My palace is full of female protagonists.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Zhao Qi'er stepped forward slowly, performing a standard court etiquette, her voice soft and clear, without the slightest hint of panic. Her gaze shifted between Zhao Chengyu and Consort Yi, as if searching for the meaning behind this sudden reunion.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu smiled. He stood up, gently took Zhao Qi'er's hand, and let her sit in the empty seat next to him. His eyes were full of doting affection and helplessness as he said softly, "Qi'er, since you became Empress, there are so many more rules and etiquettes. Look, you have to dress up carefully wherever you go, and you have to wait for others to bow first when you meet them. Are you getting used to this life?"

Hearing this, Zhao Qi'er felt a warm current surge in her heart. She knew that Zhao Chengyu was showing concern for her in his unique way; although his words carried a hint of teasing, his deep affection was undeniable. She smiled slightly and replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. It is my honor to become Your Majesty's Empress. To be able to share Your Majesty's burdens and alleviate your worries is my responsibility, not a burden at all."

Her voice was gentle yet firm, every word revealing her deep affection and loyalty to Zhao Chengyu. Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes. He gently patted Zhao Qi'er's hand to encourage and comfort her.

Consort Yi sat at the round table, her gaze shifting between Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Qi'er. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "These two are at it again, all lovey-dovey. Didn't Sister Zhao tell me privately before that the Emperor was intentionally distancing himself from her? Now they act like nothing's wrong, being as close as can be. I really don't understand these people; their words and actions don't match. Don't they get tired of it?" Although Consort Yi was inwardly grumbling, she maintained a calm and indifferent demeanor, only occasionally glancing at Zhao Chengyu with a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes.

Zhao Chengyu naturally noticed Consort Yi's subtle actions. He chuckled inwardly, but also knew that it was not advisable to get too close to Zhao Qi'er at this time, lest he displease Consort Yi. So, he cleared his throat and said to Consort Yi, "Consort Yi, now that you've eaten enough, tell us how you caught this so-called 'Third Young Master'."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi nodded slightly, turning her gaze from Zhao Qi'er to Zhao Chengyu, and began to slowly recount the events at the opera house. Her voice was clear and organized as she recounted the entire incident in detail, from her accidental discovery of the Third Young Master's whereabouts in the opera house to how she devised a plan to capture him; every detail was described clearly.

"At the time, I was watching a play in the theater when I inadvertently saw that so-called 'Third Young Master' acting suspiciously in the crowd. I secretly sent someone to follow him and found that he was indeed suspicious. So, I devised a good play to lure him to a pre-arranged place and captured him in one fell swoop." Consort Yi said this with a hint of pride and smugness in her tone.

Then, she recounted to Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Qier, word for word, what the Third Young Master had said after his capture. She spoke in great detail, even mimicking the Third Young Master's expression and tone perfectly, as if she had been there herself.

Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Qi'er listened intently, nodding in agreement or exclaiming in surprise from time to time. They both knew that although Consort Yi was strong-willed, she was also very prudent and wise in her actions. Her success in capturing the "Third Young Master" undoubtedly added weight to her position in the palace.

After Consort Yi finished speaking, Zhao Chengyu pondered for a moment before asking, "Qi'er, do you think this 'Third Young Master' is credible? Could he be deliberately fabricating lies to mislead us?"

Empress Zhao frowned slightly upon hearing this, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Your Majesty, while his words seem somewhat bizarre, they are not entirely unbelievable. After all, the Xue family was once very powerful and initially clearly sided with the rebels. But all that's left is this young child. To say he really wants to rebel, I don't believe it. Even if he had the will, he wouldn't have the ability! You entrusted this matter to the Third Prince precisely because you also doubt its credibility, didn't you?"

Zhao Chengyu listened to Consort Yi's analysis and nodded in agreement. He knew that although Consort Yi had a fiery temper, she was extremely calm and rational in handling matters, and her judgments were often accurate.

Zhao Qi'er gently waved the fan in her hand, a hint of solemnity in her brows. She slowly said, "Right now, he's like a hot potato just taken out of the fire, too hot to touch. If we kill him in a moment of impulse, it will surely attract countless suspicions and criticisms, making it difficult to explain to the world; but if we don't kill him, those with ulterior motives and plotting rebellion will use the pretext of rescuing him to incite a rebellion, making the situation even more troublesome."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned, seemingly unable to find a better solution for the moment. His thoughts drifted to the past, recalling the scene of Zhao Yingqing unexpectedly saving Consort Yi during their exile. Although that memory was hazy, he vaguely remembered that several local forces were indeed stirring, showing signs of rebellion, but fortunately, they were all suppressed in time by the local governments. Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu seemed to have found a spark of inspiration. He slowly said, "Hasn't the Third Prince already returned to his fiefdom? Why don't we send him an urgent letter, reminding him to be vigilant and severely suppress any possible signs of rebellion? Without this so-called 'just' pretext, those who want to rebel should find it much harder to rally the people's support."

Just as the two were discussing, a clear and slightly playful voice quietly entered their ears. It was Yi Fei's voice, carrying a touch of childlike innocence and naivety: "It seems like my older brothers and sisters are having a hard time. Since none of you are eating, can I have a couple more pieces of chicken? I always feel like I can eat a lot more when I'm eating." Although these words were unintentional, they eased the tense atmosphere a little.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er smiled gently. She pushed the fried chicken on the table closer to Consort Yi and said, "Your Majesty, speaking of which, this relative from afar is actually a distant relative of Consort Yi. In that case, why don't we treat him as a distinguished guest? In a few days, there will be a grand procession for the Empress's investiture. Why not let him accompany her and walk beside Consort Yi? This way, it will not only show the extraordinary demeanor of our royal family, but also allow the outside world to see our tolerance and harmony."

