On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Murong Yan's long black hair was loosely tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell by her neck, adding a lazy charm.

The Phoenix Dress is gorgeous and light under the bright summer light.

The extremely black Su Jin base material presents a matte and deep texture under the sunlight, and the golden cotton wool and real gold thread woven into it reflect dazzling golden light, which contrasts with the ripples of the pond.

On the nightgown, the pattern of the giant phoenix holding up the sky is less majestic and more luxurious and elegant in the leisurely atmosphere.

She rolled up her wide flared sleeves, revealing her slender wrist and the black jade ring on her left thumb, which shone with a warm luster in the light.

The five-meter-long Su Jin tail spread out on the cool bamboo mat.

Because she sat in a casual posture and adjusted it from time to time, the train of her hair meandered across the mat, creating a lazy and comfortable mess that was unique to summer.

The softness of the cotton and the looseness of the nightgown allowed her to stay cool and comfortable even in the hot summer.

"It's your turn, husband." Murong Yan picked up an iced grape, gently put it into her mouth, then tapped the chessboard with her fingertips, urging Lin Zhen in a soft voice, with a smile in her phoenix eyes.

Lin Zhen held the white piece, but he didn't rush to put it down. Instead, he picked up the round fan beside him and gently fanned her. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, Yan'er. Let me think about how to break your 'Phoenix Dancing in the Nine Heavens' momentum."

His eyes fell on her gently, full of doting.

Murong Yan squinted her eyes in enjoyment, like a cat having its fur stroked: "Mm, so cool, my husband is the best."

As she spoke, she leaned her head against his fanning arm and rubbed it.

"But you must not give in to me on purpose."

"How dare I," Lin Zhen laughed, "My Yan'er is an excellent chess player, and as her husband, I must give my all."

He then placed his chess piece with exquisite placement, which immediately brought new excitement to the game.

Murong Yan took a closer look and pouted: "Oh, my husband, you are so cunning."

She pretended to be angry, reached out and hit his shoulder lightly, but the force was like tickling.

As the two were laughing and joking, a eunuch approached and bowed, reporting, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, there's an urgent report from Night Owl."

Murong Yan's smile faded slightly, and she sat up straight, regaining her imperial dignity. However, her hand still rested naturally on the back of Lin Zhen's hand: "Speak."

"Your Majesty, Goguryeo secretly sent envoy Park Yongxi to Naniwa Capital three days ago, attempting to persuade the Japanese Empress to send troops to aid. News has arrived today that the Japanese Empress has explicitly rejected their request and expelled the envoy."

After hearing this, Murong Yan's face showed no surprise, but instead a hint of sarcasm.

She turned to look at Lin Zhen, her tone filled with disdain and coquettishness: "My husband, look, it's all in vain again. The Japanese islanders are hiding overseas, unable to take care of themselves, how could they have the courage to provoke us?"

Lin Zhen took her hand in his and smiled, "Yan'er's reputation is known far and wide. Although Japan is a remote country, it also knows its priorities and dares not try to stop a chariot with its bare hands. Goguryeo is at the end of its rope."

"Hmph, they're smart." Murong Yan snorted, leaned back against Lin Zhen, and said lazily, "This is good. It saves us from having to deal with troubles from the sea. We can just wait for Pyongyang to rot on its own."

As she spoke, she picked up another grape and handed it to Lin Zhen's mouth: "Husband, try it, it's so sweet."

Lin Zhen took it and nodded in praise, "Yeah, it's really sweet."

He looked at her with even more tenderness in his eyes.

"Now that external aid has been cut off and internal food supplies have been exhausted, Pyongyang is already in our pocket. Yan'er just needs to sit back and wait and see what happens."

"Hmm," Murong Yan nodded with satisfaction and gently pushed the chessboard aside. "No more playing, no more playing. It's boring. Husband, let's go and see the lotus flowers. I heard the twin lotus flowers in the center of the lake are in bloom."

As she spoke, she stood up and extended her hand to Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen stood up naturally and took her hand: "Okay, I'll go with you."

Murong Yan smiled happily and pulled him out of the pavilion.

