On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

As night falls, the curfew bells echo through the streets and alleys of the capital, casting a mysterious veil of silence over this ancient city.

Long before the curfew, Lin Zhen sent a secret letter to the Bingmasi, telling them that carpenters would draw carriage lines on the four streets at night, and that the Bingmasi should turn a blind eye to it, neither ask questions nor interfere, and certainly not act rashly or arrest anyone.

The new military commander, Kong Wu, was the second son of Kong Feng, Duke of Ping. He was also a close ally of Lin Zhen, and upon receiving the secret letter, he immediately made arrangements.

At the same time, the Ministry of Works quickly drafted official documents and coordinated with key departments such as the Military Affairs Commission, the Patrol Battalion, and the City Gate Command. Overnight, notices were plastered all over the capital, from narrow alleys to wide main streets.

Written in black and white, it clearly prohibited people from crossing the four main roads. If caught, they would be given a warning the first time, a fine the second time, and forced labor for half a month the third time.

The next day, when the dawn broke and the melodious sound of the morning bells rang out, the people began to go out and come to Xuanwu Street.

In the middle of the street, five lines as pure as snowflakes stretched quietly, outlining four lanes. Large arrows were prominently displayed on the four central lanes, but their meaning was unclear.

The soldiers of the Bingmasi, dressed in iron armor, stood at the newly painted intersection to direct traffic, flexibly dispatching traffic according to the flow of people and vehicles, and determining the best time for people to cross.

Just as several people were about to cross the wide street, a soldier from the military headquarters stepped forward and shouted, "No crossing of Xuanwu Street! Violators will be severely punished! If you want to cross, use the intersection over there!"

"What? How can this be possible?" The common people were all unhappy, but facing the fierce and ferocious military commander, they did not dare to refute him and could only obediently walk slowly towards the intersection.

Soon, a clear and pleasant sound of carriage bells was heard from the end of Xuanwu Street, accompanied by the jingle of horse hooves and wheels. Dozens of carriages came out one after another, like a flowing ribbon, adding a bit of vitality to this busy street.

Some of them were speeding in the middle lane, while others were leisurely waiting in the slow lane to pick up passengers.

At a busy intersection, a family of three was anxiously waiting for the soldiers to let them pass.

The man held the child tightly in his arms and pleaded with the soldier directing traffic over and over again, but no matter what he said, the soldier directing traffic would not let him pass.

The man asked him impatiently, "Sir, when can we get there? My father is sick and needs medicine urgently."

The soldier replied, "Where can I get the medicine?"

"Go to the Immortal Sun in the East Market."

"How long will it take you to get there? By the time you get there, your dad's going to be terrified. Why don't you just take a bus?"

"By car? By what car?"

"There's a carriage over there, hurry up and get in." The soldier pointed to a carriage that was slowly strolling along the roadside. There were big words written on the back of the carriage: Zhizhen Horse and Carriage Company.

Below is the number: 9418.

The man remembered that he had to cross Suzaku Street to get to the East Market, so he asked in confusion, "Sir, it's clearly stated that horses are not allowed on Suzaku Street."

"You're not allowed to ride horses, but you're not allowed to ride carriages. Why all the nonsense? Just sit down if you're allowed to. It's only five cents a ride!"

The man's eyes flashed with surprise when he heard this, and then he smiled and asked repeatedly, "Is it true? Only five cents?"

"Wife, wife, let's get in the carriage!" After saying this, he couldn't wait to pull his wife and ran towards the carriage.

The crowd cast curious glances at the soldier standing in the middle of the intersection and asked questions in a flurry.

"Sir, does this carriage cost five cents to go anywhere?"

"General, are carriages really allowed on Suzaku Street? We just got up and haven't been there yet!"

"Sir, we are not allowed to use this lane. Is it specially for carriages?"

The soldier gradually fell into the sound of people calling him "Master Jun". He could feel that this "Master Jun" was not a title he feared in the past, but a sincere respect and closeness from the people, so he answered sincerely.

"This carriage service was conceived by the prince of the palace. It's for the benefit of the people and to make travel more convenient for everyone! The starting price for a ride is five cents. Even if you go ten feet, it's still five cents! But if the ride takes more than half a cup of tea, you have to pay extra. You can discuss the exact price with the driver."

"That's quite fitting. I'm heading to the Lama Temple in the north, and it'll take me an hour to walk there!"

"Then why are you hesitating? Hurry up and find a carriage. It will be gone if you're too late!"

"Master Jun, Master Jun! Our ancestor's birthday is coming up, and there are so many things we need to buy. Can we rent a car for a day?"

"Why are you asking me? Go ask the driver!"

The soldier was patiently explaining to everyone when suddenly, a family of three who had just gotten on the car whizzed past them on the fast lane next to them and lightly overtook them.

