The news reached the capital before sunrise.
Three hundred elite cavalry.
Gone.
Not defeated.
Erased.
No survivors.
Only one unconscious noble son had been returned, tied to his own horse like a very expensive warning.
And with him—
a message.
Simple.
Cold.
Personal.
Tell Third Brother the north is full.
Stop sending people.
I am running out of places to bury them.
Inside the Third Prince's palace, silence ruled like an emperor.
Servants knelt outside the main hall with pale faces, none daring to move.
Even breathing felt dangerous.
At the centre of the storm, Chen Lie stood by the window, looking toward the northern mountains.
Calm.
Too calm.
The worst kind.
Shadow Sparrow knelt behind him.
"The scouts confirmed it."
Her voice was low.
"There is… an ancient army."
Even she hesitated saying it.
Because it sounded ridiculous.
Chen Lie finally turned.
"Say it."
Shadow Sparrow lowered her head further.
"The Fifth Prince commands an undead legion hidden beneath Snow Burial Valley."
Silence.
Then—
a soft laugh.
Not amused.
Not warm.
Just dangerous.
"An undead legion."
Chen Lie repeated the words like testing poison.
"My useless little brother truly refuses to die normally."
He walked back to the table where maps of the northern border were spread.
Trade routes.
Village names.
Military paths.
He stared at them.
The problem had changed.
This was no longer rebellion.
This was legitimacy.
A governor had bowed.
Villages had pledged loyalty.
And now—
An army from history had chosen Chen Sheng.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
He looked toward Shadow Sparrow.
"Prepare the Black Iron Army."
She blinked.
That was serious.
Very serious.
The Black Iron Army was not an assassination squad.
It was war.
She bowed immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness."
But before she could leave—
Another servant rushed in.
Terrified.
"Your Highness!"
Chen Lie frowned.
"What now?"
The servant nearly collapsed.
"The Seventh Princess… has left the capital."
Silence.
Shadow Sparrow slowly closed her eyes.
Ah.
That was somehow worse.
Chen Lie's expression finally changed.
Not anger.
Annoyance.
Real annoyance.
"Where?"
The servant swallowed.
"She is travelling north."
Of course she was.
Of course.
Chen Lie smiled.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Chen Yao."
He whispered the name like a future headache.
"She chooses interesting moments."
The Seventh Princess was dangerous because she rarely moved.
And when she did—
It mattered.
He looked back toward the north.
"Watch her."
Shadow Sparrow nodded.
"And if she chooses Fifth Brother's side?"
Chen Lie's answer came without hesitation.
"Then she stops being my sister."
Simple.
Royal families were beautiful like that.
Far away—
The Northern Border was enjoying peace.
Which meant something terrible was obviously about to happen.
I stood in the training courtyard watching the Ghost Legion integrate with the outpost defences.
Honestly—
Watching ten thousand undead soldiers obey military paperwork was strangely satisfying.
Yue Lian looked almost emotional.
"They follow formation commands perfectly."
I nodded.
"Undead soldiers don't complain about schedules."
She looked thoughtful.
"…I would like more of them."
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
Hu Mei walked in carrying fruit that she definitely stole from somewhere.
"Master."
I raised a brow.
"That tone means trouble."
She smiled.
"Correct."
I respected honesty.
She tossed me a letter.
Silver wax.
Plum blossom seal.
I caught it.
Ah.
Princess problems.
Again.
I broke the seal.
Elegant handwriting.
Sharp and familiar.
Chen Yao.
Of course.
I read silently.
Fifth Brother,
I heard you found an army of dead men.
Congratulations.
This is somehow the least surprising thing you have done.
I am coming north.
Try not to die before I arrive.
Also, tell your Phoenix woman that I enjoy difficult conversations.
— Chen Yao
I stared at the letter.
Then read the last line again.
Ah.
Violence.
Political violence.
Excellent.
Hu Mei leaned over my shoulder.
"Oh."
She grinned.
"She chose war."
Feng Yuehuang, standing ten steps away, somehow still heard it.
Of course she did.
She walked over slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
I handed her the letter like a man transferring a live bomb.
She read it.
Silence.
Golden eyes lifted to meet mine.
Very calm.
Too calm.
"The Seventh Princess is visiting."
I nodded carefully.
"Yes."
She folded the letter once.
Twice.
Perfectly.
"Interesting."
That word had never sounded more threatening.
I coughed.
"She seems friendly."
Feng Yuehuang smiled.
A small, beautiful, terrifying smile.
"I look forward to meeting her."
Ah.
Death.
I recognised it again.
Hu Mei was already enjoying herself too much.
"I should prepare snacks for the battlefield."
Lin Xue simply turned around and left.
Smart woman.
Very smart.
Xue Ning entered at that moment, saw everyone's expressions, and immediately understood there was emotional warfare happening.
She sighed softly.
"A royal princess?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
She looked at me.
"Good luck."
No support.
No mercy.
Wonderful.
By sunset, the entire outpost knew.
The Seventh Princess was coming north.
Soldiers whispered.
Villagers speculated.
Hu Mei took bets.
Illegal, probably.
Even Bai Wuchen looked mildly curious, which for an undead general was basically excitement.
And I—
I stood on the wall, watching the southern road disappear into the falling snow.
Another princess.
Another player.
Another dangerous woman is entering the board.
Honestly—
My enemies were terrifying.
My allies were worse.
I smiled anyway.
Good.
Let her come.
Let the capital send its princesses.
Let the throne send its storms.
Because the north no longer belonged to fear.
It belonged to me.
And if Chen Yao wanted to step into my territory—
Then she would learn something very quickly.
This exile had teeth.
And occasionally—
Very bad romantic timing.