My palace is full of female protagonists.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Zhao Chengyu's expression grew even more grave. He knew that although Consort Zhen's request seemed harsh, it was actually for the greater good. In the face of an epidemic, the emotions and interests of any individual must give way to the safety and stability of the whole. However, the use of force was ultimately not a long-term solution, and caution was needed to avoid inciting public anger.

After a moment's contemplation, Crown Prince Zhao Chengyu slowly said, "A show of force is indeed necessary, but we must ensure that the operation is legal and compliant, and minimize harm to the people. Here's what we'll do: I will immediately order the dispatch of a capable team to the border to assist you in carrying out the eradication operation. At the same time, I will also order sufficient food and silver to be prepared to compensate those who have suffered from the epidemic. Furthermore, we must strengthen our propaganda efforts to make the people understand the severity of the epidemic and the importance of cooperating with the eradication operation."

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhen's eyes flashed with gratitude. She knew that Crown Prince Zhao Chengyu's decision reflected both his wisdom and responsibility, as well as his care and commitment to the people. Therefore, she bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness is wise."

Consort Zhen's departure was like a fallen leaf gently landing on a still lake, creating ripples that quickly subsided. Only after Consort Zhen left did His Highness the Crown Prince slowly pull a hidden slip of paper from beneath a mountain of memorials. On it, boldly written, were the words: "Keep an eye on Consort Zhen." These words seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, pressing heavily on his heart. His brow furrowed, his face filled with vexation, as he muttered to himself, "Whom can I possibly keep an eye on? Within these palace walls, people's hearts are unpredictable; how can I possibly control them?"

These past few days, His Highness the Crown Prince had been burdened with a thousand worries, yet had nowhere to confide in. However, fate seemed to love playing tricks on him; just as he was about to be swallowed by this invisible pressure, a dove from the distant Yunnan Kingdom broke the silence. Hidden in a small bamboo tube tied to its leg was a handwritten letter from Empress Dowager Gao Lingyan. The Crown Prince carefully unfolded the letter, and saw that it was written in delicate handwriting: "My son, are you well? Knowing you have been granted a fief, I am overjoyed and deeply moved by your success."

This unexpected letter both surprised and excited the Crown Prince. In the palace, though he was the Crown Prince, he often felt like a drifting duckweed, without any support. He could only glean bits and pieces of information about his father's and the Empress's correspondence from his father, which mostly concerned state affairs and rarely mentioned him. But this time, he had received a letter directly from his mother; the warmth and care in it filled him with a comforting feeling.

He read his mother's letter repeatedly, each word like sweet dew, nourishing his parched heart. He felt an unprecedented warmth and strength, as if his mother were right beside him, silently watching over and supporting him. This power from maternal love allowed him to temporarily forget the intrigues of the palace and the shadow of Consort Zhen's departure.

His Highness the Crown Prince was so excited that he danced around in his study. Although he knew his behavior was somewhat out of line, he could not contain his joy and excitement at that moment.

Zhao Chengyu was sitting in his study, his brow furrowed, looking quite troubled. Ever since Fang Hujie was thrust into the limelight by the Emperor and became the focus of everyone's attention, his life had undergone a dramatic change. His once humble home had now become the object of everyone's clamor to curry favor, with a constant stream of people coming to offer gifts, attempting to establish a connection with Fang Hujie in this way.

However, at the same time, an undercurrent was quietly brewing. Some people who harbored resentment or jealousy towards Fang Hujie began to secretly submit memorials impeaching Fang Hujie to Prime Minister Su's residence, instead of sending them directly to the palace. These memorials contained numerous accusations and slanders against Fang Hujie, attempting to weaken his position in the emperor's eyes.

