Chapter 42: Good-for-Nothings

Chu Nan was slightly stunned, then put down the teacup in his hand and looked at Cheng Lingyu with a calm gaze.

He cupped his hands in a salute and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's eyes are like torches; this subject indeed has some thoughts. However..."

He paused slightly, his tone turning cautious. "This subject is of humble status and dares not presumptuously speculate on the momentous affairs of the imperial court."

Cheng Lingyu narrowed her eyes, her slender fingers gently tapping the edge of the desk, producing a faint rustling sound.

Her tone was casual, yet it carried an underlying oppression. "Master Chu, since We are willing to ask you, We naturally do not mind your background. Speak; there is no need for hesitation."

Hearing this, Chu Nan silently sighed inwardly at the Empress's acute sensitivity.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the smooth floor tiles of the study.

After pondering for a moment, he spoke deliberately: "Since Your Majesty has asked, this subject dares to speak frankly."

He raised his head, his gaze candid. "This subject merely feels that this matter has arrived far too... coincidentally."

"Coincidentally?" Cheng Lingyu raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest coloring her tone.

"Indeed." Chu Nan nodded, his pace unhurried. "Although the rebellion of Prince Jing has not been definitively confirmed, this subject believes that whether it is hoarding grain or recruiting troops, such things could never be accomplished overnight."

"Yet, right at this very moment, the confidential report was delivered to Your Majesty's hands. This subject cannot help but overthink."

"Could someone have deliberately chosen this time to present this news to the imperial court?"

Cheng Lingyu's gaze shifted slightly, fixing a profound look on Chu Nan as if trying to read something from his face.

A moment later, she smiled faintly, her tone carrying a trace of chill. "Are you implying that this confidential report might have a hidden story behind it?"

Chu Nan bowed his hands, lowered his head, and smiled with an added touch of modesty. "This subject is merely a merchant; what could I possibly know about these political power struggles in the imperial court?"

"This subject was merely speaking casually. If Your Majesty feels it is absurd, just let it go."

Cheng Lingyu did not reply immediately. Her gaze remained as still as water, her fingertips continuing to tap lightly against the desk as she seemed to ponder Chu Nan's words.

A moment later, she suddenly said in a calm voice, "Master Chu, if you were not merely a merchant, I would truly have to suspect that you are a spy sent by some court official."

Hearing this, Chu Nan's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to maintain a completely expressionless facade.

He gave a dry laugh. "Your Majesty jests. This subject is merely a 'petty merchant' who loves to meddle. If I have said too much, Your Majesty might as well treat my words as idle rambling."

The smile at the corner of Cheng Lingyu's mouth deepened slightly, and she waved a hand. "Very well. Naturally, We know your background and origins."

"However, the words you just spoke are indeed worth hearing."

"This matter, We will investigate thoroughly in secret. Master Chu, you have indeed reminded Us."

Chu Nan lowered his head and cupped his hands in a salute. "Your Majesty is wise. This subject was merely guessing wildly and feels quite ashamed."

Cheng Lingyu did not continue to press the matter; instead, she changed the subject. "Master Chu, when can the next batch of military grain under your charge arrive?"

Hearing this, Chu Nan paused inwardly. As expected, this was what the Empress truly cared about.

He thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this batch of military grain has long been prepared by this subject."

"In a few months' time, it can be collected from my shop."

"A few months?" Cheng Lingyu's gaze shifted slightly, showing a hint of surprise, but she nodded shortly after. "Good. If you can be so attentive to the matter of military grain, We can rest easy."

Her tone carried a profound meaning, sounding both like trust in Chu Nan and a test of his intentions.

Chu Nan bowed with cupped hands and said with a smile, "This subject is merely sharing Your Majesty's worries and doing his utmost to contribute a meager effort."

Cheng Lingyu nodded and said nothing more, though the look she gave Chu Nan held an extra trace of deep thought.

She waved her hand. "Very well, let us end it here for today. Master Chu, you may withdraw and rest first."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." Chu Nan stood up, bowed respectfully to Cheng Lingyu, and then turned to walk out the door.

In the blink of an eye, several months had passed. After enduring months of bumpy travel, the Danan diplomatic mission finally arrived at the capital.

It was now deep winter, and the northern wind was howling, whipping up flying snowflakes and shrouding the entire city in a chilling, stern atmosphere.

Liang Li did not dare to delay even for a moment, pressing on without rest to lead the mission into the imperial palace.

Before he could even brush the wind and snow from his outer robe, he hurriedly knelt in the main hall.

The Fierce Flame Palace, the bedchamber of the Sovereign of Danan.

Red curtains hung down, and gold-carved and jade-inlaid decorations gleamed with warm light.

Inside the hall, several braziers of charcoal were burning fiercely, driving away the chill of winter.

Liang Li knelt before the throne of the Danan Sovereign, his face marked by a hint of shame.

Behind him stood two deputy envoys and several warriors, each of their expressions looking less than favorable.

"Your Majesty, this subject... this subject is incompetent." Liang Li lowered his head, his voice hoarse and filled with self-reproach.

"What did you say?" Sovereign Lie Yuanhuan of Danan slowly lowered the wine cup in his hand.

His gaze was cold and piercing as he stared at Liang Li, his tone carrying a trace of coercion.

Lie Yuanhuan had a robust build, wore short beard like steel needles, and possessed eyes as sharp as a falcon's.

He was dressed in a red brocade robe patterned with dragons, with a gem-inlaid short saber at his waist, exuding an unyielding, awe-inspiring霸气 (overlord aura).

Liang Li lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze, and said through clenched teeth, "Your Majesty, this subject was ordered to travel to Dahuang with the intention of probing their true strength, only to find..."

He paused, as if hesitating on how to speak, then slammed his forehead heavily against the ground. "There is a man in Dahuang named Chu Nan, who single-handedly defeated all ten of our warriors."

"The military bearing of the Northern Camp has also undergone drastic changes; it is by no means the slack force we anticipated!"

"Chu Nan?" Lie Yuanhuan raised an eyebrow, asking coldly, "What is this man's background? Which military lineage does he come from?"

Liang Li shook his head and replied respectfully, "This man is of humble birth. Rumor has it he is the son of a merchant, with no military background whatsoever, yet both his troop deployment and personal combat prowess are utterly mind-boggling."

"On the drill grounds of the Northern Camp, right in front of the diplomatic mission, he used a crossbow to repel ten warriors without sustaining a single scratch."

"Trash!" Hearing this, Lie Yuanhuan slammed his palm heavily against the desk, consumed by sudden fury.

His gaze swept over Liang Li and the retinue of officials, and he rebuked coldly, "Ten warriors defeated by a single man?"

"Are all of you just bags of wine and sacks of rice? You still have the nerve to return and face Us!"

Liang Li's face was covered in shame as he prostrated himself, his voice trembling slightly. "May Your Majesty spare your wrath! The crossbow used by that Chu Nan is no ordinary weapon; its precision is something we have never witnessed before."

"Moreover, this man is calm in his methods and does not seem to rely purely on martial valor, but rather possesses something else he depends upon."

Lie Yuanhuan narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment. "Something else he depends upon? Could he be some sort of prodigy secretly backed by that Cheng Lingyu?"

"Your Majesty, precisely so!" Liang Li hurriedly replied. "This man has won Cheng Lingyu's deep appreciation and is faintly rising in prominence at court."

"Although our Danan was unable to contend with them for the moment, this subject believes this man will surely become a grave hazard in the future!"

Lie Yuanhuan let out a cold snort, his expression remaining gloomy. Just as he was pondering countermeasures, a crisp sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

"Father, your daughter requests an audience."