On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The Royal Dragon Boat Fleet sailed majestically northward along the main canal. The vessels were tall and smooth, and if it weren't for the receding shore outside the window, one would almost forget they were on water.

Murong Yan was in the cabin and did not change into her regular clothes.

She knew very well that as long as she was on the journey, local officials might come to meet her at important ports along the way at any time, or she might need to deal with urgent government affairs. Keeping her court dress on was the safest option.

Therefore, she still wore the bright yellow kesi court dress with nine dragons and four phoenixes, but she took off the heaviest phoenix crown and replaced it with a slightly lighter but still majestic pearl crown.

The two-meter-long brocade train was carefully arranged by the palace maids, part of which was spread behind the soft couch where she was sitting, and part of which was winding on the smooth deck, like a giant golden dragon perched there. The scroll of mountains and rivers was quietly shining under the sunlight shining through the porthole.

She was working at her desk, reviewing some important memorials sent by express horse from the capital.

Lin Zhen sat beside her, sometimes grinding ink for her, sometimes offering his own opinions on certain political matters. The cabin was filled with the lingering scent of sandalwood, and the only sounds were the turning of pages and the rustling of pen tips across rice paper. The atmosphere was peaceful and focused.

As the boat sailed into the afternoon, it slowed down slightly.

From outside the door came the respectful voice of a eunuch: "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, we are approaching Huai'an Prefecture. The Governor of the Grand Canal and the Prefect of Huai'an have set up an incense table on the shore, and we earnestly request you to welcome us, offer us gifts, and express our gratitude for the grace of Heaven."

Murong Yan raised her head from the memorial and rubbed her eyebrows.

She knew that this was a common practice in local officialdom. Although it was a bit cumbersome, it could be used to appease the locals and show favor.

"Approved," she replied calmly. "Order the dragon boat to temporarily halt its voyage and allow them to board for an audience. But everything must be kept simple, and the journey must not be delayed too much."

"Yes."

The dragon boat slowly approached the shore. Murong Yan stood up, and Lin Zhen carefully adjusted her robe sleeves and pearl crown.

The palace maids quickly stepped forward and carefully lifted up the train again.

The cabin door opened, Murong Yan walked out of the cabin and came to the throne specially arranged on the front deck of the dragon boat.

The river breeze immediately blew across her face, ruffling the sleeves of her bright yellow robe and the tassels on her pearl crown, accentuating her tall and straight figure and her extraordinary bearing. The two-meter-long train, held by a palace maid behind her, shimmered in the golden silk embroidery as the breeze blew, and the patterns of mountains and rivers seemed to come alive.

The Governor of the Grand Canal and the Prefect of Huai'an, dressed in court robes, boarded the ship with great fear and trepidation. They performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows on the deck, and presented local specialties and letters of praise.

Murong Yan sat upright to receive the gift, speaking gently but maintaining a distance. She offered a few words of praise, inquired about the grain transport and local customs, and then gestured for a reward, concluding the brief meeting. The entire process was dignified and proper, beyond reproach.

After the local officials withdrew with gratitude, the dragon boat set sail again.

Murong Yan didn't immediately return to the cabin. She stood at the bow, taking in the rare opportunity to gaze out over the canal. Fields crisscrossed the canal, and smoke curled from the villages, a vibrant early summer scene. As she gazed at the scene, she couldn't help but sigh: This vast land is made up of countless ordinary villages and hardworking people.

Lin Zhen stood quietly beside her, shielding her from the wind. He too gazed into the distance, a subtle worry etched in his eyes. He noticed that the water level in the canal seemed to have dropped slightly since their arrival, and the flow was also slightly sluggish. This was not a good sign, often signifying a drought upstream or a need for dredging.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred!

The dragon boat was sailing along a narrow bend in the river, where the current became turbulent and complex. Suddenly, a dull and violent crashing sound came from the bottom of the boat!

The entire huge dragon boat was shaken violently!

“Crack!”

The intense sound of wood rubbing against each other was so deafening! The dragon boat seemed to have hit a huge obstacle underwater, and the hull suddenly tilted to one side!

The incident happened extremely suddenly!

The guards and maids on the deck were caught off guard and immediately staggered to the ground with cries of shock! The maids holding the huge train were even more horrified, their feet unstable, and they fell backwards with cries of shock!

The heavy tail suddenly lost its balance and slid down suddenly, and it was about to pull Murong Yan backwards, and she might even be dragged into the river!

"His Majesty!"

"Protect Your Majesty!"

In the chaos, although Murong Yan's body was shaken by the sudden collision and tilt, her extraordinary lower body skills and reaction speed were fully demonstrated at this moment!

