Chapter 107: The Empress Summons!

"The Empress is looking for me!"

Chu Feng looked at the sky outside, "Is she summoning me to court?"

"No, the Empress wants to see you alone!"

"Summoning me alone!"

Chu Feng could not figure out the reason behind it, but thought it was nothing, "Then I shall trouble you, Miss Xueping, to lead the way!"

"Mm, follow me!"

The two of them left Xianliang Temple together.

They headed straight for the Empress's Imperial Study.

By this time, the Empress had already finished the morning court session and was currently in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty, the Expeditionary General of the Middle Rank, General Chu Feng, has arrived!"

"Mm, let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Before long, Chu Feng walked into the Imperial Study from outside.

Just as he entered.

Chu Feng was captivated by Shen Lingwei, who was hunched over her desk working on documents.

"Damn, so this is my beautiful boss!"

Chu Feng exclaimed inwardly.

Shen Lingwei had now shed her court robes and changed into casual attire.

Although she lacked the majesty of her power over the imperial court, she possessed an extra touch of quiet and gentle charm.

"Not bad, not bad, she's absolutely stunning, much more pleasing to the eye than that flirtatious fox Ziran!"

Although he had seen many beautiful women with outstanding appearances, in his eyes, they were all nothing but pink skeletons.

Yet, at the first sight of Shen Lingwei, Chu Feng actually felt himself falling for her.

In a trance, he could not help but think of the *Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River* written by Cao Zhi.

Graceful as a startled swan, gentle as a swimming dragon. Radiant as the autumn chrysanthemum, lush as the spring pine.

"Hehe, sister-in-law is truly—oh, no, the boss is truly beautiful!" Chu Feng thought to himself.

"Has General Chu seen enough?"

"Ah?"

Chu Feng only then realized he had lost his composure, and immediately hurried to salute, "Your subject Chu Feng pays respects to the Empress!"

"Hehe, rise, beloved official!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Shen Lingwei set down the work in her hands and began to formally size up the talented young man before her.

One had to admit.

It was truly as the Minister of Rites had said; this Chu Feng was indeed born with a handsome face, and was proficient in both literary and military arts.

Even she, an Empress who resided in the Capital and had seen many eye-catching talents, could not help but hold Chu Feng in higher regard.

"Damn, this female boss not only looks like a fairy, but her aura is also completely natural; no wonder she could become the final winner for the throne."

"And her strength is not bad either; she is actually at the Grandmaster cultivation realm, truly a heaven-favored daughter!"

This was the first time Chu Feng had given such a high evaluation.

To be able to cultivate to the Grandmaster realm at this age, one was absolutely a peerless genius, one in ten thousand.

As for himself!

Sorry.

He had no talent for cultivation; he was just a cheater!

"Wait, what is this faint aura?"

Chu Feng suddenly detected an obscure aura.

Although it was only a meager trace, it was still captured by him.

This aura was extremely powerful, clearly surpassing all the experts he had ever seen.

"Could this person be a Martial Saint expert from the imperial family?"

Chu Feng wondered in surprise.

"Beloved official Chu, do you know why I invited you here today?" Shen Lingwei asked, blinking her beautiful phoenix eyes.

"Your subject is dull-witted, I hope Your Majesty will speak plainly!"

Damn!

Are these people who become Emperors sick in the head? Why do they all love playing these games?

"Hehe, beloved official Chu has achieved illustrious military exploits at the border; not only did you crush the Xiongnu, but you also severely damaged the Turkic forces, and even fought all the way to the heartland of the Turkic territory, forcing them to cede a vast expanse of land to Great Wei to sue for peace.

Such heaven-defying merits make me not know how to reward you!"

"Your Majesty is too kind!"

Chu Feng said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "A general should take the interests of the country as their own responsibility, and the well-being of the people and the stability of the nation as their lifelong pursuit.

Your subject has merely done what was within his duty; how can there be any merit to speak of? If there truly is merit, it does not belong to me alone, but to the unity and determination of the entire army, the support of the people, and Your Majesty's wise decisions!"

These words made Shen Lingwei feel overjoyed.

This guy was truly too good at speaking.

Someone who didn't know better would think the other party was a veteran of the officialdom.

Yet, the other party was just a talented young man of similar age to her.

