My palace is full of female protagonists.

As night fell and candlelight flickered, Gao Lingyan, dressed in elegant empress attire, sat regally in the secret chamber, her brows revealing an undeniable resolve. Opposite her sat General Yun, his hair and beard white, his eyes holding both the sharpness of seasoned warriors and a deep concern for the family's future; the other was the relatively younger General Yun, whose brows were also furrowed. Clearly, this late-night meeting was no ordinary affair.

"Your Majesty, this matter concerns the lives of hundreds of members of my Yun family. Once we step into this murky water, we will be doomed!" General Yun's voice trembled slightly, and sweat slid down his deeply lined face, dripping onto the cold stone slab with a soft sound, as if it were also knocking on the hearts of everyone present.

Gao Lingyan's gaze was sharp. She sighed softly, stood up, and slowly walked to General Yun. Her tone was gentle but firm: "General, how could I not know the dangers involved? But as you have seen, the country is in peril. The armies of the two countries are locked in a stalemate, and Feng Kingdom is slow to send troops. If we don't take a gamble, are we really going to let this situation of dozens of soldiers dying every day continue?"

She turned around, her gaze sweeping over the Crown Prince of Feng. The Crown Prince knew that even if he had malicious intentions, they would be futile. His most important task now was to return to the palace and purge the court of corrupt officials. He understood the weight of this journey, yet also comprehended Gao Lingyan's helplessness and resolute determination.

"Your Highness, I naturally believe your assurance, but on the battlefield, the situation is unpredictable. Who can truly control everything? What I worry about is that if you are also forced by circumstances, those ruthless people will surely use General Xiaoyun as a bargaining chip, or even use him as a sacrifice. If that happens, our soldiers will lose their confidence and become easy prey." As soon as the Empress finished speaking, the atmosphere in the secret room froze instantly.

The Crown Prince of Feng suddenly stood up straight, his hands clenched into fists, clearly experiencing a fierce internal struggle. Then, he made an unexpected decision, taking out the Crown Prince's seal, a symbol of nobility and power, from his robes and solemnly handing it to Gao Lingyan.

“Your Majesty, please allow me to do this.” His voice was low and firm. “This seal is a symbol of my identity and a shackle of my responsibilities. But at this moment, I am willing to entrust it to you as a testament to my promise to you. If, in this battle, I fail to fulfill my duties, fail to protect you and General Xiaoyun, or do anything that violates your dignity, you may use this seal to proclaim to the world my faults.”

At this point, a resolute glint flashed in the eyes of the Crown Prince of Feng: "I, the Crown Prince of Feng—Duan Zhenghuai, act with integrity and never fear any challenge. But I also know that life is unpredictable and human strength has its limits. If that day ever comes, I would rather sacrifice myself to protect your safety and dignity. I will die for you, or I will die for you. This is my vow as the Crown Prince, and it is also my promise to you."

Gao Lingyan accepted the seal, her hand trembling slightly. She felt its heavy weight, and even more so, she felt the rare sense of responsibility and determination of the Crown Prince of Feng. She looked up at the young yet resolute figure before her, her eyes filled with both emotion and admiration.

“Your Highness, I, Gao Lingyan, appreciate your kindness.” Her voice was slightly choked, but more so firm and resolute. “Please rest assured, I will keep this seal safe. But what I hope for even more is that we can overcome this difficulty together, without needing to use it to announce anything to the world. I believe that as long as we are of one mind and work together, nothing can stop us from moving forward.”

The veteran general pulled Yun Feiyang down to his knees with a "thump!"

The Empress's expression changed slightly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the Elder General and Yun Feiyang, as if weighing something. The atmosphere in the hall became tense, as if even the air itself had frozen.

The veteran general's face was filled with determination and resolve, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable loyalty. He knew that his fate and that of the Yun family were now inextricably linked with that of the Empress, and he had to prove his loyalty through his actions.

"Your Majesty, my old bones and my clumsy son entrust our lives to you. I will stand guard here and pledge my life to you. If my clumsy son fails to protect your dignity, after this battle is over, I will hang myself with a white silk ribbon to atone for my sins, and the entire Yun family will be executed!" The old general's voice echoed in the hall, each word striking people's hearts like a heavy hammer.

