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

The tense atmosphere on the dock gradually dissipated.

Su Mu withdrew his probing fingertips, concealing the surprise and doubt deep in his eyes. His face remained calm as he looked at Li Fuquan, who was bowing and holding the imperial decree before him. He was composed, slightly cupped his hands, and spoke in a peaceful and polite tone.

"Please trouble Eunuch Li to lead the way. We will follow you into the palace to meet the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Li Fuquan immediately put on a gentle and humble smile, bowed in return, and spoke with utmost respect.

"It is my great honor to be able to guide General Su. It is my blessing."

Having said that, he turned to look at Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng, whose face was gloomy and unpleasant, and said softly:

"Your Highness, it's getting late. Let's get in our sedan chairs and head back to the palace to report back."

At this moment, Xiao Yunfeng was filled with anger and frustration, but he had nowhere to vent it.

The image of Zhao Tieniu kicking Li Yuan away and the soldiers pointing their swords at the Imperial Guards was still echoing in his mind, and the fear in his heart had long since overwhelmed his anger.

He stared intently at Su Mu's retreating figure, letting out a cold snort filled with resentment. He flicked his sleeves and, without another word, turned and strode toward the imperial sedan chair that had been prepared beforehand, his movements filled with frustration and embarrassment.

Just then, a muffled cough came from the ground.

Prime Minister Li Yuan, who had just been kicked and seriously injured, clutched his chest in excruciating pain and struggled to his feet from the cold bluestone ground. Blood remained at the corner of his mouth, his face was ashen, his back was hunched, and his whole body ached and he was weak. His prime ministerial dignity was completely gone.

He was still shaken, his eyes filled with fear.

The ruthlessness of Zhao Tieniu's attack and the chilling killing intent of the soldiers made him realize that if the situation had become even more chaotic, Su Mu's soldiers might have disregarded court etiquette and beaten him to death on the spot!

He dared not linger any longer. Enduring the excruciating pain throughout his body, he staggered to his feet in a disheveled state, lowered his head, and hurried toward his official sedan chair, wanting nothing more than to get away from these border soldiers who had returned from battle and were fearless in the face of death.

Watching Li Yuan's disheveled figure as he fled in panic, Zhao Tieniu said, "Pah!"

"A dog prime minister?"

"He usually relies on his high position and control of the court to frame my master, Master Su, at every turn. He is arrogant, domineering, and looks down on everyone!"

"Today is a lesson learned! If you ever dare to speak rudely to Old Master Su again, or slander him so wantonly, I, Zhao Tieniu, won't hesitate to kick you again, making you scavenge for your teeth and never forget it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Hao, You Zhongyi, Han Shixun, and the others standing to the side exchanged smiles, their eyes filled with satisfaction.

Most of the officials and civil servants were wary of Li Yuan's power and no one dared to confront him directly, allowing him to form cliques, engage in corruption, and spread rumors.

Tie Niu's thunderous kick just now was incredibly satisfying, severely dampening the old scoundrel's arrogance. It was truly exhilarating!

The moment the laughter rang out, Qin Hao's expression hardened, and he quickly reached out and quietly tugged at Zhao Tieniu's sleeve, whispering a reminder.

"Tie Niu, watch your words!"

"Stop joking around. This is the Kyoto dock. We must not cause any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tieniu abruptly stopped laughing.

He instantly came to his senses, remembering Su Mu's repeated instructions before his departure: after returning to the capital, he must be patient and restrained, and not cause any trouble. He realized that he had acted impulsively and kicked the prime minister in public, which violated military orders.

Feeling a pang of guilt, he immediately suppressed his playful expression, stepped forward, and solemnly bowed to Su Mu, his face full of sincere apology.

"Old Su, this humble general knows his mistake!"

"Just now, I acted rashly and in a fit of anger, I couldn't bear the insults of this dog of a prime minister and took action without permission, disobeying your instructions."

"Whether you punish or discipline me, Tie Niu will have no complaints and will willingly accept the punishment!"

Seeing his fierce generals sincerely apologizing, Su Mu felt no anger at all. Instead, a warm feeling appeared in his eyes. He laughed loudly and gently patted Zhao Tieniu's shoulder.

"Silly boy, what crime have you committed?"

"This Li Yuan has formed cliques for personal gain, is jealous of the virtuous and capable, has repeatedly framed loyal officials, oppressed courtiers, disrupted the court, and acted tyrannically by relying on his power. I have long wanted to teach him a lesson."

