On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

As the end of the year approaches, the capital city is shrouded in a strange silence.

Rumors spread silently in the streets like freezing rain in winter. The words were filled with fear of the empress's tyranny, dissatisfaction with the regent's autocracy, and vague sympathy and expectations for the two princes who "died unjustly."

Outside the imperial city, the undercurrent has turned into a surging undercurrent that may break through the ice at any time.

The rebellious network of Jingbei King Murong Hong and Anping King Murong Zhang has already taken shape.

Through coercion, inducement, and promises of merit in following the emperor, they not only controlled a considerable number of court officials, but also successfully instigated rebellion at several key points in the capital's defense!

The deputy general of Xihuamen, the garrison commander of Dongzhimen, and even some middle and high-level generals of the right army of the Yulin Guard outside the imperial city have all secretly pledged their allegiance!

Batches of weapons and armor disguised as food and building materials were secretly transported into the capital and hidden in many strongholds.

Just wait for the New Year's Eve ceremony, and then we can cooperate inside and outside, control the city gates, and attack the imperial city directly!

The gears of conspiracy have meshed tightly and started to turn slowly.

That afternoon, the sky was gloomy, with leaden clouds hanging low, as if brewing a heavier snowstorm. However, Murong Yan wasn't sitting still in the palace. Suddenly, she felt like going to the frozen lake in the Western Garden to watch the eunuchs break the ice and catch fish.

She was wearing the luxurious, thick, warm and comfortable black and gold cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix", and a white fox fur trim of the same color on the outside, and then she walked out of the bedroom.

The base material of the dark gold cotton appears more tranquil and profound under the hazy sky, and the natural golden cotton wool shimmers dimly, mysterious and noble.

On the nightgown, the overwhelming golden embroidery of a giant phoenix looked even more fierce and imposing against the gray and white background. The red gold was like molten iron, the rose gold was like blood amber, the silver was like a frosty blade, and the purple gold was like dark thunder. The phoenix eye gems saw through everything coldly.

The wide, soft trumpet sleeves concealed the faint golden tassels at the cuffs. And the five-meter-long, incredibly heavy cotton train dragged unscrupulously behind her, directly on the cold, hard bluestone slabs of the palace path, which she had swept behind her.

The extremely luxurious tail forms a sharp contrast with the solemn and cold environment. The gems and gold threads on it stubbornly reflect the faint but dazzling cold light, like a flowing, judgmental ink-gold boundary marker, announcing the absolute domain of imperial power.

Four palace maids and eight elite Fengling Guards followed closely behind, looking solemnly and vigilantly at their surroundings.

When they reached Xihua Gate, the only way to Xiyuan, Murong Yan suddenly stopped.

There seemed to be more guards at Xihua Gate today than usual, and their faces looked a little unfamiliar.

When the general on duty saw the imperial carriage, he immediately led the crowd to kneel to greet it. His movements were standard and his expression was respectful, but deep in his lowered eyes, there seemed to be a hint of nervousness and glint that was difficult to conceal.

Murong Yan raised her hand lazily, motioning them to stand up.

The phoenix eyes casually swept across the city gate and the guard barracks on both sides.

At this moment, a sharp cold wind suddenly blew through the city gate, blowing up some remaining snow on the ground and... a few barely noticeable, dark brown fragments that seemed to be some kind of solidified grease.

Murong Yan's gaze suddenly fixed on those pieces of debris.

She slowly turned around and faced the kneeling guard, her wide flared sleeves jutting out from underneath, gently brushing against the cold air.

"Who's on duty today?" Her voice was cold and lazily inquiring.

The guard trembled imperceptibly, bowed his head and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is General Wang Zhen."

"Wang Zhen..." Murong Yan repeated softly, moving her feet slightly as if to move forward.

However, just as she turned around again seemingly casually, about to give some instructions——

The movements seem slow, but in fact they carry an unquestionable majesty and speed!

The extremely heavy five-meter cotton train was suddenly lifted up by the sudden turn, and the huge dark golden skirt rolled up like a raging wave, sweeping across the cold and rough bluestone floor with a loud noise!

As the hem of the skirt suddenly floated up, it suddenly revealed the gorgeous lining with a dark brocade base and extremely intricate embroidery of hundreds of phoenixes facing the sun and lotus flowers with bright gold thread!

The golden phoenix pattern on the lining suddenly flashed in the gloomy sky. The golden light was dazzling and magnificent, forming a stark contrast with the dark gold background of the nightgown and the solemn environment. It was like the light of thunder that suddenly split the gray sky and earth, noble, dazzling, and carrying a sense of ruthless scrutiny!

This breathtaking splendor was fleeting, and the skirt fell down immediately.

But Murong Yan didn't withdraw her gaze. Her eyes were fixed precisely on the spot where her tail had just swept past—there, beneath the snow brushed aside by her skirt, a few distinct, dark brown grease stains were revealed, and even... a small, crushed fragment of oilcloth used to wrap weapons!

There seemed to still be a faint lingering scent in the air, brought by the cold wind...a mixture of rust and leather.

The laziness on Murong Yan's face instantly faded, transforming into an extreme, icy calm. She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze like two icy spikes, piercing the guard named Wang Zhen.

"Wang Zhen?" Her voice was gentle, yet it chilled the atmosphere around them. "I remember the deputy commander of Xihua Gate was Li Zhi, who served under Zhang Huan. When did you become the commander?"

Wang Zhen's forehead instantly broke out in sweat. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, General Li is unwell. I will be taking over for the time being..."

"Feeling unwell?" Murong Yan tilted her head slightly, her fingers curled slightly under her flared sleeves. "Did you feel unwell suddenly, or were you making me feel 'unwell'?"

Wang Zhen's body suddenly stiffened: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, why do you say that? I... I don't understand..."

