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

After doing all that, Jiang Mengxuan was still a little incredulous that she had actually taken the initiative to kiss Shen Lang.

When she came to her senses and met Shen Lang's shocked gaze, a blush immediately appeared on her cheeks.

To cover her embarrassment, she quickly turned around, trying her best to maintain a semblance of imperial dignity.

"Shen Lang, now you should trust me, right? Are you still worried that I will harm you?"

As long as you treat me sincerely, I will naturally treat you sincerely in return.

From now on, I will share the glory and wealth of the Great Chu with you.

"I've already told you this, so... do you still need to worry?"

At this point, she mustered her courage and turned around.

Unexpectedly, Shen Lang was already standing behind him, and their eyes met again.

"you……"

Just as Jiang Mengxuan was about to speak, Shen Lang's hands were already on her shoulders, causing her delicate body to tremble.

"Your Majesty, I..."

Shen Lang's breathing became rapid, and Jiang Mengxuan saw a fire burning in his eyes.

In that instant, various ripples of images flashed through Jiang Mengxuan's mind.

What will Shen Lang do next?

Will they just kiss?

Or should I corner myself against the wall and force a kiss?

If that's the case, how should I respond?

Are they going to have such intimate contact before they're even married? Isn't that too hasty?

Should I reject him?

But he has done so much for me, wouldn't it be too hurtful to refuse him?

A jumble of random thoughts instantly filled Jiang Mengxuan's mind, and her ears began to burn.

After being kissed by Jiang Mengxuan, Shen Lang seemed to be bewitched, instinctively getting up to reciprocate with a touch of passion.

Seeing her up close, the Empress is truly stunning and breathtakingly beautiful.

After spending this time together, it's impossible not to feel something for him.

Under the influence of various emotions, Shen Lang's rational side was finally gradually suppressed.

The image deep in my mind is of Jiang Mengxuan's sweet sleeping posture when I first entered the palace.

After staring at each other for more than ten seconds, Jiang Mengxuan involuntarily took a half step back.

As she moved, Shen Lang was also pulled forward half a step, and the distance between them even shortened a bit.

As Jiang Mengxuan retreated to the corner of the imperial desk, her slender waist resting against the edge of the table, she accidentally fell backward, pulling Shen Lang down with her.

"Yeah~"

"Your Majesty, please be careful."

With a soft moan, the noble empress collapsed onto the table.

Fortunately, Shen Lang reacted quickly and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

But it also fell onto the table along with the object.

At this moment, the two were less than an inch apart, and they could feel each other's breath and even heartbeats.

At this moment, the atmosphere became even more ambiguous.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant..."

Looking down at the Empress lying close beneath him, and smelling the faint fragrance in the air, Shen Lang's consciousness began to gradually become hazy.

"Shen Lang, don't do this. What if something bad happens...? Release me immediately..."

Looking up at the man so close to her, Jiang Mengxuan's breathing became increasingly rapid, and she was completely flustered.

I wanted to say something, but when I opened my mouth, I didn't know what to say, and just babbled incoherently based on my senses.

Shen Lang felt the same way. At this moment, he found the Empress's thin, red lips particularly alluring and wanted to kiss them.

Just as the man's warm lips were about to touch hers, Jiang Mengxuan wanted to turn her face away, but she also felt a strong sense of anticipation.

"Forget it, my body and soul will belong to him sooner or later anyway. He's already sacrificed so much for me."

"Just consider it a reward for him, a kiss shouldn't be a problem."

Thinking of this, she simply stopped thinking about anything, slowly closed her phoenix eyes, and waited for Shen Lang to take away her first kiss.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Ye requests an audience."

Just then, Qingwen's voice rang out from outside the study.

She went straight into the imperial study to report, but unexpectedly witnessed this scene, which shocked her so much that her jaw almost dropped and her mind went blank on the spot.

What did she see? The aloof empress being pressed down on the imperial desk by a man?

At this moment, Shen Lang and Jiang Mengxuan, who were infatuated, immediately regained their senses and stood up to straighten their clothes.

"This servant didn't see anything."

Qingwen immediately turned around, recalling the scene she had just witnessed, and her heart raced.

