On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

More than a month had passed since the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Jin, was flayed to death and the property of all officials was investigated.

The bloody smell above the Golden Palace seemed to have dissipated, but under the court, undercurrents were surging, and panic and resentment were growing wildly in the hearts of the ministers like poisonous ivy.

Murong Yan's iron fist and cruelty, especially her almost pathological obsession with and defense of that gorgeous dress, have chilled the hearts of many people and alienated them.

However, deep in the palace, Murong Yan seemed unaware of this, or rather, she didn't care at all.

It was afternoon, and the autumn rain was falling outside the window, hitting the glazed tiles, making a fine and dull sound.

Inside the bedroom, it was as warm as spring. The floor heating was burning very warmly. The gilded phoenix-head incense burner in the corner exhaled wisps of warm and sweet fragrance, which formed a sharp contrast with the bleak autumn outside the window.

Murong Yan did not take a nap, nor did she handle government affairs - she never did.

She leaned lazily on a chaise longue covered with thick black fox fur by the window, with several Suzhou embroidered pillows beneath her.

What she was wearing was not the extremely dazzling brocade nightgown of the past, but a newly made black and gold nightgown with a pattern of birds paying homage to the phoenix and a rare "ink gold cotton" as the base material.

This black-gold cotton is a tribute from the South China Sea, and its production is extremely rare. Its color is not dyed, but the cotton core naturally produces a dark black background with extremely fine golden cotton fluff evenly distributed in it. It will naturally reflect a dark golden glow under the light, but its texture is extremely soft, skin-friendly and breathable. It is much more suitable for close-fitting wear than brocade, and it shows a more restrained luxury and comfort.

The style of the nightgown is still extremely gorgeous. It is embroidered with hair-thin gold thread made from real pure gold, mixed with peacock feather thread and colorful silk thread, using the unique "gold-coated cotton velvet" embroidery method, and an incomparable giant phoenix that covers the entire robe and even the tail!

The giant phoenix pattern on this cotton nightgown presents a different luster than before due to the softness of the base material and the delicacy of the gold thread - the brilliance is still dazzling, with red gold flowing like fire, rose gold melting like clouds, silver and white pouring down the ground, and purple gold being noble. The phoenix eyes are inlaid with tiny black opals and deep amethysts, and their sharpness remains unchanged, but because of the softness of the cotton, they add a bit of lazy charm and homely majesty.

The cuffs of the extremely wide flared sleeves are not embellished with heavy pearls, but are made of lighter and softer black gold cotton, which is sewn layer by layer into the shape of phoenix feathers, and the edges are rolled with fine gold thread tassels. It is still gorgeous, but more elegant.

The giant train, which is five meters long and seamlessly connected to the nightgown, is made of dark gold cotton. The density and luxury of the gold embroidery and gem inlays on it are not diminished at all!

At this moment, the extremely heavy five-meter-long tail was not spread out, but was casually gathered by her and stacked on a specially made wide low couch covered with black velvet inside the couch. It was like a gentle dark gold river that had temporarily restrained all its sharpness. The gems on it shone with a low-key and luxurious glimmer in the soft light in the room.

The softness of the cotton makes this extra-long train appear more fluffy when stacked, but due to its length and weight, it takes up a lot of space.

Her cloud-like black hair was not tied up, but draped over her shoulders, flowing over the giant phoenix pattern and black fox fur of her cotton nightgown.

She was barefoot, with a pair of jade feet sticking out from under the layers of dark cotton robe.

She was playing with a transparent black jade hairpin in her hand, but her eyes were not focused, but fell on the banana leaves wet by the rain outside the window. Her eyes were filled with her usual laziness and a barely perceptible emptiness.

It was as if the turbulent storms outside, the fear and resentment of the ministers, had nothing to do with her. She only cared about whether her body was soft, whether her nightgown was comfortable, and whether the smell of the incense burner was pleasing.

In the corner of the hall, several palace maids stood with their heads bowed and holding their breath, like clay sculptures or wooden statues.

Outside the palace, amid the patter of autumn rain, the faint, deliberately subdued sounds of footsteps and conversation could be heard, but they soon faded away. It was Lin Zhen conferring with his trusted ministers.

He has been extremely busy recently, and his expression often carries a barely perceptible solemnity, but when facing Murong Yan, he is still gentle, indulgent, and considerate.

Murong Yan seemed to have heard some noise, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, but she did not turn around. Instead, her hands under her flared sleeves curled up unconsciously, causing a few wrinkles on the soft cotton fabric.

After a while, the door of the hall was gently pushed open and Lin Zhen walked in.

He was wearing a slightly tired-looking casual outfit, and his hair was stained with a hint of rain. He waved his hand to dismiss the palace maid, and they were the only two left in the palace.

He walked to the couch and sat down very naturally. He reached out and tidied a strand of hair on her cheek, his fingertips warm. "Yan'er, are you awake? Do you want some more snacks?"

Murong Yan slowly turned her head, her eyes falling on his slightly wet shoulders, her brows knitting together imperceptibly: "Did you get caught in the rain?"

Her voice had a softness to it that came from someone just waking up, but it also contained undeniable concern.

Lin Zhen smiled and said nonchalantly, "It's okay, just a little rain."

His eyes fell on the new cotton nightgown she was wearing, with admiration and tenderness in his eyes.

"Is this black-gold cotton comfortable to wear? It's lighter and softer than brocade, and warmer."

