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

Inside the Golden Palace, the deathly silence slowly dissipated, but the mess on the floor was still shocking to behold.

The fake emperor died tragically on the ground, his chances of survival completely extinguished.

The civil and military officials stared at the cold corpse, their hearts still trembling, unable to recover from the shocking turn of events for a long time.

Su Mu slowly bent down, extended two fingers, gently placed them on the edge of the fake emperor's ear, and pulled slightly with his fingertips.

scoff!

A human skin mask, as thin as a cicada's wing, with a lifelike texture, indistinguishable from real human flesh, was completely torn off.

Beneath the mask, there was no longer any outline of an emperor. Instead, there was a strange, sinister, and angular face of an unfamiliar man with dark skin and murderous eyes. He was definitely not anyone from the Great Qian Dynasty!

This scene completely shocked everyone present!

The entire court of officials gasped in shock, their eyes filled with utter horror and awe!

"It's a complete fake! A total counterfeit!"

"Such a secret art of disguise is simply unfathomable; after decades of living side by side, not a single person has noticed the slightest flaw!"

"Fortunately, General Su was insightful and discerning! From the moment he entered the Golden Palace, he harbored suspicions and probed us step by step, uncovering the truth layer by layer. Otherwise, we would still be kept in the dark, and the Great Qian Dynasty would have long since fallen into the hands of traitors!"

All the officials were filled with admiration, and their gazes toward Su Mu were filled with boundless respect and admiration.

This centenarian general was not only invincible on the battlefield, but also meticulous and insightful. He single-handedly thwarted a massive plot to usurp the throne and protected the century-old foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty!

Su Mu casually tossed the cold human skin mask to the ground, then turned his gaze to the fake Li Fuquan, who was lying on the verge of death, covered in blood, with all his meridians severed, under a stone pillar on the side of the hall.

He stepped forward slowly, looking down at them with an indifferent voice.

"Now, it's your turn."

"Confess honestly about the mastermind and His Majesty's whereabouts, and you might still be allowed to die a natural death."

Amidst the pool of blood, the fake Li Fuquan struggled to lift his eyes, crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His face was deathly pale, and he was extremely weak. Yet, a chilling, desolate smile suddenly appeared on his face.

He knew that his companions were dead, his entire conspiracy had been exposed, his cultivation was ruined, and he was doomed to die. He had no way out.

"Su Mu...why ask so many questions?"

"Since things have come to this, whether I confess or not, I cannot escape death in the end, so why waste my breath?"

In short, their stance has been made clear.

They would rather die than confess or plead guilty.

Su Mu remained expressionless, having already anticipated this outcome.

These kinds of people are already fearless and there is absolutely no possibility of them confessing.

He said no more, turned to look at Han You, the commander of the Imperial Guards beside him, and calmly ordered, "Commander Han, make your move."

"yes!"

Han You bowed and accepted the order, holding a long sword, and strode forward with a sharp look in his eyes, showing no hesitation whatsoever.

A flash of sword light, a cold gleam sweeping through the air!

puff!

The blade pierced through his body, clean and swift!

The fake Li Fu shuddered and then stopped breathing completely.

Then Han You bent down and did the same thing, carefully feeling around the ear and jaw, and then tearing it off with his fingertips.

Another incredibly realistic human skin mask fell off!

Beneath the mask was another unfamiliar face, sinister and ruthless, definitely not the real eunuch Li Fuquan who had accompanied the emperor for many years!

The entire court was once again in uproar, and the discussions erupted completely!

"Even Eunuch Li is a fake! They've all been replaced!"

"This is terrifying! The emperor's innermost palace and personal attendants have all been replaced by traitors and spies. The length of time this group has been planning this, the depth of their scheming, and the ruthlessness of their methods are simply appalling!"

"Through internal and external manipulation, deceiving the court and the public, and meticulously plotting to seize the throne, if it weren't for Elder Su's efforts to turn the tide, the Great Qian Dynasty would have been in grave danger!"

