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

While Jiang Shangxian was engaging in a passionate interaction with hundreds of Luchuan soldiers, Shen Lang had already taken the opportunity to use his intelligence gathering capabilities to roughly map out the entire terrain of Laoshan.

"Three rivers, two lakes, and high terrain—only this plain below is suitable for cavalry assaults."

However, the plain is surrounded by natural mountains, forming a natural basin.

If the Luchuan army were to guard the key passes, just a few hundred men could tie down an army of tens of thousands.

Once war breaks out, we must bypass the enemy lines at all costs.

Only by recapturing Laoshan Garrison and gaining a strategic advantage can we deliver a decisive blow.

Shen Lang silently analyzed the current terrain, as calm as a machine.

Wars often require consideration of multiple objective factors, and cannot be won solely by some idealistic slogan of fearlessness.

He recorded all the key points in a notebook he carried with him, and circled the important targets that needed his attention.

After everything was done, Shen Lang found that the female slaves were still standing there, looking bewildered, as if they had resigned themselves to their fate.

He gave them a cold glance and silently put the notebook back into his pocket.

He will not help those who cannot save themselves, especially if he has important duties to attend to.

This is the conclusion Shen Lang has drawn from his more than ten years of military service; though harsh, it is true.

Back then, he almost lost his life because he was too soft-hearted to help save a child during a mission.

Right now, he has no energy to think about anything else; all he can think about is how to win this battle.

Before she left, Jiang Mengxuan promised her that if she could successfully repel the invasion of Luchuan and protect the territory of Nanzhao, she would be rewarded with five thousand taels of gold upon returning to the court.

Shen Lang would never pass up money that was offered to him, adhering to the fine tradition that he would die if he didn't earn it.

"I wonder how that fat guy is doing. I hope he wasn't too ruthless."

Thinking of Jiang Shangxian, Shen Lang ignored the attempts to appease the Nanzhao female slaves and used his lightness technique to disappear into the distance.

At this moment, the valley was filled with the corpses of Luchuan soldiers.

Jiang Shangxian, covered in blood, still swung his golden mace at the Luchuan soldiers, letting out a defiant roar.

"You scared me to death!"

"I'm so scared I peed myself!"

"I'm so scared I'm trembling!"

"I'm so scared I can't muster any strength!"

With each roar, the Luchuan soldiers trembled uncontrollably, their faces filled with terror.

The current situation is that Jiang Shangxian has cornered them in a dead end, and anyone who tries to break out will be taken away by him with a single blow.

"Spare me, spare me—"

"Do not--"

You scared me to death!

Faced with a desperate pleading soldier from Luchuan, Jiang Shangxian stepped forward and smacked him on the head, instantly sending him to meet Buddha.

The remaining thirty-odd Luchuan soldiers were parched and terrified, with nowhere left to retreat. They could only keep shrinking back, silently praying that the madman would be exhausted soon.

That's terrifying! Hammer's basic attack critical hit completely overturned their understanding.

He thought he was the hunter, but in the blink of an eye, he became the prey.

The current situation is that over a hundred people in Luchuan are surrounded by Jiang Shangxian alone, and the situation is extremely critical.

Throughout the entire process, all you could see was a fat man shuttling back and forth across the battlefield, as if he were a white-robed scholar, unleashing a series of fluid and powerful combos that left no one able to withstand even a single move from him.

But after wiping out seventy people in a row, Jiang Shangxian was indeed exhausted, and he was panting heavily with his hands on his knees.

"good chance."

Upon seeing this, the remaining soldiers were overjoyed and rushed towards Jiang Shangxian.

"Don't come any closer! I'm a coward, I'm trembling with fear!"

Jiang Shangxian was so frightened that he immediately raised his golden mace and prepared to continue the fierce battle, howling like a ghost.

However, these remaining Luchuan soldiers did not dare to get within three feet of him. Instead, they bypassed him from both sides and ran frantically out of the valley.

jingle--

Suddenly, the clear sound of wind chimes echoed through the valley.

