The hall hung silent!

At the door, some peeked cautiously from the wall—Lamplighters from other divisions, here for the show.

Xia Chen’s words kept flowing, unrelenting, as if bent on shattering Cui Hu’s spirit in a single strike.

“Born to the Cui clan of Qinghe, you inherited Baron Yunyang’s title from the cradle—your aunt the reigning Empress. You’ve carried these

marks since birth—don’t tell me you think you got here on pure grit!”

“Dawu’s nineteen provinces stretch vast—talent teems, yet countless languish unsung.

“Without those marks, just a common soul—forget hallmaster in your twenties—you’d never breach the Lamplighters’ gate!

“Honor your forebears’ grace—know your weight. Don’t chalk every gain to your own knack.

“We stand here today—court lords included—by timing, turf, and ties. None alone suffice.

“Effort and skill? Some heights they’ll never climb. Life’s fork is birth—land a good womb, that’s the key!”

Xia Chen’s speech boomed like a great bronze bell, rattling ears and minds!

The crowd instinctively pegged it as sophistry—unorthodox, sheer nonsense—but groped for rebuttals, stumped.

Some couldn’t help nodding, as if Xia Chen’s words had jolted their minds awake.

Right—birth’s the divide! Effort matters, but a golden cradle trumps all!

“Don’t think this is just for him—it’s for you too!”

Xia Chen pointed at Cui Hu, sweeping the room.

“You call yourselves small fry in the Lamplighters—but to the common folk, you’re untouchable titans!

“Every one of you here—didn’t you lean on fathers, forefathers?

“Dad dies or ages out, and you slide in smooth—that’s not connections too?

“Your ties just don’t match mine, your roots not as deep—so you call me boss.

“At core, how’re we different? We all ride our ancestors’ glory to heights the average Joe can’t dream!

“You’re mad, you chafe—not at me, but at lacking my clout, my rank!

“Laughable bunch!”

Xia Chen jabbed at them, laughing wild—one man against Eagle Eye Division’s hundred, yet none met his gaze.

Truth cut deep—they were all connected. Hard work didn’t unlock the Lamplighters; it was lineage, mostly father-to-son.

Or slog as outer members, generations grinding, maybe then you’d climb in.

Cui Hu slumped, a drenched mutt, fight gone.

Xia Qian gaped, awestruck—his Young Master’s tongue was lethal, silencing the lot.

Li Xi’s eyes gleamed odd—he’d mulled ways to break this: force, or summon Commander-in-Chief Ma Song for backup.

But Xia Chen? Words alone seized control.

“I’ll own it—becoming a commander leaned on my family ties, no denying that. But His Majesty picking me out, shifting me from the Imperial

Guard to rule you? That’s my raw talent!”

Xia Chen pressed, pivoting sharp.

“If I heard right, Eagle Eye Division spearheaded the defense map case, yeah?”

Words dropped—faces blanched.

“What’re you getting at?”

Lu Shen, silent till now, snapped, stepping forward, eyes locked on Xia Chen.

“Lu Shen, didn’t you yourself lead the squad to nab the map thief—just to snag the wrong damn one?

“Wrong trail—think that hits the mark?”

Xia Chen eyed Lu Shen, whose face twisted ugly.

“What’re you driving at?” Lu Shen gritted, Xia Chen’s jabs stabbing his proud heart.

“Just see you’re still bristling—you asked what right, what worth I’ve got to lead you.

“Sorry, I’m petty—and love to teach. Since you’re puzzled, I’ll break it down nice!”

Xia Chen’s face stayed calm—joy or rage, who could tell?

“Why’m I here in the Lamplighters?

“Why’m I your boss?

“’Cause I’m smarter than you!

“’Cause I’ve got more guts!

“’Cause I cracked the case you couldn’t!

“So here I am!

“So I’m Head Director!

“And you’re just a hallmaster!

“Now—convinced?”

A barrage of “why” and “so,” each tolling like a gong, hammering hearts—faces paled.

“I’m not!”

Lu Shen’s eyes blazed red—his foster father Lu Li felled by this man. Fists clenched, he ached to cleave him in two.

Xia Chen strolled forward, stopping a mere yard from Lu Shen, staring into those crimson eyes, voice slow.

“Not convinced? Strike then—long blade’s right there. One quick draw, maybe you’ll split me clean!”

Xia Chen grinned, a mad edge glinting—everyone felt their boss had lost it.

Mad enough to toss his life aside—they knew Lu Shen’s temper. This fury might just swing!

The hall froze—Lu Shen’s gaze cut like knives, tracing a strike path.

Li Wei’s heart raced, dreading Xia Chen’s blood splashing the floor, halved.

“Hahahaha! Think I’m that fool Zhao Yu?

“Day one in the Imperial Guard, you baited Zhao Yu to swing—then claimed the high ground, crushed him with clout. Beat him bloody, set an example—kill the chicken, scare the monkeys—then booted him out. Think I’m that brainless?”

Lu Shen laughed sudden, eyes shutting. When they opened, they were dead pools—no spark left.

He’d nearly snapped, goaded to strike—reason teetering.

Win or lose, slashing up? That alone spelled doom.

Xia Chen’s gaze stayed steady, unshaken—just a gambit, offhand. No bite? No surprise.

If he cracked that easy, this dark king of the Empress’s era—ruling supreme, wielding the Lamplighters to crush the Inspection and Supervision

Court and Royal City Command—would’ve let him down too hard.

Xia Chen’s lips curled, pleased—this young, raw version, not yet the final dark lord, still gleamed like gold.

Taming this? Now that’s a challenge!

Eagle Eye Division sank into silence again!

No clash of fists as the crowd had braced for—just a war of words!

The new Head Director stood like a Great Confucian, tongue-lashing the pack, leaving all speechless—especially the ringleaders, Cui Hu and

Lu Shen.

