On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

In the early spring of the first year of Shenghui, the chill had not yet dissipated.

The bloody threat from the Golden Throne Hall was still ringing in her ears, but Murong Yan knew very well that to deal with those century-old clans with profound foundation and flourishing branches, relying on just one thunder killing was far from enough.

That would only make them temporarily dormant and move their resistance deeper and more hidden underground.

What she needed was a blunt knife to cut the flesh, a frog boiled in warm water, a protracted war without the smoke of gunpowder but enough to drain away their century-old foundation.

The prelude to this battle was quietly opened in the extremely luxurious and warm world of Fenghuan Palace, as she and Lin Zhen were whispering to each other.

On this day, the afternoon sun shone through the thin clouds, bringing some warmth.

In the bedroom of Fenghuan Palace, the heating of the floor was just right, neither too hot nor too cold.

Murong Yan was still wearing the black and gold Su Jin cotton nightgown that seemed to have merged with her - the Divine Phoenix Descent Dress, and was lazily leaning on a soft couch covered with white tiger skin by the window.

Unlike in the past, there were no snacks or books on the low table on the couch. Instead, a huge silk map was spread out, marking the distribution of power in the various states and counties of Daqian. The core spheres of influence of the major clans were circled in fine red ink.

Lin Zhen sat beside the couch, dressed in moon-white casual clothes, his black hair loosely tied up. He held a small silver knife in his hand and was carefully peeling a juicy snow pear for Murong Yan. His movements were graceful and focused, and the peel he peeled was as thin as a cicada's wing, continuous and uninterrupted.

Under the soft diffuse light of spring, the Phoenix Dress presents a homely and lazy beauty.

The extremely dark black Su Jin base material absorbs the light and has a calm color. The golden cotton wool and real gold thread woven into it exude gentle dark golden waves.

The wings of the giant phoenix on her nightgown seemed to have lost their edge, appearing even more graceful in the quiet afternoon. One of her wide, light trumpet sleeves draped over the edge of the couch, while the other casually draped over the edge of the map. The gold tassels on her cuffs occasionally brushed against the inscription "Taiyuan Wang Family" on the map.

The black jade ring on her left thumb shone with a subtle luster under the light.

The five-meter-long Su Jin tail was not deliberately trimmed, but was spread out arbitrarily and windingly on a large area of ​​smooth golden brick floor in front of the couch. The dark gold brocade was like splashed ink, contrasting with the silk color of the map on the couch, as if she herself was a part of this chess game.

The softness of the cotton and the looseness of the nightgown allowed her to stay comfortable in this atmosphere that required a long period of thinking.

"Husband," Murong Yan didn't look at the map. Instead, she squinted her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face. Her voice was lazy, like a cat basking in the sun. "Is this pear sweet?"

Lin Zhen passed a slice of peeled pear flesh to her lips and said gently, "Yan'er, try it and you'll know. This is the Yu Lu Snow Pear, which was just imported from the south. It's sweet and juicy, and it's great for soothing the lungs."

Murong Yan took it, chewing it carefully. The sweet juice made her eyes narrow in satisfaction. After she swallowed the pear flesh, her eyes lazily glanced at the map on the couch. The black jade ring on her finger unconsciously circled the mark of "Qinghe Cui Family" on the map.

"The Cui family..." she muttered softly, her tone unrecognizable as either joy or anger. "What are they most famous for? I think it's their collection of books? They're known as 'The Cui Family Library, the best in the world'?"

Lin Zhen handed over another piece of pear flesh and continued, "Indeed. The Cui family has been studying the Spring and Autumn Annals for generations, and their students and former officials are spread across the court, the country, and the prefectures and counties. Their library is truly overflowing with books, many of which are rare and valuable, and not even the imperial library might have them. Scholars across the world would be honored to have the privilege of visiting the Cui family library."

His words contained objective analysis without any praise or criticism.

"Oh..." Murong Yan stretched out her words, a faint, playful smile curling her lips. "Having lots of books is a good thing... knowledge should be shared..." She paused, speaking casually, "Husband, what do you think the Cui family would do if I decreed that their library be open to all scholars who passed the provincial examination?"

Lin Zhen paused as he peeled the pear, a glint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He looked at Murong Yan, who still looked lazy, but deep in her phoenix eyes, a cold and calculating look flickered.

This move, seemingly promoting culture and education, was actually an attempt to undermine the Cui family's monopoly on knowledge. Once the collection of books was opened, the Cui family's greatest asset in attracting scholars and maintaining its position as an academic leader would be greatly devalued!

"The Cui family..." Lin Zhen pondered, "They will certainly use reasons like 'ancestral teachings' and 'precious treasures are hard to come by' to vehemently oppose it, pretending to obey but secretly disobeying."

"Objection?" Murong Yan chuckled and ate another piece of pear. "Then it's not up to them."

Her fingertips moved away from the Cui family and pointed at the "Fanyang Lu family." "I heard that the Lu family has the most land? And they have tens of thousands of hidden tenants?"

