CHAPTER 63 — The Inspector From the Capital
1017 Words
The eastern hall of Valin Fortress was colder than the imperial palace despite the burning braziers placed along its stone walls.
Perhaps because warmth rarely lingered long in places built for war.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the hall as the imperial inspectors entered beneath the watchful eyes of Valin officers.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
No one smiled.
No one welcomed them warmly.
Even the servants pouring tea moved cautiously.
At the head of the hall, Chu Wenzhe sat calmly in dark robes, his presence alone enough to silence the room without effort.
Beside him stood several senior commanders.
And slightly farther to the side—
Shen Yue remained quietly observant.
Wei Lian noticed her immediately again.
His eyes lingered briefly before he smiled politely.
Too politely.
“Fourth Miss Shen.”
His tone carried faint amusement.
“I did not expect to find a noble young lady inside a military fortress.”
Shen Yue returned a composed smile.
“And I did not expect imperial inspectors to arrive during active frontier warfare.”
Silence followed instantly.
Several Valin commanders lowered their heads slightly to hide expressions.
Wei Lian’s smile thinned almost invisibly.
Interesting.
He clearly had not expected her response to come so directly.
One elderly inspector quickly stepped forward with forced diplomacy.
“The imperial court merely worries for the stability of the northern frontier.”
One commander nearly scoffed aloud.
Worries?
The court feared Valin more than it worried for it.
But before anyone else could speak, Chu Wenzhe calmly lifted his tea cup.
“The frontier remains stable.”
Simple statement.
Absolute statement.
The elderly inspector coughed lightly.
“Of course, of course… Lord Valin’s military achievements are known throughout the empire.”
Wei Lian finally stepped forward again.
“But naturally,” he added smoothly, “the Emperor still requires transparency regarding military operations.”
There it was.
The true purpose beneath the polite words.
Control.
Surveillance.
Shen Yue watched Wei Lian carefully.
The man spoke elegantly enough, but there was something hollow beneath his composure.
A constant need to assert authority.
Men secure in their power rarely behaved that way.
Chu Wenzhe’s voice remained calm.
“You may review the fortress records tomorrow.”
Wei Lian smiled.
“Much appreciated.”
Then his gaze shifted again toward Shen Yue.
“Though I confess…”
He tilted his head slightly.
“The capital rumors failed to describe Fourth Miss properly.”
The hall cooled immediately.
Several commanders visibly stiffened.
Because everyone understood exactly what rumors he referred to.
The ones connecting Shen Yue and Lord Valin.
Wei Lian continued pleasantly:
“I had assumed exaggeration.”
A pause.
“But seeing Fourth Miss personally travel to the northern frontier…”
His smile deepened slightly.
“One begins to understand why the capital speaks so enthusiastically.”
The insult was subtle.
Refined.
But deliberate.
The hall fell completely silent.
Valin officers looked furious.
Yet before anyone else could react—
Shen Yue calmly lifted her tea cup.
“The capital enjoys speaking about things it does not understand.”
Wei Lian chuckled softly.
“An intelligent answer.”
“Necessary answers often are.”
Another silence followed.
This time heavier.
Wei Lian’s eyes narrowed faintly.
Because Shen Yue was not behaving like a sheltered noble miss.
Not even slightly.
She neither flustered nor avoided confrontation.
And worst of all—
Chu Wenzhe remained entirely unconcerned by her responses.
That detail disturbed Wei Lian more than he expected.
Meanwhile, at the side of the hall, Commander Liu stood quietly among the officers.
Too quietly.
Shen Yue noticed him immediately.
Ever since the inspectors entered—
he had avoided direct eye contact with Wei Lian entirely.
Interesting.
Most officers displayed obvious dislike toward the imperial delegation.
But Commander Liu behaved differently.
Controlled.
Careful.
Watching without appearing to watch.
Her instincts sharpened again.
Then suddenly—
Wei Lian spoke once more.
“I also heard Lord Valin nearly died during the avalanche incident.”
The hall’s atmosphere darkened instantly.
One Valin commander stepped forward coldly.
“My Lord survived because the northern gods still protect Valin.”
Wei Lian smiled faintly.
“Fortunate indeed.”
But Shen Yue caught it.
That tiny pause before he answered.
Disappointment.
Very small.
Very well hidden.
But there.
He truly wished Chu Wenzhe had died.
The realization made her eyes colder.
Meanwhile, Chu Wenzhe finally looked directly at Wei Lian.
For the first time since the meeting began—
real pressure filled the hall.
“You seem interested in the avalanche.”
Wei Lian’s smile remained smooth.
“A disaster of that scale naturally concerns the court.”
Chu Wenzhe set down his tea cup quietly.
“The court worries for me now?”
Silence.
The question sounded calm.
Yet everyone present understood the blade hidden beneath it.
Wei Lian held the smile carefully.
“The Emperor values Lord Valin deeply.”
No one in the hall believed that.
Not even the inspectors themselves.
Then unexpectedly—
Chu Wenzhe asked:
“Did Wei Lian.”
The hall froze.
No title.
No “General Wei.”
Only the name itself.
Cold and dismissive.
Wei Lian’s expression tightened slightly.
“Yes?”
“Have you ever stood beneath an avalanche before?”
Silence.
Wei Lian did not answer immediately.
Because everyone knew the truth.
No.
He had not.
Chu Wenzhe continued calmly:
“Have you watched soldiers suffocate beneath snow while trying to protect retreat routes?”
No response.
“Have you led cavalry through collapsing mountains?”
Wei Lian’s jaw tightened faintly now.
And suddenly—
the difference between them became painfully obvious.
One man wore military authority.
The other earned it through blood.
Chu Wenzhe’s gaze remained steady.
“When you survive such things…”
A pause.
“You stop speaking about war lightly.”
The hall became deathly silent afterward.
No one dared interrupt.
Even the imperial inspectors looked uncomfortable now.
Because without raising his voice—
without open hostility—
the Lord of Valin had just stripped Wei Lian’s authority apart completely.
And everyone present saw it happen.
- Writer