At the moment the ship tilted and its tail dropped, her center of gravity suddenly sank, and her feet were riveted firmly to the slightly tilted deck like iron nails! At the same time, her core strength in her waist and abdomen exploded, and she forcibly stabilized her body!

She didn't panic at the train and the maids falling towards her, pulling her with immense force. She simply listened to the wind and, without turning her head, thrust her right hand backwards, grabbing a firm embroidery seam at the upper edge of the train with incredible precision!

This grab contained extremely strong finger and arm strength, and actually stopped the tail from falling!

At the same time, she stretched out her left arm and embraced a palace maid who was about to fall beside her, helping her to steady her body.

The entire process was as fast as lightning! From the moment of impact until Murong Yan stabilized herself and controlled the tail, it took only two or three breaths!

After the violent collision and tilt, when the ship gradually regained most of its stability due to its huge size and design, everyone looked in shock and saw that Her Majesty was still standing steadily at the bow of the ship, holding the tail behind her with one hand and holding a palace maid with the other. Her expression was grim and her eyes were scanning the river and the ship like lightning.

The bright yellow phoenix robe fluttered in the river breeze. Although the huge tail was a little messy, it was still firmly controlled by her. It never fell to the ground, let alone caused greater chaos.

"Yan'er!" Lin Zhen rushed to her side immediately, his face pale, anxiously checking if she was injured. He had also stumbled a little earlier, but after stabilizing himself, he immediately looked at her.

"I'm fine." Murong Yan released her hand from the trailing boat and the maid she was holding onto, and spoke calmly, "Quickly investigate. What caused the collision? What's the damage to the boat? Are there any casualties?"

Her calmness quickly infected everyone else. The guards immediately took action, inspecting the ship, reassuring the crew, and investigating the situation.

The report came quickly: the dragon boat seemed to have hit a large piece of sunken wood or reef hidden in the bend of the river during the dry season. The bottom of the boat was slightly scratched, but there was no risk of leakage. Except for a few people who were slightly injured, no one was seriously injured.

Murong Yan's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but her eyes remained sharp. She looked at the frightened Governor of the Grand Canal and the Prefect of Huai'an—they hadn't even had time to disembark and had nearly fallen.

"Dredging and clearing the canal is your primary responsibility!" Her voice carried undeniable authority through the river breeze. "If my carriage weren't so sturdy, wouldn't an ordinary canal boat have been destroyed and killed? You will be punished for your negligence when we return to the capital!"

The two local officials were so frightened that they fell to their knees, sweat dripping from their faces. They kowtowed repeatedly and pleaded guilty: "Your Majesty, we are willing to die! We will immediately send people to thoroughly check the river. We will never again make such an error!"

Murong Ye snorted coldly, not even glancing at them again. Turning to Lin Zhen, she whispered, "It seems the canal's shipping isn't just about the bustling hubs of Guangling. These underwater details are even more crucial, impacting lives and grain."

Lin Zhen nodded, taking note of the matter in his mind, and prepared to focus on supervising the canal transportation and clearance matters after returning to Beijing.

After this scare, the palace maids were even more terrified and carefully straightened Murong Yan's train and held it up properly.

Murong Yan once again cast her gaze towards the canal. After this incident, she saw not only the idyllic scenery on both sides of the canal, but also the potential dangers lurking beneath the surface and the possible negligence of local officials.

"Pass the order," she suddenly said, "On the subsequent journey, whenever we encounter important canal passes or sluice gates, the dragon boats will stop for a while. I want to personally inspect the actual maintenance of the river."

"Yes!"

The dragon boat continued its journey, but the atmosphere was different. Murong Yan still stood at the bow, her magnificent phoenix robe and train fluttering in the wind. But in the eyes of everyone, her figure now not only had a majestic aura, but also a calmness and strength that allowed her to sit firmly on the fishing platform in the wind and waves.

Lin Zhen stood beside her, looking at her resolute profile, and said softly, "You scared me just now."

Murong Yan tilted her head slightly and looked at him, the sharpness in her eyes softening into a hint of gentleness. "Husband, have you forgotten? I'm someone who can hold my ground amidst a vast army. What can a mere piece of sunken wood do to me?"

She paused, her voice lowered a little, "It would be a shame if this dress really fell into the water or got stained with mud."

Lin Zhen looked at the still radiant train and smiled: "No matter how precious the clothes are, they are not worth a fraction of you."

Murong Yan raised the corners of her lips slightly and looked forward again.

The canal's waters may appear calm, but beneath them surging undercurrents lie turbulent currents. Just like this splendid landscape, beneath its surface prosperity lies the need for constant vigilance and diligent governance.

And she, wearing this heavy phoenix robe with a long train, is going to be the person who can rule the country and see through everything.