On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The affairs in Mobei have come to an end for the time being.

It was late autumn, but the capital of the Daqian Dynasty did not seem bleak at all.

The wide streets were paved with cement, smooth and solid. Even when a carriage passed by at full speed, it only raised a slight cloud of dust.

On both sides of the street, new steam-driven public carriages clanged along fixed tracks. People in colorful work clothes were in a hurry, but their faces were rosy and their eyes were full of hope for life.

Towering chimneys stand in the industrial areas outside the city, spewing white smoke that represents productivity, forming a powerful picture against the blue sky.

All this prosperity stems from the earth-shaking first industrial revolution that was promoted by the time traveler Lin Zhen ten years ago.

However, one of the key figures who created this prosperous scene is now shockingly leisurely.

The actual power center of the Daqian Dynasty was not the solemn and majestic Forbidden City, but the Regent's Palace on the west side of the capital, which was surrounded by mountains and rivers and occupied a vast area.

Inside the palace, pavilions and towers cleverly combine classical elegance with modern practicality and comfort.

Glass windows replaced the traditional paper-pasted window lattices, allowing bright light into the room.

Even in some main passages and rooms, simple carbide lamps assisted by steam power were installed to ensure that it was as bright as day at night.

In the palace's back garden, the autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom and the sweet osmanthus is fragrant.

Empress Murong Yan, dressed in a black phoenix robe, was lazily leaning in a rocking chair covered with soft velvet cushions.

The phoenix robe was made of the finest Suzhou embroidery brocade, and was made by court craftsmen after spending several months of painstaking effort. It was dark black in color, but under the sunlight, it had dark golden phoenix patterns flowing on it, making it extremely luxurious.

The nearly two-meter-long train spread out on the grass like a waterfall, and the edge of the skirt was embroidered with intricate cloud patterns and piping with gold thread, exuding the utmost imperial majesty.

However, this empress who was supposed to dominate the world and rule the universe was doing something extremely "unbecoming of her status" at this moment.

Her hands, which once held the imperial seal and reviewed memorials, and were still as slender and white as jade carvings, were holding a heavy rosewood box. The box was filled not with jewelry or jade, but with newly issued new copper coins that still had a hint of metallic flavor.

Murong Yan leaned slightly to the side, careful not to let the gorgeous tail crush the flowers and plants beneath her.

She picked up a copper coin and looked at it carefully in the bright autumn sunshine, her phoenix eyes narrowed, revealing an expression of incomparable satisfaction and obsession.

On the obverse of the coin is a side-relief portrait of her.

The sculptor had superb skills and portrayed her face, wearing a phoenix crown and with a cool and beautiful face and a hint of majesty, so vividly that even the subtle curve of her eyelashes was clearly visible.

The edge is encircled by a circle of exquisite Daqian Tongbao seal characters. The reverse side features a coiled dragon pattern and the year of issue.

"Hmm... the craftsmanship on this batch of coins has improved a lot, and the lines are even clearer," she murmured to herself, her fingertips lovingly stroking her own outline on the copper coin, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. "Look at this luster, this feel, it's so pleasing."

She counted them one by one, with a focused expression as if she was reviewing the most loyal army. The crisp sound of metal colliding sounded more pleasant to her than any string or orchestra played by the court musicians.

"One thousand three hundred and ninety-seven... one thousand three hundred and ninety-eight..." She counted very carefully, and occasionally she would pick out one that seemed particularly bright or had a particularly clear pattern, and put it aside, as if she had discovered some treasure.

Who would have thought that this empress, who was once decisive and feared by her ministers in the court, would find her greatest hobby after retiring behind the scenes to be counting money - counting money with her own portrait printed on it.

"Yan'er, are you hiding here counting your private money again?" A gentle male voice with an obvious smile came from the direction of the moon gate in the garden.

Murong looked up when he heard the voice, and the coldness on his face instantly melted away, turning into a smile as bright as spring water.

