On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Murong Yan gently pushed the secret report onto the table, raised her phoenix eyes, looked at Lin Zhen, and curled her lips into a cold smile: "Husband, look at the rats. They don't dare to show their faces, so they've started releasing bedbugs to disgust people."

Lin Zhen had already read the secret report, and his expression was solemn: "Although this plan is despicable, it hits the nail on the head. The people are ignorant and easily misled. Especially when it comes to their children, they would rather believe it than let it go. If we let the rumors spread, it may damage the school's reputation and all our previous efforts will be in vain."

"Hmph!" Murong Yan snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes. "Playing tricks and spreading rumors, what a disgraceful thing! Do you think you can hinder my great cause of unifying the written language? Wishful thinking!"

She stood up and paced around the hall, her dark gold train swaying restlessly behind her: "They want to use ignorance to fight against enlightenment. I will show them what it means to be a benevolent ruler and what it means for evil to prevail over good!"

Lin Zhen looked at her and said in a deep voice, "Yan'er, how do you plan to deal with this? Arrest a few people who spread rumors and punish them severely? Or..."

“No.” Murong Yan stopped and turned around, her phoenix eyes gleaming with wisdom. “Severely punishing a few ignorant people will not help, but will only confirm their slander of ‘the court being cruel.’ Aren’t they spreading rumors? I will use an even louder ‘voice’ to suppress these rumors! And I will make this ‘voice’ a ‘lucky omen’ for me!”

She returned to her desk, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and said while pondering, "Issue my decree: First, order the Protectorate to immediately post a notice inviting all reputable monks, Taoist priests, and shamans within Anzhou to hold a grand 'Prayer for Peace and Blessing' ceremony at Qiming Academy three days later. The Prince and I will personally preside over the ceremony, purifying the grounds of the academy and praying for the students! The expenses will be covered by the treasury, and the event must be grand and solemn!"

A knowing glint flashed in Lin Zhen's eyes: "Brilliant! Use righteousness to drive out evil, and dispel their rumors in a way that the people can trust. And what's the second point?"

Murong Yan continued writing without stopping: "Secondly, starting today, the academy shall establish 'Parent Visiting Days,' allowing parents to attend classes on the 5th and 10th of each month, to observe the lessons, communicate with the doctors, and see for themselves whether their children are 'possessed by evil spirits'! Furthermore, the doctors shall teach more exercises to strengthen the body, such as the Five Animal Frolics and the Eight Pieces of Brocade, so that the children will look more energetic!"

“Third,” she put down her pen, her gaze sharp, “order ‘Night Owl’ to continue its close investigation, focusing on any unfamiliar faces who have recently been in frequent contact with monks, Taoist priests, or shamans, or who have suddenly become active. I want to see who is behind these rumors! Once we have evidence, there’s no need to ask for permission; kill them on the spot!”

Her response was progressive, combining both appeasement and guidance of public sentiment with a ruthless pursuit of the mastermind behind the scenes, demonstrating a perfect blend of firmness and flexibility.

Lin Zhen nodded: "This arrangement is excellent. It can both appease people and dispel rumors, and also lure the enemy out of hiding. I will make the arrangements immediately."

"Hmm," Murong Yan nodded, the fierceness on her face dissipating slightly, replaced by a hint of weariness. She walked to Lin Zhen, reached out and tugged at his sleeve, her voice softening, "My husband, you'll have to work hard again. These petty people are so annoying. They buzz around like flies."

Lin Zhen held her hand and said softly, "It's no trouble to share Yan'er's burdens. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. You should rest for a while. Several generals will be meeting with you later to discuss the reinforcement of Pyongyang's defenses."

Murong Yan gently rested her forehead against his chest and rubbed against him: "It's a good thing you're here. Otherwise, I really would have sent troops to arrest all those gossiping people."

Lin Zhen chuckled and gently patted her back: "My Yan'er is a wise ruler. How can she act like a brute? This way of handling things shows the demeanor of an emperor."

Just as the two were enjoying their tender moment, a palace attendant announced from outside the hall that several generals were waiting to see them.

Murong Yan immediately straightened up from Lin Zhen's embrace, her weariness and dependence vanishing instantly, replaced by the majesty of an empress. She nodded to Lin Zhen and turned to walk towards the throne.

Just as she turned around, preparing to meet the general—

The movements were executed with a deft transition from warmth to authority!

The five-zhang-long dark gold trailing tail that had been spreading restlessly and agitatedly on the floor of the hall was suddenly lifted up!

The luxurious brocade swept across the ground with a whoosh, as if shaking off the troubles from just moments before!

As the train suddenly billowed up, it revealed the "Golden Embroidery" lining, which was densely woven with gold threads and shimmered with a wise and decisive light like dark clouds edged with gold under the light of the rainy day!

The pattern of a hundred phoenixes facing the sun burst forth with a dazzling and sharp golden light, like lightning piercing through the haze. The light was full of wisdom that could see through trickery, confidence that could resolve crises, and a powerful and majestic way of crushing conspiracy with open strategies and evil with benevolent rule. It was noble, magnificent, and carried a calm and composed demeanor that made the situation seem effortless and controlled the whole situation.

This fleeting glimpse revealed a flash of wisdom in her response to challenges.

The hem of her skirt fell, obscuring both the wise golden light and the emperor's decisiveness.

Murong Yan sat upright on the throne and summoned the generals to the palace.

Outside the palace, rumbling thunder echoed, and the summer downpour finally began.

Meanwhile, an equally fierce battle against an invisible enemy has quietly begun.

......

night.

The sweltering heat that had been building up all day finally dissipated into a rare downpour after nightfall.

A fierce wind whipped up large raindrops, lashing wildly at every roof tile and window frame of Anzhou City. Lightning snaked through the dark clouds, and each flash of lightning that tore through the sky was followed by a deafening clap of thunder, as if to shatter the entire world.

Rainwater gushed through the streets, washing away the daytime dust and concealing many unseen activities under the cover of night.

In this terrible weather, the vast majority of people kept their doors and windows tightly shut, hiding inside and listening to the wind and rain outside, feeling uneasy.

However, for some lurking in the shadows, such nights are the perfect opportunity for plotting.

The shantytown west of Anzhou City, which was even more dilapidated and low-lying, was now almost completely submerged.

Sewage flowed everywhere, and the place was muddy and impassable. In a mud-brick house that was even more remote and almost collapsed than the place where Park Ji-woong had previously hidden, a few faint lights, almost completely drowned out by the sound of wind and rain, flickered in the darkness.

Inside, the house was leaking badly, and several broken basins on the floor were catching the water, making a monotonous "drip-drip" sound.

The air was damp and moldy, with a sour smell mixed with dirt and sweat.

Three figures sat around a dim oil lamp. The one in the lead was Kim Soon-cheol, who succeeded the deceased Park Ji-woong as the new leader of the remaining forces of the "Restoration Banner" in Anju.

The grief and indignation on his face had been replaced by a sinister ruthlessness, and the scar at the corner of his eye looked even more ferocious under the flickering light.

The other two were a messenger responsible for contacting remnants of the gang in various places, and a gang leader who was most active in spreading rumors among the crowd during the day.

"Damn it, this awful weather!" The gang leader wiped the rain and sweat from his face and cursed under his breath. "Boss Jin, that vixen Murong Yan is going to hold some kind of 'Prayer for Blessing the Land' ceremony, and she's even invited monks and Taoists. She's clearly trying to sabotage our plans!"