At that moment, Qian Renxue's heart was like a sea churned by towering waves, torn by indecision.
Chen Xuanqing gently urged her, "Xue'er, you don't need to agonize over this. Just name the people you believe you can trust, and we can bring the commanders under our control. Then our army will strike with the might of ten thousand thunderbolts. Even if they harbor divided loyalties, they won't have time to send so much as a message."
At his words, Qian Renxue drew a deep breath of the crisp night air, and the turmoil in her heart gradually subsided.
She nodded lightly, a glimmer of resolve flashing in her eyes. "Among the Imperial Knights, there is a commander named Jiang Xu. We have a deep friendship and trust each other. Long Shihu, the commander of my Crown Prince's Guards, is also trustworthy. As for the others, looking back now, they were merely sycophants."
Chen Xuanqing smiled faintly and continued, "As a commander of the Imperial Knights, Jiang Xu can mobilize three thousand elite soldiers. Long Shihu's Crown Prince's Guards number only five hundred, but every one of them is the cream of the crop, far stronger than an ordinary Imperial Knight. Together, these two forces total over thirty-five hundred men, enough to stir up a storm in the Imperial City."
Light sparkled in Qian Renxue's eyes, as though she could already see hope of victory.
She clenched her fists and made up her mind. If they won this battle, she could openly return to living as a woman and be her true self again.
The two exchanged a smile, each understanding the other's intentions.
Then a profound resolve flashed in Chen Xuanqing's eyes, and he told Qian Renxue, "Good. Go make the arrangements and bring Long Shihu and Jiang Xu