The villagers of Shaxian were quite excited when they learned that a prince was coming.

Many villagers in Shaxian County had only recently moved there, and the most officials they had ever seen were those like Lu Lin. So when they suddenly heard that a prince was coming, the villagers were quite shocked.

Soon, the villagers became excited. The prince, such an important person, was coming! How exciting!

Lu Lin rested his chin on his hand, a look of worry on his face.

Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and said, "What are you thinking about?"

Lu Lin said with some concern, "I'm wondering how to entertain His Highness when he arrives."

Chen Xiaomi pouted and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Maybe you won't even need to entertain them. Plenty of people will be eager to entertain them."

Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaomi and said with admiration, "That makes sense!" He was just a seventh-rank county magistrate, a nobody in the eyes of the prince. When the prince came, many of his superiors would want to curry favor with him, but a nobody like him couldn't possibly get a chance.

Although he wasn't exactly penniless, he was relatively honest by comparison. The mansions of his superiors were truly magnificent, making his own residence seem rather shabby in comparison.

This prince is here to reward the troops, so Ji Chengkang should be the one to entertain him. If Ji Chengkang doesn't entertain him well, there are plenty of other people who can take over.

When the time comes, he'll serve if he's needed, and he'll be happy to be idle if he's not.

Chen Xiaomi rested her chin on her hand and said, "Do you think General Ji's guess might be true? The prince might stay here for a while because he's afraid of his wife."

Lu Lin smiled, somewhat gloating, and said, "I don't know, but I heard that this prince has a criminal record!" Chen Xiaomi tilted her head, somewhat suspiciously, and said, "How could that be? Could it be that the Empress and the Imperial Concubine introduced ugly women to the prince?"

"Probably not. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine wouldn't use an ugly woman to appease the Prince."

Lu Lin thought to himself: It is said that the emperor has three thousand concubines in his harem. This is not always a good thing. Some emperors do not have a deep enough foundation. In order to balance the various forces behind the concubines, they need to take turns to favor each concubine. They cannot neglect one or ignore another. Some emperors even take medicine for this. It is really hard work.

Similarly, the prince's two wives were bestowed upon him by the empress and the imperial concubine. The empress and the imperial concubine are locked in a fierce power struggle in the harem, and either of their sons could become emperor. If the prince wants to remain neutral, he probably cannot show favoritism.

"This prince is really unlucky!" Chen Xiaomi couldn't help but shake her head and say.

Lu Lin nodded in deep agreement.

A burst of laughter came from over there. Lu Lin looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chen Xiaomai and Yuanbao, who was blindfolded, playing hide-and-seek in the yard.

Yuanbao, who had been caught, cried out loudly, and the two of them were having a great time.

Lu Lin thought to himself: The two little ones at home are the most composed! Lu Lin had already mentioned to the two of them that the prince was coming, but their reaction was indifferent.

For the two of them, the prince's allure was probably less than a pot of bone broth.

Chen Xiaocai came out of Lu Lin's villa and returned to her own residence.

Lu Lin lived in the county government office. If Lu Lin were to step down from his post, he would no longer be able to live there. Chen Xiaolai built another residence near the county government office.

In recent years, Chen Xiaolai's business has grown bigger and bigger, and he has hired more and more people. The county government office is also becoming a bit crowded. When Chen Xiaocai returned, Chen Chi came out carrying the baby. "The prince is coming!" Chen Chi gave birth to a boy last year, named Chen Lei, and this year she gave birth to another boy, named Chen Nian.

The extinction of the family line is a big deal here. Back then, Granny Shen hoped that Shen Chi would find a son-in-law to continue the Shen family line. However, the Shen family was too poor, and Granny Shen only mentioned this matter to Shen Chi occasionally. Later, after Shen Chi and Chen Xiaocai got engaged, Granny Shen stopped thinking about this matter and felt that her children and grandchildren would have their own blessings.

Back then, before Granny Shen passed away, Chen Xiaolai promised her that if she had a child, the child would take her surname, and if she had a second son, the child would take Shen Chi's surname, so that he could continue the Shen family line. Granny Shen was very excited when she heard this and passed away with a smile.

