Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress

The third level of the Lamplighters’ Dungeon!

“Let me out!”

“Damn it, who gave you the guts to arrest me? Where’s the arrest warrant? I’m a hallmaster!”

As soon as Xia Chen stepped inside, he heard a furious outburst.

“What’s all this racket about?”

Xia Wen strode over and kicked the door of cell number forty-eight.

Inside was none other than Li Yue!

“Xia Chen, on what grounds did you seize us? What crime have we committed?”

Li Yue glared furiously at Xia Chen, who emerged from behind, his eyes blazing as if they could spit fire.

“You’ve abused your authority for personal gain, misused your position, and exacted revenge for private grudges. I’ll surely lodge a complaint with the Commander-in-Chief! Even if you’re the Imperial Son-in-Law, His Majesty won’t spare you!”

Seeing Xia Chen remain silent, Li Yue assumed he had intimidated him; emboldened, he raised his voice further, growing increasingly confident with each word.

“Are you certain His Majesty won’t spare me?”

Xia Chen finally spoke, smiling as he looked at Li Yue; Li Yue’s expression shifted slightly.

Xia Chen walked away, and Li Yue ceased his clamor within the cell.

As Xia Chen passed cell number twenty-three, Chen Song, who had been sitting motionless inside, suddenly brightened his eyes.

“Lord Xia, Lord Xia!”

Chen Song hurriedly rose, grasping the bars and calling out to Xia Chen.

“Division Head, I was wrong! The reason I didn’t attend the banquet today was truly because of family matters—my aged mother fell ill, and I had to tend to her!”

As Chen Song spoke, tears streamed down his face; his performance was so convincing that it tugged at the heartstrings, evoking pity.

“Old fellow, who are you fooling? Your aged mother fell ill—did the aged mothers of all your subordinates fall ill too? Are you all sharing the same mother, perhaps?”

Xia Wen, trailing behind Xia Chen, couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke.

Chen Song’s face stiffened, yet he refused to give up; gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice.

“Division Head, may I have a word in private?”

Xia Chen glanced at him and took a few steps forward, curious to hear what this man had to say.

“Division Head, I am a man of His Highness the Crown Prince. Previously, I was blind and offended you—I realize my mistake now. Henceforth, within the Eagle Eye Division, I’ll follow your lead unquestioningly.

You’re also the husband of Princess Yaoguang, and my Crown Prince has always been close to her. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, he’ll surely not stint on rewards for you—perhaps even the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Lamplighters will belong to you!”

Xia Chen scrutinized Chen Song intently, his gaze tinged with peculiarity; Chen Song, mistaking this for awe, let a confident smile spread across his face.

“Didn’t expect that, did you? Shocked, aren’t you? This old man’s a man of His Highness the Crown Prince—I’ve got backing just like you, hahaha!”

Chen Song laughed inwardly; by revealing this top secret to Xia Chen, he was certain he could turn peril into safety—perhaps even pull this Imperial Son-in-Law Xia Chen into the Crown Prince’s camp. Such were his thoughts, though outwardly he maintained a demeanor of humility.

“Chen Song, can you guess why I had you taken down?”

“Isn’t it because we disobeyed orders, deliberately made things difficult for you, and then disrespected you by not attending the banquet?”

Chen Song replied instinctively.

Xia Chen smiled and shook his head at this response; this Chen Song was truly adorably naive—imprisoned yet still oblivious to the reason for his incarceration.

“Lord Chen, bring your head a bit closer; I’ll explain it to you properly!”

Xia Chen beckoned with his hand, as if summoning a dog, and spoke with a smile. Chen Song perked up, hastily pressing his head against the gap in the bars, tilting his ear to listen.

Xia Chen leaned forward slightly, his tone gentle yet calm as he began to speak.

“The old man’s targeting the Crown Prince’s men!”

With that, Xia Chen patted Chen Song’s cheek; Chen Song’s pupils contracted, his heart surging like a stormy sea.

“Are you genuinely naive or just pretending? This is the Lamplighters, and you’re a hallmaster of the Lamplighters—did you really think your actions were so seamless?

