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

"Your Majesty, why are you here?"

"Why can't I come?"

Jiang Mengxuan smiled and stepped forward, pointing to the package on Shen Lang's shoulder.

"What, planning to run away again?"

"No, I'm just packing up some things I don't need anymore."

"Still pretending."

Jiang Mengxuan stepped forward and took the package off his shoulder.

"Ah Lang, thank goodness I sensed something was wrong and came in time. If I had been any later, would my fiancé have been separated from me?"

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Shen Lang's wrist.

The red thread that connects you to your destined marriage is still there, and that conspicuous spot of the guardian yang mark is still intact.

Jiang Mengxuan gently stroked the back of his hand, her eyes full of tenderness.

When he let go, the storage ring containing gold on Shen Lang's fingertip silently fell into the Empress's hands.

Once you cut off his money, let's see how he escapes.

Shen Lang hadn't yet figured out the reason, but he was genuinely uncomfortable being so close to the Empress: "Your Majesty, you..."

“I told you, when no one is around, I call you A Lang, and you call me Meng Xuan. The person standing in front of you right now is not an empress, but your fiancée.”

These words touched Shen Lang's heart.

“Mengxuan…”

"Yes, Ah Lang."

Jiang Mengxuan gently took Shen Lang's arm and pressed her cheek against the back of his hand.

"Today is Girls' Day, do you know what that means?"

"Ah."

"Then would you like to come with me to the temple fair? I really want to spend a real Girls' Festival with my sweetheart, you won't refuse, right?"

"Okay, I'll accompany you."

Upon receiving the reply, Jiang Mengxuan's face lit up with a radiant smile.

"Let's go then, Ah Lang. You know the capital better than I do. I'll do whatever you say today."

After saying that, Jiang Mengxuan, unusually, revealed the demeanor of a pampered wife, and pulled Shen Lang along as they walked towards the door.

……

The real start of the Girls' Festival is when the lanterns are lit.

On this day, daughters from all walks of life, even women from ordinary families, can participate.

Of course, it wasn't just the women who participated; there were also cultured scholars, street vendors, laborers struggling to make a living, and farmers toiling in the fields.

All men who are pursuing a partner can also use this day to look for their ideal woman.

Pursuing a partner is a basic human instinct, regardless of social status; everyone has the right to do so.

However, on this day, some discordant scenes inevitably occur in certain places.

"Straighten your backs, don't embarrass me, understand? Today we're going to the city, and I'll cover all the expenses!"

"Understood, Chief Jia!"

Ye Hui changed into a set of brocade clothes and led his brothers into the city to begin his show-off journey.

During this western expedition, he achieved numerous military exploits. Through various connections, he has essentially secured a position as a company commander, even if it's just a minor one, after the military reforms.

As the saying goes, "A happy occasion makes one feel refreshed," and Ye Hui, who once served as the governor of Jingzhou, naturally understood the importance of getting closer to his subordinates at such times.

So, taking advantage of the Daughter's Day, I decided to treat my brothers to a nice meal.

"Old Ye, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Seeing his arrogant demeanor, Deputy Captain Wu Jie couldn't help but complain.

Why do I always feel like you don't fit in with us? You seem like you're from a wealthy family.

Ye Hui's identity was kept strictly confidential because of Ye Mo's instructions, and apart from Shen Lang, no one else in the military knew about it.

However, the air of a wealthy family that Ye Hui had cultivated since childhood could not be concealed no matter how hard he tried, so it's no wonder that Wu Jie had doubts about it.

Upon hearing this, Ye Hui had already prepared his reply: "Of course it's different. I, Ye Hui, am destined to be a superior person. How could you ordinary mortals possibly fathom my existence?"

Alright, enough talk. Just enjoy yourselves today, but remember, military rules are strict, so don't break them!

"Commander Jia is mighty!"

Amidst the cheers of his subordinates, Ye Hui's vanity was once again satisfied.

To avoid running into acquaintances and having his identity exposed, Ye Hui deliberately led his subordinates towards the civilian city area.

Few people here know you, greatly reducing the chance of being exposed.

Just as the group passed by a bustling tavern, intending to go in and enjoy a meal, a discordant voice rang out beside them.

"Kill this bastard who cheated on his wife!"

"Hit him! Kill him!"

Across from the tavern, a group of strong young men, wielding sticks, cornered a disheveled youth and began to attack him.

But the young man was no pushover either, and he fought back fiercely, wielding a stick as well.

However, two fists are no match for four hands, and soon he had many bruises on his body.