Prime Minister Su, holding these memorials, approached Zhao Chengyu with a troubled expression and asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do with these memorials?" Zhao Chengyu, looking somewhat tired, rubbed his head and smiled helplessly, "They're not for me, just pretend you didn't see them. You can take them home and use them to start a fire."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su did not show any relief. He knew that although these memorials were small, the power behind them was not to be underestimated. He said worriedly, "The memorials are a minor matter. I'm afraid someone might take advantage of the gift-giving opportunity to secretly harm the other party."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Isn't he from a poor family? How many people could his family have? Your Prime Minister's residence is so large, just give his family a small courtyard to live in. This way, you can both protect them and show your magnanimity."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su hesitated. He scratched his head and said, "I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me. After all, I have many students there. What if they make things difficult for Lord Fang?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu smiled helplessly. He said, "You decide for yourself. There are so many officials at Wenshu Monastery. If I praise one, I'll be ostracized. What's the point of building Wenshu Monastery then? As the Prime Minister, you should have your own judgment and decision-making."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su nodded. He smiled and said, "Indeed, being an official is inherently difficult. However, I will do my best to handle this matter. I will go and discuss with Lord Leng to see if he can provide Lord Fang with a safe place to stay."

After saying this, Prime Minister Su turned and left the study.

Coincidentally, the power struggles within the imperial palace often had far-reaching consequences, even affecting the emperor's favorites. Fang Hujie, an official who rose from humble beginnings, gained the emperor's favor and was given important responsibilities due to his outstanding talent and upright character. However, this also made him a thorn in the side of certain powerful figures.

The officials appointed by Fang Hujie were almost all of humble origins, yet exceptionally talented. These officials displayed remarkable ability and determination in court, quickly becoming a breath of fresh air in the government. However, this group of upright officials faced suppression and exclusion from all sides.

While officials in Beijing outwardly maintained politeness towards Hu Jie and his subordinates, they secretly created obstacles at every turn, attempting to isolate them. Those officials dispatched outside Beijing faced even greater difficulties. They not only had to confront numerous challenges at work but also constantly guard against suppression from powerful figures and local bullies.

As for the officials in those villages and towns, they suffered an even greater misfortune. They were arrested without cause and subjected to various fabricated charges. These incidents did not initially attract enough attention until the prefect of the capital received a series of reports about the matter, at which point they gradually came to light.

Upon hearing these reports, Zhao Chengyu was furious. He slammed his fist on the table, fuming, and said, "Whose people are they that can't stand me hiring a few poor kids? Huh? Should I make their families poor too?"

The prefect was covered in sweat, clearly troubled by the current situation. He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively suggested, "Your Majesty, why don't we send a few officials to handle this matter?" Zhao Chengyu rubbed his temples, looking troubled, and asked in return, "Who can we send?"

The prefect was clearly prepared, and he quickly replied, "There are also officials in charge of punishments at Wenshu Monastery, and they might be able to handle this task." Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned even more deeply, and he pondered, "Those punishment officials at Wenshu Monastery, I seem to remember sending them out on some mission."

At this moment, Xiao Kuangzi leaned closer and whispered in Zhao Chengyu's ear, "Your Majesty, they went to Yuyao County with the Crown Prince. Originally, Prime Minister Gao was going to go in person, but later he only sent a few of them to accompany the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Right, right! How could I forget that! Immediately send a message by carrier pigeon, ordering them to rush to the place where those officials are trapped and rescue them. At the same time, whoever arrested them, whoever targeted them—bring them all to the capital! I want to interrogate them personally and see what kind of monsters and demons they are!"

Zhao Chengyu's words were like a thunderclap, stirring up considerable waves in the imperial court. Immediately, various speculations and discussions emerged. Some worried that this would trigger even greater turmoil in officialdom, while others hoped that this operation would thoroughly purge corruption and darkness from the court.

For Zhao Chengyu, this was not merely a rescue operation for officials, but also a defense of the court's prestige. He knew that if this matter was not handled promptly and effectively, the court's authority would be severely damaged, and it could even trigger a greater crisis.

Therefore, he did not hesitate to take strong measures, not only to rescue the trapped officials but also to bring down the masterminds behind the scenes. He believed that only in this way could corruption in the court be completely eradicated and the country be put back on the right track.

