Chapter 253 -

Chapter 253: Chapter

Wenzhe grabbed Xiao Chen by his coat and shoved him back just a little, breaking the tense standoff.

Xiao Chen fixed his clothes, a small smirk still on his lips, but he knew Wenzhe was not playing around. When it came to Yueqing, Wenzhe was a dangerous beast.

"Fine, General Xi," Xiao Chen said, raising his hands in surrender. "Keep your temper in check. We have more important things to deal with than your crazy jealousy."

Wenzhe turned back to Yueqing, his dark eyes instantly softening as he looked down at her. He reached out and wrapped his large, warm hand around hers, rubbing her cold fingers to warm them up.

"Go inside the main wooden cabin, Yueqing," Wenzhe said softly, his voice gentle. "Eat some breakfast and rest. Nine and Lu Yue will stay with you. I have military plans to discuss with the prince."

Yueqing looked at Wenzhe’s serious face, then glanced at Xiao Chen. She nodded obediently. "Alright. Don’t fight too hard, you two."

With that, Yueqing turned and walked away toward the large cabin, her fur cloak fluttering in the wind. Lu Yue and Nine quickly followed right behind her.

Inside the cabin, it was warm and quiet. A bright fire crackled in the fireplace, sending sweet heat throughout the room.

A big wooden table stood in the center, loaded with hot food, steaming bowls of rice porridge, fried dough sticks, boiled eggs, and hot tea.

Yueqing sat down at the head of the table, letting out a satisfied sigh as the warmth hit her skin. Lu Yue sat down on her right, while Nine sat down on her left, immediately grabbing three fried dough sticks at the same time.

"Ah! Human food is the absolute best!" Nine cheered, stuffing a whole dough stick into his mouth. "Real food is heaven!"

Lu Yue glared at him from across the table, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she remembered last night. "Can you eat like a normal human for once? You look like a wild animal!"

Nine grinned at her, chewing happily. "Why, Guard Lu? Are you worried about my manners? Or are you just staring at my lips again because you miss what happened last night?"

Lu Yue’s face exploded into a dark red blush. She dropped her chopsticks with a loud CLACK!

"You shameless glutton!" Lu Yue shouted in a hushed whisper, looking around nervously. "Shut your big mouth before I stab your tongue with my dagger!"

Yueqing watched them bicker while sipping her hot tea. A cheeky smile spread across her face as she looked back and forth between her guard and Nine.

[Wait a minute...] Yueqing thought to herself, her eyes sparkling with fun. [Why is Lu Yue blushing so hard? And why is Nine teasing her like that?! Did something happen between them last night?!]

Yueqing set her teacup down smoothly. "Lu Yue, I left my fur hand warmer back in the carriage. Could you go get it for me?"

"Of course, Young Madame!" Lu Yue answered immediately, glad for an excuse to run away from Nine’s teasing. She bowed quickly and hurried out of the cabin, shutting the door tightly behind her.

The moment the heavy door closed, Yueqing turned around and slapped Nine’s arm hard.

"Alright, spill it, you useless system!" Yueqing hissed in a fun, excited whisper. "What did you do to my guard last night?!"

Nine rubbed his arm, a handsome, mischievous smirk spreading across his human face. "Host, your system is just making good use of his human features. Let’s just say Guard Lu lost a three-minute bet and got her very first kiss."

Yueqing’s eyes went wide as teacups. "YOU KISSED LU YUE?!"

"Twice, actually," Nine boasted proudly, wiggling his eyebrows. "And she was blushing so hard her whole face nearly melted!"

Yueqing covered her mouth in absolute shock, giggling softly at the hilarious drama. "You perverted system! If Wenzhe finds out you are harassing my guard, he will chop you into pieces!"

Meanwhile, back in the large command tent in the center of the camp, the atmosphere was completely serious.

A giant map of the Imperial Capital was laid out across the wooden table. Small red and black wooden blocks were placed all over the map, representing troops, city gates, and palace guards.

