On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Chapter 1099 You... haven't taken off your armor yet...

The two embraced quietly, neither of them saying another word.

Inside Qifeng Pavilion, all was so quiet that only their breathing and heartbeats could be heard.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded through the window and night slowly descended, palace servants silently entered and lit the palace lanterns, their soft candlelight enveloping the entire bedchamber in a warm, dim glow.

After a long while, Murong Yan stirred in his arms, her voice thick with nasal congestion, and asked in a muffled voice, "Husband, are your injuries really alright? Let me have the imperial physician take a look."

"Silly girl, you're really okay." Lin Zhen lowered her head, kissed her forehead, and gently comforted her, "It's just some superficial wounds. The army doctor treated them on the way back, and they've already started to scab over. You can see for yourself."

As he spoke, he began to unfasten the armor on his chest.

"No!" Murong Yan quickly pressed his hand down, her eyes reddening again. "I believe you, I believe you, okay... I just... I just feel sorry for you."

She buried her face in his chest again, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum: "You have no idea how happy I was, and how terrified I was, when the news of the victory at 'The Narrow Pass' came. Three hundred men... against fifteen thousand... how could you dare..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhen's heart softened, and he tightened his grip on her arm.

He knew how brutal the battle was, in places she couldn't see.

Of the three hundred "Night Owls," fewer than one hundred were still standing.

He himself couldn't count how many wounds he had. The worst one almost cleaved his left shoulder open. If he hadn't dodged quickly, he probably would have lost his entire arm.

He couldn't tell her any of this.

He could only say in the most relaxed tone, "It was just a risky move. At the time, I didn't have time to think too much. Besides, your husband is a lucky man, and even the King of Hell wouldn't dare to take me. I haven't spent enough time with you yet, how could I bear to die?"

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Murong Yan immediately covered his mouth in alarm when she heard him mention the word "death." "Don't talk nonsense! Don't say that word!"

Her soft, orchid-scented hand rested on his lips, and Lin Zhen's heart fluttered. He couldn't help but stick out his tongue and gently lick her palm.

Murong Yan recoiled as if electrocuted, her pretty face instantly turning as red as the evening glow.

"You...you're already being indecent as soon as you get back!" She was both embarrassed and angry, and lightly punched him.

Lin Zhen laughed heartily, grabbed her little fist, and kissed it repeatedly: "I've been acting like a proper person outside for months, and it's really been suffocating me. Now that I'm back, of course I have to be a little less proper with my Yan'er."

Seeing the familiar, doting smile in his eyes, Murong Yan's embarrassment and annoyance vanished, leaving only sweetness.

She leaned against him, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, and her nerves, which had been tense for months, finally relaxed completely.

"My lord, with this great victory in the Northern Expedition, the tribes of the northern deserts should not dare to move south again for a while, right?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Despite achieving an unprecedented victory, as the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, she had to consider the long-term implications.

"Hmm." Lin Zhen nodded, his expression turning serious.

"With Uwei dead, Attila and Huyanzhuo, the two most influential princes, are also gone. The elite troops directly under the Northern Desert Royal Court suffered nearly 70% casualties in the battles of Eagle Beak Cliff and 'One Line Sky'. The remaining tribal leaders are all opportunists and have no real power. I have ordered Commander Zheng to lead a large army to garrison in the Yanran Protectorate and sent envoys to appease the remaining tribes in the Northern Desert, promising them the benefits of trade. As long as our Great Qian doesn't descend into chaos, the Northern Frontier can be kept peaceful for at least thirty years."

Upon hearing the words "thirty years of peace," Murong Yan breathed a long sigh of relief.

For these few words, Da Qian paid too high a price, and her husband almost lost his life.

But it's all worth it.

"But..." Lin Zhen changed the subject, a cold glint in his eyes, "That scourge Kong Zhiqian has finally escaped. Although he has no ability to lead troops into battle, he is full of evil intentions and, with the title of 'Saint's Descendant,' he is most adept at bewitching people. The rumors he spread in the later stages of the war, as well as his methods of poisoning and creating plagues, were far too insidious and we must be on guard."

