My palace is full of female protagonists.

The team leader replied, "This yard has been neglected for years and has been almost forgotten by everyone. We checked the surrounding area and found no signs of anyone entering or leaving recently."

Xiao Kuangzi also found the land deed for that courtyard and said, "It should have been left by the late emperor; it was found in the storeroom."

Zhao Chengyu gently stroked the yellowed land deed, as if he could feel the weight of time and the late emperor's will. His eyes became deep and complex, his thoughts racing. Xiao Kuangzi stood to the side, watching Zhao Chengyu's changing expression, her heart filled with unease.

“This land deed,” Zhao Chengyu finally spoke, his voice deep and powerful, “is a treasure left to us by the late emperor, but it is also a double-edged sword. If used well, it can safeguard the stability of my imperial power; if used poorly, it will lead to self-destruction.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi's face turned even paler, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Then...then how does Your Majesty intend to use it?"

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly, a smile that held both profound meaning and a hint of amusement. "I plan to make it my secret weapon, a secret that only I know and can control. Help me study the corridors inside and expand it with a few more rooms. Be careful about whether the roof will collapse. There should be a granary, bedrooms, and preferably a prison cell or something." As he spoke, he tucked the land deed into his pocket.

The captain understood Zhao Chengyu's meaning at this moment. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. We will do our best to expand this tunnel into an indestructible underground fortress."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Alright, then I'll leave it to you. Don't hire any outside craftsmen; do it yourselves. Remember, this matter must be kept strictly confidential; there must be no leaks whatsoever."

The captain accepted the order and left, while Xiao Kuangzi remained by Zhao Chengyu's side. Looking into Zhao Chengyu's resolute eyes, he felt a strange sense of awe. Lately, the Emperor's ideas had been quite strange, and only he knew the whole story. Thinking about Zhao Chengyu's suggestion to build a prison, he could already picture himself being locked up and hung up inside.

Zhao Chengyu gently placed his hand on Xiao Kuangzi's shoulder. "Why are you trembling? Can't you feel how good I am to you?" His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible doting, as if he were comforting a frightened child.

Xiao Kuangzi looked up and met Zhao Chengyu's eyes, which were full of inquiry and reassurance. He felt a mix of emotions. "Your Majesty, this servant is just... just curious. What... what do you intend to do with this tunnel? Isn't there a prison outside the palace?" His voice was soft and trembling, revealing his fear and unease.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's lips curled into a playful smile. "Oh? You're quite clever, able to guess a bit of everything. Some people can't be locked up openly. I'll give you a signal later, and you'd better understand what I mean. Otherwise, I'll let you stay in there for a few years first."

As he spoke, Zhao Chengyu deliberately slowed his pace, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, as if watching how Xiao Kuangzi would react. Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi's face turned deathly pale. He hurriedly shook his head and nodded, appearing completely flustered. "This servant...this servant only...only cared about His Majesty, and dared not have any other thoughts."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu chuckled and patted the back of the small box to reassure it. "Alright, don't be afraid. Although I, Zhao Chengyu, am not a saint, I know how to reward and punish fairly. As long as you loyally follow me and obey my orders, you will naturally have a place in this palace."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi felt a surge of warmth in his heart, which also strengthened his resolve. He suddenly knelt down, his forehead pressed tightly to the ground, his voice choked with emotion. "Your Majesty, you are the Sage! No, from now on I will call you the Sage. I know I am lowly, but to receive such favor from the Sage is an honor beyond measure. I will repay Your Majesty's grace with my life!"

Zhao Chengyu nodded in satisfaction. He reached out and pulled up the small frame, his eyes filled with trust and expectation. "Get up. I know your intentions. Remember, there aren't many people I can trust in this palace, and you are one of them. But you must remember that loyalty and honesty are the qualities I value most. If you hide anything from me, the consequences will be unbearable."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi was startled and nodded vigorously. "Xiao Kuangzi understands! Xiao Kuangzi will stay by His Majesty's side and share His Majesty's burdens. I would never dare to conceal anything!" His tone was firm and sincere, as if he were swearing allegiance to Zhao Chengyu.

