Chapter 31: The Empress or the Second Princess

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News from the Northern Camp reached the imperial palace.

The night lay heavy, and the lamplight flickered like beans of fire. The palace was utterly silent, save for Cheng Lingyu, who sat before her desk, her gaze resting quietly on a confidential report that had just been delivered.

The report detailed Chu Nan’s performance at the Northern Camp, including how he had trained three thousand disciplined soldiers in the span of a single week.

It also recorded how, despite being outnumbered, he had achieved a decisive victory over those scattered and undisciplined troops.

Cheng Lingyu’s fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop, and her brows drew together ever so slightly.

A trace of curiosity stirred within her, accompanied by a faint, indescribable anticipation.

“Can a merchant truly accomplish this?” she murmured, a flicker of suspicion passing through her eyes.

For the past several days, she had been keeping a close watch on Chu Nan’s movements.

At first, she had merely thought him clever, with a few unusual insights.

But now, it seemed that his abilities extended far beyond that.

To say that he had succeeded through sheer luck would be too far-fetched.

“Interesting.” A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Cheng Lingyu’s lips as she rose to her feet.

She draped a deep-blue cloak over her shoulders, hiding her face, then turned to the maid beside her and said, “There is no need for Shangguan Ya’er to accompany me. I will go to the Northern Camp myself.”

“Your Majesty, it is so late—”

The maid hesitated, but the words died beneath Cheng Lingyu’s cold gaze.

“It is nothing. I know what I am doing.” Cheng Lingyu waved a hand dismissively.

Moments later, she had vanished into the depths of the imperial palace, leaving only the silent palace walls standing beneath the night wind.

At the Northern Camp, inside Chu Nan’s tent—

Chu Nan sat at the table, leafing through several ledgers containing the soldiers’ names and their training results.

His expression was as calm as ever, though a trace of weariness lingered in his eyes.

After all, a week of high-intensity training had required him not only to command the soldiers but also to participate personally. Such exertion could not be dismissed lightly with a few words.

A series of footsteps sounded outside—light and steady, unlike those of an ordinary soldier.

Chu Nan frowned, set down the ledger in his hands, and cast a sidelong glance toward the tent entrance.

In the next instant, a cloaked figure appeared in the doorway, her entire form shrouded in darkness.

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Her steps were light, and the hood of her cloak was pulled low, concealing her features. Even so, Chu Nan recognized her at a glance.

“Second Princess.” Chu Nan rose and cupped his hands in greeting. His tone, however, was somewhat cooler than usual. “It is very late. What brings you here personally? Is there something urgent?”

Beneath the cloak, Cheng Lingyu paused briefly before raising a hand and lowering her hood, revealing a face both strikingly beautiful and imposing.

She gave a soft laugh, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny. “Young Master Chu is certainly vigilant. Even at night, you never let your guard down.”

“The Northern Camp is no ordinary place.” Chu Nan replied casually, then gestured for her to sit while making no immediate move to take his own seat.

His gaze lingered on Cheng Lingyu for the briefest moment before shifting away. His expression remained placid and unreadable.

Cheng Lingyu did not speak at once. Instead, she surveyed the arrangement inside the tent.

There were no unnecessary decorations, only a few simple books and bamboo slips used for training.

Even the teacup Chu Nan had casually left on the table was arranged with order and precision. Everything reflected his character.

“I have heard about what you have done.”

Cheng Lingyu spoke at last. Her voice was soft, yet carried an undertone of probing. “In just one week, you used an entirely new method to train three thousand disciplined soldiers.”

“Even the veteran generals around me might not have been able to accomplish that.”

Chu Nan glanced at her without revealing anything, then smiled faintly. “You flatter me, Your Highness. They were nothing more than a few trivial tricks.”

Cheng Lingyu narrowed her eyes, her expression half-amused and half-skeptical. “Trivial tricks? If they were merely that, how could you have won the willing obedience of the soldiers at the Northern Camp? And how could you have routed those scattered troops in battle?”

Chu Nan still said nothing. He merely stood where he was, his smile carrying a faint hint of distance.

His attitude made Cheng Lingyu raise her brows slightly. She could not help thinking to herself that Chu Nan was far more difficult to deal with than she had imagined.

“Young Master Chu, there is something I have been wondering about.”

Cheng Lingyu abruptly changed the subject, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Why were you willing to accept the Second Princess’s request and take charge of these three thousand soldiers? That hardly seems like the sort of interest a merchant would have.”

At her words, the corner of Chu Nan’s mouth curved into a meaningful smile.

He slowly raised his head and met Cheng Lingyu’s gaze directly. His eyes had taken on a deeper, more profound quality.

“Since you have asked me that, Your Highness, I have a question I would like to ask you as well.”

As he spoke, a subtle sharpness entered his tone. “Are you truly Cheng Biyu, or… are you the reigning Empress?”

The moment those words fell, the tent sank into absolute silence.

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Cheng Lingyu’s pupils contracted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

She gazed silently at Chu Nan, her expression calm and unreadable, though a complicated emotion flickered deep within her eyes.

After a moment, she gave a soft laugh, her tone touched with amusement. “What do you mean by that, Young Master Chu?”

“My meaning is simple.” Chu Nan spoke without the slightest haste. His tone remained calm, yet every word seemed to strike against Cheng Lingyu’s heartstrings.

“The reputation of the Second Princess, Cheng Biyu, in the imperial capital is something you should understand better than I do, is it not? She is indolent by nature and keeps far from court affairs. Rather than a member of the imperial family, she resembles a wealthy idler.”

“Would someone like that personally visit a merchant for the sake of the nation, then entrust me with the vital responsibility of overseeing the Northern Camp? Do you find that reasonable?”

Cheng Lingyu said nothing, but her gaze grew even calmer than before.

Chu Nan continued, “Moreover, your understanding of military affairs and the importance you attach to the Northern Camp are clearly not those of an idle member of the imperial family.”

“Taken together, I can reach only one conclusion—you are not Cheng Biyu. You are the reigning Empress, Cheng Lingyu.”

The atmosphere inside the tent grew even quieter. The only sound was the soft rustle of the cloak stirred by the breeze.

Cheng Lingyu stared at Chu Nan, a faint smile appearing on her face. She seemed in no way flustered at having her identity exposed.

On the contrary, her eyes held a trace of approval. “Young Master Chu is indeed clever. It seems I underestimated you.”

“I am honored by Your Majesty’s praise.” Chu Nan cupped his hands slightly, his tone as calm as ever.

“Since you knew from the beginning, why did you not say so sooner?” Cheng Lingyu asked curiously, a hint of amusement lingering between her brows.

Chu Nan smiled faintly. “Because whether I said it or not made no difference to me. Since Your Majesty chose to conceal your identity, you naturally had your reasons. As for me, I merely followed the current and did what I was meant to do.”

At his words, the admiration in Cheng Lingyu’s eyes deepened.

She nodded lightly and said slowly, “Young Master Chu, you have truly exceeded my expectations.”

“A man like you, had you been born into a noble family, would likely have made your name known throughout the world by now.”

“Your Majesty is too kind.” Chu Nan lowered his head and cupped his hands, though a meaningful smile touched the corners of his mouth. “Still, I prefer things as they are now—free and unrestrained.”

Cheng Lingyu watched him and smiled faintly, saying nothing more.