On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Sun Wenqian's heart was in his throat.

The reason why he traveled thousands of miles to personally bring this shabby map to Beijing to meet the prince and report this seemingly absurd "miracle" was not just to show off or curry favor.

The deeper reason is fear!

The story of Xirang was widely spread in Yangzhou, and even merchants from surrounding provinces and neighboring countries had heard of it.

If such a magical object were to be used by someone with ulterior motives, or if it were to arouse suspicion from the imperial court, saying that Sun Wenqian was concealing auspicious signs and plotting evil, it would be a catastrophic disaster!

He must be the first to report this matter to the highest level, and hand over the right of disposal, along with this hot potato, to the powerful and unpredictable Crown Prince in front of him!

Only in this way can he escape from the huge vortex brought about by this miracle, and even... maybe get some credit?

silence.

A suffocating silence spread in the side hall.

The only sounds were Sun Wenqian's heavy breathing and the faint chirping of cicadas outside the window.

Finally, Lin Zhen slowly turned around.

The sunlight filtered through the high windows and fell on his angular profile.

There was no expression of shock or ecstasy on his face. Instead, he had a calmness that seemed to show he knew everything. There was even a faint, unfathomable smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Xirang? Carried by the divine tortoise? Huh..." Lin Zhen's voice was low and steady, and no emotion could be heard.

In this era, no one except Chu Xiling knows what is going on in Chongming Island better than him.

He walked to the desk and casually tapped the rough map of Yangzhou with his slender fingers. His fingertips landed on the crooked ink dot representing "Chongming Island" at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

"Governor Sun," he raised his eyes, his gaze like lightning, directly piercing Sun Wenqian, "you have done a great job. This matter is beyond doubt."

When Sun Wenqian heard this, it was as if he heard the sound of nature. His tense nerves suddenly relaxed and he almost collapsed in his chair!

He quickly straightened his back, a flattering smile of relief on his face: "Your Highness, please understand! I am only reporting the truth! I dare not take credit for it!"

"However, I need you to immediately compile this matter, along with the detailed data from your two measurements and the testimony of the fishermen on the island, into a clearly organized memorial for His Majesty. Remember, it must be detailed and vivid, and the legend of the divine turtle carrying the earth and the fertile soil growing on it must be as miraculous as possible! The more mysterious, the better!"

"Ah?" The smile on Sun Wenqian's face froze instantly, and his eyes were filled with great confusion and puzzlement.

"Your Highness? How dare you? Why do you say this?" He blurted out subconsciously, "This involves divine objects and auspicious signs. Shouldn't it be kept secret, controlled secretly by the court... by you, Your Highness? To publicize it so widely, even exaggerating the legend? Wouldn't this attract covetousness from all sides? What if someone gets to know and harbors evil intentions..."

"Evil intentions?" Lin Zhen's smile deepened, with a sense of confidence that he was in control of the situation and a hint of cold calculation. "If they didn't have evil intentions and didn't covet me, how could this prince 'swindle' me out of money?"

"Cheat...cheat money?!" Sun Wenqian was completely confused!

He suspected that there was something wrong with his ears!

How could a prince of a royal family, rich enough to rival a country, plan to defraud money from this deserted island?

Apart from growing some reeds and raising some fish and shrimps, what else is valuable on this island?

Looking at Sun Wenqian's stunned expression, as if struck by lightning, Lin Zhen seemed to feel better.

He didn't explain any more, but simply waved his hand, his tone returning to a calm yet unquestionable tone: "Just do as I say. You'll understand the reasons later. Now, go draft the memorial immediately!"

"Yes! I obey your command! I will do it right away!"

Although Sun Wenqian was full of doubts, he did not dare to ask any more questions.

He quickly stood up, bowed, and almost crawled out of the side hall. The back of his official robe was already soaked with cold sweat.

Not long after Sun Wenqian left, he suddenly turned around and came back.

He mustered up a lot of courage to come back. After entering the door, he asked, "Prince, do you want to come to Yangzhou in person and take a look at the sand island?"

"Yes."

"Your Highness, I dare to warn you. That place is remote and desolate, extremely humid, and infested with mosquitoes. It's nothing compared to the prosperity and comfort of the capital. I'm worried that your precious body can't endure such suffering. If Your Highness wishes to know the details, Lord Sun will do his best to draw a map and report it to you, without omitting a single detail."

"Suffering?" Lin Zhen finally turned around, a playful smile on his face, but his eyes were as sharp as a knife.

"The place I'm going to is beyond description with just the word 'suffering'. There lies a veritable mountain of gold!"

He no longer paid attention to the astonished Sun Wenqian, raised his voice, and called out to the door:

"Cheng Xuan!"

A clear reply came almost immediately: "Yes!"

A bright orange figure appeared at the door like a whirlwind.

She is still wearing her signature orange-yellow outfit, which makes her skin look whiter than snow and full of vitality.

Her long black hair was tied into two playful buns on top of her head, tied with ribbons of the same color, swaying gently with her movements.

She stood at the door in a coquettish manner, looking at Lin Zhen with a pair of clear big eyes, asking.

Lin Zhen's gaze lingered on her youthful face for a moment, and then he gave an order in a deep voice, his voice filled with the determination of embarking on a new journey:

"Pass on my order! Send someone to recall all the ladies to the palace immediately! I have an important announcement to make! Quickly!"

"Yes!" Cheng Xuan responded decisively without any hesitation.

She turned around and flew out the door like a light swallow. Her orange figure quickly disappeared into the depths of the corridor, leaving only a faint fragrance.

Silence returned to the side hall again.

Lin Zhen stood alone in front of the huge map, his gaze returning to the growing land marked with the sand island.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the rough ink spot. His deep eyes no longer showed the teasing and control he had when facing Sun Wenqian, but were shining with a burning and excited light as if he had discovered a huge treasure!

Sedimentation? Estuarine alluvial island?

Were the ancients ignorant? Carried by a divine tortoise? Prosperous and thriving in the fertile soil?

Ah……

They will never know that this seemingly barren mudflat, which is constantly expanding under the power of nature, does not contain any divine objects, but a strategic resource that is more precious than gold and enough to pry open the economic lifeline of the entire empire and even the neighboring countries - the prototype of a deep-water port!

And it will also be an excellent springboard for connecting rivers and seas, radiating inland, and controlling trade routes in the future!

"Chongming..." Lin Zhen whispered the name, a determined look on his lips, "This prince is here."