My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Chengyu sat upright in the imperial study, the candlelight flickering and illuminating his composed face. The moment Fu Zhuqing stepped into the room, Zhao Chengyu's gaze involuntarily fell upon the young official from the Ministry of Justice. Fu Zhuqing did indeed possess an indescribable femininity, as Xiao Kuangzi had described, but this didn't stem from his slender physique or delicate waist; rather, it originated from his unique aura. He possessed a strong, inverted triangle physique, his waist slender yet powerful. However, his refined features, long legs, and the effortless grace in his every movement made him stand out among the men, even surpassing many women.

When he kowtowed, Fu Zhuqing appeared somewhat awkward due to his slender waist and long legs, but this did not detract from his charm at all; on the contrary, it added a unique allure. Zhao Chengyu suppressed a smile, striving to make his expression appear serious and solemn.

"Is Lord Fu doing well at Wenshu Monastery?" Zhao Chengyu asked, his tone filled with concern.

Fu Zhuqing bowed slightly, her voice clear as a spring: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am well."

Zhao Chengyu chuckled lightly, then said politely, "It's really tough on you all, a bunch of children from ordinary families, yet you have to do things for someone as busy as me. I heard that most of the people from Wenshu Monastery went to Yuyao County with the Crown Prince, is that right?"

Fu Zhuqing respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. However, due to the recent city lockdown and curfew, there are not many urgent matters to attend to."

Zhao Chengyu nodded, then changed the subject: "I have something I'd like you to handle. I've arrested several minor officials in the capital who, believing the words of a traitor, impeached Lord Fang Hujie. You should know something about Fang Hujie, right?"

Fu Zhuqing was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Yes, we live in the same lounge. Lord Fang is indeed a very well-mannered person."

Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly: "What a coincidence. I think that since you are from the Ministry of Justice, it is most appropriate for you to handle this matter. I plan to release those officials first, observe them for a while, and then decide how to deal with them. Their families will remain in the prison for the time being. Once it is decided to dismiss them from their posts, their families will be released."

Upon hearing this, a knowing glint flashed in Fu Zhuqing's eyes: "You want to find out who's behind the scenes who's been lobbying them to impeach Lord Fang?"

Zhao Chengyu nodded approvingly: "Exactly. But when we ask them, they can only name the last person who contacted them, but they can't find out who the real mastermind is. Do you understand what I mean?"

Fu Zhuqing looked troubled: "This humble subject is of low status and his words carry little weight. I'm afraid even if I have the will, I am powerless to reverse the situation."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu smiled slightly and picked up an imperial edict and a letter of recommendation from the table: "Here's what I'll do. I'll first appoint you as a centurion of the Imperial Guard, give you a squad of men, and attach this letter of recommendation. After this matter is settled, you can be reinstated to your original position."

Fu Zhuqing accepted the imperial edict and letter of recommendation, a hint of gratitude and determination flashing in his eyes: "Your humble servant obeys and will proceed to the imperial prison immediately."

With that, he turned and left, his steps firm and powerful. Zhao Chengyu watched his departing figure, thinking to himself, "Perhaps this time I really can find the mastermind hiding in the shadows."

As expected, as emperor, Zhao Chengyu enjoyed supreme power. Every order he issued was executed swiftly, without needing to worry about details or trivial matters. This feeling of being in control of everything made him feel as if he were above all things, carefree and at ease.

Whenever he successfully assigned a task and saw his subordinates working diligently for him, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. When the task was completed satisfactorily, he would generously bestow rewards to those who had rendered outstanding service. Of course, anyone who dared to be perfunctory or disobey his orders would face merciless punishment, or even the tragic end of beheading.

That night, Zhao Chengyu finished his day's official duties and returned to his quarters. However, when he stepped into his room, he found that Empress Zhao Qi'er and her palace maids were not there. This was actually a good thing for him. Usually, the Empress was always very caring towards him, but the occasional time alone with her made him feel particularly comfortable.

He sighed softly, thinking to himself, "Tonight, let me enjoy this peace and quiet all by myself."