"Your kick today vented my anger and that of all the loyal people he has oppressed. It was an excellent kick; there's no need for you to apologize!"

These words instantly dispelled the pent-up frustration in the hearts of all the soldiers on the Eastern Expedition, leaving them feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of approval.

"That's right! A perfect shot! Li Yuan is a treacherous and cunning man with ulterior motives; he should have been punished long ago!"

Qin Hao's expression remained solemn, his brows slightly furrowed, as he slowly spoke to remind everyone.

"Old Master Su, Your Highness, brothers, although we have vented our anger and felt extremely satisfied, we have also completely offended Li Yuan."

"This man is narrow-minded and vindictive, and as the prime minister, he has cronies all over the court."

"Having suffered such a great humiliation in public today, they will surely harbor resentment and lie in wait for an opportunity to retaliate, secretly creating countless troubles for us. The court will probably not be peaceful."

Upon hearing this, the smiles faded slightly, and everyone nodded in agreement.

A chilling glint flashed in Xiao Jingyu's eyes, his aura turned cold, and he coldly snorted in a deep voice:

"snort!"

"Li Yuan is causing chaos in the court and harbors treacherous intentions. I have long disapproved of his actions."

"Today we have entered the palace to meet the Emperor. I am determined to ascertain the reason for our arrival in His Majesty's presence!"

"Your Majesty has always been wise and sagacious. Knowing full well that Li Yuan is of questionable character and prone to forming cliques and abusing power, you still entrusted him with important responsibilities, allowing him to control the court and frame meritorious officials. Today, I must get to the bottom of this and will absolutely not allow this treacherous villain to run rampant!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone stopped lingering.

Su Mu and Xiao Jingyu, along with Qin Hao, Zhao Tieniu, and other generals on the eastern expedition, mounted their horses.

The grand procession followed the prince and his officials in their palanquins, slowly making its way towards the imperial city of Kyoto.

……

The ten-mile-long street leading from the dock to the palace was still packed with people.

The people of Kyoto poured into the streets, lining the roads with fervent eyes, watching this victorious army return from a hundred battles.

The cheers and applause were continuous, deafening, and lingered for a long time.

"Welcome back to the capital, General Su!"

"Welcome back, victorious warriors of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

People held flowers and waved, their faces full of respect and joy.

The enthusiastic atmosphere along the entire street lingered for a long time, and the grand welcoming scene stretched for three whole streets before gradually subsiding.

Su Mu sat upright on his horse, his posture straight, his gaze sweeping calmly over the enthusiastic people on both sides, his heart filled with emotion.

Xiao Jingyu rode alongside him, walking side by side.

……

Just then, Su Mu suddenly turned his head, looked at Xiao Jingyu, lowered his voice, and asked softly with a hint of probing:

"Your Highness, I have a question for you. Do you know if this Eunuch Li knows any martial arts?"

This sudden question startled Xiao Jingyu, who looked puzzled and instinctively shook his head in reply:

"Won't!"

"Li Fuquan entered the palace at a young age and served the emperor year-round. He was merely a eunuch attending to His Majesty's daily needs, weak and gentle, with no strength whatsoever. Everyone in the court and the country knew that he had never practiced any martial arts!"

Filled with curiosity, Xiao Jingyu immediately pressed, "Why did Elder Su suddenly bring this up? Did you discover something unusual?"

Su Mu smiled faintly, his expression calm, and casually spoke to cover up his misunderstanding:

"It's nothing serious, just pure curiosity."

"He is the chief eunuch who is closest to His Majesty, accompanying him day and night and protecting him closely."

"I was just curious. Most of the emperor's close attendants would learn some basic martial arts skills to protect the emperor in case of emergency, that's all."

Xiao Jingyu didn't think much of it when he heard this, assuming it was just Su Mu making casual remarks.

Su Mu said no more, but the wariness in his eyes grew even stronger.

A personal eunuch whom everyone thought was weak and powerless was actually a martial arts master with hidden cultivation.

What's even more suspicious is that he wasn't before, but now he's become an expert?

Why is that?!

This matter is far more complex than it appears on the surface; the undercurrents within the Kyoto court are far more turbulent than what is visible to the public.

"Hurry up and enter the palace immediately!"

