On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the New Year's bell seemed to be ringing in my ears, but the capital city fell into a suffocating silence.

The heavy snow for several days covered the streets and roofs, but it could not hide the icy panic and restlessness that seeped through the cracks.

The rumors in the streets are no longer whispers, but almost open resentment and expectations - resentment towards the extravagance and cruelty of Empress Murong Yan, and hope that the two princes who were "unjustly killed" can "clear the court and rectify the world" as soon as possible!

The huge web of rebellion between Prince Jingbei Murong Hong and Prince Anping Murong Zhang has been woven into its last few threads.

The huge amount of military pay has been raised through smuggling, embezzlement, and even stealing burial objects from the imperial tomb (an extremely vicious rumor)!

The secretly reorganized private army has been broken up into small groups and sneaked into the capital area in batches, hiding in many manors, mountains and even abandoned mines. They are well-equipped and have crazy morale, just waiting for the order!

What’s even more deadly is that through coercion and inducement, they successfully incited some middle and lower-level officers of the "Shenshu Camp" among the three major camps in the capital!

These officers were dissatisfied with the new military system implemented by Lin Zhen, and were deeply disappointed with Murong Yan's "stupidity". They were easily misled by the slogan of "restoring the old system and revitalizing Murong"!

The blade of rebellion has been sharpened and is approaching the throat of the imperial city.

However, deep in the palace, the aroma from the warm room and the heat from the earthen dragons dispelled all the cold.

Murong Yan was wearing that gorgeous and dreamy black and gold Su brocade cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix". She was lying lazily on the chaise longue by the window. The five-meter-long Su brocade train was like an inky golden river, naturally and meandering across the large area of ​​mirror-like golden brick floor in front of the couch. The gems inlaid on it reflected quiet and dazzling starlight under the soft light of the palace lanterns.

This nightgown is truly exquisite.

The extremely black Su Jin base material is woven with natural golden cotton wool and real gold threads as thin as gossamer with peerless craftsmanship, giving the fabric itself a mysterious texture of dark golden waves flowing in the bottomless ink color. It feels cool and silky to the touch, light as if it does not weigh anything, yet luxurious and natural.

On top of the nightgown, there is a giant phoenix that covers almost the entire robe and even the tail. It is embroidered with red gold threads of different twists, thicknesses, and glossiness, using the lost techniques of "gold-plated embossed velvet" and "feather embroidery"!

The phoenix feathers are layered and lifelike, flowing like molten red gold, deep and heavy like precipitated dark gold, or flickering like flowing golden sand. Just by the infinite changes of gold, the majestic momentum of the giant phoenix flapping its wings, ready to fly, noble and majestic, overlooking all living beings is outlined!

The phoenix eyes were inlaid with two huge, perfectly cut black diamonds, cold and penetrating, as if they could see through all the darkness in people's hearts.

The wide and light trumpet sleeves adopt a layered design. The cuffs are made of the same color black Su brocade as the base, and the intricate cloud-thunder phoenix feather pattern is embroidered with red gold thread as thin as a hair. The edges are rolled with fine tassels made of alternating red gold beads and tiny black pearls. It glistens and shines when moving, which is extraordinary and light.

The whole nightgown is made of top-grade Sujin craftsmanship and skin-friendly cotton. Although it looks gorgeous and heavy, it is actually very light, soft and comfortable. However, Murong Yan still likes to let the five-meter-long train drag freely on the ground, enjoying the supreme majesty and sense of belonging brought by its layout.

Her long, cloud-like black hair was untied, draped over the gorgeous pattern of her dark gold nightgown and the snow-white mink cushions.

She didn't hold anything in her hands, but used her slender fingers wearing black velvet knuckles of the same color to gently stroke a black gold inlay the size of a pigeon egg on the edge of the train of her nightgown. Her eyes were empty, looking at the red plum blossoms in the courtyard outside the window that were bent by the snow, as if she was immersed in a quiet world isolated from the world, with only her and this gorgeous dress.

Four palace maids stood in the corner with their heads bowed, like clay sculptures or wooden statues.

Very light but hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall, and Lin Zhen walked in. His face was calm, but the heaviness between his brows and the murderous intent deep in his eyes could not be concealed.

He just received a secret report that there were unusual movements in the Shenshu Camp!

Some military officers are secretly colluding and plotting something bad!

And it has deep connections with the forces of the two princes!

He waved his hand to send the palace maid away.

He walked to the side of the couch and did not speak immediately. He just looked deeply at the lazy person on the couch. His eyes were complicated, full of endless worries and an almost pious desire to protect.

Murong Yan didn't seem to notice his solemnity. She slowly turned her head and her eyes fell on the corners of his slightly pursed lips. She gently raised her hand from under her trumpet sleeves and pointed at the air with her fingertips: "Husband...you are frowning...it's not good..."

Her voice was soft, with a lazy and hoarse voice, as if she had just woken up.

