On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

As the two were exchanging tender affection, a eunuch quietly approached the pavilion and bowed to report, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Goguryeo royal family has sent another envoy, bearing a letter of surrender and generous gifts, requesting an audience and begging for peace."

The smile on Murong Yan's face instantly faded, replaced by a cold amusement. She released her arm around Lin Zhen, slowly sat up straight, and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Oh? Seeking peace again? What conditions do you bring this time?"

Lin Zhen also regained his composure and said calmly, "A trapped beast's fight is futile. He must have come here at the end of his rope to find out the truth."

Murong Yan raised her lips in a mocking arc: "Let them wait in the front hall. I will go later."

"Yes."

After the eunuch left, Murong Yan did not stand up immediately.

She picked up another chess piece and played with it between her fingers, but her eyes were no longer on the chessboard.

"Husband," she called softly, her tone tinged with a hint of lazy cruelty, "Do you think they really want to surrender this time, or are they playing some tricks again?"

Lin Zhen held her hand and removed the chess piece from her fingertips. "Whether they are sincere or not is no longer important. Pyongyang is already trapped, and their fate is no longer in their control. Coming here is just to confirm their impending end."

Murong Yan nodded, a stern look flashing in her eyes. "Yes, the outcome has long been determined. The blood shed in Haizhou and Ancheng cannot be in vain. The royal family of Goguryeo must pay for their past crimes."

As she spoke, she stood up, and her messy train slid across the mat.

"However," she changed the subject and looked at Lin Zhen, her face showing that dependent expression again, "Husband, can you accompany me to meet them? I'm too lazy to waste words with them."

"Of course." Lin Zhen also stood up and picked up the black and gold mink shawl draped over the railing for her, carefully draping it over her shoulders. "Your husband will accompany you."

Murong Yan tidied her appearance and her face regained the majesty and indifference of an empress.

She walked out of the pavilion and headed towards the front hall of the headquarters.

Lin Zhen followed closely behind.

Just as she stepped out of the pavilion and turned towards the corridor leading to the hall——

The action carries a hint of impatience with trivial matters and a determined determination!

The five-meter-long dark-golden tail that was scattered and messy on the bamboo mat was moved, and with a swish, it brushed past the steps at the entrance of the pavilion!

As the tail suddenly floated up, the "golden lining" inside was revealed, which was densely woven with gold threads and shone with the light of ruthless judgment under the interweaving light and shadow of the corridor!

The pattern of Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun instantly flashed with a cold and dazzling golden light. The light was full of the meaning of final judgment. It was noble, glorious, and carried an unquestionable absolute control over the fate of the enemy!

This glimpse was a silent response to Goguryeo's last attempt at peace.

The hem of her skirt fell, covering the cold golden light.

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen walked side by side towards the antechamber that would determine the final fate of Goguryeo.

There was no wavering in her heart.

Appeasement is for the purpose of ruling, while settlement is the ultimate goal.

The fate of the Goguryeo royal family was determined from the moment they massacred the people of Tieshan City.

......

The first day of June, the second year of Shenghui.

Half of Goguryeo's territory fell, food and grass in Pyongyang became increasingly scarce, and people were in panic.

The Goguryeo royal court made its last desperate attempt to seek peace, and its envoy was now standing trembling in the front hall of the Daqian headquarters.

The atmosphere in the front hall was solemn and even though it had been decorated, it was still difficult to conceal the signs of its temporary requisition.

Murong Yan sat upright on the phoenix chair temporarily set up at the top, with an upright posture and lowered eyes. She seemed calm, but she had an awe-inspiring dignity that could not be violated.

She was still wearing the gorgeous outline of the black and gold Su brocade cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" - the dress of the divine phoenix descending to the earth, especially the neckline and cuffs. The occasional exposure of the inner golden phoenix pattern indicated her unique preference and unquestionable identity.

The black jade ring on the left thumb shone with a cold luster under the light in the hall.

In this formal yet oppressive atmosphere, the Phoenix Dress appears even more profound and mysterious.

The extremely dark black Su Jin base material seemed to absorb all light and sound, and the golden cotton wool and real gold threads woven into it exuded a restrained and cold glow, contrasting with the cold light of the black-armored guards standing solemnly in the hall.

On the nightgown, there is a pattern of a giant phoenix holding up the sky. When it sits upright, it folds its wings and concentrates, but it exudes a dangerous aura that can kill people at any time.

The wide flared sleeves are covered by the long sleeves of the palace dress.

The five-meter-long Su Jin tail stretched down from the phoenix chair and passed over several steps.

It extends all the way to the smooth floor in the center of the hall.

Since it was not a formal palace, the ground was inevitably dusty. The luxurious dark gold brocade was spread on it with a kind of disorderly disregard for the environment and a declaration of sovereignty. There were even a few places that were stained with dust from the ground.

At this moment, this messiness is more like a silent contempt for the envoy, demonstrating the absolute power of the occupier.

The softness of the cotton and the name of the nightgown seemed particularly abrupt and intimidating on this occasion that determines the fate of a country.

Lin Zhen was wearing the prince's regular clothes and sitting slightly below and to the side of Murong Yan, with a calm expression and steady eyes.

His existence is both an extension of Murong Yan's power and her emotional support.

He did not speak, but just observed quietly, like an insurmountable mountain, guarding the empress.

The Goguryeo envoy was an old minister in his sixties named Park Yong-hwan, who held the position of Minister of Rites. He was one of the few highly respected figures in the Goguryeo court who dared to go on a diplomatic mission at this time.

He was wearing a wrinkled Goguryeo first-rank official uniform, his hair and beard were gray, and his face was full of fatigue, fear and a last glimmer of luck.

Behind him followed two followers holding gift lists and scrolls. All three of them bowed their heads and did not dare to look directly at Murong Yan above them.

"Foreign minister Park Yong-hwan, following the order of His Majesty the King of Goguryeo, comes to pay his respects to His Majesty the Emperor Daqian. Long live him, long live him, long, long live him!" Park Yong-hwan's voice trembled and he cried as he fell to his knees on the ground with a thud, performing the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows.

The attendants also knelt down quickly.

Murong Yan did not shout immediately, but just glanced at the three people kneeling below with her cold phoenix eyes, as if she was examining a few ants.

The hall was dead silent, with only the envoy's heavy breathing as the sound could be heard.

After a long moment, Murong Yan slowly spoke, her voice cold and emotionless: "Stand up. Why did Gao Zang send you here?"

She called the King of Goguryeo by his name, which was a great disrespect.