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

As the war between Song and Jin reached a stalemate, in Jinling, the capital of Chu, the Zhenguo Duke's mansion was filled with powerful and aristocratic families who had "caused trouble" and had come from Guanzhong.

In order to win Shen Lian's love, Changsun Ying did not hesitate to betray the powerful clans of Guanzhong. She recorded all their private rumors that were detrimental to the court and the Empress, as well as their corruption, bribery, and embezzlement of mineral resources for huge profits, in a register, which was then handed over to the Empress by Pan Shijun.

Although Changsun Ying is now dead, the list has fallen into the hands of the Regent.

To prevent Shen Lang from using the imperial court's name to attack the powerful clans of Guanzhong, Changsun Yang sent letters in advance to the heads of those troublesome families, instructing them to clean up all the mess.

Upon receiving the letter, these clan heads did not hesitate much. They immediately and secretly dealt with all the offending clan members and decisively brought their eldest sons to the capital, hoping to hand them over to Shen Lang as hostage in exchange for the court's trust.

At this moment, these family heads sat anxiously in the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

This Duke Zhenguo Mansion was bestowed upon Shen Lang by Jiang Mengxuan when he married the Empress and was granted the title of Duke.

However, since Shen Langren lived in the palace, this Duke's mansion was practically just for show.

However, today, Shen Lang happened to use it to deal with matters in Guanzhong.

The heads of these powerful clans in Guanzhong had been waiting outside the Duke's mansion in the dark since midnight, and were not summoned into the main hall until nearly dawn.

They waited until noon, but Shen Lang still hadn't appeared.

However, the refreshing ice cream and plum wine sent by the servants of the Duke's mansion put their minds at ease a little.

These people are shrewd and can discern the intentions behind even the smallest gesture or glance.

The fact that they sent us refreshing iced drinks on such a hot day means there's room for maneuver.

At this moment, Shen Lang was not at the Duke's Mansion, but was drinking and eating with Jiang Shangxian in a private room reserved at Zhiya Garden.

"Come on, brother, let's have a drink."

"Come."

Shen Lang picked up his wine glass, gestured to Jiang Shangxian, and downed it in one gulp.

"What fine wine, brother! After your improvements, this grape wine is even more mellow and fragrant, leaving me with an unforgettable aftertaste."

"Stop talking and eat your food."

Shen Lang joked, then picked up a piece of honey-glazed chicken and put it in his mouth to chew.

"dong dong dong~"

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room, and a waiter's voice came from outside: "Sir, there is a man outside who claims to be from Guanzhong and says he wants to see you?"

Shen Lang: "Let him in."

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of chicken marrow and bamboo shoot with his chopsticks and placed it on the plate in front of him.

Shortly after, the door to the private room slowly opened, and a man in his thirties entered.

Before he could bow to Shen Lang, Shen Lang waved to him first: "Come, come, I've been waiting for you. Have a seat."

The newcomer frowned, looking somewhat apprehensive as he sat down opposite Shen Lang.

The table in the private room was a round table for twelve people. The guests were seated directly opposite Shen Lang, but they were also quite distant from him.

"Humph."

Seeing his expression, Shen Lang simply snorted, then picked up a teacup from the side and poured tea into it.

"Come, come, we're old friends, let's have some water first before we talk, there's no rush."

To be honest, I should thank you, after all, the Shangguan family was of great help in the destruction of the remnant Qiang tribes back then.

"Without you, Shangguan Yan, there would be no peaceful situation in Guanzhong today. Therefore, I must offer you this cup of tea."

Just as he finished speaking, the teacup was filled to the brim.

Place the teacup on the turntable and turn it once.

Not a drop of tea was spilled; it was placed precisely in front of Shangguan Yan.

Shangguan Yan was extremely uneasy and dared not accept the hot tea. She asked cautiously, "Regent, could you spare the lives of my Shangguan family?"

My cousins ​​have been dealt with, but my legitimate sons are still too young to be sent to the capital as hostages in the next few years..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang put down the cream spring roll he had just picked up, then grabbed a piece of Songjiang cotton cloth to wipe his mouth, stood up and smiled:

"Patriarch Shangguan, you now hold the third rank in the local government and are the Pacification Commissioner of Guanzhong, assisting the Changsun family in the expansion of the Guanzhong Railway."

Logically speaking, I have already repaid your favor by allowing your Shangguan family to act as the agent for the unified procurement of salt, and I have even set up two textile factories for you.

"What else are you after, huh?"

Shangguan Yan broke out in a cold sweat and wanted to say something, but Shen Lang picked up the teapot and poured water into his own teacup.

"I know what you're after. You just want the position of the most powerful clan in Guanzhong and to replace the Changsun family."

"After all, the conflict between your Shangguan family and the Changsun family has been growing stronger over the years, and I, the King, am fully aware of it all while I'm in Jinling."

"If you want to compete, fine, I won't object, but you can't incite your clansmen to embezzle funds meant for the ironworks just to claim this dubious title! Who gave you the audacity!"

Suddenly, Shen Lang threw the teapot in his hand hard at Shangguan Yan.

Fortunately, Shangguan Yan reacted quickly and stood up to dodge.

As the teapot struck the wall, producing a crisp cracking sound, the atmosphere in the private room immediately became extremely oppressive.

"Over the years, His Majesty has been fully aware of the actions of your powerful clans in Guanzhong. The reason he hasn't taken any action is that he hopes you will correct yourselves!"

"It's one thing for others to make a fuss, but your Shangguan family actually joined in their nonsense. Do you really think Guanzhong is still your territory as a powerful clan?"

This was the first time Jiang Shangxian had ever seen Shen Lang so angry, so he immediately buried himself in cooking, pretending not to see anything.

Shangguan Yan looked at the tea leaves and broken porcelain scattered on the wall and floor with lingering fear in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I have recovered all the funds owed to the ironworks, and I have even added an extra 200,000 taels as an apology."

The corrupt clansmen have already been secretly executed; all we ask is that the Regent will not pursue the matter further.

"hehe."

Shen Lang sneered, then walked around the round table toward Shangguan Yan.

With each step she took, Shangguan Yan felt her heart skip a beat, and the urge to escape grew stronger.

When Shen Lang walked up to Shangguan Yan, he only glanced at him before turning away to the tea cabinet behind him, taking a purple clay teapot filled with tea and returning to the table.

Then, Shangguan Yan's pupils shrank sharply.

Shen Lang poured the tea from the purple clay teapot directly into the already full teacups.

The tea overflowed wildly along the edge of the teapot.

This signal was extremely dangerous, and Shangguan Yan immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, the Shangguan family is loyal to the court and His Majesty, and would never do anything disobedient. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty."

But Shen Lang completely ignored him and continued pouring water while saying, "Now, I'll give you three choices."

The first rule is that your family is stripped of all official positions, and your descendants for the next three generations are barred from holding official posts.

The second condition is that you hand over 70% of your land to the state, and your official position will remain secure.

Thirdly, suppress the Changsun family for me, and upon success, you will become the most powerful clan in Guanzhong, and a high-ranking official position (second rank) awaits you in the imperial court.

Choose one yourself.

Shangguan Yan immediately looked worried; no matter which of these three he chose, it was not the result he wanted.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Shen Lang smiled and poured the tea from the purple clay teapot, then slammed it down on the table.

"Of course, there is a fourth way. I will hand over the evidence to the Ministry of Justice, and everyone on the list, including your Shangguan family, will be buried with your Shangguan family."

Large beads of sweat dripped down Shangguan Yan's cheeks and onto the floor.