On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The cold winter is approaching, and the north wind whistles across the vermilion walls of the imperial city, making a whimpering sound.

The earthen dragons within the Golden Palace burned ever more fiercely, bringing warmth like spring, yet they couldn't dispel the increasingly dense, bone-chilling tension that permeated the court. Beneath the surface of calm, the flames of rebellion had quietly ignited in the shadows, spreading at an alarming rate.

The injuries of Jingbei King Murong Hong and Anping King Murong Zhang are almost healed.

Deep in the extremely secret villa, their gazes were like poisoned daggers, staring through the window lattices at the direction of the imperial palace.

Through the intricate spider-web-like underground network built by their trusted followers, they have successfully connected with a considerable number of court officials who are deeply afraid of and resentful of Murong Yan's rule.

These officials had their interests damaged by the property inventory, or felt grief over their colleagues being brutally executed, or had their power reduced by the implementation of new policies, or viewed Murong Yan as a tyrant because of her luxurious nightgown and indifference to state affairs...

All kinds of resentment quickly condensed into a dangerous undercurrent under the banner of the two princes "restoring order, clearing the court, and restoring Murong."

Inside the secret room, the flickering candlelight illuminated Murong Hong's ferocious face. "The time is coming! Former troops from various border regions have secretly responded, and we also have troops in the Capital Patrol Battalion! We only need to wait for the right opportunity, and we can join forces inside and outside to attack the Imperial City and capture and kill the witch and the traitor Lin Zhen!"

Murong Zhang was more cautious. He ran his fingertips across a list and spoke in a low voice, "Although these court officials have expressed their stance, most of them are wavering, frightened by the ruthlessness of that witch. We need to add fuel to the fire, force them to make up their minds, and leave them no room for retreat."

"How do I add more fire?" Murong Hong asked anxiously.

Murong Zhang's eyes flashed with malice. "What does that vixen care about most? Her dazzling nightgown! What does she hate most? Questioning her clothing! If someone in the court, publicly threatening death to protest against the extravagance that is ruining the country, were to be 'accidentally' killed by the palace guards... what do you think those already terrified officials would think? Would they mourn the loss of their lord and completely turn to us, or would they continue to serve the tyrant who would kill for a piece of clothing?"

Murong Hong's eyes lit up. "Great idea! This way, we can test the reactions of that witch and Lin Zhen, and force those fence-sitters to take sides! Leave this to me!"

The poisonous fangs of conspiracy quietly aimed at the luxurious figure above the golden palace.

Deep within the palace, in the warm room, Murong Yan, wearing her extremely comfortable and luxurious black and gold cotton nightgown, was lazily leaning on the soft couch by the window. The north wind was biting outside, but the room was warm as spring, with the aroma of incense lingering in the air.

The dark gold cotton base fits her body softly, and the natural golden cotton wool has a soft and mysterious luster under the dim skylight shining through the glass windows.

Above the nightgown, a giant phoenix embroidered with exquisite craftsmanship was perched on it. Its wings of red gold, rose gold, silver-white and purple gold seemed to flow in silence, and the black opal and amethyst in the phoenix's eyes sparkled with a cold light that saw through everything.

Wide, soft, trumpet-shaped sleeves cascaded down the edge of the couch, their gold tassels unmoving. The five-meter-long, incredibly heavy cotton train, instead of being spread out, was casually yet meticulously gathered and stacked on the custom-made low couch covered in dark velvet. Like a dormant, dark-golden phoenix, its edge restrained, it was gorgeous and comfortable, yet still exuding an invisible, suffocating pressure.

She didn't hold anything in her hands, but used her slender fingers covered with velvet knuckles to gently stroke a dark blue gem the size of a pigeon egg that was recently inlaid on the train of her nightgown. Her eyes were empty, as if she was listening to the whistling wind outside the window.

Lin Zhen sat behind a desk not far away. What was spread out in front of him was not a memorial, but a defense map of the capital. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his fingertips slowly moved across several key locations on the map. His face was calm, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle.

