My palace is full of female protagonists.

Night fell, the wind howled, and the rain poured down, as if the sky itself was venting its unspoken emotions. Zhao Chengyu drove his new energy vehicle, which he had only bought two days ago, slowly through the restless night. Having finally finished his overtime work, he no longer had the energy to attend a gathering with his younger colleagues; he preferred to go home and get some sleep.

However, the wheel of fate turned silently, laying down a sudden test without warning. On a street almost unrecognizable after being washed by the rain, darkness, like the jaws of a monstrous beast, devoured all light. Zhao Chengyu's car headlights could barely penetrate the rain, illuminating a small area ahead. Just then, an out-of-control truck, like a giant wave whipped up by a gale, roared out of the night and hurtled towards them.

With a deafening crash, like a harbinger of the apocalypse, the two cars instantly became entangled, the symphony of metal and glass echoing through the rainy night. Zhao Chengyu felt an irresistible force binding him tightly, followed by endless darkness and chaos, as if the entire world had collapsed at that moment.

As the first rays of light pierced his eyes, Zhao Chengyu found himself in the best vantage point in the imperial court. The magnificent palace shone brightly in the morning light, and the elaborate and ornate costumes flowed like clouds. The people dressed in ancient attire had expressions of both awe and helplessness in their eyes; some seemed to want to speak but dared not reveal their thoughts.

Zhao Chengyu slowly sat up. Although his body felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, a wave of doubt and shock washed over him. He looked around, and the carved beams and painted rafters, the dragons and phoenixes, all told him that the memories flashing through his mind were those of Zhao Yingqing, the original owner of this body.

The sound of rain still seemed to echo in his ears, and it was raining outside the main hall as well. Looking out from the main gate, many ministers were standing in the square, but thanks to the large sunshade, they wouldn't get directly wet. Zhao Chengyu took a deep breath, trying to accept this sudden change.

"Your Majesty?" This deep and majestic call, like the echoing bells of an ancient palace, instantly pulled Zhao Chengyu back to reality from his chaotic emotions. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw an elderly man with white hair and beard and deep eyes standing with a slight bow below the court. That was the current prime minister, a highly respected and experienced minister of state.

The Prime Minister's gaze seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, a subtle awareness of Zhao Chengyu's sudden loss of composure, yet also the respect and loyalty due to a subject. He didn't say much, but with a single, gentle remark, he skillfully steered the conversation toward a matter of national importance—the troubles on the northern border, a heavy burden hanging over the hearts of every court official.

"Your Majesty," the Prime Minister said, "regarding the troubles on the northern border, our ministers have taken turns debating, yet we have failed to reach a consensus. The situation is urgent, and we dare not slacken our efforts, but we also fear that a wrong decision could lead to disaster. Therefore, I humbly suggest that we perhaps temporarily entrust this matter to Her Majesty the Empress for advice. Her Majesty is renowned for her wisdom and has considerable insight into state affairs; perhaps she can share Your Majesty's burdens and resolve your difficulties." Though the Prime Minister's words were plain and unadorned, every word was precious, revealing his high trust in the Empress and his deep concern for the nation.

Zhao Chengyu's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. In the court, the officials exchanged bewildered glances, the atmosphere becoming tense. Some genuinely didn't know why matters of the frontier had involved the Empress, while others understood but dared not speak. After all, in this deep palace, every word could become the source of future trouble.

Faced with Zhao Chengyu's repeated questioning, the Prime Minister's expression became somewhat complicated. He coughed lightly, about to explain, when suddenly a series of clear bell sounds came from outside the palace gates, followed by a palace servant's loud announcement: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" This announcement instantly shattered the tranquility of the court, and the officials bowed in respect to show their deference to the Empress.

However, in this solemn and dignified setting, Zhao Chengyu seemed somewhat out of place. He remained seated on the throne, but his posture appeared somewhat slanted, as if he showed little respect for the approaching Empress. He muttered to himself, "Who made me marry this woman? Why does she seem so much taller than me, with such an imposing presence? Is she from Shandong, with an unusually strong physique?" These thoughts flashed through his mind, but they also made him more curious and scrutinizing of this Empress.

