The door of the hover vehicle slid open silently.
Soldiers of the Royal Guard raised their weapons in unison, their muzzles pointing downward, yet the implied threat was unmistakably clear.
Still, the way these men held their guns carried a faint ceremonial quality—their elbows at perfect angles, chins slightly lifted, like they’d been cut straight from a military academy textbook. Looked good, sure, but compared to the blood-soaked killer instinct of a squad like the Shield, they were several tiers beneath.
Jiang Lijin didn’t rush to get out. Her hands rested casually on her knees, her whole posture loose and relaxed.
Chiron stepped out first, standing quietly by the open door. Ryan gave a hand signal, and the Shield Squad fanned out swiftly. Their tactical boots struck the stone pavement in a clipped, uniform rhythm, and in the blink of an eye, they’d formed a tight defensive circle around the hover vehicle.
Twenty-some people stood there, absolutely silent, yet the wave of pressure they radiated pushed forward—and a few young soldiers on the opposite side of the barricade instinctively shuffled half a step back.
Behind the roadblock, a male strode forward. He raised his hand in a sloppy salute, his gaze skipping past Chiron and fixing directly on Jiang Lijin in the vehicle.
“Apologies,” the male said, his tone dripping with perfunctory politeness. “The Cabinet has issued a temporary lockdown order. No unauthorized personnel are permitted entry. Please turn back.”
Jiang Lijin studied him for a moment.
He had the refined face of an aristocratic son—high brow bones, a sharp jawline, and a crisp, unwrinkled military uniform without a single sign of wear.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
The man straightened his spine, lifted his chin, and replied with overt superiority: “Royal Guard, Palace Battalion, Major Colin.”
“Oh.” Jiang Lijin nodded. “I was asking what you’re barking about.”
The air went dead still for a few seconds.
Colin’s face instantly flushed the color of raw pork liver, veins bulging along his neck.
From behind her, a muffled snort escaped the Shield Squad formation.
Without even turning his head, Ryan kicked backward with his boot, striking the thigh of the soldier who’d laughed.
He hissed under his breath: “Don’t you know the rules? Her Highness is disciplining a dog. What are you laughing at? Be serious.”
The soldier grimaced from the kick but straightened immediately, swallowing the rest of his laugh back down—though his shoulders were still shaking suspiciously.
Colin’s hands trembled with rage. He gritted his teeth and forced out: “Regent Princess, please mind your words. I am acting on orders from the Cabinet…”
“The Cabinet?” Jiang Lijin cut him off. She climbed out of the vehicle, turned to lift Rowan down to the ground, and kept him close to her side. The little boy stayed obediently pressed against her leg, his face composed, but his hand unconsciously gripped hers tighter.
“Who holds the highest authority within the royal compound?” She stared at Colin.
Colin was caught off guard and didn’t answer.
“You studied the royal protocols, didn’t you?” Jiang Lijin’s every word was crisp and precise. “Direct members of the royal family hold first-tier authority. First the Emperor, then the princes.”
She pulled Rowan forward in front of her.
“Rowan may not have held his coronation yet, but he is still the rightful Third Prince from legitimate succession.”
“You, a Palace Battalion major, bring troops to bar the royal legitimate heir from his own home?” Jiang Lijin threw the words in his face. “Who gave you the audacity?”
Colin’s hand went to the holster at his waist. Still he held his ground: “The Cabinet’s decision was for the safety of the larger situation…”
“Safety? What larger situation requires blocking a prince?” Jiang Lijin cut him down again. “What, is the Guard planning a rebellion?”
That was a heavy charge.
Colin’s face cycled through colors. His mission today had been to stall for time, intimidate Jiang Lijin, and test the new Regent Princess’s limits. But he hadn’t expected her to disregard the rulebook entirely and drop a treason accusation on his head.
A direct confrontation wouldn’t work. He took a breath and changed his tone.
“Your Highness.” Colin lowered his head and softened his posture, switching to a sob story. “I’m merely following orders. The command came from above. We soldiers can only execute. Please have some understanding.”
Jiang Lijin smiled.
“Understanding?” She stepped forward, still holding Rowan’s hand. “Don’t give me that ‘followed orders’ excuse. Once you put on that uniform and stand in this spot, you should know there are no innocent pawns in politics. Pick the wrong side, and people die.”
