My palace is full of female protagonists.

A hint of amusement mixed with seriousness flickered in the Third Prince's eyes as he slowly said, "But as you all know, Consort Yi is not only incomparably beautiful, but also exceptionally intelligent and brave. She has traveled with Father and has a deep understanding of geography. If we can get her help, she might add a force to be reckoned with in our bandit suppression campaign. As for safety..." A confident smile played on his lips, "I know what I'm doing and will definitely protect her."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into a complex expression of admiration. He knew the Third Prince's stubbornness and persistence, so he said no more, but secretly resolved to be even more careful in protecting everyone involved in this operation.

Seeing this, Prime Minister Su sighed softly and continued to persuade him in a low voice: "Your Highness, your intentions are good, but Consort Yi's reputation, especially the rumors about her in the palace, cannot help but inspire fear. Her medical skills and poison skills are both unparalleled. Aren't you afraid that she will drug you and poison all your guards?" His words carried the earnestness and worry of an old minister.

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's expression changed slightly, clearly indicating that he had also considered this possibility. He remained silent for a moment, then finally shook his head and chuckled awkwardly, "Is that really so? Heh."

Seeing this, the Second Prince patted the Third Prince on the shoulder and laughed heartily: "In that case, I will not force you. But Third Brother, if there is any need, my elite troops are ready to provide support at any time."

The Third Prince nodded gratefully and bowed, saying, "I appreciate Second Brother's kindness. However, as I said before, the key to this bandit suppression is that the terrain on my side is very complex, with many easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack mountain passes, and it's easy to get lost. It's not a matter of how many people there are, but rather how to deal with the geographical environment."

The crown prince then joined the discussion, his brow furrowed slightly, clearly also seriously considering a solution: "Wouldn't cavalry work? Even if they get lost, the horses can surely get out, right?"

Zhao Chengyu said, "It's all trees; riding a donkey is worse than riding a horse. What's the use of cavalry?"

Zhao Chengyu felt as if a cold wind had brushed past his ears. He was startled, for amidst the clamor of discussion, he unexpectedly caught Yi Fei's cold and resolute voice: "Why discuss so much? Just poison the rats in the mountains and let them kill everyone! Why send people in to die?" These words were like a sharp icy blade, instantly shattering the peace in his heart.

Zhao Chengyu frowned, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that while Consort Yi's words were extreme, they also revealed a profound understanding of the cruelty of war—in the face of life and death, any means seemed insignificant. But as a general, he was even more aware of the responsibilities and duties on his shoulders.

“While releasing rats to bite people can indeed quickly reduce casualties on both sides,” Zhao Chengyu thought to himself, “it is undoubtedly a case of drinking poison to quench thirst. The bodies of those bitten to death, whether bandits or innocent civilians, will become potential sources of plague. And in this ancient mountain forest untouched by modern civilization, once an epidemic breaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

His thoughts continued to race: "Moreover, the wild beasts in these mountains, such as tigers and bears, don't know anything about epidemic prevention and control. Once they eat the carcasses killed by rats, the virus could spread rapidly through the food chain. And those bats are natural virus carriers. If this were to cause an epidemic like SARS in ancient times, it would be a disaster for the entire country."

Zhao Chengyu shook his head helplessly, his heart filled with opposition and frustration to Yi Fei's suggestion. "I'm not a modern doctor either, and I don't have the advanced medical equipment and technology to deal with the epidemic. Even if I did, these poor medical conditions simply cannot support us in extracting the virus and developing a vaccine. Not to mention, even needles with holes are scarce here, so how to provide basic medical treatment is a problem."

A voice came through a small box outside the door: "The Empress has arrived!"

Everyone in the Imperial Study heard the conversation between the new Empress Zhao Qi'er and Consort Yi, and their expressions changed repeatedly.

"Awei, you must listen to me and don't cause trouble for Brother Zhao. Especially since you're thinking of going to such a far place, with high mountains and long rivers, and a treacherous journey. What if something goes wrong? How can I face my parents and my own conscience? I'll be so worried." Zhao Qi'er's tone was full of pleading, and every word she spoke was like a heavy hammer, striking Yi Fei's heart.

