On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, just after midnight.

The bedroom of Fenghuan Palace was brightly lit with candles and the heating was warm, which seemed like two different worlds compared to the bitter winter outside.

Murong Yan had not slept soundly. She was wearing the black and gold Su Jin cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" - the "Divine Phoenix Descent" dress, and a black and gold Su Jin shawl that trailed on the ground. She was lazily leaning on a soft couch covered with white tiger skin.

Spread out on the rosewood table in front of the couch was the detailed confession that was tortured out of the assassin last night.

Every word and sentence directly points to Wang Yunzhi, the son of Wang Xun, the head of the Taiyuan Wang family, and his conspiracy with Goguryeo envoy Park Yongzhong.

Lin Zhen was not wearing court robes, but a dark casual suit, sitting beside the couch.

He held a small and exquisite jade hammer in his hand and was gently tapping Murong Yan's calves to relieve her fatigue from walking during the day.

His movements were delicate and gentle, but his eyes would occasionally glance at the confession, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.

The Divine Phoenix Dress glowed with a quiet brilliance under the warm candlelight in the bedroom.

The extremely dark black Su Jin base material absorbs the light, its color is as calm as the abyss, and the golden cotton wool and real gold thread woven into it emit warm dark golden waves.

Above the nightgown, the towering phoenix suppressed all hostility in the room, with its feathers layered, looking luxurious and graceful.

One of the wide and light bell sleeves hung softly over the edge of the couch, while the other rested on Lin Zhen's moving wrist.

The black jade ring on her left thumb was warm in the light.

The train of the Su brocade, together with the hem of the shawl, was not laid out in an orderly manner, but was spread out in a winding and even somewhat arbitrarily manner on the expensive and soft Persian carpet in front of the couch. The dark gold brocade was interwoven with the intricate patterns of the carpet, exuding unquestionable majesty in the warm atmosphere.

Murong Yan wore a black jade ring on her fingertips, which unconsciously brushed across the three words "Wang Yunzhi" on the confession. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, and her mood was unremarkable.

"My dear, you see, the Wang family really won't cry until they see the coffin." Her voice was a little lazy and hoarse, as if she was talking about an insignificant matter.

Lin Zhen put down the jade hammer, held her slightly cold hand, and said in a deep voice: "Colluding with foreign enemies and assassinating the king is a crime that cannot be forgiven. How do you plan to deal with Yan'er?"

Murong Yan interlocked her fingers with his, a faint, cold smile forming on her lips. "How should we deal with them? Of course, we should invite them over for a cup of tea and have a good chat."

Her tone was gentle, yet chilling.

As soon as she finished speaking, the commander of the secret guards came from outside the palace with a low but clear voice: "Your Majesty, Prince, the traitor Wang Yunzhi has been brought in and is being held in a side hall awaiting trial."

Amazingly efficient!

It took only two hours from obtaining the confession to carrying out the arrest!

This shows the extent of Murong Yan's control over the capital.

Murong Yan slowly sat up, and Lin Zhen immediately tied a thick fox fur cloak around her. Even though they were walking in the palace, he was afraid that she would catch a cold.

Murong Yan let him serve her, but her eyes were already cast at the dark night outside the hall, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Let's go, my husband," she said softly, stepping barefoot onto the soft shoes that had been prepared long ago, "Let's go meet this Qilin child of the Wang family."

The side hall was not as gloomy as the Dali Temple Prison, but it was also brightly lit with candles, simply furnished, and exuded a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

Wang Yunzhi was stripped of his hat and belt, and was left wearing only a white undershirt. He knelt on the cold floor. Although he tried to remain calm, his pale face and slightly trembling body revealed his inner fear.

He never expected that the operation would fail so quickly, and he never expected that Murong Yan would dare to arrest him, the legitimate son of the Wang family, without any scruples!

When the door of the side hall was pushed open and Murong Yan, wrapped in fox fur, walked in slowly, Wang Yunzhi looked up and was instantly struck by lightning!

Murong Yan was still wearing that divine phoenix dress!

Just without the fox fur coat, the black and gold shawl and nightgown, under the colder candlelight in the side hall, exuded a heart-pounding splendor and majesty that was completely different from that in the bedroom.

The giant dark golden phoenix was in the silent palace, as if it was ready to devour someone at any time.

The five-meter-long tail dragged on the smooth but cold floor of the side hall without any concern, making a slight rustling sound. In this dead silent environment, it was like a death spell.

Lin Zhen still followed her silently, like the most loyal shadow.

Murong Yan did not walk towards the main seat, but walked straight to Wang Yunzhi, stopped, and looked down at him condescendingly.

She didn't say anything, but just looked at him quietly. Her eyes were calm, but more frightening than any harsh scolding.

Wang Yunzhi's scalp tingled under her gaze, and cold sweat soaked the back of his shirt. He tried to speak in defense, but his throat seemed to be blocked and no sound came out.

The dark gold nightgown, so close to her, brought a sense of oppression far greater than any dragon robe or court dress.

