My palace is full of female protagonists.

As dawn broke, the golden sunlight bathed every brick and stone before the majestic gates of the Feng Kingdom's palace, as if even the air itself was imbued with solemnity and glory. Gao Lingyan led her army, their weariness from days of battle mingled with the joy of victory, slowly approaching this symbol of power and honor. Unlike the usual clamor and cheers of returning from campaigns, today's farewell was exceptionally solemn and unique. Though the people wore expressions of bewilderment, they were also unconsciously infected by this unusual atmosphere, standing silently on both sides, their gazes filled with both awe and curiosity.

The Crown Prince's army and the Imperial Guard, clad in armor and exuding heroic spirit, offered the highest respect to the mysterious and powerful masked general with the most impeccable military salute. Their eyes were filled with admiration and gratitude, for it was this masked general who, with extraordinary wisdom and bravery, quelled the internal strife and solidified the foundation of the Feng Kingdom. The legend of the masked general spread rapidly throughout the Feng Kingdom and its neighboring regions like an unstoppable storm. People discussed him, comparing him to a celestial being descended from the clouds, elusive yet always able to turn the tide at crucial moments.

A day later, on the border of Feng Kingdom, clouds and mist swirled, a tranquil scene concealing lurking danger. The masked general Gao Lingyan, leading 30,000 carefully selected elite troops, appeared suddenly on the flank of the Southern Kingdom's army camp like celestial warriors. Caught off guard, the Southern Kingdom's army's defenses crumbled rapidly in the face of this unexpected attack. Flames soared into the sky, war drums thundered, and with each charge, the Southern Kingdom's camp was reduced to dust, the entire battlefield bathed in the dawn of victory.

After the battle, Gao Lingyan slowly removed the mask that concealed her identity, revealing her cool and resolute face. At this moment, she was no longer the fearsome masked general, but had returned to her identity as the Empress of Feng Kingdom. On this battlefield where the smoke of war had not yet cleared, she unexpectedly reunited with General Yun. General Yun, this veteran who had rendered outstanding service to the country, saw Gao Lingyan return safely, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears. He trembled as he stepped forward, tightly grasping Gao Lingyan's hand, tears silently streaming down his face—tears of joy at the safe return of his "oldest son," and tears of hope for the future of the nation.

Yun Feiyang and several of his deputy generals followed closely behind, their faces beaming with the relief of surviving a calamity and the joy of reunion. The old general's shoulders trembled slightly with emotion, a sentiment that deeply moved everyone present. They knew that this reunion was not merely a personal stroke of luck, but a turning point in the nation's destiny. The meeting between Gao Lingyan and General Yun was like the convergence of two brilliant stars, foreshadowing a brighter future for the nation under their leadership.

Gao Lingyan's gaze was deep, as if she could see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts. She asked softly, "General Yun, how many troops can you mobilize now?" Upon hearing this, General Yun unconsciously wiped the snot that had overflowed from his nose due to excitement with the back of his hand, and calmly replied, "Your Majesty, after deducting the troops guarding various places, I can immediately assemble an army of about 150,000 men."

Gao Lingyan nodded slightly, then asked, "What about the Southern Kingdom? Besides these, are there any other powerful military forces hidden?" General Yun paused for a moment, then shook his head, his eyes revealing a clear understanding of the Southern Kingdom's current situation: "The Southern Kingdom is now at its last gasp. Apart from the necessary city defenses, it has no other organized army to speak of. Does Your Majesty intend to press your advantage and directly attack the Southern Kingdom's palace?"

Gao Lingyan didn't answer directly. Instead, she turned to look at the Feng Kingdom army behind her, a sea of ​​soldiers poised for battle, a scene of grim determination. A faint smile played on her lips as she said, "I have already led my troops to the foot of the Feng Kingdom's palace. The Southern Kingdom's palace shouldn't be any more difficult to conquer. However, General Yun, have you considered whether there are other paths available besides serving as a loyal general to protect this land?"

Upon hearing this, General Yun's gaze involuntarily turned to Yun Feiyang, his heart churning with complex emotions. He had originally envisioned a resounding victory in this battle, where Yun Feiyang, as a general of exceptional merit, would surely be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, ensuring the Yun family's generations of glory and the continuation of their military achievements. However, the shadow of reality loomed large. The Emperor's apprehension about the Yun family's growing power and influence hung like a sword over their heads, preventing them from feeling at ease.

