On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Three days have passed since mud and water were drilled out of the "Longshou Well".

During these three days, the land of Zhuobei seemed to be injected with new vitality.

With the "Dragon Head Well" as the core, deep wells dug along the ancient river channel have been producing water one after another. Although the water volume was not large at the beginning and was extremely turbid, the gurgling moisture was like divine dew from a fairy spring to the long-dry land and the desperate hearts of the people!

In the early morning, before the mist had dissipated, the air was already filled with the scent of moist earth and an indescribable, burgeoning restlessness of hope. Outside the temporary palace, the carriages and horses were already ready.

Lin Zhen and Murong Yan did not delay and showed up on time.

Murong Yan was still wearing the gorgeous and heavy black and gold nightgown with the pattern of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" that was inseparable from her.

After being carefully cared for and fumigated by the palace servants all night, the dark black background of the nightgown appeared even more tranquil and profound in the morning mist, as if it could absorb the surrounding moisture and transform it into an inner faint blue and dark purple light, mysterious and noble.

The golden embroidery of the giant phoenix's wings on the robe has become more and more dazzling after repeated wiping. The red gold is like flowing fire, the rose gold is like molten clouds, the silver is like pouring on the ground, the purple air is lingering, and the phoenix eye gem reflects a hazy but sharp light in the mist.

The black pearls and black gold tassels on the wide, flared cuffs remained motionless, radiating a cool luster. The three-meter-long train, adorned with precious stones, cascaded naturally to the ground, spreading across the slightly damp stone slabs in front of the palace. It resembled a dark-gold galaxy soaked with morning dew, shimmering with brilliance and exuding a majestic presence.

Lin Zhen changed into a dark-colored riding suit today that was easy to move in, and a black dust-proof cloak on the outside. He looked energetic, and his brows showed the excitement that could not be concealed despite the hard work of the past few days.

The imperial carriage did not go to the bustling drilling site yesterday, but drove to another place that was already bustling with activity - the site of dredging the ancient river channel and excavating the water diversion channel.

The scene here was vastly different from a few days ago. Although the sky was still covered in yellow dust and the sounds of people were still thronging, the air was no longer filled with the dryness of despair, but instead was filled with the scent of sweat, wet mud, and a certain anticipation.

Several deep wells have already taken shape, with craftsmen busy lining them with bricks and installing windlasses. Even more striking is the initial formation of a water diversion channel, winding its way from the deepest well with the largest water output toward the planned reservoir in the distance.

The imperial carriage stopped near the head of the canal.

Lin Zhen stepped down first, his eyes scanning the progress of the project sharply before nodding with satisfaction. He turned and extended his hand toward the chariot.

When Murong Yan held Lin Zhen's hand and slowly walked down the imperial sedan chair, the familiar, suffocating silence on the construction site fell again, and then an even more enthusiastic, choked cheer broke out!

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

"Your Majesty, a thousand years old!"

The common people and craftsmen knelt one after another, many with tears in their eyes. They had witnessed a miracle with their own eyes—after the arrival of the extremely luxurious black-gold nightgown, springs of water actually gushed out of the dry land!

At this moment, in their eyes, the nightgown was not only a symbol of nobility, but also carried a kind of sacred and life-giving glow!

In the interweaving of morning mist and the golden glow of the rising sun, the dark black background of Murong Yan's nightgown and the giant phoenix golden embroidery present a breathtaking beauty.

The flowing light formed an extreme contrast with the surrounding yellow earth, wet mud and sweat, yet they blended together strangely, as if she was a part of this recovering land, the incarnation of a phoenix that brought sweet rain!

The wide bell sleeves look even more elegant in the humid air.

And the three-meter-long jewel-studded tail was once again dragged unreservedly and heavily on the wet and muddy loess beside the canal!

The extremely luxurious trailing edge was immersed in the muddy water. The gems and gold threads were stained with the turbid mud, but they still stubbornly reflected the sunlight, forming a flowing, brilliant halo, as if it was a divine river that was injecting the source of life into the earth!

She had a stunning appearance and her expression remained calm. Wrapped in this nightgown, she looked noble, mysterious, and had a solemnity that was almost compassionate.

Lin Zhen held her hand tightly, helped her stand firmly, and raised his hand to the kneeling people: "Stand up! Keep working!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Highness!"

