That same evening, the Grand Commander reserved the entire Jiuyan Tower and laid on a banquet to celebrate Shi Ting.

Everyone from the Blue Brick Tower attended without exception. Beyond that, many notable figures from throughout Shun Cheng also came to offer their congratulations.

In an instant, Jiuyan Tower was filled with a roar of voices and a festive uproar.

“Young Commander, congratulations! A toast to the Young Commander.”

“Young Commander, well deserved — a toast to the Young Commander.”

Shi Guang sat there, assaulted from all sides by an endless stream of such voices. Shi Ting was surrounded and fawned upon by the crowd, like a deity.

In these people’s eyes, he was already the future Grand Commander, the future master of Bei Di. They needed to ingratiate themselves with him, to flatter him, to secure their own bright futures.

As for Shi Guang — nearly no one paid him attention. He sat in cold neglect, as though he had been forgotten entirely.

He thought of the saying “to the victor go the spoils,” and could not help but let out a cold laugh.

“Second Young Master, don’t despair — we still have our chance.” Someone at his side consoled him. “The Seventh Young Master is only riding high for the moment.”

“Come, Second Young Master — I’ll drink to you.”

Those who could still gather at his side at this moment were all the die-hards who had followed him from the very beginning. They obeyed his every command and stood unwavering on his side.

Shi Guang raised his cup and clinked it with the others, then tipped his head back and downed it in a single swallow. The harsh, burning liquid seared its way down, and if anything, it made the chill on his face even more intense.

But he had to keep up appearances — had to pretend indifference, had to act as though nothing were wrong — because of the watching eyes that kept flickering in their direction, eager to see a spectacle.

He had no desire to give anyone a reason to mock him. And so he had to project the image of magnanimity and composure.

The liquor burned in his stomach, and it would only take one spark to send it raging out of control.

“Second Young Master, Second Young Master, you’ve had enough.”

“Is the Second Young Master drunk?”

Shi Guang picked up his cup and rose to his feet, walking over to stand before Shi Ting. The few people nearest to Shi Ting immediately stepped back to make room. Around them, heads turned to watch the spectacle.

“Seventh Brother, I’ll drink to you.” Shi Guang held his cup out toward Shi Ting. “Congratulations.”

Shi Ting could see the flush of intoxication on Shi Guang’s face. He clinked his cup against his before saying, “Second Brother, you’ve had too much to drink.”

“Second Brother is happy. You and I are blood brothers — no matter who sits in this seat, the land still bears the Shi name. Second Brother may be a little reluctant to accept it, but he will do his utmost to assist you. The Grand Commander was right — you are gifted and capable, and you have the people’s hearts. The position suits you best. And so, Second Brother sincerely congratulates you.”

Those nearby who heard these words could tell it was half genuine, half false.

To say he was a little reluctant — that was surely an understatement. In a battle without smoke or fire, whoever lost suffered a tremendous blow. After all, what was lost was not a house, not a city. It was an entire land.

“Thank you, Second Brother.” Shi Ting raised his cup without a ripple of expression. “I will need to rely on Second Brother’s generous care and guidance in the days to come.”

“We’re brothers — no need for such formality.” Shi Guang gave a smile and drained his cup in one go.

Shi Guang turned to return to his seat, but his feet faltered and he nearly stumbled. A hand from beside him caught him in time.

“Second Young Master, are you all right?”

Shi Guang’s eyes had taken on a hazy look, and when he spoke, his words were already slightly slurred. “I’m — I’m fine.”

“The Second Young Master is drunk.” Someone said. “Young Commander, I’ll escort the Second Young Master back first.”

Shi Ting gave a nod. “Take more people with you — ensure Second Brother’s safety.”

Two of Shi Guang’s trusted men stepped forward to support him. As they walked him out, Shi Guang kept turning his head back toward Shi Ting. “Seventh Brother — congratulations, congratulations. Second Brother means it sincerely.”

He was still calling out congratulations even as he passed through the door.

“The Second Young Master is truly drunk.”

“Drowning his sorrows in drink, surely — anyone would feel the same in his position. It’s impossible to accept, just like that.”

Shi Guang had once been the heaven’s favored son. Everyone had assumed he would be the Grand Commander’s successor, that the position of Young Commander was destined for him alone. Yet the concubine-born Shi Ting, who had always been burdened with a reputation for being overlooked and unvalued, had quietly and steadily built something great.

Shi Ting had not only raised the Military Police Division’s standing among the common people to remarkable heights — he had also suppressed banditry, stabilized the situation, and performed deed after shining deed.

His ascent to this position could truly be called the will of the people. Even those who had not supported him had nothing concrete to say against him.

Shi Guang had received a blow of considerable weight this time. Drinking himself into a stupor was entirely understandable — that he had managed to refrain from causing a scene showed a measure of restraint.

“Shall we go and toast the Grand Commander?”

“The Grand Commander has just recovered — it’s not ideal for him to drink. Let us offer our toast with tea in place of wine.”

Shi Guang’s departure caused only a brief stir before everyone’s attention returned to the evening’s true subject.

At the same time, the Grand Commander was surrounded by a crowd of his own — many had not seen him in some time and were naturally full of warm inquiries and well-wishes.

Unlike the clamor within Jiuyan Tower, inside the car on the street outside, there was a solitary, quiet coldness.

After Shi Guang was helped into the car, he straightened up in his seat. Not a trace of intoxication remained on his face.

