My palace is full of female protagonists.

The moment Consort Leng stepped into the Imperial Study, a moment of stillness seemed to freeze in the air. Zhao Chengyu was engrossed in his work, reviewing a mountain of memorials, occasionally glancing out the window, a hint of weariness etched on his brow. But when she appeared in the doorway, Zhao Chengyu's gaze was instantly drawn to her, and he involuntarily put down his vermilion brush.

Consort Leng entered the study with light steps, and for the first time ever, a faint smile appeared on her face. The smile was like a spring breeze blowing across a frozen lake, bringing an incredible warmth. Then, she slowly curtsied, her voice clear and respectful: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Zhao Chengyu was stunned for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face. He muttered to himself, "This cold concubine is usually as aloof as frost. Why is she smiling like this today? It has a unique charm, but it also makes one feel a little uneasy."

The Crown Prince stood to the side, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he quickly regained his usual composure and seriousness. He bowed slightly, paying his respects to Consort Leng with standard court etiquette: "Greetings, Consort Leng."

Seeing the Crown Prince's respectful demeanor, Consort Leng smiled faintly and nodded gently in response. Her smile, though subtle, seemed to possess a certain magic, instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the Imperial Study that had arisen from her sudden smile.

Just as he was deep in thought, several palace servants filed in, carrying a heavy trunk and an exquisite rosewood box, placing them in a corner of the imperial study. Zhao Chengyu suddenly understood, and his gaze towards Consort Leng held a hint of approval: "My dear consort, it seems your trip to the Yun residence has been quite fruitful. Since Old Madam Yun is so generous, these treasures will be entrusted to you for safekeeping. As for the land deed estate, I will instruct Xiao Kuangzi to send guards to handle it, renaming it Huang Manor, and its revenue will naturally go into the national treasury. However, I am somewhat curious, is that estate some kind of barren land?"

Consort Leng smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling with wisdom: "Your Majesty, rest assured, that is a fertile field that Old Madam Yun cherishes highly. The soil is fertile, the water source is abundant, and it is extremely suitable for farming."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu nodded thoughtfully: "That's excellent. Such fertile land can serve as experimental fields for researching and improving crops, which would greatly benefit the national economy and people's livelihood. My dear concubine, you've worked hard today. Go back and rest early. Remember to have the imperial physician check your pulse to make sure you're alright. You've been living in the palace for a long time, and suddenly going out might make you uncomfortable with the outside environment. Don't catch a cold."

Consort Leng pondered to herself that while the Emperor's concern was genuine, it also contained an element of testing. Knowing that she had achieved her goal, she readily agreed and took her leave. Back in her palace, she outwardly bathed and changed, but inwardly she was planning her next move.

The next morning, the Imperial Garden was filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, teeming with life. However, news spread throughout the palace that Consort Leng had fallen ill. Upon hearing the news, Zhao Chengyu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he had already begun to suspect Consort Leng's schemes.

Zhao Chengyu's thoughts seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, unable to tear himself away from the complex and unpredictable gaze of the Cold Consort. Yesterday's meaningful, cold laugh from the Cold Consort, like a chilling winter wind, pierced his heart, leaving behind only confusion and a barely perceptible coldness. In the court, this emotion unconsciously spread, making his attention unusually scattered.

Inside the grand hall, the flickering candlelight illuminated the solemn faces of the assembled officials. Zhao Chengyu, however, seemed to be in another world. Though the ministers' reports echoed around him, they were like distant reverberations, unable to touch his heart. Whenever the hall fell into a brief silence, he would mechanically wave his sleeve to signal the ministers to continue, his mind a complete blank, even his most basic responses sounding perfunctory.

It wasn't until the elderly minister, his voice tinged with anxiety and confusion, repeated General Yun's urgent report for the third time that Zhao Chengyu was pulled back to reality as if from a dream. He jolted, his gaze fixed on the minister's anxious face, struggling to recall the previous conversation. "Has the Yun family already sent someone to tell him not to return to the capital?" The words slipped out, as if fragments of memory were being pieced together in his mind.