The Empress entered the court with steady and elegant steps. Her face was dignified and beautiful, and her eyes shone with wisdom and resilience. She slowly walked to Zhao Chengyu's side, bowed, and spoke in a clear and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, matters on the frontier are interconnected, and the most urgent needs are money and military supplies. I have already ordered people to begin preparations to ensure that all necessary supplies arrive in time. At the latest, the first batch of supplies and strong troops will be able to set off for the frontier on the first day of next month to alleviate the immediate crisis."

As soon as the Prime Minister finished speaking, a tense and subtle atmosphere filled the court. His words revealed doubts about the Empress's abilities and a consideration of the priorities between domestic affairs and important matters on the frontier. He was clearly reminding the Empress to stay within her bounds and not interfere too much in politics.

However, Zhao Chengyu, now known as Zhao Yingqing, did not follow the script set by the Prime Minister. He stared at the Empress with one eye open and one eye closed, seemingly looking down on her. Fragments of memories about the Empress flooded his mind: she was an adopted son who had married Zhao Yingqing when he was still a prince, supporting him to become emperor, and ultimately, the most important person in his life, turning the tide and placing him on the throne. She had provided both money and effort in exchange for his advice; one could never doubt her existence, no matter how much you doubted her abilities or loyalty!

The Empress was clearly caught off guard by Zhao Chengyu's sudden action. She paused for a moment, then noticed the change in Zhao Yingqing's expression with concern, mistakenly thinking he was unwell. Her tone was full of tenderness and worry, but Zhao Yingyu gently waved his hand, indicating that he was fine and simply did not want to continue the topic.

Immediately afterward, Zhao Yingqing made a move that surprised everyone. He stood up abruptly, his piercing gaze sweeping over everyone in the court, especially Prime Minister Qi. His voice was filled with authority and displeasure, each word like a hammer blow to the hearts of everyone present: "Who among you has the Empress's abilities?! Especially you, Prime Minister Qi! You old codger, how can war be won simply by having money and soldiers? You only know how to ask the national treasury for money, but you never think about where the money in the national treasury comes from, or how long it can last! If any of you had even a fraction of the Empress's abilities, with so many people in my court, would we still have to worry about not unifying the Central Plains?! Those with ideas, step forward and speak; those without ideas, get out! You all act like women embroidering every day, what great things can you accomplish?!"

Zhao Chengyu's words swept through the court like a whirlwind. The officials were shocked and couldn't help but reflect. They had never seen the emperor reprimand his ministers so directly and mercilessly, nor had they expected the empress to hold such a high position in his heart. The empress herself, though stunned by Zhao Chengyu's words, also saw a glimmer of relief and determination in her eyes, as if she had seen a ray of hope.

Zhao Chengyu's sudden discomfort froze the atmosphere in the court. His brow furrowed, one hand supporting his forehead, clearly suffering from an unbearable headache. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he disregarded etiquette, grabbing the Empress's wrist and gently pulling her to the throne. His tone was firm and unwavering: "My head is throbbing terribly. You handle the rest. Just show me the results. If there's anything wrong, I'll have someone rush to the ministers' homes to revise it." With that, he slowly left the court, supported by palace attendants, leaving the Empress alone on the throne, a symbol of supreme power, looking somewhat helpless.

The Empress was stunned. She had never imagined being placed in such a prominent position in such a setting. Although she often assisted the Emperor in handling state affairs in the Imperial Study, this was the first time in her life she had ever sat on the throne and issued orders so openly. She looked around and saw that the ministers were all dumbfounded, clearly speechless with shock. The entire court fell into a deathly silence, with only the sound of the wind passing through the windowpanes being particularly clear.

Just then, a slight sound broke the silence—a minister's notice board accidentally fell to the ground with a crisp sound. This sound seemed to be a signal, bringing everyone back to their senses. The ministers began to whisper among themselves, their eyes filled with concern for the emperor's illness, as well as curiosity and speculation about the empress's impending responsibilities.