The officials felt a chill run down their spines, a coldness seeping into their bones, and a deep sense of lingering fear.

At this moment, the Minister of Rites stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply to Su Mu, and spoke with utmost sincerity and reverence:

"Many thanks to General Su for today!"

"If it weren't for your keen insight in seeing through the shocking deception, the usurpation of the throne by a false emperor, and the rise of treacherous officials, our Great Qian Dynasty would have been utterly destroyed, with unimaginable consequences!"

"Old Su made a great contribution to the nation and its people!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the civil and military officials echoed his sentiments and bowed in gratitude.

"Many thanks to General Su for protecting our Great Qian!"

Praises rose and fell, echoing throughout the entire Golden Palace.

The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, strode forward, his brow furrowed with anxiety and worry. He paid no heed to praise or commendation, and asked urgently:

"Elder Su, the traitor has now been eliminated, but my imperial brother's whereabouts are still unknown, and his fate is uncertain!"

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can the court be without a leader for a day. What should we do now and search for His Majesty's whereabouts as quickly as possible?"

At this moment, the court is leaderless and people are restless. If the stalemate continues, it will inevitably lead to chaos.

Han You, the commander of the Imperial Guards, who was standing to the side, was very perceptive and felt extremely guilty.

Protecting the emperor and guarding the palace was his lifelong duty!

But now that the emperor has disappeared, the palace has been robbed, and treacherous officials have usurped the throne, he cannot escape his guilt and cannot shirk his responsibility!

In the current situation, among all the civil and military officials, only Su Mu, with his unparalleled military achievements, is able to stabilize the court, coordinate the overall situation, and thoroughly investigate the truth!

Han You immediately stepped forward, solemnly knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "This humble general is guilty! I failed in my duty to protect His Majesty, resulting in the loss of contact with the Emperor and the chaos caused by treacherous officials!"

"From this day forward, all imperial guards in the palace will be at the command of General Su!"

"I will spare no effort, even unto death, to search for His Majesty and stabilize the court!"

The Imperial Guards declared their complete submission!

At this moment, Su Mu had become the only pillar of the Great Qian Dynasty, in control of the overall situation and holding real power!

Before anyone could respond, a hurried figure suddenly stepped out of the line, breaking the solemn atmosphere.

This man is none other than Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng!

His eyes concealed an eager ambition; taking advantage of the turmoil in the court and the lack of a leader, he was eager to seize power, assume the regency, and solidify his position as crown prince.

Xiao Yunfeng, head held high and chest out, feigning composure and righteousness, spoke loudly:

"Gentlemen!"

"With the Emperor missing and the court in turmoil, the nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day!"

"As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace and the deputy ruler of the country, it is my duty to step forward, oversee the government, preside over state affairs, and stabilize the overall situation!"

"The matter of searching for my father is also entrusted to me, the Crown Prince, to handle entirely!"

His words sounded grand and righteous, seemingly concerned for the country, but in reality, they revealed his selfish motives and eagerness to seize power!

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials in the hall exchanged glances, their eyes filled with subtle mockery and disdain.

Today, the court underwent a major upheaval, and it was Su Mu who turned the tide throughout. The Crown Prince stood by cowardly and did nothing. Now that the crisis has subsided, he jumps out to reap the benefits and seize power. How ridiculous!

In terms of ability, prestige, and achievements, what merit or virtue did he possess to act as regent and oversee the country?

The entire room fell silent; no one echoed the sentiment, creating an incredibly awkward atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Su Mu slowly turned his head, his gaze indifferently locking onto Xiao Yunfeng, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes, and a cold sneer curling at the corner of his lips.

He had long seen through the Crown Prince and Li Yuan's intentions.

Today is the day to sever the power of the Eastern Palace and ensure that these two clowns can never rise again!

Before the Crown Prince could continue his buildup, Su Mu spoke in a voice as cold as ice, each word ringing with conviction:

"Xiao Yunfeng! Matters of the court and duties of imperial inspection are none of your concern!"