At this moment, Gao Lingyan's words struck like a thunderbolt, shattering the illusions in General Yun's mind. He realized that if Yun Feiyang had always harbored feelings for this woman, who also shone brightly in his eyes, then his foolish son's desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with this woman of wisdom and courage required more than just being a subject. In this era where power and glory intertwined, to protect one's family and safeguard one's loved ones, one must possess the strength and status commensurate with them.

Thinking of this, General Yun couldn't help but look up at the sky and sigh, his eyes filled with both relief and determination: "Yes, I believe I have already weathered many storms and lived this life. If there is any unfulfilled ambition, it is to earn a more stable power for the Yun family and for my son. Even if it means embarking on a path full of unknowns and challenges, I will not hesitate."

At this moment, something seemed to be ignited in General Yun's heart—an expectation for the future of his family and a redefinition of his own destiny. He knew that from this moment on, the Yun family would no longer be merely guardians of imperial power, but would strive for a broader world for themselves and their descendants.

Of course, General Yun's willingness to respond to the Empress's call without hesitation stemmed not only from his loyalty to the country and his desire for victory, but more importantly from Prime Minister Gao's timely support. Supplies and weapons, like spring rain, nourished the weary army, allowing them to quickly regain their fighting strength and boost morale. With just one day of rest, the soldiers were revitalized and ready to launch their final assault on the southern capital with renewed confidence.

Meanwhile, in the distant imperial palace, before dawn had fully broken, Zhao Chengyu was startled by hurried footsteps and the latest battle reports from the frontier. He took the secret letter, read it, and frowned, muttering to himself, "The female lead's halo is truly unmatched. Could it be that Yun Feiyang is the destined male lead? If the two of them join forces, wouldn't I just become their cannon fodder second male lead?"

These words were overheard by Zhao Qi'er, who had just woken up. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she asked with concern, "Your Majesty, is the Empress... alright?" Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded gently, "Yes, the letter did not mention any injuries or illnesses on her part. The young generals of the Yun family are all safe and sound. Everything is fine. However, they are now planning to press their advantage and march straight to the capital of the Southern Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er frowned slightly, her tone filled with confusion and worry: "The Empress and the Yun family army made this decision without even informing the Emperor. This... how audacious!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Perhaps this is the will of Heaven, allowing us to take this opportunity to stabilize the border in one fell swoop, and at the same time... it is also the best time to make you empress."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er felt not comforted, but even more terrified. She clutched Zhao Chengyu's sleeve tightly, tears welling in her eyes: "Your Majesty, you...you don't want my sister anymore? Why did you suddenly mention making me Empress?"

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu quickly comforted her, "Qi'er, sometimes, the wheel of fate has its own trajectory. If we really become bystanders or even obstacles in the so-called 'male and female protagonist' story, perhaps we should learn to let go at the right time and let a beautiful story come to fruition."

Zhao Chengyu pondered to himself, unwilling to play the villain in this legendary story, and even more unwilling to lose everything he cherished. Therefore, he became even more determined to protect this hard-won peace and tranquility, and at the same time, to strive for a brighter future for Zhao Qi'er.

Zhao Chengyu lay in bed, tossing and turning, his mind replaying the plots of the novels he had read before bed. He knew all too well that in those stories interwoven with romance and fantasy, any character who tried to hinder the progress of the protagonists' love, even a noble emperor or crown prince, would often be "killed" in return. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking to himself, "Although I, Zhao Chengyu, am now the ruler of a country after transmigrating, with six female protagonists in the harem, it's hard to say whether I'm the male lead or cannon fodder."

So he decided to stop indulging in sleepless nights, got up, changed into a set of casual clothes, and quietly left the palace, heading straight for the imperial study.

Zhao Chengyu sat at his desk, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and his thoughts flowed like a spring. He knew that the decision he made at this moment not only concerned the future of the country, but also the stability of the court and his own safety. He first drafted an imperial edict, deciding to establish the area where the Southern Kingdom's palace was located as a vassal state, in order to consolidate the relationship between the two countries and to take this opportunity to demonstrate the majesty and generosity of the Feng Kingdom.

