On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The brief yet subtly pointed audience at the Anju Palace was like a boulder thrown into the calm lake of Prince Sakura's heart.

She maintained the seemingly docile and humble demeanor characteristic of Japanese nobles, and under the strict watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, she rode in a carriage back to the Japanese embassy located west of Anju City.

Only when the carriage entered the embassy courtyard and the heavy doors closed behind her, cutting off all outside sight, did she allow a crack to appear in the carefully maintained mask on her face.

The embassy was filled with the faint scent of incense, and the familiar atmosphere slightly relaxed her tense nerves, but her heart was beating fast and wildly in her chest.

She ignored the maids who came to greet her and went straight to her room, which was located at the back of the embassy.

This is a room decorated entirely in the Japanese style, with tatami mats, sliding doors, low tables, and a landscape painting with vivid ink wash on the wall, creating an ethereal atmosphere that is completely out of place with the hustle and bustle of the foreign country outside the window.

Sakura dismissed all the servants and knelt alone on the cold tatami mat. She needed absolute quiet to process what she had seen and felt in the palace chambers and to make the crucial judgment that could affect the future of Japan.

Murong Yan's image kept appearing in her mind.

Pale, truly pale; the weakness after blood loss was not feigned.

Her voice had lost the clear, resonant quality and power it once possessed in the main hall, now trembling slightly with insufficient energy.

All of this seems to confirm the rumors of "serious injury".

but--

Cherry blossoms closed their eyes, carefully recalling every detail.

Murong Yan's eyes.

That's not the look of a dying person or someone seriously ill.

Those phoenix eyes were not murky or unfocused; instead, they were like two bottomless pools of cold water, calm, sharp, and even carrying a kind of all-knowing scrutiny.

In her seemingly casual questions, Sakura could sense an invisible force of control, as if all her thoughts were laid bare before those eyes.

And that dress she was wearing... even on her sickbed, the Phoenix Descent Dress.

Against the dark background, the golden patterns flowed faintly in the dim light of the hall, like the scales and feathers of a dragon and phoenix lying dormant, silently proclaiming the supreme status of the master.

That was certainly not something a dying emperor would care about.

More importantly, it's Lin Zhen's attitude.

The powerful prince stood guard by the bedside, his eyes filled with genuine worry, but even more so with composure and certainty, as if he was convinced that Murong Yan would recover.

If Murong Yan were truly on the verge of death, Lin Zhen would never have been able to handle state affairs and receive foreign officials with such composure.

“She’s recovering, and quite quickly.” Sakura suddenly opened her eyes and came to this conclusion that made her heart sink.

The information provided by Jin Shunzhe that "Murong Yan is seriously injured and on the verge of death" contains a great deal of exaggeration, or rather, it is his wishful thinking and conjecture!

This judgment made the situation incredibly complicated.

If Murong Yan is indeed seriously injured and dies, then Japan's support for Kim Soon-cheol, taking advantage of the internal strife in the Holy Emblem Kingdom to seek benefits on the Korean Peninsula, is undoubtedly a smart move.

The risks are high, but the potential rewards are extremely high.

But now, Murong Yan is clearly recovering.

Given her personality and methods, once she fully recovers, she will inevitably launch the most ruthless purge against all her enemies.

How long can Kim Soon-cheol and his "national restoration banner" withstand the full power of the Holy Emblem State apparatus?

It would be like an ant trying to shake a tree.

If Japan has publicly supported Kim Soon-chul by then, it will be tantamount to standing directly against the Holy Emblem.

How will Murong Yan and Lin Zhen deal with a neighboring country that dares to interfere in their internal affairs and even covet their territory?

Thinking of the Holy Emblem's powerful navy and valiant border troops, Sakura couldn't help but shudder.

Making an enemy of a unified, powerful, and enraged Holy Emblem Empire is not the outcome Japan desires!

Minister Soga no Umako's ambition could very well drag the entire country into an abyss of no return!

But...should we give up now?

A hint of resentment flashed in Sakura's eyes.

The Korean Peninsula, especially Byeonhan, held an irresistible allure for Japan.

The terms offered by Kim Soon-cheol were indeed generous.

This may be the closest Japan has come to gaining a foothold on the mainland in decades.

Risk and reward were fiercely battling within her.

She got up, walked to the window, and opened the sliding window.

