My palace is full of female protagonists.

The casual martial arts contest between the young officials, originally intended as a minor incident during the banquet, unexpectedly drew everyone's attention. Lin Yi, an official renowned even in the martial arts world, with his exceptional skills and extraordinary martial arts prowess, gained a firm advantage almost without even using his full strength. Like a champion on the stage, he stood firmly in the center for a long time, his composed and effortless demeanor secretly astonishing everyone present.

Seeing Lin Yi's domineering presence, the guests began to clamor, wanting to find a worthy opponent to challenge him. Thus, an official named Yun Feiyu, urged on by the crowd, was pushed onto the stage. Yun Feiyu was the son of a concubine's uncle of General Yun. In the Yun family, a large clan that had practiced martial arts for generations, he was a rare exception, choosing a path of scholarship rather than martial arts. Although he had taught himself some martial arts, it was said that it was nothing more than fancy footwork, more like an old man wielding a sword—more leisurely and elegant than practically sharp.

Xiao Kuangzi whispered to the Emperor, "This young master of the Yun family knows some martial arts, but his movements are like embroidered swords, far from real martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "If that's the case, why push him onto the stage? Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem willing."

Just as the Emperor was about to inquire about the details, Consort Yi, a member of the royal family who rarely appeared in public, suddenly stood up, her voice tinged with displeasure: "Isn't this blatant bullying?" Consort Yi's sudden outburst startled everyone present. Before Empress Zhao Qi'er could react, Consort Yi's personal maid, Yi Jingwei, had already rushed out from behind the screen and headed straight for the martial arts stage.

The Crown Prince initially thought it was a servant bringing news, but when he turned around, he was surprised to see it was Consort Yi, whom he usually treated with great respect. His eyes widened as he watched Consort Yi stride onto the stage in just a few steps, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise and admiration.

Most of the officials present had never had the opportunity to see Consort Yi in person. However, seeing her magnificent attire and extraordinary bearing, coupled with her emergence from the Crown Prince's residence, they already guessed her identity—either a member of the imperial family or a noblewoman from the capital. In an instant, the officials, who had been sitting or reclining in various postures, all quickly rose, straightened their clothes and hats, and knelt as a sign of respect. Even those officials who were usually accustomed to casual behavior restrained themselves, fearing they might be disrespectful before this distinguished lady.

Consort Yi stood in the center of the stage, her gaze fixed firmly on the Crown Prince, and said, “Your Majesty, although Yun Feiyu is not of military background, he is a pillar of our dynasty. It was not his wish to be pushed onto the stage by everyone today. Moreover, his martial arts skills are mediocre. If he were to get injured because of this, wouldn’t it damage the face of the court? Why don’t I compete in his place?”

The Crown Prince was flustered. He secretly glanced at the screen, but could only see a blurry outline, unable to catch any of the expressions on his father's and Empress Zhao's faces hidden behind the layers of curtains. He knew that this sudden turn of events was beyond his control, but he still tried to remain calm and defuse the awkward situation.

He slowly stood up, pointed lightly at Consort Yi, and said with a touch of authority and respect, "This is Consort Yi. Gentlemen, please pay your respects first!" Upon hearing this, the officials all stood up, cupped their hands, and bowed respectfully. Seeing this, Consort Yi glanced at Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu beside her, only to find both of them bowing to her. The atmosphere instantly became somewhat subtle and awkward.

To break the awkward silence, Consort Yi smiled slightly and said, "Everyone is at the Crown Prince's residence, there's no need to be so formal. Please dispense with the formalities."

Upon hearing this, the officials straightened up, but remained standing in place, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, wanting to see how the Crown Prince would handle the situation.

The Crown Prince shook his head helplessly, waved his hand behind his back, and gestured for the palace servants to quietly go to the back and ask his father for his opinion. He himself stepped forward and said to Consort Yi, "The martial arts competition on this stage is just a friendly match, everyone is just having fun."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi frowned slightly and said, "But I don't think this junior official, Yun Feiyu, has the physique for martial arts, while Lord Lin has been firmly occupying the stage for quite some time. How can we let him go up on stage rashly? He doesn't seem willing at all!"