Mentioning Kong Zhiqian, Murong Yan's expression turned cold: "Yes, I received a secret report that a few days before you returned, several counties in Jiangnan discovered a similar epidemic. Although it was not large in scale, the locals were in a state of panic. Prime Minister Du and the others have already dealt with it according to the methods we discussed before. However, these kinds of things are hard to guard against, and it always makes people feel uneasy."

She sat up straight from Lin Zhen's embrace, her phoenix eyes filled with worry: "Husband, do you think he might... be like a poisonous snake, always hiding in the shadows, jumping out to bite us from time to time?"

“He will,” Lin Zhen said without hesitation. “This man hates us, especially you, to the core. As long as he lives, he will not let us have any peace.”

Seeing the lingering worry in Murong Yan's eyes, he reached out and pulled her back into his arms, gently comforting her:

"However, you don't need to worry too much. A snake that only dares to hide in the gutter, no matter how venomous, can't cause any trouble. I have already had 'Night Owl' lay a tight net and do everything he can to track him down. As long as he dares to show his face, I guarantee he will not have a second chance to escape."

"Mm." Murong Yan nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. "With you here, I feel at ease."

The two lingered for a while longer, then Lin Zhen seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "By the way, Yan'er, have the matters in the court been settled?"

He was referring to the officials who jumped around during the war.

"Yes, they've all been dealt with." Murong Yan's voice sounded tired. "The main culprits have been punished according to the charges you set. Most of the rest have been dismissed and investigated, and given a warning. After this incident, the powerful families in the court should be able to behave themselves for a long time."

"That's good." Lin Zhen nodded. "State affairs are heavy, and you've been exhausted lately. Starting tomorrow, hand over all the memorials to Prime Minister Du and the others to handle. Don't worry about anything, just rest for a few days and recover your health. Even the most important matters can wait until you've recovered."

“It’s not that easy…” Murong Yan muttered, “I’m the emperor, how can I really just ignore everything…”

Even so, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

In this world, only he dared to use such an overbearing tone to order her, the empress, to "rest."

“If I say it’s okay, then it’s okay.” Lin Zhen pinched her cheek, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll stay with you. We won’t go anywhere else, we’ll just stay here in Qifeng Pavilion. You can sleep, and I’ll watch over you. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll have the imperial kitchen make it for you. If you want to hear stories, I’ll tell you about my experiences in the Northern Frontier. In short, until I’ve fattened you up, you’re not allowed to touch those damn memorials again.”

“You…” Murong Yan was amused by his domineering and shameless manner, and the last trace of gloom in her heart completely dissipated.

She looked up at his handsome face, so close to hers, filled with concern, and her heart stirred. She took the initiative to kiss him.

Lin Zhen was taken aback at first, then took the initiative and deepened the kiss.

After a long while, until Murong Yan was almost out of breath, he reluctantly let her go.

She nestled in his arms, her cheeks flushed, her phoenix eyes glistening with tears, and she breathed softly.

"Husband..." Her voice was so soft it could melt water.

"Ok?"

"You... haven't taken off your armor yet..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhen looked down at the cold, hard armor on his body, then at the soft, fragrant woman in his arms, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"It was my oversight."

He stood up and quickly took off the complicated armor he was wearing.

As the heavy armor was thrown to the ground piece by piece with a clanging sound, he finally shed his identity as the God of War and returned to being Lin Zhen, who belonged only to her.

He pulled her into his arms again, and this time, there was no longer any cold distance between them.

"Yan'er, let's... rest." His voice was hoarse with emotion.

"Mmm..." Murong Yan nodded shyly and buried her face in his chest.

Nothing was said that night, but the room was filled with a romantic atmosphere.

Over the past few months, all the longing, worry, and fear have transformed into the most primal and ardent love at this moment, enveloping the two of them tightly.