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

The next day.

As dawn broke, the morning light bathed the golden imperial city.

Although the court has temporarily returned to stability after yesterday's dramatic turn of events, undercurrents still flow and people are on edge.

On the dragon throne.

Dressed in a princely brocade robe, Xiao Jingyu sat upright on the dragon throne, acting as the emperor and managing all affairs of the realm.

The civil and military officials stood with their heads bowed, their expressions solemn, and no one dared to make the slightest noise or disturbance.

At the forefront of the procession, Wang Ben, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Rites stepped forward, bowed deeply, and kowtowed in unison, their voices deep and resonant.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to the Third Prince! Long live the Prince!"

The two men took the lead in bowing, followed closely by all the civil and military officials, who knelt down and shouted "Greetings!" in a grand and imposing manner.

With officials submitting and the court united in loyalty, the regency presented a picture of stability and prosperity.

At the end of the civil and military ranks, Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng stood among the crowd, bowing and scraping his head along with everyone else, but his eyes were filled with extreme envy, resentment, and overwhelming jealousy.

That supreme dragon throne, that power to control the court and command all officials, should rightfully belong to him, the legitimate Crown Prince!

But now, all the great opportunities have slipped away, and instead, Uncle Xiao Jingyu has reaped the benefits, firmly occupying the core of the court and wielding the power of the Great Qian Dynasty!

hateful!

Sigh!

Xiao Yunfeng felt a surge of hatred and frustration, but he dared not show the slightest sign of disrespect or change.

He was perfectly aware that the current situation in the court was vastly different from what it used to be.

Su Mu held half of the military power in the Great Qian Dynasty, with 200,000 iron cavalry in the north and 300,000 naval forces in the east. Qin Hao, Xu Cheng, Han Shixun, You Zhongyi, and other battle-hardened generals swore to be loyal to him and obey his orders.

With civil officials convinced and military generals loyal, it can be said that he held military power and had the support of the people!

Nowadays, Su Mu is an unshakeable pillar of the Great Qian court!

And the third uncle, Xiao Jingyu, was the only regent whom Su Mu wholeheartedly supported.

Now that his wings have been broken, if he dares to disobey in the slightest or cause trouble, Xiao Jingyu can justifiably depose him from his position as crown prince and reduce him to a commoner!

He was filled with resentment, but he could only suppress it in his heart, daring not to show it in the slightest.

"Gentlemen, please rise."

On the dragon throne, Xiao Jingyu spoke in a calm and steady voice.

All the officials rose in unison, bowed their heads, and stood in solemn silence, awaiting the regent's command.

Xiao Jingyu's gaze swept over the assembled officials and ministers, and he slowly spoke: "His Majesty has been assassinated by treacherous individuals, is in enemy hands, his whereabouts are unknown, and his fate is uncertain. The court is leaderless, and the country is in turmoil."

"I have been entrusted by my officials and the people to this critical mission, and I have been appointed to temporarily govern the country on behalf of the emperor, to oversee the administration and ensure the stability of the nation."

"In the days to come, we will need all civil and military officials to work together, each fulfilling their duties, to safeguard the nation and ensure the stability of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Ben, the Minister of War, stepped forward again, bowed, and presented his hands with a sincere expression.

"Your Highness's appointment to this critical mission, his efforts to restore order to the nation and stabilize the court, are a blessing for all the people and for the entire country!"

"We, your humble servants, will dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to assisting Your Highness in governing the court and bringing peace to the realm!"

"We will do our utmost to assist Your Highness!" The entire court echoed in unison, demonstrating unity of purpose and shared purpose among the people.

At that moment, the Minister of Rites stepped forward, holding his court tablet, and spoke loudly.

"Your Highness! I have something to report!"

"His Majesty had already issued an imperial edict when he was in good health and had not encountered any danger!"

"General Su led his troops across the sea, conquering the Eastern Barbarians, expanding the territory, and establishing unparalleled achievements! The soldiers of the three armies fought bloody battles to defend their homeland, and their merits are immense!"

"His Majesty's decree clearly states that once the army returns to the capital, the troops will be rewarded and their contributions recognized!"

"Furthermore, titles have already been drafted, bestowing upon General Su the title of Great Qian's Guardian War God, and upon the Sixth Prince Xiao Yunchuan the title of Dingyuan General, in recognition of their youthful bravery and meritorious service in campaigns!"

