On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Most people who smoke start out of curiosity.

If someone of Lin Zhen's status and position were smoking heavily, how could the Minister of Rites, who was so much lower in status than him, not want to give it a try? Zhao Qiwen took the pipe and looked at it over and over again, almost dropping the burning tobacco on the warm couch.

Lin Zhen quickly said, "Hey, hey, hey, don't turn it over, be careful of getting burned."

"Prince, what on earth is this? It looks... very special. Could it be that breathing this kind of smoke is good for the body?"

"No, it's very bad for your health!"

"Then you still..." Zhao Qiwen looked unconvinced.

It's bad for your health, so you still smoke? Are you kidding me?

Zhao Qiwen didn't believe it, so he wiped the cigarette holder with a handkerchief, pouted his old mouth, and before he could put the cigarette in his mouth, he was choked by the smoke coming out of the cigarette holder and started coughing.

"Ahem...Prince, what is this? Return it to you quickly."

Zhao Qiwen is old, and he definitely can't stand inhaling this stuff suddenly. He coughed for a long time before he recovered.

Lin Zhen smiled as he put the pipe in his mouth, took a long drag, and said through the smoke: "Haha, I told you it's bad for your health, but you didn't believe me. Well, since Jin Junxi is not here, give him a message for me. Tell him to see you in the Golden Palace at the morning court tomorrow. His Majesty will personally supervise the signing of the contract."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

......

After returning home, Lin Zhen began to draft the treaty. He did not mention the fact that merchants and pawns from other countries could not enter the city, but just said that each jar of Erguotou would be exchanged for 100 kilograms of fine iron.

This is already a sky-high price. Iron is worthless in South Korea, but Erguotou is sold at one hundred taels of silver per jar, no cheating. Of course, this is the price sold to wealthy businessmen and international friends. Lin Zhen's family is usually very generous. For families like Fatty's and Lu Dehao's, they basically give it away for free, and those officials who want to drink it can get a 50% discount.

Not only could they afford a jar of wine at fifty taels of silver, but Lin Zhen could even earn forty-eight taels with tears in his eyes.

After finishing writing, the sun had set. Lin Zhen stood in front of the window thinking about what to do tomorrow morning. Soon Huanbi brought him food.

During dinner, Lin Zhen told Qingwen not to go out anymore because her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and she had to protect the pregnancy. Although Qingwen was not happy, she thought that she could help arrange the wedding at home, so she agreed.

No words were spoken that night. (I had something to say, but I wasn't allowed to write it down.)

......

The next day, the morning light first appeared.

The ministers, dressed in court robes with fluttering sleeves, walked slowly into the Golden Palace with solemn steps.

As soon as they stepped into the palace, they felt that the scene before them was very different from the past, as if they had accidentally entered another world.

On the towering platform, the dragon throne that originally symbolized the supreme imperial power had disappeared, and was replaced by an exquisitely carved phoenix throne.

The chair is crafted entirely from agarwood, exuding a lingering, soothing fragrance. The wood grain, reminiscent of naturally formed phoenix feathers, is delicate and flowing.

On the back of the chair, a golden phoenix holds its head high and spreads its wings, as if it wants to soar into the sky. The phoenix's eyes are inlaid with rubies, and they sparkle with majesty in the dim light, as if overlooking all beings in the court; the phoenix feathers are carefully pasted with gold foil, and each piece sparkles with brilliant light, as if it can cut through the sky; the phoenix tail winds down and connects with the seat of the chair, just like a golden phoenix landing in the clouds, sitting upright in this high position in the court.

Looking at the dragon table again, it has been replaced by a phoenix table.

The tabletop is wide and paved with mica, which sparkles with colorful light in the sunlight, just like the gorgeous feathers of a phoenix.

The edge of the table is inlaid with a circle of fine golden phoenix reliefs. They are small in size but full of charm. Some of them are resting with their eyes closed, while others are gazing with their eyes open, guarding this place of governance.

The pens, inks, paper and inkstones placed on the desk are all engraved with phoenix patterns. Even the paperweight is carved into the shape of a small phoenix, lively and exquisite.

For a moment, all the ministers looked at each other, their eyes full of curiosity and astonishment.

Several officials could not contain their surprise, turned slightly sideways, and began to whisper to each other.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing? You're actually eliminating the dragon's element bit by bit. This is unprecedented."

"I heard that Your Majesty recently changed into a phoenix robe. That's strange. Hasn't the emperor been wearing a dragon robe since ancient times? Doesn't this action violate ancestral rules?"

"Hmph, Your Majesty, this is truly disrespectful! The dragon is the foundation of our Daqian nation, the symbol of imperial power, and bears the blessings and glory of our ancestors. How dare a mere woman act so recklessly?"

"Yes, Lord Wang is absolutely right. Your Majesty's actions are not going to disrupt the foundation of our Great Qian. We are loyal to the emperor and we eat his salary. How can we watch our ancestors' rules being trampled upon?"

"I heard that His Majesty recently moved his office to Fengming Palace. Phoenix designs are everywhere in the palace. This clearly shows that he is completely abandoning the dragon! As ministers, if we don't persuade him, how can we face our ancestors in the future?"

Lin Zhen stood at the front of the ministers.

Lin Zhenxian had to inspect the military camp today, so he didn't come.

He watched all the ministers' reactions alone and thought to himself, Yan'er is still too anxious.

Such a grand change to the Golden Palace.

Fortunately, I was there to back him up, otherwise the ministers would have rebelled.

Soon, the sound of jingling jewelry was heard, breaking the delicate atmosphere in the court.

Surrounded by a group of palace maids, Murong Yan walked out from behind the phoenix screen.

She was dressed very solemnly today, wearing a phoenix robe that dragged on the ground, as red as fire, like a burning sunset.

On the phoenix robe, phoenixes embroidered with gold threads are densely packed in various shapes. Some are soaring in the sky, singing loudly; some are cuddling each other, showing tender affection; some are flapping their wings, ready to fly and break through the sky.

The eyes of each phoenix are embellished with round pearls, which sparkle with a warm and noble luster under the refraction of light; the phoenix claws are sharp, tightly grasping the robe, showing partnership and majesty.

The phoenix crown on her head is extremely exquisite, with pearls shining like stars dotted among them. The phoenix in the center, with its head held high, is carved from jadeite. The jade is transparent and seems to have life, standing proudly on the top of the crown.

On her neck, a string of prayer beads exudes a soft luster, and on the prayer beads are delicately carved phoenix totems. Each phoenix seems to be whispering, telling a mysterious blessing.

Lin Zhen opened his mouth wide.

Isn’t this too exaggerated?

Wearing jade and gold all over your body? Yan'er, Yan'er, don't you think it's too heavy?

Murong Wushe shouted loudly, "Your Majesty has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers dared not neglect it. They all lifted the hems of their official robes, knelt on the ground and kowtowed, shouting in unison: "Long live our emperor!"

Murong Yan raised her hand slightly, and her wide phoenix robe waved gently. She said gracefully, "My dear, please stand up."

The voice is clear and pleasant, just like a phoenix flying, with a bit of innate majesty.

The ministers thanked him and stood up, but their hands still secretly looked towards Murong Yan from time to time, and the doubts in their hearts became more and more serious.

Murong Yan sat on the phoenix chair and looked at Lin Zhen. Their eyes met and they smiled knowingly.

However, before Lin Zhen could make his report, a censor stepped forward and broke the momentary silence.