Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 238 Zhang Zhiyuan, Prefect of Jingzhao

The two stayed on the mountaintop for half an hour.

Zhao Mingyue was genuinely happy, running all over the mountain like a child, picking up a handful of maple leaves, and insisting on choosing the ones with the best shapes.

After searching for a long time, they finally kept eleven pieces, saying they were "the best of the best," and took them back to give one to each of Liu Ruyan and the others.

Lin Chen stood on the edge of the cliff, enjoying the breeze, and took the opportunity to memorize the entire mountain's terrain.

I've already started designing and planning the construction scheme in my mind.

As they descended the mountain, Zhao Mingyue linked arms with Lin Chen, fiddling with the maple leaves in her hands as they walked.

"My lord, are you really planning to ask His Majesty for the mountain?"

"Um."

"When?"

"Let's do it as soon as possible," Lin Chen said, "while she's in a good mood now."

Zhao Mingyue tilted her head and looked at Lin Chen, asking with a smile:

"How did you know my sister was in a good mood lately, my husband?"

Lin Chen chuckled and pinched Zhao Mingyue's cheek.

"When she last entered the palace, I saw that her cultivation was about to break through."

The Empress has already been fed the True Phoenix Pill. With her talent and physique, breaking through is as easy as drinking water for her; there are no bottlenecks at all.

Speaking of this, Lin Chen suddenly remembered the look in the Empress's eyes when she received the pill in the Imperial Study that day.

And that smile.

His laughter... well, it was a bit meaningful.

It's that kind of look where you're the one giving her something, but she looks at you with a "Are you trying to get rid of me as soon as possible?" kind of gaze.

Although Lin Chen did have this idea.

"Husband?" Zhao Mingyue gently shook Lin Chen's arm.

"What are you thinking about, so engrossed?"

Lin Chen snapped out of his reverie. "It's nothing. I just remembered that it's been a while since I've been to the palace."

The two continued walking down.

When we reached the halfway point of the mountain, a few people came towards us.

The leader was a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a blue robe, with three long wisps of beard, looking refined and scholarly, like a schoolteacher.

Several followers followed behind, all carrying swords, and their cultivation levels were first or second grade.

As the two groups of people passed each other, the middle-aged scholar suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"This..." He stared at Lin Chen for a moment, "Is he His Highness the Prince of Zhenbei?"

Lin Chen turned to look at him.

Before he could speak, the scholar had already bowed deeply, performing a full and proper salute.

"This humble official, Zhang Zhiyuan, Prefect of the Capital, greets Your Highness and Her Highness the Princess."

Lin Chen and Zhao Mingyue exchanged a glance.

They both used some tricks to conceal their appearance and aura today, so most people wouldn't recognize them.

"You recognize us?" Lin Chen asked, intrigued.

Zhang Zhiyuan raised his head, smiling amiably.

"Your Highness is too kind. I have served as an official in the capital for twenty years. My eyes may not be good at other things, but they are good at recognizing people."

He paused, lowered his voice, and took half a step closer:

"Besides, Your Highness, your magnanimity is unparalleled in the capital. It would be difficult for me to admit my mistake."

Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Prefect Zhang, your flattery is quite something."

Zhang Zhiyuan waved his hands repeatedly, looking terrified.

"No, no, I'm only telling the truth. I have no intention of flattering you."

Zhao Mingyue smiled slightly and asked softly:

"Prefect Zhang is also climbing the mountain today? What a refined taste."

"Your Highness, I came here accompanying Madam." Zhang Zhiyuan gestured behind him.

"It's rare for her to come out, so I'll accompany her for a walk to help her relax."

Lin Chen looked in the direction he was pointing.

A woman in her thirties stood not far away, dressed simply, talking to several maids. She looked like an ordinary official's wife.

Ordinary.

But Lin Chen glanced at it again.

I can't quite put my finger on why, but I just feel a bit... indescribable.

Perhaps it's too ordinary?

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and smiled at Zhang Zhiyuan:

"Prefect Zhang is a good husband, a rare find."

Zhang Zhiyuan blushed slightly, his smile a little embarrassed:

"Your Highness is too kind, it's all my duty."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhang Zhiyuan tactfully took his leave and continued uphill with his family.

Lin Chen stood there, watching his figure disappear into the maple forest, and suddenly spoke:

"What is the relationship between Prefect Zhang and the Zhang family?"

Zhao Mingyue, arm in arm with Lin Chen, continued walking down the street, saying as she went:

"He is the Zhang family patriarch's cousin, a blood relative, born of the same mother."

"Siblings from the same mother?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Then why would you only be the Prefect of the Capital?"

The Zhang family was one of the five great families of the Great Yan Dynasty. Although it has now become four families, its foundation remains.

How can the younger brother of a family head be appointed as the Prefect of the Capital?

This official position wasn't particularly high-ranking, but it wasn't insignificant either. However, for the Zhang family, it was truly... pathetic.

Zhao Mingyue explained with a smile:

"None of the Zhang family members have ever held official positions; he's the only one like that."

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment before he remembered the information about the Zhang family.

Although the Zhang family is one of the four major families of the Great Yan Dynasty, they neither engage in business nor politics; they are purely a cultivation family.

The clansmen either secluded themselves for cultivation or traveled the world, rarely getting involved in court affairs.

Lin Chen had always been curious about how they had passed down this Buddhist-style way of playing for thousands of years.

Maybe it really is just... pure luck?

Lin Chen shook his head, too lazy to think about it anymore.

Who cares, as long as they don't bother me.

The two continued down the mountain.

When he reached the foot of the mountain, Lin Chen looked back at it.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Mingyue asked.

Lin Chen stared at the mountain for a long time, seemingly lost in thought:

"I'm thinking, if His Majesty really gives me this mountain, I'll have to give this place a name."

Zhao Mingyue became interested and leaned closer to ask, "What name are you going to give it? Tell me."

Lin Chen looked serious:

"How about... a comeback?"

Zhao Mingyue was stunned.

Then he burst out laughing.

"Husband, what are you thinking of? A comeback? When have you ever fallen from grace?"

Lin Chen coughed lightly: "I just think this name is auspicious."

Zhao Mingyue laughed uncontrollably, clinging to Lin Chen's arm.

"What's with the 'Jili' thing? Are you just looking for something for your younger sister to do because things have been too peaceful lately?"

Lin Chen, supporting Zhao Mingyue, explained in a serious tone:

"Think about it, this mountain is east of the capital, so calling it Dongshan (East Mountain) makes sense, right? And 'Zaiqi' (Rise Again) has such a good meaning, symbolizing our lives getting better and better."

"Thriving?" Zhao Mingyue laughed until tears almost streamed down her face. "Why don't you say it symbolizes a triumphant comeback?"

Lin Chen: "...I can't respond to that."

After Zhao Mingyue finished laughing, she pinched Lin Chen's cheek.

"Alright, alright, let's make a comeback then. I'll tell my sister later that your brother-in-law wants to take over Dongshan, saying he's preparing for a comeback."

Lin Chen's face darkened: "You've gone a bit too far."

Zhao Mingyue laughed so hard she was shaking, so Lin Chen could only lift her onto the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lowered, and the sound of horses' hooves rang out.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Mingyue was still laughing, so much so that she was shaking as she leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder.

Lin Chen held Zhao Mingyue in his arms, watching the mountains outside the car window grow farther and farther away, and thought of Zhang Zhiyuan and his ordinary wife.