At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Ten days later.

In the Great Qian Imperial Palace, on the Golden Palace.

Civil and military officials are holding the morning court session.

In recent days, the most pressing and hotly debated issue in the court has been the triumphant return of the eastern expeditionary army.

Su Mu led the eastern expedition, conquering the entire territory of the Eastern Yi, expanding the territory, and displaying his power overseas, creating an unprecedented victory in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The triumphant return of the army to the capital was a momentous occasion celebrated throughout the country, with the court and the people eagerly awaiting the return of their meritorious officials.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward first, holding a tablet, bowing respectfully with hands clasped, and began to speak in a loud voice.

"Your Majesty, according to military intelligence reports from the border, General Su and the Third Prince, leading their victorious army on the eastern expedition, will arrive outside the capital in five days."

"This great victory in the Eastern Expedition, which pacified the East Sea and annihilated the Eastern Barbarians, is the most glorious military achievement since the founding of our Great Qian Dynasty, unprecedented and unparalleled."

"When the army returns to the capital in triumph, a grand ceremony should be held to show the court's favor and to highlight the merits of the heroes."

"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty should lead all civil and military officials to the ten-mile-long pavilion outside the capital to welcome the victorious soldiers. This would demonstrate Your Majesty's compassion for meritorious officials and respect for loyal ministers, as well as reassure the army, boost morale, and let the people of the world know that the Great Qian army is mighty and that Your Majesty is wise and your ministers are virtuous!"

The Minister of Rites' words were well-reasoned and logical, every sentence conforming to the rules of etiquette and resonating with the hearts of the people in the court and among the public.

The Eastern Expedition was a feat of unparalleled merit, attracting nationwide attention. The emperor personally led his officials to welcome the meritorious official outside the city, which was the highest honor bestowed upon those with extraordinary achievements since ancient times.

As soon as the words were spoken, many ministers nodded in agreement, their eyes all turning to Xiao Jinghuan on the dragon throne, awaiting the emperor's decree to finalize the regulations for the welcoming ceremony.

No one expected that before the Minister of Rites could finish speaking, Xiao Jinghuan would raise his hand and speak calmly, abruptly interrupting him with a resolute tone that left no room for argument.

"No need."

Xiao Jinghuan looked down at the assembled officials with a detached gaze and said in a deep voice, "The welcoming ceremony need not be extravagant, and I will not personally lead the officials out of the city to welcome you."

"Five days later, order Su Mu and the Third Prince to lead their generals and carry military reports directly into the palace for an audience."

A simple sentence, falling lightly, yet like a thunderclap from a clear sky, resounded loudly in the solemn Golden Palace!

The entire court was instantly in an uproar, and hushed whispers filled the hall.

The officials were all stunned, looking up at the dragon throne in disbelief, their expressions filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Everyone had the same question in their minds: What's wrong with His Majesty today?

Conquering the Eastern Barbarians and expanding territory by thousands of miles—such an unprecedented and unparalleled feat deserves not only an imperial welcome but also nationwide celebration and a general amnesty.

A seasoned and prudent vice minister from one of the six ministries couldn't help but step forward, bow deeply, and urgently remonstrate: "Your Majesty! This matter is absolutely inappropriate!"

"The great victory in the Eastern Expedition was no small feat; it was the greatest achievement of a century!"

"The entire nation eagerly awaits this momentous achievement. To deny even the most basic honors upon returning home would be far too cold-hearted and would chill the hearts of all the soldiers on the front lines!"

The other ministers echoed this sentiment, stepping forward one after another to offer their advice.

"Your Majesty, I second your opinion! Please reconsider! This move may alienate the army and the people!"

The crowd spoke earnestly, yet remained utterly bewildered.

Just a few days earlier, the emperor had publicly praised Su Mu's achievements in the imperial study, stating that this battle was a monumental achievement and vowing to reward the meritorious official and treat the army well, showing the utmost respect.

In just over ten days, their attitudes have completely changed!

Faced with the pleas of the court officials, Xiao Jinghuan remained unmoved. Instead, his brows furrowed slightly, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he rebuked them in a deep voice.

"What? You all want to question and refute my decree at every turn?"

"Does my authority over the realm mean I cannot even decide on the regulations for a grand welcoming ceremony?"

The emperor's imposing aura suddenly spread out, and his chilling presence swept across the entire Golden Palace. The noisy discussions instantly ceased, and the courtiers fell silent, no one daring to utter another word.

The Minister of Rites, unwilling to give up, braced himself and pressed on, "Your Majesty! I dare to ask, Your Majesty previously praised the achievements of the Eastern Expedition and resolved to treat the meritorious officials well. Why has Your Majesty changed your mind in just a few days?"

Xiao Jinghuan glanced at the assembled officials, his expression calm, and casually uttered a statement that left the entire court speechless and incredulous.

"I was overjoyed and blinded by the great victory, and overestimated the merits of this battle."

"For this eastern expedition, I have allocated a large sum of money from the national treasury to build hundreds of warships, arm 300,000 elite soldiers, and ensure a continuous supply of provisions and supplies. The scale of our military and our financial resources far surpass those of the poor and small Eastern Yi countries."

"To conquer a small country with several times the military strength and the full power of the nation, victory is a matter of course and expected. It is not a world-shaking feat, much less a groundbreaking achievement."

"If that's the case, why bother with an extravagant ceremony and a nationwide welcome? The usual ceremony for a returning army is sufficient."

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the court stood frozen in place, dumbfounded and speechless for a long time.

A storm raged in everyone's hearts, their minds filled with absurdity and doubt.

Everyone knows that the Dongyi have occupied the East China Sea for a hundred years, repeatedly invading the borders, plundering the people, and occupying thousands of miles of sea area. They have deep roots and fierce fighting power, and all the generals and commanders of the Great Qian Dynasty have been helpless against them.

Su Mu's victory in this battle, which annihilated the Eastern Yi, expanded the territory by thousands of miles, reorganized hundreds of thousands of elite troops, and built a maritime barrier, was clearly a miraculous feat. How come it was described by His Majesty as an ordinary victory that was taken for granted and not worth mentioning?

Everyone was filled with doubts, but no one dared to defy the emperor in public. They could only speculate that the emperor's actions today were far too abnormal!

On either side of the main hall, Crown Prince Xiao Jingyu and the Second Prince exchanged glances, their expressions and thoughts quite different.

The crown prince had been living in fear and unease for days.

Since the great victory in the eastern expedition, the sixth prince Xiao Yunchuan has risen to fame and won the emperor's favor. With the strong support of Su Mu, his position as crown prince has become precarious. He worries day and night that his father will depose the eldest son and establish a younger one, completely stripping him of his power as crown prince.

But the emperor's words today have undoubtedly changed the winds abruptly, suppressing Su Mu and the Sixth Prince!

The Crown Prince was overjoyed, his eyes brimming with excitement. He thought to himself, "It seems my father has finally come to his senses! He ultimately values ​​the legitimate heir and doesn't want meritorious officials to overshadow him or princes to become too powerful!"

With this thought in mind, the Crown Prince immediately seized the opportunity, stepped forward, bowed, and followed the Emperor's lead, asking questions that went straight to the heart of the matter.

"Father is wise! Although we won this battle, it relied on the strength of the entire nation, so there is no need for excessive praise!"

"In that case, Father Emperor previously promised to bestow upon General Su the supreme title of War God Who Guards the Nation, and also the title of General Dingyuan upon my sixth brother Xiao Yunchuan. I wonder what should be done with these matters now?"

This statement pinpointed the most crucial matter of bestowing titles and honors in the imperial court, instantly drawing the attention of all the ministers to the dragon throne, awaiting the emperor's decision.

Xiao Jinghuan's expression was resolute, and without the slightest hesitation, he spoke directly, making the final decision!

"The title of War God Who Protects the Nation is hereby revoked and will no longer be conferred."

His tone was indifferent, and his reasons seemed perfectly fair.

"Old Su is quite old, and after fighting in the northern border and the eastern barbarians, he is probably covered in injuries and illnesses."

"The title of 'Guardian of the Nation' is the highest honor for a military general in our Great Qian Dynasty. It carries immense power and responsibility, and enjoys the greatest prestige. I fear that the old man's strength is not up to the task and he may not be able to bear such a great reputation and pressure. Therefore, I have decided to abandon this plan as a sign of my consideration for my old minister."

He paused slightly before continuing, directly erasing all the rewards bestowed upon the Sixth Prince.

"As for Chuan'er's title of General Dingyuan, it shall be revoked as well."

"Chuan'er is young and inexperienced. Although he has made contributions this time, it is not appropriate to confer titles and ranks upon him too early."

"Young people who achieve success are most prone to arrogance and complacency. I intend to temper his character and let him gain experience so that he can be capable of shouldering great responsibilities in the future."

The emperor's words sent shockwaves through the court once again!

Revoke the title of War God Who Protects the Nation and strip the Sixth Prince of his title!

This completely overturned all previous conclusions regarding the bestowal of titles and honors.

The crown prince was overjoyed beyond measure, barely able to suppress the smile on his face, and quickly cupped his hands in praise again:

"Father is wise and farsighted!"

"This move serves as a check and balance in the court, honing the skills of meritorious officials and princes. It balances public and private interests, demonstrating profound foresight and is truly a superior strategy. Your subject is wholeheartedly convinced!"

On the other hand, the second prince was frowning deeply, his face full of shock and confusion, staring intently at his father on the dragon throne, his mind filled with doubts.

In just a few days, everything has changed dramatically!

