My palace is full of female protagonists.

The court assembly lasted until dusk before Zhao Chengyu finally allowed these old fogies to go home. Many of them had to be helped, supported, or pulled back by palace servants. Zhao Chengyu walked wearily out of the main hall, where Zhao Qi'er was waiting. The two of them rode in a sedan chair carried by eight men to the city gate.

The carriages, servants, and attendants of the various families waited anxiously or leisurely, while other female relatives waited outside, hiding in their carriages or wearing caps, standing at a distance with the maids, as if the world outside the palace gates had nothing to do with the power struggles inside.

Zhao Chengyu frowned. He knew that each of these people was connected to him; their livelihoods, their hopes, their fears—all rested in his hands. He took a deep breath, and thinking of Gao Lingyan still fighting in a foreign land, a sudden surge of hatred welled up in his heart.

His gaze shifted to Zhao Qi'er beside him. Her eyes lacked the scheming and cunning often found in women of the palace; instead, they held only clarity and determination. Zhao Chengyu suddenly realized that perhaps, she was exactly what this country needed.

"Have you ever thought about making you your empress now?" Zhao Chengyu's voice broke the silence, his words carrying a hint of probing and a hint of expectation.

Zhao Qi'er was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Zhao Chengyu to ask such a question at this moment. She knew what becoming Empress meant—it wasn't just about glory and power, but also responsibility and sacrifice. Her gaze passed over Zhao Chengyu and landed on the distant sky, where dark clouds were gathering, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

“Your Majesty, you know that even if Miss Gao hadn’t married into the family, I wouldn’t have become Empress.” Zhao Qi’er’s voice was calm yet powerful, each word sounding as if it had been carefully considered.

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly, seemingly having anticipated Zhao Qi'er's response. "I know you always wanted to be my maidservant by my side, but to suppress criticism, I went against your wishes and made you a Noble Consort. I understand that you're even more uncomfortable now." Zhao Chengyu was speaking of the original owner of Zhao Yinqing's thoughts, "But I also know that besides the eldest daughter of the Gao family, only you are worthy of this position. You have always held this position in my heart; you can bring peace and prosperity to this country." His words were filled with trust and expectation.

Zhao Qi'er remained silent for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the crowd outside the palace gates. Those people probably didn't know that their fates might be decided at this very moment. "Your Majesty, you've changed lately. I feel like I don't recognize you anymore," she finally said, her voice trembling slightly.

Zhao Chengyu nodded. He understood Zhao Qi'er's hesitation and respected her choice. "I am me, and yet I am not me." For Zhao Chengyu, after transmigrating and gaining Zhao Yinqing's memories, how could he still be the same person he was in the 21st century? The person he was now was both Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Yinqing, yet neither Zhao Chengyu nor Zhao Yinqing. "My idea is to send all six of you away. Whether you marry or live in seclusion, don't live in this palace for the sake of others. Whatever your decision, I will support you."

Standing on the city wall, Zhao Qi'er gazed at the hustle and bustle outside the palace gates, yet her heart remained unusually calm. She wanted to say something to Zhao Chengyu—perhaps about their relationship, perhaps about her anxieties about the future, or perhaps she simply wanted a simple hug to ease her unease.

However, before she could speak, she was interrupted by hurried footsteps. A palace servant rushed in, his expression panicked, his voice echoing across the city walls, bringing shocking news: "Your Majesty, the old lady of the Yun family has committed suicide!"

Zhao Qi'er's heart skipped a beat. The old lady's suicide would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the two Generals Yun. She turned to look at Zhao Chengyu, awaiting his decision.

Zhao Chengyu's face was grim, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He knew that the death of the old lady of the Yun family might cause turmoil in the court, but he was more worried that General Yun would be framed on the frontier. Yun Feiyang, who was protecting the Empress on her expedition to Feng Kingdom, could not afford to have his reputation damaged again. His fate was now tied to the Empress's, and most importantly, Gao Lingyan's life.

