On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Jinling, Purple Palace. A torrential downpour pelted down, bean-sized raindrops pounding against the glazed tiles, forming a murky stream that cascaded down from the eaves, splashing countless dancing splashes onto the golden brick floor in front of the palace.

The whale candles in the hall were burning brightly, but they could not dispel the gloom brought by the heavy rain.

Murong Yan sat upright on the throne, her bright yellow robe woven with gold phoenixes gleaming brightly in the candlelight. The cloud-embroidered pattern of hundreds of phoenixes on the robe rose and fell slightly with her breathing, like a living thing.

The two-meter-long tail stretched out on the imperial steps like a golden river. Its edges were soaked by rainwater that seeped in through the cracks in the palace door, and dark water stains slowly spread across the dazzling golden lines.

"Report——!" A hoarse shout came from outside the hall, piercing through the rain.

A messenger, drenched in mud, stumbled into the hall and kowtowed heavily before the imperial steps. "Your Majesty! Urgent assistance from the East China Sea, eight hundred miles away!"

The chief eunuch stepped forward quickly, took the bamboo tube wrapped in oilcloth, checked the sealing wax, and presented it to the imperial desk.

Murong Yan's eyes were calm. She used her fingertips to pry open the mud seal on the bamboo tube and pulled out the silk book soaked in moisture.

As his gaze swept over, the air in the hall suddenly froze. The silk scroll contained only a few words, yet each one was weighty: "The main force of the Western Fleet, consisting of fifteen ships, sailed around Devil's Point and launched a surprise attack on the Borneo Fortress! Three outer artillery batteries were destroyed! The defenders suffered heavy casualties! The Zhenhai was ambushed while rushing to the rescue, and the ship was damaged!"

Dead silence.

There was only the roar of heavy rain outside the temple.

Murong Yan slowly put down the silk scroll. Beneath her bright yellow phoenix robe, her figure stood straight as a pine tree. The candlelight illuminated her exquisitely beautiful yet icy profile. She raised her eyes, their gaze piercing the rain, as if gazing directly at the bloody fire of the East China Sea.

"Where is Lin Zhen?" Her voice was clear, penetrating the sound of rain.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch bowed, "Your Highness is in the Grand Council Hall directing the city's defenses."

"Spread it." Murong Yan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable pressure.

After a while, Lin Zhen, wearing his dark-colored coiled dragon robe and with slightly wet shoulders, strode into the hall.

His eyes swept over the silk book in Murong Yan's hand, and his deep eyes instantly became as sharp as a knife.

"My husband," Murong Yan handed over the silk book, "Borneo is in danger."

Lin Zhen quickly read through it, his brows furrowed. "The Devil's Corner waterway is treacherous. How dare Westerners force their way through? There must be some insider help."

"The traitors should be executed and the crisis should be resolved." Murong Yan stood up, and the trail of her bright yellow phoenix robe swept through the water on the imperial steps, making a heavy and clear "rustling" sound.

She walked to the huge sheepskin chart hanging in the hall, pointed her finger at the Borneo Fortress, and then rowed towards Devil's Corner.

"Pass on the order." Her voice was clear, and every word was as hard as iron.

"First, the two remaining ships of the Nanyang Fleet, Dingyuan and Polang, immediately abandon their planned patrols and rush to Borneo at full speed! Break through the blockade and rescue the fortress defenders at all costs!"

"Secondly, all of the Burning Heavenly Thunder chain bombs and incendiary bombs in the Burning Heavenly Thunder Division's Quanzhou inventory must be immediately loaded onto ships, escorted by a fleet of Flying Fish-class clippers, and sent directly to Borneo! Instruct the fortress commanders to wait for reinforcements to arrive, then use Burning Heavenly Thunder to cover and fire upon the enemy ships, burning them and cutting off their retreat!"

"Third," she turned her phoenix eyes towards Lin Zhen, her gaze piercing with coldness. "Commander-in-Chief of the Nine Gates of Jinling, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, obey your orders immediately! Thoroughly investigate all post stations, docks, and trading companies from Jinling to the coastal areas! Anyone suspected of collaborating with the enemy or passing on information, regardless of rank, will be executed immediately! Their heads will be hung on the city gates! The defeat in Borneo was caused by the traitor within, and this hatred will never be forgotten!"

"As you wish!" Lin Zhen clasped his fists, and his dark figure, with a chilling murderous aura, turned around and disappeared into the heavy rain outside the hall.

Off the coast of Borneo, smoke filled the air and flames shot up into the sky.

The torrential rain subsided, and the sea was littered with shattered planks, charred canvas, and bloated corpses. Fifteen warships of the Castilian fleet, led by the Santa Maria, were bombarding the battered Borneo fortress with intensive artillery fire.

The outer artillery positions of the fortress have become ruins, the stone walls have collapsed, and the defenders are fighting bloody battles among the ruins.

"Count! Enemy ships spotted in the northeast!" the lookout screamed.

Through Count Alvarez's telescope, the huge figures of the Daqian ships "Dingyuan" and "Polang" split the waves, like angry steel beasts, rushing at full speed!

The muzzle of the main gun "Burning Sky Divine Thunder" on the bow of the ship is sinister!

