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

Inside the Shuixuan Residence, Jiang Mengxuan, having finished a day's work, looked at the empty room and couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness.

"Husband..."

She was momentarily lost in thought before taking a seat at the dining table inside the hall.

This was the last place Shen Lang ate before he left. Although they had only been apart for ten days, the longing he felt for Shen Lang was even stronger than when he left before.

In the past, Shen Lang always had a clear destination when he went out, and the information would be transmitted to him through intelligence networks in various places.

But this time, there was no target, no clear method of communication, and the situation unfolded so rapidly…

Thinking about all this, Jiang Mengxuan couldn't help but panic, fearing that their brief meeting last time might be their last.

"No, my husband is such a decisive and steady person, he will definitely be alright. He, he won't abandon me."

Thinking about all this, she felt a little regretful.

She regretted not getting pregnant with Shen Lang's child. If she had a child, the family would be complete, and she wouldn't have to worry so much.

"That's strange, we've done it so many times, why haven't I gotten pregnant?"

Putting aside those strange thoughts, Jiang Mengxuan thought of the bowl of noodles Shen Lang ate before leaving.

"He probably doesn't know that I made that bowl of noodles myself, does he?"

Thinking of this, she got up and went to Shuixuanju Private Kitchen, dismissed all the cooks and palace maids, and personally cooked a bowl of noodles.

When the steaming noodles were served on the table inside the hall, Jiang Mengxuan leaned over the table and watched.

It's as if doing this makes you feel like Shen Lang is by your side.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept in.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar figure stepped into Shuixuan Residence.

Jiang Mengxuan looked up and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Ah Lang, you're back?"

The person in front of her was none other than Shen Lang, the man she had been longing for.

Shen Lang sat down at the table without saying a word, lowered his head to smell the aroma of the noodles, and couldn't help but grin.

"Ah Lang, you..."

"I want to eat your noodles, they smell so good."

After saying that, he picked up the bowl and started eating heartily.

"Slow down, I'll make more if it's not enough."

"Yes, no need, that's enough."

Soon, a bowl of noodles, soup and all, went into Shen Lang's stomach.

After finishing his meal, Shen Lang wiped his mouth and stared intently at Jiang Mengxuan.

"Why do you look at me like this?"

I want to see you one last time.

"What do you mean by that, Ah Lang?"

Jiang Mengxuan was startled upon hearing this.

Suddenly, blood gushed from Shen Lang's chest, quickly soaking through his clothes.

"Ah Lang, your injury!"

Jiang Mengxuan was shocked.

Looking up again, she saw that Shen Lang's face was gradually turning pale.

She tried to get up, but was suddenly held firmly in place by a tremendous force, making it impossible for her to rise even slightly.

Shen Lang sighed softly and walked to Jiang Mengxuan's side, reaching out to gently stroke her cheek.

"Xuan'er, you'll have to walk your own path from now on. I can't accompany you anymore."

"Ah Lang, what do you mean by that? Don't scare me."

"Xuan'er, I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your last wish. I've never regretted being your husband. I'm content to see you one last time. Now, I must go..."

After saying that, Shen Lang gave a miserable smile, and bright red liquid flowed from his seven orifices, making him look extremely terrifying.

"Ah Lang, don't go! Don't leave me!"

Jiang Mengxuan struggled to break free of her restraints and suddenly stood up.

"Ah Lang, don't go—"

In an instant, Jiang Mengxuan woke up with a scream.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"

Hearing the commotion, Qingwen rushed over immediately and whispered words of comfort to the Empress.

Jiang Mengxuan shook her head, looked at the bowl of noodles in front of her that had gone cold, and realized that it had just been a dream.

This dream felt so real.

"Your Majesty, this servant brings you a bowl of calming soup."

Qingwen noticed that Jiang Mengxuan looked very unwell, so she immediately turned around to prepare a calming soup to soothe her nerves.

