On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

April 21, 3rd year of the Holy Emblem, early morning.

The atmosphere inside the Anzhou Imperial Palace was somber.

The news of a sudden mass poisoning of children at Qiming Academy yesterday afternoon struck Murong Yan like a thunderbolt at dawn.

She had been reviewing memorials until late last night and had just fallen asleep when she heard the news. She immediately got up, her phoenix eyes wide open, filled with cold anger and a hint of seriousness.

"Prepare the carriage! To the school!" Murong Yan's voice was firm and unquestionable.

She didn't even have time for a proper makeover; a palace maid quickly styled her hair into a simple bun and added her usual golden phoenix hairpin. She was still wearing the same divine phoenix descending to earth dress.

The black and gold mink shawl was also taken out and draped over the nightgown, its fur gleaming with a dark luster in the morning light.

Her face was gloomy as she strode out of the bedchamber, her five-zhang-long tail trailing rapidly behind her, rustling against the cold floor.

The Phoenix Descends to Earth dress displayed a different kind of charm in this sudden emergency.

The deep black Suzhou brocade, under the dim light of dawn, reveals its unfathomable calm and suppressed rage, while the woven gold cotton and real gold threads reveal a sharp edge in its restraint, like the cold lightning seeping from the edge of the dark clouds before a storm.

The pattern of the giant phoenix on the nightgown, as it moves swiftly, seems to be about to take flight, exuding an awe-inspiring air of scrutiny and judgment.

The wide, bell-shaped sleeves were concealed by the cuffs of her cloak, but the dark jade thumb ring on her left hand revealed its taut outline when she clenched her fist.

The five-zhang-long Su Jin trailing back was not laid flat behind her because of her hurried steps. Instead, it was driven by her hurried steps, winding and twisting along the palace corridor, sometimes brushing past the pillars, sometimes brushing the threshold, and even getting wet with the morning dew on the steps, forming a kind of messy look that was unique to dealing with sudden changes, with anxiety and decisiveness.

This disarray reflects her inner turmoil and also highlights the urgency of the situation.

The softness of the cotton is ignored at this moment, and the name "nightgown" is full of contrast, highlighting the owner's determination to conduct an iron-fisted investigation.

Lin Zhen had already received the news and was waiting outside the hall. He was dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit with a matching cloak, and his expression was solemn. When he saw Murong Yan come out, he immediately stepped forward, naturally took her slightly cool hand, and said in a low voice, "Yan'er, don't panic. The matter has already happened, so it's best to handle it calmly."

Murong Yan felt the warmth from his palm, and her anxiety subsided slightly. She gripped his hand tightly in return, a cold glint flashing in her phoenix eyes:

"My lord, how can I not be anxious? I just issued a strict order to improve the meals yesterday, and this has happened today! This is a blatant provocation! It's a slap in my face! If anything happens to those children, I will not let them off lightly!"

Her voice was filled with suppressed anger.

“I understand.” Lin Zhen nodded calmly. “I have ordered people to control the scene, and no one involved is allowed to leave. The most urgent task is to find out the cause and reassure the public.”

The carriage was already prepared. Murong Yan and Lin Zhen rode together in the same carriage, speeding towards Qiming Academy.

Inside the car, Murong Yan leaned on Lin Zhen's shoulder, her eyes closed in concentration, but her furrowed brows revealed that she was not at peace.

Lin Zhen gently embraced her, offering silent support.

When we arrived at the school, it was already daylight.

The school was heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was tense.

The physicians and officials were already waiting, and upon seeing the Emperor and Empress arrive, they immediately knelt to welcome them.

Most of the poisoned children have recovered after treatment last night, but a few weak ones are still resting in their dormitories, looking pale.

Murong Yan's expression was cold and stern as she walked straight towards the dining hall and kitchen area.

She first visited the children who were bedridden. Seeing their weak state, the coldness in her eyes intensified, but she tried her best to remain gentle in her tone, personally comforting them and promising to find out the truth.

She then went to the kitchen. The kitchen had been sealed off, and yesterday's food samples, cooking utensils, and leftovers had been sealed and were pending investigation.

The cook, Li San, and all the kitchen helpers knelt on the ground, trembling all over.

Murong Yan did not immediately retaliate, nor did she resort to torture.

She stood in the center of the kitchen, her gaze sweeping across every corner like a hawk's, finally settling on Li San, who was kneeling at the front.

“Li San,” Murong Yan began, her voice calm yet carrying an invisible pressure, “tell me in detail every step of yesterday’s lunch preparation process, from the ingredients being stored to their distribution and serving. There must be no omissions.”

Li San was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He banged his head against the ground repeatedly and began to stammer as he recounted his story.

He followed his prepared explanation, emphasizing that all ingredients were purchased and inspected in accordance with regulations, and the cooking process was no different from usual, with absolutely no abnormalities.

He even deliberately mentioned that green beans are sometimes difficult to cook through, perhaps because they are not blanched long enough, trying to shift the blame to an accident.

Murong Yan listened quietly, occasionally interrupting him to ask about details, such as: "Was the meat delivered yesterday fresh? Who washed the green beans? How long did you drain them after blanching? Did you leave the stove while cooking?"

Her questions were meticulous and went straight to the key points.

Li San broke out in a cold sweat and desperately tried to cover up his lie, but under Murong Yan's all-seeing gaze, his words inevitably contained some loopholes and contradictions.

Murong Yan did not point it out, but silently noted it down.

After questioning Li San, she then questioned the other servants in turn to verify the details.

Throughout the entire process, she remained unusually calm and patient, showing none of the expected fury.

This only made Li San and the others more terrified, like the calm before a storm.

The investigation lasted for nearly an hour.

Murong Yan even personally inspected the sealed ingredients and cooking utensils, bending down to carefully examine the stove and floor. Her dark gold trailing tail inevitably dragged across the oily kitchen floor, leaving stains, but she paid no attention to them.

Finally, Murong Yan straightened up and ordered the accompanying officials: "Isolate and guard all personnel who had contact with yesterday's lunch. They are not allowed to contact outsiders without my permission. Continue to strictly investigate the source of the food and expand the search area to see if any suspicious persons have been seen near the school recently."

Her orders were clear and logical, without making a definitive conclusion that it was deliberate poisoning, but she also left no possibility unexplored.

After finishing these tasks, Murong Yan and Lin Zhen left the kitchen and went to the school courtyard.

As dawn broke, the light illuminated their solemn figures.

"Yan'er, you don't seem to completely believe what the cook said?" Lin Zhen looked at Murong Yan and asked softly.

He knew her; if she truly believed it was just an accident, she would never have gone to such lengths, personally questioning him so thoroughly.

Murong Yan took a deep breath of the cool morning air, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of wisdom flashing within them:

“Husband, don’t you think it’s too coincidental? I just issued a strict order to improve the meals, and this happened right afterward. Moreover, the doctor has determined that it was caused by laxatives, not just because the green beans were not ripe. That Li San, his words were evasive, and he seemed frightened, but there was a kind of coerced despair deep in his eyes. This matter is definitely not as simple as an accident.”

Lin Zhen nodded: "That's what I was thinking. There's probably something fishy going on behind this. Maybe someone doesn't want to see the school run well, or the children truly return to their roots."