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation and struggle flashed in Consort Yi's originally resolute eyes. She muttered in rebuttal, "But this is clearly someone else using my name to start a rebellion. How can my going to clear my name be considered causing trouble? I just want to clarify the facts and clear my name."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er sighed helplessly, her voice filled with bitterness and resignation: "Awei, you're too naive. How can you so easily distinguish right from wrong in this world? If others are cursing you in their own home, that's their fault. We are royalty; if they're accused of deceiving the emperor or discussing the royal family, they can be executed. If you really go to them, wouldn't you be playing right into their hands? Not only will you not be able to clear your name, but you'll also be dragged into an even deeper vortex."

She paused, then continued, "If you choose to ignore them, the court will naturally treat this as a common bandit disturbance. A few deaths and injuries will be nothing more than a small episode in the turbulent times. But if you insist on going yourself, even under the guise of suppressing bandits, there's no guarantee that someone in the capital won't use this opportunity to slander you, accusing you of colluding with the rebels. At that point, even if you have a thousand mouths, you won't be able to clear your name. If there are any people among them who intend to rebel, won't they all use the pretext of protecting you to fight against the government troops? If you're surrounded by several groups of people in the mountains, and someone says you're the mastermind behind the uprising, can you explain yourself no matter how many mouths you have? Do you want to poison everyone in the capital? Or poison the whole country?"

Upon hearing Zhao Qi'er's words, Consort Yi's initially stubborn expression gradually dimmed. She lowered her head and remained silent for a long time, seemingly carefully considering every word Zhao Qi'er had said. Finally, she sighed softly and said nothing more.

The room became unusually quiet for a moment, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects outside the window and the occasional barking of dogs in the distance.

Zhao Chengyu said softly, "The Empress is truly resourceful; she calmed Consort Yi down with just a few words." His words revealed his appreciation and gratitude for Zhao Qi'er.

Seeing this, Zhao Qi'er smiled gently. She turned to look at Consort Yi, her eyes full of tenderness and encouragement, and whispered a few words of comfort. Then, she took Consort Yi's hand and said gently, "Come on, Awei, I'll take you to the theater to watch a play and relax. Only men should concern themselves with these trivial matters. Can't we just have fun every day? How about we go to the capital tomorrow? The mountains are nowhere near as fun as the capital, right?" Consort Yi looked up at Zhao Qi'er, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and then nodded, letting Zhao Qi'er lead her away.

With the departure of the two, the atmosphere in the imperial study instantly relaxed. The officials breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the turmoil caused by Consort Yi had finally subsided for the time being.

Zhao Chengyu's gaze fell on the Third Prince again, his eyes filled with both expectation and encouragement. He spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "Did you hear what your mother said? As a prince, commanding the empire's army, are you really incapable of dealing with a few bandits in the mountains?" His words contained both reproach and trust; he hoped that the Third Prince could shoulder his responsibilities and demonstrate his due abilities.

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He understood his father's intentions and the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He bowed respectfully and solemnly replied, "Your subject obeys the order and will certainly live up to the high expectations of Father and Mother, annihilate the bandits, and restore peace to the people." His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination.

Zhao Chengyu's gaze slowly swept over the ministers who had volunteered. These officials were born in the Third Prince's territory and had some understanding of the area. Their faces were filled with worry and determination regarding the banditry in the Third Prince's domain. After a moment's contemplation, he made his decision: "I appreciate your intentions, my esteemed ministers. However, this campaign to suppress the bandits is no ordinary matter. It requires elite troops and capable generals to achieve a swift victory. I have decided that Minister Li and Minister Zhang will accompany the Third Prince, leading a contingent of elite Imperial Guards as support."

After saying this, Zhao Chengyu turned his gaze to General Ma, his tone exuding an unquestionable authority: "General Ma, you are my right-hand man. This important task of suppressing the bandits is entrusted to you alone. I order you to successfully wipe out the bandits and restore peace to the people. Remember, I want it to be done cleanly and efficiently, leaving no future troubles."

