My palace is full of female protagonists.

The music seemed to be coming from there, its melody sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes high, sometimes low, as if an unseen musician was casually plucking the strings. Xiao Kuangzi nervously gripped Zhao Chengyu's sleeve, his palms slightly sweaty, clearly affected by the eerie atmosphere.

Zhao Chengyu, however, remained unusually calm. He carefully observed every corner of the room, trying to pinpoint the source of the music. They meticulously examined the windows and door cracks, discovering that the night breeze gently rustled the strings, producing a melodious sound. This discovery relieved them both; the so-called ghost story was merely a misunderstanding caused by a natural phenomenon.

However, just as they were about to leave, the music suddenly stopped. The room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the flickering candlelight in the lantern. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi exchanged a glance; they knew that this music room might hold even more secrets.

They began to examine the room more carefully and eventually found a mechanism in a hidden corner of the music room. Zhao Chengyu carefully triggered the mechanism, and a wall slowly opened, revealing a hidden room.

The room was filled with various ancient books and musical instruments, clearly indicating that it had once been the secret study of a royal family member who loved music. In the center of the room was a stone table with an open sheet of music on it, next to which was an extinguished oil lamp.

Zhao Chengyu picked up the sheet music and found that the melody was exactly the same music they had just heard. He guessed that someone might have been practicing their instrument here and had forgotten to turn off the oil lamp when they left. The night wind had stirred the strings and the sheet music, causing the music to drift on the wind.

Little Box looked on in astonishment, never expecting that a small adventure would uncover a secret within the palace. Zhao Chengyu, on the other hand, was excited about the discovery, realizing that there might be many more unknown stories waiting for him to uncover within the palace.

They decided to keep this a secret and not let anyone else know. Before leaving the music room, Zhao Chengyu carefully restored the mechanisms to their original state, ensuring that no one could easily discover this hidden room.

Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi left the music room, their footsteps echoing softly on the palace's stone paths. The lanterns flickered in the night breeze, casting long shadows. They passed through several courtyards and arrived at the long corridor between the palaces, where a famous mural depicted lifelike warriors who, according to legend, wept at night.

The mural depicts a famous ancient battle, with the warriors' armor, weapons, and expressions rendered in meticulous detail. In the dim moonlight, the mural appears exceptionally mysterious. Zhao Chengyu lit a candle and approached the mural for a closer look. The paint on the mural had indeed undergone subtle changes due to the night's moisture; some areas had become deeper in color, as if tears had streamed from the warriors' eyes.

Xiao Kuang followed closely behind Zhao Chengyu, his gaze sweeping across the murals, trying to find the legendary tear stains. Zhao Chengyu, on the other hand, gently touched the surface of the murals, feeling the texture and moisture of the paint. They discovered that in certain areas of the murals, the paint had formed tiny cracks due to long-term weathering and moisture erosion. These cracks, illuminated by candlelight, did indeed resemble tear stains.

Zhao Chengyu had a sudden realization; he knew this might be the key to unlocking the mystery of the mural. He asked Xiao Kuangzi to bring some tools, and they carefully cleaned and observed the mural. They discovered that there were some faint ventilation holes on the back of the mural. Moisture from the night seeped in through these holes, reacting with the pigments on the mural to create this peculiar phenomenon.

Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi exchanged a smile, excited about the discovery. They decided to examine the murals again during the day to better understand the phenomenon. At the same time, they were also considering how to use this discovery to protect the murals and prevent further weathering and damage.

Before leaving the corridor, Zhao Chengyu had Xiao Kuang record the condition of the murals and their findings for future research. They knew these murals were a precious cultural heritage of the palace, and protecting them was their responsibility.

Under the cover of night, the palace lanterns along the long corridors cast a faint glow, making the corridor between Fengyi Palace and the rear garden appear particularly secluded. This was the legendary place where the shadowless palace maid was said to linger. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi arrived early and hid in the shadows of the corridor, waiting for the mysterious figure to appear.

