Xu Xingchen followed behind a Lantern Bearer. His face was haggard and his eyes were bloodshot, but there was a hint of excitement in his gaze.
He hadn't slept a wink last night; he was restless all night. Although he had resigned himself to his fate, he still couldn't sleep. He thought about many things, and in the end, he felt as if he had vaguely grasped something.
Why did Xia Chen make things difficult for him? Was it just to tease him?
He was the legitimate son of a marquis, a consort, and now even the Director of the Lantern Bearers, while he was just an ordinary student of the Imperial College. Their statuses were worlds apart. Xia Chen could crush him like an ant.
Would such a person really just try to satisfy his own malicious fun by teasing him?
Xu Xingchen felt it was highly unlikely. So what was it then? There must be other reasons behind this that he didn't know!
It wasn't until nearly dawn that Xu Xingchen suddenly had a breakthrough. He sat up from his bed, his body trembling violently.
Xia Chen knew that he wanted to rebel, that he wanted to find a wise ruler, but not only did he not arrest him, he instead wanted him to be his scribe!
This…
“He wants to rebel, or is it the Xia family that wants to rebel?!”
Xu Xingchen suddenly saw the light. His previously confused and depressed mood was startled by this astonishing analysis.
He was an extremely intelligent person and should have thought of this earlier, but he had been misled by Xia Chen and fallen into a thought trap. He only vaguely thought of this when he was about to fall asleep.
An astonishing light burst forth from Xu Xingchen's pupils, filled with excitement, agitation, and confusion!
“Xia Chen is a consort, and now Your Majesty uses him so heavily, why would he want to rebel? Is it the Xia family? But although the Xia family is powerful now, from all indications, they are still loyal to the imperial family…”
Xu Xingchen was puzzled. Even with his intelligence, he couldn't quite figure it out. However, he never considered exposing them, because if he were to expose Xia Chen or the Xia family for plotting rebellion, he would probably die without a burial place immediately. Whether it was Xia Chen, the Xia family, or the imperial family, they would all want him dead…
The imperial family would never break with the Xia family now.
Understanding all this, Xu Xingchen's eyes revealed excitement. Only by first experiencing ruin can prosperity be ushered in. No destruction, no construction. Isn't this what he had always wanted?
——————
Xu Xingchen walked into the Lantern Bearer Bureau and began to look around. There had always been rumors about the Lantern Bearer Bureau, describing it as terrifying as Hell.
But now that Xu Xingchen had entered, he found that people were coming and going, and it wasn't as gloomy or terrifying as rumored.
“You're here. Go on in!”
The Lantern Bearer leading the way brought Xu Xingchen into a small courtyard and motioned for him to go in by himself.
“Sir!”
Xu Xingchen knocked on the door, and only after hearing a sound from inside did he push the door open and enter.
As soon as he entered, he saw an exceptionally handsome Young Master sitting at a desk, seemingly working, and there was also a young boy in the room, curiously looking at him.
“Didn't sleep well last night?”
Xia Chen, sitting at the desk, didn't even lift his head, but he seemed to clearly perceive Xu Xingchen's state.
This made Xu Xingchen feel that Xia Chen was even more unfathomable.
“I was a bit agitated last night, so I didn't sleep well!”
Xu Xingchen cupped his hands and said honestly.
“Because you think I have rebellious intentions, you were agitated?”
Xia Chen still didn't lift his head, looking at the documents on the table and making annotations. His voice was incredibly calm, but Xu Xingchen felt that this voice was like the sound of the Nine Netherworld, making him feel as if he had fallen into Hell.
“He knows this too. Does he have mind-reading abilities? Fortunately, I didn't think about reporting him to the yamen. Perhaps he had already arranged people, and if I had such a thought, I might have been killed not far from my doorstep…”
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Xu Xingchen. He had once again walked on the brink of death.
“From now on, you will follow me as a scribe, helping me process some files and archives. Also, your parents are already old. You have been away from home for many years. Our Great Wu was founded on filial piety, and serving our parents is what we children should do. Bring your parents from Ping'an County to the capital. There is also a small courtyard next to my house that I have already bought. You will live there from now on!”
Xia Chen still didn't lift his head, while Xia Wen, who had been silent, quietly walked over.
“Here are the keys!”
Xia Wen handed Xu Xingchen a string of keys. Xu Xingchen swallowed. He knew that by taking these keys, he was completely on a rogue's ship. Whether Xia Chen was a wise ruler or not, he would have to go all the way.
But he knew he couldn't refuse, otherwise, he wouldn't be joining the Lantern Bearers, but the Lantern Bearer Prison, and none of his family would escape. If he was lucky, he might even have a family reunion in the Lantern Bearer Prison and be a happy family!
“Thank you, Sir!”
Xu Xingchen took the string of keys from Xia Wen's hand, glanced at Xia Wen, who was showing a simple and honest smile, and then respectfully bowed to Xia Chen.
——————
Noon!
Desheng Restaurant!
The entire second-floor hall was reserved by Xia Chen. Desheng Restaurant had a considerable reputation in the capital, with delicious food. More importantly, its name was well-chosen. Whether they were nobles or wealthy individuals in the capital, they all liked to come here to host banquets for joyous occasions.
“Isn't that right, Boss Zhang? The entire second floor is reserved. Who is this person? So domineering?”
“Exactly! I usually eat in the private rooms on the second floor. Today, you're making me sit in the first-floor hall?”
“My maternal cousin is a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I want to see who is so overbearing in the capital!”
…
Some people were blocking the first-floor hall, angrily complaining to Zhang Linde, the owner of Desheng Restaurant.
Zhang Linde was a middle-aged man of about 40. At this moment, he quickly bowed to everyone.
“You are all loyal customers of my Desheng Restaurant, and I naturally know that. It's just that the second floor is indeed inconvenient today. It has been reserved by the Lantern Bearers. If you go up and offend the noble, I'm afraid it will bring great disaster. I am also thinking of you all!”
“Lantern Bearers?”
Indeed, when everyone heard this name, their expressions immediately changed slightly.
“That's right, and it was personally reserved by Sir Xia Chen of the Lantern Bearers. Everyone, please eat in the first-floor hall today, or go to Deshun Restaurant across the street. Both are fine, but you must not go upstairs and offend the noble!”
Zhang Linde was sweating profusely. In the end, he even proactively suggested that everyone go to his competitor, Deshun Restaurant, across the street to eat.
Everyone glanced at the second floor, and the anger on their faces disappeared. Even the Young Master who had previously mentioned that his maternal cousin was a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue did not speak up again…
Desheng Restaurant, second floor!
“Everyone, today is the day my younger brother Xia Wen and my brother Xu Xingchen officially start their new positions. Thank you all for coming. I will drink this cup first.”
Xia Chen poured a cup of wine, then stood up proactively, first giving a brief leader's speech, and then expressing his gratitude, being very approachable.
Xu Xingchen looked at the unusually amiable Xia Chen, and then at the unusually docile Lantern Bearers in the hall, and couldn't help but sigh. This Xia Chen, on the surface, looked gentle as jade, without any airs, and blended in with everyone, but he managed to keep everyone obedient and no one dared to offend him.
Is this what leadership presence is?
…
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