On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

It was just after the hour of Yin, the sky was pitch black and the air was biting cold, but the lights in the Regent's Palace were already brightly lit, and the servants held their breath, their steps hurried but orderly.

Inside the bedroom, the air was filled with lingering incense, and the warmth was like spring. Murong Yan stood before a giant mercury mirror, like a statue of a goddess about to descend into the human world. She was attended by a dozen experienced palace maids, and she was dressed in the extremely complex black phoenix robe, the symbol of the supreme authority of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The robe was constructed with the finest dark brocade as its base, embroidered with dozens of precious silk threads, including red gold, twisted silver, and peacock feathers. Hundreds of embroiderers spent months embroidering the magnificent scene depicting nine phoenixes facing the sun, the sun, the moon, the mountains, and the rivers. It was a garment of immense opulence and weight. The most striking feature was the three-meter-long train, which was now being lifted, unfurled, and smoothed by eight palace maids. Its dense, delicate embroidery shone brilliantly under the candlelight and carbide lamps, covering nearly half the floor of the bedroom.

The newly made bell sleeves have extremely wide cuffs, layered with gold thread, and embroidered with intricate cloud and thunder patterns. When they hang down, they are almost to the ground. When they move, they are like surging dark clouds, majestic and imposing.

The Nine-Phoenix Crown was slowly placed on her head. The weight of the pearls, gemstones, and gold ornaments forced her to raise her chin slightly to maintain her composure. In the mirror, her face was enveloped in the utmost elegance and majesty. Her beauty was breathtaking, yet her dignity was so noble that one dared not look directly at her, as if all emotion was blocked out by her court robes.

Lin Zhen was already fully dressed. Today, he too wore a crimson-purple dragon robe, a gold and jade belt, and a phoenix crown. He stood tall and straight, exuding an air of heroism. He stood behind her, his gaze calmly examining his reflection in the mirror, ensuring that nothing was missed.

"My Yan'er, you look magnificent today." He stepped forward and straightened the pearl tassels hanging from her crown with his own hands, his voice low and steady.

Murong Yan looked at him through the mirror, trying hard to force a smile, but she was restrained by the heavy crown and court robes. She only moved the corners of her lips slightly: "Heavy... too heavy..."

There was a subtle hint of grievance and dependence in her voice. To her, this court dress was more like an exquisite yet heavy yoke.

"Be patient, it will be fine soon." Lin Zhen pinched her fingertips hidden under her wide flared sleeves soothingly, then turned around and said in a deep voice, "Get up and enter the palace."

The imperial carriage was majestic and the ceremonial guards were magnificent. It passed through the deepest darkness before dawn and arrived directly at the imperial city.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the floor was paved with golden bricks, and golden pillars adorned with coiled phoenixes towered tall. Officials stood in awe according to their ranks, in utter silence, and the air was filled with a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

When the eunuch in charge of ceremonies said in a high and shrill voice, "Your Majesty has arrived—The Regent has arrived—"

When the chanting sounded, all the ministers knelt on the ground in unison, and the thunderous shouts of "Long live the emperor" shook the palace.

With Lin Zhen's help, Murong Yan stepped onto the high steps step by step.

The three-meter-long black tail was held steadily by sixteen well-trained palace maids behind it. Like a flowing ink-black river, it slid solemnly and slowly over the cold gold bricks, and finally spread out behind the phoenix chair and on the imperial steps, covering almost most of the area of ​​the nine-level imperial steps. The visual impact was extremely shocking.

The wide flared sleeves fell to her sides, swaying gently with her steps, and the gold patterns on the cuffs shimmered.

She sat down with great grace, her eyes calmly sweeping over the crowd of ministers below her, her face cold and majestic.

Lin Zhen stood beside the phoenix chair, slightly forward, his figure as firm as a pine tree and his eyes as sharp as torches.

"Everyone, please stand." Murong Yan spoke. Her voice was transmitted throughout the hall through a special structure. It was clear and carried unquestionable majesty. This was the only step she needed to remember and execute perfectly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials stood up and lined up on both sides, and the court meeting officially began.

The Minister of Revenue was the first to step forward and present a report on the results of the new tax system trial in two southern states over the past quarter. The data was detailed, and the pros and cons were clearly analyzed. Finally, he said, "...I beg Your Majesty to make this new system a national implementation."

Everyone's gaze, including Murong Yan's, subconsciously turned to Lin Zhen beside the phoenix chair.

Murong Yan opened her red lips slightly, and as usual, she cast a cold gaze at Lin Zhen, her voice steady and calm: "What do you think, Regent?"

