My palace is full of female protagonists.

Prime Minister Gao's fingers unconsciously rubbed against his thigh, a manifestation of indescribable anxiety and contemplation. He asked in a low and heavy voice, "What about the Crown Prince? This child is not only Ling Yan's son by blood, but also the heir apparent of the Ying Kingdom, a nation that everyone is watching closely. How should we choose his future?" His voice held a deep concern and worry for the Crown Prince.

Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a complex emotion of indecision. "This is precisely what I wanted to discuss in depth with the Prime Minister. The Crown Prince stands at a crossroads. On one hand, he can inherit my throne and become the supreme ruler of this land; on the other hand, he can go to Yunnan, take over everything there, and become the king of another realm. Which path is more suitable for him, and which one is what he truly desires?"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao frowned, instinctively wanting to give a clear answer, but found himself caught in a dilemma as well. "Of course...it is..." His words trailed off, clearly the stakes were too complex for even a wise man like him to make a decision immediately.

"If he stays in our country, he can inherit the throne, but the Empress is not his biological mother. The undercurrents in the harem and the court may cause the Crown Prince to lose power or be plunged into endless struggles," Prime Minister Gao slowly analyzed. "If he goes to Yunnan, although his status may be inferior, it is, after all, the Empress's homeland. With her there, the Crown Prince will at least have a stable backing. However, how can he resolve the disparity and resentment of being demoted from the Crown Prince to a Prince?"

Zhao Chengyu sighed softly. He knew that Prime Minister Gao's concerns were not unfounded. "The difference between heaven and earth is naturally easy to discern. But in the current situation, both have their merits and are difficult to choose between. This choice of not striving for first place but striving for second is indeed a dilemma."

Prime Minister Gao pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Your Majesty," he said, "this old minister believes that there is no need to rush this matter. We might as well send members of the Gao family to Yunnan to secretly lay the groundwork. Within a few years, they should at least establish a firm foothold in agriculture, industry, and commerce, building a solid fortress for the Empress in Yunnan. At that time, no matter which path the Crown Prince chooses, he will have sufficient support and confidence."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly, but then his expression turned troubled. He took out a sealed letter from his sleeve and handed it to Prime Minister Gao. "Prime Minister, you are right, but there is one matter that cannot be delayed. This is an urgent letter from the Empress. I need to hold Zhao Qi'er's coronation ceremony within this month to legitimize her and reassure the people."

Prime Minister Gao took the letter, opened it, and read it carefully, his expression gradually becoming solemn. He knew that the Empress's decision not only concerned her personal status and dignity, but was also closely linked to the future of the Crown Prince. "In that case," he said, "this old minister is willing to fully cooperate with Your Majesty to ensure the smooth conduct of the Empress's coronation ceremony. At the same time, I will also intensify our efforts to secure the Yunnan Kingdom, paving the way for the Crown Prince's future."

Zhao Chengyu sighed softly, his eyes filled with deep worry. He slowly said, "I have also considered making the Crown Prince a ruler who spans both countries, but this is no easy task. Unless the Gao family can achieve an unparalleled position in both countries, such a status will only put the Crown Prince in a precarious position, making him a target of public criticism. Furthermore, the Crown Prince is still young and not yet engaged, so future marriage arrangements are also a crucial consideration. Whether for the sake of stabilizing relations between the two countries or for the Crown Prince's personal happiness, we must carefully plan to ensure that the Crown Prince's harem is filled with support from all sides."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao had a vague understanding. He nodded slightly, as if responding to Zhao Chengyu's unspoken meaning—the Crown Prince's future path seemed to point to the Yunnan Kingdom. However, he did not express his opinion directly, but instead let his thoughts churn in his mind, a complex mix of emotions that made it difficult for him to sort out his thoughts for the time being.

In the end, Prime Minister Gao decided to step down first to gather his thoughts and prepare his next course of action. He lowered his head and gently shook it to conceal his inner turmoil, saying in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now and await Your Majesty in the main hall." With that, he turned and left, leaving Zhao Chengyu with a somewhat somber figure.

The atmosphere in the imperial court became tense after Zhao Chengyu's announcement. Zhao Chengyu didn't mention the Crown Prince's future, but simply announced the upcoming ceremony to crown Zhao Qi'er as Empress. However, this brief statement was enough to stir up a huge uproar among the court officials.

