My palace is full of female protagonists.

In a gloomy imperial court, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating. An official, usually known for his integrity and uprightness, suddenly broke free from his silence. His resentment was palpable, and he spoke with a trembling yet firm voice: "Your Majesty, you are licentious and tyrannical, indulging in sensual pleasures day and night, neglecting the decline of the court and the suffering of the people. As a result, the country has been repeatedly ravaged by epidemics and natural disasters, and the people are living in misery. Isn't this all your doing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu did not immediately become angry. Instead, he frowned slightly, his asymmetrical eyebrows—one raised high, the other drooping—seemingly silently conveying the complex emotions within him. He spoke slowly, his tone tinged with self-mockery and helplessness: "How have I been debauched? My harem, including the former Empress Gao, only has five concubines, one of whom is a female Taoist priest, and another is a female physician skilled in medicine. Tell me, in this capital, which of those纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are dissolute and dissolute) doesn't have a harem several times more lively than mine? You keep accusing me, but have you ever considered that which emperor can completely avoid natural disasters and epidemics during his reign? I want to ask, is it because of these natural and man-made disasters that you want to push all the responsibility onto me? Or are you ministers who only know how to fight for power and profit, but are helpless in solving the actual difficulties of the people, only able to impeach those honest officials without family background?"

The official was speechless for a long time after Zhao Chengyu's words. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only sigh helplessly, as if all his anger and dissatisfaction had vanished in that moment. Just then, another official stepped forward, his voice sharp: "Then how do you explain your treatment of General Yun's family? Your disrespect towards them is known throughout the court!"

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible chill flashed in Zhao Chengyu's eyes, but his tone remained calm: "My sister, Princess Yi, the only surviving member of the Yi tribe, was attacked in broad daylight two days ago by hundreds of assassins. Fortunately, the Imperial Guards we usually send out are highly skilled and numerous, and they suffered many injuries to protect her. Now, General Yun is far away in Yunnan, expanding the territory and recently conquering Lanling, achieving great military exploits. His eldest son, General Yun, even accompanied the Empress to Feng, quelling the internal strife there, risking his life for the country and its people. Tell me, if I don't protect their families in the capital, this large family, almost entirely composed of frail women, what would I do if something happened to them? How could I face General Yun? How could I face the people of the world?"

These words silenced the entire court. Everyone exchanged glances, seemingly re-evaluating the emperor and the various predicaments and challenges he faced. The official who had initially raised the objection lowered his head, his expression complex, as if reflecting on his impulsiveness and one-sidedness.

Another official, looking indignant and seemingly intent on pushing the debate to another climax, said, "Your Majesty, since you have concubines by your side, why not allow Prime Minister Su to take a few concubines to enjoy family life? Isn't that unfair?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu's lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze sharp as if he could see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts: "Prime Minister Su? He colluded with several ministers in the court to frame me for favoring Empress Gao. Their actions are treacherous, how can I tolerate such behavior? Furthermore, regarding his family affairs, Prime Minister Su's favoritism towards his concubine and neglect of his wife has caused Madam Su to become heartbroken and spend her days in Buddhist ceremonies. This matter has been widely discussed in the capital, and the reputation of Su's illegitimate son is notorious. Haven't you all inquired about this? He wants to interfere in whether my Empress can participate in politics, so can't I seek justice for the innocent Madam Su who has been wronged? Now, Empress Gao has ascended the throne as Empress and personally led the Yun family army, making great contributions to the expansion of our country's territory. Is my method of employing people wrong?"

These words caused an immediate silence in the court. All eyes were fixed on Zhao Chengyu, as if weighing the truth and weight of his words. At this moment, another official couldn't help but speak up, his tone tinged with doubt: "Then why did His Majesty banish His Highness the Crown Prince from the capital? Wouldn't this cause widespread discussion, suggesting that His Majesty harbors resentment towards the heir apparent?"

