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

Inside Shuixuan Residence, Changsun Ying knelt quietly before Jiang Mengxuan, awaiting the Empress's judgment.

For a full half hour, Jiang Mengxuan didn't say a word, but simply flipped through a book called "Royal Childcare Manual".

Kneeling alongside Changsun Ying was Changsun Yang, who was waiting in the outer corridor of the palace.

Changsun Yang never expected such an outrageous thing to happen.

This morning, while on official business at the palace, I heard that a lady from a certain prince's household had been caught having an affair with a servant, right in front of the prince himself.

He listened with a gossipy nature until he discovered that the gossip was actually his own. He was so anxious that he rushed to Shuixuan Residence to apologize without even having time to straighten his official robes.

However, Changsun Ying had already been invited into the inner palace by the Empress, leaving Changsun Ying to wait kneeling on the veranda.

This was the first time Jiang Mengxuan had observed this woman who dared to steal her husband up close.

Indeed, Changsun Ying was of superior appearance and beauty. Even after having a child, her figure remained graceful, and she gained a touch of mature beauty.

but……

Compared to myself, I'm still far behind.

How could her own husband possibly be interested in her?

After a long silence, Jiang Mengxuan took a sour jujube from Qingwen and slowly said, "Princess Xiang, you have caused such a mess, not only disgracing the royal family but also bringing shame upon your Changsun family."

"I summoned you here today to ask you your stance on this matter and how it should be resolved amicably."

Changsun Ying gave a bitter smile: "If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason. Your Majesty should know that if it weren't for the Prince of Xiang's relentless pressure, how could I have done something so disgraceful to my family?"

Jiang Mengxuan took a small bite of the sour plum: "Why would the Prince of Xiang force you? Doesn't the Princess Consort of Xiang know perfectly well what you've done?"

Changsun Ying suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at Jiang Mengxuan: "Yes, I did everything, but is it wrong for me to pursue my own happiness?"

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, focusing only on the refreshing taste of the sour plum in her mouth, and calmly looked at Changsun Ying.

"Your Majesty, do you know how much I like Shen Lang?"

I was instantly smitten when we first met in Luoyang. I thought I, Changsun Ying, had found the man I could entrust my life to.

But why did you have to interfere? If it weren't for you, Shen Lang would be living a happy life with me right now. Why are you so heartless?

Does holding a high position and wielding power give you the right to act recklessly and steal what others love? You've really gone too far!

After listening to Changsun Ying's outburst, Qingwen and Amber, who were serving the Empress, were on the verge of losing their temper and rushing forward to slap her.

This woman is incredibly audacious. Is she deliberately trying to provoke the Empress?

"Go on, I'm listening."

However, Jiang Mengxuan remained calm as still as autumn water, replying lightly before picking up a sour plum and chewing it.

These past few days she's had a particular craving for sour foods. Things that used to make her wince at the mere touch of sourness now taste incredibly delicious.

Seeing that the Empress remained unmoved, Changsun Ying became even more furious, her face turning red with anger.

"Your Majesty, I beg you, please grant me my happiness with Shen Lang. There are so many good men in the world for you to choose from, please just give Shen Lang back to me, okay?"

"If Shen Lang continues to stay by your side, his final fate will be extremely tragic, Your Majesty. Given the achievements Shen Lang has made, can you really tolerate him?"

“When a subject’s merits overshadow his ruler, he has always met a tragic end. Your Majesty, if you truly love Shen Lang, then spare him.”

"I promise you, I will treat him even better, along with the love you have for him."

At this moment, Changsun Ying's expression had become somewhat sickly, and the unwavering determination in her pupils was frightening to behold.

But Jiang Mengxuan couldn't help but yawn, feeling that everything seemed quite boring.

This puzzled Changsun Ying. She had said all that, so why did Jiang Mengxuan seem so indifferent?

Qingwen immediately brought over a bowl of refreshing soup and fed the Empress two mouthfuls.

After the Empress wiped her mouth, she slowly spoke, "So, this is your reason for planning to harm me and my husband?"

"Changsun Ying, after all these years, I think you should recognize your own identity. Shen Lang is my husband, the Emperor of Great Chu, and the irreplaceable Regent."

"And you, the mistress of the Xiang Prince's mansion, are also a princess of noble status."

"You could have lived a life of wealth and luxury, with no worries about food or clothing. Why did you choose to fight for something so unrealistic?"

"I really can't understand what you want. At least I can't see any deep affection for Shen Lang in your eyes. All I see is the obsession with something you can't have."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Ying immediately became anxious: "You're talking nonsense! I love Shen Lang, I love him very much. If it weren't for you, Shen Lang would definitely choose to be with me. It's all your fault."

Jiang Mengxuan crossed her legs slightly and calmly replied, "If I remember correctly, the time you met your husband in Luoyang was the time he volunteered to lead the army on the western expedition."

But by then my husband was already the emperor appointed by me. If we're talking about taking him away...

"It's you, Changsun Ying, who shamelessly steals my husband. Why do you sound like I'm the one who ruined your relationship with someone else?"

Changsun Ying became anxious and wanted to continue arguing, but she was silenced by Jiang Mengxuan's calm and methodical words.

"Furthermore, you have been fantasizing about what you and your husband would have done without my interference, but you have never mentioned whether your husband has any feelings for you."

"I know my husband better than you do. No one can force him to do something he doesn't like. If he's unwilling..."

Even if you put a knife to his throat, it won't work. You don't even know what kind of person your husband is, so how dare you say you love him?

“Changsun Ying, your husband is a human being, not a tool as you think. Even if you had met him before me, he still wouldn’t have chosen you.”

"Everything you've done is nothing but pointless whining and self-pity."

Changsun Ying was stunned. Jiang Mengxuan's few words shattered her inner convictions.

Jiang Mengxuan continued, "Also, you said that my husband's achievements overshadow the emperor, and that he will die at my hands sooner or later?"

Then I can tell you clearly, that day will never come. We'll wait until our children grow up and can stand on their own two feet.

Once the court is functioning smoothly, I will leave everything here with him and travel together across the land of our Great Chu. Moreover, I have already entrusted all military power to my husband.

So do you think that day will ever come? Changsun Ying, what you have isn't love at all, it's just the obsession with unrequited love.

Only I am truly willing to give everything to my husband without reservation. The foundation of a marriage has never been any vow of eternal love.

Rather, it's a tacit trust between us; I trust my husband just as he trusts me.

This is something you will never be able to understand.

Changsun Ying felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she collapsed to the ground, powerless.

At that moment, she finally realized that she had lost, lost completely.

The Empress is truly a thousand times better than me.

But how could she possibly admit defeat?

"No, I haven't lost yet. I still have the support of the powerful clans in Guanzhong."

"Once we return to Guanzhong, I will rally the powerful clans to rise up in rebellion, so that the whole world will know of my friendship with Shen Lang!"