My palace is full of female protagonists.

The country is enjoying a golden age, a time of prosperity and peace, with people living in tranquility and laughter filling the streets. Yet, within this peaceful environment, the capital of Yunnan, where Gao Lingyan resides, is shrouded in an invisible shadow, far from tranquil.

Ever since King Duan Zhenghuai of Feng Kingdom hastily departed, the capital has been in complete chaos, like an anthill in an uproar. Why? It's all because of those assassins who roam around like ghosts! They are like venomous snakes in the night, silently lurking in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

At first, everyone thought it was just the arrogant act of a few madmen, but soon, assassinations sprang up like mushrooms after rain, becoming so numerous as to be a headache. News of assassination attempts spread from time to time in the streets and alleys, teahouses and restaurants, and even the imperial palace. For a time, the entire capital was gripped by fear; even going out to buy groceries at night was a nerve-wracking experience.

As the Empress of Yunnan, Gao Lingyan naturally became a thorn in the side of these assassins. Every day, she had to be accompanied by dozens of guards, each a carefully selected warrior, battle-hardened and highly skilled in martial arts. Even so, Gao Lingyan dared not let her guard down, always proceeding with extreme caution, fearing that a moment's carelessness might lead to her being killed by some reckless individual.

One evening, Gao Lingyan was busy handling official business when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He frowned, thinking, "Who's causing this disturbance in the middle of the night?" Before he could finish speaking, a guard rushed in, shouting, "My lord! Something terrible has happened! An assassin has been spotted outside!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Lingyan jumped up from her chair, her eyes wide as saucers: "An assassin? Where did this assassin come from? Quick! Take me to see him!"

He rushed to the scene with a group of guards, only to find a dark figure locked in a fierce battle with several guards. The figure was agile and nimble, clearly a master fighter. Gao Lingyan looked closer and exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that the notorious bandit who was wanted just a couple of days ago?!"

"Charge! Capture him alive!" Gao Lingyan gave the order, and the guards swarmed forward. Although the bandit was skilled, he was outnumbered and was eventually captured alive by the guards.

Looking at the assassins before him, Gao Lingyan couldn't help but wonder, "Where did these assassins come from?" He sighed and said to the guards beside him, "Interrogate these assassins thoroughly and see if you can get any information out of them. Also, strengthen security and ensure the safety of the capital!"

In the world of assassins, their methods are so cruel and cunning that they are like demons crawling out of hell, inspiring fear in all who hear of them. They are like shadows walking in the night, silently approaching their targets and then striking with deadly precision in ways you never expect.

Behind the bustling capital city lurks a chilling fear: poison assassins. Like venomous snakes in the night, they silently lie in wait, anticipating the fatal blow. Their poison is colorless and odorless, yet it can lead to death without the victim even realizing it, making it virtually impossible to defend against.

Two days ago, he held a grand banquet in his magnificent mansion, inviting many colleagues from the court and relatives and friends to attend. The scene was truly lively and extraordinary, with laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses intertwining to create a harmonious and beautiful picture.

Lord Li sat in the main seat, his face beaming with joy. He raised his glass to the guests, thanking them for coming and wishing them good health and a bright future. The guests responded with toasts, filling the banquet hall with a joyful atmosphere.

However, amidst the laughter and merriment, a terrified scream suddenly rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a guest clutching his stomach, his face turning deathly pale, a few drops of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled a few times before collapsing to the ground, blood flowing from his seven orifices, and soon died.

The turn of events was so sudden that everyone was stunned. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear and unease. Some were so frightened they dropped their chopsticks, while others instinctively shrank back, afraid they would become the next target.

Lord Li was terrified, his face turning ashen. He immediately ordered the banquet hall sealed off and sent for the imperial physician to examine the situation. After a thorough examination, the physician determined that the guest had died from a deadly poison. This result sent a collective gasp of shock through everyone present.

Later, after a detailed investigation, it was discovered that the guest had been poisoned because an assassin had infiltrated the banquet and secretly poisoned the wine. The assassin's method was extremely skillful; he took advantage of the noise and chaos of the banquet to silently slip the poison into the wine pot. By the time the guests drank the poisoned wine, it was already too late to save them.

When the news spread, the entire capital was in an uproar. The high-ranking officials and nobles were terrified, and dared not even hold banquets anymore. They were terrified that one day they too would become victims of someone else's poisoned wine, which would be a truly unjust death.

Lord Li was devastated. He never imagined that his well-intentioned banquet would turn into such a tragedy. He ordered a thorough investigation to bring the assassin to justice. However, the assassin seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

From then on, banquets in the capital became increasingly rare. Even when someone did hold one, it was done with extreme caution and trepidation. Everyone feared becoming the next target, as the assassin with the poison was simply too skilled and impossible to guard against.

However, although the high-ranking officials dared not hold banquets so readily anymore, Empress Gao Lingyan did not lower her guard. She knew that a larger conspiracy must be hidden behind this assassination attempt. Therefore, she ordered increased security and dispatched a secret force to investigate the matter. She believed that as long as she persisted, she would one day uncover the truth behind this assassination attempt and expose those lurking vipers.

Assassins skilled in concealed weapons are truly terrifying! Their mastery of various concealed weapons is unparalleled. Ordinary objects such as darts, daggers, and caltrops can instantly become deadly weapons that kill without leaving a trace, making them truly impossible to defend against.

Yesterday, a majestic general, riding a tall and powerful steed, was leisurely patrolling the streets. Suddenly, a sharp "whoosh" rang out, and a cold light flashed down from the eaves of a roadside house, flying straight towards the general's face like lightning. It was an incredibly sharp dart!

