On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

In the back hall of the Purple Palace, warm fragrance floats in the air and candlelight flickers red.

Lin Zhen looked at Murong Yan's eyes in the mirror, which were full of doubt and inquiry, and a knowing smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He did not answer directly, but slowly walked to the huge Western mercury mirror dressing table.

He turned sideways, his back against the smooth and cool rosewood table, half of his buttocks leaning casually on the edge of the table, his posture lazy and a little unruly.

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Murong Yan, who was sitting on the embroidered cushion, leisurely, with a teasing look that seemed to show he knew everything.

"Xirang?" Lin Zhen chuckled and shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised mockery. "My silly Yan'er, where in this world is there such a thing as real Xirang? It's just a lie made up by local officials to show off their achievements, or by some people with ulterior motives to create a gimmick, to fool the common people and deceive the ignorant!"

Murong Yan frowned slightly when she heard this, obviously not completely convinced by this answer.

She turned around and faced Lin Zhen, her tone questioning, "But Sun Wenqian's memorial clearly states it! That island is called Chongming Island, right? It's indeed growing! From a few dozen meters in the Southern Chu era to over fifty meters now! Sun Wenqian personally sent someone to measure it! If it weren't for the divine Xiran, how can we explain this sandbar's self-growth?!"

"Grow on its own?" Lin Zhen sneered, stood up from the dressing table, walked to Murong Yan, looked down at her, with the patience of a science teacher facing a curious student (and a little bit of superiority).

"Silly girl, this isn't a miracle at all! It's a perfectly natural geological phenomenon! It's called an estuarine alluvial island!"

He paused, as if trying to organize his words, explaining in a way she could understand: "Think about it, the Yangtze River, this mighty river that runs through the heart of our Daqian region, rushing thousands of miles into the sea. How much mud and sand does it carry? The rocks upstream are washed, eroded, and broken down by the current, turning into fine sand and soil. These are then carried away by the surging river, rushing eastward and into the sea!"

Lin Zhen extended his finger and traced the direction of the Yangtze River in the air. His tone became more vivid: "What happens when the river water rushes to the estuary and encounters the vast ocean? The river water's speed suddenly slows down! Its ability to carry sediment is greatly weakened! It's like holding a basin of sandy water and suddenly stopping. Doesn't the sand sink to the bottom?"

Murong Yan nodded subconsciously, seeming to understand a little.

"That's right!" Lin Zhen clapped his hands. "The silt carried down from the Yangtze River thousands of miles upstream, when it reached the estuary, the current slowed, and it couldn't sink! It piled up layer by layer at the confluence of the river and the sea! Year after year, day by day, the silt piled higher and higher, eventually emerging from the water, forming an island! This is the origin of Chongming Island!"

He further explained, "Furthermore, this accumulation process will never stop! As long as the Yangtze River continues to flow and washes away the land upstream, it will continuously carry silt to its estuary! Therefore, this island will continue to grow! It might be fifty meters today, sixty meters next year! And even bigger the year after! This isn't some divine tortoise carrying something, nor is it the growth of fertile soil. It's simply the natural result of silt accumulation! Do you understand?"

As Murong Yan listened to Lin Zhen's clear and easy-to-understand explanation, the confusion and shock in her eyes gradually faded away, replaced by a bright realization!

She opened her mouth slightly, was stunned for a moment, and then let out a long "Oh", with a look of relief on her face as if "so that's it", and even a little embarrassed that she was amused by her previous superstitious ideas.

"So that's how it is," she murmured, then curled her lips in annoyance and muttered like a little girl, "Alas, I thought I had really discovered some ancient artifact, but my excitement was for nothing! It makes me even think about whether I should go and see it myself..."

"Are you happy for nothing?" Lin Zhen couldn't help but burst out laughing as he looked at her disappointed yet cute expression. He sat back on the edge of the dressing table, leaning forward slightly, getting closer to Murong Yan, his eyes flashing with a fox-like cunning and shrewd light.

"Who said it was for nothing? I was the one who leaked the news about Xirang on purpose!"

"Ah?" Murong Yan was stunned again, her eyes filled with confusion. "You let it out on purpose? Why?"

"Why?" Lin Zhen's lips curled up in a determined arc, his voice filled with the confidence of someone in control of the situation, "Because merchants, those profit-driven businessmen, have sharper noses than dogs and bolder courage than the sky! As soon as they get a whiff of huge profits, they'll swarm in like sharks seeing blood!"

