My palace is full of female protagonists.

The ceremony for bestowing the title of princess upon the Yi people, according to tradition, is actually not complicated; the process is simple yet solemn. It merely involves gently pushing open the ancestral hall door, which carries countless family memories and honors, and then setting up a simple altar in the open space outside. Incense smoke rises from the altar, swirling with reverence for ancestors and prayers for the future. The main steps of the ceremony are simply the participants devoutly bowing a few times to the altar, showing their blessings for the princess and their hopes for the nation.

However, behind this simple ceremony lay a grand gathering. Led by the Crown Prince, Yi Jingwei, dressed in exquisite attire, and officials of all ranks, regardless of their status, lined up neatly in the spacious square, awaiting the start of the ceremony. They meticulously followed the chief officiant's movements, flawlessly performing each kneeling gesture. The entire scene was solemn and dignified, showcasing the imperial majesty and the rigor of etiquette. This arrangement was not only a sign of respect for the princess but also a reinforced demonstration of the entire imperial system.

Beneath this solemn atmosphere, another scene was quietly unfolding within the palace. The Prefect, the key official responsible for the security of the imperial city and the investigation of cases, was currently busy investigating a thorny case. To ensure the smooth progress of the investigation and minimize unnecessary interference and obstacles, Zhao Chengyu specifically ordered Xiao Kuangzi to personally accompany the Prefect. Xiao Kuangzi held a token, like an invisible pass, allowing the Prefect to move freely in every corner of the palace without hindrance, whether it was the forbidden inner palace or the residences of the royal family, there was nothing he could not enter.

However, as the investigation deepened, the prefect's mood grew increasingly heavy. Preliminary evidence and clues seemed to point to an unbelievable conclusion—behind this case appeared to be a complex drama orchestrated and directed by the Emperor himself. This discovery undoubtedly placed the prefect in a dilemma. He knew that continuing the investigation might uncover the most hidden and sensitive aspects of the palace, even shaking the very foundations of imperial power; but stopping there would betray his duty and conscience as a law enforcer. Caught in this vortex of power, the prefect had to carefully weigh every action, striving to find a delicate balance between upholding justice and protecting himself.

The prefect stood in the magnificent palace, sunlight streaming in through the high windows, yet it seemed unable to dispel the gloom in his heart. His hands were clenched into fists, trembling incessantly, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the sunlight. Facing the high and mighty Emperor Zhao Chengyu, his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, halting and stammering as he reported the findings of his investigation.

"Your Majesty, I...I have done my utmost...but the evidence...it all seems to point to..." The Prefect's voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible. He was afraid to see the Emperor's angry gaze, and even more afraid that this investigation would bring him trouble.

However, Emperor Zhao Chengyu's reaction surprised everyone. He didn't erupt in fury as the prefect had expected; instead, he gazed at the prefect with a calm and profound look, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. His voice was gentle yet powerful, seemingly capable of piercing the heart: "As I anticipated, all the superficial evidence will ultimately point to me. Prefect, but even if I were to admit to this, then, according to the law, who are the people who would be beheaded and punished?"

Upon hearing this, the prefect felt even more uneasy. He hadn't expected the emperor not only to be unperturbed but to actually bring up this issue. He swallowed hard and mustered his courage to say, "Your Majesty, indeed, there are many people involved. First, the cooks who made the pastries are guilty of negligence; they should be responsible for the selection and preparation of the ingredients. Next, every palace servant who carried those plates of pastries should also bear responsibility for their negligence during the delivery process. Furthermore, the palace servants responsible for detecting poison were also derelict in their duties and failed to discover the problem in time; they are equally culpable. As for the guards around them, although they were merely following orders, they failed to prevent this tragedy from happening in time, and according to the law, they should also be punished with ten strokes of the cane."

As Zhao Chengyu listened to the prefect's report, a barely perceptible chill flashed in his deep eyes, like a thin layer of frost in winter, sending a shiver down one's spine. He slowly took a deep breath, seemingly suppressing his emotions, and then spoke in a calm yet powerful tone: "Prefect, are these people you speak of really that important? Can killing a group of insignificant slaves, or punishing some low-ranking palace servants, truly prevent this from happening again?"

Upon hearing this, the prefect's heart tightened. Only then did he truly feel the invisible pressure emanating from the Emperor, like Mount Tai pressing down on him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He quickly bowed again, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, I understand your meaning. However, according to the law, the Imperial Guards, as the army guarding the palace, should indeed bear certain responsibilities. But for now, we have only decided to deduct some of their silver as punishment."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, he suddenly said, "Speaking of the Imperial Guards, I'm reminded of General Ma. Let's summon him as well; I'd like to hear his opinion."

A short while later, General Ma arrived in a hurry. He was disheveled, his clothes were rumpled, and his face still showed signs of alcohol, clearly indicating that he had just experienced some turmoil. Zhao Chengyu looked at General Ma's appearance, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and asked, "General Ma, where did you find this 'lump'?"

Xiao Kuangzi quickly stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, we found General Ma near the left gate of the main hall, but he was already somewhat delirious at that time."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu turned his gaze to the Prefect, his expression carrying a hint of reproach: "Prefect, didn't I already order you to take full responsibility for this matter and to investigate every detail thoroughly? Why did you fail to discover such an important clue in time?"

Upon hearing this, the prefect's face instantly turned ashen, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He immediately knelt down, his voice trembling with fear: "Your Majesty, I know my crime. I will do my utmost and never repeat this mistake."

Under the Emperor's watchful eye, the Prefect, though inwardly groaning, dared not slacken his efforts or offer any excuses. He knew the Emperor's orders were absolute and not to be questioned. Therefore, he quickly agreed and, together with Xiao Kuangzi, continued to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Like detectives, the two traversed every corner of the palace, meticulously gathering every possible clue. They knew that any breakthrough, even the smallest clue, could be the key to uncovering the truth.

