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

The new calendar of the Great Chu Dynasty, the third year of Xuan Yuan, the eighth day of the fifth month, sunny.

The gates of Chang'an City were opened, and people stood on both sides of the street holding bouquets of flowers. The road was paved with yellow earth and stretched all the way to the palace gate on Zhuque Avenue.

Several prominent family heads from powerful clans in Guanzhong had been waiting eagerly outside the city gates for some time.

Suddenly, a series of steady footsteps sounded ahead.

The Imperial Guard's military bearing slowly came into view.

"coming!"

The eldest grandson, Yang, immediately straightened his clothes and stepped forward to greet them.

"Hmph, these guys are quite clever. They know that continuing to follow Xixia will only lead to their deaths, so they immediately changed course and started currying favor with you."

As Jiang Shangxian rode on his horse, wearing sunglasses, he watched Changsun Yang and the others greet him and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"Your Highness, you can't say that. Without the help of these powerful clans, how could we have entered Chang'an without losing a single soldier?"

How could Shen Lang possibly hide Li Shaohao's plan to leave Chang'an from him? It was nothing more than a scheme devised by the powerful clans led by Changsun Yang.

If the State of Chu stabilizes the Northwest, Changsun Yang's surrender of the city will greatly help the royal army to recover the old capital without bloodshed, and he will surely be richly rewarded.

However, if the Western Xia were to launch a counterattack and defeat the Chu army, Changsun Yang could still boast of his many ingenious strategies.

Either way, they're not at a loss; it's just standard practice by powerful clans.

However, Shen Lang didn't care. Whether it was a powerful clan or an aristocratic family, whether it was a conspiracy or an open scheme, only those who had guns in their hands truly had a say.

He believed in only one thing:

Bismarck's famous saying: Truth is always within the range of cannons!

As they rode their horses, they arrived before Changsun Yang and the other members of the powerful Guanzhong family who had come to greet them.

"This humble citizen, Changsun Yang, together with the powerful clans of Guanzhong and all the people of the city, respectfully welcomes the arrival of the royal army!"

The leader, Changsun Yang, shouted and bowed to Shen Lang and Jiang Shangxian.

The powerful families behind them were overjoyed and kept bowing and paying their respects to Shen Lang and Jiang Shangxian.

"Patriarch Changsun, you need not stand on ceremony. The successful recapture of Chang'an would not have been possible without your help."

"I will remember your merits and, upon returning to court, I will certainly take up an official post and report to the Emperor."

"Serving the country is the duty of us soldiers and civilians of Chu. Commander Shen's high regard for us is truly unworthy of our praise."

"I have a favor to ask, General Shen. I humbly request that you allow me to lead your horse and guide you into Chang'an City."

"Since Patriarch Changsun has said so, then I, Shen, will accept the offer without hesitation. I would be grateful if Patriarch Changsun could lead the way for my army."

"Thank you for your kindness, Marshal Shen."

Changsun Yang immediately took Shen Lang's horse and entered Chang'an City with a spirited expression.

The other powerful clans, upon witnessing this scene, all revealed expressions of envy, jealousy, and hatred. They lamented that they lacked the foresight of Changsun Yang, who had visited Luoyang immediately after its fall to the Chu army and offered three million shi of grain.

After Chang'an reverts to the Chu system, Changsun Yang will certainly be highly valued by the court, at the very least becoming a local governor.

Upon entering Chang'an, one is greeted by a deafening roar.

"The royal army has arrived!"

"Great! We're finally free from the oppression of the Hu people!"

"May the Great Chu last ten thousand years! Long live His Majesty!"

Laughter and cheers filled the air, and everyone was freely expressing their emotions.

In an instant, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, creating a rather poetic scene.

These people were naturally arranged by powerful clans in Guanzhong, but the emotional outbursts of many of them were genuine.

Because the Western Xia regime exploited the Guanzhong region to the point of exhaustion, almost all the people of Chang'an went bankrupt.

They desperately want a new regime to change their current situation.

Shen Lang calmly waved to the crowd. Even though he knew it was just a show, he wouldn't be foolish enough to expose them at this moment.

At the same time, he also noticed that most of the houses on both sides of Chang'an were dilapidated, and were basically mud-brick houses, which were not reliable at all.

The procession continued onward until they arrived at the Xia King's Palace along the dirt road.

At this time, the Xia royal palace was already deserted. Just two days before Shen Lang arrived in Chang'an, Li Shaohao led the Western Xia nobles and 60,000 Western Xia garrison troops to retreat to Xiliang overnight.

