The court session ended in heavy silence.
Bin Rin was gone.
Jun Lin was imprisoned.
The capital felt like it was holding its breath.
Lei Hua followed Lei Yue out slowly, still dizzy.
(*I just exposed a whole secret romance network… My mouth is becoming a national weapon…*)
---
### AT THE IMPERIAL GARDEN — A "SAFE" WALK
Lei Hua finally relaxed.
Birds chirped.
Wind blew.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Lei Hua sighed loudly.
"I swear, if another villain pops out today, I'm resigning from being a transmigrator—"
Lei Yue paused.
"…From being what?"
Lei Hua froze.
"AH— I MEAN— A GOSSIP MACHINE!"
Lei Yue gave her a side-eye.
"I will pretend I understood that."
---
### THE SYSTEM MISFIRES
Lei Hua bit into a pastry, chewing happily.
The system suddenly chimed.
[DING. Critical military supply route discovered.]
Lei Hua choked.
(*WHY CAN'T YOU WAIT TILL I SWALLOW—*)
Lei Hua panicked in her thoughts.
(*Military supply route? Isn't that secret-level information? Why are you telling ME?!*)
The system continued coldly:
[DING. Route connects southern armory to Bo Qiang's troops. Altered two days ago.]
Lei Hua's brain exploded.
(*ALTERED?! BY WHO?!*)
---
### THE ACCIDENTAL LEAK
Lei Hua turned sharply.
"Sister Yue— Someone secretly changed General Bo Qiang's supply route two days ago—!"
Silence.
The guards stopped walking.
The servants froze mid-step.
Even the birds shut up.
Lei Hua slowly realized—
Everyone was staring at her.
Her soul nearly left her body.
(*…Why is it so quiet…?*)
One guard trembled.
"W-What did she say?"
Another whispered.
"Supply… route… changed…?"
Lei Yue's eyes darkened instantly.
---
### THE EMPEROR IS ALERTED
Within the time of one incense stick—
The Emperor was informed.
Emergency military council summoned.
Lei Hua sat behind the screen again, sweating like rain.
(*I only meant to whisper… HOW DID THIS BECOME A NATIONAL BROADCAST—*)
---
### THE WAR COUNCIL ERUPTS
Maps were laid out.
Routes compared.
Seals verified.
A deputy general slammed the table.
"The southern route WAS altered!"
The room shook.
Zhen Wu stood up sharply.
"Who authorized this change?!"
No one answered.
Because—
The authorization seal belonged to Shen Wu.
---
### THE NAME THAT FROZE THE ROOM
"Second Commander… Shen Wu," the official whispered.
Every general stiffened.
Lei Hua's scalp tingled.
(*It's him… one of the enemies… he's moving already…*)
---
### SHEN WU STRIKES FIRST
At that very moment—
A messenger burst in.
"REPORT—!!!"
"Shen Wu has mobilized 2,000 troops without imperial permission!"
The court exploded.
"That's rebellion!"
"He's forcing open war!"
Zhen Ruo stood quietly in the back.
Smiling.
---
### LEI YUE MOVES
Lei Yue finally stepped forward.
One step.
The entire hall fell silent.
"Close the western gate."
Her voice was calm.
"Seal all military dispatch rooms."
"Block Shen Wu's communication lines."
Everyone stared.
The Emperor looked at her.
"…You're certain?"
Lei Yue replied calmly:
"He has already crossed the line."
---
### LEI HUA PANICS
Lei Hua clutched the screen.
(*I JUST RANTED AND A WAR STARTED—*)
The system chimed again.
[DING. Shen Wu's real target is not the border.]
Lei Hua's pupils shrank.
(*Then what is it—*)
[DING. His real target is… the capital.]
Lei Hua screamed internally.
(*WE'RE ALL DEAD—*)
---
### END OF CHAPTER 21