Chapter 221: A Web of Lies and Strategy
Lin Yuer orders her agents to quietly stir unrest within Shen Zhi's ranks. Discreet rumors about his true intentions—his desire for absolute power, his connections with the rebels—are spread. His closest allies begin to question his loyalty, and dissent begins to brew within the coalition.
At the same time, Lin Yuer ensures that the merchant guilds in the capital are aware of the growing unrest. Her agents circulate stories that Shen Zhi is working against the best interests of the empire, positioning himself as a threat to the stability Lin Yuer has fought so hard to restore.
The trap is set.
As expected, Shen Zhi's support begins to crumble. His coalition fractures as key figures in the merchant guilds pull away from him. Those who were once loyal begin to abandon his cause, fearing that their association with him will cost them their influence.
Shen Zhi, realizing that his empire of wealth and power is crumbling, tries to salvage the situation by rallying his remaining followers. But it is too late. The nobility, who had once been skeptical of Lin Yuer, now see her as the only force capable of ensuring the empire's stability.
In a final, desperate move, Shen Zhi attempts to rally a small faction of his private army to stage a coup. But Lin Yuer is prepared. She orders her own forces to intercept him, and within hours, the merchant leader is captured.