My palace is full of female protagonists.

Although Zhao Chengyu, the emperor who had traveled from another era, saw it as a unique way of marrying off his adopted sister, creating an unusual union, in the eyes of most court officials and common people, this marriage was nothing short of a sensational event, akin to the emperor marrying a second empress. After all, the former empress, Gao Lingyan, had led troops into battle as a woman, and upon her triumphant return, she had ascended the throne in the new kingdom—actions that were already astonishing and defied traditional understanding. Now, the emperor was going to send off the youngest concubine in the palace—the Yi princess—with the grand ceremony befitting a princess, and generously grant her the county that had nearly wiped out the Yi tribe as her fiefdom. This move was like a bombshell dropped into everyone's hearts, inevitably bringing to mind the idiom "releasing a tiger back to the mountain."

However, time is the best healer and a powerful tool for changing people's minds. A considerable amount of time had passed since Princess Yi was bestowed her title. During this period, many changes had occurred both inside and outside the capital. Among the most terrifying were the frequent assassination attempts in the streets, each one seemingly a silent testament to the undercurrents swirling within the court. Furthermore, those officials who had bravely stood up to impeach the powerful minister Fang Hujie had all been suppressed and imprisoned. This reality chilled many hearts, teaching them silence and submission.

In this atmosphere, even those ministers who still harbored reservations about the princess's marriage chose to protect themselves and refrain from easily angering the emperor. The banquets in the palace became a place where they could temporarily forget their troubles and seek a moment of peace. Most attendees adopted a "come and eat" attitude, only seeking to enjoy a sumptuous feast amidst the splendor. Other topics, such as whether etiquette was proper or whether the marriage was suitable, were carefully suppressed in their hearts, and no one dared to mention them lightly.

Thus, this wedding, which could have caused a huge uproar, ended in a relatively peaceful manner, becoming a topic of conversation, with no one daring to delve into the rights and wrongs involved. Inside and outside the palace, everything seemed to have returned to its usual calm, but beneath this calm, undercurrents still surged.

After the banquet, the night in the capital did not find peace; instead, a series of unseen undercurrents made it even heavier. Outside the city gates, on the ground that had just been cleaned at dawn, mottled black bloodstains had not yet been completely washed away by the rain, as if telling the story of the tragic events that had occurred not long ago. Just then, a group of beggars, seemingly ragged but actually robust, quietly gathered. Their eyes gleamed with a cunning and coldness incongruous with their status, sending a chill down one's spine.

The martial law in the capital remained strictly enforced. At the city gate, Deputy General Zhang Tianyong, his brow furrowed, scrutinized the uninvited guests with piercing eyes. His intuition told him their arrival was no accident. Just as he was pondering this, Prefect Li Qing and the powerful minister Fang Hujie rushed over. They were currently overwhelmed with the assassination attempt on Princess Yi, and now joined Zhang Tianyong to discuss countermeasures.

Zhang Tianyong sneered, his tone tinged with disdain: "I've risen from a common archer to a deputy general on this city gate, seeing tens of thousands of people every day. Look at these people, do they think they can hide their soldier status by wearing tattered clothes? Hmph, shouldn't I wipe them all out right now and eliminate them completely?"

Upon hearing this, Prefect Li Qing hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him: "Lord Zhang, while the rebels are indeed despicable, capturing even one or two survivors would undoubtedly be of great benefit to us in uncovering the truth and reporting to the Emperor. I urge you to reconsider, Lord Zhang!"

Fang Hujie, standing to the side, glanced around, seemingly unimpressed by Li Qing's suggestion. He said calmly, "Prefect, this might be putting Lord Zhang in a difficult position. After all, given Lord Zhang's decisiveness, how could he easily leave any prisoners alive?"

Zhang Tianyong, with his eyes half-closed and arms crossed, spoke with a hint of amusement: "Hmph, I knew what you were thinking. Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements. There are hidden doors on both sides of the city gate, and I've already ordered my men to lie in ambush. Once the arrows rain down, anyone who tries to escape will fall into our trap. Then, under torture, they will naturally confess, so you can rest assured."

