On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The trip to Guangling City is coming to an end.

This time, Murong Yan visited the country in disguise and gained a lot from understanding the people's sentiments. She has already outlined the outlines of several reform policies in her mind.

Before leaving the city, she decided to personally inspect the newly built "Infant Nursery" and "Civil Service Home" in Guangling City with the most solemn ceremony. These were charitable places that she ordered the various states to set up after she ascended the throne, specializing in adopting abandoned babies and orphans and supporting the helpless widows and widowers.

It was a sunny day.

Murong Yan sat upright in front of the mirror in the palace. The palace maids looked solemn as they helped her put on the extremely honorable imperial court dress.

The bright yellow kesi phoenix skirt is woven with nine dragons and four phoenixes in gold thread. Patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers and the country are distributed between the hems of the skirt. It is extremely luxurious and shines with a dazzling light that makes people dare not look directly at it.

The huge train, which is two zhang (about 6.6 meters) long, is integrated with the phoenix skirt and connected seamlessly.

The train is made of the finest brocade, on which is embroidered with colorful silk threads, gold and silver threads, rice beads, coral beads, gem pieces, etc., to create a complete scroll of vast rivers and mountains with utmost skill. From the turbulent coast to the rolling mountains, from the prosperous capital to the fields and villages, it symbolizes the entire world that the empress shoulders.

The phoenix crown is a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown, embellished with oriental pearls and gems. The twelve tassels of white jade beads hanging down sway gently, half covering her stunning face and adding to her unfathomable majesty.

When Murong Yan, dressed in her finery, walked out of the palace accompanied by Lin Zhen, everyone who saw her held their breath and knelt deeply. She was no longer the "lady" who wore a phoenix-embroidered dress and lined up to buy sesame cakes, but the true empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, ruling the world and controlling everything in her hands.

"Let's go——"

The ceremonial procession was magnificent, and the music was splendid.

The emperor and empress's carriage, surrounded by guards and palace maids, slowly headed towards the "Infant Nursing Home" and "Ciqiyuan" in the new district in the south of the city.

The two-meter-long gorgeous train was held in the hands of eight carefully selected palace maids in two rows with the utmost respect. It slowly slid through the streets of Guangling City that had been swept clean and covered with red carpets. It was like a flowing torrent carrying the glory of the mountains, rivers, and the country, which was a spectacular sight.

The roads were lined with people kneeling, their heads bowed in awe, yet they couldn't help but secretly look up to admire the divine face and grand ceremony that they might only be able to see once in their lifetime.

Lin Zhen was also dressed in the formal court robes of a duke today. A dark base, embroidered with a kirin and bullfighting patterns, they complemented Murong Yan's bright yellow phoenix robe perfectly. He rode beside the phoenix chariot, his posture erect, his eyes fixed on Murong Yan, who sat on it, acting both as a guard and a companion.

The team arrived at the Ciji Hospital.

The elderly and lonely people adopted by the hospital and the common people kneeling on the street to greet them had never seen such divine power before. They were so excited that their eyes were filled with tears, and the shouts of "Long live the emperor" were endless.

With the support of Lin Zhen, Murong Yan slowly stepped down from the phoenix chariot.

The heavy phoenix crown and dress were already inconvenient, and the two-meter-long train required her to control her steps and turning angles extremely carefully. The eight palace maids who supported the train also had to concentrate and cooperate tacitly to make the train, which symbolized the country, move smoothly and solemnly without disorder.

She first inspected the elderly people's homes, checked their diet and medicine, and kindly asked about the physical condition and daily needs of several elderly people.

The old people were moved to tears and said that they now have no worries about food and clothing and are grateful for the kindness of Your Majesty.

She then went to the adjacent orphanage.

The abandoned babies and orphans adopted in the hall were cared for by wet nurses and maids.

Seeing those tender and innocent little faces, Murong Yan's eyes became especially soft.

She even bent down carefully - this action was particularly difficult under such a heavy crown and robes - and gently touched the face of a child who stretched out his little hand and babbled.

"Are the children healthy? Is there anyone teaching them how to read and write?" she asked the manager of the orphanage carefully.

The steward replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, thanks to your great blessing, the children are all in good health. They have been taught by a teacher and needlework. I hope they will acquire a skill in the future."

Murong Yan nodded with satisfaction: "Good. Educating the young and caring for the elderly is the foundation of a prosperous age."

She immediately announced a reward of a large amount of supplies and money to the two institutions.

After the inspection, according to the protocol, Murong Yan had to speak a few words to everyone in front of the main hall of the Ciqi Hospital to encourage them.

In front of the main hall lay a wide, stone-paved area, filled with kneeling elders from the Ciguyuan, children and nurses from the orphanage, as well as numerous officials and common people. Accompanied by Lin Zhen, Murong Yan walked steadily to the back of the makeshift phoenix table.

The huge train spread out behind her, and the scroll of mountains and rivers sparkled in the sun, magnificent and imposing.