After a long while, Murong Yan spoke softly, her voice as cold as ice: "Wang Yunzhi, is your father okay?"

Wang Yunzhi trembled all over and fell to the ground, not daring to look up.

Murong Yan squatted down! This action was beyond everyone's expectations!

She squatted in front of Wang Yunzhi, looking him in the eye. The long dark-gold tail spread out behind her, like a peacock spreading its tail, but with the splendor of death.

She stretched out her right hand wearing the black jade ring, and gently lifted Wang Yunzhi's chin with her fingertips, forcing him to look at her.

"Look at me." Her voice was soft, yet filled with irresistible power. "Tell me what you plan to do next? When will the Goguryeo troops move? Who are your accomplices in the court?"

Wang Yunzhi's teeth chattered, his eyes flickered, and he still wanted to resist stubbornly: "Your Majesty, I didn't know I was wronged."

Murong Yan smiled, that smile was beautiful but cruel.

She withdrew her hand and slowly stood up.

Then, she made an extremely simple gesture to the leader of the secret guards beside her.

The leader of the secret guards understood and immediately brought a tray. On it was not a whip or a branding iron, but a set of silver needles as thin as cow hair and of different lengths, and a glass bottle filled with a transparent liquid.

"Prince Wang," Murong Yan's tone was even tinged with regret, "Your hands are so good at writing and playing the piano. What a pity." She gestured to the secret guard, "Let's start with the fingertips. Let him think about it carefully."

The secret guard obeyed the order and stepped forward to grab Wang Yunzhi's hand. Wang Yunzhi was so frightened that his soul was about to be shattered. He struggled desperately and screamed, "No! Your Majesty! I will tell you! I will tell you everything!"

Murong Yan waved her hand, and the secret guards retreated. She squatted down again, her eyes still calm. "Wouldn't it have been better if we had done this earlier?"

In extreme fear, Wang Yunzhi spilled everything he knew.

Goguryeo Regent Gao Yun has secretly mobilized 30,000 elite troops and stationed them on the east bank of the Yalu River, waiting for the signal from the Wang family of Taiyuan. He will then feign an attack on the important border town of "Iron Mountain City" to create tension and force Murong Yan to transfer troops from the interior, thereby creating greater chaos for the aristocratic families in the capital.

At the same time, they also united with the remnants of the Qinghe Cui family and the Fanyang Lu family, preparing to incite refugees from the counties surrounding the capital to flock to the capital when food prices fluctuated again, creating the illusion of a "civil uprising."

These plans are far more vicious than the previous assassinations, arson, and cutting off of grain transport, and they directly target the safety of the country!

Murong Yan listened quietly, with no expression on her face.

Only after Wang Yunzhi finished speaking and collapsed to the ground like mud did she slowly stand up.

The moment she stood up, it seemed that her skirt was a little pulled because she had been squatting for a long time. She inadvertently turned around suddenly to adjust her posture**!

The five-meter-long dark-golden train and the hem of the shawl that were winding on the ground were suddenly lifted up by the rapid rotation!

The luxurious brocade was like the disturbed waves in the dark night, and with a swish, it drew a perfect arc on the cold ground!

As the hem of the skirt suddenly fluttered up, the "gold woven all over the ground" lining, which was densely woven with gold threads and shone like the rising sun under the candlelight, was revealed!

The pattern of a hundred phoenixes facing the sun suddenly burst out with dazzling golden light, illuminating every corner of the side hall, and also illuminating Wang Yunzhi's face which was distorted by extreme fear!

This golden light no longer had the warmth of a sleeping chamber, but instead carried the coldness and majesty of someone who could see through all conspiracies and pronounce judgment on fate!

The skirt falls down, and the brilliance is restrained.

Murong Yan turned her back to the limp Wang Yunzhi and nodded almost imperceptibly to Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed coldly, and he signaled to the leader of the secret guards. The secret guards immediately dragged Wang Yunzhi away like a dead dog.

Murong Yan then turned around and looked at Lin Zhen, a trace of fatigue on her face, and she leaned towards him gently: "Husband, I've found out, you are really a bunch of fools who will not give up until they see the Yellow River."

Lin Zhen immediately stepped forward and embraced her, whispering, "Yan'er, you've worked so hard. I'll make arrangements right away and will not let them succeed."

"No hurry," Murong Yan shook her head in his arms, her voice muffled, "Accompany me back first. I'm tired, and this side hall is very cold and gloomy."

Lin Zhen picked her up and carried her sideways, walking steadily back to the bedroom.

The long, dark-gold tail stretched behind him, as if isolating the conspiracy and bloodshed just now in that cold place.

Back in the warm, spring-like bedroom, Murong Yan kicked off her soft shoes and slid into the warm couch. Lin Zhen covered her with a quilt, sat beside her, and gently patted her back.

"Husband," Murong Yan said softly with her eyes closed, "It's time to settle accounts with the Wang family of Goguryeo."

"Okay." Lin Zhen responded, his voice as steady as a rock, "Everything is up to my husband, Yan'er, sleep peacefully."

Murong Yan's breathing gradually became even under his rhythmic patting.