Ye Hui took a closer look, and his pupils immediately contracted.

Isn't that my second younger brother, Ye Ding?

Judging from this, he probably realized he'd been caught red-handed cheating on his wife.

"Get out of my way!"

Ye Ding shouted and struggled through the crowd, running into a dark alley.

"Don't run! Stop!"

The group of young men who had caught him in adultery were not about to let him get away with it, and they immediately gave chase.

Ye Hui hurriedly said to the others, "You guys go into the restaurant and order some food first. I'll go to the restroom and be right back."

After saying that, without waiting for Wu Jie's reply, he followed him into the dark alley.

Inside the dark alley, the sounds of fighting rose up. After a brief struggle, Ye Ding was quickly surrounded and grappled with by several people again.

Upon seeing this, Ye Hui immediately rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward: "Second brother, is that you?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ding felt as if he had found a lifeline: "Big brother? Big brother! Quickly save me!"

At this moment, the two brothers were ten steps apart.

Ye Hui was extremely anxious and hurriedly said, "Second brother, hold on! Big brother is coming to save you."

"I'll beat you to death, you adulterer!"

The young men kept punching and kicking Ye Ding, completely unaware of Ye Hui behind them.

In an instant, Ye Hui was beaten black and blue, repeatedly shouting, "Big brother, save me!"

"Second brother, hang in there! Big brother is coming to save you!"

At this moment, the two brothers were fifteen steps apart.

"You dare call for help? I'd like to see who comes to your rescue. Beat them, beat them hard!"

Fists, kicks, and sticks rained down on Ye Ding once again.

Forced into a curled-up position, Ye Ding covered his head and shouted, "Big brother, can you hurry up? I'm about to be beaten to a pulp!"

"Second brother, hang in there! Big brother is coming!"

At this moment, the two brothers were twenty paces apart.

"Fight! At worst, it'll be a life for a life. You still have the energy to shout, huh? I'll tear your mouth apart and see if you can still shout!"

The able-bodied men fought even more fiercely.

"Big brother...save...me..."

Ye Ding's voice grew weaker and weaker.

"Second brother, hang in there, your big brother is here."

At this moment, the two brothers were at opposite ends of the alley, one at the entrance and the other at the end of a dead end.

Finally, when Ye Ding was beaten to the point of near death, the young men were also exhausted and stopped fighting.

"You're lucky this time. But if you ever try to seduce someone's wife again, it won't be so easy. Got it? Let's go!"

The leading burly man waved his hand, and everyone spat at Ye Ding before swaggering away.

"Second brother, hang in there, your big brother is here. Are you alright?"

At this moment, Ye Hui finally arrived "late," helping Ye Ding up with a face full of concern.

"Big brother, you're really mine, my good big brother, I'm so damn grateful to you..."

"Don't say anything more. Look at you, you've been beaten so badly your own mother wouldn't recognize you. It's really pitiful."

"Blood is indeed thicker than water..."

Ye Ding uttered a sentence and then fainted on the spot.

"Second brother, hang in there! Big brother will take you to see a doctor. You must be alright."

With a look of "heartache," Ye Hui dragged Ye Ding by one leg, stumbling and bumping along the way to the clinic in the city.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

Leaving aside Ye Hui's situation for the moment, let's focus on the outside of Shuyu Tower. A graceful and elegant noblewoman with a face that could shame the moon and flowers, led a group of servants and barged into the hall with a frosty expression.

However, upon seeing the woman, no one in the hall showed any amazement. Instead, they all looked terrified, quickly leaving their seats and moving aside. Some even ran away on the spot.

Because this woman was Chu Wanrou, the first wife of Prince Jing, Jiang Shangxian.

Upon learning of Chu Wanrou's arrival, everyone at Shuyulou was immediately on high alert and rushed to stop her.

“Princess Jing, you cannot go in. The Prince said he is not here.”

"Get out of my way!"

"Princess Consort Jing, please! The Prince said he really isn't here. Please look for him elsewhere!"

"If you dare to obstruct me again, I'll have His Majesty seal off this filthy place, believe it or not!"

With a deep sigh, Chu Wanrou flicked the ribbon in her hand through the air, creating a loud popping sound that made people's eardrums ache.

Seeing this, the pimps and guards no longer dared to stop her, and could only watch as Princess Jing walked towards the second-floor hall.

"That fat bastard has become increasingly lawless while I was away. He dares to come to a godforsaken place on his very first day back in Beijing. I'll break his legs when I get back!"