"Grandpa, I have something to report," Su Yingxue said, lifting her dress and kneeling heavily on the ground.
Su Qingzhi, seeing the determination in her eyes, replied, "Tell me."
"I and Chu Yihan pledged our lives to each other. Regardless of the outcome of this battle or what the future holds, I will stand by his side," she declared.
Her charming watery eyes sparkled like a clear spring in a fairyland, and her determined expression mirrored her mother's.
Su Qingzhi smiled helplessly. "You're just like your mother. Even I can't control you. You can do as you please in the future."
If it had been any other child of the Su family, Su Qingzhi would have restrained, persuaded, or even punished them severely.
But Su Yingxue... He couldn't bear it.
She was Shuli's child.
To him, Shuli was more like a caring biological daughter. She was the pride of his life.
Su Qingzhi's tolerance surprised Su Yingxue, and his words surprised her even more.
"Ninth Prince is not reckless. Since he mentioned proposing, you can wait at home. Don't act impulsively and be patient," Su Qingzhi advised.
Su Yingxue was still a little restless.
She had wanted to send the shadow guards to scout out the situation and rush to Chu Yihan's side.
However, her grandfather's words dispelled that thought.
She decided to wait patiently for Chu Yihan's return.
From the moment the army entered the imperial palace, chaos ensued. The palace servants panicked and attempted to flee, but Chu Yihan's army chased them back, settling them in a corner without harm or allowing them to cause panic.
A few Imperial Guards in the imperial palace still resisted.
Chu Yihan ordered, "Those who surrender will not be killed. Those who dare to resist will be executed without mercy!"
His orders were transmitted throughout the palace, and his imposing aura commanded obedience.
He entered the palace majestically.
In the harem, news of Chu Yihan's intrusion caused panic.
The empress was the most panicked, especially upon hearing that Chu Chengye had been sent out by the emperor but had not returned!
Ignoring the palace servants' attempts to stop her, she rushed toward Chu Yihan.
Noble Consort Xiao's palace was also in turmoil.
Granny Song reported, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has entered the palace. The harem is in chaos, with many concubines packing up and fleeing, fearing that the Ninth Prince will massacre them after usurping the throne."
To the women in the harem, the emperor was their lifeline.
If the emperor were killed, death would not be far off for them.
Noble Consort Xiao was also shocked to hear this news. "So the Ninth Prince did enter after all!"
But her first concern was, "Is Ling'er with him? Is he still in Qilin Garden?"
Granny Song had dispatched someone to investigate. "The Ninth Prince did not bring Jinling with him. If everything is fine, Your Highness should still be in the Xiao family."
Noble Consort Xiao's nervous heart immediately calmed down. She picked up her notebook and lay back on the chaise lounge. "As long as Ling'er is safe, let the Ninth Prince and the emperor do as they please!"
"But Your Majesty, shouldn't we come up with a plan? If the Ninth Prince kills the emperor, it may also affect you," Granny Song reminded her.
A trace of disdain flashed across Noble Consort Xiao's delicate features. "If the emperor dies, so be it. The Ninth Prince is not a fool. He won't target me. Look, when he entered the palace, did any soldiers break into our quarters?"