The morning sun broke over the horizon, casting a faint light over the mountains where Su Jin's forces lay hidden. The tension of the coming battle hung heavy in the air, and though her soldiers were prepared, a storm was brewing—one that threatened not only the battlefield but the entire kingdom. Inside the kingdom's walls, political tensions were escalating, and in the heart of the capital, new threats were beginning to emerge.
In the royal palace, the normally bustling halls were now filled with a palpable sense of dread. The news of Cao Ying's rebellion had spread, and whispers of discontent echoed among the courtiers. Some noble families, long wary of the war's toll, began quietly aligning themselves with Cao Ying, believing his rebellion might offer a way out of the kingdom's growing instability. Others stayed loyal to Su Jin, but their confidence was wavering, and they feared the worst if the rebellion gained momentum.
In the southern provinces, Cao Ying's forces were gathering strength. What had started as a small band of rebels had grown into a formidable force, emboldened by the lack of a swift response from the capital. Cao Ying had begun rallying local militias and disillusioned nobles to his cause, convincing them that Su Jin's war against the Crimson Hand was draining the kingdom of its resources and strength. He positioned himself as the savior of the realm, the one who could bring peace and stability where Su Jin had only brought endless conflict.
As more vassals sent covert support, Cao Ying's network expanded further into the capital. His spies infiltrated the palace, sowing seeds of discord among the officials. Rumors of Su Jin's supposed inability to manage both the external war and internal affairs spread like wildfire. Soon, the once-unshakable loyalty many held for the queen began to erode.
Back in the mountains, Su Jin's forces were now positioned for their strike against the Crimson Hand. From her command post, she could see the enemy encampment in the distance. Her mind was focused on the battle ahead, yet the lingering threat of Cao Ying's rebellion was never far from her thoughts. She knew that any moment of weakness could spell disaster—not just for her troops, but for the kingdom itself.
Gu Tingfeng approached her, his face calm but serious. "The men are ready, Your Highness. We await your command."
Su Jin nodded, but before she could issue the order, a second messenger arrived—this one bearing grim news from the capital. The rebellion was spreading faster than anticipated, and the loyalist forces were struggling to maintain control. Worse still, some of her most trusted nobles had either gone silent or defected entirely to Cao Ying's side.
Su Jin clenched her fist around the message. Every part of her wanted to return to the capital and stamp out the rebellion herself, but she knew she could not afford to abandon the mission. The Crimson Hand had to be defeated, or there would be no kingdom left to save.
"We stay the course," Su Jin said firmly to her advisors. "The capital must hold. Once we finish here, we will deal with Cao Ying."
Zhang Huai stepped forward. "Perhaps we should send reinforcements back to the capital, Your Highness. If the rebellion grows much larger, it could pose an even greater threat than the Crimson Hand."
Su Jin shook her head. "Our forces are already spread thin. Any weakness here will be seen as an opportunity for the Crimson Hand to strike back. We must finish this fight."
Meanwhile, Cao Ying had begun moving his forces toward the capital's outer defenses. His strategy was simple—provoke enough unrest within the city to force Su Jin to divide her attention. He knew that if he could create enough chaos, her focus on the Crimson Hand would weaken, and she would have no choice but to either retreat or lose control of the kingdom entirely.
His trusted lieutenant, Liu An, stood by his side as they watched the first of their rebel forces move into position. "The queen is overextended," Liu An said with a sly smile. "Her arrogance will be her downfall."
Cao Ying nodded, his eyes fixed on the distant capital. "She believes she can fight a war on two fronts, but no ruler can hold a kingdom together when both the enemy and her own people rise against her."
Liu An looked at him curiously. "What if she returns victorious from the Crimson Hand? What will you do then?"
Cao Ying's expression hardened. "She won't. The kingdom is already crumbling beneath her. All we need is one more push."
As dawn broke over the battlefield, Su Jin's forces began their assault on the Crimson Hand's stronghold. The initial strike was swift and brutal, catching the enemy off guard. Her elite troops, led by Zhang Huai and Gu Tingfeng, fought fiercely, carving a path through the enemy lines. The sounds of battle echoed across the mountains, and for a brief moment, it seemed that victory was within reach.
But just as Su Jin's forces pressed forward, a new wave of Crimson Hand reinforcements arrived. The Blood Sovereign had anticipated the attack and had held back a portion of his army as a reserve force. Now, these reinforcements surged into the fray, threatening to turn the tide of battle.
Su Jin, from her vantage point, saw the shift and immediately ordered her reserves into action. "We must break through before they overwhelm us," she shouted to her commanders.
The battle intensified, and both sides fought with a desperation born of knowing that the outcome would determine the future of the kingdom.
At the same time, in the capital, chaos was erupting. Cao Ying's rebels had begun launching coordinated attacks on key positions within the city. The loyalist forces, caught off guard by the ferocity of the rebellion, struggled to hold their ground. The streets were filled with panic as citizens fled from the fighting, unsure of who would emerge victorious.
Inside the palace, Su Jin's remaining advisors scrambled to maintain order, but the situation was growing increasingly dire. Without Su Jin's leadership, the kingdom was teetering on the edge of collapse.