My palace is full of female protagonists.

As soon as the Crown Prince stepped into the palace gates, he impatiently summoned his palanquin and headed straight for the main hall. Xiao Kuangzi, who was already waiting outside, immediately knelt down upon seeing the Crown Prince and reported, "Your Highness, the Emperor is eagerly awaiting your return!"

The Crown Prince paused, his gaze involuntarily turning to the secluded corner gate leading to the back garden. There, Consort Zhen, Li, stood gracefully, her profile exquisite, gazing silently in their direction, as if she could see through everything.

The Crown Prince nodded slightly in response to Consort Zhen, then turned and stepped into the side gate. Only then did he whisper to Xiao Kuangzi, who was following closely behind, "I am so travel-worn that it is really inappropriate for me to meet Father Emperor directly in the main hall."

Xiao Kuangzi understood immediately and beckoned to a servant behind him, who steadily carried a set of clean clothes. Xiao Kuangzi urged, "Your Highness, please go to the side hall to change quickly. His Majesty is extremely anxious upon learning that you were unable to enter the city on time!"

Zhao Chengyu caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince entering the main hall, and his eagerness made him forget all formalities. He suddenly stood up and hurried towards the door, his arms outstretched as if to embrace this long-lost kinship, and went to greet him.

A torrent of thoughts surged within Zhao Chengyu's heart. He pondered to himself, "I have lost all interest in this throne, my child! Why not spare you the hardship of your journey to Yunnan and simply hand over this empire to me?" However, the words that came out of his mouth transformed into a tender and affectionate tone: "My son, you have finally returned safely!"

As Prime Minister Gao's thoughts drifted to Gao Lingyan's figure, and seeing the heartwarming scene of the royal father and son reuniting before him, he was deeply moved and couldn't help but wipe his eyes with his sleeve, his eyes glistening with tears.

In the imperial court, the ministers who had been immersed in a heated discussion with the emperor were now drawn away from the clash of ideas and instead became engrossed in this touching scene of "deep father-son affection." Some feigned emotion, while others couldn't help but clap their hands gently. The entire hall was filled with a subtle and complex emotional atmosphere.

The Crown Prince hurried along, his eagerness barely concealed. But when he saw his father, the Emperor, approaching with a beaming smile, a surge of genuine joy welled up within him. He quickened his pace involuntarily, almost running towards his father. The two embraced tightly, a heartwarming and touching scene that moved everyone present.

Zhao Chengyu joked from the side, "If you don't come back soon, the memorials in the Imperial Study will probably overwhelm your father with paperwork!"

The Crown Prince's lips twitched slightly, and he smiled helplessly, "Hasn't the Wenshu Monastery already been completed? Can't it share some of Father's burdens?"

Zhao Chengyu shook his head, exaggeratedly stretched out his right hand, and gently shook it with his palm facing upwards, and laughed: "That being said, my hand still has to sign. Look, it's so tired that I can barely hold chopsticks."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently patted his father's back and softly comforted him, "Father, I'm back now."

Zhao Chengyu thought to himself: My chosen working man is back!

At this moment, the carriage carrying Princess Yi and Yun Feiyu slowly entered a quiet county town. Yun Feiyu had never served in the military, and Princess Yi, rescued from danger by Zhao Yingqing as a child and brought to the capital, had never stepped outside the capital. This bumpy carriage journey was undoubtedly an unprecedented test for them. However, Yun Feiyu knew that they needed to proceed with caution, and staying at an inn would undoubtedly increase the risk of exposure.

On the outskirts of the county town, several mansions stood majestically, their tall gate towers and white walls complementing each other, their carved beams and painted rafters revealing their prominent status. Yun Feiyu pondered that if he could stay at such a mansion, firstly, it would conceal his identity, and secondly, the presence of servants and attendants would make things much easier.

Upon hearing their Beijing accent, the owner of the mansion made no attempt to inquire about their origins, assuming they were distant relatives from the capital. He treated them with utmost hospitality and meticulous care. He even specially vacated the west wing for the two of them to stay in and assigned seven or eight servants to look after them attentively. Yun Feiyu privately wished to present them with gold leaves as a token of gratitude, but the owner politely declined, saying, "If you will not forget this kindness in the future, it will be a great honor for my family. If you do not mind, my family has a young daughter who would be fortunate enough to serve you."

