398: No one in the entire court dared to say such a thing to her!

Yan Yuzhu had been very busy recently, with a large number of memorials submitted every day.

Envoys from various Imperial Dynasties needed to be seen, and important memorials from all over the Great Qi Imperial Dynasty had to be personally reviewed, making her, a Cultivator at the Peak of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, feel mentally exhausted.

"Everyone wants to be an Emperor, but alas, how can the position of Emperor be so easy..."

Putting down the memorial in her hand, Yan Yuzhu propped her chin with one hand, a hint of laziness appearing on her beautiful face.

She ordered someone to take away the reviewed memorials and hand them over to the Grand Secretary, only then did she have some time to rest.

"I wonder when that guy will come out of seclusion?"

"Sometimes I really envy him; he can leave whenever he wants. Now, he probably has no intention of staying in Great Qi anymore."

Picking up the teacup on the table and taking two sips, Yan Yuzhu let out a soft sigh, her beautiful eyes looking out of the main hall, and Shen Tianxing involuntarily came to her mind.

The current Shen Tianxing was no longer the unknown nobody who needed her imperial edict to leave the city.

For a mere Great Qi, let alone a position like the Chief of the Five Divisions, even if he were made a king, it's likely he couldn't be kept.

Yan Yuzhu was very clear about this point.

A Cultivator at Shen Tianxing's level would only seek to experience a broader world and pursue a higher Realm!

If it were her, she would also make that choice.

However, the current Yan Yuzhu couldn't do it. Not only did Great Qi still need her, but the problem of her being too deeply entangled with the Imperial Dao Dragon Qi couldn't be resolved. Even if she could let go of the throne, she couldn't leave Great Qi.

"Your Majesty, Lord Shen, the Chief of the Five Divisions, has arrived and is already outside the palace gate."

Outside the Imperial Study, the voice of the eunuch on duty came in.

"He's out of seclusion?!"

Upon hearing this, the lazy expression in Yan Yuzhu's eyes immediately vanished without a trace. She then stood up, glanced at the bronze mirror nearby, and tidied her hair and dragon robe.

"Welcome him quickly!"

Shen Tianxing had arrived, and the Empress herself came to welcome him, without any of the usual expressions that made the little eunuchs feel trepidation. Everyone was astonished.

All the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids in the entire Imperial Palace quickly prepared; no one dared to be lazy.

If they were needed and someone made a mistake, no one could bear the responsibility.

Shen Tianxing arrived alone and entered the Imperial Palace unimpeded, reaching the Imperial Study.

Each gate was opened by specialized guards, and eunuchs led him through each layer.

Completely unobstructed!

"This level of reception is quite high. Even those imperial relatives don't receive such treatment, do they?"

It wasn't Shen Tianxing's first time in the Imperial Palace.

He had just visited with Xing Yao a few days ago. At that time, the Imperial Palace was heavily guarded, and even Xing Yao needed Yan Yuzhu's token to enter.

Now, however, it was unobstructed, with dedicated people to welcome him. There was no trace of the strict palace rules.

In fact, he knew that this was special treatment given to him by Yan Yuzhu.

Even if all the important ministers in the court knew, they wouldn't dare to offer advice or criticize, because the current Shen Tianxing had the qualifications!

"Lord Shen, Your Majesty is in the Imperial Study. Lord, please go in by yourself."

A huge palace stood not far away. The eunuch responsible for the reception bowed respectfully and then turned to leave.

Shen Tianxing saw at a glance Yan Yuzhu in a dragon robe, with a gentle and warm smile on her lips, her exquisite face blooming like a spring flower, waiting in front of the Imperial Study.

A female Emperor personally coming to welcome him... this treatment was truly enviable!

"Your Majesty!"

Shen Tianxing arrived in front of the main hall, smiling and cupping his hands in a salute.

Given their relationship, these courtesies were actually unnecessary.

But in front of outsiders, and before Yan Yuzhu left the imperial throne, Shen Tianxing still maintained some etiquette.

Yan Yuzhu was a smart person; how could she not know?

"You all may withdraw. Lord Shen and I have important matters to discuss."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

All the eunuchs and palace maids, being perceptive, left. Only then did Yan Yuzhu step forward, take Shen Tianxing's hand, and enter the Imperial Study.

There was no one around the Imperial Study. Here, Yan Yuzhu could let go of herself and no longer maintain imperial majesty.

At this moment, she was truly herself.

The Imperial Study was very large, and several exquisite small dishes had already been placed in the side hall, along with a pot of mellow, fragrant wine.

Yan Yuzhu knew Shen Tianxing liked to drink, so she specially prepared it.

"We've never drunk together. Today, let's have a good few drinks."

Yan Yuzhu also liked to drink. It was rare to have no ministers around, so it was perfect to drink freely with him.

Shen Tianxing was also not polite.

After drinking a cup of wine, Yan Yuzhu looked at him, "Your Cultivation is becoming more and more unfathomable to me. After days of seclusion, you've come out today. Have you made another step forward?"

Shen Tianxing picked up the wine pot and said with a smile, "I've gained a little insight."

His Cultivation strength depended entirely on the amount of experience points. As long as he had enough experience points, he could advance without interruption!

In the eyes of others, this was a manifestation of talent.

"You look a bit tired recently. Is it that court matters are difficult to decide?"

Shen Tianxing continued.

He wouldn't know the exhaustion of being an Emperor, but he had seen it before.

It wasn't hard to guess.

"Mm!"

Yan Yuzhu held the wine glass, a warmth flowing through her heart.

"The territory of the twenty dynasties is vast; how should I decide?"

"Great Qi's foundation is insufficient, and moreover, it has to face the covetousness of Imperial Dynasties beyond those twenty dynasties."

"The great victory in the Western Frontier was originally a great joy, but now it leaves me with no choice."

This was the biggest problem Yan Yuzhu faced.

Great Qi was huge, with an army of well over ten million, but how vast was the territory of the twenty dynasties?

None of them were smaller than Great Qi. To swallow them all, Great Qi simply couldn't manage them entirely!

Once the surrounding Imperial Dynasties launched a war, Great Qi's control would be insufficient, leading to constant harassment and constant exhaustion!

At that time, it would fall into a quagmire and suffer heavy losses!

But if she didn't take it, with such a large piece of fat meat and so many resources in front of her, Yan Yuzhu was unwilling.

This was Great Qi's most troubling issue at the moment, a bittersweet dilemma.

How to choose was a big problem.

"You all think the problem is too complicated."

Shen Tianxing had long anticipated what problems Yan Yuzhu would face.

For others, it was a major problem that was difficult to choose, but for him, it was nothing!

Long before this great war, Shen Tianxing had already thought it through.

"You have a way?!"

Yan Yuzhu's beautiful eyes lifted.

This problem, which no one in the entire court could solve, Shen Tianxing had already thought of a solution?

If that were truly the case, then she wouldn't have to have a headache every day!

Shen Tianxing looked at her with a smile and said, "What's in it for me if I help you solve this difficult problem?"

He wanted benefits!

This was quite unexpected.

Yan Yuzhu had never encountered anyone who dared to ask her for benefits!

She couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused.

No one in the entire court dared to say such words to her!