My palace is full of female protagonists.

Xiao Kuangzi quickly stepped forward and carefully helped Zhao Chengyu to his feet, preparing to leave. However, before leaving, Zhao Chengyu added to the Empress, "And about that matter I mentioned to you last time, remember to select a few officials with simple household members to join you in establishing a new agency. We need to refine our plan into a concrete and feasible process so that it can be implemented better."

Empress Gao Lingyan nodded earnestly, indicating that she had remembered the Emperor's instructions. She watched Zhao Chengyu slowly leave the main hall with Xiao Kuangzi's help, secretly resolving in her heart that she must live up to the Emperor's trust and handle the follow-up matters properly.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was subtle and tense. Empress Gao Lingyan's gaze swept over the assembled ministers, some of whom remained silent with their heads bowed, others exchanged bewildered glances, clearly at a loss for what to do. She sighed softly, though she already had a guess in her mind, she still hoped to get a clear answer from someone, so she asked, "Among you, who can explain to me what exactly happened here just now? Why did it make the Emperor so angry?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers cast complex glances at each other, their exchange filled with helplessness and reluctance. They had initially thought that the Empress and Consort Zhao were both potential mothers of the nation, hence their animosity. However, they hadn't expected that, according to the Emperor's words, he had both chosen Consort Zhao as his first wife and heavily relied on the Empress, who possessed effective governance skills. He simply couldn't afford to offend either side, so no one was willing to voice their concerns.

Seeing this, the Empress understood even more clearly that this turmoil was inextricably linked to the complex power struggles within the harem and the court. She turned to look at Prime Minister Su, who had always supported her. He was now slumped on the ground, disheveled, clearly a direct victim of the earlier commotion. A thought struck the Empress; her intuition told her that this matter was inextricably linked to Prime Minister Su.

"Prime Minister Su," the Empress said in a gentle yet authoritative voice, "you have always been a pillar of the court, and you must be most familiar with today's events. I implore you to enlighten me."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su looked up at the Empress, a flicker of gratitude and helplessness in his eyes. He knew that silence was no longer an option, so he could only force himself to sit up and weakly recount what had just happened.

"Your Majesty, what happened just now was due to my careless words. In a moment of confusion, I interfered in state affairs with my personal matters, questioning His Majesty's favoritism towards Your Majesty and Consort Zhao. His Majesty was furious, not only reprimanding me but also taking action against my family as a warning." Prime Minister Su's voice held a hint of bitterness and self-reproach as he continued, "I know I cannot escape my punishment and am willing to accept all consequences."

After hearing Prime Minister Su's explanation, the Empress felt even more conflicted. Her brow furrowed, she asked again, "Then why has His Majesty suddenly become concerned about Prime Minister Su's family affairs?" Prime Minister Su looked troubled, clearly unwilling to delve into this sensitive topic. At this moment, the minister who had previously been ordered by the Emperor to divorce his wife and children mustered his courage and stepped forward, recounting in detail his ordeal and how the Emperor had used this opportunity to severely criticize the entire court's atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, the Empress sighed softly, her tone a mixture of reproach and helplessness: "Now that the border war is intense and the people are suffering, it is precisely the time when we, as ministers, need to work together to discuss national affairs. Yet what have you done? Instead of focusing on discussing state affairs and ensuring the well-being of the people, you are here sowing discord within the royal family and creating unnecessary conflict. His Majesty's mercy in not directly stripping you of your official positions is already a great act of leniency."

At this point, the Empress changed her tone, becoming serious and firm: "However, today's events have also made me see some shortcomings in the court. The Emperor and I have recently had the Imperial Household Department conduct a detailed inventory of the nation's strength and land resources. We have found that although our national strength has increased significantly compared to the time of the late Emperor, and our resources are more than twice as abundant, it is clearly insufficient to govern such a vast country with only a few dozen officials in the palace. Our governance system needs to be optimized, and we need the participation of more insightful individuals to ensure that the machinery of the state can operate efficiently and smoothly."