The man leaned halfway out of the window, his face brimming with joy, and shouted, "This carriage is spacious and comfortable. Why don't you all come and experience it? It only costs me six cents to get to the East Market!"

Before he finished speaking, it was like a gust of wind that blew away the hesitation of the crowd.

"Hey, get in, get in!" Everyone responded, and in a moment, they rushed to the remaining carriages like a tide.

In an instant, the twenty carriages on Xuanwu Street were divided up in a moment. Only those pedestrians whose destinations were close at hand remained calm, waiting for the soldiers' orderly guidance.

Those who didn't get a carriage could only stand there and complain: "Really! Why are there so few carriages?"

"That's right, there was a huge crowd of them the day before yesterday!"

"Hey, hey, hey, here comes another one! None of you tried to steal it from me!"

......

The people were very enthusiastic about the convenient and economical carriages. The carriages were especially attractive because of their luxurious interior decoration, unlike the old shabby carriages with uncomfortable seats.

Zhizhen Carriage Company has specially added soft cushions to the seats in the carriage, making it spacious enough to accommodate six people in extreme comfort. The windows are cleverly designed and can be opened and closed at will, allowing passengers to enjoy the fresh breeze and beautiful scenery during the journey.

The drivers were also very clean. Whenever the horses defecated, they would quickly pick up the feces with a small shovel, seal it in a bag, and dispose of it all together at night, leaving no trace of filth behind.

Once the horse is hungry or thirsty, the driver will lead it to the nearest stable where there is prepared hay and water. In just a few minutes, the horse will be able to regain its energy and continue driving.

At the end of the day, the sixty carriages had almost no rest, with wheels rolling and horses' hooves clattering, and they made a lot of money.

The diligent Wei Dayong only ate half a piece of rough pot cake in the morning. For the rest of the time, he almost merged with the horse's back and the shaft of the cart, tirelessly shuttling through the streets and alleys of the capital.

When I counted the money after closing the stall at night, I found that I had made 260 copper coins!

A huge sum of money!

It is comparable to the harvest of a country farmer in a month.

Lin Zhen also saw this busy scene when he went out on the street today, and thought that the work of recruiting rickshaw drivers could be started again.

After all, sixty carriages could not meet the needs of 500,000 people in the capital.

Furthermore, sixty carriages, with a share of fifty coins for each, totaled only three hundred coins, or only three taels of silver. For him, it was no different from not making any profit.

It was also his idea to raise the starting price from two cents to five cents, because he wanted the drivers to earn more and not work hard for a month and have nothing left in their pockets because they had to work for themselves.

Today, Murong Yan still had no intention of summoning him into the palace. In this case, Lin Zhen decided to take the opportunity to do his own things. He came to the home of Liu Kaiwei, the Minister of War.

He needed to pave the way for the poor fat guy.

Liu Kaiwei, now in his prime, exudes an extraordinary presence within his fifty-year-old frame. Though a civil servant, he possesses the robustness of a military commander. His graying hair is meticulously combed, and he appears energetic, showing no trace of age.

His existence seems to be the best interpretation of the saying "A scholar can bring peace to the world with his pen, and a warrior can decide the outcome with his horse."

Moreover, he is Lin Zhenxian's die-hard younger brother. It can be said that in his eyes there is only the regent, not the emperor.

It’s a pity that in the original book, after Gu Beichen eliminated Lin Zhenxian, he tortured him but failed to pry a word out of his mouth. In the end, Liu Kaiwei died of starvation. His loyal and brave heart is regrettable.

When Lin Zhen came to visit in person, the smile on Hawick Lau's face was simple and sincere, full of welcome.

He enthusiastically led Lin Zhen into the study, his hearty laughter echoing through the corridors. "Hahahaha, it's a great honor for our humble home to have you here, Prince. Please take a seat! Someone, tell the kitchen to prepare the best food and wine!"

Knowing that he was one of them, Lin Zhen didn't bother with formalities and sat down calmly, his words revealing a certain familiarity: "Uncle Liu, please don't be polite. I came here today to ask for a favor. I will leave after I finish speaking. I dare not disturb you any further."

"That won't do. You haven't come for many days. If you come today, you must at least accompany me, your uncle, to have a few drinks! Hahahaha." Liu Kaiwei's laughter was hearty and heroic.

In the palace, Lin Zhen only has one relative, old man Lin Zhenxian, but the two of them don't meet often.

Therefore, when Liu Kaiwei's overflowing enthusiasm brushed Lin Zhen's heart, he couldn't help but feel a special warmth.

However, this warmth was short-lived, because Liu Kaiwei's next words were like a bolt from the blue, almost scaring Lin Zhen to death.

"Butler, go call Yanyan out to keep you company and tell her that the prince is here!"

"Yes." The butler agreed and left.

Lin Zhen was dumbfounded.

Yanyan?

The heroine who died on the battlefield alongside Lin Zhenxian?

What's the point of calling her out?