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

"Your Majesty, these are the equipment blueprints for the food processing plant. I have already had the production line laid out in the plant, and it is expected to be ready for trial operation in three days."

"Also, here is a structural diagram of the steam spinning equipment. Two units have already been put into operation in the factory for testing, and they will be successfully running by May next year at the latest."

"In addition, these are shipyard blueprints I designed myself; these are preliminary cruiser structural drawings."

The Chu Kingdom has vast territorial waters, making it imperative to establish a powerful navy to protect its islands from foreign invasion.

"By the way, Your Majesty, these are blueprints for glassmaking, ceramic processing, and printing techniques..."

"Cement processing is on track, the second steel furnace has been put into operation, and Minsheng Factory can start trying to attract investment from the private sector..."

"Yes, Your Majesty. These are the blueprints for the fertilizer plant, as well as the nutrient ratios. This matter concerns the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, so please keep them safe."

Inside the Weiyang Palace, after meeting Jiang Mengxuan alone, Shen Lang took out more than twenty blueprints of light and heavy industrial products and explained their advantages and disadvantages in detail.

Jiang Mengxuan listened silently to Shen Lang's story, but the more she listened, the stranger it seemed.

She always felt that Shen Lang was giving his final instructions.

"Shen Lang, stop for a moment." Jiang Mengxuan quickly stopped him. "You've always been personally in charge of the specific situation of the industrial park."

I only have a superficial understanding of this matter. Even if you were to entrust it to me now, many projects have not yet been officially launched. You don't need to be so anxious, do you?

"You can tell me all about it after you return in triumph."

Shen Lang replied, "Your Majesty, on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. There are no invincible armies, nor are there ever-victorious generals."

Even if something goes wrong while I'm leading this western expedition, Your Majesty can still secure your throne with everything you have at your disposal.

Even without more advanced technology in the future, as long as we make good use of these, within twenty years...

The State of Chu can also become a nation of technology, leading this continent into an era belonging to Your Majesty.

"Shen Lang!" Jiang Mengxuan interrupted him in a deep voice, "Why are you saying such things to me?"

I will not allow anything to happen to you. You must return safely to the capital and to my side. Do you understand?

This is my imperial decree; you cannot disobey it, absolutely not!

Shen Lang was somewhat surprised by the Empress's reaction, but he still nodded and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this humble servant was merely taking precautions."

However, if I unfortunately do not return, Your Majesty, please do not worry. The industry of Great Chu has already established a certain foundation.

With a group of like-minded individuals now around His Majesty, there's no need to worry about a lack of capable officials in the court. They can be won over to counter the stubborn conservatives.

With Your Majesty's wisdom, I believe that in a few years you will be able to sweep away all opposing forces both inside and outside the court.

At that time, Your Majesty's prestige will reach an unprecedented peak, and there will be no need for this humble servant.

"As for the plans I can devise for Your Majesty, I have already done my best to formulate them. As long as we persevere, we will surely succeed."

As he spoke, he took out another memorial to the throne.

"Your Majesty, this is the first and possibly the last time I have submitted a memorial to you. It contains the national policies I have compiled."

The way to govern a country, in essence, is nothing more than the distribution of interests among the four social classes: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. As long as the distribution is done properly, all the problems we face can be easily solved.

Here are the insights I've gained over the years: as long as we consistently follow the instructions in the memorials, the revival of the Chu state is only a matter of time.

You will definitely witness a prosperous era in your lifetime. However, no policy is perfect, and even the best national policies must be implemented in accordance with the actual situation to truly benefit the country.

Jiang Mengxuan was stunned for a long time before she reached out and took the memorial handed to her by Shen Lang.

But the next moment, she threw the memorial into the brazier and watched it gradually turn to ashes.

Shen Lang frowned, but before he could speak, the Empress said in his ear, "A Lang, may I call you that?"

Shen Lang was momentarily stunned. When he looked up, he saw the Empress gazing at him with eyes full of tears, her expression tender and affectionate.

"Your Majesty, you..."

"Ah Lang, listen to me. There are no outsiders here. You are my fiancé, Jiang Mengxuan, and I am your future wife."

