My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Chengyu returned to the imperial study and found that the two prime ministers had already left, with only the crown prince still engrossed in processing memorials. He asked Zhao Qi'er to sit down as well, and then asked the crown prince, "Crown Prince, what is your relationship with the other princes?"

The Crown Prince suddenly tensed up, as if he wanted to say something, but Zhao Qi'er spoke first: "After the Crown Prince was born, princesses were born for many years. Our Second Prince is only six or seven years old now. Of course, brothers can play together, but the Crown Prince is already taller than me and has lost some of his childishness. Naturally, he should share more of the Emperor's worries."

Zhao Chengyu then sorted out his children in his mind. Indeed, he had many daughters and relatively few sons, which was perhaps the result of his excessive indulgence. He nodded and said, "Daughters are so good. Daughters are loving and caring, and you concubines and palace maids can also receive their protection."

The crown prince bowed and said, "Father, I don't necessarily want to inherit the throne. I know I'm not very smart."

Zhao Chengyu thought to himself: This is, after all, an era of monarchical slavery; it's impossible to jump straight into socialism. So he said, "You are my eldest son and the Empress's son, so you are perfectly legitimate in every way. However, I hope you can treat your brothers and sisters well, but at the same time, you must begin to learn to check and balance them. All of this is for the peace and prosperity of the country, not just to protect your own position, understand?"

The crown prince bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Father."

Zhao Chengyu added, "Whether you are smart or not is not important. What is important is that you know how to balance the court officials, how to appease the harem, and how to suppress your relatives. If you use people properly, you don't need to be an expert in everything."

The crown prince listened attentively, his eyes shining with determination; he was ready to accept this important responsibility.

Zhao Chengyu continued, “Your Highness, you must remember that as the future monarch, every decision you make will affect the entire country. You must learn to listen, observe, and judge. Your wisdom lies not in your personal abilities, but in how you gather the wisdom of the masses.”

The crown prince respectfully replied, "Father, I will remember your teachings and strive to become a wise crown prince."

Zhao Chengyu nodded in satisfaction. He knew that although the Crown Prince was young, he already possessed the potential to become a great monarch. He believed that as long as the Crown Prince could learn how to use wisdom and power, he would be able to lead the country to prosperity and stability.

Zhao Chengyu looked at the Crown Prince, realizing that his words might have put pressure on him. He sighed softly, deciding to give the Crown Prince some space to process what had happened that evening.

“You don’t need to attend the morning court session tomorrow,” Zhao Chengyu said gently. “Just come to the Imperial Study after court. You also need time to prepare and think about our conversation tonight.”

A flicker of gratitude crossed the crown prince's eyes; he knew it was a sign of his father's trust and leniency. He bowed respectfully, then took his leave of the imperial study.

Zhao Chengyu watched the Crown Prince leave, then turned to Zhao Qier and said, "Go prepare some midnight snacks. I want to deal with some more memorials."

Zhao Qi'er accepted the order and left. Knowing that it was common for the Emperor to work late into the night, she quickly went to arrange a midnight snack.

Inside the imperial study, Zhao Chengyu sat alone, his gaze once again falling upon the mountain of memorials piled on the table. He knew that as the ruler of the nation, his responsibilities were immense; every decision concerned the safety of the country and the well-being of its people. He had to maintain a clear mind and handle each memorial with utmost care.

He began to review them one by one, occasionally making annotations on the memorials or instructing relevant departments to take action. His handwriting was firm and powerful, and every word carried his commitment to the country and the people.

It was late at night, but the lights in the imperial study were still bright, making Zhao Chengyu's figure appear particularly lonely. He would occasionally rub his eyes or stand up to stretch his limbs, but he would quickly immerse himself in reviewing the memorials.

The late-night snack was delivered to the Imperial Study. Zhao Qi'er quietly placed the food on the table and then silently withdrew. Zhao Chengyu glanced up, smiled slightly, and gestured for Zhao Qi'er to leave.

He ate a few bites quickly and then returned to his work. He knew that as emperor, he had to remain vigilant at all times and could not afford to be complacent in the slightest.

