Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Last night, Jiang Shangxian entered the palace and talked with Empress Jiang Mengxuan about matters related to Qingyi Tower all night long.

Finally, whether it was because he was too tired or for some other reason, Jiang Shangxian suddenly waved his hand and said directly to Jiang Mengxuan:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, there is nothing the Jingwei Division cannot handle. Please entrust this matter to me."

Your Majesty, I will certainly be able to handle this matter perfectly!

Jiang Mengxuan was very pleased with this and immediately instructed Jiang Shangxian: "Uncle, I entrust this matter to you. It concerns the face of the royal family, so please think it over carefully."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian was filled with heroic spirit: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, even if I were to die for you, I would never allow outsiders to touch the very fate of our Great Chu."

So, dawn broke, Jiang Mengxuan felt at ease, and Jiang Shangxian had successfully put on a show.

Then, after leaving the palace, his mind finally cleared up.

After a brief analysis, Jiang Shangxian broke out in a cold sweat.

With the current fighting strength of the Jingwei Division, they are simply not qualified to be enemies with the Qingyi Tower.

Moreover, wouldn't messing with Qingyi Tower be tantamount to openly turning against the Prime Minister's Mansion?

The best outcome is that the Jingwei Division is abolished; the worst outcome...

Their own empress niece is about to be forced to abdicate and depose them.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shangxian was instantly wide awake and paced anxiously in front of the palace gate.

He originally intended to return to the palace to find Jiang Mengxuan and take back what he had just said, but when he thought of his niece's expectant gaze, he couldn't bear to do it.

Besides, once the promise is made, no real man would go back on his word like that.

Finally, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of Shen Lang.

After all, Shen Lang was the most reliable subordinate in the Jingwei Division, and no matter what, they could only rely on him for now.

Inside the villa, Jiang Shangxian, his eyes half-closed, said to Shen Lang, "Brother Xian, I've explained everything to you."

Whether the Jingwei Division can make a name for itself in the Great Chu and shock the world depends entirely on you.”

Shen Lang was speechless: "Your Highness, can you at least have some shame when you speak?"

What do you mean by "everyone's counting on me"? Ha! I only get a salary of 25 taels of silver a month.

I can't shoulder such a heavy burden, and besides, I'm not the only one in the Jingwei Division.

There are several hundred people in both the north and south schools combined; they can't just take advantage of me, right?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian twisted his plump body and moved closer to Shen Lang, beginning to massage his shoulders and back.

"Brother, that's not a fair thing to say. What kind of relationship do we have? We've been through thick and thin together on the battlefield, sharing life and death experiences."

Please help me out one more time. Besides, if the Jingwei Division is abolished, where will you go to live a life of idleness and waiting to die, right?

"Why don't you put in the extra effort and get this done? Then I'll give you a long vacation, how about that?"

Shen Lang chuckled, recalling Jiang Shangxian's performance on the battlefield, which could only be described in two words.

burst.

Back then, Jiang Shangxian came to the border army camp as a reward for the troops.

However, for some reason, word got out, and they were ambushed by a large number of assassins from the Great Yan Kingdom halfway there.

As a result, Jiang Shangxian ran all the way, while the assassin chased him all the way.

A group of Great Yan martial artists, all at the Qi Refining Realm and who had always focused on movement techniques, couldn't catch up with the obese Jiang Shangxian.

When they reached the edge of the cliff, Jiang Shangxian had nowhere to retreat. Facing the panting assassins of the Great Yan Kingdom, he finally lost his patience.

What happened next was truly incredible.

One man, wielding a two-pound iron hammer, single-handedly wiped out more than thirty assassins and finally arrived safely at the Bingzhou camp with Shen Lang's help.

This scene left a deep impression on Shen Lang.

“Your Highness, I just finished a job yesterday. According to our original agreement, we should work one day and rest three days. This rule cannot be broken.”

"I haven't broken any rules. Those disciples from the Green Robe Pavilion won't arrive for another three days. I'm here to discuss with you how to handle this matter."

"Why not just wipe them out?"

Shen Lang's words instantly stunned Jiang Shangxian.

He couldn't help but remind them, "The relationship between Qingyi Tower and the Prime Minister's Mansion is complicated. This matter cannot be handled in the usual way."