Colin retreated half a step under her advance.
“Everyone in the Palace Battalion has some noble connection at home.” Jiang Lijin’s gaze slowly swept over the two rows of armed soldiers behind the barricade.
Several of them flinched and looked away when they met her eyes.
“Nobles care about what more than anything? Rules and hierarchy.” Jiang Lijin’s voice carried clearly enough for everyone to hear. “Today, you point your guns at the Third Prince. That’s the ultimate disrespect. Do you think the old fossils in the royal family, who value protocol more than their own lives, will let you off afterward?”
A subtle stir rippled through the soldiers. The gun barrels that had been leveled inched down.
The Guard wasn’t made of hardened killers who answered only to orders. Most were noble sons looking to pad their resumes. They cared most about family interests and reputation. Blocking the Regent on the Cabinet’s whim was one thing. Being branded traitors? Not a single one wanted that.
“You should ask the people making you risk your life and your entire family’s future—ask them if they can have some understanding,” Jiang Lijin said, patting Colin on the shoulder. The pressure was light, but it made him flinch.
Sweat beaded on Colin’s forehead.
He knew everything Jiang Lijin said was true. The Cabinet politicians only gave orders. If things went south, the blame would fall squarely on the executioners.
“Ryan.” Jiang Lijin didn’t spare him another glance. She turned and called out.
“Sir!” Ryan stepped forward, already readying heavy weaponry. The hum of an energy cell charging buzzed through the quiet night.
“Clear the path. Anyone who blocks us, disarm on the spot. If they resist, shoot for treason.”
“Yes sir!”
The Shield Squad’s gun bolts snapped back in unison. Dark muzzles leveled directly at the Guard’s defense line.
It was only twenty-some men, but the force of their advance hit like a wave, sowing visible panic in the ranks behind Colin.
Colin stood frozen, his face pale, but he didn’t dare give the order to open fire. The soldiers behind him exchanged uneasy looks, none willing to pull the trigger first.
Chiron walked over and took Rowan’s other hand.
“Let’s go,” he said to Jiang Lijin.
Together, the two of them led Rowan straight toward the barricade.
Colin bit his molars, clenching his jaw. Finally, he took his hand off his gun holster and stepped aside.
But he couldn’t let it go.
“Regent Princess.” Colin stepped to the side and lowered his voice, though it still carried the ingrained arrogance of a noble scion. “Even if you are the will-appointed guardian, bringing Federal military forces into the Empire’s royal compound—don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
His gaze swept over the standard Federation-issue equipment worn by the Aegis Squad, and he let out a cold laugh. “Since when does the Federation’s military have the right to dictate the affairs of the Empire? Are you not taking the Empire seriously by doing this?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the defense soldiers behind Colin, who had already lost their nerve, began to stir.
A few soldiers straightened their backs again, steadying their hands on their rifles.
Even Ryan frowned. He had nothing to feel guilty about—he was just annoyed.
Jiang Lijin stopped walking. She didn’t turn around, only tilted her head slightly, her voice lazy and unhurried.
“Let me make one thing clear. The Aegis Squad is not the Federation’s military.”
Colin froze for a moment.
“Their funding comes from the Federation, but command rests solely with me,” Jiang Lijin said, her words measured yet resolute. “The Federation cannot command them, nor can the Empire. They represent neither the Federation nor the Empire. They represent only me.”
She lifted her chin slightly toward Ryan.
Ryan understood the signal and, without any hesitation, followed Jiang Lijin, his rifle in hand, stepping across the threshold of the Empire’s compound.
After they had walked some distance away.
Rowan’s tiny body, which had been tense the entire time, finally relaxed a little. She clung tightly to Jiang Lijin’s arm and asked in a small voice, “Sister, why did they try to stop us?”
Jiang Lijin stroked her red hair. “Because they’re afraid of you.”
“Afraid of me?” Rowan asked, puzzled.
“Afraid that if you take that seat, they won’t be able to do as they please anymore,” Chiron cut in from the side, looking at Rowan with a gentle smile. “Those just now were nothing but a few annoying flies. The real trouble is ahead.”
