My palace is full of female protagonists.

Only when the Emperor, once again like a soulless shell, lay limp on the bed, his breathing becoming even and deep, as if the whole world had frozen in time with his long, slow breaths, did Zhao Qi'er sigh softly. Filled with helplessness and heartache, she slowly lay down beside him. She gently tucked the blankets around him to ensure he wouldn't catch a cold from turning over, then waved her hand, signaling the palace servants to leave, leaving only Xiao Kuang, who was sleeping by the door, behind.

Night fell silently, as dark as ink, and the outline of the palace appeared even more solemn and mysterious under the moonlight. General Ma had escorted Lin Yi to the Yushan encampment on the edge of the capital. The camp was brightly lit, and the soldiers stood in neat rows, awaiting General Ma's instructions. General Ma solemnly unfolded the Emperor's edict and read it aloud word by word, ensuring every detail was accurately conveyed. As the soldiers memorized the edict's contents, Lin Yi, under their watchful eyes, embarked on his journey to the border. Watching Lin Yi's entourage disappear into the distance, General Ma turned and led his trusted men, riding swiftly back towards the capital.

When General Ma returned to the palace, weary from his journey, the morning court bell had already rung, and ministers flocked into the hall to begin the day's political discussions. At this moment, Yun Feiyu, a usually unassuming yet meticulous chief eunuch, accompanied by several palace attendants and carrying a few seemingly simple baskets, walked steadily toward the hall. The baskets were covered with cloth curtains, vaguely revealing the outlines of unidentified objects, arousing the curiosity and speculation of many ministers.

Someone couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Lord Yun Feiyu, who sent these tributes? Why are they being carried in such an inconspicuous basket?"

Yun Feiyu simply smiled and waved his hand, saying mysteriously, "My lords, please don't be impatient. The matter will be resolved in the court later. Asking too many questions now might be inappropriate."

Upon hearing this, although some people laughed at Yun Feiyu for being pretentious and lacking manners, they had no choice but to suppress their curiosity and stop asking questions due to his status.

Just then, General Ma happened to pass by. Seeing this, he quickly stepped forward and asked, "Steward Yun Feiyu, my men are here. Would you like me to help you carry these baskets into the palace?"

Yun Feiyu looked up and saw that it was General Ma of the Imperial Guard. He was secretly grateful and nodded in agreement. He instructed the palace servants to hand the baskets to the guards beside General Ma so that they could carry them, while he continued on his way to prepare for the upcoming morning court session.

Zhao Chengyu stood before the newly made honeycomb briquettes, his brow furrowed. He reached out and squeezed the briquettes, finding them not as solid as he had imagined, their texture rather loose. He glanced at the copper tool used to press the briquettes, nodded in approval, but then shook his head, his brow furrowing even more deeply.

“There’s nothing wrong with the tool,” Zhao Chengyu said slowly, a hint of displeasure in his voice, “but the quality of these honeycomb briquettes is disappointing. There are too many air bubbles, and the texture is too brittle; you have to handle them carefully. This means the yellow mud wasn’t washed fine enough, and the pressing wasn’t done with enough force. They can’t be as fragile as tofu; otherwise, there will be big problems during transportation. I hope the second batch will meet my requirements.”

As he spoke, Zhao Chengyu took the pressing tool and made a pulling and stomping motion, saying, "You have to press it tightly so there won't be so many air bubbles!"

The officials spoke in hushed tones, and some, unable to see, inquired from behind.

After speaking, Zhao Chengyu nodded in satisfaction, but this was only an affirmation of the craftsmen's work attitude, not a satisfaction with the quality of this batch of honeycomb briquettes. He turned and walked towards the throne, saying as he went, "This is basically it. You did a good job, but the quality still needs improvement."

Yun Feiyu followed closely behind and replied, "Your Majesty, the workers have all been found, and the factory is being built. Tools and honeycomb briquettes are also being prepared to expand production."

Zhao Chengyu stopped and sighed, saying, "It's a pity we missed the battle to attack Lanling Kingdom. If we had prepared these honeycomb briquettes earlier, perhaps we could have provided better heating for the soldiers."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao quickly stepped forward to reassure him: "Your Majesty, it's alright. It's not winter yet, and the south is still cool. Apart from needing to cover yourself up more at night, there's no need for extra heating."

