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

Outside Shuixuan Residence, Zhang Yanchu remained motionless, kneeling for a full two hours.

After news of Shen Lang's actions in the north reached the capital, he finally understood that Shen Lang had been using him to set a trap in court that day.

No wonder. Given the personality of this Emperor of Great Chu, who is known for his vindictiveness, he dealt with most of the powerful families involved in the Jiangnan salt case. Even Zheng Bisheng and his son went to Zijing Mountain to mine coal. How could he not refute a few words spoken to him in court?

It turns out this was all intentional.

After figuring everything out, he immediately couldn't sleep, fearing that Shen Lang would cause him trouble after returning to the court, so he tried to pull strings and make connections everywhere.

Until yesterday, when the Empress and Shen Lang actually returned to the capital, the fear within him surged to an unprecedented level.

Given Shen Lang's ruthless methods of revenge, he leaves no room for leniency when dealing with dissidents.

To prevent the tragedy of the Nine Clans Elimination Game from repeating itself in his own life, Zhang Yanchu, after much agonizing reflection, immediately knelt before Shui Xuan Residence, hoping to gain Shen Lang's forgiveness.

He has been kneeling since dawn, and two full hours have passed, yet he remains motionless.

Unfortunately, Shen Lang had no intention of seeing him at all.

At this moment, Shen Lang was sitting at his desk, processing documents sent from the Jinling Industrial Zone.

The first railway project, which took two years and eight months to complete, has finally been finished. The Ministry of Construction conducted a test run in early January, and the more than 1,700-kilometer journey from Nanjing to Lingnan now has a stable and consistent speed.

From then on, the Great Chu Dynasty fully entered the railway era.

Another document states that the keel of two main battleships at the Jinling Shipyard has begun to be assembled, and they could be launched and sea-tested as early as September.

The foundation of the navy is finally almost in place, and he looks forward to the day when the Chu Kingdom can reach for the stars and the sea.

Now, nothing makes him more gratified than these two things.

Only now, looking at the results shown in the documents, does he feel like he has returned to Earth.

After returning to the capital, Shen Lang asked Jiang Mengxuan for a few days off, temporarily putting aside the messy affairs of the court and focusing on two things.

One is the progress of technology and industry, and the other is making money.

He only glanced through the ledger and discovered that Jiang Mengxuan's gold, silver, and other valuables had ballooned to an astonishing astronomical figure.

It would not be an exaggeration to describe them as being richer than a country.

This naturally includes one's own share.

"Emperor..."

With a soft call, Amber, carrying a wooden box and followed by two eunuchs carrying a wooden chest, slowly walked up to Shen Lang.

Amber knelt respectfully on the soft carpet and carefully placed the wooden box in front of the low table where Shen Lang was sitting.

The two eunuchs behind him also put down the wooden boxes they were carrying, bowed, and stepped aside to await orders.

After entering the palace with Jiang Mengxuan, Amber's status immediately changed, and she became the Empress's personal maid, second only to Qingwen.

No need to worry about being tormented by that madwoman Jiang Yue every day, and no need to worry about going hungry.

After entering the palace, she wore fine silks and satins that she had never dared to dream of before, ate delicacies from the palace, and had a household of eunuchs and eight third-class maids at her beck and call. Her life was incredibly comfortable.

All she had to do was remain loyal to the Empress and never try to go against her wishes.

Because everything she has now was given to her by the Empress, she really doesn't want to go back to that nightmarish life she once lived.

"Your Majesty, this is a gift from His Majesty. Please accept it."

As she spoke, Amber opened the wooden box, revealing a stack of silver notes, each starting with a thousand taels of silver, totaling a full hundred thousand taels.

The two eunuchs opened the box, and an exclamation of "Wow, the Golden Legend!" immediately exploded in Shen Lang's mind.

The box was full of genuine gold ingots, each weighing ten taels. The box alone contained at least two thousand taels.

Amber: "Your Majesty, this is only one box. There are twenty more boxes placed in the courtyard."

"If Your Majesty wishes to inspect, you may do so personally. Otherwise, this servant will order the eunuchs to carry it to Your Majesty's treasury."

Shen Lang laughed and said, "Of course we need to take stock. Come on, lead the way."

He wasn't worried about giving too little; he was simply enjoying the exhilarating feeling of the golden light blinding his titanium alloy eyes.

