On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The second year of Shenghui, mid-July.

After the secret meeting in Naniwa-kyō, Japan, a decision full of speculation and calculation began to be implemented.

In order to demonstrate her "sincerity" and "weight", and also to increase her bargaining chips in possible negotiations, the Empress of Japan decided to send a distinguished envoy - her half-sister, Princess Sakuranai, to Daqian.

In name, he was making a "friendly visit" on behalf of the Japanese royal family and "mediating with concern" the situation in Goguryeo, but in reality he had the secret purpose of taking advantage of the situation to gain benefits as planned by Fujiwara no Fuhito.

An envoy ship decorated with the Japanese royal chrysanthemum pattern and taller and more magnificent than other Japanese ships, accompanied by several escort warships, left Naniwa Port and rode the summer southwest wind to the northwest towards the Daqian Liaodong coast.

The sea and the sky are one color, and seagulls are flying around. However, for the passengers on the ship, their mood is far less open and bright than the scenery.

In the most spacious cabin on the ship, Prince Sakuranai was looking out the window.

She was only 28 years old, wearing a complicated twelve-piece dress. She had a beautiful face, but there was a hint of worry and confusion between her brows that was inconsistent with her age.

As a princess of the royal family, she was well aware of the subtleties and risks of this mission. She traveled across the ocean to a powerful empire that was conquering its neighboring countries with iron-blooded means. Facing the legendary Empress Daqian who was dressed in strange and gorgeous clothes and had a capricious temper, her future was uncertain.

"Your Highness, the wind is strong at sea, please take care of yourself." A steady male voice sounded behind her.

The speaker was a young general named Otomo Suruga, the commander of the escort for this diplomatic mission and a renowned warrior among the younger generation of Japanese warriors.

He was wearing light armor, with a long sword at his waist, and had an upright figure and sharp eyes. But the look he gave the princess at this moment was filled with unconcealable concern and a hint of hidden admiration.

Prince Sakuranai heard the voice and turned his head slightly, revealing a faint, melancholy smile: "It's General Otomo. It's nothing, I just looked at the boundless sea, and I felt a little lost."

Her voice was soft, like the whisper of the sea breeze.

Otomo Suruga walked to her side, keeping a respectful arm's length away. He also looked out the window at the azure sea and whispered, "Your Highness, do not worry too much. I will do my utmost to protect you. No matter what dangers lie ahead, I will wield my sword for you."

His words made Prince Sakuranai feel slightly warm in his heart, and a barely perceptible blush appeared on his cheeks.

She grew up in the deep palace and rarely met outsiders. During this long journey, Otomo Suruga was the opposite sex she had the most contact with and the one she depended on the most.

His bravery, loyalty, and careful protection along the way had already cast ripples in her young heart.

"General, you are thoughtful." She responded softly, and cast her eyes into the distance again, as if she wanted to penetrate the sea level and see the legendary land.

"I just don't know what kind of country Daqian is. I heard that its territory is thousands of miles, with rich resources, and its capital Chang'an is even more prosperous. It is far beyond the comparison of our Nanbojing." Her tone revealed a hint of yearning for the outside world.

Upon hearing this, Otomo Suruga's eyes also flashed with longing:

"I have also heard that Daqian is a powerful nation with a flourishing culture. There's a poem that goes, 'The gates of the Nine Heavens are opened to the palace, and people from all nations dress in attire to pay homage to the emperor.' Their military is magnificent, and their armor is sophisticated. It's truly beyond the reach of Japan."

He originally wanted to say "far better", but out of a warrior's dignity, he changed it to a euphemism.

He paused, his voice lowered, with a hint of tentativeness, "If I could stay in Daqian, witness its brilliance, or even work for it, perhaps that would be a way out?"

Prince Sakuranai's delicate body trembled slightly, and she looked at Otomo Suruga in surprise.

Stay in Daqian?

This idea is so bold!

But not without appeal.

Away from the constraints of the Japanese court, living in a wider world, her heart beat faster involuntarily.

She looked at Otomo Suruga's resolute profile, and a bolder idea came to her mind: If she were with him...

"General, why do you say that?" She forced herself to remain calm, her voice trembling slightly. "We have a mission, representing the Japanese imperial family. How can we easily ask to stay?"

