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

Shangguan Yan was almost suffocated by Shen Lang's imposing aura.

"Alright, alright, no matter what, the Shangguan family are still meritorious officials of our Great Chu. Now that he has taken the initiative to admit his mistake, let's give him another chance."

It was Jiang Shangxian who broke the silence, taking the initiative to speak up for Shangguan Yan.

"And you, Shangguan Yan, are the same. Embezzling funds from the ironworks is a grave mistake. The Regent has been working hard to develop the Northwest. How could you cause him trouble at this critical juncture?"

"I've said it before, what belongs to your Shangguan family will eventually come to you. Why rush things? Honestly, isn't this just making trouble?"

After Jiang Shangxian finished speaking, he got up and walked to Shen Lang's side, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You too, why are you so angry? Is it worth it?"

How about this, I'll personally cook you two cold dishes to cool you down later.

This sweltering heat can really make people irritable, don't you think?

"Mind your manners."

Shen Lang calmly pulled his hand away from Shangguan Yan's shoulder and looked at her with a sinister expression.

"Have you thought it through? What's your choice?"

Shangguan Yan was already stunned and at a loss for words. When Shen Lang asked, she could only bite the bullet and reply, "The lives of my entire family belong to His Majesty and the Regent."

"Whatever your plan is to do, the entire Shangguan clan is willing to accept it. We only ask that the Regent, considering the Shangguan family's past contributions, show leniency."

Shangguan Yan was able to become the head of the Shangguan family at the age of twenty-two, so he was certainly not stupid.

After a brief analysis, he realized that no matter which choice Shen Lang gave him, he would ultimately face the fourth death.

The last resort is to treat oneself as a pawn, allowing Shen Lang, the chess player, to manipulate one's abilities, in order to preserve the family.

As for treason, it's one thing to give advice on the country in private, but to actually do it would require being out of one's mind.

Throughout history, unless a dynasty is beyond redemption at its end, the chances of a rebellion succeeding are less than 1%.

Leaving aside how ruthless Regent Shen Lang was, the troops under Guo Huaizhi, who were guarding Guanzhong, could have crushed the Shangguan family to dust in no time.

Shen Lang glanced at him, then gave Jiang Shangxian a look before returning to his seat.

"Get up, sit down and talk."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yan immediately tried to get up.

But because Shen Lang's actions were so shocking, she felt her legs were weak and she couldn't muster any strength.

It was Jiang Shangxian, who was standing nearby, who saw this and promptly pulled him up, saying, "Alright, the Regent has already asked you to sit down, so hurry up and sit down too. Come on."

Then, Jiang Shangxian lifted Shangguan Yan into her seat as if she were a chick.

"Come on, have something to eat. The chicken marrow and bamboo shoots and the rouge goose breast here are quite delicious. You must try them."

Shen Lang gave a reminder and casually spun the turntable, sending some signature dishes to Shangguan Yan.

Shangguan Yan was still uneasy and had little appetite to begin with.

But since Shen Lang has spoken, even if you have a poor appetite, you have to eat a few bites.

So he picked up a piece of goose breast and put it in his mouth.

He commented, "Not bad, this goose breast is indeed softer, more fragrant and delicious than the ones from Guanzhong."

Shen Lang chuckled and said, "Since it's delicious, then eat more and finish the rest."

"Yes."

Shangguan Yan dared not disobey the order, so she could only stuff the pieces into her mouth one after another, and had to make comments from time to time.

When only two pieces of goose breast remained from the six-piece plate, Shen Lang finally spoke.

"Don't worry about the ironworks. Go back and pack up your things, then arrange for your clansmen to open mines in Bingzhou."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yan immediately replied, "Thank you, Regent."

"Furthermore, as I instructed, you, the Shangguan family, must hand over 70% of your land, which I will purchase at a price 50% higher than the market value."

And I promise that your Shangguan family can establish spinning or shipbuilding businesses in the south. What do you think?

Shangguan Yan hurriedly said, "Since the Regent is willing to give the Shangguan family another chance, the Shangguan family will naturally reciprocate."

"Seventy percent of the farmland is offered to Your Majesty at 30% below market price, with an additional 10% as a gift!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang nodded almost imperceptibly.

