My palace is full of female protagonists.

The following morning, before the sunlight had completely dispelled the lingering shadows of night, a somber atmosphere filled the imperial court. Zhao Chengyu, the emperor known for his decisive and swift actions, was even more enraged today. He abruptly stood up, and like a volcanic eruption, smashed all the teacups, writing brushes, and memorials within reach onto the ground. The sound of shattering porcelain mingled with his roars echoing through the empty hall.

"Leave no one alive among those who engage in market monopolies! Confiscate their property and exterminate their entire families!" Zhao Chengyu's eyes blazed, his finger almost poking the noses of the trembling officials below the stage. "Do they think my empire is too secure, or are they simply testing my patience? And those imperial merchants controlled by your Gao family, enjoying the capital's unparalleled resources, yet they can't even control the small vendors in a few counties below—it's a joke! If they don't have the ability to maintain market order, they shouldn't even dream of making money off the people of the capital. Go back to your hometowns and farm!"

Upon hearing this, the court fell into complete silence, as if the air itself had frozen. Even the usually powerful and influential Prime Minister Gao felt a chill run down his spine, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He quickly bowed, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and said with a mixture of fear and obedience, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I will immediately issue an order for a comprehensive overhaul of the merchants, severely punish those who break the law, ensure fair market competition, and restore a transparent business environment for the people."

Zhao Chengyu's anger did not subside. He sneered and continued, "This herb, Coptis chinensis, grows everywhere in the mountains. It's a vital food source for the people's livelihood, yet some people maliciously monopolize it? They're preventing villagers from picking it, trying to starve them? Hmph, I'll see if their power is greater than my decree! From now on, anyone who dares to obstruct the people's livelihood will not only be disgraced, but their descendants will also understand that true wealth comes not from exploitation and monopoly, but from diligence and wisdom! As for those who try to exchange wealth for privileges, I'll make sure they can only marry wives at home, okay? And if they go to brothels, they can only drink tea, okay?!"

His words, each one resounding and powerful, not only stunned all the officials present, but also seemed like a lightning bolt that pierced through the long-standing gloom in the court.

Zhao Chengyu spoke without stopping, his words like a machine gun, striking the very core of every official present: "As officials of the court, have you also been blinded by the stench of money, thinking that whoever has money is the master, and that the people should accommodate and tolerate them? Let me ask you, are the people under heaven my people, or the people of those wealthy and powerful families? They keep a few slaves in their homes, pamper and entertain them, enjoying a life where they have everything handed to them, and yet they expect even the common people and those who make a living to treat them with utmost respect, as if they were honored guests?"

A cold light flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes, and his tone grew increasingly harsh, as if he were about to unleash all the pent-up discontent and anger he had been holding back: "In this country, is status and dignity determined by gold and silver? Does that mean I, the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, must be extremely polite and respectful to those wealthy people in order to ensure the stability of my empire? If that's the case, then I'd rather not be emperor!"

Upon hearing this, the officials in the court seemed drawn by an invisible force, all kneeling to the ground. The moment their knees touched the cold marble floor, a series of dull thuds echoed. This trend quickly spread outside the court; those officials who had been waiting outside also knelt, forming a magnificent sea of ​​kneeling worship. The entire capital seemed to be enveloped in an inexplicable atmosphere at that moment; everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound or make any unnecessary movement.

The biggest change in the capital that day was the early closing of all the shops. The shop owners looked at each other, puzzled but sensing the tension and unease in the air. They all chose to close their shops to avoid being caught up in this unknown storm.

Meanwhile, the imperial merchants were terrified by the sudden turn of events. They were forced to rush to Prime Minister Gao's residence with their families. The area in front of Prime Minister Gao's residence was bustling with activity, but everyone's face was filled with anxiety and unease.

That night, Prime Minister Gao's residence was brightly lit, yet eerily silent, as if even the air itself had frozen. Prime Minister Gao hadn't returned home for several days, but today, after court, he went directly to his study, accompanied by the Imperial Guards. This display sent shivers down the spines of all the merchants entering the residence. They sat cautiously in their designated spots, barely daring to breathe, fearing they might inadvertently offend the all-powerful Prime Minister.

Time seemed to stretch out, each second feeling exceptionally long. Just as the merchants thought they could finally breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to leave, almost having finished their supper, Prime Minister Gao slowly emerged from his study. He wore a magnificent official robe, a mysterious smile on his face, as if everything was under his control.

Several servants quickly brought out a high-backed chair and respectfully placed it on the high seat. Prime Minister Gao remained silent, simply sitting there quietly, his gaze sharp as he surveyed everyone present. The time it takes for two incense sticks to burn felt like two endless centuries to the merchants. They nervously looked around, but whenever their eyes fell upon the heavily armed Imperial Guards, they quickly looked away, fearing to cause unnecessary trouble.

Finally, as Prime Minister Gao slowly stood up, preparing to speak, the atmosphere in the Prime Minister's residence eased slightly. The merchants knew that the real test was about to begin, and they had to proceed with extreme caution to protect themselves in this storm.

Prime Minister Gao spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "Any of you who own a pharmacy, step forward." His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over every merchant present, as if he could see into their hearts. Seeing this, the servants immediately sprang into action, guiding the merchants who had slowly risen to the front, as instructed by the Prime Minister, and making them stand in a row.

Prime Minister Gao tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing the merchants with piercing eyes, and asked again, "How much Coptis chinensis do you have?" His tone carried an unquestionable authority, making everyone present feel an invisible pressure.

In an instant, the merchants whose names had been mentioned understood the Prime Minister's true intentions. They exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes revealing panic and unease. Coptis chinensis, a herb that was once readily available in the mountains and fields, had now become a turning point in their fates.

