On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The Golden Palace in late spring.

Murong Yan sat upright on the Nine Phoenix Gilded Chair, watching the ministers below retreat like ants, with the same smile she had when she woke up in the morning still on her lips.

As expected, Lin Zhen had an argument with the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of War. The grain and fodder that should have been transported to Yanmen Pass today had only been halfway there, which was the result of passive resistance.

The Minister of War, Liu Kaiwei, is his father-in-law. He was stunned by Lin Zhen's scolding and didn't dare to talk back.

Not to mention the Minister of Revenue, he is Murong Yan's man, and Lin Zhen has no psychological burden at all when scolding him.

As for how Liu Kaiwei cursed the Minister of Revenue after the court was dismissed, Lin Zhen didn't care. He had already issued an ultimatum that if the grain and grass were not delivered to Yanmen Pass within two days, he would punish him.

Murong Yan watched the whole process without even saying a word. When the court was dismissed, the Minister of Revenue looked at her with a look of grievance.

"Your Majesty, Editor-in-Chief Chen is already waiting outside the Yangxin Palace."

On the way back, Wushe hunched his back, and the jade beads on the whisk in his hand hit the gilded threshold, making a crackling sound.

Murong Yan nodded, and suddenly, she found that the little eunuch standing behind Wushe was looking at her chest.

She didn't know if it was her illusion, but she always felt that the gazes of all the eunuchs were somewhat aggressive recently, which made her very unhappy.

She stopped and asked, "What are you looking at?"

The young eunuch following Wushe was startled, then dropped to his knees with a thud: "Your Majesty, I didn't see anything!"

It is also unclear why there is no tongue.

This young eunuch is his apprentice and has been with him for many years. Why would Murong Yan suddenly lose her temper with him?

Wushe asked, "You rebellious son, why don't you tell me what you just saw?"

"Godfather, I really didn't look at anything. I was just looking at my feet."

"Hmph." Murong Yan snorted coldly.

Only Lin Zhen can see her chest, anyone else who sees it will die.

"Watch your eyes next time, or I'll dig them out for you."

"Yes!!" The young eunuch was shaking with fear.

When the rosewood door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation was pushed open, the mixed fragrance of agarwood and rose water hit me in the face.

Musk Moon was kneeling in front of the phoenix table, changing the incense on the table. Her light blue skirt outlined her slender waist, and the white orchid in her hair fell just above her shoulder blades.

Murong Yan looked at the back of the maid's neck exposed when she bent down, and suddenly remembered that last year Musk Moon was still an ordinary little girl, but now she has grown into a grown-up girl.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Musk Moon stood up hurriedly, almost knocking over the gilded incense box in her hand.

She stole a glance and saw Murong Yan untying the laces of her crown. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, and her snow-white shoulders and neck looked even whiter against the bright yellow satin. Her chest rose and fell gently with her breathing, making the golden phoenix pattern on the satin come alive, as if it would take off at any time along her plump curves.

"What are you standing there for?" Murong Yan chuckled, her fingertips running through Sheyue's hair. "Go get me some new tea. I want this year's Mengding Ganlu."

"I obey your command." Musk Moon retreated with a red face.

"Your Majesty, the tea is ready." Musk Moon came back soon, kneeling in front of the couch to serve tea. Her fingertips touched Your Majesty's wrist, which was warm to the touch, even warmer than the tea.

Murong Yan picked up the teacup and suddenly noticed that the belt on Musk Moon's chest was loose, revealing her thin collarbone and a small piece of white chest.

Compared to her plumpness, this girl is like an unripe peach, but her advantage is her petiteness and cuteness.

"You little girl." She suddenly chuckled, "your figure is getting better and better. In two years, I'm afraid your husband won't be able to sleep well."

Musk Moon's face flushed instantly, and she nearly knocked over the teacup in her hand: "Your Majesty, you are joking. How could this servant... This servant wouldn't dare..."

"Okay, go guard the door." Murong Yan waved her hand.

Suddenly I remembered that Lin Zhen once said that Musk Moon’s waist was not much thicker than her wrist.

I don’t know if it’s true or false.

It should be said that when she was with Huanhuan, they talked about everything and naturally saw each other's bodies, but Musk Moon never overstepped her bounds, so naturally she didn't know about it.

It seems that I really should tease her a little at night.

"Wushe, tell Chen Mo to kneel in the front hall and wait. I will be there soon."

Wushe answered from outside the corridor.

Soon, Murong Yan changed into a comfortable phoenix robe, came to the Yangxin Palace, and finally sat down on the phoenix chair.