She was about to speak when suddenly, a burst of rapid exclamations came from the orphanage!

"There's a fire! There's a fire in the kitchen!" - It was the small kitchen in the backyard of the orphanage. Because a lot of meals were being prepared today, the stove fire accidentally ignited the firewood pile. The flames suddenly rose and thick smoke immediately filled the air!

Although the fire was not big at first and servants quickly put it out, the sudden screams and smoke instantly disrupted the already tense and solemn atmosphere at the scene!

Especially the children who were kneeling on the ground were frightened and started crying and shouting. Some even got up and ran around in panic.

Officials and people were also in an uproar.

The guards who were protecting the emperor immediately became extremely nervous and quickly moved closer to Murong Yan, forming a protective circle.

However, the scene was a little chaotic for a while, and the crowd surged.

Murong Yan's heart tightened. Her first concern was the safety of the children. She immediately ordered, "Go and protect the children! Evacuate them first!"

But just when she subconsciously wanted to step forward out of worry and give clearer instructions, an accident happened!

She forgot about the heavy and extensive tail behind her!

A palace maid who was originally holding the carriage was tripped by a child who was running around in a panic due to the commotion and the crowd. She screamed and fell forward!

This fall caused a chain reaction, causing the originally steadily supported tail to be suddenly pulled to one side!

Murong Yan was about to move forward when she suddenly felt a huge, unexpected pulling force from behind her!

"Hmm!" Murong Yan was caught off guard and lost her balance instantly. The heavy phoenix crown exacerbated the momentum. She staggered backwards due to the weight and pulling force of the tail and was about to fall in public!

If she falls, not only will the empress lose her dignity, but she may also be injured by the heavy phoenix crown. The consequences will be unimaginable!

"His Majesty!"

"Yan'er!"

There was an exclamation all around!

At the critical moment, Lin Zhen, who had been following her closely and keeping an eye on her, reacted as fast as lightning!

He suddenly took a big step forward, stretched out his long arms, and accurately and powerfully grasped Murong Yan's waist, holding her body firmly in his arms as she was about to fall!

At the same time, he cleverly turned his feet and used his body as support to stabilize the two people.

The whole process happened in a flash, so fast that many people couldn't even see what happened.

Murong Yan, still in shock, leaned against Lin Zhen's firm, warm embrace, her breathing quickening. The pearl tassels of the phoenix corona collided violently with the violent shaking, making a sharp, crisp sound.

"It's okay, Yan'er." Lin Zhen's low voice sounded in her ears, with a reassuring power.

While holding her steadily, he glanced sharply at the fallen palace maid and her slightly disordered tail.

He didn't scold immediately, but said in a deep voice: "Hold steady! Everyone do your job!"

His calmness instantly infected those around him. The guards immediately took control of the situation and dispersed the crowd. The eunuchs quickly helped the terrified maid to her feet. The other seven maids who were holding the tail also forced themselves to remain calm, readjusting their positions and steadily lifting the heavy tail that symbolized the country.

The fire was quickly put out, and it was just a false alarm. The children were comforted by the maids.

With Lin Zhen's support, Murong Yan stood up again.

She took a deep breath and suppressed the throbbing in her heart. Her face behind the jade tassel returned to calmness and dignity, as if the thrilling scene just now had never happened.

Only Lin Zhen could feel that she gently squeezed his palm, indicating that she was fine, and expressing her silent gratitude.

She faced the crowd again, her voice clear and steady, piercing the commotion that had just subsided. "It was just a minor incident, nothing to worry about. The health of the young and old is the blessing of our country. I am very pleased to see that everything is done well here today. I hope you will fulfill your duties and ensure that the widowed, the orphaned, and the lonely have a place to rely on. Then the people will be united and a prosperous era can be expected."

Her calmness and immediate comfort quickly calmed everyone's hearts.

The people knelt again, shouting from the bottom of their hearts: "Your Majesty is wise and holy! Long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty!"

The ceremony continued and eventually ended successfully.

On the way back to the palace, inside the imperial carriage, Murong Yan gently raised her hand and rubbed the back of her neck. The phoenix crown was really heavy.

She looked at Lin Zhen beside her and whispered, "Husband, thank you so much for what you did just now."

Lin Zhen held her hand, his eyes still showing concern: "Between you and me, there's no need to thank me. But this crown and robe is too heavy. If it's not necessary in the future, I'll..."

"I know." Murong Yan smiled slightly, with a hint of helplessness and tenacity, "But this is my responsibility, just like the mountains and rivers embroidered on this tail. It is heavy, but I must shoulder it. Fortunately,"

She interlocked her fingers with his, her eyes gentle and dependent.

"You are always by my side, helping me to keep this country stable."

Outside the imperial carriage, the two-meter-long gorgeous train was still being held steadily, moving slowly on the bluestone road of Guangling City. The scroll of vast rivers and mountains on it was shining with eternal and brilliant light in the setting sun.