On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

February 18th, the second year of Shenghui.

Haizhou City spent another three days in dead silence.

The Daqian army's rest and recuperation was nearing its end. The corpses in the city had been preliminarily cleared and piled up in several huge deep pits outside the city, ready for cremation.

The smell of burning and blood was still strong, but a new, more solemn and tense atmosphere began to spread in the military camp.

The soldiers wiped their swords, checked their bows and crossbows, and from time to time their eyes looked eastward - towards Pyongyang.

Everyone knew that the short stay was about to end and a more brutal battle lay ahead.

At noon that day, Murong Yan was in the headquarters which was converted from the former Haizhou Garrison Office.

She did not deal with military affairs, but sat alone in a stone pavilion in the corner of the courtyard.

The bloodstains around the pavilion have been cleaned, but an indelible dark red still remains between the cracks in the stones.

She was wearing the black and gold Su brocade cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" - the dress that depicted the descent of the divine phoenix, and the luxurious black and gold mink shawl was casually draped on the stone bench beside her.

Even when resting, the splendor and uniqueness of the Phoenix Dress are still eye-catching.

The extremely dark black Su brocade base material appears restrained and profound under the relatively soft light of the pavilion, and the golden cotton wool and real gold threads woven into it exude a quiet glow.

Above the nightgown, the towering phoenix, when still, had less of the battlefield’s hostility and more of a calming majesty.

One of the wide, light bell sleeves hung softly at her side, while the other rested on the cushioned stone table, with the gold tassels on the cuffs brushing across the surface.

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

The five-meter-long Su brocade tail was not deliberately trimmed. It just hung down from the stone bench in a long, even lazy manner, and spread on the swept but still old floor of the pavilion. The dark gold brocade and the cold and hard stone floor formed a lonely contrast.

The softness of the cotton and the comfort of the nightgown allowed her to maintain an almost cold calm in this land that had just experienced a bloodbath.

Lin Zhen stood quietly not far from the pavilion and did not disturb her.

He knew that although she seemed calm these past few days, a bigger storm was brewing inside her.

The massacre in Haizhou was a strong medicine and also a heavy shackle that locked her and the direction of the war, leaving no room for maneuver.

Just then, a burst of hurried and light footsteps broke the tranquility of the courtyard.

The commander of the secret guards appeared silently at the steps outside the pavilion, bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, an envoy from Goguryeo has arrived outside the city and requested an audience."

Murong Yan's eyes, which were originally slightly closed, slowly opened.

There was no surprise in his eyes, only a bottomless cold pool.

She did not respond immediately, but stretched out the fingertip wearing the black jade ring and gently tapped the stone table, making a light tapping sound.

Lin Zhen walked into the pavilion, his brows furrowed slightly. "Goguryeo sending an envoy now? Is it a call for war or peace?"

He instinctively felt a sense of vigilance.

Murong Yan's lips curled up in a faint, cold arc. "You only think of asking for peace after slaughtering Haizhou? Does Gao Yun think I, Murong Yan, am a three-year-old child?"

Her voice was soft, but it was filled with biting sarcasm.

"Yan'er means you don't want to see me?" Lin Zhen asked.

"See you." Murong Yan uttered a word and stood up.

The dark golden tail that was winding on the ground slid down further with her movements.

"Why not? I want to see what tricks they can come up with. Prepare the front hall."

A moment later, in the front hall of the headquarters.

This used to be the place where the Haizhou garrison received superiors. The furnishings have not changed much, but the solemn atmosphere in the air and the black-armored guards standing outside the hall with spears in hand and cold eyes all remind visitors of the identity and power of the owner of this place.

Murong Yan sat upright on the main seat without changing her clothes. She was still dressed in a nightgown with a long robe over it, and the black and gold mink shawl was draped over her shoulders again.

Lin Zhen sat beside her with a stern expression.

The hall was brightly lit with candlelight, illuminating her dark golden figure, which was elegant and majestic, and carried a bloody murderous aura as if she had just emerged from a sea of ​​blood and corpses.

"Announce the envoys from Goguryeo--" the eunuch sang loudly.

Soon, an old man in his fifties, with a gaunt face and dressed in the uniform of a Goguryeo civil servant, walked into the hall tremblingly, accompanied by two followers.

The envoy's name was Jin Wenhan, a distant branch of the Goguryeo royal family, and he was known for his eloquence.

However, the moment he stepped into the hall, he felt the oppressive feeling that almost solidified into a substance, especially when he saw the young woman in strange and gorgeous clothes and with a cold face sitting in the main seat, his calves began to tremble involuntarily.

He forced himself to remain calm and bowed according to etiquette, but his voice was trembling uncontrollably:

"Foreign minister Jin Wenhan, on the orders of His Majesty the King of Goguryeo and the Regent, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor Daqian. Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"

Murong Yan didn't shout, but just glanced at him indifferently with her cold phoenix eyes, as if she was looking at an inanimate object.

The hall was dead silent, with only the crackling of the burning candles as the sound could be heard.

After a long while, Murong Yan slowly spoke, her voice as cold as ice: "Why did Gao Yun send you here?"