Therefore, they all stammered and refused to tell the truth. Some merchants even began to look around, trying to find a way to escape. However, under Prime Minister Gao's sharp gaze, all their struggles seemed futile.

After a long while, finally three or five people couldn't withstand the pressure and knelt down, begging for mercy. Their voices were choked with sobs, clearly consumed by fear. This act of kneeling spread rapidly through the crowd like a domino effect. More and more people began to kneel, some bowing their heads in silence, others clasping their hands together, pleading for the Prime Minister's forgiveness.

Soon, all the merchants in the room knelt down, their hearts filled with fear and helplessness. They knew that the bitter medicine they held was now a Damocles' sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall and cut them down at any moment. At this moment, they could only hope for the Prime Minister's mercy and leniency, hoping to save their lives and businesses in this storm.

Prime Minister Gao's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's. He pointed at a medicine merchant dressed in a blue robe and asked with an unquestionable air of authority, "Tell me, how much Coptis chinensis do you have?"

The medicine merchant knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly. He tried to straighten his back, his voice trembling slightly: "Reporting to the Prime Minister, there is no more Coptis chinensis in the capital. All of it has been transferred to the disaster area."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao nodded slightly, but the cold glint in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest: "Even if you go to the disaster area, the bitter melon will still be yours. Answer my question, how much bitter melon did you originally have?"

The medicine merchant swallowed hard, his voice trembling even more: "Yes, we have two hundred loads, and we've transferred them all over."

Prime Minister Gao's tone suddenly rose, his voice carrying a hint of anger: "You used it all? How did you use it? So much Coptis chinensis, did you dump it in the river? Or throw it in the well? Don't tell me you fed it to the fish?"

The medicine merchant trembled in fear at the Prime Minister's imposing manner, and stammered, "I...I sold it to the locals."

Prime Minister Gao frowned, staring coldly at the medicine merchant as if trying to see into his soul: "You sold it to the locals? Then tell me, how much did you sell it for?"

The medicine merchant was already drenched in sweat. He knew he could no longer hide the truth, so he had no choice but to answer, "Your Excellency, because the disaster area urgently needs medicinal materials, the price is a little higher. Two hundred dan of Coptis chinensis were sold for... sold for five thousand taels of silver."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Gao sneered, "Five thousand taels of silver? What a blatant act of profiteering during a national crisis! Do you know that the people in the disaster area are suffering terribly, while you are here making a fortune off the country's misfortune! Have you lost your conscience?"

The medicine merchant was now ashen-faced with fear. He kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "Prime Minister, spare my life! I was just confused for a moment, I will never dare to do it again!"

Prime Minister Gao raised a finger, pointing it directly at the medicine merchant, as if an invisible judgment had been handed down. Two imperial guards immediately stepped forward, and like ghosts, silently lifted the man and dragged him out of the room. Soon, they returned with a bloody, pig-heart-shaped object, still bearing traces of hair and blood, a truly gruesome sight. The servants quickly brought a dog and mercilessly threw the object on the ground. The dog sniffed it, then began to devour it greedily, a scene that filled everyone present with nausea and fear.

Many people began to sob softly, some even leaking fluids from their genitals due to excessive fear. An indescribable stench and despair filled the air. Prime Minister Gao coldly surveyed the crowd, his voice as icy as ice: "Those of you still kneeling, go to the room on the left and tidy up. There's a bathroom there, and someone will prepare clothes for you later."

However, some people were so terrified that they couldn't stand up; others dared not leave, fearing that leaving would bring them misfortune. But no matter how much they struggled, they were all ruthlessly dragged away by the servants and taken into that mysterious house.

Seeing this, the remaining people felt their fear intensify. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair. The families of the drug dealers who had been taken away, especially those with wives and children present, were terrified and began to cry loudly. Their voices, filled with endless fear and helplessness, seemed to drown out the entire room. Those nearby felt sympathy but could only try their best to persuade them to cover their mouths and quiet down.

Prime Minister Gao's gaze swept over the crowd again, his voice even lower: "Besides medicine merchants, shouldn't you be able to buy cheap herbs like Coptis chinensis in general stores? Do any of you have any in stock?"

This time, everyone looked at each other, none daring to step forward. They knew that if they did, they might face the same fate as the medicine merchant. A deathly silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional sobs and the chewing of a dog.

Prime Minister Gao slowly rose from his chair, his tall and imposing figure like an insurmountable mountain. His voice was deep and powerful, each word striking the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer: "Coptis chinensis, something that can be found all over the mountains, is controlled by you, with prices arbitrarily inflated to reap exorbitant profits. Then, won't the truly urgently needed disaster relief supplies be even harder to reach those who truly need them? Won't even a bowl of plain porridge become a luxury for those disaster victims?"

At this point, Prime Minister Gao's tone grew increasingly stern, his eyes flashing with anger and disappointment: "Everyone says merchants are wicked, but I think you people are nothing but blood-drinking, flesh-eating devils! Have you ever considered the suffering those disaster victims are enduring? They have lost their homes, their families, and even their hope of survival. And yet you are here, resorting to any means to oppress the people for a pittance of profit—it's utterly shameful!"

Everyone present was terrified upon hearing this. They recalled the medicine merchant who had been dragged away and the dog that had been eating with such relish, and a strong sense of fear and unease welled up within them. Could it be that those who had been dragged away had truly had their hearts ripped out and fed to the dog? And now, would servants bring them human flesh to eat?

This fear spread rapidly like a plague, making everyone tremble with terror. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair. Some even began to sob quietly, trying to dispel the fear in their hearts with tears.