The Crown Prince then noticed Yun Feiyu's expression. He had been a little dizzy from drinking and hadn't realized that Yun Feiyu had been pushed onto the stage by the crowd. He turned to look at Yun Feiyu and asked, "Lord Yun, are you really unwilling to participate in this martial arts competition?" Yun Feiyu glanced at the officials who had pushed him onto the stage; they were now turning their heads away guiltily, not daring to meet his gaze.

Seeing this, Consort Yi quickly interjected, "Look, he clearly doesn't want to! It's Lord Lin who's forcing him!"

Upon hearing Consort Yi's accusation, Lin Yi instinctively took a step back, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He knew all too well that in the palace, every word and action required caution, for a slight misstep could lead to unnecessary trouble. Therefore, he hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, I only saw Lord Yun being pushed forward, but please rest assured, before the competition, I will definitely inquire about the other party's wishes. If Lord Yun is unwilling to participate, or concedes defeat directly, I will not harm him. Moreover, even with the officials who went up to compete before, I will restrain my strength according to their abilities to ensure that no one is injured. This competition was not bet on; it was merely to make the Crown Prince's residence more lively and add a festive atmosphere. I, Lin Yi, will certainly not make things difficult for any official."

Upon hearing Lin Yi's words, the Crown Prince's worries lessened considerably. He turned to look at Consort Yi, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He nodded and echoed, "Yes, yes, Consort Yi, please don't misunderstand. This martial arts competition is truly just for entertainment, to ensure everyone has a pleasant evening at the Crown Prince's residence. Lord Lin is a righteous and cautious man; he would never do anything to harm others. And my Crown Prince's residence would never allow anything unpleasant to happen before my eyes."

Consort Yi looked at the Crown Prince's precocious demeanor, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She knew, of course, that this martial arts competition was originally just a game, arranged by the Crown Prince to liven things up, and also by Brother Zhao and Sister Zhao to help her choose a husband. But she also knew that in the palace, people's hearts were unpredictable, and the slightest misstep could trigger unnecessary conflict. Her reason for stepping forward was simply out of sympathy and protection for Yun Feiyu; she didn't want him to suffer any harm because of this competition.

At this moment, several palace servants quietly emerged from behind the screen. They first bowed respectfully to everyone, then one of them walked lightly to the Crown Prince's side and whispered a few words. The Crown Prince nodded slightly, then turned to Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu and said, "Lord Lin, Lord Yun, please come with me for a moment. The music continues, everyone keep enjoying yourselves. I'll be back soon. And don't stop the singing and dancing!"

Hearing this, the female dancers waiting nearby, though curious, dared not ask any further questions and quickly returned to the stage to continue their dance. At the prince's signal, the guests also took their seats and continued to enjoy the banquet's food and merriment.

The Crown Prince, Lin Yi, and Yun Feiyu passed through the screen and came before the Emperor and Empress. Although Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu had never met Consort Yi before, seeing Emperor Zhao Chengyu and Empress Zhao Qier sitting there, they already understood most of the situation. They hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress.

Seeing this, in order not to disturb the atmosphere of the banquet and to prevent their voices from being heard by people outside, Zhao Chengyu quickly raised his hand and said, "No need for formalities, please keep your voices down."

Seeing this, Empress Zhao Qi'er gently tugged at the Emperor's sleeve, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. Zhao Chengyu turned to look at Consort Yi, a smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Consort Yi, are you worried that Lord Yun will be bullied, or that Lord Lin will be misunderstood? The Empress is right beside you; if you rush out like this, there'll be no way to stop you."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi's face showed a hint of embarrassment. She lowered her head slightly and said softly, "No, I just feel that this is unfair."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu burst into laughter. He turned to Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu and said, "There isn't that much fairness in the world. Besides, Lord Lin and Lord Yun are both pillars of the court. They will know their limits and won't really cause any trouble. Don't you agree?"

