My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Chengyu's words, like a winter wind, pierced through the entire palace, making everyone present feel an unprecedented pressure and chill. His words carried an undeniable authority and threat, causing Lord Leng's previously composed face to instantly lose its color, fine beads of sweat constantly seeping from his forehead, his lips moving but unable to utter a single word. Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu's eyes deepened, as if he could see into the deepest fears of people's hearts. He sighed softly, his tone carrying a gentleness that brooked no refusal: "Lord Leng, perhaps we should try a different approach. Perhaps Consort Leng's idea can bring us an unexpected turning point."

At this moment, in Consort Leng's courtyard, a subtle role reversal had just concluded. The maid impersonating her quickly removed her magnificent yet heavy palace attire, as if a great burden had been lifted, and a long-lost sense of ease appeared on her face. She silently stepped aside, watching several real maids meticulously dressing and grooming Consort Leng, carefully selecting each accessory to ensure perfection.

Consort Leng sat before the bronze mirror, a hint of weariness inadvertently showing between her brows. She gently raised her hand, stopping the maid from making any further moves, and asked softly, "What is the meaning of this sudden summons? Is it really because Father has been imprisoned?" There was no worry or unease in her words, but rather a hint of provocation.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi quickly stepped forward and stood outside the door, trying her best to make her smile appear natural and reassuring: "Your Majesty, you are overthinking it. Who can easily fathom the Emperor's thoughts? Perhaps, this is truly a rare favor. Let's hurry up and prepare, so as not to keep the Emperor waiting."

Consort Leng smiled bitterly, gazing at her exquisite face in the mirror, her heart filled with desolation. She said coldly, "In this harem, when will there be room for someone who only wants to be a tree, a screen, or a peach wood sword? Every day, my attire is merely to conform to the rules and expectations within those high walls. When can I truly be myself?"

Xiao Kuangzi, though sharing the same sentiment, could only force a smile and console her, "Your Majesty, you're mistaken. Lord Leng is waiting for you in the Imperial Study; perhaps he's longing to spend some quality time with you. Let's hurry and prepare, so Lord Leng doesn't have to wait too long."

Consort Leng sighed softly and finally stood up, allowing the maids to continue adjusting her clothes. She knew that no matter how much she resisted, the rules of the harem and the dignity of the royal family would not allow her to be willful in the slightest. Thus, with a hint of helplessness and determination, she embarked on her journey to the Imperial Study, silently praying that this summons would bring a glimmer of hope, or at least cause some suffering to her family to appease her anger.

The moment Lord Leng stepped into the imperial study, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to Consort Leng, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Consort Leng wore an elaborate and magnificent palace gown; her extravagantly large hairpin gleamed in the sunlight, and three pairs of golden hair ornaments swayed gently with her steps, producing a clear and melodious sound, like a unique melody from the palace. Her long sleeves reached the ground, and every step she took was dignified and elegant, completely different from the gentle and charming daughter she usually was. At this moment, Consort Leng seemed more like a princess meticulously dressed to showcase the power of the nation than merely an emperor's concubine.

Although Lord Leng had a thousand words in his heart, wanting to reprimand Leng Linshuang as he always had, he swallowed them back. He knew that from the moment Leng Linshuang stepped into the royal family, she was no longer the woman in the house who could be scolded at will, but had become someone closely connected to the royal family, representing the honor and disgrace of the Leng family. All his dissatisfaction and anger could only turn into a heavy sigh, buried deep in his heart, and could not be revealed in the slightest.

He bowed his head, maintaining the humble posture befitting a subject, waiting for Consort Leng to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress. Only after this series of tedious rituals was completed could Lord Leng step forward and pay his respects to his daughter—now Consort Leng—as a subject. At this moment, his feelings were exceptionally complex, a mixture of joy at a long-awaited reunion and helplessness and感慨 about the past.

Because she concealed the secret of her substitutionary marriage, Consort Leng had been unable to see her family since entering the palace, nor had she had the opportunity to return home or visit her relatives. This pain of separation from her loved ones filled Consort Leng's heart with resentment and also made Lord Leng feel deeply guilty. But he knew that for the survival and honor of the Leng family, these sacrifices were necessary.

