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

"Hey brother, you're finally back! Hehehe, this trip really scared me!"

I heard you returned to the palace yesterday, and I wanted to come see you, but I thought about how tired you must have been on your journey, so I refrained from doing so.

After entering the palace, Jiang Shangxian talked to himself while glancing around the hall from time to time.

Finally, when he saw a wooden box filled with gold placed in front of the low table on the viewing platform, his eyes widened and he grinned like an idiot.

Shen Lang smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm afraid your visit to see me is not just to inquire about my well-being. Please feel free to speak your mind."

"You're being too polite with your words."

As Jiang Shangxian spoke, he twisted his plump body and sat down directly in front of the gold, picking up a gold ingot and examining it carefully.

"Oh my, brother, you're going to strike it rich now! Look at this gold, it's so shiny it's practically pecking at your eyes, it's absolutely despicable."

He put one of the gold ingots to his mouth and took a big bite.

"Mmm, sweet, definitely real gold."

Then he glanced at the wooden box on the low table, and when he saw the receipt for one thousand two taels on it, his eyes burned even more.

Shen Lang walked over and sat down in front of him, quickly closed the wooden box containing the silver notes, held it in his arms, and asked, "What is it, Your Highness? Please speak freely."

Jiang Shangxian narrowed his eyes, which were neither fully open nor closed, and replied with a smile, "There are a few things I wanted to tell you about."

Then he grabbed one of his legs, changed his posture, and sat cross-legged facing Shen Lang: "The first thing is that the manors in Wu have been settled. There are a total of nine hundred manors, each housing more than a thousand people."

The imperial court only needed to provide funding once to control the disaster. The situation in Wu is now stable, and the Ministry of Personnel has urgently dispatched a large number of officials to the region. At this rate, within three years, the hearts of the people of Wu will be completely won over by our Great Chu.

Shen Lang: "This is a good thing. However, although the operation of the manor can stabilize the order, it is only a transitional method that is chosen out of necessity. In the end, it will still return to the street economy."

“That’s natural.” Jiang Shangxian nodded. “The Six Ministries highly praised your proposal and have already suggested building a railway to the Wu region.”

"Is there anything else?" Shen Lang placed the wooden box back on the table. "The manor's management model began to be implemented several months ago."

The expected results were already anticipated; why should His Highness personally come to explain?

Jiang Shangxian: "Then let me tell you the second thing. After learning of the fall of Wu, the Song Kingdom has completely panicked."

During your absence, the State of Song sent several envoys to negotiate.

Shen Lang: "What is there for them to negotiate with? Aren't Song and Wu sworn enemies? Do they really want to seek justice for Wu?"

"How could they dare?"

Jiang Shangxian's eyeliner was so visible when he smiled.

"You didn't see it, but when Zhou Xianwu came to see the emperor again, his face was as black as if it were covered in soot, and his attitude was much more submissive than the last time he came."

"Oh? Then they didn't say what they were going to do?"

"Them? Hahahaha..."

Jiang Shangxian laughed so hard he slapped his thigh.

"Brother, you wouldn't believe it, Zhou Xianwu actually proposed to share the Wu region with us, and even produced a map clearly marking out the territory... Tell me... have they lost their minds...? Hahaha..."

After saying that, Jiang Shangxian laughed so hard he fell to the ground.

Shen Lang almost lost his composure.

The State of Song is really daring to bring this up.

Jiang Shangxian, holding his round belly, continued, "Brother, is the Song Kingdom also about to perish?"

When I asked them why Chu wanted to share the land of Wu with them, guess what Zhou Xianwu said? He said that Chu conquered the land of Wu with the assistance of Song.

When I asked him how he assisted, Zhou Xianwu said that when my Chu state launched an attack on the Wu state, the Song state did not interfere, which was the greatest help he could receive.

Listen to that! It's such a ridiculous excuse. Not only me, but even that old fox Ye Mo couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"How can this person be so shameless? Zhou Xianwu is, after all, a respectable envoy of the Great Song Dynasty, isn't he?"

