My palace is full of female protagonists.

Outside the main hall, a servant hurried in, one to report to the Emperor, and the other to find Deputy General Zhang. After Xiao Kuangzi inquired about the reasons and confirmed everything was correct, he signaled for the message to be relayed inside.

When Zhao Chengyu heard that the city gates of the capital were closed again, his face remained calm. However, the officials in the hall were discussing among themselves, their expressions panicked.

Zhao Chengyu coughed twice and said in a deep voice, "Deputy General Zhang, effective immediately, you are promoted to General of the Imperial Guard." After speaking, he gestured to his attendant to bring out a bronze sword from the inner room. He slowly drew the sword, its blade gleaming coldly. He continued, "This golden sword is bestowed upon you. Seeing this sword is like seeing the Emperor. Officials below the second rank may be executed first and reported later. Be sure to investigate the anomalies at the city gate and report back immediately."

Upon receiving the order, Vice General Zhang was astonished by the assembled officials in the main hall. Before the court session had even ended, Vice General Zhang strode out. Xiao Kuangzi had already prepared a sedan chair outside and ordered someone to bring a fast horse to escort Vice General Zhang out of the palace, hoping that he could uncover the truth as soon as possible.

Thus, a sudden change unfolded amidst a flurry of activity.

Zhao Chengyu secretly pondered: Although the deputy general guarding the gate was suspicious and his loyalty was hard to fathom, at least he was still alive and skilled in martial arts, so he was still a line of defense. Giving him some authority might quell the treacherous situation outside the city gate.

Prime Minister Gao bowed respectfully and spoke earnestly: "Your Majesty, Prefect Li Qing has gone missing. There are many affairs in the capital, and we cannot be without a leader for even a day. Have you considered selecting a worthy person to temporarily take over his post in order to maintain order in the capital?"

Prime Minister Su followed closely behind, cupping his hands in a salute, his words carrying a hint of admiration: "Your Majesty, I humbly recommend Fang Hujie of the Secretariat. Although he is still young, he has repeatedly achieved remarkable feats within the Wenshu Monastery, demonstrating skillful command, upright character, and both wisdom and courage. He is truly a rare talent."

Zhao Chengyu tapped his knuckles lightly, his heart filled with mixed feelings: Could it be that these two men's suggestion was a way of testing the waters because they saw how much I relied on Fang Hujie recently? However, Fang Hujie had been busy and hardworking during the city's lockdown these past few days, and had already become a familiar face to the assassins. If they were to put him in the position of prefect, wouldn't that put him in the eye of the storm and make him a living target?

Zhao Chengyu waved his hand gently, his voice tinged with helplessness: "The affairs of the secretariat are too complicated, he is indeed not a suitable candidate."

Just then, another messenger rushed in from the city gate to report: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived in the capital! However, the city gates are tightly closed, so the Crown Prince and his entourage have no choice but to wait outside."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu gave a wry smile: "Well, at least someone can finally handle the chaos outside the city gates."

Outside the city, Zhao Chengyu rode his horse slowly, surrounded by palace servants who shouted loudly, "His Highness the Crown Prince has returned to court! Why don't you all open the gates to welcome him?"

Recalling the moment he ordered the city gates closed and then rushed to the palace to report, the centurion was now hiding in Vice General Zhang's study, filled with anxiety and unease, not daring to show himself. He felt as if he were engulfed in flames, suffering unbearable torment. He had given the order to close the gates, but before Vice General Zhang had returned, he no longer had the authority to open them. He had originally thought that Vice General Zhang would return within an hour to take charge, but unexpectedly, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Crown Prince's troops had already returned. Now, he had become the one who had kept the Crown Prince out of the city, his heart filled with the fear of being held to the executioner's block, trembling with dread.

Suddenly, a loud, childish scream shattered the tranquility. It came from a little boy standing beneath the prince's mount. The horse, already moving with hurried steps, became even more agitated from the sudden child's voice, its hooves thundering. The prince shouted, "Who is it? Take this child away immediately!"

The little boy clutched an unidentified object in his hand and, without thinking, gently stroked the horse's leg. Miraculously, the prince's mount suddenly knelt down. This unexpected turn of events caught the prince off guard; he swayed, clutching the horse's neck, unable to move. Several armored guards nearby leaped from their mounts and charged towards the prince like arrows. The little boy, in the chaos, narrowly escaped being injured by the horse's sudden head-shaking.

With the help of his guards, the prince struggled to free himself from the horse, his legs nearly crushed by its heavy body. Once he regained his balance, his first instinct was to look around, his eyes filled with concern for the little boy. The boy, as if sensing the approaching storm, was trying to weave through the gaps between the horses and men, fleeing towards the cavalry behind him.

