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

"Hey Ah Lang, could we postpone the formation of the navy a bit longer? I think we should focus our energy on the army right now."

The cost of building a new navy could fund the training of hundreds of thousands of guards.

Jiang Mengxuan felt that the threats from overseas were far less than those on land, so she could postpone them for the time being.

The key issue is that the cost of building the warship is painfully expensive for her.

But Shen Lang shook his head: "I know what you're thinking, Mengxuan. Do you think the navy is too expensive and far less cost-effective than the army?"

"Ah."

Jiang Mengxuan, whose thoughts had been exposed, could only respond in a low voice.

Shen Lang smiled: "Mengxuan, you don't need to worry. Naval ship construction cannot be completed overnight. It takes at least three to five years to launch a ship."

With a budget of thirty million taels of silver, the annual investment in shipbuilding would only be between several hundred and ten million taels of silver; it's not necessary to invest that much all at once.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan's expression improved considerably.

Shen Lang continued, "Moreover, controlling all the seas is equivalent to controlling the trade of all coastal countries overseas."

The State of Chu could continuously transport its surplus industrial products overseas via ocean shipping, thereby reaping substantial profits.

This could multiply the imperial court's revenue several times over, and the increase in the imperial court's revenue would inevitably lead to greater efforts in internal industrial development.

Within twenty years at most, the State of Chu will undergo earth-shattering changes.

"And those traditional and conservative families, seeing the enormous profits of maritime trade, would certainly be willing to negotiate with the court to get a share of the pie."

"At that time, Mengxuan could then reasonably propose conditions to allow them to voluntarily offer up their land, which could then be redistributed to farmers at the grassroots level."

"In this way, the court, aristocratic families, and commoners will all receive their due benefits and will only support Chu's industrial development plan more."

"The resulting alliance of interests will be unbreakable. Those conservative restoration forces that want to stop the changes in Chu will only suffer extremely strong backlash and will be completely insignificant."

Listening to Shen Lang's vision of a bright future for maritime power, Jiang Mengxuan felt her heart pounding with excitement.

If anyone else had said these words to her, Jiang Mengxuan would have thought it was just an ideal.

But she knew that everything Shen Lang said would inevitably come true in the near future.

“Ah Lang”.

"Ok?"

Jiang Mengxuan called out softly, her bright eyes sparkling with gentle light.

"Our wedding is in a few days, according to the royal rites of the Great Chu Dynasty."

From tomorrow until the three days before our wedding, the couple must not see each other.

After today, you will be leaving the palace.

"I understand, I will leave the palace in a while."

"No, I mean, Ah Lang, you really won't run away again, right?"

Jiang Mengxuan stared blankly at Shen Lang.

"You know, the longer I spend with you, the more afraid I am of losing you..."

"Relax, now that I, Shen Lang, have decided to marry you and walk hand in hand with you..."

Naturally, I wouldn't break my promise. Three days later, I will enter the palace on time to marry you and participate in the grand ceremony.

After speaking, Shen Lang stood up and gave Jiang Mengxuan a gentle smile.

Hearing Shen Lang's promise, the weight that had been hanging over Jiang Mengxuan's heart finally lifted.

"Then I'll go back first."

"Well, I'll wait for you."

Only after Shen Lang left the palace did she put away her dazed expression and regain a semblance of imperial demeanor.

"I can't let anyone ruin my relationship with Ah Lang. Anyone who is detrimental to us must be eliminated."

Thinking of this, Jiang Mengxuan stood up and called out, "Qingwen, go to Tianxiang Tower for me and give them a message."

Qingwen immediately asked, "May I ask what message Your Majesty wishes to convey?"

"Come closer."

After Jiang Mengxuan whispered something in her ear, Qingwen immediately obeyed: "Yes, this servant will do it right away."

……

Inside Tianxiang Tower, Shu Yingwen sat on the edge of the bed, gazing absently at the bright sunshine outside the window.

When the news came that Shen Lang was going to marry the Empress, he completely broke down.

At this point, he finally understood that the Empress Dowager had long since given up on him and Shuyue, and that he was ultimately just an insignificant pawn in her hands.

When news of Shu Yue's death arrived, he didn't blame the Empress. After all, it was Shu Yue who was bewitched by the Empress Dowager and harmed Jiang Mengxuan. Giving her a dignified death was already an act of leniency.

But he also knew that with Shu Yue's death, his last hope of becoming the emperor's son-in-law had completely vanished.

These days, he was just numbing himself, venting all his resentment and frustration on Wu Li.

Shu Yingwen felt no affection for Wu Li whatsoever; the torment of unfulfilled desire made her feel like she was dying every time.

But in order to escape the tragic reality, he was willing to let himself sink into depravity, even if only for a short time.

"What's wrong? You look so sullen. Are you still daydreaming about your position as the emperor's son-in-law?"

A cold, detached voice snapped Shu Yingwen out of her reverie.

Looking back, this famous Wu Kingdom Empress, though nearly eighty years old, was still so charming and captivating.

"What does it mean by not speaking?"

Wu Li sat at the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and looked at Shu Yingwen with disdain.

"If you still can't give up at this point, you should know that you were never meant to be the emperor's son-in-law from the very beginning. It was all just wishful thinking on your part."

Wu Li's words directly dispelled the deepest fears hidden in my heart.

Even knowing that all of this is true, I don't want to face it at this time.

"What do you know? Do you know my heart for Her Majesty? That autumn, I met Her Majesty on the streets of Jiangnan. At that time, I vowed to cherish her with my whole life and to give my life for her without hesitation!"

After hearing Shu Yingwen's words, Wu Li indeed smiled foolishly.

"An encounter? You call that an encounter? Shu Yingwen, you're so naive, so naive that you've even fooled yourself."

"If I'm not mistaken, back then, when Empress Jiang was still a princess, you happened to be standing on the street and bumped into her, right?"

"You and she didn't exchange a single word, so what kind of encounter is that!"

Shu Yingwen's face flushed instantly, but she still argued, "But my feelings for Her Majesty are genuine, and I am truly willing to give my life for her!"

"Hahaha."

Wu Li suddenly laughed, a laugh that was absolutely radiant.

"Pay with your life? Do you deserve it?"

Wu Li's face darkened.

"Be realistic. What right do you have to say such arrogant things? Do you think that a sincere heart can win the Empress's approval?"

How naive! What the Empress needs is a perfect husband who can help her secure her throne and who only has eyes for her.

And you, do you have the ability to help her secure this empire? No, you don't have that ability; your ability is only self-pity.

It's good for nothing else.

"Shut up! I'm not that kind of person! Don't say another word!"

Shu Yingwen trembled uncontrollably; Wu Li's words truly struck a chord with her.

Did I say something wrong?

Wu Li crossed her arms and looked at Shu Yingwen with a mocking expression.

"Besides satisfying women's desires in bed, do you have any other skills?"

"Do you have the ability to ease the tension between the Empress and the court?"

"Do you have the ability to lead the army of Nanzhao and expand the territory for the Empress?"

"Do you have the ability to reclaim Guanzhong and bring Chang'an back into the hands of the imperial court?"

"No, you don't have those abilities, you don't!"

As she spoke, Wu Li's eyes nearly reddened.

"You are just like the mediocre and incompetent sons-in-law of all dynasties. You can neither share the burden for the Empress nor even control your own destiny."

"The most valuable quality in a person is self-awareness, but you have never been able to recognize your own position and always think you are extraordinary. There are far too many people like you in the world."

Shu Yingwen covered her ears and shook her head repeatedly.

"Please stop talking, please stop talking."

"Hahaha, what a complete waste of space, just like my husband back then!"

He watched as I was tortured and abused by those Wu soldiers sent to the Song camp, yet he didn't even have the courage to stand up and stop it!

Wu Li seemed to be touched by something, and her nose tingled as a tear fell.

“If he had even half of Shen Lang’s abilities back then, I wouldn’t have ended up like this! You’re all the same, just useless people who live for your own benefit.”

"Shut up! I told you to stop talking! Did you hear me?!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Shu Yingwen roared and rushed in front of Wu Li, shoving her to the ground.

"Stop talking, please stop talking, please stop talking!"

"Hahaha, the way you get so angry and embarrassed is really laughable."

"what!"

Shu Yingwen roared and pressed down on Wu Li.

"Hahaha."

Soon, passionate sounds echoed from Tianxiang Tower once again...