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

"It's alright, take him away."

Jiang Mengxuan's calm and collected words instantly broke the silence of the scene.

She slowly rose and drew back the beaded curtain.

In an instant, Shen Lang heard the sounds of Shu Yingwen and Mu Changge swallowing.

"Damn it, how dare those two perverts look at the Empress so brazenly?"

"No, as a time traveler, how can I lag behind? I must see it too!"

Then Shen Lang also looked up.

As a result, he only had to look up for a moment before his eyes met Jiang Mengxuan's.

A faint smile graced her face; her cool demeanor was not as unapproachable as rumored, but rather like a bright moon shining upon Shen Lang.

"Really beautiful."

The moment their eyes met, Shen Lang immediately lowered his head, silently praising Jiang Mengxuan.

But that's all. Thinking any further would just make me a simp.

Seeing Shen Lang's appearance, Jiang Mengxuan frowned slightly, then said to Ye Mo, "Prime Minister, please continue."

"Old minister, I obey."

Ye Mo accepted the order, then waved his hand and said to the guards, "Take the man to the prison and interrogate him thoroughly."

"Yes!"

The guards immediately escorted the unconscious man with cerebral palsy out of the main hall.

Then, he continued loudly, "Those selected as prospective sons-in-law, please proceed to the Water Warm Palace. The next selection will take place in one hour."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang inwardly scoffed, "So you're going to exchange land again? It seems money really can buy anything."

"Shen Lang."

Just then, Jiang Mengxuan's voice suddenly rang in her ear.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

Shen Lang could only lower his head and reply.

"You will accompany me to the Water Heating Pavilion."

Leaving behind a message, Jiang Mengxuan walked down the jade steps and headed towards the side hall.

Shen Lang was completely caught off guard, but Jiang Shangxian rushed over to his side and nudged him, urging him excitedly, "Hurry up and follow them! Your responsibility is to protect His Majesty, so hurry up!"

Shen Lang: "Your Highness, why do you look so excited? Have you been drinking?"

"Am I excited? Not at all! Alright, stop asking so many questions and hurry up and get going, stop dawdling."

With a strong push from Jiang Shangxian, Shen Lang, in a daze, followed closely behind Jiang Mengxuan.

"Commander Shen".

As she passed by Ye Mo, she was suddenly called out to him.

Ye Mo looked at him and said, "I have long heard of Shen Baihu's extraordinary skills. Seeing it today, I can see it for myself. I hope you will protect His Majesty well."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang turned directly to Ye Mo and said, "What are you saying, Prime Minister Ye? Protecting His Majesty is part of the Jingwei Division's responsibility. Why would I need Prime Minister Ye to remind me?"

Ye Mo snorted lightly: "Commander Shen, you are still young and don't understand some things. His Majesty is not as simple as you see him. You should consider many things for yourself."

Shen Lang shrugged: "What kind of person His Majesty is has nothing to do with this humble servant."

"This humble servant truly has no idea what Minister Ye is trying to convey by saying these things to me out of the blue."

Ye Mo shook his head: "In short, protecting His Majesty is also your responsibility. You will understand in time."

After speaking, Ye Mo glanced at Jiang Shangxian, who had come closer, then stepped back a few paces, bowed to him, and left the hall.

"Brother, aren't you going to follow them? What do you have to talk to this old fox about?"

Shen Lang watched Ye Mo's departing figure without saying anything, only shaking his head slightly.

……

Inside the side hall of the Water Heating Pavilion, Ye Mo quietly awaited the start of the second selection round.

Before long, Cao Xianzhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, came to him with an interrogation record.

"Minister Ye, this is Yang Huai's record. He said that he was preparing for this palace selection..."

He had prepared for twelve years, only to have a sexual encounter with his cousin during a drunken night, which was not of his own volition.

Upon hearing this, Ye Mo immediately showed a look of disgust: "He has the nerve to say it wasn't his own will? Who would believe that if he said that?"

Cao Xianzhi agreed: "What Prime Minister Ye said is very true. I think so too. Then may I ask Prime Minister Ye, what crime should Yang Huai be charged with?"

Without hesitation, Ye Mo said, "Offending His Majesty in front of the palace is a capital offense. Let the Ministry of Justice handle the case."

"Yes."

