Integration and the Rhythm of Unification

The previous landscape of the Nine Provinces continent was made up of Four Kingdoms and Nine Cities. Now, Southlyn among the Four Kingdoms has already been destroyed, and of the Nine Cities, Night City, Chu City, Tyre City, and Liancastle have also been swallowed up by Eastlyn. Adding Cloud City and Liancastle, only Ancestral City, Peace City, and Reed City remain among the Nine Cities.

Peace City and Reed City, under Northlyn's assault, are on the verge of destruction. Prince Nolan currently has no intention of intervening. Northlyn has turned both cities into ruins, killing and injuring countless civilians. Even if Northlyn captures these two cities, it cannot restore its vitality.

Of the Nine Cities, only Ancestral City remains untouched. The reason everyone avoids attacking Ancestral City is simple: there’s nothing worth fighting for there.

Ancestral City is the weakest of the Nine Cities. It’s remained safe all this time only because it’s so remote—attacking it would mean crossing a vast desert first.

Its natural geographic advantage means no country has set its sights on Ancestral City. Plus, it’s deep in the desert, with little farmland and few resources—the poorest of the Nine Cities. There’s simply no benefit to conquering it.

Prince Nolan’s finger slid past Ancestral City’s location on the map. He said to Serena Feng, “We’ll deal with Ancestral City last. First, we take Westlyn.”

To unify the realm, he will eventually have to conquer Ancestral City—but not now.

“Even if we take it, what’s the point?” It’s all desert; the people of Ancestral City live in misery. Maybe by then there’ll be no need for a fight—just offer them surrender terms and allow the citizens to migrate inward, and the city will naturally capitulate.

“No place in the world is truly useless. Ancestral City is a natural prison.” Prince Nolan, in fact, found this city quite intriguing.

“There are plenty of royal relatives from Northlyn and Westlyn. We can’t keep them all penned up in the Capital forever.” While keeping them close is safer, there are simply too many—he doesn’t have the energy to manage them all.

“You want to keep all these people penned up in Ancestral City?” It’s not a bad solution, but what if trouble breaks out with them so far away?

Still, Ancestral City is so isolated from the outside world that even if a rebellion succeeds, it couldn’t reach the Capital.

“Isn’t it a perfect place?” As Eastlyn conquers more and more states, the number of people to confine only increases.

Prince Nolan had considered simply killing them. But when the Four Kingdoms tried to wipe out the Lan royal house, the Lan bloodline still survived, hiding in the shadows and waiting for their chance.

Since extermination doesn’t work, Prince Nolan decided to keep them under watch, right where he could see them. If they rebel, he’ll know immediately.

And if outsiders revolt, he can always pull out a hostage from inside. It might not always work, but it could shake enemy morale.

Even though the combined royal families of all the kingdoms add up to hundreds of people, Eastlyn can easily afford to keep them.

After setting his policy for Northlyn and Westlyn, Prince Nolan sent a letter to Crown Prince Titus, telling him to prepare to withdraw—Eastlyn will take Westlyn within two years.

“The day has finally come.” Crown Prince Titus lit the letter in his hand, holding it until the flame burned his fingers. Only then did he let go, watching the fiery scrap fall and turn to ash—just like Westlyn itself…

By gradually letting go, Crown Prince Titus allowed the Westlyn Emperor to gather more power. Now, Titus’s withdrawal gives his rival the perfect opportunity.

But to the Westlyn Emperor, that power is only an illusion—like moonlight in a mirror or flowers in water. It cannot last.

“Will you come with me?” Before making his move, Crown Prince Titus visited his Crown Princess, the Cui clan daughter.

Though their marriage was built on mutual interest, not affection, Crown Prince Titus had no intention of abandoning his wife and leaving alone.

She was his wife; having married her, he was bound to protect her.

“Leave? Where would we go? You’re the Crown Prince of Westlyn—no one will ever let you go.” The Crown Princess, Cui Haoting’s younger sister and the Cui clan’s carefully raised legitimate daughter, was highly accomplished. But no matter how wise, she could not escape the lure of power and status, nor see past life and death…

She hated it—hated the injustice of fate.

Born into the Cui clan and married as Crown Princess of Westlyn, she had hoped to become the mother of the realm. Instead, what awaited her was a life on the run.

“Come with me. You’ll always be my wife, for better or worse.” This was Crown Prince Titus’s promise—but it was only for the woman who would go with him, not for the Crown Princess.

"For better or worse…" The Crown Princess sneered, tears streaming down her face…

If she loved Crown Prince Titus, she would have gone with him without hesitation. But she didn’t, and she couldn’t follow a man she didn’t love into exile.

The Crown Princess closed her eyes and said painfully, “I’m sorry. I am a daughter of the Cui clan. What the Cui clan taught me was to face things, not run away.”

“I… won’t force you.” Crown Prince Titus had always known his Crown Princess was smart and proud. He’d once felt a stir of affection for her, but he knew he could never give her what she wanted—his life’s path was already set.

A year later, on the road, Crown Prince Titus was ambushed by assassins; everyone traveling with him was killed, and his body was thrown into the sea…

When news reached Westlyn, the Crown Princess fainted from grief on the spot. The Westlyn Emperor flew into a rage and ordered a hunt for the killers…

A month later, the Westlyn Emperor publicly announced that it was Eastlyn who sent assassins to kill Crown Prince Titus.

For two years, Crown Prince Titus had been deeply loved by the people of Westlyn. The news set Westlyn ablaze—everyone cried out to attack Eastlyn for revenge. The Emperor seized the moment to brutally suppress Eastlyn’s medical clinics, orphanages, and schools in Westlyn.

Eastlyn had prepared in advance and withdrew all personnel before Westlyn struck. In his frenzy, the Westlyn Emperor was left with nothing but a pile of orphans, elderly, and sick.

Faced with these ‘useless’ people, the Westlyn Emperor simply ignored them, leaving them to fend for themselves and sowing seeds of future internal chaos…

Half a year later, after bloody crackdowns, the Westlyn Emperor finally seized total control and began purging anyone who opposed him. Prince Rui, Mr. Yinli, the Cui clan, and the Crown Prince’s former supporters all suffered.

The entire Westlyn court was gripped by fear; doubts about the Emperor grew louder. People went cold and hungry, and violent uprisings broke out in remote areas, trying to overthrow the regime…

With unrest raging, Eastlyn finally responded to Westlyn’s provocations by declaring war. The official reason: Westlyn had slandered Eastlyn for murdering Crown Prince Titus, and Eastlyn would wash away the accusation with blood.

Westlyn was beset by internal strife and external threats. Eastlyn’s three hundred thousand troops pressed the border. The Westlyn Emperor immediately sent his army to resist. Northlyn watched like a hungry wolf, hoping to profit while Eastlyn attacked Westlyn.

Eastlyn would eat the meat; Northlyn just hoped to drink the soup. But before Northlyn could even send troops, news arrived that Eastlyn had already conquered Westlyn…

Shortages of grain, rotting weapons, skyrocketing food prices—the commoners opened the city gates themselves…

Westlyn was defeated without a fight!