Zhao Chengyu didn't put down his pen until the first light of dawn appeared in the east. He felt a little tired, but more than that, he felt satisfied.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was tense. The Left and Right Chancellors stood in the center of the hall, arguing heatedly, their voices echoing throughout the hall. Both were high-ranking officials in the court, usually wielding great power, but now they were locked in a fierce debate over their respective sons.

Zhao Chengyu sat on the throne, not immediately intervening, but rather with his legs crossed, seemingly enjoying the argument. His gaze shifted between the two prime ministers, a playful smile playing on his lips. The prefect, standing in the middle of the hall, trembled slightly. He knew his position was crucial, yet dared not speak rashly.

After a while, Zhao Chengyu seemed to be getting impatient. He yawned and then lazily said, "Alright, you've argued and cursed enough. Who's going to make the decision?"

The Left Chancellor immediately replied, "If the children are fighting, they should go home and recover on their own. Let them mind their own business."

The Right Chancellor, however, persisted: "It was clearly your son who started it, so why should my son suffer in silence at home?"

Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, his voice tinged with displeasure: "Are you short of money for doctor's treatment? What are you arguing about? I think you're just too idle. You should use this time to take care of your children at home."

His gaze shifted to the Left Chancellor: "Chancellor Su, what's wrong? After I sent your concubines and illegitimate children away, you can't even teach your son anymore?"

Left Chancellor Su's expression changed. He knew that the Emperor was reminding him not to let personal matters affect state affairs.

Zhao Chengyu then turned to the Prefect: "Prefect, wasn't it Prime Minister Su's son who first insulted Prime Minister Gao's son?"

The prefect quickly replied, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, his voice becoming stern: "In that case, Prime Minister Su's son should take responsibility. Prime Minister Gao, although your son fought back, he should also reflect on his behavior. Let the children resolve their own affairs. As fathers, you should teach them how to be responsible people, not argue in the court."

Upon hearing this, both prime ministers felt the emperor's majesty. They exchanged a glance, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we understand."

Zhao Chengyu's gaze was sharp as he scanned the crowd in the court, finally fixing on the Prefect. His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction, but more so, it conveyed his expectations and admonitions for the Prefect.

"I'm appointing you as the Prefect of the Capital, not as the watchdog of the capital," Zhao Chengyu's voice echoed in the hall, his words revealing a clear expectation of the Prefect's duties. "I'm sending you three guillotines to be placed in the Prefectural Office. If anything like this happens again, use the guillotines to threaten them. Don't let these petty fights and scrapes escalate to the imperial court."

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the Prefect was startled. He knew his duty and understood that the Emperor was reminding him to handle the affairs of the capital more decisively and forcefully. He immediately knelt down, his voice trembling slightly: "Your subject obeys the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, knowing that the prefect had understood his intentions. He waved his hand, "Alright, you may leave now."

The prefect breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had to act immediately and handle the affairs of the capital according to the emperor's instructions. He dared not linger in the court and quickly excused himself, leaving the main hall hastily.

Zhao Chengyu watched the prefect's retreating figure, lost in thought. He knew that the security and order of the capital were crucial to the stability of the entire country. As the highest-ranking administrative official in the capital, the prefect had to possess sufficient authority and means to maintain peace in the city.

He decided not only to send the prefect a guillotine but also to strengthen the prefect's power, giving him sufficient resources and means to handle various affairs in the capital. At the same time, he also wanted to remind other officials not to let personal matters affect the stability of the court.

The other officials in the court also felt the emperor's decisiveness and authority. They knew that the emperor was clearly telling them that the court was not a place to settle personal grudges, but a place to handle important national affairs.

Zhao Chengyu's gaze swept across the court once more, and his voice rang out again: "My beloved ministers, I hope that you will prioritize the nation and the people. Do not let personal grudges affect the stability of the court, nor let trivial matters escalate to the court. I hope that you can work together with one heart and one mind for the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of the people."

The officials in the court bowed their heads, feeling the emperor's majesty and expectations, and understanding their own responsibilities and missions.

After finishing his business in court, Zhao Chengyu felt a little heavy-hearted. He decided to go see Zhao Qi'er before returning to the Imperial Study.

