On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

It was deep winter, and the eaves were covered in glittering icicles, their breath turning into frost. The grand court meeting on the first day of each month arrived as scheduled, and inside the Regent's Palace, Murong Yan once again faced the occasion of being required to dress in her finery.

The bedroom was warm and cozy, the floor heating burning brightly, dispelling the biting cold outside. Several maids surrounded Murong Yan, helping her put on her extremely solemn black phoenix robe.

The inky brocade is thick and crisp, with phoenix and cloud patterns embroidered on it with various silk threads such as dark gold, red gold, and twisted silver. It shines brightly under the light and is extremely luxurious.

The wide sleeves are layered and trimmed with gold thread, giving it an elegant and graceful look.

The ten-foot-long train was now being carefully unfolded and smoothed out by two maids, one on each side, to ensure that the intricate and exquisite embroidery on it was flawless and every inch shone with its due brilliance.

The train has a dark black base, with large lotus patterns and phoenix tail feathers embroidered with gold and silver threads, and the edges are decorated with tiny pearls. It is extremely heavy and gorgeous.

Lin Zhen had already put on the prince's dragon robe and was standing aside, playing with a palm-sized, peculiarly shaped metal object in his hand, as if he was examining something.

Seeing that Murong Yan had finished dressing, he walked forward, put away what he was holding for the time being, took the heavy Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenix Crown adorned with oriental pearls and gems from the maid, put it on her himself, and looked at it carefully.

The woman in the mirror has an unparalleled beauty and a natural grace. Dressed in extremely gorgeous clothes, she looks so majestic that one dares not look directly at her.

"My Yan'er, every time you dress like this, you are so attractive." Lin Zhen admired in a low voice, his fingertips gently brushing the pearl tassels hanging under her crown.

Murong Yan frowned slightly, her delicately painted eyebrows, and complained softly, "It's so heavy...Husband, do I have to go every month?"

She moved her neck slightly and felt that the phoenix crown seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Lin Zhen chuckled and straightened the sash under her crown. "Be good, for the last time. The rules will be changed after the new year. Unless it is an absolutely necessary ceremony, you don't need to attend the court anymore."

What he said was not empty talk. Under his leadership, the government system had become increasingly mature and stable. Murong Yan's symbolic significance was greater than the actual need.

When Murong Yan heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she saw the dawn of relief, and she also became more patient with the upcoming court meeting.

No matter how vigorously the charcoal basin burned in the Golden Throne Hall, it was difficult to dispel the inherent coldness of this grand stone and wood building.

All officials stood in silence, waiting for the emperor's arrival.

"His Majesty has arrived—the Regent has arrived—"

After the greeting, Murong Yan, accompanied by Lin Zhen, once again walked into the hall, stepped onto the jade steps, and sat upright on the dragon throne.

The ten-foot-long, inky trail of hair slithered behind her, gliding across the cold, smooth golden brick floor, silently proclaiming the majesty and grandeur of imperial power. Her face remained calm, her gaze swept calmly below, maintaining the dignified demeanor of an empress to perfection.

Lin Zhen still stood beside the dragon throne, his figure upright, his eyes calmly scanning the ministers.

The court meeting began with reports on the progress of various new policies. The pros and cons of switching from canal transport to sea transport, the production capacity of new textile workshops, the progress of railway exploration... As each topic was presented, Lin Zhen would ask for details or make decisions, his presentations clear and insightful.

Most of the time, Murong Yan just listened quietly. Occasionally, when Lin Zhen gave her a look, she nodded slightly and uttered words like "OK" or "Yes".

Everything seems to be no different from usual.

Until an official from the Ministry of Works in charge of the Institute of Gewu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness. At Your Highness's command, we have studied the principles of optics and chemistry. We have recently made some progress and have replicated a prototype of the 'camera' you described. While still crude, it can produce images to a reasonable degree. I beg Your Majesty and Your Highness to review this."

"Camera?" Murong Yan was slightly surprised. This was a new word she had never heard before. She subconsciously looked at Lin Zhen beside her.

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed with interest, and he nodded and said, "Show it up."

Soon, two eunuchs carried a wooden box covered with a black cloth and carefully ascended the jade steps, placing it not far from the imperial desk. The object looked quite heavy, with a protruding copper lens on the front and a dark box attached to the back.

All the officials stretched their necks to watch curiously and whispered to each other.

Murong Yan leaned forward slightly, a look of confusion in her eyes. Was this the machine that her husband had mentioned before, the one that could leave a human image?

Lin Zhen walked down the jade steps, came to the camera, and gave a few instructions to the official from the Ministry of Industry.

The official nodded nervously and began to operate the bulky machine, adjusting the lens and the dark box at the back.