"General Chu, do not be modest; I have seen everything you have done with my own eyes!"

Shen Lingwei then continued to ask, "I wonder what is your current cultivation level, Beloved Subject Chu?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject is currently at the Martial Venerable realm!"

"The Martial Venerable realm!"

Shen Lingwei could not help but feel somewhat astonished.

Since she was young, she had cultivated, not knowing how many heavenly treasures and how much sweat she had expended, only to finally reach the Grandmaster realm.

This alone had already crushed a crowd of elites, standing at the very peak.

Regarding this, she still felt quite proud in her heart, believing that no one could surpass her.

But ever since she learned of Chu Feng, she realized what it meant to have mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people.

"For Beloved Subject Chu to have reached the Martial Venerable realm at such an age is truly admirable!"

"Your Majesty overpraises me!"

Nothing else!

It was because of the System.

"Beloved Subject Chu, with your merits and your current strength, if you remain in the Capital, I will guarantee you the title of Eastern Pacification General with the Second Rank; are you willing?"

Such a talent must be kept by her side.

In the future, when he grows further, he will inevitably be another pillar of heaven for Great Wei.

"Your Majesty, please forgive this subject for being unable to agree. This subject has grown accustomed to the freedom of the borderlands and is not used to life in the imperial court. This subject is willing to guard the border for Great Wei, strike hard at the foreign tribes, and ensure the stability of our Great Wei frontiers."

What kind of international joke is this?

If you keep me in the imperial court, how am I supposed to develop?

Are you asking me to go and hack those ministers who don't see eye-to-eye with me?

"I understand!"

Shen Lingwei understood Chu Feng's intentions; since that was the case, she did not force him, and she immediately changed the subject.

"Beloved Subject Chu, this morning at court, the Xianbei Tuoba Clan sent an envoy to form an alliance with our Great Wei.

The Xianbei state is located to the northwest of Great Wei, its territory borders the western part of Great Zhao, and its south is adjacent to the north of the Xiongnu.

They want to form an alliance with Great Wei to jointly resist the Xiongnu and Great Zhao. To tell you the truth, our Great Wei also has no small amount of friction and conflict with Great Zhao.

The imperial court is also divided into two factions, with those in support and those in opposition. I wonder what Beloved Subject Chu thinks?"

Yo!

This Xianbei is playing a good game; isn't this clearly trying to drag Great Wei into the water?

Chu Feng smiled indifferently and responded: "Your Majesty, how can you not know that the barbarians are a group of people who do not keep their word? They fear power but do not fear virtue. Forming an alliance with our Great Wei is nothing more than wanting to pull in a teammate to share the firepower."

"Oh? According to your view, you are holding an opposing opinion?"

"Not necessarily!"

Chu Feng then continued, "Although we do not form an alliance with them, we never said we wouldn't cooperate with them.

The grasslands are rich in cattle, sheep, and other goods, but they are uniquely lacking in salt, iron, tea, and grain. We strictly prohibit the export of such items to the barbarians, so they can only resort to plundering.

This subject's meaning is that we can slightly loosen this restriction to provide the Xianbei with such items. Firstly, we can seek profit, and secondly, it can be considered as providing them with indirect support!"

Shen Lingwei's eyes lit up instantly: "That's right, why didn't I think of that!"

This method could indeed indirectly provide assistance to the Xianbei.

Thereby checking the threat of the Xiongnu and Great Zhao to Great Wei.

"Beloved Subject Chu, this plan is excellent; you have made another contribution to Great Wei!"

"Your Majesty overpraises me. Additionally, we must still keep an ace up our sleeve."

"Oh? Which ace?"

"That is to extract Great Wei from the middle of it."

"What does it mean to extract it?"

"It means an official alibi."

Chu Feng explained, "If we provide these supplies to the Xianbei, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the Xiongnu and Great Zhao.

We can shift the blame onto those noble families or merchants, saying that these supplies were smuggled out by them and have nothing to do with our Great Wei.

We can even take the opportunity to splash dirty water on Great Zhao or Great Chu; after all, they are also located in the Central Plains region and are equally rich in these goods.

Merchants chase profit and will risk danger to seek exorbitant profits, so when the time comes, they will definitely not find an excuse to blame our Great Wei."

Once these words were spoken.

Shen Lingwei was instantly stunned.