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

Chapter 430 This world still belongs to the Zhao family

Songshan Castle.

Lin Chen sat in the carriage and scanned the area with his divine sense, discovering significant changes since his last visit.

The shops on both sides of the street were packed tightly together, with signs one after another, almost stacked on top of each other.

People came and went, shoulder to shoulder, all kinds of accents mixed together, chattering away like in a vegetable market.

The people of Dayan, Zhongzhou, Dongli, Nanyue, Beishuo, and the Western Regions lived together in a surprisingly harmonious way.

Lin Chen withdrew his divine sense and smiled, "World unity, people's unity, huh? Hehe!"

Yuan Tiangang sat opposite him, expressionless, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking like an old sage.

The carriage stopped briefly at the city gate. The soldiers guarding the city glanced at the token on the carriage, their expressions changed, and they immediately stood at attention, saluted, and allowed the carriage to pass.

Lin Chen leaned back on the cushion, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers idly on his thigh.

"Old Yuan."

"exist."

"Which area is occupied by those people from the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce?"

Yuan Tiangang said, "It's the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce shop in the city. That shop is the largest in Songshan City, seven stories high, and it occupies a good location."

Lin Chen opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow: "Seven stories high, taller than our Foreign Affairs Bureau!"

Yuan Tiangang's lips twitched slightly: "Two levels higher than the Foreign Affairs Bureau."

Lin Chen chuckled lightly: "Are you here to open a shop or to build a landmark?"

Yuan Tiangang did not respond.

The carriage traveled through several streets and stopped in front of a building.

Lin Chen lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside.

Wow, that's really impressive.

The building has seven floors, with blue bricks and gray tiles, upturned eaves, and two stone kylins standing at the entrance, their mouths open and teeth bared, looking majestic.

A golden signboard hangs above the entrance—Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce.

Those characters were written with vigorous strokes, clearly the work of a master calligrapher.

It sparkled in the sunlight, so bright it hurt the eyes.

Lin Chen smiled faintly: "Being rich means you can do whatever you want."

Yuan Tiangang didn't say anything and got out of the car first.

A man who looked like a manager saw Yuan Tiangang, his eyes lit up, and he quickly came forward with a beaming smile:

"Mr. Yuan! You've arrived! Please come in, please come in!"

Then she saw Lin Chen and paused for a moment, "Who is this...?"

Yuan Tiangang said calmly, "My lord."

The manager's expression changed instantly, like a face-changing act in Sichuan opera. He immediately bowed deeply, his back almost touching the ground.

"Your Highness, your esteemed presence is an honor! I have failed to greet you properly; please forgive me! I was blind to your greatness and deserve to die!"

Lin Chen waved his hand and went inside.

The shop is even more impressive inside than outside.

Upon entering, you'll find a large lobby with a floor paved with fine bluestone slabs, polished to a shine so bright you can see your reflection.

The furniture was made of ancient spirit wood, the screen was carved, and the walls were decorated with calligraphy and paintings by famous people. Lin Chen glanced at them and, although he couldn't tell if they were real or fake, they looked expensive.

Several pots of precious and rare flowers were placed in the corner, blooming vigorously, with a faint sandalwood fragrance in the air. I wonder what kind of fragrant scent they had put on.

Lin Chen was secretly amazed. This kind of grandeur was something that even the imperial palace could rival, let alone Songshan City.

At that moment, a middle-aged man came down from upstairs.

He was dressed in a brocade robe, plump and fair-skinned, with a kind and smiling face, looking like a Maitreya Buddha.

It was Zhou Xihai, the vice president of the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce.

He saw Lin Chen, quickly walked up to him, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled so broadly his eyes almost disappeared:

"Your Highness, I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly!"

Your Highness must be tired from your journey. I have prepared tea and refreshments. Please come upstairs and rest.

Lin Chen glanced at Zhou Xihai.

This man looks amiable, but his eyes are shrewd and quick; he's a seasoned veteran.

"President Zhou, I heard you were looking for me?" Lin Chen got straight to the point, not wanting to beat around the bush.

Zhou Xihai laughed and said, "Yes, yes, I would like to discuss a business matter with Your Highness. Your Highness, please, let's talk upstairs."

He stepped aside to lead the way, his attitude extremely respectful.

Lin Chen didn't stand on ceremony and went upstairs.

Yuan Tiangang followed behind, half a step behind, his face expressionless the whole time, like a shadow.

Upstairs is a private room by the window, offering a view of the street.

Outside the window is the most bustling street in Songshan City, teeming with people.

Tea and snacks were laid out on the table, steaming hot.

Zhou Xihai invited Lin Chen to take a seat, and Lin Chen sat down.

Yuan Tiangang stood behind Lin Chen, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking like a door god.