"Tai Xu - Riding the Wind".

His movements were as fast as lightning, and his attacks were ruthless and precise.

In the blink of an eye, ten Luchuan soldiers who had just stepped out of the valley were instantly killed.

Upon seeing Shen Lang, Jiang Shangxian's tense nerves finally relaxed: "Brother, you've finally arrived! You've really tricked me so badly that I've lost all sense of shame!"

Shen Lang ignored Jiang Shangxian's complaints. The dagger in his hand flashed with a deadly cold light in the void like the Grim Reaper's scythe, reaping the lives of the Luchuan soldiers.

Just a dozen breaths later, as a drop of blood silently slid down the tip of the dagger, twenty more corpses lay at his feet.

After sheathing his sword, Shen Lang smiled and walked towards Jiang Shangxian: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"What do you say?"

He was very dissatisfied with Shen Lang's scheme.

This guy actually dared to trick me; it's outrageous!

All along, I've only ever tricked others, but this time I've really suffered at the hands of this old man!

"Listen carefully, after we return to the capital in triumph, I will take half of the reward His Majesty promised you."

You must find me a few more maids who can play musical instruments and sing, otherwise I will never forgive you.

"Have you no shame? A prince like you dares to fight with a beast of burden for a pittance?"

"You call five thousand taels of gold a pittance? My annual salary, including my title and all the income from the royal palace, is no more than ten thousand taels of silver."

You just casually threw out five thousand taels of gold, that's a whopping sixty thousand taels!

That's more money than many people earn in a lifetime! That amount could buy you a year's worth of fun at Shuyu Tower!

"Alright, let's talk about it later. It's not safe here right now. Let's go back to camp and discuss this issue then."

"Hmph, this is infuriating! Being your brother is the worst luck I've ever had. When we get back to the palace, I'll definitely ask His Majesty for an extra reward."

Despite his complaints, Jiang Shangxian followed Shen Lang's advice and quickly left the empty valley with him.

"By the way, what about those women I rescued? I want to go and comfort them personally, and use my heart to soothe their physical and mental wounds."

"Have some shame, Your Highness. If you really can't take it, just go back to Nanzhao and find a brothel. Even if it costs you some money, it's better than doing this."

"If I had money, would I need to do this? Why don't you lend me some first, and I'll make it up to you when I get back to the capital?"

"roll."

Shen Lang really didn't want to deal with this guy anymore, so he left a comment and walked ahead.

Jiang Shangxian hurriedly followed, giving Shen Lang a mysterious smile as he watched his retreating figure.

"I wonder how things are going in the palace, Your Majesty. Don't worry, your uncle is keeping an eye on him."

Shen Lang's health won't deteriorate. On our wedding day, I'll definitely tie him to your bed and enjoy him while he's still clean."

At this moment, inside Ganquan Palace...

"Hmm, little puppy, you're really capable. You've made my back ache from all that running around."

"Look, your waist is getting stronger and stronger. It really fascinates me. I want to swallow it whole."

"Hang in there a little longer, no slacking off."

Inside the Empress Dowager's bedroom, Shu Yingwen, her face flushed, lay on the ground doing sit-ups under Ji Yuxi's direction.

Ji Yuxi, on the other hand, leaned gracefully against the bedside, holding a feather fan, and watched his performance with a smile on her face.

Until Ji Yuxi smiled charmingly: "Alright, my little dog, I know you're tired, take a rest."

"Huh, huh..."

Shu Yingwen felt as if she had been granted a pardon and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily from exhaustion.

Upon seeing this, Ji Yuxi stood up, walked over to him, lifted her skirt to reveal a patch of snow-white skin, and slowly squatted down.

Then the feather fan gently brushed against Shu Yingwen's exposed abdominal muscles, causing the man to feel an unbearable itch.