The moment she turned and walked out of the pavilion——

The movements carry the lightness and joy of letting go of trivial matters and traveling with loved ones!

The five-meter dark-gold tail that was spread out in a mess on the bamboo mat was moved, and with a swish, it brushed over the threshold and slid across the wooden pier connecting the water pavilion and the lakeshore!

As the train rose, the densely woven gold lining was revealed, gleaming like golden waves under the bright summer sun!

The pattern of Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun suddenly burst out with vibrant golden light. The light was full of confidence, calmness and the joy of being in control of everything. It was noble, brilliant, and carried a kind of ease and comfort of playing with stubborn enemies in the palm of one's hand!

This fleeting glimpse was a cruel mockery of Goguryeo's final struggle.

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

Murong Yan and Lin Zhen walked hand in hand among the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains, admiring the blooming lotus flowers and laughing softly from time to time.

......

The second year of Shenghui, early July.

The news that Pyongyang was in dire straits spread like the tides of the sea, wave after wave to Japan across the sea.

Although the empress had explicitly rejected the request for help from the Goguryeo envoys and expelled them, this major event concerning the survival of the neighboring country still caused considerable waves within the ruling class of Japan, especially in the hearts of some ambitious nobles and generals.

In Naniwa-kyō, in a secret side hall of the Japanese Imperial Palace, candlelight flickered, and the atmosphere was completely different from the solemnity of the formal court meetings.

An informal but secret discussion is taking place here that may affect national policy.

The participants were not all nobles, but were led by Minister Soga no Umako, who advocated external expansion, and included several generals who held military power and nobles who were on good terms with him.

Soga no Umako was about fifty years old, short and stocky, with a dark complexion, and a pair of slender eyes that sparkled with shrewdness and greed.

He knelt in the main seat, glanced at the people present, and spoke in a low voice with a thick Japanese accent, "Gentlemen, I believe you are all aware of the affairs of Goguryeo. His Majesty the Emperor is benevolent and does not wish to be involved in the conflict, and has already refused the envoy. However, as his subjects, shouldn't we... give more consideration to the fate of our country?"

A military commander named Mononobe Moriya was impatient and immediately responded:

"Your Excellency is absolutely right! Goguryeo is now like a piece of fat meat, dangling from the jaws of a hungry wolf! Daqian may be powerful, but it lies across an ocean, and its navy may not be able to compete with our Japanese warriors at sea! If we can take advantage of this period of mutual defeat between them and Goguryeo, and send our Japanese troops, even if it's just to harass their food supply, or occupy one or two islands off the coast of Goguryeo, or even... take advantage of the chaos to grab a piece of the pie on the Korean Peninsula, wouldn't that be a godsend? Then, our influence can extend to the mainland, acquiring land, population, and resources. The benefits are enormous!"

His words were full of desire for territory and wealth.

Another noble, Nakatomi Kamatari, was more cautious. He stroked his sparse beard and pondered:

"General Mononobe's bravery is commendable, but...is he being overly optimistic? The Great Qian Empress Murong Yan is no pushover. The massacres of Haizhou and Anzhou were brutal, and her military might is far beyond the reach of Japan. If we intervene rashly, we'll only bring disaster upon ourselves, with disastrous consequences. I think it's best to defend our island and wait and see."

"Nakatomi-kun is too cowardly!" Mononobe Moriya retorted disdainfully. "Murong Yan is just a woman, relying on her beauty and a few outlandish costumes to deceive people! How could we, the warriors of Japan, fear her? Besides, we don't need to fight a decisive battle with their main force. We can just act like sea wolves, wait for an opportunity, take a bite, and then escape. There are risks, but the rewards are even greater! Are you willing to be trapped on these islands forever?"

His words were highly inflammatory, painting an alluring picture of expanding territory.

Soga no Umako nodded slightly, obviously more inclined to Mononobe Moriya's radical views.

But he was too shrewd to express his opinion easily. Instead, he turned his attention to another young noble, Fujiwara no Fuhito, who was known for his wisdom. "Fuhito, what are your thoughts?"