My palace is full of female protagonists.

Miss Yun took a deep breath and said slowly, "These two are my second sons-in-law. He just said I was trying to scare him. In that case, please take him to the woodshed so he can witness the seriousness of the situation firsthand. After he has seen it clearly, he can come back and have a good talk with me."

Upon hearing this, a smile flashed in the eyes of the Imperial Guards. They were clearly happy to do this kind of "job," so without saying a word, they stepped forward, grabbed the second son-in-law, and prepared to take him away.

The second son-in-law was shocked to see this; he never expected Miss Yun to be so resolute. He struggled to break free from the Imperial Guards' restraints, but to no avail. In the end, he could only be forcibly dragged away, cursing all the while.

The other sons-in-law of the Yun family, who had initially intended to stand up for their wives, all fell silent after witnessing this scene and obediently sat back down. They began to realize that at this critical moment for the family, choosing the wrong side could have unpredictable consequences.

Her voice, though soft, was clear and distinct, like a sharp blade in the cold wind, piercing the oppressive silence and panic in the room. Miss Yun ignored the continued whispers and accusations around her, voices filled with incomprehension and resentment. She knew that arguing and explaining were pointless at this point. She simply added, "If you want your child and husband to remain safe and sound, then watch your words and actions. Don't let a moment of impulsiveness become an irreparable regret."

After speaking, Miss Yun turned around, her gaze sweeping over the faces—some terrified, some angry, some bewildered—and a mix of emotions welled up within her. She took a deep breath to calm her inner turmoil, then nodded to the Imperial Guard leader beside her. The well-trained Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and respectfully, yet with an unyielding air, helped the elderly Madam Yun to her feet, preparing to escort her back to her room to rest.

"Mother, please go back to your room first. I'll handle things here," the Second Miss Yun said gently to Old Madam Yun, her tone full of respect and care. Old Madam Yun looked at her, a hint of fierceness in her eyes, but she couldn't utter a word, letting the Imperial Guards escort her away.

As Old Madam Yun's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Second Miss Yun once again turned her gaze to the people inside the house.

"I don't care what you thought of me in the past, but from this moment on, we must put aside our past grievances and join hands." The Second Miss Yun's voice echoed in the hall, carrying an undeniable resolve and profound weight. "The fate of the Yun family rests in the hands of each and every one of us. Whether we can overcome this difficulty together depends entirely on whether we can think and act in unison. There are many things I cannot say, but I can say that the pledge Father and Brother Feiyang made on the frontier is like a sword hanging over our heads. I need not elaborate on the pledge; as daughters of the Yun family, you understand its weight better than anyone else."

Upon hearing the pledge, the Yun family girls all quieted down.

She paused for a moment, her gaze sharp as she swept over everyone present, her eyes filled with both warning and expectation. "We are now like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Any rash action by any one of us could break the rope and plunge us all into the abyss. Therefore, I implore you all to put aside your pointless suspicions and struggles, for the sake of the Yun family's future. If anyone wants to stand out, come and tell me yourself, and I will personally send them on their way. Don't drag Father and Brother down with them."

At this moment, Yun San's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of provocation and disbelief: "Will the Imperial Guards really obey your orders? Or are you just looking for an excuse to bribe a few Imperial Guards to put on a show for us?" Her words were full of distrust and suspicion towards Yun Er.

Just as the atmosphere became tense again, a commotion arose outside the door, and then the second son-in-law, being carried back by the Imperial Guards, was "invited" back. This time, the Imperial Guards were even more rude, throwing him to the ground with mocking laughter: "Miss Yun, your son-in-law, hehe, is really a bit 'not up to par'! Why don't you consider finding someone more reliable?"

The hall fell into a deathly silence upon hearing this. Although the Second Miss Yun's expression remained unchanged, the coldness in her eyes deepened. She understood that the Imperial Guards' actions were both support for her and a warning to those with ill intentions. She slowly stepped forward, knelt down, and looked directly into her second son-in-law's eyes, filled with anger and resentment, and said softly but firmly, "Do you see? This is reality. At this critical juncture for the Yun family, anyone who tries to undermine unity or create chaos will not have a good end. I hope you remember today's lesson and think more about your future."

