On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Uvi laughed heartily with satisfaction and personally helped him up: "Good! From this day forward, you are my son-in-law, the consort of the Northern Desert! You will receive the best education and the strongest training! The day you come of age will be the day we march south!"

The wedding took place a few days later, and was simple yet grand, in accordance with the customs of northern Mongolia.

Eleven-year-old Kong Zhiqian and eight-year-old Princess Saren, dressed in magnificent gowns inappropriate for their age, completed the ceremony amidst the chanting of priests and the cheers of their people.

Princess Saren didn't seem to fully understand the meaning of this marriage; she simply followed along with the actions in a daze.

Kong Zhiqian, on the other hand, remained expressionless throughout, staring blankly southward, as if he could see his enemies in Chang'an City through the endless grasslands and mountains.

That night, red candles were lit in the so-called bridal chamber.

Kong Zhiqian took off his heavy formal attire, still wearing his old scholar's robe, and sat alone on the felt mat.

Princess Saren had already been taken to rest by her nanny.

He was the only one left in the empty tent.

He took out the sharpened dagger and examined it repeatedly in the candlelight. The cold blade reflected his youthful face, yet one etched with hatred.

"Murong Yan, Lin Zhen." He murmured these two names, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "You wait, wait until I grow up, wait until I return with the iron cavalry of the Northern Desert, and I will personally avenge this blood debt with interest!"

The flickering candlelight cast a long, lonely, and distorted shadow of the boy on the wall of the felt tent.

The capital of the Great Qian Empire was covered by a heavy snowfall, and the magnificent buildings were draped in silver, creating a serene and elegant scene.

However, beneath this peaceful snow scene, deep within the Zichen Palace, an invisible tension permeated the atmosphere.

News of unrest in the Northern Desert Royal Court, like a hidden chill in winter, silently eroded the peace of the empire.

Murong Yan leaned against the couch in the warm pavilion, the back of the couch and the armrests were carved with phoenix totems with outstretched wings.

The stove inside the pavilion was burning brightly, dispelling the bitter cold outside the window.

She was still only wearing that black and gold Suzhou brocade cotton nightgown, which she wore as her nightgown—the Phoenix Descends to Earth Dress.

The soft cotton fabric clung to her gradually recovering but still slender body. The dark background gleamed with a deep luster under the warm light, while the gold cotton velvet woven into it and the phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread flowed with a quiet and luxurious glow with her subtle breaths.

The black and gold mink shawl was draped over a phoenix-patterned clothes rack, its fur shimmering with golden light in the firelight.

A five-zhang-long Suzhou brocade train cascaded down from the edge of the couch, spreading out a patch of dark gold brocade on the smooth, mirror-like gold brick floor.

Because she has been resting on the couch lately and has little energy to tidy up, the train of her dress has become particularly messy. Some of it is piled up at the foot of the couch with layers of wrinkles, while some of it meanders to the center of the room. A few strands have even slipped to the side of the low rosewood table where the snacks are placed, getting tangled with the tassels of the Persian carpet on the floor, creating a lazy and somewhat unruly aesthetic.

One of her wide, bell-shaped sleeves hung softly over the edge of the couch, its intricate gold embroidery brushing the floor, while she used the other sleeve to gently cushion her cheek as she leaned against the couch.

The black jade thumb ring on her left hand occasionally made a very slight sound as she unconsciously stroked the phoenix pattern on the couch, touching the wood.

Lin Zhen sat on an embroidered stool by the couch, holding a secret report that had just been presented by the guards, his brows slightly furrowed.

The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his sharply defined profile, adding to his composure and aloofness.

"Is there any new news from the northern desert?" Murong Yan raised her eyes to look at him, her voice still carrying a hint of weakness from her illness, but her eyes had regained their former clarity.

Lin Zhen handed her the confidential report, his tone calm yet grave:

“Yes. Our ‘Night Owl’ agents sent to the northern desert have confirmed one thing. Kong Wenbo’s youngest son, Kong Zhiqian, is indeed not dead. Moreover, he is currently in the northern desert royal court, adopted by the Left Wise King Uwei, and is said to have married Uwei’s youngest daughter, Princess Saren.”