Zhao Chengyu's careful observation eased the somewhat tense atmosphere. He gently waved his hand, and Lord Leng sat down in the chair to his left, allowing him to sit more comfortably in the hall. However, Consort Leng remained standing, seemingly still organizing her thoughts, both expectant and apprehensive about the upcoming topic.

Seeing this, the Empress smiled gently and patted Consort Leng's hand softly, as if offering silent comfort and support. "Sister Leng, you don't need to be nervous. The Emperor summoned you here to discuss your future and to hear your own opinion."

Consort Leng nodded slightly, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes. She then sat down as instructed, to the left of the Empress, directly opposite Lord Leng. At that moment, their eyes met, and an indescribable awkwardness filled the air.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu cleared his throat and coughed twice to get attention. Then, his words revealed a hint of concern and deep thought. "Consort Leng, although you don't often interact with others in the harem, I know you are gentle and kind. Especially with Consort Fang, I've occasionally seen you two together, so your relationship must be quite good. Have you heard anything about Consort Fang's recent situation?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Leng understood Zhao Chengyu's implication. She lowered her eyes slightly, her thoughts quickly returning to her last meeting with Consort Fang. At that time, Consort Fang's eyes were filled with determination and helplessness as she revealed her plan to leave the palace to cultivate. Although the reasons behind this were complex and difficult to explain, Consort Leng knew that there must be something important behind Consort Fang's decision. Therefore, she nodded gently, her voice soft yet firm: "Master Fang did mention this to me. She told me not to bother her anytime soon. I understand; she is no longer in the palace."

Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes. He patted his thigh, his tone carrying a touch of pride and relief: "It's good that you know! Actually, the reason I summoned you here today is because I feel that although you are highly respected in the palace, you inevitably feel constrained. Originally, I planned to find a substitute for you, so that you would have a chance to regain your freedom, and then Lord Leng would find you another suitable spouse. But then I thought, as a concubine of our dynasty, being forced into a substitute marriage is already unfair to you. If I were to arrange your marriage arbitrarily, wouldn't that be even more inappropriate? Therefore, I want to ask you directly, do you have someone you admire? If so, I will do my best to fulfill your wish."

Leng Fei's heart felt as if it were being pounded by a fine drumbeat, each beat filling her with unease and trepidation. This subtle atmosphere made Leng Fei even more certain that with her father present, she might indeed face a fate she did not want to accept—being arranged to marry a powerful and wealthy man again in order to maintain the Leng family's dignity and status.

Seeing that Consort Leng remained silent for a moment, Lord Leng finally couldn't help but say, "You should not pretend that you haven't thought about the Emperor's favor. Just say what you think."

Leng Fei's hands unconsciously gripped the corner of the table, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart, but her voice still trembled slightly: "Father, if you truly believe that your daughter should marry into a powerful family to consolidate the Leng family's position, then... you could simply order the servants to prepare a sedan chair and kidnap me. Why bother here, pretending to discuss it with me, adding to my inner struggle and pain?"

Consort Leng's words were filled with resolve and helplessness; they were like a sharp knife, slicing through the silence and awkwardness in the air. Upon hearing this, Lord Leng's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected his daughter to express her thoughts and feelings so directly. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then became speechless.

Zhao Chengyu sat to the side, quietly observing everything. He realized that he had originally thought that summoning Lord Leng would make Consort Leng more accepting of his arrangements, but he hadn't expected it to exacerbate the misunderstanding and estrangement between father and daughter. He sighed softly, feeling a pang of self-reproach.

"It seems that my decision was indeed inappropriate." Zhao Chengyu spoke slowly, breaking the silence in the hall. "I thought that with Lord Leng present, Consort Leng would be more likely to understand my good intentions. But I didn't expect that it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings between you."

He stood up and walked to Consort Leng, his gaze gentle yet firm: "Consort Leng, you've misunderstood. I summoned you here not to force you to marry anyone. I simply hope you can live the life you desire, whether within or outside the palace. If you wish to stay in the palace, I will naturally make arrangements for you; if you yearn to leave the palace and pursue your own happiness, I will fully support you. I should have asked you first. Perhaps you should return, Lord Leng?"

