The capital changed overnight.
Not because of fire.
Not because of blood.
But because of fear.
By morning, everyone knew:
Shen Wu had fallen.
Bo Qiang had survived.
Lei Yue had moved personally.
And when Lei Yue moved—
Nations trembled.
---
### INSIDE THE LEI RESIDENCE
Lei Hua sat on the steps, hugging her knees.
Her eyes were tired.
Her heart was heavier.
(*First corruption… then poison… now rebellion… Is this still the same story I was reading at my office?*)
Lei Yue stood beside her.
The wind lifted her sleeves.
"Today, Zhen Ruo will test the borders," she said calmly.
Lei Hua snapped her head up.
"The SECOND PRINCE is moving??"
Lei Yue nodded.
"He believes the capital is unstable."
Lei Hua panicked.
"So he wants to force a coup through war?!"
Lei Yue looked at her.
"You are learning."
Lei Hua felt no pride.
Only fear.
---
### AT THE BORDER
Smoke rose from the far horizon.
Enemy scouts crossed the line.
The soldiers panicked.
"They're testing us!"
"They're probing the defense!"
And then—
A single figure walked onto the battlefield.
Lei Yue.
No armor.
No banner.
No guards.
Just her.
The enemy archers froze.
Their general shouted:
"Shoot!!"
Arrows filled the sky.
Lei Hua, watching from afar through the mirror formation, screamed:
"SISTER YUE—!!!"
Lei Yue raised one hand.
The wind stopped.
Every arrow halted midair.
Then—
They fell.
Straight down.
The enemy army collapsed in terror.
"She— she stopped the sky—!!"
Lei Yue's voice echoed across the plain:
"Tell Zhen Ruo."
"This war… I allow it."
The battlefield fell into dead silence.
The enemy forces retreated in chaos.
---
### BACK IN THE CAPITAL
Zhen Ruo crushed the report in his hand.
"She declared it herself…"
His eyes burned.
"Good."
Shen Wu had failed.
Xiao Long had failed.
Jun Lin had failed.
So now—
Only the throne remained.
Lei Hua suddenly felt chills travel down her spine.
The system chimed.
[DING. The storm phase has begun.]
Lei Hua whispered:
"…This is really turning into a real war, isn't it?"
Lei Yue replied calmly:
"It always was."
END OF CHAPTER 16