"Full left! Turn the fire! Stop them!" Alvarez roared.

The Western Fleet's broadsides roared! Bullets rained down like locusts, pelting Dingyuan and Polang!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Dingyuan was struck by a bullet in the bow, its armor plates twisting and deforming, but its speed remained unabated! The Polang's triple main turret slowly rotated, its black muzzle locked onto the Santa Maria!

"Fire!" roared the captain.

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar! Three heavy armor-piercing explosive shells ripped through the air! Alvarez's pupils suddenly shrank!

"Avoid!" he roared!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Two bombs missed, sending plumes of water soaring into the sky! One slammed hard into the Santa Maria's starboard waterline! A violent explosion! The armor ripped apart! Seawater rushed in frantically!

"Report damage!" Alvarez staggered and held onto the side of the boat.

"There's serious water leaking into three places on the starboard side!" the boatswain screamed.

"Stop the leak! Quick!" Alvarez's eyes were bloodshot. He looked towards the fortress, his eyes gleaming with ferocity. "Attack the fortress with all our might! Take it! Only then will we have a foothold!"

Regardless of the damage, the Western fleet poured artillery fire even more crazily at the crumbling fortress!

At the Borneo fortress, the command tower was half collapsed.

The defending general was covered in blood, his left arm hanging limply, and his right hand tightly grasped the broken sword.

He looked at the Dingyuan and Polang ships fighting with the Western fleet on the sea, and then at the Western landing troops surging like a tide under the fortress, his eyes were bloodshot.

"General! Look!" The guard pointed to the southwest sea.

Several "Exocet-class" speedboats rushed through the smoke like arrows and headed straight for the simple dock behind the fortress!

"It's the ammunition from the Fenlei Division!" The personal soldier's voice trembled.

The last glimmer of light shone from the commander's eyes. "Thunder Guards! Maneuver the guns! Chain bombs! Incendiary bombs! Reload! Target the rear of the Western Fleet, cut off their escape route!"

At the remaining gun positions, the Thunder Guards, ignoring the stray arrows, maneuvered frantically. Specially made chain shells (two shells connected by a chain) were loaded into the gun barrels, and the incendiary fuses were ignited!

"put!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The chain bullet whizzed out and spun and danced in the air!

The iron chains hit the masts of several frigates behind the Western fleet!

Click!Click!

The massive mast snapped! The sails collapsed! The warship instantly lost power and drifted sideways on the sea!

The incendiary bombs followed closely, landing precisely on the deck of the enemy ship that had lost power!

"boom!"

Flames shot up into the sky! Sticky kerosene splattered everywhere! Western sailors screamed and turned into infernos! The warships turned into floating coffins of fire!

On the Santa Maria, Alvarez looked at the fleet engulfed in flames, his face pale. The retreat was cut off!

"Count! The Dingyuan is coming!" the adjutant screamed.

Although the Dingyuan's bow was scarred, it rammed the Santa Maria's side with a desperate momentum! The ferocious ramming horn of the bow flashed a cold light of death in the firelight!

"No--!" Alvarez screamed in despair.

Zichen Palace.

The rainstorm has stopped and the waning moon is like a hook.

Murong Yan was still standing in front of the sea chart, her bright yellow phoenix robe gleaming in the candlelight, the water stains on the edge of the robe had dried, leaving only faint marks.

The eunuch silently presented the latest battle report: the fortress in Borneo was not lost, the "Dingyuan" and "Polang" severely damaged the Western fleet, the "Santa Maria" was severely damaged by the collision of the "Dingyuan", Count Alvarez led the remnants to flee, and their retreat was blocked by the burned ships, and they were trapped on a deserted island near "Devil's Cape".

Murong Yan's eyes were calm, and her fingertips lightly touched the location of the "Devil's Corner" deserted island.

"A trapped beast will still fight." Her voice was cold.

She turned and walked towards the imperial desk. The trail of her phoenix robe brushed across the polished gold bricks, making a subtle yet distinct rustling sound. The scarlet brush was dipped in thick ink.

"deliver an imperial order."

"Nanyang Navy, clean up the battlefield, repair the ships, and blockade the Devil's Corner waters. Trapped enemy islands, cut off their food supplies, and force them to surrender."

"Mine Burning Division, immediately develop a new type of mine and deploy it in the Devil's Point waterway. Any Western reinforcements will be buried at the bottom of the sea."

"Ministry of War, promote the commander of Borneo to the rank of General Zhenhai and grant him golden armor. For soldiers killed in action, triple the compensation and establish a memorial shrine to honor them."

"Also," she paused, a cold glint flashing in her phoenix eyes, "whoever Lin Zhen is investigating as a traitor will be executed in three days at Xishikou. I, the Queen, will personally witness the execution."

The decree has been made, but the cinnabar has not yet dried.

Murong Yan put down her pen and looked at the gradually brightening sky outside the hall.

The golden phoenix on the bright yellow phoenix robe flapped its wings in the dim light of morning light, ready to fly.

The storm has temporarily subsided, but the blood color of the East China Sea is far from being washed away.

The golden phoenix of the empire has spread its wings, waiting for the next thunder.