On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Deep in the Borneo rainforest, the wooden village is dead silent.

Chu Batian curled up in the corner, listening to the dull roar faintly coming from afar, which was different from the sacrificial drumbeats - that was the roar of the Daqian Navy's naval guns!

Every roar was like a hammer hitting his heart.

"Your Majesty," the old servant rushed in, "It's bad! Our dock on the coast has been flattened by the Daqian gunboats, and all the Dayak ships have been burned."

Chu Batian's body trembled, and his cloudy eyes stared at the ground.

"Lord Yingci is back," the old servant said, his voice tinged with tears. "His hand is broken and he's covered in blood."

Shadow Thorn's figure appeared at the door.

His left arm was broken at the wrist, the wound hastily bandaged with a dirty cloth. His face was as pale as a ghost, and for the first time, something called fear appeared in his dead eyes.

"We missed," Ying Ci said hoarsely, "Daqian has an ambush of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Waste!" Chu Batian suddenly grabbed the broken pottery jar on the ground and threw it at him, "You can't even kill a civil servant!"

The fragments scratched Ying Ci's cheek and blood oozed out.

He was silent and motionless.

"Get out, all of you." Chu Batian collapsed dejectedly, and the last trace of madness in his eyes was extinguished.

He listened to the artillery fire getting closer and closer, smelled the faint smell of gunpowder in the air, and despair was like an icy tide that completely drowned him.

Prime Minister Chen Yuan was lying on a straw mat, breathing weakly. Suddenly, he started coughing violently and coughed up black blood clots.

He raised his hand with difficulty and pointed at Chu Batian. His lips moved, but no sound came out. Finally, his arm fell down weakly and his breath stopped.

"Chen Yuan," Chu Batian crawled to Chen Yuan's side, shaking his cold body, turbid tears mixed with snot flowing down, "Even you abandoned me."

Outside the rainforest, the sound of artillery stopped.

An even more suffocating silence descended.

Then came the sounds of the natives crying and running in fear.

"The Dayaks have run away. They have fled deep into the rainforest." The old servant cried in despair.

Chu Batian sat there blankly, holding Chen Yuan's cold body in his arms.

Outside the wooden stronghold, there were heavy and orderly footsteps, the clanging of metal armor plates colliding, and the crisp sound of muskets being loaded.

He slowly raised his head and through the cracks in the dilapidated wooden window saw teams of Daqian soldiers wearing black armor and holding muskets, surrounding the wooden village like a silent tide.

The leader, wearing a black cloak and with a figure as straight as a spear, was Lin Zhen!

His deep gaze penetrated the darkness of the rainforest and pierced into the depths of the wooden village like an icy sword.

A twisted, almost relieved smile appeared on Chu Batian's face. He fumbled around, pulled out the poisoned bone dagger from his bosom, and without hesitation, stabbed himself in the heart!

A sharp pain came, and the blue venom spread instantly.

His eyes went dark, and the last thing he was aware of was Lin Zhen's cold and ruthless eyes, and the rustling sound of Murong Yan's dark phoenix robe trailing across the golden brick floor.

The rain in Borneo finally fell, washing away the blood and sin of Muzhai, and also washing away the last traces of an exiled dynasty.

......

The oppressive heat of the Borneo rainforest is like an invisible giant hand, strangling people's throats.

The damp air was filled with a pungent smell of gunpowder, blood, and rotten leaves.

The crude wooden fort was completely surrounded by soldiers in black armor, and the muzzles of the muskets flashed coldly in the dim light.

Lin Zhen, wearing a dark cloak, stood in front of the village. His deep eyes penetrated the gaps in the dilapidated wooden windows and fell on the two entangled corpses in the corner of the wooden house.

The captain of the guards kicked open the rotten wooden door, and a strong smell of blood hit him in the face.

The light in the room was dim. Prime Minister Chen Yuan was lying on his back on a straw mat. His face was blue and purple, and there were traces of black blood on his mouth and nose. He had long since stopped breathing.

Chu Batian curled up beside Chen Yuan, with a dark blue bone dagger stuck in his chest. The dagger was deeply embedded in his heart, leaving only the twisted bone handle.

