My palace is full of female protagonists.

Emperor Zhao Chengyu sat upright in a seat behind the screen in the Crown Prince's residence, his sharp yet complex gaze fixed on Empress Zhao Qi'er. Empress Zhao Qi'er was gently comforting the displeased Consort Yi beside her, attempting to calm her inner turmoil. Seeing this, the Emperor's displeasure vanished in an instant, replaced by a helpless expression of exasperation at Consort Yi's childish behavior. A short while later, Consort Yi was led behind the screen by a maid. She reluctantly sat on the exquisite bamboo mat in the center, her legs casually crossed, clearly dissatisfied with this sudden arrangement.

Disguised as ordinary palace servants, the Third Young Master and Mei'er were well aware of their special status and could only kneel respectfully behind Consort Yi, heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound. Inside the hall, the air seemed to freeze, and everyone's thoughts were as complex and intertwined as a woven tapestry.

Zhao Chengyu's voice rang out in the empty hall, carrying a hint of authority and indulgence: "I let you choose your own consort, but you still threw a tantrum. If not, wouldn't it be simpler to just pick an auspicious day, cover your head with a veil, and send you out of the palace?" Although there was reproach in his tone, there was more tolerance for Consort Yi.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi pouted so high her lips could almost hold an oil bottle: "Brother Zhao knows I'm scared when I'm alone in the palace late at night, yet he still sends a stranger to bother me. Isn't he just deliberately making me uncomfortable?" Her tone carried a hint of coquetry, which made everyone present smile knowingly.

Zhao Qi'er gently took Yi Fei's hand and tenderly comforted her, "Look at them, standing there one by one. Although they are ostensibly competing, they are actually showing off their talents. Isn't that interesting? Your brother actually hopes that you can stay in the palace carefree forever, but haven't you always been clamoring to leave the palace and see the outside world? Now we're going to bestow upon you the title of princess, so you can go out and travel for a few years. When you become pregnant, you can return to the palace, and I will personally take care of you and help you raise the child. You can still play as you please. Isn't that wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi frowned slightly, seemingly not fully understanding the Empress's meaning, and asked in confusion, "Is finding a husband for me so that I can leave the palace to live?"

Zhao Qi'er smiled and nodded, patiently explaining, "That's exactly right. Once you are made a princess, you will naturally have to choose a good man as your consort and establish a residence outside the palace. I will also arrange two thousand guards to protect your safety, so that you can go wherever you want without being bound by the palace walls."

Upon hearing the news that she could leave the palace freely, Consort Yi's face finally broke into a satisfied smile, her previous displeasure vanishing completely. She excitedly turned her head and, together with Empress Zhao Qi'er, focused intently on looking beyond the screen, where the Third Young Master, Mei'er, and the other candidates were displaying their talents and martial arts skills according to the established procedure.

This screen is woven in a very special way; one side is translucent, allowing those behind it to vaguely see the outside world, while the other side is airtight, maintaining the privacy of those inside. This design satisfies Consort Yi's curiosity about the outside world while ensuring her safety and privacy—truly ingenious.

As the competition progressed, a serious and expectant look gradually appeared on Consort Yi's face. Perhaps she had already begun to imagine the wonderful scene of herself living freely outside as a princess.

Zhao Chengyu's gaze was deep, as if he could see into people's hearts. He slowly turned to the third young master, who was disguised as a palace servant, his tone carrying an undeniable authority and a hint of barely perceptible tenderness: "Once Consort Yi marries, she will one day return to your hometown. I will bestow that land upon Princess Yi as her fiefdom. The Xue family has guarded that land for generations. As the only bloodline of the Xue family, Xue Ren, can you help your great-grandmother stabilize the local forces and ensure that Princess Yi can live and work in peace there without any worries?"