After Shen Chi gave birth to two sons, Chen Xiaocai originally planned to take Shen Chi and the two children back to visit their ancestors' graves. After all, they had been away for so many years and had not been back. They were planning to leave in a few more days.

“The prince is coming, and Brother Lin will probably entertain him, so we should be able to leave a few days later,” Chen Xiaocai said.

Chen Chi nodded and said, "Okay, it's been so many years, a few more days won't matter."

Shen Chi thought to himself: It's quite a journey to Lin Town, and Erbao is still too young. It would be better to wait until he's older. Right now, the most important thing is to serve the Prince well. Even if we can't establish a relationship, we absolutely cannot afford to offend him.

Chen Chi sighed, "I never expected Your Highness to come to a place like this."

Chen Xiaocai scratched his head and said mysteriously, "Brother Lin said that the prince was scared out of his wits because he had married too many wives."

Chen Chi blushed and said, "You can't just say things like that!" If it gets to the Prince's ears, it'll be troublesome. Chen Xiaocai smiled and said, "I was just telling you."

Chen Chi blushed and nodded.

At first, the villagers were very excited when they heard that the prince was coming to reward the troops. However, as time went by, the prince still did not come, and everyone gradually lost interest in the matter.

After all, the prince's arrival has nothing to do with the villagers. For many people, the prince's arrival is less important than a steamed bun.

Lu Lin waited for more than thirty days before the prince finally arrived.

The prince rested frequently along the way, which delayed his journey considerably.

The prince arrived with dozens of personal guards, and the prefect had already gone to greet him. However, the prince remained seated in his sedan chair, acting mysteriously, and the prefect didn't even get a glimpse of him.

If even the prefect can't get a chance to see the prince, then Lu Lin has no chance to show his face at all.

Lu Lin had been preparing for a long time, but when he suddenly found that he had nothing to do, he breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little lost.

"The prince has been taken away!" Chen Xiaomi asked.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "The prince went to the camp. He came to comfort the officers. It is said that he declined the invitation from the prefect and others and went directly to the military camp to eat and live with the border troops and understand the hardships of the people. General Ji seemed to be very surprised."

Chen Xiaomi said with some suspicion, "This prince is quite something!"

As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Chen Xiaomi didn't find it hard to live in a cave with her younger brother back then, but now, if she were to go back to that kind of life, Chen Xiaomi felt that she might not be able to handle it. After all, she seemed to have been spoiled by Lu Lin! When Chen Xiaomi thought about the old days, sometimes she found it unbelievable.

If he's like this, then the one coming is a prince! He must be living a life of luxury in the capital.

"Yes! I think it's amazing that Your Highness can do that." Lu Lin suddenly looked at this henpecked guy with new respect, realizing that this prince actually had some backbone.

Lu Lin wasn't the only one who looked at the prince with new respect; the villagers of Shaxian also did.

A few days later, Ji Chengkang arrived at the county government office with a chubby man.

Although the man's clothes were simple in style, they were clearly made of rare and high-quality material, something that ordinary people in Shaxian would not wear.

When Lu Lin saw Ji Chengkang winking at him, he immediately guessed that it might be Bai Longyu, who was traveling incognito. He immediately welcomed the man into the house.

Ji Chengkang went inside and chatted with Lu Lin for a few words before bringing up the issue of staying at someone else's place. Lu Lin naturally did not refuse. Lu Lin originally wanted to give up the main house, but Master Wang was only willing to stay in the courtyard.

"General Ji, what's going on!"

Ji Chengkang frowned and said, "The Prince isn't used to living in the camp and doesn't want to go back. You'll look after him here for a few days. However, this time the Prince is traveling incognito." To the outside world, it will still be said that the Prince is in the military camp.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Okay."

Lu Lin thought to himself: This is more like it! Several men crammed into one room, the prince sitting there sweating and smelling terrible. I'm afraid the prince would feel uncomfortable, and neither would the soldiers in the camp.

