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

"What are you doing? Let go! Did you hear me? Let go of me!"

"I won't let go, father-in-law. To tell you the truth, I don't like Ye Ding at all."

The reason I was willing to marry into the Ye family was actually because I was attracted by my father-in-law's ambitions and ideals.

In your daughter-in-law's heart, you are a hundred times better than Ye Ding, that womanizer.

"Just accept her as your daughter-in-law, just like that night. She doesn't want any title; she's content to stay by her father-in-law's side for the rest of her life!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Let go of me right now, do you hear me?!"

“Father-in-law, your daughter-in-law is not blaming you. You don’t need to feel guilty every day. Actually, that night, it was all my own choice.”

Qi Youruo clung tightly to Ye Mo, pouring out her heart, which made Ye Mo extremely embarrassed.

"Get out of my way!"

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Ye Mo struggled and pushed Qi Youruo to the ground.

Looking at Qi Youruo's weak and pitiful appearance, Ye Mo could only tremble as he extended his finger.

"What a tragedy, what a tragedy!"

Leaving behind a single sentence, Ye Mo turned and left the house with red eyes.

Qi Youruo was left alone in the room, heartbroken.

Ye Mo walked straight to the side room, where his deceased wife's memorial tablet was enshrined.

He silently lit an incense stick, then sat cross-legged in front of the memorial tablet.

"Zhilan, ever since you gave birth to Fan'er and left, no one has understood me or cared about me anymore."

“I worked so hard to raise my children and teach them how to be good people, but in the end, the biggest mistake I made was that of the father.”

"It's been eighteen years, and I've missed you every moment, but I know you'll never come back, never come back."

At this point, Ye Mo was already in tears.

"I'm sorry, Zhilan. I made an irreparable mistake two years ago, but she really looks so much like you."

"I couldn't control myself for a moment... I really can't forgive myself. Zhilan, tell me, what should I do now?"

"To protect the Ye family's reputation, I should have killed her, but seeing her reminded me of you."

"I really can't bring myself to do it. You know that I, Ye Mo, am not heartless, but I'm capable of anything for the sake of my family's honor."

"But I just can't bring myself to be cruel to her. Zhilan, if you are watching from heaven, please tell me what I should do."

As he spoke, Ye Mo leaned helplessly against the memorial tablet table, curled up into a ball, and drifted off to sleep.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke, Jiang Mengxuan, under the protection of the Palace Guards, led the civil and military officials toward the south gate of Jinling.

At 3:45 AM, the Empress was already standing in front of her imperial carriage, gazing into the distance.

Behind him, civil and military officials stood on either side, and in the center, a red carpet stretched from three miles outside the city gate all the way to the city government district.

Today is the day the triumphant army returned to the capital after its expedition to Nanzhao, and Jiang Mengxuan is very excited.

This was not only because the Chu army defeated Luchuan, stabilized the southern border, and stopped Luchuan's expansion.

More importantly, after several months, she was finally able to see Shen Lang again.

Since Shen Lang left Beijing, she would think of that seemingly humble but actually arrogant face whenever she had free time, and it would linger in her mind countless times in the dead of night.

She didn't know what this meant, only that she would be overjoyed to see him again.

Ye Mo stood at the head of all the officials, gazing ahead, motionless.

Behind him, the officials carefully rubbed their slightly frozen hands, wrapped their winter coats tighter, and anxiously awaited the arrival of the triumphant army.

An hour later, a thick black line suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.

As the sun rose, the dark lines became more and more distinct, and a magnificent scene of fluttering banners appeared before everyone's eyes.

Jiang Mengxuan clenched her fists, a hint of excitement appearing on her face.

They're back! My army has finally returned in triumph!

The next moment, drums and music resounded, and loud horns echoed throughout the outskirts of Nanjing.

The first thing to come into Jiang Mengxuan's view was Shen Lang riding on horseback, dressed in his signature dark brocade robes, which were quite eye-catching in the cold wind.

Behind him were the Imperial Guards standing in neat formation, and Jiang Shangxian mixed in with the crowd.

"Uu——"

Shen Lang rode his horse ten steps in front of the imperial carriage, dismounted sideways, flicked his cloak over his shoulder, and stepped forward to kneel on one knee.

"Your Majesty, I have lived up to your command. With the concerted efforts of all the generals and soldiers, we have finally recaptured Laoshan Garrison and defeated the enemy that invaded from Luchuan!"

"Shen Xuanwei, please rise immediately. Guards, bring Shen Baihu a robe. Isn't he afraid of catching a cold with such a thin body?"