As time passed, the surrounding air seemed to grow colder and colder, and a strange chill made Xiao Kuangzi tremble involuntarily. Zhao Chengyu held his breath, his eyes burning as he stared intently at every corner of the corridor. They had heard that the Shadowless Palace Maid was a palace maid who died in a palace intrigue, and her resentment prevented her soul from finding peace, causing her to wander in this corridor, searching for her lost shadow.

Just as they were about to give up, a lantern slowly appeared from the other end of the corridor, its light swaying in the night breeze and casting a flickering shadow. Behind the lantern, a figure seemed to appear and disappear, but as the lantern drew closer, no clear shadow was ever cast on the ground.

Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi's hearts were in their throats. They gripped each other's arms tightly, bracing themselves for the terrifying scene that might unfold. However, as the lantern drew closer, they could see clearly that it was a newly arrived palace maid. Her face was young and innocent, and her eyes held a hint of confusion and fear.

The palace maid carried a lantern, her steps slow and hesitant, clearly unfamiliar with the palace layout. She looked around constantly, seemingly searching for direction. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi breathed a sigh of relief; they realized the so-called "shadowless palace maid" was nothing but a misunderstanding.

Xiao Kuangzi called the palace maid over, and Zhao Chengyu put on an aloof and arrogant air.

In the long corridor, a newly arrived palace maid carried a lantern, her figure appearing particularly lonely in the night. When she saw Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi approaching, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. In the palace, the emperor's questioning was undoubtedly a tremendous source of pressure and fear for a newly arrived palace maid.

Zhao Chengyu noticed the palace maid's nervousness and tried to speak in a gentle tone: "Don't be afraid. We just saw you here alone and were worried that you might have encountered some difficulties."

The palace maid lowered her head nervously and replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I am new here and not familiar with the roads in the palace, so I dare to practice with a lantern at night to avoid getting lost in the palace in the future."

Xiao Kuangzi also comforted him, saying, "His Majesty was just worried about your safety because you were here alone. He didn't mean to blame you."

Hearing this, the palace maid's tension eased slightly, but she still dared not look Zhao Chengyu in the eye. Zhao Chengyu smiled and said, "The palace is indeed complicated, and you are wise to do this. However, it's late, so you should go back to your room and rest early. Tomorrow, I'll have Xiao Kuangzi arrange a friendly nanny to teach you."

Upon hearing Zhao Chengyu's words, a hint of gratitude flashed in the palace maid's eyes. She immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."

Zhao Chengyu helped the palace maid up and said, "No need for formalities, you should go back now. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can directly ask Xiao Kuangzi for help."

The palace maid thanked him again, then hurriedly left the corridor with her lantern. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi watched her figure disappear into the night, both feeling a mix of emotions. Zhao Chengyu knew that everyone in this palace had their own stories and difficulties, and as the emperor, he should be more concerned about their well-being.

Little Box said softly, "Your Majesty, you are truly kind. That palace maid must be very grateful to you."

Zhao Chengyu sighed and said, "Everyone in this palace has their own fears and anxieties. We should try our best to understand and help them."

This experience strengthened Zhao Chengyu's resolve to improve life in the palace, ensuring everyone felt warmth and care. Xiao Kuangzi, even more impressed by Zhao Chengyu's kindness and wisdom, decided to continue following him to bring positive change to the palace.

Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi quietly arrived at the palace gate under the cover of night, their eyes drawn to the pair of majestic stone lions. These stone lions were the symbol of the palace, guarding its peace, and their eyes appeared particularly deep in the darkness.

At midnight, a gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi stared intently at the stone lions. Suddenly, they were surprised to find that the eyes of one of the stone lions seemed to be moving slightly, gleaming with an eerie light.

Zhao Chengyu was startled, but he quickly calmed down, knowing there must be a reasonable explanation behind this. He gestured for the small box to remain silent, then slowly approached the stone lion to examine it carefully.

They discovered that the stone lion's eyes were carved from a special type of stone. Under the moonlight, the surface of the stone reflected a faint glow, making it appear as if the eyes were moving. But Zhao Chengyu did not let his guard down. He continued to observe carefully and finally discovered a clue.