"I haven't settled old scores with you yet!"

"His Majesty was switched with another man, the palace was burgled, and a treacherous official usurped the throne—was this catastrophic disaster orchestrated and secretly orchestrated by you?"

boom!

One sentence, like a thunderclap!

Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng froze on the spot, his pupils contracted sharply, his face was full of shock and blankness, and his mind went completely blank!

He never expected that Su Mu would doubt him in public!

After a brief moment of distraction, Xiao Yunfeng instantly became flustered, his face turning red with embarrassment. He retorted sharply, his eyes filled with disbelief:

"Su Mu! How dare you! You're spitting blood from your nose!"

"I, the Crown Prince, am the heir apparent of the Eastern Palace and the legitimate son of the Emperor. How could I possibly plot against my father, collude with traitors, and overthrow my own family's empire?"

"You are slandering and framing the Crown Prince without cause!"

He was furious and spoke vehemently, arguing vehemently, his mind in turmoil.

But he didn't know that Su Mu was already fully aware of the situation.

Given Xiao Yunfeng's courage, vision, and methods, he simply lacked the ability and audacity to plot such a shocking conspiracy to usurp the throne.

The crown prince was incompetent yet ambitious, while Li Yuan formed cliques and wreaked havoc on the court. The two were in cahoots and had long been bringing disaster to the country and its people.

Today, Su Mu will seize this earth-shattering turn of events, find a handle to use against them, and launch an attack to completely pinpoint their crimes, bringing them to their demise and ensuring they can never rise again!

Su Mu coldly stared at the panicked crown prince, pressing him step by step, his words like knives, publicly dissecting all the doubts!

"Won't?"

"Then let me ask you a question!"

"Prime Minister Li Yuan's crimes were previously proven beyond redemption and he has already been imprisoned in the imperial jail awaiting his fate; this is common knowledge throughout the country!"

"Why did this fake emperor, after ascending the throne, not investigate the crime or the reasons behind it, but instead release him without cause, reinstate him to his original position, and restore his power as prime minister?"

"Throughout the court and among the common people, who doesn't know that Li Yuan is your most trusted confidant and right-hand man in the Eastern Palace? His honor and disgrace, his rise and fall, all depend on you alone!"

"But the first thing this fake emperor did after seizing power and taking control of the court was to pardon your confidants, cultivate your power base, and clear away any obstacles!"

"Such a coincidence, such favoritism—isn't it suspicious?"

Su Mu's words were all well-founded and hit the nail on the head!

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire court was in an uproar, and all their doubts were dispelled!

Everyone nodded in agreement, and murmurs arose. The gazes they cast at the Crown Prince and Li Yuan instantly became filled with suspicion and wariness!

"Yes, I was completely baffled at the time. Li Yuan's crimes were irrefutable, and he was a man destined to die, yet His Majesty suddenly and unusually pardoned him. Looking back now, it's truly bizarre!"

"The first thing this fake emperor did after ascending the throne was to restore Li Yuan's power, clearly paving the way for the crown prince!"

"Throughout the chaos in the court, the biggest beneficiaries, from beginning to end, were the Crown Prince and Li Yuan!"

"Could it be that the Crown Prince is actually an accomplice in this shocking conspiracy to seize the country?"

A barrage of doubts swept through the entire venue!

Prime Minister Li Yuan, who had been secretly delighted and waiting for the Crown Prince to take power so that he could regain control, turned deathly pale in an instant!

My body felt ice-cold, my mind was in complete chaos, and an extreme panic instantly enveloped me!

He never expected that Su Mu would be so shrewd, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the fake emperor to expose his connection with the crown prince and turn the tables on them, plunging them into the abyss!

At that moment, he completely panicked!

He knew very well that if he were to be convicted of colluding with traitors and disrupting the court, he and the Crown Prince would be doomed and have no chance of ever recovering!