Chapter 8: Exiled General Mu Qing

Chapter 8: The Expansion War (Part 5) – The Emperor's Invitation

The Imperial Capital – A City on Edge

The night air was heavy with tension.

Within the grand walls of the Imperial Capital, torches burned brightly, illuminating the watchful eyes of the city guards. The streets, normally alive with merchants and travelers, were eerily quiet. Fear had gripped the people.

For days, rumors had spread through the noble circles and the common folk alike.

The legendary Bai Zhi, the woman who had crushed provinces under her feet, had taken control of Xinjiang.

And now, she was summoned to the palace.

It was not a request.

It was a command.

The golden imperial decree had arrived at her residence just hours ago, delivered by an elite group of the Emperor's personal guards.

The letter contained only one line.

"Come to the Imperial Court. Immediately."

The Imperial Palace – A Warning at the Gates

Bai Zhi arrived alone.

Her long silver cloak billowed behind her, her steps calm and unhurried as she walked toward the colossal palace gates.

At least a hundred imperial guards stood at attention, their spears crossed in warning.

Their faces were unreadable, their hands tight around their weapons.

It was a message.

Do not forget where you stand.

But Bai Zhi?

She only smirked.

"Do you intend to keep me waiting here?" she asked lazily, her silver eyes gleaming under the torchlight.

The head guard stiffened. His orders were clear—bring her to the Emperor without delay.

Still, he hesitated.

This was Bai Zhi, a woman who had brought entire cities to their knees.

Would she do the same to the Imperial Palace?

Just then—

A voice emerged from the darkness.

"You shouldn't have come alone."

Bai Zhi turned, her expression remaining calm.

Standing beneath the shadow of the great stone arch was a man dressed in black and crimson robes, his golden eyes sharp as a blade.

Ye Xuan.

The Prime Minister's bastard son.

A man both feared and revered in the court.

"You're reckless," he murmured as he stepped closer. "The Emperor does not invite people out of kindness."

Bai Zhi tilted her head, smiling. "I know."

Then, without another word, she turned her back on him and walked forward.

Straight into the lion's den.

The Imperial Court – A Gathering of Wolves

Inside the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, the most powerful figures in the empire had gathered.

Nobles, ministers, and generals stood in silence, their eyes locked onto the woman who had defied them all.

At the far end of the hall, upon an elevated golden throne, sat the Emperor.

He wore a robe of deep purple, embroidered with golden dragons. His cold golden eyes studied Bai Zhi with quiet intensity.

To his right, the Prime Minister—a man known for his cunning and ruthlessness—watched her with barely concealed hostility.

To his left, the Grand General, a seasoned warrior whose armies had once ruled the battlefield, gripped the hilt of his sword.

And behind them—

The Crown Prince.

His cold, unreadable gaze met Bai Zhi's, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the jade ring on his hand.

This was not a meeting.

This was a battlefield.

And Bai Zhi?

She was smiling.

The Emperor's Warning

The moment she stepped inside, a voice rang out.

"Bai Zhi."

The Emperor's voice was deep, carrying the weight of the entire empire.

"You have taken three provinces in a matter of months. You now control the economy, the underground, and the military supply lines."

His golden eyes darkened.

"You stand on the edge of treason."

The hall fell silent.

The nobles held their breath. The generals tensed.

They all expected Bai Zhi to kneel, to apologize, to beg for mercy.

But instead—

She laughed.

A soft, amused chuckle, like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

The Prime Minister's face twisted in rage.

"How dare you—"

Bai Zhi raised a hand.

Instantly, the court fell silent.

Then, she spoke.

"My Emperor, I do not seek rebellion."

Her silver eyes gleamed as she took a step forward.

"I seek order."

Murmurs rippled through the hall.

Bai Zhi's voice was calm, yet every word carried power.

"For years, the empire has suffered under corruption, famine, and war. Provinces fall into chaos. The court is filled with traitors."

She let her gaze sweep across the room, stopping briefly on the Prime Minister.

"I simply cleaned up the mess."

The Prime Minister paled.

The Grand General tightened his grip on his sword.

