On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

"Yan'er is absolutely right." Lin Zhen turned to look at her, his eyes full of admiration and determination. "Regarding the northern border defenses, I have ordered Zheng Jiao to take advantage of the winter to strengthen the fortifications, send more scouts, and closely monitor every move in the northern desert. Supplies and weapons are also being continuously transported. However..."

He paused, his tone tinged with worry, "If the northern deserts launch a full-scale attack, the battlefront will be long and the pressure will remain immense. Moreover, the court is not a united front."

Murong Yan naturally understood what he meant.

The extermination of the Confucius family, while deterring the wicked, also left some scholar-officials who advocated "benevolent governance" and "forgiveness" with lingering resentment, though they dared not express it openly for the time being.

If war breaks out, the costs will be enormous, and some people will inevitably criticize her for "militarism" and even secretly sympathize with the orphaned son of the Confucius family who was "forced into exile".

"Is my husband worried that someone might use this to cause trouble, or even... have a secret affair with Mobei?" Murong Yan turned around to face Lin Zhen, her train swaying slightly with her movement.

"We must be on guard." Lin Zhen's gaze was deep. "The Kong family has been operating for a thousand years, with disciples and former officials all over the court. Although they have been purged, there are bound to be remnants lurking. If the Northern Desert uses the pretext of 'supporting the sage's descendant,' it's hard to guarantee that no one will be tempted."

Murong Yan remained silent for a moment, then walked to the window, gazing at the snow-covered pines and cypresses in the courtyard outside. Her voice was calm yet carried an undeniable air of authority:

"Then let them see what it means to prosper if they obey me and perish if they defy me! In chaotic times, harsh measures are needed; in extraordinary times, extraordinary methods must be used! Anyone who dares to shake the foundations of the nation at this time, to collude with the enemy and betray the country, I will not hesitate to use my sword!"

She turned to look at Lin Zhen, a hint of dependence flashing in her eyes, her tone softening.

"Of course, my husband will need to put in a lot of effort to handle these shady dealings for me."

Lin Zhen walked to her side, took her slightly cool hand, and said softly, "Don't worry, there are 'Night Owls' monitoring inside, border troops guarding outside, and Prime Minister Du and I will stabilize the situation in the court. You just need to focus on recuperation, and when spring comes next year, you can sit in the central government in your prime and deter the villains."

Murong Yan gently rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the reassuring aura emanating from him, and whispered, "Yes, with my husband here, I'm at ease. It's just that you've had a hard time..."

She paused, as if remembering something, then looked up and asked.

"By the way, how's that Kong family guy doing in the Northern Desert? Any new information from 'Night Owl'?"

Lin Zhen put his arm around her shoulder, gesturing for her to sit back on the couch, before saying:

"Yes. It is reported that Uwi treated him very well, not only hiring warriors from the northern deserts to teach him riding and archery, but also finding Han scholars to teach him classics and history, and even... allowing him to sit in on some tribal meetings. He also maintained a superficial 'harmonious' relationship with that Princess Saren."

His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

“Uwe is trying to mold him into a wise ruler who is both civil and military, and his intentions are despicable.”

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan's lips curled into a cold smile:

"He's certainly willing to invest. It's just a pity that he tried to draw a tiger but ended up with a dog. The teachings of Confucius emphasize benevolence, virtue, propriety, and righteousness. Kong Zhiqian has recognized a thief as his father and associated with wolves, having long deviated from the way of his ancestors. No matter how many books he reads, he's nothing more than a monkey wearing a crown, only making a laughingstock of himself!"

"That being said, its persuasive power should not be underestimated," Lin Zhen cautioned. "Especially for some scholars who are unaware of the truth or have ulterior motives, this 'banner' still has its seductive power."

"Then tear down this flag!" Murong Yan said resolutely. "Let Prime Minister Du and his men continue to guide public opinion among scholars, exposing their true nature of recognizing a traitor as their father and forgetting their ancestors. At the same time, thoroughly investigate those in various places who have had close ties with the Kong family. If any suspicious activity is found, resolutely eliminate them! We must let the world know that loyalty to the emperor and love for the country are the true principles!"

