Warm Palace Curtains, Ju Zi Humiliated While Attending the Emperor

Meanwhile, in Ming Du, thousands of miles away, the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace was still brightly lit.

Just as the last Soul Guidance lamp at the Sea God Pavilion went dark, the silver-blue palace lamps here had reached their brightest. War never erupted only at the borders. It could also begin deep within the imperial palace, pressing down silently upon everyone through an Empress's golden seal, an edict of deployment, and seemingly respectable rules within the bedchamber.

The night in the Sun Moon imperial palace was colder than any battlefield.

Ju Zi sat in the Empress's bedchamber, listening as the eunuchs withdrew one layer at a time. The lights outside the hall blazed brilliantly, and the incense haze within was warm, yet every breath felt as though it were being strangled by golden threads. Xu Tianran would not personally lead the campaign. A man like him excelled at sending others to die while he remained at Ming Du's highest point, reading battle reports. But Ju Zi was to march in the Sun Moon Imperial Family's name. By old imperial custom, on the night before departure, Xu Tianran still had to spend the night in the Empress's palace. The rule sounded dignified, but in truth, it was merely a performance for the imperial clan, Inner Court, and military.

She had already sent the letters that needed to be sent.

The Old Key had broken, the state letter would soon arrive, and Heaven Soul would fall into chaos first.

Xu Tianran would hold Ming Du, while Ju Zi, the Empress and War Goddess, would march out.

Both letters were brief—so brief that they resembled military intelligence rather than old affection. Every Soul Guidance lamp in the Sun Moon imperial palace could be an eye, and every eunuch serving tea might answer