Lin Zhen paused for a moment and didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the Minister of Revenue and asked a few detailed questions about food price fluctuations and the affordability of small and medium-sized businesses. The Minister of Revenue was clearly well prepared and answered each question one by one.

After listening to this, Lin Zhen nodded slightly. His voice was steady and carried throughout the hall: "The new system is indeed effective, but it should not be too drastic. We can first expand it to the five wealthy states of Jianghuai and then wait and see. Report the specific details to this king within three days."

"I obey your order!" The Minister of Revenue withdrew with a satisfied heart.

The moment he finished speaking, Murong Yan uttered two words at the right moment: "Permission granted."

The Minister of Works came forward and requested additional silver for the exploration and initial construction of the new railway line from Gyeonggi to Tianjin and Haikou, and presented a thick stack of budget details.

Murong Yan glanced at the complicated drawings and figures with an indifferent look, and still turned her gaze to Lin Zhen: "What does the Regent want?"

Lin Zhen took the detailed budget and, without scrutinizing it, asked directly, "Did the exploration team encounter any geological difficulties? What is the estimated steel consumption? What is the progress of the steam locomotive development?"

The Minister of Works was clearly speaking fluently. Lin Zhen finished listening and pointed at a spot on the budget booklet. "The budget here can be cut by 20%, using new exploration methods that will be more efficient. The rest is as per your permission. Silver will be allocated from the customs revenue and may not be misappropriated."

"Your Highness is wise! I obey your command!" The Minister of Works retreated excitedly.

Murong Yan: "Sure."

Next, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice... made reports one after another.

Regardless of the size, urgency, or scope of the matter, the process remains the same.

She sat upright on the phoenix chair, her dark black phoenix robe, three-meter train and wide flared sleeves creating an unparalleled visual authority. Her beauty was peerless and her demeanor was perfect, like a meticulously carved jade statue guarding the country.

But apart from those fixed questions and the final "approval", she had no other words of her own.

All the decisions, all the weighing, all the decisions made came from the man in the python robe and with a calm demeanor beside her.

The court meeting lasted for nearly an hour. Murong Yan felt her neck was sore and stiff from being pressed by the phoenix crown, and her straight back also began to ache slightly.

Although the three-foot-long train was held by a palace maid, its very existence was a huge burden. Her fingers curled quietly beneath her trumpet sleeves, and she was practically counting the minutes as she waited for it to end.

Finally, when the last minister returned to the line and the eunuch in charge of ceremonies sang "If you have a certificate, you can submit your report. If you don't, you can leave the court," Murong Yan breathed a sigh of relief in an almost unnoticeable way.

"Dismiss the court—" Her cold voice sounded, with a barely perceptible sense of relief.

All the officials knelt down again to see him off respectfully.

Murong Yan rose to her feet with Lin Zhen's help, turning with impeccable grace and stepping down the steps. The enormous, inky tail seemed to come alive again, carefully controlled by the palace maids. It slowly moved, passing over the gold bricks, and finally disappeared behind the hall.

As soon as she left the sight of the officials and stepped into the warm side hall, Murong Yan almost collapsed immediately. Fortunately, Lin Zhen had been paying attention to her and put his arm around her waist in time.

"Tired?" he asked in a low voice, his tone filled with obvious care.

Murong Yan leaned against him, using the wide bell sleeves to cover her, and gently grasped his wrist with her backhand. Her voice was filled with the tenderness and complaints that she only revealed in front of him: "My neck is about to break... Can you wear this dress less often in the future..."

Lin Zhen chuckled softly, waved his hand to dismiss his attendants, and personally helped her take off the heavy phoenix crown, gently massaging the back of her stiff neck. "Okay, next time, unless it's necessary for a grand ceremony, I won't wear it. My Yan'er did a great job today, flawless."

Murong Yan enjoyed his massage, closed her eyes, and murmured softly: "I am like the most beautiful glass vase on your desk... just placed there..."

"Nonsense." Lin Zhen lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. His voice was low and firm. "You are the key to the success of Daqian and my national treasure. I feel at ease when you are with me."

Murong Yan opened her eyes and gazed into his deep gaze. The sincerity and love in them instantly dispelled the slight grievance in her heart. She buried her face in his chest, rubbing the cool python embroidery against him, and whispered, "...Then you have to rub my shoulders when we get back..."

"Okay, I can rub it for the rest of my life."

The warmth and tenderness in the side hall was completely different from the cold and arbitrary presence of Qiankun in the main hall just now.