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

How can I explain myself in order to save myself?

As a member of the royal family, Jiang Lan pondered for a moment before devising a plan: "Tonight, I will present the heads of these two men to the Emperor. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Xiangling and Pan Shijun almost fainted.

Only then did they fully realize that from the moment they became pawns, their fate was no longer in their own hands.

Just as the two were about to cry out and beg for mercy, their mouths were quickly covered by Jingwei Si from behind.

"Hehe, King Xiang is really joking. How could you kill someone? Her Majesty is pregnant, and bloodshed in the palace is an ominous sign."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang smiled and shook his head. After picking up his teacup and saying something ambiguous, the inner room fell into an eerie silence once again.

Jiang Lan immediately became anxious: "Your Majesty, please give me a hint, what should I do to appease His Majesty's anger?"

Shen Lang glanced at Xiang Ling and Pan Shijun, then asked, "Your Highness, both of them just stated very clearly that everything was orchestrated by the Princess Consort behind the scenes."

"But Your Highness only wants to deal with two insignificant pawns and then cover this up. There's no way I can bring it up with His Majesty, is that not true?"

Jiang Lan frowned: "Does His Majesty mean that the Princess Consort must take responsibility? But she..."

She didn't really care about Changsun Ying; the key issue was that she couldn't afford to offend the Changsun family in Guanzhong.

If he were to execute Changsun Ying, it would provoke a backlash from the Changsun family and even the entire powerful clans, which a mere Prince of Xiang would be unable to withstand.

Seeing that Jiang Lan was hesitant, Shen Lang took out the evidence submitted by Pan Shijun, which showed that powerful families in Guanzhong were plotting a rebellion.

"Your Highness, take a look. This was presented to His Majesty by your Princess through Pan Shijun."

Jiang Lan was puzzled and picked up the indictment to take a look.

Upon seeing this, he was so shocked that he jumped up from his seat.

"This this……"

Cold sweat instantly soaked Jiang Lan's back.

Shen Lang's expression turned cold: "Your Highness, you'd better think carefully. Regardless of whether the contents of the memorial are true or false..."

"If His Majesty truly believes it, do you think your Prince Xiang's mansion alone can bear such an honor?"

These words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, completely shattering Jiang Lan's spirits, causing her to slump into her chair.

A blank sheet of paper reporting a rebellion by powerful clans in Guanzhong, once circulated, will cause unprecedented turmoil.

Even if the imperial court eventually succeeds in suppressing the powerful clans in Guanzhong, who should bear the responsibility for the culprits of this turmoil?

It's not the Prince of Xiang's mansion that has to bear the burden!

At that time, even being a commoner will be a luxury.

Only now did he realize how terrifying his wife's thoughts were; she was practically putting him and the entire Prince Xiang's mansion on the fire.

At the same time, she was also grateful that Shen Lang had enlightened her at this crucial moment, which helped her make up her mind.

"Your Majesty, I think I know what to do."

Jiang Lan understood that even if she was unwilling, she had to get rid of Changsun Ying, otherwise she would not be able to give the Empress an explanation.

Shen Lang smiled slightly: "Since Your Highness has made a decision, then I will not say anything more. By the way, you can take these two servants with you."

"Yes."

Jiang Lan bowed and got up to leave.

"and many more."

Shen Lang seemed to have thought of something and called out to Jiang Lan again.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

"During Her Majesty's pregnancy, bleeding is considered inauspicious, and she does not wish for any unlucky events to occur in the palace, do you understand?"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am well-versed in etiquette."

After watching Jiang Lan, Xiang Ling, and Pan Shijun leave, Shen Lang picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"You've got your hands on my wife? You really don't know what death means."

……

Jiang Lan returned to the palace with a gloomy expression. Just as she stepped into the palace gate, Changsun Ying, dressed in new makeup, was about to leave.

The thought of this woman's vicious heart, which almost brought disaster to the entire palace, made Jiang Lan's face grow even more unpleasant.

Changsun Ying seemed oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere emanating from Jiang Lan, and respectfully bowed to him: "Your Highness, you're back? What did His Majesty summon you to discuss?"

Jiang Lan clenched her fists, then shouted, "Someone, close the palace doors!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two guards from the Prince's Palace immediately closed the door to the main hall.

Changsun Ying's expression changed: "Your Highness, what are you doing? Why are you closing the palace gates in broad daylight!"

"You bitch!"

Enraged, Jiang Lan raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

Changsun Ying was caught off guard and was slapped to the ground.

As she fell to the ground, her anger flared up instantly: "Your Highness! Why did you hit me!"

"Why did I hit you? Don't you know?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Ying was immediately delighted: seeing Jiang Lan's out-of-control state, it must be that the Empress's innocence had been ruined by Pan Shijun. If that were the case, it would be understandable.

So she covered her face and put on a pitiful look: "Your Highness, what have I done wrong to make you so angry? Even if you want to hit me, shouldn't you have a reason?"

Jiang Lan's face was horribly dark: "An excuse, is that it? Fine, I'll give it to you! Bring it here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Shijun and Xiangling, covered in injuries, were brought before Changsun Ying.

Upon seeing this, Changsun Ying's heart tightened: "Your Highness, what are these two doing here? Why have they become like this?"

"Changsun Ying, we have been husband and wife for many years, and I believe I have done nothing to wrong you, but what have you done?"

"Your Highness, please make your point clear!"

A faint sense of unease arose in Changsun Ying's heart.

Jiang Lan said angrily, "Last night, after our banquet, those two actually went to the artificial hill outside His Majesty's palace to do illicit things, and were caught red-handed by the imperial guards!"

Changsun Ying immediately blurted out, "Impossible, last night they..."

The next moment, she realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly covered her mouth.

Jiang Lan sneered upon seeing this: "Well, it seems you really know everything. You've caused me so much trouble."

Changsun Ying took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down before replying, "Your Highness, even if the two of you were engaging in illicit relations, why are you taking your anger out on me?"

"Why did I get angry at you? Hmph!"

Jiang Lan snorted coldly and looked at Pan Shijun: "You tell me!"

Pan Shijun shuddered and immediately began to kowtow.

"Your Highness, please spare me! It was the Princess who seduced that wicked person, saying that you couldn't satisfy her after marriage and that your sex life lacked romance."

That's why they came to me. Actually, I've been with the Princess for two months already.

"Pan Shijun! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Changsun Ying immediately became furious and shouted loudly.

"When did I ever associate with someone like you?!"

She never expected that Pan Shijun would use such a thing to frame her.

Pan Shijun forced a smile and replied, "Your Highness, the truth has been revealed. You must save me. You were the one who said..."

After I find a chance to poison the prince, you will be in charge of the Xiang Prince's mansion, and then we can be together day and night, never to be apart again.

You can't just abandon me now.

Changsun Ying panicked immediately: "No, he's lying! I haven't done anything to betray the Prince's Mansion! Pan Shijun, why are you framing me?"

Pan Shijun lowered his head and said, "Your Highness, now that things have come to this, just accept it. Do you remember last time? You held my precious child so tightly, you couldn't put it down."

They said I had a unique and exceptional skill, and that I was incredibly good in bed, giving you unprecedented pleasure. Now that something's happened, you can't deny it.

"you you……"

Changsun Ying's chest heaved with anger, and she almost couldn't catch her breath.

"You wretch, what else do you have to say!"

Jiang Lan's forehead veins throbbed as she glared at Changsun Ying with extreme resentment.

In order to give Shen Lang a satisfactory explanation, Jiang Lan simply hardened her heart and turned herself into a living turtle.