On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The first year of Shenghui, the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

While Chang'an, the capital of the Great Qian Empire, was immersed in the joy of the approaching New Year and the excitement brought by Murong Yan's personal visit to the military camp, Pyongyang, the capital of the Goguryeo Kingdom far east of the Yalu River, was shrouded in depression and quarrels as if a storm was about to break out.

Lei Xiao's declaration of loyalty from the Longwu Army was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely crushing the aristocratic families' last hope of disintegrating Daqian from within.

The news was passed back to Goguryeo through secret channels. Regent Gao Yun and the radicals he represented felt unprecedented anxiety and panic.

Murong Yan's rule was not shaken by internal and external attacks, but became more stable.

If we don't take action now, once Goguryeo has completely digested its internal affairs and integrated its national strength, it will never be able to recover!

Pyongyang Royal Palace, Chongmujeon.

Although it is named "Chongwu", the decoration inside the hall is extremely luxurious, with the unique refinement and complexity of the peninsula.

However, at this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was not peaceful, but rather tense and tense.

The charcoal brazier crackled, but it couldn't dispel the chill in the air.

Regent Gao Yun, about fifty years old, was short and stocky with a sinister face. His eagle eyes scanned the civil and military officials who were divided into two groups in the hall.

He sat on a special throne next to the throne, with power over the government and the country, and the young master was just a puppet in his hands.

There is only one topic for today's grand court meeting: the policy towards Qian - war or peace?

"Everyone!" Gao Yun's voice was hoarse, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

"The Queen of Daqian, Murong Yan, has committed atrocities, persecuted loyal officials, depleted the nation's strength, and alienated the people! She has even detained our envoys, humiliating our nation! This is a godsend opportunity! If Goguryeo raises an army of justice at this time and aids the loyal officials of Daqian in rectifying the chaos, we will surely succeed, expand our territory, and achieve hegemony!"

He waved his fists and spoke passionately, trying to ignite the enthusiasm of the war faction.

As soon as he finished speaking, a military officer in full military uniform and with a full beard stepped forward and echoed, "The Regent is absolutely right! Murong Yan is just a woman, all she knows how to do is deceive the people in the palace in that incongruous black and gold nightgown. How could she possibly understand military and national affairs? Our Goguryeo warriors are valiant and skilled in battle. Now that winter has arrived and the Yalu River is frozen, it's the perfect opportunity to mobilize our forces! I am willing to personally lead our cavalry to conquer Liaodong and directly attack Huanglong!"

This person was Kim Woo-seong, the general of the southern Goguryeo region, who was known for his bravery and bellicosity.

"General Jin is brave and commendable!" Gao Yun nodded approvingly.

"Regent! General Jin! Absolutely not!" An old but urgent voice sounded.

The one who came out was Wen Zhengchun, an old minister of Goguryeo and a minister of the imperial court. His hair and beard were all white, and his face was filled with sorrow.

"Although Murong Yan is the female protagonist, she is ruthless and meticulous, making her no easy target! First, the Lu family was destroyed, then the Wang family was defeated, and even Envoy Park Yongzhong is imprisoned! This shows how powerful her control is! Furthermore, Daqian is vast and rich in resources, with a deep foundation. How can it be easily shaken? If a war breaks out, if we can't win quickly and it ends in a stalemate, how can our small nation of Goguryeo, with its exhausted people, sustain its power? By then, I'm afraid the country will be gone!"

Wen Zhengchun's voice trembled and was filled with worry.

"Minister Wen is wrong!" Another pro-war civil official, Minister of Rites Cui Minghao, retorted, "Murong Yan has been able to temporarily stabilize the situation only through cunning and coercion! Her new policies have offended the aristocracy and unsettled the people! If our army strikes with lightning speed, the opposition within Daqian will surely rise up in force! This is a situation of internal and external cooperation! How can we miss this opportunity? As for Murong Yan, she wears strange clothes all day long, a sign of the country's demise! What is there to fear?"

He deliberately belittled Murong Yan, especially mentioning the nightgown, in order to boost his own side's momentum.

