Chapter 40 A Man of Great Merit

Chu Nan muttered to himself, stretched lazily, stood up, and walked toward the wooden door of the restroom at the back of the shop.

That seemingly grimy restroom was actually his secret passage for traveling back and forth through time.

Just as he was about to push the door open and enter, the shop door was suddenly shoved open from the outside.

"Chu Nan! Is Master Chu in?"

A crisp female voice rang out, causing Chu Nan to pause.

Turning his head, he saw Shangguan Ya'er stride into the room.

She was dressed in a neat and sharp martial official's uniform, her expression tinged with a hint of urgency.

"Lady Shangguan, so early? Surely the Northern Camp hasn't run into trouble again, has it?"

Chu Nan raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone carrying a trace of laziness.

Shangguan Ya'er stopped, out of breath, placed her hands on her hips, and glared straight at Chu Nan. "Master Chu, you really are quite at leisure! Do you have any idea that His Majesty has summoned you to the palace, yet you dare to drag your feet?"

"The Emperor has summoned me?" Chu Nan was slightly startled at the words, a faint, ambiguous smile instantly curving the corners of his lips. "What does she want with me? Surely she doesn't want me to perform at the Northern Camp again, does she?"

"You fellow!" Shangguan Ya'er was so exasperated she stamped her foot.

"His Majesty has graciously invited you, yet here you are spouting flippant nonsense. Hurry up and tidy yourself, and come with me to the palace!"

Chu Nan cast a look that was neither a smile nor a frown in her direction, though a slight trace of perplexity stirred in his heart.

Cheng Lingyu's sudden command for him to enter the palace was indeed unexpected.

Though he had rendered meritorious service at the Northern Camp, he had consistently intended to keep a low profile, never anticipating that the female ruler would summon him in person.

"Very well." Chu Nan shrugged, closed the wooden door he had intended to open, and turned to lift a heavy cloak from the rack, draping it over his shoulders.

"Since Her Majesty has spoken, I shall accompany you on this trip. However..."

He paused, raising an eyebrow with a smile, "I have never set foot in the imperial palace before, nor do I have any idea what it looks like inside. I am rather curious."

"You'll see when you get there." Shangguan Ya'er let out a huff, then turned and strode out of the shop.

The two walked along, and before long, they arrived outside the palace gates.

This was Chu Nan's first formal step into the Great Desolate Imperial Palace, despite his constant efforts to maintain a calm demeanor.

Yet the vast palace walls, the soaring eaves, and the ground paved with blue bricks all stirred a sense of awe deep within his heart.

The Great Desolate Imperial Palace was far larger and more complex than he had imagined.

Along the way, towering palace gates cast in bronze, long winding corridors, and white jade carvings set against red walls all appeared utterly luxurious.

The various halls were heavily guarded, with guards in gleaming armor patrolling the base of the palace walls; even the carved patterns on every stone lion exuded a solemn atmosphere.

"Truly magnificent..." Chu Nan mused inwardly.

Outwardly, however, he maintained his nonchalant appearance, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

His gaze swept casually across his surroundings, as if he cared little for such grand and majestic sights.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" Shangguan Ya'er, walking ahead, turned and glared at him.

Seeing Chu Nan dragging his feet, she snapped impatiently, "Keep up! Her Majesty is waiting in the Imperial Study."

Hearing this, Chu Nan curved his lips into a smile, quickened his pace to catch up, and teased softly, "Lady Shangguan, there's no need to be so tense. It's just my first time entering the imperial palace, so I find it a bit novel."

"Look at these palace walls, these soaring eaves, and the guards standing as straight as ramrods—tsk tsk, truly worthy of being the Great Desolate Imperial Palace, quite grand indeed."

"Cut the chatter!" Shangguan Ya'er shot him a resentful glare and quickened her pace toward the direction of the Imperial Study.

Chu Nan followed closely behind her, his gaze still wandering and taking in the sights.

Guided by Shangguan Ya'er, Chu Nan finally stepped into the Imperial Study.

The Imperial Study lacked the imposing grandeur of the outer halls, carrying instead a faint scholarly atmosphere.

The female ruler Cheng Lingyu was seated upright behind the desk, dressed in a deep purple imperial robe and wearing a simple yet majestic phoenix crown.

She was lowering her head to read through a memorial, her expression utterly focused, as if all the clamor outside the study had nothing to do with her.

"Your Majesty, Master Chu has arrived," Shangguan Ya'er announced with a bow.

Hearing this, Cheng Lingyu raised her head, her gaze falling upon Chu Nan.

A faint smile flashed across her deep, profound eyes, and she nodded slightly, saying, "Master Chu, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chu Nan raised his hands in a greeting and seated himself at the low table in the center of the study, his posture completely natural, as if he were simply sipping tea in his own home.

Seeing him act in this manner, Cheng Lingyu chuckled inwardly while maintaining an outwardly impassive expression.

She sized Chu Nan up briefly and spoke, "Master Chu, these past few days at the Northern Camp have all been witnessed by Us. Your performance truly did not disappoint Us."

"Your Majesty flatters me," Chu Nan smiled and said lightly, "I merely did some minor tasks within my capability; it hardly counts as a 'performance'."

Cheng Lingyu raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone carrying a playful tint. "Minor tasks within your capability?"

"You single-handedly shattered the arrogance of the Great South delegation and boosted the morale of the Northern Camp. You call that a minor task? Master Chu is far too modest."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nan smiled slightly, committing neither to agreement nor denial.

Seeing this, Cheng Lingyu dropped the pretense of beating around the bush and stated directly, "Master Chu, do you know that yesterday in the court, We already decided to bestow rewards upon you?"

"Since you have rendered such great service, We naturally will not treat you unfairly. Do you have any reward in mind?"

Hearing this, Chu Nan instantly grew interested.

He leaned back against the backrest of his chair, pondered for a moment, and then smiled. "Since Her Majesty is so generous, this subject shall not stand on ceremony."

"In truth, this subject lacks grand ambitions and has no desire for official posts or political power."

"That being the case, it might be better to bestow more gold and silver treasures instead."

"Gold and silver treasures?" Cheng Lingyu was momentarily startled by the reply, then burst into a soft laugh, a deeper meaning entering her gaze.

She had originally expected Chu Nan to make some "smarter" demands, such as an official title, military power, or perhaps something more advantageous to himself.

Yet, this person actually only wanted gold and silver treasures? This indeed caught her somewhat off guard.

Giving it a second thought, however, Cheng Lingyu felt even more satisfied.

"Those who are without desires and demands are precisely the ones people fear the most. But you..."

Cheng Lingyu thought to herself, the corners of her mouth curling upward slightly. "Gold and silver treasures—that is simple enough."

She smiled softly and said, "Very well, since Master Chu has such 'lofty aspirations', We shall naturally fulfill your wish."

With that, she turned her head and instructed Shangguan Ya'er standing beside her, "Go to the treasury and fetch the jade ruyi We treasure, the golden soft armor, along with thirty taels of gold and fifty luminous pearls, and present them as a reward to Master Chu."

Shangguan Ya'er widened her eyes in shock upon hearing the order. "Your Majesty, this... isn't this reward far too lavish?"

Cheng Lingyu smiled faintly, a trace of majesty in her tone. "Go. As We said, Master Chu is a man of great merit and richly deserves a heavy reward."

"Understood!" Not daring to say another word, Shangguan Ya'er immediately turned and went to fetch the bestowed items.