On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The farce of "auspicious sign turned into a joke" at the Autumn Hunting Ceremony was like a basin of cold water, which completely dampened the enthusiasm of the aristocratic families who wanted to use "God's will" to force the emperor to abdicate.

After Wang's son, who had made such an elaborate plan, was "invited" by Murong Yan to the palace for a "chat", he disappeared without a trace.

The rest of the officials who participated in the commotion were exiled to the border areas, and the effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was immediate.

In the court, everyone was silent for a while, and no one dared to discuss the matters of "heaven's will" and "female leader" in public.

However, this dead silence was not surrender.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen both knew that the family's hundreds of years of foundation would never collapse because of one or two setbacks.

They are like wounded beasts, licking their wounds, burying their hatred and fear deep down, and continuing this war for survival in a more forbearing and cunning way.

This war shifted from the front stage to behind the scenes, from fierce confrontation to a long process of consumption and erosion.

After the autumn hunt, we returned to the imperial city of Chang'an. It was already late autumn.

The bleak autumn wind whirled up the withered yellow leaves, adding a touch of solemnity to the grand palace. Inside Fenghuan Palace, however, the early-lit earthen dragons made it feel as warm as spring.

Murong Yan seemed to particularly enjoy the quietness of late autumn. She had been attending court less and less recently, with most government affairs handled by Lin Zhen and the cabinet, with only major decisions being made by her.

At that moment, she was wearing her black and gold Sujin cotton nightgown, the "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix"—the "Divine Phoenix Descent Dress," lazily nestling on the chaise longue by the window of her bedroom study. The chaise longue was covered with thick silver fox fur, providing warmth and comfort.

Lin Zhen sat at his desk beside the couch, processing a mountain of memorials. His expression was focused, sometimes writing, sometimes frowning in thought. But whenever Murong Yan made the slightest movement, he would immediately look up, his eyes gentle.

The contrast between the warm candlelight in the study and the bleak autumn scenery outside the window makes the Divine Phoenix Dress appear even more luxurious and tranquil. The extremely dark black Su Jin base absorbs the warm light in the room, and the color becomes increasingly calm and profound, as if it can isolate all the noise outside.

The woven golden cotton wool and real gold thread exude soft and warm dark golden waves, intertwined with the fragrance of ink and tea in the study.

Above the nightgown, the towering phoenix had also retracted its sharp edge. The cascading lines of its feathers appeared exceptionally smooth and soft in the light, like a guardian bird resting in a warm nest. The black diamonds in the phoenix's eyes had a warm luster.

One of her wide and light bell sleeves fell over the edge of the couch, and the gold tassels on the cuffs occasionally brushed against the silver fox fur, while the other was casually draped over her bent knee. In her hand, she held a leisurely travel journal, but she did not read it closely.

The black jade ring on her left thumb glowed with a lustrous luster as she turned it unconsciously.

The five-meter-long Su Jin train was not restrained, but spread freely and windingly across a large soft carpet in front of the couch. The dark gold brocade and the intricate auspicious patterns on the carpet complemented each other, exuding a homely comfort in its splendor.

The soft and skin-friendly cotton and the loose design of the nightgown allow her to maintain a comfortable posture for a long time.

"Husband," Murong Yan suddenly put down the book and called softly, her voice a little lazy and hoarse, "How is the investigation going?"

What she was asking about was the movements of the families after the Autumn Hunt.

Hearing the sound, Lin Zhen put down his red brush, stood up, walked to the edge of the couch, and sat down naturally. He took her slightly cold feet into his arms and warmed them with the warmth of his palms. His movements were skillful and natural, as if he had done it a thousand times.

"Yan'er," he said in a deep voice as he warmed her feet, "On the surface, the Wang and Cui families have become much quieter. Their children are studying at home, and their officials are cautious in their words and actions. But secretly, they are making quite a move."

"Oh?" Murong Yan raised her eyebrows with interest, leaned towards him, and motioned him to continue.

"First, economically," Lin Zhen said, "they seem to have given up on confronting Yan'er head-on in the capital and instead transferred large amounts of capital to wealthy areas far from the imperial center, such as Jiangnan and Lingnan. They've aggressively acquired land and mines, controlled grain transport nodes, and attempted to build an economic system independent of the imperial court's control. Their methods are more covert, operating through countless white gloves and a complex network of trading companies, making it difficult to directly seize evidence."

"Secondly, in terms of culture," Lin Zhen continued, "they haven't stopped their media campaign, but their methods have changed. They no longer spread rumors, but instead funded talented but unsuccessful scholars from humble backgrounds. They either compiled books and biographies, subtly disparaging the New Deal. They formed lecture societies, promoting 'natural rituals and laws' and 'ruling by inaction,' implicitly criticizing Yan'er's 'active' policies for disturbing the people. Even worse, they began compiling local chronicles and family genealogies, vigorously glorifying the history of their aristocratic families, emphasizing their status as 'family traditions of poetry and rituals' and 'pillars of the nation,' building momentum for a possible future 'restoration of order.'"

"Third, regarding official careers." Lin Zhen frowned slightly. "They have some of the family's well-known and capable sons and daughters voluntarily apply for transfers to remote or overcrowded prefectures and counties. They call it 'experience' and 'sharing the emperor's worries,' but in reality they are accumulating grassroots political achievements and connections, attempting to 'save the country in a roundabout way.' At the same time, they strictly require those in the family who are currently serving in the court to 'diligently serve the emperor,' and even take the initiative to expose minor issues that are insignificant, in order to create an image of 'self-sacrifice and dedication to the public good' and paralyze us."

