Inside the Lantern Bearer Prison, on the second floor of the dungeon!
A young man, covered in dirt, with iron chains on his hands and feet, was leaning against the wall, sleeping.
"Zhang Wenliao, wake up!"
Zhang Wenliao was awakened by the loud voice and jolted upright.
"Is it evening? Is dinner ready?"
Zhang Wenliao rubbed his stomach, which rumbled loudly; he was already starving.
It had been almost two years since he was captured and thrown into the Lantern Bearer Prison. He had long given up any hope of getting out. He was just a common thug; how could he possibly escape from the Lantern Bearer Prison?
He had no grand ambitions. Not dying in the Lantern Bearer Prison was already a great fortune. Even if he had to cling to life, he would live one day at a time.
"Come out!"
A regular Lantern Bearer with a white badge hanging from his waist opened the cell door and spoke to Zhang Wenliao expressionlessly.
"Lord, I've truly said everything I can. I was misled at the time. I really didn't mean to obstruct the Lantern Bearers from handling their case, nor did I intend to attack the Lantern Bearers. It was a misunderstanding!"
Zhang Wenliao glanced at the open door, his heart growing increasingly fearful. When he first came in, he had witnessed the Lantern Bearers' methods. After that, he was thrown into the prison like a dead dog, barely surviving for two or three months.
Could it be that today they felt this ordinary small-time thug was taking up space in their Lantern Bearer Prison and wanted to let him out to kill him?
"Come out, a Lord wants to see you!"
The Lantern Bearer standing at the door picked up the whip in his hand, ready to strike Zhang Wenliao, but thinking of the distinguished person behind him, he stopped himself.
"I wonder where this little thug got such luck to be personally requested by Lord Xia!"
The Lantern Bearer wondered inwardly, urging Zhang Wenliao to come out quickly.
"Lord, don't kill me!"
Zhang Wenliao's legs trembled. As soon as he stepped out of the cell, he saw three people standing outside.
Especially the young man leading them, Zhang Wenliao didn't know what words to use to describe him.
He swore that in his more than 20 years of life, he had never seen such a remarkably handsome man. Was this a celestial being from the heavens?
Thinking this, Zhang Wenliao knelt on the ground, even more afraid to get up.
Xia Chen frowned. Zhang Wenliao was so lacking in composure. Was this truly the future General Star who would shine on the battlefield?
"Look up!"
Xia Chen said in a deep voice.
Zhang Wenliao quickly looked up, his heart filled with unease, unsure of what his fate would be next!
"Zhang Wenliao, from today onwards, you will follow me and be my guard!"
Xia Chen's voice carried no emotion, while Xia Wen, who was following behind him, was somewhat puzzled. Why would his third brother take in a thug who was imprisoned in the dungeon?
The earlier Yu Shaoqian was understandable; he was a scholar from the Imperial College.
But this Zhang Wenliao, his performance was simply too poor. Him, a guard?
Xia Wen felt he could easily beat Zhang Wenliao with one hand.
Yu Shaoqian, still wearing his prison uniform, silently followed behind Xia Chen, also sizing up Zhang Wenliao, who was kneeling on the ground. Was this another lucky one chosen by the Lord?
"Ah!"
Zhang Wenliao was stunned in place. He watched Xia Chen and the other two turn and leave, still somewhat at a loss.
"What are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear the Lord speak? Do you still want to stay in there and eat prison food? You don't really think our Lantern Bearer Prison is a retirement home, do you?"
The Lantern Bearer, who had been watching from the side, said impatiently, waking Zhang Wenliao, who seemed to be in a dream.
"I... I can leave now?"
Zhang Wenliao said hesitantly. This was the rumored Lantern Bearer Prison. Was it really that easy to get out?
Although he was a thug and hadn't seen much of the world, he was intelligent. Could this be a trap?
Intentionally letting him go, then claiming he escaped, and finally executing him on the spot!
As soon as Zhang Wenliao thought of this, he quickly shook his head. Impossible. The Lantern Bearers had ten thousand ways to kill him. He wasn't some important figure; why would they need such trouble?
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"Shen Xueyan greets Lord!"
A man in his thirties, dressed in a prison uniform but impeccably clean, with a beard, knelt before Xia Chen.
"All your immense wealth was confiscated, and you've been imprisoned in the Lantern Bearer Prison for three years, yet you still maintain such a mindset and demeanor. You are truly remarkable!"
Xia Chen looked at Shen Xueyan before him. Though down and out, his spirit was exceptionally good, something that the prison uniform couldn't conceal.
