Lu Yan then pretended to be timid and fearful, and tentatively said.
"Miss Chen, I have heard some of what you have said,"
"However... rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family, Your Excellency..."
"This humble official simply cannot bear this risk."
Chen Qingwan seemed to have anticipated that Lu Yan would say that.
Hmph! This corrupt official really does have treasonous intentions!
I must eliminate you!
She smiled slightly and said:
"Lord Lu, given the current strength of Shannan Prefecture, are you not afraid of this risk?"
"Do you really not harbor any intention to rebel?"
Alarm bells rang in Lu Yan's mind.
This woman must have lost her mind!
He didn't want to talk to her about such dangerous things anymore.
It would be a loss if someone overheard us.
"Miss Chen is too kind. My loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as day!"
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, a woman who is no less capable than any man. I admire you so much that I would never have the heart to plot a rebellion."
He secretly observed Chen Qingwan's reaction.
Chen Qingwan sneered inwardly:
Hmph, glib tongue! But his face remained impassive:
"Oh? Is that so? It seems I have misunderstood Lord Lu."
Her tone was tinged with a hint of probing, her eyes fixed sharply on Lu Yan, as if trying to see right through him.
Lu Yan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, but he still maintained his smile:
"It's a misunderstanding, absolutely a misunderstanding!"
"My relationship with the court and His Majesty is..."
He racked his brains to come up with a bunch of compliments.
They praised the Empress to the skies, as if Chen Qingwan were the Empress herself.
As Chen Qingwan listened to Lu Yan's flattery, her wariness towards him lessened somewhat.
That corrupt official is quite eloquent.
A slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
"I never imagined that Lord Lu was such a patriot."
"Of course!"
Lu Yan patted his chest, making a solemn vow.
"To be loyal to the country until death is my motto! Defending the country is the duty of every citizen!"
"Moreover, as an official appointed by the court, I should set an example, strive for the well-being of the people, and share His Majesty's burdens..."
He spoke eloquently, like a true patriot.
Chen Qingwan chuckled inwardly; this slippery fellow could lie without batting an eye.
She decided to test him again:
"I am very pleased that Lord Lu is so loyal."
"However... there is something I don't understand, and I hope you can enlighten me."
"Please speak, Miss Chen."
Lu Yan thought to himself: Is this the time to finally show my true colors?
"Lord Lu, do you know that your pacification of the barbarians and your great defeat of General Zhao Xuan of Beixiang have already spread throughout the court and the country?"
"His Majesty is greatly pleased and has specially sent me here, firstly to reward you, and secondly..."
She paused, her tone becoming serious.
"Investigate whether the lord harbors any rebellious intentions!"
Lu Yan was startled: This woman was indeed sent by the Empress!
But he outwardly feigned composure:
"Oh? Is that so?"
I serve the country; how could I be accused of treason?
Miss Chen, you must have misunderstood.
Chen Qingwan looked at him with a half-smile:
"Misunderstanding? Lord Lu, your army is strong and well-equipped with firearms, and you have repeatedly achieved military exploits. It is hard to guarantee that no one will have doubts."
"Your Majesty sent me here to investigate just in case."
Lu Yan cursed inwardly: This empress is really suspicious!
He suppressed his dissatisfaction and forced a smile:
"Miss Chen, I'm innocent! I'm devoted to the country and have no other intentions!"
"These firearms were all used to protect our homes and country and to defend against foreign enemies."
"As for the troops, they are there to maintain local order and protect the peace of the people."
Chen Qingwan looked at him, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes.
She always felt that something was off about Lu Yan, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
She decided to try a different approach:
"Lord Lu, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask... who exactly are you?"
Lu Yan's heart skipped a beat:
This woman has finally hit the nail on the head! How should he answer?
His eyes darted around, and an idea came to him:
"I am but a nobody with no ambition, who only wants to guard his own little plot of land..."
He deliberately feigned a forlorn demeanor, hoping to dispel Chen Qingwan's doubts.
Looking at his appearance, Chen Qingwan became even more puzzled.
Is Lu Yan truly stupid or just pretending?
She decided to observe him for a while longer to see what his true intentions were.
"Lord Lu, you are too modest. With your talent, how could you be content to remain an unknown nobody?"
Lu Yan gave a wry smile:
"Miss Chen, you may not know this, but I too was once young and impetuous, yearning to achieve great deeds and bring glory to my ancestors. However..."
He paused, his tone turning low.
"The harsh reality has made me realize that some things cannot be achieved simply through hard work."
Instead of aiming too high, it's better to be down-to-earth and do the things in front of you well.
Chen Qingwan listened quietly, but her confusion only deepened.
What exactly happened to Lu Yan that made him so depressed?
Does he really have no ambition?
She decided to test him one last time:
"Lord Lu, if... I were to say that I could help you realize your ambitions, would you be willing...?"
Before she could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, a hurried voice rang out:
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