With such a powerful figure visiting his home, Lu Lin naturally treated him with utmost respect.

Lu Lin had originally wanted Yunniang to cook something delicious, but the prince had made quite a few preparations, bringing his own cook. Seeing this, Lu Lin felt relieved, since he couldn't bear the responsibility if the prince's food was compromised.

A few days later, Lu Lin heard people outside talking about how the prince had a good temperament. After arriving, he ate and lived with the soldiers in the military camp, without any airs of a prince. He went deep into the military camp to understand the hardships of the people.

Upon hearing this rumor, Lu Lin was utterly speechless.

The prince clearly hid in his county office every day, sleeping until noon. This man was very interested in his rocking chair. He couldn't get enough sleep in the morning, and after dinner, he would lie in the rocking chair and take a nap.

The prince seemed quite interested in the rocking horse, but it was too small; if he sat on it, it wouldn't rock at all. So, he just looked at it.

The prince also kept a bird, which he would play with whenever he had free time, leading a very carefree life.

As instructed by Ji Chengkang, Lu Lin only told the people in the yamen that this Master Wang was a favorite of the prince and a distinguished guest.

The prince's favorites held high positions, but they were still far inferior to the prince himself. Many people were interested in the prince, but not so much in the prince's favorites.

After the prince arrived, he ate and slept on his territory, and Lu Lin couldn't help but think that the prince could really eat and sleep, he was even more like a pig than his own Yuanbao.

Perhaps the prince didn't want to stay in the palace because he wanted to sleep in and was afraid of being disturbed.

"Big brother, big brother, I'm here!" Chen Xiaomai rushed in.

Prince Cheng, who was taking a nap in his rocking chair, was startled awake.

Chen Xiaomi frowned and gave a light scolding, "Nonsense, you're such a grown-up, why are you still so loud and boisterous?"

"We have guests at home!" Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaomai's face couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment.

"Master Wang, I'm sorry, this boy offended you," Chen Xiaomi said.

Prince Cheng, being good-natured, said to Chen Xiaomi, "It's alright."

Chen Xiaomai tugged at Chen Xiaomi's clothes and said, "Big brother, big brother, why haven't you been with me these past few days!" Because the prince was coming, Chen Xiaomi was afraid that Chen Xiaomai would offend the important person, so he let Chen Xiaomai stay at Chen Xiaocai's house. Chen Xiaomai had always lived with Chen Xiaomi, but after staying at Chen Xiaocai's house for a few days, she couldn't stand it and ran away.

Chen Xiaomi said helplessly, "Stop messing around."

"Let's go eat hot pot," Chen Xiaomai said.

Chen Xiaomi said helplessly, "Let your second brother go eat with you."

Chen Xiaomai said sullenly, "Second brother is going to do business and doesn't want to come with me."

"What is hot pot?" Prince Cheng asked curiously.

Chen Xiaomai glanced at the chubby old man next to her and said arrogantly, "You don't even know what hot pot is?" Chen Xiaomi pinched Chen Xiaomai, smiled sheepishly, and said, "Master Wang, hot pot is a unique dish here, and it tastes pretty good."

"Oh." Prince Cheng suddenly became interested. At his age, the old prince loved new things. "What kind of food is it?"

"It's a big pot with meat and vegetables inside. I like to eat meat," Chen Xiaomai said.

Prince Cheng: "..." A big pot stew? Seems like nothing special.

Prince Cheng ate stewed food in the military camp in Ju for two days. It was a big pot of mixed stew, with all sorts of random things cooked together, which really didn't make him feel appetized.

Chen Xiaomai shook Chen Xiaomi's hand and said, "Big brother, will you come with me?"

Chen Xiaomi frowned and said, "This."

Prince Cheng smiled and said, "Young Master Chen, why don't you go with him? I'm hungry too, let's all go together."

Chen Xiaomi: "..."

Yuanbao came running out like a little duck, "Want to go eat something delicious? I want to go too!"

Chen Xiaomi: "..." Xiaomai alone is enough trouble, and Yuanbao is adding to the trouble.