Jiang Mengxuan quickly tidied her somewhat disheveled clothes and looked at Shen Lang, who was also busy, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.

Shen Lang couldn't believe that he had lost control and done something like this, almost kissing the Empress.

The consequences of such an intimate encounter would be unimaginable.

Given my situation just now, it definitely wouldn't have been as simple as just a kiss.

This can't be right. I've always been a staunch materialist and pragmatist, how could this be...?

Before he could think any further, Jiang Mengxuan said, "Let Prime Minister Ye in."

"Yes……"

"and many more……"

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Jiang Mengxuan glanced at Shen Lang, then said to Qingwen, "You didn't see anything just now, right?"

Qingwen quickly replied, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I have recently suffered from an eye ailment and could not see clearly."

"Well, let's go."

After Qingwen left, Jiang Mengxuan recalled the thrilling scene from just now, and her heart pounded.

Looking at Shen Lang again, who was standing silently to the side, I took a deep breath.

"How dare you, Shen Lang! Do you know what you just did?"

How dare you treat me like this! You are incredibly audacious!

This is the Imperial Study! How could this be allowed...?

These words were spoken without the slightest hint of blame; rather, they carried a coquettish tone typical of lovers.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. It was all my fault. I will not do it again."

What else could Shen Lang say?

You were the one who kissed me first, and I was just reacting passively, okay?

As for the two of them falling onto the table, that was also a result of your actions.

Of course, saying these things would be a death sentence. Sometimes you can't reason with women. For minor matters that don't touch on principles and are harmless, just accept it.

"If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave now?"

"No need. You may stay here. If I am not mistaken, Prime Minister Ye has come this time to discuss sending Ye Hui to the Imperial Guard."

"Oh? He actually gave it to me?" Shen Lang's interest was instantly piqued. "That Prime Minister Ye is truly ruthless."

"They actually dared to send their son to the army for training; I'd really like to know how long his son can last."

Jiang Mengxuan shook her head: "Ye Mo has always been very strict in disciplining his eldest son, which is why the Ye family has become the head of the aristocratic families."

The clan's descendants have made many minor mistakes, but so far none have caused a major one.

Shen Lang chuckled lightly: "Perhaps, this is the upbringing of a powerful minister."

At this moment, Ye Mo stepped into the Imperial Study.

"This old minister, Ye Mo, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Prime Minister Ye, please excuse the formalities and take a seat to speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Ye Mo took his seat, he said directly, "Your Majesty, regarding the distribution of war reparations for Luchuan, the Six Ministries have been studying this matter for the past few days..."

A reasonable plan has been proposed, in which 2.2 million taels of gold will be allocated to His Majesty's treasury.

The acquisition of such a large amount of gold has alleviated the strained finances of the Six Ministries; it is all thanks to His Majesty's strategic planning.

With another large sum of gold entering the vault, Jiang Mengxuan was naturally in a very good mood.

Although she already had Shen Lang's 14 million taels of gold, Jiang Mengxuan naturally had no expectations for the distribution of the remaining 9 million taels.

But receiving another two million taels of gold was also beyond her expectations.

"Minister Ye, thank you for your help during this time."

"It is all what this old minister should do. By the way, Your Majesty, my son's injuries have fully healed, and he can report to the new army at Shanglin Garden tomorrow."

I heard that the second batch of 8,000 new soldiers will be enlisting tomorrow, so I'll have my son join them too.

Jiang Mengxuan looked at Shen Lang: "Shen Lang, what do you think?"

Shen Lang replied, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders. However, I must remind Prime Minister Ye that the new army's training is extremely rigorous. What if your son cannot withstand it..."

"Commander Shen, there's no need to worry. If my son disobeys military orders, he will be dealt with according to the new army's regulations."

If my son is truly unruly and uncontrollable, Commander Shen, you may come directly to me and I will discipline him properly on your behalf.

These words were spoken with such conviction that Shen Lang truly felt Ye Mo was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Since you've said that, I will definitely take good care of your son.

In fact, everyone understands that sending Ye Hui to the army is tantamount to sending a hostage to the Empress. It is purely a means for Ye Mo to compromise with the Empress.

These things are best left unsaid; smart people don't need to spell them out.