"Quick! Seize that child!" The prince's attendant's voice, filled with unwavering urgency, pierced the chaos of the scene.

Only then did a few cavalrymen notice the movement beneath their horses' hooves. The child, like a cunning deer, dodged and weaved, his movements surprisingly agile, his reactions far exceeding those of an eight-year-old. However, these cavalrymen were no ordinary men either. One of them, with lightning speed, hooked the child's collar with his spear, suspending him in mid-air above the spear tip. The cavalryman raised his spear high, instantly lifting the child higher than the horse's head. Terrified, he let out a piercing scream.

Upon seeing this, the prince's only concern was the child's safety. After being helped up, he quickly ordered, "Bring that child here, and don't frighten him."

However, the palace servants had very different thoughts from the Crown Prince. They rushed over from their posts, gathered around the carriage, their eyes full of concern, all checking on the Crown Prince's safety.

A palace maid dressed in plain clothes said softly, "Your Highness, such an unknown child can be easily rewarded with a few copper coins. Not punishing him is already a great favor. Why do you have to worry about it personally?"

Another palace maid, with a cold expression, chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness, you must not let these lowly people get close, lest they tarnish your noble status."

At this moment, Li Zhenniang, the Empress, gently lifted the elaborate curtain of the carriage, her brows furrowed slightly, and asked in confusion, "Yesterday there was news that the city gates had been opened, so why are they still tightly closed when we arrived today?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately bowed and greeted the prince, his tone humble yet carrying an undeniable authority: "This matter still needs to be clarified with the city gate guard."

On the city wall, a soldier hurriedly pushed open the simple door and asked the centurion inside with a nervous expression, "Sir, His Highness the Crown Prince has asked about the reason for closing the city gates. How should we respond?"

Upon hearing this, the centurion trembled violently, like a leaf falling in the cold wind, unable even to sit still. His lips trembled, and he stammered, "You...you just report back to the Crown Prince that an assassin has been discovered outside the city gate...yes, an assassin is lurking! At this moment, Deputy General Zhang is on duty in the palace, so we must not open the gate easily. Remember, do not mention that I gave the order, just tell the truth, and don't implicate me!" After speaking, he waved his hand almost pleadingly, afraid that if he said another word, it would bring even greater disaster.

The soldier, completely bewildered by the intricacies of officialdom, was even more baffled by the centurion's shaken appearance. He walked straight to the city wall and shouted towards the outside, "Have any of you encountered any assassins outside the city gates? We sent out more than a dozen brave warriors to investigate the alleys, but they haven't returned yet, which is why we urgently closed the city gates. General Zhang has already returned to the palace to report on matters and is not here. The city gates must not be opened lightly. Please, Your Highness, remain calm and wait a moment."

Beneath the city wall, the palace maids and guards, upon hearing this alarming remark, all paled, their faces filled with alarm. They whispered amongst themselves, "Assassins?" "Is there really an assassin attack?" "Quickly prepare for battle!" "Protecting the Emperor is paramount! We swear to protect His Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty to the death!"

The guard peered out and was horrified to discover a child hidden among the cavalry. The child's attire was identical to that of the child captured by the centurion a few days earlier. He shouted, "That's the child! He's also an accomplice of the assassins!"

The child was gently set down by the cavalry, who intended for him to go directly to the palace servants to inform the Crown Prince. However, the shout from the city gate immediately put the Crown Prince's entourage on edge. The child, however, was exceptionally quick-witted; the moment his feet touched the ground, he turned and dashed away like a rabbit. This time, the cavalry would not allow him to escape again. They drew their spears and gripped their iron swords, determined to capture the cunning boy once more.

Not far away, in a side room, an old man whispered to a richly dressed young man sitting upright in a chair: "Master, our forces are far inferior to those under the Crown Prince's command. A direct confrontation is probably not the best strategy."

The young man stroked his chin, sighed deeply, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes: "We must eliminate the root of the problem; that child cannot be allowed to live. At the same time, we must be careful not to let anyone find out our tracks. We need to find a few fools to act as scapegoats, lest that incompetent emperor traces us back to our own origins."

Upon hearing this, the old man bowed and accepted the order, then turned to make arrangements.

Just then, several dark figures suddenly darted out of the alleyway. All were dressed as farmers in black, wielding sickles and pickaxes, their faces menacing, and charged straight towards the boy. The cavalry, who were about to abduct the boy again, were distracted by this sudden turn of events and their formation crumbled. A force inadvertently propelled the boy forward, and the armed cavalrymen, unable to dodge in time, were pierced simultaneously by several blades. He died on the spot, unable even to cry for help.

