On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

A severe drought has struck the north, with no rain for years. Thousands of miles of land are barren, riverbeds are cracked, crops are scorched, and people's livelihoods are struggling. Despite the court's continuous relief efforts, the devastation is so severe that the people are uneasy and rumors are spreading.

Regent Lin Zhen decided to bring Empress Murong Yan to Zhuozhou Prefecture, the worst-hit area, to show the court that it has not forgotten the people of the north and that the emperor is extremely kind.

The emperor's tour was accompanied by a magnificent procession, but what was even more eye-catching than the royal majesty was the endless stream of grain transport convoys heading north from the capital, and the teams loaded with deep-well craftsmen, medical officers, and medicinal materials.

Lin Zhen's trip was not only to show his gratitude, but also to solve the problem in a practical way.

The day they arrived in Zhuozhou, the sky was still gray and cloudless, and a dry, hot wind blew up the loess from the ground, blowing in their faces. Outside the city, on the specially leveled ground for the imperial reception, kneeling people and local officials, pale and thin, dressed in tattered clothes.

Their eyes were filled with awe, expectation, and a hint of numbness honed by suffering.

The heavy, gold-encrusted imperial chariot slowly came to a stop. Lin Zhen was the first to step down. He wasn't wearing court robes today, but rather a dark blue formal suit, topped by a dark-black cloak embroidered with coiled dragons. Though dusty and dusty, his upright posture and the solemn dignity between his brows couldn't be concealed.

He glanced at the kneeling people and the cracked ground, his brows slightly furrowed.

However, when his gaze returned to the imperial chariot, it instantly transformed into endless tenderness and a subtle hint of pride. He extended his hand and said softly, "Yan'er, we're here."

The next moment, everyone present, whether it was the hungry and thirsty people, the exhausted officials, or the solemnly standing soldiers, all held their breath involuntarily, their pupils suddenly contracted, and they were shocked beyond words by the scene before them!

Murong Yan, holding Lin Zhen's hand, slowly stepped down from the imperial chariot. She wasn't wearing a riding coat or simple clothing, but rather an extremely gorgeous, heavy, black and gold nightgown with a pattern of birds paying homage to the phoenix, which stood out against the surrounding barren land.

Against the backdrop of the dim northern sky and the swirling dust, the nightgown's splendor and majesty were magnified to an almost eerie and sacred degree! Its profoundly black background seemed to swallow up all the heat and desolation, radiating a quality more tranquil than the deepest night, more mysterious than the most desperate drought demon. Yet, from within, it shone a regal glimmer of faint blue and dark purple, evoking an incomparable dignity.

Above the nightgown, the giant phoenix embroidered with countless rare gold, silver and colored threads proudly spread its wings. Every feather was madly flashing the brilliance of life in the dim light. The red gold was like flowing lava, the rose gold was like the sunset weeping blood, the silver was like moonlight breaking through the clouds, and the purple gold was like auspiciousness descending from the sky. The gems on the phoenix's eyes were as sharp as lightning, as if they could see through the root of this drought disaster!

The magnificence, complexity and majesty form a visual impact so strong that it makes your heart stop!

The cuffs of the enormous trumpet sleeves cascaded like clouds, their edges adorned with tiny black pearls and diamonds swaying gently in the wind, reflecting a cold yet dazzling light. And the massive, three-meter-long, black, gold, and jewel-encrusted train, seamlessly integrated into the nightgown, was the most jaw-dropping sight in the world!

It was not held up by any palace maid or female official, but with its own absolute weight and magnificence, it naturally and heavily drooped, spread out, and meandered down from the imperial chariot like a living, flowing black and gold river in the sky!

The tail dragged directly on the dry, rough, dusty and scorched earth!

It is decorated with intricate lotus and cloud-thunder patterns made of gold wire, and densely inlaid with countless black diamonds of different sizes and perfectly cut, black jade, deep sapphire, black opal, and black gold... In the dim skylight, it still stubbornly and madly reflects the cold, bright, and dazzling light that is impossible to look directly at!

The extremely luxurious tail is in direct contact with the barren and filthy land. The gems and gold threads on it seem to be burning the dust and crushing the suffering. Wherever it passes, even the dryness seems to be forcibly suppressed by this ultimate honor, and given some kind of strange "vitality"!

This posture, which does not need anyone's support and is winding towards the scorched earth, exudes an overwhelming and unspoken symbol of power, silently declaring: where the imperial power lies, where the grace lies, where the destiny lies!

She did not wear the heavy phoenix crown. Her cloud-like black hair was loosely tied up with a transparent black jade hairpin, and the rest of her long hair was loose, blending with the dark black of her ink robe, making her face even more peerless and her skin as radiant as snow.

Her expression was as calm as water, even with a hint of compassionate indifference. Her eyes slowly swept over the kneeling, pale-faced people and the cracked earth without any fear or disgust, as if she was in the most magnificent palace, rather than a disaster area with thousands of miles of barren land.

This extreme tranquility and luxury, against the backdrop of famine, created an almost divine pressure.

"Long live your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

"Thousand years of life, Regent!"

The deafening yet hoarse and exhausted mountain shouts woke people from the extreme visual shock. The people knelt down in a hurry, with their foreheads resting on the scorching ground. Many people did not even dare to look up at the overly dazzling honor that seemed to come from another world.

Lin Zhen held Murong Yan's hand tightly, helping her to stand. His gaze swept calmly over the kneeling people and the cracked earth. His voice was steady, yet it carried a calming power: "Stand up."

The people stood up tremblingly, but still kept their heads down, not daring to look directly.