Even the Crown Prince's expression changed.

Bai Zhi's words were dangerous.

Because they were true.

The Emperor studied her for a long moment.

Then, he leaned forward.

"Is that so?"

His fingers tapped against his throne.

"You have power now, Bai Zhi. You have wealth, armies, and influence."

His golden eyes narrowed.

"But the question is… do you have loyalty?"

Silence.

Then—

The Emperor smiled.

"Prove it."

The Imperial Test – A War Between Princes

The court erupted into discussion.

The Emperor raised a hand.

Instantly, silence returned.

"The Crown Prince's coronation approaches," he announced.

"But there are… many factions who wish to challenge him."

Bai Zhi's eyes flickered.

She already knew.

The Emperor had four sons, and the struggle for the throne was bloody.

The Crown Prince, despite his strength, faced rebellion from his own brothers.

The Emperor's golden gaze locked onto Bai Zhi.

"If you truly serve the Empire… then prove it."

He smiled, slow and knowing.

"Support my heir."

The Choice

The hall held its breath.

Bai Zhi stood in the center of the storm, her expression unreadable.

She had three choices.

Accept. Align with the Crown Prince and gain the Emperor's favor.

Refuse. Walk away and risk the Emperor turning against her.

Play both sides. Manipulate the war for her own gain.

The nobles waited. The generals watched.

Even the Crown Prince held his breath.

Then—

Bai Zhi smiled.

Her silver eyes glowed with something dangerous.

She took a step forward and bent slightly—not in submission, but in acknowledgment.

"My Emperor," she said, her voice smooth as silk.

"I accept your test."

The Emperor chuckled.

The Prime Minister's face darkened.

The Crown Prince's gaze grew sharp.

And Bai Zhi?

She had just entered the deadliest game of all.

The Expansion War (Part 6) – The Imperial Court's Chessboard

The Court Reacts – Whispers and Murmurs

The moment Bai Zhi's words left her lips—

"I accept your test."

—The atmosphere in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate shifted.

The Emperor's golden eyes flickered with approval, but the rest of the court?

They were in chaos.

Nobles exchanged sharp glances, ministers whispered behind their sleeves, and generals stiffened, some in satisfaction, others in barely concealed rage.

"She chose the Crown Prince?" one noble murmured.

"Foolish or ambitious?" another whispered.

"No," a deep voice cut through the hushed voices. "She's playing the long game."

The speaker was Grand General Feng, a man who had spent decades on the battlefield.

His scarred hands tightened into fists as he studied Bai Zhi, eyes sharp with warrior's instinct.

This woman...

She had made a move on the Imperial chessboard—but had she chosen her king, or was she planning to topple them all?

The Crown Prince Speaks – An Unreadable Gaze

As the murmurs continued, Bai Zhi felt a gaze boring into her.

She turned her head slightly—

The Crown Prince.

Dressed in black and gold robes, he exuded an aura of cold authority.

His deep violet eyes, rare among the imperial family, studied her in silence.

A slow, deliberate movement—his fingers tapping the jade ring on his index finger.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Finally, he spoke.

"Do you know what you just promised, Bai Zhi?"

His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous undercurrent beneath it.

Most people would have been uneasy, afraid of the unpredictable prince who rarely showed emotion.

But Bai Zhi?

She merely tilted her head, her silver eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I am not a reckless person, Your Highness."

Her voice was smooth, confident, but not arrogant.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

The Crown Prince studied her a moment longer before leaning back, his fingers resuming their rhythmic tapping.

"Then let's see how capable you are."

Prime Minister Jiang's Challenge – A Deadly Game Begins

From the side, a soft scoff broke the air.

"Your Majesty," a voice rang out smoothly, laced with poison. "Surely, we cannot simply let a warlord join the Crown Prince's faction without proving her loyalty?"

The Prime Minister.

Jiang Cheng, a man feared and despised in equal measure, stepped forward, his expensive crimson robes swishing as he moved.

His sharp eyes glowed with calculating malice.

"Loyalty is more than words," he continued, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Wouldn't you agree... Lady Bai?"

