Chapter Nine: Taking You Down Along With Them

Chu Nan felt a tightening in his chest. He gripped the spray canister in his hand, but he knew well that while it might temporarily incapacitate an opponent, it was insufficient to deal with such a crowd. Seeing that he had nowhere left to retreat, he was just contemplating how to escape when he suddenly heard a soft sound of footsteps, accompanied by a woman’s clear, cold voice laced with a hint of mockery.

"Well now, is this the might of the Capital Prefecture? A group of grown men surrounding a merchant—this certainly has opened my eyes."

Chu Nan looked toward the source of the sound and saw a woman in a green gown standing behind the crowd. She appeared to be in her early twenties, her features elegant and delicate as a painting, her gentle expression carrying a subtle trace of coldness. Her autumn-clear eyes swept over the group, revealing a touch of faint disdain.

Chu Nan’s heart stirred slightly; he felt as if his surroundings had suddenly brightened. The woman possessed an ethereal quality, standing amidst the bustling marketplace as if she did not belong to this world. There was an aloof, detached air about her that made her unforgettable. He secretly wondered about her origins; she was clearly not an ordinary commoner, yet she did not resemble a typical official’s daughter. Could it be... was she sent by Cheng Lingyu?

The leader of the bailiffs, hearing someone speak with such insolence, darkened his face. He turned to the woman in annoyance and scolded, "Who are you? Can't you see we are in the middle of official business? Get lost! Or we’ll deal with you, too!"

Shangguan Ya’er smiled faintly, her eyebrows arching slightly, as if she were entirely unbothered by the threat. She gently shook the folding fan in her hand, her gaze scanning the bailiffs coldly, a faint, mocking curve playing on her lips.

"Oh? Officials of the honorable Capital Prefecture, resorting to violence against an unarmed merchant—this is truly a spectacle for the capital. I wonder, have you gentlemen considered how the Prefect of the Capital will explain this if the matter reaches the Emperor's ears?"

Her tone was frigid, carrying a thread of authority that made her words sound less like persuasion and more like a pronouncement. The leader faltered, momentarily suppressed by her icy aura, and a prickle of apprehension stirred in his heart. However, seeing that she was merely a woman, dressed simply and without any attendants, he quickly suppressed his hesitation and bellowed angrily, "Don't try to scare me with the Emperor! Who do you think you are to be pointing fingers? Get out of here, or you'll be dealt with along with him!"

The surrounding bailiffs echoed his sentiments, sneering at Shangguan Ya’er, as if they held her in no regard at all. After all, they had never heard of any noblewoman in the capital venturing into such a place alone. With no attendants in sight, they assumed she was just an ignorant girl who didn't know her place.

Chu Nan, inwardly alarmed, was about to step in and warn her to avoid getting involved, when he saw her stand her ground. She reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead, looking at the leader with clear contempt.

The leader, still rubbing his eyes which were stinging from the spray, managed to look up, his vision still somewhat blurred. But the moment he clearly discerned the face of the woman in green, he froze. His face turned deathly pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

"La—Lady Shangguan!"

The words escaped his lips, laced with disbelief. His legs gave way involuntarily, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, not daring to lift his head.

The surrounding bailiffs were bewildered, watching their leader suddenly kneel, completely at a loss. They had just been arrogantly threatening this woman, and now, seeing their leader in such a state of panic, they were struck with terror, vaguely realizing that the woman before them was someone of significant consequence.

"Boss... who exactly is this lady?" one of the bailiffs asked in a low, panicked voice.

The leader trembled as he replied, "You fools! Do you not even recognize the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family? This is the direct descendant, Lady Shangguan Ya’er! Who in the Imperial City would dare be disrespectful to her? Do you want to lose your heads?"

At these words, the color drained from the faces of the bailiffs. Their legs turned to jelly, and they collapsed to their knees, bowing frantically and begging for mercy. "We were blind and offended you, Lady Shangguan! Please, have mercy!"

Chu Nan stood to the side, his brows arched slightly as he pondered the identity of Shangguan Ya’er. He had guessed she was of high standing, but he had not expected her to be a member of the Shangguan family. The Shangguan family held immense influence in the court of the Great Desolate Kingdom; it was said that they had produced officials for generations and were a family of great prestige. Furthermore, they had always supported the Imperial House and were among the Empress's most trusted allies—not to mention their close relationship with the current Emperor. As a direct descendant, Shangguan Ya’er’s status was naturally of great importance.

Chu Nan watched her with increased interest. This Lady Shangguan was not only ethereal and beautiful, possessing a detached nobility, but her eyes were also calm and sharp, revealing a unique, keen intelligence. It was a temperament not often found in ordinary noblewomen.

Shangguan Ya’er cast a cold glance at the kneeling bailiffs, her eyebrows arching slightly as she spoke in a detached, emotionless tone. "You men of the Capital Prefecture certainly have quite the air of authority, bullying commoners at will and even daring to offend me. It seems the Prefect of the Capital has trained you well."

Though her tone was light, it pierced the bailiffs' hearts like a sharp blade. The leader’s face turned ashen; cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he spoke with a trembling, tearful voice, "Please, Lady Shangguan, have mercy! We... we were deceived, we did not know your identity! Please, show mercy and spare us this once!"

"Deceived?" Shangguan Ya’er let out a cold laugh, her eyes sweeping over them like frost. "Even if you did not know who I was, does that give you the right to run rampant in the streets and oppress the innocent? The Prefect of the Capital, as the head of the city, condones such behavior in his subordinates. It seems I shall have to offer him some ‘guidance’ today."

She wore a simple green gown, yet it could not hide her commanding presence. The faint, icy reserve in her features added an intimidating dignity to her beauty that made her seem unapproachable. Chu Nan watched her, unable to help but feel a sense of admiration.

Shangguan Ya’er noticed Chu Nan’s gaze and frowned slightly, a flicker of displeasure crossing her eyes. She turned to look at him, her gaze cool. "Young Master Chu, is there something wrong with my face?"

Chu Nan was momentarily stunned, then offered a harmless smile and bowed. "Lady Shangguan, you misunderstand. I was simply seeing you for the first time and couldn't help but look a few times too many. It was truly an offense; please forgive me."

Shangguan Ya’er nodded slightly. Though she said nothing more, her first impression of Chu Nan was not particularly favorable. While she was the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family and was accustomed to having many admirers, it was rare for a man to stare at her so brazenly as Chu Nan had. Even if he was someone the Empress valued, Shangguan Ya’er could not help but feel a touch of annoyance.

However, remembering her duty for this outing, she suppressed her irritation and asked coldly, "Young Master Chu, these bailiffs were rude to you today. How do you intend to deal with them?"