The capital trembled under the news.
Shen Wu was moving.
And he was moving fast.
---
### EMERGENCY BELLS OVER THE CITY
Dong—! Dong—! Dong—!
The warning bells rang across the capital walls.
Civilians froze in the streets.
Shops slammed shut.
Soldiers rushed to formation.
Lei Hua stood at the palace corridor, legs shaking.
(*No… no… no… this escalated too fast… We were exposing lovers yesterday… today there's an army?!*)
The system chimed coldly.
[DING. Shen Wu's vanguard will reach the outer defense line before sunset.]
Lei Hua almost fainted.
(*SUNSET IS LIKE THREE MEALS AWAY—*)
---
### MILITARY COUNCIL — FULL PANIC
Maps were thrown across the table.
The Minister of War wiped cold sweat.
"Shen Wu controls 2,000 elite troops! The western gate defenses are thin!"
A general shouted back:
"But General Bo Qiang is still returning from the eastern front!"
Zhen Wu's jaw clenched.
"If the western gate falls before Bo Qiang arrives—"
The Emperor finished coldly:
"The capital will bleed."
Lei Hua grabbed the screen tightly.
(*STOP SAYING IT LIKE THAT— THIS IS PG13—*)
---
### ZHEN RUO'S SILENT SMILE
Zhen Ruo stood in the shadows of the hall.
Quiet.
Unmoving.
Smiling faintly.
(*Let them panic,* he thought. *The more chaos, the easier the throne moves.*)
---
### THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO RUN
In the streets—
Mothers grabbed children.
Merchants abandoned stalls.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"The capital is under attack…"
"Shen Wu has rebelled…"
"The throne is shaking…"
Fear became visible.
---
### LEI HUA BREAKS DOWN
Lei Hua tugged Lei Yue's sleeve desperately.
"Sister Yue… are we really going to be okay…?"
Her voice trembled.
"I swear I didn't mean to expose the route like that— I was just talking—"
Lei Yue looked down at her.
Eyes calm.
Unshaken.
Clear.
"Good."
Lei Hua blinked.
"…Huh?"
Lei Yue continued:
"Because now he moves early."
Lei Hua's heart skipped.
(*Early…? That means… this was forced?*)
---
### LEI YUE STEPS FORWARD
The Emperor turned to Lei Yue directly.
"You know Shen Wu's pattern?"
Lei Yue nodded.
"He wants to seize the west gate, ignite fear, then force political surrender before nightfall."
Zhen Wu stared at her.
"You're saying… this is not a full war?"
Lei Yue answered:
"It's a decapitation strike."
The entire hall went silent.
---
### THE COMMAND THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Lei Yue said calmly:
"Allow me temporary command authority over city defense."
Shock crashed through the room.
The Minister of War slammed his hand on the table.
"This is madness! She's only a young lady—!"
The Emperor raised his hand.
Silence fell.
He looked at Lei Yue for a long moment.
"…If I grant this… can you stop Shen Wu before sunset?"
Lei Yue replied simply:
"Yes."
Lei Hua clutched her chest.
(*SHE SAID IT SO CASUALLY— LIKE SHE'S PROMISING TO BUY GROCERIES—*)
---
### IMPERIAL DECREE
The Emperor stood.
"By imperial command— temporary authority over city defense is granted to Lei Yue."
The entire court froze.
Then kneeled.
Lei Hua's ears buzzed.
(*THE QUEEN HAS OFFICIALLY STEPPED ONTO THE CHESSBOARD—*)
---
### SHEN WU'S APPROACH
On the western road—
Thousands of armored troops marched forward.
Shen Wu rode at the front.
His eyes cold.
His smile thin.
"By sunset," he whispered, "this city will kneel."
---
### LEI YUE'S QUIET RESPONSE
From the palace wall—
Lei Yue stood above the capital.
Wind lifted her sleeves.
Her gaze swept over the city calmly.
"This city," she said softly, "will not."
Lei Hua stared at her with shining eyes.
(*THIS… THIS IS WHY EVERYONE FALLS FOR HER—*)
---
### END OF CHAPTER 22