"Your Majesty."
Arkan's voice interrupted the moment Lin Rui had been enjoying.
Lin Rui looked up from the map on the table. He had been pretending to study the mountain passes of the border, but his mind had been miles away, drifting toward the woman sitting across from him. Princess Lian Zhi had been summoned again to his room, to "discuss" the Chancellor's plan.
"Commander," Lin Rui acknowledged. Using his formal title to sound serious, as if he hadn't been pretending to be busy with the plan to counter the coup, while he was actually ignoring it.
Arkan's face was grim. He stood there with his arms folded, radiating tension. Unfortunately for Lin Rui, Arkan saw right through his pretense.
"The Hua forces have mobilized," Arkan said, stating the fact. "Scouts report a full battalion positioned along the border. They are not advancing, but they are ready. Waiting."
Lin Rui's chest tightened. He didn't realize it was already moving that fast.