Murong Yan looked down at her nightgown. Her hands gently brushed against the giant phoenix wings embroidered on it from under the wide flared sleeves. She felt the soft touch of the cotton base and the subtle bumps of the gold thread. She nodded, "Yeah. I like it."

"As long as you like it." Lin Zhen chuckled and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "My Yan'er, of course I want the best of everything."

Murong Yan leaned towards him, buried her face in his shoulder, and sniffed the faint scent of rain and ambergris on him. She muttered softly, "It's... noisy outside."

Lin Zhen's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, patting her back gently. "Nothing, just some trivial matters. The autumn rain is disturbing, and Yan'er doesn't like it. I'll let them be quiet for a while."

Murong Yan raised her head and looked at him, her eyes clear and sharp, as if she could see through everything: "They... are saying bad things about me, right?"

Lin Zhen was shocked, but he remained calm and said with a smile, "Who dares to say bad things about Yan'er? Don't let your imagination run wild."

Murong Yan stared at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out her hand from under her trumpet sleeves and gently tapped his heart with her fingertips: "Here... it's beating fast. My husband is lying to me."

Lin Zhen: "..."

Murong Yan withdrew her hand and leaned lazily back against the soft pillow. She looked out the window again, her tone calm but with a hint of cold understanding: "I know. They hate me. They hate me for killing Zhou Jin, for checking their family background, and for... wearing this dress."

She gently stroked the cold, jewel-like phoenix eyes in her nightgown, her voice growing softer yet carrying a chilling tone: "Do they... still want me to... take this dress off?"

Lin Zhen's heart tightened, and he hurriedly held her hand: "Yan'er! Don't listen to outsiders' nonsense! This dress is yours, no one has the right to say anything! If you like it, wear it forever!"

Murong Yan smiled, a charming and beautiful smile. She held Lin Zhen's hand with her backhand, and her soft cotton trumpet sleeve brushed the back of his hand: "Husband, don't worry... I won't take it off. Not only will I not take it off..."

She slowly sat up straight, the cotton nightgown making subtle rustling sounds as she moved, and the five-meter-long train also slid slightly. She looked at Lin Zhen with a crazy and paranoid look in her eyes:

"I'm going to wear it... to court. I want them to watch it every day! Every day! Watch them hate it to the core, yet feel helpless! Just thinking about it... is quite amusing, what do you think, my husband?"

Lin Zhen looked at the person in front of him, and a complex emotion surged in his heart, including endless pampering and indulgence, as well as a trace of indescribable worry.

In the end, he just held her in his arms and whispered, "Okay, Yan'er, whatever you want."

Murong Yan leaned in his arms contentedly, playing with the buttons on his lapel, as if the terrible words just now were just a joke between lovers.

However, she suddenly raised her head again, her eyes sharp as a knife: "Oh, my husband, I dreamed the other day... about my two good uncles..."

Lin Zhen's body suddenly stiffened!

Murong Yan seemed oblivious, continuing in a naive yet cruel tone, "I dreamed of them... in the underworld, with their tongues pulled out and their collarbones pierced, still cursing me... saying I was extravagant and immoral, a ruler who ruined the country... How funny, isn't it?"

Lin Zhen suppressed the turmoil in his heart and forced a smile, saying, "It's just a dream, don't take it seriously. They have already been killed and their souls have been scattered."

"Really?" Murong Yan tilted her head, her flared sleeves covering half her face, revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts. "But why do I feel... their scent... is still there? It seems... just outside these palace walls... in some corner... emitting... the stench of a rancid conspiracy..."

Her voice was as soft as a feather, but it instantly made Lin Zhen break out in a cold sweat!

Did she know? Or was it just a hunch? How much did she know?!

Murong Yan looked at his slightly changing expression and suddenly burst into laughter. Her laughter was crisp but cold: "Look how scared my husband is... I was just joking."

She reached out her hand from beneath her cotton trumpet sleeves and gently smoothed his slightly furrowed brow. "With my husband here, the so-called imperial uncle and the so-called traitor are nothing but chickens and dogs...right?"

Lin Zhen held her hand tightly, squeezing her so hard that it almost hurt her, but his eyes were firm: "Yes! As long as I'm here, no one can hurt Yan'er! No one can...touch Yan'er's clothes!"

"Yeah." Murong Yan leaned back into his arms contentedly, closed her eyes, and seemed to have regained her lazy and harmless look. "I'm sleepy..."

"Go to sleep." Lin Zhen coaxed in a low voice, but his heart was in turmoil.

He gently laid her down and carefully covered her with the silk quilt, even the five-meter-long cotton train. He sat beside the couch, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face for a long time, his eyes complex and difficult to read.

Finally, he leaned over and placed a heavy kiss on her smooth forehead, then stood up and left quietly. He had to deal with something immediately, something that must not be noticed by the phoenix in the bedroom wearing a cotton nightgown.

The palace door closed gently.

Murong Yan, who should have been asleep, slowly opened her eyes. Her phoenix eyes held no trace of sleep, only a chilling, all-seeing clarity and... a hint of excitement, a cruel glint waiting for prey to fall into her net.

She gently stroked the soft and warm dark gold cotton nightgown on her body, and the giant phoenix embroidery seemed to come alive under her fingertips.

"The game... is about to begin..." She whispered to herself, with an extremely weird and extremely violent arc at the corner of her mouth.