Yulin Guard Barracks!
“My Lord, please take me with you. The Lantern Bearers are unruly, and when you go there, My Lord, you will surely need some of your own people to assist you. I wish to serve you!”
Inside the military tent, Li Xi clasped his fists and knelt, speaking with resolute eyes.
Xia Chen took a deep look at Li Xi, then spoke in a serious and solemn tone.
“We all serve His Majesty. As subjects, we merely share His Majesty’s burdens and resolve his difficulties. Rise. Given that you’ve brought me Goubuli buns every day these past few days, come with me!”
Xia Chen waved his hand, helping Li Xi to his feet.
“Thank you, My Lord!”
Li Xi spoke with excitement.
“You may go prepare first!”
After watching Li Xi leave, Xia Chen turned to look at Xia Qian, Xia Hui, Xia Xiao, and Xia Kang behind him.
“Xia Qian and Xia Xiao will come with me to the Lantern Bearers. Xia Hui, you will take Xia Kang and develop within the Imperial Army. You all have meritorious service recorded by the Ministry of War. I have already petitioned for you, and you can slowly rise through the ranks in the future!”
“Young Master, how can this be? The Patriarch has already assigned us two to you. You are our master. Wherever you go, we will follow to protect your safety!”
Xia Kang was a little anxious. Every Young Master leaving the manor would be assigned several household guards. From that moment on, their fates were tightly bound to the Young Master’s.
It was also from that moment on that they belonged only to Xia Chen, and no longer to the entire Xia Residence.
“My arrangement for you here has other intentions. Listen to me. Besides, in the capital, who would dare assassinate me? If someone really came to assassinate me, two more or two fewer people wouldn’t make a difference!”
Xia Chen shook his head, then looked at Xia Hui. He valued Xia Hui greatly.
As far as he knew, Xia Hui had commanded troops before and possessed certain military talents. After retiring from the army all these years, he hadn’t been idle in the Xia Residence, constantly studying literature and military strategy.
Even his eldest uncle, Xia Qian, after learning about this, had tested Xia Hui and later personally taught him military strategy for a period…
Because he was leaving the manor, Xia Qian specifically dispatched Xia Hui to assist him.
And in these past few days, the abilities Xia Hui displayed were quite impressive. Xia Chen felt that making him a mere Company Commander, managing a hundred people, was far too underutilizing his talent.
“Young Master, rest assured. I will manage the situation here in the Imperial Army. At the very least, the two hundred people currently under your command will always be yours!”
Xia Hui revealed a smile, looking at Xia Chen with a solemn expression.
…
Lantern Bearer Bureau!
A majestic and grand, yet ancient and time-worn building stood on Central Avenue, exactly one hundred meters from the White Tiger Gate of the Imperial Palace.
The Lantern Bearers were a group of people who walked in the dark, but their headquarters were located in the light.
Whether it was high-ranking officials and nobles or common folk, everyone knew the exact location of the Lantern Bearer Bureau, yet no one ever dared to approach within a hundred zhang of it without reason.
“Have you heard? Our Eagle Eye Division is getting a new Commander who will report for duty today!”
“A new Commander? Like the new Commander of the Shadow Division?”
“Damn it! I hate these new Commanders the most. Each one thinks he knows everything, but in reality, he’s useless!”
“Alas, ever since Commander Lu fell from power, our Lantern Bearers have been in chaos. A sharp sword hangs over our heads, and it might fall any day and take our heads off!”
“Shh! Watch your words!”
…
At an office desk, one person tightly covered their companion’s mouth.
Looking around, their expression was incredibly nervous.
“Are you crazy? Saying such things, don’t you know our internal situation is tense right now? Some of the higher-ups have been purged. We small fry shouldn’t get involved!”
There was anger in the companion’s eyes, but reason overcame the anger, and he quickly slumped into his seat, devoid of spirit, as if he had lost all will.
“Yes, what do the struggles of those big figures have to do with us little shrimps? Just do our own jobs!”
Li Wei sighed, knowing that he had indeed been too loose-lipped just now.
“Do you know who the new Commander is?”
Zhang Zheng raised an eyebrow.
“What does it matter to me? I don’t know him anyway!”
“You actually do know him. Remember the task we received yesterday afternoon, the one where we went to the capital to publicize that person?”
Zhang Zheng whispered into Li Wei’s ear.
“You mean the Young Marquis of Zhendong Marquis Manor… Xia Chen!”
“That’s him! He’s the one who’s being parachuted in as our Eagle Eye Division Commander.”
Zhang Zheng gave Li Wei a look that said, “Well? Aren’t you shocked?”
“How could it be him? If I’m not mistaken, he’s only 17, right? That’s too young!”
“What can we do? Look at his background. And he’s also the Consort, His Majesty’s son-in-law. Our Lantern Bearers are His Majesty’s loyal servants. Let alone His Majesty giving Xia Chen the Commander position, even if he gave him the Commander position, what could anyone say?”
Zhang Zheng sighed, deeply feeling the injustice of fate!
As the two were talking, someone anxiously pushed open the door.
“Brothers, quickly tidy up our desks and clean up! Our new Commander will be here soon!”
Xie Ping gasped for breath, then proactively grabbed a broom and began sweeping up some scattered paper scraps from the floor.
Everyone looked at each other, their eyes showing some hesitation, but eventually, led by someone, they rose from their seats and began to move.
What if they were resentful? What if they lamented the injustice of fate?
They were just small figures. The struggles of those big figures, even a ripple, could shatter them. Even if they were dissatisfied with this new Commander, and many felt their own sons were older than the new Commander, he was now the Commander. This was an undeniable fact!
They didn’t have the guts to give him a hard time!
This was reality!
“Damn it! What’s there to clean? A new kid, still wet behind the ears, hasn’t even arrived yet, and he’s already putting on airs, making us clean up and do this superficial work? I’m not doing it!”
A young man in his twenties kicked the chair under his seat to the ground. He had a scar on his Face, extending from his forehead all the way to his chin, making him look incredibly ferocious.
When everyone saw the young man stand up, they all recoiled, then lowered their heads, their eyes lighting up.
That’s right, how could they have forgotten this troublemaker!
They were small figures with no background or status, that was true, but this troublemaker had a significant status and background!
The current Empress was his aunt, and the Crown Prince was his cousin. He was a true imperial relative.
“I also don’t like him. Isn’t it better to stay in the Imperial Army? He actually wants to come to our Lantern Bearers and stir up trouble. I heard that our Commander Lu fell from power because of this kid, and it was all orchestrated by him!
Now he even dares to come to our Lantern Bearers. Is he looking for death?”
Another person stood up. This person looked to be around 30, and his Face was gloomy at the moment.
Everyone’s eyes lit up again. This person was Lu Li’s adopted son. It seemed there was really a good show to watch this time!
…