My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Qi'er said softly, "Your Highness, recently the Emperor has entrusted you with important affairs of the court, making you work day and night in the Imperial Study. This responsibility and commitment is truly a blessing for our dynasty. However, the Empress Dowager remembers the instructions that Sister Gao once gave you, that you should be as brilliant as a celestial being in literature and as skilled in martial arts as a general. I'm afraid that you have become somewhat rusty in martial arts due to your busy schedule these days."

Her words carried a hint of nostalgia, as if she had traveled back in time to the warm years she spent with Empress Gao. "Why not take this opportunity to let the Empress Dowager and everyone in the palace witness your splendor once again? I can also use this letter to share the good news with my sister, Empress Gao, who is far away on the frontier, and tell her that our Crown Prince is not only wise and brave, but also able to express his feelings through dance and carry on the royal style."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's eyes flashed with emotion and respect. He knew that Empress Zhao's words contained not only her expectations for him but also her longing for Empress Gao. Therefore, he solemnly clasped his hands in a bow, his voice firm yet gentle: "Qi'er's words are reasonable. Your subject will immediately go backstage to prepare and will certainly not disappoint Mother and Qi'er's expectations."

Having said that, the Crown Prince turned around, his steps resolute and confident, and strode towards the backstage area. There, he seemed to hear Empress Gao's past encouragement and praise, those voices becoming the driving force in his heart, making him even more determined to showcase his talent and charisma.

As the Crown Prince disappeared behind the curtain backstage, Empress Zhao smiled with satisfaction.

Consort Yi sat in the exquisite palace, toying with a string of crystal-clear jade beads in her hand. A hint of impatience and ruthlessness was revealed between her brows. She suddenly spoke up: "This Prince Xue's third son has become increasingly arrogant in the capital lately, relying on his father's influence to act tyrannically. Why don't we let Fei Ge go and kill him, so he won't come out and harm people again?" Her tone was full of disdain and anger towards the third young master of the Xue family.

Upon hearing this, Consort Leng gently shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. She sat to the side, a book of poems in hand, leisurely flipping through it, seemingly detached from worldly affairs. "Sister Yi," she said, "you shouldn't worry about those bandits. The capital is vast, with countless fun places to visit. Why bother with such troublesome matters? Besides, as women of the harem, we should uphold our duties and not interfere in court affairs." Her words were gentle yet firm, attempting to persuade Consort Yi to relinquish her obsession.

Hearing Consort Leng's words, Consort Yi not only didn't restrain herself, but glared at her, her eyes filled with both dissatisfaction and helplessness. At this moment, Empress Zhao stepped forward at the opportune moment. She gently covered Consort Yi's eyes and said with a gentle smile, "Sister Yi, your sister Leng is absolutely right. Look at these past few days, the theaters outside are working non-stop, even the dogs have to be used to entertain guests. I have a huge pile of account books over there, and I'm worried about who can help me. You'll have to keep a close eye on them for me, and make sure they don't get into a mess." Empress Zhao cleverly changed the subject, diverting Consort Yi's attention from the matter of the third young master of the Xue family.

Seeing this, Consort Li joined the conversation. She put down her embroidery and smiled, saying, "Speaking of which, weren't we discussing choosing a consort for the Crown Prince? This is a major event and requires careful preparation. The Crown Prince is getting older, and it's time to choose a virtuous, talented, and beautiful consort for him. As members of the harem, we should do our best for the Crown Prince's marriage." Her words were gentle and appropriate, steer the conversation back on track.

As night fell, the grand banquet at the palace gradually reached its climax. At the center of the magnificent stage, a group of drummers in colorful costumes stood in perfect unison, their drumsticks rising and falling to the stirring music, producing deafening drumbeats that instantly ignited the atmosphere. This was the ensuing drum dance performance; each drumbeat seemed to strike a chord in the hearts of the audience, stirring their blood.

The drumbeats, initially slow, gradually quickened, gathering into an unstoppable force, as if foreshadowing an impending revolution. Suddenly, the drumbeats shifted, transforming from a stirring drumbeat into a powerful war drum symphony. This change startled everyone present, drawing curious glances.

