On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

Inside the bridal chamber, a pair of dragon and phoenix red candles burned quietly, illuminating the festive red curtains with warmth.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the sweet fragrance of a young woman, which blended together to create a comforting and ambiguous atmosphere.

Nangong Min wore an elaborate phoenix robe and a phoenix crown, covered with a red veil that obscured her vision and all her expressions.

She sat there on the edge of the bed covered with a bright red brocade quilt, her hands folded on her knees, motionless, like a beautiful statue.

She has maintained this posture since she was brought into the palace at dusk, for more than two hours now.

The phoenix crown was heavy, making her neck ache. The gold thread embroidery on the wedding robe was also a bit uncomfortable, making her feel uneasy all over.

But she couldn't move, nor could she complain.

The belief that a woman should obey her husband after marriage was instilled in her from a young age.

Lin Yi, the regent of the current dynasty, is a powerful minister who holds a large army, and is also seen as a traitor and rebel by the world.

Nangong Min had heard many rumors about him.

Some say he was mentally impaired for two years and was a puppet to be manipulated by others.

Some say that after he regained his senses, he became cruel and ruthless, killing indiscriminately.

Some even said he disrespected the emperor and his father, tore up the imperial edict, forced the prime minister to kneel, and even ransacked his father-in-law's house.

However, some people say that he was compassionate towards the people, banned gambling, suppressed the powerful and wealthy, and distributed land to the people.

What kind of person is he?

Nangong Min didn't know.

All she knew was that from this night onward, this man would be her everything, her heaven and earth. Whether he was a hero or a demon, she had to unconditionally obey and serve him, bear his children, and continue his family line.

This was her destiny, and also the last contribution she could make as a princess to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Squeak—"

The door was gently pushed open, breaking the silence of the room.

Nangong Min's body trembled slightly, and her hands, resting on her knees, clenched unconsciously.

he came.

A steady series of footsteps approached from afar, carrying a faint smell of alcohol.

Nangong Min's heart rose higher and higher with each footstep.

Lin Yi stopped in front of her and quietly looked her over.

Nangong Min's palms were sweating with nervousness, unsure of what would happen next.

Will she roughly lift the veil and throw herself onto the bed, as rumored?

It will still happen...

Just as she was lost in thought, something warm and smooth as jade gently lifted her red veil.

That was a scale.

According to the wedding customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the groom must use a scale rod to lift the bride's veil, which symbolizes "everything going smoothly".

Nangong Min never expected that this man, who was rumored to be a bandit and traitor, would actually abide by such etiquette.

The veil was slowly lifted, and the candlelight flooded into her eyes, somewhat dazzling.

Nangong Min blinked, and then she saw the man in front of her who was about to spend the rest of her life with her.

He was very tall, dressed in the same bright red wedding robes, which accentuated his upright posture and imposing presence. He was also much more handsome than she had imagined. He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and lips that were neither too thin nor too thick, which were currently slightly pursed, revealing no emotion.

Those bright eyes, with a hint of intoxication, were deep and captivating.

Is this Lin Yi? The regent who held immense power and left the emperor helpless?

It doesn't seem so scary after all. On the contrary, it has a certain inexplicable charm.

While Nangong Min was sizing up Lin Yi, Lin Yi was also sizing her up.

First, he had to admit that while the old emperor Nangong Xiong might lack other skills, his ability to father daughters was first-rate. The princess before him was indeed a stunning beauty.

She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes as clear as water, exuding an innate elegance and tranquility. Her nose was delicate, her lips cherry-like, and her skin was as white as snow, seemingly enveloped in a sacred halo under the candlelight.

She also had a great figure. Although she was wearing a loose-fitting robe, her shapely curves were still visible, especially the prominent outline of her chest, which made it impossible to look away.

Her appearance and demeanor do indeed resemble the woman named Shen Meizhuang from a TV series Lin Yi watched in his previous life.

Dignified, poised, gentle, and virtuous.

She's his type.

However, while you may like it, you must remain vigilant.

The more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to lie.

Although the woman in front of you looks harmless and has the air of a well-bred lady, who knows what she's thinking?

Perhaps she is a spy sent by Nangong Xiong to his side, a knife hidden in his pillow.

"This humble servant, of the Nangong clan, greets Your Highness."

Just as Lin Yi was pondering, Nangong Min slowly rose and bowed gracefully to him.

Her voice was soft, her manners impeccable, and there was not a single fault to be found.

Lin Yi snapped out of his daze and, without helping her up, simply said, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Nangong Min did as instructed and sat down on the edge of the bed again.

This time, however, she lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Lin Yi's gaze.

The latter walked to the table, poured two glasses of nuptial wine, then picked up one and handed it to her.

"Come, drink this cup of wine, and you will be one of my Regent's Palace."

Nangong Min extended her delicate hand and accepted the wine cup.

Her fingers were beautiful, long and fair, like the finest white jade.

Lin Yi looked at her hand and suddenly asked, "You should know that this marriage is a political alliance, right?"

Nangong Min slightly raised the wine glass in her hand, looked up at Lin Yi, her clear eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

"I know nothing about politics. I only know that from the moment I married the Prince, I became his woman. The Prince's home is my home. The Prince's affairs are my affairs."

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly.

This woman is interesting.

Neither denying nor admitting, they cleverly evaded the core of the issue with the phrase "I don't understand politics."

Then she used the phrase "a woman follows her husband wherever he goes" to demonstrate her obedience and loyalty.

This statement was watertight, clearly stating the position without leaving any room for criticism.

If it were someone else, they would probably be overjoyed and cherish her like a precious treasure.

But Lin Yi was no ordinary person. In his previous life, he had been in the special forces and had seen more psychological tactics than this woman had ever eaten rice.

He knew very well that sometimes the most docile sheep might be hiding the sharpest fangs.

"Oh?" Lin Yi smiled slightly, asking with amusement, "So, if I were to raise an army in rebellion in the future, you would join me?"

Nangong Min's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes were somewhat dazed, as if she had never thought about this question of attacking the mind.

Lin Yi didn't urge her, but just watched her leisurely, waiting for her answer.

He forced her to make a choice in front of him on their wedding night.

She had to choose between the Nangong royal family behind her and him, the man who was about to become her husband.

The room was deathly silent, with only the crackling of the candlelight.

After a long silence, Nangong Min took a deep breath, looked at Lin Yi, and said, word by word, "The Book of Rites says, 'The husband is the head of the wife.' Since I have married Your Highness, Your Highness is my heaven. Wherever Heaven directs, so shall I direct. Whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will follow you to the death, without any second thoughts."