Through the car window, he looked at Jiuyan Tower blazing with light and festivity — all of it splendor that should have been his by right.

“Drive.” Shi Guang withdrew his gaze, his expression as cold as ice.

Back at the Shi Mansion, news that Shi Ting had become Young Commander had already spread like a spring breeze, and everyone had heard.

Qian Lan listened to Magpie’s account, her complexion turning gradually ashen.

“You’re certain you didn’t mishear — it is Shi Ting, not Shi Guang?” She asked once more, unable to accept it.

Magpie said, “I was afraid I might have misheard too, so I confirmed multiple times. The news is not wrong — the Grand Commander has appointed the Seventh Young Master as Young Commander. Tonight he has even arranged a banquet at Jiuyan Tower to celebrate the Seventh Young Master.”

“Impossible.” Qian Lan shot to her feet. “This cannot be.”

She turned and entered the bedroom, opened the drawer where the document had been stored — the drawer was empty. But the Grand Commander’s seal was still there.

“What the Grand Commander took away was clearly the document I wrote, with Shi Guang’s name plainly written on it. It is impossible for the Grand Commander to ignore my words and change his mind at the last moment.” Qian Lan stared at the blank emptiness inside the drawer, her thoughts churning in chaos. “Where exactly did things go wrong?”

She had kept the Grand Commander confined to the courtyard under the pretext of illness, and the Grand Commander had followed her every word — she told him not to go out and meet people, and he truly shut himself away and refused all visitors.

Today, had it not been necessary for him to personally announce the Young Commander appointment, Qian Lan would not have let him make a public appearance.

“Madam, if the Second Young Master asks, what are we to say?” Magpie thought of Shi Guang’s dark and ominous expression and felt a wave of fear.

Qian Lan stared blankly at the closed drawer. As that soft thud of the closure sounded, she said in a vacant voice, “Yes — if Shi Guang asks, what am I to say?”

She had no answer to give, for she herself had no idea what the reason was.

“Could the Seventh Young Master have used some scheme, and then coerced the Grand Commander into changing his decision after he appeared in public?” Magpie speculated. “The Grand Commander was forced.”

“Impossible.” Qian Lan shook her head with certainty. “Shi Guang told me: the nature of that drug is absolute compliance. Even if I told the Grand Commander to die, he would not hesitate for a moment. How much less would he change the selection of a Young Commander — even if Shi Ting put a blade to his throat, he would not alter his decision.”

“Then — then why has this happened?”

“I don’t know.” Qian Lan felt a mounting sense of agitation. “What about Yan Qing’s side?”

“The Seventh Young Mistress didn’t use the main kitchen today and instead prepared things herself in the small kitchen. From what the servants came to report, the Seventh Young Mistress showed no particular reaction — just had her evening meal as usual.”

“This Yan Qing hides deeply. From watching her, we can read nothing at all.” Qian Lan gritted her teeth. “Go to Jiuyan Tower and tell the Grand Commander I’m not feeling well — have him come back immediately.”

“Yes, Madam.”

For now, the only thing to do was to get the Grand Commander back to her side as quickly as possible. The gun needed to stay in her own hands to be safe. The moment she let him out, trouble had erupted — and it was a very large kind of trouble. If Shi Guang truly came to question her, how was she supposed to explain.

Qian Lan sat indoors, restless and unable to settle, waiting for Magpie’s news.

Given the Grand Commander’s level of attachment to her, all it took was a single word from her and he would obediently return. But before the Grand Commander arrived, a message from Shi Guang came through first.

Shi Guang communicated with her via carrier pigeons — pigeons that had been trained to a very high degree of skill. They would land on her windowsill and give two soft coos.

Qian Lan quickly stepped to the window. Sure enough, a pigeon was perched on the sill.

She untied the message bound to its leg and released the bird back into the air.

The location Shi Guang had specified for the meeting was a secluded guest courtyard within the Shi Mansion. The courtyard stood in an unfavorable position and was not used to receive visitors; servants only came periodically to clean it.

It was currently winter, and all the inhabited courtyards had their underfloor heating running. This courtyard, by contrast, was utterly cold and devoid of life.

Qian Lan wrapped herself in a thick cloak, with Magpie walking beside her to support her.

To avoid drawing attention, neither of them carried a lantern. Instead, they took the back path, cutting through the grove and coming to the courtyard by the most inconspicuous route.

Magpie pushed the door open. Qian Lan quickly stepped through, while Magpie remained outside to keep watch.

The courtyard was remote and no one ordinarily came near it — passersby were a rarity. It was one of the more concealed spots within the Shi Mansion.

Whenever Qian Lan and Shi Guang had met in the past, they had always chosen the small shop on Chang’an Street. But given the unusual circumstances of this occasion, Shi Guang had made an exception and arranged to meet within the Shi Mansion itself.

Upon entering the courtyard, only one room showed any trace of light. For fear of attracting attention, even the kerosene lamp burned very faintly.

She knew Shi Guang was inside, but her feet stopped in place — for she had not yet thought of how to explain herself to him.

Though Qian Lan and Shi Guang’s relationship was one of mutual cooperation, Shi Guang’s character was devious and ruthless. He would stop at nothing to achieve his ends. Facing this man, Qian Lan felt an inner fear.

And so she hesitated at length before finally stepping forward and knocking twice, lightly, on the door.