Just then, the prince, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, appeared tall and imposing on one side of the stage. His eyes gleamed with determination and courage, like a warrior about to step onto the battlefield. To the rhythm of the war drums, the prince moved swiftly, leaping onto the drum like a cheetah. The long sword in his hand gleamed in the sunlight, drawing brilliant streaks of light with each swing of his sword.

The prince wielded his sword on the large drum, each step precise and flawless, every movement brimming with power and beauty. His sword flashes and the drumbeats intertwined, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The audience was captivated, holding their breath, afraid to miss a single detail.

After his sword dance, the prince gracefully leaped down from the large drum. He didn't stop, but instead began a fist dance. His fist techniques were powerful and fierce, each punch seemingly capable of shaking mountains and rivers. His movements were fluid and coordinated, demonstrating his profound martial arts skills.

As the stirring melody of the war drums reached its climax, the prince, like a war god descending from the heavens, leaped nimbly onto the enormous drum in the center of the stage. The drumhead beneath his feet trembled slightly under his footsteps, as if responding to the fighting spirit within him.

The prince held a long sword, its blade gleaming coldly and appearing even sharper under the lamplight. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, as if becoming one with the sword, feeling its pulse and breath. When the first drumbeat fell heavily, he suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils flashing with a sharp light, like the brightest star in the night sky.

To the rhythm of the drums, the prince's sword dance began. His movements were swift and precise; each swing of the sword was like a thunderbolt, and the air seemed to be torn apart wherever the sword light passed. His figure leaped and bounded in the air, sometimes as light as a swallow, sometimes as fierce as a tiger, leaving silver afterimages in the air as the trajectory of the sword tip.

What is most astonishing is the prince's mastery and application of swordsmanship. At times, he uses "White Crane Spreads Wings," the tip of his sword pointing straight to the sky, displaying an extraordinary and refined aura; at other times, he employs "Dragon Emerging from the Sea," the sword blade surging and tumbling in the water like a dragon, agile and swift. Every move is full of power and beauty, dazzling the eyes and captivating the mind.

In the climax of the sword dance, the prince unleashed his swordsmanship to its fullest potential. With a sudden, sweeping motion, his longsword traced a perfect arc in the air before slashing downwards with lightning speed. This strike seemed to embody all his power and will; the air itself appeared to crack open where the sword's light passed. When the tip of the sword touched the drumhead, a deafening "bang" resounded, causing the drum to dent slightly before quickly returning to its original shape, emitting a long, resonant echo.

At that moment, the entire audience was stunned by the Crown Prince's earth-shattering sword strike. They all stood up, erupting in thunderous applause and cheers. The noble ladies, captivated by the Crown Prince's charisma, were even more excited, their eyes following his figure intently, their gazes shining with admiration and respect.

Amidst the cheers of the audience, the prince slowly sheathed his sword, a satisfied and proud smile spreading across his face. He knew he had just delivered a perfect performance, showcasing not only his martial arts skills but also earning the respect and admiration of everyone present.

As the sword dance ended, the prince did not stop immediately. He gracefully leaped down from the drum and landed steadily on the stage. At that moment, he seemed to have merged with heaven and earth, exuding an indescribable majesty and aura.

The prince took a deep breath, slowly clenched his fists, and his eyes instantly became sharp and determined. He knew that the upcoming fist and martial arts performance would be another important part of showcasing his martial arts skills to the world. So, he took a step forward, and as the drums sounded again, he began his fist and martial arts demonstration.

The prince's fist techniques were fierce and powerful, each punch imbued with profound internal strength. His fists drew visible trajectories in the air, as if even the air itself was being torn apart by his power. His movements were both swift and precise, each move demonstrating his deep understanding and mastery of the art.

In his martial arts performance, the prince employed a variety of boxing techniques. At times, he used "Tiger Descending the Mountain," his punches incredibly powerful, as unstoppable as a tiger descending a mountain; at other times, he executed "Mantis Stalking the Cicada," his punches flexible and varied, using speed to overcome slowness, making them unpredictable. His punches whistled through the air, his fist shadows overlapping, as if the entire stage was enveloped by his powerful punches.

