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

"Prime Minister Ye, something terrible has happened!"

At the same time, inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Ye Mo, who was concentrating on allocating resources for the confiscation of property, heard a startled exclamation from Cao Xianzhi, the Minister of Rites.

Ye Mo was startled: "What's wrong? Could it be that the Empress Dowager has entered the city?"

Cao Xianzhi clapped his hands: "Prime Minister Ye, this is really going to be a big problem! When the Empress Dowager entered the city, she encountered difficulties from Shen Lang."

The two had a verbal altercation at the city gate, and then…

"Then what happened?"

Ye Mo's eyelids twitched, and he quickly pressed for an answer.

For some reason, whenever I hear the name Shen Lang, I always feel that this guy is capable of doing things that are completely beyond my imagination.

"Then, in front of the Empress Dowager, Shen Lang killed the two martial arts guards, Wang Yue and Lian Xing."

At the same time, on charges of being spies for an enemy state, the Empress Dowager and the entire entourage were detained and imprisoned in the Jingwei Division prison.

"Prime Minister Ye, you'd better go and do something about this! Shen Lang's actions are going to turn Jinling City upside down!"

"What! Such a thing has happened? Oh no!"

Ye Mo stood up immediately.

"How dare he be so audacious as to detain even the Empress Dowager?"

Cao Xianzhi said urgently, "Prime Minister Ye, please go to the Jingwei Division quickly. I'm really afraid things will get out of control."

"Alright, I'll go right away."

Ye Mo didn't think much of it and prepared to leave the palace to confront Shen Lang.

But just as he reached the entrance of the palace, he suddenly stopped.

"Prime Minister Ye, what's wrong...?"

Cao Xianzhi, who was following closely behind, almost bumped into him from behind. She was surprised to see him stop.

Ye Mo turned around, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "Are you really sure that the person who was captured is the Empress Dowager? Did you take a closer look?"

Cao Xianzhi was taken aback: "This, I did not see it with my own eyes either, it was reported by an official from my Ministry of Rites."

"Humph!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mo flicked his sleeve and then turned back to his desk.

"Since you haven't seen it with your own eyes, what are you reporting? You're just making a trip to the Jingwei Bureau based on hearsay?"

Cao Xianzhi said with a mournful face, "But the subordinates of the Ministry of Rites have no reason to joke about such a thing."

Moreover, many people in the city witnessed Shen Lang's ostentatious passing with the Empress Dowager in tow..."

Ye Mo spread his sleeves and sat back down at his desk: "See? You still say it's not deception? Who is the Empress Dowager? She is the mother of the current Emperor, and her status is extremely noble!"

Shen Lang, who was dismissed from his post yesterday and is now in charge of the city's south gatekeeper,

How dare he touch the Empress Dowager's daughter's body? Do you think that's reasonable?! How many heads does he have to dare to do that?

Besides, how could Shen Lang, as the emperor's chosen son-in-law, possibly be so disrespectful to the current empress dowager?

You must be someone who jumps to conclusions based on hearsay, spouting nonsense without even knowing the facts. You should investigate further.

"This……"

After Ye Mo stirred things up, Cao Xianzhi also became somewhat uncertain.

"But, I'm from the Ministry of Rites..."

Ye Mo interrupted him impatiently: "There have been many matters at court lately, and the recent civil unrest has caused widespread panic throughout the city."

Officials from the Six Ministries also suffer from sleepless nights; it's only natural that they might misjudge someone. As the head of the Ministry of Rites, you shouldn't hold them responsible for their mistake.

Everyone has their struggles. Some things, once heard or seen, are best left unsaid; there's no need to make such a fuss. What if you incur public wrath?

What if no one dares to serve the imperial court anymore? Have you thought this through?

"Huh? No, Ye Xiang, what's going on..."

Cao Xianzhi was stunned, not realizing the meaning behind Ye Mo's words.

"What, you think my handling of this matter is inappropriate?"

"No, Prime Minister Ye, please don't misunderstand. I just feel it's best to handle this matter more carefully."

If all else fails, we could send someone to the Jingwei Division to take a look. What do you think?

Upon hearing this, Ye Mo sneered: "The Jingwei Division is directly under His Majesty's command. Do you think you can just go there whenever you want?"

Since you have doubts, why don't you go yourself, instead of instigating me to go?

Cao Xianzhi immediately fell silent, knowing he would never dare to go to the Jingwei Division.

"What has His Majesty's reaction been to this matter?"

"No...no response..."

Even though it was already autumn, Cao Xianzhi was drenched in cold sweat.

At this moment, he finally realized that things were obviously not as simple as he had thought.

There's a lot more to this than meets the eye.

Why should I get involved?

What if...

"Since His Majesty isn't in a hurry, why should we be?"

Ye Mo gave Cao Xianzhi a disdainful look.

Cao Xianzhi cupped his hands and said, "Prime Minister Ye, I must remind you again, this time when the Empress Dowager returns to the palace..."

"You went to greet us in advance, if we don't show our appreciation, what if the Empress Dowager asks about it..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Mo chuckled lightly: "What you say makes some sense."

Judging by the time, the Empress Dowager should have arrived in Jinling City by now. Why is there still no news? Could it be that something happened to her on the way?

"Immediately order the military officers within the city to divide into three groups and search for the Empress Dowager within a radius of sixty li. They must find her whereabouts."