Wen Zhengchun shook his head repeatedly, "Minister Cui! You only know one side of the story! I haven't seen Murong Yan's dress in person, but I've heard it's called the Divine Phoenix Descent Dress. It's woven from the finest Su brocade, a palette of dark black and dark gold. It's light yet crisp, embroidered with a giant pattern of hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix, all over the robe and even the several-foot-long train! She treasures it like a treasure, never leaving it except when bathing! Such near-obsessive behavior is not something an ordinary, foolish ruler would commit. This woman's resolve is probably beyond our imagination! Furthermore, she and Lin Zhen are as united as a king and minister, as close as an arm or finger. How could they be easily separated?"

The old minister was well-informed and even knew a few details about the nightgown, and his words were full of fear.

His description of the Divine Phoenix Dress caused some officials in the hall who had never heard of it to gasp.

It is strange and disturbing that a piece of clothing is endowed with so much symbolic meaning and the wearer is so unique.

"Why is Minister Wen trying to boost others' morale and destroy your own prestige?" Jin Wucheng roared impatiently, "A piece of clothing frightens you so much? I think Murong Yan is just being mysterious and playing tricks! The swords of my Goguryeo warriors don't care what she wears!"

"General Jin! War is a matter of national importance, a matter of life and death. How can we treat it so lightly?" Wen Zhengchun was heartbroken. "Once war breaks out, countless lives will be lost! If we win, it's still fine; if we lose, our ancestors' foundation will be destroyed! Regent, think twice!"

The pro-peace officials echoed: "Minister Wen's words make sense! Please reconsider, Prince Regent!"

The war faction was filled with fervor: "This opportunity cannot be missed! Please, Prince Regent, give the order to send troops!"

The two sides argued endlessly, their voices threatening to lift the roof off the hall. Gao Yun's face was gloomy, his fingers drumming on the armrests of his chair. How could he not understand the risks? Wen Zhengchun's concerns mirrored his own deepest anxieties.

But he would never give up and surrender to Murong Yan!

Especially when he thought that Park Yong-chung and Wang Yun-zhi were still in each other's hands, like a sword hanging over his head, he couldn't sleep or eat.

Something must be done to break the deadlock and save face!

At this moment, a eunuch hurried into the hall and presented a secret report.

When Gao Yun opened it, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes!

The secret report came from a spy lurking in Liaodong, saying that the Liaodong defenders seemed to have been mobilized recently, but the focus of defense seemed to have shifted. The defense in the Tieshan City area seemed to be tight, but in fact it was tight on the outside but loose on the inside, which might be an opportunity to be exploited!

This news was like a shot in the arm, making Gao Yun make up his mind.

He needed a victory, even a limited victory, to consolidate his authority, suppress the anti-war voices at home, and prove to Murong Yan that Goguryeo could not be manipulated at will!

"Enough!" Gao Yun slammed the armrest and stopped the quarrel in a harsh voice.

The hall instantly became quiet, and all eyes were focused on him.

Gao Yun stood up, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, finally settling on the ranks of military commanders. "Murong Yan has insulted me too severely. If I don't avenge this, I'd be unworthy of being a ruler! However, Minister Wen's words of concern for the country are not without reason."

He changed the subject, his tone stern:

"Therefore, I have decided not to mobilize a large army, but to teach Murong Yan a lesson! I order General Jin Wucheng to secretly gather 20,000 elite troops starting today. Taking advantage of the freezing winter in Liaodong and the frozen river, we will launch a surprise attack on Tieshan City on the other side! This battle will not seek to capture the city, but to destroy it, burn its food supplies, abduct its people, and enhance our national prestige! If we succeed, Murong Yan will be terrified, and we can seize the opportunity to reclaim the envoy and renegotiate the alliance! If this fails, we can test Liaodong's strength before making further plans!"

This is a compromised and sinister plan! Using small-scale military adventures to conduct political blackmail!

Wen Zhengchun and other pro-peace factions turned pale and tried to persuade him again: "Prince Regent!"

"No need to say more!" Gao Yun interrupted rudely, "The king has made up his mind! Jin Wucheng!"

