On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

After leaving the stone bridge, Murong Yan and Lin Zhen did not return to the palace immediately.

The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the moisture from the canal and the hustle and bustle of the city. Murong Yan seemed to have unloaded some of the burdens of the court and showed a bit of interest in traveling.

"Husband," she said, looking through her pearl tassels at the long street gradually lit up, "I've heard that Guangling Night Market is extremely famous, with thousands of lights illuminating the blue sky. Could you please have a taste of it today?"

There was a subtle hint of expectation in her tone, just like an ordinary wife making a small wish to her husband.

Lin Zhen looked at her eyes, still bright despite the weight of her elaborate attire and heavy crown. How could he refuse? He smiled faintly, but didn't forget his duty. "Of course you can. But Yan'er, I'm afraid that wherever you go dressed like this, the people will be so frightened that they'll kneel down to greet you, ruining your fun."

Murong Yan looked down at her phoenix robe that practically lit up the night sky, and the train that required eight people to hold it. She felt the inconvenience and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's find a quiet and elegant place, sit for a while, and taste the cuisine of Guangling. I'll have to endure this crown and clothing for now."

She knew very well that the safety of the emperor and empress was of great importance. It was almost impossible for her to go on a secret visit in disguise. It was rare for her to be able to walk in the streets like this.

Lin Zhen nodded and signaled the eunuch to go and make the arrangements. Soon, the team quietly arrived at a three-story teahouse built by the river.

The teahouse had clearly been cleared and guarded in advance, but the surrounding residents hadn't been driven out; they had simply tightened security. The teahouse owner and his staff knelt at the door, trembling with excitement.

Murong Yan walked into the teahouse and chose to sit in the elegant seat by the window. The palace maids carefully placed the huge train around her seat, like spreading out a gorgeous and splendid painting of mountains and rivers.

She raised her hand slightly and said, "Please stand up, hostess. There's no need to be so polite. My husband and I are just taking a short break. Please bring me some of your Guangling specialty tea and snacks."

The boss nodded repeatedly and almost bowed as he prepared to retreat.

Lin Zhen sat down across from her. Outside the window was a nightscape of the canal, with dim lights, painted boats, and the faint sound of singing drifting in on the waves. He poured her a cup of freshly brewed Kuilongzhu tea, the aroma lingering in the air. "Yan'er, what do you think of the nightscape of Guangling? How does it compare to the palace?"

Murong Yan took the teacup, her fingertips lightly touching Lin Zhen's. She looked out the window through the pearl tassels, her eyes a little hazy. "The palace is solemn, but lacks this kind of vitality. Look at the lights on the pleasure boats. Although they are not as bright as the palace lanterns, they are warm and real. Listen to the faint sounds of the city. Although there are no solemn bells and drums, they are full of worldly fireworks. My husband, I sometimes wonder, if I were not..."

"Yan'er," Lin Zhen interrupted gently, his gaze deep. "There's no if or not. You are Murong Yan, the ruler of all people, and my wife. It's precisely because you are you that I can sit here, my heart focused on the lights of myriad homes, pondering how to make the songs on these pleasure boats more joyful, and the smoke from the cooking fires in these streets linger longer."

Murong Yan was slightly startled, then smiled, her jade pendant swaying slightly: "My husband is always like this, a single word can resolve my hesitation." She took a sip of tea and praised, "Good tea, fragrant and sweet."

At this time, the store owner personally brought up several exquisite snacks: thousand-layer oil cakes, three-diced buns, jade dumplings, and a plate of Guangling's unique snack that smells stinky but tastes delicious - fried stinky tofu.

"Your Majesty, Prince, please enjoy your meal." The shopkeeper's voice was still trembling.

Murong Yan's eyes fell on the plate of stinky tofu, and she was a little curious: "This thing has a unique smell, why do the people of Guangling seem to like it so much?" She saw many pedestrians on the street holding this thing on bamboo sticks in their hands.

