[The Imperial Decree]
The morning bells of the Hall of Ten Thousand Scales rang thrice. Emperor Si Chengjing sat upon his throne, his gaze sweeping over the officials. "The Saintess's mark has appeared, and the Five Yao are gathered. Three days from now, we shall hold the 'Investiture Ceremony' at Tianyao Square. Gu Xingyu shall be crowned Saintess, and the Five Yao shall be her Heaven-chosen Sentinels."
A murmur of excitement filled the hall, but the Emperor wasn't finished. "Immediately following the ceremony, the Saintess and her Sentinels shall depart for the Gates of the Yao-Source to reclaim the Heart of the Yao-Spirit."
The hall fell silent. The Gates hadn't been opened in decades; it was a suicide mission.
Si Moyan stepped forward. "Father, the Gates are perilous. Such a rushed departure..."
"The Saintess must fulfill her duty," the Emperor cut him off coldly. "There will be no further debate."
[The Saintess's Covenant]
Gu Xingyu stepped forward and knelt. "I accept. However, before we depart, I ask permission to establish the 'Saintess's Covenant.' It concerns five matters: Food, Travel, Shelter, Farming, and Medicine. Within these three days, we will start: a communal kitchen in the south, clinics in three districts, a model shelter on Northern Hill, an irrigation map for the eastern suburbs, and a public trial of the Yao-Mechanicals. I will not leave the people with just words."
The officials were stunned. The Grand Preceptor bowed in approval. "Setting the people's hearts at ease before a great journey is wise."
The Emperor pressed his finger against the desk. "Granted. Three days. Preceptor Feng Mian shall be the Overseer; Third Prince Si Moheng shall provide covert protection for the journey."
[Shadows and Steel]
In the corridor after the assembly, Si Moheng appeared from behind a pillar. "I will protect you on the road," he whispered.
"Will you be hurt?" Xingyu asked softly.
"Yes," he replied bluntly. "I clear the path. Do not be soft-hearted."
Xingyu looked at him, a faint smile on her lips. "I won't. But I don't want you bleeding alone."
"I'll try to bleed less," Moheng replied with a ghost of a smirk before vanishing.
[The War Room at the East Pavilion]
Inside the East Pavilion, Moyan and the Five Yao gathered around a massive map.
"We have three days," Moyan said. "We run two lines: establish 'visible results' here to keep the people's faith, and prepare the 'mobile governance' for the road."
Tasks were assigned like arrows hitting targets:
Luo Ye: Start the communal kitchens by noon.
Lin Lie: Run the first Yao-Mechanical trial tomorrow morning.
Li Yan: Build the model shelter on Northern Hill.
Cang Yuan: Map the irrigation channels in the east.
Sang Qi: Establish mobile clinics and draft medical codes.
"We go on the road," Xingyu declared, "but the governance does not stop. We will prove that the Saintess and the Five Yao don't just open gates—they open kitchens, roads, and hope."
[The Preceptor's Trap]
As night fell, Preceptor Feng Mian stood in the Temple of Gloom, tracing a ripple in a water mirror.
"There must be no 'Her' at the ceremony," he whispered, his voice freezing the air. "Tonight, enter the guest courtyard. Abduct the Saintess. Take her to the west of the city. No traces, no deaths."
His face twisted in the candlelight. "An investiture ceremony without a Saintess... the chaos will be exquisite. The more the royals and the people panic, the better my plan succeeds."