Snow fell over the northern border outpost like silent ash.
The crimson banner of the Fifth Prince stood tall above the walls, while beneath it, soldiers trained, villagers worked, and spirit beasts moved like silent guardians through the cold morning mist.
Everything was changing.
Fast.
And at the centre of it all—
me.
I stood inside the command hall, facing the most dangerous woman in the room.
Which was saying a lot, considering Feng Yuehuang was also there.
Princess Chen Ruolan sat across from me, elegant and calm, as if summoning heavenly monks and underworld princesses inside someone's meeting room was a perfectly normal afternoon.
Honestly, for me, it was becoming normal.
Beside her stood no guards.
That alone proved confidence.
Or madness.
Usually both.
Fa Yun stood quietly near the window like enlightenment itself.
Ye Shura leaned against the pillar like she was deciding who in the room deserved violence first.
Mo Jianli had already decided on everyone.
Hu Mei was enjoying all of this far too much.
And Feng Yuehuang—
She was watching Chen Ruolan like two queens politely deciding whether assassination would be rude.
Very healthy atmosphere.
I poured tea.
No one trusted it.
Excellent.
Chen Ruolan folded her hands on the table.
"Then let us speak clearly."
I nodded.
"Please. I enjoy dangerous honesty."
Her lips curved faintly.
"Third Brother is preparing to cut your trade routes, poison your supply chains, and spread fear among the northern villages."
I leaned back.
"Yes. He's always been creatively annoying."
She ignored that.
"If he succeeds, your rebellion dies before it reaches spring."
Correct.
She was useful.
I liked the useful people.
I looked at her.
"And what do you want in return?"
Because princesses never help for free.
Never.
She met my eyes without hesitation.
"If you survive…"
Her voice was calm.
"…I want influence in the court that follows."
Ah.
There it was.
Not love.
Politics.
Honestly, refreshing.
She wanted a future seat at the table.
Smart.
Very smart.
I smiled.
"You want to invest early."
She smiled back.
"I prefer profitable risks."
Hu Mei whispered loudly from behind me,
"I like her."
Feng Yuehuang said without looking away,
"No."
Hu Mei coughed.
"Understood."
I stood and walked toward the large map spread across the command table.
The northern border.
Villages.
Trade roads.
Hidden forest paths.
Supply lines.
This was no longer a prince's survival story.
This was war.
And wars were won by logistics before swords.
I pointed toward the eastern mountain road.
"Third Brother controls the main merchant routes."
Chen Ruolan nodded.
"Yes."
I smiled.
"Then we stop needing merchants."
Silence.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Explain."
Good.
She asked like a strategist.
I liked that.
I pointed toward Frostwood Village.
"We increase local farming."
Then toward Black Frost Forest.
"We hunt and tame spirit beasts."
Then toward the frozen river paths.
"We open winter trade routes that no noble families currently use."
Yue Lian's eyes sharpened.
"The ice roads…"
Exactly.
Most merchants avoided them because they were dangerous.
Which meant—
Less control from the capital.
I nodded.
"Dangerous roads are useful roads."
Lin Xue finally spoke.
"They can be defended more easily."
Perfect.
Competent people were beautiful.
I pointed again.
"And we begin weapon production here."
Yue Lian frowned.
"At the old iron mine?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
My old world had taught me many things.
Better spear balance.
Improved arrowheads.
Layered shield walls.
Even simple military engineering could change battles.
I wasn't here to invent cannons.
I was here to stop idiots from wasting iron.
Chen Ruolan watched me silently.
Then slowly—
She smiled.
A real one.
Rare.
Dangerous.
"You really are building a kingdom."
I looked at her.
"No."
I shook my head.
"Something bigger."
Feng Yuehuang's golden eyes flickered.
She remembered that answer.
Good.
The system suddenly flashed.
[Alliance Event Triggered]
Alliance of Snow and Blood
Second Princess Temporary Alliance Established
Rewards:
Population Loyalty +10Military Loyalty +8Territory Prosperity: +15Special Reward: Hidden Merchant Network Unlocked
Excellent.
Very excellent.
I liked rewards.
Especially free ones.
Chen Ruolan stood.
"Then I will send trusted merchants through the eastern ice routes."
Good.
She was serious.
"I will also delay certain reports reaching Father."
Even better.
Politics was beautiful when it worked for me.
She stepped closer.
Very close.
Close enough for everyone in the room to become emotionally invested.
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Do not misunderstand."
Her voice was soft.
"I am not helping you because I trust you."
I smiled.
"Good. Trust is inefficient."
For the first time—
She laughed.
Actually laughed.
"I see why Third Brother hates you."
I leant slightly closer.
"And why do you keep helping me?"
Her gaze didn't move.
"Because unlike him…"
Her voice dropped.
"…you look at people like allies, not tools."
That—
unexpectedly hit harder than it should have.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then she stepped back.
Political moment over.
Princess mask restored.
Annoying.
Before leaving, she turned once more.
"Oh."
I raised a brow.
"Yes?"
Her faint smile returned.
"If you truly plan to take the throne…"
She glanced briefly at Feng Yuehuang.
Then back at me.
"…be careful which woman you let stand beside it."
And then she left.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Hu Mei slowly whispered,
"Oh, she started a war."
Ye Shura smirked.
"A good one."
Lin Xue decided silence was safer.
Professional.
I slowly turned.
Feng Yuehuang stood by the window, looking at the falling snow.
Calm.
Too calm.
The dangerous kind of calm.
I smiled carefully.
"She seems nice."
Golden eyes turned toward me.
Her voice was soft.
Very soft.
"Would you like to test your cultivation again?"
Ah.
Death.
I recognised it immediately.
I coughed.
"I suddenly remember urgent kingdom matters."
Hu Mei collapsed laughing.
Even Mo Jianli looked impressed.
And for the first time in a long while—
The command hall felt alive.
Not with fear.
Not with war.
But with something stronger.
Momentum.
The kind that changed kingdoms.
The kind that toppled empires.
The kind that made thrones tremble.
Outside, the crimson banner danced in the northern wind.
And somewhere far away—
The decided-on capital was already beginning to fear exile.
Good.
Let them.
Because snow and blood had already allied.
And I had no intention of stopping.