Shen Lang simply lay down on the soft carpet, turned to the side and smiled, "Do you think Zhou Xianwu is stupid? Actually, he's afraid that after our Great Chu destroys the Wu Kingdom,..."

The next target should be the State of Song. The reason for saying this is to divert the attention of the Great Chu court and prevent them from having any designs on them for the time being.

Jiang Shangxian thought for a moment and said, "If that's the case, then it's not surprising. In fact, the Song Kingdom is also in great turmoil internally."

I've heard that the Jin dynasty has recently begun reinforcing its troops in Xiangzhou Prefecture, and it seems a new round of competition between the Song and Jin dynasties is about to begin.

Shen Lang: "It's a miracle that the country has survived until now, with a foolish ruler like Zhao Ji governing it."

Previously, the Yan state mediated the conflict between the Song and Jin dynasties. Now, with the barbarians invading the borders and the Northern Yan preoccupied with its own problems, how could the Jin state possibly pass up such a good opportunity without annexing the Song state?

Jiang Shangxian: "So, does that mean the Song Kingdom is doomed this time?"

Shen Lang nodded: "Given the current situation in Zhao Ji's court, the fall of the country is only a matter of time."

"I fear that on the eve of the Song Dynasty's downfall, it might do something unexpected, so we must be mentally prepared for that."

"Don't worry about that. The intelligence network of the Northern Garrison has already infiltrated every corner of the Song Kingdom."

The Jingwei Division receives news of any disturbance immediately, allowing them to prepare countermeasures in advance.

After Jiang Shangxian finished speaking, he weighed the gold in his hand and laughed again: "Brother, to tell you the truth, with you by my side..."

"We're very practical when it comes to getting things done; the Great Chu really can't do without you."

Shen Lang narrowed his eyes: "Alright, let's get down to business. What exactly do you want from me?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shangxian looked displeased: "Didn't I just say all that? Wasn't that serious business?"

Shen Lang: "Alright, stop pretending. I know your personality too well. I can find out all this information just by checking the records at the Jingwei Division."

"Isn't it pointless for you to come to me saying all this, like bringing your own bowl to a restaurant?"

"Hehehe, you really can't hide anything from me, so I'll just tell you straight then."

Jiang Shangxian narrowed his eyes and leaned close to Shen Lang, laughing, "Brother, I have some good news for you. You're going to be a brother-in-law soon."

"Brother-in-law?" Shen Lang was somewhat confused.

Jiang Shangxian: "After my continuous efforts and meticulous cultivation over these days (actually, I was forced to pay public taxes three times a day), the princess is finally pregnant, and she is already two months along."

"Oh, Your Highness, congratulations!" Shen Lang sincerely congratulated Jiang Shangxian. "Now you have an heir, and you no longer have to worry about the royal family gossiping."

Shen Lang then realized that, according to seniority, Jiang Shangxian's child was the Empress's younger brother, so wouldn't he have to call him brother-in-law?

Does this mean I'll have a brother-in-law?

Jiang Shangxian waved his hand: "Alright, let's not talk about these formalities. Just tell me, as the brother-in-law, shouldn't you give your unborn brother-in-law a little gift?"

As he spoke, he looked at the box containing gold.

Shen Lang immediately understood: "How can you be so shameless? Asking for a gift before the child is even born? Let's talk about it after the baby is born!"

"Hehe, isn't this just to let you be happy in advance?"

"hehe."

Shen Lang smiled, then pointed to the box of gold: "Alright, you can take the gold. Your eyes haven't left the room since you came in."

Also, there are 100,000 taels of silver notes in the wooden box on the table. You can take half of it; consider it an early gift for my brother-in-law. I won't bring anything for the full moon celebration.”

"Hey bro, we knew you were a generous guy. You must be really tired and need to rest more."

I can take these gifts myself, so I won't trouble you.

After saying that, Jiang Shangxian picked up the box, grabbed a handful of silver notes and stuffed them into his pocket, then decisively got up to take his leave.

"Fatty."

Watching Jiang Shangxian's departing figure, Shen Lang couldn't help but chuckle.

Before he could take the opportunity to get a good night's sleep, Amber ran over and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived."