His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

The fact that he was a eunuch and therefore unable to have human relations was always a thorn in Liu happy's side.

In front of so many people, Mu Yuan used the word "lover" to tease her.

Isn't this a deliberate attempt to humiliate him?

"Eunuch Liu, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I just wanted to lighten the mood since you've been waiting for so long," Mu Yuan said with a forced smile.

Previously, at the Mu family's mourning hall, the entire Mu family was immersed in grief. Liu happy obeyed the orders of Prince Ning, Zhu Zheng, in a very obedient manner, just like the other party's lackey.

Now that Liu happy has come to deliver the imperial decree again, how could Mu Yuan not mock him?

"You mean, our family has no magnanimity?" Liu happy raised an eyebrow, looking displeased.

Mu Yuan smiled faintly, "Magnanimity is used to describe a virtuous gentleman. You're not even a man, let alone a virtuous gentleman. Applying the word 'magnanimity' to someone like Eunuch Liu is like a eunuch going to a brothel?"

Upon hearing this, the officers of the Western Army present all turned red in the face, trying their best to suppress their laughter.

Before Mu Yuan arrived, Liu happy was very arrogant and domineering. Because of his status as a eunuch who delivered imperial edicts, no one dared to offend him and could only be angry but not speak out.

The officers of the Western Army were thoroughly pleased with Mu Yuan's constant taunts and sarcastic remarks towards Liu happy.

"Mu Yuan, you—!!!!!"

Liu Xi was so angry he almost couldn't catch his breath.

"Eunuch Liu, announce the imperial decree!"

At this moment, the stranger standing next to Liu happy coldly spoke up to remind him.

Liu happy then realized what had happened, breaking out in a cold sweat. He had almost ruined everything. Clearing his throat, he took out the imperial edict and read aloud:

"Mu Yuan, the heir apparent of the Prince of Xiping, receives the imperial decree."

Mu Yuan lowered his head but did not kneel, and said, "Your subject accepts the decree."

"Your Majesty's decree, how dare you not kneel?" Liu happy glared angrily.

"Eunuch Liu, does the imperial edict state that I should kneel and listen?" Mu Yuan asked in return.

Liu Xi was speechless after being questioned by Mu Yuan, and angrily said, "Whenever the Emperor issues an edict, a subject should kneel to hear it. If you don't kneel, you are disrespecting the Emperor!"

"Respect is something you keep in your heart, not something you just say," Mu Yuan retorted.

Liu happy hadn't expected Mu Yuan to be so eloquent; in order to avoid kneeling, he could come up with so many reasons.

Just as he was about to argue with Mu Yuan.

The strange man beside him spoke:

"Eunuch Liu!!!"

These three simple words were undoubtedly a reminder to Liu happy not to get distracted and to get straight to the point.

"Fine, we're not going to bother arguing with you!"

Liu happy snorted coldly, his gaze falling on the imperial edict in his hand, and continued reading:

"I, the Emperor, mindful of the Mu family's generations of service in guarding the Southwest, their tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty, have decided that the Mu family's numbers have dwindled and they may not be able to fully command the Western Army. Therefore, I hereby appoint Feng Zhong as Deputy Commander. This is my decree!"

As soon as Liu happy uttered the decree, the expressions of the officers present changed drastically.

What's the point of all this trouble and hard work?

It was just polite talk.

In reality, it was about installing people from the imperial court to divide power!

The officers present all looked angry, but they could only suppress their anger.

Once spoken.

That means they are not in compliance with the imperial court.

If the imperial court were to pin a charge of treason on them, things would become even more difficult to handle.

"Young Master Mu, why haven't you received the imperial decree yet?"

Liu happy's face was full of contempt as he urged Mu Yuan to accept the imperial decree.

Mu Yuan was well aware of the meaning of this imperial edict, and he was equally furious. However, this anger only lasted for a moment before he readily agreed:

"Your subject receives the imperial decree."

As he spoke, Mu Yuan calmly and composedly accepted the imperial edict from Liu happy's hand, amidst the astonished and incredulous gazes of the officers.

"This is Feng Zhong, who used to serve as General Changwei in the Five Military Commands of the capital."

Liu Xi then introduced the unfamiliar man beside him.

The Five Military Commissions?

People under Lan Shi's command?

Mu Yuan frowned. Although he guessed that the court had sent people to divide power, what surprised him was...

The person who delegated power was actually one of Bluestone's people!

It seems that Lan Shi probably already knows about his son's experience in the southwest.

Otherwise, the people sent by the imperial court would not have been from the Five Military Commands.

"My name is Feng Zhong. I hope you will all cooperate with me in the future." Feng Zhong's face was devoid of any smile, as if he was born unable to smile.

His perfunctory words went unanswered by the officers present; they remained silent, treating Feng Zhong as if he didn't exist, as if he were invisible.

"How can you not respond when the deputy commander speaks?" Mu Yuan shouted.

Now is not the time to break off relations. Even if they know that Feng Zhong has ill intentions, they should at least put on a show of harmony in public.

Mu Yuan's loud shout finally prompted the officers to respond to Feng Zhong.

However, the responses were all perfunctory.

"Our business is done, Vice Commander Feng. I hope you can achieve great things in the Western Army." Liu happy looked at Feng Zhong and gave him a meaningful smile.

After saying this, Liu happy didn't speak to Mu Yuan or anyone else present, and turned to leave.

Feng Zhongchao and Mu Yuan clasped their hands in greeting:

"General, I'm new here, please guide me in the future."

"Vice Commander Feng, there's no need to stand on ceremony. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me anytime." Mu Yuan was also very polite and did not seem very annoyed that the imperial court had placed someone in the position.

Seeing Mu Yuan's calm and composed demeanor, Feng Zhong couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise in his eyes.

So young.

Faced with such a situation.

He can still be so calm.

It seems I need to be more careful of this person in the future, lest I stumble in front of him.

Feng Zhong thought to himself.

At the same time, Feng Zhong also noticed the hostile gazes directed at him by everyone except Mu Yuan. Knowing that he was new here and it was not easy to make enemies, he said:

"I'll go out for a walk first, and let me know if the commander-in-chief needs anything."

Mu Yuan smiled and nodded, then called over the guards outside and showed Feng Zhong around the area.

After Feng Zhong left.

The officers present began to riot:

"They've just randomly put someone in here and given him such an important position; the court is clearly monitoring us!"

"We tolerated what happened before, but the court is going to push its luck even further. Damn it, we might as well rebel against the court!"

Listening to the officers speaking without restraint and venting their dissatisfaction, Mu Yuan did not stop them, until someone shouted that they were going to rebel.

His expression immediately turned serious:

"Regardless of how dissatisfied you may be, remember this: in public, you must not show any sign of discontent, and even less should you utter any words of treason!"

Mu Yuan did this not out of fear, but because he was worried that the officers would speak recklessly and that outsiders would overhear them, which could lead to their deaths.

The current attitude of the imperial court towards the Western Army is clearly one of fear that the Western Army will grow stronger and pose a threat to the court.

Of course, Blue Stone was also secretly pushing things along in most of these cases.

After all, Lan Que's experience at the county government office must have been reported back to the capital through letters.

Given Lan Shi's high position and great power, how could he allow his son to suffer such humiliation?