My palace is full of female protagonists.

The sudden appearance of Consort Yi altered the atmosphere of the banquet at the Crown Prince's residence, making it less relaxed and comfortable than before. The lively conversation among the guests seemed shrouded in a thin veil, and even the air itself was thick with a barely perceptible sense of restraint. Finally, the banquet ended abruptly earlier than usual, with guests, some harboring their own thoughts, others displaying subtle expressions, bidding farewell and departing.

Zhao Chengyu's brows revealed the unique majesty and depth of an emperor. His gaze swept over the slightly awkward scene at the banquet, and he pondered to himself: The essence of a blind date lies in the purity and beauty of the first impression between the two parties. If they see each other in a drunken stupor, it will inevitably affect their mutual expectations and hopes. Therefore, he found an excuse to rise first, followed closely by the Empress, and together with Consort Yi and the others, they left the Crown Prince's residence early.

Yi Jingwei truly felt that she might eventually have to leave the palace and return to her homeland. That night, her heart was filled with reluctance and anxiety. Unwilling to face the empty and lonely palace alone, she quietly slipped out of her residence and tiptoed to the door of the emperor's palace.

Inside the palace, candlelight flickered as Emperor Zhao Chengyu and the Empress spoke in hushed tones, seemingly discussing the day's banquet and the matter of Consort Yi. Yi Jingwei gently pushed open the door; the subtle sound of the hinges turning was particularly clear in the quiet night. She cautiously entered, her eyes filled with pleading and dependence, and whispered, "Brother, sister, I don't want to sleep alone."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor and Empress exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with love and understanding, and they readily agreed.

To lull the Yi Jingwei beside him to sleep, Zhao Chengyu smiled gently and began to tell an ancient story about a princess:

"Long, long ago, there was an emperor whose country was at its peak. He had a heart that loved to travel. He was particularly fond of the beautiful scenery of the south. In order to make it convenient for him to travel to the south every year, he ordered the construction of a river connecting the north and the south. This river was like a silver ribbon, spreading across the land, allowing him to travel by boat and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way."

Whenever the emperor's dragon boat slowly passed by, the local counties would spare no effort in presenting meticulously choreographed songs and dances, hoping to win the emperor's favor. On a bright summer day, the emperor's procession happened to pass a lotus pond in full bloom. The lotus flowers stood gracefully, like fairies descending to earth. Amidst the verdant leaves and pink petals, a noblewoman, dressed in light gauze, danced with effortless grace, seemingly blending into the lotus blossoms—a beauty that took the emperor's breath away. The emperor, captivated by her dance, immediately decided to bring her back to his boat and bestow upon her the title of imperial concubine.

After hearing this, Consort Yi asked curiously, "Doesn't this emperor have a harem? Aren't his concubines jealous?"

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly and continued, "Of course there are, quite a few. The imperial harem has three thousand beauties, each with her own unique charm."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi frowned slightly: "Then why does he still like women outside the palace? Isn't that unfair to the concubines in the harem?"

Zhao Qi'er interjected, "It is a good thing for the country if the emperor has many children, because it can ensure the continuation of the royal bloodline and the stability of the country."

Zhao Chengyu nodded and added, "At that time, the Empress had already given birth to two princes for him, and there were many princesses and other princes in the palace, but he was still attracted by the unique charm of that lotus flower girl."

Consort Yi sighed softly, "Then this Emperor seems to be in a bit of a predicament."

Zhao Chengyu continued, "The Emperor and Lotus Girl spent several months together in the South. During that time, they enjoyed flowers and the moon, composed poems and painted pictures, experiencing unprecedented tranquility and sweetness. However, as the ruler of a country, he eventually had to return to the palace to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country. So, he left behind a large sum of money and promised to visit Lotus Girl often, but in the end, he left her in the South and returned to the palace alone."

After listening to Zhao Chengyu's story about the Lotus Girl, Consort Yi couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. She asked in confusion, "Since the Emperor likes the Lotus Girl so much, why doesn't he make her a consort and bring her back to the palace? Is it because she comes from a humble background?"