Yun Feiyu couldn't refuse directly, so he tactfully suggested that he should consult his wife first.

Princess Yi waved her hand gently and smiled, "Sister Zhao once said that the people assigned to my side should at least be literate. So, it seems I should politely decline?"

Yun Feiyu frowned slightly: "They don't accept gold leaves, and I'm worried that refusing them directly would seem too cold."

Princess Yi blinked and suggested, "Then why don't we let that child serve us for a day, and then we can set off the day after tomorrow?"

Yun Feiyu nodded in agreement, and added, "Of course, if you want to set off tomorrow, we don't have to wait until the day after tomorrow."

Princess Yi's gaze was deep as she explained, "We haven't gone far yet. If someone is truly following us, they might arrive ahead of us sooner. This would greatly reduce the chances of us encountering danger. Why don't we stay for another day?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyu secretly admired Princess Yi's thoughtfulness, as he himself had never considered this aspect.

Sure enough, the carriage carrying the young man leisurely traveled along the edge of the county town. The old servant sat comfortably beside the driver. The two paid the toll and stepped onto the wide, flat official road. Although the official road was not a forbidden route, it required a considerable fee, and whenever a messenger galloped past on horseback, pedestrians and vehicles had to step aside. Compared to the rugged and difficult country lanes, the official road was undoubtedly much safer and smoother. However, their carriage moved slowly close to the side of the road, showing no sign of urgency.

Looking ahead, as the mountains and forests drew near, the old servant couldn't help but ask with concern, "Young master, the mountains and forests are just ahead. Would you like to rest for the night in the county town and continue your journey tomorrow?"

The boy replied firmly in a low voice, "We must unite everyone before Yi Jingwei returns, without the slightest delay."

Upon hearing this, the old servant, though worried, knew that his young master's mind was made up, so he said, "I have already sent someone to deliver the message. By the time you arrive, everything should be properly arranged. Why rush things?"

Upon hearing this, the young man remained silent for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "I have my own plans. If the coachman becomes too weak, you can find a reliable person to replace him along the way."

Upon hearing this, the old servant respectfully agreed, but secretly pondered that the young master must have a deeper plan in mind after all the hardships they had endured on their journey.

In the long river of time, the old servant was once an unsung figure in that grand mansion, guarding every moment of the family's life. Two years ago, the often-forgotten young master of the household, having lost his beloved mother, lay alone and desolate in a dark room, burning with fever, ignored by all. The old servant, his compassionate heart undiminished by the world, could not bear to see him suffer. He took off a piece of coarse cloth and gently carried the frail boy on his back, shouldering the burdens of life while soothing the wounded heart with tender eyes.

That illness seemed to be a turning point in his fate. After recovering, the young master's personality changed drastically. He became skilled in both literature and martial arts, as if he had been reborn. He took his old servant with him and ventured into the marketplace, exchanging his writing for money and making his way in the world with his fists. In the end, he resolutely left the family that had once given him both indifference and warmth, and forged his own path to make a living.

At first, the old servant thought that the young master, having been raised in a prestigious family and educated in literature and etiquette since childhood, naturally possessed a greater knack for making money than the illiterate servants like themselves. However, day after day, year after year, the old servant witnessed firsthand the boy's transformation from a naive youth into a cunning and astute businessman. His skill was so shrewd that even seasoned veterans of the business world, with decades of experience, were often bewildered and forced to concede defeat under his machinations.

The old servant secretly rejoiced, feeling he had chosen the right master. This loyalty and trust grew stronger with each passing day. Even more unexpectedly, in just one year, the boy's reputation had quietly risen, placing him alongside the local wealthy and becoming the talk of the town. Whenever a deal was discussed, it was usually the old servant who mediated. Those shrewd clients, when the mystery was finally unveiled and they saw the boy behind the scenes, barely taller than a table, were invariably astonished.

However, in the turbulent business world, driven by profit, no one dares to easily break a contract, even if their heart is filled with turmoil. After all, a written contract is a deal, and even mountains of gold and silver cannot shake it in the slightest.