Looking at Chen Mo, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling with fear, he said, "Chen Aiqing, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

Chen Mo stood up, lowered his head and didn't dare to look at Murong Yan.

He was just a minor official of the seventh rank, not even a sesame seed or mung bean in this city, but now he was summoned by the emperor in person. It was obvious that there was something that had to be said by the emperor in person.

He knew it in his heart, but he didn't dare to ask, let alone look directly at Murong Yan's beautiful face.

Murong Yan sat on the phoenix chair, staring at him with a half-smile on her face: "Do you know why I called you here?"

"Your Majesty, I do not know."

"Hahahaha, Mr. Chen Aiqing is not honest."

Even though Chen Mo knew something in his heart, he didn't dare to say it directly.

Facing Murong Yan's threatening words, he could only reply, "Your Majesty, I am terrified. I am loyal to Your Majesty and have no second thoughts!"

Murong Yan had to listen to such words for several days every day, and her ears were covered with calluses.

She waved her hands irritably: "Alright, let's talk about the war correspondents."

At this point, she pointed her finger at his forehead and said solemnly, "Tell me the truth! If you dare to water it down, I'll take your head!"

"Your humble servant obeys your order!" Chen Mo stood up and noticed that Murong Yan's face was wearing a red makeup today, and the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows was as bright as blood.

"Your Majesty, war correspondents are civilians who are even more dangerous than soldiers. They carry no swords, only pen and ink, and accompany the army to the front lines, recording everything that happens on the battlefield. They then send pigeons back to the capital, where they are compiled and published by newspapers."

"How dare you!" Murong Yan slammed the table. "You've published military reports without permission. How dare you? Public opinion in Daqian must be controlled by the imperial court. How can we leave it to a bunch of ignorant scholars?"

"Your Majesty, I acknowledge my guilt! However, when the Crown Prince first established the newspaper, he stated that he wanted to ensure the people had access to first-hand news, which is why I recruited war correspondents."

Knowing that it was Lin Zhen who did it, Murong Yan's anger subsided a little.

Because Lin Zhen would not cheat her, nor would he do anything that would be detrimental to Daqian.

And she was willing to believe Lin Zhen that this incident must have happened due to negligence, not intentional.

Murong Yan calmed down and asked, "How many war correspondents are there now?"

"Your Majesty, including those still in the capital, there are over three hundred in total."

"Why are so many people vying for such a dangerous job? Aren't they all afraid of death?" She suddenly remembered something and asked suspiciously, "Is it because the prince offers a high salary?"

"That's not entirely true. Although the prince pays them, most of the reporters come here on their own accord. Some don't even want to be paid, they just want to go to the front lines."

"why is that?"

There are people who work for free? Murong Yan didn't believe it.

If that were true, it would be too outrageous, not to mention that this is a job that could cost you your life.

Chen Mo's Adam's apple twitched. "Your Majesty, you don't know this. Most of them are from humble backgrounds who couldn't even pass the provincial examination, yet they can recite every battle formation in Sun Tzu's Art of War and recognize the seven horse markings of the Northern Yan cavalry. Last month, a fifteen-year-old boy recruited was willing to lie among the dead for three days just to memorize the Northern Yan grain transportation routes."

Murong Yan's eyes softened a little when she heard this.

Chen Mo's expression also became somewhat relieved, and he chuckled, "These scholars would carve their mothers' surnames on the soles of their shoes and sew soil from their hometowns into their belts. They said that if they died on the battlefield, they would let the people of Northern Yan step on their soles to know how hard the Daqian soil is; and let the wind and sand blow away their belts to reveal how red the soil inside is."

Murong Yan was extremely excited when she heard this.

Could it be that the people of Daqian have become so conscious?

"Chen Aiqing, is what you said true?"

"Your Majesty, everything I said is true, but...I haven't finished yet."

As he spoke, Chen Mo took out a booklet from his arms: "Your Majesty, please take a look. This is the registration book for the newspaper last month."

Wushe looked at Murong Yan's expression and walked over to present it to her.

Murong Yan turned to the first page, on which was written in small regular script: "Li Fugui, 22 years old, has a disabled father and three younger brothers. He is willing to exchange his pen for five stone of millet."

These words are too glaring.

Chen Mo explained, "Your Majesty, these scholars haven't become stupid from reading sage books. They understand that in this world, only by serving the court can their families be exempted from corvée labor and obtain tax-free land. Take Mr. Zhang from the east city, for example."