The Empress was startled by Consort Leng's sudden outspokenness, and cold sweat involuntarily trickled down her forehead. She quickly stood up and almost instinctively reached out to gently encircle Zhao Chengyu's arm, as if seeking comfort and support. "Your Majesty, please don't be hasty. We're just discussing this properly," the Empress said, her voice gentle yet urgent, trying to make her tone both authoritative and reassuring. "Since Lord Leng understands our thoughts, then we should listen even more to Consort Leng's opinion. After all, this is a matter of lifelong happiness for her; how can we make a hasty decision? Lord Leng, don't you agree?"

The Empress's words carried a hint of pleading, and her gaze towards Lord Leng was filled with expectation. However, this intimate gesture stirred ripples within Zhao Chengyu's heart. He wasn't embarrassed by the matter of Consort Leng, but rather by the Empress's sudden closeness, which caught him off guard. As a soul who had transmigrated, he was a "lifelong bachelor" who had never even held a girl's hand, yet now he suddenly possessed six beautiful concubines—a feeling that was both novel and complex.

The Empress's soft breasts pressed against Zhao Chengyu's arm. Although this body wasn't his own, the subtle sensation of skin-to-skin contact still made his heart race and his cheeks flush slightly. He tried to suppress his inner turmoil, attempting to deal with this sudden situation with reason. But the more he tried, the more an indescribable tension spread through his chest. The veins in his neck tightened from the effort, and his face gradually lost its color, turning deathly pale.

Seeing this, the Empress grew even more anxious. "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?" she asked hurriedly, her eyes filled with worry. Zhao Chengyu knew that his current state was not suitable for him to stay any longer, so he quickly came up with a plan. Pointing to Consort Leng and Lord Leng, he said, "I... I suddenly feel a bit of an urge to urinate. You two discuss this here; I'll be right back. Remember, no one is allowed to leave!"

Having said that, Zhao Chengyu practically fled the hall. Behind him, the Empress, Consort Leng, and Lord Leng exchanged bewildered glances, both surprised and confused by Zhao Chengyu's sudden departure. However, they also understood that the most important thing at the moment was to resolve the immediate problem, not to investigate why Zhao Chengyu had lost his composure.

Xiao Kuangzi was startled when the door to the Imperial Study suddenly opened, turning pale. Seeing the Emperor running towards her, she instinctively caught him as he lunged at her, the two instantly finding themselves in a slightly awkward yet intimate position. Xiao Kuangzi was inwardly terrified, and quickly said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? If there's anything urgent, just tell me to handle it. There's no need for you to come personally..."

Zhao Chengyu's feelings were complex and hard to describe. He knew that his outburst had not only left Xiao Kuangzi at a loss, but also caused a stir among the palace servants outside. He grabbed Xiao Kuangzi's shoulders tightly, as if trying to calm his chaotic mind, and said urgently, "Leave for a moment, quickly! I need some space."

Although Xiao Kuangzi was full of doubts, seeing the Emperor's serious expression, she dared not ask any more questions. She could only grit her teeth and use all her strength to support the Emperor's not-so-light weight, preventing him from falling. Seeing this, the palace servants around also stepped forward and carefully lifted Zhao Chengyu away from the threshold of the Imperial Study. The group hurriedly disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

The Empress, inside the room, observed everything through the half-open door. She sighed softly, forced herself to remain calm, and sat back down, a barely perceptible bitter smile on her face. She knew the Emperor's sudden departure must be related to their previous conversation, and all she could do was continue to play the role of a virtuous and kind Empress, waiting to see how things would unfold.

Lord Leng kept his head down, his eyes flickering uncertainly. He dared not look directly at the Emperor's back, nor at the Empress's seemingly insightful eyes. He could only steal glances at his daughter, Leng Lin Shuang, his gaze filled with both reproach and helplessness. From Consort Leng's perspective, she had only been glared at by her father, yet this was interpreted as his displeasure and warning, causing a surge of anger within her.