On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Murong Yan rested her head against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, and the gloom in her heart gradually dissipated.

She said softly, "Yes, I know. It's just that sometimes I feel that the more you see from this dragon throne, the colder people's hearts become."

"Though hearts may be cold, there is always warmth." Lin Zhen lowered his head and kissed her hair. "At least, you have me. No matter what, I will always be by your side."

Murong Yan felt a surge of warmth in her heart and was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something. She turned around to retrieve a report on the manufacture of military equipment in the northern frontier from the other side of the desk.

Just as she turned around—

His actions revealed his insight into the undercurrents of the court and his reassurance in relying on those around him!

The long, dark gold Suzhou brocade trailing beneath the phoenix chair, spread out in disarray and reaching five zhang in length, was stirred by this sudden turn!

The luxurious brocade brushed against the smooth ground with a soft "swish".

As the train quietly billowed up, it revealed the "Golden Embroidery" lining, densely woven with gold thread, which, under the warm candlelight in the hall, shimmered with a firm yet cool light like a guiding star in the dark night!

The phoenix pattern covering the entire nightgown and its train instantly burst forth with a wise and awe-inspiring golden light, conveying a sense of clarity amidst complex situations, insight into human nature, and absolute power to control the overall situation!

That light was filled with vigilance against potential threats, unwavering belief in one's own path, and a composure and strength to face all storms side by side with loved ones. It was noble, magnificent, and carried a kind of clarity and resilience that comes from having experienced the world.

Her skirt fell, obscuring the cool golden light. Murong Yan picked up the report and continued her hushed discussion with Lin Zhen.

Outside the window, the night is dark.

......

As summer deepens, Chang'an City is lush with green trees and blooming flowers.

However, the undercurrents in the imperial court did not dissipate with the warmth of the season; on the contrary, with the approaching war in the northern frontier and the delicate balance of internal forces, they became increasingly turbulent and unpredictable.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen knew that while they were dealing with the threat from the northern desert, they must not let their guard down against the potential dangers within the empire.

In particular, the movements of powerful clans, led by the Cui family, who harbor resentment over the downfall of the Kong family, require close monitoring. Rather than waiting for them to plot in the shadows, it is better to take the initiative and probe their strength.

Thus, a seemingly ordinary "family banquet" with a consoling and friendly connotation was held at Cui's residence in Chang'an City at Murong Yan's behest.

The Cui family mansion is located in Chongrenfang in the east of the city. Although it is not as grand as the Prince's Mansion, it covers a large area with pavilions, towers and winding paths. Everywhere you look, you can feel the heritage and luxury accumulated by a family over the past century. Every plant, every brick and tile seems to conform to some kind of subtle rules and demeanor.

At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), the imperial carriage arrived at the Cui residence.

The mansion gates were wide open, and led by Cui Mingyuan, the clan head and vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, all the male members of the mansion and female relatives of rank, dressed in formal attire, knelt on the bluestone path outside the mansion gates to respectfully welcome the emperor.

The atmosphere is solemn and dignified.

With Lin Zhen's help, Murong Yan stepped down from the phoenix carriage.

Her attire today was still her unique Phoenix Descent dress, but she wore a more solemn black and gold shawl with extremely intricate embroidery over it to suit the occasion of this formal visit.

The golden rays of the early summer sunset cast a warm glow on her robe.

The Phoenix Descends to Earth dress, with its jet-black Suzhou brocade base, gleamed with a deep luster under the light. The gold cotton velvet woven into it and the phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread flowed with a kind of radiance that was both luxurious and understated.

The lightweight nature of Suzhou brocade ensures that this cotton nightgown remains comfortable and form-fitting even in warmer weather.

A five-zhang-long silk train trailed behind her, its graceful steps spreading out naturally across the smooth stone slabs in front of the Cui residence, which were spotless yet still bore the marks of time, forming a winding, disordered trail imbued with royal majesty.

The wide, flared sleeves, with gold tassels, swayed gently in the breeze. The dark jade thumb ring on her left thumb gleamed warmly.

"Your subject Cui Mingyuan, on behalf of his entire clan, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty and His Highness the Prince! Your Majesty and His Highness's presence in our humble abode is an honor, and we are deeply humbled!"

Cui Mingyuan's voice was loud and clear, conveying just the right amount of excitement and respect, as he kowtowed deeply.

"Minister Cui, please rise. All of you, please rise." Murong Yan's voice was calm, with a touch of dignity befitting her status. "Today is a family banquet, so there's no need for such formalities. The Prince and I have long admired the exquisite gardens of the Cui residence and have come to bother you and chat with you about everyday matters."