In fact, Shangguan Yan had already tasted the benefits of getting involved in the industrial and comprador sectors in recent years and no longer expected to make a profit from the land.

He had long wanted to replace those fields with factories that could make a fortune every day, and completely transform the agricultural sector into a manufacturing sector.

However, they had always been frustrated by the lack of opportunity. Setting up a factory required the approval of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works of the imperial court. Setting up a factory privately would result in severe penalties and the confiscation of operating rights. In serious cases, it was possible that their entire family could not be involved in that field for three generations.

For wealthy and powerful families, the competition with other families around them is extremely brutal. They may be on friendly terms, but once you fall on hard times and are given an opportunity, even if they don't kick you when you're down, they will take the chance to leave you far behind.

The Shangguan family had been the second-in-command in Guanzhong for countless years, and they knew better than anyone the inside stories of the powerful clans. They always acted cautiously and discreetly, for fear of causing big trouble.

However, the ironworks' enormous profits blinded the Shangguan family members, who succumbed to temptation and committed such a wrong act.

Now, Shen Lang's demand to exchange farmland for the factory is exactly what Shangguan Yan wanted.

Selling land at a profit of 50% above market price is something only a fool who doesn't know the value of things would be overjoyed about.

The Shangguan family has a criminal record now. If we agree to this directly, they might disappear completely from Guanzhong.

Therefore, Shangguan Yan immediately adopted a strategy of retreating to advance, selling the land to Shen Lang at a low price and giving him an additional 10%.

This was to atone for the grave mistakes made by his people and to gain greater control over the industrial sector.

"Very well, since Patriarch Shangguan is so generous, then I have nothing more to say."

Shen Lang picked up his teacup and gestured to Shangguan Yan.

"Come, Patriarch Shangguan, I wish us a pleasant cooperation. His Majesty will be very pleased to know this."

Shangguan Yan hurriedly picked up the teacup overflowing with tea: "On behalf of the entire clan, Shangguan Yan thanks Your Majesty and the Regent."

Jiang Shangxian, standing to the side, was displeased: "What, am I an outsider?"

Shangguan Yan quickly added, "Thank you, Prince Jing!"

After saying that, he gulped down the tea in one go.

Eating too much goose breast is greasy, but this cup of light tea is not unpleasant at all.

After finishing his tea, Shen Lang looked at Jiang Shangxian and said, "It's getting late, and we've almost finished our meal. Would you like some more?"

Jiang Shangxian immediately understood, put down his chopsticks, shook his head and said, "That's enough, let's settle the bill."

He reached for his fanny pack.

But Shen Lang immediately stopped him: "Alright, Your Highness, you are a member of the royal family. How can I let you pay for the meal? I'll treat you this time."

"No! Absolutely not!" Jiang Shangxian immediately declared righteously, "This meal must be paid for by me. If you try to take it from me, we can't be brothers anymore."

"What a joke! If word got out that you paid for this meal, His Majesty would definitely scold me. I'll pay for it."

"It seems you don't consider me a brother anymore. Let me tell you, this meal is on me."

"No, I'll pay, shopkeeper! The checkout!"

"Don't stop me from showing off! This meal is on me, waiter! The bill!"

The two started arguing almost until they were red in the face about who should pay the bill.

Shangguan Yan, an "outsider," was dumbfounded.

These two men are the First Prince of Great Chu, the current Empress's uncle, and the Regent of Great Chu, the reigning Emperor.

How come people are arguing like this over the cost of a meal?

"I come."

"I'll do it."

Seeing that the two would not reach a conclusion if they continued arguing, Shangguan Yan finally realized what was going on, stood up and stopped the restaurant owner who was about to enter the private room, and whispered, "This meal is on me, please pay the bill."

The shopkeeper looked on with suspicion: "Sir, do you really intend to settle the bill for the two princes?"

"Yes."

"Alright, that makes a total of 506 taels."

"Five...that's so expensive?"

"Please don't misunderstand, guest. This meal costs only five taels of silver. The other five hundred taels is Prince Jing's debt accumulated over the past few months."

"This……"

After hesitating for a moment, Shangguan Yan immediately untied a gold ribbon from her waist.

"This gold pouch, along with the money inside, is worth about a thousand taels. I'll leave it with you as collateral and bring the silver back later."