After listening, Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Qi'er is right. All the concubines will be following the procession. Letting him walk next to Consort Yi will be both a form of surveillance and an invisible constraint on him. In this way, we can stabilize the situation and demonstrate the imperial style. It is indeed a win-win solution."

Afterwards, to everyone's astonishment, the Third Young Master was released from the imperial prison. There was no explanation, no public announcement; he was like an unknown shadow in the night, quietly taken to the depths of the palace. Zhao Chengyu then hosted two seemingly ordinary yet subtly mysterious banquets. At both banquets, the Third Young Master was seated to Zhao Chengyu's right, a prestigious yet delicate position. However, Zhao Chengyu remained tight-lipped about the Third Young Master's identity, never revealing his background or status to the assembled officials.

The courtiers exchanged bewildered glances, their minds filled with doubts, yet none dared to ask rashly. They could only follow custom, watching the revelry while carefully savoring the delicacies on the table, lest they inadvertently trigger a hidden mechanism deep within the palace.

Meanwhile, far away in the capital, the patriarch, upon learning that his third young master had been released from prison that very day, felt a mixture of relief and unease. He knew that although the third young master was out of prison, he was still trapped in the palace and unable to be free. Therefore, he discussed countermeasures with the third young master's two loyal followers.

"You all go to the inn outside the capital and wait. Once the Third Young Master has a chance to leave the palace, we will all leave the capital and get away from this place of trouble." The patriarch's voice was deep and firm, his eyes flashing with determination. To ensure the plan's success, he even planned to have his family members leave in batches to reduce targets and lower risks.

However, one of the henchmen offered a different perspective: "Since the young master has not been kept in the imperial prison, it is enough to show that the emperor has, to some extent, believed in the young master's innocence. I think it is indeed necessary for the head of the family to leave the capital, but the two of us staying here are not simply waiting to die. Perhaps we still have a chance to fight for more freedom for the young master."

Another follower added, “Back then, although Your Highness mistakenly trusted the former Crown Prince, ultimately it was the current Emperor who protected Princess Yi and saved her from persecution. We should resent the late Emperor and the former Crown Prince, not the current Emperor. Young Master never expected to return alive from this trip to the capital. If Young Master's life cannot be saved, then our lives have no meaning.”

After listening to the heartfelt words of his two followers, the patriarch's eyes reddened slightly, and his voice trembled with emotion: "I have heard that the current emperor is cruel and tyrannical. He not only executes officials in court at will, but also ordered the prime minister to expel his concubines and illegitimate children. His ruthlessness is terrifying. However, faced with a crisis like the Third Young Master's, the emperor did not immediately order his execution, which is truly beyond my expectations. From this perspective, I believe that the emperor may not have completely lost his humanity, and there may still be a shred of trust in him."

At this point, the patriarch took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision: "You two are both the Third Young Master's right-hand men, and you are utterly loyal to the family. I understand your reluctance to leave, and I appreciate your courage. Likewise, as the patriarch, I cannot easily abandon my responsibilities. Since the Emperor has not immediately taken action against the Third Young Master, we still have hope. I have decided that if you don't leave, I won't leave either. We will wait together for a few days, observe the situation, and see how it develops."

The days passed quietly like flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, the grand sacrificial ceremony for Empress Zhao Qi'er, held after her investiture, arrived. This was an important ritual to proclaim to the gods the stability of the Empress's position and the prosperity of the nation. After the ceremony, as was customary, a grand parade would be held through the capital, allowing the people to witness the Empress's splendor and experience the majesty and glory of the imperial family.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, and the bright sunshine seemed to dispel all gloom. The streets and alleys of the capital were adorned with festive decorations, resembling a sea of ​​flowers. Every stone pavement and every wooden door was draped in a layer of joyous red silk, making the entire city festive and cheerful. People flocked to the streets early in the morning, young and old, men and women, laughing and talking, their faces beaming with anticipation and excitement. They discussed among themselves, eagerly guessing what kind of visual feast this grand celebration would bring.

Empress Zhao Qi'er's procession slowly set off in the morning light, emerging from the magnificent palace gates like a river flowing with splendor and glory. It wound its way along a meticulously laid red carpet lined with flowers, heading towards the capital's most bustling main street. This was not merely a parade, but a symbol of national prosperity and peace, a moment of shared joy between the royal family and the people.

At the very front of the procession stood a group of imposing guards in armor, wielding spears. Their steps were synchronized, their gazes unwavering, forming an impenetrable barrier, safeguarding the Queen and the entire procession. Beside the guards was a joyful band playing various musical instruments, their melodies soaring through the air like a gentle spring rain, nourishing the hearts of everyone and adding a touch of merriment to the grand celebration.

Following the band came a group of palace attendants dressed in colorful costumes, carrying firecrackers. Smiling, they lit their firecrackers intermittently, and with each crisp crackle, colorful confetti danced in the air like colorful snowflakes, adding to the festive and lively atmosphere of the parade. Amidst the firecrackers, children's cheers rose and fell, and adults beamed with joy; the entire capital seemed to be enveloped in this happiness.

Following them was a troop of cavalry on tall, imposing horses. Their upright postures and dashing figures, like a flowing scroll painting, cleared every stone and obstacle from the Queen's path, ensuring the smooth and safe passage of the procession. In the sunlight, the sound of hooves, the gleam of armor, and the resolute faces of the cavalrymen intertwined to create a breathtaking scene that moved everyone present.

And so, amidst the cheers and applause of the people, Empress Zhao Qi'er's procession slowly made its way along the red carpet into the heart of the capital, bringing joy and glory to every corner of the city.