His eyes gleamed. "What is Xirang? In the eyes of the world, it's a divine object! It's a symbol of good fortune! It's a symbol that can bring endless wealth and blessings. Just think about it, if merchants knew that at the mouth of the Yangtze River, there was a magical piece of land nourished by Xirang and constantly growing, what would they think? What would they do?"

Lin Zhen asked and answered his own questions, his tone full of incitement: "They will go crazy and will do anything to gain a foothold on that sacred land! Buying land, building houses, opening shops, and constructing docks, they will be like crazy, waving silver coins, rushing to throw their mountains of gold and silver at Hu County and Chongming Island!"

He stood up suddenly, walked to the window, opened it a crack, and looked out at the dark night, as if he could see the future wealth frenzy that was about to be set off on that land:

"Since that's the case, why don't I just go with the flow? I'll build a special economic zone right here in Hu County, on this blessed land! I'll formulate rules, divide the areas, and auction the land publicly! I'll make sure those merchants, dazzled by the miracle, will willingly and eagerly hand their money over to me! Then, I'll use the money to build roads, ports, and cities! I'll truly develop Hu County! I'll turn this sacred land into a true treasure trove! A money-making machine!"

Murong Yan's heart was overwhelmed when she heard this!

Although she didn't quite understand the specific economic operations, the grand blueprint that Lin Zhen painted of making something for nothing and laying eggs with borrowed chickens made her instantly understand the huge benefits and far-reaching significance involved!

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "So that's how it is! My husband, this is a brilliant plan! It's a stroke of genius! Using the name of a miracle to actually develop the land! Manipulating all the merchants in the world at my fingertips, using them for my own benefit!"

But after the excitement wore off, she frowned slightly and raised a crucial question: "But my husband, is Hu County really suitable? I heard that it's humid and full of mosquitoes, and it's not a suitable place to live. Liaodong is vast, sparsely populated, and rich in resources. Why not open a special zone in Liaodong?"

Lin Zhen turned around, looking at Murong Yan with a burning gaze, and said firmly, "No! Hu County's geographical location is unique. Looking across the entire Daqian, or even the entire world, there's no other place as perfect as this!"

He walked back to Murong Yan, extended his finger again, and pointed in the air. "Look! Hu County is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River! Backed by the most prosperous Jiangnan hinterland, silk, tea, porcelain, grain, and other products are the most abundant in the world. And the Yangtze River is a flowing golden waterway, continuously transporting the wealth of Jiangnan to Hu County!"

He pointed eastward, "Hu County faces the East China Sea and possesses the rudiments of a natural deepwater harbor. With a little dredging and construction, it can accommodate enormous ships. To the east, it connects to Korea and Japan; to the south, it reaches Fujian, Guangdong, and Southeast Asia; to the west, it can even sail to Western countries! This is the perfect springboard connecting the inland and the ocean! It will be the key artery for controlling maritime trade and connecting with the world in the future!"

Lin Zhen's voice was filled with passion and foresight. "Liaodong is a desirable region, but it's isolated, with a harsh, cold climate, far from the empire's economic core, and inconvenient transportation. Hu County, on the other hand, will be the fulcrum that drives the entire Daqian economy, a vortex that gathers wealth from all over the world! Establish a special economic zone here, attract merchants from all over, develop maritime trade, and drive prosperity for all industries in Jiangnan and even the entire country. Let Daqian's goods be sold all over the world, let overseas treasures flow into Daqian! Let the treasury be filled! Let the people be prosperous!"

"When the people are prosperous and their lives are stable, they will naturally be grateful to the court and feel a greater sense of belonging to Daqian! This is the true way to a prosperous country and a strong people, and to achieve long-term peace and stability! The Huxian Special Economic Zone is a key step in this grand chess game! It is indispensable!"

Murong Yan was completely shocked by Lin Zhen's passionate and visionary remarks!

She seemed to see a prosperous picture that was ignited by the Huxian Special Zone and eventually spread throughout the Daqian!

Her eyes were filled with admiration and trust for Lin Zhen, and she nodded vigorously: "My husband is very far-sighted, and I understand! The Huxian Special Zone is imperative!"