At this moment, Shu Yingwen blushed and let the Empress Dowager do as she pleased, having completely become an obedient puppy.

"Your Majesty, this humble student..."

"Shh, don't talk."

Ji Yuxi gently traced her fingers across his chest, then lay down beside him, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Have I suffered any injustice as my dog?"

"To be able to serve the Empress Dowager is a blessing I earned in my past life."

"Hmm, you're getting better and better at sweet talk. I love hearing such sweet words."

"Empress Dowager...I..."

"What do you want to say?"

"Your Majesty, you...you are so beautiful, I want...I want..."

"What do you want, hmm?"

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, Your Majesty, to have intercourse with you..."

"How dare you! You even covet your own mother-in-law! Aren't you afraid of being executed along with your entire family?"

Ji Yuxi suddenly smiled and got up to return to the bedside.

Under Shu Yingwen's shocked gaze, she slowly dipped her jade feet into a golden basin and shook it nervously.

"Alright, I'll give you a chance. Drink my foot bath water, and I'll consider granting your wish, you little dog. Come on, drink it."

Upon hearing this, Shu Yingwen's eyes lit up, and she immediately scurried to Ji Yuxi's feet.

Without saying a word, he buried his head in the foot bath.

Seeing this, Ji Yuxi couldn't help but giggle.

"I was just joking with you, you actually drank it? Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore, my little dog, get up quickly, I'm heartbroken."

"No, I am truly content and willing to drink the Empress Dowager's foot bath water."

"Hehehe, you really know how to make me happy. Alright, it's getting late. Put your clothes on and go home. I'll come find you another day."

Shu Yingwen quickly dressed himself, feeling dejected, and then bowed to Ji Yuxi, saying, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave now."

Ji Yuxi put down her feather fan, lazily climbed out of bed, walked to Shu Yingwen, took his hand, and gently comforted him.

"Don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise to you. The position of the Emperor's son-in-law of Great Chu will surely fall to you."

As long as you're willing to be my obedient little puppy and don't have any rebellious thoughts, I will grant you all your wishes.

But if you dare betray me, I have plenty of ways to make you and your family wish you were dead, understand?

Shu Yingwen was filled with trepidation: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will be your dog for life and dare not have any other thoughts."

Ji Yuxi chuckled and lightly tapped his chin with her jade-like finger.

"That's right, good boy, my little puppy. Come serve me again in a few days. Your singing is quite good."

Shu Yingwen nodded vigorously, not daring to resist in the slightest.

After spending these days together, he realized just how terrifying the Empress Dowager's power truly was; it was an unimaginably strong force.

After Shu Yingwen left, Ji Yuxi slowly returned to the bed, stretched comfortably, and drifted off to sleep.

At this moment, a figure in the shadows recorded the entire scene on a jade tablet, and then quickly left Ganquan Palace...

Inside a dilapidated house in Jinling City, Jiang Mengxuan coldly watched the ugly scene of Ji Yuxi and Shu Yingwen captured in the memory stone.

The man in black stood respectfully to the side, without saying a word.

After a long while, the Empress put away the communication jade tablet and looked at the man in black.

"Besides you, who else knows about this?"

"Your Majesty, everything was done as you instructed, and no one knows anything about it."

"That's good. Go in peace. I will take good care of your family."

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

The next moment, the man in black felt a flash of cold light before his eyes and a slight chill on his forehead.

The last thing I saw was the Empress pointing her jade finger at me from afar.

"Your Majesty, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, the man in black collapsed inside the imperial study.

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done this, but this matter concerns the royal family's reputation. If even a little bit gets out, I will be implicated."

You were the palace spy left to me by the late emperor. I should have given you a decent life, but the things you did behind his back make it impossible for me to trust you.

Don't blame me; blame yourself for getting involved with the Northern army.

After speaking, Jiang Mengxuan flicked her phoenix sleeves and quickly disappeared into the night.