His eyes were wide open, his pupils dilated, and a twisted, almost liberated smile was frozen on his face, a mixture of despair and madness. Dark red blood soaked through the coarse linen clothes, spreading a dark patch beneath him.

"Marshal," the captain of the personal guard sniffed and turned back to report, "Chu Batian killed himself and killed Chen Yuan, suspected to be poisoned."

Lin Zhen walked slowly into the wooden house, his black boots stepping on the sticky bloodstains.

His eyes swept over the bone dagger on Chu Batian's chest - it was the same poisonous dagger that Ding Xiangyu used in his failed assassination attempt.

He squatted down, his fingertips not touching the corpse, but just coldly examining the distorted face.

"Verify your identity." Lin Zhen's voice was low and calm.

The accompanying military doctor stepped forward and carefully examined the remaining tattoos and old scars on Chu Batian's face, comparing them with the portrait in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret files. "Marshal, it is undoubtedly Chu Batian."

"Cut off the head." Lin Zhen stood up, his voice as cold as quenched ice, "Seal it with lime. Burn Chen Yuan's body on the spot."

"Yes!" The captain of the guard responded and drew his sword.

Lin Zhen turned and walked out of the wooden house, his black cloak drawing a sharp arc in the humid air.

Outside the house, the remaining Dayak warriors and Chu Batian's former subordinates were forced to kneel on the ground by the black-armored soldiers, their faces pale and trembling.

Raindrops began to fall, hitting the broad leaves with a dull sound.

"Pass the order!" Lin Zhen's voice penetrated the rain curtain with unquestionable majesty.

"First, all Dayak tribal leaders and pirate chieftains in Borneo who participated in the rebellion will be arrested immediately! Take them to Quanzhou Port for public trial and execution! Hang their heads for public display! The rest, young and strong, will be forced to do hard labor to build roads and ports! Women, children, the elderly, and the weak will be relocated from their ancestral lands and dispersed across the islands of Southeast Asia!"

"Secondly, effective immediately, the Nanyang Protectorate will be established in Borneo! Garrison 5,000 troops! Suppress remaining bandits! Implement the king's rule! The Ministry of Fire and Thunder and the Ministry of Works will immediately survey and select sites, build fortresses, ports, and roads! The Ministry of Revenue will establish settlers on the border! Grant land and reclaim wasteland!"

"Third, notify the islands of the South Seas! Chu Batian has been executed! Anyone who dares to collude with the remnants, harass merchants, or resist the king's rule will be warned by Borneo!"

The order was like a cold iron law, hitting the hearts of every prisoner.

Desperate cries echoed in the rainforest, but were quickly suppressed by the soldiers' shouts.

Lin Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, his dark figure stabilizing the sea in the misty rain of Borneo. The iron hoof of the empire completely crushed the rainforest's last will to resist.

Jinling, Purple Palace.

Magnificent and solemn.

Huge golden pillars with coiled dragons support the towering dome, and glazed palace lanterns cast a soft and brilliant light.

Murong Yan sat high on the Nine Dragon Golden Chair, her dark black robe inlaid with gold phoenixes trailing across the mirror-like golden brick floor, stretching two meters long. She looked so luxurious and majestic that one could not look directly at her.

The phoenix crown is towering and the pearl curtain is hanging down, covering up the beautiful and cold face.

When the phoenix eyes opened and closed, the divine light was bright and clear, looking down on the world.

Inside the hall, civil and military officials in court robes stood solemnly on both sides in total silence.

The palace door slowly opened. Minister of Rites Zhou Zheng shouted, "The rulers and kings of the Nanyang islands are here to see you!"

Melodious ceremonial music played. Led by ceremonial officers, a group of envoys, all dressed in different clothes and with dark skin, entered the hall with awe and trepidation.

The leader was Batulu, the king of Dingxiang Island, who was dressed in luxurious silk but could not hide his restraint; followed by representatives from islands such as the Emerald Island and the Spice Islands, some wearing feather robes, some wearing golden crowns, their eyes filled with shock and submission to the Celestial Empire.

"Your Majesty the Queen of Daqian is here to pay her respects! Long live Her Majesty! Long live Her Majesty! Long, long live Her Majesty!" The envoys shouted in unison in stiff official language and prostrated themselves in salute.