Driven by fear, the second son-in-law of the Yun family trembled uncontrollably, his knees buckling as if he could no longer support his body, weakened by terror. His teeth chattered, a clear, sharp sound emanating from the cold or sheer terror. His words were fragmented, like fallen leaves scattered by the cold wind, barely forming coherent sentences: "They...they're all dead...they're all dead." Each word seemed to struggle forth from the depths of his soul, filled with despair and helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Miss Yun frowned, a hint of doubt and unease flashing in her eyes. She couldn't help but ask, "Who died? Are you talking about your maid and servants?" She tried to find answers from her second son-in-law's fragmented words, but what she felt most was apprehensive about the truth that was about to be revealed.

The second son-in-law finally mustered his courage and looked up at Miss Yun. His eyes, once full of pride and confidence, were now empty and filled with terror. He swallowed hard, as if using all his strength to utter those words: "They're all dead! She's telling the truth. Except for Miss Yun's confidantes, all the other servants are dead, not one of them was spared!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt through the flower hall, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. Miss Yun's face instantly turned ashen; her eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Finally, she slumped weakly into the chair beside her, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms, yet she felt no pain. Her eyes reddened, tears welling up, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

The atmosphere in the flower hall froze instantly. Everyone was stunned speechless by the sudden news. Some bowed their heads in thought, others exchanged bewildered glances, but all tacitly chose silence. This silence contained endless grief, fear, and confusion. The Second Miss Yun stood to one side, her gaze profound, as if she had foreseen all of this. She sighed softly, her heart filled with mixed emotions—worry about the future of the family, and感慨 about the complexities of human nature. She knew that from this moment on, the Yun family would no longer be the Yun family of the past, and each of them would undergo transformation and rebirth in this storm.

It was still early, and the last rays of the setting sun had not yet completely disappeared below the horizon. The palace servants, dressed in uniform, stood in unison in the spacious courtyard of the Yun family, appearing exceptionally solemn and dignified. The Second Miss Yun knew that although these servants were nominally there to help, they were in reality the palace's spies, so she dared not be negligent in the slightest and personally waited at the second gate to show her respect.

After the palace servants filed in, Miss Yun Er stepped forward and, in a gentle yet authoritative tone, briefly introduced the layout of the Yun family home, the function of each room, and the duties that the palace servants might have to perform. Her words were clear and concise, demonstrating both respect for the palace servants and clearly defining their respective responsibilities.

"The Yun family is primarily composed of women. Although we have several sons-in-law, the daily chores are mostly handled by us sisters," Miss Yun continued. "Later, my maid will take you to the courtyard to meet your respective mistresses. I know you were all carefully selected from the palace and are certainly capable of handling all tasks. However, I have already arranged for my own people to manage the household affairs so as not to disturb you sisters too much. Of course, if any sister needs your help or has any reward, please accept it and do your best."

Upon hearing this, the palace servants all bowed their heads and knelt, expressing their respect and obedience to Miss Yun in the style of court etiquette. The only sound in the courtyard was the soft rustling of fabric, which further highlighted the discipline and solemnity of the occasion.

Seeing this, Miss Yun felt increased pressure, but she remained calm and composed. "In addition, my mother is unwell and has difficulty moving around. She may need a few experienced nannies to take special care of her." Before she finished speaking, several nannies stepped forward, their eyes shining with willingness to serve.

Miss Yun felt a warmth in her heart and quickly instructed the servants to lead the old ladies to Old Madam Yun's room. She knew that in these turbulent times, every member of the Yun family needed to unite to overcome the difficulties. Although these old ladies from the palace were not of Yun blood, their addition undoubtedly brought strength and hope to the Yun family.

