Chapter 21: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Yang Tiejin finally could not contain himself any longer; he slammed a fist hard into his palm and growled in uncontrollable fury, "Damn that Chu Nan! I should have gotten rid of him back when he was nothing more than a common peddler!"

Yang Ruyan looked at her father coldly, her eyes glinting with a trace of malice. "Indeed. Had we known that boy would be so troublesome, why would we have left him alive until today?"

"If not for him, would our Yang family have been forced to surrender our military authority?"

She gritted her teeth, a chilling light flashing in the depths of her eyes. "Father, this Chu Nan must not be allowed to live! He has brought shame upon our family today; I will make him pay tenfold in the future!"

Yang Tiejin glanced at his daughter, his own eyes flickering with ruthlessness, but he quickly restrained his emotions and lowered his voice. "That may be so, but for now, we must be cautious. We cannot act rashly."

"Cheng Lingyu is currently protecting Chu Nan. If we were to strike at him again without careful thought, we would only be inviting our own destruction."

Yang Ruyan snorted, full of resentment. "The Emperor is merely acting on a whim, taken by his petty merchant's cleverness."

"Were it not for the supply of grain to the borders, why would our Yang family have to let him have his way in everything?"

"Once our relationship with the Marquis of Heavenly Sword is secure, we will find an opportunity to act, and it will be perfectly justified!"

Hearing this, Yang Tiejin did not respond immediately. He remained silent for a moment, peering around to ensure no one was nearby before speaking in a cold tone: "Ruyan, remember what happened today. Do not let a single word slip to the Marquis of Heavenly Sword’s estate—especially regarding the loss of our military power. The young Marquis must not know of this for the time being."

Yang Ruyan was slightly startled, and then a look of realization dawned in her eyes.

The night was deep, and the palace was silent, save for the Imperial Study, where the lamps burned as bright as day. Cheng Lingyu sat before her desk, her face veiled in coldness.

Her gaze, sharp as an ice blade, was fixed upon a secret report on her desk. She tapped her fingers rhythmically against the wood, a trace of suppressed anger lingering between her brows.

She had just personally forced the Yang family to surrender their military authority, finally weakening the combined influence of the Yangs and the Marquis of Heavenly Sword. Yet, she knew this was but a fleeting victory; neither the Yang family nor the Marquis would willingly submit to such control.

Just then, a figure entered the study quietly, kneeling on one knee with a respectful and solemn demeanor.

The person was Shangguan Ya'er.

"This subject greets Your Majesty," Shangguan Ya'er said softly, breaking the silence of the room.

Cheng Lingyu looked up at her and asked indifferently, "How goes the investigation?"

Shangguan Ya'er lowered her head. "I have thoroughly investigated the assassination attempt on Chu Nan that night. I found clues indeed pointing toward Yang Ruyan. However, the depth of this case goes far beyond our initial expectations."

Cheng Lingyu’s eyes flashed with a cold light. She sat up straight and stared at Shangguan Ya'er. "Explain in detail."

Shangguan Ya'er spoke in a low, grave voice: "Although the assassins who infiltrated Chu Nan's residence were skilled, their actions were not professional, as if they had been thrown into the task in haste. Yet, after the attempt, the assassins did not hesitate to take their own lives to prevent any leaks. Such a ruthless method is not typical of common killers; there must have been someone high-ranking directing them from the shadows."

Cheng Lingyu narrowed her eyes, tapping her fingers on the desk. After a moment of thought, she said, "Yang Ruyan may be arrogant and overbearing, but she is a military official at heart, lacking true cunning and strategy. To make people sacrifice their lives for an assassination—that is not something her temperament could orchestrate with such precision. Is there another mastermind behind this?"

Shangguan Ya'er nodded slightly, her expression heavy. "Exactly. After digging deeper, I discovered that those assassins were not directly under the command of the Yang family, but were acting on orders from someone of hidden identity."

"This person seems closely connected to a high-ranking official in the imperial court. They act with extreme secrecy, having kept a low profile for years, never revealing their true sharp edge. Even Yang Ruyan herself does not know their true identity."

Cheng Lingyu’s expression grew increasingly stern. "In that case, this person has been laying a trap in the dark for a long time, and Yang Ruyan was merely a pawn being used."

A flash of killing intent crossed her eyes. "Have you identified who this person is?"

Shangguan Ya'er bowed her head. "Not entirely, but I have planted spies near them. My preliminary suspicion is that it is a powerful official at court—likely either the Chancellor or the Grand Tutor."

Cheng Lingyu let out a cold laugh, her eyes as deep and chilling as a frozen pool.

"The Chancellor or the Grand Tutor... It seems there are quite a few people hiding in the depths of this court."

She stood up, hands clasped behind her back, and gazed out into the night sky, as if peering through the thick veil of darkness to spy on the enemy hidden within.

Her voice was low and incisive: "For this person to sacrifice the Yang family to deal with Chu Nan, intending to disrupt our border grain supplies and undermine the stability of the court—it is clear their ambitions are not small, and this is no plan of a single day."

Shangguan Ya'er felt a shiver run through her. "Your Majesty, I will continue the investigation. I swear to drag this person into the light."

Cheng Lingyu nodded slightly and cautioned, "Do not make a scene for now. Monitor them in secret; do not startle the snake. I intend to uproot them entirely the moment they believe they have succeeded."

"As you command, Your Majesty," Shangguan Ya'er replied respectfully.

Cheng Lingyu’s expression was cold, a hint of latent battle-readiness in her eyes. "As for Chu Nan, if he can truly survive this ordeal, perhaps he will become a sharp blade in my hands."

Shangguan Ya'er hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Your Majesty, though Chu Nan is clever and quick-witted, he is, after all, just a merchant. Are you not taking a risk by placing such trust in him?"

Cheng Lingyu smiled faintly, her tone carrying an unfathomable depth. "I have never judged a person by their status. And what if he is a merchant?"

"Though Chu Nan does not know my true identity, his mind is sharp. Given time, he may well prove his worth. Moreover, at times, the power-hungry officials of the court are far less valuable than a courageous and enterprising imperial merchant."

Shangguan Ya'er felt a slight tremor in her heart and bowed her head respectfully. "Your Majesty is wise; I understand."

Cheng Lingyu nodded slightly, her voice suddenly turning low and icy. "Since there are those in the court harboring malicious intent, and Yang Ruyan is merely a pawn, I am in no hurry to move against her."

"But you must continue to watch her movements. If she shows any sign of abnormality, report it immediately."

Shangguan Ya'er nodded. "I will keep a close watch."

Cheng Lingyu stared into the night sky, silent for a moment, before a cold smirk appeared on her lips. "The Yang family seeks to attach themselves to the Marquis of Heavenly Sword, but only to preserve their own power."

"And the Marquis of Heavenly Sword covets the Yang family's military authority. If they were to discover that the Yang family no longer holds any real power, I wonder how they would react?"

Shangguan Ya'er smiled faintly. "The Marquis of Heavenly Sword will surely be deeply disappointed. And if they learn the truth, the relationship between them and the Yang family will likely fracture instantly."

Cheng Lingyu nodded gently, the corners of her mouth curling upward. "The Yang family thinks themselves clever, but they have long been within my grasp. Letting them tear each other apart—that will be a fine show indeed."