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

Upon hearing Jiang Mengxuan utter the words "Fengsui Fortress," Jiang Shangxian's expression instantly tightened.

He asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, how did you know about the beacon tower?"

Jiang Mengxuan crossed her legs and quietly asked, "What do you mean by that, Imperial Uncle? Fengsui Fortress originally belonged to the territory of our Great Chu."

"Do you think I am not aware of what is happening on this land?"

Jiang Shangxian quickly replied, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I was just asking casually and had no other intentions."

Jiang Mengxuan: "Uncle, don't be nervous. While I was reviewing the Jingwei Division's files, I accidentally discovered Shen Lang's background in his records."

Judging from the timing of the Battle of Fengsui Fortress, it seems that the Imperial Uncle was also in the Bingzhou camp, right?

Jiang Shangxian nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, but this is just a very minor battle, and there is no need to worry about it at all."

Jiang Mengxuan: "Since the founding of the Great Chu army, there has been a rule that anyone who deserts during battle shall be executed!"

Even after hundreds of years, military law is certainly not as strict as it was at the founding of the nation.

However, the one offense of deserting in the face of battle, regardless of the reason, will result in immediate execution without mercy.

Why did Shen Lang return to camp alone, without any punishment, while the entire hundred-man guard went to the battlefield?

Is there some reason for this that I am unaware of?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian immediately looked troubled: "Your Majesty, such things are very common on the border of Bingzhou, and several years have passed, so I have forgotten many things."

Jiang Mengxuan: "Forgot? Imperial Uncle, you recruited all the candidates for the Jingwei Division for me, didn't you?"

I know you are absolutely loyal to the Great Chu and would never bend the law for personal gain or bring in any unsettling elements into the Jingwei Division.

Moreover, I saw Shen Lang today; his skills and decisiveness make him seem nothing like someone who would desert in the face of battle.

"I want to know what exactly happened at Fengsui Fortress, and why only Shen Lang returned alive to the Bingzhou military camp?"

Jiang Shangxian frowned: "Your Majesty, do you really want me to say this? This matter involves the reputation of our Great Chu Dynasty."

Jiang Mengxuan: "Royal Uncle, I am the ruler of a country. Am I not even allowed to know these hidden matters?"

Jiang Shangxian sighed softly and slowly began to speak: "Your Majesty, this matter is a long story."

The Battle of Fengsui Fortress was more significant than the loss of any single fortress or location; it was crucial to the prestige of our great Chu army.

Two years ago, the Bingzhou governor received news of the Yan army's invasion and reported that a force of Yan cavalry would besiege the beacon towers.

They then launched attacks on various parts of Bingzhou. Upon learning of this, General Li Zhongsi, who was in charge of the garrison, ordered a hundred-man squad of Shen Lang's guard to go and gather intelligence.

But no one knew that tens of thousands of Yan soldiers had already been lying in ambush near the beacon tower. After Shen Lang and his guards entered the beacon tower...

They were immediately ambushed and surrounded, where they resisted for over a month.

Jiang Mengxuan frowned slightly: "Didn't the Bingzhou camp receive any news? What rank did Shen Lang's guards hold at that time?"

"The most elite elite unit in the Bingzhou camp, apart from Shen Lang, is completely loyal to the Great Chu."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan stood up and questioned, "Aside from Shen Lang? Could it be that Shen Lang has no intention of pledging allegiance to the Great Chu?"

"Yes and no!"

Unexpectedly, Jiang Shangxian made a surprising remark.

“Shen Lang once told me that he joined the army purely because he was forced into it when he was young due to being sold into slavery. Even though he joined the Jingwei Division, it was only to make a living, but…”

At this point, Jiang Shangxian's eyes, which had been narrowed, suddenly shone with a dazzling light.

"He would never betray his country because of such unfair treatment!"

Seeing Jiang Shangxian's solemn expression, Jiang Mengxuan had a vague feeling that there must be another hidden story.

"Uncle, please continue."

"Yes."

Jiang Shangxian cleared his throat and continued, "The Sharp Knife Battalion has not returned for a month. During this time, General Li also planned to send troops to the Fengsui Fort area to investigate the reason."