Lin Zhen smiled and said, "This thing is called stinky dried tofu. It may not smell very nice, but it tastes crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a unique flavor. Yan'er, would you like to try it?"

Murong Yan hesitated. Raised in the palace, she had never encountered such street food. But she was determined to experience the local customs today, so she nodded gently. "Since my husband recommends it, I'll give it a try."

Lin Zhen personally picked up a small piece with his silver chopsticks, blew on it carefully, and then passed it to Murong Yan's lips. This subtle action made Murong Yan's cheeks heat slightly, but fortunately the pearl tassels hid it. She opened her mouth slightly and took a gentle bite.

After chewing carefully for a while, surprise flashed in her bright eyes: "It's really amazing! It doesn't smell good, but it tastes extremely delicious. Husband, you should try it too." She also imitated Lin Zhen, picked up a piece, and handed it to him across the table.

Lin Zhen took it with a smile, ate it, and nodded: "It is indeed a unique delicacy in Guangling."

The Emperor and Empress shared a snack like an ordinary couple, a scene so heartwarming that even the surrounding palace attendants, their heads bowed, were secretly surprised. His Majesty, in the presence of the Crown Prince, was surprisingly relaxed and natural.

While enjoying the tea, Murong Yan didn't forget her business. She called the owner over and asked gently, "Shopkeeper, how is your teahouse business? Are the prices of rice, oil, and salt stable recently? How much is the monthly salary for the employees? Is it enough for the family?"

The shopkeeper was flattered and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, thanks to your great blessing, the weather has been good in recent years, the grain transport has been smooth, and prices have remained relatively stable. Business is also quite good. The monthly wages of our shop assistants are enough to support their families, and we even get some bonuses during festivals."

Murong Yan listened carefully, occasionally asking for a detail or two. She learned that the daily wages of ordinary craftsmen in Guangling City were between fifty and one hundred wen, and the price of a dou of rice was about fifteen wen. She calculated silently in her mind and found that it was roughly consistent with the memorial she had read, so she felt a little relieved.

"People's lives are difficult, and the truth is revealed in the details. I will be at ease only when you can live and work in peace and contentment." Murong Yan said gently, and rewarded the shop owner with some silver and money, encouraging him to run his business with care.

Leaving the teahouse, the lights were already on. Murong Yan seemed still in high spirits and suggested walking a little further along the canal.

Guangling City at night possesses a unique charm. Painted boats ply the waters, the sounds of stringed instruments fill the air, and the clear voices of singing girls sing the soft Guangling folk songs. Taverns and teahouses on both sides of the river are brightly lit, bustling with tourists, adding a touch of prosperity and beauty to the scene even more than during the day.

The two-meter-long train was even more dazzling under the illumination of palace lanterns and moonlight. Wherever it passed, the people knelt down from afar, but could not help but steal a glance at the couple who seemed like gods descended from heaven.

When we reached a large pier square, we saw a large crowd gathered around it, cheering loudly. It turned out to be a juggler performing fire breathing and pole balancing, his skills so exquisite that the onlookers cheered loudly.

Murong Yan paused, watching with interest from a distance. The juggler was startled at first by the spectacle, his movements becoming somewhat stiff. But at the guard's signal, and seeing that the empress didn't reprimand him but instead stopped to watch, he was flattered and began to perform even more vigorously.

"Husband, look at that person. He can actually hold such a long pole on the tip of his nose and rotate it freely. It must have taken years of hard work." Murong Yan said softly, with admiration in her tone.

Lin Zhen stood beside her and nodded slightly. "There are many extraordinary people in the market. The joy of the people sometimes lies in such simple skills and entertainment."

At the end of the performance, the artist and his troupe knelt to express their gratitude. Murong Yan signaled the eunuchs to give a generous reward, and said gently, "The skills are superb and pleasing to the eyes. Very good."

