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

"Changsun Ying, as the mistress of the Xiang Prince's mansion, has had an affair with a servant, bringing shame to the royal family. Effective immediately, she is stripped of her title as Princess Consort, and the request of Xiang Prince Jiang Lan to divorce her is granted."

"The servants Xiangling and Pan Shijun committed adultery in the Prince's residence, a crime that cannot be forgiven. However, considering that Your Majesty is pregnant and it is not advisable for blood to be drawn, they are hereby summoned back to Xiangyang and given a cup of poisoned wine to preserve their bodies intact."

The Empress's decree was issued quickly, and the "Madam's Adultery Case" of the Prince of Xiang's Mansion finally had a satisfactory resolution.

At this moment, in the inner courtyard of Shuixuan Residence, Shen Lang and Jiang Mengxuan were feeding the fish in the pond.

Watching the carp frolicking and fighting for food, Jiang Mengxuan had a bright smile on her face.

In the palace corridor, Changsun Yang had been kneeling since morning, and even though he knew that Changsun Ying had been abandoned by the Prince's Mansion, he had no intention of leaving.

As the head of a powerful family in Guanzhong, no matter how much he loved Changsun Ying, his biggest concern was still the family's status.

Since Changsun Ying has already met with misfortune, there is no other way but to abandon her ruthlessly. He cannot let the entire Changsun family be dragged down with her for the sake of such a shameless daughter.

He must gain the Empress's forgiveness.

"Ah Lang, I've troubled you again this time."

After throwing all the bait into the pond, Jiang Mengxuan looked at Shen Lang with affection.

Shen Lang poured the entire can of bait into the pond, and watching the carp thrashing about, he smiled and replied, "It's alright, it's what I should do."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled slightly: "A Lang, why do you think there are always people who want to ruin other people's happy lives?"

They're clearly in the wrong, yet they try to shift the blame onto others, ultimately ending up pleasing no one. What are they trying to achieve?

"What they seek is nothing more than fame and fortune, and the obsession with not being able to obtain them."

Shen Lang took her hand and slowly walked into the house.

"The human heart is the most unpredictable thing. The more unattainable something is, the more people envy it. This applies to things like good feelings, money, and power."

Jiang Mengxuan sighed softly, gently stroking her lower abdomen: "Why bother? Aren't they good enough to live their own lives? Why do they have to snatch things that don't belong to them?"

I just hope that our child won't have those kinds of worries after they're born.

"Don't worry, it won't happen."

Shen Lang replied with great certainty.

"After our child is born, he will definitely live in a harmonious environment, free from these worldly disturbances."

Jiang Mengxuan gripped Shen Lang's hand tightly, tightening her grip slightly: "Ah Lang, it's really good to have you by my side."

"me too."

Shen Lang gently touched his forehead to hers, and they chuckled softly to each other.

"Alright, you go back and rest first. The head of the Changsun family must be anxious. I'll go and comfort him."

"Okay, I'll go back to my room now."

After watching Jiang Mengxuan return to her room, Shen Lang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again.

At this moment, the tenderness and affection in his eyes had vanished, replaced by the deep and cold demeanor befitting a regent.

Stepping into the corridor, passing by the already teetering Changsun Yang, I slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"Alright, come with me."

Changsun Yang seemed to wake from a dream. He was about to bow to Shen Lang when he saw that Shen Lang had already walked far away, so he hurriedly followed him.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Shen Lang had just taken his seat when Changsun Yang immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is all due to my lax discipline that such a serious incident has occurred. I only beg Your Majesty not to implicate my Changsun family because of this."

Shen Lang ignored him, simply taking the bowl of chilled plum juice handed to him by the guard and casually saying, "Send a bowl to Lord Changsun as well, lest he get heatstroke in this hot weather."

"Yes."

The guard immediately brought a bowl of plum juice to Changsun Yang.

"Thank you, Regent!"

He took the plum juice with trembling hands, just about to take a sip.

"Let's sit down and talk; there has to be a solution."

"Yes."

These words made Changsun Yang breathe a sigh of relief, and he then got up and sat down to the side.

Shen Lang finished a bowl of plum juice and went straight to the point: "What do you plan to do about your daughter's matter?"

"Please give your instructions, Your Majesty, and I will do as you say."

"That's your daughter, not mine. How can I make decisions for you?"

Shen Lang asked a question in return, and then took a bowl of plum juice.

"Do you know? His Majesty was so angry that he almost had a miscarriage because of it..."

Changsun Yang was startled and hurriedly asked, "How is His Majesty now?"

"What, are you hoping something will happen to His Majesty?"

"No, no, no, I dare not!"

Changsun Yang hurriedly denied it.

"I never expected things to develop to this point, and I am truly ashamed."

Shen Lang: "The matter has already happened and been resolved. What's the point of talking about it now?"

However, since this was caused by your Changsun family, compensation is necessary. As for how to compensate, that depends on your Changsun family's sincerity.

Changsun Yang immediately put down the plum juice in his hand, stood up and cupped his hands: "Regent, please give your instructions. What kind of compensation do you want me to make to please His Majesty?"

"You should take a look at this first."

Shen Lang threw the list of Guanzhong noble families plotting rebellion, which Pan Shijun had sent, directly into Changsun Yang's hands.

"This was found in your daughter's luggage. What do you suggest we do with it?"

Changsun Yang glanced around and was immediately terrified. He knelt on the ground, sobbing, "Regent! I swear on my life..."

The powerful clans of Guanzhong have absolutely no reason to disrespect the imperial court; they have no reason to oppose it!

"So, was everything on this list just something your daughter wrote for fun?!"

Shen Lang retorted sharply.

"Lord Changsun, some things can't be judged by shouting! Whether it's true or false, the Jingwei Division can find out with a simple investigation. You really don't want the Jingwei Division to lay evidence in your hands, do you?"

Changsun Yang was trembling uncontrollably.

If he was previously troubled by how to preserve the reputation of the Changsun family, now he has to consider where to properly bury his entire clan.

At this moment, he truly hated Changsun Ying, blaming himself for spoiling her far too much.

Is it even possible to write something like this?

Whether true or false, it's tantamount to giving the royal family a pretext.

She's pushing the Changsun family, and even the entire Guanzhong gentry, to their doom!

"Your Highness, please show the Changsun family a way out!"

Shen Lang glanced at him and immediately let out a soft snort.

They're all shrewd people; they made a decision quickly.

However, he had long wanted to take this opportunity to suppress a group of powerful clans in Guanzhong. If they continued to act lawlessly, the people of Guanzhong would not be able to enjoy the benefits brought by the new policies.

Now that Changsun Ying has presented this opportunity to us, we should take advantage of it.

This is a high-level strategy: directly turning a personal matter into a matter of official business to gain the greatest political benefit.

"Lord Changsun, we've known each other for many years. I still remember your generosity in sending three million shi of military rations."

"I am a sentimental person, and naturally I cannot bear to see your Changsun family suffer misfortune. Since you have put it this way, then I will be frank with you."

Shen Lang got up and walked up to him.

"The powerful clans of Guanzhong own far too much land, so much that the common people can no longer survive. I will make them give it all back."

In return, I will personally send people to instruct them on matters concerning the factory.

If you don't want to set up a factory, then go into business; the trade routes to Southeast Asia are already open.

Before long, the entire ocean will be filled with the ships of our Great Chu.

They earn far more from maritime trade than from land trade.

Let's do a good deed for the people of Guanzhong, what do you think?

Changsun Yang let out a long sigh: "Thank you, Regent!"