By the time we reached the outskirts of the Capital City, it was already sunset. If we wanted to enter the palace to see Your Majesty, it would likely be long past dark by then. Considering the time, it’s possible that by then Your Majesty would already be at rest.

Hence, Song Jie said, "It seems we still need to stay in the city for a night, and then we can see Your Majesty tomorrow."

"I have some urgent matters and will go directly into the palace," Fan Shi said, his face serious, genuinely startling Song Jie.

Did the gentleman really have some pressing matters? But why didn’t he know about it?

At the city gate, there were people awaiting on Ah Chen’s instructions. Initially, since it was already late, they were supposed to arrange a place for them to stay, but this was also refused by Fan Shi. The way Fan Shi appeared made no one want to be careless, and they quickly escorted him into the palace.

Those escorting Fan Shi into the palace were all speculating about what had happened. Was it that the situation in the east had changed or had the Barbarian Tribe invaded? Apart from these matters, they couldn’t think of anything else that would make the Think Tank so serious.

Recently, having just annexed Nan Qi, Ah Chen still had many matters to handle and really hadn’t gone to rest early.

She was not an ordinary person, not afraid that fatigue would harm her body, only wanting to quickly handle the matters at hand.

Upon hearing that Fan Shi had come to the palace overnight, as if there was some urgent matter, she was slightly perplexed. When Fan Shi came in, she was guessing what the matter was, pondering over the Barbarian Tribe and the east. Then she felt it shouldn’t be those two areas making a move against Canglan Country, they wouldn’t dare, and they even needed to mind their manners, fearing Canglan Country would remember them.

Knowing that by this time Ah Chen hadn’t rested, Fan Shi entered the grand hall with a serious expression, feeling a sudden tension. His brows tightly knit, why was he so anxious? Did he have some urgent matter? Why was he so eager to enter the palace to see Your Majesty?

The moment he stepped into the grand hall, Fan Shi almost understood, his whole body froze, and then he wanted to turn and leave. She is after all Your Majesty. He could offer his own insights on state matters, but he had no right to interfere with whom she chose as a Court Consort.

Thinking this through, Fan Shi made himself frustrated.

"Think Tank, coming to the palace overnight, is there an urgent matter?" Ah Chen’s voice brought Fan Shi back to his senses. He jerked his head up, only then realizing he had entered the grand hall and faced the person he was so eager to meet. For the first time, he found himself at a loss with this question.

He seemed to have no urgent matters to report to Your Majesty?

But since he was already there, he couldn’t just turn and leave without saying anything.

"Your Majesty, now that Nan Qi has been annexed, shouldn’t the plan for the east be gradually implemented?" Fan Shi immediately thought of the best excuse. It wasn’t the right time to move against the east now, even though Nan Qi was annexed, there were still many matters to handle, and it wasn’t something that could be quickly resolved, especially some customs left behind by Nan Qi that needed gradual rectification.

Rash actions towards the east might destabilize this side, doing more harm than good.

While they weren’t to act against the east now, arrangements could be made in advance. Previous plans existed, but they weren’t detailed enough. Now they could slowly deliberate how to proceed.

"Does the Think Tank have any good ideas?" Ah Chen found Fan Shi a bit odd earlier, but now he seemed normal again, so she didn’t delve into it further.

A quick glance showed his complexion looked fine, his health shouldn’t be an issue.

Fan Shi indeed had many ideas regarding the east, and thinking about the unification of the world, he felt excited, temporarily forgetting about Your Majesty selecting a Court Consort. He presented his ideas, and in this discussion, the night passed till dawn, with Fan Shi still brimming with energy, though his brows showed slight fatigue. Looking at Ah Chen, there was no trace of weariness.

"Think Tank, you should go and rest now," Ah Chen reminded, "There’s no need to leave the palace and waste time by coming back again. Now, quite a few places in the Imperial Palace have been vacated. Let Lu Zhu take you to rest."

Fan Shi didn’t refuse, being accustomed to such arrangements.

In the Canglan Country’s Imperial Palace, he also had a living place. Since Your Majesty came here, generally speaking, he seldom left the palace. Your Majesty also deemed travelling back and forth took too much unnecessary time. Moreover, he wasn’t like other ministers who had families and it was more convenient residing in the palace.

Clearing away the chaotic thoughts, Fan Shi followed Lu Zhu to his living quarters.

After a while, Fan Shi suddenly asked, "Miss Lu Zhu."

"What instruction does the Think Tank have?" Lu Zhu responded.

"Since Your Majesty came here, has she met any man she fancies?" He asked, pretending to be casual, "Earlier, Song Jie mentioned to me that this time when Your Majesty returns, the court officials might remind Your Majesty to select a Court Consort."

Lu Zhu paused, then shook her head, "Your Majesty has always been busy with official business, where’s the time to think about those things? Those people though, they are dreaming."

Whether in the Capital City or here at the Capital, there were many who admired Your Majesty. For someone as heroic and outstanding as Your Majesty, it was only natural that people liked her.

Those who were not only good-looking but also talented, without concubines, might barely catch the eye.

But those with wives and concubines, self-proclaimed to have outstanding looks and talent, who also wanted to cozy up to Your Majesty, do they not look in the mirror in the morning?

Even worse, some who have nothing still want to snuggle up to Your Majesty, do they really have no self-awareness?

Considering someone like Your Majesty, not to mention other aspects, merely her status alone invites countless admirers, which didn’t surprise Fan Shi. It was just that previously the focus was on state affairs, and Your Majesty being young wouldn’t consider these matters. Now, with unification close, it’s only reasonable for the court to bring up the matter of a Court Consort for Your Majesty.

He couldn’t stop it, nor should he. Canglan Country needed an heir to stabilize people’s hearts.

"Does the Think Tank have anyone to recommend?" Lu Zhu asked curiously, then added happily, "Anyone recommended by the Think Tank must be good, I’m sure Your Majesty would be pleased."

Fan Shi: ...

He didn’t have anyone to recommend, okay?

He wasn’t like those old men in the court. Your Majesty selecting a Court Consort wasn’t just about an heir, it also involved many people’s interests, and none would miss the chance to gain something from it. Fan Shi felt somewhat despondent. Despite knowing that in places where people gathered, there were all kinds of scheming and struggles for interest, even within an increasingly powerful Canglan Country, these were unavoidable. However, his heart still was not at ease.

"None for now, just wanted to ask if Your Majesty had anyone she fancies," Fan Shi said, feeling stuffy inside, unable to tell anyone that he didn’t want Your Majesty to select a Court Consort.

Your Majesty is the Emperor, the hope of the entire world; it’s not something he can decide.

With her character, in choosing a Court Consort, she would never be swayed by others and would choose whom she liked.

Even if he harbored other thoughts, it couldn’t change her preference; she had to make the choice.

Fan Shi’s silent demeanor made Lu Zhu think he was worrying over this matter.

Lu Zhu said, "Not yet, if the Think Tank has a suitable person in mind, you might recommend it to Your Majesty. Anyone valued by the Think Tank would certainly not be inferior."

Fan Shi: He already said he had no one to recommend.

Could he recommend himself?