On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Murong Yan frowned slightly: "It seems that eliminating the remaining rebels will not be a task that can be accomplished in a day. Husband, we need to increase our investigation efforts, especially in the coastal areas and regions bordering Japan and Silla, to prevent them from colluding with foreign enemies."

"Don't worry, I've already sent more people." Lin Zhen nodded. "In addition, the Japanese delegation seems to have been unusually quiet lately. That Princess Sakura has been keeping to herself and rarely showing her face since that day."

When the Japanese princess was mentioned, a complex look flashed in Murong Yan's eyes, a mixture of disdain and a hint of barely perceptible amusement.

She scoffed, "That little princess must be terrified. Good, let her see the power of the Celestial Empire, so she won't have any wild thoughts all the time."

As she spoke, she yawned slightly, and a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. "My husband, I'm sleepy."

"Then let's rest," Lin Zhen said softly, making a move to pick her up.

"Mmm," Murong Yan responded lazily, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Just as Lin Zhen picked her up and turned to walk towards the inner bedroom—

Murong Yan unconsciously curled up her body due to the change in posture.

The five-foot-long dark gold train, which was scattered and messy on the carpet, just like her current emotions, was stirred and slid across the carpet like flowing water with a whoosh!

As the train quietly billowed up, it revealed the "Golden Floor" lining, densely woven with gold thread, which shimmered with a soft yet firm light under the warm candlelight of the bedchamber, as if caressed by moonlight!

The pattern of a hundred phoenixes facing the sun flashed with a warm and dignified golden light, like a pearl in the deep sea. The light was full of reflection on past decisions, worries about the future, and a sense of peace and strength found in the embrace of a lover. It was noble, magnificent, and carried a restrained courage that knew the road ahead was difficult but still chose to move forward!

This fleeting glimpse is a true reflection of her complex inner world.

The skirt fell, concealing the warm golden light and the cozy atmosphere of the room.

Lin Zhen gently placed her on the bed and covered her with a brocade quilt.

Murong Yan quickly fell into a deep sleep, her brows still showing signs of fatigue.

Lin Zhen sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching her sleeping face, his eyes filled with pity and determination.

He knew that beneath the surface of calm, undercurrents were still surging.

And he will always be the strongest shield protecting her.

Meanwhile, dozens of miles west of Anzhou City, several dark figures quietly gathered in the darkness of night at an abandoned mountain god temple.

They were the few remaining minor leaders of the "Restoration Banner" after Park Ji-woong's death.

The atmosphere was oppressive and filled with grief and indignation.

"Brother Park died a terrible death! We must avenge this!" a young man roared, his eyes red.

“Revenge? Easier said than done!” An older man sighed. “Murong Yan is heavily guarded and ruthless. With our limited manpower, it’s like throwing an egg against a rock.”

“Are we just going to let this go? Just watch our children learn their language and forget their ancestors?” another person said indignantly.

After a moment of silence, a middle-aged man who had been taciturn and had a sinister expression spoke up: "A direct confrontation won't work, but we can try a different approach. Murong Yan values ​​the academy, so we'll start there. However, we can't just poison her like Brother Park did; that would be too conspicuous. We can spread rumors."

"rumor?"

“Yes,” the sinister middle-aged man’s eyes flashed with a cold light, “say that the feng shui of Sheng Hui’s school is bad, and that it is particularly harmful to Goguryeo children; or say that their food contains a slow-acting mind-altering drug, making the children stupid and obedient, and forgetting their parents. In short, we must make those ignorant people afraid to send their children to school! As long as the school can’t continue to operate, Murong Yan’s assimilation plan will naturally fail!”

Upon hearing this, hope was rekindled in everyone's eyes.

......

In the third year of the Holy Emblem Era, on the fifth month.

After a bloody thunderous shock, Anzhou City fell into an eerie calm.

The school meals became more abundant and delicious than ever before, the officials were incredibly efficient, and there were few disputes among the local residents.

However, beneath this seemingly docile and calm surface, a murky undercurrent is quietly spreading along the most ignorant and sensitive nerve endings.

At first, it was just some unfounded gossip that quietly spread in the vegetable market, by the well, and during leisure time.

"Have you heard? Ever since the Wang family's son from East Street went to Qiming Academy, he's been talking in his sleep, shouting words we can't understand, and his eyes are practically glazed over!"

"You bet it is! My neighbor's daughter is the same. She used to be such a bright kid, but now when you ask her what her dad's name is, she sometimes just stares blankly! Could she be possessed?"

"Alas, I've heard that the foundation of that school is unclean. It used to be a mass burial ground for Goguryeo people, and it's said to suck the souls of children!"

"And there's something even stranger! Some people say they saw black smoke billowing from the school at midnight, and there were also cries from children saying that the food given by the Holy Emblem People contained talisman water that would make people stupid!"

These absurd rumors, like a plague, spread rapidly among the common people who feared Murong Yan's iron-fisted rule and instinctively rejected unfamiliar cultures.

Parents, especially those with children who are older than average, have not yet started school, or have just started school when the poisoning incident occurred, are particularly anxious.

Although the child has recovered and is eating perfectly, the fear of the unknown "evil magic" is more unsettling than the visible swords.

There were noticeably fewer people dropping off their children at school, and more parents peering around the school gate with hesitant expressions.

The sky outside the window was overcast, muggy, and windless, foreshadowing the first summer downpour.

Murong Yan sat upright behind the desk, listening to the report from the newly appointed Chief Administrator of the Andong Protectorate regarding the collection of taxes for spring plowing.

She was still wearing that phoenix-themed dress today.

Because of the hot and humid weather, the black and gold mink shawl was not worn, but was draped on the gilded phoenix head coat rack next to it.

Her brow furrowed slightly, not because of the taxes, but because of another briefing from "Night Owl" about rumors circulating in the streets, which cast a shadow over her heart.

The Phoenix Descends to Earth dress seemed to sense its owner's displeasure on this sweltering and oppressive afternoon.

Under the light of a cloudy day, the extremely dark Suzhou brocade base material presents a stagnant ink color that has absorbed moisture. The woven gold cotton wool and real gold thread have also lost their former vibrant brilliance, flowing with a dull and oppressive dark gold.

On the nightgown, the pattern of the giant phoenix reaching for the sky, as if listening intently, folds its wings and lowers its eyes, as if gathering strength to prepare for a filthy attack from a dark corner.

The black jade thumb ring on her left thumb made a dull thud as she unconsciously tapped the table.

The five-zhang-long Su brocade train spread out somewhat haphazardly on the smooth, slightly cool gold brick floor—not its usual lazy disorder, but a restless, undulating line caused by her unease. In some places, it was even wrinkled from being inadvertently kicked by her occasional changes in sitting posture.

This disarray reflects her keen awareness of the hidden reefs beneath the surface, intertwined with her disdain and anger at the foolish methods employed.

After the chief clerk finished his report, he bowed and withdrew. Only Murong Yan and Lin Zhen, who was standing to one side, remained in the hall.