The Empress paused, her gaze shifting from the resolute face of the veteran general to Yun Feiyang, the young general known for his bravery. She said in a deep voice, "General, you also know about the Emperor's granting of a fiefdom to the Yun family, don't you?"

Yun Feiyang's body trembled slightly, and his gaze quickly turned to his father. He saw the old general nod heavily, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "It was my wife who did something wrong. Please let this old man atone for his sins!"

Yun Feiyang had just learned of this matter and looked at the elder general with a surprised expression.

The Empress frowned slightly. She knew what the sealing of the Yun family's residence meant, and she also knew the weight of General Yuan's actions. She took a deep breath and then slowly said, "General, your loyalty is as clear as day. But the Yun family's affairs are not solely your fault. I will plead your case to the Emperor. You need not blame yourself so much."

A hint of gratitude flashed in the eyes of the veteran general, but more so was his determination: "Your Majesty, the Yun family has been blessed by your kindness, and we should repay you with our lives. Yun Feiyang, listen to me, if you cannot protect the Empress, my Yun family will have no face to stand between heaven and earth."

A resolute glint flashed in Yun Feiyang's eyes. He kowtowed heavily and said, "Your Majesty, I, the eldest son of the Yun family, also pledge that I will live up to your expectations and will defend your dignity and safety to the death."

A hint of emotion flashed in the Empress's eyes. She gently helped Yun Feiyang up, her voice soft yet firm: "Yun Feiyang, I know of your loyalty. But I also hope you understand that your life is equally precious. The future of the Yun family still needs you to shoulder the responsibility."

Suddenly, Yun Feiyang saw the image of Gao Lingyan as a child superimposed on the image of the graceful empress now, and his heart filled with emotion. He thought: Even if we were husband and wife for three lifetimes, our fates so deeply intertwined, it wouldn't amount to anything more than this. Let this be the end of my destiny with you!

Yun Feiyang raised his head, his gaze firm: "Your Majesty, Yun Feiyang will do his utmost to live up to your expectations."

The veteran general looked at his son, his heart filled with pride. He knew that the future of the Yun family depended on this son's fate. Rather than thinking about his son inheriting a title after his own death, he would rather strive for another achievement for his son while he still had 100,000 troops under his command!

The Crown Prince of Feng disappeared outside the palace, but his words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. His words were simple, yet they revealed an unquestionable resolve. His figure was resolute, his steps firm, as if he had already foreseen the coming storm.

The Empress frowned slightly, knowing that the Crown Prince's words concealed deep worry. She turned to face the two Generals Yun, her eyes gleaming with determination: "We must also be fully prepared. Although I am the Empress, I am not the only legitimate daughter of the Gao family. On the contrary, you two battle-hardened generals are the rare talents of our nation."

Upon hearing this, the veteran general refused to rise, instead kowtowing and saying, "This humble official is merely a rough man who has crawled back from the battlefield a few times; how can I compare to Her Majesty the Empress?" His voice was hoarse, yet full of strength, and every word revealed his loyalty to the Empress and his love for the country.

Seeing this, Yun Feiyang also kowtowed three times on the ground. His movements were firm and powerful, and his voice was firm and loud: "Your Majesty, Yun Feiyang is willing to die to serve you and will never fail your expectations."

A hint of emotion flashed in the Empress's eyes. She gently helped the two generals up, her voice soft yet firm: "You are both pillars of the nation, our pride. We cannot let the Crown Prince of Feng fight alone. We must also be prepared and ready to set off at any time."

A tear glistened in the old general's eyes; he knew that the Empress's words contained trust and expectations for him. He raised his head, his gaze resolute: "Your Majesty, this humble official will do his utmost to defend the dignity and security of the nation to the death."

A warm feeling welled up in Yun Feiyang's heart. He knew that the Empress's words contained expectations and trust in him. He raised his head, his gaze firm: "Your Majesty, Yun Feiyang will do everything in his power to defend your dignity and safety to the death."

As night fell, beneath the west gate, the Crown Prince of Feng stood out starkly alone in the moonlight. His gaze was resolute; he knew he could not wait, he had to act. His shadow stretched long in the moonlight, as if he were waiting for something.

Deep within the palace of Feng Kingdom, the Empress, by candlelight in the dead of night, painstakingly wrote her final letters. These letters contained her hopes and her plans. Among them were her will, her family letters, accounts of military affairs, plans for the upcoming campaign, and an urgent petition on behalf of the Yun family. Finally, Gao Lingyan wrote a secret letter to the Emperor, in her own voice, suggesting that Zhao Qi'er become Empress. She handed them all to the messengers and watched them disappear into the night.