He took a deep breath and then said to Zhao Qi'er, "We can't let this old hag tarnish the reputation of the two Generals Yun any further. Even if the Yun family is wiped out, we can just erect a monument. But if Gao Lingyan is gone, even we can't handle it. You and I will take Consort Leng with us. You order your trusted men to poison the old lady if I give you a signal. Don't poison her to death, paralyzing her would be best."

Zhao Qi'er was startled; she hadn't expected Zhao Chengyu to be so cold-blooded. She looked at him as if she were seeing him for the first time. She knew that in the game of power, everyone could change beyond recognition, but she hadn't imagined Zhao Chengyu would change so drastically.

She nodded, though filled with doubt and unease, she knew now was not the time to question. She turned, said a few words, and immediately withdrew to prepare.

Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Qi'er waited for Consort Leng in their carriage inside the palace gates. Once everyone was there, they hurriedly left the city walls, their figures quickly disappearing inside the palace gates. The crowd outside the palace gates continued to wait, unaware that an even greater storm was about to break.

Zhao Chengyu's eyes showed no hesitation. He knew that for the sake of national stability, sometimes difficult choices had to be made. Regardless of who he was, at least for this moment, this country was in his hands, Zhao Chengyu.

As Zhao Chengyu and his companions passed through the gates of the Yun residence, the Imperial Guards made no attempt to stop them, as if they were the true masters of the place. Within the Yun residence, apart from the women's quarters which were heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards, soldiers patrolled everywhere else. This scene sent a chill down the spine of the second young lady of the Yun family; she knew that the game of power had drastically altered the very nature of her home.

Zhao Chengyu's order was swift and decisive. He ordered the Imperial Guards to lift up the troublemaking old women one by one, dangling their feet in the air. This position made them extremely uncomfortable and fearful, so much so that they dared not speak and could only silently endure it.

Consort Leng was in charge of dealing with the young maids in the mansion. She ordered them to wait in the woodshed, ostensibly to give them temporary refuge, but in reality, she locked them inside. The sound of iron chains echoed in the empty woodshed, sounding particularly jarring.

Zhao Qi'er and Leng Fei stood behind Zhao Chengyu, their eyes fixed on him. Zhao Chengyu sat by Old Madam Yun's bedside, his face expressionless, as if he were contemplating some important decision.

Grandma Yun lay on the bed, her face pale and her breathing weak. Her suicide attempt had failed, and now she could only lie there helplessly, awaiting her fate. Zhao Chengyu looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew this woman had once been the pillar of the Yun family, but now, her existence had become a burden.

Watching Zhao Chengyu's retreating figure, Zhao Qi'er could sense his inner conflict and struggle. She knew that Zhao Chengyu's decision would affect the fate of the entire Yun family, and might even impact the stability of the entire country.

Consort Leng stood quietly to the side, her eyes revealing a hint of indifference.

The atmosphere in the room was unusually oppressive, with only the faint breathing of Old Madam Yun echoing in the air. Zhao Chengyu finally spoke, his voice low and powerful: "Old Madam Yun, you should know that your act of sending a noblewoman to General Yun Feiyang has already brought enormous trouble to the Yun family."

A flicker of fear crossed Grandma Yun's eyes. She knew what Zhao Chengyu's words meant. She wanted to say something, but no sound came out of her throat.

Zhao Chengyu continued, "I know you don't want to see the Yun family collapse like this, but you must understand that your choice has already plunged the Yun family into a desperate situation. Now, I need you to make a choice: for the future of the Yun family, or for your own obsession."

Zhao Qi'er stood in the main hall of the Yun residence, her gaze firm and resolute. She knew that what she was about to say concerned the safety of the entire country and could not be leaked in any way. She glanced around and then slowly began to speak: "What I am about to say is a royal secret. You are the Emperor's confidants, so you naturally know what to do."

The palace servants and guards present immediately understood her meaning. They quickly and orderly withdrew from the hall, leaving only a few of their most loyal confidants. These men knelt down, their heads touching the ground, to show their absolute loyalty and obedience to the emperor.

Zhao Chengyu saw Zhao Qi'er nod before turning to Grandma Yun. His voice was deep and powerful: "I'm only telling you this. Just treat it as a story."

