My palace is full of female protagonists.

Upon hearing this, General Ma trembled violently. He looked up at the Emperor, his eyes filled with surprise and panic. "Which Lady Leng?" he asked instinctively, trying to hide his guilty conscience.

Zhao Chengyu sneered, his gaze sharpening further: "Playing dumb, huh? You think you can escape punishment like this? You wouldn't still consider yourself my father-in-law and be laughing at me behind my back, would you?"

These words struck General Ma like a thunderbolt. He instantly realized that his secret had been completely exposed and could no longer be concealed. He immediately knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold earth, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please understand. I was indeed young and foolish back then. I thought civil officials were cowardly and easy to bully, and I was also lusting after Lady Leng's beauty. In a moment of impulse, I committed this wrongdoing. I know my crime, please have mercy, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Chengyu listened to General Ma's confession, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He was both furious at General Ma's betrayal and rudeness, and sympathetic to the plight of Madam Leng and her daughter. He knew that once this matter was exposed, it would not only severely damage the royal family's reputation, but could also trigger a series of chain reactions, affecting the stability of the entire court.

However, as the ruler of a nation, he had to make a decision. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then slowly said, "General Ma, it is commendable that you know your mistakes and are willing to correct them. But the law of the land is merciless, and the mistakes you have made must be punished accordingly. However, considering your many years of fighting on the battlefield and the great contributions you have made, I can give you a chance. Answer me honestly."

Upon hearing this, General Ma was deeply moved and immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life! I will always remember Your Majesty's teachings, remain loyal and devoted, and vow to serve the country to the death!"

A complex mix of emotions flickered in Zhao Chengyu's eyes. He held a firm commitment to strict military discipline, yet also a hint of helplessness and understanding regarding human weaknesses. He slowly circled General Ma, his tone stern yet admonishing: "General Ma, I know you are brave and fearless on the battlefield, achieving numerous feats, and are a pillar of the nation. However, outside the court and the military, personal conduct is equally important. It not only concerns your reputation but also affects the honor of the entire army."

Zhao Chengyu continued, his tone softening slightly, "What man in this world doesn't yearn for the favor of the opposite sex? But the key lies in how you handle that 'fate.' Giving them money might bring them temporary pleasure, but it can't guarantee lasting peace. Those children, born into this world innocently, live in uncertainty because of your selfish desires—how cruel is that?"

General Ma lowered his head and remained silent, his expression gradually shifting from frivolous to thoughtful.

“Lord Zhao,” General Ma finally spoke, his voice low and sincere, “your words were like a wake-up call, making me realize my mistake. I never imagined that my momentary indulgence would cause such profound harm to others. As for those widows and children in the countryside, I… I have been supporting them.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's expression softened slightly. He nodded and said, "Why can't you bring those widows and their children into your mansion and give them the status of official concubines or family members to ensure their stable lives? You haven't done this for many years. You are over forty years old and still have no adoptive relatives, no mistress in your house, and no beauties in your harem."

“Furthermore,” Zhao Chengyu added, “as a general, your conduct should be a model for your soldiers. On the battlefield, you are their trusted leader. They are with you every day; how can they not know what you are doing? How can you be a role model for your soldiers? Are you leading them around looking for widows?”

Upon hearing this, General Ma's eyes flashed with a resolute light. He kowtowed heavily to Zhao Chengyu and said, "Your Majesty, you may find my actions improper, but please allow me to explain. I, Ma, am but a military man, having spent half my life on the battlefield, and I am not particularly adept at matters of the heart. That day, I happened to see Madam Leng with her twin daughters, and the scene was warm and beautiful. I knew in my heart that those two children shared an inseparable blood connection with me. However, fate is fickle. As a general, I am often away on campaigns, and all I can offer them is distant gazing and silent protection."