The following morning, sunlight filtered through the thin mist, draping the capital in a soft golden veil. After the court session, a new trend quickly swept through the palace and beyond—the emperor's attendants, almost unconsciously, began frequently addressing him as "Sage," a respectful title for Emperor Zhao Chengyu. This unusual form of address, like a gentle breeze, quickly spread to every corner of the capital, becoming a hot topic of conversation among the people.

Zhao Chengyu sat in the imperial study, reviewing a mountain of memorials. Occasionally, he could hear the whispers of palace servants outside the window, discussing his new nickname. Although he felt a pang of helplessness and embarrassment, he quickly reconsidered; it was a sign of the young prince's affection for him. Besides, in this era, information was spread orally, making change unlikely. So he accepted it and let the nickname circulate throughout the palace.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qi'er, the reclusive imperial concubine, sat on a soft couch in her bedchamber, toying with a delicate beaded necklace in her hand, her eyes revealing a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. She glanced frequently towards the palace gate, waiting for the emperor's return.

Finally, a series of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the bedchamber, and Zhao Chengyu appeared at the door. Zhao Qi'er quickly went to greet him, took his hand, and the two sat down together on the couch. She gently waved for the palace servants to leave, then personally brewed a pot of fine Longjing tea for Zhao Chengyu. The fragrant aroma of the tea rose gently, adding a touch of elegance to the warm scene.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to tell you." Zhao Qi'er's voice was gentle yet firm. She put down the teapot and looked directly at Zhao Chengyu.

"Oh? What's making you so anxious?" Zhao Chengyu took a sip of tea and asked curiously.

“It’s about the two sons of Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao,” Zhao Qi’er said in a low voice, beginning to recount the information she had gathered. “Their sons, Su Hang and Gao Meng, were actually childhood friends. But after their fathers became prime ministers one after the other, their relationship gradually became strained due to the entanglement of their families’ power. What’s more complicated is that the two families had a feud years ago because of a ridiculous marriage agreement. At that time, an unscrupulous matchmaker arranged a marriage between a girl and more than a dozen families, including the Su and Gao families. Although it was quickly exposed and the marriage agreement was canceled, the two young men fell deeply in love with the girl. Unfortunately, both prime ministers had to go to the capital to report on their duties, so the matter was left unresolved.”

At this point, Zhao Qi'er paused, a hint of sympathy and emotion flashing in her eyes. "However, a few years later, these two young masters both fell in love with the eldest daughter of the same fifth-rank official. Both families wanted to propose marriage, which was undoubtedly adding new grudges to old ones. Both families' leaders had been promoted, so they forced their sons to give up."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's lips curled into a playful smile. He nodded slightly and refilled Zhao Qi'er's teacup, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest. "Oh? So, they weren't really fighting over a woman?" His words carried a hint of teasing, clearly showing his interest in Zhao Qi'er's revelation.

Zhao Qi'er smiled smugly, as if she had uncovered some earth-shattering secret. She stood on the stool to better meet Zhao Chengyu's gaze. "Your Majesty is wise! You guessed it right away!" Her words were playful, then became serious. "Indeed, the two gentlemen were childhood friends. Even though they were estranged due to family conflicts, they never truly severed ties in private. The reason they spread rumors of being in love with the same fifth-rank official's daughter was merely to cover up the truth of their private relationship."

Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, took a sip of tea thoughtfully, and then asked, "So, in order to find an opportunity for reconciliation, they deliberately created a fight to force the two families to sit down and negotiate, ultimately reaching a superficial reconciliation so that they could have legitimate dealings in the future?" His tone contained both praise for the young man's methods and a sense of感慨 about the complexities of life.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er's eyes gleamed with excitement. She gripped Zhao Chengyu's hand tightly, as if wanting to share her joy of discovery with him. "Your Majesty, you're right, but their methods don't stop there!" Her words were filled with anticipation for what would follow. "To make this act even more convincing, they even found the same 'young master,' a rather famous playboy in the capital. The two of them vied to redeem him, not only buying him a luxurious mansion but also constantly sending him servants and jewels to show their seriousness and anger over the matter. And the pretext for the fight, of course, was to compete for this young master's 'favor.'"

At this point, Zhao Qi'er couldn't help but laugh out loud. She looked at Zhao Chengyu, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Your Majesty, don't you think this is wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself: Our ancestors really knew how to play games! In comparison, it seems that we modern people can only play the remaining tricks of theirs.

Zhao Chengyu smiled and took Zhao Qi'er's hand, patting it gently. His eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if he could see into people's hearts. "Qi'er, things in this world are often more complicated than they appear. Perhaps this so-called struggle is just a carefully planned play by both families, deliberately staged for others to see?" His tone was calm and profound, as if he had already seen through the truth behind this turmoil.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er's eyes widened in surprise and curiosity. "Your Majesty, are you saying... there's an even more fascinating story behind this?" Her voice was full of anticipation, as if she couldn't wait to uncover all the mysteries.

Zhao Chengyu nodded and continued, "Yes, think about it. If they really were fighting over a woman, why would they make such a big fuss and cause such a stir? Besides, why would their henchmen and subordinates be willing to play along with this act? There must be some deeper reason behind this that we haven't yet realized."

Zhao Chengyu's eyes deepened, as if he had already sketched out a complex power struggle in his mind. "I suspect that the Su family and the Gao family may be brewing some kind of cooperation. To cover up this cooperation, they deliberately spread rumors that there is some irreconcilable conflict between their two sons, and then used this apparent conflict to pave the way for their cooperation. In this way, they can both deceive others and facilitate subsequent actions."

Zhao Qi'er listened intently, nodding repeatedly, her eyes shining with admiration. "Your Majesty, you are truly wise! I originally thought this was just an ordinary struggle, but I never imagined there were so many intricate details behind it all." She paused, then continued, "Then I'll go and inquire for a few more days to see if I can find out more information."

Zhao Chengyu nodded in satisfaction, praising Zhao Qi'er's intelligence and thoughtfulness. "Good, be careful and don't alert them."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er blushed and lowered her head shyly.

Zhao Chengyu pondered for a moment, his gaze seemingly piercing through the air before him and landing on a more distant place. He softly asked, "Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao, could they possibly originate from the same place?" This question revealed his meticulous consideration of the backgrounds and relationships of the two important officials.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er shook her head slightly and explained, "It's not that they came from the same place, but their career paths since entering the court have indeed been somewhat similar. After all, their family backgrounds are quite similar; both came from scholarly families, received excellent educations from a young age, and even studied at the same academy under the same teacher. Such a connection naturally led to many overlaps in their career trajectories."

Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly to show his understanding, then changed the subject and brought up another past matter: "Do you know who that concubine I ordered Prime Minister Su to divorce was?" His tone carried a subtle but profound meaning.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er was taken aback, as this question was clearly beyond her usual area of ​​concern. After a moment's thought, she replied apologetically, "Your Majesty, as you know, the empress dowager is not allowed to interfere in politics, let alone inquire about the family affairs of court officials. Since that concubine has not entered the palace, and I have never had any interaction with her, I really do not know much about her background."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu did not blame him, but smiled faintly and said, "It's alright. Although this matter is small, it may reveal some unknown secrets. Send someone to investigate later, but be sure to act carefully and do not alert the enemy." His tone was full of attention to detail and a desire to explore the unknown.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will be careful and thorough in investigating this matter." After saying this, she went out to instruct the maids around her to prepare the necessary arrangements.