People stood up excitedly and their enthusiasm grew.

Lin Zhen and Murong Yan walked towards the "main source well" that had already begun to be built.

The well water has begun to settle. Although it is not completely clear, it can reflect people's shadows.

The craftsman was putting the bucket into the well through the windlass, drawing water and pouring it into a temporary sedimentation tank dug nearby.

Murong Yan stood quietly by the well, the dark gold color of her nightgown reflected on the slightly turbid water, and a giant phoenix seemed to be swimming in the water.

She raised her hand slightly from under her flared sleeves and pointed at the mud and sand slowly settling in the sedimentation tank.

Lin Zhen immediately understood and said to the Ministry of Works official, "A method to accelerate sedimentation? Does the Institute of Gewu have any ideas?"

The technician from the Institute of Gewu, who was waiting nearby, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the experiment has been successful. Adding alum powder will quickly clarify the water."

"Implement this immediately on all water wells!" Lin Zhen ordered.

"Yes!"

Murong Yan nodded slightly, her gaze turning to the diversion canal being excavated. The canal bed had been dug several feet deep, and the laborers were working hard with hoes and shovels, digging and carrying away the soil.

Lin Zhen supported her and walked slowly along the canal.

The heavy tail dragged behind without any hindrance, leaving a deep and luxurious mark on the muddy canal bank. The gem scraped against the wet mud, getting more stains, but its brilliance remained undiminished. Wherever it passed, the people bowed their heads deeply, not daring to look up, but they couldn't help but worship the miracle that brought hope with the corner of their eyes.

When we arrived at a section of the canal, we saw the laborers digging an extremely hard and cemented soil layer with great difficulty, and the progress was slow.

Murong Yan stopped and the train of her nightgown lay quietly on the muddy ground.

She raised her hand from under her flared sleeves again, pointing to the ordinary iron shovel in the laborer's hand, and then to several steel shovels piled aside, which were made of obviously different materials and had the Gewuyuan mark on them.

Lin Zhen's eyes lit up: "Let's use the newly refined steel shovel from the Institute of Gewu! Try it out on this hard soil!"

The order was given and the new steel shovels were distributed.

After the laborers tried it, they found that it saved a lot of effort and greatly increased the excavation efficiency!

"Your Majesty is wise! Your Highness is intelligent!" Cheers rang out again.

Murong Yan curled her lips slightly and continued to move forward.

Ahead, the canal line must pass through a small, low-lying marshland, which is extremely muddy and difficult to construct. Officials are debating whether to bypass it or fill it in.

When Murong Yan and Lin Zhen reached this point, the edge of the train of their nightgowns was completely submerged in the mud, and the luxurious dark gold color formed a glaring contrast with the black mud.

She looked at the muddy depression quietly for a while, then looked up at the direction of the canal line, and with a light stroke of her hand under her flared sleeves, she made a diversion and circulation gesture.

Lin Zhen pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands and smiled, "Yan'er, what a brilliant idea! No need to fill it in, and no need to go around it! We can dig shallow channels around the edge of this depression to divert the water, and transform it into a small sedimentation tank and storage pond. This will allow water to flow and be stored, killing two birds with one stone!"

The officials of the Ministry of Works suddenly understood and bowed in admiration: "Your Majesty is a genius! We are stupid!"

Murong Yan lowered her eyes slightly, her wide flared sleeves covering half of her face, as if she was a little uncomfortable with such direct praise.

Lin Zhen chuckled softly, loving the way she looked.

After inspecting the canal head, Lin Zhen and Murong Yan climbed a slightly higher slope beside the canal to overlook the entire construction site. They saw people swarming like ants, the canal stretching like a dragon, and the wellhead shimmering with light—a scene of bustling recovery!

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a moist atmosphere. The wide, bell-shaped sleeves and heavy train of Murong Yan's dark gold nightgown swayed slightly in the wind, shimmering with brilliance. She took a deep breath, as if drawing the breath of hope into her lungs.

Lin Zhen stood beside her, pointing into the distance: "Once the main canal is completed, connecting the wells and merging into the large water storage pond, we can open the sluice gates to release water and irrigate the farmland. Then, this scorched earth will surely come back to life!"

His words were full of strength and hope, infecting everyone present.

