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

Yuanyang knelt in the veranda outside Shuixuan Residence, carrying Yin Wuji's head, awaiting the Empress's summons.

At this time, less than two days had passed since the deadline given by the Empress.

“Sister, you’ve made the right choice. His Majesty has told you not to kneel anymore. Come with me to the side hall to wait. He will summon you after he finishes his official duties,” Amber kindly advised.

But Yuanyang refused: "No, I want to wait here for His Majesty to receive me."

In reality, Yuanyang's feelings were quite complicated at that moment.

What did I do?

Betraying one's master and ancestors is an act that will surely be condemned by the martial arts world.

However, the thought of her future filled her with excitement.

I felt both guilty and remorseful, yet also filled with longing for the future.

Such conflicting emotions made Yuanyang want to kneel on the ground to keep her mind clear.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade Yuanyang, Amber had no choice but to let her go. After instructing the servants to place some fruits, vegetables, tea, and snacks on the stone platform in the corridor, she returned to the palace to serve the Empress.

Inside the palace, the Empress was receiving Liu Qinghuan, with Mu Qingqiu accompanying her.

"Senior Sister, is everything alright at the Zixia Sect?"

"Your Majesty, all is well."

Now that Jiang Mengxuan had seized power, Liu Qinghuan could no longer treat her former junior sister the same way as before, and her attitude became extremely respectful.

Jiang Mengxuan smiled slightly, crossed her legs, and adopted a casual posture, saying frankly, "Senior Sister, you don't need to be so reserved."

Privately, we still address each other as fellow disciples, but in terms of status, I should call you Sect Master.

"I dare not, Your Majesty is the ruler of the Great Chu Kingdom, I am but a commoner from the Jianghu, how could I..."

Before she could finish speaking, Mu Qingqiu interrupted her: "Senior Sister, when did you become so long-winded? Look at me..."

"Aren't you still calling her 'Junior Sister'? There are no outsiders here. If you keep acting like this, it won't be appropriate."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qinghuan sighed and looked at Jiang Mengxuan, asking, "Junior Sister, what brings you here?"

Jiang Mengxuan took out the book "Seven Star Sword Manual": "Senior Sister, this is the Seven Star Sword Technique that all inner disciples of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect must practice. Take a look."

With Senior Sister's talent and the current strength of the Zixia Sect, I believe it shouldn't be difficult for her to imitate seven or eight tenths of this sword technique.

Liu Qinghuan's eyes lit up, and she quickly got up to take the sword manual.

"Junior Sister, what are your plans?"

Mu Qingqiu continued, "The Jingwei Division received a secret report that the Shushan Sword Sect is colluding with various martial arts sects and plotting a rebellion."

The junior sister meant that she hoped the senior sister could select some reliable disciples from within the Zixia Sect to master this sword technique in the shortest possible time.

"You don't need to be an expert; just having similar sword techniques is enough. Then, use this swordplay to create infighting between sects."

Liu Qinghuan: "You mean, you want me to imitate this sword technique to kill those sects with treasonous tendencies?"

"uh-huh."

Mu Qingqiu fiddled with her legs and responded with a smile.

Liu Qinghuan: "But with Junior Sister's current strength, wouldn't it be enough to just send in the army to handle these matters? Why go through all this trouble?"

Jiang Mengxuan: "Senior Sister, there are some things we can't do like this. The Great Chu sects have finally submitted to the imperial court. If we were to send out a large-scale army to suppress them now..."

I'm afraid it will create a climate of fear among the other sects. If it's internal strife between sects, the situation will be different. Do you understand?

Liu Qinghuan fell into deep thought.

Mu Qingqiu: "Senior Sister, what are you still hesitating about? May I ask if, since you became the sect leader of Zixia Sect, Junior Sister has ever mistreated the sect in the slightest?"

Not only did they fund the renovation of the sect, making the Zixia Sect even more magnificent than before, but they also added an extra 100,000 taels of silver to the sect's annual budget, which you could use at will.

Now, my junior sister simply wants to ask you for a favor, why are you being so hesitant? Perhaps you have some sympathy for those unscrupulous martial arts sects?

"No, Second Junior Sister, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant," Liu Qinghuan quickly denied. "I was just thinking about what the right thing to do should be."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled and said, "I knew Senior Sister wouldn't let me down. Senior Sister, you don't need to worry. Once you've mastered this sword manual, start with Puhua Temple."

"Puhua Temple?"

Mu Qingqiu explained, "Puhua Temple disregards national laws and openly enshrines the memorial tablets of enemy soldiers in its main hall."

However, he has close ties with the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, and the abbot, Zhixi, has long harbored rebellious intentions. Let him be the first to start.”

"I understand."

Liu Qinghuan stopped asking questions, put away the sword manual, and said to Jiang Mengxuan, "Junior Sister, don't worry, this time, your senior sister won't let you down again."

Jiang Mengxuan stood up and took Liu Qinghuan's hand: "Senior Sister, please don't hold a grudge about what happened back then."

So much time has passed, I no longer care. Actually, it was my lack of foresight that put you in a difficult position back then; it was also my junior sister's fault.

Liu Qinghuan's eyes reddened: "Junior Sister, I'm glad you don't blame me. All these years, whenever I think back to what happened back then..."

I felt deeply guilty. This time, as your senior, I absolutely will not let you be sad again. Please wait for me here for a while.

After saying that, she bid farewell to Jiang Mengxuan and turned to leave the palace.

"Ugh."

After everyone left, Jiang Mengxuan sighed helplessly.

Mu Qingqiu walked to Jiang Mengxuan's side with a smile: "Junior Sister, it seems that Senior Sister still hasn't let go of the past all these years."

Jiang Mengxuan shook her head: "It's been so long, I should actually thank her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have met Shen Lang."

"Hahaha."

Mu Qingqiu laughed heartily.

"After all these years, your relationship as a couple is still as good as it was back then, which is really wonderful."

Jiang Mengxuan: "My husband is currently handling affairs in the Far East, so we can't leave the trivial matters within the Chu Kingdom to him anymore. I hope he can get a good rest when he returns."

At this moment, Amber came into the palace and reported: "Your Majesty, Yuanyang is waiting for you in the outer corridor."

"Understood, I will be there now."

After Jiang Mengxuan finished speaking, she said to Mu Qingqiu, "Second Senior Sister, we'll have to trouble you with the Shushan Sword Sect's affairs again."

Mu Qingqiu: "Leave it to me. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Ah."

After Mu Qingqiu left, Jiang Mengxuan said to Amber, "Let's go, lead the way."

……

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing Jiang Mengxuan arrive in the covered walkway, Yuanyang immediately bowed.

Jiang Mengxuan glanced at the wooden box containing Yin Wuji's head beside him, raised her hand and said, "Get up."

"Yes."

After the mandarin ducks got up, Jiang Mengxuan sat down in the pavilion and took the fish food that Amber handed her, scattering it into the lake.

Feeding the fish is also a hobby that Jiang Mengxuan enjoys to pass the time in her spare time.

Yuanyang stood silently beside her until Jiang Mengxuan finished feeding the fish in the jar, at which point she finally spoke.

"You even dared to lay a hand on your master who raised you for many years. You are truly ruthless and cruel. You have made me look at you in a new light."

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang broke out in a cold sweat and immediately knelt on the ground, trembling.