No matter how intricate the composition of the capital’s officials—be they from aristocratic families, opportunists drifting with the tide, those secretly entangled with the Wang, Yang, and Li Clans, or even those planted by demonic cults—none of them wielded real military power. In contrast, under Huangfu Qing’s covert orchestration, the Four Idols Cult had been meticulously cultivating its influence for years, establishing a formidable underground network.0

The last remaining elite imperial guard had been dispatched to reinforce the battlefield at Puyang. Hardened by the flames of war, they had likely returned even sharper than before. Now that the battle at Puyang had concluded, this force was likely rushing back to the capital—a journey not overly long. Upon their return, no one would be more pleased than Vermillion Bird.0

The reason? The commanding general was her younger brother, and his expedited return could mean only one thing. He was coming to aid his sister.0

Xia Longyuan’s decision to grant Huangfu Shaozong military command was not due to any sudden moral awakening. Rather, when facing the Wang Clan as adversaries, there were few generals in the capital whose loyalty to the crown could be...0