Dawn in the Imperial Capital arrived like bad news.
Golden sunlight touched the palace roofs, birds sang like the empire wasn't falling apart, and somewhere deep inside the Third Prince's residence—
A vase shattered.
Very loudly.
Servants froze.
Guards pretended they had gone deaf.
Even the palace cats made responsible life choices and disappeared.
Because news from the north had arrived.
And it was terrible.
Inside the war chamber, Chen Lie stood in absolute silence.
Which, somehow, was much worse than shouting.
Before him knelt Shadow Sparrow, head lowered, voice careful.
"The Black Iron Army has withdrawn from Broken Cliff Pass."
Silence.
She continued.
"Supply routes were destroyed. Three outer camps lost. General Xu was wounded."
Still silence.
The generals standing nearby looked like men preparing their own funerals.
Because everyone knew—
The Third Prince did not fear defeat.
He feared embarrassment.
And this?
This was a spectacular embarrassment.
Shadow Sparrow forced herself to continue.
"The northern nobles are already spreading news of the victory."
She swallowed.
"The Fifth Prince is being called… the Sovereign of the North."
There it was.
The dangerous title.
Not exile.
Not rebel.
Sovereign.
A word that made ministers sweat and emperors lose sleep.
Chen Lie slowly turned toward the window.
His reflection in the glass looked calm.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
He spoke softly.
"My little brother sends excellent messages."
No one answered.
Correct choice.
He looked toward the northern mountains.
"First, he sends me Luo Shan's head."
His voice remained perfectly controlled.
"Then he returns my cavalry tied to horses."
A pause.
"Now he sends me General Xu's defeat."
His hand rested lightly on the table.
The wood beneath it cracked.
Just slightly.
Enough.
Shadow Sparrow kept her head low.
Because survival was a skill.
Chen Lie smiled.
And somehow, that was the worst part.
"Good."
He turned back.
"Very good."
His eyes were colder now.
"No more tests."
He looked at the gathered generals.
"No more patience."
General Han stepped forward carefully.
"Your Highness…"
Chen Lie raised a hand.
"The Black Iron Army failed because I treated him like a problem."
His voice sharpened.
"He is no longer a problem."
Silence.
Then—
"He is a rival."
The room felt heavier.
Because that meant something.
A prince acknowledging another prince as a true rival was more dangerous than any imperial decree.
It meant war without mercy.
Chen Lie walked to the strategy table.
His finger stopped on the capital.
Then moved north.
Slowly.
Until it rested over the northern border.
"I will go personally."
Everyone froze.
Shadow Sparrow's head lifted for the first time.
The Third Prince himself?
That was not politics.
That was annihilation.
General Han immediately knelt.
"Your Highness, dangerous—"
Chen Lie looked at him once.
The general remembered he enjoyed breathing and stopped.
Good instincts.
Chen Lie smiled faintly.
"If my brother wishes to become a legend…"
His voice became quiet.
"…then I will personally decide where the story ends."
Cold.
Sharp.
Final.
Even Shadow Sparrow felt it.
The real war had begun.
Not armies.
Not scouts.
Brothers.
And brothers were always the bloodiest battles.
—
Far away in the Northern Border, I was enjoying breakfast.
Again.
Which meant disaster was approaching.
Again.
Hu Mei sat across from me, stealing food with the confidence of someone who believed taxes were a personal insult.
Correct.
Mo Jianli was teaching ghost soldiers how to "look more intimidating".
Honestly, they were already dead.
I wasn't sure how much more he wanted.
Feng Yuehuang drank tea like a woman judging heaven itself.
Beautifully.
Peacefully.
Dangerously.
I was almost relaxed—
When a scout sprinted into the hall.
I sighed.
"Yes, tragedy?"
He dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness!"
He looked both terrified and excited.
The worst combination.
"News from the capital."
I nodded.
"And?"
He swallowed.
"The Third Prince is moving personally."
Silence.
Even Hu Mei stopped stealing food.
That's serious.
Lord Xue, standing nearby, frowned deeply.
"Chen Lie himself?"
The scout nodded.
"Yes."
Old Master Zhao exhaled slowly.
"That means no retreat."
Exactly.
This was not a commander.
Not an army.
This was the throne's favourite son walking north.
Politics changed.
Everything changed.
I stood slowly.
The room followed.
Feng Yuehuang set down her tea.
Golden eyes are calm.
Too calm.
"Good."
I looked at her.
"That sounded alarmingly pleased."
She folded her arms.
"At last, the real enemy arrives."
Fair.
Very fair.
Chen Yao, standing near the doorway, spoke quietly.
"If Third Brother comes himself…"
Her eyes met mine.
"…he intends to end this completely."
I smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Then I stretched like a man preparing for a meeting instead of possible death.
"Perfect."
Hu Mei blinked.
"Perfect?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
I walked to the strategy table.
Because if destiny wanted drama, I preferred excellent lighting.
"For too long, Chen Lie fought from the capital."
I pointed north.
"Now he comes here."
Then smiled.
"My territory."
That mattered.
This was no longer his palace.
No court ministers.
No imperial walls.
No safety.
Only snow.
Only war.
Only me.
And if he stepped into the north—
then for the first time in his life—
Chen Lie would have to play by my rules.
Honestly?
That sounded fun.
Very fun.
Bai Wuchen appeared silently behind me.
The undead general's voice was like old thunder.
"The Ghost Legion awaits."
Good.
Yue Lian stepped forward.
"The Phoenix Guards are ready."
Excellent.
Old Master Zhao nodded.
"House Zhao stands."
Perfect.
Lord Xue bowed once.
"The north follows."
Even better.
I looked around the room.
To everyone who has chosen this path.
To everyone who had decided my rebellion was worth surviving.
This—
This was the difference.
Chen Lie had the empire.
I had people willing to bleed.
I smiled slowly.
"Then let him come."
Outside, the crimson banner rose against the cold northern sky.
Far away, the capital trembled.
Closer still—
The north was waiting.
The Third Prince had finally stepped onto the battlefield.
Good.
Because I was tired of sending messages.
Now—
I would send welcomes.
And if my dear Third Brother wished to visit exile—
Then I would make sure he never forgot the hospitality.