Last night, Jiang Shangxian entered the palace and discussed everything regarding Qingyi Tower with Empress Jiang Mengxuan, talking the entire night through.
In the end, whether it was due to exhaustion or some other reason, Jiang Shangxian suddenly waved his hand and boldly said to Jiang Mengxuan, “Your Majesty, rest assured. There’s nothing in this world the Imperial Guard can’t handle. Leave this matter to me—I guarantee it’ll be resolved perfectly!”
Jiang Mengxuan felt relieved and gave him instructions at once, “Imperial Uncle, I entrust this matter to you. It concerns the Royal Family’s dignity. Please, think carefully before you act.”
Jiang Shangxian, full of heroic pride, replied, “Your Majesty, fear not! Even if I must shed my blood, I won’t let the destiny of the Great Chu Empire be tainted by outsiders.”
At dawn, Jiang Mengxuan was finally at ease, and Jiang Shangxian had fully put on his grand act.
But the moment he stepped out of the palace, his mind finally cleared.
After some quick analysis, Jiang Shangxian broke into a cold sweat. With the current strength of the Imperial Guard, they had no qualifications to go head-to-head with Qingyi Tower. And picking a fight with Qingyi Tower was no different from openly turning against the Chancellor’s Estate.
At best, the Imperial Guard would be disbanded. At worst… his imperial niece might be forced off the throne.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shangxian instantly sobered up and began pacing in circles outside the palace gates in a panic.
He wanted to return to the palace and retract his promise, but the hopeful look in his niece’s eyes made him hesitate. Not to mention, the words had already been spoken—no real man could turn back after that.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him—he thought of Shen Lang.
After all, Shen Lang was the most reliable subordinate within the Imperial Guard. No matter what, at this point, he could only pin his hopes on him.
Inside the courtyard, Jiang Shangxian, with his eyes open yet looking like he was asleep, said to Shen Lang, “Brother Shen, I’ve already explained the matter clearly. Whether the Imperial Guard can rise to fame in the Great Chu Empire and shake the world—it all depends on you now.”
Shen Lang was speechless. “Seriously, Your Highness? Can you be a bit more shameless? What do you mean ‘all depends on me’? Heh. I get 25 taels of silver a month. You think I can carry such a heavy burden? And the Imperial Guard isn’t just me alone—we’ve got hundreds of people across both divisions. You can’t just keep shearing the same sheep, right?”
Jiang Shangxian, hearing this, twisted his plump body and scooted next to Shen Lang, starting to massage his shoulders and back.
“Brother Shen, that’s not fair of you. What’s our relationship, huh? We’ve been through life and death together on the battlefield. Just help your big brother one more time. Besides, if the Imperial Guard gets disbanded, where else are you gonna leech off and idle away your days, huh? Better to work a little harder, handle this well, and I’ll give you a long vacation afterward. How’s that?”
Shen Lang chuckled. Remembering Jiang Shangxian’s performance on the battlefield, only one word came to mind—explosive.
Back then, Jiang Shangxian visited the border military camp to deliver supplies. Somehow, word got out, and he was ambushed en route by a large group of Northern Yan assassins. The result? Jiang Shangxian ran, and the assassins chased.
A whole team of Northern Yan martial artists in the Qi Guiding Realm, all experts in footwork, still couldn’t catch the plump Jiang Shangxian.
Until he was cornered at a cliff’s edge, with the assassins panting for breath, Jiang Shangxian finally lost his patience.
What followed was unforgettable—a single man with a 1-kilogram iron hammer wiped out over thirty assassins, then made it to the Bingzhou military camp with Shen Lang’s support.
That scene left a deep impression on Shen Lang.
“Your Highness, I just wrapped up a task yesterday. According to our previous agreement, I should at least rest for three days. We can’t break that rule.”
“I didn’t break it! Those Qingyi Tower disciples won’t arrive for another three days. I’m just here to discuss the matter with you now. What do you think we should do?”
“Just eliminate them.”
With one sentence, Shen Lang left Jiang Shangxian frozen.
