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

"I'm fine. You took care of things so quickly?"

"It's just a small matter, it'll be quick. I came to see you as soon as I finished. Are you tired?"

Jiang Mengxuan smiled faintly and gently placed Shen Lang's hand on her stomach.

"To be honest, I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable with this family banquet."

"Then leave it to me, you lie down first."

As he spoke, Shen Lang put his arm around Jiang Mengxuan's slender waist, gently laid her down, and considerately covered her with a silk quilt before pulling down the bed curtains.

When Changsun Ying saw this scene at the banquet, her hand gripping the wine glass turned ashen.

Why should her man be so considerate to another woman?

That was everything that should have belonged to me.

Just as she was feeling anxious, a princess beside her smiled and said to her, "Sister, look how considerate the Regent is to His Majesty."

No wonder His Majesty is unwilling to take male concubines. With such a gentle husband, how could he possibly be interested in anyone else?

I had long heard that the Emperor and His Majesty were inseparable, their love as celestial as a pair of mandarin ducks. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I, the Princess Consort, finally believe those folk tales.

Little did she know that these words were like adding fuel to the fire for Changsun Ying, making her even more irritable.

Isn't the Empress just relying on her good looks?

I'm just as good as her!

After Pan Shijun ruins her, let's see if she still has the face to keep Shen Lang by her side.

Affectionate and loving? There's no cat in the world that doesn't steal fish.

Empress, I'll wait for you to slowly fall into depravity and watch Shen Lang return to my side.

"Gentlemen, my name is Shen Lang, and I greet you!"

After calming Jiang Mengxuan down, Shen Lang strode out from behind the screen and bowed to the others.

The movements were fluid and graceful, seemingly bold, yet they were completely respectful, giving everyone a fresh perspective and leaving a good impression.

A short while later, Jiang Lian stood up and said, "The Regent is late. How should he punish himself?"

Shen Lian smiled slightly: "It was my dereliction of duty, and I am willing to accept the punishment. Please, Prince Ling, give me the question."

"it is good!"

Jiang Lian immediately raised her wine glass.

"The Regent's abilities are already well-known among the people. The Great Chu owes its current status to the Regent's assistance."

I, too, have long wished to meet the legendary Emperor, to see if he is as the rumors suggest. I've heard that the Regent's Taixu Blade Technique is swift and agile.

"Would you do me the honor of demonstrating it once, so that we may feast our eyes?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of cheers erupted from all around.

Even now, they still harbor some resentment towards Shen Lang's commoner status.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan, who was lying on the bed, knew that this was meant to embarrass Shen Lang, and instinctively tried to get up to stop it.

But soon, Shen Lang's hearty voice rang out in the hall.

"Since the Prince of Ling has such an interest, I naturally cannot refuse you all."

However, my sword always draws blood, and since Her Majesty is pregnant, bloodshed is considered inauspicious. Only a prize can replace it.”

Jiang Lian immediately took a piece of jade pendant from her waist: "This is a treasure from Lingnan that has lasted for a thousand years..."

"Tai Xu - Seize the Sun".

Before Jiang Lian could finish speaking, she felt a gust of wind sweep across her face.

Before anyone could tell what was happening, they saw a jade pendant spinning continuously at the tip of a chopstick in Shen Lang's hand.

The hall fell silent instantly, and Jiang Lian even bobbed her Adam's apple.

He hadn't blinked at all, so he had no idea how Shen Lang had snatched the jade pendant from his hand.

If that move was meant to kill me, wouldn't that mean...?

Everyone in the hall realized this and shrank back, no longer daring to underestimate the Emperor of Great Chu.

"Your Majesty, please."

Shen Lang flicked the bamboo chopsticks in his hand and returned the jade pendant to Jiang Lian.

"Please forgive me for my rudeness earlier."

Jiang Lian came to her senses, cupped her hands, and replied, "The Regent's Taixu Sword Technique is unpredictable and beyond belief; I am convinced!"

He was truly convinced and now finally understood just how terrifying Shen Lang was, according to popular rumors. With him by her side, no one could harm the Empress in the slightest.