Zhao Chengyu felt a splitting headache. He involuntarily rubbed his forehead and slowly sat back on the dragon throne, looking quite exhausted. At this moment, a shrewd and capable eunuch in a small box nearby saw this and quickly stepped forward, explaining softly, "My lords, His Majesty sent His Highness the Crown Prince away from the capital so that he could gain experience and broaden his horizons. Furthermore, the previous governor of Yuyao County was a cousin of the Empress, old and senile, who listened to treacherous officials, causing the local people to suffer greatly from the plague. Instead of trying to treat them, he sealed off the villages to prevent the spread of the disease, which only worsened the situation. Only His Highness the Crown Prince, with his noble status and ability to consider the overall situation, can properly govern Yuyao County while also preserving the Empress's reputation and preventing the royal family from losing face. We hope that you, my lords, can understand His Majesty's good intentions."

Xiao Quanzi's words were like a clear spring, slowly extinguishing the anger and suspicion in the court. The officials looked at each other, their calculations and doubts seemingly finding some resolution at that moment. Zhao Chengyu, on the other hand, silently closed his eyes, seemingly praying deep within his heart that the world would be at peace, that his people could live in harmony and prosperity, and that every decision he made would be judged fairly by time and history.

Seeing the weariness in Zhao Chengyu's eyes, Xiao Kuangzi considerately instructed a maidservant standing nearby to prepare a cup of fine Longjing tea. She herself took the tea and carefully handed it to Zhao Chengyu. Zhao Chengyu took a small sip; the warm tea seemed like a gentle current flowing through his heart, bringing a sense of peace and comfort. He put down the teacup, his sharp gaze sweeping over the kneeling officials below. His tone was tinged with reproach and disappointment: "So it's clear you yourselves lack the ability to distinguish right from wrong, lack responsibility, and are unfit to be officials! Now, you've been manipulated by those treacherous villains to impeach newly rich officials in the court. This behavior is an insult to me and a betrayal of the country! Since you are so incompetent, go and live among the common people, experience their suffering firsthand, and see just how pale and powerless your so-called 'serving the country and the people' truly is!"

The officials whose names were mentioned paled upon hearing Zhao Chengyu's words, their eyes filled with terror and resentment. They knew that once they incurred the Emperor's wrath, even the lowest-ranking official position would be difficult to retain. At this moment, their despair stemmed not only from the shattered prospects of their futures but also from the fact that they had implicated their families.

Sure enough, not far away, their families, hearing the conversation, some covered their faces and wept, others sobbed softly, their soft cries echoing in the empty palace, adding to the desolation and helplessness. For officials, nothing was more important than being favored by the emperor; it was not only a symbol of status but also the continuation of their family's glory. Now, all of that seemed to have vanished, and their future became utterly uncertain.

Zhao Chengyu's transmigration into the body of an ancient emperor was something he himself couldn't believe, yet it actually happened. He became Emperor Zhao Yingqing, sitting on that magnificent dragon throne, facing the court officials every day, his heart filled with indescribable mixed feelings.

Zhao Chengyu truly admired the perseverance of the people of ancient times. Whether they were farmers or warriors, they all seemed to have sprung from the ground up, full of energy and unafraid of hardship or fatigue. And those with brains—their wisdom and strategies, if they were in modern times, they could all become business tycoons or top scientists. But then again, there were so few people in ancient times who could actually learn; the streets were full of illiterate people who couldn't even recognize a few characters. This sometimes made Zhao Chengyu, a soul from modern times, incredibly anxious.

Zhao Chengyu actually longed to leave the palace, to see the real world and experience the lives of ordinary people in ancient times. But the thought of the illiterate people everywhere made him hesitate. Attending court in the palace, though tiring, at least meant being surrounded by people who knew something, able to chat and avoid feeling too lonely. Besides, the emperor's status was incredibly powerful! He could do whatever he wanted, and if he didn't want to do something, he could simply delegate it to someone else. This kind of life, while sometimes boring, at least filled the gaps in his modern life.

However, looking at the officials in the court who had been manipulated, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but feel a torrent of complaints. How could these dignified officials of the capital be so easily fooled? They were all like fools, being sold out and still counting the money for the sellers. Sometimes Zhao Chengyu really wanted to pat them on the shoulder and tell them, "Guys, you need to be more careful! This world is dangerous; you need to learn to protect yourselves!" But considering his current position, he decided against it, lest people think the emperor had gone mad.