So, without further thought, he went straight to the bedside, casually took off his dragon robe, leaving only his light undergarments. He lay sprawled on the bed, enjoying the comfort of the soft mattress, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

When Zhao Chengyu woke up, the morning light had already quietly spread across the bluestone path outside the bedroom. Besides the anxiously waiting Xiao Kuangzi and a group of palace servants with their heads bowed, there was also a prefect from the capital who looked hurried and had obviously been waiting for a long time. This prefect looked anxious, as if he had something urgent to report immediately. His impatient manner of rushing into the bedroom even made Xiao Kuangzi worry for him, pacing back and forth from time to time, trying to calm the anxious official down.

However, the rules of the palace were strict. Even if it was a matter of utmost importance, one could only enter the emperor's bedchamber after the emperor had finished dressing and formally summoned him. Xiao Kuangzi knew this well, and he tried his best to calm the prefect, his words revealing a hint of helplessness and sympathy: "Prefect, you've come before dawn. Deputy General Ma specifically instructed you to wait in the imperial study, but you insisted on seeing the emperor. Seeing how tired you are, I made an exception and allowed you to wait outside the bedchamber. I hope you can understand."

As Zhao Chengyu listened to Xiao Kuangzi's report in his bedchamber, his curiosity grew. Especially since the guards he had specifically sent to monitor Fu Zhuqing the previous night had yet to report back, he was eager to know what Fu Zhuqing had done overnight, and whether he had taken any action. Therefore, he nodded slightly, his voice carrying a hint of authority and curiosity: "Since the Prefect is in such a hurry, then let him in."

As the emperor, Zhao Chengyu was meticulously attended to by over twenty palace servants after waking up, handling everything from dressing and washing to styling his hair—all without him having to lift a finger. The fact that someone was requesting an audience provided him with a chance to "steal a half-day of leisure" in his bedchamber. Zhao Chengyu, who had already stood up, ready to begin his busy day, now sat back down on the soft bed, letting the well-trained palace servants bustle around him, helping him change clothes and tidy his appearance.

The palace maids' movements were skillful and gentle. Zhao Chengyu closed his eyes, enjoying this rare tranquility and comfort. He pondered to himself whether the Prefect's urgent request for an audience was related to Fu Zhuqing's incident last night, or whether some new development had occurred in the capital. In any case, he was prepared to listen to the Prefect's report and then make a corresponding decision based on the actual situation.

When the prefect entered, he had to stoop slightly to get used to the not-so-high threshold of the bedroom. He walked cautiously, each step extremely light, as if afraid of disturbing the emperor's rest. Upon reaching the center of the bedroom, he respectfully knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, meticulously completing the entire set of kneeling rituals without daring to raise his head. Naturally, he could not see the emperor's perhaps slightly disheveled appearance at that moment.

"Your Majesty," the Prefect's voice trembled slightly, clearly a mixture of awe for the Emperor and worry about his own dereliction of duty, "Lord Fu Zhuqing acted as ordered, and indeed captured several suspicious assassins last night and immediately escorted them to the prefectural office. However, I did not expect that these assassins, during the transport, would take advantage of a moment of inattention and spit out wax-sealed poison from their mouths, dying one by one before they could be interrogated. I have failed in my duty, failing to capture any survivors, and I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He did not immediately reprimand the prefect, but calmly asked, "Do they have any special tattoos or markings on their bodies? This might provide us with some clues."

Upon hearing this, the prefect quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have ordered the coroner to examine them carefully. The assassins did not have any obvious tattoos or special marks. However, the coroner discovered a rather strange detail during the examination—their finger joints were unusually large, and their palms were covered with thick calluses. Based on years of experience, the coroner believes they were craftsmen who had been engaged in the casting of copper coins for many years, commonly known as 'copper coin craftsmen'."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned even more, clearly unfamiliar with the term "coin maker." "Coin maker?" he repeated, a hint of doubt in his voice. "What connection could a coin maker have with an assassin?"

Zhao Chengyu knew in his heart that this matter was far from simple. Why would several seemingly ordinary copper coin craftsmen suddenly transform into assassins, and why would they choose such a drastic way to commit suicide? This series of questions swirled in his mind. He knew that to uncover the truth behind all of this, he needed more clues and a more in-depth investigation.

