On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

When the black wolf-head banner of the Northern Desert Golden Wolf Cavalry appeared like a dark cloud on the horizon outside the Yanran Protectorate, the Daqian garrison on the city wall could hardly believe their eyes.

"What...what is that?!" A young soldier pointed into the distance, his voice trembling.

"They're from the northern deserts! They're their main force!" The veteran's face was filled with horror. "How...how did they get behind us?!"

Panic, like a cold front, swept across the entire city wall in an instant.

The Yanran Protectorate, as the most important logistical base of the Northern Expeditionary Army of the Great Qian Dynasty, did not have many garrison troops stationed there, and most of them were second-line troops and auxiliary soldiers. The real elite troops had long been drawn away to fight on the front lines with the main forces of Lin Zhen and Zheng Jiao.

Outside the city, there was a dark mass of people, with banners waving and armored soldiers standing guard. A rough estimate puts it at least as many as ten thousand cavalrymen!

Moreover, judging from their well-equipped and imposing appearance, they are clearly the most elite and ace troops of the Northern Desert—the Golden Wolf Cavalry!

"Quickly! Sound the alarm! Close the city gates! All troops on alert!" After the initial shock, Chen Jing, the Protector-General of Yanran, who was nearly fifty years old, immediately let out a hoarse roar.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

The shrill and urgent alarm bell rang throughout the entire city of Yanran in an instant.

Inside the city, countless soldiers and civilians who were still asleep were awakened. In an instant, cries, curses, and the clanging of armor filled the air in chaos.

Standing atop the city wall, Chen Jing watched the enemy army outside the city approach like a black tide, his palms sweating profusely.

He knew that an unprecedented bloody battle was about to begin.

He had fewer than five thousand soldiers capable of fighting.

Outside the city, Attila, the commander of the Golden Wolf Cavalry and the Left Guli King of the Northern Desert, looked at the chaotic city before him with a contemptuous smile.

Attila was Uwe's younger brother and was known for his bravery and bloodlust.

This time, Uvi entrusted him with the important task of launching a surprise attack on Yanran and assigned him 15,000 elite Golden Wolf Cavalry, in order for him to seize the throat of the Daqian army with overwhelming force.

"It seems that Lin Zhen really has moved all his main forces to the east," Attila said with a smile to his adjutant. "This Yanran City is like an undefended woman, just waiting for us to ravage it!"

"Your Highness is wise! After this battle, Lin Zhen's army's retreat will be cut off, their supplies will be exhausted, and their hundreds of thousands of troops will collapse without a fight! Your Highness, you will be the number one hero in destroying the Great Qian!" The deputy general hurriedly flattered him.

"Pass on my orders!" Attila smugly cracked his whip. "The vanguard advances, prepare to attack the city! Before nightfall, I want to drink the fine wine of the southerners in the Protectorate of Yanran City!"

"Yes!"

However, just as the vanguard of the Golden Wolf Cavalry charged triumphantly to the walls of Yanran City, preparing to launch their first probing attack, a bizarre scene unfolded.

The Daqian army, which was originally stationed in various strongholds and camps outside the city, abandoned all the outer positions and retreated back into the city like a tide!

Immediately afterwards, the drawbridge rose, and the heavy city gate slammed shut with a loud crash!

On the city walls, countless archers and defensive weapons stood ready for battle.

Attila's smile froze on his face.

"What happened? They retreated without a fight?" he asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, I think the Southerners have been terrified by the momentum of our army! They are trying to rely on the fortified city to prolong their lives!" the lieutenant analyzed.

Attila thought about it and realized it made sense.

After all, the disparity in troop strength between the two sides was enormous. He sneered, "Trying to be a coward? Not so easy! Push the catapults and battering rams up! I want to see whether their walls are harder or the fists of my Northern Warriors are harder!"

On the city wall, Chen Jing watched as the enemy troops outside the city began to slowly set up siege equipment, but he was extremely anxious.

His adjutant couldn't help but step forward and say, "Sir! The enemy has not yet established a firm foothold and their morale is high. Why don't we take advantage of this opportunity to send out an elite force to launch a fierce attack and blunt their momentum? Why should we retreat across the board and wait to be killed?"

Chen Jing turned around, glanced at him, and said nothing. He simply took out a pure gold token from his pocket.

On the token, a lifelike phoenix shines brightly in the morning light.

"This is... a Phoenix Feather Gold Medal?!" The lieutenant was shocked and immediately knelt on one knee.

"This was sent by His Highness the Prince overnight." Chen Jing's voice was calm and firm. "His Highness has decreed: seeing this plaque is as if His Majesty himself is present! We only need to abandon the outer perimeter, defend the city, build deep trenches and high walls, and hold out for reinforcements! Without His Highness's order, even if the sky were to fall outside the city, no one is allowed to leave the city!"

Upon hearing this, the lieutenant fell silent.