The third young master, Xue Ren, was already slightly excited by the news that the Yi princess would have two thousand guards after leaving the palace. This was not only a guarantee of the Yi princess's safety, but also a rekindling of his hope for the Yi people. Now, hearing the emperor's direct and profound question, his heart was filled with even greater emotions. He knew that this was an opportunity, a chance for the Yi people to have a new bloodline.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xue Ren knelt down and kowtowed three times to Emperor Zhao Chengyu, each kowtow filled with determination and resolve: "Xue Ren, the only son of the Xue family, hereby swears that he will not fail the Emperor's boundless grace! No matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead may be, I, Xue Ren, will risk my life to ensure the safety of Princess Yi in her fiefdom, stabilize the local forces, and allow Princess Yi to live in peace and enjoy the glory and freedom she deserves!"

Mei'er, the prostitute who only had the chance to leave the brothel because of the Third Young Master, felt a mix of emotions upon seeing Xue Ren's resolute decision. She knew Xue Ren's ambition and sense of responsibility, and understood the weight behind this promise. So, she silently walked to Xue Ren's side. Although she didn't speak, every action of hers was filled with support and trust for Xue Ren. She also knelt on the ground, kowtowing silently, but expressed her determination to share this responsibility with Xue Ren through her actions.

"Good! Xue Ren, I have witnessed your loyalty and courage. I believe that you and Mei'er will live up to my expectations and protect Princess Yi."

Empress Zhao Qi'er gently shook her head, a hint of helplessness and anxiety in her eyes. She complained to Consort Yi, "These matters can only be carefully planned after Consort Yi's marriage is settled. The most urgent task right now is to choose a consort for you who is both talented and handsome, and comes from a distinguished family. Your brother Zhao Chengyu and I have put in a lot of effort, thoroughly investigating the backgrounds of everyone. Those sitting in the front seats have all been carefully selected by us. They not only come from outstanding families, but are also skilled in both literature and martial arts, and their looks are first-rate. Consort Yi, take a close look and see if any of them meet your standards?"

Consort Yi lowered her eyes slightly, her face showing a mixture of shyness and curiosity. Following the Empress's finger, she saw a group of handsome young men sitting at the front, each with a focused expression, as if they were waiting for something.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the main hall, followed by the melodious sound of a zither accompanied by the sound of students reciting aloud. It turned out that the young officials had begun a contest of literary talent.

A young official in a blue robe stood up, holding a paper fan, exuding elegance. He parted his lips slightly and recited: "The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky; River maples and fishing lights reflect my sorrowful sleep. Outside Suzhou, at Hanshan Temple, the midnight bell tolls to the traveler's boat." His voice was clear and melodious, as if transporting everyone into that poignant and beautiful night scene of Jiangnan.

Not to be outdone, another official in brocade robes stood up, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and recited in an even more impassioned tone: "Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return? Have you not seen the bright mirror in the high hall reflecting white hair, like black silk in the morning turning to snow by evening?" His voice was bold and affectionate, perfectly interpreting Li Bai's "Bring in the Wine."

Immediately afterward, another official stood up. Dressed in plain clothes, with a lean face, he held a brush and wrote a seven-character quatrain with ease on the Xuan paper: "The sun sets beyond the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea. To see a thousand miles further, climb one more story." The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, and the poem was profound and memorable.

Consort Yi smiled gently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and mischief. She turned to Empress Zhao Qi'er and said, "Sister, I'm not very interested in these literary competitions. Could you ask them if they can sing opera? Even just a few excerpts would be nice; I'd like to hear them." Zhao Qi'er paused slightly upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "Perhaps as court officials, they're too busy with state affairs to learn those opera tunes?" Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, clearly indicating that she was also speculating about the officials' interests.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhao Chengyu laughed heartily, breaking the silence in the hall: "It doesn't matter. My court is full of talented people. Perhaps there are some amateur enthusiasts hidden among them. Since Consort Yi likes it, we might as well have the Crown Prince ask him."

Having said that, Zhao Chengyu gently beckoned to Xiao Kuangzi beside him to come forward. Xiao Kuangzi, being very clever, immediately understood the Emperor's meaning and hurriedly left the main hall to find the Crown Prince behind the screen. Before long, Xiao Kuangzi returned with the Crown Prince's message.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince smiled knowingly. He stood up and addressed the crowd in the hall: "You are all officials of the court, recommended by renowned teachers. It is your duty to know a few famous allusions and compose poems, but these do not reveal anything extraordinary about you. As you know, my mother owns two theaters and has a deep passion for opera. So, I now ask you, is there anyone who can sing famous opera excerpts?"