She then asked with concern, "Does my husband plan to personally take charge of the situation? When will he leave?"

"Yes," Lin Zhen nodded, his expression regaining its composure. "This matter is of great importance, and I must be present in person. The preliminary layout, rule-making, and coordination among all parties all require my personal presence. We'll be preparing to depart in the next few days."

Upon hearing this, a hint of reluctance flashed across Murong Yan's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by understanding and support.

She suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, my dear, I've sent you a top scholar named Xiao Hanzhou. He's quite interesting. He refused the easily obtainable position of a Hanlin scholar and insisted on studying miscellaneous subjects with you. I couldn't persuade him, so I asked him to report to the palace. Why not bring him with you on this trip to Hu County? Let him follow you and gain some experience. Perhaps he'll be a promising talent."

"Xiao Hanzhou?" Lin Zhen raised his eyebrows slightly. He was a little unfamiliar with the name, but when he heard the key words "top scholar", "don't want Hanlin", and "learn miscellaneous subjects", a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.

This is an unexpected gain.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded: "Since he is a talent recommended by His Majesty, he must have some outstanding qualities. It would be a good idea to bring him along."

The couple talked about some personal matters, and when the night was quiet, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Lin Zhen had breakfast served by palace servants, and then left the palace in a carriage.

The carriage drove out of the majestic palace gate, passed through the bustling and noisy Imperial Street, and headed towards the Zhenbei Palace.

The early morning sun shines through the car window, bringing a hint of warmth.

Lin Zhen leaned on the soft brocade cushion, closed his eyes and rested, still thinking about the many details of the Huxian Special Economic Zone in his mind.

"Uu——!"

The carriage slowly stopped on the wide bluestone square in front of the palace.

The driver pulled the reins, and the horse's hooves made a crisp echo on the stone slabs.

Lin Zhen lifted the car curtain and was about to get out, but his eyes were attracted by a figure standing in front of the palace gate.

He was a young scholar in blue clothes.

He was wearing a blue cotton gown that had faded from washing. It was starched clean, but the material was plain.

He had no extra ornaments on his body, only an equally plain blue cloth bookcase on his back.

He stood there quietly, his figure as tall as a pine tree, his back to the palace gate and his face towards the street, as if waiting for something.

The most striking thing is his profile.

The sunlight outlined his clear and slightly cold features, with a high nose bridge and lips tightly pressed into a firm straight line.

His eyes were calmly looking ahead. He did not have the uneasiness of entering a place of power and influence, nor did he have the aloofness and arrogance that is common among scholars. Instead, he showed a rock-like calmness and an almost stubborn persistence.

It was a kind of fortitude that had been through hardships but remained unchanged in its determination, which formed a strange contrast with the plain blue clothes he was wearing.

Lin Zhen's carriage stopped, which seemed to startle him.

He slowly turned his head, his eyes fixed on Lin Zhen, who had just lifted the car curtain and leaned out.

Eyes facing each other.

A slight fluctuation flashed across the scholar's eyes, and then he returned to calm.

Without any hesitation, he walked towards the carriage.

The pace is steady, neither fast nor slow.

Lin Zhen also got off the carriage and stood beside the shaft.

The scholar in green walked to a place three steps away from Lin Zhen and stopped. He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Lin Zhen. His movements were standard and respectful. His voice was clear and powerful, with a calmness that was neither humble nor arrogant.

"Student Xiao Hanzhou pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Lin Zhen's eyes scanned him, from his simple attire to his calm demeanor and clear, resolute eyes. He knew for sure that this must be the "interesting" number one scholar Murong Yan had mentioned.

"Well," Lin Zhen nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face, "You are... this year's top scorer, Xiao Hanzhou?"

Xiao Hanzhou stood up straight, looking at Lin Zhen calmly without any hesitation, his voice still calm: "I am a humble student, but I am lucky enough to be chosen by Your Majesty. I truly do not deserve the title of top scholar."

"Haha," Lin Zhen chuckled, quite appreciating his humble yet proud attitude. "Your Majesty has already explained your situation to me. There's no need to be so modest."

He raised his hand and pointed at the palace gate, "Come in first."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Hanzhou bowed again, then stepped aside to make way, half a step behind Lin Zhen, and followed the powerful prince into the Zhenbei Palace for the first time, which symbolized one of the pinnacles of power in the empire.