On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the first year of Shenghui, there was a great court meeting.

The bloody smell in the Golden Palace had not yet completely dissipated. It was the trace left by the two old ministers who were beaten to death in court three days ago when Murong Yan promulgated the "New Rites of Daqian Shenghui" and banged their heads against the pillar to protest against the "collapse of rituals and music".

However, the iron fist and blood did not silence all the voices of opposition. Instead, they were like a compressed spring, accumulating an even more violent rebound force in the dark.

The century-old northern aristocratic families, led by the Taiyuan Wang family, the Qinghe Cui family, and the Fanyang Lu family, joined forces with some southern civil officials. Although they no longer dared to threaten death in court, they were carrying out silent resistance in a more feminine but stubborn way.

They delayed, misinterpreted, and acted in lip service, trying to eliminate this reform of etiquette and law that touched upon their fundamental interests.

The morning meeting was over and it was already afternoon.

Murong Yan did not change out of her court dress, but continued to wear the black and gold Su brocade cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" which had become a symbol of her power - the Divine Phoenix Descent Dress. With a frosty face and a five-meter-long train, she went straight back to Fenghuan Palace.

The hall was as warm as spring, but it couldn't dispel the biting coldness emanating from her body.

Lin Zhen followed closely behind. He was wearing the dark prince's uniform today, and there was a solemn look between his brows.

The seemingly submissive but actually veiled criticisms of the important officials from the aristocratic families in the court challenged Murong Yan's authority word for word, which made him more angry than direct confrontation.

As she entered the bedroom, Murong Yan turned around suddenly!

The action was filled with rage and impatience after being provoked!

The light and elegant five-meter-long Su Jin train was suddenly lifted up by the swift turn, and the huge dark golden skirt spread out like the wings of an enraged phoenix, sweeping across the smooth golden brick floor with a swish!

As the hem of the skirt suddenly floated up, it suddenly revealed the dazzling golden lining inside, which was embroidered with the pattern of hundreds of phoenixes facing the sun with the ultimate "gold weaving all over the ground" craftsmanship!

A golden light suddenly burst forth in the dimly lit hall, noble and dazzling, yet carrying a murderous aura that could burn everything to ashes! This formed a terrifying contrast with her icy expression at the moment.

The skirt falls down, and the brilliance is restrained.

But Murong Yan's fury was like solid ice, instantly permeating the entire chamber. The palace attendants were so frightened that they dropped to their knees, trembling in fear.

"Get out!" Her voice was not loud, but it was icy cold.

The palace servants retreated tumbling and crawling as if they had been pardoned, closing the palace door tightly.

There were only two of them left in the hall.

Murong Yan's chest rose and fell slightly, and it was obvious that she was still angry.

She walked a few steps to the window and pushed it open suddenly, letting the cold air in, as if to blow away the suffocating stuffiness in the hall.

Lin Zhen quickly stepped forward, took off his dark mink cloak, and gently draped it over her shoulders. He spoke in a low, distressed voice, "Yan'er, be careful not to catch a cold. It's not worth getting yourself hurt by those stubborn old men."

Murong Yan did not refuse his cloak, but she did not turn around either. She stared at the desolate courtyard outside the window and squeezed out a voice through her teeth:

"Do they really think I dare not touch them? The Wang, Cui, and Lu families, all of them are so righteous and full of morality, but behind the scenes they pretend to obey and procrastinate. Do they really think that my sword can't cut their necks?!"

She wore a black jade ring on her fingertips, which were tightly gripping the window frame, and her knuckles turned white.

Lin Zhen stood behind her, stretched out his hand, and gently pressed on her tense shoulders, his palm warm, trying to dissolve her coldness and anger.

"Yan'er, 'New Etiquette' touches upon the very foundation of their millennia-old empire. Naturally, they won't accept it. Since they dare not do it openly, they resort to covert tactics. In my opinion, this is actually a good thing."

Murong Yan turned around abruptly, a cold light in her phoenix eyes: "Good news?"

"Yes." Lin Zhen's eyes were calm as he analyzed, "If they had remained dormant, it would have been difficult for us to find an excuse. Now that they've jumped out, it gives us a perfect excuse to root them out."

There was murderous intent in his words.

Murong Yan looked at him quietly, the fury in her eyes gradually giving way to a cold calculation. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, her emotions seeming to calm down a little.

She reached out and touched Lin Zhen's hand on her shoulder, her fingertips slightly cold.

"My husband is right." Her voice returned to calm, but even more cruel. "I was a little impatient."

She pulled him and walked to the large warm couch covered with white tiger skin inside the bedroom and sat down.

She leaned lazily against the pillow, kicked off her soft satin phoenix-toed shoes, and tucked her snow-white feet into the warm mink mattress.

The wide, flared sleeves of her Divine Phoenix dress cascaded down her sides, and the dark gold Su brocade against the dark fur of the warm couch made her appear even more luxurious and mysterious. Part of the five-meter-long train lay on the couch, while the rest cascaded down the edge, blending seamlessly with the dark carpet.

"Then my husband, how do you think we should remove these annoying nails?" She looked up at Lin Zhen who was sitting beside the couch, her eyes filled with dependence and inquiry, as if the angry empress just now was just an illusion.

Lin Zhen poured her a cup of warm, soothing tea and handed it to her. He pondered for a moment, his eyes sharp as a knife. "First, we need to identify the key points. These aristocratic families rely on three things: first, monopolizing Confucian classics and controlling the path to officialdom through the imperial examinations; second, forming cliques through marriage and forming complex factions; and third, occupying extensive land, concealing the population, and maintaining private armies."

