On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Lin Zhen could sense at least three scrutinizing and wary gazes sweeping over him and Murong Yan from different hidden corners from time to time.

Murong Yan, however, seemed completely oblivious, and even became more interested.

She turned to Lin Zhen, her tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness, like a wife complaining to her husband:

"My lord, the Cui family's homemade wine is indeed mellow and has quite a strong aftereffect. I feel a bit feverish."

As she spoke, she gently touched her cheek with the back of her hand.

Lin Zhen understood and immediately replied softly, "Your Majesty is not a strong drinker, so please drink less. The wine in Minister Cui's residence is indeed a fine aged brew."

As he spoke, he casually took a bowl of chilled plum juice from the palace maid, tested the temperature himself, and then handed it to Murong Yan.

"Have some of this to sober up."

Murong Yan took the jade bowl, sipped the wine slowly, her eyes and brows showing her dependence on Lin Zhen, and smiled, "My husband is so thoughtful."

She put down her bowl and said to Cui Mingyuan:

"Minister Cui, I have heard that the moonlit lotus pond in your back garden is a masterpiece. I wonder if I may have the honor of seeing it today?"

Cui Mingyuan quickly replied, "Your Majesty's kindness is an honor for me! However, it is already late, and the path by the pond is slippery. I fear it might startle Your Majesty..."

“It’s alright,” Murong Yan waved her hand and stood up. “I’m just in the middle of a good meal and drinks, so a walk will help me sober up. With the Prince by my side, what do I have to fear?”

His tone was relaxed, yet carried an air of undeniable authority.

The moment she stood up—

His movements were casual, as if he were at a banquet, and his rise was natural!

The long, messy, five-zhang-long trailing dark gold Suzhou brocade, which was spread around the seats and on the carpet, was stirred by the sudden movement of getting up!

The luxurious brocade brushed against the soft carpet, making a soft rustling sound.

As the train quietly rose, it revealed the "Golden Floor" lining, densely woven with gold thread, which, under the bright lights of the flower hall, shimmered with a fiery and fierce light like a flame poised to ignite in the dark night!

The phoenix pattern covering the entire nightgown and its train instantly burst forth with an incomparably dazzling and majestic golden light, as if discerning danger amidst laughter and conversation, and looking down with composure amidst overwhelming encirclement!

The light was filled with contempt for potential killing intent, absolute confidence in its own strength, and an imperial aura that trampled all conspiracies and schemes underfoot. It was noble, magnificent, and carried a silent yet powerful sense of oppression that was enough to intimidate the villains!

This fleeting glance was her most direct response to the lurking spy.

The hem of her skirt fell, concealing the chilling golden light and the silent warning.

Murong Yan smiled radiantly, as if she were merely admiring a magnificent turn.

But the sharpness and imposing aura that flashed through him in that instant, so different from his usual gentleness, made Cui Mingyuan, who was closest to him, tremble violently, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He could even feel the axemen lying in ambush in the shadows pause in their breathing.

"Minister Cui, lead the way." Murong Yan's voice remained calm.

Cui Mingyuan dared not hesitate any longer and quickly bowed to lead the way.

Lin Zhen followed closely beside Murong Yan, his gaze sharp as he scanned the surroundings.

He could sense that the presence hidden in the shadows was subtly shifting positions as they moved, but no one dared to make a move.

By the lotus pond, the moonlight is hazy, a gentle breeze blows, and the water is calm.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen stood side by side, admiring the night view and occasionally whispering a few words, like a pair of celestial lovers.

Cui Mingyuan and a group of Cui family members respectfully accompanied him at a distance. The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but it was actually full of hidden tension.

After a short stay, Murong Yan used the excuse of "the night is deep and the wind and dew are heavy" to set off for the palace.

Cui Mingyuan led his men to respectfully escort the imperial carriage to the gate of the mansion. Only after the carriage had gone far away did he straighten up and watch it disappear into the night. The respectful smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by an extreme sense of fear and deep sorrow.

He waved away those around him, standing alone in the night wind. After a long while, he finally exhaled a long breath and muttered to himself, "Murong Yan... Lin Zhen... such sharp edges... such composure..."

He knew that at today's trap, the Cui family had not only failed to learn anything, but had also been completely intimidated by the other party.

Those axemen were utterly ineffective in the face of the Empress's unintentional yet palpable imperial majesty.