Empress Zhao Qi'er found it somewhat amusing to see the Emperor suddenly become so carefree and unrestrained, a stark contrast to his usual dignified demeanor. She couldn't help but chuckle, the sound of her laughter ringing out clearly and melodiously behind the silent screen.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but laugh. He looked at Consort Yi, his eyes filled with a mix of teasing and doting: "Look, even the Empress can't help but laugh at you. Consort Yi, don't worry about it. They are all adults and will handle their own affairs."

Consort Yi became even more embarrassed after the Emperor's words. She bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty and Empress, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu waved his hand gently, his tone both authoritative and kind, and said, "Alright, alright, you must not tell anyone about what we are doing here. Let me be frank with you, this banquet at the Crown Prince's residence actually has an even more important purpose, which is to restore Consort Yi's status as a princess and find her a suitable husband so that she can get married in a grand and glorious manner."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu were immediately filled with inexplicable fear and surprise. They hadn't expected that such a significant secret was hidden behind this banquet. They exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

Zhao Chengyu observed their reactions, a faint smile playing on his lips. He continued, "Although Consort Yi resides in the inner palace, she has always maintained her purity and kindness. She has sacrificed much for the court and the people. Now, it is time for her to enjoy her own happiness. Since you have gained Consort Yi's favor, it can be considered that you are destined to be with her. Therefore, I hope you can spread this news privately, but remember not to make a big fuss; just let it circulate among your young officials. Do you understand?"

Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu nodded quickly, indicating that they understood. The Emperor had always said that Consort Yi was actually his and Empress Zhao's goddaughter, and everyone in the capital knew this, so it was only natural that he would choose a husband for Consort Yi.

Zhao Chengyu looked at them and nodded in agreement, then turned to look at Consort Yi, his eyes filled with tenderness and care: "Consort Yi, don't worry. This time, I will definitely find you a good man worthy of entrusting your life to."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi's face flushed with a shy blush. She gave a slight bow, her voice filled with gratitude and anticipation: "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty. Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I will certainly consider it carefully."

Seeing that the conversation between the Emperor and Consort Yi was nearing its end, Zhao Qi'er gently waved to the palace attendants standing nearby. The attendants immediately understood, and one of them quietly approached Lord Lin Yi and Lord Yun Feiyu, whispering a few words in their ears. The two lords were slightly taken aback, then respectfully nodded and followed the attendant through the screen back to their banquet.

Behind the screen, Crown Prince Zhao Qiyu wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, looking somewhat nervous. He glanced at his father, Emperor Zhao Chengyu, and his mother, Empress Zhao Qi'er, then turned to Consort Yi and cautiously asked, "Father, Mother, do you have any suitable candidates in mind? Consort Yi's marriage must be carefully considered."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu and Zhao Qi'er both turned their gazes to Consort Yi, their eyes filled with concern and expectation. Consort Yi, however, gently shook her head, her face showing a hint of shyness and helplessness: "No, I haven't taken a liking to any of them. Although these people are all pillars of the court, I always feel that something is missing."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince grew somewhat anxious. He knew full well that the purpose of this banquet was to select a suitable husband for Consort Yi. If Consort Yi couldn't find a suitable candidate, the banquet would lose its meaning. Therefore, he said earnestly to Consort Yi, "Consort Yi, my dear elder sister, if you can't choose among these people, then there are only worse candidates outside, or those who are too old. Don't blame me for not warning you. I'll go out first, otherwise everyone will know you're here. You continue your conversation, I'll go and attend to the guests."

After speaking, the Crown Prince stood up, bowed to his father, mother, and Consort Yi, and then turned and left the lounge behind the screen. As he walked, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, silently praying that Consort Yi would soon find the one who would move her heart; otherwise, the Crown Prince's residence would probably have to hold many more banquets like this.

Lin Yi and Yun Feiyu returned to their seats in a panic. When they saw that the Crown Prince had also come out, they both became somewhat silent.