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

"Your Highness is so intelligent, surely you understand what I mean? Think about it again."

"No, that's impossible. I don't believe it, Shen Lang. You're framing me. Do you have any evidence?"

Jiang Chong immediately realized what Shen Lang meant and became extremely agitated.

Shen Lang chuckled lightly: "It seems you still haven't figured it out. Your mother, Empress Ji Yuxi, is dissatisfied that the late emperor didn't pass the throne to you."

Not long after Xuan'er ascended the throne, he secretly murdered two princes who had been reduced to commoners, all to damage my wife's reputation and to pave the way for your future success in usurping the throne.

But if we think about it from Xuan'er's perspective, the best way for her to stabilize her throne after ascending to the throne would be to take advantage of the new emperor's ascension.

Wouldn't granting a general amnesty, pardoning the two princes, and bestowing upon them a nominal title instead of killing them win more popular support than killing them?

Even if we were to eliminate the threat completely, it shouldn't have been done at such a sensitive time. At the very least, the throne should have been more secure before taking action.

As a result, your mother's eagerness for quick success and premature elimination of the two princes who had been living among the common people aroused my suspicion.

Even I, a newly appointed centurion in the Jingwei Division, understood this point; I refuse to believe that no one else in the court hadn't.

Guang Yemo is probably already aware of your actions, which is why he's intentionally ignoring you and your son, maintaining a constant distance.

It's because you and your son are both too greedy, and your abilities don't match your ambitions.

Jiang Chong was so shocked that he couldn't utter a single word.

Isn't Jiang Mengxuan outside the door the same?

When she first ascended the throne, she drafted an edict to pardon her two elder brothers, restore their status as members of the imperial family, and welcome them back to the capital to take care of them.

However, only three days after she ascended the throne, she received news that her two elder brothers had died from the plague.

Since Jiang Mengxuan had just ascended the throne, everyone in and out of the court coveted her power. Although she had suspicions about the deaths of her two brothers, she did not have much energy to investigate the matter.

Now, many years later, she has long forgotten about it.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Shen Lang's analysis that Ji Yuxi had orchestrated the deaths of her two elder brothers, she clenched her jade-like hand tightly.

At the same time, they were even more grateful for Shen Lang's understanding and consideration.

Once again, she felt genuinely fortunate that she had unintentionally met Shen Lang by doing something back then, and that they had eventually gotten together.

Inside the room, Jiang Chong had completely lost the confidence he had when he first met Shen Lang.

Now that the guests have taken the lead, Shen Lang has completely controlled the atmosphere inside the room.

"Your Highness, is there anything else? If not, I should head back now. Xuan'er will be worried if she doesn't see me. Farewell."

Seeing that Jiang Chong had nothing to say, Shen Lang got up to leave.

"Shen Lang, stop right there!"

Jiang Chong used his last bit of strength to call out to Shen Lang.

"Shen Lang, the Chu Kingdom has changed because of you. You are a smart man, do you know your current situation?"

"Throughout the history of the Chu Dynasty, the sons-in-law of emperors were all highly talented in literature but had only average abilities, precisely to prevent their achievements from overshadowing the emperor's."

"And you are simply too strong. Your brilliance has already surpassed that of any previous emperor's son-in-law, which no emperor would allow."

"In the end, you are just a subject. If a subject goes too far in fulfilling his duty, then your life is over. Jiang Mengxuan values ​​you now because you are still useful."

But what will happen when you're no longer of use? Will you still have a way to survive?

Shen Lang stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes, and remained silent.

Jiang Chong chuckled lightly: "Actually, I've seen it all along. Deep down, you've always been worried that what I said would come true."

Someone as intelligent as you, how could you not have thought of this? Since that's the case, take my advice.

If you want to live a long life, people like you should stay as far away from filthy places like the palace as possible.

"It's not too late to run!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan, who was outside the door, immediately prepared to rush in and tell Shen Lang that this day would never happen and that he should never believe Jiang Chong's nonsense.

Inside the room, Shen Lang remained silent until Jiang Chong finished speaking, at which point he asked, "Are you finished?"

"So the biggest difference between you and Xuan'er is this: even if the throne were in your hands, you would not be able to surpass Xuan'er's current achievements."

"In your eyes, the state of Chu is where it is today entirely because of my personal achievements, is that so?"

"If so, then your vision is shockingly narrow. Just based on your statement that your achievements overshadow your master, I am certain that you cannot tolerate anyone more capable than yourself."

"What is an emperor? Putting aside his status, he is essentially a person. As long as he is a person, he has flesh and blood, and he also has emotions and desires."

"It is impossible for one person to know everything or understand everything. There will always be areas where one is lacking that need to be filled by others."

"And so it is with emperors. Although they are human beings and rule the world, they do not have to be proficient in everything. They always need someone to assist them and make up for their shortcomings."

"And ministers exist to make up for the emperor's shortcomings. So you mean that if a minister or general makes meritorious contributions in the field, but the emperor does not, then they are all too powerful and should be eliminated as soon as possible?"

Jiang Chong was stunned, completely led by the nose by Shen Lang's phone call.

"Wrong. The key to a minister's ability lies in the environment provided by the emperor."

“If an emperor is narrow-minded, he will not tolerate the slightest power of his subjects and will be eager to get rid of them.”

"If an emperor is open-minded, he will not care about the actions of his subjects, and his actions will naturally follow the rules."

“When the same task is completed, a foolish ruler will repeatedly look for the faults of his ministers in the details of the process, and then magnify them a hundred or a thousand times to find opportunities to criticize and suppress them.”

“A wise ruler, on the other hand, only looks at the result. He doesn’t care whether the means or methods are despicable or upright. As long as the goal is achieved and it benefits him, he should reward the implementer handsomely.”

"Unfortunately, such a simple truth has become so complicated in the eyes of you self-proclaimed royal relatives."

Shen Lang turned around and gave Jiang Chong a disdainful look.

"With your personality, even if I didn't plan to convert rice paddies to mulberry fields, you would never be able to enter the Imperial Palace in your lifetime. After all, your abilities and ambitions are completely mismatched."

After saying that, Shen Lang opened the door and strode away.

"Come back, Shen Lang! You come back here! Come back... *pfft*"

Jiang Chong was overcome with anger and blood, and coughed up a mouthful of blood. In his panic, he collapsed off the bed.

"Shen Lang! Uh..."

With a cry of alarm, he fainted.

Shen Lang walked with his hands behind his back towards Shui Xuan Residence.

The matter of Jiang Chong has been understood, and now the internal troubles of Chu have been completely eliminated.

Next, we should expand outwards, implement a colonial policy, and allow the economy of the Chu state to take off completely.

“Ah Lang…”

Shen Lang, who was pondering his future plans, was abruptly interrupted by a bright red figure coming towards him.

"Xuan'er, why aren't you resting yet so late?"

Looking at Shen Lang's handsome and dashing face, she recalled everything he had said in Jiang Chong's room.

Tears could no longer be held back and streamed down her face.

Before Shen Lang could react or ask why, her alluring body had already thrown herself into his arms.

"Ah Lang, it's so good to have you here..."

Jiang Mengxuan nestled quietly in his arms, her face streaked with tears, but her heart was filled with happiness and sweetness.