Zhou Xihai personally poured the tea, presented it with both hands, and smiled broadly.

"Your Highness, please have some tea. This is Linglong tea from Zhongzhou, which is only produced for twenty catties a year. I managed to get two ounces, which I specially reserved for Your Highness."

Lin Chen took it and drank a sip.

Upon tasting the tea, a delicate fragrance unfolds in the mouth, followed by a sweet aftertaste, leaving a lingering aroma on the teeth and cheeks.

Most importantly, with his current cultivation level, he could also feel a slight stirring of the true essence within his body.

Of course, it's just a touch, there's no other effect.

"Good tea." Lin Chen put down his teacup and looked at Zhou Xihai. "President Zhou, what kind of business do you want to discuss?"

Zhou Xihai didn't hide anything: "I would like to discuss with Your Highness the development of the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce in the Eastern Region."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "How should it develop?"

Zhou Xihai said, "I intend to open branches in various parts of Dayan, transporting goods from Zhongzhou to sell, and then transporting specialties from the Eastern Regions back to Zhongzhou to sell. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

Lin Chen nodded without saying anything.

Zhou Xihai continued, "I would also like to cooperate with Your Highness to develop the market in the Eastern Region, with profits split 50/50."

Lin Chen scoffed, "Fifty-fifty split? Chairman Zhou, you've got quite the nerve."

Zhou Xihai quickly replied, "If Your Highness feels it's inappropriate, we can discuss it further. Xi Liu? San Qi? It's all negotiable, all negotiable."

Lin Chen picked up his teacup, took another sip, and spoke slowly, without rushing to speak.

Zhou Xihai sat opposite him with a smile on his face, but his back was already sweating.

Lin Chen put down his teacup and looked into Zhou Xihai's eyes.

"President Zhou, are you familiar with the rules of Songshan City?"

Zhou Xihai nodded: "I understand. I have completed all the registration, obtained the token, and followed the rules. All the procedures are complete and nothing is missing."

"Then do you know whose realm the Great Yan is?"

Zhou Xihai was slightly taken aback, and hesitated before saying, "This...this should be the domain of the royal Zhao family, right?"

"That's right!" Lin Chen nodded. "So, if you want to open branches all over Dayan, you have to talk to the royal family, not me."

Zhou Xihai quickly replied, "Your Highness is joking. Everyone knows that Your Highness has the final say in matters of Dayan..."

Lin Chen waved his hand, interrupting him.

"You're wrong. The affairs of Dayan are decided by His Majesty. I am merely a subject."

Zhou Xihai's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Yes, yes, I misspoke. Shall I visit Your Majesty another day? When would Your Majesty be available?"

Lin Chen glanced at Zhou Xihai and said calmly:

"President Zhou, let me remind you again, this empire belongs to Her Majesty. How would I know if she has the time?"

"Yes, yes, I misspoke. I hope Your Highness will forgive me." Zhou Xihai said with a smile, but he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Everyone knows you're now the Emperor's consort; even the Empress is pregnant with your child.

Don't you have any idea who's in charge here?

Seeing that Zhou Xihai remained silent, Lin Chen stood up and patted his robes.

"President Zhou, come talk to me again after you have obtained His Majesty's permission."

After saying that, he turned and left, decisively and without the slightest hesitation.

Yuan Tiangang followed Lin Chen downstairs and out of the shop.

Lin Chen stayed upstairs for less than fifteen minutes from beginning to end.

Zhou Xihai stood at the window upstairs, watching Lin Chen's retreating figure, his smile gradually fading.

Behind him, an old man in black emerged from behind the screen, expressionless and with a deep aura, like a knife hidden in its sheath.

"How is it?" Zhou Xihai asked, his voice deep and completely different from the smiling businessman he had been just moments before.

The old man in black paused for a moment, then said, "I can't see through it."

Zhou Xihai frowned: "What do you mean?"

The old man in black said, "I can't see through his cultivation level. He seems like an ordinary person, yet he also seems unfathomable."

I tried three times, and each time it was like throwing a stone into the sea—not even a ripple appeared.

Zhou Xihai's brows furrowed even more.

The old man in black was a half-step Celestial Immortal in cultivation, and his spiritual power was comparable to that of a Celestial Immortal. He was considered a top expert in Zhongzhou.

Those whom even he cannot see through are either useless or far superior to him.

Lin Chen is clearly not a waste.

There is only one answer.

Zhou Xihai was silent for a moment, then said:

"Keep an eye on it, and report any movement immediately."

The old man in black nodded, then vanished behind the screen in a flash, as if he had never been there at all.

Zhou Xihai stood at the window, watching Lin Chen's back, his fingers tapping lightly on the windowsill, tap, tap, tap.