The artist kowtowed repeatedly in excitement: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward! Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward! I wish Your Majesty a long life!"

The people around also followed suit and shouted "Long live the emperor!" The atmosphere was very lively.

Amidst the cheers, Murong Yan tilted her head slightly and whispered to Lin Zhen, her voice tinged with emotion: "My husband, look at them. Although they work hard, they have a skill that can make people smile, and in return they have enough food and clothing, and they also have joy. The joy of an emperor lies in the peace and prosperity of the world; the joy of the people lies in having enough food and clothing, their skills being displayed, and their families being together. The principles are the same, all centered on the words peace and joy."

Lin Zhen stared at her profile illuminated by the lamplight and said softly, "Yan'er is so understanding of the people's sentiments and thinking about this. It is a blessing for the people of the world."

As he was speaking, he suddenly heard a clear and melodious sound of a piano coming from a waterside attic not far away. The sound of the piano was gurgling, like flowing water and moonlight, with a lofty artistic conception, creating a peaceful world in the bustling night market.

Murong Yan has been proficient in music since childhood. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but stop and listen carefully: "The sound of this zither is clear but not cold, sad but not resentful. It is a good zither and a skilled hand."

Lin Zhen knew that she was fond of this art, so he said, "It seems to be the theme of 'Flowing Water'. The player's skills are quite good. Yan'er, would you like to come closer and take a look?"

Murong Yan nodded.

The group followed the sound and found a zither house called "Tingli Pavilion". The owner of the zither house had already heard the news and came out to greet them in panic.

Murong Yan entered without disturbing anyone else, but simply chose a quiet spot to sit down and listen. The zither player was an old man in green. Seeing the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, he was initially startled, but after Murong Yan's gentle gesture, he calmed down and continued playing.

The song ended, and the lingering sound lingered.

Murong Yan clapped her hands lightly in praise, "Old Master's qin skills are superb. He has already achieved 70% to 80% of Boya's state of mind. How rare."

The old man fell to the ground and said, "I am a humble person and my skills are not good enough to offend your Majesty."

"Don't be so modest." Murong Yan asked him to stand up straight and began to discuss the fingering and artistic conception of the zither music with him. "The force of that rolling stroke just now was a little too fast. If it was a little slower, wouldn't it sound more like the rhythm of flowing water?"

Upon hearing this, the old man was surprised at first, and then his face showed admiration: "Your Majesty is wise! I have been practicing the qin for decades, and this is indeed the difficult point. Your Majesty hit the nail on the head!" He did not expect that Her Majesty the Empress had such profound attainments in music.

The two chatted for a while about their zither skills. Murong Yan was completely unassuming, and her words hit the nail on the head, leaving the old man feeling incredibly excited, as if he had found a soulmate. Finally, Murong Yan rewarded the old man and encouraged him to pass on his zither skills.

When I left the piano house, it was already late at night.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen walked side by side on the way back to the palace. The trains behind them were still gorgeous, but their steps were more relaxed.

"Guangling is a city of flourishing literature and bustling markets. Although its people work hard to make a living, they never forget the joys of music and dance. This shows their inner peace and contentment." Murong Yan concluded, her tone carrying a hint of fatigue after satisfaction, but more of a sense of relief. "This trip was worthwhile."

"Well," Lin Zhen replied in a gentle voice, "It seems that Yan'er's policy of recuperating and encouraging commerce has begun to show results. In the future, perhaps we can establish more government-run academies in Guangling City and encourage private learning to further enhance its cultural heritage."

"My husband is absolutely right." Murong Yan nodded, then yawned lightly. The weight of the phoenix crown did make her a little tired.

Lin Zhen noticed and said softly, "Are you tired? I'll help you unload this burden when we get back."

"Not bad." Murong Yan shook her head and gently squeezed Lin Zhen's hand under the cover of her wide sleeves. "With my husband by my side, it's worth it no matter how tired I am."