On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The sky was slightly bright, and the mist had not yet completely dissipated.

Lin Zhen's figure appeared at the gate of the county government office. The cool morning air with a hint of moisture brushed across his cheeks, but it failed to wipe away the clarity in his eyes.

He did not return home all night, and the personal guards following him looked normal. However, when Xiao Hanzhou, Chu Xiling and others who stayed in the yamen saw him, a hint of understanding flashed across their eyes, and then they restrained themselves completely, without any intention of exploring the matter.

In this era, the privileges of the upper class are as natural as breathing.

Enjoying the family of a criminal? This isn't even a stain, not even a romantic affair.

It is just one of the countless insignificant derivatives of power, as common as crushing an ant.

Aren’t the hundreds of wives and daughters of criminals in the Beijing Jiaofang Bureau there just for the nobles and officials to indulge in pleasure?

No matter what Lin Zhen did at Wang's house last night, in everyone's eyes, it was just a natural inspection of the "trophies" he deserved.

It can even be said that it provides a slim chance of survival for those women who are living in constant fear.

Lin Zhen didn't care about this silent "understanding" at all. He had a bigger blueprint in his mind.

After a simple breakfast and handling some county affairs, he ordered a trip to Chongming Island.

Xiao Hanzhou, Chu Xiling, and Mao Mengji followed.

Soon, a fleet consisting of several sturdy official ships and escort boats, escorted by hundreds of elite royal guards, left the Huangpu River wharf, cut through the turbid river water, and headed towards the Yangtze River estuary.

Chongming Island, which was later covered by skyscrapers and cross-sea bridges, now presented a primitive and slightly wild picture to Lin Zhen.

It is far from being as large as it will be in the future. It is just a rudimentary sandbar formed by the silt deposited by the Yangtze River.

There are dense reeds on the shore and water birds flying around. Apart from a few scattered simple thatched huts, there are almost no human habitation.

The fleet dropped anchor in the shallows, and Lin Zhen and his party took a small boat to reach the sand island.

There is soft mud and sand under my feet, and the humid air is mixed with a strong smell of grass and water vapor.

Lin Zhen looked around, his eyes sweeping across the desolate mudflats and the vast rivers and seas in the distance, as if he was re-measuring this piece of land that belonged to the future.

The scene of the prosperous city in the future flashed through his mind. What he needed was the reality of the present.

"Huh? There's a boat over there." Chu Xiling pointed to a mudflat not far away.

Sure enough, there were several simple fishing boats stranded there, and a dozen dark-skinned fishermen in short brown clothes were busy setting up fishing nets, clam piles and other things on the mudflats.

They were obviously terrified by the sudden appearance of the official ship and the large number of soldiers in distinctive armor. They stopped what they were doing and looked over nervously.

Lin Zhen frowned slightly and his eyes turned cold.

"Meng Ji." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable chill.

Mao Mengji immediately understood and stepped forward: "Prince?"

"Who allowed them to land on the island?" Lin Zhen's eyes were like a cold blade, sweeping across the fishermen.

"My island is also a place where they can come whenever they want?"

He used the word "my island" in a calm tone but full of domineering possessiveness.

Mao Mengji understood, and his face immediately showed the shrewdness and coldness of a cruel official: "I understand!"

He turned to the guards and barked an order, "Do you hear me? Get those people off the island! They must leave immediately! From today on, this island is a forbidden area and is under the jurisdiction of the royal palace! Anyone who dares to enter without permission will be severely punished, regardless of the reason! Quick!"

A group of ferocious-looking soldiers immediately rushed to the mudflats in small boats, shouting and driving away the terrified fishermen.

The fishermen had never seen such a scene before. They didn't even have time to take the fishing tools on the boat. They were pushed down the muddy mudflats by the soldiers who were as ferocious as wolves and tigers. They fled back to their small, broken fishing boats in a panic, hastily untied the ropes, and sailed away in a panic like frightened water birds.

On the other side of the island, close to the main channel, you can vaguely see several elegant passenger ships anchored in the water not far away.

There were some people dressed like merchants standing at the bow, looking towards the sand island and seemed to be pointing and talking to each other.

Obviously, the news of Wang Youde's residence being raided and the new policies in Hu County had spread, and some merchants with a keen sense of smell had already begun to explore in advance, coveting the value of this virgin land.

"Humph." Lin Zhen's lips curled up into a cold, predatory arc, and his eyes swept over the passenger ships with a playful look.

"A group of foxes smelling blood... just wait."

His tone was tinged with a hint of joking and absolute control. "When my auction opens in a few days, I'm going to squeeze every last penny out of the pockets of you profiteers."

When he thought of the huge profits he was about to make from these wealthy businessmen, a hint of true satisfaction flashed across his cold eyes.

After a rough tour of the island and a preliminary plan of several possible locations for deep-water ports, Lin Zhen led the team back.

At dusk, the golden glow of the setting sun filled the back hall of the county government office.

Chu Xiling sat at the desk with several sheets of fine rice paper spread out in front of her.

She concentrated and calmed her mind, holding a high-quality purple hair brush, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes writing quickly at her desk.

She is drawing a preliminary design sketch for Huxian Port.

