On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

"No! Absolutely not!" Lin Zhen's answer was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

He sat up straight, his expression becoming extremely serious, "Yan'er, don't rush into this!"

"The situation in those newly established states to the south is incredibly complex and unusual!" he emphasized. "Those areas were once ruled by Southern Chu, and the customs there are vastly different from those in the north. Local tyrants, remnants of Southern Chu, and barbarian tribes are deeply intertwined. Even if some of the current officials are truly mediocre or even just sitting there doing nothing, they've been there for years, even decades! They're familiar with the local customs and understand the bottom lines of various factions. They know which waters are safe to tread and which pitfalls are absolutely forbidden! The network of relationships they've built, while perhaps tainted by self-interest, plays a huge role in maintaining the most basic stability in the region—even if it's a gray area of ​​stability!"

He looked at Murong Yan sharply. "If, in order to fill the vacancies, we rashly throw in a bunch of newly minted scholars or transferred officials who are only good at studying, completely clueless about local affairs, and lack even the most basic practical knowledge, what will be the result? They'll be like headless flies, running around in circles! They'll be easily exploited, sidelined, or even framed by local tyrants! Their incompetence and lack of worldly wisdom will only fuel more public resentment and intensify the conflict! Not only will it fail to solve the problem, but it will only add fuel to the fire, causing the situation to completely spiral out of control! It's easy to create chaos, but trying to clean it up? Ha, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

He extended his finger and nodded emphatically. "Let these people hold on for now. Although their efficiency is low, at least the situation won't get worse. We must be patient and wait! Wait for the first batch of hard-working people trained by the Royal Academy to graduate, wait for us to establish a more effective local administrative and control system, wait for the right time to come! This is like playing Go, you can't be impatient!"

"What's more, the war in Northern Yan is almost over. Once victory is achieved, the territory will be greatly expanded. There, too, there is a mixed population of Hu and Han people, the climate is harsh and cold, and the people's customs are even more complex and difficult to deal with. By then, the predicament of lacking officials and officials will only be exacerbated! Add to that the vast black soil in the Northeast, and we still haven't fully figured out the development process... Alas."

He sighed slightly, "I'm afraid the headaches are only going to increase and become more frequent."

Murong Yan was silent for a moment. Lin Zhen's analysis was incisive and laid out the hidden crises and costs in front of her.

As an empress, she understood these things, but her urgency to bring about change and to help the people overcome their difficulties would sometimes temporarily overwhelm her rationality.

At this moment, she took a deep breath, and her phoenix-like gorgeous tail flowed across the carpet with her subtle movements.

"The general direction of the Northeast has at least been decided," she said, trying to find some comfort. Her gaze fell on Lin Zhen's face, and her tone became soft but firm. "Opening up cultivated land, developing water conservancy projects, settling immigrants on the border, and building official roads are all ways to strengthen the foundation. If we continue to implement them, even if the process is long, we will eventually see results. As for Northern Yan and the South, my husband is right. Haste makes waste."

She picked up the teacup, a faintly tired yet confident smile spreading across her lips. That smile was like sunlight piercing through thick clouds. "Fortunately, you and I are still young. We have plenty of time and energy. This magnificent Daqian, this ancestral people, we can always polish it into what we want, little by little. No rush, husband, we'll take our time."

After she finished speaking, her gaze inadvertently turned to Musk Moon who was standing behind her. She saw that ever since she mentioned the vacancy in the south, this little girl's eyes had been drifting towards Lin Zhen from time to time, with a hint of concern and barely perceptible shyness in her eyes. When Lin Zhen's words were fierce, she leaned forward slightly, showing some nervousness. When Lin Zhen's tone slowed down, she subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Murong Yan saw all of the little girl's behavior.

The corners of the empress's lips curled up into a knowing yet mischievous smile, and she deliberately raised her voice: "Mushu Yue!"

Musk Moon trembled violently like a frightened deer: "Ah! Your Majesty!"

He quickly lowered his head.

"Why are you hiding?" Murong Yan's phoenix eyes were smiling, with an unquestionable teasing, "I see you're standing there feeling restless. It's just right, my husband has been talking for so long, he must be tired. Go, go to my husband and massage his legs to loosen them up!"

"Ah?" Musk Moon's face instantly turned red, like a ripe peach. She lowered her head even lower, twisting the corner of her clothes with her fingers. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this servant..."

Huanbi stood beside Lin Zhen, originally watching her husband and the empress discussing state affairs with a gentle smile. But when she heard Murong Yan's instructions to Musk Moon, a very brief flash of confusion and surprise flashed in her eyes.

As one of Lin Zhen's bedmates, she was very perceptive and had vaguely noticed that Musk Moon seemed to have some unusual attention to her husband, but she always thought it was due to her duty as the empress's attendant.

At this moment, looking at Murong Yan's tone of command and Musk Moon's embarrassed reaction...

Lin Zhen was not at all shy. When he heard Murong Yan's words, he slightly retracted his long legs, which were originally stretched out casually, and raised his chin towards his feet. His movements were natural and a little domineering, and he looked at Musk Moon with a smile.

Huanbi was so smart that even though she had some turmoil in her heart, it didn't show on her face at all.

She quickly suppressed the doubt in her eyes, and with a gentle and very natural look, she took a small step back slightly to the side, giving up the space beside Lin Zhen's legs.

The movements are smooth and just right.

With her cheeks burning, Musk Moon finally moved her feet and walked in front of Lin Zhen under the pressure of Murong Yan's smiling gaze and Lin Zhen's calm gaze.

She knelt stiffly on the thick Persian velvet rug at Lin Zhen's feet.

Lin Zhen had a smile on his lips and naturally put his long legs over. He did not put them on her soft legs, but casually stretched his two feet wearing silk shoes directly in front of Musk Moon's soft belly, tightly attached to the curve of her body.

This posture seems to make it easier for Musk Moon to massage her legs, but in fact it is full of intimate possessiveness.

Musk Moon's body trembled slightly, and she felt the weight and the man's breath coming from her abdomen. She felt a heat wave rushing to her head, and her cheeks burned even more intensely.

She didn't dare look up at anyone, and tried to calm herself down. She stretched out her slightly trembling hands, clenched them into two small fists, and began to gently and methodically massage Lin Zhen's calf muscles one by one.

The force was moderate, with the youthfulness and tenderness unique to girls.

Lin Zhen let out a very soft moan of satisfaction.

He relaxed his whole body, sinking completely back into the chair, then adjusted his posture and naturally rested his head on Huanbi's soft, faintly fragrant arms behind him.

A gentle smile immediately appeared on Huanbi's face. She very tacitly shifted the fan to one hand, and naturally raised the other soft hand. Her fingertips gently fell on Lin Zhen's temple, and she began to massage with moderate force.