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

"Forget it, I don't care about such superficial things at all."

Shen Lang smiled as he lay down on the bed, squinting as he spoke.

"Let's try to complete the Ministry of Revenue's tax revenue plan before the end of the year, and after the Customs Office is established, let Lin Yu take over the position."

The establishment of the new army and the operation of the factories really can't do without me right now. I shouldn't waste my energy on these mundane things; I should focus more on military matters.

Shen Lang laughed as he quoted the bald man's famous saying, without the slightest hint of shame.

Jiang Mengxuan lay down beside him, turned to her side and said, "Can't you help me again? I feel most at ease with you in charge of the Ministry of Revenue."

Shen Lang shook his head: "Let Lin Yu and the others worry about these troublesome things. I just want to resolve the current issues as soon as possible."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled, turned around and took a peeled lychee from the side of the coffee table, and personally fed it to Shen Lang.

Before Shen Lang could even chew, Jiang Mengxuan launched a counterattack and silenced him with a kiss.

The couple then shared the lychee together.

This proactive offensive inevitably elicited a reaction from Shen Lang.

He suppressed the urge to push Jiang Mengxuan down right now and tried his best to clear his mind.

After a tender moment, the two reluctantly parted their lips.

Jiang Mengxuan saw a glittering thread appear in the air, and her jade-like cheeks flushed instantly.

Even though they are married, she is still easily shy about intimate matters.

After composing herself, Jiang Mengxuan continued to talk to Shen Lang about the situation in the Wu Kingdom.

"The state of Wu is in a state of utter chaos. The Jingwei Bureau reports that the exorbitant taxes and levies in various regions are countless, and some prefectures and counties have even been collecting them for twenty years to come."

The people are mostly poor; they're lucky if they have enough to eat and don't starve. Ah Lang, when can we send troops to rescue them?

"No rush, let them keep making a fuss."

"Ok?"

Shen Lang's words puzzled Jiang Mengxuan.

Shen Lang said, "The powerful clans of Wu are far too greedy."

If these people are allowed to remain, even if we were to conquer the Wu kingdom later, we would face many troubles.”

Jiang Mengxuan pondered for a moment, then nodded: "What you said makes sense, but how do we get rid of these powerful families?"

Shen Lang's eyes turned cold: "By using the bandits of Wu to slaughter the aristocratic families, if Great Chu wants to turn Wu into its own territory, those aristocratic families must not be allowed to survive."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan hesitated. She opened her mouth to say something to Shen Lang, but didn't know how to start.

"Xuan'er, I know what you're thinking."

Shen Lang gently took her hand.

"Are you worried that while those powerful families are being eliminated, ordinary people will suffer undeservedly?"

"Ah."

Jiang Mengxuan nodded, without denying it.

“Ah Lang, I can be ruthless to the powerful families, and I can be ruthless to those who are my enemies, but the people of Wu are truly innocent. Do we really have to do this?”

"Xuan'er, there's nothing we can do about it. With imperial power and dominance, it's always the innocent people who suffer. But as the Emperor of Chu..."

Our primary concern is always the survival of the people of Chu. Wu is not yet part of our great Chu territory. We send them three million shi of grain without any demands.

That's already more than enough. What you should be considering is how to appease the newly arrived citizens after the war ends.

That way, if there are any shortcomings, I can take the blame for you. As for reputation, I don't care.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan was deeply moved, and she understood what Shen Lang meant by those words.

In layman's terms: You just need to be a benevolent, filial, loyal, and righteous king in the eyes of the people; as for the other dirty tricks and scandals, I'll take care of them for you.

Is this really her husband?

Why is he able to consider his own interests so thoroughly in every situation?

"Xuan'er, why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"No, I was just thinking, what good fortune did I accumulate in my past life to be able to meet such a wonderful man like you by my side?"

"You're overthinking things again."

Shen Lang gently stroked Jiang Mengxuan's nose, his heart and eyes filled with tenderness.

Don't think about anything else, I'll hold the sky up for you even if it falls.

Jiang Mengxuan suddenly grabbed Shen Lang's hand and said with a worried expression.

"Ah Lang, I'm so afraid that none of this is real, I'm really, really afraid. If one day I suddenly make you unhappy, will you suddenly disappear?"