Murong Yan raised her phoenix eyes slightly, the bead curtain swayed slightly, and her voice was clear and majestic, penetrating the palace: "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"The islands of the South Seas have traveled across the ocean to pay homage to me, and this is a great relief to me." Murong Yan's voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "The traitor Chu Batian, who brought chaos to the South Seas and defied the will of Heaven, has now been executed. A new Protectorate has been established in Borneo to protect merchants and the people. From this day forward, the islands of the South Seas are all vassal states of Daqian, sharing peace and mutual exchange."

She glanced at the envoys, "Anyone who obeys the king's teachings and sincerely submits will be rewarded with ten thousand rolls of silk, a thousand pieces of porcelain, and a hundred dan of tea! They will be granted titles such as Marquis of Guiyi and Earl of Huaiyuan! Their children will be allowed to study at the Jinling Imperial Academy! They will share in the cultural rule of the Celestial Empire!"

"Your Majesty's grace is so great that we are filled with gratitude!" Baturu and others kowtowed again, their voices excited.

"Yes," Murong Yan's voice turned cold, a cold light flashed in her phoenix eyes, "Anyone who pretends to obey but secretly disobeys, has ulterior motives, colludes with the remnants of evil, and disrupts the sea borders."

She paused slightly, and the air in the hall froze instantly.

"Borneo is the end!"

The cold words, like a heavy hammer, struck the hearts of every envoy.

They prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to look up, their gorgeous clothes soaked with cold sweat.

"Give me a feast!" Murong Yan waved her sleeves.

The ritual music is revived, melodious and solemn.

Palace maids filed in, and delicacies and fine wines were placed in front of the envoys' seats.

However, the aroma of this feast was filled with the empire's supreme majesty and cold warning.

The coming of all nations was a blessing, but also a shock. At this moment, the pattern of the Nanyang Sea was completely anchored.

Minyue, Quanzhou Port.

The sea breeze, carrying the warmth of early summer, blew the black dragon flag fluttering on the newly built "Nanyang Protectorate" government office in the port.

The huge ironclad warship "Wavebreaker" was like a steel mountain, anchored in the deep-water harbor, its dark muzzles shining coldly in the sun.

On the deck, the sailors lined up in neat rows.

The wharf square was packed with people. The newly appointed Nanyang Protector General, Wang Yun, dressed in brand new official robes, stood on a high platform.

Behind him were officials including Zhou Tong, the director of the Nanyang Development Department, Chu Xiling, the director of the Burning Thunder Department, and others.

"By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!" Wang Yun's voice boomed. "Nanyang has been pacified, and the sea borders are at peace! To demonstrate the Celestial Empire's benevolence, promote trade, and benefit workers, the Nanyang Protectorate is established in Quanzhou. It will oversee the military and political affairs of the Nanyang islands, protect merchants and the people, and promote the king's rule!"

"From now on, a regular merchant shipping route between Quanzhou and Nanyang will be opened! Escorted by the navy's new Feiyu-class clippers! All Daqian merchants, with trade tokens, can trade here and enjoy tariff reductions!"

"Also! Construction has begun on Nangang, the new port town in Borneo! The ironclad warship HMS Breaker will be stationed in the South Seas for permanent patrols! Boost our nation's prestige! And deter rogues!"

"Your Majesty is wise! The Marshal is intelligent! Long live Daqian!" The crowd burst into thunderous cheers!

The merchants' eyes sparkled with a desire for wealth, and the craftsmen's faces were filled with pride.

Chu Xiling's cold eyes swept across the huge "Wavebreaker" and then looked towards the vast sea in the south.

The power of Fenleisi's investigation of things has transformed into a giant steel beast that cuts through the waves. The empire's borders are constantly expanding along the beast's path.

"Ugh——!"

A long whistle sounded!

Thick smoke billowed out of the Wavebreaker's huge chimney! The anchor slowly rose!

"Set sail!" Wang Yun shouted.

The huge body of the "Wavebreaker" moved slowly, and the steel wheel crushed the blue waves and headed towards the depths of the vast South China Sea.

The black coiled dragon flag fluttered at the top of the mast, announcing the beginning of a new era.