Magpie immediately took the Grand Commander’s order and several guards to Luo Huaimeng’s courtyard.

A young maidservant was airing clothes in the courtyard. Seeing the group stride in with such imposing manner, she immediately demanded, “What are you doing? Don’t you know to knock before entering?”

Magpie walked at the front and didn’t even spare the maidservant a glance. She said in a haughty tone, “Where is Er Yitai?”

The maidservant frowned and looked at her with displeasure. “You’re nothing but the Madam’s maidservant — you’re not the Madam herself. If you want to see Er Yitai, you should have someone announce you first. You just barge in like this with people in tow — aren’t you afraid of being punished by Er Yitai?”

“As you yourself said, I am the Madam’s maidservant. Even if there is punishment, it’s not Er Yitai’s place to hand it out. I have no time for this. Is Er Yitai inside?”

“Well, how unfortunate for you.” The maidservant was not afraid of her at all and raised her chin defiantly. “Er Yitai has gone to visit the in-law’s patriarch and won’t be back for some time.”

“When did Er Yitai leave?”

“Not long ago. The Seventh Young Mistress and Er Yitai left together.” The maidservant said. “If it’s urgent, you can wait here. Or if it’s truly pressing, go find them at the Yan Mansion — though someone of your standing probably can’t get through the Yan family’s door.”

“I’m not here to trade words with you.” Magpie thought to herself: even if Er Yitai wasn’t here now, she would have to come back eventually. You can run from the first day but not the fifteenth.

With that, Magpie turned and went back to report to Qian Lan.

The moment Magpie left, the maidservant immediately brushed off imaginary dust from herself and hurried toward the back gate.

“That Magpie was absolutely menacing, and she brought several guards along with her. The look of it suggests she has some scheme against Er Yitai.”

Yan Qing and Shi Ting listened to the maidservant’s words and exchanged a glance.

It seemed Shi Ting’s guess had indeed been correct. Before Qian Lan could get the Grand Commander to appoint the Young Commander, she would certainly move against Er Yitai. Her targeting Er Yitai was only a means to provoke Shi Ting — ultimately, she wanted to drive a wedge between Shi Ting and the Grand Commander.

The Blue Brick Tower was split into two factions: those who supported Shi Ting, and those who supported Shi Guang. Shi Ting’s standing among the common people was also considerable. If the appointment were to go to Shi Guang, those who supported Shi Ting would inevitably oppose it. If at that same moment Shi Ting were made to openly defy the Grand Commander — to have his relationship with the Grand Commander turn hostile — Shi Guang could slap him with the charge of treason. Those who still supported Shi Ting would then hesitate over whether to continue standing at his side.

“I wonder what crime Qian Lan has fabricated for me?” Luo Huaimeng listened with a detached expression on her face, her prayer beads turning slowly in her hands.

“Qian Lan doesn’t need evidence at all. She only needs to say a few words before the Grand Commander, and that’s enough.” Yan Qing said. “I’m afraid if she told the Grand Commander that Mother committed murder and arson, he would believe her without question — not even bothering to investigate the truth.”

Luo Huaimeng gently closed her eyes. “What do you plan to do?”

Shi Ting said, “I’ll have someone take Mother to the house in Xi Ding to stay for now. The official word will be that Mother has gone to Baiyun Convent to burn incense and worship. These days, I’ll have to ask Mother to bear the inconvenience of being away from home for a while — I’ll have people assigned to protect Mother’s safety closely.”

Luo Huaimeng gave a nod. “You both must take care as well.”

Shi Ting quietly took Luo Huaimeng to the house in Xi Ding — the same temporary lodging where he and Yan Qing had stayed when he had first returned from Hong River. This place had always been his secret address in Shun Cheng, known to only one person: Liu Yin.

With Luo Huaimeng staying here, plus the hands he had posted there, even if Qian Lan and Shi Guang wanted to move against her, they would not be able to find her.

After arranging for Luo Huaimeng, Shi Ting received word: after more than a month of not receiving visitors, the Grand Commander was finally going to appear at the Blue Brick Tower. This time, he had summoned everyone at the Blue Brick Tower, saying he had an important announcement to make.

Though the Grand Commander had not specified what the matter was, those with sharp minds had already guessed: the position of Young Commander, which had been vacant in Bei Di for several years, was at last to be decided.

The only candidates for Young Commander were, of course, Shi Guang and Shi Ting. And the Blue Brick Tower had already divided itself into two factions along those lines.

At this moment, even more anxious than the two principals themselves were the people of these two factions, because the Grand Commander’s final decision would determine their very survival.

There was also a neutral faction, to whom the outcome was more or less irrelevant.

Shi Ting received notice to attend the meeting. When he arrived at the Blue Brick Tower, many had already gathered ahead of him. The conference room on the second floor was filled to capacity.

He still wore his Military Police Division uniform, immaculate and sharp, radiating a commanding presence. Without making a single sound, the moment he appeared, every eye in the room shifted to him.

After Shi Ting sat down at the conference table, he set his peaked cap neatly on the table in front of him. The people beside him immediately leaned over to greet him.

Just as Shi Ting was responding to the crowd, another wave of murmuring broke out: Shi Guang appeared at the conference room door, Zuo Liang in tow.

Shi Guang wore a smile and shook hands one by one with those who came up to greet him.