Also traveling with them were some powerful clans from Guanzhong who were loyal to the Western Xia, such as the Shangguan family, the second most powerful clan in Guanzhong after the Changsun family.

Because they left in a hurry, there were still many things left in the palace that they didn't have time to pack up and take with them, leaving the place in a mess and looking extremely chaotic.

"General Shen, Your Highness, the welcoming banquet has been set up at Piaoxiang Garden in Chang'an and will not begin until tonight. Please forgive us."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian immediately perked up: "Patriarch Changsun, I have long heard of the Qingfang in Chang'an. I wonder how this Piaoxiang Garden compares to the Qinhuai River Banquet in Jinling?"

Changsun Yang smiled and said, "Jinling is under the emperor's nose and is located in the land of fish and rice in Jiangnan, so it is naturally incomparable. However, the women of Guanzhong are open-minded, so I think they will not disappoint Your Highness."

"So good, so good!"

Jiang Shangxian rubbed his hands together excitedly.

After two months of fighting and marching, shouldn't we enjoy ourselves a bit?

Today, he is determined to make a big splash in Piaoxiangyuan.

But seeing Shen Lang's expressionless face, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"I hope it's not that bad. Ever since I got together with him, it seems my Kun'er can only be hidden away forever."

But tonight my dream should come true, I can have two women on either side, right? God, please don't play tricks on me again, just let this king have his moment of pleasure.

Shen Lang didn't care what Jiang Shangxian was thinking, but instead carefully examined the decorations of the Xia Palace.

After looking around, he couldn't help but shake his head.

There is only one sense.

vulgar!

That's really incredibly vulgar.

From my own aesthetic point of view, the high-end, grand, or solemn atmosphere of Sinology is the most suitable for my ideal Chang'an palace.

The Xia Palace before us exudes an air of nouveau riche wealth, making one's blood pressure soar.

It doesn't matter, it has to be changed sooner or later anyway.

Just then, Changsun Yang spoke up again: "Your Highness, Commander Shen, if I may be so bold as to ask, do you place great importance on a woman's chastity?"

Jiang Shangxian frowned: "Why does Patriarch Changsun ask such a question?"

Changsun Yang sighed: "To be honest, the girls arranged by Piaoxiang Garden are among the most talented in Guanzhong, but their bodies aren't exactly pure."

As you all know, the Hu people are barbaric and have no concept of tenderness or compassion for women. They'll simply force themselves on any pretty girl they see, including all the girls in Chang'an's brothels.

Those who have been chosen are not fledglings; they have long been defiled. I fear that Your Highness and Marshal Shen may harbor some grudge, and that their bodies and souls might be tainted—a responsibility I cannot bear.

That's why I asked specifically; please forgive me.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian immediately replied, "I thought it was something serious. The world is going to the dogs."

It's not easy for a young woman to be out there alone; why should we be so harsh on them, or have the audacity to mock them?

He then glanced at Shen Lang and added, "But my brother can't be like that. He's about to have a family, and we absolutely can't let him ruin his reputation at this time."

Shen Lang frowned, his eyes showing a hint of dissatisfaction as he looked at Jiang Shangxian.

Was your last sentence redundant? Does saying it or not make any difference?

You want to seduce someone, but you have to make it disgusting, right?

Damn it, are you indirectly calling me a virgin?

Damn it, you fatso!

Kun'er is destined not to appear on screen!

When Changsun Yang heard that Shen Lang was about to get married, he was taken aback.

"So, Marshal Shen has someone he likes?"

"What are you saying? My brother is so handsome, it would be strange if he didn't have someone he liked, right?"

"Sigh, that's true. How could someone as outstanding as Shen Shuai not have someone who admires him?"

Changsun Yang felt a little regretful, as he had originally intended to make Shen Lang his son-in-law.

It seems we were destined to be apart.

"Alright, Your Highness, stop with the nonsense. Let me tidy this place up and use it as a temporary command center for the Imperial Guards."

"Patriarch Changsun, please avoid meeting with too many people tonight. Keep everything simple."

You will represent the powerful clans of Guanzhong and bring Shen and the Prince to sit at the same table.

I happen to have some things I'd like to ask you.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Yang was overjoyed. The fact that he was the only one representing the powerful clans of Guanzhong at the welcoming banquet showed that Shen Lang valued him highly.

He immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Please rest assured, Your Highness and Marshal Shen, we will make sure you have a great time tonight."