"Your Majesty and His Highness's arrival is an unparalleled honor for my entire clan! Please come inside!"

Cui Mingyuan quickly stood up, stepped aside to lead the way, and adopted an extremely humble posture.

Lin Zhen followed closely beside Murong Yan, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the welcoming crowd and the environment inside the mansion. He wore a gentle smile and nodded to several familiar members of the Cui family. However, his sharp eyes were like the most sophisticated instruments, not missing a single abnormality.

He keenly noticed that there seemed to be more guards in the mansion than in the usual residences of dukes and marquises, and each of them had sharp eyes and a steady gait. Although they all stood with their hands at their sides, their posture and position subtly revealed a sense of order.

What made him even more uneasy was that, in the shadows of the corridor leading to the main hall and under the cover of the artificial hills and flowers in the distance, there seemed to be extremely faint rustling sounds of metal and leather rubbing together, as well as a few fleeting figures with a sharp glint in their eyes.

In the air, besides the fragrance of flowers and the aroma of food and wine, there seemed to be a very faint trace of the cold, metallic scent of weapons.

"There's an ambush." ​​The thought flashed through Lin Zhen's mind in an instant, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply took a half step closer to Murong Yan, his hands in his sleeves tensing slightly, his entire body in a state of readiness.

He turned his head and quickly exchanged a glance with Murong Yan.

Murong Yan seemed oblivious, still wearing a faint smile, and walked slowly forward under Cui Mingyuan's guidance.

She even seemed quite interested in admiring the exotic flowers and plants along the roadside, occasionally asking about their names and stories, appearing relaxed and content.

However, hidden beneath her wide, bell-shaped sleeves, her fingertips almost imperceptibly touched the back of Lin Zhen's hand, indicating that she knew and asked him to calm down.

The banquet was held in the most elegant flower hall of the Cui residence, "Shufangzhai".

The interior furnishings are extremely luxurious, yet exude an elegant atmosphere, featuring calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, antiques and jade artifacts, and much more.

After the guests and hosts took their seats, Murong Yan naturally took the seat of honor, with Lin Zhen sitting beside her.

The long, dark gold train spread out in the flower hall covered with thick velvet carpet, making it even more elegant and luxurious, and giving the "messy" arrangement an undeniable kingly aura.

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

The banquet was filled with pleasant music and graceful singing and dancing.

Cui Mingyuan and his clansmen responded politely and respectfully, constantly offering toasts and praising him, creating an atmosphere that seemed very harmonious and congenial.

Cui Mingyuan repeatedly mentioned the crimes of the Kong family, praising Murong Yan's wisdom and prowess in eliminating the rebels. His words were sincere, as if he had nothing to do with the Kong family and even deeply hated them.

However, as the wine flowed more freely, an elderly man from a collateral branch of the Cui family seemed to have drunk a few more cups than intended.

When he stood up to offer a toast, his words carried a hint of "forgive and forget" and "the way of the sage values ​​moderation," though Cui Mingyuan immediately stopped him with a stern rebuke.

He was punished with three cups of wine for "talking nonsense," but the momentary silence and embarrassment were like a stone thrown into a still lake, creating ripples.

Murong Yan sat upright, toying with the luminous cup in her hand, her smile unchanged, but a barely perceptible cold light flashed in her phoenix eyes.

She took a small sip of her wine and said softly:

"The way of the sage naturally values ​​moderation and harmony. However, the way to govern a country also requires clear laws and strict education. We should be lenient and benevolent towards the loyal and virtuous, but we must be swift and decisive towards the traitors. Otherwise, how can we uphold the Way of Heaven and how can we appease the people? Minister Cui, don't you agree?" Her gaze seemed to fall casually on Cui Mingyuan.

Beads of sweat instantly appeared on Cui Mingyuan's forehead, and he immediately rose from his seat and knelt down:

"Your Majesty is wise! My uncle is old and senile, speaking nonsense and offending Your Majesty's ears. I deserve to die! Your Majesty enforces the law strictly and has brought peace to the world. This is truly a blessing for the country and a boon for all the people!"

His tone was fearful, and his posture was extremely humble.

"You flatter me, my dear minister." Murong Yan smiled slightly and raised her hand to help him up. "It's just a casual banquet, and I may have said something inappropriate. Why make such a fuss? Please rise. Today we'll only discuss matters of the heart, not state affairs."

She spoke casually, lightly brushing aside the earlier commotion.

But after this exchange, the atmosphere at the table subtly changed.

Although the singing and dancing continued and the laughter remained, the presence of the axemen hidden in the shadows seemed even stronger.