Sure enough, after much hard work, they finally discovered the first crucial clue. It was a seemingly insignificant palace maid who had come into contact with the pastries on the day of the incident. Initially, this palace maid was unwilling to cooperate with the investigation, but after the prefect and Xiao Kuangzi patiently persuaded and even used threats and inducements, she finally relented and revealed a shocking secret.

This shocking discovery shook the entire palace. The poison, in fact, came from Consort Zhen? However, when the Prefect and Xiao Kuangzi investigated further, Xiao Kuangzi revealed that Consort Zhen was usually out of the palace, sometimes for months at a time, so she was sometimes just a substitute. The Prefect could only timidly accept this explanation, daring not to say anything more.

The existence of this double makes the whole incident even more perplexing. Clearly, this is a carefully orchestrated scheme to frame the Emperor. They are using Consort Zhen's identity and the poison to try and shift the blame back to the Emperor, creating a palace coup.

However, the net of justice is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it. To cover up the fact that Consort Zhen was using a double, many hidden palace servants were stationed in her palace. These servants remained hidden most of the time, only appearing in emergencies. Consort Zhen had instructed that these servants should not be shown unless they were making a scene in the palace or the Emperor himself was coming.

However, it was these hidden palace servants who became the key to uncovering the truth. They witnessed the entire process of the medicine theft, although the thieves were unaware that they were being watched.

When Zhao Chengyu learned of this news, his eyes sharpened. He stared intently at the prefect and asked in a low voice, "Who stole the medicine?"

The prefect quickly replied, "It was an old woman from the Empress's palace. She used to serve Empress Gao, and after Empress Gao's palace was disbanded, she continued to serve the Empress. However, she only did cleaning and chores, and because of her age, she often had no work at all. We didn't torture her; we just asked her a few questions, and she said that a guard gave her some gold melon seeds and asked her to steal medicine from Consort Zhen's palace. The old woman was an old servant in the palace and knew the routines of the palace servants. She knew that Consort Zhen's palace had a lot of empty space, so she agreed to steal it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned. He hadn't expected that this whole affair would involve Gao Lingyan.

Zhao Chengyu took a deep breath, as if trying to calm the turmoil in his heart, and then he slowly said, "And then? Continue investigating. I need to know all the details." His voice was calm, but it revealed an undeniable firmness.

Upon hearing this, the prefect immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the old lady did not identify the guard who gave her the golden melon seeds to steal the medicine. I am suspicious and think that the guard may be an imposter. But even if he is an imposter, he must be someone who can freely enter and leave the palace. Therefore, I personally went to the city gate to check the recent registration records for entering the palace."

At this point, the prefect paused slightly, as if gathering his thoughts, before continuing, "After careful investigation, I discovered that, apart from the officials who attend court daily, only the Imperial Guard's dispatch records are relatively frequent. Considering General Ma's drunkenness and subsequent recovery, I can't help but suspect that this was likely done intentionally, with the aim of bribing the Imperial Guard to get General Ma drunk, thus allowing an imposter to slip in."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's eyes flashed with admiration. He nodded and said, "Your analysis makes a lot of sense. The Imperial Guards, as the protectors of the palace, are undeniably important. If someone with ulterior motives wants to commit treason, bribing the Imperial Guards would undoubtedly be an excellent choice. So, what do you plan to do next?"

The prefect quickly replied, "I plan to start with the Imperial Guard. Although it may take some time to find out who was replaced, if we treat the Imperial Guard as a whole and don't get bogged down in individual details, we can quickly narrow down the scope and even find out who has the most motive and possibility to bribe the Imperial Guard."

Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly after hearing this, but his brows did not completely relax. He said in a deep voice, "Among the royal family, apart from a few elderly ancestors, there are no idle princes who can stir up trouble. My sons, except for the crown prince who remains in the palace to assist in state affairs, are all in their own fiefdoms. Even if they have some plans, it would be difficult for them to achieve their goal of usurping the throne. So, who is so audacious as to stir up trouble right under my nose and slap me in the face?"

Upon hearing this, the prefect muttered to himself, knowing that matters concerning the royal family were complex and unpredictable, and that the slightest misstep could backfire. He knew he couldn't speculate about members of the royal family, much less discuss the relationship between the crown prince and the other princes, so he could only act like a quail, keeping his head down and remaining silent, trying to minimize his presence.

Xiao Kuangzi suddenly knelt down, her voice trembling slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to speak, perhaps this matter is also related to that Third Young Master."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly. He waved his hand, signaling Xiao Kuangzi to stand up and speak: "Say what you want to say, there's no need to be so reserved."

Xiao Kuangzi stood up, head bowed, her voice soft yet unusually firm: "Your Majesty, this servant dares to speculate that this incident might still be related to the Third Young Master's matter. If the matter is actually not complicated, is that also possible?"

Upon hearing this, a thoughtful look flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes. He scratched his head, appearing somewhat irritated: "If it was those people who did it, it makes sense given their intelligence and methods. Xiao Kuangzi, immediately give the order that preparations for the grand wedding begin after Princess Yi's main hall is completed. At the same time, raise the security level in the capital to the highest level. Non-Beijing residents are only allowed to leave, not enter. Strictly guard against any suspicious individuals and absolutely do not allow them to infiltrate the city."

Xiao Kuangzi quickly agreed and turned to make the arrangements. However, Zhao Chengyu stopped him again: "Wait, there's one more thing. Prefect, I'm giving you some military power. You will personally lead a team to inspect all outsiders. Remember to keep detailed records and send them directly to the city gate every day. I will have someone personally deliver them to you for review."

Upon hearing this, the prefect was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost and never fail Your Majesty's high expectations."