On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Lin Zhen felt that he could not describe Chu Xiling's beauty, especially at this moment.

Chu Xiling held an umbrella, taking slow and light steps. She was wearing a moon-white fox fur coat, and the white fur made her skin look even whiter, like a winter plum blossom blooming in the snow.

The edges of the blue and white embroidered shoes were dyed dark by the snow, as if they were wearing a scarf. Contrasting with the dark buildings around them, they looked like elves fallen into the mortal world.

From the side, Chu Xiling's face was cool and charming, with a high nose bridge and delicate chin outlining a beautiful outline.

When did she come out?

Lin Zhen walked over and called out, "Princess Qingqiu."

When the people around heard that the woman in front of them was a princess, they couldn't help but take a few steps back and stay away from her.

It's not that I hate her, but I'm afraid that I might accidentally offend her.

Chu Xiling stopped and looked back, her hair rising and falling gracefully as she danced.

Seeing that it was Lin Zhen, she turned back again without saying anything.

Lin Zhen stood behind her and asked, "When did you come out?"

"I'll go back right now."

After saying that, Chu Xiling turned around stubbornly and was about to go back, but Lin Zhen stood in front of her.

"No, it's nice to go out for a walk."

"do you agree?"

"I always agree."

Chu Xiling was not tall, but definitely not short. Lin Zhen was so close to her that he could even see her secretly pursing her lips.

She was a little confused about whether to continue moving forward.

After a few seconds, she turned around resolutely and continued walking forward.

Lin Zhen followed beside her without an umbrella. The two walked in unison on the crunchy snow.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Only the umbrella that kept approaching Lin Zhen seemed to represent something.

I don’t know how long I’ve been gone.

Even Huang Shu and Han Zhong were tired from walking, and Chu Xiling spoke softly.

"The capital of your Qian Kingdom seems to have not changed much. It's the same as when I arrived."

"That's true. The changes in the capital haven't been big, but the changes outside the capital are huge."

"How big is it?"

"Twenty centimeters."

I thought this joke would make Chu Xiling laugh, but unexpectedly she looked at Lin Zhen very seriously, her face full of curiosity.

"What's twenty centimeters? Is it twenty feet of road?"

"Uh..." Lin Zhen's face turned red, and he really didn't know how to explain it.

After all, it seems like I am the dirtiest person.

"Nothing. Four major roads have been built outside the capital, leading to all directions. This is one of the most important policy decisions of Daqian at present."

"How far should it be built? Where should it be built to?"

"As long as it's Daqian's territory, we'll build it. In less than ten years, all of Daqian's cities will be connected to the capital."

"What's the use of this?" Chu Xiling was also considered a talented woman, but her knowledge was limited to written Chinese.

There is certainly no problem for her to compose poems and articles, but she does not understand the advanced knowledge of later generations, such as the theory that building roads is the first step to getting rich.

“Road construction is the most important foundation for national development.”

"But building roads costs money, and your country doesn't have that much money."

"The imperial court does have no money, but merchants and aristocratic families do."

"Do we have to snatch it from the deceased family?"

"It's almost like robbery, except this time it's voluntary. The imperial court issues a policy outlining the rules and requirements for road construction, and then noble families or merchants contribute funds for its construction. After it's completed, anyone using the road must pay a toll. For the first three years, the fees collected, in addition to necessary taxes, go to the investors. After three years, the imperial court reclaims the money."

"People are being charged for walking? Haha." Chu Xiling rarely smiled.

It's a sarcastic smile, but it's also very nice.

"Are you not going to give the common people a way to survive?"

"No, the people don't charge any money. We only collect tolls from merchants, based on the distance and baggage carried. One penny per ten pounds, one penny per mile. Who wouldn't want to travel on such a straight and wide road?"

"What if someone sneaks on the road? Merchants are very good at taking advantage of others."

"No, there are guardrails on both sides of the road. No horse-drawn or ox-drawn carts can cross them. We will also give each merchant team a payment receipt, recording the checkpoint where they entered and exited. If you exit the road midway, the toll will not be refunded. If you exit the road beyond the registered end point, an additional fee will be charged. So, not only does building the road cost nothing, it will also make the court a lot of money, because there are so many merchants coming to Qian Country now."

Chu Xiling stopped talking, as if she was thinking about the feasibility of Lin Zhen's words, or perhaps she was left speechless by Lin Zhen's rebuttal.

The snow is getting heavier.

It was as if God had accidentally overturned a box filled with goose feathers, enveloping the entire capital city in a world of silver.

Lin Zhen and Chu Xiling walked side by side on the snowy street. The snow beneath their feet made a soft "crunching" sound, as if whispering accompaniment to their walk.

