Shi Guang was deeply anxious as well — though he had long since known the outcome, he could not suppress his racing heart.

This position — he had schemed for it far too long. First Shi Qian had stood in his way, and then Shi Ting had risen to challenge him from behind. But all of that was about to end.

What he had wanted was finally going to be firmly in his grasp.

Shi Guang stared at the document, no longer bothering to conceal the smile spreading across his face. By contrast, Shi Ting looked utterly unconcerned — as though whatever the Grand Commander was about to announce had nothing to do with him.

The Grand Commander first delivered a long, formal preamble, and then, while everyone waited in breathless anticipation, he finally announced: “Shi Ting, my seventh son, is gifted and outstanding, possessed of extraordinary vision, upright and uncorrupt, and enjoys the highest esteem among the common people. Therefore, in response to the will of the people, I hereby appoint my seventh son Shi Ting as Young Commander to carry on the great legacy of Bei Di and lead our cause to glory.”

Shi Guang’s smile froze the instant he heard the name “Shi Ting.” He thought he had misheard and looked over at Zuo Liang in disbelief.

Zuo Liang too was utterly stunned. This outcome was nothing like what they had planned.

He could not help but give Shi Guang a nod: no, he had not misheard. What the Grand Commander had just announced was indeed that Shi Ting would succeed to the commander’s seat. He had said Shi Ting, not Shi Guang.

Receiving Zuo Liang’s confirmation, Shi Guang felt for a moment as though he had been cast into a world of ice and snow. A bone-deep chill rose from the soles of his feet, and in an instant even his fingertips went cold.

As the Grand Commander’s words fell, a wave of discussion rose around them, immediately followed by someone leading the applause, and many others surging toward Shi Ting’s side to offer congratulations.

These sounds wove together and bored into Shi Guang’s ears like a sharp fingernail dragging across glass, making him shudder with revulsion.

Figures wavered before him — figures that seemed like demons from hell, reveling in frenzied celebration.

“Second Young Master.” Zuo Liang watched Shi Guang remain motionless and could not help but call out. “Second Young Master.”

Only when he heard Zuo Liang’s voice did Shi Guang pull himself back from that hellish landscape. What stood before him now were not monsters or demons, but the people fighting to be the first to congratulate Shi Ting. And among those faces, many were familiar — they were his own people.

These individuals, upon learning that the Grand Commander had made Shi Ting the Young Commander, had swiftly turned with the wind and become spineless opportunists. The oaths of loyalty they had sworn before him so confidently now looked like nothing more than a farce.

How could this have happened?

Shi Guang stood dazed at his seat, unable to maintain even the most basic composure. It was as though he had been dreaming a golden dream — and at the very moment of his greatest joy within the dream, a bucket of cold water had been hurled over him.

He stared blankly at Shi Ting, surrounded and fawned upon by the crowd, as boundless hatred blazed into being in his eyes.

It was Shi Ting — it had to be him. He must have done something to change the outcome that had already been decided.

But what had he done exactly? The Grand Commander still obeyed Qian Lan’s every word — had even handed her the commander’s seal. He still…

No!

Shi Guang suddenly understood. It was as if someone had seized his heart and given it a brutal squeeze. He looked at the Grand Commander in disbelief, and the Grand Commander happened to be looking back at him as well.

In the Grand Commander’s deep, unfathomable gaze, Shi Guang could read nothing of his thoughts. But one thing was certain: the Grand Commander before him was not the Grand Commander he knew from the Shi Mansion.

Was the Grand Commander no longer the Grand Commander of old?

At that thought, a cold sweat broke out across Shi Guang’s back, instantly soaking the shirt beneath his outer clothing.

“All right, all right.” The Grand Commander waved his hand. “Save the congratulations for later — there are still several important matters to discuss.”

After everyone had returned to their seats, the Grand Commander said, “Shi Ting has been elevated to the position of Young Commander. From now on he will work from the Blue Brick Tower, and his Military Police Division must be handed over to someone else to manage. Shi Ting — do you have a suitable candidate in mind?”

“The First Squad Captain of the Military Police Division, Zheng Yun, is competent for the role.” Not a trace of the elation or excitement one might expect from someone freshly promoted crossed Shi Ting’s face. He appeared exactly as he had when he entered — impossible to read.

Those present could not help but think: this was truly what it meant to remain composed in the face of both honor and disgrace — the bearing of a true leader.

The Grand Commander gave a nod of approval. “If it’s someone you’ve recommended, there’s no doubt he’ll be up to the task. So it is decided.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There is also another matter — our relations with the Xin Guo.” A frown creased the Grand Commander’s brow at the mention of this. “The Xin Guo people have been sizing up our territory with great intent. I believe it won’t be long before they set their sights on something else.”

“Grand Commander, Xi Nan has already aligned itself with the Xin Guo. Xi Nan has also sent envoys multiple times to make contact with Huicun. If we openly turn against the Xin Guo now, we are likely to be targeted.” Someone advised. “At this point, we cannot afford to make enemies of the Xin Guo.”

Someone immediately voiced opposition. “Xin Guo harbors ill intentions toward our nation — their current show of goodwill toward us is nothing but an opportunity to find an opening. Do you wish to be a traitor who sells out his country for personal gain?”