Of course, they didn't know that the Empress's strength was equally unfathomable.

The other princes and nobles present were also completely impressed by this move and all abandoned their underestimation of him.

Changsun Ying stared at Shen Lang with a lovesick expression, when she suddenly felt a strong urge to urinate.

"Fellow clansmen, His Majesty is pregnant and unable to entertain guests, so let me join you all in offering a toast on His Majesty's behalf."

As he spoke, Shen Lang poured himself a glass of wine, but just as he picked it up, he suddenly remembered something and said, "I have always heard that our founding emperor was incredibly magnanimous and always drank from a large bowl. Today, I will drink to my heart's content with everyone in accordance with the etiquette of the founding emperor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was so frightened that they almost fell to the ground.

Jiang Lan immediately put on a mournful face and said, "No, no, no, how can we compare ourselves to the founding emperor? Let's just forget about it."

Shen Lang: "Your Highness is mistaken. This is the etiquette of the Great Chu. All male members of the Jiang family should abide by it. I am merely a son-in-law, yet I still abide by it. Why should Your Highness refuse?"

These words immediately ignited the competitive spirit of the clansmen present.

That's right. If they're not afraid of a son-in-law, what are we, the royal family of the Jiang family, afraid of?

Men are the most vulnerable creatures to provocation.

While Jiang Lan was still hesitating, Jiang Zheng and Jiang Lian slammed their fists on the table and stood up: "Very well, the Regent is indeed worthy of being our royal emperor. Just for this spirit, I will risk my life to accompany you today!"

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Go and get a big bowl."

In an instant, the atmosphere inside the hall changed.

Hearing the commotion outside, Jiang Mengxuan, who was lying in bed, smiled and said, "I knew it, A Lang isn't one to suffer a loss..."

……

Under Shen Lang's direction, not a single prince or nobleman could walk out of this family banquet standing up.

Shen Lang drank all twenty-odd people present under the table, while he used his internal energy to quickly neutralize the effects of the alcohol, leaving only a slight flush on his face.

"Regent, I want to become sworn brothers with you... Waaah... My life is so miserable... I've fallen for a Miao girl, but she refuses to marry me... I'm so useless..."

"Also, let me tell you a secret. My nephew... he was still wetting the bed when he was eight years old. It was me, Jiang Lian... hiccup... who raised him from infancy, changing his diapers and feeding him. But this little rascal doesn't even recognize me after he leaves the palace... It's infuriating..."

Jiang Lian was so drunk that she was incoherent, and she hugged Shen Lang's leg, recounting her lost youth.

"Three peach gardens, five champions, seven qiaoqi! A pair of treasures!"

"Haha, it's your turn to drink."

Jiang Zheng, already quite drunk, jumped onto the table and chairs and started playing a drinking game with a fellow clansman.

"Mother, Mother, your son has started a family and established his career. Why did you leave us? Wouldn't you be so happy to hold your grandson?"

Jiang Lan, with tears streaming down her face, reminisced about her mother.

These members of the royal family seemed to have been bound and suppressed by various etiquettes for too long, until they regained their true nature under Shen Lang's stimulation.

The banquet lasted until evening, and it was clear that the family dinner tonight could not continue.

After seeing off the last prince, Changsun Ying suddenly walked up to Shen Lang.

"Your Majesty, it's been a long time."

"Greetings, Princess Consort of Xiang."

Changsun Ying bowed and looked at Shen Lang with deep affection.

Just as she was about to say something, a servant said, "Your Highness, the Prince has vomited. Please go back and check on him."

"I'll be there soon."

Changsun Ying replied, then looked at Shen Lang.

"Your Majesty, I'm leaving now."

"Take care, Your Highness."

Shen Lang greeted her calmly, then turned and returned to his palace at Shuixuan Residence.

Seeing that Shen Lang showed no emotion towards her, Changsun Ying felt a pang of pain in her heart.

"Shen Lang, I will make you fall in love with me, and I will make you never be able to leave me!"