Chapter 223: Public Humiliation

The inner court was unusually tense that morning.

Even before the ministers had finished taking their places beneath the carved beams of the imperial hall, whispers had already begun moving through the chamber like smoke, passing from one official to another in lowered voices.

"Ashen Fortress..."

"They have gathered soldiers there."

"The three princesses have been seen training with them."

"It is rebellion."

"No, not yet."

"Not yet? How many soldiers must they gather before you call it rebellion?"

At the highest seat of the chamber, Empress Lihua listened without expression.

She sat beneath the imperial crest with one hand resting lightly against the arm of her chair, her posture perfectly composed despite the unease spreading through the court. The emperor was too ill to attend another morning assembly, which meant that once again, the burden of appearing to govern the empire had fallen upon her.

That suited her perfectly.

The ministers could believe they were gathering to discuss a crisis. They did not need to know that she had been waiting for one. When the final minister entered and bowed, Empress Lihua lifted her gaze.

"Let’s begin."

The murmuring ceased.

Minister Zhou, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward first. He bowed deeply before speaking. "Your Majesty, reports from the western territories have become increasingly concerning. The three princesses have remained at Ashen Fortress since their exile from the capital, and our scouts now estimate that their forces have grown considerably."

"How considerably?" Empress Lihua asked.

"Several hundred soldiers, Your Majesty."

A few ministers exchanged glances.

Empress Lihua’s expression remained still. "Several hundred," she repeated. "And where did they obtain such forces?"

"That is uncertain," Minister Zhou admitted. "Some appear to be former soldiers who served under the late empress. Others are local cultivators and mercenaries who have gathered around the fortress."

Minister Gao, an older military official, stepped forward. "That alone does not prove rebellion."

Several heads turned toward him.

Minister Gao continued carefully, "Ashen Fortress once belonged to the former empress. Her Majesty maintained residence there during the earlier years of her marriage. The fortress has always been associated with her household, and the three princesses were raised there for part of their childhood."

Empress Lihua’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"And?"

The minister hesitated. "I merely mean that the princesses may have nowhere else to go."

A quiet murmur passed through the hall.

Empress Lihua leaned back.

"Nowhere else to go?"

"No, Your Majesty. I am suggesting that Ashen Fortress may be the only place they still consider home."

For a moment, Empress Lihua said nothing. That answer was inconvenient.

It was also precisely the sort of answer she expected from men who still believed the triplets could be reasoned with.

"Their feelings toward that fortress are irrelevant," she finally said. "What matters is what they are doing there."

Minister Gao remained silent.

Empress Lihua’s gaze moved across the chamber. "They are gathering soldiers."

No one interrupted.

"They are training them."

Still nothing.

"And now," she continued, her voice becoming colder, "they have begun making preparations to intercept imperial weapons."

The chamber erupted.

"What?"

"Imperial weapons?"

"Are you certain?"

"Where did you hear this?"

Empress Lihua raised one hand and the ministers immediately fell silent.

"The information has been confirmed."

Minister Zhou’s face tightened. "If the princesses are attempting to seize weapons belonging to the imperial army, then that changes everything."

Minister Gao frowned. "Your Majesty, may I ask what evidence we have that they intend to steal the weapons rather than merely intercept the shipment for some other reason?"

Empress Lihua looked directly at him. "Does there need to be another reason?"

The minister faltered.

Empress Lihua continued, "They have assembled an army inside a fortress, gathered former imperial soldiers beneath their banner and now intend to seize weapons belonging to the throne. Tell me, Minister Gao, what would you call that?"

He lowered his eyes. "I would call it dangerous."

"Exactly."

Empress Lihua allowed the silence to settle. She had deliberately chosen her words.

She had not said that the triplets had declared war or that they’re to attack the empire. She had simply placed their actions beside one another and allowed the ministers to reach the conclusion she wanted.

One of the younger officials swallowed nervously. "If the princesses acquire the weapons, they could arm every soldier within Ashen Fortress."

"And if they continue gathering soldiers," another minister added, "their numbers could become difficult to contain."

"Which means we should send troops immediately."

Several ministers began arguing at once.

Empress Lihua watched them. This was exactly what she needed. Fear was easier to govern than loyalty.

Eventually, she raised her voice. "Enough."

The hall fell silent.

Empress Lihua looked toward the military officials. "This matter will be handled before it grows beyond control."

