Xia Chen strode off, stepping into the Head Director’s office before all eyes!

He’d taken charge—no one dared block him!

The crowd stayed mute.

“Old Zheng, you’re the sharpest—call it. Do we rotate or not? If we do, years of roots get uprooted!”

Two other hallmasters crowded Zheng Ping, clinging close.

Li Yue and Chen Song, their names.

“I’m for rotation. Your choice is yours—don’t lean on me. I’m old, worn out, just want a quiet rest of my days!”

Zheng Ping shook off Xia Chen’s words, glancing at them, then Cui Hu and Lu Shen, shaking his head before turning away.

Li Yue, Chen Song, Cui Hu, and Lu Shen locked eyes.

“I’ll take rotation too!”

Lu Shen’s voice rumbled low, then he led his dozen out of the hall.

“This…”

Li Yue and Chen Song stared, pinning their last hopes on Cui Hu.

“Still don’t get it? Our cliques in the Lamplighters caught His Majesty’s eye—that’s why Commander Lu fell.”

Cui Hu met their gaze, voice cold—fellows for a time, he’d said enough.

“But scrambling our crews right off the bat? That’s too much, too high-handed! No new boss ever starts like this!”

Li Yue frowned—disrupting his men was a death knell. Even if he agreed, would those behind him?

“Take stock, weigh it yourselves!”

Cui Hu finished, turned, and left. With him gone, the hall held just two factions.

“Pinched like brothel girls, ordered around! All high and mighty before, sneering at everyone—now what? One guy stomps in solo and shuts them down—more spineless than

women! Pah!”

Chen Song spat curses—they’d roared fierce, but Xia Chen hadn’t even swung, and they’d all caved!

…

“He tamed that lot single-handed, just with his mouth?”

Princess Yaoguang’s garden!

Flowers rioted in bloom, vying for glory—butterflies danced among them, sprite-like.

Pavilions and terraces wove a maze, carved railings snaking around lotus ponds—goldfish darted, leaves cradled dew like gems.

Princess Yaoguang fed the fish with relish, turning in surprise as a purple-clad maid reported behind her.

Beside her stood a woman in yellow—less stunning than Yaoguang but a top-tier beauty anywhere else. Crunching candied hawthorn on a stick, she grinned, goofy and sweet—

Li Wei!

Zi Yue and Li Wei, Yaoguang’s twin shadows, were old hands at her quirks.

Had Xia Chen been here, he’d know Zi Yue—future female chancellor of the Empress’s reign, her clout once eclipsing the Chief Grand Secretary!

Zi Yue recounted the Lamplighters’ day in full!

“Zheng Ping, Cui Hu, and Lu Shen all agreed to rotate—kneeling now at the Imperial Son-in-Law’s office door, begging for it. But Li Yue and Chen Song couldn’t stomach the

shame—they’re off patrolling with their crews!”

Wisdom glinted in Zi Yue’s lively eyes—raven hair cascaded like a falls, pinned simple with a jade clasp, stray locks framing her gentle face.

Her figure swayed, purple silk fluttering like a night-blooming orchid.

Speaking to Yaoguang, her focus was sharp—shrewdness shone in her brow.

A woman of rare charm, dimmed only by Yaoguang’s side.

“I underestimated my betrothed—my eyes failed me back then!”

Yaoguang listened quietly, musing a while before speaking.

“Zheng Ping’s trio are clever—Li Yue and Chen Song too, but they’re the Crown Prince’s and Third Prince’s dogs, so they’ve got spine. Looks like Eagle Eye’s in for a big shake-up!”

Yaoguang’s voice chilled, lips parting slight!

“Your Highness, haven’t you always wanted a hand in the Lamplighters? Now, with the Imperial Son-in-Law ruling Eagle Eye, it’s your shot.

“He’s a Xia—if we snag their backing through him, we’d hold military might. Then maybe, you as Dawu’s first Empress wouldn’t just be a dream!”

Zi Yue’s eyes blazed—neither the Crown Prince nor Third Prince pierced past hallmaster rank in the Lamplighters. With the Imperial Son-in-Law’s aid, they’d gain eyes and ears.

One of nine divisions! The power to wield was vast—priceless to their cause!

“Not wed yet—why call him Imperial Son-in-Law?”

Yaoguang turned aside, leaving them her flawless profile.

Her eyes flickered, thoughts veiled…

“If that Xia Chen saw Your Highness, he’d be smitten silly—I don’t buy any man resisting your beauty!”

Li Wei giggled, hugging Yaoguang’s arm.

Raised together, master and maids shared a bond beyond rank.

“Wed sooner or later—he’ll be the real deal!”

Zi Yue chimed in, laughing.

“I hear Xia Chen’s looks are unmatched—some say he outshines the capital’s four famed beauties!

“You two, my shadows—if I wed him, you’d be chamber maids warming his bed. Maybe it’s not me itching—you’ve got eyes for him!”

Yaoguang’s smile bloomed, outshining the garden’s flowers.

She struck back, teasing her maids—both flushed crimson.

“We wouldn’t dare steal Your Highness’s man!”

Zi Yue laughed—still, she was a poised painting; speaking, a lively dawn glow, quiet charm inescapable.

<Zi Yue, the Empress’s shadow chancellor—suitors aplenty, yet a moon aloft, untouchable.>

Laughter rippled by the pond, goldfish drawn to the scene, lost in its charm.

After the mirth, Yaoguang and Zi Yue stilled, her face turning grave.

“Send him an invite—three days from now, to the Literary Gathering. Time I met my betrothed!”

Yaoguang’s stunning face held eyes captive—she rued her snap judgment, pegging him a talentless flop.

How long since? He’d roiled the capital, even cracking the Lamplighters—a realm she couldn’t touch—taking Eagle Eye by storm!

She’d misjudged him, indeed!