But unexpectedly, at this moment, the Great Yan army suddenly attacked Huyang Pass, intending to directly seize the main camp in Bingzhou. For the sake of the overall situation, General Li personally led troops to confront them at Huyang Pass.

As a result, the situation at Fengsui Fort was temporarily put on hold.

A month later, news arrived that the beacon tower had fallen and that the entire hundred-man vanguard of the elite cavalry had been killed in action.

At that very moment, the Yan army also withdrew, and that night Shen Lang appeared at the Bingzhou camp covered in blood.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan lightly tapped her arm with her jade-like fingers.

She always felt that there was something connected to this.

After the fall of Fengsui Fortress, the Yan army withdrew, and Shen Lang returned to the military camp.

Is all of this just a coincidence?

Furthermore, what were the Yan army's motives? Was the purpose of their large army's standoff at the Bingzhou border merely for a small beacon tower?

Jiang Shangxian continued, "After Shen Lang returned to the military camp, General Li immediately took him to the main tent to inquire about the reason."

After hearing Shen Lang's account, General Li stopped pressuring him and didn't mention the Battle of Fengsui Fortress at all.

What did Shen Lang say?

Jiang Mengxuan pressed for an answer.

Jiang Shangxian lowered his head: "The entire First Guard of the Sharp Knife Battalion, except for Shen Lang, has been bribed by the Yan army. They want to use the beacon tower for a breakthrough."

Colluding with the Yan army's military camp to directly attack the Bingzhou camp, Shen Lang refused to be complicit and personally executed his colleague of many years.

He said that compared to the cruelty of the enemy, what he hates most is the traitor who betrays his comrades. No matter how close the relationship is, he will not show any mercy to the traitor.

In fact, Shen Lang guarded the beacon tower alone for that entire month!

"One person guarding a fortress?"

Even though Jiang Mengxuan was usually calm, she was still shocked when she heard the news.

Jiang Shangxian nodded: "That elite guard was actually bought off by the Great Yan Kingdom two years ago. They had already secretly set up businesses for them within the Great Yan territory."

Many even had wives and children in foreign lands, waiting only for the Bingzhou camp to fall.

Then he could be discharged from the military and reunite with his family, and the evidence was conclusive, with a photographic record as proof; it couldn't be faked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan's palms were covered in cold sweat.

That's terrifying. If even such an elite army can be bribed and infiltrated, what can't the enemy do?

"As for how Shen Lang managed to hold out at Fengsui Fortress all by himself for a month, he didn't mention a single word to anyone, including me."

That memory must have been extremely painful for him.

Later, after discussing it with me, General Li Zhongsi decided to stop making things difficult for Shen Lang.

They also kept silent about the treason of the ninety-nine elite soldiers, publicly claiming they died fighting for their country to avoid demoralizing the troops.

After this battle, Shen Lang was relegated to the second line and never went to the battlefield again, only taking charge of some training matters in the army...

At this point, Jiang Shangxian suddenly knelt down, cupped his hands to Jiang Mengxuan, and said, "Your Majesty, I dare to guarantee with my own head..."

Although Shen Lang's heart is not with my Great Chu, he will never betray the Chu Kingdom.

He is of great use and will surely become Your Majesty's right-hand man in the future. Please, Your Majesty, do not make things difficult for him!

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, resting one hand on her cheek against the imperial desk, pondering for the duration of a full cup of tea.

"Uncle, it's getting late. You should go back and rest early. I will take care of this matter."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian's heart skipped a beat.

The implication of these words is that this niece of the empress doesn't entirely trust Shen Lang.

But for now, it was not appropriate to continue speaking up for Shen Lang, so he could only get up, take his leave, and leave the imperial city.

After Jiang Shangxian left, Jiang Mengxuan turned her attention to the two characters "Shen Lang" written on the desk.

"Shen Lang, what kind of person are you? And how should I use you?"

Unbeknownst to her, Shen Lang's name had been firmly etched in Jiang Mengxuan's heart.