On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On the top floor of Wangjiang Tower, in the Lanyue Pavilion overlooking the river, the lights are bright and the atmosphere is bustling.

The huge round rosewood table was filled with delicacies and fine drinks.

The sounds of stringed instruments and bamboo instruments were melodious and pleasant, while the dancers moved gracefully and fluttered their sleeves. However, beneath this seemingly peaceful scene, there was an indescribable sense of oppression and anxiety.

This was a "socializing dinner" held by the Huxian Special Zone Investment Promotion Bureau (hosted by Zhang Li) for the merchants who won the bid for the sacred land of "Xiran".

Lin Zhen was not present in person, but the majesty of the palace was everywhere.

Xiao Hanzhou, as the representative of the prince, sat in the main seat, dressed in an indigo Confucian robe. He behaved calmly, with a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were as deep as the abyss, calmly scanning everyone at the table.

Sitting at the table were the dozen or so tycoons who had spent lavishly at the auction to buy the Chongming Shazhou land.

Zhao Sihai, the salt smuggler of Yangzhou, Sun Maocai of the Suzhou and Hangzhou Silk Guild, Chow Tai Fook of the Jinling Money House, Li Mubai of Jiangnan... all of them were well-dressed and had extraordinary bearings, but a trace of anxiety and doubt could not be concealed between their brows.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was still a little stagnant.

The string music subsided for a moment, and Zhao Sihai finally couldn't hold back any longer. Taking advantage of the alcohol, he stood up and bowed to Xiao Hanzhou. His voice was loud but with a subtle hint of urgency:

"Lord Xiao! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so busy that he couldn't come in person. We are deeply regretful! However... it's been nearly a month since we bought this sacred soil 'Xirang'! Every day we watch the money go by like water (referring to the deposit and subsequent maintenance fees), but we can't even touch the shadow of a piece of land! The Jinwu Guards have their swords and spears pointed, and we can't even get close to take a look! I'm really worried!"

He looked around and immediately attracted a crowd of people to agree:

"Yes! Sir Xiao! When can we land on this sacred land to survey it? When can we start construction?"

"We're investing a huge amount of money, this is no joke! We need to be aware of the cost, right?"

"Then the expansion direction drawn on the map... can... can it be taken as accurate? What if..."

"Yes! His Highness the Crown Prince said with all his heart that the sacred soil would grow, but seeing is believing..."

Questions arose one after another, and anxiety spread like a plague throughout the banquet.

After the initial enthusiasm subsided, these shrewd businessmen faced the cold reality.

Unable to land on the island, unable to develop, and funds are deposited.

Huge uncertainty and sense of risk began to erode their confidence.

They need a clear answer and a visible hope.

Xiao Hanzhou put down the jade chopsticks in his hand, the gentle smile on his face remained unchanged, but his eyes were slightly condensed, like a cold light passing under the calm lake surface.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clear enough to overcome all the noise:

"I understand the concerns of the bosses and will report them to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

He paused, and glanced at everyone with an unquestionable comfort:

"Your Highness once said that Xirang is a divine object of heaven and earth, crucial to the fate of a nation, and of extraordinary significance. Its accumulation and expansion are governed by the laws of nature, and cannot be forced by human power, nor can it be observed overnight. Master Chu of Wenchang Pavilion is a leading figure in contemporary geography and hydrology. His deduced maps are a combination of the images of heaven and earth, and the power of rivers and seas. They are absolutely true!"

His tone turned serious, with a hint of persuasion:

"As for surveying the island and commencing construction and development, Your Highness has his own considerations. First, the sandbar has just been established, and its foundation is not yet stable. A rash landing could disturb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and harm the sacred land. Second, the construction of the deep-water port is the lifeblood of the Special Zone. The Jinwu Guards are stationed there to ensure complete security, prevent any spies from spying, and ensure the future of your foundations!"

He raised his glass and said to everyone:

"Your Highness is fully aware of your immense investment and high expectations. Construction of the Special Zone is in full swing. Ports, roads, new cities... all are progressing at a rapid pace. Once the foundation is solid, the waterways are unobstructed, and safety is assured, then will be the time for you to embark on your grand plans! Then, your investment today will surely be rewarded a hundredfold, a thousandfold! Your Highness is a man of his word, so I implore you to remain patient and await good news!"

These words were both soft and hard.

They used the "spiritual energy of heaven and earth", "the authority of the Chu family" and "the prince's golden words" to suppress doubts, explained the blockade with "unstable foundation" and "safety", and finally appeased people with the promise of "a hundredfold return".