"Since someone wants to use Lanling Kingdom to test us, this is not only a challenge to our military strength, but also a test of our national will." Zhao Chengyu stood in the council hall of the palace, his gaze piercing through every corner of the hall. His words were calm and powerful, like a warm current in winter, striking straight to the heart, "Naturally, we must act in winter, letting the enemy know that the cold cannot stop our advance. And in this upcoming war, honeycomb briquettes will be the key to our victory."

He turned to look at the busy craftsmen outside the window, who were busily producing the second batch of honeycomb briquettes—a scene of bustling activity. A hint of satisfaction flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes, but it quickly turned serious again: "We must first ensure the supply of all troops throughout the winter, ensuring that every soldier can maintain their fighting capacity in the bitter cold. Only when the army is stable can the country be stable. As for civilian promotion, that's something we'll consider later."

At this point, Zhao Chengyu's tone became even more resolute: "Without national security, how can there be family security? This is our belief and our responsibility. Every one of us must contribute our strength to the peace of the country and the happiness of the people."

Soon, the saying "Without national security, there is no peace at home" spread throughout Beijing. It was passed down by word of mouth, and the cry of "Without national security, there is no peace at home?" could be heard everywhere, from the streets and alleys to teahouses and taverns. This saying, like an invisible force, inspired everyone to strive for the future of the nation.

Seated in the side room behind the throne, Princess Yi, dressed in magnificent palace attire, held a delicate pastry in her hand, took a small bite, but her gaze drifted into the distance, silently reciting the phrase, "Without national security, there is no peace for the family." Her thoughts seemed to drift further away with these words, a deep and worried look in her eyes.

Zhao Chengyu sat upright on the throne, clad in a dragon robe, exuding an aura of authority. His piercing gaze swept across the hall. He not only needed to listen to the reports from the ministers but also to keenly detect any subtle movements in the court. However, in this tense and solemn moment, he inadvertently caught a faint whisper from the depths of the side room—the voice of Princess Yi.

Princess Yi, as a member of the royal family, possessed a noble status but a rather straightforward, even somewhat reckless, personality. Although she appeared calm on the surface during the poisoning incident, Zhao Chengyu knew that she must have experienced considerable turmoil within. However, at this moment, Zhao Chengyu sensed an unusual firmness and resonance in her words, especially when she softly repeated, "Without national security, there is no home security." Her loyalty and love for the country deeply moved Zhao Chengyu.

However, this resonance did not last long, and Princess Yi's thoughts soon turned to her evaluation of the young officials in the court. Her evaluations were direct and sharp, merciless, as if she wanted to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of these officials one by one.

"That Vice Minister of Rites, though exceptionally talented, is too smooth and lacks responsibility." Princess Yi's voice carried a hint of disdain, clearly indicating her dislike for this official.

"And that Vice Minister of War, although brave and skilled in battle, is too impulsive and prone to making mistakes." Princess Yi's assessment was still sharp; her thoughts were like a mirror, clearly reflecting the weaknesses of these officials.

However, when Princess Yi turned her attention to Yun Feiyu, Zhao Chengyu clearly sensed a difference. Princess Yi's evaluation of Yun Feiyu was full of disdain and helplessness: "That idiot Yun Feiyu, all he does is busy himself with pointless tasks all day long, without even checking if he's doing things correctly. That last plan was a complete mess, and he thinks he's so smart!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle. He knew that although Princess Yi was full of disdain for Yun Feiyu, she actually still cared about him a lot. After all, last time at the Crown Prince's residence, Princess Yi had stood up for Yun Feiyu without hesitation.

"However, to be fair, although Yun Feiyu is sometimes a bit slow, he is kind-hearted and he always tries his best." Princess Yi's thoughts came again, this time with a touch of gentleness and affirmation in her tone.