As the maids left, Miss Yun gently rubbed her throbbing temples, silently considering her next steps. She knew this was just the beginning; the Yun family would face even greater challenges and trials in the future.

In the border camp of the Feng Kingdom, sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, dappling the busy soldiers. Amidst this atmosphere of tension and urgency, the Crown Prince of Feng stood out as an outsider. He casually leaned against a simple wooden table, his posture relaxed and devoid of the dignity expected of royalty, as if this were not a battlefield deciding the fate of the nation, but rather his private garden for daily amusement. Empress Gao Lingyan, clad in silver armor and a helmet, revealing only her sharp, eagle-like eyes, watched this scene. Though filled with displeasure, she knew this was not the time to concern herself with personal decorum, and thus chose silence.

Within this military camp, Gao Lingyan was not only the Empress, but also a general temporarily appointed to lead the expedition. She wore a mysterious mask, concealing her stunning beauty, yet unable to hide her innate authority and leadership qualities. Under her command, the camp was orderly and morale was high. The soldiers held her in utmost respect; even before this unconventional Crown Prince, no one dared to show her the slightest disrespect.

In just two or three days, Gao Lingyan and Yun Feiyang, working together, swiftly and decisively defeated two enemy forces attempting to obstruct the advance of the Feng Kingdom's army. These two great victories not only greatly boosted morale but also demonstrated the strength of the Feng Kingdom's army to the surrounding towns and villages, who then chose to submit, expressing their allegiance to the Feng Kingdom's Crown Prince and General Gao Lingyan. In no time, Feng Kingdom's flags flew high across the border regions, and news of the victory spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the land.

As the battle lines advanced, the capital of Feng Kingdom was no longer out of reach. At this moment, the Crown Prince's army was less than halfway to the capital, and victory seemed imminent. However, Gao Lingyan knew that the closer they got to a decisive victory, the more cautious and calm they needed to remain. She began to secretly plot their next strategic deployment with generals like Yun Feiyang in the dead of night, striving to achieve the greatest results with the least cost.

At the same time, people within Feng Kingdom began to take notice of this masked general who had shone on the battlefield, and many tales of his wisdom, courage, and invincibility circulated among the common people.

The last rays of the setting sun had not yet completely faded, leaving a faint orange-red hue on the horizon, yet the military camp was already filled with a busy and tense atmosphere. At this moment, a soldier rushed into the main tent, panting, holding aloft a white surrender flag, and excitedly reported: "Your Highness, General Gao, the Red Phosphorus Army from the north has sent an envoy, expressing their willingness to surrender to our army and promising to bring the ten cities they control to our Feng Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince of Feng's face immediately lit up with a delighted smile. He raised his wine cup, gently swirling the fine wine inside, as if the air itself were filled with the rich aroma of victory. "Haha, it seems these Red Phosphorus Army soldiers are indeed wise men who know when to yield and understand the principle of advancing by retreating," he said, taking a sip of wine with considerable pride.

However, Gao Lingyan, sitting to the side, though wearing a mask, possessed eyes as sharp as a hawk's, discerning everything. Her tone was calm yet carried an undeniable authority as she said, "Your Highness is mistaken. If we were to surrender so easily, how would we be any different from offering our necks to the enemy? The Crimson Phosphorus Army holds ten cities. Whether they are truly loyal now or not, once they set foot on our territory, it means an added element of uncertainty and threat. At that time, who can guarantee they won't turn against us when we are most vulnerable?"

The Crown Prince of Feng's smile gradually froze. His eyes changed slightly as he looked at Gao Lingyan seriously and asked, "What do you mean by that, General? Are you perhaps worried that there is a trap involved?"

Gao Lingyan nodded and continued, "That's exactly right. As the art of war says, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' We must not let temporary victories cloud our judgment and ignore potential crises. If the Red Phosphorus Army uses surrender as a pretext to secretly plot, then Your Highness's grand ambition to march on the capital and 'purge the court of corrupt officials' will surely be shattered."