Everyone at the table looked at each other in confusion. Although they still had doubts, under Xiao Hanzhou's calm yet intimidating gaze, they had to temporarily suppress their anxiety, force a smile, and raise their glasses in response.

"Master Xiao is absolutely right! We...we will wait patiently for your Highness's arrangements!"

"Yes, yes, yes! With His Highness at the helm, we can rest assured!"

"Come! A toast to His Highness! A toast to Lord Xiao!"

The clinking of glasses and the playing of stringed instruments resumed, but the atmosphere was more subtle than before.

Everyone had a smile on their face, but their eyes silently communicated uneasiness and calculation.

Zhao Sihai sat back in his seat, took a big gulp of wine, and a sinister look flashed in his eyes.

He glanced at Li Mubai, a wealthy businessman from Jiangnan who was sitting in the corner and remained silent. The other party was also looking at him. Their eyes met and they understood each other tacitly.

......

The night was deep, and the noise from Wangjiang Tower gradually faded away.

Deep in a quiet, sewage-filled alley in the old city of Hu County, a dim light was on in the back hall of a shop that was advertised as a Korean ginseng dealer but was actually deserted.

The owner of the shop was none other than Park Chang-hwan, the Goryeo merchant who had tried to spy on the sandbar before the auction and had a crossbow pointed at his head by the Jinwu Guards.

At this moment, he was respectfully pouring tea to the two uninvited guests.

The visitors were Zhao Sihai and the Jiangnan wealthy businessman Li Mubai!

Both of them changed into casual clothes, and their faces were drunk, but they couldn't hide the anxiety and a hint of ruthlessness in their eyes.

"Boss Park, you said you have a way... to get to the island?" Zhao Sihai lowered his voice and went straight to the point, his tone filled with a desperate urgency.

Park Changfan's eyes sparkled, and he whispered in stiff official language, "Boss Zhao, Lord Li, please be patient. I do have some connections. We have several seafarers from Korea who have been doing some... uh... special business in this area for years. They're very familiar with these waterways and sandbanks! Although the Jinwu Guard's fleet is strict, there are always gaps in their patrols."

He took a step closer and lowered his voice, "As long as the price is right, they can use a small boat to send people up there at night! It only takes an hour! It's enough time for the two bosses to see for themselves whether the sacred land is a nugget of gold or a sludge!"

Li Mubai frowned. Coming from a royal family, he was more cautious than Zhao Sihai. "The risk is too great! If we're discovered by the Jinwu Guards..."

"Wealth and honor are achieved through risk, Lord Li!" Zhao Sihai's eyes flashed with greed and madness. "Millions of taels of silver were spent, and not even a sound was heard! That brat Xiao Hanzhou is full of official rhetoric and empty promises! Who knows if it's a scam?! If that Xirang is fake, or not as magical as he said... we'll lose everything! We must see it with our own eyes!"

He looked at Park Chang-Bum and said, "The price is negotiable! As long as the job is done and I see it clearly, I'll double it!"

Greed in Park Chang-Bum's eyes grew even stronger. "Boss Zhao is straightforward! But I have a condition."

"Say!"

"If the sacred land is really as shown in the map, I want to have a piece of it! Even if it's the smallest piece!" Park Changfan licked his lips, his eyes full of desire.

Although he was a Goryeo merchant, his greed for Xirang was no less than that of the Daqian tycoons.

Li Mubai was still hesitating, but Zhao Sihai slammed the table and said, "Okay! It's a deal! No time to lose, tomorrow night! Let's do it tomorrow night!"

"Boss Zhao, that's great!" Park Chang-hwan was delighted. "I'll make arrangements right away! Tomorrow night at midnight, we'll be at the Dongtan Reed Marsh! Someone will pick us up!"

After the three of them finished their plot, Park Chang-fan carefully sent the two distinguished guests out through the back door.

He returned to the back hall and looked at the flickering candlelight on the table with a smug grin on his face.

He seemed to see mountains of gold and silver waving at him!

As for the risks? Smuggling under the noses of the Jinwu Guards? He didn't care!

As long as I can get close to these wealthy merchants of Daqian and get the ticket to Xirang, what does it matter if I take some risks?

However, Park Chang-hwan did not notice that in the shadow of an abandoned attic diagonally opposite his shop, a pair of clear but vigilant eyes were staring at the back door of his shop.

It’s Brother Lin!

He worked as a helper at the port during the day and slept in an abandoned shack nearby at night.

He recognized Zhao Sihai!

It was this fat guy who was so arrogant at the auction and almost caused his father to lose his job.

He saw Zhao Sihai and Li Mubai sneaking into the Goryeo Ginseng Hall and sneaking out again. His intuition told him that this was definitely not a good thing!