Near the dawn of the 7th day after the emperor issued the manhunt for the perpetrators complicit in the assault of the treasurer's son, Wen Zi Shan stood at the window of Xian Shang's mansion, rubbing at his jaw, his fingers tracing the tension that hadn't left him for seven days. He was supposed to report to the emperor today, but he still didn't have any leads on the assault. Xian Shang poured them some tea and sat down. "Have some tea, Grand Marshal."

  Wen Zi Shan turned to him, his clenched palms turning white. "How can you be so calm at a time like this? What will I tell the emperor today?"

  Xian Shang maintained his calm demeanour as he sipped his tea. "Just tell him anything. He won't check the matter himself."

  Wen Zi Shan, "We didn't even arrest a single gang member. It is like they vanished."

  Xian Shang put down his cup. "Are you sure about this?"

  Wen Zi Shan "Of course I am. The Great Dragon District is part of the White Phoenix Clan's supposed turf. Once they burned the treasurer's garden, they disappeared."

  Xian Shang stood up suddenly and began pacing, his hands behind his back. "Something isn't right... What would they gain by torching Treasurer Meng's garden? And their sudden disappearance..."

  Wen Zi Shan scratched his head. "Maybe they knew it was the treasurer's house, so they feared our retaliation. But still, how can they cease activity so quickly, so as to escape us immediately?... They are so lucky."

  Xian Shang shook his head, his face darkening. "Luck is a coin that flips both ways, Wen Zi Shan. But to vanish from a sealed city in a single night? That isn't luck. That is a leak."

  Wen Zi Shan shouted, his eyes bulging with fury, "Who has the guts to challenge me, the grand marshal?"

  Xian Shang's voice was filled with resentment. "Who else in the entire empire has these capabilities and this network but him? Who else can turn this city into his personal chessboard?"

  Wen Zi Shan, "You mean.... Yang Jian?"

  Xian Shang slowly nodded. Wen Zi Shan rushed towards the door, muttering, "I will make that rat regret the day he challenged me."

  Xian Shang stopped him, his voice worried, "What exactly are you going to do? We don't have a single clue that it was him, just my guess. If you charge into the throne room with nothing but a 'guess,' Jian will twist your words into a noose. He won't just survive; he’ll make the emperor thank him for exposing your incompetence. Think, Wen Zi Shan... Think before you destroy our entire scheme."

  At the same time, in the inner palace where the emperor resided, Yang Feng and Lei were sitting opposite each other as a servant poured them both tea. Jian was standing in the corner of the room. Feng looked at the steaming tea, waited till the servant left, then looked at Jian. "You can sit, Eldest brother. There is no one else here."

  Jian waved his fan. "I am fine where I am. Thank you for your concern, your majesty."

  Feng hit the table, spilling the tea with frustration. "Can you drop this stupid act at least when we are alone?"

  Jian didn't respond, but Lei raised his hands. "Calm down, little brother. Don't be hard on him. He has enough to deal with already."

  Jian took one step forward. "You should be more concerned with other important things, your majesty. Not with your steward's pose. Today, the grand marshal should report to you about the Great Dragon District's incident."

  Feng rested his head against the table, his voice more like an innocent thought, "I certainly hope he has something to say. These gangs should be wiped out once and for all. What did they even gain by this? Nothing but uninvited trouble."

  Yang Lei's eyes darted to Jian to find him covering his face with his fan as he walked to the door. "Just remember to be light on the grand marshal, your majesty. Don't scold him. I have a feeling that these gangs aren't as simple as they seem. Excuse me."

  He bowed and left. Feng was still resting on the table, flicking the drops of tea with his finger, while Lei nervously looked at Feng, then the door, clearly questioning what he should do now.

  Jian made his way back to his 1st palace, passed the bowing bodyguards and servants, and directly entered his private chambers. Yang Yan was startled and quickly approached him, “Jian? What is the matter, dear? You look nervous.”

  Jian whispered, “Listen to me carefully. I want you to do exactly as I say, and you can refuse. I will find another way.”

  He proceeded to tell her what he is planning. After he was done, she took a few steps back with shock, kneeling on a chair for support, “Jian... That ... is crazy... How can you even...”

  Jian put down his fan and walked to her, holding her shoulders. “You can refuse if you want. I have other ideas in mind, but this is the fastest one to my goal.”

