As night deepened, Jade Capital City lay shrouded in silence.
Within the imperial city, deep beyond layer upon layer of palace gates, Emperor Yan Xu Yin had already retired in the sleeping chambers behind Yangxin Zhai.
Over the past month, the situation at the Northern Border had grown tense. Golden Court and the Night Clan had been increasingly active, conflicts had flared without end across the land, and debates over forming the "North Cang Alliance" had raged day and night.
Even in the dead of night, calculations and balances among the various powers still circled through his mind.
In his haze, he seemed to hear a burst of footsteps from afar.
Xu Yin slowly opened his eyes.
An emperor's instincts brought him instantly awake.
He threw back the bright yellow brocade quilt, sat up, and asked toward the hall outside in a deep voice, "What is all this commotion?"
His voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.
The eunuch on night duty outside clearly had not expected His Majesty to have been awakened. He hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, dropping to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling with fear. "Y-Your Majesty, please quell your anger. This servant... this servant does not know the details either. I only vaguely heard activity outside concerning an urgent report. It seems to be from the Jingwu Guard..."
The eunuch was incoherent, clearly knowing nothing of the situation.
Xu Yin frowned slightly.
An urgent midnight report from the Jingwu Guard meant something major had happened.
"Go. Summon Liu Fu to see me at once." Xu Yin rose, casually took the casual clothes hanging from the screen and draped them over himself, then walked toward the hall doors.
"Yes, yes! This servant will go at once!" As if granted