After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

After staying at home for three days, Lin Chu bid farewell to Mr. Chen and returned to Yunzhou Prefecture.

In the following year, he extracted several more items from the knowledge he brought from the modern era.

Seedling transplanting replaces broadcasting, ditch slopes are accurate to the inch, and waterwheels are improved with the addition of crank connecting rods.

These things sound simple, but to implement them in Yunzhou, it would require going door-to-door and village-by-village.

The following autumn harvest, the grain yield reported by the thirteen prefectures under Yunzhou Prefecture was nearly 80% higher than in previous years.

Several elderly farmers who had spent their lives farming squatted on the edge of the field, staring at the small mountain of rice, speechless for a long time.

After the autumn harvest, Lin Chu locked himself in his study and wrote for more than half a month.

He compiled his experiences in governing Yunzhou Prefecture over the years, one by one.

After the book was completed, he wrote four characters on the cover: "A Brief Account of the Governance of Yunzhou".

When the book was delivered to Yujing City, Zhou Shiyan spent the entire night reading it in the Imperial Study.

The next morning at court, he placed the book on the dragon desk and looked around at the assembled officials.

"All of you, take a look."

The book circulated in the imperial court for an entire morning.

Some were amazed, while others pondered.

Zhou Tingfu stood in the line, turned the last page, closed the book, and couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

"This book should be printed throughout the land," Zhou Shiyan's voice echoed from the throne. "All officials of my Great Zhou must thoroughly study it and include it in their examinations."

The imperial edict caused a stir throughout the court.

At the end of the year, the second imperial edict arrived in Yunzhou.

When Lin Chu received the imperial decree, Meng Wenbin stood beside him, his eyes red-rimmed.

He knew this day would come sooner or later—a man like Marquis Anji couldn't stay in a local area forever.

He was transferred back to the capital, and Meng Wenbin temporarily assumed the position of Prefect of Yunzhou.

The news caused an uproar throughout Yunzhou.

On the day he left office, Lin Chutian got up before dawn.

As usual, he organized the official documents in his study, handed over the few that he hadn't finished approving to Yu Qian, and carefully put the worn-out map into his bundle.

"Yu Qian".

"grown ups."

"You stay in Yunzhou." Lin Chu looked at him. "In a few years, this position will be yours."

Yu Qian opened his mouth, as if to say something, but his eyes reddened first.

He had followed Lin Chu for twelve years, from a half-grown boy guarding the gate of the Shigou County government office to his current position as the head of the government office. He never imagined that one day he would be separated from Lin Chu.

But he didn't say much, he just nodded vigorously.

"Go and invite Magistrate Meng here." Lin Chu patted him on the shoulder.

When Lin Chu pushed open the gate of the government office, she was stunned.

The street was full of people.

The line stretched from the entrance of the government office all the way to the outside of the city gate, a dense, dark mass.

No one organized it; they came on their own.

Lin Chu stood at the entrance of the government office, looking at these people.

He took a step back, straightened his clothes, clasped his hands in front of him, and bowed deeply.

Then he turned around and got into the carriage.

Zhou Caiwei sat in the carriage, watching Lin Chu lower the curtain, her eyes filled with reverence.

After traveling for more than half a month, the carriage finally caught a glimpse of the city walls of Yujing in the distance.

After entering the city, Lin Chuxian and Caiwei went to the Zhou residence.

Zhou Tingfu was waiting for him in the study.

The old man looked much older than he had a few years ago; his hair was half white, but he still sat upright behind his desk.

He saw Lin Chu come in, but he didn't get up. He just put down the book in his hand and looked him up and down.

"You did a good job in Yunzhou," Zhou Tingfu said, his voice a little hoarse. "I've read all the things you wrote in Yunzhou."

"They're all clumsy methods."

"If this is a stupid method, then there are no smart people in the world." Zhou Tingfu picked up his teacup, blew on it to cool it down, and said, "His Majesty is very satisfied with you. Just keep in mind the audience tomorrow."

Lin Chu nodded.

Zhou Tingfu looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"When you became my disciple, you were only sixteen. Now—" He pointed to the few very fine white strands at Lin Chu's temples, "you have gray hair."

"Teacher is joking, it's just a few."

"A few strands are also white hairs." Zhou Tingfu put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair. "I'm getting old too."

Lin Chu remained silent.

Looking at his teacher's full head of white hair, he felt a pang of emotion.

The next day, Lin Chu entered the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study, Zhou Shiyan sat behind his desk. His temples were much whiter than before, and there were a few fine lines around his eyes.

The emperors of this world cannot cultivate, so their lifespan is only slightly longer than that of ordinary people.