Lin Zhen's heart ached. He forced a smile and stepped forward to hold her slightly cold hand. "Nothing, just some trivial matters bothering me. Yan'er, would you like some bird's nest?"

Murong Yan gently withdrew her hand and looked out the window again. Her nostrils twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if she smelled something in the air.

She frowned slightly, and her hands under the wide flared sleeves unconsciously clenched the soft fabric of her nightgown.

"It smells..." She murmured softly, as if in a dream, "Rust, sweat, and inferior ambition, it smells bad to me..."

A chill suddenly ran down Lin Zhen's spine!

He has not yet reported the matter of the Shenshu Camp!

She...she can...

Murong Yan slowly sat up, and Su Jin's nightgown made extremely subtle rubbing sounds as she moved, and the five-meter-long train also slid along with it.

She glanced vaguely towards the palace gate, her eyes still lazy, but with a hint of cold sharpness.

"Those hungry wild dogs in the Shenshu Camp are starting to wag their tails again, right?" she asked softly, her tone as calm as if she was asking about today's weather.

Lin Zhen's pupils suddenly shrank and he looked up at her!

Murong Yan, however, didn't seem to need his answer. She tilted her head slightly, her flared sleeve covering her lips, as if she was thinking: "Did Murong Hong promise them high positions and generous salaries? Or did Murong Zhang agree to let them restore the ancestral system?"

Every word she said was like an ice spike, accurately piercing the core of the secret information that Lin Zhen had just learned!

She slowly stood up, her five-foot-long silken tresses trailing lightly yet majestically on the ground. She walked to the incense burner, her hand beneath her bell-shaped sleeves gently stirring the curling smoke from the incense burner. Her voice was filled with a hint of annoyance: "This incense...can't suppress that stench..."

She suddenly turned around!

The movements are graceful yet with an undeniable swiftness!

The light and elegant five-meter-long Su Jin train was suddenly lifted up by the sudden turn, and the huge dark golden skirt floated up like a flowing cloud, brushing across the mirror-like golden brick floor with a swish!

As the hem of the skirt suddenly floated up, it suddenly revealed the gorgeous lining underneath. It was made of the same dark black Su brocade as the base, but with a shinier and fuller red gold thread, and with the ultimate craftsmanship of "weaving gold all over the ground", and was embroidered with hundreds of phoenixes facing the sun, entwined lotus patterns, and patterns of longevity and blessings!

The golden phoenix and floral patterns on the lining suddenly flashed under the illumination of the palace lanterns. The golden light was dazzling and brilliant, gorgeous and glorious to the extreme, forming a thrilling contrast with the dark gold background of the nightgown. It was noble and dazzling, as if the golden light of the scorching sun suddenly exploded in the quiet palace, bringing with it ruthless insight and absolute oppression!

The skirt falls down, and the brilliance is restrained.

But Murong Yan's eyes were completely cold. She looked at Lin Zhen, her voice clear and calm, yet it carried a crushing pressure: "Go and check. All the lieutenant generals, guerrillas, and captains in the Shenshu Camp... within three days, give me a list. Who has a crooked heart, who has dirty hands..."

She raised her chin slightly, her flared sleeves swaying softly, and spoke in a light, yet chilling tone: "Dig out their hearts... and feed them to the dogs. Chop off their hands and feet and send them to their former masters as a gift."

"Melt down the military pay they embezzled and cast it into kneeling statues, which we will place at the gates of their camps."

"Burn their chained letters and stuff the ashes into their mouths."

Her tone was as if she were discussing how to decorate the courtyard: "As for those two uncles hiding in the gutter and gnawing at the country..."

The corners of her mouth curled up in an extremely cruel and joyful arc, and her eyes flashed with excitement:

"Tell them I appreciate the soldiers they trained for me."

"I will personally review it during the New Year's ancestral worship."

"Use their spines for drumsticks."

"Use their skins to frame my battle banner."

After saying that, she stopped looking at Lin Zhen, and walked slowly back to the couch with her gorgeous five-meter-long train. She leaned back lazily and picked up the long black jade hairpin to play with it again, as if the cold and bloody order that decided the life and death of countless people had never been issued.

Lin Zhen stood there, his heart surging with emotions. He was shocked by her almost demonic insight and coldness, and also felt uneasy about the upcoming cleansing that would inevitably result in a river of blood.

He took a deep breath, suppressing all his worries and fears. Only absolute obedience and a chilling killing intent remained in his eyes. He bowed and said in a deep voice, "...Your Majesty, I obey your command."

He turned and strode away, his steps steady but filled with the determination to crush everything.

Murong Yan looked at his departing back, the cruel arc at the corner of her mouth slowly widened, and finally turned into a strange and beautiful smile.

She gently stroked the giant phoenix's cold black diamond eyes on her nightgown and whispered to herself, her voice filled with a trembling expectation:

"The dog is about to bite its owner."

"Just in time, my new clothes are still missing some golden piping."

Outside the window, the wind and snow were getting stronger, as if they were going to bury the entire capital city completely.