The Empress surveyed the surroundings, her gaze sharp: "Therefore, I hereby announce that, effective immediately, we will undertake a series of reforms, including but not limited to improving the official selection system, optimizing administrative procedures, and strengthening local governance. I hope that everyone present can set aside past grievances, prioritize the overall interests of the nation, actively participate in these reforms, and jointly contribute to the prosperity and strength of the country."

The Empress's words resonated powerfully throughout the hall.

As soon as Prime Minister Qi finished speaking, the hall erupted in an uproar. His objections, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up ripples. However, the Empress remained unmoved; her gaze was cold and resolute, as if she had foreseen and prepared for all of this.

"Prime Minister Qi, you are mistaken," the Empress said slowly, her voice soft yet carrying undeniable power. "My suggestion to recruit non-official sons into the court is not a blind act. I know there are many talented individuals in the court who come from humble backgrounds, and their inability to enter officialdom for various reasons is a loss to the nation. If we can break down barriers of social class and broaden the path for talent, we will surely attract more ambitious individuals to serve the country. How can the nation not become strong?"

The Empress paused, her gaze sweeping over the ministers present, and continued, "As for the illiterate and socially inept individuals that Prime Minister Qi is concerned about, we naturally have a strict selection mechanism to vet them. I will not allow any incompetent person to infiltrate the court and disrupt the order of the government. But just as I will not allow any truly talented person to be buried because of their background."

At this point, the Empress's tone suddenly became stern: "As for your so-called 'managing household affairs,' I reiterate once again, only I can manage the Emperor's household affairs, and you have no right to interfere! You should also keep your wives' feelings in mind, instead of taking concubines and buying boys for your own selfish desires."

"Since you are so concerned about the Emperor's family affairs, then I will follow suit and let you experience what it's like to be 'managed'," the Empress said coldly. "Now, everyone standing in the court, regardless of rank, who has concubines or mistresses under the age of forty, must remarry into military households. No matter the age of their children or grandchildren, the men are forbidden from entering the capital or being recommended for official positions; the women can only be betrothed to military households. This is my first warning to you, and it is also my determination to reform."

"If anyone has any objections, you may leave your hats and tablets behind and leave the hall now. But I hope you understand that reform is an inevitable trend that no one can stop. Your choices today will determine your future fate."

As the Empress finished speaking, a deathly silence fell over the hall. The ministers exchanged bewildered glances; some were shocked by the Empress's firm stance, while others began to secretly plot their moves. The Empress knew that this reform would inevitably infringe upon the interests of certain individuals, triggering a series of objections and obstructions. But she also understood that only through such severe suppression could those powerful old fogies be made to restrain their arrogance and stop oppressing the newly appointed officials.

Her resolute decision stemmed not only from the reform itself, but also from the Emperor and the long-term stability of the nation. She believed that the Emperor's furious outburst today was a prelude to this reform, a way to remove obstacles and pave the way.

In the long corridor leading back to his palace, moonlight filtered through the window lattices, casting dappled shadows and adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil night. Zhao Chengyu's pace slowed unconsciously as his gaze was drawn to a unique figure ahead—a woman dressed in Taoist robes, holding a compass and gazing up at the starry sky, as if conversing with the stars.

He recognized the woman; she was none other than Fang Guizi, a concubine who rarely appeared in the palace. In the emperor's vast harem, she was like a lotus blooming silently, possessing a unique, otherworldly charm despite lacking a prestigious title. Unlike other concubines whose names were derived from their surnames, Fang Guizi's name seemed to hold a special meaning, arousing considerable curiosity about her.

Fang Fei's actions at this moment were even more astonishing. She slowly pulled a glossy-feathered pigeon from her not-so-wide sleeve. The pigeon seemed extremely familiar with her, showing no fear whatsoever. Then, Fang Fei gently scattered a handful of millet on the ground, and the pigeon happily flew down to peck at the food. Fang Fei squatted beside it, watching all this with gentle eyes, her face radiating an indescribable peace and contentment.