Upon hearing this, the ministers all looked surprised, but then seemed to realize something and knelt down to express their gratitude, thinking that the emperor was showing consideration for his subjects and had granted the noble lady taken by the Yun family a special permission to have company on her journey home.

However, the minister did not give up. He raised his head, his eyes full of incomprehension and insistence: "Your Majesty, what I asked was actually about the urgent military situation on the frontier mentioned in General Yun's urgent report, and how to quickly mobilize troops to deal with it, not about the Yun family's noblewoman."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned, a sense of unease rising within him. He realized that his earlier outburst was not only a neglect of state affairs but also a disregard for the life-or-death matters of the frontier soldiers. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turmoil, and began to listen attentively to the ministers' detailed reports, inquiring about the preparations of each relevant department, striving to make the most reasonable decision in the shortest possible time.

Zhao Chengyu's anger, like the calm before a storm, quickly enveloped the entire court. He suppressed his inner turmoil and unease, clutching his forehead as if suffering a splitting headache, attempting to mask his emotional turmoil. He lightly touched the bridge of his nose, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, before finally culminating in a slightly sharp question: "What else is going on? Why is the Yun family so embroiled in so many troubles lately?"

Seeing this, the elderly minister knew that this was no small matter, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and repeat clearly and slowly, "Your Majesty, it is General Yun who encountered an accident on the frontier and was injured by an assassin disguised as a dancer. He sent a military report asking whether we should immediately launch an offensive against the foreign tribes to avenge this humiliation."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's face instantly turned ashen. He abruptly stood up, his hands clenched into fists, radiating uncontrollable rage: "What are you all doing?! I sent the Yun family father and son to the frontier to protect the country, and the younger one is busy with blind dates, while the older one has the leisure to watch women dance?! Is the Yun family trying to turn the world upside down?!" His voice echoed in the empty hall, each word like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of everyone present.

In the imperial court, the officials were trembling with fear, all kneeling on the ground. Even the officials in the square knelt down in unison, and the entire palace seemed to be shrouded in an invisible pressure. Zhao Chengyu's anger did not subside. He then worried about the Empress, who was far away in the palace, fearing that the turmoil of the Yun family would affect her. Therefore, he decisively ordered: "The Imperial Guards will be reinforced by 10,000 men immediately to protect the Empress's safety with all their might!"

Just then, Prime Minister Gao stepped forward. He knew that Zhao Chengyu was still in a bad mood, but he also understood the importance of stabilizing the situation. So he respectfully said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I think there may be something fishy about this matter. I am willing to personally lead the Imperial Guard to the frontier to investigate the situation on the spot. Perhaps what the military report says is only the tip of the iceberg. We should not rush to conclusions, lest we wrong a loyal and virtuous person."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned deeply, seemingly engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, he clutched his head in anguish and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't care about anything else. First, surround the Yun residence! Don't let a single fly out. Catch all the Yun family members outside and throw them back into the residence! If anyone dares to resist or disrespect the Imperial Guards, throw them directly into the Heavenly Prison. We'll decide their fate when the Yun father and son return!"

Upon seeing this, Prime Minister Su wanted to step forward to dissuade him, but seeing Prime Minister Gao shake his head slightly and give him a warning look, he realized that any persuasion at this time might backfire. So he silently retreated, secretly praying that the storm would subside as soon as possible.

In the Empress's study at the government office, the flickering candlelight illuminated her deeply worried face. Her brows were furrowed, as if they held all the sorrows of the world within them. Her fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic sound that mingled with the occasional drumbeats from outside the window, making the night seem even deeper and longer.

The crown prince of a neighboring country, a handsome yet somewhat unruly young man, unexpectedly moved into the imperial palace. This sudden turn of events further complicated the already tense situation. The empress knew that the crown prince's arrival was no accident; it must be part of a far-reaching scheme by the Feng Kingdom. She couldn't help but recall the friendly alliance between the two countries in the past, the vows to jointly resist foreign enemies and help each other—now, they seemed like a candle flickering in the wind, teetering on the brink of collapse.