"Now the entire army has returned to the capital and is stationed securely. Although rebellion has occurred, the Emperor's grace cannot be forgotten, and the military achievements cannot be overlooked!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you obey the late Emperor's decree and immediately reward and reward the meritorious soldiers!"

"Firstly, to fulfill the Emperor's grace; secondly, to stabilize the morale of the army and boost morale, thereby deterring foreign enemies!"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials nodded in agreement and stepped forward one after another to second the motion.

"The Minister of Rites is absolutely right! Military merits deserve rewards, and meritorious officials deserve titles!"

"General Su quelled foreign threats and quelled internal strife; he truly deserves the title of a national war god!"

"The soldiers of the three armed forces fought valiantly and deserve generous rewards to boost morale and enhance national prestige!"

In the imperial court, the voices were unanimous, and no one objected.

On the dragon throne, Xiao Jingyu nodded with pleasure upon hearing this, his eyes full of approval, and laughed loudly:

"What you gentlemen have in mind is exactly what I have been thinking!"

"Surrounded by foreign enemies and with the country in turmoil, it is even more crucial for the ruler and his ministers to be of one mind and for the soldiers to fight bravely. Only by generously rewarding meritorious officials and inspiring the soldiers can we revitalize the nation's prestige and stabilize the court!"

"Let all the treacherous officials and foreign wolves see clearly that the rulers and subjects of our Great Qian Dynasty are of one mind, and our empire will be forever secure. We are no match for petty villains!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jingyu immediately issued an imperial edict in court, loudly announcing the official rewards!

"Issue my decree!"

"General Su Mu, the venerable general who protects the nation, is hereby conferred the title of War God of the Great Qian Dynasty, enjoying unparalleled honors, hereditary titles, and commanding all the armies under heaven!"

"The Sixth Prince, Xiao Yunchuan, is hereby appointed General Dingyuan, in recognition of his youthful bravery and military achievements during the eastern expedition!"

"Qin Hao, Xu Cheng, You Zhongyi, Zhao Tieniu, and all the other valiant generals of the Eastern Expedition have been promoted three ranks, richly rewarded with gold, silver, and fertile land, and granted hereditary privileges. Their military achievements will be recognized and rewarded one by one!"

One after another, imperial edicts of bestowal and reward resounded throughout the Golden Palace, clear, loud, and each word distinct and impactful!

Sixth Prince Xiao Yunchuan, Qin Hao, Xu Cheng, and a group of meritorious soldiers stepped forward, bowed, and knelt to express their gratitude:

"Your subject thanks Your Highness for your great favor. May our Great Qian Dynasty prosper forever!"

With the rewards and honors decided, the entire court rejoiced, the army was invigorated, and the officials were at ease.

Just when the officials thought the bestowal of honors was over, Xiao Jingyu, sitting on the dragon throne, took a deep breath, his gaze steady, and made a bold decision that shocked the entire court!

Since Li Yuan's execution, the position of prime minister has remained vacant in the imperial court. With no one in the central government to coordinate political affairs, it has always been a major vacancy in the court.

Now that the overall situation has been stabilized, it is the best time to fill the gaps in the central government and stabilize the political landscape!

Xiao Jingyu fixed his gaze on Wang Ben, the Minister of War, and announced loudly:

"The imperial court cannot function without a central coordinating body, and government affairs cannot remain idle for long!"

"Today, I have decided to promote Wang Ben, the Minister of War, to Acting Prime Minister!"

"Temporarily assuming the powers of the Prime Minister, overseeing all officials, assisting in the administration of the court, and coordinating all affairs of state!"

"After His Majesty's carriage is found and he returns to court, we will formally appoint and determine his official positions!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar!

Everyone was shocked, and all eyes were on Wang Ben!

Wang Ben himself was shocked, his face filled with astonishment and flattery!

He never imagined that he could rise to the top, succeed Li Yuan, and become the head of all officials, acting as prime minister!

After a brief moment of surprise, Wang Ben quickly bowed and waved his hand, humbly declining the offer.

"Your Highness, I am unworthy and incapable. I am already filled with trepidation at the position of Minister of War, how dare I shoulder the heavy responsibility of Prime Minister and oversee all officials? My abilities are shallow and I am unfit for such a great task!"