Chen Mo continued, the scent of ink mixed with the fragrance of agarwood on his cuffs. "His father had his hand chopped off by the Northern Yan people. Now he's signed up to be a reporter, if for no other reason than to hope that the court will give him a plaque for a loyal and righteous family so that his sister can marry into a good family."

He suddenly pointed out the window. "And then there's that fifteen-year-old boy. His mother works as a servant in Zuixian Pavilion. He said if he died on the battlefield, he hoped the court would give his mother a clean job. Before his death, journalist Zhang Xiucai grabbed his sleeve with his bloody hands and said, 'Ask for a stable meal for my mother.' Your Majesty! It's not that they don't want salaries. It's the five taels of silver the Crown Prince gives them every month that allows the whole family to have solid food on the table. It's the position at the Ministry of Works that allows their lame father to be exempted from street labor."

Murong Yan looked at the light in Chen Mo's eyes and suddenly understood.

Leaving a name in history is empty talk; what really matters is ensuring that your family has enough food and clothing.

"So they volunteered to work for the prince's newspaper." Chen Mo suddenly knelt down, his knees clacking against the bricks. "Because the prince promised them that if they survived and delivered three secret letters, they could apply for ten acres of fertile land for their families. If they died on the battlefield, the imperial court's pension would be enough for me to eat and wear for the rest of my life."

He held up the patch on his cuff and said, "I've worn this patch for three years. It's not because I don't have money to replace it, but because I want to let other scholars know that working for a newspaper can help your family live a good life. I also want to set an example for everyone!"

Murong Yan closed the register, crossed her arms, and said, "Since the Crown Prince is in charge, why was the battle report published without the court's approval? Could this also be the Crown Prince's intention?"

Chen Mo thought that he had fooled Murong Yan into submission.

I didn't expect she would still ask this.

So he knew how to answer: "Your Majesty, this... is my fault."

"Then explain to me!"

"I acknowledge my guilt!!"

"Enough, I understand. What they want is not an empty position, but tangible benefits. They hope to follow the court and realize their ideal of supporting their families." In fact, Murong Yan's goal today was to take over the newspaper.

But she didn't expect that the people in this newspaper were so loyal to the court. In this case, it would be easy to deal with.

"That's right, Your Majesty. When they rushed to the front, carrying their pens and ink, they were thinking: If they died, their younger brother could go to school; if they lived, their younger sister could marry well. It wasn't because they were afraid of death, but because they wanted their family to live a decent life."

Murong Yan suddenly chuckled: "But I can give you more! From now on, everyone in your newspaper will obey the unified command of the court and no longer need to listen to the prince."

"this..."

No.

Chen Mo was stunned.

I thought to myself, don’t drag us into your quarrel!

"Your Majesty, this newspaper was previously supplied by the Crown Prince..."

I knew you would say that.

Murong Yan sneered, "The Crown Prince and I are one and the same, so what's his and mine? This matter is settled. From now on, reporters at the newspaper will receive a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, twice what the Crown Prince gives them. Those who have made contributions will not only be employed by the Ministry of Works, but can also apply for tax-free shops for their families. Even after they die, I will engrave their names in the Martyrs' Shrine, so that future generations will know that their blood was not shed in vain."

She paused, her eyes falling on the patch on Chen Mo's cuff. "As for you, my dear Chen, you no longer need to hold a position in the Ministry of Works. You will serve as a censor in the Supervisory Council, responsible for all matters related to the newspaper. If you do well, I will reward you. If you do not do well, you can only guess the consequences!"

Chen Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

Murong Yan's move means that Daqian Newspaper will change from being the prince's secret line to her open chess piece, but it also means that the efforts of the reporters can finally be exchanged for real protection.

After all, Lin Zhen is not the emperor, but Murong Yan gives him real benefits.

So, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you! If Your Majesty can fulfill your promise, I dare say that the number of applicants can increase from 300 to 3,000."

"We don't need that many people. Let's keep the number to this level. After all, other areas also need to establish newspaper offices."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. The Crown Prince has already begun planning this. Currently, newspaper offices have been established in Zhuo County, Dai County, Liaodong, and other places, and plans have also been made in the south."

Murong Yan waved her hand and said, "Alright, this matter is settled. You go back first. I will ask the prince to hand over the rest of the matters."

"Wei Chen retire."

Chen Mo walked out.

The moment he walked out, a smile appeared on his face.

Now the newspaper has completely become a court department. This news... this merit... those guys will definitely thank me to death when I return.

As for whether Murong Yan and Lin Zhen would quarrel...what did it have to do with him? They could quarrel or not. Anyway, the emperor's words were final, and once he said something, it could not be changed.