Don't think about my imperial status. Putting that aside, I'm just an ordinary woman with emotions and desires.

"To tell you the truth, Ah Lang, at first, I did want to use you, which is why I tried every means to keep you by my side."

Even now, I don't know if my feelings for you count as love. I only know that if I can't see you, my heart will always feel very uneasy.

"I've never felt this way before. I don't know what it means, but I just don't feel any aversion to being your wife, really..."

"Ah Lang, I know what you're afraid of. Your uncle has told me about your past."

Are you afraid that marrying into the royal family will lead to your own rise to power and eventually be turned against you by the imperial authority?

"Once I seize power, I'll simply discard you and execute you, is that right?"

"Are you worried that after we get married, I'll fall in love with another man and that you won't be able to accept it?"

"Then I can tell you definitively, Ah Lang, none of what you're worried about will ever happen. Since I, Jiang Mengxuan, have decided to marry you, I will be your woman for life."

Even if we must part ways in the end, you will always be my only man, my only husband!

"If you're afraid that your achievements will overshadow your superiors and I'll kill you, then I'll hand over military power to you. The title of commander of the new army will forever belong to you alone."

"Ah Lang, I really can't think of any other way to get you to stop being prejudiced against me. This is the best I can think of."

At this point, Jiang Mengxuan moved closer to Shen Lang.

"Ah Lang, please don't leave suddenly without a word, okay? Neither the Chu Kingdom nor I will have a clear direction without you."

Her eyes were red and she looked at Shen Lang with deep affection.

"I understood what you just said to me. You wanted to use this western expedition as an opportunity to deliberately disappear, didn't you?"

Shen Lang remained silent; that was indeed what he thought.

Because once this battle is over, the Empress's power will be firmly established and unshakeable, and it will be time for me to leave the court and the public eye.

"Ah Lang, please don't think like that, it's very unfair to me."

"Do you remember the promise we made in the palace? You told me to support you no matter what, and not to jump to conclusions before the results are in?"

I still remember the promise we made, but now, you're the one breaking it first, abandoning me like this, aren't you?

"If you really want to leave, I know I can't stop you, but I still hope you'll think it over carefully, Ah Lang."

"So far, has my fiancée ever done anything to upset you in any way?"

Shen Lang sighed softly. Indeed, at least so far, no matter what he did, Jiang Mengxuan would fully support him without the slightest doubt.

If it were any other emperor, he would probably have pushed himself out to take the blame after suppressing the civil unrest in the capital, but Jiang Mengxuan had no intention of doing so and always stood firmly on his side.

Thinking of this, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this humble servant..."

Jiang Mengxuan interrupted him before he could finish speaking: "Don't call me Your Majesty. There are no outsiders here. I am your fiancée. You can call me by my name directly."

"This humble servant dares not."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan immediately grabbed Shen Lang's left hand.

That spot of protective sand is still vivid in my mind.

She took a red rope from her waist and carefully wrapped it around Shen Lang's wrist.

Then he raised his right hand, which also had a red string hanging from it.

"This is a marriage rope I got from the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon. I heard that as long as two people in love are tied together, they will eventually live happily together no matter where they are separated."

"I had intended to tie it for you myself on our wedding day, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. It's always difficult to balance matters of state and family."

I only wish that wherever you are, Ah Lang, you will remember that in Jinling City, there is a woman longing for her husband, silently waiting for your return.

"Promise me you won't leave, okay? Open your heart, trust me this once, and trust yourself this once. You won't regret it."

Looking at Jiang Mengxuan standing in front of her with affection, she had no trace of the empress's majesty at this moment, only the heart-wrenching young girl who was worried that her lover would never return.

At this moment, Shen Lang's heart wavered.

"His Majesty……"

“I told you, don’t call me Your Majesty. You are the husband I, Jiang Mengxuan, have chosen for this lifetime, and the only man I will ever have.”

“Meng... Xuan…”

"Ah."

Hearing Shen Lang's call, Jiang Mengxuan's slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

In the instant their eyes met, only tender affection flowed between them...