My palace is full of female protagonists.

Xiao Kuangzi quickly dispatched his trusted aides to investigate, and they soon returned with confirmed information, confirming that the man was indeed Su Mo, the eldest son of Prime Minister Su. Originally, Su Mo's career path was already set; he was about to enter the Ministry of Justice and assume the heavy responsibility of the nation's legal affairs. However, fate is unpredictable. Before he could officially take office, the political climate in the court suddenly changed. Prime Minister Su had angered the Emperor for some matter and was ordered by the Emperor to expel all his concubines and illegitimate children from his household. Immediately, the entire Su household was filled with anxiety, acting with extreme caution, fearing that the slightest misstep would bring trouble upon themselves. To avoid attracting unnecessary attention, Su Mo's entry into the official position was quietly postponed; he remained at the academy, taking on the responsibility of teaching and educating students.

At the academy, Su Mo only needed to teach three days a week, spending the rest of the time at home helping her mother with household chores. Whenever Prime Minister Su was too busy with official duties to return home, Su Mo became the family representative, responsible for receiving visiting guests in the front hall and handling daily affairs. This time, the Prime Minister was tied up with urgent matters, making even returning home for a meal a luxury, so the important task of delivering food and relaying messages naturally fell on Su Mo's shoulders. None of the other members of the Su family, due to their social status, were allowed to enter the palace.

One day, a theater ticket from the Empress unexpectedly arrived at the Su residence, surprising not only Su Mo but also causing great unease to the Su family matriarch. Clutching the gold-embossed ticket tightly, her brow furrowed with worry and anxiety, she repeatedly instructed Su Mo, "Mo'er, although this ticket is a great favor from the Empress, you must proceed with extreme caution and avoid any mishaps. The Empress's summons is undoubtedly due to the Su family's prestige, but there are many rules in the palace; you must be careful at every step."

Su Mo respectfully agreed, but a sense of curiosity also arose in his heart. He knew that this trip was not simple, but he could not guess what the Empress's intentions were.

“Mother, rest assured, I will act carefully. But… there is something I don’t understand. Why did the Empress suddenly bestow theater tickets?” Su Mo asked tentatively.

The matriarch of the Su family sighed softly, her eyes filled with worry: "How dare we presume to guess the Empress's intentions? However, you should still be more careful lately and prevent any unfavorable rumors from spreading about you. Furthermore, you should also consider your marriage. I have already found a few suitable families for you. Although nothing has been decided yet, you must remember not to get involved in any frivolous or dissolute affairs, lest you tarnish the family's reputation."

Su Mo nodded, but inwardly he felt even more wary of this sudden acting engagement. He understood that his mother's good intentions were all for the Su family, but he vaguely sensed that there might be a deeper meaning hidden behind this engagement.

Little did anyone know, the true purpose of these theater tickets was for the Empress to arrange a secret meeting between Su Mo and Princess Yi, in order to observe whether the eldest son of the Su family was suitable to be the princess's partner. The matriarch of the Su family was naturally unaware of this intention, and could only repeatedly admonish Su Mo based on her own understanding, fearing that a single misstep would affect the entire Su family.

While inquiring about Su Mo, Xiao Kuangzi also made sure to thoroughly investigate the eldest sons of several other official families. These eldest sons were all highly sought-after figures in the capital, not only exceptionally talented but also from illustrious families; their every move captivated countless people. Xiao Kuangzi meticulously compiled this information, preparing to report it to Empress Zhao Qi'er at any time.

During that period, the theaters in Beijing seemed to become a stage for showcasing young talents, brightly lit and bustling with people every night. Young masters, escorted by several servants, would enter the theater, creating a spectacular scene. Such sights not only attracted the attention of many ordinary people but also aroused the longing of the noble ladies of Beijing.

They often accompanied by their maids, quietly sitting in the teahouses on either side of the theater, just to catch a glimpse of the scions of these high-ranking officials. These noble ladies, all born into prestigious families and well-educated from a young age, were not only exceptionally beautiful but also remarkably talented. They all harbored a beautiful dream: to marry into a prominent family and become the daughter-in-law or wife of a distinguished household.

Their families, of course, also hope that they can find a good home. If the two young people are attracted to each other and are mutually attracted, then the woman's marriage to a higher social class becomes a natural and happy event. Such a marriage not only allows the woman to have a better life, but also brings honor and an increase in status to the family.

