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

"Your Majesty, this is the compiled record of Shuyu Tower's documents. Please take a look."

That evening, after the assassination attempt at Shuyu Tower was resolved, Jiang Shangxian rushed to the palace to see Jiang Mengxuan, escorted by guards from the Jingwei Division and the Prince's Palace.

In fact, an hour earlier, Jiang Mengxuan had already received news about Shuyu Tower and was very concerned about Jiang Shangxian's safety.

"Is the Imperial Uncle alright?"

Upon seeing Jiang Shangxian for the first time, Jiang Mengxuan did not immediately discuss the case, but instead took the initiative to inquire about his condition.

Jiang Shangxian grinned and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am perfectly fine."

"Today's events are all thanks to Shen Lang; without him, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Jiang Mengxuan nodded: "I am relieved that my royal uncle is unharmed. Shen Lang has indeed rendered meritorious service."

"But, Imperial Uncle, there is something I do not understand, and I would like to ask you to enlighten me."

Jiang Shangxian: "Your Majesty, please ask whatever you wish. I will answer whatever I know."

Jiang Mengxuan stood up and asked, "The entrance fee to a brothel like Shuyu Tower is quite high. Where did you get the money to go to such a place, Uncle?"

"this and that……"

Jiang Shangxian was at a loss for words and tried hard to come up with an excuse to get through the situation.

Finally, faced with his niece's earnest gaze, he acted impulsively and blurted out, "To be honest, it was Shen Lang who insisted on going to broaden his horizons."

No matter how I tried to dissuade him, I couldn't. I was so worn down that I had no choice but to reluctantly take him to that kind of place. Actually, he paid for it himself.

After saying this, Jiang Shangxian felt a little guilty, and for a moment felt that it was shameful to make Shen Lang take the blame.

So he kept comforting himself in his mind: Brother, I'm really sorry, you take the blame for me for now, I'll repay you later, if all else fails I'll find you a wife, my imperial nephew will marry you.

After only a few seconds of contemplation, Jiang Shangxian, without batting an eye, believed that betraying Shen Lang was an incredibly wise decision...

He even felt he had made a profit and was considering how to ask for a referral fee afterward.

However, such a clumsy reason could hardly fool Jiang Mengxuan.

"Uncle, do you even believe what you're saying? You are Prince Jing, and Shen Lang's superior. Would he force you to go to a place like that?"

Faced with the doubts, Jiang Shangxian argued vehemently: "Your Majesty, you don't understand. It's precisely because Shen Lang is my subordinate, and the most capable person in the Jingwei Division, that..."

"That's why I want to cultivate a good relationship with him. Besides, as you know, Shen Lang invited me to the brothel so that we could have someone to rely on."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled and said, "What you say makes some sense, Uncle. However, although I have never been to a place like Shuyu Tower, I have heard of it."

Entry costs at least 100 taels of silver. Shen Lang's monthly salary is only 25 taels, so this trip will cost you at least 200 taels.

Even if he didn't eat or drink, that would still be eight months' salary. So where did he get the money?

To this question, Jiang Shangxian replied quite bluntly: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that some time ago, when dealing with the Green Robe Pavilion matter, I asked you for a thousand taels of gold?"

Jiang Mengxuan frowned: "Does the Imperial Uncle mean that all one thousand taels of gold belongs to Shen Lang?"

Jiang Shangxian: "That's right. I planned all of this, but Shen Lang did the work himself. Who else should we pay if not him?"

The saying goes, "As long as I'm shameless, I'm invincible."

When it comes to matters of face, Jiang Shangxian has always adhered to a policy of heavy armor – don't even think about breaking my defenses.

Moreover, Jiang Shangxian knows Shen Lang's personality very well and wouldn't care about such reputation.

Back then in Bingzhou, despite repeated orders from military law, he openly slaughtered the fleeing Yan soldiers who had crossed the border right in front of them, shocking even the commander-in-chief, Wang Zhongsi, to the point of being dumbfounded.

Afterwards, Shen Lang was subjected to scorn and abuse from his colleagues for a period of time, but he remained unmoved, ate every last bite of rice, and even had an extra bowl.

Relying on his understanding of Shen Lang, Jiang Shangxian felt no guilt whatsoever in shifting the blame to Shen Lang.

Jiang Mengxuan shook her head: "Royal Uncle, are you really not lying to me? You must tell the truth."