Lin Zhen was wearing a simple indigo work suit, as if he had just returned from a workshop, with traces of engine oil on his cuffs.

He has a tall figure and a handsome face. After these years of being in charge of state affairs, his brows have become more calm and wise. Only when he looks at Murong Yan, his eyes will reveal unreserved tenderness and doting.

"How can this be private money?" Murong Yan raised her chin, deliberately putting on the airs of an empress, but the smile in her eyes completely betrayed her. "This is the foundation of our dynasty, the lifeblood of our economy! I... I'm observing the people's sentiments and verifying the crucial link in currency circulation!"

Lin Zhen couldn't help laughing. He walked over to her and naturally reached out to ruffle her hair. "Yes, yes, yes, my Empress is the most diligent and caring person. Even counting money is so righteous."

He glanced at the heavy box and asked, "How's it going? How much have you learned about the people's sentiments today?"

"Almost 1,400 pieces!" Murong Yan pushed the box towards him as if presenting a treasure, her eyes sparkling. "Brother Zhen, look, isn't the quality of this batch particularly good? Doesn't my profile picture look even more beautiful?"

Lin Zhen leaned over, taking a closer look, then nodded earnestly. "Well, those guys at the Mint finally paid off with the new stamping machine I improved for them. As for the portrait..." He paused deliberately, watching Murong Yan hold her breath in anticipation of her evaluation, then smiled and scratched the tip of her nose. "Of course it's the most beautiful in the world. It's a shame to cast it on a copper coin."

"Slippery tongue!" Murong Yan slapped his hand away in annoyance, but the joy on her face was too strong to dissolve. "You just know how to make me happy."

"I'm not kidding you," Lin Zhen smiled, reaching out his hand with familiarity and gently pulling her up from the rocking chair. "I'm telling the truth. Besides, if Her Majesty, the Empress of Daqian, can stop worrying about state affairs and just stay home counting money and tending flowers, then the world is truly peaceful, and my work as Regent will not be in vain, right?"

Murong Yan stood up with his help, the long tail of her phoenix robe dragging across the grass. After she stood still, she did not let go of Lin Zhen's hand. Instead, she took a step forward, stretched out her arms, and softly wrapped them around his neck.

Lin Zhen was slightly startled, then his smile deepened. He very naturally reached out and put his arms around her slender yet strong waist, pulling her body close to him.

The faint smell of motor oil on the work clothes mixed with the elegant incense on her body, forming a unique and intimate atmosphere.

"Yes, the world is at peace now." Murong Yan pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat. Her voice became soft and sticky, with a hint of coquettishness. "That's why I can be lazy. With you taking care of everything outside, I feel at ease."

She raised her face, rested her chin on his chest, and looked at him charmingly, "It's just... it's too hard for my husband."

The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on her delicate face. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her appearance, stripped of the majesty of the court and left with only complete dependence and love, made Lin Zhen's heart soften in an instant.

"It's not hard to serve my Empress." Lin Zhen lowered his head, gently resting his forehead against hers, his nose rubbing against hers, and his breathing was audible.

Murong Yan's face flushed, her eyes flickered, and she seemed a little embarrassed, but the arms around his neck tightened. She stood on tiptoe, almost hanging her entire weight on Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen felt her dependence, chuckled softly, and with a little force from his arms, he lifted her hips and legs and picked her up easily.

Murong Yan adjusted her posture cooperatively and sat sideways on his thighs - fortunately the rocking chair was wide enough.

The extremely gorgeous two-meter-long phoenix robe train was now winding and stacked, with part of it hanging beside the rocking chair and part of it spread beside Lin Zhen's legs, shining luxuriously in the sunlight.

She nestled in Lin Zhen's arms, as if she had found the most comfortable and warm nest.

Lin Zhen held her waist firmly with one hand to prevent her from falling, and with the other hand he gently held one of her soft hands, interlocking their fingers.