The undercurrents had been surging recently, and his spies had already picked up more clues pointing to the two princes who were supposed to be dead. An invisible net seemed to be tightening, but he hadn't yet grasped the most crucial thread.

He raised his eyes and looked at the lazy person on the couch. A trace of complicated worry flashed in his eyes, and then it was replaced by deep indulgence. He would never let her be disturbed in the slightest.

Suddenly, Murong Yan's fingers, caressing the gem, paused slightly. Without looking up, she continued to stare out the window, but her hands unconsciously tightened beneath her flared sleeves, causing wrinkles in the soft cotton fabric.

"The wind... smells like rats..." She suddenly spoke softly, her voice soft but with a hint of cold disgust, "It's stronger than before..."

Lin Zhen's heart trembled! He hadn't heard or smelled anything unusual, but he absolutely trusted her extraordinary, almost animal-like intuition. He immediately stood up, walked to the bedside, knelt on one knee, and held her slightly cold hand, silently conveying comfort and inquiry.

Murong Yan slowly turned her head, her gaze landing on his face. Her eyes were clear yet bottomless, as if they could see through all illusions. "Did they... think I was asleep? So... they got bolder? Dared to get so close? Hmm?"

Her voice was soft, but it made Lin Zhen feel a chill running down his spine.

She gently pulled her hand back from under her trumpet sleeve and pointed at her ears: "The sound of them grinding their teeth...is disturbing me."

Lin Zhen clenched his fists tightly, a murderous look flashing in his eyes. He had to immediately send more people to thoroughly investigate all suspicious corners!

Murong Yan seemed to see through his thoughts and suddenly smiled slightly. That smile was strange and beautiful, with an almost childlike cruel interest: "Husband... Don't be in a hurry to scare them away..."

She raised her hands from beneath her wide, bell-shaped sleeves and made a "hush" gesture, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of hunting. "Let them come a little closer... a little closer... Let me see clearly... which mice are so fearless...?"

She lazily adjusted her posture, allowing the five-meter cotton train to fold more comfortably. Her voice carried a hint of playful cruelty: "My clothes... just happen to be in need of some new colors... of dye."

Lin Zhen saw the undisguised anticipation for the upcoming bloody game in her eyes, and his heart was trembling, but he could only nod silently. He understood that she had noticed, and...she wanted to "play" this game herself.

The next day, there will be a large court meeting.

The north wind blew the fine snow, knocking against the window frames of the Golden Palace.

The hall was brightly lit by candlelight, yet it still seemed somewhat chilly. All officials stood in awe, the atmosphere even more tense than usual. Many of them hung their heads, their faces pale, their eyes flickering, not daring to make eye contact with the figure on the throne.

Murong Yan, still wearing her dark-gold cotton nightgown, covered by a matching mink-trimmed cloak with a phoenix pattern, appeared in the Golden Palace. The softness of the cotton and the elegance of the nightgown created a striking, unsettling beauty and majesty within the solemn court.

The five-meter-long tail still dragged recklessly on the jade steps and the golden brick floor, and the newly inlaid gems on it reflected a brighter and colder light under the candlelight.

She leaned lazily against the dragon throne, her wide flared sleeves covering her lips, as if she was a little cold. Her eyes casually swept over the officials who were silent as a cicada under the throne, but in the depths of her eyes there was a hint of playful and cold sharpness like a cat.

The court meeting proceeded as planned, and the contents of the reports were mostly routine matters, but there was an imperceptible tremor in the voices of many officials.

Murong Yan seemed a little impatient, and her fingers under her flared sleeves tapped lightly on the armrests of the dragon throne.

At this moment, a young censor of low rank, wearing a green censor's uniform, suddenly stepped out of the ranks, holding a jade tablet, and knelt down at the foot of the steps. His voice was shrill and distorted with excitement and fear:

"Your Majesty! I... your humble servant, Zhao Lian, the Imperial Censorate, am risking my life to offer this advice!"

The entire Golden Palace instantly fell silent! Everyone's heart skipped a beat! Here they come!