On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Lin Zhen, dressed in a prince's python robe, followed closely behind. His expression was calm, but his gaze was like that of a vigilant eagle, subtly scanning the entire scene.

He already knew about Kim Soon-cheol's plot, and although he had made meticulous arrangements, he still dared not be careless in the slightest.

Murong Yan walked steadily up the temporary platform and sat down on the phoenix chair in the center.

Lin Zhen stood beside him, his hand on his sword.

The master of ceremonies announced the start of the ceremony.

In an instant, bells and chimes rang out in harmony, Buddhist chants and shamanic prayers intertwined, and incense smoke swirled, rising straight into the clouds. The scene was grand and solemn.

Murong Yan sat upright on it, her face calm, accepting the worship and prayers of the crowd.

She didn't entirely believe in such rituals, but she knew they were a necessary means to appease the public and dispel rumors.

Her gaze slowly swept across the audience, and as she saw the expressions on the faces of the people gradually change from initial curiosity and awe to piety and reassurance, a slight smile of satisfaction appeared on her lips.

The ceremony proceeded as planned.

The offering of sacrifices, the recitation of the memorial text, the high monks sprinkling holy water, and the Taoist priests performing the rituals all seemed to be developing in the direction expected.

However, just as the most crucial moment was about to arrive—when Murong Yan personally lit the incense and candles symbolizing "communication between heaven and earth" to signify the official start of the blessing ceremony—a sudden change occurred!

The master of ceremonies loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty, please burn incense, so that it may reach the ears of Heaven and bring blessings upon all people!"

Two eunuchs respectfully presented a piece of top-grade sandalwood, as thick as a child's arm and gilded with dragon carvings, which had been prepared beforehand.

Murong Yan slowly rose and took a lit incense stick from the eunuch, which was supported by a specially made long handle, in preparation to light the main incense candle.

Just as she bent down and brought the incense stick close to the top of the candle—

An extremely strange, faint, sweet fragrance, mixed with the rich sandalwood scent, suddenly entered her nostrils!

The fragrance was not particularly special at first, but once it entered her lungs, Murong Yan felt a slight dizziness in her head!

The scene before my eyes seemed to distort, and the chanting and music around me became distant and blurry!

She even seemed to see the ferocious and angry face of her late father, Emperor Murong Li, flashing by in the swirling smoke!

"Ugh," Murong Yan let out a very slight groan, her body swaying almost imperceptibly, and the incense stick in her hand nearly slipped from her grasp!

"Yan'er!" Lin Zhen, who had been on high alert, was the first to notice something was wrong!

He strode forward, subtly reaching out to support her arm, while simultaneously channeling his inner energy into her and uttering a low shout: "Concentrate and calm your mind!"

The officials and monks who were nearby also vaguely noticed the Empress's unusual behavior, and there was a slight commotion.

The people looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering what had happened.

Murong Yan was indeed a person of profound skill and unwavering will.

She bit her tongue hard, and a sweet, metallic taste filled her mouth. The intense stinging sensation instantly pulled her out of that bizarre hallucination!

A cold glint flashed in her phoenix eyes. She suppressed the shock and surging blood in her heart, steadied herself, and used all her strength to steadily light the incense stick in her hand onto the main incense candle!

The incense and candles were lit successfully, and wisps of smoke rose into the air.

"The ceremony is complete! Your Majesty prays for blessings, may Heaven bless the holy emblem and bestow grace upon all living beings!" Upon seeing this, the master of ceremonies quickly chanted loudly in response, trying to cover up the abnormality that had just occurred.

The music resumed, and the chanting of sutras by monks and Taoist priests became even louder.

Murong Yan slowly straightened up, trying her best to keep her face calm, but her hands trembled slightly in her sleeves.

She felt a strange sense of weakness and lingering nausea.

She knew that she had almost lost her composure in front of her thousands of subjects!

This is no coincidence!

Lin Zhen held her arm tightly, and he could feel her stiffness and slight trembling.

His heart was filled with rage, and his gaze swept like an ice blade over the burning incense and the eunuch holding them.

The conspiracy did indeed happen!

Moreover, the target is Yan'er herself!

“Your Majesty,” the eunuch beside him also sensed something was wrong and cautiously stepped forward to inquire.

"I am fine." Murong Yan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her discomfort, and tried to keep her voice steady. "The ceremony will continue."

She sat down again, but for the rest of the ceremony, she barely managed to stay awake through sheer willpower.

The cloying, exotic scent seemed to linger in the air, constantly eroding her senses.

She must concentrate all her energy to fight against the force that wants to drag her into the abyss of illusion.

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, and her face was somewhat pale.

All of this was observed by some astute officials nearby and by Lin Zhen.

Although the people in the distance may not have noticed, the fact that the Empress showed signs of discomfort during the blessing ceremony was an extremely unfavorable sign!

Those rumors about "ominous signs at the school" and "the wrath of the gods and spirits" will likely resurface and even intensify as a result!

The prayer ceremony, amidst this atmosphere of outward solemnity and inner turmoil, barely came to an end.

As soon as the ceremony ended, Murong Yan, almost with Lin Zhen's half-support, quickly left the high platform and boarded the imperial carriage.

Once inside the enclosed carriage, she could no longer hold on; her body went limp, and she leaned against Lin Zhen's chest, her breathing becoming rapid.

"Yan'er! How are you?" Lin Zhen asked anxiously, and quickly used his internal energy to regulate her blood and qi.

"There's something wrong with the incense." Murong Yan's voice was weak, her phoenix eyes filled with lingering fear and boundless rage. "Such insidious methods! How dare they directly attack me!"

"I know! I've already had all the eunuchs and officials who came into contact with the offerings taken into custody! 'Night Owl' has also gone to investigate the source of the incense and candles!" Lin Zhen held her tightly, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Don't worry, I will definitely find the mastermind behind this and tear him to pieces!"

Murong Yan leaned against him, feeling his warm chest and steady heartbeat, and the shock in her heart subsided slightly.

But the physical discomfort and mental shock made her feel an unprecedented sense of exhaustion and frustration.

Her meticulously planned prayer ceremony, intended to stabilize public sentiment, unexpectedly became the stage for her enemies to attack her!

Instead of completely dispelling the rumors, she may have given them fertile ground to grow due to her brief loss of composure!

Under the strict protection of the Imperial Guards, the imperial carriage quickly returned to the temporary palace.

Inside the car, Murong Yan closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, her face still pale.

The phoenix descending to earth dress beneath the formal attire seemed to have lost its former brilliance, its dark gold color appearing somewhat dim.

The five-zhang-long trailing tail lay limply inside the carriage, no longer possessing that chaotic, all-controlling aura, but rather resembling a wounded person curling up.

This was the first time Murong Yan had encountered such a direct and nearly successful assassination attempt in public since conquering Goguryeo. It was also the first time she had truly felt that the despicable methods and wicked intentions of the enemy hidden in the shadows far surpassed those of open warfare.

Her heart was filled with anger, but for the first time, a sense of solemnity and vigilance also arose.

This war of conquest and assimilation was far more complex and difficult than she had imagined.