The Empress took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil. She knew that she was no longer the woman who could only stand behind the Emperor, but someone who needed to step forward and uphold the nation and the court. She straightened her back, her gaze fixed firmly ahead, and began to methodically arrange the subsequent work. Her voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable authority and power, compelling the ministers present to obey her commands.

The news that Zhao Chengyu was suffering from a headache and had left court spread like wildfire throughout the palace. He had finally managed to change out of his heavy court robes and lay down on his soft bed, enjoying the meticulous care of seven or eight palace maids, when the tranquility was suddenly shattered by a figure appearing out of nowhere.

The woman, adorned from head to toe with jingling ornaments, burst in as if each step she took was a symphony of gold and silver jewels, crying and shouting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong? I was so worried!" Her voice was tinged with anxiety and tears, yet it couldn't hide her flamboyant nature.

Zhao Chengyu was startled by the sudden commotion and involuntarily shrank back into the bed. He hurriedly shouted, "Xiao Kuangzi, stop her!" Before he finished speaking, a little eunuch darted out from the side like a ghost and successfully stopped the flamboyant beauty from entering the bed.

Gazing at the scene before him, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but recall various memories of this woman. Her name was Zhao Qi'er, and her status was so noble that it even surpassed that of the Empress. If it weren't for the Empress's excessive enthusiasm for court affairs, Zhao Qi'er would have been the most suitable candidate to become the Empress.

Zhao Qi'er's background is complex and illustrious. She is the adopted daughter of Zhao Yingqing's father and a distant niece of Zhao Yingqing's mother. Zhao Yingqing's father was once a prominent figure, enfeoffed as a regional marquis, and one of the late emperor's cousins. However, the battlefield is merciless, and he ultimately died on the battlefield, and his death was not dignified. He should have been punished according to military regulations, but since he was already dead, only his family was lightly punished as a matter of military order. Of course, also to protect Zhao Yingqing's life, the late emperor specially decreed that he be exiled to the frontier, promising that if he could achieve military merit, he could return to the Central Plains and inherit the marquis's title.

During those difficult years of exile, it was Zhao Qi'er who stepped forward and single-handedly managed the daily lives of more than one hundred people in the Zhao family. She was not only intelligent and capable, but also thoughtful and caring, and she was practically the mistress of the Zhao family.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but feel a bit more complicated emotions towards Zhao Qier.

Zhao Chengyu realized the difference between himself and Zhao Yingqing. Although his gratitude towards Zhao Qi'er wasn't deep, he knew he couldn't suddenly neglect her. He struggled to sit up and said gently to Zhao Qi'er, "Qi'er, could you dress a little simpler from now on? Don't you find those heavy headdresses, gorgeous clothes, and shawls tiring?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er looked puzzled and asked softly, "Didn't Your Majesty tell me to dress like this? You said that although you couldn't give me the Empress's position, you wanted me to live a more glamorous life in the palace than the Empress."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu felt a little ashamed. He realized that his previous words and actions might have caused Zhao Qi'er to misunderstand, so he explained, "Wearing this can indeed show your nobility, but everyone in the palace knows you well, so it's better to be more comfortable. It doesn't matter if you have a grander presence outside, the important thing is to be comfortable and at ease in the palace."

After listening to Zhao Chengyu's words, Zhao Qier tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "But I hardly ever leave the palace all year round. Won't these things get old and I won't be able to wear them anymore?"

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly and suggested, "Then why don't you open a theater? Set up a private room for yourself on the second floor, wear these gorgeous clothes to watch the play, and let the audience see your charm. Wouldn't that be better?"

Zhao Qi'er's eyes lit up instantly. It was as if she had seen a new world. She excitedly said, "Then can I go out and play every day?"

Zhao Chengyu smiled and patted Zhao Qi'er's head gently, saying, "Yes, your only family left is me and our child. Who can stop you now? Go out and play if you want, just remember to come back. But, when you go out, be sure to take a guard with you and don't wander off alone, understand?"

Zhao Qi'er jumped for joy and left the palace with a heart full of happiness. She even forgot why she had originally returned to see the emperor, only immersing herself in the joy of her upcoming new life. Zhao Chengyu watched her departing figure and felt a sense of relief.