The carriage came to a steady halt in front of the Lee estate. In terms of sheer architectural grandeur, it was a far cry from the sprawling, fortress-like magnificence of the Valerian manor. It felt modest, almost intentionally austere, a reflection of a family that walked the fine line between power and survival. Pike Lee, a man of the law and a veteran of the Great Ning’s legal bureaucracy, understood that in the capital, a flashy exterior was often an invitation for enemies to start digging.
"Master, Master Liam has entered the main gates," the butler whispered, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the polished wooden floor.
Pike Lee, who had been reviewing a stack of judicial scrolls, paused. He took a moment to steady his breathing before rising from his chair. As a senior off
