Part 3: The Imperial Chessboard
In truth, Cheng Mubai had only just missed the chance to know Li Junce.
Initially, Mont Mentiel had hoped to arrange for Li Junce to attend the Elector's conference, using his identity as the former Tiger Wing Grand Vizier to show that the former Lord did not lean towards the Grand-Heir faction. However, the Grand-Heir faction assessed the situation and decided not to engage on the "Tiger Wing card." Thus, with the policy of "if the enemy makes no move, neither do I," Li Junce became a sidelined card, missing the opportunity to attend the conference.
Consequently, Cheng Mubai never got the chance to know who Li Junce was, much less realize that he had once held the heir to the Tiger Wing Duchy and the Princess of the Raven Duchy, enough to control the direction of two duchies.
However, that issue was no longer important in this labyrinth.
Outside the labyrinth, Prime Lake City was now in chaos. The news of the Dragon Tooth Lord's death had spread, and an outbreak of civil war was an outcome the city's residents could almost predict. The Duke's death spread like a sudden plague in the night. Panic and suspicion replaced the old order. Everyone understood that the string maintaining the Empire's surface peace had snapped.
The Silver Wolf Lord, Li Shiye, quickly retreated to his residence. Eight thousand Silver Wolf soldiers were fully armed, not only guarding their residence but also pushing into the surrounding districts, controlling all roads leading to the residence and setting up defensive fortifications.
At this moment, only by being too tough to chew could one survive.
Hua Dan, the Bronze Sparrow Lord, who had not mobilized a large army into the city, chose a different path. Without notifying any close advisors or important officials, he quietly appeared at the docks, boarded a fast ship belonging to the Bronze Sparrow Duchy, and silently sailed away from Prime Lake City—a powder keg about to explode—while everyone's attention was drawn to the events at the Dragon Tooth Duchy residence.
His departure was a silent statement, a self-preserving escape.
Mont Mentiel also arrived at Dipper Aureus Duke's palace two hours late. Although Mont Mentiel had only mobilized three thousand Raven troops, an army needed preparation time to deploy. Considering the overall reaction, Mont Mentiel had been very fast.
The Ravens' notification about the Black Sheep villa incident was only received just before Mont Mentiel was about to enter the palace gates, putting him in a dilemma.
On one side, the army was ready, the Dipper Aureus Duke had already made his move, and tonight was the time to decide the victory. If he diverted troops to deal with the Black Sheep Duchy to rescue Mont Angelina, the entire strategic plan would be ruined.
He clearly knew that dividing forces to deal with a madman like Cheng Mubai meant handing over the imminent victory. He was not a person who would be entirely ruled by familial affection. After weighing that he could not achieve both goals simultaneously, he made a decision that was painful as a brother, but utterly correct as an ally and strategist—to trust the man he had personally introduced into the game: Li Junce.
"I can only hope Li Junce can keep my sister safe."
After all, Mont Mentiel was not omnipotent. He clearly understood when and how to act.
Arriving before the Dipper Aureus Duke one step ahead of Mont Mentiel were the thirty-five-year-old Daelian and Yue Zhengxi, the driving force behind the entire operation.
They could have arrived sooner, but Daelian, after assassinating his master, seemed to have suddenly matured. He was not blinded by victory. Instead, he ordered his soldiers to crate and seal all letters, documents, and parchment scrolls within the Dragon Tooth residence—all under the silent approval, even praise, of the "Supervising Minister," Yue Zhengxi.
Finally, they found the Dragon Tooth Lord's safe. After destroying it with a brute-force axe, the documents inside were specifically packed into a separate box.
Among them, two parchment scrolls were of great significance.
Two "blank" parchment scrolls, already signed and stamped with the Duchy's Great Seal!
Yue Zhengxi's lips couldn't help but curl into a cold smile. The value of these items surpassed a thousand troops. It meant they could fill in whatever they wished on these two blank "official documents."
This was not only a sharp weapon to discredit political rivals and legitimize themselves but also the ultimate proof to legalize all the bloody actions of the night.