Wenzhe stood on one side of the table, his arms crossed over his chest. Xiao Chen stood on the other side, leaning over the map with a sharp, serious look in his eyes. The playful prince was completely gone; now, he was a calculating Royal Prince fighting for his life and the throne.

"The Empress is getting restless," Xiao Chen said, pointing his finger at the western gate of the Imperial City. "My spies inside the palace say she has already gathered thirty thousand secret guards. She is planning to poison the Emperor within the next three months and take the throne by force."

"She won’t get the chance," Wenzhe said coldly, his voice deep and steady. "We currently have twenty thousand elite soldiers hiding in this valley. But we cannot just march them into the city. The Empress controls the four main city gates. If she sees my army coming, she will close the heavy iron gates and execute every noble family aligned with us."

Xiao Chen nodded in agreement. "That is why we need a trick. We can’t attack from the outside. We have to trap her from the inside."

Wenzhe picked up a small black block and placed it right on the Imperial Palace grounds.

"Here is the plan," Wenzhe explained, his eyes sharp like an eagle’s. "When the Empress starts her rebellion, she will call all the ministers into the main hall to force them to sign her decree. That is when she will be most confident. She will pull her guards from the outer walls to secure the hall."

"And that is when we strike," Xiao Chen chimed in, pointing to the underground secret tunnels. "I know about the ancient escape tunnel beneath the eastern palace garden. It leads straight outside the city walls. I can lead five hundred of your top elite shadow guards through that tunnel while she is distracted."

Wenzhe frowned, shaking his head. "Five hundred men is too few, Xiao Chen. If her thirty thousand guards turn around, you will be wiped out in minutes. It’s too risky."

"It’s not risky if we open the eastern gate from the inside!" Xiao Chen argued back, slamming his hand on the table. "Once my five hundred men get inside the palace grounds, we fight our way to the eastern gate, throw it open, and let your main army rush inside! That is the fastest way!"

"No," Wenzhe snapped sternly. "You are taking too big of a gamble. If you fail to open the gate in time, the Empress will take you hostage. I will lead the underground team myself."

"You CANNOT lead the underground team, Wenzhe!" Xiao Chen yelled, glaring at him. "You are the Grand General! The main army needs you at the front lines! If the soldiers don’t see you leading them at the main gate, their morale will drop! I am an Imperial Prince, the soldiers inside the palace will listen to my authority if they see me!"

The two men glared at each other across the table. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Wenzhe’s dark eyes locked onto Xiao Chen’s determined gaze.

Silence heavy as a mountain hung between them for a long moment.

Finally, Wenzhe let out a long, heavy breath. He knew Xiao Chen was right. The main army needed their General at the front, and Xiao Chen had the royal blood to command respect inside the royal court.

"Fine," Wenzhe said, gritting his teeth. "You will lead the underground surprise team. But listen to me carefully, Xiao Chen. The moment you enter the palace, you secure the eastern gate FIRST. Do not try to play the hero and go after the Empress alone."

Xiao Chen smirked slightly, resting his hands on his waist. "Don’t worry, General. I value my life far too much to die before I see the Empress fall."

"Good," Wenzhe said, turning his focus back to the map. "Now, there is still one major problem we haven’t solved."

Xiao Chen leaned over the table, his face turning completely serious.

"What about your father?" Xiao Chen asked in a low voice. "Duke Xi is on the Empress’s side, and he has thousands of strong soldiers under him. How will we beat him if he brings his whole army against us?"

The entire command tent went completely quiet. Every guard and officer stopped breathing, too scared to make a sound.

Wenzhe’s dark eyes flashed with anger. He stared at the map.

"My father made his choice when he joined that greedy woman," Wenzhe said, his voice deep, strong, and full of pure steel.

He raised his head, looking straight at Xiao Chen and all the men standing around the table.

"Listen to me clearly," Wenzhe declared, his loud voice ringing right through the tent walls. "If my father really sides with the Empress in this war, I will stand at the very front lines. Even if I have to do it myself, I will fight my own father head-on and bring him down!"