The Crown Prince's words immediately silenced the hall. The officials who had been secretly vying for power now exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not expecting such a test. However, just as everyone thought silence would fall upon them, a young official in a blue robe slowly stood up.

With a smile, he said confidently, "Your Highness, although I am not talented, I have been fond of opera since childhood. My father once hired a famous teacher to guide me, and I have also learned a few famous pieces. If Your Highness does not mind, I am willing to perform a piece."

Upon hearing this, a chorus of praise erupted in the hall. A hint of delight flashed in Consort Yi's eyes; she hadn't expected an official to actually know how to sing opera, and one who sounded quite professional. Empress Zhao Qi'er also smiled slightly, clearly quite pleased with the young official's talent.

Then, the official in the blue robe gently smoothed his sleeves, stood in the center of the hall, cleared his throat, and took a deep breath, as if to concentrate all his emotions in this moment. He closed his eyes slightly, as if engaging in some kind of mysterious dialogue with the world of the opera. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing, and his voice followed, melodious and full of emotion, like a clear spring flowing gently into every corner of the hall.

"(Singing) Since we parted, we've been separated by distance, longing for each other. We said it would be three or four months, but who knew it would be five or six years. I have no heart to play the seven-stringed zither, no way to send the eight-line letter, the nine-linked rings are broken in the middle, and I gaze until my eyes are sore at the ten-mile pavilion. A hundred thoughts, a thousand worries, ten thousand times I helplessly blame my lover..."

This is a classic aria, which he performed with exquisite skill. His voice was sometimes low and melodious, like a lament, as if telling the story of the love between Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying that overcame numerous obstacles; at other times, it was high and passionate, like breaking through clouds and splitting rocks, showing his steadfastness and persistence in this love. Every note, every word, seemed to be given life, leaping and swirling in the hall, weaving a theatrical world full of joys and sorrows.

Consort Yi sat behind the screen, listening with rapt attention. Her gaze followed the figure of the official in blue robes, her face beaming with happiness and contentment. She seemed to be touched by the emotions emanating from him; images of love, perseverance, and freedom flashed through her mind. She could almost see the beautiful times she would spend with her future partner—the sweetness, the laughter, the challenges, and the growth.

Zhao Qi'er carefully observed Consort Yi's reaction. Seeing that her gaze frequently shifted between the young officials and occasionally a smile would appear on her face, she guessed what was going on. She chuckled and said to Consort Yi, "Consort Yi, don't just look at these men with outstanding literary talent. With your skills, if you were to find a weak scholar, he would probably be completely under your control."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi blushed and said coquettishly, "Sister, you're just teasing me. How could I be so unreasonable? Have I ever really hit Brother Zhao?" Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Emperor Zhao Chengyu, her eyes carrying a hint of coquettishness.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but burst into laughter. Recalling the amusing incident when he first met Consort Yi, he teased, "How come I remember when we first met, you put a spider in my tea? That scared me so much that I didn't dare drink tea for several days." Although this was Zhao Yingqing's memory, Zhao Chengyu used it as an excuse to tease Consort Yi.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi blushed deeply with embarrassment. She glared at Zhao Chengyu playfully and said, "Brother Zhao, you always bring up these old stories. I was just a child back then, how could I have known so many rules?"

Empress Zhao Qi'er watched this scene, her heart filled with emotion. She knew that these seemingly joking words were actually a manifestation of the deep affection between them. She gently patted Consort Yi's hand and said, "Alright, Consort Yi, don't take it too seriously. Brother Zhao was just joking with you. But speaking of which, you really should find a partner who can match your literary and martial talents and who can understand you on a deeper level."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi nodded slightly, her gaze once again sweeping over the young officials.

Following the poignant opening performance by the official in blue robes, the atmosphere in the hall became even more enthusiastic and filled with anticipation. Then, several more young officials volunteered to present classic excerpts.