The young man resolutely took over the old servant's indenture from his own family. Not only that, he also generously spent money to redeem the old servant's entire family from their commoner status. This act cost a fortune, even more than redeeming a virgin from a brothel. However, the young man didn't care at all, as if the money was nothing more than fleeting smoke.

Deeply moved, the old servant made a solemn vow: not only would he be loyal to the young man for life, but his entire family would also be his strongest support, following him for generations. Now, the old servant's family members are scattered throughout the young man's various shops, serving as shopkeepers. They are all loyal and devoted to the young man.

When the young man mentioned that he wanted his trusted confidants to temporarily conceal their talents and avoid showing their faces in the shop, he was actually implying something.

The old servant simply couldn't understand why the young man insisted on staging such a bloody spectacle at the capital's city gates, having his men buy the lives of beggars and poor people and send them to their deaths at the city gates. In reality, the beggars sent to their deaths were divided into two groups because there were simply too many beggars from all over gathering at the dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the capital, some even offering to give money for free. To avoid drawing too much attention, one group was sent out when the temple was too crowded, and the second group went only after some time had passed.

The money to buy a beggar's life was nothing to the boy, but he only had some disagreements with his family. Why was he going against the nobles in the capital? The old servant couldn't understand why, but he had to do his best to carry out the boy's orders.

The moment the little girl caught sight of Princess Yi, she obediently followed the head of the household and began to perform a respectful bow. Upon seeing this, Princess Yi gracefully rose, gently took the little girl's delicate hand, and guided her to reenact the bow, saying softly, "In the capital, you may offer this bow to any prominent person you encounter, without needing to inquire about their social status."

Upon hearing this, the head of the family was overjoyed and quickly bowed deeply, his gratitude overflowing: "Thank you for your guidance, child. Quickly thank your benefactor!"

Although the little girl hadn't memorized all the complicated movements, she tried her best to imitate them and made a roughly similar appearance. She said in a clear voice, "Thank you for your instruction, sir."

Princess Yi smiled slightly and gently corrected, "It should be 'Thank you for your instruction, Master.'"

Upon hearing this, the little girl immediately followed suit and repeated the story again.

A surge of joy welled up in the head of the family. He found a suitable excuse and naturally kept the little girl by his side, while he left quietly, filled with deep gratitude for the Yi princess's discerning eye.

The little girl was about seven years old, her innocent face radiating pure joy. It was one thing that she couldn't read, but she was completely clueless about even the simplest arithmetic. Her only skill was counting beans, a skill she had learned little by little by imitating the elderly servant in her household.

Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyu's lips curled into a disdainful smile: "In the capital, even if girls don't have a private tutor, the mistress of the house will personally oversee their studies. This child is already this age, how come this family is so negligent towards her, not teaching her anything at all?"

Princess Yi sighed softly, a hint of pity in her eyes: "If the head of the family can give away his own flesh and blood like objects, how can you expect them to care for such children? If they were boys, they would probably have already spent a year in school by now."

Princess Yi gently waved her hand, signaling the child to pick flowers in the courtyard. Then she turned to Yun Feiyu and said, "The news that you and I are about to leave the city has probably already reached the ears of those who are interested. Based on my understanding of Brother Zhao and Sister-in-law Zhao, they will definitely dispatch troops to escort my dowry closely behind. However, that troop will probably not be able to set off for another two or three days. Therefore, we need to return within half a month to find out the true situation of our hometown."

After pondering for a moment, Yun Feiyu suggested, "The Yun family army has carrier pigeons at every post station. Wouldn't it be more convenient if I used the Yun family token to order the Yun family army in the fiefdom to deliver messages?"

Princess Yi shook her head slightly, a glint of wisdom flashing in her eyes: "There will always be barriers to communication between the army and the local people. If we rely on them, I'm afraid the messages they bring back will be useless or distorted. In that case, it will not only be of no benefit, but will also alarm the other side. Wouldn't that be a loss?"

After speaking, Princess Yi slowly stretched out her arm, and a small snake lazily snaked out from her sleeve. She chuckled softly, "It would be more reliable to send this little fellow to investigate."