My palace is full of female protagonists.

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed, and the turmoil and struggles in the court, like an endless tide, constantly assaulted Zhao Chengyu's nerves. The ministers either meticulously crafted their words, attempting to conceal their true intentions with eloquent prose; or they openly clashed, each vying for a meager share of power and status. These scenes made Zhao Chengyu increasingly aware of the weight and loneliness of the emperor's position. He had to be constantly vigilant, lest any slight oversight become a point of attack for others.

In the stillness of the night, Zhao Chengyu often stood alone by the window, gazing at the small patch of sky outside. The moonlight, like water, bathed him, yet could not penetrate the confusion and anxiety in his heart. He knew all too well that the position of emperor was not merely a symbol of power, but also a synonym for responsibility and sacrifice. Countless predecessors had left their footprints on this land, some brilliant and dazzling, others dim and obscure. Those who could truly be called "founding emperors" were all wise men who prioritized the people and the common good.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu felt a strong sense of mission. He understood that he could not be content with merely sitting on the throne; he had to work for the well-being of the people on this land. He needed to step out of these high walls and deep courtyards to personally experience the hardships of the people and understand their true needs. Only in this way could he become a truly good emperor, a wise ruler who would be recorded in history and praised by future generations.

Zhao Chengyu threw himself heavily onto the luxurious bed, propped himself up on his arms, and stared blankly at the ceiling, his heart filled with mixed emotions. "But what does this have to do with me?" he muttered to himself, his voice full of helplessness and self-mockery. In this magnificent palace, he was originally just an insignificant figure, a "chosen worker" facing the crisis of unemployment, repeating trivial and meaningless work every day, as if the hustle and bustle of the world had nothing to do with him.

Just as he was lost in thought, a slight noise came from outside the door, followed by the sound of the door opening softly. Several figures, hunched over, entered silently, carrying a simple bed woven from fine bamboo. They skillfully placed it in the slightly cramped space behind the door. Shortly after the person left, Xiao Kuangzi, Zhao Chengyu's only truly close servant, hurried in. He first busied himself dissuading the curious onlookers from entering, then quickly closed the door, shutting out all outside disturbances.

Just then, a subtle yet clear whisper pierced the silence of the room. It came from a corner outside the door, sounding like a woman passing by talking to herself. "I wonder if they'll have squirrel-shaped mandarin fish or candied taro today," the whisper said gently and expectantly, "but I prefer the sweetness of candied sweet potatoes. However, I've heard that Chef Fang's candied apples are absolutely amazing. Although I've never tasted them, I've longed to try them. I received some excellent apples from the Empress, and I'm planning to ask Chef Fang to cook them for me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu was startled. He sat up and listened intently. The voice did indeed come from outside the door, yet it seemed to have entered his mind directly. He realized that this wasn't his own thought, but rather the unintentional whisper of a woman's feelings.

Zhao Chengyu sat on the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something important. Suddenly, he said to Xiao Kuangzi, who was busy making the bed, "Xiao Kuangzi, go and see who is nearby."

Xiao Kuangzi was focused on making the bed when he suddenly heard the Emperor's order. He paused, startled, and quickly put down his work, turning around to reply, "Yes! I'll go check right away. Your Majesty, please wait a moment." With that, he hurriedly left the room and carefully closed the door behind him.

Outside the door, Xiao Kuangzi looked around and saw several palace maids and eunuchs busy in the distance, but he didn't notice anything unusual. Although he had doubts, he dared not be negligent and asked the passing palace servants one by one, trying to find the "who is nearby" that the emperor had pointed out. Ignoring some servants who were already waiting there, he finally discovered that it was Consort Yi who happened to be passing by.

Inside the room, Zhao Chengyu remained in the same position, his eyes deep, as if awaiting some important news. Xiao Kuangzi pushed open the door and softly recounted everything she knew to Zhao Chengyu. Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes, and he thought to himself, "So it's her, the extraordinary woman Zhao Yingqing kept by his side because he thought he could hear her thoughts."