"Yes. The Lu family owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land throughout Hebei. Most of the clan members do not engage in production and rely entirely on land rent for their survival. Hiding the population and evading taxes are common practices." Lin Zhen added that he knew the ins and outs of these clans very well.

"Hmm..." Murong Yan seemed to be lost in thought, tapping the map lightly with her fingertips. "I remember there was a clause in the 'Daqian New Rites' that encouraged land reclamation. Newly reclaimed land would be exempt from taxation for three years."

"It's true."

"That's good..." Murong Yan's smile deepened, with a hint of cruel innocence. "Send the imperial edict to the Hebei Province, saying that the court will vigorously encourage the reclamation of wasteland, especially those uncultivated wastelands near the Lu family's land. These can be distributed first to refugees and retired soldiers. The court will not only exempt them from taxes for three years, but also provide seeds and farm tools."

This move is even more ruthless!

In name, it is to encourage land reclamation, but in reality it is to encroach on the land resources of the Lu family, and may even cause conflict between the Lu family and the civilians who obtain the land!

Moreover, once civilians settle on those "wastelands", it will be difficult for the Lu family to take these lands into their possession.

Lin Zhen's eyes showed even more admiration. "Yan'er, this plan is brilliant. It's like boiling a frog in warm water, without making a sound. If the Lu family blocks it, they will be opposing the imperial court's policy of benefiting the people. If they let it go, the foundation of their land will be shaken."

Murong Yan seemed to be somewhat pleased with the compliment, like a cat being stroked, and slumped back into the soft couch. She raised her hand and gently tapped Lin Zhen's nose with her fingertips, her tone tinged with pouty, "It's all thanks to my husband's accurate intelligence, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of this."

Her gaze fell back on the map, this time, looking at the "Taiyuan Wang Family".

She didn't speak immediately, but looked at him quietly for a long time, and the laziness in her eyes was gradually replaced by a deeper calculation.

"The Wang family..." she whispered to herself, "They've been entrenched in Taiyuan for hundreds of years. They have deep roots and strong ties to the military. We'll have to use more subtle methods to move against them."

She suddenly turned her head and looked at Lin Zhen, a sly glint in her phoenix eyes. "My dear, if I set up a 'Northern Armaments Manufacturing Bureau' in Taiyuan, with the imperial court directly managing it and prioritizing the recruitment of needed iron materials and craftsmen from local sources, but with management rights vested in the Ministry of Works, would those children of the Wang family still be able to easily meddle with military supplies and enrich themselves as they did before?"

This has directly severed the Wang family's ties with the military in terms of economic lifeline and personnel arrangements!

The establishment of a centrally-managed agency is equivalent to driving a nail into the Wang family's territory, which can not only utilize local resources but also effectively monitor and limit the Wang family's influence.

Lin Zhen put down the silver knife and the small knife, picked up the warm wet towel and wiped his hands, then held Murong Yan's hand, his eyes deep: "No. If this game succeeds, the Wang family will be like losing an arm.

Moreover, this move is legitimate and is for the purpose of strengthening the army and consolidating the country. Even if the Wang family is extremely reluctant, it will be difficult to find a legitimate reason to oppose it."

Murong Yan interlocked her fingers with his, the black jade ring rubbing against his fingers. A satisfied smile crossed her face, the kind of satisfaction a chess player feels after making a move. "Then... let's do this." Her tone was light and casual, as if what was being decided wasn't the fate of a century-old family, but rather what to eat for dinner.

She seemed a little tired, yawning slightly, leaning her head back on the pillow and closing her eyes. "My husband, you and the ministers will discuss the specific procedures. I will only set the direction..."

Her voice was tired.

Lin Zhen looked at her tired face, and his heart was filled with infinite love and pity. He knew that these seemingly casual "chat" actually consumed a huge amount of her energy.

He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Okay, Yan'er, rest assured. Your husband will take care of everything."

When he approached, Murong Yan unconsciously put her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and murmured, "Husband, hold me for a while..."

Lin Zhen sat down beside the couch and gently pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against him for comfort. Murong Yan, like a bird that had found a warm nest, soon began to breathe evenly and seemed to fall asleep.

The sunlight filtered through the window lattice, falling on the two people hugging each other, as well as on the map that marked the general situation of the world, and on the dark golden train of the elegant and graceful Divine Phoenix Dress next to the map.

The hall was silent, with only the sounds of each other's heartbeats and breathing.

However, beneath this warm appearance, a more elaborate and lengthy drama of dismemberment targeting the aristocratic families has officially begun with Murong Yan's seemingly lazy words.

She no longer sought to kill them with one blow, but instead, like a spider weaving a web, slowly entangled and bound these behemoths until they were exhausted and bled to death.

After an unknown amount of time, Murong Yan unconsciously turned her head back in her sleep.

The light and elegant five-meter-long Su Jin train was lifted by this subtle movement, and the dark golden skirt fluttered slightly in an arc, revealing a corner of the gorgeous lining woven with dense gold thread.

The golden light flashed by, just like the cold and firm will hidden beneath her gentle sleeping face.