At dusk, within Brightpeace Palace.
Gavin Shea and Gu Jin sat facing each other on the heated couch. The window toward the courtyard stood wide open, and the lanterns strung across the yard bathed everything in a warm, golden glow.
Gu Jin sipped his wine, tilting his head to listen to the distant bursts of cheers drifting in from beyond the Sunrise Gate. A smile curved his lips.
"The Lantern Festival grows livelier with each passing year."
"Indeed—it's already a spectacle out there," Gavin Shea replied, laughing as well.
"Just after noon, people were already crowding around Mount Ao, waiting for the lanterns to be lit. There was still an hour to go, yet the place was packed shoulder to shoulder.
Only during the Lantern Festival does one realize how many people Castleton holds. Every street and alley is teeming with them. One wonders where they all hide the rest of the year."
Gu Jin's smile deepened. "For several years in a row, the harvests have been good. Judging from this year's weather, it looks like another bountiful one. The Yongjia granary is replacing the old grain with new this year—go have a quiet look. Draw a few stores for inspection. Should anyone dare to lay a hand on the granary, kill without mercy."
"Understood." Gavin Shea's answer came crisp and certain.
"I plan to transfer the Ministry of Revenue to your charge.
Spend the next two years inspecting every granary across the realm. And those few places we discussed before—have their new depots built and filled.
The workshops and the armory will go to Chancellor Pan."
Gu Jin's voice lowered.
"The Ministry of Revenue is under the acting stewardship of the Marquis of Yongping," Gavin Shea noted, his brows arching slightly.
"Transfer him to the Ministry of Rites. As for Chancellor Chu—hasn't he long coveted the Grand Secretariat?" Gu Jin let out a quiet chuckle.
"To take hold of the Ministry of Revenue means reshuffling many officials. That will stir up yet another struggle," Gavin Shea remarked, smiling as he raised his brows at Gu Jin.
"Mm. The one truly running the ministry is Shen Yun, not Shen He.
Two years ago, I had already planned to seize control of the Revenue. Tried several times, but Shen Yun kept a tight grip—no easy man to dislodge.
He was quiet but shrewd, never swayed by hints of promotion.
Now that he's dead, the moment has come.
Once the yamen reopens, start from the position Shen Yun left vacant—the Assistant Minister of Revenue.
Go back and work with Shouzhen to select the right men. Starting tomorrow, begin meeting those who must be met."
A smile played upon Gu Jin's lips.
"Very well!" Gavin Shea agreed cheerfully, raising his cup toward Gu Jin.
They drank, and as Gavin leaned forward to refill Gu Jin's cup, he lowered his gaze and said, "After the New Year's Grand Court Assembly, I noticed His Majesty looked rather unwell."
Gu Jin sighed softly. "Yes… His Majesty's health declines year by year.
Yesterday, I spoke with him about establishing the Crown Prince. He hesitated, saying he would wait until the latter half of the year—and if his illness does not improve, he'll make the appointment by year's end."
Gavin Shea frowned. "His Majesty keeps delaying it. No formal title, no proclamation—all in the name of sparing my elder brother's feelings. Truly…"
The last three words—hypocritical pretenses—he swallowed down with effort.
"But as long as the Crown Prince remains unappointed, the Yongping household will know no peace. They worry about the Eldest, they worry about me—scheming, stirring trouble—and His Majesty shields them.
If we want to take the Revenue, we'll have to offer them something in return.
But we're not doing this for ourselves!"
"Then give them the Ministry of Personnel," Gu Jin murmured.
"The Ministry of Personnel?" Gavin Shea's eyes widened.
"It's under Chancellor Wu's supervision. With him there, no great harm will come of it.
Besides, the capital officials were just reassessed and reassigned last year. Reviews occur every three years—plenty of time till the next.
As for routine evaluations, Shen Yun's death has thrown the ministry into confusion. Shen He and his son will need at least two or three years to get their bearings—if they have the patience at all.
Once the yamen opens, move first on the Revenue. Let the Yongping Marquis's faction howl for a while, then hand them the Personnel Ministry.
That gives us a cushion of two or three months.
During that time, have Shouzhen sort through their people—those familiar with Personnel, or clever enough to adapt quickly. Give them decent posts, even a promotion or two if need be. Just make sure they're transferred out of the capital." Gu Jin smiled faintly.
"Understood." Gavin Shea nodded, then after a pause, asked in a low voice, "Two or three years—does Elder Brother think…?"
"His Majesty spent his youth amidst the struggle for succession—nine deaths, one life. His health never recovered from it; his illness runs deep." Gu Jin sighed several times. "Two or three years, at most."
Gavin shifted slightly, settling more comfortably, and raised his cup once more toward Gu Jin.
―――――――――――――――
Lena Sanders, Harris Ma, and Jack Golden were taking their time at the Immortal's Inn, eating and drinking leisurely. Once they were sated, they stepped out and strolled along Zhuque Avenue toward Imperial Street.
Tonight marked the lighting of the Lantern Mountain—the grand Ao Peak ablaze with color—signaling the official start of Castleton's world-famous Lantern Festival. The crowd was so thick that Lena Sanders almost sighed aloud.
Harris Ma and Jack Golden flanked her closely on either side. After squeezing through several dozen paces, Harris tugged at her sleeve, leaning close to whisper, "Boss, look at all these people. If someone suddenly pulled a knife here and stabbed a few, it'd be easy as pie."
"You two sticking this close—are you afraid I'll be the one stabbed?" Lena stopped in her tracks.
Both men nodded at once.
Lena ran a hand over her face and sighed, then grabbed their arms, pushing them ahead of her.
"Take a good look at this street—all those men and women in bright colors. If someone were killed right here in the open, blood everywhere—how chaotic would it get? What kind of madness would follow?"
"Plenty would be trampled to death," Harris replied instantly, Jack nodding furiously beside him.
"Not just that—some lanterns would get knocked over, maybe even set fires.
If that happened, the authorities wouldn't call it an assassination. They'd call it rebellion!
That old gossip from Pighead Alley said there were killers even in his youth. So this trade must have been around for ages. If they've survived so long, it means they're smart—know what can be done and what can't.
You've got to learn to read the signs before the storm."
"Boss, that kind of foresight…" Harris looked pained, while Jack jumped in seamlessly, "Is impossible to learn! We'll never get it, Boss!"
"Then stop worrying and enjoy the walk. We ate a bit too much earlier—time to digest. Once we've had our fill of lanterns, we'll take a shortcut home."
Hands clasped behind her back, Lena strolled forward.
Both men let out matching sighs of relief and finally began to gawk freely at the lights and festivities.
Crossing Longjin Bridge onto Imperial Street, Lena turned her head toward a shadowy alley behind the entertainment quarter. She gestured with her chin. "That alley—does it have a name?"
"Yeah—Pear Blossom Lane," Jack replied at once.
"Can we cut through from here?" Lena asked, stepping diagonally toward it.
"Sure can!" Jack answered eagerly, hurrying past her and plunging headfirst into the dark mouth of Pear Blossom Lane.