Fang Hujie frowned slightly, seemingly doubting Zhang Tianyong's confidence: "What if no one escapes?"

Li Qing waved his hand and laughed, "Lord Fang, you are overthinking it. Who in this world is not afraid of death? Since Lord Zhang already has a foolproof plan, we just need to wait for good news."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianyong smirked, then raised his arm and flicked his finger. Dozens of soldiers moved swiftly, their arrows coated with grease and then ignited, transforming into streaks of fiery red meteors that streaked across the night sky and hurtled towards the crowd.

Meanwhile, the ministers who had just left the palace and had not yet returned to their residences were still enjoying the afterglow of the banquet when they were suddenly awakened by the sudden screams. Looking up, they saw thick smoke billowing from the direction of the city gate, and the air was filled with a pungent, acrid smell—not the aroma of roasted meat in the market, but the suffocating stench of clothes and bodies being burned.

At this moment, the entire capital city seemed to be shrouded in an invisible gloom, with people filled with anxiety and the future seemed even more unpredictable.

The mournful sound of bugles echoing across the city walls once more, shattering the night's tranquility and disturbing the sleep of countless residents. Candles were lit in every household, and people rose and gathered at windows and doorways, trying to glean some clue from the sudden commotion. Adults hurried home, ordering servants to light lanterns at their doors, as if this could dispel their unease.

In the darkness, the lanterns swayed gracefully, emitting a warm, dim light that added a touch of comfort to the cold night. The servants were instructed that if any officials from the court came to deliver a message, they must treat them with utmost respect and without the slightest negligence. This was both a sign of supreme reverence for imperial authority and a precaution against the possibility of their elders patrolling the household late at night, and also to avoid offending their colleagues at this time of year, lest they encounter awkwardness later.

Although a curfew was in effect in the capital, officials of a certain rank could still travel at night if they had urgent official business. However, they had to strictly abide by the regulations: they were not allowed to bring servants or ride in sedan chairs; they could only wear their official robes and walk to their destination. On such nights, the streets were sparsely populated, with only the occasional sound of horses' hooves and the footsteps of patrols breaking the silence.

Fang Hujie stood on the city wall, his gaze piercing through the flames and smoke, fixed on the horrific scene below the city gate, pondering his next move. He turned to Prefect Li Qing and said, "Prefect, why don't we release those officials whom the Emperor previously sent home back into the streets?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qing frowned and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Fang Hujie smiled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes: "Since those few have already passed the Emperor's notice, releasing them now might serve as bait to lure them out."

Upon hearing this, Li Qing's heart skipped a beat. Having handled cases for many years, he naturally understood Fang Hujie's intentions. But then he became worried: "Although I know you want to use this opportunity to lure out the assassins, aren't those people who are arresting them also our own people? What if we really attract a group of assassins and injure our brothers in the yamen? I can't bear that responsibility. At that time, I'm afraid I really will have to go to the Emperor's bedside and kowtow until dawn!"

Fang Hujie seemed to have anticipated Li Qing's concerns. Through the wide sleeves of his official robes, he pointed to Deputy General Zhang not far away. Li Qing followed his gaze and saw Deputy General Zhang standing coldly to the side, his eyes revealing an undeniable resolve. Li Qing couldn't help but roll his eyes and said helplessly, "I can't persuade this 'living devil.' Lord Fang is young and impetuous; Lord Zhang will definitely support you. Why don't you go and say the word yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Hujie's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He knew that although Deputy General Zhang was of a fiery temperament, he would still obey orders when faced with the greater good. So, he slowly walked towards Deputy General Zhang, preparing to persuade this difficult deputy general to join him in setting up this trap to lure the enemy out.