  Yang Yan slowly rested her hands on his arms, trying to force an assuring smile. “I trust you, Jian. And I believe you will succeed. Do as you see fit.”

  Jian smiled and gently pulled her closer in a kiss. After a few seconds, he backed away and took his fan to leave. She asked, “Just... How far are you willing to risk, Jian?”

  He didn’t turn around and just spelled “Whatever it takes.”

  As the door shut behind him, Yang Yan slowly sat down, thinking, “Jian... You will succeed... I am sure of it... But... come back safely.” Her eyes started to swell with tears as she silently sobbed, hoping her lover would make it back

  Jian didn’t look backwards; instead, he summoned 5 of his bodyguards who bowed as they entered “Master... How shall we assist you?”

  Jian “Listen carefully.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  He told them instructions, and the five men, who had faced blades without flinching, shared a look of pure disbelief. One opened his mouth to protest, but the words died in his throat as Jian’s eyes turned to cold flint. Instead of comforting, he dismissed them with a stern look and a warning that he won’t tolerate failure. After a few minutes, a servant came to the door and was led inside. When he saw Jian, he bowed. “Steward Jian, your presence is required in the throne room. The emperor is about to arrive.”

  Jian nodded and followed him, his mind thinking, “Dance well, Xian Shang. It is a long way down from the heights of your hubris, and I intend to watch every step of the fall.”

  Yang Jian made his way to the throne room to find the room set. The emperor and his advisor, the Grand Marshal with his marshals and several generals, and the prime minister and more officials than usual. Jian covered his face with his fan, hiding a smile. “Bringing a whole circus to witness the emperor’s cluelessness? Bad move, Xian Shang. You have mistakenly benefitted me.”

  He stepped forward, bowing to the emperor before taking his place. Feng cleared his throat and started, “Grand Marshal, I trust you brought some new information.”

  Wen Zi Shan stepped forward and bowed. "Unfortunately, your majesty. We are still searching, but I assure you we are doing everything we can. I deeply apologise for the incompetence of my men.”

  Feng looked at the bowing grand marshal and was opening his mouth to do as he was instructed, but Jian took a heavy step forward, his fan snapping shut like a bone breaking, his voice raised with anger. "Seven days, Grand Marshal? Seven days of empty promises while the emperor’s peace is trampled in the mud. You don't bring us an apology; you bring us a confession of your own uselessness."

  The silence that followed his words was oppressive. No one in the entire room was prepared for this. The marshals’ eyes darted to Jian, taken aback by his bold statement.

  Feng’s face was pale, remembering Jian’s advice this morning and muttering quietly, “Didn’t you...”

  Lei’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked at Jian, thinking, “You told us to be soft on him... What are you doing?”

  Even Xian Shang couldn’t hide his surprise. He expected a dismissal or a scolding from the emperor. He looked at Jian with malice, unable to see through him. He thought “Bastard... What are you planning this time?”

  Wen Zi Shan straightened up, his fists clenched. “Steward Jian... What do you mean by this?”

  Jian didn’t back down. “You heard every word I said, grand marshal... if you are unable to comprehend them, then we have a bigger problem that can’t be solved.”

  Wen Zi Shan took a step towards him; his voice was a low, guttural growl that vibrated in the stone floor. "Steward Jian... you are a servant who has forgotten the length of his leash. Choose your next words carefully, for they may be your last."

  Everyone took a step backwards, trying not to get caught in this. Feng looked around. He knew he was supposed to stop this, but he didn’t know how. Even Lei looked completely defeated. Jian’s bold words left them unable to save him. He thought, “You purposely isolated yourself, eldest brother. We can’t save you now. I hope you know what you are doing.”

  Jian let out a short laugh. “I worry less about my words and more about the fact that your soldiers can't find a gang of common arsonists in their own backyard.”

  Wen Zi Shan took another step forward as if ready to charge at Jian. Everyone held their breath except Xian Shang, whose eyes didn’t leave Jian. He straightened his beard, thinking, “Most men would blink or tremble when threatened by a man of Wen Zi Shan’s stature, but his eyes are steady, burning like a wildfire... Wait a second... Damn it... This is a trap... The bastard wants this.”

  He stepped forward quickly, standing shoulder to shoulder with Wen Zi Shan, his voice worried, “Steward Jian, please mind your words. I don’t think negotiating these matters is your business.”