Once the commotion died down, Shi Guang took a seat directly across from Shi Ting. The two men looked at each other, both giving an almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment.

“How long has it been since anyone has seen the Grand Commander?” someone whispered in the conference room.

“Two months.”

“The Grand Commander has been in seclusion since this illness, seeing no one. Yet there are matters that only he can handle.”

“Indeed — when the Grand Commander fell ill, things here nearly fell into chaos.”

“I heard the Grand Commander has been staying in the Madam’s courtyard. Only the Madam can see him — not even the Second Young Master or the Seventh Young Master can get access.”

The two speakers looked at each other with expressions of knowing understanding.

In recent days, quite a few rumors had circulated — all saying that the Grand Commander was so infatuated with his new wife that he had neglected his duties entirely, and had even taken medicinal tonics regularly to please her.

Of course, these whispers were all spoken in hushed voices and never reached the ears of Shi Ting or Shi Guang.

Across the table, Shi Ting’s gaze swept over Shi Guang — and Shi Guang was already looking at him.

In Shi Guang’s gaze, Shi Ting saw the confident certainty of someone who had already won. For this position of Young Commander, Shi Guang was absolutely certain of victory.

“Congratulations, Second Young Master.” Someone stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Shi Guang. “My congratulations to you.”

Shi Guang was taken aback, then asked, “What do you mean by that, Secretary Zhang?”

Secretary Zhang was from Shi Guang’s faction and did not care to mince words at this point. His voice carried without deliberate restraint. “I’ve heard the Grand Commander is emerging today specifically to settle the matter of the Young Commander’s appointment. Looking at all of Bei Di, who else besides the Second Young Master is fit for the position? So Secretary Zhang offers his advance congratulations.”

“Secretary Zhang is speaking too soon.” Someone took umbrage. “Though the Second Young Master is talented, the Seventh Young Master is also a rare and exceptional talent. The Grand Commander’s document has yet to be issued — isn’t it premature for the Secretary to say such things?”

Secretary Zhang humphed. “Not only is the Second Young Master the people’s choice, but he also has the Grand Commander’s favor. The position of Young Commander is certain to go to the Second Young Master.”

“If we’re speaking of the people’s choice, no one surpasses the Seventh Young Master.”

“You’re just a frog at the bottom of a well — what do you know?”

“And you’re nothing but a dog who looks down on others — what do you understand?”

The two looked on the verge of coming to blows when, from outside, a sudden clamor of voices erupted. Someone cried out in excitement, “It’s the Grand Commander! The Grand Commander is here!”

The Grand Commander strode in wearing a sky-blue commander’s uniform, with Liu Yin serving as his escort.

Most people present had not seen the Grand Commander in a long while. They had expected him to appear drawn and sickly, but to their surprise, apart from a measure of fatigue, he was as imposing and dignified as ever.

Liu Yin stepped forward and pulled out the chair. The Grand Commander strode over and took his seat.

Everyone in the room rose to their feet — some saluting, others standing at attention with their eyes locked forward.

The Grand Commander’s gaze swept around the room, and at last he gave a nod. “Everyone, it has been a long time. Please, be seated.”

Only after seeing the Grand Commander sit did the assembled group gradually take their seats as well.

“These past days I have been bedridden with illness, causing many matters to fall behind. I have put you all through great trouble.”

Everyone hastened to say, “Not at all, not at all.”

The Grand Commander smiled briefly. “My health has somewhat improved of late. I thought to take this opportunity to put an important matter to rest. I have read your joint petition — I too feel the position of Young Commander has been vacant too long. Looking at the other provinces, all have already installed a Young Commander, some of whom have even taken full command. Yet this position in Bei Di has remained empty.”

He looked to both sides of the room. “The reason I have long delayed appointing a Young Commander is that both my sons are outstanding — I have been torn, unable to make a choice. But the time has come when I must choose between them.”

He motioned behind him, and Liu Yin brought forward a sealed envelope.

The Grand Commander opened the envelope himself and withdrew a document.

At the sight of the document, a gleam of triumphant certainty lit up in Shi Guang’s eyes.

He knew this document had been written in Qian Lan’s own hand, the seal applied by her personally — there could be no mistake.

The Grand Commander now obeyed Qian Lan’s every word, had even entrusted her with the commander’s seal. From here on, the seal bore the Grand Commander’s name in name only — in reality, it was his to control.

He now only needed to secure the title of Young Commander. After that, everything would be in his grasp.

Shi Guang could not help but glance across at Shi Ting — and saw him sitting with a blank expression, seemingly indifferent to whatever was about to unfold.

Shi Guang had kept people watching Shi Ting at all times and knew he had recently been going back and forth between the Yan family and the hospital, all because Yan Qing’s father was critically ill.

He wanted to be an exemplary son-in-law. He wanted to win Yan Qing’s heart. But without the protection of being the Seventh Young Master of the Shi family, what could he use to compete?

Once he held the full power of Bei Di in his hands, everything Shi Ting possessed could be taken apart and redistributed at his pleasure.

His Military Police Division, the people he had drawn to his side — and his woman.

Shi Ting seemed to sense Shi Guang’s gaze. When he raised his head, the sharp certainty in Shi Guang’s eyes had not yet been pulled back.

Their gazes collided across the table like a bolt of electricity, but it vanished instantly without a trace.

By then, the Grand Commander had already pulled out the document. Everyone’s eyes fell upon it in tense expectation.