"I do have reservations about taking wives and concubines. This world is especially harsh on women, let alone the descendants of royalty and military families. I don't have many opportunities to return to the capital, and whenever I happen to see Madam Leng with her two children, I watch from afar. In previous years, I was often in the army and wasn't in a hurry to take on adopted children, but later I discovered that the two children were already as tall as my waist. That's when I learned about my eldest daughter Leng Linyi's engagement to His Majesty, and I became even less inclined to marry. Later, several widows insisted on having children for me, but I didn't want to give them any status, because I was afraid that the children raised by these illiterate women would be unfit for respectability."

At this point, General Ma's eyes became deep and complex. He paused, then continued, "As for reputation, although I am a rough man, I understand the principle that 'public opinion is a fearsome thing.' The matter between the Leng family and me has been kept secret for a long time. If there is any further turmoil, not only will the two children be harmed, but Madam Leng will also be disgraced. Although I cannot give them a complete family, I can at least ensure their peace for life, free from outside interference."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's expression softened, and he sighed softly, saying, "General Ma, should I thank you, my father-in-law, for thinking so thoughtfully about everything?"

Upon hearing this, General Ma's eyes flashed with surprise and hope. He bowed and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is right to reprimand me. I was foolish. Later, when Leng Linyi was taken away by the Crown Prince of the neighboring country, I even sent people to chase after her. However, my men said that Leng Linyi left voluntarily, so I did not let them go abroad with her. After Leng Linyi entered the palace, I had no way to inquire about her."

Zhao Chengyu settled into his seat leisurely, his legs slightly crossed, his gaze fixed intently ahead, as if weighing the weight of each word. At that moment, the door to the imperial study was gently pushed open, and the Crown Prince returned, having finished his meal. He bowed respectfully to the Emperor and General Ma. The Emperor smiled and nodded, gesturing for him to return to his seat.

Zhao Chengyu coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the room. He turned his gaze to General Ma, his tone carrying an undeniable firmness: "General Ma, while the borders need capable generals to guard them, the capital also needs an iron fist to protect it. My mind is made up. I appoint you as the leader of the Second Imperial Guard. Your trusted men can be transferred to the capital with you to form an elite force to safeguard the peace of the imperial city."

Upon hearing this, General Ma's eyes flashed with surprise, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He knew that this was a great favor from the Emperor and a trust placed in him. Without the slightest hesitation, he knelt down, raised his hands high to receive the letter of appointment, and respectfully returned the tiger tally and seal representing military power. Then he bowed and left the Imperial Study, each step so steady and powerful.

As the Crown Prince watched General Ma's departing figure, a sense of curiosity and admiration arose in his heart. He then turned to the Emperor and asked softly, "Father, General Ma is a pillar of the nation, a man who can hold off ten thousand men. How did you manage to persuade him to give up his important mission on the frontier and join the Imperial Guard?"

The Emperor smiled slightly, his eyes full of approval as he looked at Zhao Chengyu, signaling him to answer. Zhao Chengyu chuckled, turning his gaze to the Crown Prince, his tone gentle yet sharp: "Crown Prince, as the future heir apparent, you must have some study companions in your study, right? If I asked you to turn other princes' confidants into your own, what would you do?"

The Crown Prince shook his head and said, "Even if I manage to win such a person over, it's probably just an act. I can't do anything about it."

Zhao Chengyu continued, “Human hearts are complex, yet simple. No one can escape the constraints of emotion and power. You are the Crown Prince; your prestige and status are themselves an invisible force. To turn others’ confidants into your own, the key lies in two points: first, emotional connection, and second, shared benefits. Emotionally, you need to show sufficient care and trust, and find what they want but cannot obtain and take it into your own hands; in terms of benefits, you need to give them enough room for advancement and power, so that they see the value in following you.”

"As for your concerns about loyalty," Zhao Chengyu changed the subject, his eyes revealing a worldly-wise indifference, "true loyalty is rare in this world; what's more common is mutual exploitation and balance. As long as you can closely link their interests with your goals, then so-called loyalty will naturally follow."