Jiang Shangxian quickly put on a mask of pain: "How dare I deceive Your Majesty? Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"

Jiang Mengxuan didn't dwell on the matter too much, even though she knew that Jiang Shangxian's words were most likely just an excuse to exonerate himself.

But none of this is a big deal. At the very least, it's just a family matter. Besides, doesn't she know what kind of person her royal uncle is?

He was lustful yet afraid of his wife, but absolutely loyal to the royal family—that was enough.

"Alright, Imperial Uncle, let's put this matter aside for now. By the way, what is your opinion on this assassination attempt on Imperial Uncle?"

Jiang Shangxian immediately analyzed in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, I feel there is something fishy about this case. An assassin is lurking in Shuyu Tower, intending to assassinate me."

It seems this was premeditated, but it involves a wide range of people and is likely inextricably linked to the Yan Kingdom and the Prime Minister's residence.

“How come you see?”

Jiang Shangxian immediately took out the dagger he had used in the crime.

"Your Majesty, please look. This is a dagger made by the Ye family workshop, and the two assassins have been confirmed to be from the territory of the Great Yan."

Jiang Mengxuan glanced at it and replied, "This alone cannot prove that it was done by the Prime Minister's Mansion. Even if it is handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for investigation,

Ye Mo would also find various excuses to exonerate himself. Even if it was eventually traced back to the Ye family's workshop, it could only be considered a case of improper management, not a crime against the Ye family.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian laughed: "Your Majesty, whether the Ye family colluded with foreign tribes to harm me is not important."

The important thing is that His Majesty can use this incident to give the Ye family a warning, and that will be enough.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan pondered for a moment and immediately understood Jiang Shangxian's meaning: "Uncle, what do you mean?"

“That’s right. Even if the Ye family is truly innocent, it’s true that the assassins used ironware produced by the Ye family’s workshop to murder me. Shouldn’t they pay a price for that?”

Jiang Mengxuan sat back down at the imperial desk, and chuckled softly, a rare occurrence for her: "With your reminder, Uncle, I do have a bit of direction now."

"Uncle, tell me, who told you these things?"

This time, Jiang Shangxian did not hide anything: "Your Majesty, this is what Shen Lang said."

"Shen Lang?" Jiang Mengxuan became curious again. "Does the Imperial Uncle mean that Shen Lang said all of this?"

"Yes."

Jiang Shangxian squinted and puffed out his chest.

"Your Majesty, Shen Lang's abilities are far superior to what I thought. If there is an opportunity in the future, I urge Your Majesty to make good use of him. This man is truly of great use to the Great Chu!"

Jiang Mengxuan rarely saw Jiang Shangxian give such high praise to a subordinate. Recalling the scene in Wenxiang Tower where Shen Lang decisively took action, there was indeed a slight difference.

only……

"Unfortunately, as you said, Imperial Uncle, his heart is not with the Great Chu."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Shen Lang has never received any favors from our Great Chu in his entire life, so how could he truly care about Great Chu?"

Besides, Your Majesty cannot guarantee that all the subjects of Great Chu will be loyal to Great Chu, can you?

If Shen Lang wanted to betray the Great Chu, he had plenty of opportunities, but he didn't.

This shows that, at least for now, he has no loyalty to the Great Chu, but he also has no intention of betraying Chu.

In fact, if such a person were used properly, he would be of great benefit to His Majesty.

Jiang Mengxuan nodded, crossing her legs and lifting them slightly.

"Then, in your opinion, Imperial Uncle, how should I use him?"

Jiang Shangxian was about to speak, but after thinking about it, he kept quiet.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Jiang Mengxuan calmly replied, "Uncle, why are we still distinguishing between each other? Just say it."

Jiang Shangxian's eyes darted around, then he made up his mind, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed.

"Your Majesty, your marriage selection ceremony is in two days. I think we should consider letting him give it a try, as long as you don't mind that he is a commoner?"

As he finished speaking, Jiang Shangxian cautiously looked up at the Empress, afraid that she might suddenly fly into a rage.

But Jiang Mengxuan remained surprisingly calm, so calm that not a single ripple could be seen in her eyes.

"Uncle, you may leave now."

After a long silence, she finally uttered a single sentence.

"Yes, I will retire."

Jiang Shangxian left with a feeling of unease.

Once he left, Jiang Mengxuan lightly tapped her chin with her jade-like finger and began to think carefully.

"If he is truly talented, I might consider taking him as my husband."

"I'm just afraid he won't be able to pass the royal family's marriage process, especially the 'shouyangsha' test. Sigh."