“A Literary Gathering?”

Xia Chen had just clocked out, wrapping up his first-day trial run with the Lamplighters!

At the Zhengde Street corner, someone flagged him down.

Before him stood the stunning Zi Yue—future legend—and Xia Chen asked, puzzled.

“Yes, Imperial Son-in-Law. My princess has been betrothed to you for ages but never met. Three days from now, she’s hosting a Literary Gathering—a perfect chance for you two

to meet and bond!”

Zi Yue stepped from her carriage, heedless of decorum, and slipped right into Xia Chen’s.

Once inside, she lifted her gaze, sizing up his looks—truly matchless, outshining all in the capital.

Zi Yue recalled her lady’s jest—“let them warm his bed first”—and her cheeks flushed.

Xia Chen blinked, baffled—she’d hopped in herself, yet blushed? He was innocent here, hands clean!

This future shadow chancellor still lacked poise—a girl at heart.

Grinning, he decided to tease her.

“Bond? What, your princess misses me?”

Xia Chen toyed with a jade pendant, eyebrow cocked with relish.

“Imperial Son-in-Law jests! My princess just wants a meeting to get acquainted—lest you wed blind and strain things later.”

“Oh, so it’s not the princess pining for me—could it be you then?”

Xia Chen’s quip hit; Zi Yue’s flush spread to her ears, heat prickling her skin.

“Imperial Son-in-Law, please—no teasing!”

Zi Yue pressed her lips, flustered—inside this carriage, her thoughts tangled, composure slipping.

“You dove into my ride so eager—I figured you were testing the waters for your princess. Her shadow maid, destined to warm my bed too.

“Word is, royal weddings send a maid ahead—to test if the groom’s up to scratch down there. That wouldn’t be you, would it?”

Xia Chen’s tone turned playful—Zi Yue’s face blazed, ripe to bleed.

He eyed Zi Yue’s shy fluster, tickled—future iron chancellor, cowing the court with a stare, now struck dumb by his teasing? The contrast was a riot.

“Imperial Son-in-Law, behave! I joined you here because the street’s too crowded, too many eyes. Woman I may be, but as the princess’s maid—and yours too—there’s no need

for fuss. As for who tests your… mettle, that’s her call!”

Zi Yue steadied herself, lifting her flushed face, voice prim—smiling, she regained her cool, poised beyond the capital’s finest ladies.

“I’m here to invite you to the Literary Gathering!”

The blush faded from Zi Yue’s delicate features, steering back to business.

“Literary Gatherings are for scholars—a crude warrior like me’d be a laughingstock there!

“If your princess really wants me, pick a quiet spot—or her mansion. Doors shut, we’d talk proper. Why a bustling place like that?”

Xia Chen grinned at Zi Yue.

“Who in the capital doesn’t know His Majesty praised you himself—‘heaven-and-earth genius,’ rivaling Chief Grand Secretary Lin? Take the scholar’s path, and you’d be a

chancellor someday!”

Xia Chen’s brow ticked—he’d caught wind of this morning’s buzz, suspecting the Lamplighters, by Emperor Wen’s nudge, fanned the flames.

“Fame’s big now, sure—but the capital’s scholars despise you, even vowing to thrash you. The princess has your back—you tamed Eagle Eye with words; surely you’ll sweep the Literary Gathering too!”

Zi Yue handed him a dainty invite, curtsied with a smile, and slipped out.

Xia Qian and Xia Xiao piled in, Xia Qian smirking.

“Not even wed, and the princess sends her maid to fetch you—eager to tie the knot, huh?”

“This princess isn’t as simple as you think—not sooner, not later, but now? She’s eyeing my spot.

“People only value you when you rise—otherwise, even your anger’s just cute.”

Xia Chen lifted a curtain corner, watching Zi Yue’s carriage fade.

“No matter how cunning Princess Yaoguang is, she’s still a woman—your betrothal’s His Majesty’s decree, set in stone. Two, three years tops, you’ll wed!”

Xia Qian laughed, shrugging—princess or not, she was just that.

Xia Chen shook his head, sparing the details. Who’d guess this overlooked princess—eclipsed by the Crown Prince and Third Prince—would claim the prize? Years lurking, then

soaring—a night that stunned the world!

Knowing her menace, Xia Chen stayed humble.

Her outreach wasn’t for him—just his grip on Eagle Eye. Intelligence was king—first to wield it ruled.

…

Back at the Marquis of Zhendong’s estate, Xia Chen skipped his quarters, heading straight for Xia Qián’s.

He laid out the day’s Lamplighters’ saga in full.

“You gauged it well—showed your steel with a soft edge, no mass backlash, cemented your footing. Three hallmasters on board for rotation—use it to lock down their halls. What about the other two?”

Xia Qián mused, then looked up.

“Li Yue and Chen Song are the Crown Prince’s and Third Prince’s pawns—we know it, so does His Majesty.

“His Majesty dropped me in Eagle Eye to trim their reach. They’re defiant—perfect chance.

“New here, I need my own crew. One up, one out—those two halls are the knife’s edge. Time for a Lamplighters’ purge!”

Xia Chen’s words chilled, calm yet icy.

Truth be told, he’d rather swing fists than tongues—why talk when a punch could settle it?