Within the sacred halls of the Qin ancestral shrine, silence still lingered after the shocking report.
The words spoken by the messenger echoed through every noble, official, and soldier present.
"The rebel Ai Army has bypassed Kankoku Pass and is marching upon Kanyou!"
Panic immediately spread throughout the court.
Ministers whispered frantically.
Nobles turned pale.
Even veteran officials frowned.
If the report was true...
Then the capital itself stood on the brink of destruction.
Standing calmly among the chaos, Chancellor Ryo Fui slowly stepped forward.
His expression remained composed, but inwardly he could hardly conceal his satisfaction.
"A perfect checkmate..."
"Even if Sei survives today, his authority will be shattered."
Raising his hand, he addressed the entire assembly.
"Your attention, please, gentlemen."
The hall gradually quieted.
"As you have all just heard, the rebel Ai Army has somehow bypassed Kankoku Pass and is approaching Kanyou at this very moment."
He paused deliberately.
"We now face a crisis that threatens the very existence of the State of Qin."
"Every second has become a precious commodity."
He turned toward the royal altar before speaking loudly enough for every person present to hear.
"Much to my regret..."
"I hereby declare His Majesty's Coming-of-Age Ceremony to be concluded immediately!"
The words had barely left his mouth…
A commanding voice thundered throughout the shrine.
"Do not end the ceremony of your own initiative, Ryo Fui!!"
Every head snapped toward the young king.
Ei Sei stood before the ancestral tablets with unwavering dignity.
His eyes burned with absolute conviction.
"We shall continue this ceremony..."
"...and see it through to its end!!"
The declaration stunned everyone.
Even Ryo Fui's confident smile faltered.
Ei Sei slowly faced the gathered officials.
"Silence, everyone."
The hall instantly became still.
"The ceremony has but a little more to go."
"It is almost complete."
"Therefore..."
"We shall continue..."
"...and witness the Coming-of-Age Ceremony reach its proper conclusion!!"
For several heartbeats...
No one dared breathe.
Then voices rose throughout the shrine.
"Yes...!"
"His Majesty is right!"
"Continue the ceremony!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
The fear that had begun consuming the hall slowly gave way to determination.
Yet Ryo Fui merely narrowed his eyes.
"He wishes to continue the ceremony... at a time like this?"
"The Ai Army draws closer with every passing moment."
His gaze slowly wandered across the royal faction.
Shou Bun Kun...
Calm.
Finally...
His eyes stopped upon one person.
Princess Ei You.
Representative of the Northeast.
She remained seated with perfect composure, showing not the slightest trace of concern.
Ryo Fui's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting..."
"Not even she appears worried."
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
"So..."
"You knew they were coming."
Princess Ei You merely met his gaze without answering.
That silence itself was enough.
Ryo Fui turned once more toward Ei Sei.
"Given the circumstances..."
"I find it exceedingly strange that Your Majesty insists on continuing this ceremony."
"Every second that passes is invaluable."
"Kanyou possesses scarcely enough soldiers to oppose an invading force numbering thirty thousand."
He smiled politely.
"Or could it be..."
"...that Your Majesty merely wishes this ceremony to conclude with joyful memories..."
"...before the inevitable?"
The court held its breath.
Everyone waited for the young king's reply.
Ei Sei answered without hesitation.
"You are once again leaping to conclusions, Ryo Fui."
"You speak as though my back has already been driven into a corner."
"As though I have no choice left but to struggle."
A faint smile appeared on Sei's face.
"It is true."
"Kanyou has very few soldiers remaining."
"But allow me to share one thing with you."
"There is already an army capable of stopping the rebels."
"It is marching toward Kanyou even now."
A murmur swept through the court.
Ryo Fui folded his arms.
"The Hi Shin Unit?"
Ei Sei shook his head.
"Not only them."
"There is another army..."
"...ten thousand strong..."
"...which has long been lying in wait."
"It now moves to strike the rebel army from the rear."
Ryo Fui laughed.
"Hahaha..."
"Your Majesty truly does make the most interesting claims."
"If I may indulge myself..."
"Would Your Majesty kindly tell us..."
"...where exactly this miraculous army has been hiding?"
Without even blinking….
Ei Sei answered.
"The City of Sai."
The entire shrine erupted.
"The City of Sai?!"
"Sai?"
"They intend to defend the capital?!"
Even Ryo Fui's smile became noticeably stiffer.
Before anyone could speak further….
The great doors of the shrine burst open.
A royal messenger stumbled inside.
"URGENT REPORT!!"
He collapsed onto one knee before the king.
"Speak."
The messenger swallowed.
"The City of Taigen..."
"...the ruling city of the Ai Rebellion..."
"...has fallen!!"
Silence.
"It was taken by the army of General Ri Yue."
"Under her command marched the armies of Lu Shen and Mo Yun."
The court froze.
"The city was completely annihilated."
"No survivors remain."
"Mountains of corpses now fill Taigen."
"Men..."
"Women..."
"The elderly..."
"...even children..."
"All were put to the blade."
The nobles turned pale.
Even battle-hardened officials looked speechless.
The messenger continued.
"The children of Rou Ai..."
He hesitated.
His eyes instinctively drifted toward the Queen Mother.
His voice became almost inaudible.
"...have been sentenced..."
"...to death by boiling."
"The order was personally issued..."
"...by Duke Hyou Ren."
The shrine seemed to lose all sound.
Not a single person dared breathe.
The Queen Mother's face turned deathly white.
Then the messenger spoke once more.
"Before carrying out the sentence..."
"General Ri Yue made a proclamation before the entire city."
Her words echoed through the silent hall.
"We recognize no king..."
"Save for the King of Qin..."
"Whose royal house bears the name Ei."
Those words struck the court like thunder.
Every gaze slowly shifted...
Toward Princess Ei You.
She remained seated exactly as before.
Elegant.
Calm.
Unmoved.
Only now did everyone finally realize...
The Northeastern Duchy had acted entirely on its own.
Not even the Ei Sei faction had been informed of this operation.
They had merely been instructed...
"Hold Kanyou... until we arrive."
The realization sent another wave of astonishment through the nobles.
Before they could recover…
Another messenger rushed into the shrine.
"URGENT REPORT!!"
"Duke Hyou Ren has departed the Northeastern Territories!"
"He commands the armies of Tian Hao and Bao Jun!"
"Their fleet has already sailed down the Yellow River toward Kanyou!"
"They are advancing at full speed to reinforce the royal capital!"
For a brief instant...
The entire shrine stood frozen.
Then….
The hall exploded.
"The Duke himself is coming!!"
"The Northeastern Army is moving!"
"Hyou Ren has finally entered the war!"
"The capital will be saved!"
Even many officials who had remained neutral until now could no longer hide their excitement.
The tide that had moments ago favored Ryo Fui...
Had begun to shift.
Standing before the ancestral altar, Ei Sei allowed himself the faintest smile.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Ryo Fui's expression remained unreadable.
Yet behind that calm facade...
For the first time since the Ai Rebellion had begun...
The Chancellor felt the unmistakable sensation that events had slipped beyond his control.
Far to the northeast, dozens upon dozens of warships cut through the waters of the Yellow River.
At the bow of the lead vessel stood Duke Hyou Ren, his crimson cloak billowing violently in the wind.
Beside him stood Tian Hao and Bao Jun, while tens thousands of elite Qin soldiers filled the fleet behind them.
Hyou Ren's eyes remained fixed upon the distant horizon.
"Kanyou..."
"Hold on just a little longer."
"The Northeast is coming."