On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On the tenth day of the eighth month of the second year of the Shenghui era, Anzhou City appeared even more peaceful and prosperous under the late summer sun.

The city is bustling with activity, and the wounds of war have been gradually healed by time and the new order, at least on the surface.

That afternoon, Murong Yan stayed in the study of the imperial palace to review memorials.

She was still only wearing that phoenix descending to earth dress.

The study was bright and clean, and she leaned languidly against a large, cushioned desk in a rosewood recliner.

To make writing easier, she tied up her wide, bell-shaped sleeves with delicate gold rings, revealing her slender wrists.

The black and gold mink shawl was draped over the back of the chair next to him.

Memorials were piled up on her desk, but she seemed somewhat absent-minded, her vermilion brush moving idly, her phoenix eyes occasionally glancing out the window, as if expecting something.

Under the tranquil light of the study, the Phoenix Descends to Earth dress exudes a unique beauty that lies between majesty and privacy.

The deep black Suzhou brocade absorbs the sunlight filtering through the window, its color serene, while the woven gold cotton and real gold threads flow with a gentle and dignified glow.

The phoenix pattern on her nightgown, when she was deep in thought, lost some of its overt sharpness and gained a more profound and noble air of strategic planning. The black jade thumb ring on her left thumb gently tapped against the table as she held a pen.

The five-zhang-long Suzhou brocade train cascaded down from the recliner, spreading out on the polished gold brick floor.

Because of her languid posture and occasional adjustments, the trailing tail of her dress meandered and coiled under the desk, with a few strands even curling up to the legs of the bookshelf, acquiring a touch of scholarly air and creating a messy effect that was unconsciously created while she was thinking, imbued with the fragrance of books and ink.

This disarray makes it all the more real, as if it were an externalization of the myriad thoughts in her mind.

The softness of the cotton and the comfort of the nightgown allowed her to relax completely while handling demanding administrative tasks.

“Sigh,” Murong Yan put down her vermilion brush, sighed softly, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and muttered to the palace maid standing beside her, “These memorials make me dizzy. I wonder when my husband will come back. He said he went to buy me osmanthus sugar cakes from that newly opened candied fruit shop in the south of the city.”

Her tone carried a clear expectation and a hint of coquettish complaint, completely unlike the decisive and ruthless empress in the court.

The palace maid quickly bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, His Highness the Prince will be back soon."

Murong Yan nodded and picked up a secret report on the latest situation of Pyongyang's defenses again, but she couldn't concentrate on reading it. Her mind had already flown to the sweet and sticky pastries and her husband.

Meanwhile, in the most bustling street in the south of Anzhou City, Lin Zhen was standing in front of the famous "Ganlinzhai" pastry shop.

Today he was dressed in a low-key dark blue brocade casual suit, without any attendants, like an ordinary wealthy young man.

He had just bought a bag of steaming hot osmanthus cakes, carefully wrapped them in oil paper, and held them in his hand. A gentle smile appeared on his lips as he imagined how happy Murong Yan would be when she ate them.

Just as he turned to leave, a woman's voice, tinged with surprise and a hint of timidity, sounded behind him in slightly broken Chinese: "Your Highness Prince Lin?"

Lin Zhen paused, turned around, and saw the person who had come. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Princess Sakura was standing not far away. Today, she was not wearing formal palace attire, but rather an exquisite light cherry-colored kimono embroidered with plum blossoms. Her hair was neatly styled and adorned with several pearl hairpins. Her face was lightly powdered, which made her skin appear even whiter and her features more delicate. She possessed a unique, gentle, and graceful traditional beauty that was different from that of women from the Central Plains.

A few steps behind her was the guard commander, Ōtomo Suruga, whose expression was complicated and who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"So it's His Highness the Prince." Lin Zhen nodded slightly, his expression returning to calm, his tone polite yet distant. "What a coincidence."

Upon seeing Lin Zhen's response, Princess Sakura's face immediately blossomed into a bright smile, like a cherry blossom in full bloom.