The Empress, meanwhile, stared blankly at the bowl of noodle soup, lost in thought.

"Cuckoo..."

Suddenly, a gray pigeon flew in through the open window and landed directly on the table.

The moment Jiang Mengxuan saw the pigeon, she immediately grabbed it, untied the bandage from its toe, and unfolded it to take a look.

The above contains only five short words:

The Green Robe Gate applies pressure.

Instantly, a look of joy appeared on Jiang Mengxuan's face.

It's obvious without even guessing that Shen Lang was sending him a message.

Compared to the meaning behind those words, nothing could have made her feel more at ease than knowing news of Shen Lang.

"call……"

She took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, and regained her decisive demeanor before speaking to Qingwen, who had just entered the room.

"Issue my oral decree to the Imperial Guards: depart for Liuzhou at the fourth watch tomorrow."

……

The next day, at the third watch of the night, before dawn, Zhuque, dressed in a tight-fitting soft armor, strode into the Imperial Guard's training ground.

A regiment personally led by Lü Meng, along with an artillery company, was already ready.

After Zhuque revealed his identity and imperial decree to Lü Meng, he said directly, "By order of His Majesty, the Qingyi Sect is plotting rebellion and colluding with the enemy, and must be wiped out."

Lu Meng stood at attention: "I will follow the instructions of the commander."

"set off!"

Without saying much, Zhuque immediately mounted his horse.

The massive army marched towards Qingshan City.

……

Meanwhile, Shen Lang, who had infiltrated the Green Robe Sect, had been living quite comfortably these past few days.

Xue Wuying kept his promise and did not make things difficult for the people of Huo Family Village again.

However, he intensified his extortion and tyranny over the other manors and hunted down unmarried girls aged fourteen to eighteen everywhere.

Seeing that the people under the sect's rule lived worse lives than those of aristocratic families, Shen Lang felt a deep sense of sorrow.

But so many days have passed, and Xue Wuying has not mentioned a single piece of news related to himself.

On the fifteenth day, Shen Lang laid his cards on the table: "Sect Leader Xue, I've been staying at your residence for some time now. You said you could take me away from Chu territory, when will that happen?"

Xue Wuying said, "Brother Shen, don't be in a hurry. Things are very tense lately. It would be better to wait a few more days to avoid the storm."

Shen Lang's eyes turned cold: "Heh, Sect Leader Xue, you wouldn't be waiting for the imperial troops to come and arrest me, would you?"

"Brother Shen, what are you saying? How could I do such a thing?" Xue Wuying said righteously. "I can't guarantee anything else."

But he truly had no goodwill whatsoever towards the Chu court; how could he possibly conspire with them to harm you?

"Then why have you ignored me these past few days?" Shen Lang retorted.

Xue Wuying smiled and said, "Brother Shen, don't overthink it. I've actually been busy with important matters these past few days and haven't had the energy to deal with your affairs."

"It seems that Sect Leader Xue doesn't consider me one of his own and is still holding a grudge against me for kidnapping your son? In that case, I might as well leave the Green Robe Sect."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

"Brother Shen, what's the rush?"

Xue Wuying hurriedly called out to him.

"Alright, since things have come to this, there's no problem in telling Brother Shen something. Please come with me."

With that, Xue Wuying led Shen Lang toward the backyard.

After entering the backyard and passing two artificial hills, a secret passage appeared in an inconspicuous corner in front of Shen Lang.

As you descend into the dark, secret passage, you can faintly hear mournful wails, along with a strong stench of blood mixed with the aroma of various herbs being boiled.

As they approached an iron gate, the mournful sounds grew clearer and clearer.

Xue Wuying's face turned ashen: "Brother Shen, what you're about to see must not be spread. This matter is of utmost importance."

After saying that, he opened the iron gate directly.

The sight of blood and gore before his eyes caused even Shen Lang, who had experienced countless deaths, to change his expression.