Zhang Wenliao, who was silently walking at the very back, swallowed his saliva. Compared to this, his earlier performance indeed seemed a bit pathetic.
Look at him, then recall his own previous behavior!
For the first time in his life, Zhang Wenliao felt a sense of shame.
"Thank you for your praise, Lord. Everyone dies eventually, so what is there to fear? And since I didn't die three years ago, it means my luck has not run out. Three years of waiting, and finally, I have met a wise Lord!"
Shen Xueyan said, bowing deeply again, his forehead pressed firmly to the ground.
"You know me, and you know I would come to save you today?"
Xia Chen was a little surprised to hear this. Was there anyone who could anticipate things more than he could?
"Xueyan does not know the Lord's identity, nor does he know that the Lord would save me today. But I thought, three years ago, my family's wealth was confiscated. Although I suffered greatly when I was first imprisoned, nearly beaten to death.
But after that, no one paid any attention to me. I suppose that in the eyes of that powerful figure back then, I was nothing more than an ant.
An innocent man is guilty only for his wealth. That powerful figure back then was only interested in my family's assets. As for my life or death, he didn't care!
It is precisely because of this that I was able to cling to life. When I was imprisoned, I was also completely disheartened. More than a decade of hard work and struggle turned to naught in an instant. I thought of ending it all!
But later, I understood. I wanted to take a gamble, hoping that a great figure would take notice of me, take notice of my knowledge of commerce.
So I couldn't die. I had to live strongly, even if it was just barely surviving in prison, even if it meant waiting five, ten, or twenty years. As long as no one came to take my life, I had to live strongly!
This day came faster than I imagined. In just three years, I waited for you, Lord.
In these three years, I understood a truth: in this world, having treasures without strength is the original sin."
Shen Xueyan knelt on the ground, his head still respectfully bowed. His tone was incredibly earnest, tinged with sorrow, yet also like a tenacious blade of grass in spring, unyielding.
"Although I do not know the Lord's identity, since the Lord can rescue me from the Lantern Bearer Prison, I assume you are not afraid of that powerful figure who confiscated my family's wealth back then. Therefore, I implore the Lord, please accept me!"
Shen Xueyan's voice was firm. He knew this might be his only chance, and he had to seize it.
"Please accept me, Lord. Accept me as your dog. From now on, the Lord will be my master. Xueyan asks for nothing else, only the Lord's protection, a place for me to live, and an opportunity for me to display my talents!"
Shen Xueyan spoke with conviction. Zhang Wenliao swallowed again. Compared to this, he seemed even more pathetic earlier.
This person immediately offered to be a dog for this powerful Lord, while he himself was so scared earlier that he seemed to have forgotten to even express his gratitude...
Zhang Wenliao felt a little uneasy. He seemed to be falling short!
On the other side, Yu Shaoqian also looked at Shen Xueyan seriously. He admitted that Xia Chen saving him was a great kindness, but for him to say, to ask Xia Chen to accept him as a dog, a scholar's integrity would not allow him to utter such words!
"At most, I will serve this Lord well in the future and repay his kindness!"
Yu Shaoqian thought silently to himself, his heart also beginning to firm up.
Sometimes, no comparison means no harm!
Through Shen Xueyan's comparison, both Yu Shaoqian and Zhang Wenliao felt that their previous performances were not good enough!
...
【Shen Xueyan was poor in his youth. At the age of twelve, he became an apprentice in a restaurant. His nature was intelligent and quick-witted, so he was highly regarded by the owner, who often kept him by his side. Xueyan was diligent and eager to learn. In just one year, he managed all affairs of the restaurant in perfect order. At the age of fourteen, he was promoted by the owner to manager. Two years later, the restaurant's business was five times more prosperous than before.
At the age of sixteen, Xueyan decided to start his own business. He took his accumulated savings to another city and opened a small restaurant, which attracted customers like clouds, and business was extremely prosperous. Through this, he earned his first fortune in life. At the age of eighteen, he opened his first restaurant. Later, his business gradually grew, involving various industries, all of which he excelled in. By the age of thirty, he became the richest man in Yunzhou, praised by people as a "commercial prodigy."
At the age of thirty-two, Xueyan sought to expand his commercial empire to the capital, thus attracting the attention of powerful nobles in the capital. At the age of thirty-three, he suffered the calamity of his home being raided, his assets all confiscated, and he was imprisoned for three years. Fortunately, Emperor Taizu, with his discerning eye for talent, rescued Xueyan from prison, thus preventing his abilities from being buried.
—Xia History, Volume 37, Biography of Shen Xueyan】