  Jian looked at this with dismissal, “I consider myself the voice of the emperor. And I find it my duty to correct what doesn’t work right to ensure the prosperity of our emperor’s reign.”

  Xian Shang’s face darkened. “The grand marshal is leagues above you, Steward Jian. No one has the right to correct him but the emperor. But if you are so keen on interfering, you must have known how hard the grand marshal has worked, and you also know these gangs aren’t easy to find, and that army soldiers are neither equipped nor prepared to search for gangs on the streets. Should the grand marshal be scolded for all this?”

  Wen Zi Shan looked at Xian Shang with disbelief, who, in return, gazed at him once before returning to Jian. The air in the room felt heavy, and it looked like tension was about to explode.

  After some suffocating moments, Jian tilted his head, opening his fan again. “Ah, so the Grand Marshal is 'too high' to be questioned, yet his soldiers are 'too low' to catch common thieves? A strange middle ground to occupy, Prime Minister. Tell me, if the army is not equipped for the streets, and the Marshal is too grand for the task... who exactly is governing this city? Or have we simply handed the keys to the gangs and forgotten to tell His Majesty?”

  Feng finally stood up, waving his arm while trying to keep his tone steady, “That is enough. Steward Jian, your remarks aren’t helping. Leave this courtroom immediately.”

  All eyes turned to Feng, including Jian, who simply approached the throne and bowed. “I have overstepped, and I deeply apologise if I offended your majesty. I will leave at once.”

  He turned to leave, his steps quiet, leaving everyone puzzled. Xian Shang looked at Feng, thinking, “You saved him again, Yang Feng.” No one saw the wide smile cracking his face as he thought while crossing the door, his thoughts racing, “Your naiveness has served me well, little brother. Good work. The more the burning ash, the brighter the new fire”. He walked to his mansion to find his bodyguards sitting, their faces pale. He glanced at them and entered the mansion, delighted that his plan was in motion.

  Inside the courtroom, Feng turned to Wen Zi Shan, “Grand marshal, although I don’t 100% agree with steward Jian, he made a fair point. This delay is unacceptable. Please work harder to solve this case. Dismissed”

  And He stood up and left, ignoring the bowing crowd. Yang Lei followed close behind as they both returned to the inner palace, as the sun sat on the horizon, its orange rays illuminating the sky before leaving the sky to the moon.

  Inside the throne room, the ministers were murmuring among themselves. Wen Zi Shan turned to his ally, “You stepped up suddenly. What happened?”

  Xian Shang shook his head. “He was setting a trap for you. There was no other explanation.”

  Wen Zi Shan punched the wooden pillar, “And the emperor saved him again. Those 3 are starting to get on my nerves.”

  Xian Shang pointed at him with warning eyes, “Grand marshal. Don’t act recklessly. I don’t know what Jian wanted with his act today, but I am sure it is nothing good. Let's get out of here.”

  They all walked together, but each one was thinking differently. Xian Shang was calculating Jian’s next movement. Wen Zi Shan was cursing him. Zhang Wu was curious to see his next move, while Mo Yuan began to think if he wanted a place for himself on this chessboard.

  Back to the inner palace’s private chambers, Yang Feng slammed the door shut behind him and Lei, put his Mianguan on the table and shouted, “What the hell is eldest brother up to? I am completely lost.”

  Yang Lei raised his palms in a comforting manner, “Little brother, calm down...”

  Yang Feng maintained his angry tone, “Didn't he tell us not to scold Wen Zi Shan? Why did he attack him alone? Why did he isolate us?”

  Yang Lei tried to maintain his calm posture. “I am sure eldest brother has his reasons, and he has a plan for this.”

  Yang Feng finally sat down, taking his breath. “I am just worried for him. Wen Zi Shan is so petty. He won’t tolerate eldest brother much longer.” He stopped looking at his brother with pleading eyes. “He has absolute authority over the imperial guard, second brother. He won’t try to hurt him, will he?”

  Yang Lei’s face went pale for a second before he sighed, “No, little brother. Don't worry about it. Eldest brother has some loyal men by his side. He is sa...”

  Suddenly, a servant burst into the room. The doors didn't just open; they were slammed back against the stone. The servant collapsed to his knees, his lungs whistling for air, his face pale and sweaty. “Your majesty... Advisor Yang... The 1st eastern palace....it is ...on fire.”