On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The atmosphere inside the Anzhou Imperial Palace was heavy, like a storm brewing.

Lin Zhen sat upright under the lamp in his study, with the coded note he had seized from the secret chamber of Langya Mountain spread out in front of him.

The candlelight cast his profile on the wall, flickering slightly with the dancing flame. He had been sitting there for nearly two hours, staring at those few numbers.

The paper contained several place names and dates written casually in Chinese characters:

"Kagoshima, Hizen, Tsushima, Dango, Autumn Equinox".

What appeared to be an ordinary itinerary record, however, revealed something unusual to Lin Zhen due to the order of the entries and the specific dates.

His long, slender fingers tapped the table unconsciously as his mind raced through coastal maps, seasonal ocean currents, and all the seemingly unrelated recent developments in Japan.

Suddenly, his fingertips paused, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He picked up a vermilion brush and drew a line connecting Kagoshima, Hizen, and Tsushima on the map. This line pointed directly towards the Korean Peninsula and even the Liaodong coast!

The Dragon Boat Festival and the Autumn Equinox are not only solar terms, but also key points for changes in sea tides and wind direction!

A terrifying deduction took shape in his mind—this was not a journey, but a secret letter written in coded language, concerning the route and timing of the delivery of some kind of "cargo"!

Given the unusual quietness of the Japanese delegation recently, and Kim Soon-cheol's hasty escape, this "goods" is definitely not ordinary. It is very likely a person, a soldier, or... something even more insidious!

He abruptly stood up, his robes billowing in the wind, and immediately ordered: "Summon 'Night Owl' Commander Shadow One and Naval Commander Zheng Jiao to come to see me immediately!"

The order had barely been given when hurried footsteps of a palace attendant came from the direction of the bedchamber. "Your Highness, His Majesty has awakened and summons you immediately!"

Lin Zhen's heart tightened. He put the secret letter into his sleeve and strode towards his bedchamber.

The fragrance of medicine had not yet dissipated in the hall when Murong Yan, supported by a palace maid, sat up halfway.

Her face was still pale, and her long hair, untied and draped over her dark gold nightgown, made her appear even more fragile.

However, when she looked up at Lin Zhen, the weakness in her phoenix eyes was replaced by a cold clarity.

"Husband, is there any progress?" Her voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Lin Zhen sat down on the edge of the couch, naturally taking her hand in his palm. He felt the slight coolness of her fingertips and felt a pang of pain in his heart. He briefly reported the results of the code deciphering and his own deductions.

Murong Yan listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the two men's clasped hands. After a long while, she slowly spoke, her voice like a frozen stream: "Are the Japanese trying to emulate the Hou Jing Rebellion of the previous dynasty and send me a plague after their assassination attempt failed?"

She was referring to the old story of how the enemy army of the previous dynasty used the epidemic to shake the foundation of the country, and their intentions were despicable.

She raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as she looked at Lin Zhen: "Although Langya Mountain has been breached and Jin Shunzhe has fled, the Japanese plot has been exposed. If they really want to spread the plague, the coastal prefectures and counties will be the first to suffer. Husband, we cannot sit idly by."

“I understand.” Lin Zhen squeezed her hand. “I have already sent word to Zheng Jiao and Ying Yi. Coastal defense and reconnaissance need to be strengthened immediately.”

“No,” Murong Yan interrupted him, a resolute glint in her eyes, “passive defense is impossible to defend against. Since the Japanese are using merchant ships as cover, we will go to the sea to meet them.”

Lin Zhen was taken aback: "Yan'er, what do you mean?"

"Eastern tour." Murong Yan uttered two words with immense force. "I will personally go to the Liaodong coast to inspect the coastal defenses and reward the navy. Don't the Japanese want to see if I am alive or dead? I will let them see clearly! I will also let the coastal people and the naval soldiers see clearly that their emperor is still alive, still able to wield a gun and ride a horse to guard the country's borders!"

"No!" Lin Zhen blurted out, his tone more anxious than ever before. "Your injuries haven't healed yet, how can you withstand the arduous journey? The sea is treacherous, what if something happens..."

"Husband!" Murong Yan gripped his hand tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force, her phoenix eyes filled with an unwavering determination.

"It is precisely because they think I am seriously injured and dying that I must appear! This is not only to deter the Japanese pirates, but also to stabilize the people's hearts and boost morale! If I continue to hide in this deep palace, it will play right into their hands. At that time, rumors will spread and people's hearts will be unsettled, which will be the real crisis!"