The most captivating moment was the Crown Prince's "Dragon-Shaped Fist" during the climax of the martial arts performance. He suddenly unleashed a burst of power, leaping into the air like a dragon emerging from the sea, unleashing a series of punches. Each punch was as sharp as a dragon's claw, accompanied by a powerful whistling sound. His body swirled and twisted in the air, his fists flashing like dragons, his momentum overwhelming, as if a giant dragon were truly dancing and tumbling beneath his fists.

When the prince finally landed steadily on the stage, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. They were captivated by the prince's awe-inspiring martial arts performance, casting admiring and praiseful glances at him. The noble ladies, moved by the prince's charisma, were even more excited, their eyes filled with admiration and respect, as if they had been deeply conquered by this valiant prince.

Several noble ladies were captivated by the Crown Prince's brilliant performance. They sat high in the stands, their eyes glued to him. One of them was particularly mesmerized; blushes rose on her cheeks, and her eyes shone with adoration. She secretly resolved to find a way to get close to the Crown Prince and become the one in his heart.

A noblewoman beside him appeared more reserved. Although she too was captivated by the Crown Prince's charisma, she showed no outward expression. She simply sat there quietly, silently cheering him on with her eyes. In her heart, the Crown Prince was not only a valiant warrior but also a worthy man to whom one could entrust one's life. As the Crown Prince's exquisite sword dance and martial arts performance unfolded, all the noblewomen present were utterly mesmerized. Their reactions varied, but all revealed a deep admiration and praise for the Crown Prince.

A noblewoman in a pale pink dress sat in a prominent position near the stage, her gaze never leaving the Crown Prince. When he leaped onto the drum, his sword flashing like lightning across the night sky, a look of amazement crossed her eyes. As the sword dance deepened, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, her heart pounding, as if she could feel the power and determination in every swing of the Crown Prince's sword. When the Crown Prince completed that earth-shattering strike, the drum trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but gasp softly, two blushes rising on her cheeks, shy yet excited.

A noblewoman sitting at a distance appeared more reserved and demure. Dressed in an elegant blue robe, she sat quietly in a corner, her gaze gentle yet profound. Unlike the other noblewomen, she did not cheer or jump for joy, but her eyes followed the Crown Prince's every move. When the Crown Prince began his martial arts practice, displaying a powerful and vigorous style, a hint of admiration and praise flashed in her eyes. She noticed every subtle change in the Crown Prince's fist techniques, the smooth and precise transitions between each move, which deepened her understanding and respect for the Crown Prince's martial arts prowess.

There was another noblewoman, seated a little further away, whose reaction was exceptionally enthusiastic. She wore a magnificent brocade robe and adorned with dazzling jewels, exuding an air of regal elegance. When the Crown Prince performed his sword dance, she spontaneously stood up, mimicking his movements with her hands, as if she herself were amidst the flashing sword light, dancing alongside the Crown Prince. And when the Crown Prince began his fist techniques, she clapped excitedly, cheering for his brilliant performance. Her eyes shone with a dazzling light, a light that reflected her boundless admiration and respect for the Crown Prince.

Among these noble ladies, there was one who stood out. Unlike the others, she didn't openly express her emotions, but her eyes revealed a deep longing and anticipation. She had been the Crown Prince's childhood playmate and held a profound affection for him. When she saw the Crown Prince perform with such ease and fearlessness on stage, an indescribable surge of excitement and pride welled up within her. She knew that the Crown Prince had grown into a true man, a wise ruler capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the nation. Her eyes reddened slightly, but a happy smile graced her lips, filled with immense pride and joy for the Crown Prince.

The reactions of these noble ladies were like vivid paintings, showcasing their deep admiration and respect for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's exquisite sword dance and martial arts performance became the most dazzling focus of the banquet, captivating everyone present.

As the prince's performance came to an end, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience. The prince smiled and greeted the audience before slowly walking off the stage. The noble ladies, captivated by the prince's charm, silently made wishes in their hearts, hoping for a bright future with him.