"You all should go to Canglan Country and see how the people live freely and stably now," Fan Shi said. "His Majesty’s dream is to unify the world, so that every citizen can live in peace and have enough food and clothes. Such a monarch is the one we should follow."

"But Song Chong sacrifices other girls to protect his own daughter. What loyalty does such a person deserve? Later, he even secretly used poison, so narrow-minded, only daring to attack the weak. He’s not worth your life. Since Da Qi split into Nan Qi and Bei Qi, how many princesses and treasures has Nan Qi sent over? Don’t you find it stifling? Today it’s a princess, tomorrow it’s your daughters. If Bei Qi wants your lives, Song Chong might even oblige. You hold the sword to protect your home, right? His Majesty won’t destroy it, only join you in building it."

"What does a good monarch look like? It’s one where you are loyal to the monarch, and the monarch should give back to everyone. It’s mutually beneficial, not that you should do everything, while the monarch does nothing."

"How long has it been since you last went home?"

"Although Canglan Country’s border soldiers can’t return home easily, their families can be escorted to the border every year to visit them. They can choose to stay or return."

"Look at you all, skinny and sallow, the food must be bad," Fan Shi shook his head, then pulled out a ledger. "This is a ledger just sent by His Majesty’s people, many boxes of them, all of the Nan Qi Royal Family’s expenditures. Now let me show you, while you starve and freeze at the border, how they live in luxury."

Fan Shi only read the expenses of one prince for a year, and it caused a stir among the crowd.

"It’s hard for everyone to be wealthy, but having enough food and clothes, that goal may be achievable in our lifetime, and to achieve it requires all of our efforts. Additionally, Canglan Country’s soldiers are absolutely well-treated. For a country, you are important, like the walls of a city. With the walls, there’s peace inside," Fan Shi pulled a small soldier in front, patted his frame, took off his helmet, and lifted his clothes. "Look, well-built, rosy complexion, strong and healthy, thick walls."

Small Soldier: ...

Think Tank, he’s not a pig! Just solidly built, that’s an advantage in battle!

But indeed, Canglan Country’s soldiers are well-treated. Not only current soldiers, but those injured or sacrificed in war also receive good treatment, and their families benefit too. Who wouldn’t want to defend such a wonderful home?

By the time Fan Shi read the eighth ledger, the Nan Qi soldiers unwilling to lay down their weapons finally let them fall.

Since then, Canglan Country annexed Nan Qi, won without a fight.

Those who had ulterior motives and wanted to incite Nan Qi’s soldiers to do bad things were also captured by Fan Shi. With one move, Fan Shi made those soldiers no longer trust those people. To investigate them, why did he come to Nan Qi in the first place? It was for this day.

It wasn’t a deep-seated hatred, subduing them with words was the best. Bloody battles weren’t something he liked that much.

He thought His Majesty wouldn’t like it either.

It’s been over a year since he last saw His Majesty.

Things here were almost settled; it was time to bring His Majesty back to the Capital City.

On the road, Song Jie suddenly spoke, "Sir, didn’t I return to the Capital City before? Prime Minister Xue asked me a question."

Fan Shi was eager to go to the Capital City, feeling the carriage too slow, and absent-mindedly asked, "What question?"

It shouldn’t be urgent, or Song Jie wouldn’t be keeping it a secret.

"Prime Minister Xue asked me what kind of girl you like, if you plan to settle down, and if he could help matchmake. Apparently, some ministers’ daughters in court have taken a liking to you and asked him because of your good relationship."

"Some young Female Officials are also interested in you."

"By the way, Prime Minister Xue also mentioned if we should pick a Court Consort for His Majesty."

Fan Shi, who had been about to yawn, stopped and glanced at the grinning Song Jie, "Do they have nothing to do, only caring about others’ marriages? Are they not given enough tasks?"

"Sir, you have to marry, right? You wouldn’t stay unmarried all your life, would you?" Song Jie asked nervously.

Fan Shi kept a stern face, "What if I don’t marry? Will I die? Mind your own business. If you have a girl you fancy, I can find a matchmaker for you."

"Alright, it seems you really have no such thoughts, but His Majesty..."

"His Majesty has his own ideas. When the time comes, I’ll ask. Don’t meddle," Fan Shi was displeased. These people seemed overfed with nothing better to do.

"Now all the unmarried young men in the Capital City are waiting for His Majesty to return, hoping to be favored," Song Jie said again. "I don’t know what kind His Majesty would like or how many to choose, but for someone as brave and invincible as His Majesty, only the best would do. That way, the heirs would be outstanding, though with you around, they’d be well-groomed and guided."

"Song Jie, either shut up or go practice writing. It’s noisy," Fan Shi was quite annoyed, feeling for the first time that Song Jie talked too much and wanting to sew his mouth shut.

Song Jie noticed Fan Shi’s bad mood but couldn’t figure out why.

Clearly, everything was looking good. Why would the Sir have any worries?

But Fan Shi couldn’t keep calm, troubled by the thought of His Majesty choosing a Court Consort.

They stopped at a mountaintop inn to rest.

In the haze between sleep and wakefulness, Fan Shi awoke to Song Jie’s voice, "Sir, time to set off. We should reach the Capital City today."

Yawning, Fan Shi felt cheerful, thinking he’d soon meet His Majesty.

After half a day’s journey, they arrived at the Capital City. Fan Shi wasted no time, heading directly to the Imperial Palace. Inside the hall, upon seeing a familiar face, he knelt down.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

After over a year of not seeing each other, he was too excited for words.

"Rise, Think Tank. Thanks to you, matters at the border were resolved," Ah Chen said.

Fan Shi was about to speak but noticed a handsome man beside Ah Chen, his expression changing instantly. The man’s eyes were fixed on Ah Chen, making Fan Shi uneasy.

He asked, "Your Majesty, who is this young man?"

"Oh him," Ah Chen smiled, "he will return to Canglan Country with me as my Court Consort."

What?

Fan Shi couldn’t find words, his body unresponsive.

When he opened his eyes again, the candlelight was dim, the wax nearly gone. He wiped his forehead. Was it a dream?

Why would he dream such a thing?

Soon it was daybreak. Song Jie said, "Sir, time to set off. We should reach the Capital City today." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Fan Shi: I should sew Song Jie’s mouth shut. Why say the same words as in the dream?

Could it be that His Majesty really met someone favorable here and planned to bring him back as a Court Consort?

Song Jie was puzzled, not knowing why Sir was tense all morning when no one had upset him early in the day.