To ensure that the noble ladies would not behave inappropriately or be harassed by the frivolous young men during the viewing, their maids and servants accompanied them throughout, remaining vigilant at all times. They were not only responsible for taking care of the ladies' daily needs, but also stepped forward at crucial moments to protect them from any potential harm.

In this atmosphere, the theaters of the capital became a delicate social venue, a visual feast as well as a power struggle. Everyone sought their own opportunity, hoping to stand out in this game of power and realize their dreams. Xiao Kuangzi, as a key figure in this game, had every action that could influence the entire situation and the hearts of the people in the capital.

The protagonist of this grand banquet in the capital—Princess Yi—gradually lost interest in the prosperity and hustle and bustle of the outside world. Whenever the night was deep and quiet, she would slip away from her entourage and quietly return to the palace, heading straight for the Imperial Study. However, once there, she wouldn't speak immediately. She would simply find a chair, sit down quietly, and stare blankly out the window, as if pondering something, or perhaps escaping from something.

Zhao Chengyu was currently pretending to be busy with his desk, reviewing a mountain of memorials. However, his mind wasn't entirely focused on these important national affairs. Princess Zhuoyi's inner thoughts were a series of delicate yet genuine complaints about the tedium and helplessness of being the center of attention.

Princess Yi's inner thoughts echoed in the empty imperial study. She complained about the young men who came to the theater, each one seemingly having arranged in advance to rush to bring snacks to her box. Some of these snacks came from the theater itself, exquisite and small; others were expensive pastries from outside, with gorgeous packaging and unique flavors. However, for Princess Yi, these had become a great burden.

"We can't finish them all! We simply can't finish them all!" Princess Yi's words were tinged with helplessness and frustration. "Even if we shared them with all the palace maids, they still couldn't finish them! Each bite of these pastries represents someone's good intentions, and we can't afford to waste them. What should we do?"

In Princess Yi's heart, the images of the eldest sons of several high-ranking officials gradually emerged before her eyes.

Minister Li of the Ministry of Justice, a highly respected official in the court, had a son, Li Wenxuan, who was also a rare young talent. He not only inherited his father's intelligence but also excelled in poetry and prose, earning him the reputation of a "talented scholar" in the capital. However, in Princess Yi's eyes, Li Wenxuan's image was not as perfect as the outside world portrayed him.

Every night at the theater, Li Wenxuan would send over meticulously prepared snacks. Each of these snacks was as exquisite as a work of art, both in appearance and taste, leaving everyone in awe. However, Princess Yi knew that behind these snacks lay Li Wenxuan's father's thirst for power and his attempt to curry favor with the royal family.

She had privately asked her maid if these pastries were truly made by Li Wenxuan himself. The maid shook her head, telling her that the pastries were meticulously crafted by the pastry chefs of the Li household, and that Li Wenxuan was merely responsible for selecting and presenting them. Upon hearing this, Princess Yi couldn't help but feel a hint of disdain. She understood that Li Wenxuan's actions were nothing more than a way to get close to her, thereby winning her favor and the royal family's approval.

"He's trying to curry favor with me with these snacks, just like his father tried to curry favor with the Emperor with his political achievements," Princess Yi thought to herself. "How can such a relationship, built on the desire for power, last?"

Princess Yi's attitude towards Li Wenxuan cooled as a result. She no longer looked forward to his snacks as before, and sometimes even felt annoyed by his excessive enthusiasm. In her view, true feelings should be pure, without any impurities, and certainly not used as tools in power struggles.

Zhang, the deputy general of the Imperial Guard, was a renowned military commander in the capital. His second son, Zhang Haoyu, though not as valiant as his father, was a gentle and kind-hearted young man. In Princess Yi's heart, Zhang Haoyu was completely different from Li Wenxuan; he was more like a clear stream, gently flowing into her world surrounded by prosperity and clamor.

Every night at the theater, Zhang Haoyu would send over some snacks. These snacks, though not as exquisite and luxurious as those sent by Li Wenxuan, the eldest son of Minister Li of the Ministry of Justice, always exuded an indescribable warmth and intimacy. They might not have fancy packaging or complicated shapes, but every bite allowed Princess Yi to taste the flavor of home—the flavor of her mother, the flavor of warmth and love.

