Chapter 190: A Gamble of Trust
The decision is made quickly. Lin Yuer will not wait for General Xian's forces to come to her. She will take the battle to him, not with swords and arrows, but with the truth. A plan is set into motion: Lin Yuer will personally address the people of the empire, through a royal proclamation, to expose the lies that General Xian has spread.
In the dead of night, a proclamation is drafted and sent across the empire. The ink on the scroll is fresh, the words carefully chosen to cast doubt on General Xian's motivations. The message is clear: this rebellion is not one of the people, but one of ambition and deceit.
Lin Yuer has taken a risk. If the people believe her, it will defuse the situation, but if they side with General Xian, her reign will be in peril.
As the dawn breaks, Lin Yuer takes a deep breath and steps out onto the balcony of the palace, where a sea of people has gathered below. The air is thick with anticipation, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She can feel the eyes of the capital, of the empire, watching her every move. She steps forward, her voice carrying through the silence.
"Citizens of the Empire," Lin Yuer begins, her tone strong and commanding, "I stand before you not as a ruler, but as a servant of the people. There are those who seek to sow discord, to turn us against each other. They claim to fight for your freedom, but what they really fight for is power."
A murmur ripples through the crowd.
"I know that many of you are afraid," Lin Yuer continues, her voice steady despite the rising tension. "I know that change can be difficult. But I ask you to look beyond the lies. Look to the progress we have made together. We cannot return to the old ways—those ways were broken. I stand before you to promise that I will protect you, that we will grow stronger together. But we cannot allow ourselves to be misled by those who seek to divide us."
The crowd is silent as Lin Yuer finishes her speech. For a moment, there is no response, just a hushed, expectant stillness. Lin Yuer's heart pounds in her chest as she waits for the first sign of approval or rejection.