Chapter Twenty: A Show of Force

Page 1/3

The smile at the corner of Cheng Lingyu’s lips gradually faded. She set down her pen and sighed deeply. “It seems Chu Nan is indeed a troublesome character.”

She rose and walked to the window, gazing into the distant night sky, lost in thought.

“If he has truly disappeared,” Cheng Lingyu turned around, her voice carrying an unyielding authority, “then what of the grain supplies at the border?”

Shangguan Ya’er’s heart tightened. She hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. If Chu Nan truly intends to evade, he must have some scheme in mind. Besides, he is a merchant and would not lightly offend the Yang family or the Tianjian Marquis’s household.”

“If he vanishes, it must be connected to this matter. Later, I will send people to continue investigating.”

She paused, a resolute gleam in her eyes. “However, perhaps it would be better if you personally summoned the Yang family’s father and daughter to clarify the situation.”

Cheng Lingyu was silent for a moment, her gaze growing cold. “Yes, the Yang family. Very well, I shall summon the Yang father and daughter tonight.”

At the same time, outside the Yang residence on an open ground, a magnificent carriage slowly came to a halt.

Shangguan Ya’er, dressed in a cyan court robe, her eyes serious, quickly dismounted.

Several elite guards accompanied her, their figures agile and their steps flowing like clouds.

She approached the grand gate of the Yang estate, her voice low and icy. “Inform them at once: The Emperor summons.”

Soon, the gatekeeper hurried inside, and a deep voice echoed from within: “Let her in.”

Shangguan Ya’er smiled faintly and entered the Yang residence with her guards.

The mansion was quiet, the brightly lit main hall serene.

Yang Ruyan and Yang Tiejin sat quietly, faces calm and composed, as if awaiting something.

“Greetings, Lady Shangguan,” Yang Tiejin stood and bowed slightly, a subtle tension hidden in his eyes.

He had his own calculations regarding the shifting tides in the court.

“No need for formalities, General Yang,” Shangguan Ya’er said with a cold smile. “By the Emperor’s order, I am to escort you and your daughter to the palace to meet His Majesty.”

A chill struck Yang Tiejin’s heart, his expression flickering briefly before regaining composure.

He glanced at Yang Ruyan and whispered, “Ruyan, remember, this is serious. We must keep our family uninvolved.”

A cold glint flashed in Yang Ruyan’s eyes. She stood and nodded gently. “Father, I understand.”

Late at night, under a moon washed sky, the imperial study within the palace was quiet, the lamp flames flickering.

Cheng Lingyu sat on a golden cushioned divan, the surrounding chamber void and silent. The glow from the palace lantern illuminated her jade-like face, yet could not conceal the faint anger flickering in her eyes.

Page 2/3

She tapped the memorial on the desk with her jade-inlaid brush, occasionally sighing softly, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Until the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Cheng Lingyu raised an eyebrow and commanded in a low voice, “Enter.”

Outside the door, the Yang father and daughter exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Yang Ruyan’s brows furrowed with a cold calculation, while Yang Tiejin’s gaze was sharp as lightning, his heart in turmoil, though his face remained composed.

They knew this meeting tonight would be far from ordinary.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the Yang pair bowed respectfully, their voices courteous yet cautious.

Cheng Lingyu sat coldly at the desk, her gaze piercing as she watched them enter. A flicker of icy light gleamed. “The Yang family dares to make a move against the imperial merchant? Such audacity.”

Yang Tiejin’s heart jolted, his expression shifting slightly.

Yang Ruyan frowned before quickly lowering her head to mask the ripple of emotion in her eyes.

They both understood well that this accusation was but a pretext. They knew exactly what lay behind it.

“Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding,” Yang Tiejin spoke softly, his tone humble. “The Yang family would never offend the imperial merchant Chu Nan. Those assassins were not sent by us.”

He paused, searching for a fitting explanation. “Ruyan would never allow such a thing to happen.”

Yang Ruyan remained silent for a moment before speaking. “Your Majesty, Father’s words are true. Though the Yang family seeks to ally with the Tianjian Marquis’s household, we have no intention of making enemies with Chu Nan.”

“If those assassins were truly sent by the Yang family, would they be foolish enough to leave such obvious traces?”

Cheng Lingyu sneered coldly, a gleam of frost in her eyes. “Your explanation is clever, but I am growing rather impatient with these words.”

The two felt a chill in their hearts. Yang Ruyan lowered her gaze, concealing her unease.

She knew well that the Empress’s words were no baseless accusations; they carried a deeper meaning.

To clear their name, they must tread carefully.

“Your Majesty, the Yang family truly did not—”

Yang Tiejin’s plea was coldly cut off by Cheng Lingyu.

“I am well aware of your ties with the Tianjian Marquis’s household.”

Page 3/3

Cheng Lingyu’s voice was as cold and sharp as ice. “Are you not aware of this yourselves?”

Yang Tiejin and Yang Ruyan were inwardly shocked but showed no sign of it.

Yang Tiejin bowed his head slightly, knowing the matter was far more complicated than it seemed.

Cheng Lingyu’s gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over the father and daughter, her tone growing increasingly ruthless. “I must get to the bottom of this. Yang family, if you are truly innocent, then hand over your military command.”

Yang Tiejin was stunned, and Yang Ruyan’s expression flickered.

Military command was the Yang family’s greatest leverage and the key to their alliance with the Tianjian Marquis’s household.

Yang Tiejin clenched his teeth inwardly but knew that refusal now would only bring far worse consequences.

He slowly withdrew a heavy command token from his chest and placed it before Cheng Lingyu.

Yang Ruyan furrowed her brows, silently calculating. Though handing over command might grant temporary safety, the pressure and countermeasures that lay ahead would not be resolved overnight.

Yang Tiejin forced down his displeasure and whispered, “Your Majesty, rest assured, the Yang family will cooperate fully.”

Yang Ruyan stood to the side, her heart a storm of conflicting emotions.

“You may withdraw,” Cheng Lingyu finally said, her voice low and icy.

Yang Tiejin and Yang Ruyan exchanged a glance, unwilling yet forced to obey.

They both understood that Cheng Lingyu’s patience had run out. To resist further would only invite greater disaster.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace,” Yang Tiejin bowed deeply, his tone respectful but unable to mask his resentment and unwillingness. He looked at Yang Ruyan and quietly said, “Ruyan, let’s go.”

Yang Ruyan pressed her lips tightly, a complex light flickering in her eyes. She nodded slightly and followed her father out of the imperial study.

As the heavy doors slowly closed behind them, Cheng Lingyu’s gaze sharpened like a blade.

Yang Tiejin and Yang Ruyan kept their heads lowered as they walked slowly through the solemn corridor toward the palace gate.

They said nothing. The flickering candlelight cast stiff and somber shadows beside them.

Only once they had passed beyond the palace gates and out of the Imperial Guards’ watchful eyes did they dare to relax.