On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Inside the Regent's Palace, in a secluded courtyard filled with plum trees, the doors and windows of the warm pavilion were tightly shut, completely isolating the courtyard from the chill of the snow.

The incense burner was burning brightly, and the delicate sandalwood incense rising from the bronze beast-shaped burner intertwined with the faint fragrance of winter plum blossoms seeping in from outside the window, creating a warm, spring-like, tranquil, and peaceful atmosphere in the room.

Compared to the snow-covered world outside, this place seems like another carefully protected realm.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen had just returned from playing in the snow, still carrying a hint of the chill of the outdoors.

Upon entering the warm pavilion, a gentle warmth envelops you, making you feel completely comfortable.

The Phoenix Descends to Earth dress that Murong Yan wore, made of Suzhou brocade with a black base and woven gold cotton velvet, appeared even more serene and profound under the warm indoor light, exuding a restrained and luxurious luster after absorbing warmth.

The woven gold cotton and the hidden phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread seem to lie dormant in the stillness, only revealing a faint golden glow in the folds of the fabric when she moves.

This cotton nightgown, made of exquisite Suzhou brocade, is lightweight and soft. Even though the skirt is huge, it doesn't feel particularly heavy to wear. On the contrary, because it is comfortable against the skin, it has become her most common outfit.

The black and gold shawl that she had been wearing had been removed because of the warmth in the room, and was being respectfully held by a maidservant, who was preparing to hang it on the mica screen next to her.

The gold phoenix pattern on the dark fabric of the shawl, which was the same as that on the nightgown, shimmered faintly in the light.

The five-zhang-long Suzhou brocade train dragged from the snow outside the courtyard into the warm room. The cold snow particles it carried melted quickly in the warm room, leaving dark, intermittent watermarks on the smooth gold brick floor, making the flowing skirt look damp and messy.

Part of the trailing fabric piled up inside the threshold, with unmelted snow crystals still trapped in the folds; another part meandered through most of the warm pavilion, all the way to the entrance of the inner room, the dark gold brocade rubbing against the floor, leaving winding traces; and in several places, it had been unintentionally stepped on by herself or Lin Zhen, leaving obvious creases and wet marks.

This unkempt, naturally formed messiness perfectly matched her relaxed and carefree state of mind at that moment.

One of her wide, bell-shaped sleeves hung softly at her side, the intricate gold thread embroidery at the cuff slightly damp, while she used the other to gently wipe away the melted snow that clung to her temples.

The black jade thumb ring on her left thumb gleamed with a lustrous sheen in the soft indoor light.

Lin Zhen took the hot towel handed to her by the palace maid. Instead of wiping herself, she turned around and gently wiped Murong Yan's slightly damp hair, her cheeks and hands that were red from the cold.

His movements were meticulous and focused, as if he were handling a rare treasure.

"Look at you, playing like a child, your hands are freezing cold." Lin Zhen's tone was filled with tender reproach, but even more so with unwavering affection.

He held her slightly cool hand and warmed it with his own palm.

Murong Yan let him do as he pleased, tilting her head back, her phoenix eyes curving into crescents, filled with dependence and contentment, and said coquettishly, "With my husband here, I dare to act like a child. The snow scene outside is so beautiful, and the snowman you built is also very pretty, but it's a pity we can't stay long."

As she spoke, she lightly stomped her foot, as if to shake off non-existent snow from the hem of her skirt, the long, wet trail making a slight scraping sound on the ground.

“Snow happens every year. Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll go with you to build ten or eight more.” Lin Zhen smiled and led her to the warm couch by the window.

A thick white tiger skin rug was laid on the couch, and in the middle was a low sandalwood table with hot tea and several exquisite fruits prepared on it, among which a plate of bright yellow tangerines was particularly tempting.

Murong Yan leaned against the soft pillow, her gaze falling on the oranges, and suddenly she became interested.

She reached out and picked one up; the orange was still slightly cool, making her fingertips appear even whiter.

She lowered her head and began peeling the orange with focused concentration. Her nails were neatly trimmed and had a healthy pink hue. She patiently and meticulously peeled away the orange peel, revealing the plump and juicy segments inside. The sweet orange scent instantly filled the warm room.

She carefully removed the white pith from the orange, then picked up the plumpest segment and, instead of eating it herself, naturally offered it to Lin Zhen's lips.

"Husband, try it, is it sweet?" She tilted her head back, her eyes filled with anticipation, as if offering a treasure.

Lin Zhen watched as she focused on peeling the orange and immediately thought of him. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. He opened his mouth to take the orange segment, tasted it carefully, and then nodded affirmatively: "It's very sweet, even sweeter than the tribute oranges from the palace."

He was speaking from the heart; the sweetness of the oranges came more from the sentiment of the person who handed them them.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan's face broke into a bright smile, even happier than if she had eaten it herself.

She peeled off another petal, and this time put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm, it's really sweet."

She continued peeling, handing half of the peeled orange segments to Lin Zhen and keeping the other half for herself. The two sat side by side on the warm couch, sharing an orange, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones. Outside the window, the snow was pristine white, while inside, the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of oranges, a scene of tender affection.

Just then, a gentle knock came from outside the warm pavilion. The head steward of the Prince's mansion respectfully reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the old Prince has sent some things."

Lin Zhen called out, "Come in."

The steward bowed as he entered, followed by two servants carrying several brocade boxes.

After bowing, the steward reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, these are New Year's gifts sent by the old prince. He said they are not anything valuable, just a few top-quality old ginseng roots for Your Highness to nourish her body; and a jar of aged tiger bone wine for Your Highness to drink occasionally in winter to ward off the cold."

The servant placed the brocade box next to the low table.

Murong Yan put down the orange in her hand, sat up straighter, and said to the steward in a gentle tone, "Thank you for your trouble, Steward. On behalf of the Princess and the Prince, I thank you for your generous gift, Grandfather. You have gone to great lengths."

The steward repeatedly said he dared not, then his face showed an even more solemn expression. He took a small step forward and lowered his voice, saying, "The old prince has a few more words for me to convey to the prince and princess."

Lin Zhen and Murong Yan exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious. Lin Zhen said, "Grandpa, please speak freely."

The steward cleared his throat and spoke clearly:

"The old prince said that although the New Year is a time for family reunions, it is also a good opportunity for the emperor and his ministers to enjoy themselves together and strengthen their bonds. Your Highness and Princess now bear the weight of the nation's fate, and every move you make is crucial to the stability of the country. The old prince thought that Your Highness and Princess could take advantage of these few days of leisure to personally visit several highly respected senior officials in the capital, such as Prime Minister Du Ruhui, Minister Zhou of the Ministry of War, and several elder members of the imperial clan. There's no need for a grand ceremony; just bring some ordinary New Year's gifts made by the imperial court to express your sentiments. This would fulfill the proper etiquette between the emperor and his ministers, demonstrate the emperor's grace, and more importantly... well, it would also make those senior officials feel grateful for the emperor's favor, knowing that His Majesty and His Highness always keep them in mind. This would greatly benefit the stability of the court. The old prince said this is called 'subtle and silent influence.'"

After the steward finished speaking, he stood aside with his hands at his sides.

After listening, Lin Zhen pondered for a moment, a look of understanding and admiration flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Murong Yan and said softly, "Grandpa's foresight is excellent. Visiting people during the New Year is indeed a good opportunity to stabilize people's hearts and show favor. Especially now that the situation in the northern border is delicate, the court needs unity from top to bottom."