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

The next morning, Shu Yingwen walked out of the Empress Dowager's palace as if she were walking on clouds, almost leaning on the wall for support.

After being disciplined by the Empress Dowager all night, Shu Yingwen felt completely drained of her energy and spirit.

Anyone who sings opera all night long will definitely become mentally disoriented.

As dawn broke, Ji Yuxi said she was tired of listening and felt sleepy, which finally ended this seemingly endless torment.

Recalling the events of that night, Shu Yingwen felt genuine fear towards Ji Yuxi.

But unconsciously, he wanted to stay by her side.

This contradictory psychology already foreshadowed the effectiveness of Ji Yuxi's training, and Shu Yingwen's mentality gradually began to shift from "human" to "dog".

A person's will often begins to collapse at the spiritual level. Whenever the spirit is manipulated by the external environment, it signifies the beginning of degeneration.

This is also because Shu Yingwen is weak and incompetent. Whenever Shen Lang encounters such a situation, he stops abruptly in the bathroom.

It's nothing more than the discovery of an unknown female corpse in the martial arts world.

After all, in this chaotic world, who would care about the origin of a female corpse?

As soon as she stepped out of the gate of Ganquan Palace and saw Shu Yue waiting for her in the distance, Shu Yingwen finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground.

"Brother, what's wrong with you? I waited for you at Huanyu Pavilion last night, but you never returned. What happened? Why do you look so weak?"

Shu Yue stepped forward and helped Shu Yingwen up.

But when she saw his dark circles and his extremely tired expression, she was stunned.

"Brother, what happened? Say something!"

She asked the question very softly, as if afraid of being overheard.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yingwen's nose immediately stung with tears.

As if she had found someone to confide in, she tearfully spoke in a hoarse voice to Shu Ying: "It was the Empress Dowager who forced me. She made me sing opera all night long."

I don't know what happened, but the Empress Dowager's gaze towards me was unusually intense. Really, little sister, I'm so scared, so very scared.

If His Majesty finds out, he will surely kill me. What should I do? What should I do…

Shu Yue immediately covered his mouth, stopping Shu Yingwen from saying what he was about to say.

"Brother, tell me, what really happened last night? Was it really just singing for the Empress Dowager?"

Shu Yingwen was taken aback upon hearing this, then lowered her head, not daring to look at Shu Yue.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Besides having me sing, the Empress Dowager also... "

He was too ashamed to talk about what happened that night.

“Brother, what time is it? What's there to hide? You…”

Suddenly, she noticed that the protective yang mark on the back of Shu Yingwen's hand was gone, and she was shocked beyond words.

"Brother! Where is your protective yang sha? Could it be..."

"Woooooooo..."

Shu Yingwen immediately burst into tears, feeling helpless.

"No, nothing happened between me and the Empress Dowager. It's just that the Empress Dowager felt my solo performance wasn't satisfying enough, so..."

They had Rong Momo bring over a wooden donkey and then forced me to sit on it.

I... I don't even know how I got through it. I almost fainted several times, but the incense kept me awake...

Upon hearing this news, Shu Yue was utterly shocked.

How could my respected Empress Dowager be so cunning?

This was completely unexpected for Shu Yue. She didn't know what to do and could only ask in a trembling voice, "Brother, what did the Empress Dowager say?"

"The Empress Dowager said she would make me the Emperor's son-in-law, but on the condition that I would be available to sing for her at any time."

Otherwise, they'll castrate me and make me a eunuch, little sister. What should I do now?

Shu Yue thought for a moment, then sighed, "Brother, there's no other way now. The only way to save our lives is to follow the Empress Dowager's orders."

Now that things have already happened, you must try your best to please the Empress Dowager. Only when you become the Emperor's son-in-law will the Shu family have a chance to turn things around.

Shu Yingwen: "But what about His Majesty..."

"Everything depends on the Empress Dowager." Shu Yue's eyes turned cold. "To be honest, my brother's situation might not be such a bad thing after all."

"Given his current status, his elder brother can never compete with Shen Lang, but with the Empress Dowager's support, the situation might change."

Shu Yingwen: "But am I still worthy of His Majesty?"

Shu Yue: "Brother, do you think the capital is some clean place?"

Even without Shen Lang, you became the emperor's son-in-law. Do you really think you can win His Majesty's favor on your own?

You don't understand. Her Majesty isn't as aloof and stunning as she appears. In reality, she possesses a possessiveness far beyond your imagination.

Once she's certain something is hers, she won't easily let go.