"Do you really not miss the feeling of being in power?" Lin Zhen asked softly while playing with her slender fingers.

Murong Yan found a more comfortable position in his arms, rubbing against him like a lazy cat, and shook her head: "Not at all. How can reviewing memorials be as fun as counting money? Facing those old-fashioned ministers, how can I be as happy as facing my brother Zhen?"

She picked up a particularly shiny copper coin she had just carefully selected and held it before Lin Zhen like a treasure. "Look at this, isn't it absolutely perfect? ​​I'll give it to you!"

Lin Zhen took the copper coin that carried her body temperature, and lightly stroked the relief of her portrait with his fingertips. However, his gaze remained fixed on her face, which was flushed with excitement. His eyes were deep and profound: "In my eyes, no matter how perfect the copper coin is, it is not even one ten-thousandth as good as yours."

Murong Yan's cheeks turned even redder when he looked at her, and her heartbeat quickened. However, she pretended to be calm and snorted, "You're trying to coax me with nice words again... Then... do you like copper coins, or do you like me?"

This question was as childish as a child's, but when asked by the former empress, it was full of cuteness and ambiguity.

Lin Zhen chuckled softly, the vibration of his chest clearly transmitted to Murong Yan, who was clinging to him. He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, his voice low and full of magnetism: "Of course I like it..."

He deliberately stretched out his words, watching the person in his arms unconsciously hold her breath, before he slowly continued, "...I like the copper coins with my Yan'er's portrait on them."

"You!" Murong Yan's eyebrows suddenly raised, and she was about to get up from his legs.

Lin Zhen laughed heartily, his arms tightening around her, holding her tightly to prevent her from escaping. He quickly soothed her, "Just kidding, just kidding! No matter how good a copper coin is, it's still intangible. My Yan'er is a living, breathing treasure, one of a kind in the world. In my heart, the land of the land, billions of gold and silver, are not as important as a single strand of your hair."

Murong Yan then slumped back into his arms, the corners of her mouth unable to control themselves from curling up, but she still deliberately muttered, "That's more like it... you're sensible."

She leaned peacefully in her husband's strong arms, picked up the box of copper coins, and began to count them one by one. The crisp sound, accompanied by the slight rocking of the rocking chair and Lin Zhen's steady heartbeat, constituted the most reassuring melody in the world for her at this moment.

The sun is warm, the years are peaceful, the flowers in the garden are fragrant, and the smell of money in my heart has become extremely sweet.

To her, this copper coin with her portrait printed on it is no longer just currency. It is also a symbol of the peaceful and prosperous world that Lin Zhen has created for her. It is a proof of his ability and the basis for her happy life.

The circulation of each copper coin seemed to be telling of Lin Zhen's love and protection for her.

As she counted, her speed slowed down, her breathing became even and long, and she actually fell asleep in Lin Zhen's arms, holding her beloved copper coin box.

Her long, thick eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyelids, and there was a hint of a satisfied smile at the corner of her mouth.

Lin Zhen felt the person in his arms relax. He looked down and saw her peaceful sleeping face, his eyes incredibly soft.

He adjusted her position so that she could sleep more comfortably, then carefully took the box of heavy copper coins out of her arms and put it aside.

He pulled up a corner of his work jacket and covered her with it, then held her quietly, watching the autumn sunlight shine through the branches and leaves, dancing on her beautiful face and the luxurious black and gold phoenix robe.

The world is at peace, the country is stable, and my love is in my arms.

For Lin Zhen, after traveling here and struggling till now, what he has been seeking is nothing more than a scene like this one.

He lowered his head, and a kiss as soft as a feather quietly fell on Murong Yan's smooth forehead.

The person in his arms murmured unconsciously in her sleep, and snuggled deeper into his warm embrace.

The autumn wind blew by, bringing a few osmanthus petals that fell beside them, with an intoxicating fragrance.