Su Mu gave a deep order, and the group spurred their horses to speed up, the grand procession galloping towards the imperial city.

……

At this moment, deep within the palace, inside the Golden Palace.

Inside the solemn and majestic hall, civil and military officials stood in two rows on either side, completely silent, the atmosphere heavy and almost oppressive.

Everyone waited with bated breath, glancing out of the hall from time to time, their expressions varied, their hearts filled with trepidation and anticipation.

The great victory at Donghai quelled the foreign threat, and Su Mu led his army back to the capital, a momentous occasion for the entire nation.

Today, during the imperial court assembly, everyone is waiting for the emperor's decision, eager to see how His Majesty will reward the meritorious officials of the eastern expedition and how he will treat Su Mu, whose achievements are unparalleled and whose prestige is unmatched!

Among the officials, the Second Prince Xiao Yunshan stood among the courtiers, his brows always tightly furrowed, his expression filled with deep worry and unease.

He frequently raised his eyes, glancing at the solemn and majestic palace gates while secretly looking up at the emperor sitting high on the dragon throne.

His Majesty today appeared unusually stern, his face solemn, his eyes deep, and an invisible oppressive aura emanating from him. He remained silent throughout, showing no joy of triumph or reward, but rather an indescribable gloom.

This unusual state gave Xiao Yunshan a strong sense of foreboding.

He thought to himself:

My father has been behaving strangely these past few days, and his attitude is unclear.

Su Mu has made an unparalleled contribution this time. He holds a large army, enjoys the support of the people and the army, and his prestige has reached its peak.

If the Emperor were to harbor suspicions at this moment, fearing that Su Mu's achievements would overshadow his own, and mishandle the situation, thus chilling the hearts of meritorious officials and disheartening the soldiers, it would inevitably lead to turmoil in the court!

Even worse, if Su Mu were to be completely forced to rebel, with his extraordinary cultivation and battle-hardened army, no one in the vast capital city could stop him, and the entire Qian Dynasty would surely be thrown into chaos!

Amidst the turmoil of emotions, a sharp and drawn-out announcement suddenly rang out from outside the main hall, shattering the silence!

"Summon Su Mu and the Third Prince Xiao Jingyu, leading their eastern expeditionary forces, to pay homage to His Majesty!"

The moment the voice fell, the entire Golden Palace trembled!

The civil and military officials, who had been standing silently, suddenly looked up, their eyes burning, all staring at the main entrance of the hall, and suppressed murmurs began to rise.

"They're here! They've finally arrived!"

"The great hero who pacified the East Sea has finally entered the palace to meet the Emperor!"

"I wonder what decision Your Majesty will make today!"

All attention was drawn to the area outside the hall.

Even the Great Qian Emperor, who sat high on the dragon throne with a solemn and majestic expression, slowly raised his eyes. His deep gaze pierced through the palace gates and landed on the corridor outside the palace. His expression was inscrutable, and no one knew what he was thinking.

All eyes are on them, and officials await their orders!

The steady, powerful, and uniform footsteps approached from afar, resounding with a chilling aura unique to the battlefield, as they stepped into the Golden Palace!

Sunlight streamed through the palace gates, illuminating rows of tall and imposing figures.

With his flowing white hair and battle armor stained with dust, Su Mu stood tall and imposing, exuding an aura of dominance that came with years of battlefield experience. He was the first to step into the main hall.

Beside him, the Third Prince Xiao Jingyu stood upright in his brocade robe, his expression calm and composed.

Behind him, Qin Hao, Zhao Tieniu, You Zhongyi, Han Shixun, Xiao Yunchuan and other generals of the Eastern Expedition entered in a line, each with a tall and imposing figure.

The group walked steadily, keeping their eyes straight ahead, passing through the ranks of officials in the main hall, and step by step walked towards the dragon throne on the high platform.

Upon reaching the center of the main hall, below the imperial steps, Su Mu and Xiao Jingyu stopped abruptly, bowed respectfully, and performed the grand salute of emperor and subject. Their voices were powerful and resounding throughout the entire Golden Palace.

"Your subject, Su Mu, led the entire army on the eastern expedition, and, having lived up to Your Majesty's command, annihilated the Eastern Barbarian navy and quelled the threat to the seas. Now, having successfully returned to the capital, I have come to the Golden Palace to report back and pay my respects to Your Majesty!"