The court officials whispered amongst themselves, discussing the matter. Some were puzzled, asking, "Why is the Empress being hastily appointed as Empress before she has even returned?" Others, however, considered Consort Zhao's rise to power as a matter of course: "Consort Zhao was the Emperor's first wife; she should have been Empress long ago." Still others speculated about the Empress's intentions: "Does the Empress not intend to return? Why the sudden urgent message ordering Consort Zhao to take her place?"

Faced with these murmurs and discussions, Prime Minister Gao remained remarkably silent. He kept his head down, his brow furrowed, as if all his attention was focused on his inner thoughts. Seeing this, the court officials dared not easily step forward to express their opinions, fearing they might inadvertently offend the powerful Prime Minister.

Zhao Chengyu's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that quickly subsided. His words were concise and powerful, revealing an unquestionable authority: "This is my own business. Mentioning it to you all today is merely a formality, an announcement. We still have many important national matters to discuss; let's focus on our business."

In the imperial court, everyone exchanged glances, their hearts filled with a thousand words, especially regarding the Empress's future arrangements, yet no one dared to speak easily. This silence was both a sign of reverence for imperial authority and a delicate grasp of the current situation. Everyone knew that at this crucial moment, any unnecessary words could trigger unnecessary turmoil.

On another battlefield, Gao Lingyan was undergoing unprecedented challenges and trials. Days of fighting had almost numbed her fatigue and fear, leaving only an unyielding fighting spirit in her eyes. But whenever she was about to lose control and descend into madness, a figure would always stand firmly in front of her, shielding her from attacks and carefully protecting her rear—that was Yun Feiyang. His presence, like a lighthouse, illuminated Gao Lingyan's path, allowing her to maintain a rare sliver of clarity amidst the blood and fire.

Although the Southern Kingdom had been severely weakened in the great war, with its military strength almost completely wiped out, its treasury empty, and its granaries nearly depleted, the local princes still possessed considerable strength. In addition, there were bandits and militias who operated outside the regular army. Like scattered stars, they constantly caused trouble for the Yun family army's offensive, forcing the army to halt its advance several times.

As night fell, the military camp was brightly lit. Gao Lingyan sat in her tent, clutching a secret letter from Prime Minister Gao. The letter was brief and clear: the Gao family would fully support the Yun family army, urging them to lead their troops forward; the Emperor had chosen Xindu as the capital of the Yunnan Kingdom and intended to appoint Yun Feiyang as its king; if Gao Lingyan wished to become Empress, the Crown Prince would go to the Yunnan Kingdom to become the new Crown Prince; and as for Zhao Qi'er, she would be formally crowned Empress within the month.

After reading the letter, a complex light flashed in Gao Lingyan's eyes. She suddenly stood up, tossed her hair back, and let her long, black hair cascade down like a waterfall. She laughed loudly, a laugh filled with both relief and triumph: "What a new situation! I, Gao Lingyan, have finally reached this point! Since fate has decreed it, why should I hesitate any longer?"

At that moment, she seemed to have shed all her burdens and constraints, and felt more relaxed and free than ever before.

Seeing Gao Lingyan's sudden reaction, Yun Feiyang's heart tightened, mistakenly believing she was heartbroken over the letter's contents. He quickly took the secret report, glanced at it hastily, his fingers trembling slightly before handing it to the old General Yun beside him. Yun Feiyang's eyes were filled with confusion and worry. He asked in a low voice, "Does His Majesty truly intend to abandon us?"

General Yun took the secret report, studied it carefully for a moment, and then shook his head and sighed, "No, if the Emperor really wanted to abandon the Yun family army, why would Prime Minister Gao spare no effort to support us? There is probably more to this story than meets the eye."

Upon hearing this, Gao Lingyan's lips curled into a bitter smile. She stood up, looked at the two of them with a firm gaze, and slowly said, "Haven't you realized yet? The Gao family not only supports my reconquest of the Southern Kingdom, but is also paving a completely new path for me. This means that I, Gao Lingyan, no longer need to be limited by my status as Empress, and I can freely choose my future."

Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyang was even more confused. He scratched his head and paced anxiously in the tent, trying to make sense of this sudden turn of events. Meanwhile, General Yun frowned, and after a moment of contemplation, he seemed to have made up his mind. He strode forward, pulled his son Yun Feiyang, and together they knelt before Gao Lingyan.

