The Ning clan's rebels moved faster than anticipated. By evening, unrest had broken out on the main road outside the city.
Scouts reported that most of the crucial routes surrounding the capital were completely sealed off. The few remaining paths were remote and treacherous, impassable for carriages and horses.
In the strategy hall, Li Chengyan's fingertips swept rapidly across the map before he looked up.
"They've secured the main roads in advance. This is to sever the capital's connection with the outside, preventing troops from various prefectures from reinforcing us, thereby completely encircling us."
Compared to the rebels' aggressive advance, the strength of the capital region's forces was truly insufficient.
Besides the Forbidden Army guarding the city, the only available troops were from several medium and small military camps scattered around. To prevent collusion, these camps were always kept separate and out of communication with each other.
Now that the main roads were controlled, not only could messages to the prefectures not be sent out, but the rapid mobilization of troops around the capital also became a problem.
Ye Tinglan had foreseen this and showed no particular emotion.
"Continue to dispatch more men. We must ensure the messages reach all military camps within a day."
Li Chengyan, upon hearing this, looked dejected.
"Cousin, you know the situation with those military camps. They're always timid and hesitant. Now, facing such an event, it's a miracle if they don't defect. We can't possibly rely on them."
He idly fiddled with a paperweight, then propped his chin on his forearm. "Fortunately, as soon as I received your order, I brought our people into the city. Otherwise, we'd truly be struggling to cope this time."
With the capital's situation undecided, those people, considering themselves clever, only wished to stand by and watch, preserving themselves, and were unwilling to contribute any effort.
Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened for a moment, his voice chillingly quiet.
"Inform them that Ye Tingyu plotted to poison Father Emperor and has now committed suicide in prison. This expedition is to eliminate the Ning clan rebels. Any who dare disobey the order, or refuse to cooperate, will be killed without mercy."
Li Chengyan's eyebrows lifted at this, and he immediately grinned. "Understood."
After he left, Ye Tinglan went to Kyushu Fragrance Pavilion.
The faint, lingering scent of blood still hung in the air after two skirmishes, becoming more potent with the blowing cold wind.
The night sky shrouding the imperial palace was like a vast, hidden behemoth. Utterly silent when still, it kept people on edge, an oppressive sense of unease bordering on suffocation.
After the poisoning incident was revealed, Feng Yinwan was publicly declared dead in prison. In reality, however, under Ye Tinglan's arrangements, she had been secretly transferred to Kyushu Fragrance Pavilion.
Therefore, she was now, in name, a "dead person."
Judging by his aura, Ye Tinglan had returned. The candlelight on the desk flickered slightly as Feng Yinwan stepped forward.
"What were the coroner's findings?"
Ye Tingyu's death was too strange. The guards knew this well, so they immediately secured the body.
The coroner dispatched to examine it was personally appointed by Ye Tinglan, presumably trustworthy.
Their eyes met. Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Shock and worry, cardiac arrest, hence sudden death."
This conclusion made Feng Yinwan frown instantly.
Although Ye Tingyu had been poisoned by the Fragrant Soul Toxin previously, the antidote had been administered, and his body had recovered.
Considering a normal person's physical condition, after a night of questioning and without even being subjected to torture, he should not have died like this.
Furthermore, the timing of this sudden death was too coincidental.
Her gaze deepened for a few moments, and she spoke, her voice not heavy but extremely firm.
"I want to re-examine the body."