As dawn broke, the Empress changed into men's clothing and donned an exquisite mask, her figure appearing exceptionally mysterious in the morning light. She stepped out of the palace, mounted a fine horse, and rode alongside the Crown Prince of Feng. The young prince's face was filled with curiosity and anticipation; he was unaware that his mother was leading him into a completely new world.

Yun Feiyang, the valiant general, had also donned the attire of a lieutenant, a hint of barely perceptible worry in his eyes. He knew this mission was fraught with uncertainty, but he also understood that it was for the future of the nation. He and several other lieutenants followed closely behind, their horses' hooves echoing through the morning streets like the drumbeats of destiny.

They traversed bustling markets, tranquil fields, and winding mountains. Every step was firm and powerful, every breath filled with determination. They knew they were about to face not only external enemies, but also their own inner fears and doubts.

The next day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, they saw the Crown Prince's military camp. At that moment, Gao Lingyan suddenly felt that her childhood dream of becoming a female general seemed to have a beginning.

Chicken feather letters were the most urgent forms of correspondence in Feng Kingdom, delivered faster than any messenger. When Zhao Chengyu received these dozens of letters in court, his face instantly turned pale. Especially when he saw Gao Lingyan's letter comforting him and Zhao Qi'er, advising them that if anything happened to him, Zhao Qi'er should become Empress. For the first time, Zhao Chengyu truly considered these women in the harem as his wives. The feeling of his heart being torn apart was insufficient to describe his current emotions. He knew that the arrival of these letters meant the Empress had already arrived at the Crown Prince's military camp in Feng Kingdom.

Zhao Chengyu's steps were hurried and heavy in the court. His gaze swept across the hall, seeing only chaos and panic. Prime Minister Gao, this usually calm and composed minister, now seemed to have lost his soul. His hair was disheveled over his shoulders, and he slumped to the ground, appearing powerless and desperate.

Prime Minister Su stood beside Prime Minister Gao, his expression serious, shaking his head repeatedly. He knew that although Zhao Chengyu had only told them about the Empress's military campaign against Feng, it might change the fate of their country. The other officials in the hall were all kneeling on the ground, their postures varied: some bowed their heads in silence, some trembled, and some didn't even want to lift their faces, as if this would allow them to escape the impending storm.

Zhao Chengyu took a deep breath, and his voice echoed in the hall: "I don't care whether you are civil officials or military officials, your incompetence has forced me, the emperor's wife, to personally lead the expedition. What face do you have to call yourselves important ministers of our country?"

His words prompted the officials in the hall to apologize one after another. Several people kept kowtowing, and some of the older officials even cried.

His words gradually emboldened the officials. They began exchanging glances, and slowly, they stood up, their posture becoming more resolute. Zhao Chengyu watched this, his heart filled with hope.

"Prime Minister Gao, Prime Minister Su," Zhao Chengyu turned to the two ministers, "we need to formulate a plan to ensure the safety of Her Majesty the Empress and General Yun. At the same time, we must also prepare for any possible situation."

Prime Minister Gao slowly stood up, his eyes regaining their resolve: "Your Majesty, I am willing to take charge of contacting generals in various regions to ensure they are ready to strike at the heart of the enemy and rescue the Empress from Feng Kingdom."

Prime Minister Su nodded: "Your Majesty, I will be responsible for mobilizing the resources of the national treasury to ensure that there are enough supplies to support the veteran general. I also pledge that if a single soldier on the frontier goes hungry for even a day, my head will be displayed in front of the military gate!"

Zhao Chengyu nodded, a slight smile appearing on his face: "Very good! Very good! Very good! Hear my command, from this day forward, the Empress's palace will be filled with daily chanting of sutras to pray for the Empress's safety until she returns to the palace. The Yun family shall not be released from confinement until the Elder General and Young General Yun return victorious."

Following Zhao Chengyu's order, the officials in the court began to busy themselves. Because Zhao Chengyu had not clearly stated whether the Yun family had rendered meritorious or demeritful acts, no one could see any members of the Yun family. The Yun family was surrounded by two layers of imperial guards, but no one could obtain any information.