erupted into shocked murmurs.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Bypassed Kankoku Pass?"
"How?"
Even veteran ministers stared in disbelief.
Only Ei Sei remained composed.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"...They must have used the Royal Seal."
A brief silence followed.
Then his eyes opened once more.
"No..."
His voice became colder.
"Rather..."
"...a forgery of the Royal Seal."
The words struck the hall like lightning.
Princess Ei You's gaze immediately shifted toward the Queen Mother.
Beside her...
Shou Bun Kun did exactly the same.
Both pairs of eyes were filled with undisguised suspicion.
The Queen Mother noticed.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"...Just who..."
"...are the two of you glaring at?"
Her voice remained calm.
"The man whom the State of Ai calls its master is Rou Ai."
"I know nothing of this rebellion."
"Nor do I know anything concerning a forged Royal Seal."
She looked directly at Shou Bun Kun.
"Or perhaps..."
"...you possess evidence proving I am connected to any of this?"
Silence filled the shrine.
No one answered.
Princess Ei You finally stepped forward.
Her calm voice carried throughout the chamber.
"If the matter of the forged Royal Seal is true..."
"...then the situation is even more dangerous than we first imagined."
Every official listened.
"The Royal Seal is the symbol of the King's authority."
"If a counterfeit can be used with the same legitimacy as the genuine seal..."
"...then the consequences are catastrophic."
She looked toward the ministers.
"The moment that army captures Kanyou..."
"...and takes control of Central Qin..."
"...they could issue military decrees in the King's name."
Her next words froze everyone.
"They would possess the authority to recruit..."
"...an unlimited number of soldiers..."
"...from every corner of Qin."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The horrifying implication settled upon every soul present.
Thirty thousand men...
Could become one hundred thousand.
Then two hundred thousand.
Perhaps even more.
The ministers turned pale.
Some clenched their fists.
Others stood speechless.
The Queen Mother quietly observed every reaction.
Then...
Her gaze shifted across the hall.
It settled upon one man.
Ryo Fui.
A faint smile appeared.
Your plan...
...was likely to allow Mou Bu one of your Four Pillars to destroy our rebellion after we seized Kanyou.
But...
I will never allow such a thing.
Her eyes gleamed with confidence.
We shall crush you...
...through overwhelming numbers alone.
Across the hall...
Ryo Fui met her gaze.
Neither spoke.
Yet both understood.
Within his heart, Ryo Fui smiled.
So...
It has finally come.
The true battle.
The final confrontation between the two of us.
For years they had struggled from the shadows.
Gathering allies.
Building power.
Now...
Everything would be decided.
Very well...
Let us make this a struggle worthy of being remembered throughout history.
Ironically...
Neither Ryo Fui nor the Queen Mother paid any attention to Ei Sei.
To them...
The young king was merely the prize awaiting the victor.
But upon the royal platform...
Ei Sei stood silently.
Watching.
Listening.
His expression never changed.
Far away...
Beyond the mountains...
Thirty thousand soldiers of Ai continued their relentless march toward Kanyou.
And hidden behind them...
The greatest conspiracy in Qin's history had finally begun to reveal itself.