Otomo Suruga turned his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at her. "Your Highness, please forgive me for speaking frankly. The outcome of this mission is unpredictable. Minister Soga and the others are simply trying to fish in troubled waters. Empress Murong Yan of Daqian is not someone to be trifled with. If negotiations go wrong, we risk becoming abandoned. If we can secure Daqian's protection, perhaps we can survive."

He took a deep breath, mustered his courage,

"If I could get away from the disputes in my hometown and find a peaceful place with like-minded people, wouldn't it be better than living in fear of the power struggles in the court?" His words were almost a confession.

Prince Sakuranai's face instantly turned red and his heart was pounding.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers twisting her sleeves unconsciously, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito: "General, please be careful with your words. We will discuss this matter later."

But these words stirred up a huge wave in her heart.

Stay in Daqian?

With Suruga?

This idea, which she had never dared to imagine, was now like a piece of driftwood on the sea, giving her a glimmer of illusory hope when she was in confusion and anxiety.

They began to fantasize about the richness and beauty of Daqian and the free life they might have there, but they had no idea that they were about to step into an empire that had just experienced the baptism of blood and fire, and whose ruler's will was as hard as steel. Their destiny was no longer in their own hands.

At the same time, the garden of Anzhou Headquarters was filled with leisure and tranquility.

On a summer afternoon, the trees are green and the cicadas are chirping.

Murong Yan did not handle government affairs, but played chess and drank tea with Lin Zhen in the pavilion, enjoying the rare leisure time.

Murong Yan was only wearing the dress that resembled the descent of a divine phoenix.

The cotton fabric of the skirt is breathable and sweat-absorbent, making it comfortable even in the hot summer.

Her long black hair was casually spread out, tied behind her head with only a simple gold ring. A few strands of hair were wet with sweat and stuck to the side of her white neck, adding a touch of laziness.

Under the dappled light from the tree shade, the Phoenix Dress exudes a touch of homely casualness amidst its gorgeousness.

The extremely dark black Su Jin base material becomes increasingly calm and profound in color in the shade, while the golden cotton wool and real gold thread woven into it emit bits of golden light in the occasional sunlight.

On the nightgown, the pattern of the giant phoenix holding up the sky, while leisurely playing chess, has lost some of its domineering aura of looking down on the world, and has gained some of the peace and luxury of living under the forest.

She rolled up her wide flared sleeves to her elbows, revealing her fair arms. The black jade ring on her left thumb gently collided with the jade chess piece as she held it.

The five-meter-long Su Jin tail spread out on the smooth stone floor of the pavilion.

Because she sat in a relaxed posture, changing her position from time to time, the tail naturally meandered around the stone bench, and even part of it slid onto the grass outside the pavilion, stained with the scent of grass and a little dust.

This unintentional messiness, created by total relaxation in a private space, makes it seem more authentic and intimate.

The softness of the cotton and the name of the nightgown at this moment purely became a reflection of her personal comfort and preference.

"My husband, you are peeking at me again. Are you trying to cheat again?" Murong Yan picked up a black piece and was about to put it down, but she raised her phoenix eyes and glared at Lin Zhen, who was looking at her with a smile.

Lin Zhen, holding the white piece, smiled when he heard her words. He reached out and gently grasped her wrist, which was dangling above the chessboard. "How dare I, your husband, cheat? It's just that my Yan'er is so charming even when she's contemplating the chess game. I can't take my eyes off her."

He speaks sweet words effortlessly and his eyes are so gentle that they can drown people.

Murong Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she pulled her hand back in a stern manner, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips: "You smooth talker, hurry up and play chess!"

As she spoke, she gently placed Luozi's hand on the back of Lin Zhen's hand, and playfully tickled his palm with her fingertips.

Lin Zhen was tickled by her little gesture. He took her hand in his and chuckled softly, "Okay, let's do it. But if I win, Yan'er, can you agree to a small request of mine?"

"What request?" Murong Yan blinked curiously.

"Would you like to accompany me to the lotus pond outside the city tonight to go boating and watch the moon?" Lin Zhen's eyes were full of anticipation.

Murong Yan's face flushed even more, but her eyes sparkled with joy: "Okay! But you have to beat me first!"

She said, placing the chess piece confidently.

The two smiled at each other, their deep love expressed without words.

The chirping of cicadas outside the pavilion seemed to become the accompanying music.