Imperial Guard Government Office!

“Sir, take me with you! The Lamplighters are a wild bunch—going there, you’ll need your own crew to back you up. I want to serve you!”

In the tent, Li Xi knelt on one knee, fists clasped, eyes resolute.

Xia Chen gave Li Xi a deep look, his voice low, earnest, and grave.

“We all serve His Majesty. As vassals, we ease His burdens—nothing more. Up you go. For all those Goubuli Steamed Buns you’ve brought me daily, come along!”

Xia Chen waved a hand, helping Li Xi to his feet.

“Thank you, sir!”

Li Xi’s face lit with fervor.

“Go get ready!”

After Xia Chen watched Li Xi leave, he turned to Xia Qian, Xia Hui, Xia Xiao, and Xia Kang behind him.

“Xia Qian, Xia Xiao, you’re with me to the Lamplighters. Xia Hui, take Xia Kang and build in the Imperial Guard. You’ve all got merits logged with the Ministry of War—I’ve put in for you. Rise steady from here!”

“Young Master, that won’t do! The Clan Head assigned us two to you—you’re our master now. Where you go, we guard your safety!”

Xia Kang bristled—each son leaving the estate got house guards, their fates tied tight to their master’s from that day.

From then, they were Xia Chen’s alone, no longer the Xia clan’s.

“I’ve got plans for you here—trust me. Besides, in the capital, who’d dare assassinate me? If they did, two more or less wouldn’t shift the odds!”

Xia Chen shook his head, then eyed Xia Hui—he prized this one.

Word was, Xia Hui had led troops before, with real military knack. Retired from the ranks, he’d not idled in the estate—studying texts, mastering Military Strategy.

Even Uncle Xia Qián, hearing of it, had tested him, then tutored him in Military Strategy for a spell…

Xia Qián had sent Xia Hui out just for Xia Chen’s sake, to aid him.

These days, Xia Hui’s shown solid chops—Xia Chen thought pinning him as a mere brigade commander over a hundred was a waste.

“Young Master, rest easy—the Imperial Guard’s mine to steer. At least these two hundred under you now? They’ll stay yours forever!”

Xia Hui flashed a smile, his gaze steady and solemn on Xia Chen.

…

Lamplighters’ Government Office!

A grand, weathered edifice, steeped in time’s scars, sat on Central Avenue—exactly a hundred meters from the palace’s White Tiger Gate.

The Lamplighters walked in shadows, yet their stronghold basked in light.

Nobles and commoners alike knew its spot, but none dared stray within a hundred yards without cause.

“Heard? Eagle Eye Division’s getting a parachuted Head Director—reports today!”

“Parachuted? Like that new Dark Shadow Division chief?”

“Damn it! Sick of these drop-ins—think they know it all, but they’re nothing!”

“Ugh, since Commander Lu fell, it’s a mess in here—a sword hangs over us, ready to lop our heads off any day!”

“Shh! Watch your tongue!”

…

At a desk, one man clapped a hand over his mate’s mouth.

He scanned around, nerves strung tight.

“You mad? Spouting that now, with things this tense? Some big shots got purged—us small fry should steer clear!”

Fury flared in his mate’s eyes, but reason won—he slumped into his seat, spirit drained, like a wilted stalk.

“Yeah, what’s the bigwigs’ fight got to do with us little guys? Do our jobs, that’s it!”

Li Wei sighed, knowing he’d let his mouth run too loose.

“Know anything about this new Head Director?”

Zhang Zheng raised a brow.

“What’s it to me? Don’t know him!”

“You do—remember yesterday’s task, hyping that guy up around the capital?”

Zhang Zheng whispered in Li Wei’s ear.

“You mean the Marquis of Zhendong’s legitimate son… Xia Chen!”

“That’s him—our new Eagle Eye Division Head Director.”

Zhang Zheng shot Li Wei a “shocked yet?” look.

“How’s it him? Isn’t he just seventeen—way too young?”

“What can you do? Look at his roots—Imperial Son-in-Law, His Majesty’s own kin! We Lamplighters are the Emperor’s hounds. Forget Head Director—if His Majesty gave Xia Chen the Commander-in-Chief post, who’d argue?”

Zhang Zheng sighed, fate’s unfairness gnawing at him.

As they chatted, a figure burst in, breathless.

“Brothers, tidy your desks and sweep up—the new Head Director’s almost here!”

Xie Ping panted, grabbing a broom to clear paper scraps from the floor.

The room froze, eyes hesitant—but with someone leading, they rose and moved.

Resentment? Fate’s injustice? So what?

They were small fry—big shots’ clashes could shatter them with a ripple. Sure, they chafed at this new Head Director—some had sons older than him—but he was Head Director now, fact undisputed!

They lacked the clout for a power play!

Such was reality!

“Hell no! What’s there to clean? A snotty little punk, not even here yet, already putting on airs—making us scrub for his damn vanity show? Screw that—I’m not doing it!”

A twenty-something youth kicked his chair over, a scar slashing from brow to chin, fierce and feral.

The crowd saw the young man rise, shrinking back and lowering their heads, eyes glinting.

Right—how’d we forget this troublemaker!

They’re small fry, no backing, no status—true enough. But this troublemaker’s got high rank and deep roots!

The reigning Empress is his aunt, the Crown Prince his cousin—true imperial kin, no doubt!

“I’m fed up too. Couldn’t he stay put in the Imperial Guard? Now he’s barging into our Lamplighters to whip up storms! I hear Commander Lu fell because of this kid—every bit his scheme! And he still dares strut in here—courting death?”

Another stood, thirtyish, face dark as storm clouds.

The crowd’s eyes sparked again—this was Lu Li’s adopted son. A real show was brewing!

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