Chapter 45: Fat Sheep

Cheng Lingyu frowned deeply and said slowly, "Does Young Master Chu have any idea how unrealistic the method you proposed is?"

"Since the founding of the dynasty by the late Emperor, the aristocratic families and powerful clans of the Great Desolation have been like ancient trees with intertwined roots. Not only are they wealthier than entire states, but they also maintain close ties with many high-ranking officials in the imperial court."

"They possess their own lands, private banks, and even private militias, to the extent that even the court cannot help but treat them with apprehension."

"Successive emperors have all wished to weaken the influence of these clans, yet not a single one has truly succeeded."

"Even though I sit upon the dragon throne as the Son of Heaven, if I were to genuinely move against these powerful families..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she tapped her fingers lightly against the desk, her voice dropping low: "I fear that even before the war in the northern border breaks out, these clans will first stir up monstrous waves across the realm."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nan not only showed no trace of apprehension, but the smile at the corners of his lips instead grew even broader.

He gently shook his head and said in a relaxed tone, "What Your Majesty says is true; these great families are indeed difficult to deal with. However—" His gaze lifted slightly, his eyes burning like torches.

"As long as they still possess the desire to rake in silver, they are not entirely without weaknesses."

Hearing this, Cheng Lingyu was slightly taken aback: "Oh? What does Young Master Chu mean by this?"

Chu Nan smiled, a hint of playful banter in his tone: "On the surface, these aristocratic clans appear to be dominant overlords entrenched in their respective territories, but in reality, they are merely profit-driven creatures."

"Why must Your Majesty think of confronting them head-on? Since we cannot defeat them by force, we should simply let them jump into the pit themselves."

"Jump into the pit?" Cheng Lingyu grew even more curious, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"Young Master Chu, do you mean to exploit their profit-seeking nature in order to raise funds from them?"

Chu Nan clapped his hands together and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty is brilliant! These powerful clans manage lands, banks, and commercial enterprises, accumulating immeasurable wealth."

"If the imperial court were to ask them for loans, they might stall and throw up roadblocks, but if you show them an opportunity to reap massive profits, they will undoubtedly be more enthusiastic than anyone else."

Cheng Lingyu narrowed her eyes, a flash of coldness crossing them: "They are already as wealthy as can be; would they really be tempted by a mere trickle of profit?"

Chu Nan smiled unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, this 'profit' is not just a mere trickle, but a colossal return they wouldn't even dare to dream of."

"As long as I, Chu Nan, step forward to manage this, and borrow Your Majesty's prestigious name into the bargain, I guarantee that the eyes of these powerful clans will light up, and they will be so eager they'll want to empty out their family fortunes on the spot."

Cheng Lingyu looked at him deeply, her gaze carrying a trace of exploration: "Young Master Chu, what on earth are you plotting? Since you are so certain, why not detail the plan for me?"

Chu Nan smiled and shook his head: "Your Majesty, as for that, your humble subject cannot elaborate just yet. The main reason being—"

He paused for a fraction of a second, a playful smirk hanging at the corner of his mouth, "Your subject needs a little time to get the plan thoroughly arranged and in place."

"When the time comes, Your Majesty will naturally see the results."

Cheng Lingyu was instantly amused by his deliberate suspense. She shook her head, a trace of helplessness in her gaze: "Young Master Chu, you truly become more and more interesting by the day."

"Very well, I shall trust you once more and see what kind of commotion you manage to stir up."

Seeing her relent, Chu Nan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty may rest assured, your subject will certainly not disappoint you. Oh, by the way—"

His tone shifted, and the smile on his face took on a slightly playful edge, "For this matter, your subject might require some conveniences. If there is anything that requires Your Majesty's cooperation, your subject will go seek out Lady Shangguan at that time."

Cheng Lingyu nodded gently: "Very well. If the need arises, I shall naturally instruct Shangguan Ya'er to cooperate with you fully. However—"

She paused, her gaze turning slightly chilling, "Young Master Chu, let me remind you once more: the great clans are not to be trifled with."

"If you truly intend to deal with them, you must ensure nothing goes wrong."

Putting aside his joking demeanor, Chu Nan nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty can rest easy, your subject knows what he is doing."

Cheng Lingyu's gaze lingered on Chu Nan for a moment before she softly said, "In that case, I shall wait and see."

Chu Nan cupped his hands in salute once again and smiled: "Then your subject will take his leave for now, so I may return and properly prepare for this endeavor."

"Once everything is properly arranged, your subject will return to report to Your Majesty."

Cheng Lingyu waved her hand, watching him depart, her gaze filled with deep contemplation.

When Chu Nan returned from the imperial study to his modest shop, the sky had already grown dim, and the scent of palace sandalwood still seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.

Yet at this moment, he had no leisure to savor the unique cold elegance of the empress. He hurried across the threshold of the shop and walked straight toward the restroom in the back courtyard.

"I've been holding it in the whole way back, I finally made it!" Chu Nan muttered to himself as he quickly bolted the door shut.

Stepping through the restroom door, Chu Nan instantly crossed over into his modern home.

The familiar lighting, the clean tiled floor, and the various modern commodities piled nearby allowed him to let out a long sigh of relief.

"Modern times are truly the most comfortable!"

Muttering with appreciation, Chu Nan grabbed his smartphone, swiped across the screen a few times, and quickly headed downstairs straight to the supermarket beside the residential complex.

"I need to bring back something special this trip. Since the Empress is willing to place her trust in me, I certainly cannot let her down."

He thought to himself as he walked.

Although the grain trade was highly lucrative, he had already come to realize that the aristocratic families and powerful clans on the soil of the Great Desolation were by no means ordinary people.

Relying solely on simple grain transactions was far from enough to shake the foundations of their family fortunes.

"To make them willingly dig into their pockets, I must first make them realize that there are things in this world far more worthy of showing off than mere gold and silver!"

A smile curved the corners of Chu Nan's lips. "As it happens, I can start with glassware!"

He pushed open the glass door of the supermarket and walked straight toward the glassware aisle.

The shelves were fully stocked with various transparent glass cups.

From large transparent beer mugs capable of holding pints to exquisite, crystal-clear tea tasting cups, the aesthetically pleasing and sparkling glass products instantly caught his eye.

Without much hesitation, he simply gave a wave of his hand and swept the entire row of glass cups clean from the shelves.

"Checking out!" he called out, drawing sideways glances from the cashier girl, who thought, *Is this guy planning to open a specialty glassware store?*

Chu Nan smiled and shook his head: "I just like them!"

The cashier girl was left speechless.

Once the checkout was complete, he pushed a shopping cart brimming with glass cups back home, his mood so delightful that he even began humming a little tune.

"Transporting them back one by one is troublesome, but it's well worth it!"

Back in his restroom, Chu Nan began his "transportation plan."

Carefully wrapping the glass cups in soft cloth, he carried a few pieces back through the portal to his shop in the Great Desolation each time.

After several hours of work, he was covered in sweat, but looking at the small shop gradually filled with glass cups, his spirits grew increasingly buoyant.

"Once these items are displayed, hehe, I guarantee those great aristocratic families will obediently fork over their silver!"

The next morning, Chu Nan walked leisurely into the imperial palace, carrying a square wooden box.

Along the way, his mood was exceptionally cheerful.

The guards already recognized Chu Nan and knew he held a personal token issued by the Empress, so naturally they gave him no trouble.

He navigated the familiar paths to the imperial study, and the moment he crossed the threshold, a familiar voice rang out.

"Young Master Chu arrives right on time."