Murong Yan listened quietly, her gaze far away. The giant phoenix on her nightgown spread its wings in the sunlight, ready to fly.

At this time, several old men, led by an official, came tremblingly to thank God for his grace, holding in their hands the well water that had just been drawn from the sedimentation tank and had become slightly clear.

Lin Zhen took the bowl of water personally, but did not drink it himself. Instead, he handed it to Murong Yan's lips first.

Murong Yan took his hand, lowered her head slightly, her flared sleeves covering her face as she sipped the cool well water. The water, with its hint of earthy flavor and the bitterness of alum, brought a faint, strange glint to her eyes. This was water she had personally "witnessed" and "participated" in.

She pushed the bowl back to Lin Zhen's lips. Lin Zhen understood and drank the water in the bowl from the place where she had drunk, saying loudly, "This water is very sweet!"

Seeing this, the people were so moved that tears filled their eyes and they knelt down again.

Afterwards, Lin Zhen rolled up his sleeves and picked up the golden hoe again. He did not break the ground symbolically, but together with Murong Yan, he performed a "foundation laying" ceremony for a section of the excavated canal bed - they jointly laid the first bluestone slab to reinforce the canal bank.

Lin Zhen held Murong Yan's hand, and together they worked to place the slab in place. Murong Yan's hands, entwined beneath her bell-shaped sleeves, folded with his. The train of her nightgown spread across the wet mud on the canal bank, stained with more mud, but she paid no mind.

"With this stone as the foundation, the canal will be forever solid and drought will be eradicated forever!" Lin Zhen said loudly.

"The water channel will be forever secure! Drought will be eradicated forever! Long live! Long live!"

Amid the cheers that resounded through the sky, Murong Yan leaned against Lin Zhen's side, her gorgeous clothes stained with dust, her dark gold still in place, her eyes calmly gazing at the land that was coming to life under her feet.

At noon, the emperor and empress did not return to the palace immediately, but ate with the people in a temporary tent next to the construction site - they ate thin porridge and steamed cakes that had just been cooked with freshly drawn well water.

Murong Yan sat on a Hu bed covered with tiger skin, her nightgown hanging on the ground, eating the steamed buns handed to her by Lin Zhen in small bites. Her posture was still extremely elegant, which was out of tune with the surrounding environment, yet strangely harmonious.

In the afternoon, they inspected the progress of the excavation of the water storage pond and personally determined the location of the water release gate.

As the sun sets, tired birds return to the forest. The first section of the main diversion canal has finally been dug through! Workers open the temporary sluice gates, and the murky yet precious well water flows along the newly excavated channel, gurgling toward the distant reservoir!

The sound of the flowing water was like the most beautiful music, echoing across the land of Zhuobei. People ran along the canal and cheered, and many knelt by the canal, scooping up the river water with their hands, weeping uncontrollably.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen stood by the canal, watching the jubilant flowing water.

The golden glow of the setting sun sprinkled on Murong Yan's dark gold nightgown. The giant phoenix's wings were shining brightly, and its tail was immersed in the muddy water splashed by the canal. The brilliance and the mud were intertwined, like an eternal painting.

"The water is coming..." Murong Yan said softly, with a barely perceptible hint of relief in her tone.

"Yes, the water is here." Lin Zhen held her hand tightly, his eyes burning, "This is all thanks to Yan'er."

After returning to the palace, where the palace maids waited for her to bathe, Lin Zhen personally inspected the nightgown and found that the mud stains on the train and cuffs had dried, and that sand had become embedded in the gaps between the inlaid gemstones.

He didn't mind the trouble at all and cleaned her very carefully himself using a soft brush dipped in a special scented lotion.

"Yan'er's clothes have suffered today." He chuckled, his tone full of pampering.

Murong Yan soaked in the bath and shook her head: "It's worth it."

Lin Zhen's heart moved, and he leaned over and kissed her wet shoulder: "My Yan'er, you are the best empress in the world."

That night, countless people inside and outside Zhuobei County kowtowed toward the imperial palace, chanting in gratitude to the "Phoenix Empress" for bringing the rain. That dark gold nightgown had become deeply etched in their hearts, the embodiment of hope and imperial power.

I will never regret even if my gorgeous clothes are stained with dust, for wherever the phoenix goes, sweet springs will be born.