In the blink of an eye, the general, a seasoned veteran, reacted with lightning speed. He swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. However, something unexpected happened—the dart, due to its incredible speed and force, grazed the general and struck an innocent passerby standing nearby. The poor man, before he could even comprehend what had transpired, let out a scream and collapsed to the ground.

Witnessing this, the general was instantly enraged, his face turning red with anger, even his beard bristling crooked with fury. He immediately waved his hand and roared, "Men! Seal the city gates immediately! Search the entire city for the assassin! He must be brought to justice!" Instantly, the entire city was plunged into a tense atmosphere. Soldiers rushed about, searching house to house, but disappointingly, despite their arduous efforts and several days of searching, they found not a single trace of the assassin. This incident ultimately remained an unsolved mystery, leaving people with a lingering sense of unease and doubt whenever it was mentioned.

There are always some fools in this world who are ignorant of their own limitations and like to confront things head-on. They seem to be reincarnations of Vajra Arhats who sprang from the cracks in rocks, and they have mastered a set of unparalleled martial arts skills. Their strength is so great that they can even shake iron armor!

Once upon a time, in the capital city lived a notorious tyrant. This man, relying on his power and martial arts skills, ran rampant in this prosperous city, oppressing the good and causing widespread resentment among the people. Finally, his evil deeds angered a mysterious assassin. Upon hearing of the tyrant's wickedness, the assassin was filled with rage and decided to step forward to rid the people of this scourge.

The following morning, without hesitation, the assassin stormed into the tyrant's mansion. In an instant, shouts of battle erupted from within. The assassin, like a tiger descending a mountain, fiercely engaged the tyrant's henchmen in a brutal fight. Amidst the flashing blades and flying swords, the scene was incredibly thrilling and dangerous!

Surprisingly, the assassin showed no fear in this extremely dangerous battle. His muscles bulged high, as hard as if cast from bronze and iron. No matter how fiercely the enemy attacked him with swords, spears, and halberds, he could easily defend himself with his strong physique, without even leaving a scratch.

Before long, the bully watched in horror as his men fell one after another. But before he could react, the assassin was already upon him. With a loud bang, the bully was struck hard in the abdomen by the assassin's powerful fist. Instantly, the bully coughed up blood, his body flying several meters away like a kite with a broken string, finally crashing heavily to the ground, looking utterly pathetic.

After this battle, the once arrogant and domineering bully was utterly terrified and never dared to show his face in the capital again, fearing further punishment from the incredibly brave assassin. News of the incident quickly spread throughout the capital, and people applauded the assassin who had intervened to help the innocent, regarding him as the embodiment of justice.

However, despite their skillful methods, these assassins were not always successful. Sometimes, they would fail and be captured.

An assassin was tasked with assassinating a wealthy merchant. He sneaked into the merchant's house, intending to poison the merchant's water. However, just as he poured the poison into the water, he was discovered by a maid. The maid, quick-witted and agile, snatched the cup and cried for help. Seeing the situation was dire, the assassin fled. But the merchant's house was already under a trap; he was surrounded by guards as soon as he reached the gate. Finally, he was bound hand and foot and taken to the authorities, where he received his due punishment.

An assassin skilled in concealed weapons was tasked with assassinating a high-ranking official. He had laid countless hidden weapons along the official's daily route, ready to unleash a volley of arrows the moment the official appeared. However, the official had an emergency and changed his route, not taking the usual path. The assassin waited for a long time without seeing the official. Just as he was about to leave, he was discovered by patrolling soldiers. Seeing his suspicious behavior, the soldiers knew he was up to no good and immediately arrested him. After interrogation, the assassin's plot was finally revealed.

Assassinations are rampant in the capital, sweeping through the ancient city like an invisible storm. Every night, an indescribable tension permeates the streets and alleys, with people hurrying about, fearing they will become the next unfortunate target.

Empress Gao Lingyan sat in her magnificent palace, her gaze sharp and penetrating, piercing through layers of curtains as she surveyed the chaotic world. Faced with this series of assassinations, she felt not so much anger or fear, but rather calm and resolute determination. She knew that in this world of intertwined power and desire, the mastermind behind it all was perhaps not a single individual or force, but a vast web woven from complex entanglements of interests.

"Enemy state? Former subordinates? Hmph, whoever it is, daring to stir up trouble under my feet is courting death." Gao Lingyan's voice was deep and powerful, each word seeming to burst forth from the depths of her heart, carrying an unquestionable authority. She was in no hurry to investigate the truth behind it all, because in her view, the truth was often more complex and cruel than it appeared. Rather than wasting time on endless speculation and investigation, it was better to act directly, eliminating those who dared to challenge her authority with overwhelming force.

Thus, the Empress's will was swiftly transmitted to every corner of the capital. A secret force composed of elites was quietly established, moving silently through the city like phantoms in the night, searching for lurking assassins. Whenever an assassin made a mistake, whether a master of poisons, an expert in concealed weapons, or a highly skilled warrior, they would be instantly captured by this mysterious force.

Empress Gao Lingyan did not personally participate in every capture operation, but she always closely monitored the situation. Whenever an assassin was captured, she would interrogate them personally, trying to extract more clues about the forces behind them. However, these assassins were usually highly trained and extremely tight-lipped; even under the harshest torture, few were willing to reveal a single word.

"Hmph, if that's how it is, then so be it." Empress Gao Lingyan sneered, a ruthless glint in her eyes. "I'd like to see if they can really kill me and all the officials in this city!"