By the time news of Xunyang's remarkable progress reached the capital, more than three months had already passed.
During these three months, Chen Xiao was as busy as a spinning top.
The previous trip to Xunyang had taken two months, causing many court affairs to pile up on Prime Minister Xu Qian's desk.
Although Xu Qian could handle some matters on his own, Chen Xiao still needed to make the final decision on all major issues.
Therefore, after Chen Xiao and his group returned to the capital, Chao Yuan and Ye Yu immediately took on their respective duties and devoted themselves to handling the mission.
Chen Xiao also carefully arranged residences for Yin Yuyao and Ning Yuyuan, choosing a location close to the Princess's residence, making it extremely convenient for Chen Xiao to visit them.
Qian Yi originally intended to escort everyone to the Prefect's Mansion before returning to the Yuan Realm. However, considering that everyone might encounter misfortune on their way back to the capital, he escorted them all the way to the capital and only left after ensuring their safety.
After arranging everything, Chen Xiao announced the appointments of Zheng Pianran and Zhao Cheyu.
For the next three months, Chen Xiao devoted himself entirely to state affairs and had no time to step into the inner palace.
Although only Xu Ruyu remained in the harem, and Xu Ruyu held the positions of Minister of Personnel and Vice Minister, he had frequent official business, so the "husband and wife" often met.
Therefore, along with the good news from Xunyang, the ministers also kept urging the couple to get married.
In the imperial court, several ministers stepped forward, with Zhao Qi, the Minister of Rites, leading the group, speaking first: "Your Majesty, the foundation of the nation lies in the continuation of your lineage. Your Majesty is in the prime of your life and should choose a virtuous empress as soon as possible to continue the royal bloodline; this is of vital importance to the nation. Now that the country is at peace and the people's hearts are at peace, Your Majesty's harem is empty, which worries us day and night. We hope that Your Majesty will prioritize the well-being of the nation, widely recruit daughters of noble families, and quickly set a date for the grand wedding."
After speaking, Zhao Qi respectfully presented a list of eligible men, saying, “These are men of noble birth carefully selected by your subjects. They are all of noble birth and possess both talent and virtue. We hope Your Majesty will take pity on them.”
Grand Secretary Qian Mu chimed in, “Your Majesty, wise rulers of the past all had virtuous empresses by their side to assist in governing the country, to manage the inner palace and to reassure the people. Now the world is gradually becoming prosperous, but Your Majesty still has no heir. If this continues, I fear there will be unforeseen changes. This old minister earnestly requests Your Majesty to heed our advice and not to delay the auspicious date any longer.”
After saying this, Qian Mu bowed deeply and fell to the ground, his expression earnest.
General Li Wei, the foremost military commander, also spoke in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am a rough man and do not understand any grand principles. But I know that our country needs a crown prince to inherit Your Majesty's great cause in the future. Your Majesty is dragging this out, and we are all uneasy. Your Majesty should choose one from these men and arrange the marriage as soon as possible!"
......
The calls for marriage were incessant, but Chen Xiao discovered that all those urging her to get married and have children were male ministers.
Chen Xiao sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen, listening quietly to the ministers' advice.
Before she could speak, Xu Qian slowly said, "My colleagues, His Majesty is well aware of your painstaking efforts for the court. However, His Majesty's marriage is a matter of great importance and cannot be decided hastily. His Majesty is currently focused on state affairs and will find it difficult to be distracted by personal matters. It is not too late to discuss the wedding after His Majesty has governed the country more prosperously."
Even Xu Qian, the head of all officials, spoke up for His Majesty in this way. His words came from the bottom of his heart and were resounding. The ministers looked at each other, feeling unwilling, but dared not say anything more.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly, casting a grateful glance at Xu Qian.
After the court assembly ended, Chen Xiao kept Xu Qian in the imperial study.
"I must thank the Prime Minister for helping me out of this predicament today," Chen Xiao said softly.
Xu Qian replied frankly, "Your Majesty bears the weight of the world on your shoulders and should naturally prioritize national affairs. I am merely stating the facts."
Chen Xiao rose and paced back and forth, lost in thought: "It's not that I'm unaware of the significance of marriage to the royal family, but I don't want to be bound by marriage and become a tool that only knows how to reproduce. What I seek is someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me and build a prosperous era together, regardless of gender."
Xu Qian was slightly taken aback.
He had heard these words twenty years ago.
Chen Xiao didn't notice Xu Qian's strange behavior. She came from the modern era, and modern views on marriage were completely different from those in ancient times. Although the Ye Dynasty was much better than many feudal dynasties, the imperial power still held sway, and these feudal ideas could not be avoided.
Regardless of the circumstances, this is her true view on marriage.
Perhaps in modern times, in her hometown, she would only ask for one person to be by her side for life, without any other thoughts.
But now she is in the Night Court, she is the emperor, so the person she seeks is naturally different. Regardless of whether she has feelings for that person, that person will be her empress, and regardless of gender, he must be able to take on this position.
Chen Xiao pondered for a while and was surprised to find that his thoughts were becoming increasingly biased towards ancient ideas.
Could it be that I've been staying here too long?
After experiencing so much in Xunyang recently, she even briefly gained some inexplicable internal energy. Although that internal energy mysteriously disappeared after returning to the capital, she will never forget that experience.
The experiences of that period made her forget for a time that she was just a mission taker, not a person of this Night Dynasty.
Now, she sometimes forgets that she is a mission taker, and feels that many aspects of herself have been assimilated here.
Even now, although it has been three months, she still often forgets her identity and truly considers herself the emperor.
Both she and Xu Qian were lost in their own emotions. They exchanged a casual greeting, and Xu Qian went back to his residence, leaving Chen Xiao alone in the Hall of Diligent Governance, lost in thought.
She would think of her experiences in Xunyang for a while, and then of Xixi and Qianyi's situation. As she thought about these things, she would shake her head and bring her thoughts back to the affairs of the court.
After that, Chen Xiao continued to devote himself to the affairs of the court, focusing on promoting the successful experience of the Xunyang water conservancy project throughout the country.
She dispatched capable officials to various regions to survey water conservancy projects and plan their construction. She also ordered the Ministry of Revenue to raise funds and the Ministry of Works to allocate manpower and resources, striving to build water conservancy projects in more places to benefit the people.
In the imperial court, the discussions about Chen Xiao's harem did not completely subside despite Xu Qian's intervention.
Xu Ruyu was naturally present that day, but he did not speak, because he was not only the Minister of Personnel, but also Consort Yu.
Therefore, he could not speak directly like Xu Qian.
However, this matter had been lingering in his mind. He knew Chen Xiao's ambitions well, but he also understood that the ministers' concerns were not without reason.
So, Xu Ruyu found an opportunity and, while dining with Chen Xiao, said softly, "Your Majesty, I know that Your Majesty cares about the world, but the ministers' actions are not entirely unreasonable. Your Majesty might as well pay a little attention. If there is a suitable person, whether male or female, bringing them into the palace to accompany you would not be a bad thing."
Chen Xiao looked at Xu Ruyu, whose expression remained indifferent.
After a long while, she smiled slightly and said, "You are quite insightful. I will consider it, but for now, my focus remains on the land of Kyushu."
The emperor's sense of estrangement gradually became apparent.
Xu Ruyu remained expressionless, and the two silently finished their breakfast before parting ways to attend court.
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