On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Today, Murong Yan is still wearing that same ultra-black phoenix descending to earth dress.

She didn't wear an elaborate phoenix bun; her long, black, lustrous hair was simply draped down her back.

The five-zhang-long, dark gold train cascaded down from the bed, spreading out on the expensive carpet like a flowing, black galaxy of starlight.

On the hem of the skirt, a giant phoenix woven with real gold thread, its eyes gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the window, looked incredibly lifelike.

"Who's being enthusiastic towards you?" Murong Yan rolled her eyes at him and stood up. "Get up, we have important business to attend to."

"What important business is it?" Lin Zhen yawned, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

"Of course, I'll go and meet those three 'loyal' key ministers." Murong Yan's lips curled into a cold smile.

She walked to the dressing table and began to comb her long, black hair in front of the mirror.

Lin Zhen looked at her graceful back and smiled, then got up from the bed.

The show is about to begin.

……

An hour later.

Royal study room.

Murong Yan sat on the phoenix chair, a symbol of supreme imperial power, holding a prepared memorial in her hand.

The memorial detailed all the crimes committed by the three great families over the years, including forming cliques, engaging in corruption, embezzlement, and even colluding with the enemy and betraying the country.

These pieces of evidence were collected by Lin Zhen's secret guards.

He hadn't brought it out yet because he was waiting for the right opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

And now, the time has come.

“Zhang Jianzhi,” Murong Yan said slowly, her voice cold.

"Your subject is here." The prime minister, who was standing below, quickly bowed and stepped forward.

"Take a look at this memorial." Murong Yan threw the memorial in her hand in front of him.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianzhi felt a chill run down his spine.

He quickly stepped forward and picked up the memorial.

When he finally saw the contents of the memorial, all the color drained from his face.

"This...this..." He stared wide-eyed at the shocking evidence in the memorial, his eyes gleaming with a shrewd light.

How dare these three powerful families commit such a rebellious act?

"Your Majesty, this matter... this matter is of great importance and must be carefully considered!" Zhang Jianzhi's voice trembled.

Once this memorial is made public, it will stir up a huge wave in the entire court of the Great Qian Dynasty!

"Take a long-term view?" Murong Yan sneered upon hearing this. "My soldiers are shedding blood and sacrificing their lives for the country at the front, while they are making a fortune off the national crisis at home. They are even colluding with the enemy from within, attempting to overthrow my Great Qian Dynasty!"

"You're now asking me to consider this further?"

Murong Yan's voice grew colder and colder, each word like a sharp knife piercing Zhang Jianzhi's heart.

"I wish I could tear them to pieces right now!"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Zhang Jianzhi was so frightened by the overwhelming killing intent emanating from Murong Yan that he knelt down on the ground.

"Hmph." Murong Yan snorted coldly.

She knew that Zhang Jianzhi was also thinking about the bigger picture.

After all, the three great families had been operating in the Great Qian Dynasty for over a hundred years, their influence was deeply entrenched, and any move they made would have far-reaching consequences.

If not handled properly, it could very well shake the foundations of the nation.

"Get up." Murong Yan waved her hand.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Jianzhi got up from the ground, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.

"I know what you're worried about," Murong Yan said slowly, looking at his still-fearful expression. "I also know we can't rush things."

"Therefore, I intend to start with the weakest one."

She circled the name with a vermilion pen.

The Li family of Jiangxi.

The Li family, although also one of the top powerful clans of the Great Qian Dynasty.

However, compared to the Yuan and Wang families, two behemoths with disciples and former officials all over the country, they are still far inferior.

Targeting them first is undoubtedly the best option.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Jianzhi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"I'm leaving this matter to you." Murong Yan's voice carried an undeniable authority. "I'll give you three days."

"Within three days, I want to see all the officials who are connected with the Li family in the Ministry of Justice's prison."

"Not one can be missing."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhang Jianzhi bowed and accepted the order.

A major purge targeting the officialdom of the Daqian Dynasty is imminent.

……

The deepest part of the Ministry of Justice's prison.

The place is perpetually shrouded in darkness, and the air is thick with a musty smell—a mixture of rust, blood, and rotting straw—that makes one dizzy and disoriented.

A dim oil lamp hung on the wall outside the cell, casting a flickering light on the shadow of the person bound to the rack inside.

He is Li Zeyu, an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.

He was once a prominent figure in the capital, traveling in luxury cars and surrounded by beautiful maids. He never imagined he would end up like this.

At this moment, he had lost all his former dignity.

His prison uniform was torn to shreds, mixed with blood and dirt, and clung tightly to his body.

The exposed skin was covered with crisscrossing whip marks and branding marks, and in some places the skin was even torn open, with the white bones vaguely visible.

His limbs were chained to the rack with thick iron chains, and his whole body was limp in a humiliating position. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have been almost indistinguishable from a corpse.

"Click."

The iron lock on the prison door was opened with a jarring sound.

Li Zeyu struggled to lift his eyelids, and in his cloudy vision, he saw the figure of a man.

The man was dressed in ordinary black clothes, with a lazy smile on his face, and was carrying an exquisite white jade wine pot and two wine cups.

He walked in slowly, as if he had entered a quiet tavern.

Behind him followed a guard with an expressionless face, carrying a small table and two cushions.

The guard placed the small table and cushion on the relatively clean floor in the center of the cell, then quietly withdrew and closed the cell door behind him.

Lin Zhen sat cross-legged on the cushion, placed the wine pot and wine glasses on the small table, and poured himself two glasses of wine.

He picked up one of the cups, took a small sip, and then looked up at the man on the rack who was barely breathing.

"Lord Li, this wine of mine is a fine grape wine, a tribute from the Western Regions. The palace has limited stock, and ordinary people can't get their hands on it," Lin Zhen said casually, as if chatting with an old friend. "Would you like to try some?"

Li Zeyu looked at Lin Zhen, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace on his pale face.

"Your Highness, please don't be so harsh on this sinner." His voice was hoarse, and every word he spoke aggravated his wounds, causing him to wince in pain.

"He deserves his punishment, I only beg... Your Highness to grant him a swift end."

He had experienced firsthand the methods of those people in the Ministry of Justice, and now his only thought was to die.

"That was great!" Lin Zhen put down his wine glass and slowly walked up to Li Zeyu.

He reached out and gently patted the bloodied and mangled face.

"Lord Li, do you think you're worthy?" Lin Zhen's voice was calm.