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

"Return it to the Ministry of Justice for retrial."

Inside the Imperial Study, Jiang Mengxuan, with a cold expression, tossed the case conclusions sent by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review back to Zhu Kui.

"They dare to embezzle salt taxes, and you still dare to try to exonerate them? Minister Zhu, you are in charge of the Ministry of Justice, have you forgotten how the laws of the Great Chu case are recorded?"

Zhu Kui was so frightened that he knelt down in front of the Empress: "Your Majesty, if we really follow the laws of the Great Chu, there will be 8,000 vacancies in Jiangnan, and the local government will be unable to function at all."

Jiang Mengxuan replied expressionlessly, "What does the inability of local authorities to function have to do with your Ministry of Justice?"

"What I want to see is a satisfactory result. Are you trying to fool me with this ridiculous judgment?!"

Zhu Kui picked up the judgment from the ground with trembling hands and left the imperial study unsteadily.

He had barely left when Mu Qingqiu came to report: "Your Majesty, your husband has returned."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan excitedly dropped her pen and stood up: "What? You're back? Where are you?!"

Although they had only been apart for a little over a month, Jiang Mengxuan missed Shen Lang every moment.

Now that he's back, he's overwhelmed with emotion.

Seeing her like this, Mu Qingqiu burst out laughing: "We haven't even entered the city yet, we'll probably have to wait until tomorrow."

I never expected our aloof and elegant Empress Junior Sister to have this side to her. But then again...

Shen Lang is truly capable. He took action against those whom the entire court dared not touch. If I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that there were truly people unafraid of powerful families.

Then, she joked, "Junior sister, you don't mind if your husband has a mistress, do you?"

Why don't you consider me? That way, if you get pregnant later, I can help you cool down the baby.

Jiang Mengxuan narrowed her eyes: "Second Senior Sister, some jokes really shouldn't be made."

"Haha, I was just kidding. Stealing someone else's husband is something that is considered shameful in the martial arts world, let alone when you and I are from the same sect."

After Mu Qingqiu finished speaking, her expression turned serious.

"But seriously, what are you planning to do about Third Junior Brother's matter? This guy has been loitering around outside the capital every day lately, and he's definitely up to no good."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan's face also turned frosty.

"I am reluctant to pursue this matter out of consideration for our fellow disciples, but since he is determined to die, I will not hesitate to send him on his way."

In an instant, killing intent swept over Jiang Mengxuan.

She would not hesitate to eliminate any factor, whether subjective or objective, that dared to damage her relationship with Shen Lang.

"Sigh, how about I try to persuade him again?" Mu Qingqiu said. "If that doesn't work, I'll go back to the Zixia Sect and speak to my master in person, asking her to come and teach Xu Jingyan a lesson."

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent; she had long been utterly disappointed with the Zixia Sect.

"Second Senior Sister, you don't need to worry about this matter. I will handle it myself."

"Since you already have a plan in mind, I won't say any more. I've delivered the message, so I'll head back to the Jingwei Division to report for duty."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work, senior sister."

As soon as Mu Qingqiu left, Jiang Mengxuan immediately called out, "Qingwen, summon Imperial Censor Changsun to my study."

Before long, Changsun Yang stood respectfully before the Empress.

"Your Majesty, what urgent matter do you wish to discuss with me?"

Jiang Mengxuan crossed her legs, leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and gently stroked the edge of her nose with her slender, fair fingers.

"Imperial Censor Changsun, some time ago you recommended two martial artists from Weizang to me. Where are they now?"

Changsun Yang said, "Your Majesty, Usda and Balon are currently awaiting orders at the palace. His Majesty said that their abilities are far inferior to those of the Imperial Guard and he does not intend to employ them. Therefore, they plan to return to Weizang Kingdom in a while..."

Jiang Mengxuan opened her phoenix eyes: "Tell them to do something for me."

Changsun Yang: "May I ask, Your Majesty, what is the matter?"

Jiang Mengxuan thought for a moment and then said, "No need. Summon them to my study. It's better for me to talk to them about this myself."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go and summon them to the Imperial Study immediately."

As soon as Changsun Yang left, an undisguised murderous intent flashed in Jiang Mengxuan's eyes.

About half an hour later, two burly warriors, dressed in red monk robes and with half of their arms bare, knelt in the outer hall of the Imperial Study, led by Qingwen.

“This humble monk Usda (Baron) greets Your Majesty.”

Jiang Mengxuan stood up and turned her back to them.

"Are you truly willing to pledge your allegiance to me?"

"We are willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty!"

"Very well, tonight, I want you to kill someone."

Jiang Mengxuan paused, a cold glint appearing in her phoenix eyes.