"The Dragon Tooth Duke colluded with external enemies, attempting to subvert the Empire during the Elector's conference. General Daelian, commissioned by the Imperial Family, executed him for the greater good."
Once this script was made public, all of Dipper Aureus's actions would transform from usurpation into pacification.
"Lord Han." Only the closest confidantes were entitled to address Dipper Aureus as "Lord Han." Everyone else had to respectfully call him "Dipper Aureus Duke." Only trusted insiders could use "Lord Han."
Just like Zhu Yuanzhang, first Emperor of Ming, only the most intimate "insiders" who rose up with him could call him "Your Superior" , everyone else had to call him "Emperor."
Yue Zhengxi presented the two parchment scrolls, which were light as a feather yet heavy as a mountain. "Here is the ironclad evidence of the Dragon Tooth Duke's 'collusion with the enemy.' The campaign to suppress the rebels tonight has succeeded, and General Daelian is the foremost contributor!"
Yue Zhengxi elevated Daelian, giving him maximum face while simultaneously making him bear all the potential guilt of historical judgment.
Dipper Aureus took the parchment scrolls, his fingers feeling the texture of the seal. He looked at Daelian, who had killed his master for glory, his eyes complex. This man was useful, but absolutely not to be trusted for long.
Even if he hadn't heard Ao Qingcang's last words, anyone with a history of betraying their master would be viewed as a potential threat by a new master. After all, loyalty was a very noble virtue, and Daelian had forever severed himself from that virtue.
Mont Mentiel entered the palace just then, witnessing Daelian's ritual of pledging loyalty to the Dipper Aureus Duke. Mont Mentiel chuckled inwardly: taking in a dog that bites its owner—this dog won't be obedient in the future, and sooner or later, it will cause big trouble.
Mont Mentiel "reported" the current situation, as well as the intelligence about the Black Sheep Lord imprisoning the Raven Princess and the Tiger Wing Duchy heir, to the Dipper Aureus Duke, treating it as "official business" entirely unrelated to himself.
"Raven Lord, how do you intend to handle this?" The Dipper Aureus Duke asked Mont Mentiel for his opinion. In truth, the three thousand Raven soldiers were not absolutely necessary for tonight, but Mont Mentiel's stance was a precious asset the Duke could not afford to lose.
"I can only hope Cheng Mubai hasn't gone completely mad. After things settle here, I will worry about that situation."
The Dipper Aureus Duke nodded, then issued a series of commands.
"Yue Zhengxi, take one thousand Imperial Guards and immediately leave the city. Secure all routes to the Black Sheep villa, and pay attention to the surrounding waters. No one is to leave the Black Sheep villa. Do not enter the Black Sheep villa to provoke a conflict without further orders."
The Dipper Aureus Duke turned to Daelian.
"Daelian, your meritorious service tonight is outstanding. I will have my advisors immediately draft an authorization proving that your killing of Ao Qingcang was an Imperial command—to execute a traitor and eliminate a rebel!"
"Bao Zhen! You take two thousand Imperial Guards and protect General Daelian. Leave the city to take command of the fifty thousand Dragon Tooth troops. Demand that the Dragon Tooth army disarm their men, unbridle their horses, sheathe their swords, unstring their bows, and stand by to await Imperial orders."
"Anyone who violates the command will be considered a traitor and executed without pardon."
The Dipper Aureus Duke finally looked at Mont Mentiel.
"Raven Lord, I will do my best to ensure your sister's safety. The city gates are closed tonight; only the Imperial Guards are authorized to pass. Even the Raven army has no right to leave Prime Lake City. Therefore, the Imperial Guards will blockade the Black Sheep villa, avoiding a direct military confrontation between Raven and Black Sheep. Do you accept this arrangement?"
"Thank you, Dipper Aureus Duke. The Raven army will forever stand at the Duke's front, willing to be the vanguard!"
The Raven Lord's generous and passionate words satisfied the Dipper Aureus Duke's needs.
"Since all is arranged, then depart! The ultimate target for tonight: the Silver Wolf residence. Bring the traitor Li Shiye to justice and have him face Imperial law!"
"All forces attack! Vanguard, the Raven Army! Move out!"