On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Qiling Mountain outside Guangling City is the location of the famous Qiling Temple in Jiangbei. It is also the place where emperors of all dynasties prayed and offered sacrifices to heaven during their southern tours.

The last major event of Murong Yan's trip to Guangling was to hold a large-scale ceremony at Qiling Temple to pray for good weather, peace and prosperity for the country and the people.

On the day of the festival, the palace was already brightly lit before dawn.

Murong Yan once again put on the extremely solemn court dress with nine dragons and four phoenixes.

The bright yellow kesi phoenix skirt gleamed in the candlelight, and the dragon, phoenix, mountain and river patterns woven with gold thread seemed to be about to take off.

The two-meter-long brocade train that was an integral part of the phoenix skirt had been carefully unfolded and held up by the palace maids.

The vast landscape embroidered with colorful silk threads on the train looks even more majestic in the dim morning light, yet also extremely heavy.

The phoenix crown pressed down on her head, with twelve tassels of white jade beads hanging down, blocking most of Murong Yan's vision and forcing her to maintain the most dignified and upright posture at all times, without any slackness.

With every breath, you can feel the invisible pressure brought by the crown and clothes.

Lin Zhen was also wearing the highest-standard state mourning robe, with a black base and solemn gold patterns, which made his face look handsome and his demeanor solemn.

He carefully inspected Murong Yan's crown and robes, especially the fastening points of the heavy train. After confirming that everything was correct, he whispered, "Yan'er, today's ceremony will be long. If you feel uncomfortable, please let me know."

Murong Yan nodded slightly at him through the swaying jade pendant, her eyes firm, "How dare I say I'm tired of praying for the country. Don't worry, husband."

When the auspicious time arrives, bells and drums ring.

The emperor and empress's procession left Guangling City and headed towards Qiling Mountain.

On both sides of the imperial road, flags were waving, the imperial guards stood in silence, the people knelt on the ground in the distance, and the thunderous shouts of "Long live the emperor" were endless.

Murong Yan sat upright on the phoenix chariot, her posture straight and her demeanor naturally majestic.

The two-meter-long gorgeous train spread out behind the phoenix chariot, held in two rows by sixteen palace maids with the most respectful and pious hands. It was like a flowing golden river carrying the weight of the country, slowly flowing towards Qiling Mountain.

Although the mountain path had been repaired, it still had some slopes and twists. As the phoenix chariot moved, the palace maids carrying the carriage had to be extremely careful, keeping their steps in sync and applying even force to ensure the heavy embroidered scroll, a symbol of the empire, moved smoothly, free of dust and wrinkles.

Lin Zhen rode his horse closely beside the phoenix chariot. His eyes were not only focused on the road ahead, but also on Murong Yan's condition and the stability of the huge tail.

Arriving at Qiling Temple, the ceremony officially began.

Buddhist chants drifted in the air, and incense and candles lingered. Accompanied by Lin Zhen, Murong Yan stepped up the long white marble steps leading to the main hall.

Every step must be as steady as Mount Tai. The heavy phoenix crown and tail make climbing the stairs a test of willpower and physical strength.

The sixteen palace maids tried their best to keep the train smooth and dignified.

The sacrificial process is complicated and solemn: welcoming the gods, laying down jade and silk, offering the sacrificial table, the first offering, the second offering, the final offering, drinking the blessed food and receiving the sacrificial meat, sending off the gods, and burying the body... In every step, Murong Yan has to act according to the etiquette, such as kneeling, burning incense, or reciting prayers.

The two-meter-long tail was carefully and precisely adjusted by the palace maids as she moved.

When she kneels, the train needs to spread out behind her like mercury; when she stands up, it needs to be lifted up steadily; when she turns to face different directions, the palace maids need to cooperate tacitly and move slowly to ensure that the scroll of rivers and mountains is always presented in the most perfect posture.

This is undoubtedly a great test of the endurance and concentration of all participants.

Especially Murong Yan, she is not only the center of all rituals, but also bears the most direct physical weight.

Sweat gradually soaked the inner clothes, and fine beads of sweat also seeped out of the forehead under the phoenix crown. The neck and shoulders were under tremendous pressure.

But she looked calm, her eyes staring through the jade tassels at the fireworks on the altar, as if communicating with the gods, suppressing all her fatigue under that dignified and majestic body.

Lin Zhen always stood slightly behind her, fulfilling his etiquette as a duke and husband.

His eyes hardly left her.

He could see the slight trembling of her straight back and the slightly clenched fingers hidden under her wide sleeves.

His heart tightened slightly with every imperceptible struggle she made.