The prefect, his face grave, said, “Your Honor, they are indeed the copper coin craftsmen who can meticulously create the wax molds used for casting copper coins. It’s strange, though. Copper coin craftsmen are already few in number, usually only a handful can be found at the mines in various counties. But the seven or eight people arrested this time are all copper coin craftsmen, which is truly unbelievable!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning. He said in a deep voice, "Don't be so eager to kill yourself. Quickly send people to thoroughly investigate and find out why so many copper coin craftsmen have recently flooded into the city. Could it be that these copper coin craftsmen are all here on official business in the capital? If you can't find out the truth, you will not be let off lightly!"

The prefect trembled with fear and hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! I will personally lead men to investigate immediately and will not dare to be negligent in the slightest!"

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu's expression softened slightly, but he still reminded him, "Once the matter is clarified, immediately send someone to inform me. Even if I am in court dealing with state affairs, you must report this in a timely manner. This matter is of great importance and must not be neglected!"

On this day, sunlight streamed through the windows of the imperial court, dappling the magnificent hall and adding a touch of drama to the solemn setting. Most striking of all was the Yi princess kneeling in the center of the hall, her posture upright, her gaze resolute, as if she were about to announce something earth-shattering.

Sitting on the high dragon throne, Zhao Chengyu glanced at the assembled officials below and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This plot is practically a live-action female protagonist novel! I've said it before, there are at least six female protagonists in this story who can hold up the sky, how could things suddenly become calm? Look, Princess Yi has caused such a commotion again."

Princess Yi took a deep breath, her voice clear and firm: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask you for a favor today. I wish to marry Yun Feiyu!" As her words fell, everyone's gaze turned to Yun Feiyu, who was kneeling behind Princess Yi. He was clearly startled by this sudden confession and hurriedly bowed down, looking somewhat at a loss.

Zhao Chengyu shook his head helplessly and laughed, "Princess Yi, Princess Yi, your move has really caught everyone off guard. Anyway, Yun Feiyu is going to your fiefdom with you. If you want to marry him, oh no, I mean, if you want him to be your consort, why not just come to the Imperial Study and tell me? Why make such a scene in the court and embarrass everyone like this?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yi's eyes flashed with determination: "Your Majesty, you may not know, but someone wants to kill Yun Feiyu! I have no choice but to come to the court to ask for your permission to marry him. Only in this way can we ensure his safety and prevent anyone from easily harming him again."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned slightly, stood up from the dragon throne, and slowly walked down the steps to Princess Yi: "No, Princess Yi, there's something more to your words. In other words, you don't truly love him, but only want to protect his life, which is why you want him to be your consort? Oh dear, how can you be so frivolous? I'm still investigating your assassination attempt, how can you lose your composure so quickly?"

Princess Yi raised her head, looking directly at Zhao Chengyu, her eyes flashing with unyielding light: "Your Majesty, I am not playing this game. Yun Feiyu has been innocently dragged into this conflict, and I cannot stand by and watch him suffer. I am willing to pledge my marriage to protect him."

Seeing Princess Yi's resolute expression, Zhao Chengyu knew that further persuasion would be futile. He then turned his gaze to Yun Feiyu, who was at a loss after Princess Yi's sudden confession. He sighed softly, seemingly trying to find a way to both protect Yun Feiyu and quell the turmoil.

“Lord Yun,” Zhao Chengyu pulled Yun Feiyu, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet, his eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and expectation, “You see, the princess didn’t want you to be her consort because she was in love with you. You know the reasons behind it. I remember you are a member of the Yun family, and a native of the capital. If you were really sent to such a distant county, you might not be able to get used to it, would you?”

Yun Feiyu staggered to his feet as Zhao Chengyu pulled him up, a blush rising involuntarily to his cheeks. He glanced up at Zhao Chengyu, then quickly lowered his head, his voice tinged with shyness and determination: "Your humble servant... Your humble servant also wishes to serve the princess."

These words astonished everyone present, even Zhao Chengyu stared wide-eyed at Yun Feiyu in disbelief. He had originally thought Yun Feiyu would use this opportunity to decline, but unexpectedly he…

"Lord Yun, are you sure?" Zhao Chengyu asked again, his voice filled with disbelief, after all, this concerned the future of the two of them and the potential turmoil in the court.

Yun Feiyu raised his head again, this time with a firm look in his eyes: "Your Majesty, I am certain. Although the princess did not choose me out of love, I am willing to treat her with sincerity and protect her."

Zhao Chengyu shut his mouth and rolled his eyes.