Bai Zhi turned her gaze to him, her smile unfaltering.

The Prime Minister's hatred of her was not surprising.

After all, many of the corrupt officials she had eliminated in the southern provinces were under his influence.

He wants revenge.

Bai Zhi's voice was silk wrapped around steel.

"Oh?" she murmured, tilting her head. "And how would you like me to prove my loyalty, Prime Minister?"

Jiang Cheng's smile widened.

"Why, a simple task," he said smoothly. "An enemy of the empire still walks freely in our lands. Kill him, and we shall consider you worthy of our trust."

The court held its breath.

A test.

A carefully crafted trap.

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow. "And who is this enemy?"

Jiang Cheng's eyes gleamed with triumph.

"General Mu Qing."

A sharp intake of breath spread through the hall.

Mu Qing.

The former War God of the Empire, exiled years ago for crimes against the throne.

A man as powerful as a lion, yet abandoned by the empire he once served.

A legend.

A symbol of rebellion.

The perfect kill to solidify Bai Zhi's place—or the perfect trap to have her fall.

If she refused—she would be called a coward, a traitor.

If she accepted—she would make countless enemies, including old loyalists in the military.

A beautifully crafted dilemma.

The Prime Minister's smug satisfaction was clear.

But Bai Zhi?

She simply smiled.

Bai Zhi's Counterattack – A Dangerous Game

Bai Zhi's silver eyes glowed with amusement.

"Ah, Prime Minister Jiang, how clever."

Her voice was soft, almost lazy, but it carried through the hall like a knife.

The Prime Minister's smile faltered slightly.

Bai Zhi took a slow step forward, her aura shifting subtly.

"But I wonder…" she mused, tapping a delicate finger against her chin. "Why do you fear General Mu so much?"

A ripple of shock spread through the court.

The Prime Minister's face twitched, just for a moment, but Bai Zhi caught it.

She smirked.

"What a strange request," she continued, her tone light but cutting. "For years, the Imperial Court has left General Mu in exile. But now, suddenly, you want him dead?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, voice dropping to a purr.

"I wonder… what changed?"

The tension in the room shifted.

The nobles, the generals—they were listening now.

Because Bai Zhi was right.

Why now?

Was there a secret hidden behind Mu Qing's exile?

The Prime Minister's expression darkened.

"Do not twist my words, Bai Zhi." His voice was sharp. "It is a simple matter of securing the empire's future."

Bai Zhi smiled wider.

"Oh, but Prime Minister, you seem… anxious."

Her silver eyes gleamed.

And then, she laughed.

A soft, amused sound.

One that sent shivers down spines.

The Prime Minister's face twisted in fury.

He knew.

He had just lost control of the conversation.

The Emperor Decides – A New Mission

The Emperor, who had been watching the exchange with an unreadable expression, finally spoke.

"Enough."

The command was soft, but absolute.

Instantly, silence fell.

The Emperor's golden eyes gleamed as he turned to Bai Zhi.

"Prime Minister Jiang raises a fair point. Loyalty must be tested."

He paused.

Then—he smiled.

"But let us not waste a valuable pawn."

Bai Zhi's eyes flickered.

Pawn?

The Emperor leaned forward.

"Bai Zhi, you will not kill General Mu Qing."

The court froze.

The Prime Minister whipped his head toward the throne. "Your Majesty—!"

The Emperor raised a hand.

Jiang Cheng immediately fell silent.

The Emperor's gaze remained on Bai Zhi.

"Find him. Speak to him." His lips curled slightly. "If he still holds a sword, make him kneel before me once more."

Bai Zhi's heart thrummed.

This was no ordinary task.

Reuniting an exiled war god with the empire?

Convincing him to swear loyalty once more?

It was a mission as dangerous as an assassination.

But Bai Zhi's smile never faltered.

She lowered her head slightly.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

The Game Moves Forward

As Bai Zhi turned to leave, she felt multiple gazes on her.

Some curious. Some suspicious.

But most were afraid.

Because in one night—

She had survived the court's trap.

She had avoided an unnecessary kill.

She had secured a mission that would change everything.

And now—

She was hunting a legend.