Zhao Chengyu sat by the candlelight in the prison, his brow furrowed, pondering a simple and easy-to-understand idea. He knew that this idea might be somewhat "bad," after all, similar plots had been repeatedly depicted in many novels, but the current situation was complex and complicated, and conventional methods were no longer effective, so he had to take an unconventional approach.

"Let these foolish officials out first," Zhao Chengyu thought, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Yes, only in this way can we draw out the true colors of those lurking in the shadows."

He knew in his heart that although these officials were greedy and incompetent, they were the link connecting them to the mastermind behind the scenes. Once they regained their freedom, they would be eager to report to the forces behind them, and this was precisely the first step Zhao Chengyu had laid out. As for their families, Zhao Chengyu decided to detain them temporarily as a check on them.

"Doing this will both ensure that their loyalty does not immediately turn against them, and also serve as bait to lure the masterminds behind the scenes to show themselves."

He pondered, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. After all, in the game of power, family is often both a weakness and a powerful bargaining chip. Two or three days of observation were Zhao Chengyu's buffer time. During this period, he not only needed to closely monitor the officials' every move, but also secretly lay a trap, waiting for the unknown "mastermind" to slip up. He knew that time was of the essence, and every step required careful planning; the slightest misstep could lead to total defeat.

Especially these five people before him—a group jokingly referred to as "the clueless and the grumpy"—are minor figures in this power struggle, yet they could also be the key to revealing the truth. Zhao Chengyu doesn't know them well, but from their daily words and actions, he can sense a helpless helplessness and ignorance stemming from being manipulated. Utilizing this might be the key to breaking the deadlock.

“Moreover,” Zhao Chengyu added, his voice growing even lower, “if there are people behind the scenes, they will definitely target the families of these officials first, using them to threaten or silence them. In this way, although the number of targets increases, as long as we plan carefully, it will be easier to track their movements.”

Emperor Zhao Chengyu did not press the matter further. His brows revealed an undeniable resolve. He stood up and strode out. Seeing this, Xiao Kuangzi quickly gave the jailer a look, signaling him to properly detain the interrogated officials first. Then, he hurriedly followed the emperor.

Night had fallen, and the palace lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting long shadows of Zhao Chengyu. His steps were steady, each one exuding imperial majesty and inviolability. Xiao Kuangzi followed closely behind, silently speculating about the Emperor's purpose for this trip.

Back in the imperial study, Zhao Chengyu sat on the large dragon throne, his hands gently stroking the armrests as he fell into deep thought. He knew that the current situation was complex and intricate, and mishandling it could trigger even greater turmoil. As the highest-ranking local administrator, the prefect was most familiar with the governance of the region, but at this moment, the prefect was busy dealing with various trivial matters and probably couldn't spare the time to attend to his duties.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu looked up at Xiao Kuangzi beside him and asked, "Who are the people in the Ministry of Justice now? Are there any who are young, highly skilled in martial arts, and have a very straightforward temper—basically, a total straight man?" Zhao Chengyu's words were somewhat teasing, but Xiao Kuangzi dared not be negligent in the slightest and quickly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I don't know what you mean by 'a total straight man,' but according to the characteristics you mentioned before, the Ministry of Justice does indeed have Lord Zhuo Qing and Lord Fang Manren, while the Wenshu Monastery has Lord Wu Yaru and Lord Fu Zhuqing."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "Then who is the youngest?" Xiao Kuangzi thought for a moment and replied: "It should be Lord Fu Zhuqing, right? He at least looks the youngest, and he even has a bit of a feminine air about him."

Upon hearing the word "effeminate," Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle: "If he knew you were talking about him like that, he'd probably draw his sword and kill you." Xiao Kuangzi also laughed, but then quickly composed himself. He knew that although the Emperor seemed casual, he was a man of great wisdom.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu stood up and said to Xiao Kuangzi, "Go to Wenshu Monastery and ask Lord Fu Zhuqing to come to the Imperial Study to see me. Remember to be polite and don't really anger him."

Xiao Kuangzi accepted the order and left, secretly relieved that he hadn't offended this future "straight man" today. Zhao Chengyu, on the other hand, fell into deep thought again. He knew that every step from now on would be crucial, and he had to act cautiously to achieve final victory in this game of power.