On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The first day of the first month of the second year of Shenghui.

The snowstorm that lasted for several days finally stopped at the end of the year. The city of Chang'an was covered in silver, bathed in the first rays of the new year's morning sun. Every household decorated their houses with lanterns and fireworks, and the sound of firecrackers dispelled the gloom of the old year and looked forward to the auspiciousness of the new year.

The imperial city was decorated magnificently, with flags flying everywhere, and a festive atmosphere was everywhere.

However, beneath this appearance of universal celebration, undercurrents are still surging.

Murong Yan used iron-fisted means to quell internal and external disturbances and consolidate her power, but the foundation and resentment accumulated by the aristocratic families over the course of a hundred years could not be eliminated overnight.

They are like wounded poisonous snakes, temporarily dormant and licking their wounds, but never giving up the idea of ​​retaliating.

For them, this New Year's Day banquet was not only an event they had to attend, but also an opportunity to observe and evaluate the young empress's strengths and weaknesses up close.

At the exact hour of You, the lights in the Taiji Hall were bright as if it were daytime.

The huge palace lanterns illuminated every corner of the hall. Under the throne, civil and military officials, royal family nobles sat according to their ranks, and the tables were filled with delicacies and fine wines.

The sounds of stringed instruments and wind instruments are melodious and pleasant, and the dancers are dressed in colorful clothes and dance gracefully, creating a scene of prosperity and splendor.

The hour had arrived. When the eunuch sang "Your Majesty has arrived", the hall, which had originally been filled with faint sounds of conversation, suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the huge screen behind the throne.

First, a group of palace maids holding palace fans and lanterns came out one after another and lined up on both sides.

Afterwards, Lin Zhen, dressed in a black prince's uniform embroidered with gold and with a dignified demeanor, stepped out first. He did not walk towards the ranks of ministers, but stood solemnly beside the imperial steps, his eyes calmly sweeping across the entire venue. The invisible pressure made some people with ulterior motives lower their heads involuntarily.

Then, the figure that everyone was looking forward to and in awe of finally appeared in front of the screen.

When Murong Yan was fully revealed in front of everyone, even the knowledgeable princes and ministers present couldn't help but gasp in their hearts and their pupils shrank slightly!

She was still wearing the dress that had already become legendary and controversial - the black and gold Su Jin cotton nightgown with a pattern of birds paying homage to the phoenix, the dress of the divine phoenix descending to the earth!

However, on this grand occasion of the New Year's Day state banquet, she wore an extremely gorgeous and solemn black and gold Su brocade bridal-style bridal gown over her nightgown.

The shawl has a dark black base and is embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers and the country with the purest gold thread using extremely complex craftsmanship. The edges are decorated with fine pearl tassels, and the length even exceeds the train of the nightgown itself, winding along the ground with it.

However, this extremely luxurious shawl still could not completely conceal the unique charm and radiance of the Divine Phoenix Dress inside. Instead, it complemented it, forming an amazing image that transcended traditional imperial attire and belonged only to Murong Yan, combining laziness and majesty, gorgeousness and domineering.

The body of the Divine Phoenix Dress, illuminated by the top lights in this hall, presents a breathtaking magnificence.

The extremely dark black Su Jin base material absorbs the light of countless candles, and its color is as deep as the starry sky. The golden cotton wool and real gold thread woven into it reflect the flowing, scorching dark golden waves, as if the skirt itself is burning.

Above the nightgown, the towering phoenix, with its robe and tail covering the entire body, looked even more majestic in such a grand occasion. Every scale of the phoenix feathers was clearly visible, as if it would break away from the brocade at any time and soar above the sky. The black diamonds in the phoenix eyes looked down coldly at the subjects below, noble and majestic to the extreme.

The wide and light trumpet sleeves are faintly visible under the wide sleeves of the shawl, and the gold embroidery on the inside of the cuffs occasionally flashes.

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

The most astonishing thing, and the thing that challenged traditional etiquette the most, was the five-meter-long Su Jin train, together with the even longer back hem of the xiapei, which had not been carefully laid out or lifted by any palace servants. It just stretched out in a long, even extremely messy manner on the mirror-like golden brick floor that stretched from the back of the throne to the palace gate!

The extremely luxurious dark gold brocade, layer upon layer, is like a splashing dark gold river, spread out in a messy manner on the ground that symbolizes the highest power hall of the empire. This almost blasphemous casualness, however, carries with it an overwhelming, absolute confidence and control!

The softness of the cotton and the comfort of the nightgown further highlight the host's calm demeanor at this moment, as if this is not a solemn state banquet, but her private residence.

Murong Yan's face was calm, and no emotion could be seen on her beautiful face. Only her phoenix eyes, as deep as a pool, swept across the ministers below the stage with a calmness that seemed to see through everything.

With Lin Zhen's support, she walked slowly towards the throne, each step steady and composed.

The long, messy, dark-golden trail drew a thrilling symbol behind her. Wherever it passed, even the slightest sound of conversation disappeared, leaving only the sound of stringed instruments and the rustling of her own skirt rubbing against the ground.

She did not sit directly on the high dragon throne, but walked to the center of the imperial steps first, where the palace servants had already prepared a large phoenix chair covered with white tiger skin.

She sat down gracefully, her messy train naturally cascading around the phoenix chair and on the steps. Lin Zhen sat on a smaller chair slightly to her side, his posture still intimate and natural.