The Crown Prince scratched his head slightly, a hint of worry and confusion showing between his brows. He looked at the Emperor, his voice tinged with trepidation: "Father, the journey to Feng Kingdom is long and fraught with danger. I am truly worried... that she might not return."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's gaze gently fell upon the Crown Prince, as if he could perceive every subtle fluctuation in his heart. He slowly walked to the Crown Prince's side, gazing into the Crown Prince's eyes with an attitude close to that of a friend, and said earnestly, "Are you also worried about this matter? My child, you have grown up and have begun to understand how to care for your family, which is a good thing."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, saying nothing more, but worry and unease were etched on his face. Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu felt both relieved and a pang of sorrow. He continued, "If one day your father needs you to go to war, will you resent him for sending you to such a risky position, or even... to your death?"

The Crown Prince shook his head firmly, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination: "My father has also donned armor and fought bravely, and my mother has yet to return to the capital. If the country truly needs me, how can I, as the Crown Prince, back down? If my father orders me to go to war, I will go forward without fear of death."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu smiled with satisfaction. He patted the Crown Prince on the shoulder, his tone filled with pride and expectation: "Your mother truly raised you well. She is a person willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She married me not merely for personal happiness, but to ensure that the army under my command would become a strong shield protecting this land; as Empress, she bore the glory of the Gao family, enduring countless pressures and misunderstandings, yet never uttered a complaint. She gave birth to you, even more so for the future of the Zhao family, so that you could inherit this legacy and become a wise ruler."

"But do you know? Only when she donned her armor and went to Feng Kingdom, at that moment, was she truly fighting for herself, for the ideals and beliefs hidden deep in her heart. She wasn't fighting for others, but for the justice and peace in her heart, to do what she believed was right and necessary. How brave and free she was."

"Therefore, if one day your father needs you to go to war, it is not to push you into the abyss of death, but to give you a sacred mission—to lead your people to carve out a path to survival in the flames of war, and to use your wisdom and courage to fight for the glory and rights that belong to you and to our Zhao family. Remember, you are not only the crown prince, but also the future monarch. Every decision you make will affect the fate of countless people."

The crown prince nodded, his voice tinged with gratitude: "Thank you for your teachings, Father. I will remember them forever."

Zhao Chengyu sat back on the dragon throne, his heart filled with ripples of emotion. He recalled his bachelor life before his transmigration, a stark contrast to the scene before him. In this unfamiliar world, he had not only become emperor, but also had to discuss such profound topics with a child almost as tall as himself, which made him feel a sense of absurdity and wonder.

His gaze lingered on the Crown Prince's face for a moment, as he pondered to himself. Zhao Yinqing, or rather, his current status, seemed to only show interest in this child during routine banquets. This superficial, even indifferent, interaction made him wonder if the Crown Prince had also noticed this change and was behaving unusually obediently during this brief exchange, trying to gain more attention or avoid potential conflict.

But Zhao Chengyu quickly dismissed this idea. He realized that regardless of whether the Crown Prince noticed his changes, he should truly understand the child as a father and care about his growth, rather than merely focusing on superficial etiquette and instruction. He began to reflect on whether he could gradually fill the void left by Zhao Yinqing in the future and give the Crown Prince the fatherly love and care he deserved.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu's eyes softened but hardened. He looked at the Crown Prince, his tone full of sincerity: "Crown Prince, your father knows you have always been excellent and hardworking. In the future, we will have more time to spend together, and I will do my best to understand you and support you. I hope we can be like a true father and son, trusting each other, and it is even possible that I will pass the throne to you when you are still young."

Zhao Chengyu was filled with doubt and confusion. He couldn't help but wonder, "Why are those emperors, even in their seventies and old age, who can no longer sit up, still willing to sit on this throne that is busy every day and has no end?" He found this really puzzling and hard to understand the reason.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's eyes flashed with surprise, but it was quickly replaced by emotion. He had never imagined that his father would say such a thing. He bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion, "Thank you, Father. Your son will certainly live up to your expectations."