Seeing Xiao Kuangzi's flustered response to his command, Zhao Chengyu found it amusing, yet also intrigued. He waited quietly until he heard soft conversation outside the door, followed by approaching footsteps. Xiao Kuangzi pushed open the door, stepping aside to reveal a petite and exquisite concubine—the Yi Consort. She wore magnificent yet distinctly ethnic clothing, her face delicate, her eyes sparkling with exotic charm. Zhao Chengyu nodded inwardly; this was the Yi Consort, the woman with whom he could occasionally glean her innermost thoughts.

As soon as Consort Yi entered, she saw Zhao Chengyu sitting upright on the edge of the bed, his gaze gentle yet containing a hint of inquiry. She curtsied and bowed.

Elegant and courteous, she greeted Zhao Chengyu softly, but inwardly she wondered, "Why did you suddenly call me in? I'm in a hurry to find Chef Fang!" Zhao Chengyu caught her thoughts and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"Where is Consort Yi going? You look so rushed." Zhao Chengyu asked deliberately, his gaze falling on the three apples she was tightly clutching in her arms. Consort Yi frowned slightly upon hearing this, seemingly displeased with the question, but out of courtesy, she replied, "I want to go to the kitchen to see Chef Fang about something."

Seeing how nervous she was, Zhao Chengyu couldn't resist teasing her, so he feigned surprise and asked, "Oh? Why are you taking these apples? Is there some special purpose for them?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi's vigilance instantly increased, as if she was afraid that Zhao Chengyu would snatch away her precious apple. She quickly explained, "This was a gift from the Empress."

A playful smile graced Zhao Chengyu's face as he gazed at Yi Fei's eyes, which sparkled at the mention of food, and found it amusing. He spoke slowly, his voice tinged with amusement: "If I were to give you a basket of apples, could you personally make a trip and ask Chef Fang to prepare the same dish for me, according to your taste? Consider it a way to satisfy my craving."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi's eyes widened even more, as if she could already see the basket of apples piled up into a small mountain before her. She swallowed hard, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, but she quickly realized her lapse in decorum and hurriedly wiped the traces from the corners of her mouth with her sleeve, saying coquettishly, "If Your Majesty wants to taste the delicacies, you can simply order the palace servants. Why go to such lengths and give me so many apples?"

Zhao Chengyu chuckled softly, his gaze falling gently on her, and explained, "I was just worried that if this dish is truly exquisite, wouldn't you devour the three apples you have? If my beloved concubine is still not satisfied, wouldn't I be accused of neglecting her? So I prepared them in advance to show my care."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi's cheeks instantly flushed red. She lowered her head shyly, unconsciously clutching the apple in her arms, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Sweet potatoes are also extremely delicious, as are soft and glutinous bananas, sweet taro... There are so many delicious foods in the world, and apples are not the only ones worth trying."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu felt even more that Consort Yi was innocent and adorable. He then turned to Xiao Kuangzi and instructed, "Where are the palace servants who are with Consort Yi? Go and tell them to make sure that Consort Yi brushes her teeth three times a day. This girl is so greedy. If her teeth are not good, she will be wasting all these delicious foods."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi looked up and retorted, "Your Majesty, rest assured, a special kind of tree branch is often sent from my family's county office for cleaning teeth, and it works very well."

Zhao Chengyu shook his head and said in a serious tone, "Those things are good, but you can't neglect the rules of my palace. If you really get a toothache because of your gluttony, I'll punish you by making you drink only that bland white porridge every day."

Upon hearing the words "plain porridge," Yi Fei's face immediately showed a hint of grievance. She muttered, "No way, I'll take good care of my teeth." Seeing her like this, Zhao Chengyu found it amusing and waved his hand, saying softly, "Alright, go on, it's getting late and Chef Fang should rest. I'm also a little tired and need to take a short nap."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She quickly bowed and took her leave, clutching her apples and running happily towards the kitchen, already planning how to exchange them for a sumptuous meal. Zhao Chengyu, watching her departing figure, smiled gently, as if he had found a rare moment of ease and joy even in the depths of the palace.