"I just told you not to overthink things, why are you doing this again?"

"I'm just so afraid of losing you."

Shen Lang was speechless; this woman's thoughts were really hard to guess.

Just as he was about to offer a few words of comfort, Mu Qingqiu's voice rang out from outside the palace.

"Junior Sister, Zheng Bisheng has something to report. He wants to see Shen Lang."

……

"Your Majesty, please spare me this once!"

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I don't want those family fortunes anymore. I only ask to be a commoner!"

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!"

Inside the imperial prison, it was dark and gloomy, and everywhere one could hear cries of injustice and pleas for mercy.

With a gloomy face, Shen Lang slowly walked towards the innermost cell of the imperial prison, led by the jailer.

He ignored the hands reaching out from both sides of the prison cell's iron bars.

Upon entering the innermost iron cell, what came into view was an old man with white hair, a hunched back, and a foul stench, huddled in a corner wearing handcuffs and shackles.

In just a few months, Zheng Bisheng had been tortured to the point of exhaustion, which shows that his days in prison had not been easy.

Shen Lang sat down at the table with a blank expression.

The jailer beside him hurriedly shouted to Zheng Bisheng, "The Duke of Zhenguo has arrived! Why aren't you welcoming him?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Bisheng, who had been completely listless, immediately turned his head to look over.

Upon recognizing Shen Lang, he immediately crawled excitedly toward him, repeatedly shouting, "You have shown me great mercy, Zhenguo Gong!"

The jailer reacted quickly and kicked him to the ground.

"How dare you! You dare to be so insolent in front of the Duke of Zhenguo? You're asking for trouble!"

"stop!"

With a deep shout, Shen Lang interrupted the jailer's violence.

The jailer immediately stood respectfully beside Shen Lang, his face full of flattery.

"You go out first."

"Yes, Your Excellency will be waiting outside the door. Please feel free to give any instructions, Your Excellency."

After saying that, he carefully left the cell.

The moment the heavy prison door closed, Shen Lang flicked his clothes and asked directly, "Speak, what do you want to do with me?"

Zheng Bisheng knelt before Shen Lang and bowed, saying, "This sinful subject dares to beg the Duke of Zhenguo to show mercy and spare the lives of this sinful subject and my son."

"what……"

Shen Lang couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this.

Then he coldly uttered two words:

"reason."

He had no intention of wasting his breath on such a useless person, and his meaning was concise and clear.

Zheng Bisheng replied, "This sinner still possesses a colossal piece of evidence of a crime. I wonder if it could be exchanged for the lives of this sinner and my son?"

"What evidence is it?"

Zheng Bisheng suddenly raised his head.

"Evidence of the rebellion of Jiang Chong, the King of Shu."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang immediately got up to leave.

“Lord Zhenguo, Jiang Chong’s influence in Shu far exceeds everything you know.”

Shen Lang immediately pulled his raised foot back and turned to look at Zheng Bisheng.

Zheng Bisheng said, "Jiang Chong colluded with the Western Xia to wreak havoc in the Heluo region, and had already secretly been in contact with the Weizang region."

The imperial court nominally knew that there were 300,000 soldiers in Shu, but in reality, the true number of his troops was 700,000.

Furthermore, they have bribed 100,000 cavalrymen of the Ü-Tsang region with a large sum of money, waiting only for the opportune moment to launch a rebellion!

Shen Lang frowned before sitting back down at the table.

"Do you have any concrete evidence to support your claims?"

"In the old Suzhou house, on the fourth glazed tile above the Buddha statue in the inner courtyard, lies the secret of the Shu King's interactions with foreign tribes over the years."

And there is evidence of recruitment; not only that, but the officials and soldiers in many parts of the northern border have already become the King of Shu's men. If you don't believe me, the Duke of Zhenguo can immediately send someone to retrieve it.

"You'll know for sure when you see it."

Shen Lang fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he stood up and said, "If what you say is true, I can consider discussing with His Majesty to spare you and your son from the death penalty. But if it is false, you know the consequences."

Zheng Bisheng gave a bitter smile: "Even a disgraced official has fallen to such a state. As the saying goes, it's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death."

Is there any need to deceive the Duke of Zhenguo anymore? I only wish to live the rest of my life as a commoner.