Cao Xianzhi narrowed her eyes, looking at Ye Mo's clumsy acting, and only one word came to her mind.

black!

That's fucking black!

Why bother meddling in these things? Isn't it just asking for trouble?

When gods fight, why should a mere mortal like myself go looking for trouble?

"Minister Cao, is there anything else?"

"This humble official takes his leave."

Watching Cao Xianzhi's departing figure, Ye Mo couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Shen Lang, you truly surprise us time and again. Since that's the case..."

I will not allow your efforts to be in vain. I will complete the confiscation of your property as soon as possible and give His Majesty a full explanation.

……

While the Empress and the Prime Minister took advantage of the Empress Dowager's imprisonment to begin their rampant "money-making," a completely different scene unfolded inside the Jingwei Division prison.

On Jiang Chaoyun's desk sat the seven-colored blood coral.

"Wow, it really is a rare treasure..."

Jiang Chaoyun rubbed his hands together, sighing repeatedly.

"Such a treasure would be worth at least 100,000 taels of silver if it were put up for auction, wouldn't it?"

Shen Lang crossed his legs and calmly said, "It should at least double in value, but don't get your hopes up too high, you can't take this with you."

Jiang Chaoyun smiled upon hearing this: "What are you talking about? You know I just like these strange and novel things."

One look is enough; as for taking it with me, I'd think it would take up too much space.

After saying that, he looked worried and said, "Commander Shen, haven't you gone too far in this matter? Are you really not afraid at all if it gets investigated?"

Shen Lang said nonchalantly, "I'm not worried about being besieged by tens of thousands of enemies, why would I be afraid of an old woman?"

Don't worry, I won't die. You don't need to worry about me.

Jiang Chaoyun: "Sometimes I'm really curious, how can you be so calm and fearless? It's like nothing can stump you."

Shen Lang's lips twitched: "When you lose everything, and personally kill your brothers and comrades with whom you've spent years, you'll also become indifferent to everything."

After all, what does a person who has nothing have to care about? Besides their own life, what else could they possibly lose?

Jiang Chaoyun shut up immediately, unsure how to respond to Shen Lang's words.

"What about the Empress Dowager?"

"Don't worry, she'll only be locked up for a couple of days. Once things are settled, someone will come to pick her up. You don't need to worry too much."

"That's good."

Jiang Chaoyun breathed a sigh of relief, then pointed to the blood coral.

"So what should we do with this?"

"Collect it as stolen goods for now, and we will conduct a thorough audit later."

Just then, Junior Flag Officer Wang Rui came to report: "Commander Shen, the old woman is clamoring for honey water, what do you think..."

"Honey water?" Shen Lang perked up immediately. "Does she think the Jingwei Division is her own private property? Honey water, huh? Prepare some foot bath water for her and send it over, then ask her if she wants it or not!"

"Ah, this..."

Wang Rui was in a bit of a dilemma.

"Commander Shen, isn't this going too far?"

"Why don't you drink it for her?"

"Alright, I...no, no, no, I...wouldn't dare! Who would drink that stuff?"

Wang Rui was so frightened by Shen Lang's glance that he dared not look directly at him, and lowered his head, trembling.

Jiang Chaoyun hurriedly advised, "Commander Shen, you should restrain yourself a bit. After all, we all know perfectly well whether she is the Empress Dowager or not."

You should still save her some face. It's just honey water, right? Just take it to her, won't that be enough?

Shen Lang glanced at him and said, "Fine, since your boss has spoken up,..."

"Well, I can't refuse you that. How about this, prepare a bowl of honey water, and I'll personally deliver it to her later, okay?"

Jiang Chaoyun breathed a sigh of relief and slapped his thigh: "That's right. I can't get involved in this matter myself, so I'll leave it to you. I have something to do, so I'll take my leave first."

……

"I want honey water! Someone, is anyone there? I'm dying of thirst! I want honey water, the finest honey brew from Yufeng Mountain! Is anyone there?"

In the dimly lit cell, Ji Yuxi kept moaning and calling out softly.

She never imagined that one day she would be imprisoned in such a filthy place.

Just then, the cell door opened.

Ji Yuxi immediately looked over and, in the flickering candlelight, saw Shen Lang's familiar figure.

The thought of Shen Lang carrying her through the streets of Jinling during the day filled her with anger and embarrassment.

Just as she was about to reprimand him, Shen Lang threw the basin in his hand at Ji Yuxi.

In an instant, Ji Yuxi was drenched to the bone.

"Didn't you want to drink honey water? Now you can drink your fill. And stop making a fuss."

My colleagues at the Jingwei Division have to work tomorrow, can't you have a little compassion?! If you keep complaining, you won't even get to eat.

After saying this, before the bewildered Ji Yuxi could react, Shen Lang locked the iron gate again and left with a flourish.

Showing off and then running away, that's fucking exciting.

"I will never let you get away with this! If you have the guts, then don't let me out!"

"Come back, come back to me, come back!"

"If you've got the guts, leave your name, and I'll show you what I'm made of!"

"Aaaaah, I'll tear you, you little beast, to pieces!"

"Ahhh-"

Soaked to the bone, Ji Yuxi angrily leaned against the iron gate, letting out an extremely sharp roar.

Today, she has suffered a humiliation she has never experienced in decades.