Inside the imperial carriage on her way back to the palace, Murong Yan leaned against the soft cushions, closed her eyes, and gently rubbed her temples.

"Yan'er, are you alright?" Lin Zhen asked with concern, taking her hand in his.

Murong Yan opened her eyes, her gaze now clear and calm, a cold smile curving her lips:

"It's alright. Cui Mingyuan... as expected, harbored malicious intentions. Today, he deployed axemen, firstly to test our courage, and secondly, in case negotiations failed, he might take a desperate gamble. What a pity..."

She snorted coldly,

"He ultimately didn't have the guts."

“Yes,” Lin Zhen nodded, his gaze deep. “After this incident, he should not dare to make any further moves in the short term. But the Cui family… their intentions have changed, and we need to be on guard against them for a long time.”

"I know," Murong Yan said softly, resting her head on his shoulder.

"However, after today, he should understand even more clearly that the Great Qian Dynasty is not something his Cui family can easily shake. For now, let him remain hidden for a while longer. Wait until the matter in the Northern Frontier is settled..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the chill in her voice was already evident.

The carriage drove into the imperial city, temporarily isolating the Cui family from the intrigues and undercurrents of conflict.

......

night.

Deep within the Zichen Palace, the sleeping quarters of the "Qifeng Pavilion" were brightly lit with candles, yet so quiet that only the dripping of the water clock could be heard.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, pouring onto the phoenix-patterned window lattice carved from white marble, casting a hazy light and shadow inside the hall.

Although several hours have passed since the banquet at the Cui residence that was fraught with hidden tension during the day, the underlying tension still lingers in the air, much like the faint, calming fragrance that permeates the hall.

Murong Yan did not sleep well.

She stood alone, quietly in front of the open, carved phoenix-patterned glazed window in the outer room of the bedroom, facing the courtyard.

A cool night breeze carried the fresh scent of early summer flowers and grasses into the palace, gently stirring her unbound, ink-black hair and the Phoenix Descent Dress she wore as her only nightgown.

At this moment, she had removed the black and gold shawl she had worn during the day, and was only wearing a close-fitting nightgown.

The phoenix-adorned dress, illuminated by the soft palace lanterns inside the hall and the cool moonlight outside the window, presented an extremely unique texture.

The deep black Suzhou brocade base seems to absorb all the light, making it appear even more profound and serene, like a velvet curtain at midnight.

The gold cotton velvet woven into the fabric, along with the magnificent phoenix pattern embroidered with the finest gold thread and exquisite craftsmanship covering the entire nightgown, exudes a restrained and gentle radiance against the dark background. It is not as dazzling as in the daytime, but rather appears even more luxurious and mysterious.

The Suzhou brocade technique gives this cotton nightgown unparalleled lightness and breathability. Even in the quiet of the night, wearing this large-skirted garment feels comfortable and not heavy at all.

The five-zhang-long Suzhou brocade train, without any tidying by palace servants, spread naturally and gracefully across the gold-brick floor behind her.

From the window where she stood, the trail meandered all the way to the phoenix bed in the inner hall, and even slipped into the side corridor leading to the bathing hall.

Because she had been busy during the day and had been standing in deep thought for a long time at night, the folds of her skirt were layered and twisted, forming a dynamic and unrestrained mess on the smooth ground, silently telling the story of her restlessness.

One of her wide, bell-shaped sleeves hung softly at her side, the intricate gold tassels at the cuff lightly touching the ground. The other sleeve was unconsciously raised, her slender fingers resting gently on the cool window frame, the black jade thumb ring on her fingertip gleaming with a deep luster under the moonlight.

She gazed at the ancient crabapple tree swaying gracefully in the moonlight in the courtyard outside the window, but her phoenix eyes were not filled with the leisurely enjoyment of the scenery, but rather with heavy thoughts.

The hidden executioners in the Cui residence, Cui Mingyuan's seemingly submissive but actually probing words, and even the old man's "inadvertent remark" at the banquet revealing the aristocratic families' subtle dissatisfaction with the Kong family's affairs...

All of this clearly points to one fact: the hidden dangers within are far more troublesome than the open threats from the northern desert.

With a major battle imminent in the northern frontier, if these deeply entrenched powerful families in the rear harbor ulterior motives, they could easily find themselves surrounded by enemies on both sides.

With a soft creak, the door to the bedroom was gently pushed open.