My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Chengyu pondered to himself: This Yun Feiyu is like a stubborn rock, impossible to reason with no matter how hard he tries. He recalled that Yun Feiyu was indeed on the list when the candidates for the imperial consort were being selected. But now the Yun family's power is overwhelming, almost overshadowing the royal family. If Yun Feiyu were to marry a princess and become a member of the royal family, wouldn't that be like raising a potentially treacherous tiger next to the royal family? Thinking this, Zhao Chengyu shook his head, inwardly regretting: If only he had kept Lin Yi around! Although Lin Yi was exceptionally talented, he was ultimately a lone wolf, without a complicated family background, making him much easier to control.

Just as Zhao Chengyu was lost in thought, the two prime ministers seemed to realize the complexity of the issue and stepped forward to bow respectfully. Prime Minister Gao spoke first, his voice tinged with caution: "Your Majesty, I dare to suggest that although Lord Yun's official rank is not high and he has only been in office for two or three years, he is about the same age as Princess Yi. Judging from his age and personality, he is indeed a suitable candidate for the position of consort."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su quickly echoed, "Prime Minister Gao is absolutely right. Although Lord Yun is a young man from a collateral branch of the Yun family, what is truly remarkable is that he is one of the few civil officials in the Yun family. As everyone knows, the Yun family has always been famous for its military generals, and civil officials are rare. Since Lord Yun is a civil official, his personality should be relatively mild, and he shouldn't be as difficult to control as those military generals. Therefore, I believe that it is quite suitable for Lord Yun to serve as the Imperial Son-in-Law."

At this point, Prime Minister Su seemed to realize something, and his tone became somewhat ambiguous, clearly not daring to speak too explicitly. After all, discussing royal marriages in the imperial court could easily lead to disaster if one was not careful.

However, Zhao Chengyu was not swayed by the two prime ministers' arguments. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "No, I've already thought it through. If Yun Feiyu becomes the imperial son-in-law, then there can't be only one imperial son-in-law!"

These words plunged the entire court into shock. The officials exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with doubt and confusion. After all, since ancient times, it had been a matter of course for a princess to marry only one man. For the emperor to suddenly propose such a thing was truly difficult to accept.

But Zhao Chengyu thought differently. The Crown Prince was about to go to Yunnan as the heir apparent, where he could have multiple wives and concubines and enjoy unparalleled privilege. So why couldn't Princess Yi receive the same treatment while guarding a prefecture? After all, the royal family had enough resources to support such an arrangement; why worry about not being able to afford it?

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but smile slightly, a bold idea forming in his mind. He recalled the banquet at the Crown Prince's residence last time—a grand affair that gathered many talented young men. Why not hold such a banquet again, selecting several handsome and talented consorts for Princess Yi to accompany her to the prefecture she was stationed in? This would both showcase the majesty of the royal family and help Princess Yi find like-minded partners—wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

Having made up his mind, Zhao Chengyu coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the court. He said loudly, "I have decided to hold another banquet at the Crown Prince's residence to select several suitable consorts for Princess Yi, who will then travel with her to the counties she is stationed in. This will not only strengthen the connection between the imperial family and the local authorities, but also allow Princess Yi to better utilize her talents in the counties she governs."

These words caused an uproar in the court. Princess Yi was stunned; she never expected the Emperor to make such a suggestion. Her eyes widened as she watched the Emperor walk back to his throne with his hands behind his back, looking smug, her heart filled with doubt and confusion.

Princess Yi tilted her head, her gaze sweeping across the court before finally settling on Yun Feiyu, who was still lying on the ground, looking bewildered. She frowned, a strange emotion welling up within her. But in an instant, she regained her composure, stood up, and left the court without a word.

Upon seeing this, Prime Minister Gao and Prime Minister Su quickly and tacitly helped Yun Feiyu up. Prime Minister Gao said in a low voice, "His Majesty has granted permission. It seems that Princess Yi will have several husbands."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su looked surprised and asked in confusion, "Granted? Is that right?"