Seeing Wang Ben's humble refusal, Xiao Jingyu shook his head slightly, his tone gentle yet firm, and publicly recounted Wang Ben's achievements, silencing all attempts to decline:

"Minister Wang, there is no need for excessive modesty, much less for you to shirk responsibility."

"In this great eastern expedition, you, as the Minister of War, oversaw the rear, coordinating military preparations, supervising the construction of the Youlong warships, and allocating supplies and equipment—your contributions were truly outstanding!"

"When the war began, I went to war with the army, personally went to the battlefield, shared the same hatred for the enemy with the soldiers, faced life and death together, and fought the enemy side by side. My merits were great!"

"You are capable of governing the country and managing state affairs, as well as fighting in the army and defending the borders. You possess both virtue and talent, and are utterly loyal. You are fully qualified to be the prime minister!"

At this point, Xiao Jingyu paused, then solemnly added:

"Moreover, this appointment is not solely my decision; it was also a special recommendation from General Su!"

"You are only acting as regent and temporarily managing state affairs. Once His Majesty returns safely, the final decision on appointments and dismissals will still rest with His Majesty. You need not be afraid; just do your best to fulfill your duties and assist the court!"

Upon learning that it was Su Mu who had specifically recommended him, Wang Ben no longer hesitated. He instantly calmed himself, bowed deeply, and loudly expressed his gratitude:

"Your subject will obey Your Highness's orders!"

"Thank you for your recommendation, General Su. I will dedicate myself to serving you with utmost loyalty and diligence, even unto death, to assist Your Highness in governing the court. I will not fail Your Majesty's grace, your recommendation, or the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

With this, the central structure of the imperial court was completely completed!

The atmosphere in the imperial court has been completely renewed.

Once the bestowal of honors and the appointment of officials were finalized, Xiao Jingyu's expression on the dragon throne suddenly changed, his gentle and joyful demeanor replaced by extreme solemnity and sternness!

He stood upright, his gaze sweeping heavily over the assembled civil and military officials, his voice solemn and authoritative, resounding throughout the entire Golden Palace:

"My lords! Beneath the surface of peace and stability lurks a monstrous crisis!"

"The Emperor has been kidnapped by bandits, and his fate is unknown!"

"The traitors have painstakingly plotted for years, replacing the emperor and disrupting the court. Their fundamental purpose is to destabilize the Great Qian Dynasty, demoralize the people and the army, and take advantage of the turmoil and leaderlessness of our court to brazenly invade and gradually erode our territory!"

"After General Su's thorough investigation, it has been discovered that this shocking rebellion and the plot to kidnap the emperor originated entirely from the Yan Kingdom!"

The moment the words "Yan State" were uttered, the expressions of all the officials in the court changed drastically!

The hall erupted in chaos, with officials discussing the matter in disbelief and indignation.

"They're our enemies from Yan! Fifteen years have passed, and these wolves in sheep's clothing still haven't given up their treacherous intentions!"

"Having been defeated by our Great Qian in that battle, they lay low for many years, seemingly behaving themselves, but in reality, they have been secretly plotting revenge!"

"They kidnapped our Great Qian Emperor and disrupted our Great Qian court; their intentions are despicable, and their crimes deserve death!"

"After fifteen years of patient forbearance and such a vicious scheme, they clearly intend to subdue their enemy without a fight and overthrow our great Qian Dynasty!"

The entire court was filled with indignation, everyone's face was fierce, and the whole country was united in their hatred of the enemy!

Looking at the agitated officials, Xiao Jingyu's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and his voice was firm and resounding as he publicly swore an iron-blooded oath to the Great Qian Dynasty!

"The Yan state harbors wolfish ambitions, has long plotted against our Great Qian, kidnapped our emperor, and disrupted our court!"

"Since the Yan Kingdom is so eager for war, attempting to overthrow our Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Then I will fight to the bitter end, not yielding an inch of ground."

"A month to assemble elite troops."

"Full defenses deployed, on high alert, ready for battle at any time!"

"I'll see if the Yan Kingdom can withstand the wrath of my Great Qian!"

The iron-fisted imperial edict resounded throughout the heavens!

The grudges and entanglements between the Great Qian and the Yan Kingdom, which had been dormant for fifteen years, have re-emerged into a new war situation.