Just as everyone was arguing, the Grand Commander raised a hand to cut off the debate. He turned to Shi Ting with a serious look and asked, “Shi Ting, what is your view?”

Shi Ting said, “Both sides make valid points. Regarding Xin Guo, we cannot engage in open confrontation, but neither can we be overly compliant. For now, maintaining a degree of cooperative relations while feeling out their motives and objectives — and then acting as the situation demands — would be best. However, projects that touch on the livelihood of our people must not be allowed to fall too heavily under their influence.”

The Grand Commander gave a sound of agreement. “Xin Guo’s power is formidable, and Huicun has consistently discussed cooperation with me. Given the current situation, if we openly refuse them, we will become a target for all sides. The best course is to maintain the status quo — relations with Huicun should continue to be kept on a friendly footing.”

He turned then to look at Shi Guang. “Shi Guang — what do you say?”

Shi Guang stared at the table in front of him as though he had not heard the Grand Commander’s question. Only when Zuo Liang quietly coughed beside him did he snap back as if from a dream and look up.

Zuo Liang repeated the Grand Commander’s question softly. Shi Guang gave a sound of acknowledgment, his jaw twitching slightly as he said, “The Grand Commander has spoken with great wisdom. Let everything be done according to the Grand Commander’s wishes.”

“Very well. Since everyone is in agreement, that is how it shall be decided.” The Grand Commander looked around the room. “I’ve reserved seating at Jiuyan Tower tonight to celebrate Shi Ting’s appointment — I hope everyone will do me the honor of joining in the celebration.”

Everyone naturally agreed at once. An occasion like this, to curry favor with the future Grand Commander — how could they possibly pass it up?

“Shi Guang.” The Grand Commander rose and walked to Shi Guang, gently patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t lose heart. You are my good son too. In the future, do your utmost to assist Shi Ting. You two brothers must work in solidarity to revitalize Bei Di together — the future of Bei Di rests on your shoulders.”

Shi Guang hurriedly rose to his feet and managed to produce a somewhat strained smile. “The Grand Commander is right. I will do my utmost to assist Seventh Brother.”

“Don’t harbor any other thoughts.”

“I won’t. I have none.” Shi Guang denied this at once.

The Grand Commander nodded in satisfaction. “Very well.”

Though the Grand Commander wore a smile, when he turned away, Shi Ting caught a fleeting coldness in the depths of his eyes.

After the meeting disbanded, people came forward to offer congratulations one after another. Someone said, “Congratulations, Director Shi — congratulations! Director Shi is truly the people’s choice.”

“You can’t still be calling him Director Shi — it should be Young Commander.”

“Yes, yes, how careless of me — it should be Young Commander.”

Shi Ting gave the assembled crowd a slight incline of his head. “I will continue to rely on your steadfast support in the days ahead.”

“Young Commander is too modest. To serve the Young Commander is the responsibility and duty of every one of us. We all hope Bei Di will prosper more and more, and that the nation will enjoy peace and prosperity.”

Shi Guang stood not far away, watching Shi Ting surrounded by the crowd. The jealousy in his eyes was on the verge of overflowing.

Shi Guang was also a person who did not readily show his emotions, but at this moment he felt as though he were being roasted alive over a fire. The torment left him with no means of maintaining his outward calm. He was no saint — he could not simply pretend nothing had happened.

“Second Young Master.” Several of Shi Guang’s core followers came over. Watching their rival revel so triumphantly, they were naturally burning with envy and resentment.

But the document had been issued by the Grand Commander himself. No matter how much they refused to accept it, nothing could be changed.

“Second Young Master, let’s go for now. We can discuss how to proceed afterward.”

“Yes, Second Young Master — after you return, let’s think of a plan. We won’t concede so easily.”

What did it matter if Shi Ting had become Young Commander? As long as the Grand Commander still lived, as long as Shi Ting made an unforgivable mistake, the title of Young Commander could be stripped from him at any moment.

They were far from out of chances. On the contrary — their chances were plentiful.

Hearing his followers speak, Shi Guang’s composure gradually came back to him.

They were right. As long as the Grand Commander still lived, as long as he had not lost the Grand Commander’s favor, as long as he was still the Shi family’s son, he would have the opportunity to reclaim what was rightfully his.

Shi Ting was only victorious for the moment. And who could laugh last — that was not yet a foregone conclusion.

Shi Guang said, “Don’t let your reactions show too plainly. Congratulations still need to be offered. Tonight’s banquet — not a single person is to be absent.”

“Understood, Second Young Master.”

Shi Guang drew a long breath and did his best to press down the fury burning inside him.

Yes. There was still time.

But what he needed to understand now was not the matter of Shi Ting — it was why Qian Lan had failed to hold the Grand Commander in line. That document — he had even seen it with his own eyes: written in Qian Lan’s hand, the seal clearly pressed.

Could it be that Qian Lan had deceived him?

Impossible. Qian Lan didn’t have the courage to deceive him. If she dared, everything she had worked for in the Shi Mansion would have been for nothing.

If it wasn’t Qian Lan, then who? The Grand Commander — or Shi Ting?

No matter the answer, no matter who was responsible, he needed to see Qian Lan immediately. He had to know what had happened behind the scenes.

Only by knowing the reason could he think of a way to break out of his current predicament, to turn all the unfavorable circumstances back in his favor.

He would not concede. Never.