The Crown Prince's residence was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards, with layers upon layers of security. After all, the royal family was currently in a precarious situation, with a complex and volatile landscape where friend and foe were difficult to discern. They were unsure who was truly targeting the royal family, and therefore had to proceed with extreme caution to ensure absolute safety.

However, although the banquet was nominally hosted by the Crown Prince's residence, the Crown Prince was not actually in the capital, but rather in the distant Yunnan Kingdom as the heir apparent. This banquet was merely a pretext for Princess Yi to select a husband under the guise of the Crown Prince's residence. She wanted to use this method to choose several talented and handsome princes to accompany her to the prefecture she was stationed in.

Emperor Zhao Chengyu and Empress Zhao Qi'er naturally attended the banquet, but they did not sit in prominent positions. Instead, they hid behind a screen, secretly observing everything. They wanted to see how the banquet would unfold and what choice Princess Yi would make.

Seated at the head of the table was Consort Leng, Leng Lin Shuang. She was dressed in a magnificent palace gown, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes held an unfathomable light. She maintained that half-smile, half-serious expression, as if watching an amusing farce.

A stream of young officials came to pay their respects to Leng Linshuang. Some were rising stars in the court, others were powerful local figures, but all treated her with utmost deference, daring not to show the slightest disrespect. The arrival of these officials made Leng Linshuang feel exceptionally good. She enjoyed this feeling of being respected and fawned over, as if she were the queen of the world.

Moreover, some of the officials were young talents from the Wenshu Monastery, founded by Leng Linshuang's father, Lord Leng. They treated Leng Linshuang with utmost respect, as if she were their leader and idol. This made Leng Linshuang suddenly realize that her father's treatment wasn't all that great after all.

Princess Yi sat gracefully on the left side of the banquet hall, dressed in magnificent palace attire. Her noble and elegant demeanor, like a blooming peony, drew everyone's attention. Behind her, a seat had been specially prepared for Yun Feiyu. Yun Feiyu sat there, his eyes narrowed, his face seemingly expressionless, yet it was as if he were smiling at everyone present. That smile carried a hint of depth and playfulness, making him unfathomable.

Zhao Chengyu sat behind the screen, his gaze sweeping through the crowd. Suddenly, his eyes fixed on a familiar figure—Fang Hujie. Fang Hujie was an important official at Wenshu Monastery, known for his diligence. His presence here surprised Zhao Chengyu. He whispered to Empress Zhao Qi'er beside him, "Wasn't Fang Hujie busy investigating a case? Why did he come here specifically? Could it be that he's also interested in the position of imperial consort?"

Empress Zhao Qi'er frowned slightly upon hearing this. She was unaware of Fang Hujie's identity and background, so she asked curiously, "Where does this Fang Hujie serve? Why is the Emperor so interested in him?"

Zhao Chengyu explained, "He is an official of Wenshu Monastery, in charge of some important cases. I put him in charge of the case of Princess Ziyi's assassination a while ago. I didn't expect him to be here today. It's really unpredictable."

After listening, Empress Zhao Qi'er nodded thoughtfully, gaining a deeper understanding of the complex situation behind the banquet. She understood that this banquet was not only about choosing a consort for Princess Yi, but also a power struggle, with everyone secretly observing and speculating on the Emperor's thoughts and intentions.

Meanwhile, Fang Hujie quietly observed everything from the crowd. He knew the importance of this banquet and understood that his arrival might attract the Emperor's attention. But he was even more aware that, as an official of Wenshu Monastery, it was his duty to investigate the truth behind Princess Yi's assassination and to be loyal to the royal family.

The banquet was brightly lit, filled with melodious music, and bustling with activity. Numerous officials, dressed in splendid attire and wearing obsequious expressions, vied for position with the princess. They carried various precious gifts: priceless jewels, rare antiques and paintings, and exotic treasures collected from distant lands. These officials presented their carefully prepared gifts to the princess, uttering flattering words, eager to win the favor of this beautiful and noble princess.

