The Imperial Palace felt colder than usual. It wasn't just the shifting air outside nor the weight of political unrest that had settled over the capital—it was the undeniable tension in the court. Bai Qingyu and Li Yuexin had long since become figures to be revered and feared, but as they stepped out of their seclusion, the world began to change in ways they hadn't anticipated.
Qingyu's icy presence filled the room as she walked alongside Yuexin. The air around them seemed to freeze in place, an effect that had long been noticed by those who had the fortune—or misfortune—to be in their proximity. The Divine Frost Empress was not just a title. It was an embodiment of power that had reached nearly the Primordial Celestial Lord level, with the immense power to freeze entire landscapes and send enemies to their graves with but a thought. Her calm demeanor, while seemingly gentle, hid the quiet force that could shatter mountains.
Yuexin, on the other hand, was a flame in every sense of the word. The Everlasting Flame Sovereign, a title that carried the weight of generations, was a being capable of setting entire fields ablaze with a mere flick of her fingers. She was just as powerful as Qingyu, but in a far more destructive manner. Her fiery energy surged constantly, boiling just below the surface, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
As they entered the court hall, Qingyu and Yuexin's presence immediately silenced the murmurs of the gathered nobles. Their gaze swept the room, and for a moment, even the most senior of the officials felt their breath catch. The emperors of the past had ruled with armies; the Empresses ruled with absolute mastery over their surroundings, and the very air seemed to bend to their will.
"What news?" Qingyu asked, her voice calm, yet every noble in the room instinctively straightened.
The chief advisor, Luo Zhen, stepped forward. He was a tall, gaunt man who had served under many rulers, his loyalty never in question. "Your Majesty, unrest in the Eastern Province continues to grow. Governor Zhao Lian has been secretly meeting with other provincial leaders and some remnants of General Li's faction. It appears he is stirring up discontent."
Yuexin's lip curled in amusement. "Zhao Lian? That old fool thinks he can rally anyone against us? Let him try. We'll show him how quickly empires can crumble when they oppose us."
Qingyu, however, remained composed. "Patience, Yuexin. A province here and there will not be the end of us. But if they are truly uniting under Zhao Lian, it is a threat we cannot ignore."
Zhao Lian's name hung in the air like a shadow. He had once been a loyal governor, but now, his ambition to challenge the Empresses was clear. His reach was not just limited to the Eastern Province, but it spread like a disease, touching others who were tired of Qingyu and Yuexin's iron rule.
"You're right," Yuexin said with a grin. "But let's not waste time. We know what to do."
Qingyu turned her gaze toward her. "We wait for the right moment. If we strike now, we risk inflaming the entire Empire. If Zhao Lian has gathered support, we expose him. We turn his own rebellion against him."
Elsewhere in the Empire, Zhao Lian convened with his closest allies. His study was dimly lit, the only light coming from a flickering candle on the table. Li Wei, his right-hand man, stood nearby, his eyes sharp with focus.
"They've found us, haven't they?" Zhao Lian murmured. "The Empresses never miss a trick."
Li Wei nodded, his tone cold. "They suspect something, but they haven't acted yet. We still have time."
"But how much time?" Zhao Lian's voice grew harder. "If we wait too long, they'll crush us before we can rise. The Empresses won't hesitate."
"We're still gathering support," Li Wei said, his mind working through the possibilities. "But we can't afford to underestimate them. Their cultivation is far beyond ours."
Zhao Lian scoffed. "Their power is nothing compared to the will of the people. We don't need to match their strength. We need to rally those who are dissatisfied. The common folk are already questioning their rule."
Li Wei shook his head. "You are right, but we cannot forget their strength. Bai Qingyu alone could obliterate our forces with a single command."
Zhao Lian clenched his fist, the veins in his hand visible beneath his skin. "Then we'll be ready for them. We won't fight them head-on. We'll weaken them slowly. Start with the governors. Then we strike at the heart of the capital."
Back in the capital, Qingyu and Yuexin knew time was running out. The tension between the Empresses and the governors was palpable. Every decision they made now could tip the scales.
In the grand hall, Qingyu addressed the court once again, the nobles and governors standing before her, wary but respectful. "We will deal with those who think they can defy us. Loyalty will be rewarded. Betrayal will be punished."
The room remained silent, but Qingyu could sense the underlying current of unease. The loyalty of the court was not as strong as it seemed. The cracks were there, and soon they would widen.
That night, Qingyu and Yuexin discussed their next moves in private. Yuexin's fiery energy still simmered beneath her skin, but she was careful not to let it spill over. "How long are we going to wait, Qingyu? We've exposed them; we've warned them. When do we move?"
Qingyu's gaze softened slightly, her fingers tracing the edge of the map. "We move when we have everything we need. We cannot afford to make a mistake."
As the days wore on, Qingyu and Yuexin's control over the court remained tenuous, their power only as strong as the loyalty of those around them. Zhao Lian's rebellion was gathering momentum, but for now, the Empresses held the advantage. Their strength lay not just in their power, but in their ability to read the world around them, to control the flow of information, and to strike at the right moment.
The storm was coming. And when it arrived, Qingyu and Yuexin would be ready.