Guard Captain Wo Zhan involuntarily straightened his body, stiff as a flagpole. He had seen important figures before; since he came to work at Qiming Manor eight years ago, he had seen two different Imperial Prime Ministers vacationing there. But today was unlike any other day; now residing in the manor was the Chancellor, a figure constantly spoken of with reverent awe by all Iridium Star inhabitants, yet also considered more like a mythic character.
He personally directed the manor's chefs to prepare the finest cuisine, and it seemed that the Chancellor was quite satisfied with the meal. As evening approached, shuttle after shuttle landed on the small airstrip in front of the manor. Wo Zhan's eyes darted about as he saw the former Prime Minister Guo Lingmei, whom he had once served, along with over ten cabinet ministers whose names he could recall, and various individuals who were unmistakably of the nobility.