A minister near the front bowed. "Which official will Your Majesty appoint?"

Empress Lihua’s lips curved faintly. "General Han Zheng."

The reaction was immediate.

Several ministers looked at one another. One actually raised his eyebrows.

It didn’t unnoticed by the Empress. "Is there a problem?"

"No, Your Majesty," he replied quickly.

"Then why do you look surprised?"

The minister lowered his head. "I had assumed such a matter would be assigned to a frontier commander or one of the imperial army’s regional officers."

A few ministers looked down, hiding their expressions.

Empress Lihua’s gaze shifted toward the entrance. "Then perhaps you should ask General Han Zheng himself."

The enormous doors opened.

General Han Zheng entered.

He had clearly been summoned directly from military affairs. His dark uniform was immaculate, but there was tension in his face, and the moment he realized every minister in the inner court was staring at him, his expression became noticeably colder.

He bowed. "Your Majesty."

Lihua looked down at him. "General Han."

Han Zheng waited.

"I have just informed the ministers that you will be personally overseeing the imperial weapons shipment travelling west."

His jaw tightened.

They’d already discussed this in private. Why did she want to publicly humiliate him? "The weapons shipment?"

"Yes."

"I understand."

"You will ensure the weapons reach their destination safely."

Han Zheng’s fingers curled inside his sleeves. There were hundreds of officers beneath his command. Thousands of soldiers.

He was one of the most powerful military figures in the empire. And she was sending him to personally oversee a weapons shipment.

The task was beneath him and everyone in the room knew it. That was why the silence felt so humiliating.

One of the ministers cleared his throat. "General Han is perhaps the busiest commander in the empire. Surely an officer of lesser rank could—"

"No," Lihua interrupted. Her voice was calm. "I want General Han Zheng. He’s the only one I can trust."

Han Zheng lifted his eyes toward her. For the briefest moment, something passed between them.

He understood.

She was doing this deliberately.

The weapons shipment was the same shipment she had ordered him to secure privately, but now she was making his assignment public.

He could not refuse.

If he did, the entire court would wonder why a general of his standing was unwilling to protect imperial weapons.

If he refused because the task was beneath him, he would appear arrogant.

If he accepted, he would have to endure the humiliation.

Empress Lihua had trapped him perfectly.

General Han Zheng bowed."As Your Majesty commands."

Lihua smiled. "Good."

The minister who had spoken earlier glanced nervously between them. "Your Majesty, if I may ask, what of Ashen Fortress itself?"

Lihua turned toward him. "The fortress will be dealt with afterward."

"Afterward?"

"Yes." Her voice hardened. "First, we prevent the princesses from obtaining imperial weapons. Then we determine how much of their force remains."

Han Zheng’s eyes flickered.

He understood the implication.

If the triplets attempted to intercept the shipment, he would have an excuse to confront them directly. And if they resisted, the court would no longer see them as displaced princesses seeking refuge.

They would be rebels.

Lihua had given him permission to turn suspicion into proof.

Minister Gao, however, still seemed troubled. "Your Majesty, forgive me, but perhaps the princesses should first be summoned and questioned. Their mother once lived at Ashen Fortress. They may genuinely believe they are protecting what remains of her household."

Lihua looked at him for several seconds. "Minister Gao."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"You are concerned about their intentions."

"I am concerned about unnecessary bloodshed."

Lihua’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Then you should pray that they surrender before General Han arrives."

Han Zheng’s eyes darkened.

There it was.

Another humiliation.

He was not merely being sent to stop a weapons theft. He was being publicly presented as the man responsible for forcing three royal princesses into submission.

The ministers would watch.

The court would gossip. And if the triplets escaped him, his reputation would suffer. If they resisted, blood would stain his hands.

Lihua had placed him in a position where every outcome strengthened her.

Han Zheng bowed once more. "When shall I depart?"

"Immediately."

His eyes lifted. "Immediately?"

"Yes."

Lihua’s tone left no room for argument. "The shipment is already moving west. I will not have you arrive after the princesses have taken possession of it."

Han Zheng’s expression remained controlled, but his irritation was unmistakable. "I will leave at once."

"Good." Lihua dismissed him with a gesture.

Han Zheng turned.

As he walked through the hall, he could feel the eyes of every minister following him. None dared laugh.

No one dared comment. But he could hear the silence. And somehow, that was worse.