On the stone lion's head, a kitten was curled up, its eyes gleaming green in the night, making it seem as if the stone lion was moving. The kitten didn't seem afraid of people; it looked curiously at Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi, then let out a soft "meow."

When Xiao Kuangzi saw this, he couldn't help but laugh: "So it was this little cat causing trouble. I thought the stone lion had come to life."

Zhao Chengyu smiled and gently stroked the kitten's head: "It seems this kitten has made the stone lion its home."

They decided not to disturb the kitten's peace. Zhao Chengyu took the lantern from Xiao Kuangzi's hands and used its light to guide the kitten down from the stone lion's head. The kitten seemed to understand their intention; it nimbly jumped down and then gently rubbed against Zhao Chengyu's leg.

Zhao Chengyu bent down, picked up the kitten, and said to Xiao Kuangzi, "Let's take it to a warm place; it might be lost."

Little Box nodded in agreement, and they left the palace gate with the kitten, leaving behind the pair of stone lions that silently guarded the palace. Behind them, the stone lions seemed to be smiling in the moonlight, protecting this warm night.

Xiao Kuangzi nodded in agreement. He knew that several concubines in the palace loved small animals, and Consort Yi was one of them. Consort Yi had a gentle personality and always treated the palace pets with great affection.

“Your Majesty, Consort Yi has always loved small animals. Why don’t we give this kitten to her to raise?” Xiao Kuangzi suggested.

Zhao Chengyu thought about it and decided it was a good idea. Yi Fei seemed a bit lonely lately, often coming to Zhao Qi'er's place to sleep in the middle of the night. Perhaps the kitten's companionship would bring her some joy.

“Good idea, little box. Consort Yi will definitely like this little guy.” Zhao Chengyu said, carefully holding the kitten in his arms.

They returned to the palace with the kitten, passing through several long corridors to reach Consort Yi's bedchamber. Consort Yi's maids were all very surprised to see Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi with a kitten.

Zhao Chengyu had Xiao Kuangzi inform Consort Yi, and soon Consort Yi came out to greet him personally. Her eyes lit up immediately when she saw the kitten in Zhao Chengyu's arms.

"Your Majesty, is this for me?" Consort Yi's voice was full of surprise.

Zhao Chengyu smiled and nodded: "Consort Yi, this was a chance encounter between me and the kitten at the palace gate. I think you will like it."

Consort Yi carefully took the kitten, and the kitten seemed to sense Consort Yi's gentleness, gently rubbing against her hand.

"It's so cute, thank you, Your Majesty." A long-lost smile appeared on Consort Yi's face.

"Take good care of it, Consort Yi." Zhao Chengyu then instructed the palace servants to arrange the things needed to raise the cat and the courtyard bestowed upon Consort Yi. The palace servants quickly went to make the arrangements.

Consort Yi nodded in agreement and returned to her palace with the kitten in her arms. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi watched Consort Yi's retreating figure, their hearts filled with satisfaction.

Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi strolled through the palace gardens. Moonlight streamed down the winding paths, and flowers swayed gently in the night breeze. They passed through a grove of flowers and arrived at the legendary singing ancient tree. This tree was said to be hundreds of years old, with a thick trunk, lush foliage, and a canopy like a giant umbrella covering the surrounding open space.

A night breeze rustled through the leaves, making a sound that seemed to whisper or sing. Zhao Chengyu and Xiao Kuangzi stood quietly under the tree, listening to this wondrous melody. They discovered that the sound was not simply the wind, but rather mixed with a clear and melodious birdsong.

Zhao Chengyu looked up and observed carefully. He noticed some unusual birds perched in the tree, their feathers shimmering faintly in the moonlight. These birds chirped intermittently, their calls melodious and rhythmic, blending with the sound of the wind to create a natural symphony.

Little Box exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, the calls of these birds are truly unique; they sound as if they are singing along with the wind."