After finishing his official business, Cao Xianzhi asked in a low voice, "Prime Minister Ye, who do you think is most likely to be selected as the Emperor's son-in-law among these people?"

Ye Mo narrowed his eyes and looked at Cao Xianzhi without saying a word.

Cao Xianzhi immediately lowered his head: "Prime Minister Ye, please don't misunderstand. This humble servant only feels that His Majesty's husband is of great importance, which is why I am paying more attention to him. You see..."

Ye Mo interrupted him directly: "Stop talking. What are you thinking that you can hide from me?"

"Isn't it simply a matter of knowing who the emperor's son-in-law is, so they can rush to curry favor and secure their own interests?"

Cao Xianzhi immediately knelt on the ground: "This humble servant would not dare to think such a thing, please do not misunderstand, Prime Minister Ye."

"I wouldn't dare. A misunderstanding? Humph."

Ye Mo took a sip of tea.

"I've long since figured out what you people are really thinking; you're all incredibly shrewd opportunists."

They simply don't want to focus their energy on important matters; they're endlessly preoccupied with vying for power and influence.

When the court needs you, you all shrink back; you're completely unreliable.

"If the fate of our Great Chu Kingdom had not yet declined, and if the entire court were filled with scoundrels like you, the dynasty would surely have collapsed."

"Prime Minister Ye, I..."

"No need to say more. After what has happened today, even I myself have been suspected by His Majesty."

I don't have time to deal with your thoughts. Just focus on your own business and stop thinking about those unnecessary things.

Choosing sides too early will only cost you your life. Do you understand what I mean?

"This humble servant thanks Prime Minister Ye for his guidance."

Cao Xianzhi bowed to Ye Mo with his hands clasped, and then slowly withdrew from the side hall.

"They're good for nothing but causing trouble. The whole court is full of people who only care about profit. The world is going to the dogs!"

Ye Mo looked at Cao Xianzhi leaving the hall with a face full of disdain, his eyes filled with contempt.

"It's almost time."

After glancing at the sky, Ye Mo got up and walked towards the main hall of the Water Warmth Palace.

Inside the Water Warm Palace, Jiang Mengxuan had changed out of her dragon robe and into a light blue silk dress.

She sat quietly at the imperial desk behind the curtain, her jade-like fingers lightly stroking an ancient book.

Her personal maid, Shuyue, thoughtfully prepared fresh fruit for her and served her from the side.

Inside the Water Heating Palace, apart from Jiang Mengxuan and Shu Yue, there was only Shen Lang as a personal guard.

Compared to the dignified and grand Taiji Hall, the decoration inside the Shuinuan Hall can be described as fresh and elegant.

Moreover, the palace walls inside the hall are covered with ice blocks, and the roof beams are equipped with a water-cooling device powered by a spirit-gathering array, keeping the temperature of the entire hall at an extremely comfortable level.

"When I have money, I'll make sure to build something even better than this at home. With the alchemy of this world, if I can't make an air conditioner, I should be able to make a cooling system, right?"

Shen Lang secretly vowed that he must live a life that he was satisfied with.

Jiang Mengxuan didn't look at Shen Lang once throughout the entire process, but simply turned the pages of the book in her hands quietly.

About 15 minutes before the second selection, she gently closed the book and said to Shu Yue, "Inform the Prime Minister that preparations can begin."

"The slaves obey the order."

After Shu Yue left to carry out her orders, Jiang Mengxuan turned her gaze to Shen Lang.

"Commander Shen, what are your thoughts on this selection process?"

How can you look at it? Just stand there and look, what else can you do?

Shen Lang mentally scoffed, then clasped his hands in a perfunctory manner and said, "Your Majesty, I am not very knowledgeable about this matter. I wish Your Majesty can find a suitable husband and grow old together."

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, but her gaze fell on a spot on his wrist that resembled a protective shaving.

"Oh? He actually..."

A fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes before he regained his composure.

"I must thank you for what happened at the Green Robe Pavilion."

“Serving Your Majesty is my duty, and Your Majesty’s words of thanks are too heavy.”

Although Shen Lang said that, he was thinking to himself: Damn it, that fat bastard Jiang Shangxian swindled me out of 11,000 taels of silver!

When have I ever suffered such a huge loss? I'll settle this score with him sooner or later.