Princess Yi had learned from her maid that these pastries were all made by Zhang Haoyu's mother. Although Zhang's mother came from a military family, she possessed superb culinary skills, especially in making various kinds of pastries. Whenever Zhang Haoyu learned that Princess Yi liked pastries, he would beg his mother to make them for him and then personally deliver them to the princess. This thoughtful gesture was undoubtedly a warm current for Princess Yi, who was surrounded by countless pastries and had long been numb to them, quietly nourishing her heart.

"How could I not understand Haoyu's intentions?" Princess Yi thought to herself. "But to me, these intentions are like a small flower growing in the cracks of rocks. Although it is tenacious, it is difficult to withstand the storms of this world."

Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue, a high-ranking official who held immense financial power in the court, had an eldest son, Wang Junjie, who not only inherited his father's intelligence but also possessed a spirit of daring to try new things and innovate. In Princess Yi's eyes, Wang Junjie was like a magician who constantly brought surprises; every time he sent her a pastry, it would brighten her eyes and fill her heart with joy.

Every theater night, Wang Junjie would send over a carefully prepared food box. This box didn't contain ordinary snacks, but rather novel delicacies he had meticulously selected from various shops. Some of these snacks had unique flavors, others exquisite shapes, each time bringing Princess Yi a different surprise. He knew Princess Yi's love for snacks and understood that to stand out among numerous competitors, he had to have his own unique selling points.

Wang Junjie's pastries not only delighted Princess Yi's palate but also made her feel his thoughtfulness and sincerity. She privately asked her maid how he obtained these pastries. The maid told her that Wang Junjie had personally sent people to select them from various pastry shops in the capital, and each one was carefully chosen to ensure that it would bring Princess Yi a sense of novelty.

Upon hearing this, Princess Yi felt a growing fondness for Wang Junjie. She understood that such sincerity and earnestness were far more valuable than those who merely flattered and lacked genuine affection. Therefore, she repeatedly instructed her palace servants to return gifts to Wang Junjie as a token of her gratitude. These gifts ranged from fan paintings she had personally painted to rare and precious ancient books from her collection; each one embodied her heartfelt sentiments and respect.

Upon receiving the return gift, Wang Junjie was overjoyed. He understood that these gifts were not only an acknowledgment of his pastries but also an affirmation of him by Princess Yi. He secretly resolved to continue bringing Princess Yi more surprises, allowing her to experience a touch of extraordinary joy amidst her luxurious palace life.

The eldest sons of these high-ranking officials were all trying to curry favor with the princess in their own ways, hoping to win her favor.

I'm very sorry for the misunderstanding. Let me readjust my wording to fit the logic of the question and answer:

Zhao Chengyu stood by the window of the imperial study, moonlight shining on his face, revealing a trace of worry. He pondered to himself, "Why is Princess Yi so concerned about those pastries? Does she only value these superficial things and ignore character and inner qualities? She's just a young girl, not grown up yet. I wonder if there are any plays like 'The Peacock Flies Southeast' in this era, so this little girl can learn how to judge people and their hearts."

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu decided to discuss the matter with Empress Zhao Qi'er. He turned and walked out of the imperial study towards Fengyi Palace.

Upon arriving at Fengyi Palace, Zhao Chengyu saw Zhao Qi'er dressing in front of the mirror and asked softly, "Qi'er, do you know if there is a play like 'The Peacock Flies Southeast' in this era?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er put down the comb in her hand and was slightly taken aback: "The Peacock Flies Southeast? I have never heard of it. Why does Your Majesty suddenly ask about this?"

Zhao Chengyu sighed and told Zhao Qi'er about Princess Yi's excessive concern about the source of the pastries and his worries about her.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi'er's face showed a hint of worry: "Yi'er is still young and doesn't understand many things. Your Majesty, please don't worry, I will find an opportunity to have a good talk with her. As for the play 'The Peacock Flies Southeast,' although I haven't heard of it, I can have someone go out and inquire about it. Perhaps it is circulated in local operas."

Zhao Chengyu nodded: "That's very good. Qi'er, you'll need to put more effort into Yi'er's education. I hope she can grow into a wise and insightful woman who can establish herself in this palace in the future."

Zhao Qi'er responded gently, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will do my best to teach Yi'er. However, she is still young and needs time to understand many things."

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly and gently stroked Zhao Qi'er's hair: "With you here, I feel very at ease. I'm going back to my palace. I don't feel comfortable sleeping here. Why don't you come back with me?"

Zhao Qi'er was very happy and left Fengyi Palace with the Emperor.