Murong Yan paused slightly as she took the secret report, her long eyelashes drooping to conceal the complex emotions that flashed through her eyes.

She quickly scanned the words on the paper; each word felt like a cold needle piercing her heart.

Not only did the orphan of the Kong family survive, but he also sought refuge with his sworn enemy and even became the son-in-law of the royal court in the northern desert!

This is no longer just a personal grudge, but has risen to the level of national hatred.

She put down the confidential report, remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly, resting her head on Lin Zhen's shoulder, her tone carrying a barely perceptible weariness and perhaps a touch of melancholy:

"My husband thinks I was too soft-hearted back in Penglai. If I had investigated more thoroughly then, perhaps we wouldn't have suffered this disaster today."

Lin Zhen put down the secret report, naturally reached out and put his arm around her to make her more comfortable, and gently stroked her hair that was draped over her shoulders with his other hand, saying softly:

“Yan’er, how can this be blamed on you? The situation was critical at the time. Kong Wenbo and his son were executed on the spot. Who could have imagined that a young child would be sent out of Qufu by a loyal servant at the cost of his life? Moreover, in the vast sea of ​​people, deliberately hiding him would make finding him like finding a needle in a haystack. If anyone is to blame, it is those treacherous traitors and the evil intentions hidden in the northern desert.”

His voice was deep and reassuring: "Now that we have confirmed his whereabouts and identity, that's for the best. An enemy in the open is always easier to deal with than a venomous snake lurking in the shadows."

Murong Yan softly hummed in his arms, like a cat seeking comfort, rubbing her cheek against his chest, and said in a muffled voice, "I just feel a little suffocated."

The lineage of Confucius, with its thousand-year-old reputation, has fallen to the point of associating with barbarians and even coveting its homeland—a truly pathetic and hateful situation.

Surprisingly, her tone revealed a hint of regret for her opponent's downfall, perhaps stemming from a deep-seated sense of cultural orthodoxy within her.

Lin Zhen lowered his head and placed a kiss on her hair, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"They chose this path themselves. Since they chose to betray their country and surrender to the enemy chieftain, they have cut themselves off from the world. Yan'er, there's no need to worry about this. Now that we know where they are, we have a plan. If Mobei wants to use their banner, we will find a way to dismantle it, or make it a burden for them."

His words were filled with strong confidence and control, which made Murong Yan feel extremely at ease.

She looked up at his strong jawline, reached out and touched his slightly stubbled cheek, her eyes filled with dependence and coquettishness: "It's good to have my husband here. These worries are so troublesome. So, how do you plan to deal with them?"

Lin Zhen held her slightly cool hand, warming it in his palm, and pondered, "First, closely monitor all movements in Mobei, especially those related to this Kong Zhiqian. Second, perhaps we can slowly spread some rumors among scholars and the general public."

"The wind?" Murong Yan blinked.

“Yes,” Lin Zhen’s lips curled into a cold smile. “For example, the orphan of the Kong family is greedy for life and cowardly, recognizing a traitor as his father. In order to survive, he even married a barbarian girl. He has long since abandoned the ancestral laws and tarnished the reputation of the holy descendants. If Mobei wants to play the ‘orthodox’ card, we will first strip off his ‘orthodox’ cloak and make him infamous. At that time, he will not only not be an ally, but may become a thorn in Mobei’s side.”

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but chuckle softly, a hint of slyness in her voice:

"My lord, your plan is brilliant! Winning hearts is the best strategy, and killing a man is like killing his soul. Let the world see what kind of person this 'sacred descendant' they have placed their hopes on is."

She paused, then frowned slightly.

"However, since the Northern Kingdom has taken him in, they must have some ulterior motives and probably won't let us succeed easily. Moreover, although the child is young, he has experienced such a huge change, and his temperament is probably no longer that of an ordinary child."

"It's alright," Lin Zhen said calmly.

"Intrigues and schemes are merely methods. The key lies in strength. As long as our Great Qian is united and our military is powerful, whatever tricks the Northern Desert has up its sleeve, they are nothing but clowns. The most important thing right now is your health. Once you are fully recovered, we will deal with these villains properly."