Shen Yue’s background was truly peculiar. She usually kept a low profile without showing off, yet today she unexpectedly revealed her capabilities for some unknown reason.
Her moves were ruthless and far superior to Qiao Er’s skills. With the Shadow Guard Bureau currently short-handed, temporarily putting her in charge of the Second Division wasn’t a bad strategy.
“Mm, rise.”
With these words from Xiao Yuheng, he tacitly approved her appointment as Second Bureau Chief.
“Thank you, Your Highness! This subordinate will take my leave now!”
Shen Yue smiled triumphantly, cupped her hands in gratitude, and prepared to depart.
Watching the Tri-edged Special Ops Knife in her hand, Xiao Yuheng clicked his tongue and finally spoke:
“Shen Er, wait a moment!”
He had always been too lazy to remember the Bureau Chiefs’ names. For convenience, he called them by their surname plus Bureau Number – just like Qiao Er, whose original name was Qiao Mu, but to Xiao Yuheng, he could only be called Qiao Er.
Similarly, the other bureau chiefs were Jiang Da, Yao San, and Zhao Si.
But as a woman, Shen Yue absolutely disliked this name.
The corner of her mouth twitched as she reluctantly turned back, slightly bowing her head.
“Does Your Highness have further instructions?”
“That… what’s that weapon in your hand? Bring it here for me to see.”
Hearing this, Shen Yue finally understood –
The reason this fellow had summoned her to the study was that he had taken a fancy to her triangular twist pastry!
But when the boss speaks, she had to comply. She could only obediently present it to him.
Xiao Yuheng narrowed his eyes, picking up the Triangular Blade to examine it carefully.
He had seen similar weapons before – this thing had three blood grooves. When stabbed into the human body, it would create triangular wounds that were impossible to bandage and stop bleeding.
In other words, once stabbed by this thing, death was certain.
Ordinary triangular blades had one drawback: they could only stab, not slash. But this one before him had clearly been improved – not only were all three edges sharpened and curved, but the blood grooves also had holes drilled through them, reducing its weight while significantly accelerating blood loss.
“Did you make this?” he asked.
“Ha, how could I? This was made by that Chen’s Smithy in the west city. This subordinate just bought it to play with.”
Shen Yue wasn’t lying. She had designed this thing herself and had it custom-made by Master Chen, spending forty taels on it!
“Oh.”
Xiao Yuheng lowered his eyes in response, showing no intention of returning it.
“Well, Your Highness, if you’re done looking, please return it to your subordinate.”
After all, it was quite expensive.
Hearing this, Xiao Yuheng looked up at her, then reluctantly glanced at the triangular blade in his hand, saying without changing expression:
“You ate my Peach Blossom Cake.”
Shen Yue: ???
After eating the peach blossom cake, she had clearly rearranged the plate exactly as before. Unless someone specifically counted, it would be impossible to tell.
How did he discover it?
Should a dignified prince really be counting pieces of pastry like that? Is that proper behavior, huh?
“You ate my pastry, so you should make compensation.” Having seized the moral high ground, a certain prince was clearly going to take advantage of the situation.
Shen Yue was impressed.
This Xiao Yuheng had received his fiefdom at sixteen and was like a local emperor here in Sifang City. Was he really short of one piece of pastry?
But technically, she was in the wrong. Taking without asking counted as theft – she had ultimately done wrong.
“Yes, Your Highness. Should this subordinate go to the market tomorrow to buy one and return it to you?”
A certain prince said expressionlessly: “You should return ten pieces.”
“…”
Fine, you’ve got the moral high ground, you’re awesome!
Shen Yue took a deep breath to calm herself. “Understood. I’ll deliver the pastries after purchasing them. May I have my blade back now?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuheng’s slender fingers deftly tucked the Triangular Blade into his sleeve.
“This shall remain with me as collateral. Once you’ve repaid the pastries, I shall return it.”
“…”
Who do you think you’re looking down on? Would I, a Director, renege on ten pastries?
Internally seething, Shen Yue maintained a cheerful facade. “As you wish, Your Highness.”
After the exhausting night, Shen Yue was utterly drained. Returning to her quarters, she kicked off her boots and collapsed onto the bed ready to sleep.
Just then, the door creaked open as Zhang Dayong crowded in with over a dozen shadow guards.
“Brother Shen! Congratulations! Head Guard Changfeng said you’ve been promoted to Director. We’re all counting on you now!”
Beaming, Zhang Dayong moved to undo her belt.
Horrified, Shen Yue shoved him away. “Brother Zhang, what are you doing?”
Zhang Dayong looked innocent. “Helping you undress! You’re our leader now – we should serve you properly.”
“N-no need.”
Flustered, Shen Yue stammered, “We’re all brothers here. Let’s keep things as they were.”
“But that won’t do! A Director should be treated with proper respect…”
“Right, Brother Shen! This outfit was made by my wife – I’ve been saving it. It’s yours now!”
“Brother Shen, these are my homemade steamed dumplings. If you like them, I’ll make more tomorrow.”
“Brother Shen, these apricot preserves I’ve kept under my blankets for half a month aren’t spoiled…”
“Enough!” Shen Yue made a stopping gesture and sighed at them.
These men were all older yet insisted on calling her “brother.” Though awkward, correcting them would only cause misunderstandings.
Well, in this world, status mattered more than age or seniority. Even septuagenarians might call their superior “grandfather” if circumstances demanded.
“Alright then. Bai Yunfei, leave the dumplings. Everyone else, take your gifts back. I don’t need them. And henceforth, no one enters my room without permission. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
The shadow guards responded listlessly. “Brother Shen, isn’t there anything we can help with?”
Shen Yue thought momentarily. “Could you heat some bathwater for me?”
Zhang Dayong perked up immediately. “Sure! I’ll scrub your back!”
“…That won’t be necessary. Instead, Brother Zhang—”
“Call me Old Zhang!”
“Right… Old Zhang, please sort through the late Director Qiao Er’s belongings. Return all the silver he withheld to the brothers. Don’t forget…”
Catching her meaning, Zhang Dayong raised an eyebrow knowingly.
“Don’t forget your share, right? I understand!”
With their tasks assigned, the crowd noisily filed out.
The next day.
At dawn’s first light, Zhang Dayong pounded on Shen Yue’s door. Upon questioning, she learned all Division Directors were required to attend morning training.
Grudgingly rising, she donned the Director’s uniform Zhang Dayong had fetched and trudged yawning to the training grounds. There she found Changfeng and three other Directors had been waiting – she was the last to arrive.
Adopting the principle that a dead pig fears no scalding water, she chuckled and stepped into the formation.
“Shen Er is the newly appointed Director of the Second Division. From now on, you must support one another and serve His Highness together…”
Changfeng stood at the front of the ranks, maintaining a stern expression as he spoke with solemn authority. Yet Shen Yue’s attention was drawn to Xiao Yuheng approaching from a distance.
The guy was still so handsome it was hard to look away, though today something seemed slightly different about him.
She quietly studied him and finally noticed the additional dagger sheath at his waist.
The cylindrical sheath, crafted from pure gold, was studded with large and small pieces of carnelian and malachite, clearly priceless at first glance. The only incongruous element was the dagger hilt—this hilt…
Wait, no! This wasn’t any dagger—it was clearly her Triangular Blade!