Under the conditions of that era, a deep-water port that could accommodate the kind of 10,000-ton ships of the future would naturally be a fantasy, but it is feasible to design a larger and more standardized civil and stone structure wharf port that can accommodate current inland and offshore small and medium-sized ships.

She needed to clearly mark on the drawings the location of the dock extension, the foundation slope protection, the cargo loading and unloading area, and even the design ideas for the simple pier and windbreak.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the window lattice, outlining her focused and perfect silhouette.

A few strands of black hair hung down, lightly brushing her smooth cheeks.

Her long eyelashes cast fan-shaped shadows on her fair skin, and her straight nose and slightly pursed red lips appear particularly soft and delicate in the warm golden light.

She focused on the lines she was writing. Her brows showed the rigor of a craftsman, but also a faint light of talent and wisdom. Her whole body seemed to be shrouded in a quiet and holy halo.

Lin Zhen leaned on the soft couch beside him, playing with a jade cup in his hand, but his eyes fell on her involuntarily.

Looking at this picture-like scene, watching her occasionally bite her lips when she was thinking seriously, watching the precise lines she drew with her pen as smooth as flowing water... Even though Lin Zhen's mind was as hard as a rock, he was a little distracted at this moment.

Such a Chu Xiling, with her tranquil beauty and powerful beauty, is like an unpolished yet dazzling pearl, enough to captivate any man's heart.

At this time, Xiao Hanzhou walked into the hall lightly. Seeing Lin Zhen staring at Chu Xiling, he paused slightly, then bowed and said softly, "Master, Wang Youde is here and waiting outside. He said he has something to report."

Lin Zhen's gaze slowly withdrew from Chu Xiling, the gentleness of that moment quickly replaced by his usual deep and cold expression. He nodded slightly.

Chu Xiling also stopped painting and looked sideways.

After a moment, Wang Youde appeared at the door.

After not seeing him for a few days, he seemed to have lost weight, his face was sallow, his eye sockets were sunken, and the brocade robe that once fitted him now looked a little empty on him. His back was also hunched over, and he no longer had the majesty of the local emperor of Hu County.

He saw the scene in the hall, his eyes quickly swept over Chu Xiling, then he lowered his head even lower, bowed respectfully, his voice hoarse with caution:

"I, Wang Youde, pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince. The auction venue Your Highness requested has been cleared and marked out in the former Cao Gang warehouse area, and the arrangements are essentially complete. The relevant notices and invitations are being printed and dispatched as quickly as possible. All necessary personnel for protection, guidance, and document recording are in place. We absolutely dare not delay Your Highness's important event."

He swallowed his saliva and his tone became more respectful.

"Madam Zhang Li is also fully cooperating and is inviting merchants and wealthy people from all over the southeast to entertain and appease guests from all directions on behalf of Your Highness."

Lin Zhen held the jade cup in his hand, his gaze lingering on Wang Youde's frightened face for a moment before he spoke calmly, "Well, it's doing OK."

There was no emotion in his tone.

Wang Youde's heart was in turmoil.

The news that Lin Zhen stayed overnight in his sealed and monitored house had been secretly passed on to him by his trusted servant at the risk of his life.

At this moment, he was standing here, looking at Lin Zhen's calm face, thinking of his wives and concubines... the humiliation, fear, and an indescribable jealousy were gnawing at his heart like a poisonous snake.

How he wanted to ask, "Your Highness...did you sleep well last night?"

or,

"Have those reckless women offended His Highness?"

But he didn't dare.

The words rolled around in my throat, and in the end, I couldn't utter a single word.

He didn't even dare to raise his head any higher, he just felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Just when Wang Youde was in agony and almost suffocated.

Lin Zhen suddenly put down the jade cup, leaned forward slightly, and a smile that was almost playful and full of irony slowly spread across his face.

His voice was not loud, but it was like a poisoned ice cone, piercing Wang Youde's heart fiercely:

"Hehe..." A low chuckle was particularly clear in the quiet hall. Lin Zhen's eyes swept over Wang Youde as if he were examining a commodity, and his tone was condescending, like the frivolous livestock in the comment circle:

"Youde, this prince has discovered..."

He paused deliberately, watching with satisfaction as Wang Youde's body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably.

"Although you're a complete wretch at your job and a complete mess as a person, your vision for choosing a wife... is quite unique."

Boom——!

It was like a thunderclap booming in Wang Youde’s mind!

His body shook violently, his vision went dark, and his heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and it stopped beating for a moment!

The last bit of blood color on his face faded away completely, and he became as pale as a dead person!

This sentence was like a red-hot iron, branding him harshly, openly, and with the utmost contempt on his last and most secret dignity as a man!

Xiao Hanzhou lowered his eyelids slightly, as if he heard nothing.

Chu Xiling's hand holding the paintbrush paused slightly, and then continued to draw lines on the paper, but the brushstrokes seemed to be smoother and firmer.

Wang Youde, under the huge torrent of shame and fear, felt a fishy and sweet taste in his throat and almost vomited blood.

He used up all his strength to barely control himself from collapsing on the spot. His already hunched body curled up even more, almost falling to the ground. The sound squeezed out from between his teeth, his soul trembling as he responded:

"Prince...you are...you are so kind..."