Chapter Thirty-Two: Ceding Territory for Peace

Inside the tent, the two sat facing each other. Although their brief exchange was calm, every word seemed to conceal a hidden blade. Chu Nan appeared nonchalant, yet his demeanor was flawless.

As for Cheng Lingyu, though she had concealed her identity, the fact that he had seen through it so easily did not catch her off guard; instead, she found herself harboring a quiet admiration for his keen perception.

"Young Master Chu, now that you know who I am, there is no need for further pretense." Cheng Lingyu’s eyes were profound, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

Chu Nan bowed slightly, his tone neither servile nor overbearing: "Your Majesty’s favor is something I shall naturally keep in mind. However, if Your Majesty has any commands, please speak plainly; I would not dare to be negligent."

"Favor?" Cheng Lingyu raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by his seemingly humble yet slightly mocking tone. "I entrusted the three thousand men of the Northern Camp to you merely to test your true capabilities. It seems you have not disappointed me."

"Your Majesty is too kind," Chu Nan replied with a faint, indifferent smile. "A mere three thousand men—what is there to speak of? Moreover, Your Majesty surely already had a plan in place; I was merely following the current."

"Oh?" Cheng Lingyu narrowed her eyes, a flash of shrewdness crossing them. "Whether I had a plan is irrelevant to you. Yet, you are indeed a clever man—so clever that you pique my curiosity. Just how much of your ability have you kept hidden?"

"Ability is hardly the word for it," Chu Nan replied, maintaining his breezy composure. "However, knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?"

Cheng Lingyu chuckled softly, about to respond, when a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent.

"Young Master Chu! Are you there—"

Following a crisp, urgent voice, the tent flap was thrust open, and a familiar figure burst in. It was Shangguan Ya’er, dressed in full armor and looking visibly flustered, having bypassed the usual protocol of announcing her arrival.

"Young Master Chu, this is an emergency—"

She stopped dead in her tracks the moment she saw Cheng Lingyu sitting opposite Chu Nan.

"Your Maj... Your..."

Shangguan Ya’er’s mouth hung slightly open, her eyes wide with panic as she nearly blurted out the secret. However, she recovered quickly, swallowing the rest of her sentence, though the expression on her face was quite something to behold.

Cheng Lingyu raised an eyebrow, her gaze resting on her with a thoughtful glint. A faint, inscrutable smile curled her lips. "Ya’er, Young Master Chu has long known my identity; there is no need to conceal it any further."

"What?" Shangguan Ya’er stood frozen, taking a long moment to process the words. "Young Master Chu knew...?" She turned to look at Chu Nan, her face filled with disbelief.

Chu Nan smiled gently, his expression calm and collected. "Miss Shangguan, Her Majesty’s identity was not difficult to deduce. You simply did not intend for me to know, and I was happy to play the fool."

Shangguan Ya’er was left speechless, her lips slightly parted as she struggled to find words. She could only turn back to Cheng Lingyu, her expression clouded with slight embarrassment.

"Very well, Shangguan. What is this urgent matter you’ve come about?" Cheng Lingyu waved a hand, her tone steady and possessing a cool authority.

Shangguan Ya’er finally regained her composure and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the envoys from the Great Nan Dynasty have just arrived and entered the palace. Several court ministers are waiting for you to grant them an audience!"

"Oh?" Cheng Lingyu arched a brow, a flicker of realization in her eyes. She stood up, her tone tinged with a faint chill. "The envoys from the Great Nan have arrived earlier than expected this time."

"Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace now?" Shangguan Ya’er asked in a low voice.

Cheng Lingyu nodded, then turned her gaze toward Chu Nan. "I leave the affairs of the Northern Camp to you for now. Continue your drills diligently; do not slacken."

"I shall obey, Your Majesty." Chu Nan bowed respectfully, watching as she rose to leave.

"Shangguan, remember to consult with Young Master Chu regarding the coordination with the generals. His capabilities are more reliable than you might imagine," Cheng Lingyu said, turning to Shangguan Ya’er.

Shangguan Ya’er was momentarily stunned, then bowed her head instantly. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Cheng Lingyu said no more. Wrapping her cloak around her shoulders, she stepped out of the tent. Chu Nan walked her to the entrance, the night breeze catching the hem of her cloak as she departed.

The following day, the Golden Throne Hall was solemn. Cheng Lingyu sat upon the dragon throne, her gaze cold and her features as pristine as snow. She wore a deep purple imperial robe, the collar and cuffs embroidered with intricate golden patterns, and a magnificent nine-phoenix crown upon her head, radiating an unquestionable majesty.

Below the dais, two rows of ministers stood on either side, their robes impeccable yet their postures stiff. The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive, and everyone wore a heavy expression. Today, the envoys from the Great Nan Dynasty had arrived in the Great Desert with a "Peace Treaty."

"Summon the envoys into the hall!" The eunuch’s shrill voice echoed through the Golden Throne Hall, drawn out and lingering, though it could not mask the underlying tension.

Accompanied by heavy, rhythmic footsteps, two envoys draped in robes embroidered with red flame patterns strode into the hall. They were tall and arrogant in their demeanor, especially the leader, who possessed a prominent brow, a high bridge of nose, and a cynical smirk on his face.

"Envoy of Great Nan, Liang Li, pays respects to the Empress of the Great Desert." The leader bowed slightly, yet a look of contempt played on his lips. His voice was loud, echoing through the hall, but it dripped with disrespect.

Cheng Lingyu lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes as cold as an abyss. She rested one hand on the armrest of the throne, neither rising nor speaking. Seeing her silence, Liang Li continued to act with feigned composure, though his eyes subtly swept over the ministers present. As he expected, the Grand Tutor on the left and an elderly official on the right both wore expressions of unease. This only confirmed his conviction that the Great Desert was, as rumors suggested, internally weak and fragile.

Liang Li lifted his chin. "Our Emperor of Great Nan is benevolent. Mindful that the Great Desert has suffered years of drought and its people are destitute, he has specifically dispatched us to bring forth a proposal for peace."

He deliberately spoke in a high-pitched, haughty tone, his smirk widening. "As long as the Great Desert cedes the four cities of Youzhou and offers two hundred thousand shi of grain annually, our Great Nan is willing to cease hostilities and establish a fraternal bond with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence. The words of the Great Nan envoy were devoid of any sincerity; they were nothing short of a blatant insult.

Cede the four cities of Youzhou? Those were the vital strongholds of the Great Desert’s northern frontier! Coupled with the annual tribute of two hundred thousand shi of grain, it was a demand meant to sever the very lifeblood of the nation!

The ministers exchanged glances, their hearts filled with indignation, yet they remained silent as cicadas in winter. For the Great Nan military was powerful and had been pressing them step by step for years; if a war were to break out, the Great Desert might not necessarily emerge unscathed.

"The envoy’s demands are far too excessive." Finally, a young official could no longer restrain himself. He stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. "The four cities of Youzhou are vital territories of our Great Desert! How could we possibly cede them so easily?!"