"Alright, I'll discuss the details with Prime Minister Du later." Lin Zhen nodded in agreement.

Just then, a respectful voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince, the kitchen has sent bird's nest porridge, saying that the imperial physician instructed that it be given to Your Majesty to nourish your body."

"Bring it in," Murong Yan replied.

A eunuch brought in a jade bowl. Lin Zhen took it, tested the temperature, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and offered it to Murong Yan's lips: "Here, Yan'er, drink some while it's hot."

Murong Yan felt a warmth in her heart as she watched his thoughtful and considerate actions. She obediently opened her mouth and drank it, a satisfied smile on her face: "What my husband feeds me is so sweet."

Outside the window, snow began to fall silently again, covering all the sounds of the world.

......

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, in Chang'an City.

The festive atmosphere of the year-end, like a gradually warming current, began to permeate the capital of this empire.

Lanterns and decorations adorn the streets and markets, and the cries of vendors selling New Year's goods rise and fall. The air is filled with the aroma of candied melons and cured meats, dispelling the winter chill.

However, beneath this peaceful scene, the Zichen Palace is like a giant, sophisticated instrument. Under the guise of festival preparations, its core components are operating at an even higher frequency, dealing with potential threats from the north.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal fire crackled and popped.

Murong Yan did not relax at all despite the approaching New Year; on the contrary, she was busier than usual.

After reviewing a stack of routine memorials concerning the arrangements for festival sacrifices and rewards in various places, she turned her gaze to a stack of darker documents marked with the character "密" on the other side of the desk.

She was still wearing the Phoenix Descent dress. The dark Suzhou brocade absorbed the light under the candlelight in the warm room, making it appear even more profound and serene. Only the gold cotton velvet woven into it and the phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread flowed with an imperceptible, restrained golden halo as she concentrated on reading, with her subtle breathing and movements.

The black and gold mink shawl was draped over the back of the chair next to him, its fluffy fur cascading down.

The five-zhang-long Su brocade train cascaded down from the high base of the phoenix chair, spreading out a beautiful expanse of dark brocade on the polished gold brick floor. As she frequently got up to retrieve and put away documents, the train became increasingly disheveled, with layers upon layers of wrinkles, winding and twisting, and even being unintentionally pressed down by the chair legs in several places, adding to the sense of disorder amidst the busyness.

She used one of her wide, flared sleeves to gently support her forehead, with gold tassels along the edge of the sleeve brushing against the table, while the other sleeve hung softly at her side.

Lin Zhen sat at the lower end of the table, with a military deployment map of the northern frontier spread out in front of him, on which he was making fine marks with a vermilion pen.

His brow was slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that he was considering some complex situation.

"Husband," Murong Yan put down a secret report from the Northern Frontier, her voice tinged with weariness, but mostly with calm analysis.

"Zheng Jiao sent word that several small tribes on the northern border have recently shown signs of unusual gathering. Although their numbers are small, their movements are cryptic, unlike their usual winter scattered lifestyle. What do you think?"

Lin Zhen raised his head, put down the vermilion brush, walked to her side, and naturally reached out to massage her temples to relieve her fatigue, while saying in a deep voice:

"This may be a test, or it may be a feint. Uwi is cunning and will not launch a large-scale attack in the dead of winter, but the movement of these small groups can both harass our border and scout our defenses, as well as pave the way and confuse our main force's actions after spring."

His fingers were warm and strong. Murong Yan closed her eyes comfortably and softly hummed in agreement, like a cat being stroked. Her tone was tinged with dependence: "My husband sees things very clearly. So, in your opinion, how should we deal with this?"

"Show strength to the enemy, maintain internal tension while appearing relaxed on the outside." Lin Zhen's hands moved without pause, his voice steady.

"I have ordered Zheng Jiao to strengthen border reconnaissance and resolutely strike any small enemy groups approaching the Great Wall without mercy. At the same time, I have ordered all military garrisons to maintain a state of readiness as usual, creating the illusion of laxity while secretly raising their combat readiness levels, allowing them to take turns resting and recuperating. We must keep Uvi from figuring out our true strength and let him know that the border defenses of our Great Qian are not just for show."