Just a few days ago, the Emperor praised Su Mu highly, regarding him as a pillar of the nation. He also commended his sixth brother and placed high hopes on him, clearly indicating his intention to provide him with full support.

Today, however, they suddenly turned their backs on him, completely overturning all decisions and deliberately suppressing General Su and the power of the sixth brother!

This is completely unlike the Emperor's usual calm, steady, and reliable style of doing things!

The emperor's words are law and his word is as weighty as gold. How could the court and the country's policies be changed or contradicted at will?

The second prince was filled with suspicion and felt that everything in the court today had an inexplicable strangeness and abnormality.

Seeing this, the Minister of Rites was extremely anxious and hurriedly stepped forward again to offer his advice:

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!"

"To go back on one's word is an insult to the emperor's dignity!"

"General Su's achievements are unparalleled. If he receives no reward and is instead treated coldly, it will surely chill the hearts of meritorious officials and dampen the spirits of the entire army!"

"If this continues, who will be willing to risk their lives for the Great Qian Dynasty and fight for the country in the future? Your Majesty, please think carefully!"

"No need for further words." Xiao Jinghuan raised his hand to interrupt all advice, his expression cold and resolute: "My mind is made up on this matter, and there is no room for argument. There is no need for further discussion."

Seeing this, none of the officials dared to offer any further advice, but they were all secretly disappointed.

Before everyone could calm down, Xiao Jinghuan spoke again, issuing a second earth-shattering decree that completely stunned the entire court!

"In addition, I have another decree to issue."

"The Great Qian Dynasty court cannot be without a prime minister for even a day. Central government affairs are complex and require capable ministers to manage them in a coordinated manner."

"After careful consideration, I hereby issue an edict immediately to release the criminal Li Yuan from the imperial prison, reinstate him to his original position as Prime Minister, and put him in charge of all government affairs of the six ministries!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the ministers' pupils shrank, their faces filled with disbelief, and they were all in a state of shock and disarray!

Li Yuan!

Former Prime Minister of the Current Dynasty!

Previously, due to forming cliques for personal gain, favoring the Crown Prince, balancing the court, and repeatedly targeting Su Mu, the evidence against him was conclusive. With the help of the Third Prince and General Su, the evidence was found, and he was convicted and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison to serve his sentence!

This matter happened only a few months ago, and it is known to everyone in the government and the public!

But today, His Majesty actually wants to pardon his crimes, reinstate him to his original position, and reappoint him as prime minister!

The entire court was instantly in an uproar, with discussions rising and falling, and could no longer be suppressed!

Xiao Jinghuan coldly surveyed the restless officials, his deep voice forcefully suppressing the entire scene: "Silence!"

"Although Li Yuan made a mistake and was imprisoned, he has already been punished for several months in prison, and his crime has been atoned for."

"He has served as prime minister for many years, is experienced in governing, is skilled in managing government affairs, and has outstanding abilities. He is capable of assisting me in governing the court and regulating the officials."

"My mind is made up. I will reinstate him as prime minister immediately. You need not discuss this further, and you are not allowed to speak on this privately!"

His voice was firm and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.

Inside the main hall, the Crown Prince could barely contain his elation; his chest heaved violently, and his eyes gleamed with intense light!

Li Yuan was his most loyal and capable right-hand man in the Eastern Palace!

When Li Yuan was impeached and imprisoned by Su Mu, it was as if he had lost an arm. His power in the court was greatly diminished, and he was suppressed by the Third Prince and Su Mu's faction at every turn, causing him anxiety day and night.

Now that Li Yuan has been reinstated and returned to his position as prime minister, it means that his lineage as crown prince has risen again and is now in control of the highest civil official position in the court!

Father Emperor is clearly showing his intention to support him as the crown prince and suppress the power of Su Mu, the Third Prince, and the Sixth Prince!

The crown prince was thrilled, feeling that his chance to turn the tide had arrived.

Meanwhile, the second prince's brows furrowed even more deeply, his doubts and unease growing stronger.

He stared intently at his father, who sat indifferently on the dragon throne, his mind churning with countless questions.

Abolishing Su Mu's title of God of War, revoking the sixth brother's reward, neglecting the victorious heroes, and reinstating the position of Crown Prince...

A series of actions, each one aimed at suppressing Su Mu's faction and supporting the Crown Prince's lineage!

Could it be that Father Emperor has truly changed his mind, abandoned supporting his sixth brother, and decided to secure the position of Crown Prince?

But all of this was too sudden and too abnormal!

The emperor, a man of great stature, speaks with absolute authority and never easily contradicts others.

In just a few days, he overturned his previous statements, went back on his word, and lost the trust of meritorious officials, the court, and the army!

This is completely unlike the calm, wise, and strategic demeanor that Father Emperor has always possessed!

However, at this moment, he dared not say anything more...