To Zhao Chengyu's surprise, Princess Yi's criticisms of Yun Feiyu were particularly frequent. He remembered that the last time Princess Yi was at the Crown Prince's residence, she had rushed out from behind the screen to stand up for Yun Feiyu and prevent him from being suppressed by Lin Yi. At the time, he had thought that Princess Yi had feelings for Lin Yi, after all, Lin Yi was a promising young talent in the court and came from a prominent family. However, now it seemed that Princess Yi's protective instincts towards Yun Feiyu were even stronger.

Zhao Chengyu shook his head, muttering to himself, "I couldn't understand girls' thoughts back in modern times. Now it seems that even if I could hear a girl's thoughts, it doesn't necessarily mean I could fully understand them!"

He touched his chest, remembering his identity in modern times—a 24-year-old single college graduate who had never held a girl's hand. Apart from remembering a few English words and thesis format, he felt he hadn't really learned anything, let alone understood the most complex thoughts in the world—the thoughts of women.

During the morning court session that followed, Zhao Chengyu listened attentively to the reports from the ministers and handled state affairs, while also continuing to listen to Princess Yi's thoughts. He noticed that although Princess Yi frequently criticized Yun Feiyu, her words always contained a hint of approval and appreciation. Whenever Yun Feiyu offered a new insight or plan, Princess Yi would initially criticize him, but then unconsciously reveal her approval of him.

This complex mix of emotions left Zhao Chengyu deep in thought. He began to realize that Princess Yi's special attention to Yun Feiyu might not just be due to her protective instincts, but perhaps because she saw a certain quality in him. Princess Yi felt that Yun Feiyu was a trustworthy and reliable person.

Thinking about this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but wonder: Could this mean that Princess Yi had taken a liking to Yun Feiyu? Although Yun Feiyu came from a branch of the Yun family, he distinguished himself in the court with his unique identity and talent—as a civil official from a military family, he was indeed an anomaly. However, it was precisely this unusual background that gave Yun Feiyu a unique position in the court.

If Princess Yi needs any support in her fiefdom in the future, it would be more logical for the Yun family army to step in. After all, the Yun family is one of the most important officials in the court, and its power should not be underestimated. And Yun Feiyu, as a member of the Yun family, can undoubtedly provide Princess Yi with strong backing.

Furthermore, the eldest son of the Yun family has become the Empress's consort, which is undoubtedly a great honor for the Yun family. However, behind this honor lies responsibility. The Yun family needs to continue to demonstrate loyalty to the court to consolidate its position. The marriage between Yun Feiyu and Princess Yi is undoubtedly a win-win choice. Such an alliance will not only strengthen the ties between the Yun family and the royal family, but also pave the way for the future of both Yun Feiyu and Princess Yi.

That night, the moonlight, like water, gently spilled over every corner of the palace. After a busy day, Zhao Chengyu sat down opposite Zhao Qi'er, ready to share some of his thoughts from the day, especially about Princess Yi and Yun Feiyu.

However, when Zhao Chengyu began to speak, he noticed that Zhao Qi'er seemed somewhat distracted. She only occasionally responded with a word, but her eyes were fixed on a book on the table, as if she were deeply engrossed in its contents. However, upon closer inspection, the pages of the book had not been turned. Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

"Qi'er, what are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought." Zhao Chengyu finally couldn't help but lean closer to Zhao Qi'er and ask softly. His voice was filled with tenderness and concern, trying to pull Zhao Qi'er back to reality.

Zhao Qi'er was startled by Zhao Chengyu's sudden appearance with his large face, and her body involuntarily leaned backward. Fortunately, Zhao Chengyu reacted quickly and caught her back, preventing her from becoming embarrassed. In that instant, the two were extremely close, and their breathing could be clearly heard.

Zhao Chengyu had hugged Zhao Qi'er before; on many occasions, he would politely embrace her shoulder, trying to reduce the distance between them. However, Zhao Qi'er, having given birth, was no longer the innocent and carefree girl she once was, and she had always been aware of Emperor Zhao Chengyu's unusual behavior.

"Your Majesty, I...I'm alright." Zhao Qi'er finally spoke, but her voice trembled slightly. She tried to make her tone sound calm, but the turmoil in her heart was hard to conceal.