Zhao Chengyu shook his head slightly, his gaze deep, as if lost in memories: "She was not made a concubine, and in fact, after that time, Hehua Nu discovered that she was pregnant with the Emperor's child. But when the news reached the palace, it did not attract enough attention because the diviner predicted that it would be a princess. In that era, the succession of the royal family was more valued for male bloodlines. Therefore, although the Emperor knew about it, he did not take immediate action."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi frowned slightly, appearing somewhat displeased: "Is that so? And what happened afterward?"

Zhao Chengyu continued, "Later, Lotus Girl's daughter, the child who was prophesied to be a princess, grew up to be a strong-willed person who refused to accept that her fate had been ignored. She went to the capital alone and found the emperor, questioning him face to face why he had forgotten her and her mother. Faced with her courage and persistence, the emperor finally recognized his daughter and sent a special envoy to the south to bring Lotus Girl back to the palace."

"After being brought back to the palace, Lotus Girl gave birth to a prince and another princess for the emperor. As a result, her position in the palace gradually became more secure, and she eventually became the longest-living concubine in the palace. Her story circulated in the harem and became a legend."

After listening, Consort Yi nodded, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes: "That's good, at least she finally got the respect and status she deserved. Such a person should not be worn down by the formalities of the palace."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu sighed, turning his gaze to Consort Yi, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "That's why I want to find you a consort. If he treats you well, he will devote himself to you wholeheartedly, because once he becomes the princess's husband, he can no longer have other women. And if he doesn't treat you well, he won't be able to easily enter the princess's residence, because there, your will and freedom will be your most precious assets. No matter what your relationship is like, you will have the right to choose and decide your own life."

While Consort Yi was surprised by the Emperor's idea, Zhao Qi'er beside her was even more astonished. The Empress frowned, her eyes filled with incomprehension and confusion. She seemed unable to understand why the Emperor would propose such a thought. Had his mind completely changed after his drastic change in temperament?

Inside the palace, Consort Yi had already fallen asleep, a serene smile on her face, seemingly continuing to listen to the heartwarming and touching stories Zhao Chengyu was telling in her dreams. Zhao Chengyu, too, appeared somewhat tired from telling stories and was now lying quietly on the dragon bed, his breathing gradually becoming even and deep, clearly having also drifted off to sleep.

However, Empress Zhao Qi'er lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The love story about a king and a commoner that Zhao Chengyu had just told kept echoing in her mind. Although she knew it was a fabricated story, the emotions and philosophy it contained still lingered in her mind.

"Which monarch in history had the power to build a river out of thin air?" Zhao Qi'er pondered to herself. "Even if it's a fabricated story, how could anyone be so bold as to fabricate the faults of a monarch? You know, in historical records and folk tales, monarchs are always portrayed as wise, powerful, and omnipotent beings. But the story Zhao Chengyu just told has unprecedentedly made the monarch a character with human weaknesses and regrets."

Zhao Qi'er couldn't help but feel surprised and curious. She knew all too well that any criticism of the monarch could lead to disastrous consequences. Yet Zhao Chengyu, as the ruler of a country, dared to tell such a story in private, which was undoubtedly a challenge and subversion of traditional concepts.

"If he weren't the emperor, telling such a story would probably get him dragged to the marketplace and beheaded," Zhao Qi'er thought to herself. "But he is the emperor, above all others. He has the right to decide what can be told and what should be forgotten. So, did he make up this story himself, or did he hear it from somewhere? Could someone be so bold as to tell him a story that would get them beheaded?"

Zhao Qi'er tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing with thoughts, the more she thought, the more unsettled she became. Lying in bed, gazing at the hazy moonlight outside the window, the curiosity and doubts in her heart surged like a tide, making it impossible for her to fall asleep peacefully.

"Well, since I can't sleep, I might as well get up and do something." Zhao Qi'er thought to herself, then gently lifted the quilt and quietly got out of bed. She tiptoed to the door, afraid of disturbing the already sleeping Consort Yi and Zhao Chengyu.

Seeing the Empress get up, Xiao Kuangzi hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, aren't you tired? Why don't you lie down for a while longer? Or, shall I have someone light some incense for you to help you fall asleep?"

Zhao Qi'er gently shook her head, a gentle smile on her face: "No, I have something to take care of. Go and take the Emperor's clothes to the side hall. I'll find a few old women to help me air the clothes. When the Emperor wakes up later, he'll have clean clothes to wear."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi, though puzzled as to why the Empress would need to scent clothes so late at night, dared not ask further and could only agree: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go prepare immediately."