Icicles of varying lengths hung from the eaves of the shops on both sides of the street, gleaming coldly in the dim light of the sky.

Occasionally a cold wind blew, and the icicles collided with each other, making a crisp sound, breaking the long silence between the two.

Snowflakes fell on Lin Zhen's shoulders, and soon a thin layer accumulated, but he was unaware of it.

They walked quietly like this, their breaths turning into white mist in the cold air, blending and dissipating.

At this moment, it seemed as if the world only contained the two of them and the endless snow scene.

Suddenly, a burst of rapid drum sounds came faintly from a distance, breaking the quiet atmosphere.

Then, a noisy voice accompanied by the messy sound of horse hooves came from far away.

Suddenly, a fast horse rushed over from the end of the street at lightning speed. The rider waved his whip and shouted loudly: "Great victory in Xia Pi! Southern Chu has surrendered!"

The voice was high-pitched and passionate, and it carried far and wide in the air after the snow.

This sudden news, like a bombshell, instantly caused an uproar among the crowd.

The people around stopped what they were doing, looked up, their faces filled with shock and excitement.

"Your Majesty is mighty! He was able to force Nan Chu to surrender. He is truly worthy of being called the God of War!"

"God bless you! I knew those rats from Nanchu were no match for the prince, and yet they always provoke him! They deserve it!"

"If I see someone from Nanchu again, I'll rush up to him and ask him if he submits! If he doesn't, I'll keep fighting!"

"No, no, no, I have to go home and heat up a pot of wine to celebrate!"

The people cheered.

The moment Chu Xiling heard these words, she suddenly stopped in her tracks as if she had been cast under a spell.

Her eyes widened, and the gentleness in them was instantly replaced by astonishment and pain.

Snowflakes continued to fall on her face, mixing with the tears that were falling from her eyes. It was hard to tell whether they were snow or tears.

Seeing this, Lin Zhen frowned slightly and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Chu Xiling and said softly, "It looks like the negotiations are about to begin."

Chu Xiling slowly turned her head and looked at Lin Zhen, her eyes full of pleading: "Can you please let my country go?"

Her voice trembled slightly, sounding particularly desolate in the cold air.

Lin Zhen was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

There was a hint of pity in his eyes, but more of determination.

"I still say the same thing. The defeated have no right to make demands. This is not up to you or me."

When Chu Xiling heard this answer, her body swayed slightly, as if she was blown off balance by a strong wind. She stood there blankly, letting the snowflakes fall on her body.

It took a long time before she slowly came back to her senses.

Then he took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and continued walking forward.

Lin Zhen followed her silently, and the atmosphere between them became increasingly solemn.

After walking for a while, Huang Shu caught up and whispered, "Prince, if we go any further, we'll be out of the city."

Lin Zhen didn't say anything, and Chu Xiling didn't even pause. The two of them continued to walk forward resolutely.

Huang Shu and his guards had no choice but to follow them.

As you walk out of the city gate, the scenery becomes more beautiful.

Outside the city was a vast expanse of white wilderness. The mountains in the distance were also covered with snow, merging with the sky, making it impossible to tell where the mountains were and where the sky was.

The sunlight after the snow fell on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light that hurt people's eyes.

Chu Xiling stopped in an empty snowy field. She turned around and looked at Lin Zhen quietly.

The sunlight shines on her, outlining her slender figure.

At this moment, she was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, yet with a hint of heartbreaking sadness.

"Let Chu go. I'm willing to do anything."

Lin Zhen's heart was beating fast. He looked at Chu Xiling and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Just as he was hesitating, Chu Xiling suddenly took a step forward, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed Lin Zhen on the lips.

This sudden action made Lin Zhen freeze in place, with an embarrassed look on his face.

He subconsciously wanted to raise his hands, but he didn't know where to put them, and he seemed a little at a loss.

Chu Xiling closed her eyes, tears falling from the corners of her eyes, her lips trembling slightly, and she whispered: "I will give you the best of me, please let Chu Guo go, okay?"

Her voice was choked with sobs, which made it particularly moving in the silence of the snow.

Lin Zhen hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he shook his head firmly.

"For the sake of the country's interests, please forgive me for not being able to agree to your request."

Chu Xiling's body trembled violently when she heard Lin Zhen's refusal.

She slowly opened her eyes, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly.

Just when she was completely desperate, Lin Zhen said, "But for you, I can let your family go."

Chu Xiling suddenly cast a glance over.

The two of them stood quietly in the snow, looking at each other, and the world around them seemed to have disappeared.

I don’t know how long it took, but Chu Xiling suddenly came over again and offered her hot lips.

Before the kiss, Lin Zhen heard her say something.

Thank you.