Chapter 41: Inappropriateness

A moment later, Shangguan Ya'er returned carrying a heavy brocade box and placed it before Chu Nan.

As the brocade box was opened, it was revealed to be filled with dazzling treasures.

Gold, pearls, jade, luminous night pearls, and a finely crafted soft golden-thread armor—every single item was of incalculable value.

"Master Chu, are you satisfied with these rewards?" Cheng Lingyu asked with a smile.

Chu Nan glanced at the treasures, a smile curving the corners of his lips as he cupped his hands in a salute and said, "With such generous bounties from Your Majesty, how could Chu not be entirely satisfied?"

"These gold and silver treasures are more than enough for me to go home and open several large shops."

Seeing him so straightforward and untroubled, the smile in Cheng Lingyu's eyes deepened.

She picked up a cup of tea, intending to exchange a few more casual remarks with Chu Nan, when she suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Your Majesty!" The chief eunuch rushed inside, hastily bowing and reporting after the salute.

"The Grand Tutor requests an audience, stating that he has urgent military intelligence to report to Your Majesty!"

Cheng Lingyu frowned slightly, raising her eyes toward the doorway before speaking in a calm voice: "Let him enter."

The words had barely faded when Grand Tutor Li Jingcheng strode in quickly.

He was dressed in a dark red court robe, his complexion slightly pale.

A light film of sweat even beaded on his temples, making it obvious that he had hurried all the way.

His gaze swept across the room, and upon seeing the leisurely seated Chu Nan nearby, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Master Chu?" Li Jingcheng could not help murmuring softly, complex emotions hidden within his gaze.

Hearing this, Chu Nan smiled faintly, raising his cupped hands with relative composure: "Grand Tutor, there is no need for such surprise. Chu is merely here to collect his reward."

Li Jingcheng's brows knitted imperceptibly, his gaze shifting back to Cheng Lingyu.

He vaguely felt that this man of "merchant origins" was somewhat overly close to the Empress, but with military matters pressing urgently, he had no time to delve deeper.

Cheng Lingyu sat behind her desk, her cold eyes falling upon Li Jingcheng as her voice carried a hint of majesty: "Grand Tutor, since it concerns military intelligence, why panic so? Whatever the matter is, speak plainly."

Li Jingcheng bowed deeply, an edge of urgency in his tone: "Your Majesty, I have received a secret report from Jiangnan stating that the Prince of Jing in Jiangnan recently shows signs of rebellion!"

"The Prince of Jing in Jiangnan?" Cheng Lingyu frowned, her cold gaze instantly sharpening by a fraction.

Chu Nan had been casually examining the room's furnishings, but at the mention of the "Prince of Jing in Jiangnan," his eyes flickered slightly.

"Grand Tutor, upon what grounds do you make this assertion?"

Cheng Lingyu's voice carried a trace of underlying pressure amidst its calmness, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the desk as if suppressing her rising anger.

Li Jingcheng raised his head, speaking with a grave expression: "Your Majesty, your servant received a confidential report from Jiangnan stating that the Prince of Jing's estate has recently been frequently summoning the Jiangnan garrison troops, while secretly hoarding grain and provisions and recruiting soldiers."

"In particular, several prominent merchants in Jiangnan have repeatedly had private contact with the Prince of Jing of late, suspected of providing financial backing."

"Your servant fears that the Prince of Jing is harboring illicit ambitions in secret."

"Secretly hoarding troops and enlisting merchants?" Cheng Lingyu's eyes grew even colder.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and the fingers resting on the armrest of her desk tightened slightly, as though she might crush the wood to pieces.

Ever since arriving in the Great Desolation realm, Chu Nan, relying on his modern perspective, had already gained a general understanding of this nation.

This land appeared stable, but undercurrents surged violently beneath the surface; the center of imperial power, in particular, harbored lethal intent.

The late Emperor had a total of six sons and three daughters, among whom the Prince of Jing was the sixth son.

When the late Emperor passed away, it was the most perilous moment of imperial succession.

Among the six princes, the Prince of Jing was undoubtedly the one with the highest prestige.

Not only because he had guarded Jiangnan for many years and rendered illustrious service to the country, but also because he had courted many important ministers at court and had even once been designated the Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, however, that struggle for the throne ultimately ended in the victory of the Eldest Princess, Cheng Lingyu.

This imperial woman who "had the least chance of ascending the throne" single-handedly defeated her six younger brothers.

She ultimately secured the imperial seat firmly, becoming the first and only female emperor in the history of the Great Desolation.

Legend had it that the Prince of Jing had not initially been exiled to Jiangnan, but had instead served as a powerful minister assisting the new monarch.

Yet as time passed, his power was gradually eroded piece by piece by Cheng Lingyu.

In the end, he was banished to Jiangnan under the guise of a "transfer," completely losing any qualification to contend for imperial authority from that moment on.

Chu Nan had once briefly pondered this secret royal history; this seemingly formidable female emperor had not been destined as a "winner" from birth.

Every step she took was upon the edge of a blade, and she had never once let down her guard against any potential threat.

Cheng Lingyu's fingers tapped softly against the desk, her gaze fixed coldly upon Li Jingcheng.

All emotional fluctuations had vanished from her eyes, as if she were deep in thought.

She did not speak immediately, letting the study descend into an eerie silence.

The scent of sandalwood diffused through the air, seeming only to accentuate the latent killing intent within the quiet.

After a moment, Cheng Lingyu spoke indifferently: "I understand the Grand Tutor's concerns."

Seeing the Empress speak so calmly without issuing any explicit directives, Li Jingcheng felt somewhat uneasy.

He probed tentatively: "Your Majesty, the Prince of Jing is, after all, of the imperial bloodline. If there is indeed anomalous movement, we must make preparations early, lest—"

"Say no more." Cheng Lingyu raised a hand, her tone turning abruptly colder.

"I am well aware of the Prince of Jing's intentions. I have my own judgment; the Grand Tutor need only act according to my commands."

Li Jingcheng hastily bowed in acknowledgment: "Your servant understands."

"Withdraw." Cheng Lingyu's tone carried absolute authority, though her gaze gradually shifted toward Chu Nan, who was seated rather leisurely off to the side.

Li Jingcheng froze slightly, as though he wished to say more, but the Empress's gaze had already drifted away, no longer resting on him.

He could only lower his head helplessly, turning to prepare his departure.

Yet the moment he turned, his gaze instinctively swept toward Chu Nan.

Their eyes met briefly.

Li Jingcheng's gaze harbored a complex trace of tentative probing.

He simply could not comprehend how this young man of "merchant origins" had so effortlessly attained such a lofty position before the Empress.

Chu Nan, however, maintained his calm and relaxed demeanor.

He smiled faintly and nodded slightly, as if offering a polite acknowledgment of the Grand Tutor's "attention."

Li Jingcheng frowned slightly, yet said nothing more, departing the imperial study with lingering doubts.

Once the Grand Tutor's figure vanished beyond the doors, the atmosphere within the study relaxed gradually.

Cheng Lingyu sat upright behind her desk, her gaze inadvertently falling upon Chu Nan.

She tilted her head slightly, appearing to observe him, yet equally deep in thought.

Chu Nan remained seated beside the low table, looking indolent with that same half-smile lingering at the corners of his lips.

The suffocating tension from moments before had not disturbed him in the least.

"Master Chu," Cheng Lingyu spoke suddenly, her voice calm yet carrying a probing undertone. "You seemed rather contemplative just now."

"Could it be that you found something amiss with the Grand Tutor's report?"