The prefect of Zhuozhou stepped forward tremblingly and reported the disaster, his voice hoarse: "...Your Majesty, Your Highness, there has been no rain in this territory for three months. The wells and rivers are all dry. The autumn harvest has failed. The people mostly rely on grass roots and tree bark for food..."

Lin Zhen listened quietly, his face solemn. Murong Yan's gaze fell calmly on the prefect's dry lips, and her hand under her trumpet sleeve moved slightly.

Lin Zhen noticed it immediately and said to the accompanying Ministry of Revenue official, "Open the granaries. Set up porridge stalls. Establish rules. Anyone who withholds even a single cent from the relief will be executed immediately."

"The minister obeys the order!"

At the command, the massive convoy behind him sprang into action. Well-trained soldiers and officials began setting up porridge tents, carrying grain sacks, and setting up large cauldrons. The sound of clear spring water (brought from distant places where water veins still lingered) pouring into the cauldrons was like heavenly music to the thirsty people!

Murong Yan's gaze shifted to the dying children held in their parents' arms. She tilted her head slightly and nodded gently to the steward beside her. The steward immediately signaled, and the doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau, carrying their medicine boxes, hurried toward the crowd.

Lin Zhen told the officials from the Ministry of Works, "Survey the map and mark the areas with existing water veins. Concentrate manpower and dig deep wells and canals. Assemble and test the deep drilling machinery brought by the Institute of Gewu immediately."

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

Efficient instructions were issued one after another, and the entire welcoming venue instantly transformed into an efficient disaster relief command center. Under the maintenance of the army, the chaotic victims began to line up in an orderly manner, waiting for porridge and medical treatment.

Throughout the entire process, Murong Yan stood quietly beside Lin Zhen, her lavish attire cascading down the ground, her presence imbued with natural majesty. She said little, but her presence alone was a powerful symbol. Her extremely luxurious, incredibly heavy nightgown, its train snaking three feet across the scorched earth, silently conveyed a shocking message to all the victims:

The imperial power is supreme and is coming here in the most intuitive way, paying attention to their suffering and bringing vitality.

Her calmness and beauty, in contrast to the despair around her, strangely gave people a hope that was almost superstitious - since even His Majesty came here in such miraculous clothes, it would surely rain!

The hot wind blew, stirring up dust and hurling it towards the luxurious train. However, the special fabric seemed to truly repel dust; the dust hardly adhered, sliding off with a slight shake, leaving the garment still radiant and splendid.

Murong Yan lifted her wide flared sleeves slightly to block the wind and sand that was blowing in her face. The black pearl tassels on her cuffs gently collided, making a subtle sound.

Lin Zhen noticed her movements and stepped sideways to block the main wind direction for her. He whispered, "The wind and sand are strong. Yan'er, do you want to go back to the chariot to rest?"

Murong Yan shook her head and looked towards the well being dug in the distance, her fingers under her flared sleeves gently pointing in that direction.

Lin Zhen understood: "Want to go and see?"

She nodded slightly.

Lin Zhen supported her and walked towards the excavation site. The three-meter-long tail dragged heavily across the cracked earth, its brilliant light flowing above it, forming a shocking contrast with the scorched earth and dust. Wherever it passed, the kneeling people bowed their heads deeply, not daring to look up.

Arriving at the well, Murong Yan saw the craftsmen and soldiers sweating profusely, the deep drilling machinery emitting a dull roar. She watched quietly for a moment, then suddenly pulled out the heavy brocade bag from the hidden pocket of her trumpet sleeve, took out several specially made gold coins, and handed them to Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen took it and said loudly, "Your Majesty has a reward! Every craftsman who produces water from this well will be given a gold coin!"

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen were initially in disbelief, but then they erupted in excited cheers, their enthusiasm instantly doubling! "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty!"

Murong Yan looked at their excited expressions. Her face remained calm under her gorgeous clothes, but there seemed to be a slighter fluctuation in her clear eyes than usual.

After inspecting for a long time, Lin Zhen was afraid that she was tired, so he finally advised: "Yan'er, it's time to go back."

Murong Yan did not insist this time. She withdrew her gaze from the scorched field and nodded slightly.

Lin Zhen supported her and turned to walk towards the imperial sedan chair. The heavy tail dragged across the dry and cracked land again, leaving a gorgeous and solemn trail.

Before boarding the imperial chariot, Murong Yan took one last look back at this land that had suffered so much, and at the people whose eyes had been rekindled with hope, her gaze calm.

The curtains were lowered, and the imperial carriage started up, slowly driving towards the temporary palace amid the people's heartfelt and even more enthusiastic voices of gratitude.

Inside the chariot, Murong Yan leaned back on the cushions and exhaled lightly. Lin Zhen sat beside her, naturally holding her hand, his fingertips brushing against the tiny specks of dust that might have stained the cuffs of her nightgown. "Are you tired? This dress is too heavy."

Murong Yan shook her head and leaned on his shoulder: "Not tired."

She paused and whispered, "There will be water...right?"

"I will." Lin Zhen embraced her, his tone firm, "I have ordered that water be diverted to combat the drought at all costs. My Yan'er has come in person, so God... should give her some face."

There was a hint of joking in his tone, but also an unquestionable determination.

Murong Yan's lips curved slightly, and she leaned comfortably into his arms, closing her eyes. Her luxurious nightgown was covered in cushions, its heavy train piled high in the sedan chair.

Outside the car window, the north wind was still dry, but the seeds of hope had been deeply planted in the cracked earth and in the hearts of desperate people along with the arrival of the ink-gold phoenix.