"Gao Lingyan, from this day forward, you are the Empress of Yunnan!" General Yun's voice was powerful and resonant, filled with anticipation for the future. "If you do not despise me, my Yun family is willing to pledge our lives to you, and my son Yun Feiyang will be your strongest support. As for the Crown Prince, in Yunnan, he will remain the esteemed Crown Prince. And the Yun family army, from this day forward, will be the Gao family army, at your command!"

Listening to General Yun's heartfelt words, Gao Lingyan was deeply moved. Her eyes gradually reddened, tears welled up, and finally spilled over. She choked out, "General Yun, Feiyang, you really didn't need to do this. The throne may be important, but it's not what I seek. All I, Gao Lingyan, desire is freedom. Now that my wish has been fulfilled, I am content. You and your son are the true heroes; Yunnan needs leaders like you."

General Yun's gaze was gentle and profound as he looked at his son, Yun Feiyang, his eyes filled with love and pride. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying both reflections on the past and hopes for the future: "Your Majesty, please allow this old man to say something that may be somewhat improper. I've watched my youngest son grow up since he was a child, and I know his temperament best. He's reached this age, and he doesn't even have a woman who cares for him. Isn't it because he only has you in his heart? Even if he has the ability to establish himself as king, our Yun family, to be honest, is mostly made up of rough men who only know how to fight and are illiterate. How could we possibly be capable of building a new country?"

At this point, General Yun sighed softly and continued, "Furthermore, the Emperor's secret letter clearly states that the Crown Prince will take over the Yunnan Kingdom. Doesn't this mean that once you become Empress, the Crown Prince will naturally become the Crown Prince of Yunnan? But think about it, if those reckless fools in our Yun family find out about this, they might have some inappropriate thoughts. Rather than letting them speculate, you should simply declare yourself Empress. That way, the Crown Prince will be the legitimate Crown Prince of Yunnan. And if the Gao family wants to develop in Yunnan, it will naturally be more legitimate, and there won't be any gossip."

General Yun's tone became exceptionally firm as he spoke: "From this day forward, our Yun family will wholeheartedly serve as your imperial guard and border defense force, vowing to protect you and the peace of the Yunnan Kingdom to the death. We will never betray you, nor will we allow you to suffer any harm. Your Majesty, please rest assured and ascend the throne! Our Yun family will always be your strongest support!"

Listening to General Yun's heartfelt words, Gao Lingyan was filled with complex emotions. Gratitude, appreciation, and a barely perceptible hesitation intertwined within her. She knew that her decision not only concerned her own fate but would also profoundly impact the future of Yunnan. But looking into General Yun's trusting and expectant eyes, and at Yun Feiyang's unwavering figure, she finally made up her mind.

"General Yun, Feiyang, thank you for your trust and support. I, Gao Lingyan, guarantee that every member of your Yun family will enjoy generations of wealth and prosperity in Yunnan!" Gao Lingyan's voice was firm and powerful, her eyes shining with an unprecedented light. At this moment, she seemed to see Yunnan, under her leadership, heading towards a more prosperous and flourishing future.

Just as Zhao Qi'er, adorned in magnificent robes and a phoenix crown, was about to be crowned Empress in the resplendent palace, receiving the homage of the officials, a sudden and dramatic shift occurred outside the Southern Kingdom's court. Gao Lingyan, a former concubine, now clad in armor and wielding a sharp blade, strode into the Southern Kingdom's court with an air of arrogance. Her eyes were cold as frost, seemingly able to see into the deepest fears of the human heart. Amidst the shock and chaos, she swiftly and decisively severed the Southern Kingdom's King's head, adding the most shocking chapter to this power struggle.

Deep within the palace, Zhao Chengyu sat solemnly during the empress's coronation ceremony, his face bearing his usual dignified composure. However, when a small box was hastily handed over, containing a secret report about the dramatic changes in the Southern Kingdom's court, his expression involuntarily darkened. A mix of emotions welled up within him, and Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly: indeed, these six women in the harem all possess the aura of powerful female protagonists. In this vortex of power struggles, only by ensuring their interests are maximized can he avoid becoming innocent cannon fodder or a detestable villain.