Far from Shen City, beneath the towering walls of the imperial capital Wushen, the morning court convened as usual.
Officials in layered robes lined both sides of the great hall, voices low but restless. The scent of incense drifted through the chamber as ministers waited for proceedings to begin.
Yet the usual matters of taxation and border disputes were absent from their minds.
Today, one distant city dominated discussion.
Shen City.
An elderly minister stepped forward, holding a scroll.
"Reports from the western territories," he announced. "Shen City has restored grain production, stabilized local trade, and reorganized military patrols."
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Impossible."
"That city was abandoned years ago."
"A useless post."
The minister continued.
"Furthermore, a recent assassination attempt against the city lord failed."
The murmurs grew louder.
A failed assassination meant someone important had ordered it.
And someone important had failed.
At the side of the hall, Lu Zheng stood silently among the officials, expression unreadable.
He had already seen the report.
Twice.
Every word confirmed what he feared.
Qin Wang Shan was no longer a forgotten prince.
He was becoming a problem.
Another official stepped forward, voice sharp.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing deeply, "the Seventh Prince governs too independently. A border lord gaining loyalty and military discipline is dangerous."
Some ministers nodded.
Others frowned.
"Dangerous?" a younger official argued. "He is strengthening imperial territory without asking for aid."
"But loyalty to a prince is not loyalty to the throne," came the cold reply.
Silence followed.
The argument struck at the heart of imperial politics.
From behind a silk curtain, the Emperor's voice finally echoed across the chamber.
"Enough."
The hall fell silent instantly.
"Shen City remains imperial land," the Emperor continued. "If it prospers, the empire prospers."
No one dared interrupt.
But unease remained.
Near the rear of the hall, another figure listened quietly.
The Third Prince, elder brother to Qin Wang Shan.
His expression remained calm, but his fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeves.
So his youngest brother had survived exile.
And was growing stronger.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
When court ended, small groups of officials gathered in whispers.
Names were exchanged.
Concerns voiced.
Possibilities discussed.
And among them all, Lu Zheng walked away without speaking.
He already understood what others did not.
Today, Shen City had entered the awareness of the imperial court.
Tomorrow, it would enter their fears.
Far away, Shen City continued rebuilding in peaceful ignorance.
But in Wushen, decisions were already being shaped.
And once imperial politics began moving,
No one remained untouched for long.