“This new Head Director’s got a razor tongue!”

The thought echoed in every mind.

Lu Shen—future dark king of legend—wiped his face clean of feeling, unreadable.

He fixed Xia Chen with a flat, emotionless stare, voice slow.

“I’ve looked you up. Young as you are, your moves are seasoned—like a cunning hunter, striking only after the plan’s set. From your first day as

seventh-rank commander to nabbing Inspection and Supervision Court spies, it’s all the same.

“Since leaving the estate, you’ve shown your hand twice in public—both times flashing real martial grit. Folk call you a waste, but I see the

deep cover.

“Strike you? I’d not just fail to kill you—I’d hand you the charge myself!”

Lu Shen’s words rang in their ears, startling some Lamplighters. They’d thought he held back from fear of the crime.

Turns out, he lacked the guts to bet on one clean cut.

This capital’s famed flop—really that sharp?

Lu Shen, their teenage prodigy, could tangle with Sixth-Rank warriors!

“Ha! Studied me and still itching to take a swing? Not a bright move!”

Xia Chen laughed, pressing on.

Lu Shen stayed mum, thoughts a mystery.

“Well then, let’s hear it—how’s this mess end? A hundred of you Eagle Eye elites circled here—outsiders might think you’re plotting a mutiny to mob me!”

Xia Chen’s casual jab shifted faces—this “mutiny” cap could crush anyone.

“Head Director’s joking! We’re gathered to welcome you on your first day!”

A fortyish man, all smiles, squeezed through, scurrying to Xia Chen with a bow.

Xia Qian’s lip twitched—this old fox’s skin was thick. Had he not heard their earlier uproar plotting against his Young Master, he might’ve bought it.

Other Lamplighters’ eyes glinted—Old Zheng, Hallmaster Zheng, hadn’t held his post twenty years for nothing.

Smooth talker!

“Oh, all here to greet me? I’m deeply honored!”

Xia Chen glanced at the goateed, fawning man—Zheng Ping’s file flashed in his mind.

Zheng Ping, one of Eagle Eye’s five hallmasters, twenty years steady in his seat—a blessing and a curse.

A veteran among Lamplighters, he’d shone young, a peer to ex-Commander-in-Chief Lu Li.

Rumor had it they’d clashed early—from petty flagbearers to hundred and thousand household officers, then hallmasters, always vying in the

shadows. Lu Li soared, shaking Dawu; Zheng Ping sat still twenty years.

Some said he’d crossed Lu Li, stuck while juniors climbed over him.

Others claimed it a gentleman’s rivalry—his rock-solid tenure proof…

Xia Chen recalled the dossier, then refocused.

“You’re all my welcome party, fine—but these two? I clearly heard them rally trouble!”

Xia Chen scanned the room, landing on Cui Hu and Lu Shen.

“A misunderstanding! You two, what’re you waiting for? Greet the Head Director!”

Zheng Ping shot Cui Hu a look, then kicked Lu Shen’s rear.

Cui Hu’s eyes flickered—game over. But Lu Shen spoke first.

“Greetings, Head Director!”

Cui Hu jolted, late, scrambling to follow.

“Greetings, Head Director!”

Both bowed respectfully!

Xia Qian grinned—his master had dug in firm among the Lamplighters.

“Young Master’s a marvel—just a tongue to tame them all, sharper than fists!”

Xia Qian beamed inside, adoration swelling.

“Since you all accept me as Head Director, we’re set. I’m soft-hearted and easygoing—but I stick to rules!”

“Some things don’t slide so easy. Today, I’ll let the rest off—but you two, defying rank, stirring underlings to mutiny? That’s no light pass!”

Xia Chen’s tone stayed even, yet it crashed like thunder, imperial might descending!

“Head Director, it’s a mix-up! Your first day—I’ve got food and wine ready. How about we move there, drink till dawn?”

Zheng Ping’s face shifted, stepping forward quick.

“No need for more talk! Wrong’s wrong—punishment follows. Got it?”

Xia Chen flicked a glance at Zheng Ping—struck dumb, like lightning hit.

What eyes! Cold as the void, the Dao itself—order sprawling, deep and dark, cradling all. Zheng Ping couldn’t name it.

He froze—first time feeling such dread off a man!

Xia Chen’s gaze chilled, hands pointing at Cui Hu, Lu Shen, and their dozen backers, voice calm yet iron-firm.

“You lot—fifty lashes each, then split across other halls. Starting today, hundred and thousand household officers rotate. Any objections?”

Words fell—faces paled. Cui Hu and Lu Shen especially—fifty lashes? Tough guys could grit through.

But rotation? That gutted their power base, years of clout smashed overnight.

“Head Director, isn’t rotation hasty? It’ll stir trouble!”

Even Zheng Ping piped up again.

“Hallmaster Zheng, I said I’ve got a kind heart—a soft spot for life. Don’t you get it? I’m saving you! You’re sharp—guess why His Majesty

dropped me here?

“You cliques, cozying up—whose name’s on the Lamplighters, yours or His Majesty’s? Lu Li’s fall—really just my defense map bust?

“Hallmaster Zheng, you’re not that dense!”

Xia Chen patted Zheng Ping’s shoulder, a smile curling.

“I’m sparing you out of kindness—you should thank me, not miss my good intent. What a letdown!

“Don’t want rotation? Fine—I’ll take it back, no force here. Your call, your way—I won’t mind!

“But what happens next? No promises—I’m a man of kindness, you see, hoping I won’t have to swing the blade myself when that day comes.

“If it does, recalling this warm welcome from you all today—I’d go easy, wouldn’t I?”

Xia Chen grinned—Zheng Ping’s cold sweat poured, body quaking, face ashen.