After a moment, Lin Zhen turned around, faced Murong Yan, and smiled faintly: "Yan'er, look here, sit still for a moment, don't move."

Although Murong Yan didn't understand why, she completely trusted Lin Zhen. She sat still as she was told, looking at him... and the strange machine behind him.

The official from the Ministry of Industry suddenly lifted a piece of black cloth from in front of the camera lens and quickly covered it again. The camera made a slight "clicking" sound.

"Okay." Lin Zhen said.

Is that all? Murong Yan became increasingly confused. She felt nothing, and the machine didn't seem to have changed at all.

Lin Zhen walked back to her and said to the official from the Ministry of Industry, "Go and develop the 'photo' immediately."

"I obey your order!" The official retreated excitedly and nervously.

The court meeting continued, but Murong Yan's mind drifted away. That strange machine, the "image" her husband had mentioned, sounded mysterious, even... making her vaguely uneasy.

To preserve that moment's appearance sounded more like magic than the study of nature. She couldn't help but slightly clench her hand beneath the dragon robe sleeve.

About half an hour later, the Ministry of Works official returned, holding a wooden tray with a piece of paper on it. He was so excited that he even stumbled. He knelt at the foot of the jade steps and held the tray high. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the imaging... the imaging was successful!"

Lin Zhen signaled the eunuch to take the wooden tray and place it on the imperial desk.

Murong Yan looked at it curiously, and saw that on the paper, there actually appeared a black, white and gray image, a little blurry but clearly recognizable - it was her who had just sat on the dragon throne!

Wearing a phoenix crown and a dark phoenix robe, his face was solemn and majestic. Even the outline of the ten-foot-long tail spreading on the jade steps was captured!

"This...!" Murong Yan gasped in shock, her beautiful eyes widening as she subconsciously touched her face. This image was so similar to her, yet so cold and unfamiliar, as if it had captured her soul for a moment and sealed it on this piece of paper!

An indescribable feeling of surprise and a little fear surged in my heart.

This made her feel a shock and discomfort that touched her origin more than the steam engine, the train, or even the telegraph.

Lin Zhen picked up the "photo", looked at it carefully, and nodded with satisfaction: "Although it is crude, the charm is already there. The Institute of Gewu has made great contributions and will reward you handsomely."

He looked at Murong Yan, with a smile and expectation in his eyes, "Yan'er, look, this is the art of photography. How is it?"

Murong Yan looked at the clear image of herself on the paper, then looked up at Lin Zhen. Her red lips parted slightly, and after a while she found her voice again, with a barely perceptible tremor: "...very...miraculous. But..." She frowned slightly,

"...It's a bit... a bit scary that a person's figure can be captured on this paper."

She used the word "horrifying", which showed how deeply shocked she was.

Lin Zhen understood. For someone who had been raised with traditional ideas, this did take time to adjust to.

He didn't force her to accept it immediately. He simply placed the photo gently back on the plate and said gently, "This is the profound principle of studying things, not a magic trick. You will understand it later. Today is the first time I've taken a picture, and being able to get such a clear image of Yan'er is already a pleasant surprise."

He waved his hand and the eunuch took the photo down.

Murong Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes couldn't help but glance in the direction where the photo disappeared, and her heart was uneasy.

The court meeting finally ended with Murong Yan somewhat distracted.

As soon as she returned to the palace, she couldn't wait to take off her heavy court robes and changed into a long, dark black palace dress. Only then did she feel that she could breathe much more smoothly.

She sat on the warm couch, sipping hot tea, still thinking about the image on the paper. She couldn't help but ask Lin Zhen, who was looking at the formula for the developing solution, "Husband, that...photograph, is it really okay? Won't it...be terrifying?"

Lin Zhen put down the paper, sat down beside her, and took her into his arms, saying with a smile, "Silly Yan'er, that's just traces left by light and shadow, just like when you look in the mirror. How can it be so captivating? I'll have them make it clearer in the future and take a few more pictures of you so you can get used to it."

Murong Yan leaned in his arms, half believing and half doubting, and muttered softly, "The portrait on the copper coin looks more reliable..."

Lin Zhen laughed and kissed the top of her head: "Okay, then let's count the copper coins. As for the camera, if you don't like it, we won't play with it."

Murong Yan was silent for a while in his arms, but she shook her head gently: "My husband likes... things, there must be a reason. I... I will take my time to look at it."

Although she was worried, she still chose to trust and try to understand.

Lin Zhen felt warm in his heart and hugged her tightly: "Well, take your time."

It was a sunny winter day outside, and warm as spring inside. The slight disturbances brought by the new technology were quickly melted away by the warmth of mutual dependence and complete trust.