"Did the Alzar Kingdom really kill Empress Mei?"
"What's this about overthrowing the Imperial Family?"
"Is it true Her Highnesses are still alive?"
"Tell us the truth!"
Crowds formed around the provincial government's assembly hall and the Jun Family's headquarters in Di Shenzhao. Their rowdy voices could be heard across the city. It was true that most people would not give these rumors a second thought, but a small minority would. To them, they placed great importance on righteousness and justice. They heard all about the injustices that the Imperial Princesses suffered at the hands of the Imperial Council. The Imperial Council existed to serve the Imperial Family, and not the other way around. It was clear that those who controlled the council, such as the Prime Minister and the three Great Nobility Families, had grown too ambitious. They threatened to overthrow natural order and become emperors themselves!
Soldiers stood in their way, but they were severely outnumbered. After all, the city guard overlapped with the army. Many of the soldiers patrolled the city on a rotational basis, while they were stationed here. However, with the recent conflicts in the north, most of the soldiers were called to report under the Jun Family's banner. This left the city with far fewer guards than usual. Under normal circumstances, they would have been more than adequate for anything that came up, but the recent protests exceeded their ability to handle. It was taking the city guard everything they had to keep the angry citizens back! Yet, this could hardly be considered violent. The citizens were expressing their outrage, but it was far from a revolt. These small waves would pass with time. This was why the provincial government did nothing to appease. They knew the people would eventually burn themselves out and go home except… a blood-curdling scream deafened the crowds.
Everyone looked over to find a bloodied young woman cradling a child. Her body and clothes were stained deep with red. It was clear that she used her body to shield her child from harm. As for the source of harm, it was a soldier from the Jun Family, his sword dripping with blood. He had a crazed expression on his face. He ignored the attention he was getting and attacked once more! She screamed! Blood splashed!
"It's your fault! You should've remained ignorant! Yes, we admit it! We killed Empress Mei! We killed Emperor Lianghu! And we'll kill the Imperial Princesses soon enough! We'll overthrow them and become the new Imperial Family! All you dogs need to know is how to beg and die!" the soldier laughed. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. He raised his sword for one final strike.
"Someone, help me!" the woman screamed.
"Who are you? Stop him!" the guard captain panicked.
"Get away from her!" the crowds shouted and charged over.
Two nearby soldiers arrived in time to arrest the man, but the damage had already been done. The crowd had grown furious over his outrageous statements and actions. This was the Jun Family's true colors! People began attacking the city guards! Under the sudden assault, the soldiers were trampled on one by one. Their defensive line shattered immediately. What's more, the citizens picked up the fallen weapons and brandished themselves. Although the captains shouted the order to retreat, it was a lost cause. They were grossly outnumbered, soon to swallowed up by the crowds. A large-scale riot was beginning to unfold!
Away from the noise, several people gathered in a discrete alleyway. It was the woman with her child, the man who assaulted her, and the soldiers who arrested him! Despite the previously tense situation between them, they acted without the least bit of concern. The woman removed her soiled clothes and replaced them with a fresh set. Through glimpses between her clothes, one would notice she had not the tiniest bruise on her skin. She was completely unharmed! The blood? It was a mixture of berries, vegetables, and dyes, professionally concocted to a similar consistency and color as real blood. It was nearly indistinguishable if one did not smell or taste it directly. They were stored in thin bags that would rupture into a beautiful fountain with the tiniest poke. Everyone coordinated perfectly to create the performance from before. Their goal was to throw the city into chaos!
"It looks like they've fallen for it," the woman smirked.
"Your performance was too exaggerated, especially you… your speech was improvised. I told you to stick with the script," one of the soldiers snarled.
"My apologies. I thought this would be better," he replied with a demure voice. His demeanor was unlike anything he showed before.
"You're lucky that things went this well. Otherwise, your head would be on the line."
"I will take that into account next time."
"This would've been easier if we killed someone for real," the other soldier sighed. "There would've been no need to put ourselves at risk."
"I know, but we were given explicit orders not to harm any more than necessary. That order had a higher priority than our mission."
"Whose order is this? When did we care about the empire's people?"
"We don't question our orders. We only carry them out."
"I was rambling. Ignore me."
Like Di Shenzhao, the same scenes were seen across the Wu-Lin Province. Whether it was a small local town, a busy city, or a major provincial capital, every settlement was engulfed in a sea of unrest. The whole province seemed to riot simultaneously! And this phenomenon was not limited to the Wu-Lin Province either, as cases were seen throughout the Jun Family's territory of the Qianxian and Haiqing Provinces. The Jian Family's territory suffered the same in the Anqin, Luai-Xan, and Anxi Provinces. The Bunjiang-Song, Songhui, and Yinshi Provinces of the Shui Family, and even the central province of Zhongjing where Yongtein resided. It seemed like the entire Xingyuu Empire rioted at once! Back at the Quiton Gates, the officers and generals gave a twisted expression. Unit Commander Haea's face was particularly haunting.
"The kingdom planned this from the very start!" She furiously slammed the table.
"What are we doing to do? Should we send people to quell the riots?"
"Absolutely not! That's exactly what the kingdom wants us to do," she hissed.
"The Wu-Lin government must be requesting assistance from me," General Goumeng groaned. He was the general of the Jun Family's army here, which meant many of the soldiers in his army came from these cities' city guard. One could say he was indirectly responsible for the chaos now. Naturally, that meant he had the responsibility to clean up the mess too.
"Ignore their requests. Our battle here has the highest priority. That's an order," Unit Commander Haea snarled. She was not about to have the army fall apart under her watch.
"I understand," the general saluted solemnly.
"What about your families, General Tang and General Songlin? Have you received anything?"
"Nothing yet, but our territories are far from here. I wouldn't expect an update until two weeks from now," General Tang replied.
"I've received an update," General Songlin replied, much to everyone's surprise.
"That quickly?"
"I'm afraid so. The Shui Family is requesting my immediate return. That goes for our armies too."
"Don't be ridiculous. We're about to battle the kingdom here. We need your presence here more than ever!" Unit Commander Haea stated, her eyes furiously condemning his behavior. She knew all about his cowardly and uncooperative attitude in the southern front. His army contributed nothing and suffered zero casualties, yet he wanted to scurry back home before the big battle? It was utterly unacceptable! She wanted to skin him alive for suggesting it at all!
"As far as I know, my army doesn't fall under your chain of command. We're merely cooperating as a formality, so my family's orders take precedence over yours," General Songlin shrugged.
"How dare you! We should execute him and seize control of his troops now!" Unit Commander Duan roared. His statement prompted the Shui Family's guards to draw their swords, which further prompted every guard to do the same. Instantly, swords were drawn in every direction! A battle seemed imminent!
"General Songlin… If you do this, you'll be making an enemy out of the entire empire," Unit Commander Haea threatened. "Might I remind you where your patriarch stands?"
"I'm not sure what I should say except… do you really think you should be fighting my army and myself when there's an enemy at the gates? That would give them the perfect opportunity to attack."
"There won't be a fight. We could kill you right here and now," Unit Commander Duan snorted.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." General Songlin returned a mysterious gaze.
"Let him and their army go," Unit Commander Haea spat.
"Are you sure?"
"His twenty thousand third-rate trash? They wouldn't even qualify as fodder on my battlefield! You can take your army and get lost. And tell your Shui Family that we won't forget this. We'll settle our debts one day!" she gnashed her teeth.
"Thank you for your magnanimity," General Songlin said sarcastically before leaving.