In Zhao Yingqing's memory, he was exiled to a remote border region due to a palace coup, embarking on a long and arduous journey of exile. It was on this desolate and unknown road that he encountered a young female knight-errant who was only a little over ten years old; she would later become Consort Yi.

At that time, her name was Ayi. She was a forest sprite, running freely and nimbly among the towering trees, as unrestrained as the forest breeze. Their first encounter was on a blood-red sunset when Ayi happened to save Zhao Yingqing and his group from being attacked by wild beasts. Her brave and fearless appearance left a deep impression on Zhao Yingqing.

However, fate is fickle, and a few years later, the emperor lost his son and adopted Zhao Yingqing as his godson, intending to groom him as the crown prince. When Zhao Yingqing was allowed to return to the capital thanks to the emperor's great favor, he encountered Ayi again, but everything had changed. Her family had suffered a terrible fate; relatives were scattered, some were brutally murdered, some were sold into slavery, and even her loyal protectors had sacrificed their lives on the run to ensure her safety. Ayi, the once innocent and carefree little girl, now had a vacant stare and exuded a deathly aura, as if she had been swallowed up by the cruelty of the world.

Seeing this, Zhao Qi'er felt pity and treated her like a child, trying her best to make her happy and bring her some warmth. After returning to the capital, Zhao Qi'er planned to find a suitable home for A Yi so that she could live a stable life. However, A Yi unexpectedly refused all arrangements. She volunteered to become Zhao Yingqing's concubine, only asking to find protection in the palace and have food to eat, which would be enough for her.

Zhao Yingqing and Zhao Qi'er knew that this was not out of love, but rather a glimmer of hope that Ayi had grasped in her despair. They granted her request, but did not treat her as an ordinary concubine. Instead, they gave her enough respect and freedom, allowing her to have her own little world in the mansion.

Ayi, this petite and exquisite Yi concubine, though she had endured countless hardships, her yearning for life and love of food never wavered. She was extremely active every day and had an exceptionally good appetite; her small frame could devour half a sheep in one go, astonishing all the servants in the household. Zhao Qi'er jokingly remarked that if she were treated as a servant, she would likely starve to death or eat all the cattle and sheep in the household. It was better to let her live carefree life, adding a unique kind of fun to the household.

And so, Ayi settled down in Zhao Yingqing's mansion. She was no longer the free-spirited little heroine running through the forest, but she found her own peace and happiness. In her own unique way, she shone brightly in this deep palace, becoming the mysterious yet adorable young mistress in everyone's hearts.

Not only the original Zhao Yingqing, but also Zhao Chengyu, who has now transmigrated, knows that although Ayi is a concubine, her relationship with him is not based on love. Her existence is more like a unique splash of color in this complex palace, both pitying and worrying. It is also out of gratitude for her saving his life that they protect her.

Zhao Chengyu pondered to himself, Ayi is getting older and her heart is pure. If one day she finally emerges from the shadows of the past and meets the person who can move her heart, as an older brother, he would naturally be happy to see it happen. He would be willing to prepare a grand wedding for her and marry her off in style, so that her life can be fulfilled.

When Zhao Yingqing initially took Ayi as a concubine, it wasn't just for her protection; a deeper reason was to guard against the various factions that might try to win her over after returning to the capital. In the capital, where power and interests intertwined, any seemingly insignificant decision could affect countless people. Ayi, with her unique identity and background, became an important pawn for the Zhao family to defend against external interference. However, Zhao Yingqing also knew that while adopting Ayi as his goddaughter would grant her a higher status, she might also become a victim of family alliances in certain unavoidable circumstances, forced to marry into a family she didn't know. This would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury for Ayi, whose heart was already deeply wounded.

Zhao Chengyu inherited Zhao Yingqing's concerns. He observed Ayi's every move even more meticulously, fearing that she would feel suffocated in the treacherous capital and ultimately choose a path of no return. He often secretly sent people to monitor Ayi's emotional changes, ensuring she had enough freedom and space to breathe the fresh air of this world. At the same time, he tried his best to create a relatively simple living environment for her, so that while enjoying delicious food and freedom, she could gradually feel the warmth and beauty of humanity.