In this imperial edict, he explicitly appointed General Yun as the ruler of the Yunnan Kingdom. This was an acknowledgment of the Yun family army's illustrious military achievements and an affirmation of General Yun's personal abilities. As a vassal state, the Yunnan Kingdom was required to pay annual tribute to the Feng Kingdom of 10,000 catties of grain, 1,000 dappled horses, 10,000 head of cattle and sheep, and 10 cartloads of fine weapons, while also establishing itself as a kingdom.

However, Zhao Chengyu's considerations went far beyond that. He knew that in this court filled with power struggles and emotional entanglements, every decision could trigger a chain reaction. Therefore, at the end of the imperial edict, he cleverly added a message—that Zhao Qi'er would be made Empress in the future. This move was both a confirmation of Zhao Qi'er's status and position, and an indication to Gao Lingyan that she could choose her own path.

As he finished the last stroke, Zhao Chengyu put down his brush and gently blew the ink dry. He gazed at the imperial edict that would soon change the fate of many, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Then, he summoned his trusted eunuch, had the edict sealed, and ordered it to be sent to the frontier immediately, ensuring it reached General Yun and the soldiers at the front as quickly as possible.

Zhao Chengyu knew the importance of time for high-ranking officials, so he meticulously planned this late-night audience. He instructed Xiao Kuangzi, a shrewd eunuch, to go ahead to the city gates and ensure that the Prime Minister could be summoned to the Imperial Study as soon as possible.

It was late at night, and outside the imperial city gates, several carriages were already waiting quietly. Their owners were high-ranking officials who, to maintain their prestige and authority in court, were willing to take a nap in their carriages beforehand. Prime Minister Gao's carriage was no exception. He followed this unwritten rule, having already rested inside, waiting for the appointed time to enter the palace directly, ensuring he was both refreshed and avoiding the embarrassment of being late.

The little box moved swiftly and soon found Prime Minister Gao, still fast asleep. Awakened, Prime Minister Gao, still half-asleep, heard the Emperor's summons and immediately ordered his servants to fetch a sedan chair and carry him to the Imperial Study. Along the way, he couldn't help but wonder what the purpose of this late-night summons was.

The moment Prime Minister Gao stepped into the imperial study, his still somewhat dazed mind was completely shattered by Zhao Chengyu's next words. Zhao Chengyu bluntly stated his intention to depose the Empress, his tone revealing an undeniable firmness. Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao seemed struck by lightning, instantly freezing on the spot, forgetting even the most basic courtesies, simply staring blankly at Zhao Chengyu, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu softened his tone and tried to explain to Prime Minister Gao: "Prime Minister, do you know that Yun Feiyang, the young man from the Yun family, has always been infatuated with Gao Lingyan? Now that he is the ruler of the small kingdom of Yunnan, he holds a prestigious position and is a good match for Lingyan. He has not disgraced the Gao family's reputation."

However, these words did not comfort Prime Minister Gao; instead, they made him even more terrified. His legs went weak, and he involuntarily knelt on the ground, asking in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, are you taking my life? If so, you may take my life at any time, but the matter of deposing the Empress is absolutely unacceptable!"

Zhao Chengyu quickly stepped forward, helped Prime Minister Gao up, and settled him in a chair. He gently comforted him, saying, "Prime Minister, you are overthinking it. The Gao family has always been one of the most prestigious families in Feng Kingdom. Deposing the Empress is not a denigration of the Gao family, but rather a decision made for other reasons. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to develop in Yunnan Kingdom, which will be a new world for you. Why not take advantage of it? I, Zhao Chengyu, promise that I will only pay more attention to the Gao family in the future."

But Prime Minister Gao shook his head firmly, his heart filled with an obsession with his family's reputation: "Your Majesty, won't your decision make the world think that the Gao family's daughter has cuckolded you? How can the Gao family bear such a stain? And how can you let the Gao family off so easily?"

Zhao Chengyu sighed, his gaze deep: "Prime Minister, you and I both know that when Gao Lingyan entered the palace, wasn't it also a power struggle and a battle for interests? Now the situation has changed, and we need to make new adjustments. Please believe me, my decision is for the sake of the overall situation, and also for the future of the Gao family and even the entire country."