Every Lantern Festival sees the Capital City teeming with exceptional excitement.
This year is no different.
With lanterns adorning every household, their illumination at night paints each neighborhood of the Capital City in a warm, radiant glow.
The liveliness in Duke Wu'an Mansion is as usual.
However, the absence of Marquis Chen Taiping and the two young masters renders the festivity somewhat superficial.
Following the merriment, everybody dispersed early.
Yet in a secluded courtyard at the back, Old Madam Chen summoned several individuals.
Present were the second master of Marquis Mansion, Chen Lixin; the third master, Chen Lide; Second Young Master Chen Taixing; and several dozen men dressed in black, tight-fitting, short clothing.
"Mother, has Taiping sent any letters?" Chen Lide looked at the men in black and nodded to himself in approval.
Although these men were not Chen Family descendants, each one was a skilled member of the Wuan Army.