Jin Wenhan swallowed hard and said, "Your Majesty! There have been many misunderstandings between our two countries, which have led to war and countless lives lost. My Lord, the Regent, is deeply saddened! To spare the people from further suffering, I have sent my ministers to implore Your Majesty to cease hostilities and restore peace. Goguryeo is willing to submit its allegiance, pay tribute annually, and become a permanent vassal. We also offer a hundred thousand taels of gold, a thousand fine horses, and a hundred bushels of pearls as a token of our sincerity!"

As he spoke, he secretly observed Murong Yan's expression, praying in his heart that these generous conditions would impress her.

"Submit? Pay tribute?" Murong Yan chuckled, her voice filled with disdain. "Has Gao Yun forgotten that the tens of thousands of wronged souls in Haizhou City are watching?"

Her eyes suddenly became sharp as a knife.

"A few simple words of submission and tribute are going to erase all this? You want me to let you, the executioners who slaughtered my people, go free?!"

Jin Wenhan trembled with fear and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down! The events in Haizhou were the result of General Jin Wucheng's arbitrary actions. This was absolutely not my lord's intention! My lord has already ordered severe punishment for those responsible! If Your Majesty will withdraw the troops, my lord will bring Jin Wucheng's entire family to your presence for your punishment! I only ask Your Majesty to spare Goguryeo's life!"

He was almost begging, putting all the blame on the captured Kim Woo-sung.

"A way to survive?" Murong Yan slowly stood up. She walked down from the main seat, her messy dark-gold hair trailing behind her, making a subtle rustling sound that sounded like a death drum in the dead silence of the hall.

She walked up to Jin Wenhan and looked down at him condescendingly.

"Did you, Goguryeo, ever give the people of Tieshan City a chance to live?" Her voice was low, but every word struck Jin Wenhan's heart like a hammer. "Did you ever consider giving them a chance to live when you massacred the city? Are you scared now? Are you seeking peace?!"

Jin Wenhan was sweating profusely, lowered his head even lower, and did not dare to answer.

Murong Yan turned around abruptly, facing the hall door, and raised her voice suddenly, filled with endless murderous intent:

"Go back and tell Gao Yun and Gao Zang! I don't want their tribute! I don't want Jin Wucheng's family! What I want is their heads! I want Pyongyang to be a river of blood! I will use the blood of your royal family to commemorate the fallen soldiers and civilians of Daqian! This feud is irreconcilable! Only a fight to the death will stop!"

Her declaration was like thunder, exploding in the ears of everyone in the hall!

Jin Wenhan was so scared that he collapsed to the ground, his face as pale as death!

"As for you," Murong Yan turned around, her eyes fixed on Jin Wenhan with an icy gaze, "take your letter of request for peace and your hypocritical rhetoric and go to hell! Someone, come!"

"Here!" The guards outside the hall responded loudly.

"Drag this traitorous envoy out and behead him! Hang his head on the city gate for public display! Slice and kill all his followers! I want everyone in Goguryeo to know that seeking peace is a dead end! The only option is to fight to the death!"

Murong Yan's voice was calm, as if she was talking about a trivial matter.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please spare my life!" Jin Wenhan let out a shrill scream, but was immediately blocked by the guards who were as ferocious as wolves and tigers, and was dragged out roughly.

His followers were also dragged away amidst cries and pleas for mercy.

Silence soon returned to the hall, leaving only the faint smell of blood in the air, which seemed to have become a little stronger.

Murong Yan stood there, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Even after issuing such a cruel order, her face showed no emotion at all.

Lin Zhen walked to her side and gently held her slightly cold hand.

He could feel a barely perceptible tremor in the palm of her hand.

"Yan'er," he called softly, with worry in his eyes.

Murong Yan held his hand tightly with her backhand, using great force.

She didn't look at him, her gaze still fixed outside the hall, as if she could see through the wall and see the head that was about to be hung.

"Husband," her voice was a little tired, but extremely firm, "We have no way out. From the moment Haizhou City fell, there was no way out. Either we flatten Pyongyang, or you and I will die here."

"I understand." Lin Zhen said solemnly, "No matter what the future holds, your husband will always be by your side."

Murong Yan nodded. She let go of his hand, turned around, and walked to the back of the hall.

His steps were steady and his back was resolute.

Just as she was about to step into the back hall, she seemed to have a feeling and suddenly turned around and took a last look at the empty hall.

This turn around was filled with the determination to cut off all illusions!

The messy dark-gold train and shawl hem that were hanging on the ground and stained with the dust in the hall were suddenly lifted up by the swift turn!

The luxurious brocade and mink fur seemed to be driven by a resolute will, and with a swish, they drew a sharp arc in the air!

As the tail suddenly floated up, the "gold woven all over the ground" lining inside was revealed, which was densely woven with gold threads and shone like a cold blade unsheathed under the candlelight!

The pattern of Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun suddenly burst out with dazzling golden light. The golden light was no longer warm, but full of steel will and endless killing spirit!

This fleeting glimpse was the final rejection of the peace talks and the most naked declaration of bloody war against Goguryeo!

The hem of her skirt fell, covering up the cold golden light and the bloodshed that was about to happen outside the hall.

Murong Yan's figure disappeared in the shadow of the corridor leading to the inner room.

In the hall, only Lin Zhen and the flickering candlelight were left.