A short while later, Xiao Kuangzi arrived at the side hall carrying a stack of the Emperor's clothes. Zhao Qi'er was already waiting there, with several older women standing beside her. These were all experienced palace maids, skilled in all sorts of trivial and meticulous tasks.

"Thank you all for your help, madams. I'd appreciate it if you could help me scent the clothes tonight," Zhao Qi'er said politely. She then directed the palace maids to hang up the clothes one by one and begin lighting incense.

The scent of incense gradually filled the air, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. As Zhao Qi'er busied herself, she silently pondered the story Zhao Chengyu had told her. She wondered if the story held a deeper meaning, reflecting some emotion or thought deep within the Emperor's heart.

"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly decide to air your clothes late at night?" an elderly woman asked curiously.

Zhao Qi'er smiled slightly and said, "Oh, it's nothing, I just suddenly remembered. His Majesty is usually very busy and doesn't have time to change his clothes. I was thinking of preparing some clean clothes for him while he's asleep so he can wear them when he wakes up."

Upon hearing this, the elderly women nodded in approval, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress is truly considerate and thoughtful. The Emperor is so fortunate to have an Empress like you."

Zhao Qi'er sighed inwardly. She knew that she was doing this not only to prepare clean clothes for the Emperor, but also to find an opportunity to calm her mind and think deeply. In this quiet night, she hoped to unravel the doubts in her heart and find the true meaning of that story.

As the night deepened, the side hall was brightly lit. Zhao Qi'er and the elderly women busied themselves while chatting about everyday matters, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

Zhao Chengyu has been in this era for some time now, and he has gradually adapted to this identity and lifestyle, even his daily routine has subtly changed. He doesn't know when it started, but he finds himself naturally waking up in the early hours of the morning. This early rising habit gives him more time to think and experience the unique charm of this era.

That morning, when Zhao Chengyu woke up, he found only Yi Jingwei lying quietly beside him in the palace, breathing evenly and deeply, clearly still asleep. Not wanting to disturb the tranquility, he quietly got out of bed, intending to go outside for some fresh air by himself.

Just as he reached the door, Xiao Kuangzi put on his clothes and followed him out, clearly aware of the Emperor's whereabouts. "Your Majesty, you're up so early?" Xiao Kuangzi asked respectfully.

Zhao Chengyu nodded, his gaze sweeping across the empty palace, and asked, "Where is the Empress? Is she up so early?"

Xiao Kuangzi frowned, and said with some heartache, "No, Her Majesty the Empress didn't fall asleep at all. You dozed off for a short while, and she got up, saying she had something on her mind. So, she went to the side hall to air out your clothes, saying that she wanted you to have clean clothes to wear when you woke up."

"That must have been tough on her," Zhao Chengyu said softly, his voice filled with gratitude and affection. He thought for a moment and decided to go see Zhao Qi'er, not wanting her to feel disappointed after a busy night.

"Have someone prepare some warm porridge. She's been busy all night, she must be feeling cold," Zhao Chengyu instructed, his eyes shining with concern and care for Zhao Qi'er.

Xiao Kuangzi nodded hurriedly in agreement, and then instructed the palace servants beside him to go and tell the kitchen to prepare. He knew the Emperor's deep affection for the Empress and was willing to do his part for this relationship.

A short while later, Zhao Chengyu arrived at the side hall. There sat Zhao Qi'er, intently fumigating clothes by the incense burner, her face showing a hint of weariness but determination. Her figure appeared exceptionally beautiful in the dim candlelight, evoking a sense of tenderness and affection.

Zhao Chengyu approached quietly, afraid of disturbing her. But Zhao Qi'er still noticed his arrival, looked up, and a hint of surprise and tenderness flashed in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, why did you get up?" Zhao Qi'er stood up and asked softly.

Zhao Chengyu smiled and approached her, gently taking her hand in his. He said, "I woke up and didn't see you, so I knew you were busy with me again. I'll be going to court soon, it's not too late. We'll have something to eat later, and you can sleep well in my palace. Don't bother going back again."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She smiled slightly and said, "It is my honor to be able to share Your Majesty's burdens."