Soon, Shu Yue handed Shen Lang a set of mink fur winter clothes that the Empress had prepared.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Lang did not refuse and took the imperial robe, putting it on directly.

Jiang Mengxuan simply smiled faintly at this, while Shu Yue gave Shen Lang an extremely dissatisfied look before returning to the imperial carriage without saying a word.

At this moment, Tang Zhao and Jiang Shangxian also arrived before the imperial carriage to pay their respects to the emperor.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Rise, no need for formalities."

Jiang Mengxuan glanced at the thousands of soldiers behind her. After months of fighting, they all exuded a strong sense of confidence.

Especially that Imperial Guard, their eyes and their demeanor were even more spirited than Tang Zhao's five thousand elite soldiers.

"You are all meritorious officials of my Great Chu, and I am gratified by your existence!"

With such elite troops, what fear is there of foreign invasion from our Great Chu! Today, I will hold a grand welcome for you!

As soon as Jiang Mengxuan finished speaking, more than 5,000 people shouted in unison, creating a deafening roar.

"Long live the Emperor! May the Great Chu Dynasty live ten thousand years!"

"Long live the Emperor! May the Great Chu Dynasty live ten thousand years!"

"Long live the Emperor! May the Great Chu Dynasty live ten thousand years!"

The soldiers' shouts resounded throughout the world, rising and falling in waves, instantly moving all the civil and military officials present.

After inspecting the military formation, Jiang Mengxuan turned her gaze to Shen Lang once again.

"Shen Lang!"

"The humble position is here!"

"Get on the imperial carriage and come back to the palace with me."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Shen Lang did not refuse this time because the situation was inappropriate.

After receiving the order, he boarded the imperial carriage and entered the carriage with the Empress.

This scene aroused envy, jealousy, and hatred among the civil and military officials, and at the same time, it further confirmed that the Empress's choice of husband was 300% Shen Lang.

After all, the only men who could ride in the same carriage as the Empress, besides blood relatives, were her husband (fiancé).

On the way back to Weiyang Palace, people on both sides of the road, having heard the news, had already spontaneously come to watch the army that had defeated the powerful enemy.

Flowers were thrown out from the crowd from time to time, covering the path of the expeditionary force.

For the first time, these expeditionary soldiers felt the warm support of the people, and they marched forward in neat rows with their chests straight.

Inside the spacious carriage, the Empress personally poured Shen Lang a cup of hot wine: "Shen Lang, I want to thank you. I have already read the secret letter sent by my royal uncle."

You not only commanded the army to repel the invasion of Luchuan, but also expanded the territory of our Great Chu by three hundred li to the south.

This is the first time since the founding of our dynasty that we have expanded southward. You must drink this cup of wine.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Lang took the wine glass and then drank it all in one gulp.

Jiang Mengxuan sighed softly, "It's just that you didn't want any of the credit, and gave it all to the Imperial Uncle. It's really unfair to you."

Shen Lang replied, "Your Majesty, all of this is the result of the three armies' valiant fighting. How could I, a mere servant, dare to claim such a great achievement?"

As he spoke, he removed the tiger tally of the Imperial Guard: "Now that we have returned in triumph, Your Majesty, please reclaim command of the Imperial Guard."

Jiang Mengxuan: "What are you doing? Shen Lang, if I don't hand over the Imperial Guards to you, do you expect me to command them myself?"

"Your Majesty, please take it back. I'm very nervous holding this token."

"I understand. You're still worried that I'll suspect you of having too much military power, aren't you?"

"To be honest, Your Majesty, that's exactly what I'm thinking."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan couldn't help but smile, then asked in a low voice, "Let me guess what you're going to say in court later. Are you planning to resign and leave the court again?"

Shen Lang remained silent, which was tantamount to acknowledgment.

Jiang Mengxuan was helpless in the face of this: "What do you want me to do to make you believe me? Forget about resigning."

"The trial period will be over in two months. You should marry me then. We will be one, and there will be no need for further distinction. What do you say?"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang was immediately dumbfounded.

"No, Your Majesty, you..."

"What, you intend to disobey the imperial decree? I'm in a very good mood today, Shen Lang, you'd better not spoil my enjoyment."

I must also remind you that many people in court today will impeach you.

But I will stand by your side, and no matter what, I will ensure that nothing happens to you.

Shen Lang was speechless, thinking to himself: If I had known, I should have stayed in Luchuan and continued to advance towards the Royal Palace. Even without firearms, I could have devised a new tactic using only cold weapons. Why go back to the capital so soon and make things difficult for myself?