He paused, then continued, "Regarding the first point, Yan'er has already promulgated the 'New Rites,' which aims to deprive them of their right to interpret the classics. Next, we can order the Institute of Gewu and the Hanlin Academy to compile the 'Shenghui Dadian,' re-annotating the classics, history, and miscellaneous texts. They will establish as orthodox the views that are favorable to the new policies and loyal to Yan'er, and publish them throughout the country as the sole criterion for selecting candidates for the imperial examinations! Completely abolish the old system of learning on which they rely for survival!"

Murong Yan nodded slightly, took a sip of tea, and a glint of approval flashed in her eyes: "Continue."

"Second, forming a clique through marriage."

Lin Zhen's voice turned cold.

"You can have secret guards closely monitor the interactions between the major clans, especially regarding marriages. Look for any mistakes, even the smallest ones, and exploit them to depose the clan's leading officials, accusing them of forming a clique for personal gain and plotting something unlawful. At the same time, encourage marriages between the sons of humble families and those with military merit into smaller clans. Yan'er can even personally arrange marriages, cultivate new elites, and divide and disintegrate the alliances of the old clans."

"As for the third point, the widespread occupation of land and the concealment of the population," Lin Zhen's eyes flashed with a cold light, "this is their lifeblood. We can use the 'lower taxes and equal distribution of land' outlined in the 'New Rites' to re-survey the land and verify the household registration nationwide! Anyone found hiding their land will be severely punished! Their land will be confiscated and their population will be registered! This move will sever their economic foundation and source of manpower in one fell swoop!"

Every detail of his plan was fatal, and accurately struck the weak points of the noble families.

Murong Yan listened quietly, the frost on her face gradually melting, replaced by an almost excited, pre-hunting sharpness.

She put down the teacup, stretched out her hand, and gently stroked Lin Zhen's palm with the tip of her finger wearing the black jade ring.

"My husband is truly my Zhang Liang reincarnated." Her voice was lazily hoarse and full of undisguised admiration. "These methods are very much to my liking."

She suddenly straightened up, moved closer to Lin Zhen, put her arms around his neck, and stared at him with burning eyes: "But I think we can add a little more."

"Oh?" Lin Zhen put his arm around her waist, with a questioning look in his eyes.

Murong Yan's lips curled up cruelly. "Surveying the land and checking the household registration will make too much noise and easily alert the enemy. I want to give them a warning first."

Her eyes grew darker. "Let's start with the Wang family from Taiyuan, who's the loudest."

She paused, as if savoring the name.

"I heard that Wang Yunzhi, the eldest grandson of the Wang family, is a 'romantic talent'? It seems he's recently kept a rather beautiful singing girl in his villa outside Beijing."

Lin Zhen immediately understood, a cold and understanding flashing in his eyes: "I understand. The secret guards will make his 'romantic' known to everyone. And the identity of the singer will be very 'interesting'."

"Very good." Murong Yan smiled with satisfaction. That smile was beautiful but also terrifying. "When this matter becomes a big deal in the city, I will dismiss Wang Xun, the head of the Wang family, from his position and strip Wang's title on the grounds of 'lack of moral character and disgrace to the family.' Let's see who dares to be the first to speak out again!"

As she spoke, the murderous intent in her eyes grew stronger. "And it's also reasonable to assume that a few tenants on the farms of the Cui and Lu families 'accidentally' died, or that a warehouse 'accidentally' flooded and caused heavy losses."

This is not just a political struggle, but a naked conspiracy and persecution that will go to any extreme!

Lin Zhen hugged her tightly, his voice low and firm: "It makes sense. Very reasonable. Your husband will arrange it perfectly."

His embrace was both support and a promise to sink together.

After receiving his affirmation, Murong Yan seemed to relax completely.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and the decisiveness she had just shown disappeared in an instant. Her tone became soft and dependent: "My husband, I am tired. The quarrel in the court just now gave me a headache."

Lin Zhen's heart was filled with infinite love and pity, and he gently stroked her back: "I know. Those fools are not worthy of Yan'er's trouble."

He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. "I'll carry you to take a shower and change clothes, okay? Then I'll give you a head massage."

Murong Yan let out a soft "hmm" in his arms, like a cat whose fur was being stroked.

Lin Zhen picked her up and walked towards the bathing pool at the back of the bedroom.

Murong Yan snuggled up to him obediently, her arms wrapped around his neck and her cheek pressed against his chest.

The five-meter-long dark golden tail hung down and swayed behind him with his steps, gorgeous and fragile.

In the misty hot spring pool, Murong Yan took off her divine phoenix dress, and her inky black hair floated on the water.

Lin Zhen did not leave, but rolled up his sleeves and personally combed her long hair and massaged her shoulders and neck.

His movements were gentle and focused, as if he was washing away all the dust and hostility she had just picked up.

After taking a shower and changing her clothes, Murong Yan put on a new, equally gorgeous set of pajamas, but did not wear the Divine Phoenix Dress again.

She lay lazily on the warm couch, while Lin Zhen sat beside her, massaging the acupoints on her temples and head with just the right amount of force.

The candlelight in the hall flickered and the aroma lingered.

The tense situation in the court just now and the tenderness and warmth in the bedroom at this moment formed an extremely strange contrast.

Murong Yan closed her eyes, enjoying her husband's service, and suddenly spoke softly, with a hint of tiredness and satisfaction in her voice: "It's good to have my husband here."

Lin Zhen's hands didn't stop moving, his voice was as gentle as water: "Your husband will always be here. I will always be with Yan'er, protect Yan'er, and clear all obstacles for Yan'er."

Murong Yan turned over, stretched out her hand to grab his collar, and pulled him towards her. She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with water, and with an almost paranoid possessive desire: "We agreed not to regret it."

"I will never regret it." Lin Zhen leaned over and kissed her lips deeply.

At this moment, all the conspiracies, killings, and court disturbances seemed to be isolated.