This operation, initiated by Zhao Chengyu, will undoubtedly unleash a bloody storm in the imperial court.

The following morning, although the sun shone brightly, a gloomy atmosphere hung over the capital. The biggest event was undoubtedly the terrifying assassination attempt on Princess Yi outside the theater. This incident not only shocked the entire capital but also plunged the court into a state of panic.

Every time Princess Yi left the palace, she was accompanied by a well-trained imperial guard, traveling in a grand procession to the most bustling theater in the capital to watch a performance. However, no one expected that a sudden assassination attempt would shatter the tranquility right at the theater's entrance.

The assassins were clearly the result of meticulous planning and preparation. They were not only numerous but also exceptionally skilled, and their attacks were ruthless and merciless. In the bustling yet confined space outside the theater, they moved like ghosts through the crowd. In an instant, swords flashed, the air thick with the acrid smell of blood, and the entire scene descended into chaos, resembling a living hell.

Despite the well-trained imperial guards protecting Princess Yi, they were overwhelmed by the assassins' fierce attacks. Servants and palace women became innocent victims, many killed or wounded, some pierced by swords, others hacked at by blades. Even the valiant imperial guards, though fighting desperately, were not spared, their blood staining their robes and dripping onto the flagstones.

The scene was utter chaos, with screams, cries for help, and the clashing of weapons all mingling together to create a horrific picture. People panicked and scattered in all directions, but there was nowhere to escape; they could only struggle desperately in this vortex of death.

However, at this critical juncture of life and death, Princess Yi showed no sign of panic. Although she was in grave danger, her eyes revealed a calm and resolute expression. Princess Yi was known for her ruthless methods, and she knew that panicking at this moment would only put her in greater peril. Therefore, she quickly adjusted her mindset and calmly directed the Imperial Guards to launch a counterattack.

Under her command, the Imperial Guards quickly adjusted their formation, tightly protecting the princess in the center. Wielding spears and broadswords, they fought bravely against the assassins. Although the assassins were as fierce as tigers, they gradually showed signs of fatigue under the valiant resistance of the Imperial Guards.

Thanks to the desperate protection of the Imperial Guards, Princess Yi was finally able to escape danger. When the Imperial Guards carried her away on horseback, although her face was still as pale as paper, her eyes revealed a sense of relief and determination at surviving a calamity.

This assassination attempt undoubtedly brought unprecedented headaches and challenges to the Prefect of the Capital. When he arrived at the scene, the sight before him made him gasp in horror. The bodies of the assassins lay scattered haphazardly on the bluestone slabs, numbering over a hundred. These assassins were clearly highly trained experts; their agility and ruthlessness were remarkable, and even a one-against-ten fight had inflicted considerable losses on the Imperial Guards.

Gazing at the heroic imperial guards, servants, and palace attendants who had sacrificed their lives, a flicker of grief and anger crossed the eyes of the Prefect of the Capital. He knew all too well that such an incident would not only severely impact the stability and security of the capital, but would also deal an unprecedented blow to the dignity of the imperial family. After all, for Princess Yi, a member of the imperial family, to be assassinated in broad daylight was undoubtedly a serious provocation against the authority of the imperial family.

In order to quell the situation as quickly as possible, the Prefect of the Capital immediately ordered the area to be sealed off and mobilized a large number of people for investigation and manhunt. He knew that only by finding the mastermind behind the assassins as soon as possible could the public's panic be eliminated and the capital's security and stability be restored.

The investigation was swiftly launched, with the Prefect of the Capital personally directing the operation. He ordered his men to thoroughly search the scene, looking for any possible clues. Simultaneously, he dispatched trusted men to check all the city gates to prevent the assassins from escaping the capital.

During the investigation, the Prefect of the Capital discovered a shocking fact: the weapons used by these assassins were all engraved with special markings, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary martial arts practitioners, but members of a mysterious organization. This discovery strengthened the Prefect's resolve to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the mastermind behind it all to justice.