Recruiting Lamplighters, colluding with the Crown Prince—His Majesty is still reigning! What’s this? Is His Highness the Crown Prince so impatient to ascend the throne? Does he intend to seize control of the Lamplighters and stage a palace coup?”

Xia Chen’s tone remained gentle, but cold sweat had already begun to pour down Chen Song’s face.

His entire body felt icy; if he hadn’t awakened to the truth by now, he’d truly be a fool.

“And now that you’re captured, do you think the Crown Prince will expend great effort to rescue you—or simply send someone to silence you for convenience?”

Xia Chen smiled, and upon hearing this, Chen Song’s strength drained away, leaving him slumped powerlessly in the cell.

Xia Chen laughed heartily, his demeanor strikingly akin to that of a villain!

…

Xia Chen continued walking deeper into the dungeon; his visit today was not, of course, for the sake of Chen Song and Li Yue—these two weren’t worth his time.

He had come today for three talents.

“Division Head, we’ve arrived; this is where Yu Shaoqian is held!”

A cell door was opened, and blinding light streamed into the dim chamber, startling awake a man clad in prisoner’s garb—his face covered in stubble, his skin displaying a sickly pallor from years without sunlight.

“Yu Shaoqian, come out—the Division Head wishes to see you!”

Yu Shaoqian’s mind felt sluggish; it had likely been nearly two years since he was thrown into this dungeon. Apart from a few lashings upon his initial arrival, no one had paid him any heed since.

Why was someone seeking him out today?

“I pay my respects to the Division Head!”

Two years of prison fare had instilled a sense of reverence in this once-sharp, fearless youth, stripping away his former recklessness and ignorance of the world’s vastness.

He gazed at the strikingly handsome young man before him and bowed respectfully.

“Yu Shaoqian, two years ago, you led a group of Imperial Academy students to kneel and petition, requesting that His Majesty pay greater heed to state affairs, adopt a policy of non-interference and governance, store wealth among the people, and allow the realm to recuperate. You even spread seditious rumors, claiming that Dawu must cease its military campaigns, or peril would be imminent!

Consequently, you were arrested by the Lamplighters, and it has now been two years and three months since then!”

Xia Chen recited the charges, looking at the young man kneeling before him.

Yu Shaoqian’s expression flickered, then settled into calm acceptance.

“Two years of neglect—I thought they’d forgotten me. Is today the day for my execution?”

Yu Shaoqian straightened his posture, adjusting his tattered prisoner’s garb; despite his ragged attire, he exuded an air of extraordinary dignity—akin to a resilient bamboo rooted in the verdant mountains, steadfast and unyielding.

“Do you regret the words you spoke back then?”

Xia Chen regarded Yu Shaoqian calmly, posing the question once more.

“If given another chance, I would still choose to petition. Yet I do harbor regrets—regrets for my recklessness, my ignorance of the world’s heights and depths, presuming that as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, I could freely voice my convictions and casually discuss state affairs.

If granted one more opportunity, I would bide my time quietly, earnestly pursue scholarly honors to enter the Hanlin Academy, and then confront the Cabinet elders and His Majesty face-to-face, demanding why they disregard the people of the realm!

The realm does not belong solely to His Majesty—it belongs to the myriad people of the world!

As it stands, the people can no longer survive; without respite and recovery, with ceaseless warfare year after year, Dawu will sooner or later fall to ruin!”

Yu Shaoqian’s words were utterly calm, yet his voice rang with resolute strength. Two years of prison fare had taught him the vastness of the heavens and the depth of the earth, his own insignificance and frailty—yet he still refused to believe he was wrong!

The realm teetered on collapse, Dawu on the brink of ruin—only the suffering of the people endured!

Xia Chen stared at this youth brimming with righteous vigor, observing him for a long while; at last, he smiled!

“When the realm prospers, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer!”

Xia Chen spoke slowly, and upon hearing this, Yu Shaoqian’s eyes lit up; he murmured Xia Chen’s words repeatedly under his breath, his gaze growing ever brighter, his perception of Xia Chen shifting.

“Yu Shaoqian, you are hereby released. From this day forth, you shall serve by my side as a clerk!”

Yu Shaoqian, who had braced himself for death, froze in place at these words; then his eyes locked onto the retreating figure of Xia Chen.

“He… he’s been released?”