"Without the Empress Dowager supporting you, how could you possibly control His Majesty with your temperament?"

"Is that so?"

"Brother, it's too late to say anything now. Since one wrong step has already been taken..."

Then we have no choice but to go along with the mistake and follow the Empress Dowager's lead.

Shu Yue sighed and said, "This is our fate, the fate of being pawns. But isn't being a pawn a kind of luck in itself?"

Shu Yingwen fell silent, carefully considering what Shu Yue had said.

……

Shen Lang was summoned to the Imperial Study by Jiang Mengxuan.

Ye Mo was also there; when Shen Lang entered, he and Jiang Mengxuan seemed to be discussing something.

"Shen Lang, you've come at the right time. Prime Minister Ye has something to discuss with you."

Ye Mo immediately cupped his hands to Shen Lang and said with a smile, "Commander Shen, I have a matter I would like to ask you to make an exception for."

Shen Lang: "Prime Minister Ye, you're too kind. Just say what you have to say. I don't like formalities."

"Then I will be frank. My son, Ye Hui, is currently unemployed at home. I would like to arrange for him to serve in the Imperial Guard."

His Majesty says this matter requires Commander Shen's approval. I wonder if Commander Shen could do me the favor?

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang immediately turned his gaze to Jiang Mengxuan's face.

Jiang Mengxuan calmly looked at the memorials on the table, a faint smile on her face.

Clearly, this attitude was tantamount to telling Shen Lang that he could make the decision himself.

However, Jiang Mengxuan prefers to keep Ye Hui under her control, which is also a kind of restraint that Ye Mo has given himself.

So Shen Lang gestured to Ye Mo, "Prime Minister Ye, may I speak to you in private?"

After Ye Mo and Shen Lang entered the outer room, Shen Lang asked directly, "Prime Minister Ye, what's wrong with you? You're putting your son into the Imperial Guard. Aren't you afraid I'll kill him?"

Ye Mo, however, remained indifferent: "My son is truly useless. If Commander Shen can discipline him properly for me, it would be a good way to temper him."

Shen Lang: "Fine, since you've put it that way, it doesn't matter."

But Prime Minister Ye, let's make this clear: don't come after me if your son shortchanges you."

Ye Mo smiled: "You can rest assured about that. You can train my son however you like."

Shen Lang smiled without saying a word. He could guess what the old fox meant. He just wanted to put his eldest son under the Empress's nose as a hostage.

You know everything.

"Report!"

A startling report suddenly came from outside the Imperial Study.

Shen Lang and Ye Mo looked at the same time and were both taken aback.

A messenger with three feathers stuck in his back rushed into the imperial study, panting heavily.

This represents an extremely urgent military situation.

So the two of them made way for the messenger.

The messenger knelt directly on one knee before Jiang Mengxuan's desk: "Your Majesty, an urgent report from Nanzhao states that Luchuan suddenly dispatched tens of thousands of troops on the tenth day of last month to launch a surprise attack on the Laoshan garrison."

The 700 soldiers of the garrison fought to the death, but were outnumbered and all perished. The Laoshan Garrison fell, and the entire area south of Yuxi was occupied by Luchuan.

Currently, the Luchuan army continues its advance into the heartland of our Great Chu Nanzhao.

The Prefect of Nanzhao, Mu Yuanying, is leading the Six Guards of Longshan and the Nanzhao army and people in a desperate resistance. We implore Your Majesty to send troops to their aid immediately!

"Luchuan?"

Jiang Mengxuan instinctively turned her gaze to Shen Lang.

Shen Lang had predicted that Luchuan would be the biggest hidden danger in the southern border of Chu, and now his prediction has come true.

Ye Mo immediately said, "Your Majesty, Nanzhao must not fall into the hands of Luchuan. We should gather our troops and launch a counterattack."

"Ah."

Jiang Mengxuan nodded, stood up and said, "If Luchuan dares to violate the borders of our Great Chu, how can our Chu Kingdom sit idly by?"

Once a large force is assembled to reinforce the area, it will inevitably recapture the Laoshan garrison and regain control of the Yuxi region. Therefore, the court officials and the emperor should be summoned immediately to discuss the deployment of troops.

"Old minister, I obey."

Ye Mo immediately accepted the order and left the palace.

After he left, Jiang Mengxuan looked at Shen Lang and said, "Shen Lang, you will participate in court affairs as well."

"I humble my position and take orders."

This time, Shen Lang did not refuse and answered very readily.

He was, after all, a government employee and a former soldier, and he didn't want to just stand by and do nothing about the foreign invasion.