"Everyone, please stand up." Murong Yan raised her hand slightly. Her voice was clear and not loud, but it was clearly heard in every corner of the hall.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials stood up and sat down again, but the atmosphere was different.

Many people's eyes, especially those ministers from aristocratic families, fell on Murong Yan with complicated expressions, and on the dress that resembled a divine phoenix descending from the earth.

They had to admit the shocking power of this outfit, but deep down, they felt a mixture of fear, resentment, unwillingness and a hint of unspeakable humiliation.

They are a centuries-old family with a tradition of poetry and etiquette. Have they ever seen an emperor dressed in something close to "pajamas" at a New Year's Day banquet?

This is simply the biggest mockery of the etiquette they strictly abide by!

But they dared not reveal any of it and could only hide all their emotions under the mask of respect, raising their glasses with everyone else, shouting "Long live the emperor" and saying auspicious congratulations.

Murong Yan seemed to enjoy this atmosphere. She didn't say much, only occasionally raising her glass to show her appreciation. Most of the time, she lazily leaned back on the phoenix chair, enjoying the singing and dancing in the hall, or whispering a few words to Lin Zhen with her head tilted.

Lin Zhen would lean forward slightly and listen attentively, sometimes serving her food, sometimes pouring her wine, his movements natural and intimate, without any reservations.

This kind of love and affection that disregards others' interests is even more irritating to the old ministers of the aristocratic families who believe in the "difference between the monarch and his subjects", but they can only grit their teeth in secret.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Murong Yan seemed to be getting more excited. She clapped her hands lightly. The music stopped and the dancers withdrew.

"Today is New Year's Day, and I am very happy." Murong Yan swept her eyes across the entire audience, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. "In addition to singing and dancing, I also want to have fun with you, my dear ministers." She gestured to the eunuch beside her.

Soon, a group of eunuchs arrived at the palace carrying several huge boxes covered with red cloth. When the red cloth was removed, they revealed mountains of gold and silver ingots, exquisite jade toys, and rare treasures from overseas!

"These are my New Year gifts to you, my beloved ministers," Murong Yan said lazily. "I hope you will continue to assist me wholeheartedly in the new year and help ensure the eternal stability of our Holy Emblem."

The rewards were extremely generous, even exceeding expectations. But the words "assist me" and "the country will be forever secure" were like needles piercing the ears of those ministers from aristocratic families.

This is clearly a warning and also an inducement!

All the officials left their seats and knelt down to express their gratitude. Whether they were sincere or not, they all appeared to be grateful on the surface.

Murong Yan nodded slightly, her gaze lingering for a moment on the faces of several aristocratic family leaders. That gaze, calm yet loaded with a weight of pressure, instantly drenched Wang Xun, Cui Wenjing, and the others in cold sweat, forcing them to crouch even lower.

After the rewards were given, the banquet continued and the atmosphere seemed to be more lively, but the waves underneath were becoming more turbulent.

Murong Yan sat for a while and seemed a little tired.

She whispered something to Lin Zhen, and Lin Zhen nodded.

Then she slowly stood up.

Seeing her stand up, the hall fell silent again. Everyone knew that His Majesty was about to return to the palace.

Murong Yan didn't leave immediately. She stood in front of the Phoenix Chair and took one last deep look at the ministers below the stage. Then, she turned around and prepared to leave from the other side of the imperial steps.

The moment she turned around——

The movements are filled with laziness and determination as a feast is about to end!

The five-meter-long dark-golden train and shawl that were scattered on the ground were suddenly lifted up by the swift turn!

The luxurious brocade was like a phoenix spreading its wings to bid farewell to a feast. With a swish, it drew a gorgeous and sharp arc on the smooth gold brick floor!

As the train suddenly floated up, the densely woven gold lining inside was revealed, shining as brightly as the scorching sun under the countless lights in the hall!

The patterns of a hundred phoenixes facing the rising sun and ten thousand blessings and longevity suddenly burst out with dazzling golden light, noble and brilliant, and carrying an absolute power that can see through all conspiracies and control all destinies!

This fleeting glimpse of golden light, like an invisible brand, is deeply engraved in the soul of every person with aspirations!

The hem of the skirt falls, and the brilliance is restrained under the quiet ink color and solemn dress.

Murong Yan did not stay any longer and left slowly accompanied by Lin Zhen.

The long dark-gold track finally disappeared behind the screen.

With His Majesty's departure, the New Year's Day banquet is coming to an end.

After the officials bid farewell respectfully, they dispersed with mixed feelings.

Those important officials of the aristocratic families seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when they walked out of the Taiji Hall and felt the biting cold wind outside, but the huge stone in their hearts became heavier.

Although Murong Yan did not utter a word of rebuke tonight, the visual and psychological impact brought by the divine phoenix dress, the warning behind the generous reward, and the thrilling golden lining at the end all made them realize that this empress was far more difficult to deal with than they had imagined.

In the new year, what awaits them is probably still a thorny road ahead.

Inside Fenghuan Palace, Murong Yan had already taken off her heavy bridal veil and was only wearing the dress that resembled a divine phoenix descending from the earth, lazily falling onto the warm couch.

Lin Zhen brought her some hangover soup and asked softly, "Yan'er, are you satisfied today?"

Murong Yan took a sip from his hand and smiled slightly, her smile appearing particularly bright under the palace lanterns: "A group of actors with their own hidden agendas, it's quite interesting to watch."

She closed her eyes and whispered, "But it's still most comfortable to be alone with my husband."

Lin Zhen held her in his arms, his eyes filled with deep affection.