On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The palace door was gently pushed open, and Lin Zhen, having finished his official duties, stepped inside.

He had changed into a comfortable dark-colored casual outfit, with a faint smile on his face.

Seeing Murong Yan lounging on the couch like a cat, his eyes instantly filled with tenderness.

"Yan'er," he called softly, walked to the edge of the couch, and naturally sat down on the edge, gently brushing away a strand of wet hair from her cheek.

Murong Yan sensed his presence, opened her slightly narrowed phoenix eyes, and smiled sweetly. Like a kitten waiting to be petted, she reached out her hand to him: "Husband, you're back. Have you finished everything?" Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she had just woken up.

"Yes, I'm all done." Lin Zhen took her outstretched hand, feeling the cool touch of her skin after her shower.

He lowered his head and gently kissed the back of her hand, then, as if recalling something amusing, his smile deepened. "I met that Japanese prince today, and something rather interesting happened."

"Oh?" Murong Yan became interested, lazily propped herself up, leaned closer to Lin Zhen, and blinked curiously. "That Japanese princess? What funny incident did she cause this time? Did she say a lot of flattering things again?"

Her tone was somewhat mocking.

Looking at her charming appearance, Lin Zhen couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against his chest, before whispering, "No, not at all. It's just that after I talked to her about the current situation in Anzhou and explained His Majesty's philosophy of 'destruction before construction' in governing the country, the way this Princess looked at me seemed a little different."

His words carried a hint of amusement.

Murong Yan tilted her head back in his arms, a sly glint in her phoenix eyes, and pressed, "Not quite the same? How so? Husband, tell me quickly, don't keep me in suspense."

As she spoke, she gently poked Lin Zhen's chest with her finger.

Lin Zhen grasped her mischievous fingers and smiled, "I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just that she seemed to have less fear and wariness, and more... well, perhaps admiration? Or even a bit of infatuation? In short, she was completely different from when we first met. When she left, she looked flustered, her face flushed, and she even neglected some of her manners."

He described it in a lighthearted manner, but with Murong Yan's intelligence, she naturally understood it immediately.

Murong Yan was taken aback at first, then as if she had heard something extremely funny, she burst out laughing, laughing so hard that she slumped into Lin Zhen's arms.

"Oh my, that's hilarious!" She laughed, punching Lin Zhen's shoulder.

"So that Japanese princess was captivated by my husband's, cough cough, 'emperor's benevolence'? Hahaha, what is this? Defection on the front lines? Or walking right into a trap?"

She laughed so hard tears almost streamed down her face, finding the whole thing utterly ridiculous.

Seeing her smiling happily, Lin Zhen's eyes showed even more affection. He gently patted her back to help her catch her breath: "Perhaps so. Japan is a small country with limited knowledge. It's only natural that its mind would waver when it suddenly hears about the great Dao."

His tone carried a condescending indifference.

Murong Yan laughed for a while before gradually stopping. She raised her face, her cheeks still flushed from laughing, and looked at Lin Zhen with bright phoenix eyes. Suddenly, a bold and mischievous idea popped into her head.

She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Lin Zhen's neck, bringing her lips close to his ear and whispering sweetly:

"Since the little princess is so 'devoted' to you, how about I do her a favor and leave her here as your concubine after the Pyongyang affair is over?"

As she spoke, she deliberately licked Lin Zhen's earlobe lightly with the tip of her tongue, her tone full of mischievous teasing.

"Look, she's a princess of Japan, and her status is quite suitable. Taking her in might make Japan more peaceful, and besides..."

She drew out her words, a sly glint in her eyes.

"I've been feeling a bit stifled in the palace sometimes. Having more people around might be quite fun, and they could have some fun with me. What do you say, my husband?"

Her words were half true and half false; they were a joke, but also carried a hint of probing and an inexplicable confidence.

She didn't believe Lin Zhen would agree at all, and wasn't worried at all; she just found it very amusing to tease her husband like this.

Lin Zhen was slightly stiffened by her sudden "suggestion" and the tickling sensation in her ear, then chuckled and shook her head.

He reached out and gently pinched Murong Yan's pert nose, his eyes full of helplessness and doting: "You're talking nonsense. With Yan'er by my side, I'm content for life. What are Japanese princesses or foreign princesses? In my eyes, they're nothing but dust. Only you would treat me like a precious gem."

His answer was without the slightest hesitation, firm and heartfelt.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey, but she deliberately feigned disappointment on her face and pouted, saying:

"Really don't want her? She's a young princess, full of life and charm, isn't she more appealing than this 'old woman' of mine?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Looking at her coquettish expression, Lin Zhen felt extremely fond of her. He lowered his head and kissed her pouting red lips. After a tender moment, he pressed his forehead against hers and said softly, "In my heart, Yan'er will always be the same as when we first met. She is a unique and unparalleled treasure in this world. Let alone a Japanese princess, even if a goddess descended from the heavens, she could not shake the slightest bit of your place in my heart."

This heartfelt confession completely melted Murong Yan's heart. She sighed contentedly, buried her face deeply in Lin Zhen's neck, and said in a muffled voice, "My husband is the best. I knew you wouldn't dare to abandon me."

Her tone was full of the arrogance of being favored.

The two embraced for a moment, enjoying the quiet warmth.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, the candles inside the hall lit up automatically, casting a warm glow.

After a while, Murong Yan seemed to remember the Japanese princess again. She lifted her head from Lin Zhen's arms, a mischievous smile on her face: "But speaking of which, husband, if she comes to you again next time, just keep lecturing her with your grand principles. I want to see just how infatuated she can be. Then I'll go see her and comfort her broken heart, hahaha."

The more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed, and she laughed again.

Looking at her childish appearance, Lin Zhen could only shake his head helplessly and indulgently.

He knew that in Murong Yan's heart, the Japanese princess was nothing more than an object to be joked about when she was bored, and her fate had already been decided in a few words.

"Alright, whatever you say." Lin Zhen said softly, pulling her closer again. "Now, my Empress, shouldn't you have your dinner?"

Murong Yan nodded and said coquettishly, "Yes, husband, carry me over."

Lin Zhen chuckled and picked her up in his arms as instructed.

Murong Yan happily wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

Just as Lin Zhen was holding her and turning to walk towards the side hall where they would dine—

Murong Yan's body unconsciously shifted slightly as she laughed and joked.

The long, dark gold train that had been lying haphazardly under the couch was stirred and swept across the carpet with a whoosh, like clouds rolling and unfurling!

As the train quietly billowed up, it revealed the "golden floor" lining, intricately woven with gold thread, shimmering with happiness and cunning under the warm candlelight in the hall!

The pattern of a hundred phoenixes facing the sun flashed with a triumphant and dazzling golden light, as if a prank had been successfully pulled off. The light was full of confidence overflowing with love, absolute certainty about one's own charm, and a playful disdain for any potential "threat." It was noble, magnificent, and carried a sense of satisfaction that one had firmly grasped both affection and humor.

This fleeting glimpse is the most vivid reflection of her state of mind at this moment.

The hem of her skirt fell, obscuring the triumphant golden light and the room full of laughter.

Lin Zhen carried her towards the side hall. The trailing train of her phoenix-emerging-from-the-world dress swayed gracefully behind them.

The Japanese princess's insignificant girlish thoughts were nothing more than a drop of water thrown into a lake amidst the love and jokes of the emperor and empress in the deep palace, causing a ripple before disappearing without a trace.