The standoff between the Southern Kingdom and our country has lasted for over a month. The Empress secretly calculated that even if the entire nation's resources were exhausted after two months of fighting abroad, it was unlikely that a hundred thousand troops could sustain such a long campaign and still have a supply of food, especially since the neighboring country was not known for its wealth. Such a prolonged war of attrition was undoubtedly a severe test of both sides' national strength. Moreover, they were on a distant expedition; theoretically, these past few days should have been the limit of the Southern Kingdom's troop deployment, yet there was no indication that they intended to withdraw.

However, what's even more perplexing is Feng's attitude. As allies and neighbors, the two countries had a clear agreement to support each other and advance and retreat together when attacking the Southern Kingdom. But now, Feng has chosen to remain aloof, repeatedly refusing to send reinforcements despite requests, as if watching a play that has nothing to do with them. This indifferent attitude has put the Queen under unprecedented pressure and unease. Yet, unusually, she has the Crown Prince running around in front of her, pretending to be nonchalant.

Inside the city, our army's food supplies were also running low. Although we could collect supplies from various places or have the emperor allocate them, collecting food for the army always cost the people and the government money. Naturally, the empress wanted to end this battle as soon as possible and return to the palace.

Yun Feiyang stood tall and straight outside the Empress's study. Moonlight streamed through the carved windows of the pavilion, illuminating his focused face and adding to his composure and majesty. Several scrolls of official documents lay scattered on his desk, each bearing the urgency of the frontier and the anxieties of the capital. Just as he was pondering how to report the latest battle situation at the border to the Empress as quickly as possible, the rapid sound of galloping hooves shattered the tranquility of the night and interrupted his thoughts.

A messenger galloped up, his shadow elongated in the moonlight. He carried a letter on his back, a symbol of urgency, and dismounted hastily before even reaching her. He knelt on the ground, his voice filled with both breathlessness and determination: "General Yun, urgent military order! The Emperor has decreed that the two Generals Yun are strictly forbidden from returning to the capital without authorization. They must do everything in their power to protect the Empress's safety, ensuring her well-being and physical and mental well-being. Even if her mood fluctuates slightly, she must be comforted immediately."

Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyang frowned slightly, inwardly wondering if the decree contained some subtle, unspoken emotion. The concern and instructions conveyed in the words made him feel a little uneasy and doubtful. He quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "I have received this decree. This general will do everything in his power to ensure the safety of Her Majesty the Empress."

The messenger continued, "Furthermore, news has come from the Yun family that they have dispatched men to the border to escort the noble ladies of the capital safely back to the city. The two generals need not trouble themselves further." Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyang's tense nerves finally relaxed somewhat, and a relieved smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. He nodded and said, "Excellent. Quickly convey this message to the noble ladies of the capital in the inn, so they can prepare with peace of mind. I imagine their families will also send people to meet them."

Immediately, Yun Feiyang turned to the guards beside him and instructed them: "Arrange guards at the city gates immediately. Select some clever and observant ones. Treat every carriage coming from the direction of the capital with courtesy and do not be negligent in the slightest."

The guards obeyed and left, while Yun Feiyang once again turned his gaze to the distance, feeling both reassured about the safety of his family and secretly looking forward to the new challenges to come.

Upon learning of the Emperor's decree and the Yun family's arrangements, Yun Feiyang felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. The pent-up frustration and worries that had accumulated in his heart day and night gradually melted away like winter snow touched by a spring breeze. He took a deep breath, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease and relief, as if his entire being had been rejuvenated, and he had rediscovered the composure and determination that belonged to a general.

Freed from worries about returning to the capital and the anxiety of being distracted by personal matters, Yun Feiyang's mind was now completely focused on the crucial mission of fighting the enemy. He knew that as a general guarding the frontier, his duty was to protect the country and safeguard the peace of the people. Now, he could devote himself wholeheartedly to the formulation and deployment of military strategies; that focus and dedication was his most valuable asset as a general.

He began frequently convening meetings with his generals to analyze the enemy's movements and deployments in detail, and to discuss various possible countermeasures. He encouraged his soldiers to speak freely, pool their wisdom, and examine the battle situation from multiple perspectives, striving to find the most effective way to defeat the enemy. In this process, Yun Feiyang demonstrated his outstanding military talent and leadership; every decision he made appeared so precise and decisive that it naturally commanded his respect.