Lin Chu bowed, and Zhou Shiyan waved his hand.

"Rise."

Lin Chu stood up and stood before the dragon desk with her hands at her sides.

Zhou Shiyan didn't rush to speak. He looked him up and down and then suddenly smiled.

"Back when you took the imperial examination, you were still a young man." Zhou Shiyan leaned back in his chair, his tone tinged with emotion. "I remember you wearing a blue cloth robe, standing in the Wenhua Hall, even half a head shorter than the other candidates around you."

Your words, "To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, and to establish a destiny for the people," have deeply moved me and many officials.

I thought to myself, "This kid has quite the big mouth."

Lin Chu did not respond.

"And you did it." Zhou Shiyan's voice slowed down. "Three years in Shigou County, eight years in Yunzhou Prefecture. Road construction, flood control, disaster relief, and epidemic prevention. I've heard about the shrines erected by the people of Yunzhou. The title of Marquis of Anji is something you earned yourself, not something I bestowed upon you."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"I do not flatter." Zhou Shiyan stood up, walked around the dragon desk, and stood in front of Lin Chu.

He looked into Lin Chu's eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked a completely unrelated question, "I've heard that you are still unmarried?"

Lin Chu paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

"You're almost thirty in the blink of an eye." Zhou Shiyan looked at him. "When I was your age, the Crown Prince could already ride a horse."

"Your Majesty—"

"I have a niece, twenty-three years old this year. She is gentle and well-educated." Zhou Shiyan looked at him, his tone almost like a suggestion. "If you are willing, I will bestow a marriage upon you."

Lin Chu remained silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty," he raised his head, his voice flat, "I already have someone I love."

Zhou Shiyan looked at his expression and saw his actions without the slightest hesitation, and sighed.

"Your childhood sweetheart?" His tone carried a hint of helplessness; he naturally knew about Lin Chu's story.

"It's been over ten years, and you're still waiting for her?"

Lin Chu remained silent.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Shiyan knew that further persuasion would be useless.

He retreated behind the desk, sat down, rubbed the back of his neck, and let out a long sigh.

"Minister Lin, you are truly a devoted and loyal lover."

"Enough, enough. You can tell me whenever you have this idea, my dear minister."

……

Lin Chu bowed and left the Imperial Study.

Zhou Shiyan watched the figure disappear outside the palace gate and sighed again.

The following morning at court, an imperial edict was issued.

Lin Chu was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

The news spread, sparking much discussion in the imperial court.

Some people felt it was too fast; local officials returning to the capital were directly promoted to the Six Ministries, which was an exceptional promotion.

But most people knew perfectly well that this Marquis Anji had served in Yunzhou for more than ten years. With those achievements, what was a mere vice minister? He would rise to a higher position sooner or later.

Lin Chu ignored these comments.

He received the imperial decree and reported to the Ministry of Works the next day.

Over the next five years, the people in the Ministry of Works truly witnessed what it meant to be decisive and efficient.

Lin Chu brought the methods he had accumulated in Yunzhou to the Ministry of Works—establishing rules, defining procedures, and clarifying rewards and punishments.

Every penny of the money that should have been allocated was paid, and every person held accountable was investigated.

In the first three years, the Ministry of Works' efficiency more than doubled.

Five years later, the old Minister retired, and Lin Chu naturally took over the position of Minister.

He was only thirty-three years old that year.

There have been very few Ministers of Works who are thirty-three years old since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Many people reach this age and their political careers are just beginning, but Lin Chu has already reached the highest position in the Six Ministries.

But no one in the imperial court was surprised.

Moreover, everyone knows that becoming the Minister of Works will not be the end for Lin Chu.

At the Ministry of Works, Lin Chu remained the same as always.

He lived in a small courtyard behind the government office, ate simple meals prepared by the government kitchen, did not go to brothels, did not accept gifts, and did not socialize. Apart from returning to Qinghe once a year, he spent his days reading books in addition to official duties.

Officials from the Ministry of Works privately said that finding a stain on Minister Lin's record was harder than finding a drop of water in the desert.

The censors kept an eye on him for several years, but eventually they all gave up.

Even their leader privately lamented: "This Marquis Anji lives like a saint; we can't make a living off him."

In recent years, Zhou Shiyan would occasionally call Lin Chu to the Imperial Study alone, not to discuss any serious matters, but just to chat.

Each time he finished talking with Lin Chu, the admiration in his eyes deepened.

No monarch dislikes officials who get things done.

In particular, this official does not form cliques, does not engage in private activities, is not greedy for money, is not lecherous, does not cause trouble, and is not afraid of trouble.