Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

"I wonder if you have ever taken a close look at the people in the Imperial Guard who were transferred from the recruit camp."

Shuyun shook her head. Every time she went to see Mofeng, she only conveyed Shen Sangwan's orders and did not spare any attention to observe anything else.

"When I visited the new recruit camp, I saw how Mo Ran trained the soldiers. The people in the new recruit camp have a very obvious characteristic, which is quite different from those in the capital camp."

However, the men he transferred were no different from the previous Imperial Guards, meaning he was simply bringing in the same people from the capital's main camp – a mere change in name only.

"Can--"

Shuyun still found it hard to convince herself that her comrades-in-arms, who had fought side by side for many years, had suddenly become enemies.

"So His Highness just lets him control the Imperial Guards like this? We're already quite far from the capital, if..."

"Are you afraid?"

Faced with Shen Sangwan's question, Shuyun didn't know how to answer.

She was naturally not afraid to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, but now the question her prince was asking seemed not to be about whether she would be afraid on the battlefield.

"Your Highness means..."

Shen Sangwan smiled but did not answer. She pointed to Mo Feng, who was walking towards them from not far away, and said in a very ordinary way, "You are, after all, a woman. You have been working hard lately. Just let Mo Feng take care of things for you."

Shuyun remained calm, stood up to respond to Shen Sangwan's words, greeted Mofeng, and went to another place to talk to Mo Ran.

"How is the situation in Kyoto?"

As always, Mo Feng remained calm and composed, revealing nothing amiss. He bowed respectfully and replied, "The Imperial Guards are operating normally, and there are no abnormalities for the time being."

After taking a couple more bites of the biscuit, Shen Sangwan put the things away, stood up, and patted the clothes behind her.

"Yes, Shuyun hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so please help her with some of the things."

"My subordinate understands."

"Tomorrow, you and Mo Ran will each lead five thousand men and split into two groups to return to Xuzhou and head to Yuanzhou via the official road. We will wait for an opportunity to strike, aiming to catch the enemy off guard. As soon as we can disrupt the enemy's forces, we will immediately withdraw. We must avoid lingering in battle."

"Then Your Highness..."

If Yuanzhou is breached, the army will march straight to Xuzhou. Therefore, if they are going to reinforce Xuzhou, they will definitely pass through Chenzhou and go around to protect Xuzhou.

However, Shen Sangwan felt that Mooreji would choose the more distant Qizhou.

Qizhou is rich in resources and has flat terrain, making it easy to conquer.

Even if the city is difficult to defend after being captured, it can be abandoned after the supplies are looted.

"I still have matters to attend to, and I will meet with you two a day later."

Mo Feng, unsuspecting, accepted the order and took his leave.

While Shen Yuchen in the capital was still pondering his recent provincial examination answers, the court officials were arguing heatedly in the court because of rumors circulating outside.

"Are you here today to discuss the results of the provincial examination, or to condemn me and force me to abdicate?"

Shen Yuchen looked at the case files presented by the Ministry of Rites, his eyes ached, and his head ached too.

Seeing that their emperor seemed to be having another bout of madness, the court officials all fell silent.

"Prime Minister Wen, what are your thoughts on the scholars' answers to these questions?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that the measures taken by the Censorate are excellent and very fair to the students participating in the provincial examinations."

Shen Yuchen asked a question, and the other party answered a question; this was indeed Wen Yunhe's usual style.

After all, this old fox is either on his way to smooth things over or on his way to stirring up trouble.

Shen Yuchen was no longer as obedient and docile as before. Instead of arguing, he made a big fuss and took the opportunity to get angry.

"Prime Minister Wen, I was asking you about the answers to the questions about the scholars. Why are you bringing up the Censorate with me? Do you think I'm young and can be easily fooled?"

He also threw the scroll he was holding at Wen Yunhe, shouting, "Guards! Prime Minister Wen has committed insubordination. Drag him out and give him fifty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."

But the Imperial Guards outside remained motionless, standing rooted to the spot like wooden statues.

"Somebody come!"

Shen Yuchen angrily called out three times in a row, but no one paid any attention.

"Your Majesty, you are too easily angered these days. You should return to Xingde Palace to rest and recuperate."

Wen Yunhe bowed to Shen Yuchen calmly and said.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

At this moment, a young eunuch rushed in from outside the hall, speaking haltingly and stammering. Upon seeing Shen Yuchen, he hurriedly bowed his head and knelt on the ground.

"What happened? Why are you so panicked?"

"Your Majesty, the Ming Prince led his troops to besiege...besiege the imperial city, but the Military Command and the Imperial Guards did not stop them and allowed them to pass..."

Before the eunuch could finish speaking, the court officials began to stir.

When the Prince of Yi plotted rebellion, they were all in their own residences, keeping their doors tightly shut, and so nothing happened.

But now that the Ming King has suddenly raised an army to besiege the city, he has only two options: either swear to defend His Majesty to the death, or defect and support the Ming King as the new ruler.

But no matter which path you take, you can't be sure you'll escape unscathed.

"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled!"

Some fearless officials shouted, then put on an expression of being ready to die, saying, "Today, your humble servant will stand with Your Majesty through thick and thin."

Once one person started, many other officials followed suit, kneeling and kowtowing.

Shen Yuchen took this opportunity to secretly note down those who were wavering or who already had ulterior motives.

With no one stopping them, Shen Yujing led his troops to approach Xuyang Palace in just half an hour.

He strode in, sword in hand, but his face showed no joy of victory, only endless hatred.

"Fourth Brother arrived earlier than I expected."

The palace servants inside the main hall had hardly ever seen swords in their lives. When they saw the soldiers outside the hall who looked like Yama, they were so frightened that their legs went weak and they all fell to the ground.

Shen Yujing felt a bad feeling rising in his heart at Shen Yuchen's reaction.

It's as if the other party has been waiting for you to get it.

"Your Majesty is unworthy of your position and has a notorious reputation. Today, I, your elder brother, am nothing more than—"

"To rid the people of a scourge, right?"

Before Shen Yujing could finish speaking, Shen Yuchen spoke first.

"Your Majesty, will you write the edict of succession yourself, or will I write it for you?"

This was the first time the ministers present had witnessed such an unabashed coup.

"Your Highness, this is treason! Go back—"

Before one official could finish speaking, Mo Xuan, who was behind Shen Yujing, slit his throat.

Before he died, his eyes were wide open like copper bells, and he fell straight to the ground.

The courtiers who were nearby were splattered with blood.

It was so hot it sent chills down my spine.

Anyone who has objections may come forward and explain.

Shen Yujing had a smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes, making people feel uneasy.

"Since Fourth Brother wants an imperial edict, I will write it. I just hope that Fourth Brother will not kill innocent people indiscriminately."

Shen Yujing felt that Shen Yuchen's emotions were too stable.

These are not symptoms of irritability or delirium.

He then had Xi Ping, who was behind him, take the blank imperial edict that had been prepared in advance and watch as the other party wrote it down word by word.

Just as Shen Yuchen picked up his pen and wrote a few words, a long-firing arrow shot straight into Xi Ping's chest.