"Don't understand?" Murong Yan slowly took a step forward, the five-meter tail dragging heavily behind her, making a heart-pounding friction sound.

She leaned forward slightly, her wide, flared sleeves falling down, almost touching Wang Zhen's lowered head. Her voice was extremely low, but like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue, it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"Then tell me, what's with those crossbows in the corner of your barracks that you haven't hidden yet?"

"Where did the black mud from the south of the city that's stuck on the soles of your soldiers' boots come from?"

"And..." Her voice suddenly became as sharp as a knife, "When did you get this scent of 'ambergris' specially made in Murong Hong's mansion?!"

"Your Majesty!" Wang Zhen looked up in horror, his face as pale as paper, his eyes filled with unbelievable fear!

How could she know?!

How could she know so clearly?!

"Take him down." Murong Yan stood up straight and swung her flared sleeves lightly. The sound was not loud, but it sounded like thunder!

The Fengling Guards behind him were already ready to go, and pounced like tigers and wolves upon hearing the order!

"Incompetent ruler! Receive your death!" Wang Zhen knew he had failed, and a flash of despair flashed in his eyes. He suddenly drew the sword from his waist and lunged at Murong Yan, who was within reach, with a roar! Several of his trusted soldiers behind him also suddenly attacked!

The scene suddenly became chaotic!

However, Murong Yan stood there, motionless.

She didn't even lift her eyelids, but just frowned slightly, as if she was disgusted by the cold light of the blade.

A dark shadow flashed out from behind her like a ghost!

The sword light flashed like a streak of silk!

"Pfft——!"

Blood spurts out!

Wang Zhen’s head shot up into the sky, with an expression of horror and unwillingness still frozen on his face!

The headless corpse fell heavily to the ground!

Several other rebels were also killed instantly! The smell of blood suddenly filled the cold air!

The whole process happened in a flash!

Murong Yan took a half step back and gracefully lifted the heavy five-meter tail to avoid getting it stained by the splattered blood.

She looked down at the ground and saw a trace of bright red blood splattered on the edge of the inky gold cotton trailing shoe, like a strange red plum blossom blooming on the snow.

She frowned even tighter, a trace of genuine annoyance and disgust flashing in her eyes: "It's dirty..."

As if this was more important than the bloody fight before them and the rebellion conspiracy that had just been exposed.

The remaining defenders were already terrified. They dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

Murong Yan slowly raised her eyes, her cold gaze sweeping across the messy scene and the soldiers kneeling on the ground, finally landing on the headless corpse.

"Clean it up," she ordered calmly, her tone as if sweeping away a fallen leaf. "Investigate all the guards at Xihua Gate, from top to bottom. All those implicated in the rebellion will be charged with treason, executed on the spot, and their heads will be hung at the city gate."

"Yes!" The leader of Fengling Guard obeyed the order solemnly.

Murong Yan turned around and prepared to leave, trailing the five-meter-long tail stained with blood.

After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped again. Without looking back, she spoke in a cold voice:

"Tell Murong Hong and Murong Zhang..."

Her voice paused, with a hint of playful cruel smile:

"Are you looking down on me by sending this kind of rubbish, or are you looking down on my clothes?"

"If you want to play, come in person."

"I'm waiting to change them into a brighter color."

After saying that, she walked away, her heavy tail dragging a luxurious and bloody trail on the blood-stained bluestone slabs.

Returning to her bedroom, Murong Yan immediately ordered her servants to prepare fragrant bath water. She carefully removed her luxurious nightgown, paying particular attention to the bloodstains on the hem of her train.

She sat by the bathtub herself, dipped her velvet-knotted hands in a special perfume, and carefully scrubbed the bloodstain bit by bit, her expression focused and distressed, as if she were repairing a priceless treasure.

Lin Zhen rushed over upon hearing the news, his face extremely solemn, his eyes filled with fear and murderous intent. He saw Murong Yan washing her nightgown with her own hands and quickly stepped forward.

Murong Yan raised her head and saw him. A trace of grievance and slight anger appeared on her face. She stretched out her wet hand (with the gloves off) and pointed at the faded bloodstain: "Husband... look... it's stained by their dirty blood..."

Lin Zhen felt a pang in his heart and held her hand: "It's okay, it will be clean. Yan'er was frightened."

"They want to kill me..." Murong Yan complained softly, her eyes as cold as ice, "They also want to ruin my clothes..."

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "Don't worry, Yan'er! I already know what happened at Xihua Gate! How dare the rebels infiltrate here! I will eradicate them completely!"

Murong Yan shook her head and returned her attention to cleaning the tail. Her voice became lazy and cruel: "No hurry... Pulling it out too quickly... It won't be fun..."

She gently stroked the golden wings of the giant phoenix on the brocade, and the corners of her mouth curled up in that familiar, enchanting and tyrannical arc:

"Isn't the New Year coming soon?"

"We have to keep some shows to liven up the atmosphere."

She raised her head and looked at Lin Zhen, her eyes clear but terrifying:

"Which is better, Murong Hong's skin for a drum or Murong Zhang's bones for a hairpin?"

Lin Zhen saw the undisguised anticipation for a bloody feast in her eyes, and his heart was shaken. However, he could only hold her slightly cold hand tighter and said in a deep voice, "...As long as Yan'er likes it, that's good."

Murong Yan smiled with satisfaction, lowered her head, and continued to wash her gorgeous clothes with concentration, as if that was the most important thing in the world.

Outside the window, the north wind was howling, carrying with it a bloody smell, and it seemed that snow was about to fall again.

The phoenix at the door cracks the armor, and the laughter talks about the blood-stained rebellion. The golden silk rolls up to wait for the festival, and all the rebel bones are embellished on the gorgeous robe.