The long ceremony finally reached its final stage: the "Wang Yi" (Looking for the dead), where the offerings are buried in a pit to signify their return to heaven and earth. The altar is located on a raised platform at the rear of the temple, and one must walk through a narrow corridor to reach it.

At this moment, the accident happened.

A young palace maid who was holding the tail end of the train suddenly felt her feet go weak due to long periods of intense concentration and physical exhaustion. She stumbled and the force in her hands suddenly lost balance!

The tail end of the train was the heaviest to begin with, and it lost its balance and suddenly fell down, pulling the palace maids in front of it with them, causing them to fall down and scream!

The originally smooth and mirror-like embroidery scroll of mountains and rivers suddenly had violent ripples and wrinkles!

Murong Yan, who was walking in the corridor, immediately felt a huge, chaotic pulling force coming from behind!

She was concentrating on the ritual, and was caught off guard. Her body suddenly leaned back, and the heavy phoenix crown caused her to fall backwards!

"His Majesty!"

The palace maids and eunuchs were terrified!

At the critical moment, Lin Zhen, who had been following closely like a guardian angel, once again demonstrated his amazing reaction and strength.

He suddenly took a step forward, not to help Murong Yan directly - that might knock off her phoenix crown or tear her dress - but reached out his hand with incredible swiftness, and accurately supported the end of the train that was about to completely lose control and fall to the ground!

He tensed his arm muscles and single-handedly held up the extremely heavy tail end, quickly distributing its weight to help the panicked palace maids regain their footing and balance.

The whole process was as fast as lightning, with almost no impact on the team's momentum, and it also preserved Murong Yan's demeanor and the integrity of the tail to the greatest extent.

Murong Yan felt the terrifying pull behind her suddenly disappear. She used the momentum to quickly adjust her center of gravity and regain her footing. The jade pendant swayed violently, and her heartbeat was like a drum. She didn't look back, but she knew it was him.

Only he could always appear so timely and reliably when she needed him most, and use the most appropriate method to stabilize this heavy empire for her.

The brief commotion quickly subsided, and the ceremony continued. No one knew what kind of turbulent waves the Empress of the Great Zhou experienced beneath those solemn and dignified sacrificial garments, nor how she was instantly soothed by a warm and powerful force.

After the "Wang Yi" ceremony was completed, the bells rang for a long time, and the ceremony finally ended successfully.

When Murong Yan finally turned around to accept the worship of all officials and people, her gaze passed through the swaying jade tassels and quietly met with Lin Zhen beside her.

That glance contained too many unspeakable emotions: the thrill of surviving a disaster, inexpressible gratitude, and the deepest dependence and trust.

Lin Zhen's eyes were calm and gentle, and he nodded slightly, as if to say, "I'm here."

On the way back to the palace, Murong Yan was extremely tired and was almost relying on her willpower to hold on.

It was not until she returned to the palace bedroom and the palace maids took off the heavy phoenix crown for her and untied the layers of her complicated dress that she seemed to have regained the freedom to breathe.

When the last piece of phoenix skirt with a two-meter long train was carefully taken off, Murong Yan almost couldn't stand.

Lin Zhen waved his hand to let all the palace servants leave, stepped forward, picked her up sideways, and gently placed her on the couch.

He sat beside the couch, and his warm palms gently massaged her stiff and sore neck and shoulders.

Murong Yan closed her eyes, feeling the perfect amount of force relieving her extreme fatigue. After a long moment, she spoke softly, her voice a little hoarse: "Husband, if it weren't for you today..."

"No if not," Lin Zhen interrupted her, his tone unquestionable, "I will always be by your side."

Murong Yan opened her eyes and looked at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. "That train... is really, really heavy. Every time I put it on, it feels like the weight of the entire world is on my shoulders."

"I know." Lin Zhen's voice was low and full of care. "I saw it."

He saw her persistence, her exhaustion, her struggle, and her unyielding imperial responsibility.

"But as long as you help me hold that end," Murong Yan held his hand, pressed it against her slightly hot cheek, and murmured, "I feel that the weight of this kingdom is not unbearable."

The flickering candlelight in the hall illuminated the bright yellow phoenix skirt and train, embroidered with a vast landscape, which had been carefully gathered up by the palace servants. It lay there quietly, still gorgeous and heavy, a symbol of supreme power and responsibility.

On the side of the couch, the emperor and empress snuggled up to each other, using each other's warmth to silently dissolve all the fatigue and thrill brought by the heavy crown and clothes.

The most important thing in the world is the country.

The greatest happiness in the world is to have someone willing to support the country with you.