"Empress, they cannot be allowed to stay in the palace. Although it was the Princess who arranged their accommodation, during the day it was you, Empress, who received them. If word gets out, others will only say the Princess is too young to understand, and all other blame will fall upon you, Empress."

Su Yan understood; they were implying that she, as the Empress, was neglecting her duties or deliberately allowing them to stay.

These people, relying on their status as Princes of the Previous Dynasty, really thought no one but Chu Yuxiao dared to act against them?

Hmph, they were utterly audacious!

They were spared during the day, and now they were becoming increasingly brazen!

"Quickly assemble the guards and follow me to the Qinghua Palace."

"Yes."

With a group of guards in tow, Su Yan marched to Qinghua Palace with an imposing presence. Before entering, she could already hear the sound of laughter and revelry from a group of men inside, drinking and making merry.

In the hall, several Princes from the Nan Zhao Family were lounging around a table, leaning this way and that, giggling and even flirting with the palace maids serving them...

Such vulgar and decadent scenes within the Imperial Palace - if word got out, her reputation as the Empress might never be cleansed.

"The Empress has arrived!" Eunuch Wang announced loudly.

Everyone in the room suddenly froze, and a few palace maids took the opportunity to break free, rushing forward to kneel, sobbing softly and continually kowtowing, begging for mercy.

Su Yan glanced at them indifferently, saying nothing.

Her gaze fell upon those men; when they saw her, they only paused momentarily before reverting to their frivolous demeanors.

"Empress, why have you come?" Nan Zhaojian stepped forward, bowing slightly toward her.

The others also stepped forward, bowing in salute.

Some staggered as they walked, whether truly drunk or merely pretending.

"The palace gates close at the hour of You (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.). Why have you, officials, not left the palace and still linger within? Are you unaware that, without the Emperor’s permission, men are not allowed to stay overnight in the Imperial Palace?"

Su Yan took a few steps forward, asking coldly.

Her presence was not overpowering, so Nan Zhaojian and his companions did not take her seriously at all.

In their view, this Empress with no background or support surely wouldn’t dare to easily offend them.