However, amidst this commotion, one person stood out remarkably. That person was Yun Feiyu. He sat leisurely to one side, a faint smile playing on his lips, his ambiguous expression making it impossible to discern his true thoughts. His gaze seemingly casually swept over the sycophantic officials, but in reality, it was as sharp as a hawk's, not missing a single detail. He seemed to treat this farcical scene as nothing more than an entertaining performance.

Meanwhile, Fang Hujie wasn't idle either. He discreetly moved through the crowd, skillfully avoiding everyone's attention. His sharp eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, not missing any clues or hints that might be related to the case. Although on the surface he appeared to be calmly enjoying the banquet, in reality he was tensely thinking and analyzing all the information he discovered.

As time went on, the banquet gradually reached its climax. The dancers sang and danced gracefully, and the guests toasted each other, making the atmosphere increasingly lively.

Princess Yi's meticulously planned banquet was not only for selecting a consort, but also for observing the character and true nature of the officials present. She specially arranged for Mei'er, a famous dancer from the capital, to perform a dance during the banquet as a test.

Mei'er learned dance from a madam in the capital from a young age, receiving rigorous training from the age of a few. She had a graceful figure and her dance was light and elegant, like a butterfly fluttering in the air, a sight to behold. At banquets, she wore magnificent dance costumes, holding sheer shawls, and danced gracefully to the rhythm of the music.

During the dance, Mei'er deliberately waved her thin veil towards several officials. This action not only showcased her dancing skills but also served as a test of their character. Some officials who were touched by Mei'er's veil feigned composure, while others looked embarrassed, and still others took the opportunity to exchange glances with Mei'er, revealing the full spectrum of human nature.

Sitting on the throne, Leng Lin Shuang, the Cold Consort, had initially thought she was just there to watch the spectacle, but she hadn't expected the banquet to be so "lively." Her eyes widened as she watched the officials below, each acting independently—some indulging in lust, others feigning aloofness—and a sense of disdain and disappointment welled up within her. She didn't know where to look, for every corner was filled with dramatic scenes.

Princess Yi watched all this, a cold smile playing on her lips. She had long anticipated that these officials would reveal their true colors when faced with temptation. What she needed was precisely this opportunity, a stage to see their true nature.

As the banquet progressed, more and more officials were captivated by Mei'er's dance, casting ardent glances at her. Mei'er, in turn, performed even more energetically, using her dance and eyes to seduce every man present.

A clever palace maid quietly slipped through layers of screens and approached the Emperor, whispering, "Your Majesty, Princess Yi says she's tired of rolling her eyes and simply can't find a suitable husband. She suggests you just blindfold yourself and pick a few at random." The maid's voice trailed off, as if even she herself found the request somewhat absurd.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't expected Princess Yi to express her dissatisfaction so directly. Empress Zhao Qi'er, sitting beside him, covered her mouth and giggled, a sly glint in her eyes. She chimed in, "Your Majesty, why don't we do it this way? It'll save the princess from worrying about this anymore."

However, no sooner had the Empress finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps and an authoritative command came from outside. Fang Hujie, a capable official of Wenshu Monastery, strode into the banquet hall, holding the Emperor's edict. His voice was firm and powerful: "Arrest Wang Wangzhi, Cen Dahe, Guo Shang, and Li Yunshang! Their followers are not to be allowed to leave either; any who try to escape will be executed on the spot! I have the Emperor's edict here; I am acting on imperial orders!"

Upon hearing this, the guests, who had been immersed in the joyous atmosphere, were stunned. They looked at each other, at a loss for what to do. The few people who were named looked terrified, and some tried to sneak away, but Fang Hujie's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and he had already seen through everything.

Emperor Zhao Chengyu gave Empress Zhao Qi'er a look, signaling her to observe the situation first. The Empress nodded, though she had doubts, she knew it was not the right time to say anything.

Seated at the head of the table, Consort Leng Lin Shuang gently covered half her face with her fan, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. She couldn't help but want to laugh out loud, but due to the occasion, she could only suppress her laughter. She said in a low voice, "This is the Crown Prince's residence. Lord Fang Hu Jie should explain the reason for arresting people, shouldn't he? After all, this is not a place for interrogating criminals."