Although he didn't understand why His Highness the Prince would issue such a seemingly cowardly order, military orders were absolute, especially when they represented the Empress's personal presence.

"I obey your command!"

His doubts remained. Had His Highness the Prince truly abandoned Yanran City?

Have all of them become discarded pawns?

Not only him, but all the soldiers on the city wall were filled with the same unease and confusion.

They could only watch helplessly as the enemy outside the city calmly set up camp, completely surrounding Yanran City, while they could only wait passively.

This kind of waiting is more agonizing than going directly to the battlefield.

The news, as if it had sprouted wings, traveled back to Chang'an at top speed.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

When the urgent military report that "Yanran City is besieged" was read aloud with great fanfare, the entire court instantly erupted in chaos!

"What?! Yanran is surrounded? How is that possible?!"

"Isn't the main force of the Northern Desert facing off against Marshal Zheng on the eastern front? Where did they get troops to besiege Yanran?"

"It's over! It's over! If Yanran is lost, the Northern Expeditionary Army's retreat will be cut off! Hundreds of thousands of troops are in imminent danger!"

Panic spread among the officials like a virus.

Some civil officials who were already pessimistic about the war immediately jumped out.

"Your Majesty! I have long said that His Highness the Prince was young and impetuous, and ventured deep into enemy territory with an isolated army, which is a major taboo in military strategy! And now, as expected, trouble has arisen!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! The only solution now is to immediately negotiate peace with the Northern Desert and order His Highness the Prince to withdraw his troops. Only in this way can we preserve the vitality of our Great Qian!"

"Your Majesty, please issue an immediate decree to recall the Prince! And send envoys to the northern deserts to sue for peace!"

The calls for peace quickly gained momentum. Some senior officials even knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces, pleading desperately.

Murong Yan sat upright on the phoenix chair, listening to the noisy arguments and cries below, her face icy cold.

She was still wearing only the Phoenix Descent dress, covered by a solemn black and gold shawl.

The candlelight in the hall shone on her, and the golden phoenix on the dark brocade seemed to sense its master's anger, its eyes, embroidered with gold thread, flashing with a sharp and cold light.

The long, unruly trailing ribbon, stretching five zhang (approximately 10 meters) across the steps, lay silently like a black dragon poised to pounce, radiating a chilling aura.

She didn't speak, but simply watched the officials below making a complete fool of themselves.

She knew that some of these people were genuinely concerned about the country, but most of them wanted to take the opportunity to attack her and Lin Zhen's prestige, and even overturn her previous policy of advocating the Northern Expedition.

Just then, an Imperial Censor stepped forward, trembling, and shouted:

"Your Majesty! Regent Lin Zhen, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, leaving the rear vulnerable and the strategically important Yanran Mountain surrounded, trapping hundreds of thousands of troops in peril! This is an unforgivable crime! Your Majesty, I impeach Regent Lin Zhen with tears in my eyes! I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict to strip him of his post and titles, recall him to the capital, and hand him over to the three judicial departments for joint trial, to uphold the law of the land, and to appease the people!"

These words shocked the entire court!

Someone actually dared to impeach the regent, who had achieved great military exploits and enjoyed the emperor's favor, in court!

However, several officials immediately stepped forward to echo this sentiment.

"I second that opinion! Although Lin Zhen made a contribution at Eagle Beak Cliff, his merits do not outweigh his faults! The loss of Yanran Mountain is an unforgivable crime!"

"Your Majesty, please severely punish Lin Zhen to appease the morale of the army and the people!"

Murong Yan looked down at the few officials jumping around. She recognized them; they were all pedantic scholars who usually kept close ties with the Cui family and considered themselves to be upright and honest.

They couldn't wait to jump out as soon as the Cui family fell?

Her murderous intent was fully revealed as she slowly stood up from the phoenix chair.

The moment she stood up—her movements were filled with an absolute coldness and fury, as if her sore spot had been touched!

The loose, messy trailing gold brocade was suddenly propelled by her thunderous and furious movement, making a sharp "whoosh" sound on the smooth gold brick floor!

As the train billowed up, it revealed the intricately woven gold-threaded lining underneath!

Illuminated by the brilliant candlelight inside the hall, the golden light was no longer majestic or a warning, but rather burst forth with a scorching, destructive, and chilling light, like a volcanic eruption!

The colossal phoenix seemed to come alive in an instant, its eyes wide open, bursting with golden light, filled with extreme contempt and fury towards all those who questioned her husband!

It was a kind of madness and determination that belonged to an empress and, more importantly, to a wife: "If anyone dares to hurt my lover, I will destroy the world!"

The hem of her skirt fell, concealing the raging fire that could consume everything.

"Impeach a prince?" Murong Yan's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Who among you has the right to do so?"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a sharp, high-pitched shout suddenly came from outside the hall, filled with boundless joy and excitement, piercing through the entire Taiji Hall.

"Northern Frontier—Urgent Message—Great Victory—!"