CHAPTER 60: The Trap Hidden Beneath Snow
1137 Words
Morning arrived beneath gray skies and bitter winds.
The northern frontier looked deceptively calm after the previous night’s destruction. Snow covered the battlefield once more, hiding blood and broken bodies beneath smooth white layers.
But inside Valin Fortress—
the atmosphere had grown far heavier.
Imperial inspectors were coming.
That news spread quickly among the officers.
And unlike ordinary soldiers, the commanders understood exactly what it meant.
The Emperor had stopped pretending.
This was no longer subtle political pressure.
It was surveillance.
Suspicion.
A warning.
Inside the main strategy hall, several commanders stood around the military table while tension hung heavily in the air.
“The imperial court chooses this moment to interfere?”
One officer sounded openly furious.
“We are still securing enemy remnants.”
Another commander spoke more carefully.
“The timing is intentional.”
Of course it was.
Everyone understood that.
The Emperor never acted without purpose.
And now that Chu Wenzhe had survived yet another assassination attempt disguised as war—
the throne had become even more uneasy.
At the center of the hall, Chu Wenzhe remained seated calmly while reviewing reports.
No anger.
No visible irritation.
Only silence.
Which somehow felt more dangerous.
Shen Yue stood nearby beside one of the strategy maps, quietly observing the room.
Several commanders glanced toward her occasionally now.
The atmosphere had changed since the previous night.
No one treated her merely as a noblewoman anymore.
After correctly predicting enemy retreat movements—
she had earned recognition here.
Military recognition.
And in Valin Fortress, that mattered more than noble birth.
One commander finally broke the silence.
“My Lord, should we delay the inspectors at the southern checkpoints?”
Another immediately nodded.
“The northern roads are unstable after the avalanche. We could easily restrict access.”
A third commander added coldly:
“Or arrange an unfortunate accident.”
Silence.
Several officers looked unsurprised by the suggestion.
Clearly, such methods were not uncommon in frontier warfare.
Shen Yue’s gaze shifted slightly toward Chu Wenzhe.
The man remained calm as ever.
Then finally—
“No.”
The single word cut through the room instantly.
The commanders fell silent.
Chu Wenzhe placed down the report in his hand.
“If the inspectors disappear,” he said calmly, “the Emperor gains justification to move directly against Valin.”
His voice remained even.
Measured.
But every person present understood the deeper meaning.
The Emperor was waiting for mistakes now.
Any excuse.
Any opening.
The commanders reluctantly nodded.
Shen Yue spoke then for the first time.
“The inspectors themselves are not the real danger.”
Several eyes turned toward her immediately.
One older commander frowned slightly.
“Then what is?”
Shen Yue stepped toward the strategy table.
“The information they’re hoping to confirm.”
Silence followed.
She continued calmly:
“The imperial court already believes someone within Valin is becoming too powerful.”
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Chu Wenzhe.
“If they arrive and discover complete military loyalty, independent command authority, and regional influence stronger than the throne itself…”
She let the sentence hang unfinished.
No one needed clarification.
The implications were obvious.
Rebellion fears.
The oldest fear of every emperor in history.
One younger officer muttered bitterly:
“We have defended this empire for years.”
Shen Yue looked at him quietly.
“And that is precisely why the throne fears him.”
The hall became silent again.
Because that was the cruel truth.
The Emperor relied on Chu Wenzhe.
But dependence eventually created fear.
Especially when military victories kept increasing his influence.
One commander suddenly frowned.
“There is still something strange.”
Chu Wenzhe lifted his gaze slightly.
“What?”
“The avalanche.”
The commander pointed toward the western valley routes on the map.
“The enemy should not have known the collapse timing so accurately.”
The room darkened subtly.
Because everyone already suspected it.
Internal betrayal.
Someone had leaked information.
Someone close enough to understand Valin troop movements.
Shen Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then she asked quietly:
“The avalanche began after Lord Valin pursued the enemy commander personally?”
“Yes.”
“And how many people knew his pursuit route beforehand?”
The commanders exchanged glances.
Very few.
Only high-ranking officers.
The atmosphere instantly became colder.
Because the possibilities narrowed dangerously now.
One officer finally spoke carefully.
“My Lord…”
“…There may be a traitor within the fortress itself.”
Silence crashed heavily afterward.
No one moved.
No one breathed too loudly.
Because accusing someone within Valin ranks of betrayal—
was no small matter.
Chu Wenzhe remained completely still.
Then calmly asked:
“The avalanche route report.”
One shadow guard immediately stepped forward and handed him a scroll.
Chu Wenzhe opened it silently.
Read.
Then read again.
Shen Yue quietly observed him.
Something shifted subtly in his expression.
Not shock.
Recognition.
Then slowly—
he placed the report down.
“There is a leak.”
No denial.
No hesitation.
Straight certainty.
The commanders stiffened immediately.
One stepped forward urgently.
“My Lord, give the order. We’ll investigate every officer if necessary.”
But Chu Wenzhe’s gaze lowered toward the map again.
“No.”
The commander froze.
“My Lord?”
“If we search openly now, the traitor disappears.”
Shen Yue immediately understood.
The enemy likely believed the avalanche succeeded.
Which meant—
the leak might still expose themselves carelessly.
She looked toward Chu Wenzhe.
Their eyes met briefly.
And once again—
they arrived at the same conclusion without needing explanation.
A trap.
The traitor needed to believe suspicion had not fully formed yet.
One commander frowned.
“Then what do we do?”
For a moment, silence lingered.
Then Shen Yue spoke quietly:
“We give them new information.”
Several officers looked confused.
But Chu Wenzhe’s eyes sharpened immediately.
He understood.
Of course he did.
Shen Yue continued:
“False troop movements.”
“False military routes.”
“False strategic deployments.”
A slow pause.
“Then we wait to see which information reaches the enemy.”
Understanding spread rapidly across the room afterward.
The commanders’ expressions changed instantly.
Because it was elegant.
Simple.
Effective.
One older officer even looked impressed.
Chu Wenzhe leaned slightly back in his chair, gaze fixed on Shen Yue.
Then quietly said:
“You already planned this earlier.”
Not a question.
An observation.
Shen Yue met his eyes calmly.
“I suspected internal betrayal after the avalanche timing.”
A faint silence followed.
Then unexpectedly—
one commander laughed softly under his breath.
“We may truly need Fourth Miss Shen inside military council meetings permanently.”
Several officers actually nodded.
Half-joking.
Half-serious.
And for the first time in years—
Chu Wenzhe did not reject the idea immediately.
- Writer