Grandma Yun lay in bed, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, but she knew Zhao Chengyu's words must be important. She tried to concentrate, preparing to listen.

Zhao Chengyu continued, "The Crown Prince of Feng is going to rebel against his father because Feng has no ministers who can lead troops, so he wants to borrow deputy generals from the Yun family from the Empress. Those deputy generals are also juniors of your Yun family, right? Yun Feiyang, your precious son, has volunteered to go to Feng to serve as a general."

A flicker of shock crossed Old Madam Yun's eyes. She hadn't expected her family to be embroiled in such a political struggle. She knew that the Crown Prince of Feng was ambitious, and the addition of the Yun family's deputy general would undoubtedly provide him with tremendous support.

Seeing Old Madam Yun's reaction, Zhao Chengyu knew that this news was undoubtedly a heavy blow to her. He continued, "The Yun family has always been a loyal guardian of our country, but now, some members of your family may become traitors, whether they are truly traitors or not. I know this is hard for you to accept, but you must understand that it is a fact. Otherwise, why would I have mobilized so many people to surround your Yun residence because of your foolishness?"

A flicker of pain crossed Old Madam Yun's eyes. She knew what Zhao Chengyu's words meant. She spoke with difficulty, "Your Majesty, my Yun family has been loyal and virtuous for generations and would never betray the country. If my son has truly done such a thing, I am willing to personally hand him over to Your Majesty for punishment."

Zhao Chengyu's cold laugh echoed in the room, his eyes revealing a hint of ruthlessness. "But the Empress fears that your Yun family army won or lost and won't return. For the sake of your youngest son, she disguised herself as a man and went to Feng Kingdom as the commander-in-chief. General Yun and Yun Feiyang's pledges have already been sent to the palace. Their lives are now in my hands, while the Empress's life is in theirs. So..." His words were full of threat and scheming.

In ancient times, a military pledge was a solemn promise; once made, it meant the mission had to be accomplished, or severe punishment would follow. The two generals of the Yun family, by signing such a pledge, undoubtedly tied their fates tightly to this war. The Empress's personal involvement in the campaign further amplified the stakes of this war.

Zhao Qi'er's face turned pale. She knew that behind all of this lay a power struggle and a life-or-death contest. She looked at Zhao Chengyu, her voice trembling, and said, "You spent the whole day in court today because..."

Zhao Qi'er couldn't stand for a moment, and Leng Fei immediately supported her.

Zhao Chengyu did not answer. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night sky outside. He knew that his decision would affect the fate of countless people, but he also knew that in this game of power, there was no turning back.

Consort Leng stood to the side, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. She knew that this war was not only a crisis for the Yun family, but also a crisis for the entire country. She said softly, "Your Majesty, we must act with caution. Any rash decision could lead to disastrous consequences."

Zhao Chengyu took a deep breath and then slowly said, "I know, but we have no other choice. The day before the urgent report reached the capital, the Empress was already in Feng Kingdom. The fate of the Yun family, and the fate of the Empress, are in our hands. We must make the most advantageous decision. Therefore, nothing concerning the Yun family, good or bad, can be spread outside. Even a mosquito flying out must be swatted dead. So, even if the news of your suicide, Old Madam, will only stay within these mansion walls. If you still don't know what's good for you, I don't mind killing off only a few direct relatives of the Yun family and imprisoning them in the palace until General Yun returns. Anyway, they are still young, and as relatives, they can have a few more children. Don't be too fond of them."

The air in the room seemed to freeze, but Grandma Yun's actions broke the heavy silence. Her body trembled, and with almost all her strength, she struggled to get off the bed and then knelt on the ground.

"It's my fault for being ungrateful. You can take my life, and you can take the lives of those sons-in-law anytime. Please, no matter what, keep my second daughter of the Yun family!" Her voice was filled with despair and pleading, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of her heart.

Zhao Chengyu sneered. He didn't answer immediately, but looked at Old Madam Yun with a complex expression. He knew that behind the old woman's request lay her worry about her family lineage and her deep affection for her relatives. But he also knew that in this game of power, emotions were often the most useless thing.