At the same time, the black-clad men who attempted to attack the boy were also stabbed to death by the surrounding cavalry. The sudden chaos quickly subsided, leaving only blood on the ground and a lingering chill in the air.

At that moment, Deputy General Zhang spurred his horse and galloped to the city gate. He saw several soldiers anxiously pacing and waiting by the gate. Upon seeing him return, they hurriedly stepped forward to help him dismount and urgently reported, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived at the city gate. We dare not open the gate without authorization and are waiting for your instructions!"

As Lieutenant Zhang hurried up the city gate steps, he asked anxiously, "What is the situation outside the city now?"

The soldier looked troubled and replied, "I don't know much, but I vaguely heard that there were assassins around again."

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Let me go up and investigate first. You all stay behind the city gate and wait for my order to open it."

The soldier responded, "Yes, sir!" He then turned and hurriedly returned to the foot of the city wall to stand guard and await orders.

Lieutenant General Zhang stood atop the city wall, raised an imperial edict, and shouted: "I am here to be bestowed with a precious sword by the Emperor. Seeing this sword is as if the Emperor himself is here!"

Upon hearing this, everyone at the city gate knelt down. The crown prince, who had just been helped up, also knelt down with his palace attendants. The cavalrymen dismounted and knelt beside their horses. The honor guard and soldiers behind them followed suit, creating a magnificent spectacle. Some of the surrounding commoners hid inside their houses, peeking through the cracks in the doors. Consort Li, who was in the carriage, did not come out but remained seated, bowing her head in greeting.

Deputy General Zhang spoke respectfully, saying, "I have recently been appointed as a lieutenant general in the Imperial Guard and concurrently serve as the deputy commander of the capital's city gates. Recently, assassins have been appearing outside the city, and the situation is critical. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to lend a helping hand and assist me in investigating the matter?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince coughed twice and said in a calm tone, "My guards acted swiftly and killed the assassin. However, I still have doubts in my heart, fearing that his accomplices are still lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike."

Deputy General Zhang frowned slightly and asked with concern, "How many troops did the Crown Prince bring back from this trip?"

The Crown Prince slowly replied, "Ten thousand elite troops have been stationed at the camp outside the city, in preparation for any eventuality. Those who have entered the city with me now are all elite Imperial Guards personally bestowed by my father, as well as my and Consort Li's personal palace attendants, totaling no more than three hundred people."

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang put one hand on his hip, looked helpless, and sighed softly: "In that case, I will open the city gate for His Highness the Crown Prince. But just in case, I urge all colleagues entering the city to show their tokens so that I can check them carefully."

Deputy General Zhang gently rolled up the imperial edict and strode steadily into the shadows of the city gate. He slowly drew a conspicuous yellow triangular flag from his waist and tossed it gently to the ground. The flag seemed to be a silent command, prompting the soldiers who had been waiting to rush forward, grab the flag, and wave it high. Their loud commands pierced the air: "Open the city gate!"

On either side of the city gate stood ten armored warriors, who moved at the command, rushing to their respective gate mechanisms. As the heavy mechanisms were pushed one by one, the massive bolts that had been holding the city gate freed themselves. Then, with the combined pull of the crowd, the city gate creaked open with a deep, powerful sound, gradually opening its arms to welcome the dust and unknown outside world.

At the same time, a snow-white horse, specially reserved for the cavalry, was led to the front and respectfully offered to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince mounted the horse, dashing and heroic, and returned to the forefront of the cavalry formation, leading this iron cavalry forward resolutely.

On the city's widest main road, the messengers had already cleared the crowds, creating an unobstructed path for the Crown Prince and his cavalry, leading directly to the majestic gates of the imperial palace. The rhythmic clatter of hooves was melodious, like a grand dance, gracefully moving through the heart of the capital. In the center of the procession, Consort Li's carriage, dignified and magnificent, was tightly surrounded by rings of guards, like a peony swaying in the wind, yet retaining its noble bearing.

Following the cavalry, palace maids, attendants, and servants filed in, their steps less agile than the cavalry's, yet possessing their own composure and order. Closely behind were infantry and supply troops, pulling dozens of wagons laden with baggage, and several special vehicles carrying physicians. Among these physicians were brave warriors carefully selected from the capital, ordered to the plague-stricken areas for treatment; others were righteous individuals who, upon hearing the news en route, volunteered to fight the epidemic to the end. Their journey was not only to fulfill their duty as healers, but also to receive the deserved glory and reward upon their triumphant return with the Crown Prince and Consort Li.

The procession, as it moved, possessed both the solemnity of a military operation and the grandeur of a royal procession. Every step revealed meticulous planning and careful arrangements, like a flowing historical scroll slowly unfolding before the eyes of the people of the capital.