Fang Hujie gently handed a freshly brewed cup of tea to Deputy General Zhang, a warm smile on his face, and said, "Lord Zhang, you've worked so hard these past few days, guarding this city gate, not only facing the wind and rain outside, but also enduring this pungent smoke." Deputy General Zhang smiled back, but did not reach out to take the tea. Instead, he gently pushed the teacup back, saying, "Lord Fang, you're too kind. I'm just a rough man; how can I compare to your glamorous service in the palace? You're truly wronged. You should be enjoying yourself in a magnificent palace, but instead, you've come to our dilapidated city gate to smell this unpleasant smoke."

Upon hearing this, Fang Hujie shook his head helplessly and said, "Lord Zhang, you are joking. I am just living under someone else's roof now. What glory is there to speak of? There is a curfew in the city, so I can't go back even if I wanted to."

Deputy General Zhang seemed interested in Fang Hujie's situation. He sat up straight and asked with concern, "Lord Fang, why are you living under someone else's roof?"

Fang Hujie sighed and began to recount his "tragic" experiences. He said he came from a poor family and was fortunate enough to meet a benefactor who introduced him to Lord Leng. Later, thanks to the Emperor's favor, he was able to serve in the palace. However, his good fortune didn't last long. Because the officials of the Ministry of Justice accompanied the Crown Prince out of the capital, he did something outspoken, resulting in numerous impeachments from officials. At this point, Fang Hujie even pretended to wipe away tears, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "If it weren't for the Emperor's compassion, allowing my old mother and me to stay at Lord Leng's residence, I might not be alive today, and I'd still be here smelling this incense with you."

As Deputy General Zhang listened to Fang Hujie's explanation, his gaze lingered on the floor for a moment, as if deep in thought. After a brief pause, he patted Fang Hujie's arm and said, "Alright! Lord Fang, don't be too upset. It's just borrowing a few men. I, Zhang, may not have any gods who can fly to the heavens or dive into the earth, but I have plenty of skilled and strong soldiers right here. I'll call them over right now and lend them to you!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Hujie was overjoyed, but he didn't show much emotion on his face. He simply said gratefully, "Lord Zhang is truly a straightforward man. I am extremely grateful. Once this matter is settled, I will definitely repay you handsomely!"

Deputy General Zhang laughed and said, "Lord Fang, you're too kind. We're all working for the Emperor, so helping each other is only right. I'll go and fetch someone right away; please wait a moment."

After speaking, Deputy General Zhang got up and left. A short while later, he returned with a squad of elite soldiers. Fang Hujie and the prefect were secretly relieved. This scheme to lure the enemy out of their hiding place had finally reached a crucial point.

Fang Hujie and the prefect exchanged a quick glance in the shadows of the city wall; the plan was complete. They had cleverly devised a series of codes, which would be silently placed in the residences of the four officials, awaiting discovery and execution by the Imperial Guards.

The night was as dark as ink, and the streets and alleys of the capital were shrouded in a deathly silence, broken only occasionally by the sound of patrolling horses' hooves and the slight clinking of armor. As the codes were discovered one by one, the four officials were almost simultaneously "kicked" out of their homes by their respective imperial guards in some way. Dressed in formal official robes, they stood blankly on the empty streets like lost travelers.

The first official was deathly pale, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His once composed face was now consumed by terror and unease. Like a frightened bird, he moved forward cautiously, each step seemingly requiring all his strength. His flickering eyes, like a candle in the wind, darted left and right, warily scanning the dark corners around him, as if afraid that at any moment a terrifying hand with a hideous face and sharp claws would suddenly reach out from the darkness, seize him, and drag him into an abyss.

The second official, in the utter silence of the night, also felt an unprecedented fear. This fear was ever-present, clinging to him relentlessly, making it hard to breathe. He would occasionally turn his head, his eyes wide, desperately trying to catch even the slightest suspicious movement in the boundless darkness. However, apart from the occasional gust of wind, there was no other sound or sign in this deathly still night.

As for the third official, in the pitch-black night, he suddenly realized how insignificant and helpless he truly was. He frantically ran around like a headless fly, desperately searching for a safe corner to hide in. But as far as the eye could see, the empty streets were nothing but a desolate expanse, save for a few lonely mansions. Finding nowhere to hide, his panic grew stronger.