Lin Zhen's report was clear and comprehensive, thoroughly analyzing the family's new strategy of "keeping a low profile, accumulating strength, and waiting for the right opportunity." This was no longer a reckless counterattack, but a long-term confrontation based on patience and foresight.

Murong Yan listened quietly, her face devoid of any surprise, and even a faint, playful smile lingered at the corner of her mouth. She let Lin Zhen hold her foot, her fingertips adorned with a black jade ring, gently rubbing circles in his palm.

"Transferring assets, compiling a biography, and sending him down to gain experience," she repeated softly, as if savoring her opponent's new tactics. "Finally, he's learned his lesson and realized that direct confrontation won't work."

There was a hint of condescension in her tone.

"Yan'er, should we take measures to curb it? For example, strengthen the supervision of Jiangnan's finances and taxation, or ban those books that contain innuendos?" Lin Zhen asked, with a fierce look in his eyes.

Murong Yan shook her head and took his hand, her fingertips slightly cold. "No rush."

Her voice was lazy, but it carried an unquestionable determination. "If they want to play for a long time, I will play with them."

She cast a deep gaze at the falling leaves outside the window. "Banning books will only make me appear narrow-minded, which is exactly what they want. Strengthening supervision is necessary, but there's no need to make a big fuss and alert the enemy. Let the secret guards and the Ministry of Revenue slowly figure out their capital flows and industrial networks."

"As for those who were sent down to gain experience..." Murong Yan raised her lips with a cold arc.

"Let them go. How can we treat remote counties so easily? The people's lives are difficult, and banditry is rampant. They are just the right place to sift the sand for me. If they are gold, they will shine, and I will reward them generously. If they are fools, let them die in office, and I will save them the trouble."

Her attitude was full of calmness and coldness, like a cat playing with mouse.

She was not afraid of the aristocratic families lying dormant, but instead wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to kill with a borrowed knife and let the fittest survive.

"That cultural offensive..." Lin Zhen was still a little worried.

Murong Yan turned her head and looked at him, a glint of wisdom flashing in her phoenix eyes. "How can cultural disputes be banned? If they can revise the book, why can't I do the same? Send an order to the Hanlin Academy to compile the 'Sacred Emblem Codex', gathering the achievements of the past and present and promoting the benefits of the new policies! If they form societies and give lectures, I will hold 'Jingyan' and personally debate the classics with the scholars of the world! With an upright and upright army, I will defeat those evil tricks!"

This is to fundamentally fight for the right to speak and build cultural confidence!

Lin Zhen watched her strategizing, his eyes filled with admiration and love. His Yan'er always saw deeper and further.

"I understand." He nodded. "Only when a frog is boiled in warm water can its true strength be seen. I was just too impatient."

Seeing that he understood, Murong Yan showed a satisfied smile on her face.

She pulled her feet back and huddled herself in his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her face on his chest. Her voice was filled with weariness and dependence: "My husband, I'll leave these trivial matters to you and the cabinet. I'm too lazy to spend too much time on those withered bones in the tomb. If you have that time, you might as well spend more time with me."

This wasn't a shirking of responsibility, but rather the ultimate trust. She left the specific execution to him, while she focused on the general direction.

Lin Zhen felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Okay, Yan'er, don't worry. Everything is up to you. You should have a good rest. Don't worry about these troubles."

Murong Yan sighed contentedly in his arms, like a cat that had found its home. The two of them embraced each other, savoring the rare tranquility before the storm. The flickering candlelight in the study cast its embrace against the wall, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere.

After a long moment, Murong Yan seemed a little bored and moved slightly. Lin Zhen understood and loosened his grip. Murong Yan raised her head from his embrace and gazed at the huge screen in the corner of the study, which depicted the mountains and rivers of the Daqian region. Her eyes wandered.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she gently pushed Lin Zhen aside and walked barefoot towards the screen. The five-meter-long tail slid silently across the carpet behind her.

She stood in front of the screen, her eyes sweeping over the spheres of influence of the major clans marked on it. The black jade ring on her finger slowly traced across the words "Taiyuan" and "Qinghe".

Then, she turned around suddenly!

The action was carried out with a decisiveness that came from looking at the overall situation and a barely perceptible arrogance!

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 proudly like the wings of a phoenix, sweeping across the thick carpet with a swish!

As the hem of the skirt suddenly floated up, the "gold woven all over the ground" lining, which was densely woven with gold threads and shimmered brilliantly under the candlelight, was revealed!

The pattern of a hundred phoenixes facing the sun shines in an instant, shining with golden light, noble and dazzling, and with a majestic demeanor that includes the vast rivers and mountains and the century-old family into the chess game, and places the pieces calmly!

The skirt falls down, and the brilliance is restrained.

Murong Yan looked at Lin Zhen, a meaningful smile on her lips: "Husband, how long do you think this game of chess will last?"

Lin Zhen walked over to her, held her hand, and said with a firm look: "No matter how long it takes, your husband will play with you to the end. Until only the pieces we want are left on the chessboard."

Murong Yan smiled, a bright and genuine smile. She took the initiative to snuggle into his arms: "Okay, then we will go down slowly."

Outside the window, the autumn wind blew, and undercurrents surged. But within the study of Fenghuan Palace, the emperor and empress embraced each other, and with immense patience and tacit understanding, they began to lay out a longer and more thrilling game.