Upon hearing this, General Ma immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and accepted the order: "This humble general accepts the order and will certainly live up to Your Majesty's high expectations!"

Then, Zhao Chengyu changed the subject and talked about the assessment and arrangement of the new officials: "As for Lord Leng, the assessment of the new officials that he has carefully prepared is nearing completion, and a new batch of talents will soon flood into the court. In order to ensure the efficient operation of government affairs, I have decided to set up a new office location, which is located opposite the Imperial Study. Everything there has been arranged and is just waiting for the new people to move in."

He surveyed his surroundings, a stern glint in his eyes: “I want to emphasize that these new officials will be the fresh blood of the court, and their growth and contributions will directly affect the future of the nation. Therefore, I require you to give them sufficient attention and support, and not to show them the slightest contempt or make things difficult for them. Their daily work must be reported directly to the Imperial Study, covering all the details of the work of each department. This is not only supervision of them, but also an impetus for your work.”

"I know that some people may worry about the newcomers' abilities, or out of some selfish motive, want to assign them some trivial tasks. But I want to tell you, such thoughts must be nipped in the bud. Anyone who intentionally makes things difficult for new officials will be considered to have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor and will be severely punished!" Zhao Chengyu's words were resounding, causing the officials in the imperial study to kowtow in agreement.

"As for that newly established courtyard," Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly, thinking of the "State Council" mentioned in the news, and said, "Let's call it the State Affairs Palace! I hope it can become the center for the government's administrative affairs and contribute to the prosperity and strength of the country."

On the long corridor leading out of the Imperial Study, Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao walked side by side. Their pace was unhurried, but their conversation revealed the subtle and complex dynamics of the court. Prime Minister Su gently tugged at Prime Minister Gao's sleeve and lowered his voice, saying, "Old Gao, you're really riding high these days. The Emperor entrusts you with everything, big and small. Meanwhile, I'm spinning like a top, and I don't even get a good word to say. And with the establishment of the State Affairs Palace, I'm even more anxious. Do you think the Emperor is intentionally trying to balance our power by bringing in this bunch of newcomers with no connections?"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao smiled knowingly, gently freeing himself from Prime Minister Su's hand and shaking his head, saying, "Old Su, your thoughts are more convoluted than a winding river. You complain about having too much work on one hand, and worry about the Emperor taking away your power on the other. Do you want to be above everyone else? Be careful, the walls may be listening."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su's expression changed slightly. He quickly covered Prime Minister Gao's mouth, cautiously looked around, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no one was there. He then whispered a reprimand, "Lord Gao, you can't say such things carelessly, or you'll bring trouble upon yourself!"

Seeing this, Prime Minister Gao smiled even more broadly, with a hint of slyness: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. But speaking of which, haven't you always had a good relationship with Lord Leng? The Emperor also privately instructed me to take good care of Lord Leng and his new team. I'm really too busy to handle this, so how about I give you this cushy job? If you help out, you can not only gain favor with the Emperor, but you might also be able to use this opportunity to improve your status at home. After all, I know a little about the situation in your household."

Upon hearing this, a bitter expression crossed Prime Minister Su's face. He thought of his concubines who had been sent away for various reasons and his illegitimate children who were scattered elsewhere, and a sense of helplessness and sorrow welled up in his heart. He sighed and said slowly, "So be it. I don't care so much about merit or not. However, in order to make everything go more smoothly and reduce unnecessary setbacks, I will naturally do my best."

Prime Minister Gao sighed softly, the sound particularly heavy in the empty corridor. His gaze pierced through the void before him, as if he could discern the deeper layers of court intrigue. "What concerns me more is the Emperor's drastic change in temperament. This change is so profound and far-reaching that it is difficult to fathom. Have you carefully considered how every decision he has made recently has been like a sharp blade, precise and decisive? The foresight contained within them is truly astonishing. With his support, the Empress has not only fought for the throne for the Crown Prince of Feng, but has also expanded the territory of the Southern Kingdom. Such boldness and courage are rarely seen before."