Watching this scene, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. He had seen Taoist priests use various methods of divination in documentaries on television, often employing birds like pigeons or parrots as mediums. These creatures seemed to be able to perceive subtle information beyond human comprehension, using their behavior to foretell the future or answer questions. At this moment, the interaction between Fang Fei and the pigeons seemed remarkably similar to those scenes in the documentaries.

As the pigeons took flight after they had eaten their fill, Fang Fei slowly stood up and put away the compass and the remaining millet.

Consort Fang walked lightly yet with an undeniable resolve along the moonlit corridor towards Zhao Chengyu. Her eyes gleamed with an unusual light, a wisdom and serenity that transcended worldly concerns. As she approached, she gently waved her hand, signaling her maids, servants, and others to leave, instantly enveloping the entire space in a mysterious stillness.

“Young Master Zhao,” Consort Fang’s voice was gentle and deep, direct yet carrying an unspeakable depth, “I know your soul does not belong to this world. Although I am an imperial concubine, I have no romantic feelings for him—that supreme monarch. Your status is not important to me. However, I must remind you that all things in this world follow the way of Heaven. If you act too contrary to Heaven, you may bring unpredictable disasters. I hope you will think twice before you act. There is one more thing I need to tell you. I will be leaving the palace soon. You can find someone to impersonate me. As long as they don’t make any serious mistakes, they can keep this position.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu felt a surge of shock, but he maintained his composure on the surface, his brows furrowing slightly as he retorted, "You say I am nobody? How can I possibly refute your words? And why did you bring up leaving the palace?"

Consort Fang smiled slightly, a smile tinged with bitterness and relief: "Young master, please don't be hasty, let me explain in detail. Recently, I observed the celestial phenomena and discovered unusual movements in the Milky Way, seemingly an omen of mending the heavens. I was originally a female cultivator in the cultivation world, and due to karmic connections from my past life, I was able to enter this palace as a consort. However, my master recently sent me a message saying that there is a crack in the sky, which may be the reason you are here. I need to return to help repair it. This journey is extremely dangerous, and I don't know when I will be able to return, so I need to make arrangements in advance."

"As for you," Consort Fang's gaze fell on Zhao Chengyu again, her tone becoming more serious, "if you want to stay here and avoid being implicated, you'd better find a suitable person to replace me in the palace. This person doesn't need to resemble me, but must know all my habits and preferences so as not to give anything away. In this way, even if I'm not here, I can ensure your peace for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu appeared quite magnanimous, shrugging his shoulders and saying, "In that case, we'll do as you say. However, you'll still need to personally select the candidates, since no one knows you better than yourself."

Fang Fei gazed at Zhao Chengyu, a complex light flashing in her eyes, seemingly gratitude, or something else entirely. She nodded gently and said softly, "Alright, since you agree with me, I will arrange everything." With that, she turned to leave, but stopped just before taking a step, glancing back at Zhao Chengyu as if to etch this moment deeply into her heart.

As Zhao Chengyu stepped into the palace, the warmth seemed to dispel some of his fatigue from the journey. He went straight to the bath, where the temperature was always comfortable, the steam rising from the hot water making the surrounding air soft and cozy. Along the way, the palace servants skillfully took his clothes one by one from his small baskets, their movements gentle and swift, showing both respect and propriety.

Zhao Chengyu stepped into the bath. This was the first time since he transmigrated here that he had so unabashedly immersed himself in this warm embrace. The hot water gradually rose up to his waist until it completely enveloped him. The comfort that surged from deep within his skin made him close his eyes and let out a long sigh. He gently patted the surface of the water with his hands, splashing water and bringing waves of coolness and pleasure, as if the tension and repression of the past few days had been released in this moment.

Sitting in the bath, Zhao Chengyu's face showed a rare sense of relaxation and comfort. He muttered to himself, "Finally, there's a place more worthwhile than modern times! This ancient bathing experience is truly unique." After saying that, a smile appeared on his lips as he enjoyed this rare tranquility and freedom.