Her tone softened slightly, carrying a hint of earnestness and dependence.

"Besides, with you by my side, what do I have to fear?"

Looking at her pale yet resolute face, Lin Zhen knew that her mind was made up.

He understood her; at this moment, Murong Yan was not only his wife, but also the Empress of the Holy Emblem.

He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded heavily: "Alright. I'll go with you. But I must arrange all the itinerary and security. You absolutely cannot push yourself too hard."

Murong Yan gave a weak smile and leaned back against the soft pillow: "Yes, I'll do whatever my husband says."

Just then, Yingyi and Zheng Jiao arrived as summoned.

Lin Zhen informed the two of his decision to make the eastern tour.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jiao was extremely excited and declared that the entire navy would protect His Majesty's safety to the death.

Kageichi received a death order to closely monitor the Japanese delegation and all suspicious ships.

Once the order was given, the entire imperial palace and even the city of Anzhou began to operate efficiently.

Murong Yan closed her eyes, letting the palace maids serve her medicine, while she began to plan every step of her eastern tour.

The dark gold phoenix-themed dress shimmered with a somber glow in the candlelight, its hem brushing against the ground with a carefree yet resolute trace.

Lin Zhen stood by the bed, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face with a complex expression.

He knew that a storm was inevitable.

His wife, frail and ill, was about to personally face this storm.

......

The royal fleet led by the Zhenhai had been sailing in the Bohai Bay for a day and a night.

The sea and sky blend into one, an endless expanse of azure, with only the white spray from the bow of the ship and the seagulls circling overhead adding a touch of tranquility to this vast expanse.

However, beneath this seemingly calm blue expanse, undercurrents, like lurking venomous snakes, are quietly surging.

Murong Yan rested in the spacious and elegantly furnished cabin on the top deck of the "Zhenhai".

She changed out of her formal nautical dress and wore only her intimate dark gold Suzhou brocade cotton nightgown—the Phoenix Descends to Earth Dress.

The humid air from the sea seeped in through the slightly open porthole, carrying a salty, fishy smell.

She sat on a cushioned couch by the window, covered with a thin silk velvet blanket, her gaze fixed on the boundless sea outside the window.

The long, flowing train of her jumpsuit spread out on the couch and the floor behind her, creating a kind of languid and wary disarray that naturally arose from the turbulence of the voyage.

The black and gold sable shawl hung on a clothes rack on the bulkhead, swaying gently with the slight rocking of the ship.

Lin Zhen gently pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup.

He saw Murong Yan's profile as she gazed at the sea. Her dark gold nightgown, illuminated by the sea light streaming through the porthole, exuded a calm and restrained radiance, as if it absorbed the depths of the ocean.

He walked to her side and said softly, "Yan'er, it's time to take your medicine."

Murong Yan snapped out of her daze, took the medicine bowl, frowned slightly as she looked at the thick, dark liquid, and sighed softly, "This medicine is very bitter."

Her tone carried a rare hint of complaint, like that of an ordinary woman.

Lin Zhen sat down next to her, took out a small paper packet from his sleeve, opened it, and found a few candied fruits inside.

"Knowing you dislike bitterness, I specially asked the imperial chef to prepare this. Take one after you finish your medicine, it will make you feel better."

Murong Yan felt a warmth in her heart as she watched his thoughtful actions, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"My husband is so thoughtful."

She held her breath, drank the medicine in one gulp, and then quickly took a candied fruit and put it in her mouth. The sweetness dispelled the bitterness on her tongue, and her furrowed brows relaxed.

"How are you feeling? Are you getting used to the rough seas?" Lin Zhen asked with concern, reaching out to tuck the blanket corner that had slipped down her back.

His fingertips inadvertently touched the soft cotton fabric of the nightgown, feeling the cool body temperature emanating from her slender arms beneath.

"It's alright, it's more stable than I expected." Murong Yan gently rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the reassuring solidity in his arms.

"But this vast ocean inspires awe and makes one feel insignificant." Her voice was somewhat unsteady, carrying the weakness and感慨 of someone recovering from illness.

“But it is this vast sea that protects the eastern border of my Holy Emblem.” Lin Zhen put his arm around her shoulder, his voice steady and powerful. “We have come here to tell everyone that this sea belongs to the Murong and the Lin families, and to the Holy Emblem.”

Murong Yan closed her eyes and hummed in agreement. After a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "Any new news from Zheng Jiao's side?"