The night view of Anju City came into view, with the direction of the Seonghui Palace in the distance brightly lit, like a lurking beast. The area where the Japanese embassy was located, however, was relatively dark and quiet.

She recalled the secret instructions Minister Soga no Umako had given her before her departure: "Sakura, your journey to the Holy Emblem is ostensibly for reconciliation, but in reality, it is the eye of the Empire. You must see through the Holy Emblem's true nature, especially that Empress... If there is an opportunity, you can secretly help the remnants of Goguryeo, making them weaken each other with the Holy Emblem, so that our country can reap the benefits. But remember, you must never leave any handles that expose the Empire to the light of day."

"We must not leave any evidence to be exposed." Sakura repeated these words in a low voice, the light in her eyes gradually becoming clear and cold.

She made a decision.

Returning to the table, she knelt down again and spread out a specially made washi paper with a subtle pattern.

Instead of using obvious Japanese script, she began writing in a modified, coded script similar to Chinese characters.

This letter will be sent to Minister Soga no Umako of Naniwa-kyo through the most secretive channels.

Her handwriting was delicate and steady, but the content was full of cold calculation:

To His Excellency Minister Soga:

"During our meeting in Anzhou, Murong Yan was indeed ill, but she was by no means on the verge of death as Jin Shunzhe claimed. She still retained her composure, Lin Zhen remained calm, and the foundation of the Holy Emblem's rule remained unshaken. On the contrary, the assassination attempt made the situation even more ominous. Jin Shunzhe and his ilk are desperate people who have reached the end of their rope. Their words are mostly empty promises, and I'm afraid they will not succeed."

"Instead of rashly supporting such rotten wood, it would be better to adopt the strategy of 'driving a tiger to devour a wolf.' We can pretend to agree to Kim Soon-cheol's request, providing a small amount of outdated military equipment and a little money to lure him into taking the initiative to attack and provoke the Holy Emblem. They will surely be crushed by thunder. This move can not only use the Holy Emblem to eliminate the useless remnants of Goguryeo, but also test the Holy Emblem's true reaction and bottom line in Liaodong."

"Our country must maintain a 'detached' stance and must never openly intervene. All support must be provided through covert channels and kept within reasonable limits. If Kim Soon-cheol succeeds in creating chaos, we can observe and wait for an opportunity to gain some small benefits along the coast; if he fails, it will not be a major loss for us. All traces must be thoroughly erased to ensure that the Holy Emblem has no evidence to accuse our country."

"Murong Yan's desire for revenge will surely intensify after this assassination attempt. In the near future, the situation in Liaodong and even the Bohai Sea will become increasingly tense. Our country should outwardly show subservience, inwardly strengthen its military preparations, and observe the situation calmly. This is the best policy. We must not forget the greater danger for the sake of small gains and confront the powerful Sheng Hui head-on, as this would not be a blessing for the empire."

"The cherry blossoms bow in reverence."

After writing it down, she carefully checked it to make sure there was no information that could reveal her identity.

Then, she took out a small copper tube, rolled up the secret letter, stuffed it in, and sealed it with special sealing wax, which had a hidden mark that looked like a flower petal printed on it.

"Summon Ishikawa Musashi," she whispered to the door.

A moment later, a wiry, sharp-eyed ronin samurai with two swords, one long and one short, silently appeared at the door. He was her trusted bodyguard, Ishikawa Musashi.

"Your Highness, the Prince." Ishikawa Musashi knelt on one knee.

Sakura handed him the copper tube, her expression extremely solemn: "Musashi, this letter concerns the fate of the Empire. You must personally escort it back to Naniwa on the fastest ship and present it to Minister Soga no Umako. If you encounter any checks along the way, you must destroy the letter rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands. Understand?"

"Yes! I swear on my life, I will not fail you!" Ishikawa Musashi took the copper tube with both hands, gripped it tightly, and his eyes flashed with a resolute light.

"Go ahead." Sakura waved.

Ishikawa Musashi bowed again, and his figure disappeared into the night like a ghost.

Sakura remained alone in the room, gazing at the dark night sky outside the window. She let out a long sigh, but her brow remained furrowed. This move had been very risky. She had to use Kim Soon-cheol while avoiding getting herself burned.

Success or failure is not only about her mission, but also about the future of Japan.

Meanwhile, Murong Yan, far away in the imperial palace, had probably already foreseen the turmoil across the sea. She was calmly arranging a strategy to deal with all possible situations while on her sickbed.