He couldn’t help but warn, “Qingyi Tower has complicated ties to the Chancellor’s Estate. You can’t handle this like an ordinary task.”
“So?”
Shen Lang sipped water to moisten his throat. “Do you think the Chancellor’s Estate would flip on the Royal Family just for a few disciples of Qingyi Tower?”
Jiang Shangxian paused, clearly starting to think seriously.
“Brother Shen, tell your big brother exactly how to handle this.”
“Don’t do anything.”
Shen Lang stood up, grabbed the short blade on the table, drew it three inches from the sheath to inspect the edge, then tucked it into his waist.
“What do you mean by that?” Jiang Shangxian still looked confused.
Shen Lang tied his cloak, saying casually, “Your Highness, may I make a request?”
“Speak.”
Shen Lang pulled the strap of his cloak tighter and said, “I’ll take the task, but when it’s done, I want a reward of 1,000 taels of silver.”
Jiang Shangxian quickly replied, “Money’s not a problem. I’ll speak to Her Majesty myself. But, if I may ask, why do you need so much silver, Brother Shen?”
Shen Lang glanced around the courtyard. “I’ve been living here for nearly a year. I like this place. I want to buy it. It costs 1,000 taels.”
“No problem!” Jiang Shangxian grinned until his eyes vanished and waved generously. “Leave it to me. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
As he spoke, he eagerly got up and opened the gate for Shen Lang himself. Before leaving, he grabbed Shen Lang’s hand and said excitedly, “Brother Shen, the future of the Imperial Guard rests on you. No matter what, help your big brother get through this hurdle.”
Then, with a strained expression, he squeezed out the courtyard and hopped into the carriage, disappearing into the distance.
“What kind of person is that…” Shen Lang shook his head helplessly as he watched the departing carriage, then turned and walked toward the tea shop across the street.
Upon entering, he chose a table by the window and sat down.
“How do I ease sorrow? Only with soy milk.”
“Waiter, eight fried dough sticks, two sesame flatbreads, three bowls of sweet soy milk.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a tray of steaming breakfast was placed in front of him.
“Lord Shen, out so early—off on a mission today?”
“Took on a private job. Gotta handle it after breakfast.”
After speaking, Shen Lang took a pair of chopsticks from the bamboo holder, dipped a dough stick in the soy milk, and took a big bite.
“Perfect.”
He let out a long breath, feeling a warm current flow through his body.
By now, the sun was fully rising.
…
In Weiyang Palace, Jiang Mengxuan was still uneasy no matter how she thought it over.
She opened the register of the Imperial Guard and began checking the roster.
After scanning it, a deep look of concern filled her eyes.
“No, it’s fine for the Imperial Guard to handle some of the peripheral minions of the Chancellor’s Estate, but to face fifteen Qingyi Tower disciples, all in the Postnatal Realm, they’re simply outmatched.”
Thinking this through, she closed the book and walked to the window, gazing at the rising morning sun.
Suddenly, she returned to the imperial desk, opened the register again, and her eyes happened to fall on Shen Lang’s name. Her slender fingers tapped repeatedly on those two characters.
“Shuyue!”
“What are Your Majesty’s orders?”
A girl dressed in tight-fitting clothes knelt on one knee before Jiang Mengxuan.
She was the maid left behind by the former Royal Mother, also Jiang Mengxuan’s personal guard and childhood companion.
After Jiang Mengxuan’s ascension, the Royal Mother went into seclusion on Jade Peak Mountain for two years to recite the passing chants for the late emperor. Before leaving, she repeatedly instructed Shuyue to take good care of the Empress.
Jiang Mengxuan took out a jade token. “Ride my spirit treasure steed and head to Zixia Sect. Invite my eldest senior sister to the capital. Tell her I need to see her for an important matter.”
“Your servant obeys!”
Shuyue accepted the token and immediately left the palace.
Watching her departing figure, Jiang Mengxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“If something unexpected happens with the Imperial Guard, at least I’ll have a second plan ready.”