He arrived at the city wall, the highest point in the capital, overlooking the entire palace. Zhao Qi'er was there supervising the construction of the opera house, an important project that Zhao Chengyu was very concerned about.

Upon seeing Zhao Chengyu's arrival, the surrounding palace servants bowed and then withdrew as Zhao Chengyu gestured, leaving the two of them to speak alone. Zhao Chengyu walked to Zhao Qi'er's side and said softly, "Qi'er, go out of the palace now and investigate what happened this morning."

Zhao Qi'er immediately understood Zhao Chengyu's meaning. She asked, "Is it about the fight between Prime Minister Su's son and Prime Minister Gao's son?"

Zhao Chengyu gently twisted Zhao Qier's face, with a hint of a joke: "You already know, why are you asking me?"

Zhao Qi'er closed her eyes in pain, and mumbled, "Your Majesty, I understand, let go, let go!"

Zhao Chengyu released his grip, and looking at Zhao Qier's somewhat aggrieved yet playful expression, he couldn't help but smile. He knew that although Zhao Qier could be mischievous at times, she was very reliable.

“Go,” Zhao Chengyu said. “Investigate carefully and see if there’s anything fishy going on behind the scenes. I don’t want the disputes in the court to affect the peace outside the palace.”

Zhao Qi'er nodded; she knew the importance of this matter. She straightened her clothes and quickly left, preparing to investigate outside the palace.

After Zhao Chengyu finished his conversation with Zhao Qier on the city wall, Zhao Qier quickly left to carry out the task Zhao Chengyu had given her. Zhao Chengyu remained on the city wall, gazing into the distance, pondering Zhao Qier's possible actions and the power that might be hidden behind her.

He knew that Zhao Qi'er, as one of the main female characters, clearly possessed the abilities of a "comeback" heroine. From a woman on the frontier to almost becoming the empress's favored concubine, there must be untold stories and untold power behind such a transformation.

Zhao Chengyu decided to use this opportunity to test whether Zhao Qier truly possessed her own intelligence network or other hidden forces. He wanted to see what kind of strength and methods she would display when entrusted with important responsibilities.

He returned to the imperial study and began dealing with other state affairs, but a glimmer of hope remained in his heart as he awaited news from Zhao Qi'er. He believed that Zhao Qi'er would not disappoint him and would bring him a satisfactory answer.

That evening, Zhao Qi'er returned to the palace. She did not go directly to see Zhao Chengyu, but instead returned to her own palace first, tidied her appearance, and then went to the imperial study to see Zhao Chengyu.

When Zhao Chengyu saw Zhao Qi'er return, he put down the memorial he was holding, knowing that she must have brought back important information. Zhao Qi'er bowed respectfully and then began to report her investigation results.

"Your Majesty, I have investigated thoroughly. The dispute between the sons of Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao started over some trivial matters, but it seems that someone is deliberately stirring things up behind the scenes, trying to use this opportunity to create rifts in the court."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned. He knew that stability in the court was crucial to the stability of the country. He asked, "Who is the one causing this trouble? Do you have any leads?"

Zhao Qi'er replied, "There are no definite clues yet, but I will continue to investigate and will definitely find out who is behind this."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, full of confidence in Zhao Qier's abilities. He knew that Zhao Qier's actions would be key to maintaining stability in the court.

"Alright, continue the investigation. Report back immediately if you find anything," Zhao Chengyu ordered.

Zhao Qi'er accepted the order, knowing the weight of her responsibility. She would spare no effort to protect Zhao Chengyu and the peace of the country. She bowed, then left the imperial study and plunged back into the intense investigation.

Inside the imperial study, Zhao Chengyu was deep in thought. He knew that in the game of power, everyone could be a pawn or a player. He deliberately had the Crown Prince eavesdrop on his conversation with Zhao Qi'er from behind a screen; this was both a lesson for the Crown Prince and a test for him.

After Zhao Qi'er left, Zhao Chengyu let the Crown Prince come out from behind the screen. He looked at the Crown Prince and said in a calm but serious tone, "It's good that the people around you are capable, but you also need to keep them busy so they won't have time to think about how to deal with you."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince showed a hint of surprise on his face. He quickly said, "Consort Zhao is the most loyal to Father Emperor. How could she have such thoughts?"