She strode forward, disregarding etiquette, and looked up at Lin Zhen, her eyes sparkling with undisguised excitement and admiration:

"It really is you! I saw a figure from behind at the teahouse window just now and thought it looked like you! I didn't expect it to be you! Your Highness, why did you come here alone?"

Her tone was cheerful, with the innocence of a young girl.

Lin Zhen waved the bag of pastries in her hand and said calmly, "I came out to buy some pastries."

"Snacks?" Princess Sakura leaned closer curiously, smelling a sweet fragrance, and smiled, "Are these for Her Majesty the Empress? Does Her Majesty also like sweets?" She seemed to be full of curiosity about everything about Murong Yan.

"Hmm." Lin Zhen responded briefly, not wanting to talk any further, and started to leave. "Please make yourself at home, Your Highness. I have other matters to attend to."

"Your Highness, please wait!" Princess Sakura hurriedly followed, walking alongside him, and began chattering incessantly with questions:

"Your Highness, what you said the other day about 'destroying the old and then rebuilding' made a lot of sense to me! Our Japan has never had such a spirit before! And Anju City is so much better now because of your and His Majesty's good governance, right? I went to see the newly built canal yesterday, it's really amazing! Your Highness, what do you usually like to do besides handling government affairs? Do you also like to go shopping?"

She asked one question after another, her eyes filled with eagerness, as if she had countless things to say to Lin Zhen.

The faint scent of cherry blossoms emanating from her, along with her completely adoring and undisguised attitude, was strikingly different from Murong Yan's complex charm, which was sometimes charming, sometimes domineering, and sometimes unfathomable. She gave people a simple and refreshing feeling.

Lin Zhen had to admit that this foreign princess did indeed have her touching qualities.

He didn't stop walking, but listening to her clear voice and looking at the beautiful face beside him, full of exotic charm and admiration, the string in his heart that had always been taut—the one belonging to a subject and a husband—seemed to loosen slightly.

He even subconsciously slowed his pace.

"In my spare time, I merely read books and practice martial arts; I have no particular hobbies." His reply remained concise, but his tone was unconsciously a little gentler than usual.

"Studying and practicing martial arts? Your Highness is truly accomplished in both literature and martial arts!" Princess Sakura's eyes shone with even greater admiration. "When I was in Japan, I also read some Chinese books, but I always found them profound and difficult to understand. I wish I could have the opportunity to ask Your Highness for guidance."

As she spoke, a blush rose to her cheeks, and she lowered her head, revealing her slender, fair neck, her posture charming and shy.

Following behind, Ōtomo Suruga watched as the princess was so enthusiastic and proactive towards Lin Zhen, and Lin Zhen didn't seem to mind. His face grew increasingly grim, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh, but he could only endure it, his heart filled with a sense of powerlessness and a hint of humiliation at being outdone.

Lin Zhen saw her shyness and his heart stirred slightly.

The feeling of being purely admired by a young and beautiful woman is an indescribable satisfaction for any man.

He even briefly imagined what it would be like if it weren't for Yan'er, such a noble, beautiful, and devoted foreign princess. But as soon as this thought arose, he forcibly suppressed it.

He took a deep breath, his gentle expression vanished, and he became distant again.

“Your Highness is too kind. I dare not presume to ask for your guidance. If you are interested in Han culture, you can apply to the Ministry of Rites to send scholars.” He quickened his pace, clearly not wanting to continue this “chance encounter.”

Princess Sakura noticed the change in his attitude, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, but she still mustered her courage and asked, "Your Highness, will you come out again next time? I...I can..."

“Your Highness,” Lin Zhen interrupted her, stopping and turning around, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable authority as he looked at her, “I am very busy and may not have the time. Your delegation is in Anzhou; you should focus on your business. Farewell.”

After saying that, he didn't linger. Carrying the snacks, he strode away, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.

Princess Sakura stood there, gazing in the direction he had disappeared, motionless for a long time, her face filled with a sense of loss.

Ōtomo Suruga stepped forward, about to say something in a low voice, but was stopped by her waving hand.

“Suruga, you don’t understand,” she murmured, but her eyes gleamed with an even stronger determination. “This is the true king.”