In fact, he had seen much more money than this before, but Shen Lang only liked money that belonged to him.

After all, it gives you peace of mind when you spend money.

As the twenty chests filled with gold in the courtyard were slowly opened, a dazzling light instantly pierced through Shen Lang's titanium alloy eyes.

Under the brilliant sunlight, the gold shone with an dazzling brilliance that was impossible to look at directly, like stars fallen from the sky, shining brightly.

Shen Lang, who was standing to the side, had a subtle change in his originally calm expression.

His eyebrows began to rise and fall uncontrollably, faster and faster, like two playful little insects twitching merrily on his forehead.

This wonderful feeling is truly very comfortable.

"Your Majesty, Commander Mu requests an audience."

A guard came to report.

"Close the box and carry it to my treasury."

Shen Lang immediately hid the gold, then returned to the main hall of Shuixuan Residence with lingering satisfaction, waiting for Mu Qingqiu to come and see him.

Before long, Mu Qingqiu's hearty laughter rang out.

"Haha, kid, you've shown me what it means to be both brave and resourceful."

Mu Qingqiu entered the hall, greeted everyone with a smile, and then sat down in the guest seat.

Shen Lang raised an eyebrow and had two cups of tea brought over.

"I haven't had a chance to congratulate the Deputy Right Commander on his promotion yet."

"Haha, it's all thanks to you, kid."

Since its establishment, the Jingwei Division has expanded to several times its original size in just a few years, and the original single system is simply unable to meet the current needs of carrying out tasks for all parties.

Therefore, as early as a year ago, Shen Lang had raised the issue of reforming the Jingwei Division with Jiang Mengxuan.

That is, the Jingwei Division was divided into two, one in charge of internal affairs and the other in charge of external affairs, so that the division of labor could be clear.

However, there weren't enough suitable candidates at the time, and expanding the government office would also take time, so it wasn't implemented immediately.

However, the conditions are now ripe.

The Jingwei Division was divided into two: the North and South Garrison Divisions.

The commander-in-chief remains Jiang Shangxian.

The Northern Garrison Command was responsible for intelligence gathering, and its commander was Jiang Chaoyun, whose position was Left Commander.

As for the Right Commander, who is in charge of internal affairs and the martial arts sects, it was naturally Mu Qingqiu who took on this role.

After being enlightened by Shen Lang following the major case in Jiangnan that day, Mu Qingqiu immediately saw the situation clearly and also drew a line between herself and the sect.

Therefore, when the Zixia Sect came under the control of the imperial court, she did not feel much regret, but rather a sense of relief and ease.

Only after learning of Qingxuan Daogu's death did she privately weep and beg the Empress to personally bring her remains back to the Zixia Sect for burial.

Apart from that, she had no other burdens and could wholeheartedly assist her junior sister, the Empress, in governing the Chu Kingdom better.

"Kid, are you planning to make Zhang Yanchu keep kneeling?"

Mu Qingqiu gestured towards the palace gate with her lip.

"Just give me a word, and I'll take care of him for you. You don't need to worry about your junior sister either; she'd love for this brainless guy to die a horrible death."

Shen Lang nonchalantly picked up his teacup: "With our current status, is it really necessary for us to hold a grudge against a mere censor?"

"If he can't get through, why make him kneel outside for two hours?"

"Don't get me wrong, he chose to kneel down on his own; I didn't force him."

As he spoke, he slid the lid of the teacup and took a sip.

Mu Qingqiu smiled and said, "Alright, just rest for a few days. Seeing that you and your junior sister haven't fallen out, but are even more affectionate than before, I'm relieved."

When I first learned that my junior sister wanted to kill you, I was completely stunned. I never imagined that you two had actually orchestrated this whole scheme together.

Shen Lang smiled faintly: "As long as we trust each other completely, there is no situation that cannot be resolved."

"I really envy you two. Alright, I should go now. I still have a lot of things to deal with at the Southern Garrison."

If it's convenient for you, you'd better send a few capable junior officials to assist you as soon as possible. There are so many documents and paperwork; I can't handle them all."

After saying that, Mu Qingqiu got up and left.

Shen Lang shook his head, and just as he put down his teacup, Amber came to report again.

"Your Majesty, a man claiming to be Prince Jing is requesting an audience outside the palace gates."

(10 chapters tomorrow)