"so what?"

Shen Lang took a sip of water to moisten his throat.

"Do you think the Prime Minister's Mansion would turn against the royal family for the sake of a few disciples from the Green Robe Pavilion?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian immediately seemed to be deep in thought.

"My dear brother, please tell me carefully what we should do about this."

"You don't have to do anything."

Shen Lang stood up, grabbed the short knife on the table, drew it three inches from its sheath, glanced at it, and quickly tucked it into his waistband.

"what does it mean?"

Jiang Shangxian still didn't understand and looked at Shen Lang with a blank expression.

Shen Lang fastened his cloak and casually said, "Your Highness, may I make a request?"

Jiang Shangxian: "Speak."

Shen Lang tightened the ties on his cloak and casually said, "I can take the job, but I want a reward of one thousand taels of silver after I finish it."

Jiang Shangxian hurriedly said, "The matter of money is not a problem. I will speak to His Majesty about it later."

"But may I be so bold as to ask, what does my brother need so much silver for?"

Shen Lang glanced at the courtyard: "I've lived here for almost a year now, and this courtyard suits my taste quite well. I'd like to buy it, and it will cost exactly one thousand taels."

"no problem!"

Jiang Shangxian's eyes disappeared as he smiled, and he waved his hand.

"Leave this matter to me, I guarantee you will be satisfied, my dear brother."

As he spoke, he eagerly got up and opened the door for Shen Lang.

Before leaving, she grabbed his hand and said excitedly, "Brother Shen, the future of the Jingwei Division depends entirely on you. No matter what, you must help your older brother get through this hurdle."

After saying that, he made a face as if he needed to urinate, squeezed out of the courtyard gate, stepped onto the carriage he had come from, and drove away.

"Who is this..."

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Shen Lang shook his head helplessly and walked straight across the street to a morning tea shop.

Upon entering the shop, Shen Lang immediately found a table facing the street and sat down.

"What can relieve worries? Only soy milk!"

"Hey buddy, eight fried dough sticks, two sesame seed cakes, and three bowls of sweet soy milk."

As soon as he finished speaking, a steaming plate of breakfast was placed in front of Shen Lang.

"Lord Shen, you're out so early. What errand are you running today?"

"I took on a side job, and I have to get on it right after I finish eating."

After speaking with the waiter, Shen Lang took out a pair of chopsticks from the bamboo tube, picked up a fried dough stick, dipped it in the soy milk, and then took a bite.

"Comfortable."

Shen Lang let out a long breath, feeling a warm current flow through his body.

By this time, it was gradually getting brighter.

……

Inside Weiyang Palace, Jiang Mengxuan pondered the matter, but no matter how she considered it, she still felt it was inappropriate.

She opened the Jingwei Department's register and began to look up the relevant lists.

After scanning the area, Jiang Mengxuan's eyes were filled with a solemn expression.

"No, it's fine to let the Jingwei Division deal with the insignificant henchmen around the Prime Minister's residence, but..."

Facing fifteen Qingyi Tower disciples, all at the Acquired Realm, directly, their strength was simply insufficient.

Thinking of this, she closed the booklet and walked to the window to look at the rising sun.

Suddenly, she returned to her desk and opened the booklet again for another look.

Until her gaze inadvertently lingered on Shen Lang's name, her jade-like fingers kept lightly tapping the two characters.

"Shuyue!"

"What's your majesty's order?"

A young girl dressed in a tight-fitting outfit knelt on one knee in front of Jiang Mengxuan.

She was a maidservant left to Jiang Mengxuan by the Empress Dowager, as well as her personal bodyguard and childhood playmate.

After Jiang Mengxuan ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager went to Yufeng Mountain for two years to cultivate herself and silently recite the Rebirth Mantra for the late Emperor. Before leaving, she repeatedly instructed Shuyue to take good care of the Empress.

Jiang Mengxuan took out a jade token: "You ride my Spirit Treasure Steed and quickly go to the Zixia Sect for me to invite my senior sister to the capital. Tell her that I have important business with her."

"Slave, you obey!"

Shu Yue accepted the jade token and immediately left the palace.

Watching her departing figure, Jiang Mengxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"In case something goes wrong with the Jingwei Division, I will have a backup plan."