Zhou Ming silently spread his Divine Sense, probing back into the Marquis's residence.

Upon entering the Marquis's residence, Grand Duke Su headed straight for the study—the very room where the Marquis of Yongning, Su Yongning, had handled Northern military affairs after returning to the estate.

Now that its master had fallen on the desolate hills of Wild Wolf Slope, his father was sitting in the chair he had once occupied.

Empress Su Mingyue followed Grand Duke Su into the study, and the door closed behind them.

After seating himself, Grand Duke Su stared steadily at Empress Su Mingyue. His sharp, perceptive eyes, capable of seeing through a person's soul, swept inch by inch over her expressionless face.

Empress Su Mingyue did not avoid his gaze, looking back at him with burning eyes.

After a moment, Grand Duke Su finally spoke: "What is the current situation in Youzhou?"

Empress Su Mingyue replied concisely: "It is already entirely under the control of the Su Family."

Grand Duke Su nodded and asked again: "How do you intend to arrange for the 9th Prince?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Su Mingyue spoke without hesitation: "My father died to ensure the 9th Prince could ascend the throne. As his child, I will certainly fulfill my father's dying wish and ensure the 9th Prince ascends to the throne."

Grand Duke Su nodded again, then shifted the topic.

"I intend for you to marry the 9th Prince. Once he ascends the throne, he will appoint you as Empress. At that time, you will be the Empress, second only to one and above all, the mother of the nation."

Before Grand Duke Su could finish, Empress Su Mingyue spoke up.

Her voice was not loud, but it was like an iron nail driven into a wooden board, leaving no room for negotiation: "I will not marry the 9th Prince."

Grand Duke Su heard this and looked at Empress Su Mingyue with a gloomy gaze.

Empress Su Mingyue met his gaze without backing down.

After a moment, Grand Duke Su spoke again, his voice dropping a few degrees.

"A woman should stay at home, supporting her husband and raising children. What does it look like for a woman to be out in public like this?"

"Tomorrow, you should hand over some of the estate's affairs to your uncle. After all, he is a man and the future head of our Su Family."

"Once the situation stabilizes, I will find a suitable match for you."

Upon hearing this, Empress Su Mingyue said nothing more.

Her silence was not a concession, but a wall—a wall that even Grand Duke Su's eyes, capable of seeing through anyone's heart, could not penetrate.

The two's first private conversation ended on a sour note.

Zhou Ming withdrew his Divine Sense and stood there in silence for a while.

He had originally intended to return directly to the Prefectural Governors Mansion, where a pile of coronation preparations awaited his final decision.

But before he reached the entrance of the Prefectural Governors Mansion, he was stopped by Dongmei.

Dongmei had come in a hurry; her face lacked the usual playfulness she showed when bickering with him. She only said that Eldest Miss wanted him to go to Begonia Court once more.

Stepping into Begonia Court again, Empress Su Mingyue was the only one in the main hall.

She sat in the main seat, having already changed into that set of jet-black iron armor, with her silver spear leaning against the armrest of her chair.

Seeing Zhou Ming enter, she did not stand up or exchange pleasantries. She just stared steadily at Zhou Ming, her gaze carrying a gravity that Zhou Ming had never seen on her face before.

Zhou Ming stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, then stood there quietly with his head lowered, waiting for her to speak.

After a moment, Empress Su Mingyue finally spoke, her voice a few degrees softer than usual, yet every word was clear:

"Zhou Ming, you and I grew up together. Within this Marquis's residence, besides these four personal maids, you are the only one I can trust."

Hearing this, Zhou Ming appeared deeply moved on the surface, but inwardly he was complaining.

What do you mean by 'the only one I can trust'?

With those hundreds of thousands of troops under your command, how many do I not even know about?

And what about that Nightingale organization? I haven't even heard you mention the name.

However, he did not show any abnormality on his face, keeping his head lowered and assuming a posture of listening attentively.

"Now, I want to entrust you with a task."

Empress Su Mingyue's voice remained very soft, yet it was resolute: "This task concerns my, Empress Su Mingyue's, very life."

Zhou Ming put away his inner complaints and sensibly cupped his hands in a salute, saying solemnly: "I await Eldest Miss's orders. Even if I must sacrifice my life or walk through fire and water, I will never fail the task Eldest Miss has entrusted to me."

Empress Su Mingyue nodded, her tone returning to its usual crisp and decisive manner:

"You saw the group of people who came today, right?"

"Arrange for the 9th Prince to ascend the throne tomorrow. After the coronation, the entire imperial palace will be handed over to you."

"I do not want any political decrees that I do not wish to hear to be transmitted out of the imperial palace, including orders from my grandfather, Grand Duke Su. Do you understand?"

Zhou Ming instantly understood Eldest Miss's intent.

Grand Duke Su wanted to seize power from her.

So she would first complete the 9th Prince's coronation—making him Emperor—and then seal off the imperial palace.

This imperial palace would be an exquisite cage built for the new Emperor and the Grand Duke. So-called political decrees would only circulate within the palace walls and would never reach outside.

This way, she could achieve the goal of controlling the Emperor to command the vassals, without being interfered with by the new Emperor regarding her own power.

Zhou Ming nodded. His voice was not loud, but his tone was extremely firm: "I understand. Eldest Miss, rest assured, no voice that Eldest Miss does not wish to hear will ever come out of the imperial palace."

Empress Su Mingyue glanced at him, seemingly wanting to confirm something from his face.

In the end, she merely waved her hand gently. Zhou Ming cupped his hands, took three steps back, turned around, and walked out of the parlor.

Walking out of Begonia Court, the night wind in the veranda rushed to meet him, carrying the dry crispness unique to the Northern border.

As Zhou Ming walked toward the Prefectural Governors Mansion, he pondered inwardly.

It seems this old man, Grand Duke Su, has truly angered Eldest Miss.

You, an old man, fled from Qingzhou to this Yuyang Commandery like a stray dog.

Being able to escape alive was already thanks to your granddaughter sending five thousand elite cavalry to search and receive you along the way.

After returning, instead of staying safely in the Marquis's residence as the old patriarch, enjoying your twilight years and playing with your grandchildren, you just had to jump out and try to seize power from Eldest Miss.

First, you tried to manipulate her with marriage, wanting her to marry the 9th Prince and become some Empress, second only to one and above all.

When rejected, you brought up her uncle, saying he was a man and the future head of the Su Family.

Isn't this just driving Eldest Miss into a dead end?

Someone who can lead hundreds of thousands of elite troops, command the Northern border armies, and turn Youzhou into an impregnable fortress in just one month—you tell her to go back and support her husband and raise children?

Look at what you've done now.

Eldest Miss immediately turned the imperial palace over to him, letting the new Emperor and the Grand Duke enjoy their lives in the Imperial Palace, without having to worry about any military or political affairs outside.

From now on, this old man will likely be under house arrest in the Imperial Palace until he dies; although he will have food and clothing, he will be unable to take a single step outside.

Thinking of this, Zhou Ming couldn't help but sigh.

Then, he quickened his pace toward the Prefectural Governors Mansion.

Tomorrow is the 9th Prince's coronation ceremony; he must work through the night to replace all the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids at the Imperial Palace with Eldest Miss's people.