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

"My Lord, what are you doing?"

"Shen Lang, the purpose of your and Jiang Mengxuan's elaborate scheme was to completely destroy me, wasn't it?"

Now you have succeeded. I have fallen for your tricks. If I hadn't been greedy for the profits from silk and hadn't implemented the policy of converting rice paddies to mulberry fields in Shu, I wouldn't be in this situation today.

You're truly ruthless, even more ruthless than Jiang Mengxuan. I admit defeat, but even if I die, I won't let you get away with this.

Since you, her son-in-law, have been the one to strategize and plot her way to the throne all these years, then I will kill you today. Once you are dead...

Everything in the Chu Kingdom will vanish like smoke, hahaha! Jiang Mengxuan alone cannot shoulder the burden of this nation!

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Chong suddenly unleashed the White Water Divine Sword. Wherever the sword energy passed, wood and stone shattered, and it pierced straight towards Shen Lang's brow.

"Innocent!"

Shen Lang's face turned cold, and he leaped into the air.

The sword energy sliced ​​through the chair he had just sat down in, shattering it into pieces.

"White Water Slash!"

Jiang Chong gripped the sword hilt with both hands and swept it horizontally, unleashing a violent sword aura that spread outwards.

"Tai Xu - Moonfall".

However, Shen Lang's movements were even faster.

In just one breath, he was already three feet away from Jiang Chong, cleverly finding an opening in the burst of sword energy and leaping in.

"Huh? You..."

bass--

Jiang Chong was shocked, never expecting Shen Lang's cultivation level to be so high.

Before he could even utter a question, Shen Lang had already drawn his dagger from behind his waist.

With a flash of cold light, the icy blade severed the tendons in Jiang Chong's hand holding the sword.

Bang...

The moment the White Water Divine Sword hit the ground, Shen Lang lightly kicked it with his heel, and the sword, like a shooting star, plunged into the wall behind him.

"Tai Xu - Wind Rift".

Shen Lang then proceeded to frantically strike Jiang Chong's chest with the dagger in his hand.

Just moments later, Shen Lang had retreated six steps away, with only a lingering shadow still hovering in front of Jiang Chong.

Jiang Chong gritted his teeth and struggled to raise his uninjured left hand to cover his chest.

However, he then realized that there was not a single wound on his chest.

"Um……"

"puff……"

Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and his body slumped to the ground, powerless.

Shen Lang sheathed his dagger and walked coldly in front of him.

"Don't worry, what I just used was a reverse blade attack. It only shattered all your ribs and meridians. It won't endanger your life."

"You! How dare you humiliate me!"

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Chong felt worse than if he were dying.

This means that even if he survives, he will be bedridden for the rest of his life.

Jiang Chong would rather die than accept such a cruel punishment.

"Shen Lang, kill me! My plot to rebel and seize the throne is an outrage against heaven and earth. You should kill me! Take my head back, and Jiang Mengxuan will be eternally grateful to you. Kill me now!"

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. After all, you are a member of the royal family. Only His Majesty can decide whether you live or die."

At this point, he squatted down and looked coldly at Jiang Chong, whose face was full of resentment.

"You are already twenty-seven years old, yet you have no descendants. It seems you have devoted all your energy to vying for the throne. What is the point of that?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chong's eyes widened: "What do you know? If you're born into an imperial family and don't fight for it, you'll be the one dying tomorrow!"

"So you think you can rest easy once you sit on that dragon throne?" Shen Lang retorted. "How many people have died for that power? Haven't you seen it all?"

Some things don't belong to you, so don't covet them. If you can be honest and upright...

If one had guarded the borders for the imperial court and harbored no disloyalty, one would not have fallen to such a state.

It's a pity you still don't understand this principle. Oh well, I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you.

Shen Lang sighed and slowly straightened up.

"Shen Lang!"

Jiang Chong called out to Shen Lang.

"Don't be smug. Don't think that just because you're currently favored, you can do whatever you want. I acknowledge that you are capable."

However, within the royal family, those with the greatest ability often met a tragic end.

Jiang Mengxuan relies on you so much now because you still have value to her. Once you lose that value...

You'll be kicked away without mercy, just like a dog.

You are merely being deceived by her beauty and false appearance, let me tell you,

Jiang Mengxuan's scheming is far more profound and terrifying than you think. She was the true mastermind behind the struggle for the throne among the seven princes.

Your fate will be far more miserable than mine, hahaha.

"Noisy!"

Shen Lang turned around and knocked Jiang Chong unconscious, finally quieting the hall down.

Looking around, all was deathly silent.

Those generals who came to pledge allegiance had already died from having their vital meridians severed by the sword energy of the White Water Divine Sword.

"Hmph, that saved me a lot of trouble later."

Shen Lang, however, paid no attention to it and instead felt "gratified" by the scene before him.

Even without Jiang Chong's actions, he would have found an opportunity to eliminate these disloyal generals from Shu.

Now it's much better, saving a lot of trouble.

"Next, it's time to deal with the remaining forces of the Prince's Mansion."

……

"Quickly, all soldiers, follow me back to the capital!"

Cao Meng spurred his horse onward, constantly urging the soldiers behind him to hurry on their way.

Cao Meng was very dissatisfied with the outcome of withdrawing his troops at Qidao, but he was concerned about Jiang Chong's safety and had no choice but to take the remaining troops back to the capital to provide reinforcements.

Just as they reached a point thirty miles outside the capital, two figures blocked their path.

"Uu——"

Cao Meng hurriedly stopped his horse and brandished his cold, sharp saw forward: "Who dares to block this general's path!"

One of them directly revealed a gold medal: "We are from the Southern Garrison Command. The King of Shu has been executed for treason. We urge you not to be so stubborn and to dismount and surrender immediately."

"What did you say!"

Cao Meng was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

"What's wrong with the prince?"

"Cao Meng, dismount and surrender at once!"

"what!!!"

Cao Meng let out a long roar, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Your Highness! This humble general will avenge you!"

After roaring, Cao Meng raised his broadsword and spurred his horse to gallop towards the two men ahead.

"Stubborn to the end, they deserve to die!"

The two Jingwei officers immediately used their movement techniques to retreat.

Cao Meng was so enraged that he lost his mind and was completely unaware of the trap ahead.

Just as he was urging his horse to give chase, his warhorse suddenly stumbled, let out a shrill neigh, and collapsed.

"Hey--"

Cao Meng leaped and used his horse's back to avoid the trap.

bang bang bang-

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and dozens of bullets pierced his body, bursting into clouds of blood mist.

"Uh~"

With a deep sigh, Cao Meng coughed up a mouthful of blood and crashed to the ground.

"Your Majesty..."

In his final moments, he raised his hand as if to grasp something, but ultimately grasped nothing before his consciousness was swiftly swallowed by darkness.

As soon as Cao Meng died, hundreds of armed soldiers appeared all around, pointing their guns at the remaining troops.

"The wicked general Cao Meng is dead. Will you surrender or not?"

"We are willing to surrender! We are willing to surrender!"

These remaining soldiers had been coerced by Cao Meng to come to his aid, and now that Cao Meng was dead, they had no will to fight. Under the threat of the Central Army soldiers, they decisively threw down their weapons and chose to surrender.