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

(Wishing everyone a happy National Day!)

The next morning, Shen Lang slowly woke up from his sleep.

Just as I was about to get up, I felt as if something was pressing down on my chest.

Its soft fragrance is delightful and refreshing.

Upon closer inspection, it was a jade-like arm as white as a lotus root.

Turning his head slightly, he saw Jiang Mengxuan nestled in his arms, fast asleep with her eyes closed, a sweet smile on her face.

A beautiful woman is captivating no matter how you look at her, let alone a sleeping beauty who is his wife.

Recalling their passionate night together, Shen Lang couldn't help but chuckle.

He carefully removed the jade-like arm from his chest, then lifted the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed.

At this moment, scratches and teeth marks were visible all over Shen Lang's chest, shoulders, and back.

These are all traces that Jiang Mengxuan left behind last night.

Recalling the events of that night, Shen Lang shook his head. When he raised his hand again, the stigma on his wrist was gone.

That night, the empress's reaction to her first sexual experience was far more intense than she had imagined.

Shen Lang knew he had been very gentle, and the whole process only took a little over an hour before he stopped picking.

I spent the rest of the night comforting her until she slowly fell asleep.

As Shen Lang got up, Jiang Mengxuan also woke up from her dream.

What I saw were the shocking scratches on the man's back, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Those were all his own masterpieces.

But I just couldn't control myself.

My husband is so fierce, I just can't control that feeling at all!

"woke up?"

Suddenly, Shen Lang's soft call interrupted Jiang Mengxuan's reverie.

Jiang Mengxuan instinctively grabbed a blanket to cover her face, not wanting him to see her shy side.

When Shen Lang turned around and saw her like that, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

He stepped forward, lifted a corner of the blanket, and gently kissed her forehead.

Jiang Mengxuan kept her eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at Shen Lang.

Shen Lang didn't point it out, but whispered in her ear, "Alright, you rest a bit more. I'll go get you some water, and you can take a hot bath later."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan immediately opened her eyes: "The maids will naturally take care of these things; you don't need to do it yourself."

Shen Lang smiled and gently lifted the tip of her nose: "My wife, from now on, we are truly husband and wife, right?"

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, but nodded shyly.

"Then it's not unreasonable for me to prepare a bath for my wife, right?"

"No need, Qingwen will do this. You don't need to do it yourself, my husband."

"It's alright. Today is special, so let's do it ourselves. Qingwen served me for so long last night, she must be a little tired."

Don't bother her. You sleep a little longer, I'll prepare a bath for you, and I'll wake you up when it's ready.

"Then, please."

Jiang Mengxuan wanted to get up, but a certain part of her body was burning with pain, making it impossible for her to move at all. She could only let Shen Lang do his work.

Shen Lang left with a gentle smile, got up, and entered the hot spring.

Jiang Mengxuan was also exhausted, and after a brief silence, she fell into a deep sleep again.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Lang gently called out in her ear, "Wife, wake up, it's time to take a bath."

Jiang Mengxuan slowly woke up, only to be met with Shen Lang's gentle eyes once again.

Can you move?

"Ah."

She tried to get up, but as soon as she moved, she felt a burning pain all over her body.

It also had a strong feeling of swelling.

Seemingly noticing Jiang Mengxuan's discomfort, Shen Lang smiled slightly and said, "How about I carry you over?"

Upon hearing this, a radiant smile immediately appeared on Jiang Mengxuan's face.

She gave him a reproachful look before whispering, "It's all your fault. I told you to be gentle last night, but you wouldn't listen..."

Just thinking about that scene made Jiang Mengxuan blush even more, so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

Last night, when emotions ran high, the intense and aggressive conflict, and the lingering feeling, were truly difficult to describe with the right words.

Even Shen Lang later broke his premarital promise and desperately wanted to turn his body over...

Fortunately, her remaining self-restraint allowed her to stop that shameful act.

But she was just a hair's breadth away from giving in.

Shen Lang cried out in his heart: I was already very careful last night, okay? I didn't dare to go all out at all, just because I was afraid of hurting you. How can you blame me?

Although it was a little rough at the end out of instinct, it was just trying to turn Jiang Mengxuan over and change the way she was turned.

But didn't I stop because of your repeated pleas and resistance, such as "Don't do this," "Please, my husband, leave me some dignity," and "I will fall into depravity"?

On the contrary, I'm covered in your scratches and teeth marks; I'm the one who's hurt, okay?

However, he didn't care about these trivial matters. He simply lifted the blanket, picked up Jiang Mengxuan, and carried her towards the bath.

As Jiang Mengxuan's body dangled in mid-air, she instinctively grabbed Shen Lang's neck and happily pressed her head against his chest.

Half an hour later...

Qingwen yawned as she entered the bridal chamber, only to find the Empress sitting in front of her dressing table, with Shen Lang quietly combing her hair behind her.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you're awake so early? It's all my fault, I thought..."

Jiang Mengxuan said, "Alright, Qingwen, you don't need to blame yourself. You all had a hard day yesterday, so go back and rest."

Shen Lang also said, "Yes, Miss Qingwen, if you are tired, you should go back and rest. I will take care of things here with His Majesty."

Seeing this harmonious scene of husband and wife working together, Qingwen was genuinely happy that the Empress had found a reliable and suitable husband.

"Then this servant will help Your Majesty tidy up the room."

As she spoke, Qingwen went to the bedside and began to tidy up her clothes and bed sheets.

I lifted the blanket and saw some bright red plum blossoms on it.

Upon seeing this, Qingwen instantly understood that it was her daughter Zhenhong, and couldn't help but smile knowingly. She naturally understood what this meant, and continued tidying the bed as if nothing had happened.

After Shen Lang carefully combed her hair, Jiang Mengxuan finally regained her composure by the dressing table.

At this time, it was already broad daylight, and the voices of palace maids could be heard one after another outside the palace.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's time for breakfast."

Several palace maids brought in breakfast and arranged it neatly on the imperial table.

After the plating was finished, Jiang Mengxuan, with Shen Lang's help, got up, feeling some pain.

Although the pain and swelling have been relieved quite a bit after taking a shower.

But since it was the first time, it was impossible to say that he was completely unharmed.

Before the imperial desk, the husband and wife sat facing each other, their eyebrows aligned.

"Qingwen, you may all leave now. I have something to say to the Emperor."

"The slaves retire."

After the group of "third wheels" left, Jiang Mengxuan immediately said to Shen Lang, "You hurt me too much. You have to feed me today."

"Very well, how could I dare disobey the lady's command?"

Without saying a word, Shen Lang immediately picked up a bowl of soup, scooped a spoonful, and handed it to Jiang Mengxuan.

The couple quietly enjoyed their tenderness, and the meal was exceptionally sweet.

After Jiang Mengxuan finished her meal and wiped her mouth, Shen Lang asked, "Xuan'er, have you been investigating the salt tax deficit and the reduction of household registrations lately?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan put down the cotton cloth and nodded: "Originally, there were some things I planned to deal with later, but when I learned about the message Liu Wu delivered, it truly opened my eyes."

Ah Lang, you tell me, these aristocratic families are already so wealthy, aren't they all rolling in money, and don't they all own thousands of acres of fertile land?

Yet they are so insatiable, even reaching into the national treasury and endangering the state; this is truly beyond my comprehension.

"In the end, it's because the imperial court gave too much power to the aristocratic families." Shen Lang peeled an egg and said slowly, "The expansion of power gave them greater ambitions, and with an unchecked institution, this situation was inevitable."

Jiang Mengxuan nodded: "Therefore, I asked Liu Wu to thoroughly investigate these two cases and make sure to put some pressure on these aristocratic families."

Shen Lang placed the peeled egg into his bowl, drizzled a spoonful of soy sauce on it, and tossed it with silver chopsticks.

"Xuan'er, why don't we have Liu Wu withdraw?"

"Huh? Ah Lang, what do you mean by that?"

Jiang Mengxuan was very puzzled.

Shen Lang smiled faintly: "If he continues to investigate, I'm afraid his life will be in danger."

The Jingwei Bureau also has relevant information on Liu Wu; he is upright, incorruptible, and hates evil, making him excellent material for investigations.

But in today's officialdom, such people are the easiest targets for manipulation and scheming.

Jiang Mengxuan: "I know what you mean, but we've already investigated this far, wouldn't it be a shame to give up like this..."

Shen Lang: "I didn't say we'd give up. Now that we've started, there's no turning back."

What I mean is, replace Liu Wu, and leave the rest of the cleanup to me.