Outside the Palace in Li
Prince Yun adjusted his cloak as the snow swirled lightly around them. Rui Yan stood nearby, arms crossed.
> "I'll return when the King of Li is less... insane," Yun muttered dryly.
Rui Yan gave a bitter chuckle.
> "You might as well not come back. This is calmer than before."
Yun bowed politely and turned to leave, but her voice stopped him mid-step.
> "I didn't take you for a jilted lover, Prince Yun. But a word of warning: if my brother gets involved... there won't be a place called Chenzhu left on this continent."
Yun paused. His voice was quiet.
> "I understand."
Rui Yan watched him walk away and muttered under her breath,
> "I don't think you do."
---
Back in Suntze
Prince Yun stood among his engineers, overseeing boxes being lifted onto carts and cannons under construction.
> "Is Prince Yun making fireworks again?" one artisan whispered.
> "What would he need steel barrels for?" another murmured.
> "Those aren't barrels—they're sealed on one end…"
Yun said nothing, eyes fixed as he personally inspected the black powder inventory, methodical and quiet.
---
Meanwhile, in Chenzhu
Prince Bowen lounged on silk cushions, wine in hand, arms draped lazily over two courtesans. One, emboldened by drink, giggled and asked,
> "Your Highness, I heard the Prince of Suntze was once very fond of you… but he hasn't visited in so long."
Bowen scoffed and kissed her, ignoring her question.
> "That guy's a man. He should've known it wouldn't last. But why bring up another man when you're here to serve me?"
At the door, a servant muttered under his breath.
> "What kind of karma did Chenzhu collect to earn him as crown prince…"
From the shadows, a spy from Suntze silently slipped away—like a ghost on the wind.
---
Back in Prince Yun's Quarters
The spy knelt, recounting everything he'd seen.
Prince Yun sat still, gripping his teacup so tightly it threatened to crack. After a long silence, he finally spoke:
> "Unrepentant. Lecherous. Bad luck to anyone who crosses his path."
Before his fury could build further, the door burst open.
> "Brother, I'm hungry!" Prince Jin ran in, arms raised.
Yun's face melted into a smile as he scooped the boy up.
> "Why didn't you ask your maid?"
> "I want *your* Kure cakes!" Jin declared proudly.
Prince Yun chuckled and stood.
> "Then let's make some."
They made their way to the kitchen together.
> "First, we need Kure flour, fat, almonds, and yogurt," Yun instructed, his tone softening.
> "Kure is a fruit that grows all winter," he explained, "a variant of coconut, only found in Suntze. Hardy. Sweet. Impossible to kill."
The chef appeared and joined in the lesson.
> "Its shell was so hard it was once thought inedible. But Prince Yun saw through that. Now it feeds us all.
> Grain doesn't grow here—but Kure grows like weeds. Thanks to him, we've got something sweet in every home."
Prince Yun flushed at the praise and—perhaps distracted—poured the flour in too fast. A puff of white dust exploded into Jin's face.
> "Achoo!"
> "Brother! Hahaha—!" Jin giggled, half-sneezing as Yun grabbed a cloth to wipe him clean.
---
Cut back to Li
Now seated across from Ruo Yan once more, Prince Yun placed a document before him.
> "I'll provide the weapons and supplies. I guarantee a swift victory—with no casualties on your side."
The King of Li eyed the scroll, amused.
> "You seem well prepared to *annihilate* Chenzhu. So why come to me?"
Prince Yun exhaled slowly.
> "Suntze and Chenzhu are separated by three kingdoms. The cost of moving troops is high, and the risk to my people even higher."
Ruo Yan tapped the paper thoughtfully.
> "How quickly do you expect it to end?"
> "Half a day," Yun replied without hesitation.
The King raised an eyebrow—and then let out a soft, mad laugh.
> "For such a short battle… you must have something truly crazy planned."
> "Something," he grinned, "that everyone will want to see."