"I've heard that your flying guillotine can take a person's head from within thirty paces as easily as taking something out of a bag. I'd very much like to see it for myself."

Balong raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the Blood Droplet is the number one hidden weapon of our Weizang, and it will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty."

"Okay, go ahead. Qingwen will tell you about tonight's target later."

"Yes."

After the two left, Jiang Mengxuan closed her eyes again.

……

As night fell, Xu Jingyan, who was lingering outside the palace gates, received a letter from Qingwen.

The letter said that he would meet me at midnight tonight on the Magpie Bridge in Jinling.

Xu Jingyan was overjoyed, thinking that his junior sister had changed her mind. He immediately rushed back to the inn to wash up and dress, determined to make a heartfelt confession to Jiang Mengxuan.

At midnight, the Magpie Bridge appears.

A woman in white stood on the bridge, holding an oil-paper umbrella, quietly gazing at the lake.

"Junior sister."

Suddenly, Xu Jingyan's excited voice came from behind.

The woman did not turn around, but said calmly, "Third Senior Brother, I am already married, so why do you insist on forcing me?"

Xu Jingyan took a few steps forward: "Junior Sister, I know this is wrong, but I really can't control myself. If I had been nicer to you when we were little, would we have..."

"Stop talking, Third Senior Brother. We're both married, and I have no romantic feelings for you. Let's just leave now."

"I do not!"

Xu Jingyan was extremely excited.

"Junior sister, please give your senior brother a chance, okay? Actually, I, I can also be a good husband."

"Senior brother, when you said that, didn't you consider what Senior Sister Chu would think?"

"I can't worry about all that, junior sister. You can't hide your love for someone. I'm truly hopelessly in love with you."

When I learned you married Shen Lang, my heart was broken. Now I realize that the person I truly loved was you, my junior sister!

"Senior brother, what you're doing is really putting me in a difficult position. I don't know what to do."

"Junior sister, give me a chance. I will prove that I am stronger and love you more than Shen Lang. Let me be your husband."

The woman fell silent.

Xu Jingyan thought she was interested, so he immediately stepped forward.

"Junior sister, promise me. I'd die for you!"

"Is that really true? You won't regret it?"

"I will never regret it!"

"Fine, then you can die in peace!"

The woman's tone suddenly changed, and she turned to look at Xu Jingyan.

Upon seeing Qingwen, Xu Jingyan was instantly stunned: "How come it's you? Where's my junior sister?"

"How dare you, a fickle man like you, dream of becoming His Majesty's consort? How could you even think of that?"

It's a pity that His Majesty repeatedly gave you chances to live, but you didn't cherish them; you truly deserve to die!

Xu Jingyan's pupils contracted, and before he could react, Qingwen suddenly sprinkled a cloud of powder, instantly blinding him.

"Ah! My eyes."

hum-

Just as Xu Jingyan's eyes were hurting, he suddenly heard the buzzing of dragonflies flapping their wings.

The moment the sound stopped, Xu Jingyan felt something pressing against the top of his head. He instinctively reached out to grab it, but a black net covered his face and neck.

"No~"

puff-

The next moment, feeling a sharp metal object pressed against his neck, Xu Jingyan let out a desperate scream.

But as Baron raised his hand in the distance, Xu Jingyan's head was severed from his body.

The headless corpse writhed and swayed on the bridge for a while before finally collapsing onto the surface, its blood quickly staining the ground red.

"You deserve to die! Who gave you the audacity to have designs on His Majesty? Humph!"

Qingwen twirled her oil-paper umbrella to block the splattering blood, then glanced at the corpse on the ground and muttered a soft remark.

A short while later, Baron and Usda, who had been hiding in the shadows, came to Qingwen.

"Miss Qingwen, the matter has been accomplished. Does His Majesty have any further instructions?"

"His Majesty has instructed you to hide in the outskirts of Jinling for a few days. Once things have calmed down, he will summon you back to the palace. Take advantage of the absence of others and leave now."

"Yes!"

Baron and Usta immediately turned and left as ordered.

Bang, bang——

Just as they stepped off the Magpie Bridge, two gunshots rang out from a rooftop a hundred paces away, piercing their foreheads.

"You two scoundrels of the martial world, who insulted a woman's chastity and turned her into a flesh lotus, how could His Majesty possibly keep you in his service?"

Fei Wei coldly put away the new sniper rifle, then blew a whistle, guiding the night patrolling Wu Hou toward the Magpie Bridge.

Seeing this, Qingwen smiled slightly and looked at the headless corpse lying on the bridge.

"His Majesty's task has been completed. Now, no one can separate His Majesty and the Duke of Zhenguo."

Qingwen quickly disappeared from the spot and returned to the palace to report to the Empress.