"I'm here!" Jin Wucheng stepped out excitedly.

"I order you to be the vanguard of the Eastern Expedition. Prepare immediately and set out in three days! This battle must be won, not lost!"

"I obey your command! I will live up to the Regent's trust!" Jin Wucheng accepted the order loudly, with a belligerent light in his eyes.

The pro-war officials looked happy, while the pro-peace officials were worried but dared not say anything.

Under Gao Yun's arbitrary decision, the Goguryeo war machine finally began to slowly start up and pointed towards the other side of the Yalu River.

Almost at the same time as the debate was going on in the Chongwu Palace of Goguryeo, the Fenghuan Palace of Daqian, thousands of miles away, was peaceful and warm.

It was already evening, the palace lanterns were lit, and the floor heating was burning warmly.

Murong Yan had just finished reviewing some urgent memorials and was lazily lying on the warm couch, wearing the black and gold Su brocade cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" - the "Divine Phoenix Descent" dress, and a soft black and gold silk long gown on the outside. The gown was not tied tightly, but draped loosely, adding a bit of homely casualness.

Lin Zhen sat beside the couch, holding a military newspaper that had just been sent from the northern border, and was reading it to her in a low voice.

Under the soft light of the palace lanterns, the Divine Phoenix Dress exudes a quiet and luxurious luster.

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

Above the nightgown, the towering phoenix concealed all its sharpness in the room, with its feathers layered and lines flowing and gorgeous.

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

The black jade ring on her left thumb shone brightly under the lamplight.

The five-meter-long Su Jin train, together with the hem of the long gown, stretched out in a winding, even somewhat messy manner and covered the expensive carpet in front of the couch. The dark gold brocade and the intricate patterns of the carpet were interwoven, revealing the ultimate laziness and luxury.

The softness of the cotton and the comfort of the nightgown made her completely immersed in relaxation.

"General Li Xin of Liaodong reports," Lin Zhen said in a steady voice, "there have been frequent movements along the Goguryeo border recently. There appear to be signs of troop buildup, and there may be plans to invade. Li Xin has increased security. Your Majesty, please provide instructions."

Murong Yan didn't open her eyes when she heard this, but a faint, cold smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, as if she had already expected it. "Gao Yun finally couldn't help it."

She whispered, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "A clown is still a clown after all."

Lin Zhen put down the military newspaper and looked at her: "Yan'er, should we send more troops to Liaodong?"

Murong Yan slowly opened her eyes, a sharp light flashed in her phoenix eyes, but soon returned to laziness.

"No hurry." She stretched out her hand and gently tapped a secret report on the Goguryeo court debate on the small table beside the couch with the tip of her black jade ring. "Let them start the movement first, then I can close the door and beat the dog."

She sat up, her gown sliding down slightly, revealing the delicate neckline of her nightgown. "Send a message to Li Xin, telling him to follow the plan. Tieshan City can be a little chaotic, but it must be chaos that feels real."

Her tone was playful, like a cat and mouse game.

"Also," a cold glint flashed in her eyes, "have Lin Dong from the northern border secretly dispatch 5,000 Black Armored Cavalry to the vicinity of Shanhaiguan in Liaodong. They will hide during the day and move at night to wait for orders. Not a single soldier is allowed to move without my order."

This is a hidden move!

Once Goguryeo fell into the trap, these 5,000 elite cavalry would become a fatal blow to cut off its retreat and even launch a counterattack!

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed with admiration, and he immediately responded, "I'll arrange it right away."

Murong Yan nodded, seemed a little tired, and leaned back on the pillow.

Just as she closed her eyes, she suddenly remembered something and said to Lin Zhen, "My husband, Liaodong is bitterly cold. I will give the soldiers winter clothes and rewards at an additional 30% from my treasury."

Lin Zhen's heart moved, and he said softly, "Yan'er is kind and gracious. On behalf of the soldiers, I thank His Majesty."

Murong Yan said "hmm" softly and stopped talking.

Silence returned to the hall, with only the occasional crackling of candlelight.