Daylight in the Lodge: A Contest for Quotas, Secret Techniques Traded to Settle the Balance

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Two chapters today, mainly around 3,000 characters each.

That morning, in the main hall of the Cloud-Hidden Lodge at the upper right, daylight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting a cold sheen over the strands of hair beside Yang Jingxue's temples.

Her voice suddenly rose, shooting toward the roof like a sharp arrow. "Why should they?!"

Ximen Xiaoran stroked his beard, utterly unruffled. He turned his celadon teacup three times between his fingers before saying slowly, "Little Jingxue, we agreed beforehand that both families would receive equal treatment. Surely you aren't going back on your word now?"

Yang Jingxue's slender brows bristled, her phoenix eyes blazing with anger. "I called in every favor I had to secure this quota."

"You did nothing, yet you want to trail behind us and pick up the benefits for free, with an equal quota? Does that sound reasonable?"

Ximen Rongcheng's face flushed slightly. He looked disgruntled, but remained stubborn. "Aunt Xue, well, whatever the reason, our Ximen Family should receive the same treatment as your Yang Family."

Yang Jingxue turned her gaze toward Chen Xiaojun. "Xiaojun, what do you have to say?"

Chen Xiaojun raised his swordlike brows slightly and spread his hands with a helpless smile. "Grandma Xue, this isn't something I can decide. You'd better ask Great-grandfather."

Yang Jingxue gave a muffled snort and abruptly turned, her skirt with its subtle silver-thread patterns sweeping over the pale jade tiles. She looked at Yang Chenglin. "Eldest Uncle!"

Yang Chenglin hastily nodded. "Brother Zixiu, our Yang Family deserves one more slot. You can't indulge Brother Xiaoran just because he's acting shamelessly."

Ximen Xiaoran's expression darkened, his blade-sharp brows slanting upward. "Who's acting shamelessly? You hid a private deal from us, and now you think you're in the right?"